Thanksgiving Traditions for the Family

I love creating traditions for my family. I am a very family oriented person, and any time that I can make memories with my kids - I am all over it. Thanksgiving is no exception. ;) Here are a few things you can incorporate in your Thanksgiving festivities that the kids will enjoy.

"I am Thankful" Pumpkin

Typically pumpkin season end with Halloween, but I like to get a pumpkin on Halloween with the intent of using it for Thanksgiving. We like to emphasize thankfulness with our littles, so we make a thankful pumpkin. We discuss what we are thankful for and we write it on a pumpkin. You can make this as simple or extravagant as you want. ;)

Thankful Place Cards

These are a fun way to add some cuteness to your table setting, but it's also another way to incorporate thankfulness to your Thanksgiving feast. I created these place cards on Picmonkey, but the options are endless. You could use construction paper and have your kids make their own as a fun art project, or you can get fancy and have them made at a stationary store. The sky is the limit with these. (Like my place cards? Print out your own here)

Reading the book "Thankful"

I am a total sucker for children's books. I seriously love them. When the Scholastic magazine comes home in my daughter's school bag, it is inevitable that I will be purchasing a few books. I love this book, because it's incredibly important to me to instill thankfulness and gratitude in my children. In a generation of entitlement, this is so critical to me. We read this book all year long, not just during Thanksgiving, but it is the perfect little tradition for the kiddos.

These are just a few things we do for Thanksgiving traditions in our home. What are some Thanksgiving traditions you have with your family? I would love to hear about it!

Thanksgiving Survival Guide

Hello friends! Turkey day is right around the corner and I have an awesome tip for anyone who loves to indulge a bit on the Thanksgiving feast. (Don't we all??) ;) Today I'm talking about essential oils for the digestive system!

Young Living has some amazing oils for digestion. My personal favorites are DiGize (seriously, if you have any tummy troubles at all - DiGize is a MUST!) and Peppermint. So let's get to it...

Keep your tummy happy on Turkey Day by using DiGize. You can take it in a capsule or drink it in your water. (I highly recommend taking it in a capsule over drinking it) If you don't like ingesting, you can also apply the tummy.

DiGize is an oil blend made up of Tarragon, Ginger, Peppermint, Juniper, Fennel, Lemongrass, Anise and Patchouli. Together these oils help cleanse the kidneys, stimulate the stomach, increase bile flow and help with digestion. Long story short - this oil is an absolute must have. It's the oil that made me a believer and it's also the oil I will never go without.

Peppermint is another great oil for digestion, although I do NOT recommend using any other brand than Young Living. (If you're wondering what sets Young Living apart, visit www.seedtoseal.com) You can drink some Peppermint in your water, take it in a capsule or even apply to the tummy.

Which ever oil you choose, I recommend using 30 minutes before you eat and after you finish eating as well. Your tummy will thank you. :)

You can purchase these oils here

Thanksgiving with Young Living: Pumpkin Pie

We have reached the last day of recipe sharing, and I have saved the best for last. Yes, I'm talking about the pie! We are pumpkin pie crazies over here. We love our pumpkin pie! Try this recipe out and I promise, you will not ever make it the same way again! Young Living doesn't disappoint with their fall flavored oils. And, of course, no pumpkin pie is complete without a bit of whipped cream! ;)

Did you love our recipes this week? Let us know which ones were your favorite!

Thanksgiving with Young Living: Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Potato Casserole

We are getting closer to the end of the week, but I still have 3 fabulous recipes to share with you! If you are a potato lover, this post will rock your world - and your taste buds too! ;) Potatoes are my personal favorite, so I'm really excited to share this next recipe with you! Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes! YUM!

If white potatoes aren't your thing, then try this yummy recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole!

We have covered the essentials - mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and the perfect juice to inject your turkey with...so what could we possibly have for tomorrow? I'll give you a hint. It starts with pumpkin and ends with pie. ;) That's tomorrow's post!

Thanksgiving with Young Living: Lemon Butter Green Beans and Southern Cornbread Casserole

Are you loving these savory recipes?! Today I'm sharing one of my favorites!! My kiddos both go crazy over these Lemon Butter Green Beans.

And if you think that looks awesome, this Southern Cornbread Casserole is the bomb dot com! Your family will be asking for the recipe. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

(Graphics courtesy of Oil Revolution Design)

There's more greatness waiting for you on tomorrow's post! I'll be sharing a great recipe for Garlic Mashed potatoes and some fierce Sweet Potato Casserole. Find it here tomorrow!

Thanksgiving with Young Living: Orange Glazed Honey Ham and Homemade Cranberry Sauce

If you liked yesterday's recipes, it's only getting better! Today I'm sharing two more awesome recipes that will rock your taste buds! Meet the savory, Orange Glazed Honey Ham.

And of course, every Thanksgiving feast is never complete without Cranberry Sauce. Young Living has some added oils that will make this year's Cranberry Sauce, the best ever!

Graphics courtesy of Oil Revolution Design

Catch tomorrow's post for more great ways to oil up your Thanksgiving day feast with Young Living!

Thanksgiving with Young Living: Turkey Injection Sauce and Ultimate Gravy

The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun and I have some fantastic recipes for you! Did you know that you can cook with essential oils? They add awesome flavor, as well as being great for your body. It's a win win! Here's a great recipe for Turkey Injection Sauce.

Here's another great addition to the Thanksgiving menu, delicious gravy!

Graphics courtesy of Oil Revolution Designs 

Stick around this week to see more great ways to incorporate Young Living into your Thanksgiving Day feast!

10 Things to be Thankful for

It's November - the month of thankfulness. I know with everything that's going on in the media, in our country and in our personal lives in general (because let's face it, life can be brutal sometimes) it gets easy to forget all the great things we have to be grateful for. So, I thought I would write a simple blog post with a list of 10 things we have to be thankful for. I made this list with the intent that most of us could relate to, so some items are simple, but I believe they are all blessings to be grateful for. :)

1) God's love

Yes, I said it. The first thing on my list of thankfulness is Jesus. You might call me a religious crazy, but this is something we ALL can be (and should be) grateful for. No matter where you are in your life. If you're living in a mansion or living on the streets, this is one thing you can certainly be thankful to have. Thank God for His love and mercy. Oh where would I ever be without it? (I know where I would be...and it's not a happy place.) ;)

2) Friends/Family

Some of us are fortunate to have our loved ones in our lives. Some of us are not. I pray if you don't have family, that you have friends you consider family. As dysfunctional as mine can be at times, I'm glad they are mine.

3) The Weather

 Take a look around. Even if fall isn't your favorite season, the colors are stunning. I added weather to the list, because it's universal. It doesn't matter where we are in life, we can stop and smell the roses, admire the turning leaves, enjoy the pitter patter of rain on the roof, soak up the sunshine, watch the snow fall...and simply take time to thank Him for the weather. I know it's one thing I take for granted.

4) Your Favorite Food

Ok, I'm a total foodie, so I had to throw this in here for fun. I think God created so many different foods for a reason. He wanted us to enjoy them. Sometimes food can make or break an experience. I mean, imagine a world where there is no turkey at Thanksgiving or no hot wings during a super bowl party. Stop and take time to enjoy your favorite food, and thank Him for giving you the ability to do so. ;)

5) A Place to Call Home

Those of us who have a bed to sleep in, a roof to protect us and heat to keep us warm this season...we have a lot to be thankful for. I know sometimes I get so wrapped up in having a beautiful home, that I forget how blessed I truly am to have a home at all. There are so many people out there who don't. Don't take it for granted. <3

6) Freedom

Ya'll, this is one we all take for granted. So many people complain about our country and the current riff raff that's going on. There are people who joke about moving to Canada after the election and some people who just blatantly spout hatred for our country. I will be the first to admit that our country has some big time issues...especially if a certain person gets elected president tomorrow...but we won't go there. ;) My point is, America is the best country in the world. Love it, hate it...the point is you're FREE to do either. You're free to voice your opinion. You're free to choose your own religion. You have rights. You have a voice. Do you know how many people from other countries look at us and want what we have? There are people who literally risk their lives to do things that we can do openly on a daily basis. Freedom is a huge thing we have to be thankful for. #EndRant ;)

7) Laughter

One of my favorite things to do is laugh. I'm thankful for laughter. I'm thankful for the ability to get lost in a silly story, a funny expression, a cute child, an inside joke...to lose myself and forget about life for a brief moment in time. Laughter is the intermission of life. I think God gave us laughter to make it through the tough parts, because we all need a little comedic relief every once in awhile. :)

8) Senses

This might sound like a strange one, but I think it's an important item on the list. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have all 5 senses, should be thankful for them. It's easy to take eye sight or hearing for granted, but imagine for a moment if we didn't have them. How lost life would seem. I don't know about you, but I am certainly thankful that I have eye sight to see my beautiful babies and ears to hear them laugh and play. 

9) Children

If you have your own or not, kids are such a blessing. It might not seem like it when one is throwing a giant tantrum in isle 3 at the grocery store and you're just dying for them to shut their screaming little mouth...but kids give us hope, laughter and a joy that can't be matched. To see the world through the eyes of a child is truly something extraordinary. I see the world through 2 little sets of eyes, and even though it's the hardest job I'll ever love, sometimes they teach me new things instead of the other way around. ;)

10) Time

Time is something we don't really think much about. It goes on, and we go on with it, not thinking about the moments...but time is a gift. Every moment that we are here on earth is a moment given to us by God. Time is the gift and life is the journey. What will you do with yours? ;)

So there's my 10 things. Some of them might seem strange, but I think it's the little things in life that turn out to be the biggest blessings. What are you thankful for this season? Tell me in the comments!

Must Have Monday: Passion Planner

I'm about to tell you the secret to my sanity. :) This little tool holds my life together and keeps me from going completely bananas. I'm talking about my planner. Now, I will be honest and tell you that I am a total frugal-ista. I like things cheap. I used to buy the standard ten dollar planner from Walmart, but then I found the Passion Planner...and it changed my life. It's worth the extra money by far!

 I prefer the Passion Planner because it not only has a place to plan individual days of the week (along with each month's own page), but it has space for you to plan out each day by specific times. Below is a week at a glance. It has room for you to plan each day from 6am to 10am. It has space for you to write things in every half hour. So, you can make planning your day super specific, down to the half hour. How amazing it that?!

You can get the Passion Planner in 2 different sizes - compact or standard. It also varies in price depending on size and colors. Prices range from $24.99 to $34.99, depending on your choice.

Here's mine when I've got it all filled out for the week...

I like to use Washi Tape and erasable gel pens to add color and inspiration to my daily schedule. Somehow I get more accomplished when there are bright colors to inspire me. ;)

You can buy your own Passion Planner here or download and print out your own Passion Planner for FREE here (using the password "yes")

DIY Learning Tool for Kiddos

If you use jarred baby food for your kiddos, perhaps you've noticed the adorable little animals on the lids. These little things were just too stinkin cute for me to throw away. I had to find a functional way to keep them. I turned them into a learning tool for my kiddos. 

I am an avid scrapbooker, so I have fun paper and stickers lying around. I just cut circles on some cute scrapbooking paper, and added stickers with the first letter of the animal on the front of the lid. As you can see, there are lots of them. ;)

My kids were totally intrigued with the animals on the front, and it makes a great introduction to letters.

Must Have Monday: Fine and Dandy Accessories

I am SO excited about today's must have items! One of my friends has started her own online business of designing pins, t-shirts and various accessories that are all about breaking the mom-shaming mold and empowering other mothers and women in general. Her stuff is SOOOO cute!! Take a look at a few of my favorite things in her shop...

This is just a small sample of some of the cuteness she has in her online store. Seriously, go check it out right here! (And just so we're clear, I'm not getting paid to promote this. So go. check. it. out.)

:)

I am a proud owner of the Not Your Rival tote!

I also want to add that buying from Fine and Dandy helps support real life people. You're not buying from a massive corporation, you are helping a mom stay at home with her 3 kiddos. There isn't a cause more worthy than that. ;)

I was super impressed with the personal touch of my order. Inside my order was a small card that said "You're doing great, Momma." It's awesome to have that reminder. ;)

Make sure you check out their shop and if you love them as much as I do, follow them on Instagram here! 

DIY Fruit Fly Trap

It never fails, without question, each year we get fruit flies that hang around for what feels like forever. They are pesty, they are gross and they multiply like crazy. So, rather than spraying poison all over your counter tops...here's an all natural way to say goodbye to these nasty little critters.

You'll need:

A jar (Mason jars work splendidly) 

A piece of paper

Tape

Apple Cider Vinegar

Pieces of fruit (optional)

First, fill a Mason jar or glass jar with Apple Cider Vinegar. I don't measure it, I just pour in a decent amount. (You want enough vinegar in it that the flies will get stuck and drown)

*Optional* You can add fruit or rotten food to the vinegar to attract more flies, although hear me when I say - vinegar alone WILL work.

Next, take a piece of paper and fold it into a cone, then tape it to the jar.

Now sit back and watch your trap work.

The smell of the vinegar draws them in, and then once they are in, they have a hard time getting out of the cone hole. Eventually they drown in the vinegar and your house is fly free.

Add Some Flavor to Your Water

We all know it's important to drink your daily serving of water (which is eight 8 oz glasses), but let's be honest...water isn't nearly as tasty as tea, coffee or soda...so most people are missing out on their daily servings. Myself included.

I'm going to be honest with you and let you in on a little secret. I'm a total tap water snob. I hate it. I'm a bottled water junkie. (Want to hear a funny story? The town I live in actually won first place for the best tasting water in Illinois, and for years prior I always said it was the worst water ever. Hilarious, right?!)

I got tired of constantly running out of bottled water and buying more. It adds up when you're continually buying bottled water. So, I decided to find a way to drink tap water and be happy about it. Solution: essential oils. (Essential oils are pretty much my solution to everything, so this isn't surprising). ;)

Young Living has SO many oils to choose from to give your water a great taste! My personal favorite is lemon essential oil with 2 squirts of liquid Stevia. I have really started to LOVE adding Stevia to my water. It gives it a hint of sweetness, and with the citrus oils, it tastes amazing!

Here are some other fantastic oils to add to your water:

Lemon
Orange
Grapefruit
Lime
Tangerine
Citrus Fresh
Peppermint

(Mixing oils is another great way to spice up your water. I love Lemon and Orange together!)

Citrus oils are great for cleansing the body of toxins and taste so refreshing! Peppermint is an excellent oil for digestive support and focus. (I know we are talking about water, but it tastes great in tea as well! ;) )

Be sure to use a glass or stainless steal water bottle if you're drinking your oils on the go. Here's one on Amazon for a great price -

Have a favorite oil combo you like to drink in your water? Let me know!

**Disclaimer: When I talk about ingesting essential oils, I am ONLY talking about Young Living brand oils. DO NOT ingest any other brand of essential oils without referring to the labels. Young Living Essential Oils are exceptionally pure (check out their Seed to Seal Promise) and other brands of essential oils are NOT safe to ingest!**

Barbie Goes Modest

I can not be the only toddler mom who finds naked Barbies everywhere. My daughter hates having clothes on her Barbies. Don't ask me why. It's one of the mysteries of life why toddlers enjoy having all their dolls naked. It's like they know it's the original state we were in before the fall of man or something. Kids like naked. Moms don't. So, here's a simple and fun solution...

I know you've got a makeup bag of nail polish hanging out in the bathroom drawer somewhere. Pull it out and put those pretty colors to use. I will admit, I had a fun time designing this Barbie's top, but if you aren't a crafty person or you just simply don't care...just take some nail polish and paint broad shapes over the private areas. This doesn't have to be Project Runway. I have also seen people use Sharpies and color underwear on as well. 

If you do want to do something similar to this, I started by painting from the boobs down, then I added the dark pink bra, I made flowers with the brush and I did small outlines around the bra with a purple color. You can make this as simple or elaborate as you want. ;)

I think she turned out rather nice...

Must Have Monday: Essential Oils for Fall

Happy Fall ya'll! The first day of autumn has come and gone and we are officially in pumpkin season! (can I get a hallelujah?!) This time of year is always such a mix of emotions for me. I'm a die hard water girl. Give me all things sun, beach and swimming all summer long and I'm set. But, I equally love fall. Pumpkin spice, apple orchards, bonfires, hayrides, Halloween and pumpkin patches...it's awesome! :)

So, the perfect scent to get me transitioned from swimming to pumpkin picking is this fab-u-lous essential oil combo.

Pop these little babies into your diffuser and you'll be in fall heaven. This is by far my favorite diffuser combo. It's delish! It might make you crave some hot apple cider or a pumpkin spice late, but one thing is for sure...you won't want to diffuse anything else. You're welcome. ;)

Not a Young Living member? Order your oils here!

Mini Essential Oil case (That you might already have!)

Hey hey, friends! Today I want to share a little oily hack with all of my essential oil using readers. You might have an oil case lying around and not even realize it. So, over the weekend I was cleaning out my kid's closet prepping for fall weather...and I found an old pacifier case. It's the perfect size for holding oils! Mine can hold four 5ml OR two 15ml bottles. The possibilities for this are endless. You can create your own blends with roller bottles or recycled oil bottles. You could use small sample bottles instead for extra room. Two blends that I love to have on hand, with my kiddos, are a boo boo blend and an immune boosting roll on. For me, I gotta have my DiGize, because you never know when you might need it. ;)

 Want one of these adorable paci holders? Get one here: