​It was just Tuesday. Two days ago. I remember driving. Being in the car at a very specific traffic light and making a right turn on the way to karate. The kids were in the back seat and either they had just settled down, stopped bickering and were quiet or I was thinking about how nice it would be if they did that. I remember also coming to that light after having a thought and having a subsequent thought of: that was meaningful. That was important. Other moms could relate to this. I need to write this down and think about it more. But there I was: driving. To karate. With bickery kids. With nary a pen or keypad in arms reach. (Or maybe quite a few in arms reach under a pile of bags and papers and normal car debris. I just wasn’t reaching for them as I was, of course, at 10 and 2 and definitely not about to drive with my knees.) And so. Now. Two days later. That thought is just completely gone. The original impressive, wise, thought. In its place is this awareness that I am missing my thought. The wisdom I had evaporated or it got buried under 3 to-do lists and laundry or maybe it absorbed. Maybe I no longer need to write it down because it’s a part of me. Let’s go with that.
 
For the past two days I have felt the discomfort of missing it- like if I retrace my steps (er, drive) I will find it again. It’s frustrating to know something was really important and now I can’t have it. It’s not as though this is an unfamiliar feeling. Missing seems to come as a typical part of motherhood. We have plenty of missing socks, missing remotes, missing books. And we have missed opportunities and missed stages. If I let myself I can find myself missing motherhood of prior years. The times when fork was not pronounced correctly because “r’s” didn’t exist. And the times when I worked for gummy grins. The times when babies sleeping on me brought warmth and soft dimpled hands to stare at and stroke. So many of these warm fuzzy times. 

It’s ok to miss it. It’s ok for things to go missing. They have absorbed into you. These are the parts of my babies I hold on to. And it’s funny how some of those memories can resurface right when you need them.
And so when I went to bed tonight with that nagging feeling that I still can’t remember that amazing wisdom, I decided to not miss this opportunity and all it means. Recognize it. Take it out, write it down and examine it.
And suddenly, right now: I feel really conscious of all I still have. Of all the future times ahead of us. It’s worth writing down how just yesterday my five-year-old marched into the kitchen and said “Guess what mom!” … “what, Love Bug?” “I Love you!” And just last week my 8-year-old wanted to get some extra reading time in before lights out so I grabbed the other novel he had just finished and snuggled in to read “together.” Silently reading next to your kids who love to read is amazing. Seriously. I will never miss reading out loud… “In the great green room there was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of the cow jumping over the moon. And three little bears sitting in chairs and two little kittens and a pair of mittens…” Those words are taking up way too much space in my brain- maybe that’s why there’s not room for wisdom-while-driving moments! I will not continue the memorized recitation but I do have to say- WHY DOES A BUNNY SLEEP IN A BED but the MOUSE doesn’t? And why does a Bunny need a brush? AND a comb? And what in the world is mush?
Yea, no. I won’t miss that strange book! Instead I will recognize that motherhood has brought me so much. So much opportunity. So much laughter. So much newness. So much purpose.
The thing is- if you know me- you know I am not prone to sugar coating it either. It HAS brought exhaustion and sacrifice and change. It’s not easy. Babysitting was easy. Your identity didn’t change. Your schedule was your own. And, your brain didn’t turn to mush. (See, now THAT is an appropriate use of “mush.”)
I guess it’s fitting I stayed up way past my bedtime tonight to make this claim on motherhood as Mother’s day is just around the corner. I resolve to not miss out. Things will go missing. Things will change. But there is so much more momming to do.

And so tomorrow: I mom.

I may not savor every minute of it and I may have to juggle a few other CEO of the home tasks but I am going to get out of my head, off my screens and stop worrying about always marking time and capturing wisdom and just love those kids. I also give myself permission for that to come in the form of quiet time if needed as tomorrow is a preview of summer and a day off of school!

I am putting this in writing right now. Publishing this to the whole wide interwebs without worrying about pretty, candid photo accompaniment (just follow me on Instagram for that). This way when, by noon, I am ready for a break or for my shift to end (they do get up at least by 7 so, I mean, yea that’s 5 hours), I remember that this is about having. Having time and having each other.
I am so grateful to have my family. I am so grateful to have the time to be home with them. That is meaningful. I want that knowledge to stick and fill up that open space. (and maybe also help absorb the Goodnight Moon brain area!)

May motherhood be a well balanced journey of missing and having for you too, mama.  

According to most every person NOT living with mini people we are supposed to be enjoying this journey, cherishing these moments, appreciating them while their small. Seizing the day? Most days it feels more like surviving. It's just the truth. It sounds melodramatic. it sounds whiny and a little pathetic out of context. But it's true. I mean, consider the context. Your hours are not yoru own, your space is not your own, your dietary and sleep schedules and preferences... are... not... your... own. Some days I just want to lay down on the floor, borrow a page out of their pouty little tantrum playbook and just say "NO! I DON'T WANNA."

And I am pretty sure it's okay to feel that way. I mean, I know it's okay to feel that way. So often there is this pressure in social media society to put on your instagram worthy selfie smile, post on Facebook about how #blessed you are and serve up Pinterest worthy meals. But, while there may be a time and a minute where that is a reflection and a reality of real life, it doesn't account for the the other 23 hours and 59 minutes of the day. 

That life where the poop hits the fan. Or the floor. That life where those pinterest worthy meals are whined over or the smile was preceded by a clenched teeth "Look at the camera and stop shoving your sister." 

Parenting is hard. I mean, sometimes it is HA-ARD. Disaster and illness and trauma HARD. And other times is dull, heavy and blah hard. It's ok to acknowledge that. It's when we put this insane pressure on ourselves to love every darn second that it all just gets unbearable. When we say feeling disappointed, sad and exhausted isn't ok, we pile on more pressure. And as if there isn't enough pressure already. That women's lib movement is a good one in that women ought to be paid the same for the same work and we should have an opinion equal to any man. But I'll be darned if it hasn't conditioned my generation to feel like we are supposed to be doing it all. Just because we can- does it mean we should? 


This has been something weighing on me lately. And it's not something I have answers for. I just kinda wanted to put it out there. To all the Mamas who feel like they're not enough. You are. You are enough in the moment even if you want to be more. You are enough even if for this moment you need to step away and fill your cup. You are enough and you can give yourself permission to not do it all. Doing it all doesn't make us "more." Being content and mindful and REAL. That makes us more. More equipped to fail and then rise. More equipped to say what we need and find support needed to make it happen. More Mom than we can dare imagine. 

So Mom, who looks around at all the cluttered surfaces and counts the minutes til bedtime and squeezes in work in the open spaces. I get you. You are doing really well. You are doing what you can. You don't have to love it all. But you are loved. They love you. And this sisterhood of moms loves you. 

whoa. It's like spring here the past few days. In February. My body can't catch up with it! Whenever the weather swings out of control my sinuses do too! So, today I whipped up a batch of one of my favorite home remedies. A few months ago a friend and I compiled some of our favorite home remedies and now I feel like I have a really useful mental list to run down when I feel like I am about to completely nose dive into a pile of tissues and blankets and not want to come out! 

Here is a useful and delicious recipe that you could enjoy any time!
GUMMIES! Yes, I have posted about gummies before. We love gummies in our house and this is the basic guideline for making them: 

I have an obsession. And it’s an ironic one. I love making bath bombs. I don’t, however, take baths more than 4 times a year. If that. 

And yet, these have become one of the easiest, most frugal DIY projects ever! Very little clean up, pretty basic ingredients that are all non-toxic and the kids can enjoy making them and gifting them! We made a bunch around Christmas as a way for the kids to participate in making and gifting to their teachers, babysitters, aunts and uncles and cousins. It’s important to us to let the kids be a part of the gift season but it’s also pretty sweet to be able to give practical and unusual gifts beyond the coffee mug, Christmas ornament and candy.
And we used Christmas cookie cutters as molds- which was very festive, fun and to be honest, the only action my cookie cutters saw this season!

After using different recipes to make bath bombs I have found the trick to making them solidify without intense crumbliness is to not add too much moisture. Therefore, these are really kid friendly steps until you get to the very end where adding too much liquid could be a problem (a problem that grownups can make and learn from too!)
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I wish I was a mom who made time for a tub. I think it would be nice. But I tend to only get in the tub when I am needing a massive immune support or a muscle soak. Otherwise, I am all about the foot soak. Bath bombs CAN be converted into foot soak bombs. It just doesn’t sound as lovely, does it? If you’re a foot soak kind a gal, just make smaller disks or molds! It’s also a great way to still get some relaxation in without drawing up a whole tub! OR if you’re like me and want to make the most out of bathing your kids, take off your socks and soak your feet in their tub! Epsom Salts and all the ingredients in this bath bomb are great for kids. Be strategic about your essential oils and you can support their immune system or help them to wind down before bed. Yes, Please. 
 
This version of Valentine’s Cupcake Bath bombs will be sweet gifts! With a Cherry Tag on top!

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And guess what, they are SO FRUGAL. Do you know how you can pay $10 for a luxury bath bomb? Guess what. This whole batch costs less than that. I’m not kidding. You pay less than a dollar per bath bomb cupcake. >mind blown< Just another opportunity to burst the "Healthy is expensive" myth. Because these are most definitely healthier than fake fragrances and fake dyes and who knows what else. You can do it! I did use these simple to shrink wrap gift bags since I had them from Christmas time. But you could use a sandwich bag and a piece of twisty tie to package them!
 
You could make a batch for as little as 2.55 plus your essential oils of choice. I made two batches (total of 18 cupcakes) for about 6 dollars and then got 20 loofahs for 5 dollars!! The biggest thing you're giving here is the gift of your time in giving them something to help them to relax!'


It was so much fun to turn these into cupcakes, cause I needed to be creative. And I plan on giving these to a group a sweet mom's who could use a little pampering. If they promise to use them, then I will promise to take a break and put my feet up and maybe even get a luxurious soak in too!
Happy Valentines Day.


If you want to see what I am making or learn more about other easy, healthy DIY crafts and how we go natural and have fun, join my Facebook group and follow me on Instagram! 

I have been MIA. Well here, at least. I have been very present on Instagram (follow me at creativendeavors) and in my Facebook group... I love sharing health and fun times. But I have also realized that I have missed cataloging my adventures and thinking out loud on here. I have also been super busy in real life!

Maybe something that took the wind out of my sails was last May I learned that the special needs school that I worked at was closing. It was sad. I loved my part time Art Therapist gig. It was right up my creative alley of helping kids and making art. I knew I was going to miss it. And I wasn't sure what I was going to do to fill my time. Oy, the things we can worry about. 

My time has so quickly been filled! In lieu of kids who can't cope in school, I am now spending my day with new moms and their babies. And it's been so wonderful. A local pediatricians office in the Pittsburgh area has a free support group for new moms. If you're looking for a way to connect with local new moms, Kids Plus Pediatrics, New Mom's Coffee is a great resource!

​ It's the most brilliant of ideas that I wish I could have found back when I was on the other side of momming. Back when I felt home alone with a silent or not so silent fragile, mystery baby. Back when I was trying to figure out what was normal and what was okay. Back when I read every. Darn. book. about.... wait for it... getting sleep! Because pretty much every mom faces these challenges at some point. I was lucky that my sister was only 9 months behind me, but at the time of having my son, I did not know many other mamas and none in my area. It was so very isolating. So now, I sit in a circle of new moms starting out on this journey and watch them empathize and share and get to know that they are not the only ones whose child hates tummy time or whose kid is learning how lick everything in their ever expanding path. And I kinda love being able to assure them that momming is wonderful and complicated and not one size fits all. And, babies- babies talk back a whole lot less than the kids I used to work with!

Another wonderful opportunity that has filled my days- and some nights- is working at another wonderful local community resource. Parents in Toto is an autism resource center. It is a non-profit that is a place where families and individuals affected by autism can come and find community. It is also a unique and creative gem in the area. I have been working on integrating my art therapy background into it and have loved that. Working with kids on the spectrum is something that I have done for over a decade and it never is same-old same-old. Individuals with autism are so unique, creative and have so many wonderful strengths. We had an art show and auction in August that was fabulous and we're going to do another one in May! I can't wait. If you're local, I would love for you to come! I will pour you a glass of wine!

So life has certainly been busy, 'cause you know in the midst of that I am momming an... almost EIGHT and FIVE year old. What? How is THAT possible? 
We have had a fun past year. And my hubby was great with adventuring with the kids this summer while I started working more. I am still in limbo on being a sahm mom and a wahm mom and a working mom. (is that a WM?) Transitions are hard. The kids are cute though when they ask- are you going to mom's group or Toto today? Keeping them on their toes, just like they've been doing the past 8 years!

So, now that I have finished up this "Yes, I am still here" post, I will proceed to post in the near future about some of the fun we've been having and the things we've been making! As always, we've been keeping it creative and having fun! Hope you are too. And as always to stay in touch with the day to day, follow me on Instagram and join my FB group! 

Every year I face an annual ritual of reflecting on how in control I am- as in NOT in control. I shared about that here a few weeks ago. It was helpful to write a little bit about the beginning of that journey called "parenting." And every one could most likely agree that it is an ongoing process in the journey we call "human" to really learn to relinquish control. Maybe because it's a balancing act. We can't be so irresponsible that we stop encouraging our kids to eat their veggies or we stop paying our bills or we stop showering. Yea, we do have useful, necessary control over some things. But how do we know when to "let it go and let God" and when to make it happen?

One of my main sources of guidance these past few weeks is a study by Priscilla Shirer on the Armor of God. Last week I was reading about and learning about taking up the Shield of Faith.  The battle tool that is cumbersome, requires training and strength to put to use and is a source of much needed protection in a time of need. 

Faith- a word that's so flippantly tossed around or sung about- but just think about being in battle and trying to toss around one of those ancient Roman shields! They were about 20 lbs and large enough for a soldier to crouch behind. Flinging it easily wasn't going to happen. Not to mention you wouldn't have wanted to toss it- you'd need it right up next to your body and firmly in your grip to make it functional. Kind of like Faith in God. Faith means that you are taking action to fortify your movement forward- your are moving in the belief that you're heading in the right direction. 

I often falter in having faith to follow a plan placed on my heart. Sometimes I am just plain confused on which plan is my human one and which is God's. And other times I know what God asks and I let fear, doubt or insecurity get in the way. I don't know about you, but those can be some pretty crippling emotions and thoughts. I don't think that it's any coincidence that the concept of mindfulness and meditation crossed my path in the past few months. These are tools that can be used to silence your heart and your mind to prepare a place to hear. And since the dull roar of my emotions and my thoughts can try to drown out my faith, this is a practice I want to work on.
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And it is one that is NOT EASY with small children in the house.

Last week I went to hear Ann Kerion speak about Neuroscience and Contemplative Practices- discussing the act of finding God in the mundane, practicing quiet reflection and exploring how we can rewire our brains through contemplative practices. One of the main things that struck me was how I am so bad at remaining in the present. My mind is a wandering mind. I am usually jumping around from task to task. I have even mentioned how I love to multi-task a lot of times on this blog. Being mindful and focused is something I need practice! I think I have known this for some time. This concept of focusing on the present and focusing on the miraculous is something I have always contemplated. I remember reading this quote in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn during high school and wanting to write it everywhere: 

It is this awe and appreciation for all that is around me that I seek to hone- to put aside the things that are a distraction. This is a foundation for faith- to be able to focus on God's word and His creation and His calling. When we do that then we can more fully understand His miraculous, mysterious power. His ability to take even the tiniest seed of faith and grow it into something rooted in Him. 

When God places something on your heart it can be so easy to doubt that it'll work out or that it will be the right thing or that it's even possible. 

Recently my friend, Kristin felt called to take a step of faith and donate her time and energy and go. And she's going all the way to Haiti. While there in April she will be working with a local organization to do what is needed: tutoring, construction, education and other forms of support at orphanages. She is acting in Faith because she knows that God can use this opportunity. I am sure that doesn't mean she hasn't felt anxiety, uncertainty or stress over the logistics. But it does mean that her Shield of faith in God's plan and faithfulness is a better source of protection that any of those arrows of doubt.

It is really exciting to witness other people responding to God's call and having the opportunity to do good works for him. To shine His Light. One theme that God has been placing on my heart is the desire to be more financially responsible. This past year has been one of change and opportunity. I have been working to build a business helping others increase wellness in their lives through life style and using essential oils in their homes. This opportunity has been awesome and fulfilling simply by being able to educate and empower people on ways to grow healthier. I am feeling the tug of God to also use this opportunity to serve Him in my daily life and in finances. Money is one of those things that can make me anxious, fearful and stressed. God doesn't want any of that for me - or anyone else for that matter. He doesn't want us to be anxious about anything. He wants us to use what we have to sew seeds for him.  

This month Kristin and I are helping each other follow God's plan. As people get started using essential oils described on the "March Mission" page this month, 100% of my profit will go toward Kristin's trip.  It's wonderful to have the flexibility to do this through this business and it's also wonderful to partner together to take a step of faith and serve others. Walking by faith with shields linked is even more powerful progress than doing it alone. And we can rest in the assurance that "the Lord is good; His  love endures forever and HIS FAITHFULNESS continues through all generations." 

This is kind of a big week. Annually I find this week one of serious reflection, a little melancholy and emotion. I haven't been the same since this week passed seven years ago. This was the week when our first baby was born. And it was a heck of a week. I look back on it with anxiety, fear and gratitude- that we all survived. These aren't really the types of emotions one usually has when they reflect on their baby's birth- are they? And yet, I don't think that "usual" is really a thing when it comes to birth- not any more at least. Every birth story is unique, different and intense. That intensity can come in different ways. It can be intense activity, pain, joy, excitement or love. And really, it can be all of these and then some. 

When I was about 6 to 7 months pregnant I started to show signs that pregnancy was taking a toll on me. I was swollen. My wrists were swollen, my hands were swollen and my ankles were swollen. Looking back on it, I really don't think there was a part of me that wasn't affected. And yet, I wasn't due for a few more months. It's not that I didn't try to address these issues. I brought it up at check ups and had my blood pressure checked regularly. I had my pee tests done with every check up too (pregnancy is so glamorous). I wore hand braces when I had carpal tunnel. I cut back on sodium to minimize swelling. I did what I could to handle the daily inconveniences. But nothing was a typical red flag. I did once have elevated blood pressure- the week of Christmas! So it was an easy flag to shrug off when it went back to normal the following week. 

And yet. There was something that wasn't on point. We didn't, however, find out until this week seven years ago. It was a busy week as we traveled the PA turnpike to see family for the baby shower. On the way back west our truck broke down. We had to get it flat bed towed the rest of the way home (and my hubby got to take one for the team and ride in it like that with the dog- shhh don't tell anyone since I don't think that's legal!). Then we had to unload all the baby gifts from it and get home. I remember that I had a head cold that weekend too- 7.5 months pregnant and sick is memorable!

About 30 hours later in the EARLY morning I woke up feeling paranoid and not quite right. The first 6 months of this pregnancy were, aside from my swelling, pretty normal. I felt the baby at the typical times. I had energy and lack there of at typical times. But that night did not feel typical. I couldn't "wake" the baby. I didn't feel him react to me. It was concerning enough to cause me to call my midwives at the hospital and wake my hubby and head over there. Luckily I trusted my instinct and wasn't trying to "Power through."

It was an insanely windy morning and the roads were empty as we drove down town at 5 am. We even joked that it was a trial run for the real deal (a trial run in which I didn't bring a suitcase - mainly because I didn't think I'd need it and I hadn't packed one yet!) 

This pregnancy didn't have the rush to the hospital in labor "typical" scene (it would take three more years to experience that!). No, we went in, explained our concerns and I got strapped up to monitors. For good. 

Four hospital days later involving many doctor exams, ultrasounds, 24 hour urine analysis, blood work, heart monitors and blood pressure cuffs, this was my Facebook update:
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I annually reflect on that assurance that God put on my heart that week- That our coming and going from this world is meant to be out of our control.

It's the daily surrender that trips me up. It was almost easier to give this medical challenge to God (and the medical professionals) than to remember he is also present each day. Being a mom has definitely shown me that I have not mastered this. I also still think about this experience seven years ago with "what should I have done differently" mentality. After writing this status at noon, my organs started to fail and by that evening while visiting with my friend and husband I started feel sharp pains in my side. My liver was shutting down and upon further tests it was evident that my blood platelets were getting extremely low. I had developed not only pre-eclempsia but I was officially in the diagnostic category that everyone kept saying they didn't want to see: HELLP syndrome.  The "treatment" was that baby needed to be delivered. That night we started induction. The 15th. He was born on the 17th. It was not quick or easy. And it took me a while to give in to getting an epidural. I am stubborn when it comes to the whole "I'll do it myself" mentality. I ended up asking for the epidural because I wanted to give my coaches- my mom and husband- a break! It was a much needed break.

Here is what did happen two days and lots of medical intervention later: 

He was a blessing. He is a blessing. I work to remember that even when he is a pain- it happens, let's be real here- we can all be a pain sometimes.

I think one of the reasons that I reflect back on this whole experience with emotion is not only because it was intense and emotional (and the birth was only the beginning- the roller coaster ride that is getting your baby out of the NICU is harder) but also because it's so easy to accept that I am not in control and that God is. It's so easy to take for granted all that you have and to try to control it all again. 

Today I was working through a study on the Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer and one of the pieces that we are told to put on is the "Breastplate of Righteousness." Heh. Good luck with that. I'm a mom. I am not righteous. Luckily I read more closely because that is exactly what God knows and assures us of- there is no one righteous. Phew. Well, okay. I can do <not> righteous. As explained in the study- trying to chase perfectionism prevents us from chasing God. Yes. This. I need to repeat that as a mantra: Trying to be perfect prevents you from chasing God. Another phrase that I recently heard was EGO stands for Edging God Out. *Punch to the gut*

When we focus on self, there isn't room for focus on God.


I look back at my pregnancy and my labor with our little one and wish it had been perfect. I feel envy for those who had perfect deliveries and I feel fearful of not being able to be perfect.  Well I need to let that go. We mom's can all let that kind of stuff go. I am not going to be perfect. I am not going to be a righteous mom. It just isn't going to happen. In this world I am going to be the "Oops, I messed up again, please forgive me" mom... well that's what I am aiming for because asking forgiveness is a no joke challenge for the ego too.

God can be righteous and his Son can be perfect. I am working on accepting that this is the gift given to me. And I can remind myself that giving up control is the closest I will get to righteous. If you have a burden as a mom that you are carrying around- whether it's trying to compare yourself to other moms who are doing it all or compare your kids to other kids who are doing it all, or striving for perfection based on the world's standards- feel free to drop that weight off here. There is no one perfect. The Perfect One has come and gone ahead to prepare a place for us.

While it's emotional and a little draining, I am grateful that I can use our son's birthday to remember that this is a life long lesson. And so begins day one of continuing to work on that lesson.

When the kids aren't acting the way I would like. I need to let go of control. When my house is getting destructed while I am cleaning, I need to let go of control. When I am tired and T.V. watching is about all I can organize, I need to let go of control. When my kids channel their inner cats and dogs and the din makes me want to hide like a bunny, I need to let go of control. When dinner is blah and not at all the Cooking channel inspiration it was supposed to be, I need to let go of control. It doesn't mean it's all going to go to chaos. But it does mean I don't need to get upset, angry or envious when it is chaotic.

This is still real life. It's the life where God wants us to be faithful and loving and kind and truthful and NOT perfect. We need him for that gift of righteousness. 

God knew I was going to need to keep learning.
And so I lay down my regrets and feelings of shortcoming and acknowledge that God is in control and I am just a mess that needs to be cleaned up. I can handle that and so can He. *deep sigh of relief*

So be human, be kind and loving and keep trying even when you're not!
​You are loved regardless.

​Making homemade playdough is relatively easy and if you do the kind where you cook it on the stove it lasts so long! Here is the recipe that I use and that lots of other sites claim to love too:

Play Dough Recipe:
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoon cream of tartar (find it in the spice section)
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food coloring

​Mix first 4 ingredients in a pan. Add water and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 – 5 minutes. Dough will become difficult to stir and form a “clump”. Remove from stove and knead for 5 minutes–add food coloring if so desired during kneading process. Play dough will keep for a long time stored in a covered plastic container or plastic sandwich bag. I took this write up from another site. You’ll see on her site she suggests adding cinnamon to the dough for a multi-sensory experience. 

I couldn’t resist going one step further and I split the dough four ways and added four different colors and four different scents to it. When we had a playdate each of the kids got to each enjoy different scents and trade and share and decide which was their favorite! Some oils that worked well in the Play Dough and can translate to smooth and calm play time:
Stress Away,
Citrus Fresh (in the old kit),
R.C. (in the new kit),
Thieves,
Lavender,
Peppermint and
Purification.

You can use different scents at different times depending on the effect you are looking for! Peppermint would be a great one for during homework breaks to boost alertness! And Stress Away is great for mommies and kids during those homework breaks!

For more fun activities like these that are kid friendly follow me on Instagram or Join my Facebook group! 

 ​Winter is here. Wah Wahhh. Time for cold fingers and toes, figuring out how to exercise the dog, taking 30 minutes extra to suit up the kids only to walk to the car and suit down to buckle up. I am trying  to embrace it, trying to see the dusting of snow that covered the yard this week as gorgeous. Trying to laugh at my daughter touching every snowy surface the other morning with her gloved finger and then licking her finger. And trying to know that following every snowy and cold winter there is a glorious and green spring. I am trying.
 
And I am mentally escaping… I mean coping. In doing this I like to think about growing and life and green. 

Lately I can pretend I am growing. My mom recently got me a pre-winter, birthday gift of a sun lamp. It helps me to feel like a plant- absorbing all the sun needed to become full and green. It is really nice to sit at my desk and feel bright and warm. The lamp is called a Sun Box and it certainly is as bright as the sun. The goal is that it can provide light therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder. There is research on the positive effects of using properly made sun lamps.  

SAD isn’t something I have diagnostically struggled with- though my opening introduction to winter may cause you to think otherwise! However, I can say that our house gets very little direct sunlight in the areas where I tend to hang out and that can be a little sad to me. I remember designing a dream house in an introductory Computer Aided Design class in college. Budget and reality weren’t an issue and modesty was apparently not on my mind, because the whole thing was made of windows. I like natural light. I do often want to bathe in it. Now I can. My goal is to integrate the Sun light into my morning yoga routine (that routine I have done for three mornings in a row- yes, that makes it a routine!).
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In addition to feeling like a plant, I am also growing a plant.  Last birthday I asked for a citrus tree for my gift. It came, about 2 feet tall and green. I am not blessed with a green thumb. But it is a goal of mine to paint it green somehow. And this fall I almost jumped up and down and called everyone I knew when that tree finally had blossoms. Seriously. The blossoms smelled great all fall and they were really pretty. I have gifted the plant with one of the few windows of the house that gets sun. It is happy. And it has fruit on it! So now I can patiently wait and hope that some of those teeny tiny clementine’s will become delicious. And that I don’t freeze off my green thumb. Seriously I want to build some planters and try growing a little garden this spring. I pray I maintain this glimmer of an ability and the Clementine doesn’t go the way of the Money Tree, Rubber Plant, Wandering Jew and all the other lovely green housemates I have neglected over the years.

Citrus Grove Body Butter

Ingredients and the Ratio amount for Body Butter

Four : Mango Butter. I get it Here.
One: Coconut Oil. The only question is how much you want to stock up on.
One: Shea Butter. I get it Here.
One Tenth: Beeswax. I got mine in bricks from a local beekeeper.
One Tenth: Sweet Almond Oil I get it Here.
18-36 drops of Essential Oils These are the ones I use.

How to use the Ratios: If you have 4 ounces of Mango Butter(one fourth of the bag that I get), use 1-ounce Coconut Oil, 1-ounce Shea Butter, .10-ounce beeswax and .10-ounce Sweet Almond Oil. This will give you about one cup of body butter- since whipping it will add volume.

​Process:
Melt the Beeswax in a DIY double boiler: AKA a Jar in a pot of water on Low. (if in a chunk, break this up while it’s melting to speed process)
When melted, Add Mango Butter, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter. If you don’t have Shea, you can just add a little more mango or even cocoa or other butter- honestly it may not even be all that needed to have that extra bit. You can also add these in smaller chunks if possible so that they melt quicker. Stir as able to get them melting and mixed in.

When it's mostly liquid- it’s ok if there are little bits of butter chunks. Take glass container out of the pot and pour liquid into a mixing bowl. You can place this in the fridge and check on it. You want it to start to get thicker. I will check on it and start to whip it with an electric beater. I don’t use anything fancy. I am not fancy. 

After this mixture cools, you can add your essential oils. With Citrus oils sometimes you need to add extra for lasting scent. I added about 3-6 of each of these oils: Stress Away, Lime, Orange, Tangerine, Lemon and Grapefruit. There is no exact science in adding essential oils. Citrus essential oils are distilled from the rind and have a more subtle scent when added to lotions. But you can use what you have and the best part is you can try it out while you’re working to see if it is scented to your preference and add more as you go along. Citrus oils can cause some sun sensitivity- of course in the winter months this is not so big of an issue but they are best to avoid where the sun is shining the rest of the year! I am using these oils to embrace their emotional influence. I call them “happy oils” as they all have properties that enhance positive feelings. If you’re looking to support the condition of your skin, here are some other options: Lavender, German and Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Elemi and Frankincense.

Make sure to whip this into a stiff consistency. If it’s not doing that just keep refrigerating and then taking it out and whipping it more. It also stiffens when it sits. I accidentally over refrigerated one batch but just sort of let it warm under a light and then whipped it. Whipping adds air to it and allows you to be able to get a good scoop of it when you're ready to use it. 

In making my own lotions and lip balms I’ve noticed that the longer they “Cure” the stronger the scent will get. The viscous oils seem to absorb the essential oils more. Also DIY lotions can take a little longer to absorb into the skin and some people find them oily. I feel like this body butter is the right balance of moisturizing and oily and a little bit can go a long way. It is also always good to give your skin a little time to absorb the lotion before putting on clothes- depending on how harsh winter has been on it! My feet can use this slathered on like butter on a fresh baked roll.  I say slather away and become one with the citrus grove.
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May we all be able to mentally escape the winter as needed. And may I learn to love licking snow.  


For now I will be sitting in the "sun" sending positive thoughts to my tree while slathered up with Citrus Body Butter. ​