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!