Since we found our first “Smile” rock a few days ago at Liberty, the girls have had their eyes peeled, looking for more painted rocks!

This is so fun for kids and grown ups alike, putting a smile on our faces. 

Today Madeline and I were leaving Gigi’s Cupcakes and as we walked by Best Donuts, right next door, I heard Madeline call out, “Mommy! A donut rock! A donut rock!” 

She was so excited to find the painted stone on the donut shop’s window ledge and wants to paint her own rocks to hide for children to find. We grabbed some stones and paint markers at JoAnn’s today. 😉

So, I’ve lived in Clarksville almost my whole life, and I have wanted to go to Chi-Town Dogs almost my entire life! 

I was telling Madeline, I remember as a little girl asking my mom if we could go there, and she would tell me, “We’ll see.” Madeline cracked me up, she said, “Oh. That means that you’re not going.” I thought that was funny. She is so smart!

So today, knowing that Madeline is such a big hot dog fan, and since we were already over on that side of town dropping AC off at play practice, I decided today was the day! And they did not disappoint! 

Today may have been my first time to Chi-Town but it won’t be my last. If you’ve never been and decide to go, be sure to get a Chi Dog with “the works!”
​

On the way to playground the girls were reading the City Saver and cracking me up.

Madeline actually did read “Nashville zoo” and “hot yoga” which didn’t surprise me because AC was recognizing phrases like that this age.

She also saw “McDonalds” no doubt recognizing the infamous double arches and I love that she still calls it “Old McDonald’s.” 

She announced that we would go there and then to Burger King. I told her that was a lot of burgers. 🍔🍔

The funniest thing was when she asked Anna Claire what one of the coupons said and she told her it said  Plato’s Closet. Madeline said, “Oh! I do want to go there! It will be full of play doh. I can play with all of that!”

Anna Claire had play practice today so it was just me and Madeline. I asked Madeline what she would like to do today. She said she only wanted to do one thing. Can you guess where she wanted to go?​

​

The girls have asked to walk the riverwalk for awhile now, and with Anna Claire having her play practice on Riverside, we are right by all of that each morning. I’m really trying to be intentional this summer and take advantage of the areas we find ourselves in, enjoying all they have to offer! 

We love enjoying the marina and Riverside area in the mornings before we drop off AC! It’s so peaceful, not so hot and costs nothing. And AC feels like we are including her in the fun. It shifts her focus from worrying that she is missing out on whatever Madeline and I decide to get into!

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. 😖🙄

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Angie’s TOP 8 Favorites to order from Amazon.com.

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.

7. Essential Oils Pocket Reference book. This is such a handy book to help you learn how to use your oils. I must-have, really.

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 🐝😳) 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!