Easy Cake Mix Cookies!

I'll make this short and sweet (literally)!

This weekend my Aunt DH asked me to make some "reverse oreo" cookies-Yellow cookies with chocolate frosting in the middle. Um...ok...I have never done this before...so of course I headed to Pinterest. I found a few good options that were about the same with slight variations and decided to give it a try.

Let's be honest, I don't always have the stuff in my pantry to make cookies from scratch. but I almost always have a cake mix! Here's what I ended up doing--and it was SOOOO easy! No amazing baking skills required. ;)

What you will need:

Mixing bowl
Spoon, whisk, or mixer
1" cookie scoop (or spoons)
2 cake mixes (In this case I used yellow)
4 eggs
3/4 cup olive oil (or coconut oil)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*.

In the mixing bowl, mix ingredients together. Using the cookie scoop, scoop out dough and roll with hands into balls. (12/cookie sheet)

Bake for 7-8 minutes. Cool on pan for several minutes before transferring to a cookie rack.  Be sure to allow the cookies to completely cool or they will fall apart while frosting. Frost between two cookies (sandwich style).

Voíla! Beautiful and delicious reverse oreo cookies. :D

Think of all the possibilities! Using this easy method, you can have a colorful array of delicious cookies that look amazing.

Happy Baking!



**If you want to make the frosting from scratch instead of using store bought, the following recipe is yummy!**

Frosting:

8oz cream cheese
1/2 C butter
3 C powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Whip until smooth and use between two cookies.

Cloth Wipes-The Easy Way!

Aside from being born 2 months early, my oldest son hasn't had any issues-minimal rashes, awesome skin, no reflux, no colic-just very opinionated (and that's ok by me). So when my second was born, I assumed he'd be similar. Yah, yah, no two babies are the same, but they can't be THAT different right? I mean, they came from the same set of genes...

Well, baby #2 really hasn't had terrible issues either, but when it comes to skin he is quite the opposite! He would get frequent rashes, burns easy, and is super pale. Around 4 months, we decided to try cloth diapers *gasp*! We had tried about 5 different types of disposables and his skin just couldn't handle it. There was definitely a learning curve to cloth (more on that in a future post) but I just couldn't quite make the switch to cloth wipes. We had a spray bottle but I just never felt like it worked well enough for us, so we just used disposable ones. About 6 months later he still had some issues, and I realized it was only when I used the wipes! So we tried several brands from generic to high-end, but nothing kept his bum from getting red. I felt so bad! So after some Pinteresting, I made a wipes solution and decided to make my own! Here's what I did. It's so easy and I totally love it! No squirt bottles, less things to manipulate during changes (yay!) and no red bum!

Supplies: Wipes box, baby washcloths, baby wipe bits (homemade or bought-some on Etsy or cloth diaper stores), water!

First: I fold my washcloths together (about 16) so they kind of accordion together. This way when I pull a wipe out, it pulls the next one up, too. Then I put them (dry) into a wipes box. 

Second: I dissolve 1/2 wipe bit cube with 1 cup hot water and pour over the dry wipes. 

Third: I pull the first wipe through the top hole and close the lid. Voila! I change them out every few days (2-3 times a week)

I make my own wipe bits from coconut oil, baby castille bar soap, and essential oils (lavender, roman chamomile, and melaleuca from Spark Naturals). Then I cool them in a bite-size brownie silicon tray. 

Once cooled they go into an airtight container in the fridge. They can last up to 6 months in the fridge! One cube is 2 solutions worth, so they last a while. Very Affordable and easy!

When traveling, I put a few pieces into a baby food jar.  Portable and airtight! :)

I hope this post has helped another parent looking for an easy way to use cloth wipes! :)

Happy Wiping! ;)

***Don't forget, if you order from Spark Naturals, use #couponcodeSEED for 10% off all orders***

Helter Skelter

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind! Between our house sale falling through...twice, nearly losing the home we had lined up, eating so much junk, and baby B getting his canine teeth in, it has been an emotional roller coaster!! This week is proving to be a bit better. Here's why:

Unpacking: the rooms are not totally unpacked, but they are tidy! Things I haven't unpacked yet are either in the closet, basement, or garage. This has created a semblance of peace and order, which has been desperately needed!! When I walk into a room I don't see the million little things I haven't yet done, but rather a clean, inviting space. 

Routine: Living out of boxes is quite stressful-for everyone-which makes it especially stressful on mama, who is trying to be productive and stay sane while keeping kiddos from freaking out due to upset schedules and feeling out of place. Now that a lot of our familiar belongings are out and we have begun a regular routine, life is getting "back to normal". It has also allowed me to implement changes I've been wanting to make for a while now (ever the procrastinator). AND I've been able to gain more control of my eating. I have my blender for smoothies, my keurig for herbal teas, my fridge and freezer for storing left overs, and my crockpot! 

Essential Oils: My diffuser was one of the first things I unpacked! It's been such a comfort to have. There is something to scents-they can evoke emotions just like sounds or colors can. Roman Chamomile has been wonderful when I'm feeling so frustrated and ready to just give up. Peppermint and Wild Orange have helped invigorate and motivate me to get the things done I need to do. (More on this below). I'm excited for this week's deal because I use Frankincense all the time! 

Time for Myself: Through it all I've had to make time for myself! I get too worked up and overwhelmed and when that happens, I put everything aside. I've been trying new crochet patterns (baby hats for Etsy this week), exercising daily (even if it's only 10-15 min), reading (currently: When Calls The Heart by Janette Oke), and learning more about the essential oils that I love! I recently bought my most favorite EO reference book that I have found. It lays out different oils, their uses, properties, and safety precautions. There is a whole section addressing body systems and remedies for various maladies from focus and concentration to eating disorders and addictions. It is my most useful reference. One of my favorite things in the oil descriptions are the emotional effects of each oil. I've been playing around with different blends and it has been fun to see the mood change in my home. I highly recommend The Essential Life: A Simple Guide To Loving The Wellness Lifestyle (from Total Wellness Publishing, LLC). 

Sprout Tip: All in all, don't forget yourself completely. You are important. It's ok to put the stress aside for a while, rejuvenate, and then get back to work. :)

Natural, Kid-safe Bug Spray

We are headed camping ⛺️ for this wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and so I thought I'd post what we use for bug spray! Like many of you, I wanted a bug spray that would keep the bigs away without all of the nasty chemicals, especially in my babies (fur and otherwise). I always bring Rose Geranium oil for my dog to keep the ticks away, but I needed something all-encompassing for my family! So, this is what we use:

It helps ward off ants, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and ticks. So wonderful! And what's more? IT. SMELLS. GOOD! Amen, right? 

We are also bringing a small case of oils for those "just in case" moments (including our sleepy time blend from my last post). 

So with summer camping season in full swing, don't forget to add this wonderful spray to your camping gear. 

Happy Camping!

****Special Weekend Promotion****

Good Night, Sleep Tight...

I don't know about you, but getting my littles to calm down can be quite the dreaded task. Between running around to avoid jammies, screaming, crying, "one more story, mom?"...it seems endless! So what can you do? There are plenty of blogs out there about how important a night time routine is in countless variations. That is not this post. THIS post is about an essential oil (EO) blend that I have found helps us all calm down! Oh, the miracle of oils.

In my research I found a combination of calming oils that I had in my stash so I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! The recipe I found called for an ounce (30mL) of Almond oil, but all I had was an empty 15mL dropper and fractionated coconut oil (FCO), so that's what I used. Here's the *recipe:

1 15mL dropper/bottle
4 drops Lavender EO
2 drops Roman Chamomile EO
Fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil

To make the blend more effective, put the drops of essential oil in first to blend, and then fill the dropper with the FCO. Before bed, put the blend on your kiddo and massage in, optimally toward the heard (ankle to thigh, wrist to shoulder, etc.).

That's it! There you have it! These oils are very gentle and have a wonderful calming effect.  Not only that, but the gentle touch massage is calming and a special bonding time for you and your child.

*This blend is is great for babies 1-4 years. For NB-1, I'd suggest 2 drops Lavender, 1 drop Roman Chamomile for more dilution. For older children, I'd use a bit more EO at a 2:1 ratio.


**As Always, use coupon code: seed at check out for 10% from Spark Naturals.

Happy Thursday!

I Like to Move it, Move it...NOT!

Moving is a very stressful adventure and can be...daunting to say the least! To make it easier I searched Pinterest and asked by Facebook friends for all sorts of moving ideas and then implemented them in my own ways. Here is what I've done! Hopefully it will help you in your next move.

1. Dejunk!

About a year ago (when we were planning to put our house on the market) I went through all of our things-clothes, toys, storage boxes, etc.  Anything we hadn't used since our previous move, and things we simply wanted to get rid of were put into a weekend yard sale. It was a great way to bring in a little cash (about $100) and the rest was donated to the thrift store. Now that it has been a year and we are finally closing on our new home, I have gone through the storage again. It was much easier this go-around! Anything we didn't use or need since last year was out! Several trips to the thrift store later and there goes several boxes I won't be packing/unpacking. Yay!

2. Develop a System!

Our last move was with a job relocation so most of our things were packed for us. Sounds like a dream you say? It was a mess! They did an ok job packing (minimal damage), but I was so unorganized before they came that we found most boxes were labeled "Pillows" when it was really office supplies with a pillow on top. NOOOOT so fun to unpack. This time WILL BE DIFFERENT! Here's what I've done.

I grabbed an old notebook (from my teaching days) and sectioned it off with masking tape tabs. Each tab was labeled with a room and designated number.

Each room or area of the house was designated a Duct Tape color. To conserve on $$ I limited it to 6 colors, so some colors cover multiple rooms but similar destinations in the new home.

I wrapped colored duct tape around opposite corners so the color could be seen from any side. On the top of the box I used the tape for the description.

I labeled each box with a number and a general description.

Then in my notebook I wrote specifically what was in each box so that I could find a particular item easily without rummaging through 5 boxes.

Any boxes or totes that are to be put in storage were simply labeled (I used white tape for the label but didn't wrap around the corners like those specified to designated rooms) and will be put into the basement.

Everyday I pack a few more things. We should close in two weeks (fingers crossed!) so if I pack a couple boxes each day it won't be so stressful and chaotic at the end, and the incredibly overwhelming task of boxing up my life won't be so daunting. To quote Bill Murray, "Baby steps"!

Not only has packing this way helped me organize my belongings, but it will be great when family and friends come to help us unpack! Because each room/area is a certain color, boxes will be easily placed where they needed to be for easy unpacking.

3. Plan Ahead!

Eat Frozen Food-To limit the amount of food you will need to toss (or transport), start making meals with all your frozen foods! It may mean you have some totally random combinations (like chicken nuggets with peas and pasta with a smoothie-from frozen berries/fruit) but it makes for cleaning the fridge out much easier (and less wasteful)! Then, as more things are packed, quick microwave, crockpot, or oven meals are the way to go! Less dishes and stress-double win!

First Night Box-Plan a box of all the things you will need the first night you are in the house. That day will be busy and stressful! The last thing you want to be doing is digging through boxes looking for a roll of toilet paper or a towel after a much needed shower. Some things to consider (aside from towels and toilet paper) are paper/plastic dishes (cups, plates, bowls, silverware), bedding, box cutter, small trash bin/trash bags, bottled water, and a pill case for vitamins/medications for that night.

Camping/Activities-Often times when we are moving, there are events that have been planned for months in advance that just happen to take place the weeks before moving. For example, we have a family camping trip that has already been paid for, so instead of simply skipping it, we are already packed and ready to go! When we are done, I will put the camping stuff back in the tote and store it for the week before closing so I don't even have to stress about it! (Are you noticing the recurring theme of 'less stress'?)

Logisitics-How are you moving your things to their new destination? Are you renting a storage unit or a storage pod? Are you renting a truck and transporting it yourself? Where are you renting from? Be sure to plan this one ahead, especially if you are moving during the prime moving months in the Spring and Summer time. Sometimes trucking companies are reserved weeks in advance so nail do your plan (and a couple contingencies) as soon as you know your end game. And don't be afraid to ask for deals! Many companies will price match or offer special rates if rented on certain days.

Save "Padding" Materials-Anything that can be used to stuff boxes or wrap items in KEEP! This is a great way to put junk mail to use! Newspaper ads, credit card garbage-you name it, we've used it! We have even used grocery bags, phone book pages, and the market analyses of our house from different realtors. Literally any padding is helpful! And when you're done it can all be recycled.

Overall, moving is a stressful experience. So many factors have to line up just right, and the unknown is scary. Why make it harder on yourself? This move has been one of the least stressful, and I don't think it's because this is our third move in 5 years. They've all been different, with different circumstances, but dejunking, developing a system of organization, and planning ahead have made all the difference!

Summer Skin Care Essentials--Who knew?!

This week Spark Naturals is having a deal on what they call their "Summer Skin Care Essentials". I use a couple of the oils regularly, but it definitely peaked my interest when I saw the list: Rose Water, Witch Hazel, Lavender Essential Oil, Geranium Essential Oil, and Carrot Seed Essential Oil (I didn't even know this was a thing?).

 I decided to look into each of these products and share what I have found with you. :)

Rose Water

Rose Water is a distillate made in the process of producing Rose essential oil. It has a lot of the same properties of the pure Rose oil, but to a lesser degree. It is often used as a skin moisturizer/toner, make-up remover, and linen spray. Wouldn't your house smell so good if your curtains were sprayed with this? I LOVE the smell of roses. It's basically considered "poor man's Rose oil", which is right up my alley (*wink).

Witch Hazel

Growing up the only thing I knew about Witch Hazel was it's name. In college I learned that people use it to clear up acne-it is a natural astringent and alcohol free. I love Spark Natural's description: "It has historically been used widely for a variety of complaints, including acne, sunburn, minor bug stings and bites, hemorrhoids, razor burn and nicks, varicose veins, nail infections, blisters, eczema and psoriasis." Last week I posted about using it in our natural bug repellent. It's one of my new favorite products!!! 

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is an oil I use almost every day, whether it is in my diffuser, sprayed on (bug repellent), or rubbed on. This summer, to keep bugs away and to recover from those times we stay too long in the sun, bring your Lavender along! Because it is a natural antiseptic/anti-inflammatory/antibacterial, it is great to recover from minor cut, scrapes, bruises, and burns. It also has a calming effect, which can be hard sometimes when the sun is up sooo long-who wants to go to bed at a decent hour? I think I have bought this oil the most, because we definitely go through it.

Geranium Essential Oil

Geranium oil is one I haven't used too much because my mom is allergic to Geraniums, however it is a very popular oil, and for good reason! It is a wonderful healing oil, that is used as a natural astringent, as well as a mood, circulation, and nervous system enhancer. We also use Rose Geranium oil as a natural tick repellent for our Clancy pup (large chocolate lab!). We haven't had an issue yet!

Carrot Seed Essential Oil

I have never heard of this oil so I did a bit of reading. Carrot Seed oil is often used in natural sunscreens and face creams because it has natural SPF and can help reduce wrinkles/aging. It combines well with Geranium and Frankincense (also anti-aging) oils. It has also been used to help with Jaundice and arthritis.

I hope this was helpful and inspires you to use more natural products to protect and enhance your natural beauty. If you have any favorite ways to use these oils, please leave a comment below!


Welcome, Summer Days!!



**If you are interested in ordering these products from Spark Naturals, don't forget to use the coupon code: SEED for an additional 10% off.

Favorite Spring Oil Blend!!!

Last summer I saw Spark Naturals had a blend called L.L.P. and I thought, well that's a dumb name! That doesn't tell me anything! However, despite my initial reaction, this blend has become my springtime favorite! Its a blend of equal parts Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint (L.L.P.). Why is it so great? It works wonders with allergies! I've been diffusing it all month. Every time my eyes get a little itchy, or I notice the kids are getting a little red eyed and stuffy, I just put a few drops into my diffuser and within minutes we start feeling better!

Why does it work? To answer that question, lets explore the blends' three components. Lemon is a natural antihistamine that, when combined with lavender and peppermint, can help relieve mucus build up and cool the allergic reaction. Lavender is a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory that has a soothing, calming effect on the body. It is also great to use on skin irritations such as rashes or hives. Peppermint acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps open airways with its strong, cool mint. Thus, when used together, they calm the reaction, reduce mucus build-up, and open airways. What could be better than that?!

There are several ways that L.L.P. can be used. Below are 4 procedures listed in order of Mild-Severe allergy remedies, meaning if your symptoms are mild, simply diffusing should do the trick. If they are more than mild, move down the list ;)

1. Diffusing-Add 4-6 drops of the Spark Naturals blend L.L.P., or equal parts Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint (about 2-3 drops each) into a diffuser to freshen the room and reduce allergens.

2. Apply NEAT-Add 4-6 drops of the Spark Naturals blend L.L.P., or equal parts Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint (about 2-3 drops each) directly to the bottoms of your feet. I do this by pressing the bottoms of my feet together and placing the drops on the little hole made by the arches. Then rub your feet together to get the oils spread and rubbed in to your feet.  If the oils are too strong, dilute with a carrier oil such as Fractionated Coconut oil. You can also place the oils in the palm of your hands, rub them together and rub the oils on your neck and chest. (NEAT is not recommended for babies as peppermint is a strong or "hot" oil.)

3. Allergy Shot-Add 4-6 drops of the Spark Naturals blend L.L.P., or equal parts Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint (about 2 drops each) into a shot glass of water and down it quickly! Doing this gets the oils into your system quickly. If you are sensitive to hot oils, this route is not recommended.

4. Allergy Bomb-Place Add 4-6 drops of the Spark Naturals blend L.L.P., or equal parts Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint (about 2-3 drops each) into a veggie or gel capsule and ingest 2-3 times daily until symptoms subside.

Lemon, Lavender, and Peppermint are the basic oils that most companies have in their starter kits because they are the most universal. What does this mean for you? They are the easiest oils for you to get your hands on and what better time to try them than when all the beautiful spring growth is getting you down!


Happy Spring!



**As always, you can find these oils at Spark Naturals and get a 10% discount when you use the coupon code: seed at checkout.

No Excuses

In a letter from my cousin this week he said, "the last thing people want to hear is excuses.  Apologize it didn't turn out the best, plan, adjust, and move on." That got me thinking. How many times do I make lame excuses and why do I make them? The most common for me are excuses for not going somewhere/meeting someone or not doing house chores/misc. things that need to be done. You've heard them all before; probably even said them (or a variation of them) yourself.

"It's just been crazy around here" (said from your couch)
"The boys have been sick" (I wiped his nose yesterday...that counts, right?)
"I think I'll stay home tonight instead of going to the meeting I planned to attend" (even when there's not a reason not to go)
"I could've gone, but I was starting to get a headache" (my eyebrow twitched an hour ago, better not)

Honestly, who cares? So you didn't want to do something. We all feel that way. Often times we feel like we have to give a reason. News flash-you don't! There are times when an explanation is warranted, but more times than not you can leave it at "I didn't get to it" and be done. Many times we give excuses because we feel the need to apologize for our actions, even when an apology isn't needed or necessary. Excuses are also a way to avoid accepting responsibility for our actions. "I couldn't get to it because of the kids/my boss would not stop talking/people don't know how to drive. The list goes on. Step up, be accountable.

This week I am going to make less excuses. I am going to make a concerted effort to leave the excuses behind and take accountability for my actions.

End Rant. ;)

Rediscovering the "Old" Me

Growing up, everything is about YOU. The classes you take, the extra curriculars in which you participate, who your friends are, what you're doing after graduation, who you are dating, where you are living, adventures you're going on, etc. Then, as you get married and start families it is no longer about you. It's about your spouse/significant other, kids, pets, and so on.

Well, over the last couple of years I have been feeling lost in myself. I missed who I was before family. I was outgoing, relaxed, fairly organized, read a lot, loved going out and liked trying new things. Now, with the kids (and a busy husband), its all about who's hungry, who needs to go potty, what chores need to be done, wrangling them in and out of the store/car; and the hubby is doing homework or on-call or traveling for work, etc.

What does this all equate to? NO "Me" time. Despite having everything I thought I wanted, I was very depressed. Realizing this depressed me even more-what was wrong with me?! I should be happy! After a lot of thought, I decided I needed to make some changes.

This blog is one of those changes. I decided to go "back to my roots" so to speak and rediscover myself. Notice, I'm not trying to reinvent myself. I don't need to become a new person, but I do want to become the person I enjoy being. That includes doing things I liked to do before (when it was all about "me") and finding new ways to incorporate those things into my ever-busy life.

By writing more, I am thinking more. I used to love writing about EVERYTHING. How am I incorporating writing into my life now? I have a journal for each of my sons and I periodically (about once a month) write in them about the things they are doing, words they are saying, activities they enjoy, and so on.  As mentioned in a previous post, I bought an awesome planner that I write in (with colorful pens for fun) to help me be more organized, but also to write lists (which is a former passion of mine, haha). And, of course, I am writing this blog! Having the blog helps me to think of things I want to share with others through the written word. It's been rather rejuvenating for me!

I love to read! I used to buy every book I thought looked good and would read it fairly quickly. My dream was to have a library of my own in my home someday. When I got married, my husband was shocked at how many boxes of books I had and shared his thoughts on having so many...he'd rather not have them. He's not against reading or even purchasing books, but he didn't like how cluttery it made things and how much space they took up for something you rarely use. I can see the wisdom in that. He's really into technology (an IT Guy always is, right?) so he helped me get set up with reading apps and it has made all the difference! I still buy a hardcopy book every now and then, but I've gotten better at either checking books out of the library or buying digital copies instead. It's fun! I have a MASSIVE library now and the only space it takes is the memory on my phone/tablet. I can read when I'm nursing, rocking kids at night, sitting at the doctors office or in line. It has been so fun to be able to read again! Juggling a baby and a phone is much easier than juggling a baby and a book. Trust me.

Something else I am working on this year is developing talents/skills. The one I'm currently working on is crocheting! My wonderful grandmother came down for Thanksgiving and she taught me how to crochet. I've enjoyed it so much, I am opening an Etsy store called Blossoming Seed (see what I did there?) to sell my creations (which currently consists of baby bonnets and beanies). It has been so fun learning something new and discovering that I am actually decent at it! Its very encouraging.

My point? I think it can be summed up as follows:

No matter what is distracting you from yourself, keep to your roots and never stop growing!

In A Manner Of Speaking

We've all done it.

1. Said something before thinking
2. Forgotten to do something we said we would
3. Used an unintentional "tone" that didn't match our intent

The way we say things (and the things we don't) make a world of difference.  This is a simple truth, but sometimes what comes out is just short of our goal. We (meaning ' I ') need to be more intentional in our words and actions. The following scenarios are personal events in my life that I'm sure I am not unique in experiencing. I'm not going to expound on the first statement because I am willing to bet that as soon as you read it, you thought of several things you personally have said that you regret. Again, we ALL have at one point or another, if not daily, right?

So let's start with the next in line.

2. At the beginning of the year we discussed what our some of our "Family Contributions" (chores) would be to make our home run more smoothly. My husband agreed that he could sweep and mop the floor. Since he's up and going first, so even if it doesn't get swept the night before, he can sweep in the morning so it's ready for the day. Welllll...that lasted about a week. I sweep it after meals during the day so it's not so terrible (it's a must with 3 and 1 year old boys), so really it isn't all that bad. I remind him "don't forget to sweep the floor so our baby doesn't inadvertently pick something up and choke". He responds, "ok"...and then doesn't do it.  Now, in the grand scheme of things, it is not a big deal.  I can sweep. What his actions say to me though are "my time is too valuable to care about making life easier for you".

My first two hours awake: "mommy, you awake?" "mommy, I need go pee-pee" "mommy baby is crying" "mommy, not that bubble bath" "no mommy" "mommy, I want THAT underwears"... get the kids ready, maybe get a shower in, handle diapers, throw in some laundry, "mommy, I'm hungry" "mommy, hold me" "mommy, baby is crying again"...

His first two hours awake: Quietly get up, shower, get ready for the day, go downstairs, eat breakfast, let the dog out, feed the dog, head to work listening to the radio station of choice...

Can you see what I mean? Is that REALLY what he's trying to say? No. But it has really made me think about MY actions and following through on the things I agree to do. I know I can definitely improve.

3. The order of our words and the tones we use have an impact, whether or not we think they do.

What I want: My 3yr old to eat his sandwich.

A.
Me: "Eat your sandwich"
3yo: "I want more milk"
Me: "After you eat your sandwich"
3yo: "NO! I want more milk."
Me: "When your sandwich is done"
3yo: "I want milk! No eat sandwich!"
...obviously things aren't going well...

B.
Me: "Eat your sandwich"
3yo: "I want more milk"
Me: "You can have more milk when your sandwich is all gone"
3yo: "Ok, mommy, I eat my sandwich all gone then mommy get me more red milk"
...things went more smoothly...

What made the difference? He still needed to eat his sandwich first, so why was he frustrated in the first scenario, but not the second? Simple-I acknowledged what he wanted and then told him what he needed to do to do it. Without acknowledging his desire, he couldn't listen beyond his own desire. I find it interesting that by simply showing someone we are listening to them, they are more willing to listen to us.

No matter what you say or do, let us all be more aware of the effect we truly have on others and more conscientious of how we address each other.

Food Journey 2015: Bone Broth

I LOVE food! The way it smells, the way it looks on my plate, and oooooh the way it tastes. It can be a problem, can being the operative word.  I'm beginning to realize more and more that not everyone has this struggle! There are many people in the world who can feel satisfied after only a few bites and never have to conscientiously think "how much is a portion?" "am I hungry or bored?" "three helpings of mashed potatoes is too much". The struggle is real! Those who don't struggle with it think it's just mind over matter, and in some ways it is, but for many it is a lifelong battle.

As part of my 2015 Health Initive (my "New Year's Evolution) I am making a more conscious effort to add healthier food into my family's diet (because let's face it-being in charge of the food gives ME that power).  The first thing I am trying is bone broth. Everyone is knows that when you are sick you should have chicken noodle soup, but...why? The broth! Yes, the protein from the chicken is obviously helpful, and the nutrients from the veggies is great, but the broth is the real reason.

Bone broth, be it beef, chicken, turkey, etc., has many health benefits.  According to several sources, including Dr. Axe (Food is Medicine), bone broth can help heal leaky gut, improve joint health, and boost the immune system. He says, "bone broth is rich in minerals that support the immune system and contains healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine, and proline" and then he proceeds to discuss those things in a little more depth. And he's not the only one-research it for yourselves! Before looking into it, I had no idea! I happened to be reading up on the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and there were links to making bone broth. I'd always wondered what to do with my left over bones, and I now I know! 

I use broth in several recipes quite frequently, so after doing a bit of research, I decided I'd try to make my own broth the next time I made a turkey (we crockpot a turkey breast almost monthly). Well, last night was the night! I found a recipe on Pinterest that I felt like was easy, I had all the ingredients for on-hand, and that I could freeze. It is cooking now. I'll let you know how it goes!

UPDATE: After 36ish hours, I had a beautiful and tasty broth!! I strained what was left of the veggies and bones (gave some to my dog and threw the rest away). I ended up with 5 small freezer bags (2 Cups in each) and a few extra cups to make French Onion Soup tonight.  Yay! I will definitely be making this again in the future. Happy Cooking!

2015 "Resolution" Time

It's that time of year again! Saying good-bye to the past year and ringing in the new by writing that long list of New Year's Resolutions. I've been thinking a lot about this lately and when I read Clinton Kelly's Woman's Day article I thought, "YES!!!" He talks about not making Resolutions, but Evolutions. He uses the example of when he was in debt but still buying a $10 coffee each morning.  He decided to purchase the things necessary to make himself a fancy coffee and used the money that he saved paying off credit cards. He changed a habit and set himself up for success.

Making a list of things I'd love to accomplish isnt bad, but we are creatures of habit. Doing 5 new things and quitting old habits cold turkey isn't going to happen.  At least not for me!

I love the idea of choosing one word, a theme if you will, to focus on for the year. It could be broad like health, kindness, or debt free, or it could be specific like push-ups. It follows that same idea about Evolutions NOT Resolutions. Permanent change is slow. This year, set yourself up for success! Pick one thing (or two) you want to improve on or begin doing. Take the year to do it! Slow and steady wins the race, so don't sprint, fizzle, and fail-start slow, be consistent, and enjoy the sweet taste of victory!

Happy 2015, Everyone!!!

P.S. I'd LOVE to hear your ideas on this topic, or any others, so please leave a comment below and share with your friends.  Thanks for sharing this journey with me! :D

Holiday Havoc!

This time of year can be very stressful! Between the cold weather (and yucky illnesses), shorter days, too much food, too many activities, and the overwhelming task of gift giving I sometimes wish I could be a bear and hibernate through the winter! I can't do anything about the cold weather (besides bundle up and stay indoors by the fire) or the shorter days, but I do have a say about the rest.


Too Much Food:

When I think of the holidays I think of dinners with all the fixings, plates of cookies, stockings of candy, and lots of specialty drinks. Its no wonder the average person gains 5+ pounds this time of year! What can be done? Something my mom's friend always says is, "Its a choice. Am I going to gain, lose, or stay the same this season?" My first response was, yeah right- like I chose to gain every year! As I've pondered it however, I see that it truly is a choice.  I don't have to have 3 heaping plates of mashed potatoes with half a cube of butter and a fourth cup of sour cream. I really don't NEED that. What I DO need is something that will fuel my body, like lean turkey meat, lots of veggies, and tons of water.

Now, I'm not saying we cannot ever indulge, but make the indulgence a choice. Have a piece of Grandma's famous fudge, have two or three! But don't eat half the pan. Go ahead and have seconds, but wait until everyone is finished with their firsts-give your stomach a chance to tell your mind that you are full.  Have a glass of your favorite holiday drink, but drink a glass of water before and after. Bake dozens of holiday cookies and set aside enough for you family to each have 1-3 and take the rest to neighbors and friends. Its such a great way to spread holiday cheer as a family and keep the unwanted pounds off! Go for a walk as a family, do have a dance off. On Thanksgiving our family goes for a walk for about an hour. Its a great way to get your heart rate up, get some fresh air, and stay away from the food! If you have more ideas, please post them in the comments, because I'm always open to try new things.


Too Many Activities:

I often hear parents complain about the many activities they have to buy gifts for, bring food for, or get their child to so they can have a great holiday season. I say BAH HUMBUG!!! Kids are easy pleasers. Not always, but most of the time. Driving around seeing Christmas lights can be just as fulfilling, if not more so, than waiting at the mall for 2 hours to see Santa so that you can get a picture for their ornament this year.  Don't get me wrong, we see Santa every year and take a picture, but the event doesn't have to be unpleasant so we can do what we think would make great memories-does that make sense? The key is simplicity. Pick your top favorite activities, lets say three, and do those.  Make great memories without feeling too overwhelmed with the magnitude of too many things to do.


Gift Giving:

Sometimes the shear number of gifts you'd like to give is overwhelming.  And the larger the family or circle of friends, the more difficult it can be.  With my family (siblings and parents), we have a rotation system, so we know who we have all year.  It gives us an opportunity to find something really great for that one person instead of 7 little things for everyone. It works for us, but not for everyone. Other families do an anonymous gift exchange where each girl brings a girl gift and guys bring a guy gift and they swap.  Makes it fun and surprising and, again, not as overwhelming because it's only one gift.  My cousin's do a book gift exchange among their kids. What a fun way to build up a library and share our favorite stories! On several blogs and Facebook pages I've seen parents ask how they handle gifts for their children. What is too much? Should there be a number limit? Etc.  Something I really love and have been trying to do with my kids for Christmas and birthdays is the following:

Something they want
Something they need
Something to wear, and
Something to read.

And if I know what the grandparents are giving, I count it towards that mantra. For example, my mom makes pajamas every year for the boys.  I count that as their "Something to wear". That way its not about how many gifts they get. My oldest is only 3, so we have many years to perfect this. My hope is that they will be grateful and not think of Christmas as only getting presents.

No matter what you do, the important thing is that gift giving is heartfelt and full of love. That's the reason we really give.  What are some things your family does?


Lastly: Yucky Illnesses

If you ask me it seems like people should be more sick in the summer time-bacteria in viruses thrive in warm places, right? So why is it that in the winter there is a massive spike? My theory is that we keep everything shut up tight in our homes.  Think about it.  We open our windows and doors less because we don't want the cold air penetrating our homes. This means there is not breeze airing out the house getting "bugs" out of our living space. I do think some are more prone to sickness, but I have to say, our family rarely got sick growing up and I really do believe its because my mom always had a window cracked to let fresh air in. Some other ways we can battle the winter bugs is to take advantage of the free sani-wipes at the stores! Such a simple concept, but really, who knows what is on the handles and bars of the shopping cart. Wipe it down as well as anyone's hands who will touch it.

Nowadays, "organic" and "natural" seem to have a negative connotation, but really, especially when you are sick, why would you want to put nasty chemicals in your body if you can help it? There is definitely a time for modern medicine, but natural means has its place, too. For sore throats, warm water with honey and lemon work wonders! Honey and lemon both have natural healing powers and many doctors and nurses recommend it, especially for pregnant mamas. In that vein, Essential Oils (EOs) have become more popular, and for good reason.  They can be used for a number of ailments and are easy to use.  I have tried several brands including Young Living, dōTERRA, Plant Therapy, and Spark Naturals. There are several other companies out there, I just haven't personally used them.  Honestly, they are all pretty great. I like certain oils from all of them. At the end of this post you will see "My Plug" for the oils I use most. Before I started using oils I was really skeptical. I still am on some counts, however, I do believe they are helpful! I use some everyday and truly feel like I haven't gotten as sick because of them.

This holiday season, let us not be too caught up in the hustle and bustle to enjoy our time with family and friends. Keep it simple, and stay healthy. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

My Plug: My favorite oil company so far is Spark Naturals for a couple of reasons. One, it is not an MLM company, so the oils are a bit cheaper. Two, you don't have to sign up with them to buy the oils. Three, they are 100% pure oils with no fillers (like the MLM companies) and are safe, with caution, to be use internally and externally.  And Four, they are a small company that started with the intent to help people. Because I use Spark Naturals the most, I have a fabulous coupon code you can use on every purchase from them, online or in the store. The coupon code is easy to use (and hopefully to remember). Feel free to pass it on to your friends! Who doesn't like a 10% discount, right?

Coupon Code: SEED

They have an awesome starter pack that has the four most commonly used oils.




Spark Naturals also has an Oil of the Month program that is $15.99/mo (includes tax and shipping) for a 15ml bottle (which is the larger size bottle). It's a great way to build up your oil supply in an affordable way and try oils you may not think to get but can benefit from.




If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

The Best Time is Now

Holistic.

When you read that word, what comes to mind? Perhaps crunchy, granola, out-dated, hippie, or backwards are immediately what you think. I know when I first started looking into "Holistic Living" those were some of my thoughts.  But in my search I have found that the idea of holism is treating our bodies as a whole. We aren't only intellectual, spiritual, or physical beings, but a combination of those things.  It is important to not focus on developing one area alone, but to find our personal balance, and it is different for everyone! Why do you think there are sooo many self-help books out there? Because even though we all function in basically the same way, we are all individuals who have our own quirks, tendencies, and histories that shape who we are.  

A little bit about me.  I am a 26-year-old wife and mother.  My husband and I went to high school together, but didn't date until about 5 years later! We have now been married four years and have two beautiful sons. I've always struggled with weight. With obesity running on both sides of my family I was a bit doomed from the start, but it is not a life sentence! Before getting pregnant with my first son I was in pretty good shape. Don't get me wrong, I'll never be Miss Stringbean, but I was at a decent weight and felt very confident in my skin.  Then during pregnancy everything was going fine...until it wasn't. I delivered at 30 weeks-talk about scary! I didn't realize at the time just how terribly ill I was and am still discovering the effects 3 years later. Our bodies are amazing things.  Sooo many things can go wrong, but given the proper tools it can heal itself from many things. What we fuel our bodies with (food and exercise) makes a world of difference. 

Along with health, I feel like developing our talents is very important for our personal wellbeing.  Keeping our minds actively engaged is just as important as what we eat or how we exercise the rest of our body.  The mind is a muscle too and needs to be exercised daily.  Reading, playing, and learning new skills are great ways to do this! Moving forward, I hope by sharing the things I am trying you will inspired to try new things, too. 

As I begin my journey to improve my health and develop existing and new talents, I am reminded of a message by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). He said:

"An old proverb says, 'The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second-best time is now.' There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word now. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment. Now is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be." 

I absolutely agree! Should I have been working on this for a while now? Yes.  Should I already be engaging in healthy habits? Definitely! Does this mean all is lost? NO! I don't know everything, and most likely never will, but that's what's great about being human.  We can change, progress, and develop! I chose "Sprouting the SEED" because of a scripture passage I love that compares faith to a seed. In describing what a "good seed" will do, the words also spell SEED! (Makes it easier to remember, right?!)

A "good seed" will: Swell, Enlighten, Enlarge, and be Delicious!

What this means to me: As I put new, healthy, and good practices to the test, the desire I have will grow, I will discover new truths, and they will become something I LOVE, not just something I think would be great sometime down the road. While I am not necessarily "crunchy" or "granola", I do believe that by going back to the basics and becoming more balanced I can only improve my wellbeing, and thus my family's wellbeing. Carpe Diem-Seize the Day! Let's put it to the test, together.