Author: Katie Hayden

11 years ago my son was struggling to take a breath and as a tiny infant had been diagnosed with RSV. This respiratory illness never fully went away, and in fact hung on tight, as asthma. He as made huge strides and has come a long way, and we are thankful. But this was where the first change happened for me. Because I knew that I would be holding and snuggling with my baby, (all day, everyday), I chose to stop using the perfumes, colognes, and artificially fragranced body lotions and sprays (that I once loved to indulge in)- because artificial fragrance was a trigger for him.

Fast forward 9 years, my son’s asthma was mostly under control but he began suffering with Migraine headaches. I too struggle with them and have since I was 14 years old. We began researching how to illiminate the cause. I love for my home to smell nice and for our family to feel the comfort and warmth, that can often times be associated with scent. Since artificial fragance had been a trigger for my son’s asthma, it was natural for me to start there, but I needed a solution. The minute I removed the artificially scented candles from our home and began replacing them with essential oils in cool mist diffusers , we saw a tremendous difference in the frequency of our headaches. We made changes in our diets and routines and this was where the second change happened for me.

And just a few months ago, in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic, this “clean freak,” Clorox wipe lovin momma, could not find one Clorox wipe to spare. I began racking my brain and doing some research for an alternative, and I came across Thieves concentrate by YL, and I’ve never looked back. One cleaner, one bottle, for all surfaces, it is effective in killing bacteria, it works as a fungicide, and is completely safe. Thieves Household Cleaner has replaced all of my cleaners. There is an entire Thieves line- it’s all incredible!!!

I was sold. I began researching the use of essential oils, and the different brands/companies and even though I have dabbled in oils and their uses from time to time, I decided that I want to learn as much as I possibly can, and to begin shifting our household and lifestyle to one that is focused on wellness. We started by ditching the chemical-filled, hormone disturbing cleaners, for a a cleaner that is safe and we haven’t looked back.

These 3 experiences have pushed me to discover a lifechanging opportunity. I have absolutely fallen in love with Young Living and everything that they have to offer. I love Young Living products, from essentail oils and supplements to body care and makeup. Now don’t get me wrong, I have not been able to make this shift in one fail swoop, and I have not been able to find a chemical free hair spray or mascara that I am crazy about, but each and every item that I have introduced to our daily lives, has been absolutely amazing and life-changing to say the least. Young Living was the company that provided what I was looking for with regard to quality products and support, business opportunity, and a community to come along side me- one step at a time.

I am the gatekeeper of my home. The more I open my eyes to the products that I am allowing in and on our hands (both big and small), the more I want to learn, the more I want to change. I just have to remind my self that making one small change at a time is going to have a huge an lasting impact.

My passion is service to people, and I want everyone that I love and care about to be able to have the same opportunity, exposure, information and options that I have had regarding this lifestyle change, because it has impacted us in such a huge way!! There is something for everyone and I would love to share this with you all. We are reaping huge benefits from Young Living, both from a product stand point and from a business side of things.

My heart is to support my family, specifically my kiddos, in everyway possible and this is another way that I can do just that. I am driven to share this with as many people as possible. If you are at all interested in coming along side me in this journey, I would love for us to jump in and take this leap together. Scary? Yes! Worth it? 100%!!

Once I was confident in my decision, it was so easy to get started. Young Living offers a premium starter kit, that does exactly what is says, it gets you started. The kit provided product and support for all that I needed to get new daily habbits in my home- plus it comes with an awesome diffuser. Just after receiving my starter kit, the fun began. Products for my home, emotional and hormonal support, products and oils specific for kids and babies, makeup and body care, and so much more. I would love for you and your family to experience the freedom that this lifestyle can offer you. You can take complete control of your health and wellness and can be confident in the products that you use to help you along the way. We have also begun to experience the financial perks that Young Living as to offer and who can complain about that?

To become a member feel free to click on the link below and use information provided here to sign up and to begin your journey.

Sign up here: https://www.myyl.com/katie-hayden

Katie’s Enroller ID: #25603531

Live Simply…

Growing up, we lived what I would consider a fairly simple life.  I never remember hating it or even, disliking it, at all. Living in a one red light town where my family had deep roots, never bothered me.  Everyone knowing everything- was never an issue. Sharing friends with my sister and being in church with all of my teachers was a positive.  Small town, small school, small businesses were what I knew, and I loved it.  Everyone in town and in school, was required to stay busy and to wear lots of hats in order to keep things going.  We valued our families, our friends, and our relationships.

Church, school, band, cheerleading, ballgames, movies, game nights, youth group, friends, family, and home.  As busy as we seemed with all of the things that were going on, Things were simple.  I never thought I would leave.  God had a different plan.  When I was a young adult I ended up in school and living in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.  WOW!! I couldn’t have made a bigger change.  I was learning a lot, experiencing a lot, and trying my best to keep up.  Things were big, busy and super FAST.  Nothing about me was big, busy, or FAST…I even talk slowly.

I started my marriage and my family while living in the Northern Virginia region, and it was beyond overwhelming.  The differences were vast and no matter what, I could not envision raising my family in an area that was so VERY different than the small town that I still considered Home.  So, we began to look into the option of relocating…and we did.  We moved to Greenville, SC- WE LOVED IT!! It was closer geographically to my hometown (and our families), we weren’t overwhelmed by living there, and things definitely moved at a slower pace.  Things felt right until they didn’t, and after 5 years, we ended up back in the DC Area.

After moving back to Virginia, we realized it felt different this time.  God had definitely brought us back- we landed in the same town, at the same jobs, and in the same church, as we had lived in before.  We were content and imagined ourselves staying right there, until the kids finished school, and were able to retire.  5 years in, and just after I lost my mom, we began feeling an urge to make a change, and honestly, we thought that we were moving home.   I mean, my husband was traveling nonstop for work, I was managing a very successful Salon and Spa in northern Virginia, both kids were in school, horseback riding, hockey, baseball, youth group, we were volunteering at church.  While we were loving all of these obligations, things had certainly gotten very busy and out of control, and those feelings of contentment had started to pass.  We were longing for a simpler life….

Now we are almost 2 years into that simpler life.  We made a decision to relocate, yet again, but this time, we stayed within the same state.  Located in the central part of Virginia, where things move slowly and everyone is connected, we feel like we are exactly where we are supposed to be for this season.   We were used to living attached to our neighbor in Northern Virginia and now we can’t even see them.  Before… I would pass several restaurants, coffee shops, and stores on my way home from work (all of this in my 4 minute commute), and my kiddos would send a list of requests to me, so that I could stop and grab what they “needed” on my way home.  Living where we do now, this is not an option.  We have to drive 45 minutes to get to a Starbucks or a Chick fil A.  But the point is that now these things have become treats again and I love that!!  We definitely have to be more intentional about our outings.  We make lists upon lists.  But we do this so that we don’t run out of things.  I keep an inventory of our pantry and refrigerator needs.  I keep a running list of things that we are need of.  We do more stock piling and Amazon has become a regular shopping source, for all things, things I never would have thought to order from Amazon, just because it’s simpler.  I started ordering from a company called Grove Collaborative.  I can choose the shipping date, receive discounts and free gifts for committing to ordering regularly, and shopping for a good bit of my household cleaning  and laundry products, beauty products and pet products from an amazing selection of natural, chemical and fragrance free items.  And somehow this feels like simple living.

When the pandemic hit and no stores had toilet paper, Clorox wipes, or hand sanitizer (which are daily staples in my home), I had to come up with something different.  I of course had to stock up on TP whenever and wherever I could, the hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes, still haven’t come back, 6 months later.  So, I began making our own hand sanitizer, using Young Living Thieves Essential Oil blend, and I started using Young Living Thieves All Purpose Cleaning Concentrate.  These two small changes alone, have been life changing for me.  I always have them onhand and they are so effective.  I love for my home to smell nice, but I am very particular as to what scents I am willing to allow to be the signature scent of the Hayden Home.  And my son has been struggling with migraine headaches off and on for the last few years, and he is sensitive to artificial fragrance because of his asthma.  Since we couldn’t go to the stores to smell the candles, air fresheners, reed diffusers, and room sprays-a thought crossed my mind- go back to what you know.  Essential oils are what God gave to us to use for so many things.  These other changes that we had started making, by implementing the use of the oils had been working really well- Cue the diffusers…

I began diffusing Young Living Essential Oils, in both of my family living areas, all bedrooms, and the kitchen- and my son has not had a single headache since.

Slowly but surely my home is transitioning to the use of natural, essential, simple products.  Products that no longer have the harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances, but get the job done.  Moving to an area that is more like the one we grew up knowing, slowing down our pace and beginning use of these types of products have given me a huge helping hand in allowing our family to Live Simply, once again.