Toddler tummy troubles-win!

So I wake up in the 4s this morning and my 3 year old had snuck in bed with me.  I'm normally a light sleeper but this is the first week of school and I'm worn out.  I realize that she is sans-sleep diaper (she's potty trained during the day but I haven't been brave enough to try nighttime) and I asked her where it was.

Well, she'd used the sleep diaper in a major way and brought me a new one in the middle of the night but decided to just crawl in bed.

I walk her back to her room, take her to the potty and discover that she's had an upset tummy.  This is the first time she's had the big D since she could walk and it's confusing to her.  She keeps saying, "my poop is weird and my tummy hurts."  She asked me for some oils (love that) and I grabbed my DiGize (for anything digestion-related) and rubbed it on her tummy.  She said she was hungry but I was fearful it was confusion about the tummy pain and I didn't want to give her anything.

As I walked back to my room I heard a noise and was devastated to discover that my alarm was already going off.  ugh.

I got ready and woke her up about an hour later.  Her tummy was still bothering her but she was acting fine, not warm, etc.  I put more DiGize on her tummy and she said it felt better.  Packed a bland "brat style" lunch for her and sent the bottle of oil in her backpack.

They called to tell me she'd had an accident (unlike her) and her bottom was red from it.  Said I didn't need to get her as she was feeling fine but wanted the protocol for her bottom.  I told her about the oil and asked her to get some diaper cream I'd made from baby brother's room.

Fast forward to the end of the day, I pick up the kids and she has had "regular poop" (her words) and feels great.  I checked her bottom when we got home and it wasn't pink at all.

Double-oils win!  (the diaper paste is 1 tbsp coconut oil and 4-5 drops lavender)

And the bonus is I got home and my kidscents oils arrived!  I'm super excited as these are already diluted by Young Living and I don't have to mix up my own little batches for the kids....stay tuned for a report on them!

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Classroom calm

So my class after lunch is rowdy as most classes are in the afternoon.  I normally diffuse lemon and peppermint (2-3 drops lemon and only 1 drop peppermint) in the morning as it's a happy and alert mix.  I diffuse it intermittently so it goes off every 30 seconds.

This afternoon I decided to add in a little Peace and Calming (2 drops) and the kids noticed it immediately.  I had questions from, "Hey, I want a diet coke" to "it smells like my grandma's purse."  Apparently the combo reminded them of an old lady drinking diet soda (although I thought it smelled great, haha).

Regardless, guess who got to work and had the best class???  Yep, they did.

We will experiment to see if we have the same results with a different combo...maybe I could make that a science lesson but you can bet my diffuser will pay for itself this year!

#oilyteacher

Baby teething gel win!!

So my 5 month old started "school" last week as I returned to the classroom.  When I pick him up after the first day I'm told that they struggled getting him to take the bottle.  We discussed how I feed him and we went on our way.

Day 2 I get a call around 11am that they haven't been able to get him to eat yet (his last bottle was at 6am).  As he weighs 17lbs, I'm not worried about him missing a meal but I want to make sure he is hydrated.  He went down for a nap and at 12:30 they tried again and he took about an ounce.  I offered to leave school to feed him but we both agreed that they have to figure this out because I can't always go over there.

By 1:30 I called and suggested they apply some of the teething gel I made for him whenever he's fighting a bottle and then feed him.

I pick him up at 4 and they almost hugged me as they said "THAT WORKED WONDERS!!!  WHAT IS IT?"

Score 1 for mom and Young Living!

Teething gel is just 1TBSP coconut oil and 4-5 drops of thieves.

He's still not up to 8oz bottles per sitting with them but gets at least half of that each time and is improving daily.

note to self

Don't reuse your NingXia Red bottle for lemon water. 

Here's why....people will think you're drinking Vodka straight from the bottle!!! 

I started teacher training this past week and had a genius idea to reuse an empty NingXia Red bottle for lemon water.  I was going to be gone all day and my normal mason jar wasn't going to be enough H20 to get me thru the day.  I washed and refilled the bottle with lemon water and went to work.  (Side note: I'm in a new district this year and no know one).  I walk into training and before I sit down someone said, "Girl you're crazy, we need to be friends."  I had no idea what she was talking about and I smiled, laughed and sat elsewhere.  I was assuming it was because I got there with about a minute to spare.

Fast forward to day 2 and instead of being at new teacher training, I'm with all of the other elementary teachers.  I was stopped 8...yes 8 TIMES by random groups of people saying something like, "ok we've placed bets on what's in the bottle" or "why would you bring the good stuff and not share?"

The best is when my new Assistant Principal said something.  (thankfully it was really funny)

Not exactly the way I wanted to make a name for myself but I got to talk about oils....alot.

Back to school lunches

So, unfortunately it's that time of year again and I'm sad to send my kiddos to "school."  While we're excited about this new chapter in our new city, I've loved spending the last 6 months with them.  Our previous school provided lunches so this is my first attempt to send lunch with my kiddos.  To be honest, this is what first started me on a healthier path because I didn't want to just send my daughter to school with quesadillas, lunchables or grilled cheese everyday.  I feared her lunches would all be in the tan/brown/orange family without any color or nutritional value.

So, I have a lot of ideas for what I'm going to send and I'll be sure and post successes and failures as we go along.

In preparation though, I've found some great containers and accessories that I plan to use.  **I'm experimenting with links, I apologize in advance if they don't work...I'm a novice.

I found some  Thermos Ice Mat, 6 Cube packs at my local store but they also make these in 9 and 18.  They were $1 per 6 cube pack.  I ended up finding some other ones that looked more like ice cubes and you can cut in the size you want.

I'm still on the hunt for the right lunchbox and the Land's end ones were recommended by the crew at www.100daysofrealfood.com but, of course, I'm shopping locally if I can.

I love love love this Thermos FUNtainer Bottle, Disney Princess, 12 Ounce ...it stays cold all day and lasts forever!  It's not recommended for hot stuff because it keeps it HOT and could burn your little one's mouth but for cold stuff its AWESOME and doesn't leak!


I went to the store looking for the ziploc take along sectioned containers but my grocery store is a little smaller and I didn't have any luck.  What i DID find were these awesome Sistema 21652 Klip It Lunch Plus To-Go Container .  They come in all different colors, shapes, sizes, functions.  Some even have utensils that snap together.  My mom first found some of these and I'm addicted now and excited about having reusable containers that won't be thrown away.  You can find these at a ton of different stores and there are so many styles to choose from!



I can tell you that day 1 (and every day for awhile) he will have bottles and she (3.5yrs) will have carrots, cubed organic cheese and turkey pieces, veggie crackers, watermelon and a note from me (she can't read yet, just hoping Ms. Chrissy reads it to her).

Best of luck with your back to school lunches!  I think I'm stressing about this more than my lesson plans!!!

Wanna learn more about oils?

So I get a lot of inquiries on facebook/email about this crazy oily journey I'm on.  I decided to do an online video chat type of thing where I could talk about the most popular oils, how I use them, what others say about them, etc. 

If you promise only to laugh with me and not at me, I'll share it with you.  (excuse my messy house in the background).

Vlog on top 10 oils I love!

I'd love your feedback.  I know that when I talk about Panaway I said one ingredient was Walgreens instead of Wintergreen, hahaha.  oops. 

Get oily people...all the cool kids are :)

Holy Bug Bites!!!

So I had no plans to post anything about this topic.  However, my husband and I just returned from a trip to the Bahamas.  I had every intention of traveling with a whole supply of oils.  However, I had to get the kids oils ready and instructions written for the grandmas who are not oil familiar with which oils to use for what.  This meant I wrote a small book for them and after getting everything ready to go, I didn't go to bed until 1:30am and had to be up by 3:15am.

Needless to say, in my sleep-deprived state, I left with only the oils I had in my purse.

Fast forward to day 4 of our vacation and we had dinner at an outdoor pizzeria on the resort property.  I noticed the hostess stand had multiple bottles of Off on the counter.  (Some regular and some deed free).  Well I haven't used bug spray since we started on our oils so I didn't think anything of it.

About 20min into dinner I was slapped on the arm by someone who saw a mosquito on it.  She got it and I got up to get bug spray.  I opted for the "deet free" as I'm trying to be more natural.  I sprayed it from the knees down and on my arms.

The next morning I woke up with a vicious itching sensation EVERYWHERE!!!  My ankles were swollen from itching in my sleep and you can see some of the bites in this photo.

By the end of the afternoon I'd counted 52 bites from the knees down (we were in the pool/ocean most of the day so I had plenty of time to count).  Thankfully the saltwater helped a bit but at one point I just stuck my legs out in the sun (from the knee down) and actually hoped my legs would burn because I'd rather have pain from a sunburn than this itch!

All I had with me was Panaway and Lava derm sunburn spray.  I applied these and the lavaderm helped but I still itched.  My husband bought benadryl creme and it did nothing.  I walked around barefoot as much as possible because my flip flops made the bites itch.

Anyhow, I'm now on day 5 of bites and day 2 at home with purification and my bites are slowly going away but I can go without itching finally!!!!  Never again will I leave without purification.  It now has a permanent place in my purse!

Quick baby congestion testimony!

There are very few things you can/should use on a baby regardless of if we're talking oils, OTC or perscriptions.  Since I started my oily journey, my pediatrician and I talk alot more.  He supports my efforts to keep my family happy and healthy but wants to be very involved when it comes to oiling up my youngest.  He was very specific about where and what oils I could apply topically for the baby as anything you apply externally will be absorbed. 

My son sneezed a LOT in the hospital and all of the staff said it was normal.  Well, he basically never stopped.  My kiddo has allergies and I constantly use saline and the bulb syringe. 

My 3.5yr old started to show symptoms of a cold and I was so worried my 4 month old would get it.  I knew I couldn't treat him the same way I did his sister. 

When he started to show congestion I decided to diffuse RC.  I was especially worried since he hadn't started breathing out of his mouth yet.  I started the diffuser and closed the door, put him down about 30 minutes later and after he was in his crib for about 20 minutes I heard him in the monitor take a deep breath thru his nose.  He slept thru the night and woke up fine, didn't even have to do saline and bulb syringe the next morning.

RC is now my go-to for anything congestion with my kids!! 

Shout out to moms of all shapes and sizes

I'm having one of those rare moments when both of my children are resting....AT THE SAME TIME.  I found myself thinking, "what do I do now?" and then immediately started laughing at that statement.  The reason I laughed is because the answer to that question is ridiculously overwhelming and unending.

I've always struggled when I felt overwhelmed.  In college, when everyone else was cramming for exams during "dead week" I found myself out enjoying things.  Not because I was overly confident or prepared for the upcoming exams but because the realization of everything I had to do what a bit too much.  So what did I do?  I decided to do the opposite of prepare.

As the end of the summer is less than a week away, I've found myself doing the exact same thing...not preparing.  It's like I'm clinging to my time to be lazy and willing to suffer the consequences later.  Like I'm rebelling against the stress and anxiety that I'd probably have if I wrote down the "to do" list swimming in my head.

The end of the summer is an odd mix of feelings for any teacher.  On one had we are excited to get started on the classroom and put our summer "pinning" into action, on the other hand we loathe the idea of an alarm clock, coffee on the run, lunch at the printer, only checking email at the end of the day.

This being my first year as a mom of 2 and my first time in the classroom in almost 6 months, these extremes are bigger and since I'm going to a new district, new school, new grade level and new state expectations....well, nervous is the word.

I'm nervous that I won't spend the time I need/they deserve kissing my kids in the morning, dressing them, making them a healthy breakfast and sending them to "school" confident and ready.  I'm nervous that if I do spend that time with them that then my students and my teaching will suffer.  I'm nervous about the evenings and getting the nighttime routine down so that they don't stay up until all hours of the night (even though that means less time with them).  I'm nervous about overwhelming my husband with "my needs" now that I'm working and being able to ask for help.  I'm nervous about our high maintenance dog and what the heck we're going to do with him.

But with all that nervousness, I'm thankful.

I've learned with our son and being home these past 6 months that I'm not cut out to be a stay at home mom, at least not right now.  I don't have the discipline or the budget to do it.

My time at home consisted of many extremes.  Either I'd go too long without showering or putting on a bra or I'd have my kids in the car for too long and we'd spend too much $ and come home tired and cranky.  Add in some post partum hormones, potty training, teething and moving and you've had a crazy 1/2 year.

I won't lie, when we moved to this house and had our son, I prayed that my husband would bring up the idea of me staying at home full time.  I didn't want to bring it up because he is a "fixer" and would find a way to make it work, but I wanted it to be a joint decision rather than finding a way.  Ultimately because I carry the insurance for the kids and myself, I decided to accept a position closer to home.

This was the right decision for me and for our family.

What I've come to realize is that there's no "right way" to be a mom.  A stay at home mom isn't a better mom, a working mom isn't a better mom, a single mom isn't a better mom...what makes a mom great is how she loves her kids.  As much as I wish that I had what it takes to stay home with them and teach them, nurture them, cook/clean/drive and provide for them all of the time, I've realized that I will still do that...just during different hours.  I can still be a great mom to them and hopefully a great teacher to other kids.

I just want to give a shout out to moms...all moms.  Being a mom is an amazingly challenging and rewarding job and you're doing an incredible job....all of you.

And as I transition from a stay at home mom back to a working mom, I'm going to try to be less nervous, more loving and remember that I'm still a great mom...even if my kids socks don't match or their lunch is missing a food group.  I'm going to go put on some motivation oils and maybe do some laundry until they wake up....(or maybe I'll watch Bachelor in Paradise).

Granola from scratch from someone who doesn't like granola!!

I'm all about trying to give healthier versions of our favorite foods when it comes to feeding my family.  I found a meal plan online for kiddos and it included this recipe and used it several different ways:  as cereal, on yogurt, in a smoothie, etc.  My little 3.5yr old chef and I gave it a shot. 

The hardest part of this recipe is getting all of the ingredients.  You have to go to that aisle in the grocery store with all the healthy stuff that you never go down.   You know, the one with the dispensers like the candy stores?  This mom is not a fan of those but I was willing to try.

I loved this and so did my 3.5yr old!  It was an easy recipe for her to help with as it just has a lot of mixing, stirring and pouring.  It made my house smell FANTASTIC!  It didn't make an enormous amount like most granola recipes which is awesome because we actually ate it all before it went bad (lasted us about 2 weeks).

Shout out to the crew at 100 Days of Real Food for coming up and sharing this one.  I adapted it a bit.

Granola Cereal

makes 3 lbs

Recipe adapted from Anson Mills and 100 Days of Real Food

Ingredients

• 3½ cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raw sliced almonds
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
• ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Also need – parchment paper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Cover a rectangular baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the dry oats, almonds, coconut, seeds and spices together in a large mixing bowl.
3. Heat the butter and honey together in a small saucepan over low heat. Once the butter melts stir in the vanilla and salt.
4. Pour the hot liquids over the dry ingredients and stir together with a rubber spatula until evenly coated.
5. Spread mixture onto prepared pan in one even layer. Bake for 75 minutes.
6. The granola will become crisp as it cools at which point you can break into pieces (if making bars) or break it up into small chunks by pounding it in a zip lock bag (if making cereal). Store in air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Fighting the sweet tooth and post-baby body with Lemon Water!

So I've never been great at drinking water.  I don't have a problem with it, I just never remember to do it and would always grab something else when given the choice...flavor, right?  I'd always take the lemon out of my water if it was served that way at a restaurant.  Mainly because I like drinking with straws and would always end up sucking a seed up the straw and at a college job I knew of several wait staff/bartenders who probably shouldn't have touched the garnishes for drinks without an extra wash of the hands.

When I started my journey with oils one of the first things I tried was a few drops (just 1-2) of lemon in my water.  A big mistake I made was drinking this in a plastic cup with a plastic straw.  Why is this bad?  Well, the lemon oil is pure essential oil (EO) and potent and it breaks down the chemicals in plastic....so I probably have some of that in me now, lol.  If you inflate a balloon and put a drop of lemon EO on it, said balloon will pop.  If you put a drop of lemon EO on sytrofoam and let it sit, the oil will eat it.  The same happens with your cup.  So, you should always drink lemon water out of a glass or stainless steel cup and if you are a straw gal like me, they make stainless steel straws!!  Another benefit for the straw is when you first try the lemon water, it can tickle/tingle your lips and with a straw you avoid this.  Lemon EO is also photosensitive meaning you should never put it on your skin if you are going to be in the sun (lips included) so use carefully.

A drop or two of lemon EO is great in a cold beer (in a frozen glass mug)!

I've noticed is that I'm less likely to grab an oreo or something sweet if I'm drinking lemon water so any time I get a sweet tooth, I have a glass of this and then I'm good!  If I still go for the sweet after that, I get less of it since I just drank an entire glass of H20 and my hopes are that the lemon water breaks down the calories before they sink in, hahaha.  (one can dream, right?) 

I'm getting close to my pre-baby weight but I don't own a scale so I'm not sure what that is...I just focus on how I feel and how my clothes fit :) 

My 3.5yr old loves lemon water, SCORE, and I'm slowly transitioning my husband to oily water from those squirt things you put in it!  It's a journey but we're on our way!

Lemon EO has a TON of uses and I love to diffuse it and make my house smell fresh...it's my work oil as when it's diffusing I am productive!!  Check out my Pinterest board on oils to see more uses!

**The information in this blog is only about Young Living Essential Oils.  I only advocate the use of Young Living Essential Oils and cannot speak for any other oil product on the market.**