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:
​

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!).
​
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.
​

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. ​

With healthy eating, comes recipe hunting. While looking for family and kid friendly snacks I read about an ingredient called gelatin. I proceeded to experiment with in many times in the past few years. It is a “superfood”- as classified by a lot of healthy foodies. WebMD has great things to say about it:

​I have personally enjoyed stronger nails and less hip ache (Thanks, Pregnancy!) from consuming Gelatin regularly – two welcomed benefits! As with any food you aren’t used to consuming, try a little at a time as you system needs to adjust (even to healthy foods!). Here’s the thing though, if you eat Jell-o, you are consuming this. In addition to a whole lotta blech: artificial dyes, sweeteners, sugars, fake flavoring... Just say Jell-NO!! It may be cheap but it’s only cheapening your health. (You can quote me on that one!)
With this little canister, you can make your own jello. You can even make it fruit filled in a giant mold ala the church picnics of my childhood. No matter what you make this into, it can give you a great health boost and your kids (or hubby) won't even know!

For healthy jello with our without fruit follow this Recipe from Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/3803/healthy-jello/ I used frozen blueberries and a can of no sugar added cherries when I made it the first time and it was delicious!

Jello is a good way to ease into the Gelatin world but Gummies- AKA Jigglers- is another way to make a finger food snack (And to replace gummy fruit snacks since our dentist say to skip them for the kiddos – even the 100% fruit ones - they are so chewy that they get stuck to the teeth! It’s a good thing our kids don’t do grocery shopping and are pretty flexible about snacking ‘cause we used to have them on a daily basis!)

I have made a lot of experimental batches of gummies in the past few years but wanted to share some of the fall themed ones I have done lately! 

Creamy {Can't get enough} Coffee Gummies:
Do you like to start your day with coffee? Me too. Next time, make an extra cup so you can whip up a batch of these creamy coffee gummies for a mid-day snack. Or meal. Yes, sometimes these have to do when life is busy. They make a great breakfast or lunch when needed! Grown up finger food. Want to REALLY make these a grown up finger food? Add a shot of your favorite liquor to the creamer- and then make sure to NOT eat them for breakfast! I do generally brew low caff or decaf coffee so a spiked version makes a great after dinner dessert!

Apple Cider {Probiotic} Gummies
My next foray into fall flavors was using Mock Cider. (You can use real cider too so if at some point the following explanation is too much for you, skip it and just go right to the recipe!)
I have been fermenting Water Kefir. It's great. You can make all different flavors and recently I second fermented it with a sliced up Macintosh Apple a stick of Cinnamon and a few slices of ginger. It was delicious and tasted much like Apple Cider but less intense and with fizz (aka probiotics). Water Kefir is a natural source of probiotics and is a great alternative to Soda! It's also super easy to make! Learn more here.
I warned you that might get a little odd there for a second but if you just want to use Apple Cider, you could always empty a probiotic capsule into the final mixture to make these just as healthy AND delicious! Adding the Thieves oil makes these immune boosting gummies! That's a Super, Super, Super food opportunity right there! These didn't last long as the kids kept sneaking them out of the bowl! Hence only pictures of us holding them before consuming!

Boo-berry Bat Gummies
It's Halloween and it's not my favorite holiday. I can not seem to maintain a cool composure with the great influx of candy that arrives on our doorstep Halloween night! So I plan on having a bunch of these little guys on hand! They are festive, delicious and the kids loved them. I was even trying to take pictures and a little hand reached up and tried to swipe some more (hence the blur)! The great thing about the silicone mold craze that exists is that instead of making candy you can make GUMMIES! My creative brain is spinning in preparation for Christmas too! I may need to clear out a cabinet just for fun molds! 

Have you realized how many possibilities there are for gummies yet? I hope your creative brain is clicking! Here is a little gallery of all the steps laid out so you know what things could look like! Of course I don't take fancy pictures just so you can feel better about life. Real life isn't always shiny and perfect. Like that time when you went to fill a mold and poured gummie mixture all over the counter. It happens. And it still tastes great!  

What flavors do you want to make gummies with this fall?! To learn my year round recipes follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group!

I know I have given a brief nod to OOLA in a past post on here. Which honestly it should be a curtsy of gratitude as OOLA is the reason I am here- writing. A few months ago I read the OOLA Book (as seen in my side bar of favorite books) and took the online assessment. And realized that I was not balanced in life. I kinda knew this. But, it was a good way to discover where I could use some balance and focus and pay attention to how I am addressing those needs in life. And so- here stands this blog- a source of fun. An outlet for creativity and thoughts and expression- that I can do from the comfort of my own home in jammies while children sleep upstairs as the case may currently be.

More recently a group of friends and acquaintances have come together through a Facebook group to discuss and explore and collectively take the OOLA challenge (I can't NOT think of that as #oolachallenge). The goal is to examine and explore all of the seven areas of OOLA: Fun, Field, Family, Faith, Friends, Finances and (I ALWAYS FORGET ONE....) FItness. Ok, now I have all seven. 

Last week we explored Fun because a lot of us came up deficient- myself included. And yet, after a week of reflection, I realized I have Fun everyday. I just don't always give it credit at the end of day when I am tired and thinking of all that wasn't accomplished. I mean, generally speaking we can't all have fun all the time (though wouldn't that be fun!). The vital thing is to have a little bit of fun and to claim it. Make sure you recognize it for what it's worth. That way you can't be all superlative on your self and sit in the pouting pit of "I never get to do anything fuh-uhn"  So claim your fun. And by claim, I don't mean to just snap a picture. But to also let yourself know "This is Fun." Because then, when you're dragging a whiney fussy preschooler into the house to cries of "I WANT TO STAY OUTSIDE. I DON'T NEED TO SLEEP." You will know, you did have a slice of fun earlier when you and that preschooler were climbing at the playground. Savor it.


This week we are talking about Field. Now, cut back to that scene out front with first class tantrum performance. Put a cartoon bubble over my exasperated face in which it says: "This is not what I envisioned." Nope. Being a stay at home parent is not exactly what one thinks it is when you first sign up. Good, bad, indifferent, it's just not envision-able. Raising children is unpredictable and a little wild. And let's not forget, there are moments when that thought bubble says "This is Fun." However, in the seven years that I have been at home with a kid or two I can honestly say I have wanted to get the bumper sticker that says "I'd rather be {fill in the blank}." That's not to say that I don't love being a stay at home mom on the whole. However, when our OOLA challenge group was given the question: 

"If money were no object...
What would you DO today?
What feels like your calling?
Don't think JOB... think, What makes your HEART SING?"


I didn't think "Make breakfast lunch and dinner to a chorus of requests, clean dishes, pick up toys, do laundry, wash hands, feet, faces, wipe noses, fingers, butts, chauffeur children, break up fights and plan schedules." Sorry, I just didn't. My heart mumbles and grumbles during all of that. Maybe it's singing "it's a hard knock life"... but probably not, that song is a bit too up tempo. I did start to formulate a respond to the question. My response went something like that past blog post: "Play with Clay all day." (See it's much more song like) "I would sculpt, throw, teach and generally just be the clay and be an artist. I would share art and feel empowered to help others be creative and confident. I would make things that people can use and sell. And I would give it away and share all of it." Um. Definitely not what i am doing right now but it sure sounds lovely. To me, anyway! 


I am glad I didn't respond right away though, because I thought on that response. And then we were asked another question: "What are your barriers to following your calling in life? We all have barriers - some are big, some are small. What are yours?" 

This question got me thinking about Field, Calling and life more than anything. I think that so often, my biggest barrier to following my calling is: Perspective. I so often see where I am right now as different from where I want to be. Not so unusual, right? Meanwhile, this parenting gig has taught me one thing: We can't spend the day whining about what we want. Not without irritating and infuriating all the people around us (Yes, three year old, I'm talking to you... And Me.) We have chosen, as a family, for me to be at home with the kids. And it's a choice that I am so glad we made. It doesn't always feel like a J-O-B. But it's a whole lotta work! And it's a whole lotta fun. I get to go to a playground and be creative in the kitchen and rock my kiddo to nap. It's worth it- when I look at the big picture. 

Sure, it complicates our Finance area and it blurs the line of Family and Field, but it is where I am called to be - right now. And so my biggest barrier in that is my own brain. So, Brain: Stop wishing for other. Enjoy the Playdough on this side of life. And Stay at home Mommy-self: Keep sharing art- with your kids! Inspire them to be creative. Be where you are so you can appreciate it. I don't know about other mama's who are home with kids but not having a job description, time clock to punch and a boss to answer to can be a blessing. It can be confusing and culturally "against the grain" at times but it can also be exactly where you're meant to be. Now if only we got degrees for mastering diapering or sleep training or keeping the floor clean for more than 20 minutes. The good news is we do get pay increases: NO more Diapers to buy; Free public education/ no more preschool tuition; Free hands as the Kids can walk unassisted! And more importantly we get promotions: To cooking solid food only; To reading chapter books: To riding bikes with your big boy. 

Can you relate to feeling like you are not where you want to be? I have decided it's time I just realize I am Where I am called to be and to keep walking this awesome path- learning to balance grow the whole time. What is in your way of Making your Heart Sing? And got any tips for those times when the Whine Refrain gets a little too loud? 

Being an at home mom is constantly in flux. Follow me on Instagram to see the journey and join my Facebook group where I share some of my adventures in healthy momming! 

So a few months ago, I just stopped wearing deodorant every day. Do the math- it was the winter and it wasn’t quite so vital. I was fed up with  that fact that I was smearing soda cans all over my lymphnodes, and the ick-o stink-o of fake smells… There is nothing appealing to me about being around someone who smells “baby fresh” in their thirties- or teens for that matter. What is that?! Why do grown women who are obviously hormonal enough to have stinky sweat want to smell like baby powdered bums? No thanks. Who knows though, maybe I'm the only one who feels this way. 

When I stopped wearing deodorant, I didn’t really replace it with anything. I know, I know- how rude! But you love me and you really don’t want me to wear toxic chemicals, you’d rather me just declare ripeness as needed. Right? Right? (My sister is not allowed to answer that.) To be fair, I wasn’t around many people during the heat of the day other than my kids. They never complained.  My hubby may have implied a thing or two once or twice. But he loves me too and knows my thoughts about chemicals. Lucky for him I went searching for solutions before summer struck!

Wait! Freeze! Before you run and get those ingredients, or ask Amazon or Vitacost to do it for you, you may want a little more information about detoxing your pits. I recently came across a blog post about how when you switch to a natural deodorant you can get some sore spots, more stink, more sweat or more sting. I didn’t experience much of this problem since I had gone rouge and just quit deodorant. But you may have more success with the whole process if you start here: Detox the Pits.

Regardless of which way you start. Just start. Please – for the love of the lymph nodes! (And life without stink!)

So, ya’ll know I love me some essential oils, right? (They aren’t right up there with my family, clay, dark chocolate or curling up and devouring a good book, but they are close.) The thing I love about them is that they are inspiring. They’re these little bottles of delicious smelling goodness that can also work magic in different ways! I love being able to find wellness in oils, but I also love being able to create wellness. This week I finally got motivated and got to work making some oily wellness. In the form of bars: lotion bars for everything!. But crazy enough, the bars mutated into lotion sticks and then into lip lotion sticks. It wasn’t even a lot of work or . I have been looking up recipes for making lotion bars on various websites (such as this and this) as I need to replace chemically filled hand lotions and find something fabulous to help with dry ceramic hands and coming winter scratchy hands- not to mention supporting all my body systems proactively.!

So, way back when I decided I needed to make lotion bars and I looked up recipes and gathered my ingredients, my first thought was, If I am getting all these materials and going to all this trouble, I am going to want this to be purposeful. I want these lotion bars to not all be for the SAME purpose. 'What, lotion has a purpose beyond making my skin all soft and lovely?' You Say. Well, when it contains essential oils it does. It can provide all forms of goodness. Good Skin. Good Muscles. Good Feelings. Good Immune Support. Hi, my name is Megan and I am a multi-tasking addict. But I am unashamed to say Lotion Bar Making Multi-tasking was the name of the game this week.

So after pursuing the recipes, I went with:

• 1 cup Coconut Oil (I get it from Aldi) 
  

• 1 cup Beeswax (If you have solid wax like I do, you can use half a pound in weight I got mine from a local beekeeper where I also get raw honey)
  

• ½ cup Shea Butter (I got it here) 
  

• 1t Olive Oil (You can use Almond or Vitamin E, or others or skip it too)
  

This made about 3.5 cups of liquid once I melted it down in a double burner- well, not a double boiler, really. It was a large Pyrex Measuring Cup sitting in a sauce pan of water sitting on a burner on medium setting. I don’t own a double boiler.

 This worked out perfectly though. The spout on the measuring cup poured the melted lotion out easier and with less mess. 

I used a silicon 6-cup cupcake pan, poured about ¼ cup of lotion into each cup, added somewhere between 10 and 15 drops of EOs to each cup and stirred them up with a plastic knife. I was able to make each one a different “Flavor” and give them each a different purpose.    

Here are the combos I went with. They all target a different body system and their aroma benefits differ too (noted in parenthesis). If you don't already have some helpful reference materials, but want to know more about each oils' properties, get one. These oils are dynamic!

WORKOUT BAR that WORKS IN:
Wintergreen- supports skeletal system (Stimulates/increases sensory awareness):4 drops
PanAway- targets muscular system: 4 drops
Copaiba- support whole body: 3 drops


SUPER HAPPY SKIN and MIND:
Lavender (Calming, Relaxing and Balancing): 7 drops
Elemi (Grounding): 4 drops 

MANLY and SENSIBLE:
Valor (Balance and Self-esteem): 6 drops
Cyress (Soothing, Helps life Flow Better): 4 drops
Idaho Blue Spruce (Balancing): 4 drops

IMMUNITY BOOST:
Thieves- supports healthy immune system: 10 drops

CRAVINGS CRUSHED:
Grapefruit (refreshing and uplifting): 7 drops
Ocotea (Increase feelings of fullness): 3 drops

DON’T MESS WITH ME OUTSIDE:
Purification- Citronella is predominant oil in this blend:  10 drops

I have since kept these in the fridge as coconut oil and summer don’t result in solid bars- and the coolness of the Super Happy (Lavender) Skin and Mind Bar felt great after a long day in the sun! I was thinking that in the future I might add more beeswax or skip the liquid oil in the warm months but on the other hand, I like the moisture of the coconut oil… sooooo. The point is- these are great no matter what. They are adaptable to different ratios and you can feel free to play around and not worry about it being exact(my kind of making)! And you could even pour them right into little 4oz jars so it doesn’t matter if they get softer. I was out of these cute little jars- ‘cause other oily concoctions have filled them!

I love doing different replacements for other products – it makes my oils pay for themselves and it ensures that I know all the ingredients and where they came from- in this case- all 5 ingredients! Doesn’t get much simpler than that!

As I started to make more whole food choices, I started to hear more and more about “super foods” and gut health (even NPR is reporting on it) and how to make food work for you to increase your bodies efficiency at fighting crime and taking names.  Our cells reproduce on a regular basis as I vaguely recall from Biology (this is not a science blog) and the way they do that is with the fuel you feed them.  I started to really think of my whole body system as a mechanical organism- a unique and beautifully made one. I know that if I owned a fancy car (or fancy anything), I would take serious care of it. I would have to feed it the best gasoline out there if I wanted it to run optimally. Guess what?! We have some fancy bodies and they need the best fuel out there from the cleanest possible sources. 

I have approached my diet with this methodology:

Step One: Say no to junk as often as you can- and it’s surprisingly often. Even as I was mindlessly eating up the leftover snacks my kids didn't finish I wuld as my self: Is this needed? Nope. Not at all. Do you really need to hit up a drive through or can you maybe hold out for 15 minutes until you can grab something at home.  And if you do have to stop, give yourself an extra five minutes to sit in your car and eat a salad (minus too much cruddy dressing) as opposed to a sandwich of junk.  Show up to a picnic with healthy things- other people will appreciate it too and if they don’t, I’m sure there is plenty of other ick they can eat.  Just say no thank you, I’m not eating that right now. Or just don’t say anything and don’t eat it. I also always have some good snack at the bottom of my purse for emergency hunger! Making small changes is not easy, but it’s worth it!

Step Two: DRINK YOUR WATER. Our bodies are made of 80% water. Or is that the earth (again, not a science blog)?!  Well, regardless of the exact percentage, water is what I think of as the “oil” for our bodies’ engines. It helps us process the fuel and function as well as we can.  I aim for half my weight in ounces. So to make it easy- if you weighed 100 pounds, you’d aim for 50 ounces of water.  I carry my trusty water bottles EVERYWHERE and grab it first if I am feeling hungry. I have been mentally contemplating a cute way to make a carrying case for them, ‘cause they do not necessarily look attractive. But for now, function over form!

Step Three: Contemplate cold turkey elimination. You may just have to do this. You may have to pick a timeline or a goal weight and stop eating refined Carbs (ie. breads, pastas, pastries) or Soda or Sugar. Or all three. Sometimes our bodies need serious detox. I found that getting rid of those things, letting my body’s metabolism re-set, made the biggest difference with fat burning weight loss. It also helped me learn my threshold for what should add back into my diet and what I can eat without weight gain and without guilt after I hit a goal weight. The best part: Fat is back. Yup. Healthy fats are so good for your body's carburetor (ie. metabolism ie. I am going a little far with this metaphor) so slice up that avocado, grab the cashews, enjoy that coconut oil and bring on the bacon- well clean low sugar, non-sodium nitrate infused bacon. Yea. I know it can be a little complicated.  Let me know if you are interested in a structured and supportive program to help with this step!

Step Four: When in doubt get the veggies, gummies or nuts out. And put a few in a bowl.  These are my go-to snacks now. Not pretzels or chips or ice cream. Just try it. If you are feeling snacky, grab a portion of these first. I put them front and center in the fridge and pantry and have a canister of nuts on the counter instead of a canister of flour. I need nuts daily- flour, not so much! What are gummies, you may ask? Stay tuned. I have some seriously fun ways I have used these lately! But the point is- if you’re hungry and water isn’t cutting it, don’t starve yourself. Your engine is sputtering and you’re about to run out of gas on the highway! Make a pit stop- just make sure it is a smart one! (Ok, now I am really driving the metaphor into the ground.)

Step Four: Pay attention to ways to replace your junky favorites in your life and try to do it with the least amount of packaging possible (if it’s wrapped up, it’s got more junk and less freshness). If you like nachos and cheese, try pepper scoops with cheese or salsa. I LOVE getting Fajita Nachos – hold the Nachos- at our local Mexican restaurant. Sure, the server may look at me a little strange when I ask them to put it all on lettuce, but it’s so yummy I don’t care how many times I have to explain it. I probably should learn how to explain it in Spanish. I also need to learn how to say: Extra Guacamole, Please. (Healthy Fats are the BEST.) If you like ice cream, try throwing frozen fruit in a blender. Thanks Mom for the YoNana thing-a-ma-jig! Go ahead and add a little cocoa powder if you’re like me and love chocolate.

Step Five: Don’t let cravings tell you what to do! Find ways to combat them before they start- maybe by planning a daily dose of dark chocolate. Yes, I love dark chocolate. And if I know that I could have a piece every day if I want, I find I want it less voraciously. As I said before, you can also finding ways to make replacements for those cravings – sparkling water as opposed to soda or popcorn instead of chips. Also, recognize that cravings aren’t in charge of you. Get busy, be productive, do something else you love to do- even splurge and do something luxurious like take a bath. Sniff Peppermint. Yup- peppermint essential oil can give you a burst of energy AND it can help your brain stop craving not so fabulous fuel. Other essential oils help with this too! I have incorporated peppermint oil INTO my gummies for a health-providing, energy-giving, craving-cutting mid-day treat. Have I mentioned that I am in love with multitasking?

Step Six: Find a buddy. It may be an online support group, it may be one person, but having someone you text, call or meet up with to talk about health helps! Actually, this step maybe needs to go earlier as all the other steps are so much easier if you know someone else is aware of your goals! I’ll be your buddy ‘cause have I mentioned I love ice cream and chocolate and it’s summer time and both of those things are everywhere!?!

Step Seven: Have fun! What?!? Have fun? But dieting isn’t fun. Oh, wait. Haven’t you noticed I never mentioned dieting?  That’s right: I don’t think of being healthy as dieting. It’s just smart living. Sure, it may be challenging but so are crossword puzzles, learning new hobbies, climbing to the top of a mountain. And they can be fun. It’s all about perspective. That’s one of the main reasons I seek out creative cooking. It’s fun for me. And part of the fun is in knowing that it’s also good for me by producing healthy results. I have kept my weight off for one year and 3 months. And it feels so good. Sure, I went a lot of months not eating stuff that my brain told me to eat. But, I realized that brain wasn’t actually thinking most of the time- it was more about retraining my habits and taste-buds.  Once my body was running better, my brain caught up with the game, reset itself and now I can listen to it more. As long as it isn’t always telling me to have ice cream for dinner!

Stay tuned, ‘cause now that you know I like to get creative in the kitchen, I wanted to share some of those healthy things I love in coming posts! What is your least healthy favorite food or meal and do you think there is a good replacement for it?! Let’s get creative! What is your favorite healthy food or meal?

This past year I learned about and read a really neat book called OOLA: Find Balance in an Unbalanced World. The word OOLA comes from saying OOLALA... as in that is awesome! It has inspired me to write this blog. As I was filling out my OOLA wheel I realized I needed more OOLA fun in my life and I needed to solidify my OOLA field direction. Do you stay at home mommies ever feel like that is one of the hardest things to do? Have direction? You're going in five different ones in any given moment and are not sure you're fully successful at any one thing. I miss feeling accomplished and feeling inspired- hence this site! It's exciting to do something that has a start and finish even if I don't know exactly what the big picture finish is. That's okay. Just sitting down, making a goal (write down some thoughts and add pictures) and then accomplishing that goal (posted) and it not being about washing clothes- that's exciting to me. 

It's the same - BUT MORE - when I sit at a ceramics wheel or in front of a sculpture. Writing about creativity in daily life is just a wee bit less messy and a wee bit easier to do in the free minutes I get! But clay- if I had a wheel and a kiln at home, I am pretty sure my family would think it was normal to be covered in mud or dust all the time. And I am pretty sure they'd also be starving and wearing dirty clothes. And I'm even more sure I wouldn't care too much! And so, I usually go to a studio to work with clay. And I loose track of time and never feel like I have enough (And I completely empathize with my passionate-about-fishing-husband who would gladly spend a day on a stream without a glance at his watch but usually can't: family life). 

When studio time is up I am so REFRESHED and looking forward to my next opportunity to get messy! Someday I will make clay the fulcrum of my field but for now, it's my fun (even when it does merge into my field) and I am so glad I found that out. Do you have a passion that you want to harness into a career? Or do you have something that fills your cup? Take the OOLA wheel survey and let me know what you learn about you! 

We are dog people. We will always be dog people. Though, for a while there, I was worried we would loose our standing after not owning a dog for over a year! How did we survive? Mainly by being in the middle of showing our house, selling it, packing it up and moving and unpacking it all with two small human destruct-o-bots running around. So, there was a nice little fur-free respite in there. BUT there was also a four-legged hole in our family portrait. This winter we took the plunge, worked with an AMAZING rescue organization and found our new furry family member: Ketch (as in Catch the ball but pronounced like you're from the 'burgh and are obsessed with all things Ketch-up!) He is the dog we didn't know we needed and he is, putting it mildly, amazing. We count our blessings as he is the snuggliest, kindest, calmest black lab pup we have ever met.