The Shadow of Mommy

As much as I love my kids so dearly.
As much as I love my husband so much.
As much as I crumble when people yell at me. Or even say one mean word.
I have found myself doing it.

The noise level in our house has been higher than normal. Or at least it seemed to me. I found myself asking why. Why are the kids so loud? Why are they yelling? Why are they having an attitude with me and each other?

And as hard as it is to swallow, the answer, at least in part, is me. See - that’s the cool thing about parenting. Your kids teach you a lot. They are soaking up what you are doing. They are like little copy cats. And this time - what they’re copying doesn’t make me proud at all.

They’re copying my yelling. They’re copying how I deal with stress, frustration, being overwhelmed.

When this truth hit me like a hard stone, I won’t lie, it hurt. But I know I’m not the only one. Being a mom or dad is hard. Beyond hard sometimes. And if you’ve found yourself yelling or losing it when overwhelmed, I get you mama (or daddy). I know you feel guilty. I know you regret it. I know you love your kids. I know you are doing your best.

None of us is perfect. But we have an amazing God and Father who is! Because He loves us so much, we are forgiven. You are forgiven. I am forgiven.

Each day is a new day. And I’m on a journey to be a more patient, peaceful mom. I’m cutting down on multi-tasking so I don’t get overwhelmed so easily. I’m getting down at eye-level and treasuring their little faces and emotions instead of being impatient. I’m making my own self-care a priority so I’m not empty with little to give when much is needed. I’m apologizing, asking for forgiveness.

It’s a journey for sure. Good days, bad moments. Trying again. But as I’ve started hearing my daughter speak to her brother in the kind loving way I’ve been using with her, it brings tears to my eyes and fills my heart with SO MUCH joy!

The journey is hard, but so rewarding, isn’t it? We’re in this together friend!

Is the Art of Letter Writing Dead?

I remember the days of writing my pen pals letters and waiting hopefully by the mailbox for a possible letter from a dear friend. These days I mostly get junk in my mailbox. It's on essential oil delivery day that I get most excited to get the mail.☺ To be honest, I don't even remember the last time I received a hand written letter.

Personally, I am not that great at setting aside the time to send hand written letters either. However, in the last year or so I have tried to resurrect the art of letter writing, and I try to send out a couple of items of "happy mail" each month. I have received multiple blessings from this - friendships strengthened, business growth, encouragement received at the perfect time, and I know my friends and family smile every time they get to open and read a hand-written note. It makes you feel special to know someone took the time out of their busy lift to sit down, think of you, and write you a letter.

While yes, it does take a bit more time than shooting off a text or email, I think it means a lot to the receivers of the mail, and it has been fun to pick out cute cards, thank yous, and invitations to send and teach my kids how to send and address real mail.

What about you? Do you send snail mail or do you think the art of the hand-written letter is dying or dead?

*This is a sponsored post. Thank you to Paperless Post for inspiring these thoughts.

Top 10 Reasons to Use Cloth Diapers

As a cloth diapering momma for the last 8 years, I have had to endure a lot of stinky dirty diapers. I have needed some great reasons to stick with it at times, and that is what I am sharing with you today.

Here are my top 10 reasons to use cloth diapers:

1. There are tons of super fun stylish and reusable cloth diapers. For instance, this cute spotted giraffe print diaper was used through both of our girls and we loved taking pictures of them with it on, because it was so cute! They don't make cloth diapers today like they used to many years ago. Now, they are easy to use and come in a hundred super cute prints.

2. Conventional disposables can contain traces of Dioxin, a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer linked chemicals! Yikes!! It is banned in most countries, but sadly not in the US.
3. Conventional disposables can contain Trubutyl-tin(TBT) a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals.
4. Chemicals and fragrances in some disposables can cause asthma. 

5. Disposable diapers use 2 times as much water to manufacture as cloth. 

 

6. Cloth diapers will save you loads of money! If I had any extra time, I would figure out how much we have saved over the 8+ years.

7. Disposables use 20 times more raw materials than cloth. 

8. Disposables generate 60 times more waste than cloth.
9. Disposables are the 3rd largest single consumer item in landfills. Oh my!!
10. No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years.

Let those numbers since in for a second. If that doesn't convince you to just even try out cloth diapers, check out even more great diaper facts.

For those of you saying, "I could never clean cloth diapers day after day, check out how I keep my cloth diapers clean. I also love to use my essential oils to help keep them smelling fresh and clean in a natural, safe way. Some of my favorite oils for cloth diapers are purification, lemon, and lavender.

While you do have to take a little more time to care for cloth diapers, I strongly feel the benefits outweigh the negatives, and I definitely don't regret using them with all my children.  What are your thoughts? Are you for or against cloth diaper use? I love to hear your opinions and thoughts.

This post is a partnership with Nakturnal. All words and opinions are my own, and I hope you find them helpful.

Essential Oil Q + A: How and Why To Use Them

While I have had a long standing, loving relationship with essential oils as you can see here, here and especially here, I had been using them without a huge amount of expertise and only as situations arose that I needed them.

Several weeks ago, Audra Bassett, my wonderful friend with a lot more know-how about oils that I have, wondered if I might be interested in learning more about essential oils and using them on a more regular basis. Learn more about something natural and healthy? Of course!

She sent me this fabulous book, The Essential Oil Truth - The Facts Without the Hype by Jen O'Sullivan, which I read in about a day or two and then re-read several times after. From there, I started using oils and oil blends daily with my whole family. I am super excited to share what I have learned with YOU!

I am going to be doing a three-part essential oils series. Today is the first part, answering your questions about how and why to use them.

Let's get started:

Question #1 - Why would I use essential oils?

I could give you about a million reasons. The biggest and best is because we are in a bit of a health crisis in our country. Much of that is due to unhealthy lifestyles, scary ingredients in the majority of products sold, and people being handed out quick fixes that mask the problem. Symptoms are our bodies way of telling us there is something wrong. When we try to get rid of them with a quick chemical fix that has a slew of side effects, instead of dealing with what is really wrong with our bodies, it often just gets worse and worse.

Oils are different. They are natural - from plants. They are safe. They are effective. And they smell sooooo good. As a mom of four with a lot of responsibilities, I feel comfortable using oils to help myself, my hubby and my children stay healthy.

Question #2 - What are essential oils? Are they safe?

An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils are the life-force of the plant, much like our blood. They are highly concentrated, and you only need a little to go a long way. They have been used for centuries, not just for their beautiful natural scent, but for their antibacterial healing properties as well. I love using them for anything from headaches to stomachaches, from an air purifier to hand sanitizer.

They are safe when used properly for people and animals. I recommend that you always start out with a very small amount along with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or olive oil. Apply a bit to your skin and see how your body reacts. Always do your own research and be responsible. I do not personally ingest essential oils, but if you do, MAKE SURE you use only the very best quality and be very informed about that choice.

Basically, essential oils are natural and very very safe, especially when compared to the alternatives - pharmaceuticals, prescription drugs, etc. But again, I cannot stress this enough - make sure you use only the very best quality.

Questions #3 - How do you use essential oils safely?

See my note on how to use them safely in the above question. But to expand on that, let me share with you the ways I use them. Here is a different post I wrote sharing how I use essential oils.

Oils can be used in three different methods: topically, aromatically, and internally.

Topically - This is applying the oil onto our skin. Oils can either be applied undiluted (neat), or with a carrier oil (which slows absorption). Always follow the directions on the label, and when in doubt, dilute. If any burning occurs or you get it in your eyes, never try to was it away with water. Oil and water don’t mix! “Wash” it off by adding more carrier oil.

Aromatherapy - This is inhalation of the oils. You can use a diffuser (pictured below), place your head over a steaming bowl of water with a few drops added, or directly inhale from your hands or the bottle. When doing so, you trigger aromareceptors, triggering chemical responses in the body.

Internally - This is through direct absorption of the digestive tract. Like I said before, I personally choose not to do this one. I may try it once in a great while, but have not decided to do that at the present time. Surely do NOT ingest any oil that does not say that it can be used as a dietary supplement right on the label. Again, do your own research and make informed decisions. Make sure you know where your oils are grown and how they are handled all the way to the bottle.

Question #4 - Which brand is the best? Why?

I have tried out many brands and you have probably seen me talk about them on my blog throughout the past 7 years. There is one company that I have used throughout my entire time using essential oils - Young Living. They were my first love, and after looking very, very closely at the differences between essential oil companies, I am now ready to say they are my only love.

Let me share with you why.

Did you know that you only need 5% pure essential oil in a bottle to claim it is 100% pure? Unfortunately, that is totally true. So while the labels on that grocery store brand may spout they are "100% pure" it is not what you are expecting in that bottle. Typically it's a little essential oil, and up to 95% additives, fillers, and synthetics - things that will lower the price and quality and result in you needing to use more, or worse, having a reaction to the "other 95%" they added to that bottle. You may notice the other labels say "for inhalation or aromatherapy use only". This means you shouldn't even put those brands on your skin. Some other brands will smell good and work wonders for your needs, but personally, I choose the brand that goes beyond smelling good, and has been tested for use beyond aromatherapy.

Just like I choose high-quality, organic nourishing foods for my body, I want to choose high-quality, organic nourishing oils for my body. I like to know as much about things that go on, in or around my body as I possibly can. My tips for you when choosing essential oils are:

• know where the company grows their crops

• know what they use to fertilize and treat the crops

• know their harvest process

• know their distillation process

• know EXACTLY what they are putting in that bottle

When I use Young Living, I know I am getting the purest essential oil in that bottle, nothing more. No additives, no synthetics, just pure, essential oil goodness. In fact, they have a Seed to Seal Guarantee that is unmatched by any competitor. That is why they work.

P.S. Did you know you can even go to Young Living's farms and help plant, harvest and distill crops? Yup, you can watch and be a part of the ENTIRE process. I think that just rocks!

Not all brands are created equal, and it is up to individuals to determine what is best for their family based on the research they are aware of. Do your research, no matter which oils you choose, make sure you know exactly what is in that bottle and be confident in using it on yourself and your family.

Let me know if I can answer more of your questions or guide you in your essential oil journey. I am here to help! If you would like to be added to a free, educational resource full of people sharing how they use oils, ask to join the Hello Essentials. It is one of my favorite places to go to get ideas about how others are using their oils and what they love about them. Everyone is so positive and helpful. I just love it! (And no, nobody will be trying to sell you anything!) You can tell them that I (Cara Nitz) sent you over.

Next post, I will be talking about how oils have helped me when I am suffering from stress and headaches. Stay tuned...

6 Ideas to Rejuvenate Your Marriage When You Have Young Children

Marriage...I remember the days my hubby and I used to go out on dates whenever we felt like it. Romance was in the air. We made out like teenagers. Fast forward four kids later, and the picture is quite different. In fact, we are in desperate need of a relationship makeover.

If you can relate and are committed to taking steps to improve your relationship, you will love the ideas I am sharing today. While I am no expert in marriage, I am on my own personal journey to rekindle my relationship with my hubby and get some romance back in our marriage.

1. First things first. Get interested in your spouse again. What makes them tick? What are they struggling with in life right now? What excites them? What means the most to them? Interests? Hobbies? You get my point. Get a degree in learning about your spouse - maybe you need to start with just a grade school diploma in learning about your spouse or maybe you are already at the college level. No matter how much you know, you can always learn more.

2. Know their love language. This is one thing you will hopefully learn from #1. What is a love language? It is how someone most feels loved. My personal love language is kind of a tie between quality time and gifts. My husband's love language is words of affirmation. Often, we love others with our own love language, because we know it makes us feel special. But, when you learn to speak your spouse's love language, it can have a much greater impact on helping them feel special. I can speak from experience on this one. When my hubby and I learned each others' love language, it was a game-changer.

3. Date night in. When you have little kids, it costs a lot to have a date night out. Not only does it cost a lot of money, it costs a lot of stress. If you are still breastfeeding, like I am, then it can really become a pain in the butt. I know it is not nearly as fun as getting out of the house and away from any chance of kid interruptions, but sometimes it is a necessity. When you do not have access to many babysitters or do not have the funds, you can still have a fun date night in. This weekend, I am going to attempt this. Here are a few ideas I am using this weekend:

• waiting until after the kids go to bed to have my hubby's favorite dinner: pizza. Recently, Smart Flour Foods sent me their new pizza varieties. We are excited to try them this weekend! These are not your average frozen pizzas either. Made with an ancient-grain based crust and certified gluten free, each pizza is free of preservatives and artificial ingredients, made with real mozzarella and provolone cheese that is free of rGBH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone), and topped with hand-selected uncured meats that are free of nitrites and nitrates. It is always a bonus when your splurge is a healthier splurge.
• feed each other - sounds weird. I am an adult. I can feed myself. But let's try it. It might be romantic, or at least funny.
• grab a blanket and head to the backyard for some stargazing and...maybe some other fun.
• color together. We do this as a family, but you could do it with just your spouse. Plenty of time for good conversation and a great way to relieve stress.

4. Kiss each other even when you do not feel like it. Okay, mommies, so you have been tugged on, pinched, kissed and hugged by your kids all day. You may not want anywhere near you at all. While we do need some space and time alone, your husband will love it if you just lay one on him. And I mean, love it! You may not feel it right away, but maybe as you start kissing, you won't want to stop. :-)

5. Forgive as you would like to be forgiven. Yes, I know it is hard to move past the fact that your spouse just did that thing you hate for the 4,000th time. I know it is easy to say I would never do that. But, we do. We do annoy our spouses. We say and do things that really hurt them. We are selfish. We hurt them intentionally and unintentionally. And we can't move past these things if we are not forgiven. Marriage will crumble without forgiveness by each person. Love as you want to be loved.

6. Love your spouse as much as or more than you love your kids.  Check out the post, Do You Love Your Kids More than Your Husband, for more thoughts on this critical one.

That is just the beginning. What are your ideas for keeping your marriage a priority with all those littles running around?

Take Action Against GMOs

This month, we are celebrating Non-GMO month, and it is time to start taking action against hiding GMOs in your food! Check out my post, What is the big deal with GMOs?, if you are confused about GMOs and why you should avoid them.

Coming soon, there is going to be a big vote in the Senate about GMO labeling - called the DARK Act. It is called that because they are literally trying to keep us in the dark about what we are buying and consuming.

The “Denying Americans the Right-to-Know” (DARK) Act would:

• Preempt states from requiring labeling of GMO food.
• Virtually eliminate FDA’s ability to craft a national GMO labeling system.
• Codify the current, broken voluntary labeling system.
• Create a GMO “safety” review system based on industry science.
• Allow “natural” foods to contain GMO ingredients.

At the very least, we should have the right to know what we are buying! Check out Just Label It! for lots of information on the topic, what you can do to make a difference and stay up to date on all GMO labeling news. Make sure you sign all three petitions:  to tell the FDA, to tell the Senate and to tell Big Food that we have the RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN OUR FOOD!

In the meantime, did you know you can make sure you avoid all GMOs by looking for the organic label or non-GMO labels on food?

Here are a few companies who I love supporting because they care about the products they offer enough to make sure they are organic or non-GMO.

•  Numi Organic Tea is a leading purveyor of premium-quality, full-leaf Organic and Fair Trade Certified teas made with 100 percent real ingredients. Numi blends its organic leaf teas with only real herbs, fruits, flowers and spices—not unnecessary “natural” flavorings or perfumes. All Numi products are packaged in recycled-content containers and non-GMO verified biodegradable bags. I love their Turmeric teas - such a powerful anti-inflammatory herb that does wonders for our bodies! You can actually see the little pieces of Turmeric in each teabag, and the taste is much better and more real than many other tea companies I have tried.
  

 

• Nutiva is the world’s best-selling brand of organic coconut, chia, hemp and red palm superfoods. All Nutiva products are organic and non-GMO certified. Nutiva is dedicated to nourishing people and planet and donates 1 percent of sales to support sustainable agriculture programs. We love using their coconut flour to replace all grain flours. I am planning on trying this delicious Coconut Flour Biscuit recipe soon. They also have delicious coconut treats, coconut oil, and so much more!

• Mary’s Gone Crackers offers delicious snacks that unite outstanding taste with satisfying nutrition. Loaded with whole grains and healthy ingredients, Mary’s Gone Crackers are certified organic, gluten free, non-GMO, kosher, and vegan, and contain no nuts, dairy, or eggs.  With a passion for foods that are delicious and impact the mind, body and planet in a positive way, all of Mary’s Gone Crackers products are created with the company’s Conscious Eating philosophy in mind. Make sure you try these pretzels or their Ginger Snaps. Yum!

•  Lifeway, the maker of my favorite Kefir, is committed to 4 ideals: all natural hormone and GMO-free ingredients, philanthropy, environmental responsibility, and local farming sustainability. That is a company I want to support! Right now, they are offering their limited-edition, Pumpkin Pie Kefir. The pumpkin pie kefir is filled with probiotics and contains only 150 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving, plus it is just delicious!

•  House Foods, tofu specialists since 1983, is dedicated to providing the most affordable, highest quality and widest range of the freshest Tofu products. The company uses only non-genetically modified (non-GMO) soybeans grown in the USA.  All House Foods Tofu products are Non-GMO Project verified and certified gluten-free. Can you believe you can have a gluten free pasta made with tofu? These are so cool! They are so easy to use and taste great with a homemade tomato sauce and meatballs.

•  Barbara’s Bakery offers delicious foods for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Their Pumpkin Puffins are an especially delicious, seasonal treat. Made with real pumpkin and spiced with all of the classic pumpkin pie flavors, this low-sugar and non-GMO treat is nothing short of irresistible. They honestly do taste like a crunchy pumpkin pie, and if you are a pumpkin spice junkie, you will love them!

 Time to take a stand against GMOs! Vote with your dollars on these brands and others you know are organic or GMO-free at the grocery store. Also check out Just Label It! and sign those three petitions. We can make a difference!

I did receive products to try out for myself. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Three Ideas to Brighten Someone's Day

It is Monday.


The weather is getting colder. Less sunshine. Less Vitamin D. Less time spent outdoors. More colds. More grumpiness.

Let's not get stuck in this depressing cycle. There are many positive things you can do each day to help brighten up your own day and someone else's, as well. I am sharing a few of my favorite tips with you today. Cheer up!

1. Write a handwritten letter. Give a few genuine compliments, write about how much that person means to you, or share a special memory that will make them smile. Something so simple can mean so much. And it will probably only take you one minute to do this. Easy peasy!

2. Random Acts of Kindness. Do we only give gifts when we feel others deserve them? It can get easy to fall into that habit. What about giving a gift today for no reason at all? One fantastic gift idea is a beautiful plant that will not only brighten their day today, it will brighten their day for many weeks, months, and maybe even years.

I recently received a vibrant Grateful Red Hydrangea from Nature Hills. Isn't it beautiful? I kept it inside for a few days to brighten up my kitchen table, but then I planted it outside in a spot I can see every day. It will grow 3-4 ft high and will not wither like a vase of picked flowers, so you can continue to enjoy this gift that keeps on giving. It will provide you or your friend with armfuls of flowers for your vases all season. (extra tip: it is half off right now on the Nature Hills website) Every time you/they see it, they will remember your thoughtfulness and love and feel that special feeling all over again.

3. Make a special treat! My husband knows there is hardly anything I love better than when he makes me treats. Chocolate treats, to be exact. What is that old saying? The way to a man (or woman's) heart is through their stomach. Hmmmm...sometimes that can be true.

Here are a few of my favorite homemade healthier treats:

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies - paleo, gluten free, dairy free, yum!

 

Chewy Cinnamon or Chocolate Brownies - paleo, gluten free, dairy free, delicious!

 

Award-winning Chocolate No Bake Cookies - gluten free, dairy free, melt-in-your-mouth 

 

Make a difference in someone's day today, and I guarantee that you will feel better as well!

Teach Children About Healthy Eating

Do your children know where their food comes from? Do they know the names of healthy fruits and vegetables?

A great way to get them excited to eat nutritious food is give them healthy role models and help them take ownership of their food. I was just sent a great children's book for review, Green is Good, which is written by a mother/daughter duo. The little girl, Liv, is a great role model for kids, as she shares all the veggies she loves and how she is trying to teach her dog, Bowie, to love different veggies. She discovers that the best way to grow her favorite veggies is organically. This book is not only a fun read for the kids, it also opens up a dialogue between young children and their parents on modern living, farming, healthy eating and organic food.

Author and mother Elizabeth Gorcey has been creating her entire life - with paint, film (starred in Footloose, Teen Wolf, Max Headroom), and words. Her new book series is inspired by her daughter, Olivia, who as a three-year-old, began to spontaneously deliver wisdom and advice to anyone who was listening. Elizabeth dubbed her daughters musings as "Liv-Isms" and each book in the series is based on these everyday insights. Sometimes kids are the best teachers, and in encouraging her own daughter to embrace and use her authentic voice, Elizabeth realized how much adults can, and must, learn from the purity and honesty of a child's perspective. Pretty cute, right? I can definitely relate, since my four children teach me important lessons daily.

 

My kids were so excited to see another child doing what they love to do - grow and eat healthy food! In the world of kids, I find way too often that people treat them as little garbage cans - stuffing them full of junk food and whatever they think will make them smile. Artificial junk food is NOT healthy for their wonderful growing bodies. It is time we start making a difference in our children's lives.

What do you do to teach your children about healthy eating and promote it in your home?

7 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

I was provided with product to try out. I am an independent Shaklee distributor who loves their products and cannot help but recommend them to others. No other compensation was given. All opinions are 100% my own.

Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd, but I think we should all get started celebrating today and keep celebrating all year round! After all, keeping the Earth healthy and clean has to start with each of us making habits that preserve this great planet we live on!

Here are 7 very easy ways to do just that (and save yourself quite a bit of money):

1. Start replacing plastic with other things! Get a few cloth bags to use instead of wasting grocery bag after grocery bag. Use a BPA-free reusable water bottle instead of buying bottle after bottle of water. Money saved! Happy Earth!

2. Start using concentrated, naturally safe cleaning products in your home. Did you know you are not supposed to throw conventional cleaning products away in your garbage? You need to find a TOXIC WASTE site! Why would you want to use something so dangerous in your home? About 7 years ago, we switched out all of our cleaning products for Shaklee's Get Clean products. These products are not only safe and natural, but they are going to save you tons of money!

For instance, Shaklee's Basic H2 organic super concentrated cleaner, which my family has been using for over 4 generations, will literally save your family THOUSANDS of dollars over traditional cleaners AND any other “Green” cleaners available. For instance, one bottle of Basic H2 equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. Windex, and its not as dangerous to your health as Windex is. It works as well and even better than the other cleaners on the market (traditional and “green”). And yes, there are clinical studies to prove this.

Here are a few of the ways you can use the Basic H2:
I use it to wash my fruits and vegetables (it is that safe) but I also use it to clean my hardwood floors,
clean my tile floors, clean my vinyl floors, use it on my garden as a safe alternative to pesticide, use it to run moles/voles out of my yard, my husband uses it to shave, clean my wood cabinets, dust all my furniture, clean my kitchen counters, remove spots from our carpet, clean my bathroom, use as a mosquito repellant, use it to soothe and treat burns and many other uses!

3. Think about where your fish comes from. I am a huge advocate for eating healthy fish, like Alaskan salmon, sardines, anchovies, even responsibly caught tuna. While a great source of lean protein, Omega 3 and other vitamins and minerals, some fish also have high mercury levels, and if eaten often enough can cause a mercury build up in the body leading to unwanted side effects. One type of fish with potentially high mercury levels that has been an American favorite for generations is canned tuna. We love tuna in our house, but have cut it out for so long, because I wanted to stay away from mercury, BPA laden cans, and did not approve of the fishing methods that are often used.

Now, for the first time, Safe Catch is a new company that is the only 100% mercury tested tuna on the market and it is also cooked using a unique method that seals in more Omega 3s than other brands. Their tuna is traceable from sea to table, and they buy from captains whose catch methods minimize environmental impact. They are very passionate about keeping oceans pure and protecting our Earth. You can pre-order your Safe Catch tuna today!

4. Reduce your disposable tableware use or replace it with sustainable products. Although I do not use disposable plates and cups often, I know there is a time and place when they save you a LOT of time and hassle. You will save a lot of waste if you only use them during those occasions. Plus, what if you could use guilt-free tableware made from plants? I love the whole Repurpose line of innovative, green, single-serve tableware made exclusively from plants.

Their cups, bowls, plates, forks, spoons and knives are made from corn, sugar and bamboo, all of which are annually-renewable resources. They are also BPA-free, chlorine-free, petroleum-free and use only soy-based inks. And unlike traditional plastic or even paper items, all Repurpose products are 100% compostable in an industrial composter. Yay! Plus, Repurpose products are not flimsy or easy breakable. They are high quality products that get the job done!

5. Lower your electricity bill. Turn down your heat in the winter just a few degrees and add a layer of clothing. No, you will not die a frozen Popsicle. In the summer, open the windows and try to save the air conditioning for when it is really, really hot. Turn off all lights in the rooms you are not using. These are all great habits to get started today!

6. Pick up trash that you see on neighborhood walks. Too gross for you? If you can pick up your pets poo, then you can pick up an empty bottle, can and other trash that is polluting our world and could be causing harm to the animals. It just takes a second, but has a great impact.

7. Make a difference with your purchases. When you are shopping at the store, the choices you make and how you spend your money makes a difference! The more healthy, sustainable food and products you buy, the more will be made. We can transform what companies make by what we buy! One company that walks a green walk is Annie’s. In fact, they have purchased 42 Million pounds of organic ingredients, have reforested 296 Acres of degraded land with NativeEnergy via the Oka Trees of Hope Project. Plus, more than 90% of Annie’s packaging (by weight) is recyclable and $459K will be donated this year to organizations supporting a sustainable food system. My favorite organic product is their Annie’s Organic Grass Fed Mac & Cheese - which is made with 100% real cheese from grass fed cows. Awesome!

Enjoy your Earth day, making small changes that will have a BIG impact on our planet!

One Very Easy Way to Make Your Child’s Day Special

With four children, it can sometimes be a challenge to make sure all my kids feel special each and every day. Just recently, I started using something super easy to make sure my first grade son feels special each day!

I started using Lunchbox Buddies!!
 
Created by professional designer and father of three, Jim Adorney, Lunchbox Buddies provides a quick and easy way to make healthy lunches more fun. With creative collections ranging from superheroes to space creatures, each packet of Lunchbox Buddies contains a month’s worth of silly characters and messages to add excitement to what kids may consider to be a ‘boring’ healthy lunch.

My son just loves these ultra silly characters! He gets so excited when he sees me try to sneak them into his lunch every morning. I always like to add a little message of love on the back just to make sure he knows I am thinking about him.

The extra fun thing about these Lunchbox Buddies is that he can collect all of them, color their pictures and have a fun little deck of crazy creatures to play with.

With this super easy little gift every day, my child feels an extra dose of love and special. What mom doesn’t love that?

What do you do to make each of your children feel special each day?

Give a Gift From World Vision

I received product to use myself. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

With Halloween over, many people are now turning their focus to the holiday season, and checking gifts off their shopping list for Christmas.

Instead of immediately focusing on all the things we may want, let's turn the focus to others less fortunate than ourselves and what they need.

I love the great gift-giving catalog from World Vision. The 2014 World Vision Gift Catalog contains more than 250 items, ranging in price from $10 to $39,000, to help improve quality of life for women, children and families in the U.S. and around the world. The beauty of the items in the catalog is the two-for-one benefit they provide: 1) a meaningful and affordable gift for a loved one; 2) proceeds that make a difference in the lives of children and families living in poverty in the U.S. and around the world.

 

When you give where it is needed most, you can also receive handcrafted gifts that are perfect for holiday baking or entertaining. My personal favorite is the Prosperity Cinnamon.

Know a friend or family member who loves to bake? Each beautifully-carved cinnamon bark box contains 3 oz. of cinnamon and bears a common Asian character for prosperity. Vietnam's renowned sweet cinnamon is a renewable resource collected from the Cassia tree, sold to benefit generations of hard-working families. There is such a different in the taste of quality cinnamon, and this cinnamon is absolutely delicious!

Since it began in 1996, the World Vision Gift Catalog has grown in popularity as a gift-giving alternative; more than 844,000 people helped someone through the Catalog in the last fiscal year alone. This year, start a tradition that will bring awareness to the needs of others, and help your family give back to those less fortunate!

We are giving away (1) Box of this delicious Prosperity Cinnamon to (1) lucky winner! Enter below!

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Do You Love Your Kids More Than Your Husband?

I have been struggling with this question for the last couple months.

At first thought, my answer was no. Of course, I love my husband. We were "one" even before we had children. I understand how important it is for my kids to see that my husband and I are a stable couple. So, my priority (after God) is my husband, right?

But, despite my confidence in this, the question keeps bugging me. Do I really love my husband MORE than my kids? Or is it the other way around?

Panic starts to set in as I realize...
I spend more time with my kids than I do with my husband. The time I actually do spend with my husband is most often zoning out in front of the TV or a good book after a long day.

I read parenting book after parenting book to try to get this mothering thing just right. But, am I working that hard to figure out how to be a better wife?

I study my children and wrack my brain all day long trying to figure out how to best communicate with them and love them? Have I quit studying my husband?

I spend every ounce of patience I have each day on my children. When my husband comes home, do I have any left for him?

I am more than happy to talk about all the cute or loving things my kids have done lately. But when was the last time I got excited to talk about how great my husband is?

I rush to give my kids hugs and kisses when I have not seen them in a little while. Why don’t I rush to give my husband hugs and kisses after his long workday?

From all outward signs, I actually love my kids more than my husband.

This realization hit me right in the heart. No wonder we have so many misunderstandings. No wonder we don’t have the passion or romance we used to have in our relationship. No wonder I feel like my husband is more of a roommate/partner than my lover and friend.

Many people might not think there is anything wrong with loving their kids more than their husband. From surveys I have seen, most women do, in fact, love their children more and are happy to admit it. Some of you might be outraged that I am even trying to fix this "problem" in my life. Our children are the only thing we leave behind when we die, right? We better put all the effort and love that we have into them, right?

Well, as I have spent time thinking about this, my personal thought is a great, big "NO!" One of the greatest lessons you can teach your children is that they are loved by you and your husband as a couple, allowing them to feel stable and confident in their family.

My struggle is this... What kind of love can compare to that of a mother’s love the first time she sees her baby? How can a husband compete with the bond of mother and child? When you spend almost all day every day with your children bonding and making memories, how can the hour or two at the end of a day with your husband compete with that?

It is not easy, but nothing worthwhile is easy, is it? It takes serious commitment from both you and your husband - hence the "till death do us part" promises you made. Whatever it takes, I am willing to work harder to love my husband at least as much as I love my children. Not that I will love my children less, but I will work to increase my efforts and make him more of a priority in my life. It is the least I can do for my stud-muffin husband. :-)

Here are a few ideas on how to get back on track with loving your husband just as much as you love your children:

•  Try not to have many expectations. They kill relationships. Don’t expect him to be romantic. Don’t expect him to comfort you when you are upset. Don’t expect him to love you all the time. Let God do all that. Let God comfort you, love you perfectly, make you feel like a million bucks every minute of every day. Your husband cannot be perfect. God is perfect.

• Live gratefully. Constantly think of all the reasons you love your husband and are grateful for him. For me, it always comes back to thinking about "What would I do if he died at work today? Where would I be without him?" Try it. See? Instantly grateful. 

•  Make the most of every moment you have together (and I am preaching to myself the most right here). I know at the end of the day the last thing you might want to do is try to come up with stimulating conversation with your husband. It might be easy to only talk/argue about money, to-dos, children, etc., but try to use this time to reconnect and keep learning about each other. I love asking my husband questions or having mini-dates in. Here are some other great ideas for connecting that I have on my Pinterest page.

•  Continue to grow as a person and grow in your faith. When you can bring the best of yourself to your marriage, it is a lot easier to connect. If you are super stressed, super needy, always tired, grouchy, or whatever it is, it will be much harder to have a healthy relationship with someone else. 

Those are just a few ideas. I know you have more. Please share with us your thoughts on this article and your ideas for how to make your spouse more of a priority!

Remember, your kids will grow up and move out. But your husband is your partner for the rest of your days. Love him!