On my Summer Indiana Tour, I will be attending the 13th annual Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Festival on June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in downtown Indianapolis. My husband and I went for the first time last year and we can’t wait to go again because Vintage Indiana is the premier venue for getting to know Indiana wines. Last year was exceptionally hot, so it was a great day for sampling crisp white wines. We even found a new favorite with Brown County Winery’s Autumn White. This year, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to branch out with more than 200 wines available for sampling.

In addition to sampling wines from more than 26 Indiana-based wineries, guests will have an opportunity to learn about pairing, listen to live music and dine on delicious food from some of Indiana’s top culinary experts. Plus there will be opportunities to purchase a bottle (or case) of some new-found favorites. Of course, there’s also a kid-zone full of carnival-like activities for the little ones. But, hubby and I plan on leaving the kids at home and enjoying a relaxing day out. It’s nice to know they’re welcome to join us, though!

Advance tickets can be purchased online or at local Marsh stores for $22, or you can purchase tickets at the gate for $25. Ticket price includes admission, free samples and a logoed souvenir wine glass (for the first 10,000 people). Designated driver tickets can be purchased for $10 and includes unlimited soft drinks and water. Children ages 6-20 are $5 and kids 5 and under are free.

Win It

While I’m sure you’re ready to rush out and buy your tickets, I wanted to let you know that I’m giving away a pair of tickets….and so are many of my fellow bloggers. To win, YOU MUST visit the Vintage Indiana website and let me know something interesting you learned.

Additional Entries (make sure to leave a separate comment for each one)

1. Follow The Average Parent on facebook.

2. Follow Vintage Indiana on facebook.

3. Follow the Average Parent on Twitter.

4. Follow Vintage Indiana on Twitter.

5. Share this post on your facebook page.

6. Share this post on your twitter page with the handle #VintageIN

7. Click here to see which of my fellow bloggers are also hosting a Vintage Indiana giveaway.

This contest will end at 11:59 p.m., Friday May 25, at which time the winner will be chosen with a random number generator at Random.org. The winner will be announced on this page, on the facebook wall and will be contacted via email. The winner will have one day to claim his / her prize before another winner will be chosen. The email addresses collected on this page are used for contacting the winner and will never be sold or given away. Must be 21 or older to enter. Open to US residents. Good luck everybody!

Contest Disclaimer:

At my request, Vintage Indiana has provided the tickets for the purpose of this post at no cost to me. I have also received tickets as compensation for this post. However, this giveaway is administered by me. Therefore, any questions or comments regarding this promotion should be sent to me. Prizes will be mailed directly from me, however, The Average Parent is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes.

Additionally, The Average Parent has pledged to Blog with Integrity. So…although I occasionally receive free products from PR and marketing reps, the recommendations I make are based on my own experiences in the real world. I promise to only provide reviews on the products and services I absolutely love, and I define this as something I would purchase for myself or as a gift for others. For more details about my review policy please visit the Disclaimer Page.

My Contests:

Win Tickets to Vintage Indiana 2012 – The State’s Largest Wine Fest [ends 5/25]

My fellow Indiana bloggers’ contests:

I’ll also be hosting some great giveaways so you can visit these great places for FREE…so make sure to check back often. And, make sure to follow my fellow bloggers, Indianapolis with Kids, BasilMomma, In Good Cents, and Family Fun in the City for more great ideas. Follow this link throughout the summer to see what they’re giving away.

Family Favorites

• Vintage Indiana – Hubby and I went for the first time last year and really enjoyed the day. It was a great opportunity to try tons of Indiana wines (there are more than 200 varieties) and we even found a new favorite in Brown County Winery’s Autumn White. This year’s event will take place June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. While you’re sampling some amazing wines, you’ll be experiencing a day full of entertainment, learning opportunities and samplings of delicious food from some of Indiana’s top culinary experts.

To Save: Admission is $25 at the gate, but advance tickets are available for $22 online or at area Marsh stores.

• Connor Prairie – We visited Connor Prairie for the first time last summer and fell in love. We have since purchased a membership and can count it as one of our favorite destinations. There are so many things to see and do at Connor Prairie, that it never gets old. We are particularly fond of the Animal Encounters Barn, where you can pet sheep, goats and cows.

Prairie Town is going to be even more enjoyable after the June 9 grand re-opening. They have been sprucing up the town with paint, rearranging, new buildings and new adventures for guests of all ages. Visitors will have an opportunity to help with odd jobs throughout the town where they can earn money to spend in the store. There will also be adventure guidebooks, achievement cards and seek-and-find books that will encourage more interaction with the townspeople and provide a unique experience with each visit to Prairietown.

And let’s not forget the 1859 Balloon Voyage. We had the pleasure of going up in the balloon at our last visit and it was really cool. The view was spectacular and the entire family enjoyed the ride.

To save: Admission is $14 for adults and $9 for children 2-12. Balloon rides are $15 a person and do not include general admission. You can find a BOGO coupon in the Entertainment Book, or head online to Visit Indy for a $2 off admission coupon. You can also pick up a $5 discount Balloon Voyage coupon from Ricker’s BP stores. (See the list of participating stores HERE.) Finally, don’t forget to pack some snacks, drinks and/or a lunch to save even more.

• The Indianapolis Children’s Museum is another one of my favorite destinations in Indianapolis. It’s nationally recognized for its size and variety of activities for children of all ages…and with 472,900-square feet on five floors and more than 100,000 artifacts, there really is so much to do and see while you’re there. Being a family of boys, we love the train exhibit as well as the dinosphere, but we’re really excited for this summer’s new Hot Wheels for Real exhibit, which will feature rarely seen collectible Hot Wheels cars and amazing life-size versions of iconic favorites of Hot Wheels cars. Children and families can also work together in the Speedshop to customize a car with decals, wheel covers, and more, and test drive Hot Wheels cars on table- and wall-mounted track layouts.

To Save: Adult admission is $16.50 and children over 2-17 are $11.50. There are a variety of ways to save at the Children’s Museum. The museum’s website often offers coupons and you can get group rates, discounts for AAA members and coupons in Reach Magazine. Parking is free and you can bring your own snacks, lunch and drinks to save even more.

• Rhythm Discovery Center – This is a great destination for the dog days of summer when you just don’t feel like being outside. Located at the intersections of Illinois and Washington Streets, the Rhythm! Discovery Center is one of my favorite places to take the kids. Each room is filled with an assortment of percussion instruments and artifacts from a range of time periods and places around the world. Each time we go, we’re captured by a new set of instruments we didn’t play with the time before. But, invariably we always make our way to the two sound-proofed rooms where my oldest likes to jam out on the drums and harmonize with the glockenspiel. Next door, my youngest finds amusement with all the hand-held instruments ranging from rattles and maracas to cow bells, cabasas and a slew of other instruments I never knew existed. It’s a great opportunity to introduce music and one of the few places that engages both my 4-year-old and my 1-year-old.

To Save: There’s really no reason to go out of your way for a coupon to this local gem because adult admission is only $8 and kids 5 and under are free. Plus, family memberships are only $50. So, it’s definitely a place you can go to again and again, especially if you’d like to view one of their many live performances or presentations.

Places we Missed Last Year

• The Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo has been on my agenda for a couple years, but this year I’m going to make it happen. I have heard nothing but good things about this zoo, which is geared toward children, providing views of the animals that are accessible by even the smallest of visitor. That means you don’t have to get the kids out of the stroller at every exhibit, because everything is at their level. While you’re there, you can feed giraffes, get nose-to-nose with lions, stroll through a mob of kangaroos and so much more. There’s also a ride in every corner of the zoo, from the Treetop Safari sky ride, to an Australian Log Ride.

To Save: Adult admission is $13, children are $8.50 and two and under are free. While there aren’t a whole lot of options for scoring discounted tickets, they do offer select deals throughout the season, so make sure to check out their website or follow their facebook page to stay updated. You can also get a 50% discount on your admission if you are a member at any of these zoos.

• Train Rides at the Indiana Transportation Museum – This is another one that’s been on my agenda for a while. I have no idea what to expect, but I can imagine that my train loving boys will be over the moon for this experience. Located in Noblesville’s Forest Park, the Indiana Transportation Museum is an easy drive from just about anywhere in Indy. Here’s what their website says: “The Indiana Transportation Museum is an operating museum that gives visitors the chance to see how trains operate and to ride trains similar to those that most Americans used to travel long distances before interstate highways and jet planes.” Museum admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 2-12. Train fare varies according to the trip. Click here to see a schedule.

• The Indiana Dunes – We attempted a trip to the Dunes last summer and it ended disastrously. My oldest son was having a difficult summer, which didn’t lend itself well to traveling. Then as luck would have it, I got struck by a horrible virus. We spent one miserable day and headed home the next morning. So, we’re going to give it another try this summer. Listed as USAToday’s “one great place to hike” in Indiana, the park also offers more than 70 miles of hiking and biking trails that will take you through a landscape of rolling dunes, oak barrens and native prairies. In addition to the beautiful scenery, I’m looking forward to playing in the waves and building sand castles with my boys!

This time, we’re aiming to stay at a place called Inspiration Wood, which is a newly constructed retreat-type property on 60-acres of beautiful land. Sounds tranquil, doesn’t it?! I am most attracted to the cottage-style accommodations that will give us a little space and allow my hyperactive 4-year-old some room to stretch.

On the drive north, we’ll try to hit up Taltree Arboretum & Gardens, a destination we missed last year. Located south of U.S. 30 between Merrillville and Valparaiso, Taltree is my idea of relaxation and a great place to just let the kids run free. This “museum for trees” is the perfect place to decompress, enjoy and explore nature. While this might seem more suited for the adults in your family, the little ones will love exploring the vast gardens, prairies, woodlands and wetlands. We’re most interested in seeing the Railway Garden, a 2.5-acre outdoor model railway garden that will engage visitors of all ages.

• Symphony on the Prairie – Oh, I’ve wanted to do this for as long as I’ve lived in Indiana…but we’ve never quite made it. Now that we have a date night worked into the monthly budget, I’m definitely going to make this happen. On select dates throughout the summer, you can enjoy a beautiful outdoor concert on the prairie. Bring a bottle of wine, a picnic basket and kick back. I can’t imagine a more relaxing way to spend the evening. Click here to see this year’s schedule.

To Save: Single tickets are $27 at the gate, or you can purchase tickets in advance for $22. Children ages 2-12 are $13 or $11 in advance.

New Finds

• Columbus Municipal Airport – Thanks to the Indiana Insider blog for bringing this to my attention. Apparently you can see planes of all shapes and sizes up close, from large military cargo planes to small prop planes. While you’re there, you can also see a F-4 Phantom jet and visit the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum, which is located next to the airport and focuses on military aviation history. Admission is free. To round out the visit, you can have breakfast or lunch Hanger 5 Restaurant, where you can oversee the entire terminal.

• Garfield Park – I can’t believe I didn’t know about this little retreat right on the near south side of Indy. Thanks to Indianapolis with Kids for calling it to my attention. With more than 136 acres, you can imagine the vastness of their offerings, which includes programming for the whole family. Some upcoming events include a conservatory scavenger hunt, nature crafts and a summer concert series.

There is a 10,000 square foot conservatory with plants from the world’s tropics. Plus, they change the educational displays and seasonal shows throughout periodically, making it a great place to visit all year long. The sunken gardens offer a peaceful retreat among the vast display of flowers. There is also a large formal turf area used throughout the warmer months for wedding ceremonies and an ongoing summer concert series known as Music in the Garden. There are 3 main floral displays that change each year in the Sunken Garden: spring tulips which generally peak in mid-April, summer annuals that peak June-August and fall mums that flower in September and October.

To Save: No need to look for a coupons. Admission to the sunken gardens is free, the conservatory is $1.

• Crawfordsville, Ind. seems like a bit of a drive from my southside home, but Google maps says it’s only about an hour, so we just might make it this summer. This small town has a handful of attractions that I know my boys would love. It will be a great destination for those days when we just don’t feel like being outside.

The Rotary Jail was the first built and only still functional rotating jail. The jail opened in 1882 and used a hand crank to turn the circular cellblock. The jailer could then bring one of sixteen pie-shaped cells to the opening, allowing one prisoner in or out. The idea was to maintain social order by minimizing the direct contact between the inmates and the jailor. The jail closed in 1973. The building has since been converted to a museum and art gallery under the care of the Montgomery County Cultural Foundation and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturdays from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Admission is $3 for adults and free for kids 12 and under.

The Ropkey Armor Museum is a free destination featuring an extensive collection of military vehicles. To be honest, I’m pretty interested in this one. For the past two summers we’ve gone to the Indiana National Guard Car-Bike-Truck Show where they have several vehicles on display. It’s so interesting to check them all out…I can only imagine how neat it will be to see the vehicles our grandparents’ generation used. Plus, we won’t have to battle the July heat to enjoy this indoor display. The museum is open Monday – Friday from 10:30AM – 4:30PM or by appointment.

• Brown County Zipline and ATV tours – If you missed the zipline in Super Bowl Village, or if you just can’t wait to do it again, this is for you. Explore Brown County at Valley Branch Retreat offers the longest, fastest and tallest zips in Indiana. The 13 zip line tour incorporates a mix of trees and poles, with both ground and elevated take-offs and landings.

To be honest, while it looks really cool, the zipline isn’t really what I’m interested in. In fact, my husband and I are really excited about the ATV tours, where you can explore old stagecoach roads, pioneer home sites, campgrounds and an 1800s graveyard. They offer 1, 2 and 3 hour adventures for $70-180.

While you’re there you can also sample all the honey varieties and purchase your favorite. (This might have been where I spent a little too much money….but at least we’ll be stocked for a while!)

I’ll tell you what, it was really cool seeing how everything works and I really enjoyed learning about the process of honey. But, now that I’m home, it seems like I have about 100 more questions. I guess we’ll have to go back when I run out of honey. Maybe next time, we’ll take a trek out to the hives.

** To follow along with our tour, check out my flikr stream. **

Some things to note:

1. Hunter’s Honey Farm is a working farm, so you must call in advance to make sure they’re available for tours.

2. This might seem obvious, but remember that this is a BEE farm. So, make sure your first aid kit is packed and you have benadryl on hand. Click here to see some natural remedies for bee stings.

3. It’s pretty far out, so make sure your gas tank isn’t on empty

4. We followed up our trip by watching A Bee Movie, but it would be great to find some books that feature honey. For older kids, Winnie the Poo might be good place to start.

Note: If you’re planning to use any of these remedies, I highly recommend that you purchase high quality ingredients that are pure and free of harsh additives that might alter the remedy’s effectiveness. I like to purchase from Mountain Rose Herbs, DoTerra and VitaCost.

Natural Remedies for Summer

Bees, Hornets and Wasp stings

First Aid:

First, gently remove the stinger with tweezers or a credit card…be careful though, pinching the stinger could release more venom. I like to administer a dose of Benadryl immediately to fight allergic reaction, but call 911 if you notice signs of anaphylaxis, which include: difficulty breathing or wheezing, tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing, hoarseness or trouble speaking, nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting, fast heartbeat or pulse, anxiety, dizziness, or loss of consciousness. Once you’ve removed the stinger and washed the bite, you can use the following remedies.

Remedies:

After removing the stinger, apply a paste of vinegar and baking soda (or meat tenderizer). This might not give immediate relief, but is said to be effective and long lasting.

Apply mint toothpaste (not gel) directly to the bite for fast and long lasting relief.

Apply a cool compress with Roman chamomile essential oil. Or combine 1 drop basil, 2 drops Roman chamomile, 2 drops lavender essential oils and 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and apply to the area three times a day.

Soak in Epsom salts or make a paste to apply to the wound to ease discomfort and pull out the venom.

Jellyfish Sting

(I was stung by a jellyfish as a child and it is one of those painful experiences that is still fresh in my mind. So, if you plan to head to the beach this summer, make sure to pack vinegar in your first aid kit…just in case.)

First Aid:

Wash the area with salt water only (fresh water releases more toxins) and douse with vinegar or lemon juice. Then remove any remaining tentacles with tweezers, a towel or piece of clothing. (Don’t use your bare hands!) Once the wound is cleaned you can follow the following remedies.

Remedies:

Covering the wound with wet beach sand will help lessen the sting, especially if you need to mobilize to reach additional care.

Apply a paste of meat tenderizer and water directly to the wound to help ease pain.

To continue soothing the area, mix a 1:1 ratio of lavender essential oil with coconut or olive oil and apply to the wound every 15 minutes as needed.

Mosquito Bites

Dab a bit of toothpaste onto the mosquito bites and the itching should stop very quickly. Peppermint toothpaste (not gel) is the best.

Apply lavender or helichrysum essential oil directly to the bite.

Make a paste out of witch hazel, rubbing alcohol or tea tree oil and baking soda. Apply it and leave it on for about 15 minutes.

Apply chilled aloe vera gel to the bite.

Mix a crushed asprin with a bit of water and apply directly to the bite.

Poison Ivy/Oak

Mix 2-3 drops of rose, lavender or Roman chamomile with olive oil and apply directly to blisters.

Boil cracked acorns in water, strain and cool the remaining liquid, and then apply to affected area

Apply a paste of water and baking soda directly to the rash to sooth inflammation, draw the fluid out of blisters and dry them.

Unless you are allergic to milk, applying buttermilk to the blisters may help by drawing out blister fluids. Plain organic yogurt can also be used as a soothing element.

Taking a bath with a dozen chamomile tea bags will help dry blisters and reduce inflammation.

Appling an ice pack for 5-10 minutes will reduce itching temporarily.

Sunburn

In a 4oz bottle, mix together: 4 oz organic Aloe Vera Gel, 15 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops Vitamin E Oil and 2-5 drops of Peppermint essential oil. Store in the refrigerator and apply to the skin as often as you like.

For a soothing bath: add 2 drops of eucalyptus oil, 6 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of Roman Chamomile oil and 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil with 1/2 cup Epsom Salts to lukewarm water and soak without rubbing for 10 minutes (anything longer could dry your skin out too much). This recipe can be used as room temp moist compress also.

Soak a washcloth in cool water and apply it directly to the burned areas. You can also add a soothing agent like lavender essential oil, baking soda or oatmeal to the water.

Drink plenty of water to replenish moisture and help the burns to heal better.

Liberally moisturize skin with coconut or olive oil. You can place the oil in the refrigerator for extra comfort.

*Use high quality essential oils, and avoid soaps and commercially processed lotions which may contain harsh ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin.

Wounds (Minor skin abrasions)

Witch Hazel extract has astringent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties, which makes it an ideal solution for cleansing minor cuts and abrasions. To avoid irritation, make sure to get a high quality solution that has less than 20% alcohol.

After the wound has been cleaned, add 1-3 drops each of helichrysum and/or lavender essential oils to 1 tsp olive oil and apply a small amount to the wound regularly.

I’m not sure about you, but I’m a sucker for my kids’ artwork. I also love freebies, so this is a pretty good deal all the way around. Through their Let’s Doodle Lunch Facebook campaign, Rudi’s Organic Bakery is inviting parents to upload their kid’s artwork through Facebook to get a FREE sandwich box with that art on top of the lid from May 1 – June 30. Then in July, they’ll invite fans to vote on their favorite piece to be the official Rudi’s sandwich box. (I’m told there will be some great prizes!) All you have to do is like Rudi’s on facebook, fill out the form and upload your child’s artwork

Bonus Contest

Rudi’s has supplied me with an art-inspired kit to give away to one lucky reader. It includes various art supplies such as paint, markers, colored pencils and a sketch pad, along with a black beret for creative inspiration (how fun!), a reusable Rudi’s Organic bag and 2 free coupons good for any Rudi’s Organic product.

To win:

To win, you must visit Rudi’s website, come back here and tell me something interesting you learned. For additional entries, follow these steps and leave a separate comment for each one.

1. follow The Average Parent on Facebook.

2. follow The Average Parent on Pinterest

3. follow The Average Parent on Twitter

4. follow Rudi’s Organic Bakery on Facebook (pst, you can also find a $1 off coupons there)

5. follow Rudi’s Organic Bakery on Twitter

6. Tweet about this contest

7. Post about this contest on Facebook

This contest will end Monday, May 21 at 11:59 p.m. at which time the winner will be chosen with a random number generator at Random.org. The winner will be announced on this page, on the facebook wall and will be contacted via email. The winner will have two business days to claim his / her prize before another winner will be chosen. The prize will be mailed directly from a representative for Rudi’s Organic Bakery. The email addresses collected on this page are used for contacting the winner and will never be sold or given away. Open to US residents. Good luck everybody!

Contest Disclaimer:

Rudi’s Organic Bakery provided the prize for the purpose of this post at no cost to me. The owner of this site has been given a prize of equal value for the purpose of this post. This giveaway is administered by me. Therefore, any questions or comments regarding this promotion should be sent to me. The Average Parent is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes. Winner is responsible for any taxes and/or fees that may result from winning. The Average Parent and the sponsoring company are not liable for any injury or damages to person and/or things as a result of the acceptance of the prize offered.

For those of you who aren’t local, we’ll be working to bring some resources to you via my website. It is my hope to be able to live stream oil classes so that you can all learn from the comfort of your homes. I just have to figure out how to make it work. (contact me if you can assist and there might be a free bottle in it for you.)

But, in the mean time, I know that many of you might be questioning the validity of this practice or just wondering if it’s really worth your time/money. You might even be wondering if I’m just looking to make some cash from you. So, I wanted address some common concerns and tell you a little bit about my journey with oils so you can see why I’m so eager to share my knowledge.

Does it really work?

I have been using essential oils for my family for about a year now, but it really did take me a while to totally embrace it. I was very skeptical. To me, it seemed like some people were touting the oils as a miracle solution and I just didn’t buy it. It felt like they were trying to get me to drink the Kool-Aid, if you know what I mean. Yes, I saw a lot of benefits to using the oils…but I didn’t see them as a cure all. When I first started using oils, the suggested protocol for ear infections did absolutely nothing for me and my boys. NOTHING. I thought, this oil thing was a crock….or maybe it had a placebo effect on people, but it wasn’t working for us. Then I got hooked on the Breathe blend from DoTerra. My family suffers from lot of colds and there’s really nothing you can give a child. We adults can take a cold tablet, but I don’t need to tell you that those things often put you in a medicine fog that can make you feel even worse. The Breathe blend has been a life saver. As soon as one of us starts feeling congested, I get the diffuser running and it gives us instant relief. At night, I mix it with lavender and olive oil and rub it on the boys’ feet or chest to help them breathe easier.

Then there are the mood enhancers. OMG, they really do work! But, like anything else, it takes some experimentation. I’ve heard so many people tout the effects of lavender. Being a family of restless sleepers, I was eager to try it. NOTHING. Don’t get me wrong, lavender is very soothing for us, but it did nothing to help us sleep….nor did it help my oldest’s hyperactivity or Hubby’s anxiety. Again, through experimentation we were able to find some other oils that worked wonders for us. It turned out, there was some validity to the whole oil thing, but it just took some experimentation to find the right combinations.

It’s so expensive.

It’s all in how you look at it. The truth is that initially it can be a big investment. The oils are pricey and it takes some time to build your collection. BUT, in the long run, it’s actually cheaper than traditional medicine. The difference is that a tiny bit goes a long way, so one bottle of oil can last a long time… and as long as you store them properly, essential oils never expire.

Also, many people forget that traditional medicine comes with a cost even if it’s not coming from your pocket. For example, a prescription might come with a $20 co-payment, but insurance is covering $50 of that cost. Plus, you probably had to pay a $25 co-payment to the doctor (with insurance picking up the other $75). Insurance companies are in business to make money (a lot of it), so that cost just gets transferred back to you in the form of higher premiums.

Why DoTerra when there are a lot of less expensive essential oils available?

In my experience, there are three different grades of essential oils. There is the kind you can buy at health food stores. They might smell nice, but the quality is very low and the therapeutic value is even lower. Then there are spa grade essential oils. These are much higher quality and have a great deal of therapeutic value, but their purity is questionable. They might be good for topical and aromatic use, but it would not be advisable to use them internally. Finally there is what I like to call pharmaceutical grade essential oils that would include Young Living, DoTerra and Simplers. I have several oils from the “spa quality” grade and have been really happy with them. They’re cheaper and for the most part, they do exactly what I want them to do. I finally settled in with DoTerra for a couple of reasons.

1. The primary reason is that their price structure is the best for the high quality oils. With DoTerra, you can sign up to be a consultant without any commitment to sell, or buy. That means you get the wholesale price without having to sell it yourself and there’s no minimum amount you have to purchase for yourself. Young Living’s program requires you to sell a certain amount of oils in order to qualify for the wholesale price.

2. I enjoy the community of DoTerra oilers and the resources available to learn more. DoTerra offers tons of free webinars and product sheets that help you to get more extensive information online. Also, once you start using oils, you want to share your experiences with others and learn from them. When you’re all using the same oils, it’s easier to connect. My friend hosts an oil chat at Starbucks twice a month and there is an online Facebook group for local DoTerra oilers to share information.

Are you just trying to make money from me?

I really enjoy being a source of information, rather than someone trying to push a product. I  enjoy sharing information that might be able to help others. So, even if you don’t buy DoTerra, I want you to learn about oils and how they can help your family.

If you’re interested in learning more, or would like to join us for an oil chat, leave me a comment and one of us will get in touch with you…and stay tuned to The Average Parent for lots of great information to come your way.

For more ways to save at the box office, click here.