Taking it easy!

As I mentioned in my last post, I am pregnant and due in May! Pictured above is my little Gummy Bear a few weeks ago :) While I love running my little Etsy shop and serving my awesome customers, I have been feeling stretched a bit too thin since the start of this pregnancy. Pregnancy is not an easy time for any women, but I have a particularly rough time with it. In the past I have had surgery while pregnant and have spent a lot of time on bed rest. Of course my kids are SO worth it, and I am happy to have the opportunity to have another one! So, while I am hoping and praying for the best this time around, I am also trying to take it easy and pace myself. My energy has been quite low.,

So, I have made the decision to take a maternity leave! I will be closing my shop at the end of December and I am not sure when or if I will reopen. I really just need to focus on being a mom and spending my energy on my kids, because there is not a whole lot of energy to go around these days. I will also be putting my shop on vacation next week, because I will be visiting family and not getting on the computer at all!

Shop will be closed from Nov. 16-29, then closed again at the end of December indefinitely. This means it's time to stock up!! I have lots of deodorants in stock (about 50 tubes ready to be filled) so if you are hooked on No Offense Deodorant stock up now! I don't have a whole lot of listings posted, but I do have these available in ANY of my scents, just ask. I also have plenty of everything else in my shop! Get it while you can and stock up!

New Tubes

Just an update on what's going on over here! I will be transitioning to a new type of tube for my deodorants. These are a better design and the lid comes on and off easier, so I think you will like them a lot. This change will be coming into affect as soon as I run out of the old tubes! Look for the new design in my shop next week!

Also, the perfume oils were not forgotten! I have just been very busy and dealing with morning sickness, so adding new products hasn't been my top priority! Yes, I am due in May to have my third child! We are so excited!

Essential Oils and Safety for Pregnant Women

First I will say I LOVE essential oils! I have spent many years studying them, their benefits are many and of course they smell divine! At the same time there is a lot of misinformation about essential oils out in the world today. Many use them as though they are simple natural fragrances. Doing so can be dangerous for some people though, particularly pregnant women, small children, people with epilepsy, or high blood pressure. Essential oils carry concentrated plant chemicals in them, which can be dangerous if not handled properly. Here I have compiled a list of essential oils that should not be used by pregnant women. The purpose of this is to hopefully educate women and keep them and their babies safe. These oils are on the list for various reasons; some are more dangerous than others, some are only unsafe during the first trimester. Some at the bottom of the list are less common and should never be used on the skin by anyone (these are marked as such). As a rule of thumb while pregnant use extreme caution using any essential oils on the skin. Although many prefer using something natural, sometimes the synthetic scent may be safer. This list was compiled from my various reference books; it may not be all inclusive. Caution should always be used when pregnant!

Essential oils that should not be used by pregnant women

Lavender
German Chamomile
Geranium
Rose Otto
Basil
Thyme
Jasmine
Marjoram
Rosemary
Clary Sage
Citronella
Bay
Juniper Berry
Myrrh
Cinnamon of any kind
Star Anise
Spanish sage
Celery seed
Angelica
Snakeroot
Calamintha
Labdanum
Cumin
Savine
Lovage
Parsley
Aniseed
Hyssop
Verbena
Angelica Root
Cedarwood (all types)
Nutmeg
Cistus (also known as rock rose)
Sweet Fennel (bitter fennel should never be used)
Wormwood (should never be used)
Tarragon (should never be used)
Mugwort (should never be used)
Deertongue (should never be used)
Wormseed (should never be used)
Camphor (should never be used)
Cassia (should never be used)
Pennyroyal (should always be avoided)
Oregano (should always be avoided)
Boldo leaf (should always be avoided)
Jaborandi (should always be avoided)
Bitter almond (should always be avoided)
Rue (should always be avoided)
Common sage (should always be avoided)
Santolina (should always be avoided)
Sassafras (should always be avoided)
Summer savory (should always be avoided)
Winter savory (should always be avoided)
Tansy (should always be avoided)
Thuja (should always be avoided)
Ajowan (should always be avoided)