An Oily Day in the Life

Posted by on Leave a Comment

I use my oils daily, for sure.  Some days more than others, some days less.  Here’s what I did yesterday (meant to post this yesterday…. oops).

8:30 – I took a shower and washed my hair with my homemade shampoo.  I just do an equal mix of coconut milk, castille soap, a splash of jojoba oil.  Every time I wash my hair, I just put a drop or two of essential oils in a little bowl with a small amount of my shampoo.  Today I used a drop of Rosemary and a drop of Lavender.  They are both really good supports for the scalp and hair and I often use them.  Sometimes I choose oils that will support my mood, rather than my scalp.  Sometimes I choose ones that just smell good.  I also use the shampoo as my body wash.

8:45 – My after-shower routine is pretty set.  I always put diluted Thieves on my feet for immune support.  Then I put a drop of Frankincense on the roof of my mouth to feel grounded and support basically all of my body’s systems (more about Frank here).  Then I put on my face lotion with a drop of something added – usually Patchouli or more Frankincense.  I also put some Progessence Plus Serum on my neck or forearms for amazing hormonal support.

9:30 – I started diffusing 3 drops of Grapefruit with 5 drops of Idaho Blue Spruce.  Such a good combo.  Megan got me into citrus/tree blends because they’re awesome.

11:00 – I added a drop of Lime Vitality (FDA approved for ingesting) to my water as I was making lunch for the girls.

11:30 – I used my roller bottle of Stress Away diluted with sweet almond oil.

1:45 – I switched it up in my diffuser and went with Christmas Spirit because it’s too hot and I’m ready for cozy smells and chilly air.

4:45 – Alma needed a little emotional support, so she put her Gentle Baby roller bottle on her belly.

8:35 – After a fun, sugary birthday party for Kylie, the girls totally needed help getting settled down for sleep, so I put some Palo Santo in their diffuser.

9:30 – I threw some Lavender in my diffuser, read for a bit and fell right asleep.

I use a lot of other Young Living products during the day (deodorant, laundry soap, cleaner, etc) but I only wrote down the actual oils I used.  How do you use your oils?  I’d love to get some more worked into my routine and am always looking for ideas!

Homemade Playdough with Real Mom Vlogs

Posted by on Leave a Comment

So, I’ve never made playdough before.  I’m basically a stay at home mom of two girls who love any sort of sensory play more than anything else.  How can I not have made playdough?  Well, I haven’t, okay?  UNTIL TODAY!  Megan and I had plans to do a different crafty project with the kids, but it didn’t work out.  Luckily, Megan had everything on hand to make playdough, so we did.

Here’s a recipe I found a few places online.  One thing I love about this one is that it doesn’t need to cook or use hot water, so the kids can actually help mix it all up.  Also, like I said, Megan had all these things in her kitchen already.

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup cold water – bonus if you use hose water like we did
  • 1 Tbs oil (we used fractionated coconut oil)
  • A few drops of essential oils (we used Peace and Calming, and Peace and Calming II)

Directions are pretty easy.

Mix flour and salt.

Add water and oil.

Knead well.  Add more flour or water if needed.

Mix and knead until it comes together and is smooth, like playdough.

Add some Essential Oils.  We picked Peace and Calming II for half the batch, hoping it would turn everything orange, and Peace and Calming, hoping it would turn bluish/green.

As you can see, the colors in the oils didn’t really color the playdough, but the smell certainly came through!  These two three-year-olds played nicely with this playdough for close to an hour.

I think I’ll do this again.  It was easy, quick, and the kids really had fun playing with it.

Megan will post a vlog posted a vlog of the kids playing with the playdough if you want to see more about this whole thing!  Here’s a behind-the-scenes photo of Megan making the vlog.

 

Mom Monday

Posted by on Leave a Comment

Megan has a thing on her vlog that she calls Mom Monday.  Usually it’s with her sister, Hannah, and they talk about motherhood and other random stuff and they do a challenge, but today it was with me!  So…. if you want to watch me be super weird and awkward, watch away!

Let me clarify something here.  My least favorite time of day is the evening, and that just happens to be when Jesse’s home.  In fact, I hate it even more that the worst time of day  is the main time that Jesse gets to spend with the kids.  It bums me out that he misses their sweet mornings and silly afternoons.  At least there are weekends!

Also, Megan just posted her pregnancy and birth story for her newly turned one-year-old, so you should go watch those other videos if you’re into that sort of thing.  I can’t read or hear a birth story without crying (and I’m not a crier).  Good stuff on her channel.

A Day in the Life – August 2, 2017

Posted by on Leave a Comment

6:38 – I want to remember this filtered morning light.  The girls wake us up everyday and we haven’t used alarm clocks in a couple years.  It doesn’t feel like it in the moment, but it really is much better to wake up to them coming into the room, than it is to be awoken by annoying beeps.

6:52 – I want to remember this summer of canning.  I’ve canned some things before, but this summer I’ve really found my stride.  I’ve realized that I can do a small batch in a couple hours and that’s much more pleasant than the all day canning marathons I’ve done in the past.  I’ve also realized that I’m sure we’ll enjoy eating the things I’ve canned all year long – like this blueberry jam that makes yogurt taste like pie.

6:58 – I want to remember how Harriet always wakes up and says “I’m ungry!”  And we need to get her breakfast and milk as quickly as possible.  She loves her milk so much.

8:57 – I want to remember how outgoing and friendly and caring the girls are these days.  They are both very smitten with the Sunday school director at our church.  They are always happy to sit with her, help her out, or just walk around and chat with her.

9:22 – I want to remember how, after I dropped the girls off at camp, I can do whatever I feel is most important.  On Monday, that was definitely time alone at a coffee shop.  On Tuesday, it was definitely time with friends at a coffee shop.  Today it was at home cleaning up, listening to music and crossing things off lists.  Like these three load of laundry that needed to be done.

9:37 – I want to remember how nice everything looks when it’s all clean and tidy (mostly, at least).  I also want to remember how it’s actually quite easy to tidy up and it’s always worth it.  Also, that’s it’s so much easier to tidy up when the kids are at camp.

9:50 – I want to remember how good it feels to be moving my body and focusing my mind.

10:59 – I want to remember the many ways to keep in touch with people.  Right now, my favorite way is an app called Marco Polo that is basically video texting.  It’s the main way Megan and I communicate, especially about Blaugust Vlaugust Bvlaugust August.  I also want to remember how funny Megan is and how much I love her vlogs and how glad and excited I am to be doing this fun project with her (her channel is here, her Day In the Life here, her video of her singing “Manhattan” which is still my go-to for when I’m writing on the blog is here).

11:36 – I want to remember how I always try to get myself in some of these Day in the Life photos, even if that means I’m doing a self timer shot of me switching the laundry over…

11

11:53 – … or a photo of my reflection in the door on my way to pick up the girls.

11:58 – I want to remember how much I love Vacation Bible Camp at our church.  It is such a sweet group of kids, and such a lovely experience for my girls.  All the staff members and volunteers do such a wonderful job making it a fun week for the kids.

12:35 – I want to remember these hot days at the pool with my dad and Deena.  Today we even got lunch in the deal!  Harriet perked right up when she got her strawberry milkshake, don’t worry.

1:40 – I want to remember how much this girl loves the water.  She’s gotten so good at swimming, and even spent today learning how to dive.  She loves it as much as I do.  Harriet is also a little water bug and is getting really good, too.  She loves floating around with her face in the water, checking things out.  She still wears her floaty, but I don’t think she’ll need it that much longer.

2:51 – I want to remember how my dad will spend so much time playing with the girls.  He’s the kind of Papa who isn’t content to just sit around and watch his grandchildren.  He’s right there with them, being goofy, teaching them how to dive, playing games (you can see them over my shoulder).

5:10 – I want to remember this amazing trick for cutting onions.  Open a bottle of Thieves next to the cutting board, and there are no more tears.  I have no idea how this works, but it does.

6:32 – I want to remember the long days and long shadows of summertime.

6:34 – I want to remember how, after watching an episode of The Great British Bake Off with Alma, we decided we should probably go get VooDoo after dinner.  Alma go the M&M one.  Harriet got the pink one with marshmallows on it.  I got a lemon filled one.  Jesse just ate the leftovers.

7:03 – I want to remember our bedtime stories, all piled into our big bed.  We take turns reading, and Alma is always by the reader, while Harriet is always by the cudd

ler.  Then we take the girls to their room, give them hugs and kisses, turn on their diffuser,  and say goodnight.

8:04 – I want to remember that when it’s 105 degrees outside, it’s better to watch shows in bed, rather than in our hot sunroom.  Tonight it was John Oliver.  After the show, I finished my book and fell asleep.  The end.

My Favorite Essential Oil – Frankincense

Posted by on 3 Comments

How do you choose a favorite out of all the favorites? I mean, there are the oils that help elevate my mood, the oils that I turn to for support throughout the month, the oils that support my skin, my hair, my family.  But there’s one oil that can do pretty much all those things, so I’d say it’s my favorite and it’s Frankincense.

I love how scents can totally take you back to a memory.  When I first smelled Frankincense, it instantly reminded me of growing up at my church and smelling the incense on the Sundays when they would use the thurible (I just learned that this is the word for the incense burner that’s swung around on the chain) during the processional.

It also reminded me of all the old churches and cathedrals in Europe, where the centuries of burned incense have built up on the walls and pews and floors, connecting each pilgrim and visitor with its history.  Every time I smell Frankincense, I remember Notre Dame in Paris, St. Paul’s in London, Aya Sofya in Istanbul, Santa Croce in Florence and I’m right back in those places, feeling the immense feelings of humanity and history and faith.

Frankincense can be used to help me feel grounded and peaceful.  I use it every morning and I have been trying to say an affirmation as I smell it and apply it.  The affirmation changes, as I’m trying to find the right one that fits.  Here’s one that I found in the Book of Common Prayer that is meant for Evening Prayer, but works any time of day, really – “Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”  I love that visual – that our prayers and intentions are lifted like the smoke rising from the thurible.

Frankincense is also amazing for other reasons.  First of all, it is so great for supporting the skin, especially aging and dry skin.  It has been used in medication for thousands of years – in fact it was mentioned in the oldest known medical records, the Ebers Papyrus from ancient Egypt.  It also supports our body’s natural response to inflammation and is an incredible support to our immune systems.  Just google it to find out more than I can say here.  It’s amazing.

So, Frankincense supports my skin, my body, and my mind.  What’s not to love?

 

Blaugust Vlaugust August!!!

Posted by on 1 Comment

A couple years ago my friend, Megan, did a whole month of vlogs on her youtube channel for August and it was called Vlaugust, obviously. It actually inspired me to begin one of my most successfully creative times in my life.

This idea was born for a few reasons.  The first one being that I want to get back to that place where I was always creating and always taking the time to sit down and write and always using my time with intention and focus.  The second one being that I’m excited to do some more collaborative projects and I love working with Megan (we did a Christmas giveaway a couple years ago).  The third reason is that Megan has been talking about her next music video for over a year, and I’m going to use this project to force her to release it.

So, for the month of August, I will be posting a new blog, and Megan will be posting a new vlog, every weekday.  We have some fun things planned including our daughters’ birthdays, crafty projects, the moon totally blocking the sun, road trips, and so much more!

I’m excited to get back into the creative groove and start making things again.   Aren’t y’all just so excited about this!?!  Anyone?  Hello….?

Playgroup Camp-out

Posted by on Leave a Comment

Earlier this month we rented a whole group campsite for our playgroup.  It’s the perfect place for so many small people.  It is a place to run, to get toes wet, to roast things over a fire, to sing songs, to play on pirate ship logs, to stay awake too long, and to make some fun memories.

Two other families ended up joining us for the camping, while two other families camp up for the day.

I have loved watching these kids grow up together.  This fall, a huge number of them are starting kindergarten and that’s sort of unbelievable and really exciting.

 

JULY 2017: CURRENTLY

Posted by on Leave a Comment

reading The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss.

hearing rumors that his next book is coming out this fall.

checking his website and seeing no indication of this being true.

listening to Evynne’s cover of “No One Else”on repeat.

planning lots of things for myself and for the internet.

diffusing Christmas Spirit because it’s July and it’s too hot.

not caring what anyone has to say about it.

feeling disjointed about our summer routine.

wanting to get into a groove that is creative, fun, relaxed, and without whines.

knowing that it’s because I just want it to be autumn already.

eating not at home as much as feels right.

camping.

looking for rainclouds on the horizons.

not seeing any.

watching Game of Thrones and loving every new episode.

canning as much as I can can.

seeing friends.

playing in parks.

setting goals.

Harriet’s New Quilt

Posted by on 3 Comments

This has taken me so long.  I think I bought the fabric last summer when we moved Harriet into a big bed.  Then I started sewing in October.  Then I finished the quilt top in the winter.  Then I quilted it in the spring.  I finally got about to binding this past weekend and Harriet was so happy and excited.  I am too.

I used the same pattern as I did with Alma’s big quilt.  But, again I had to modify it.  I wanted to try the color gradation, but that was only designed for queen sized quilts.  I had to put on my thinking hat, do some math, and hope for the best.  It actually worked out just right and I really love the finished effect.

I used the same color scheme as I did with Alma’s quilt, but it is mostly different fabrics.  I love these scrappy quilts because it’s fun to use fabrics with sentimental value and find cute little quirky fabrics – I like the idea of the quilts being like eye-spy books with hidden things.  Harriet’s favorites are the pink mermaid tails scattered throughout the quilt.

Here’s a photo of the front of the quilt:

And the back.  I love making quilt backs more interesting than just a big expanse of fabric:

Summer To-Do List, 2017

Posted by on 2 Comments

Oh, hey, summer! How are you?  Again, I’m pretty happy to see you.  We have lots of good plans for you and I’m so excited to get started.