It’s perfect for the work you do, for the struggles you walk through, all the ways you mother & love. It’s even perfect for your body.
Good enough is perfect.
And you are good enough.
That’s what I keep telling myself.
Tag: women’s health
Living With Essential Oils: Car Diffuser
Oh yes, just when you thought you had added essential oils into all aspects of your life, you discover diffusers for your car! I started seeing these around more & more in the fall, and ordered a couple for Christmas gifts {and slipped one into my own stocking}. Even if you don’t have a diffuser in your home, these are a simple & fairly inexpensive way to incorporate essential oils into daily life.
Living With Essential Oils: Releasing Tension
Ok, let’s face it. Lavender and Peppermint were my “gateway” essential oils. They were the two initial oils that got me hooked on trying more {and more}. And one of the many ways I used Lavender & Peppermint was for tension relief. Over the months, I’ve discovered a few more essential oils that work great for releasing different types of tension!
Living With Essential Oils: Mama’s Perfume
It’s kind of incredible how much of a “scent” person I have become. In some ways, I always have been. I’ve collected many scent memories from my childhood {my Grandma Rosie’s perfume, my mother’s hand cream, the Avon moisturizer we put on after sunburns each summer} and whenever I went on a big trip across the world, I purchased a new perfume to wear {just so that I would build a scent association}. Scents have the power to transport us back in time, make the here & now melt away, even if just for a few seconds.
Living With Essential Oils: Boosting Immunity
When I first started this oils journey, just over a year ago, I was mainly interested in using my diffuser. Slowly I started getting into topical applications for various remedies, in particular hormone balancing & sore muscles. A little citrus oils in my cooking. Then it was roll-ons and all sorts of DIY bath & beauty items. And now… I’ve dived into the world of veggie capsules for ingestion..
{Read More}
Basically Beautiful: Date Night
When busy moms finally get a babysitter lined up and a date with hubby all planned, it feels so good to take a few minutes to do a little something special for yourself. For me, that usually means, putting on makeup, which I rarely wear anymore. I previously shared my basic morning skin care routine. Now I’d like to show you some of the products that I treat myself to for date nights!
Living With Essential Oils: Self Care Love
Sometimes I diffuse certain essential oils because I want to enjoy a particular smell in the house. Other times I diffuse oils to serve a particular purpose. Much of the diffuser time at the beginning of January was spent on Thieves and Purification Oils, to help clear the house of all the icky germs that had taken up residence (hello, stomach flu & sneezy colds).
But one day, I realized I needed to get back to diffusing oils for self care (not just germ care). This is the recipe I came up with to help calm my mama anger & impatience and increase overall optimism. Let’s face it, we can get dragged down listening the the news reports, grow weary trying to see the good side to things, and then our patience gets tested over & over by those little ones who are trying to feel out boundaries. So ya, self care love in the diffuser is helpful to have going.
Self Care Love
- 3 drops Dragon Time
- 2 drops Clary Sage
- 1 drop Dream Catcher
*That adorable essential oils pouch is from fellow maker Lesley of The Ellebee Tree. It’s perfect for packing some of your favourite oils for travel, weekends away or if you’re a hardcore oils mama, goes into your purse daily.
Happy diffusing!
A Year In Review: 2016
As the hour approaches and this year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect a bit on 2016. {To see my previous year reviews, click here}
Age: 35
Books I kept beside the bed:
- Jan Karon’s Mitford series {still reading it}
- GriefShare workbook
- Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Most enjoyed restaurants/food:
- Last Best Brewery & Distillery
- Charcut
- The Chocolate Lab
Songs I’ve had on repeat:
- Thy Will by Layla Mackey
- Fight Song by Rachel Platten
- Good Good Father by Chris Tomlin
Biggest Challenges:
- Admitting the full extent of my depression & grief and seeking help. It’s all an upward climb to get out of the depth of the darkness, but one of the hardest parts is that first move to get help. After years of knowing my depression was getting worse, I finally realized I couldn’t go on without doing something about it. I went to my doctor and asked to start anti-depressants. I started checking in with her once a month to ensure the meds were on track & helping.
- Hiring a nanny for the summer. It might *seem* small & silly, but admitting that I needed help with childcare was a big deal for me. I’m a stay-at-home mom. So getting a nanny seemed indulgent, but I knew, I needed the help to keep my sanity & make my self-care a priority in those early months of tackling my depression.
- Committing to, showing up for, and participating in a 13 week grief support program at a local church. If you’ve ever walked through or are currently facing grief, I highly recommend the GriefShare program. It’s fully Christian based, but connecting with others who are going through loss is huge to healing.
Smartest decision I made: Walking through the doors of the local gym, committing to a weightlifting program, and connecting with a wonderful group of moms all doing the same thing. It’s been an incredible two months so far! I don’t feel weak anymore. I don’t feel sick. I don’t feel so broken. I like feeling my muscles work, I like the sweat & the challenge. I like the little village I’ve finally found myself in & the support & inspiration we freely give to each other. And I keep saying, as long as I walk through the doors of the gym, I’ve completed my goal. Doesn’t matter how the rest of the workout goes.
Glad I finally: Set some clear boundaries on my craft business that I’m comfortable with. Although it meant a loss in sales and having to say “no”, it was wonderful to be closed for the month of December. No markets, no online sales, no custom orders. Every year, I take steps to turn my focus to the true spirit of Christmas & going forward it will always mean being closed in December, so I can do just that.
Most thankful: For my Sammy, hubby & family. For friends, new and old. For customers & their custom orders. For getting a spot on a local adoption list. For God continuing to surprise us at every turn.
Much love to you & yours this New Year’s Eve! May 2017 bring the best surprises & the best changes to your life!
Honesty. Authenticity. Voice.
Honesty. Authenticity. Voice. Three things I’ve been trying to get more “real” about over the past few years.
More real honesty. In my feelings to myself & others.
More real authenticity. In how I share our lives, the whole rounded story, good & bad & faith led.
More real voice. In who I am & want to be. Connecting with that voice & trying to live it out.
So let me be more real with you. This week marks the 5th anniversary of my oldest brother’s death. This week I started a grief support program because I’ve finally realized I am grieving many losses (brother, mother, unborn babies & loss of my uterus). And I can’t keep going until I learn to walk with all of this a bit better. And that means talking about it.
I’m taking my mental health much more serious these days. I switch got flipped a few weeks ago while taking my antidepressants & I’ve realized how much darkness I was living in for years.
So. Today, I’m not okay. But I will be.
Living With Essential Oils: Family Travel Tips
We recently took a trip to London, Ontario to visit family. It was the first official vacation we’ve had in over a year and a half! Needless to say, it was nice to have a break from the regular grind. My oil-loving friends all reminded me to pack some of our essential oils for the trip {which I had already written down on the packing list}. The oils certainly don’t take up that much room & they are so worth it to bring along. So here’s my personal suggestions for travel: