Sweet 6

I cannot believe my sweet little girl is 6!  She had a wonderful birthday!  Her only request was to go to the Children's Museum.  I think she told every single person she saw that it was her birthday.

We spent the day with my dad and had such a great time together.  Watching her excitement made my heart so full.  She is such a strong, caring, persistent little person.  I am so proud of who she is becoming, and cannot wait for the years to come.

It has been an absolute pleasure watching her grow up.  She has such a neat passion for cooking.  She also has my love of animals.  Oh this girl has my heart!

Snow Days

There are so many perks to homeschooling.  We always enjoy sleeping in, doing school work in our pajamas, snuggling with our furry family while finishing a worksheet, and even having game days instead of class.  There have been so many "public school snow days" lately.  Luckily, my little miss despises missing a day of school... so we truck on.  We have been enjoying her Kindergarten year so much more than I expected.  Watching her grow in her faith, education, and personality every single day is such a blessing.  

Happy New Year!

It's amazing how quickly the year goes.  Every year, we all make resolutions to make our lives better.  I have made some huge strides in the past year, but there is always room for improvement, right?!?

It is a great time to reevaluate what is truly important and decide what changes you would like to make in the next year.  If you have been on the fence about switching to a less toxic lifestyle, NOW is the time!

With Young Living's Premium Starter Kit, you can truly swap out most, if not all, of life's harmful chemicals.

Young Living's products have completely changed my life, and I hope they can your's as well!

If you enroll with me in the month of January, I am offering a special deal that makes getting started with this amazing kit more affordable.  Contact me for details. You will also receive exclusive access to www.oilyjoy.com and a huge supportive group of amazing people all looking to better their lives with Young Living.

Now, are you ready to start this year off right?!?  Click here to sign up with Young Living, and join me in a chemical free year!

*Disclaimer:  The information on this website is based upon my research and personal use of Young Living Essential Oils. I am not a doctor. Statements, products, and techniques mentioned have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Picking the right homeschool curriculum

As a new homeschool Mom, I put a ton of time into picking the correct curriculum.  Is it fun enough?  Is it educational enough?  Does it share God's love enough?  Is it organized enough for me?  Can I teach both kids similar things at the same time?  Oh boy, oh boy!  There are SO many options.

I cannot tell you the number of different curriculums I've researched.  I was so overwhelmed and really just sat down and prayed that I would pick the right one for my kids and myself.  The answer to my prayer really shocked me...  It doesn't matter!  

As long as I like the layout, it really doesn't matter which one I pick.  My kids will get a quality education either way.  I am the one to make it fun.  I am the one to share God's love.  I am the one to the answer to all of my questions.

So... when picking a curriculum, don't stress!  Pick something that has the same values as you do.  Pick something that is organized the way you like, then stick with it.  I finally settled on My Father's World.  I have a few good friends that use MFW, I like the values, and I also enjoy the organization.

Here we are, jumping in feet first.  I couldn't be more excited to start this year with a Kindergartner and First Grader!  I am sure it will be fun and challenging, but I am really looking forward to it!

100 Percent Pure

When it comes to soaps, lotions, cosmetics, and hair products, it is always difficult to find something that works great, smells great, AND is natural without toxic chemicals.  After some research, I found 100% Pure.  I love their reasoning for being chemical free and wanted to share it with you:

“As much as 60% of topical skin-care products are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream,” Says Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D. an lowa-based physician, “They should be consumed with the same prudence that we use to choose our breakfast cereal.” – April 2006 issue of Women's Health Magazine. There are many toxic chemicals in cosmetic products that have been clinically proven to cause cancer, tumors, irritation and many different skin disorders. 100% products are truly 100% Pure-no synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins."

After going through their entire website, I wanted everything!!!  My favorite products are their kid's body cream, glossing shampoo, and  glossing conditioner.  Our hair is so silky and shiny after using their shampoo and conditioners.  I love knowing I am not putting harmful toxins into their bodies.

This winter has been awfully cold and our skin is taking a beating.  Bean's cheeks have been so chapped.  He hates when I have to put lotion on his face.  The only lotion he will take with a smile is 100% Pure's Yummy Ice Cream Body Cream.  He gets so excited and shouts, "Ice Cream!  Ice Cream!".  It really nourishes and moisturizes his poor little face too.  I am a huge believer in their products and will continue using them for years to come!

A better popcorn

Just like any family, we love snuggling together on the sofa and watching a movie together.  One of our favorite parts of family movie night is POPCORN!  There are many ways to get delicious popcorn.  We've started popping our corn in our new stainless steel popcorn popper from Cook N Home with a little coconut oil.  It is amazing.  The freshness, the coconut oil hint, and the healthiness of it makes it such a fun treat.

Our family tries to never use the microwave, so a stove top popper was a great choice for us.  There are 2 major kinds of poppers - stainless steel and aluminum.  Aluminum is cheaper and lighter, but it can leach into the popcorn and then ingested in our bodies.  Stainless steel is the way to go, not only is is healthier and easier to clean, it is more sturdy, and looks much nicer.

We sprinkle our freshly popped popcorn with some Himalayan salt and enjoy a yummy treat!  We've also experimented with maple syrup added to the corn before it pops and it makes kind of a kettle/caramel corn.  It is amazing!  What is your favorite homemade popcorn recipe?

Water Kefir

We love enjoying a fresh fizzy drink occasionally, but many carbonated beverages are filled with chemicals and toxins.  Water kefir is great and healthy alternative to soda.  It is ultra carbonated and filled with probiotics.  It has a very mild taste that blends well with almost any flavoring.  I was sent this kit from Yemoos, and the entire process couldn't have been easier.  We enjoyed flavoring our kefir with organic raspberries and mint leaves.  It is so delicious and refreshing, I have already started our third batch!

What is water kefir?

Water kefir grains create a zesty and delicious carbonated lacto-fermented beverage containing trillions of beneficial probiotics within each cup you drink. Water kefir contains upwards of 40 different strains of health-promoting bacteria and yeast. It is thought to have originated in Mexico, originally fermented with the juice of the Prickly Pear Cactus. Water Kefir grains are also know as Tibicos, Tibi, Sugar Kefir Grains, Graines Vivantes, Japanese Water Crystals and California Bees. Water kefir, like milk kefir, consists of bacteria and yeast existing in a complex symbiotic relationship. The benefits of water kefir are very similar to those of milk kefir, making it a perfect alternative for those who wish to avoid dairy, or just want another tasty addition to their pro-biotic menu!

Water kefir is loaded with valuable enzymes, easily digestible nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It is even suitable for some diabetics due to the low GL. It has long been known to promote and aid in digestion and overall health. Genuine kefir is different than the overpriced kefir you can buy in the stores, which is usually a simulated drink to mimic the flavor and is not produced by the traditional method, thus lacking the quality and health benefits of true traditional kefir.

Want to purchase this kit?  Go here and use coupon code: BLOGREADER10OFF for 10% off your purchase!