Today was super fun for me because not only did I get to hang out with my baby girl, I was able to share some of my favorite places with her on the side of town where I grew up.
I was raised in North Clarksville. Call it the “bad part of town” around me and you’ll get a squinty-eyed look or eye roll. ππ
Since Anna Claire will be rehearsing for her play several days a week for the next month, I thought it would be fun to be really intentional and do some things on that side of town that Madeline would enjoy. At least a couple of days a week.
Rural King! Madeline loves the free popcorn. Who am I kidding? I love the free popcorn.Aldi trip! All of the produce for $15!Lunch at Wagon Wheel! I used to eat at Wagon Wheel with my dad when I was a little girl and they were at their old location at the triangle.We took a walk down by the river this morning before dropping Anna Claire off at play practice.
This afternoon I sat down to make new labels for all of the girls’ rollers, and I just sat and looked at them all with tears in my eyes. It wasn’t until that moment, seeing them all laying in a row on the floor, that I realized just how many they had. Each roller representing a need met and prayer answered, a natural solution with no side effects or toxins. Supporting their little bodies instead of treating.
Some of our most frequently used rollers for the girls.Rollers I’ve made by repurposing empty Young Living bottles and adding YL roller fitments.Don’t DIY? Young Living has a KidScents line that’s amazing. They are easy and ready to go. Tranquil, Gentle Baby and Peace and Calming are other faves we use for the girls. π΄βπ»
I am so full of gratitude when I think of how much progress we’ve made in just two and a half years, from having no idea that anything we were buying at the store or getting from the doctor had any kind of negative effects, to now – full blown, sold-out, crunchy granola mama. It didn’t happen overnight. It was very gradual! But it wasn’t hard either. It’s been fun. I just decided on that day, those two and a half years ago, that as a need would arise, I would be intentional and turn to oils. I would do whatever it took to learn how to meet that need with oils.
Two of my fave DIYs for littles
I also didn’t have to do it alone. I had a team of ladies who had already done the learning before me. So as one of my girls had a need, I knew I could message and turn to any one of these friends anytime, and they could share a protocol they knew from experience that would work. I had amazing reference books and apps on my phone that I could turn to. I had a huge Facebook community where I could do a simple search and read post after post and comment after comment of moms who had been right where I was and shared their recipes and protocols for supporting their kiddos. I am so grateful for the wisdom shared and the knowledge I have gained. I have learned so much and still have so much more to learn. I don’t know that you ever stop learning or that I would want to.
And the cost surprisingly isn’t more. We’re spending less. Yep. When I add up all we used to spend on co-pays, prescriptions, household cleaners (this was a huge one), fragrances, and personal care products, what we are spending now is considerably less. If you had told me two years ago that this would be my life, I probably would have looked at you in disbelief. It was a dream that seemed so far off. Something I was willing to move toward, but thought it would be way on down the road.
I will buy these products until the girls’ are grown. I can’t imagine using anything else now.Answer to a prayer! Natural non-toxic sunscreen, insect repellent and after sun spray. The repellent tested 30% more effective than the leading brand!
From rollers to rubs to non-toxic bath products and lotion to natural toothpaste, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m offering the best for my kiddos. And I would never ever even think about going back. It’s so very different from the norm, but the best things in life have not been the most popular. Not for me anyway.
Get started with Young Living and have the same support and community I’ve had. It starts here.
1. These 10ml rollers: To me they’re the perfect size for your purse without weighing it down but not so small that you’re refilling all the time.
2. Dr. Bronner’s Castille soap. It’s not easy finding unscented. But that’s exactly what kind I want. I like to add my own EOs for scent. Castille is great for handsoap and I also use in my shave cream.
3. My fave grapeseed. The can makes me happy. You WILL want grapeseed to dilute many of the oils. It helps them stretch to cover a larger area of skin and last longer. Also some “hot” oils used neat are too strong and can burn the skin.
4. True Essence 1 ml rollers. These little cuties are perfect for sharing oils with others or for travel.
5. Leven Rose Jojoba Oil. This is a great carrier to have on hand for using on the face. It is the closest to the skin’s natural pH so it won’t cause breakouts. Many on our team love in our face roller.
6. Witch hazel. I really like this one. It’s a great natural astringent, and is handy to add to sprays and perfumes to help the EOs and water to incorporate.
8. Gentle Babies book. When I started using oils, I was most anxious and unsure about using oils with my girls. This book takes all the guesswork and uncertainty out of using oils for babies and children. I will say, be sure to read the testimonials, and not just the reference pages. My favorite protocols are hidden in those testimonials!
One of the first families we met and loved at Rossview Elementary were the Balogs. Kiersten and AC were in the same kindergarten class and quickly hit it off.
Over the past three years we have grown to love this family. We have shared memories of field trips (the bees at the pumpkin patch ππ³) play dates, award days and more.
We had one last play date today at the playground as we wish them well on their move to Boston!
We have had some of the best laughs this week! Madeline cracks us up ALL THE TIME.
MADELINE’S PINKY TOE
First of all, she has a pinky toe that is like a finger. She can point it and move it in all directions. I don’t know about you, but I cannot do this! Neither can Anna Claire. We call it her crazy pinky toe.
COACH JOHNSON
Yesterday, the girls had races on the sidewalk while I pulled weeds. Madeline has an imaginary friend “Coach Johnson” who liked deciding and calling out how they would race. “Coach Johnson says we skip! So this time we SKIP!” “Coach Johnson says we run, so let’s RUN!”
OTHER MADELINE
We were at the playground and Madeline kept referring to other Madeline when we would ask her questions. “Madeline, do you want to swing?” “No but Other Madeline does.” “Madeline do you want to ride in the front or the back of the airplane?” “I want the front and Other Madeline wants to ride in the back.”
I spent about an hour and a half today pulling weeds. And during that time I got absolutely zero mosquito bites and my back feels relaxed and amazing!
I relied on my trusty bug away spray since we live in the woods with an extremely high insect population. The spray is so simple to make! You just add eight drops each of Thieves, Purification, and peppermint essential oils to an 8 ounce bottle then fill the rest of the way with water. Spray yourself religiously before gardening!
I spent almost the entire hour and a half hunched over. I really needed some Panaway afterward. I added four drops grapeseed to the palm of my hand and one drop of Panaway and massaged all over my spine and also my knees as well. Within seconds I felt relaxed and rejuvenated.
After I finish doing the girls’ oils, Madeline likes to do Tigey’s oils.
I apply lavender and cedarwood blended together in a roller to the girls’ big toes to help them sleep (big toe is vitaflex point to the brain).
Then I apply diluted Thieves to the bottoms of their feet to boost their immune systems. They both love this routine and time together. It’s a great way to wind down after bath and dinner.
So of course Tigey needs her oils too! And socks! I put socks on their feet after oils, not necessarily because you need to, they just want socks “to hold the oils on.” And so I find this set of four orange socks so Tigey can match!