​She smelled good… but she was toxic.
And listen, I love a good smell. I love walking into a room and having it feel clean, cozy, warm, luxurious, grounded, and just a little bit like, “Okay, she has her life together.”
I love soft skin. I love clean laundry. I love a candle moment. I love smelling good just as much as the next girl.
But here’s the thing.
For years, we have been sold the idea that fragrance equals clean. Clean laundry. Clean skin. Clean house. Fresh hair. Fancy perfume. Cozy candles. Plug-ins that make the whole room smell like vanilla cupcakes, fresh linen, and a chemically-created forest had a baby.
And for a long time, we didn’t question it.
We just thought, “Oh, this smells good. It must be fine.”
Until we start paying attention.
And once I started paying attention to what synthetic fragrance actually is, how often I was exposed to it, and how my body responded to it, I could not unsee it.
Or unsmell it.
And that is where the breakup began.

“Fragrance” Sounds Cute… But She’s Sneaky
The word “fragrance” sounds innocent.
Pretty, even.
It sounds soft, feminine, luxurious, and harmless. But synthetic fragrance can be a whole cocktail of undisclosed chemicals hiding behind one tiny little word on a label.
Fragrance.
That’s it.
One word. A whole mystery. And your body is over there trying to figure out what in the endocrine-disrupting nonsense is going on.
Rude.
The tricky thing is that fragrance is everywhere. It is not just your perfume. It is your lotion, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, candles, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, cleaning products, room sprays, plug-ins, and sometimes even the things marketed as “fresh,” “clean,” or “natural.”
So when we are layering these things on every single day, breathing them in, putting them on our skin, sleeping in them, wearing them, washing our clothes in them, and spraying them around our homes, that exposure can add up.
And your body notices.
Your hormones notice.
Your nervous system notices.
Your skin notices.
Your liver notices.
Your energy notices.
Bestie, the body is always keeping receipts.

Your Skin Is Not a Wall
This is one of the biggest things I wish more women understood.
Your skin is not a wall. It is not just sitting there like a cute little outfit for your organs. Your skin is an entry point, and your body is listening to what you put on it, spray around it, and breathe in every day.
So when we cover our bodies in synthetic fragrance and then wonder why we feel sensitive, foggy, overwhelmed, irritated, headachy, inflamed, or disconnected from our body, it might be time to look at the things we are exposed to every single day.
Now, are fragrances the only thing affecting our hormones, nervous system, mood, skin, or energy?
Of course not.
We are not blaming one cute little bottle of perfume for every issue in the body. That would be dramatic, and while I do love a little drama, we are keeping this grounded.
But is synthetic fragrance one of those sneaky daily exposures that is absolutely worth reducing or removing?
Yes.
A thousand times yes.
Because the things we use every day matter. Not because we need to live in fear, but because we are allowed to choose better. We are allowed to support our bodies instead of constantly asking them to process more.

My Body Started Talking Louder
For me, removing synthetic fragrance was a game changer.
Not overnight. Not in a dramatic “I threw away my entire house and now live barefoot on a mountain wearing linen and drinking spring water” kind of way.
It was slower than that.
More real than that.
I started noticing how certain smells made me feel. Some gave me headaches. Some made me feel overstimulated. Some felt heavy in my body. Some made my nervous system feel like it was quietly whispering, “Girl… I am trying.”
So I started swapping things out little by little.
Perfume.
Lotion.
Candles.
Laundry products.
Home sprays.
Body products.
I didn’t do it perfectly, and I didn’t do it all at once. I just started paying attention. I started choosing cleaner options. I started noticing what felt supportive and what felt like stress.
And over time, I noticed a shift.
Less sensitivity.
Less overwhelm.
Less artificial everything.
More clarity.
More calm.
More connection to my body.
My body was basically like, “Finally. She’s listening.”
And honestly? That is the whole point.
This is not about being perfect. This is not about panicking over every label or throwing everything away in one day. This is about awareness. It is about making empowered swaps. It is about realizing that the products we use every day are part of our health, our hormones, our mood, our energy, and our environment.
Tiny swaps create big shifts.

So What Do I Use Instead?
Essential oils.
Because yes, I still want to smell amazing. I just don’t want endocrine-disrupting nonsense wrapped in a cute bottle.
We have standards now.
Essential oils give me the beautiful scent experience I love, but in a way that feels more connected to nature, more intentional, and more supportive to my body and energy.
They come from plants, flowers, roots, resins, leaves, bark, and nature herself. They are not just created to cover up a smell. They carry the intelligence of the plant, and that feels different to me.
I don’t want something that just smells “pretty” while my body is over there fighting for its life.
I want something that supports the whole system.
Body.
Mind.
Mood.
Energy.
Spirit.
That is the kind of beauty I am here for now.

Not Just a Smell. A Whole Mood.
This is where essential oils become so much more than “Oh, that smells nice.”
They can support grounding, calming, uplifting, clearing, emotional balance, heart-opening, nervous system regulation, and energetic alignment.
They are a whole mood.
And because they are so concentrated, a little goes a long way. You do not need to bathe in them, babe. We are not trying to become a walking diffuser. We are using them intentionally.
That is what I love most about them. They help me pause and ask, “What do I need today?”
Do I need grounding?
Do I need softness?
Do I need energy?
Do I need emotional support?
Do I need to clear the heaviness?
Do I need to come back into my body?
That is the beauty of essential oils. They become part of the ritual. They are not just about smelling good. They are about feeling supported.
And listen, when something smells amazing and supports my emotional and energetic body?
We love a multi-tasking queen.

My Current Favorite Combo
Right now, my favorite combo is Patchouli and Ylang Ylang mixed into doTERRA’s natural, chemical-free, fragrance-free lotion.
And let me tell you…
She is earthy. She is soft. She is sensual. She is grounded. She has boundaries and smells expensive.
Patchouli brings that deep, earthy, rooted energy. It feels grounding, stabilizing, and connected to the body. It has that “come back down to earth, unclench your jaw, and remember who you are” kind of vibe.
Ylang Ylang brings the soft, feminine, heart-opening energy. It feels sensual, calming, and emotionally supportive. It has that “soft girl, but with standards” kind of energy.
Together?
Grounded goddess.
Regulated nervous system.
Smelling like you drink water, set boundaries, and know your worth.
Even if you are still figuring it out.
We’re healing.

My Easy Swap
This does not have to be complicated.
You do not need to throw away your whole house by Friday. You do not need to spiral in the Target aisle reading every label like you are decoding ancient scripture. You do not need to do this perfectly.
Start with one thing.
One lotion.
One perfume.
One candle.
One laundry product.
One room spray.
One daily swap.
My favorite simple swap is using a clean, fragrance-free lotion and adding a few drops of essential oil. That way, I still get to smell amazing, but I get to choose what I am putting on my body instead of trusting a mystery ingredient list labeled “fragrance.”
That is a no for me.
Use the lotion. Add the oils. Apply. Smell incredible. Support your body. Skip the fake fragrance drama.
Boom.
Clean does not have to mean boring.
Natural does not have to mean bland.
It can be luxurious, sensual, intentional, healing, and completely aligned.
And yes, still sexy.

A Loving Note on Essential Oils
Now, because I love you, let’s also say this clearly: essential oils are powerful.
Natural does not mean “use half the bottle and hope for the best.”
A little goes a long way. I always recommend using high-quality oils, diluting properly, avoiding sensitive areas, and being mindful around children, pets, pregnancy, and certain health conditions.
This is not fear-based living. This is informed, intentional living.
Natural means we partner with the plant wisely.
And that is the whole point.
We are not swapping synthetic fragrance for essential oils so we can overdo it in a new way. We are choosing to be more connected, more intentional, and more supportive of our bodies.

The Bigger Lesson
This is not just about perfume.
It is about paying attention.
It is about asking better questions.
What am I putting on my body every day?
What am I breathing in?
What is my home environment doing to my nervous system?
What is supporting the woman I am becoming?
And what is quietly working against her?
Because the little things matter. The lotion. The laundry soap. The candle. The perfume. The cleaner. The room spray. The things we use every single day become part of the environment our body has to live in.
And when we start cleaning up those daily exposures, we give our body more space to do what it was designed to do.
Heal.
Regulate.
Detox.
Rest.
Restore.
Come back into balance.
This is not about perfection. This is about awareness. It is about choosing better when we know better. It is about creating a home, a body, and a life that feels aligned from the inside out.
Your body deserves better than fake fragrance.
Your hormones deserve better.
Your nervous system deserves better.
Your energy deserves better.
And honestly?
So do you.

Love. Laugh. Lift.

There’s something about fall that flips a switch in all of us.
The temps drop, the sweaters come out, and suddenly we’re collectively possessed by the urge to order pumpkin everything.
Pumpkin lattes. Pumpkin candles. Pumpkin protein bars.
It’s like our nervous systems sense a leaf hit the ground and say, “Quick, get me something orange and spiced!”
And hey, I get it, I’m here for the cozy vibes, too. But let’s be real: most of what we call “pumpkin” this time of year is more sugar and syrup than squash and seeds. So today, we’re going deeper… into the real pumpkin goodness. The tiny, nutrient-dense seeds that pack serious power for your hormones and your immune system.


🧡 Pumpkin Cravings = Your Body’s Wisdom
Here’s the thing: our bodies are smart.
Those fall cravings aren’t random, they’re often your body’s way of asking for grounding, warmth, and nourishment after summer’s fiery, outward energy.
Fall is the season of transition, of coming back inward, of building and restoring. And pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) are basically nature’s answer to that call.
They’re grounding, mineral-rich, and full of nutrients that your body actually needs this time of year, especially when it comes to hormones, stress, and immune support.


💪 The Hormone Magic in Pumpkin Seeds
Let’s break it down:
✨ Zinc — your hormone’s secret weapon.
It helps your body make progesterone (hello, mood and metabolism), supports testosterone balance, and keeps your immune system strong.
✨ Magnesium — the chill mineral.
It helps regulate cortisol (your stress hormone), improves sleep, and eases PMS symptoms. Aka: you’ll be less likely to want to throat-punch someone during the luteal phase.
✨ Healthy fats + plant sterols — the hormone building blocks.
Your body makes hormones from fat, so these little seeds actually help fuel balanced production.
✨ Tryptophan — a natural mood booster.
Pumpkin seeds contain this amino acid that supports serotonin and melatonin — great for mood, sleep, and regulating your circadian rhythm as the days get shorter.


🦠 And Don’t Forget: Immune Support!
Pumpkin seeds are a quiet immune powerhouse. That zinc we just talked about? It’s one of your immune system’s MVP minerals. It helps your body fight off infections and recover faster from stress.
Pair that with magnesium and antioxidants, and you’ve got the perfect fall support food to keep your energy (and immunity) up when everyone else is catching “the seasonal crud.”


🌿 How to Add Them 
You don’t have to sit around eating handfuls of dry seeds to get the benefits (unless that’s your thing).
Try this instead:

• Sprinkle them on top of your oatmeal or yogurt bowl
• Toss them into a fall salad with roasted squash and goat cheese
• Add them to homemade granola or trail mix
• Blend into smoothies for extra texture + minerals
• Use them in your seed cycling routine during the follicular phase (Days 1–14) to support estrogen balance

Just 1–2 tablespoons a day can make a difference in energy, mood, and cycle balance.


✨ The Takeaway
So yes, go ahead and enjoy your pumpkin spice moment, life’s too short not to.
And also? Give some love to the real pumpkin powerhouses: those tiny seeds that fuel your hormones, calm your nervous system, and keep your immune system sharp.
It’s cozy girl season, but make it aligned. 🍂

Love. Laugh. Lift. 
Carlie 💛
Heart & Core Training Studio
Love. Laugh. Lift.

​PS. 🔬 Science Behind the Seeds
✨ Zinc & Hormone Health
Zinc supports reproductive hormone balance and immune function. Low zinc has been linked to PMS symptoms and reduced progesterone and testosterone levels.
Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements, 2024
✨ Magnesium & Stress Regulation
Magnesium helps regulate cortisol and supports relaxation, sleep, and menstrual comfort — making it key for hormonal balance and stress resilience.
Source: Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 2018
✨ Tryptophan & Mood
Pumpkin seeds contain tryptophan, an amino acid your body converts to serotonin and melatonin — essential for mood, sleep, and circadian rhythm support.
Source: Nutrients Journal, 2016
✨ Immune Support
Zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants in pumpkin seeds work synergistically to support healthy immune defense and recovery.
Source: Frontiers in Immunology, 2020

For a long time, I wrestled with a question that I know so many others carry too:
“Is Reiki outside of God?”
The answer I’ve come to, through years of exploration, is this: No. Reiki is not outside of God. It is of God.


🌿 Reiki Is Not a Religion
First, let’s clear the air. Reiki is not a religion. It doesn’t ask you to follow a doctrine, give up your faith, or replace your relationship with God.
Instead, Reiki is a practice — a way of connecting with the life force energy that flows through every single living being. In Japanese, “Rei” means universal, and “Ki” means life energy. To me, that universal energy has always felt like the presence of God.
I’ve come to believe that when we connect through Reiki, we’re simply opening ourselves to what God already placed within and around us — a current of love, healing, and wholeness.


✨ My Journey: From Religion to Spirituality
Growing up, my understanding of God came through religion. And while there was beauty in that, I often felt disconnected or like I wasn’t “enough.” God felt distant — someone to please, or someone who might judge me if I got it wrong.
When I discovered Reiki, something shifted. It wasn’t about rules or conditions. It wasn’t about “getting it right.” It was about feeling God’s presence in my own body, my own breath, my own heart.

• The first time I received Reiki, I felt warmth and peace move through me in a way I can only describe as divine.
• The first time I gave Reiki to someone else, I realized it wasn’t me “doing” the healing — I was simply creating space for God’s energy to flow.
• And as I continued practicing, I felt closer to Spirit than I ever had sitting in a pew. Reiki opened my eyes to the truth that God is not separate from us. God is within us.

🌎 The Universal Truth Across Religions
The more I studied, the more I saw that this truth — that God is everything and God is within us — is not unique to Reiki. It’s a universal teaching.

• In Christianity, scripture reminds us: “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
• In Buddhism, the practice points us inward — to awaken to our own divine nature and interconnectedness with all beings.
• In Kabbalah, God is the Infinite (Ein Sof), and all creation is an emanation of that divine source.
• Across countless traditions, there’s the shared knowing that we are not separate from God — we are expressions of God.

Reiki doesn’t contradict faith. It reflects the same truth that faith traditions across the world have always carried: everything is of God, and God lives within us.


🌙 Reiki as a Channel of God’s Energy
When I place my hands over someone in a session, I don’t feel like it’s “Carlie” who is healing. I feel like I’m opening a door — inviting in love, light, and divine energy.
Think about it this way:

• When you pray, you’re opening to God with your words and intention.
• When you meditate, you’re listening for God’s voice in stillness.
• When you receive Reiki, you’re allowing God’s energy to move through you for restoration and alignment.

It’s all connected. Different doorways, same Source.


🌸 Examples of Reiki in Everyday Life
I’ve seen Reiki show up in ways that remind me how deeply it is of God:

• A woman came to me anxious and heavy with grief. After Reiki, she said, “I feel like God just wrapped me in a hug.”
• During a session for a client recovering from illness, I felt guided to rest my hands at her heart. She wept afterward, saying, “I finally feel peace — like God hasn’t left me.”
• Even in my own practice, Reiki has helped me through trauma, healing not just my body but restoring my spirit and reminding me of God’s presence in every step of my journey.

These are not coincidences. They are reminders that Reiki is a pathway back to the love of God, the wholeness of Spirit, and the truth of who we are.


💫 My Truth Today
So, is Reiki outside of God? Absolutely not.
Reiki has been one of the clearest mirrors in my life that all things are connected and all things are of God.
It has brought me home to my spirituality, helped me see that healing is a sacred act, and reminded me that we are never separate from Source.
If you’ve ever wondered about Reiki and your faith, I want to reassure you: Reiki does not take you away from God. It brings you closer.


💌 Invitation
If this resonates with you and you’ve been curious about Reiki — whether for your own healing or to learn it yourself — I’d love to invite you to experience it firsthand. Sometimes words only take us so far. The rest, you feel.
👉 Book a Reiki session with me at Heart & Core, or join one of our upcoming Reiki trainings to explore this connection for yourself.
Love. Laugh. Lift. 
Carlie Young
Reiki Master Teacher

What works for me?! ✨✨✨
I’ve been asked to share my secrets to getting and staying sober. My plan. My steps. And in the beginning I didn’t have any- I just quit.
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Looking back now I know this isn’t “normal”, or so I’ve been told. But it was everything I needed at the time.
The next day I went to my first AA meeting. Mainly because that’s what I thought you did. That’s what I was told. I attended those meetings weekly for 30 days. 🗓
I started working out. Weights or P90X at home with my son. 🏋🏼‍♀️
I started eating better. No more fast food and candy. 🥗🥑🍑
I drank water. Oh, and my new sober find- coffee! 💦☕️
I surrounded myself with friends and family. I called and reminded them that I was still fun and wanted to attend bbqs and summertime functions. They were being cautious and didn’t want to trigger me with their drinking. But I knew that it didn’t matter what anyone else was doing. 🥂🍺This choice was for me.
I went to church. 🙏🏼 I poured my soul out and opened my heart to Christ. ✝️
I spent time outdoors and soaked in the sun. ☀️🌲🌺
I made apologies. I cried. I survived. 💛
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There is no black and white way to get sober. There are methods that have worked for different people at different times and my best suggestion is to find what works for you! No cookie cutter plan. I did not like my AA meetings. So I stopped going. But that did not stop my recovery. I found other supportive groups, like church, to spend my time with. And if AA works for you and you love it, that’s awesome!! Keep that shit up!! Do you! Have goals. Be true to you. Stay fresh and new. Everyday. Remind yourself of your why. Spread love.
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Love. Laugh. Lift. ❤️
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