I live in the cold north of Michigan, and while I love it here—and I even love the winter—I must admit, the short, overcast days of the winter occasionally get me down. It just gets greyer and greyer here as December moves into January moves into February. But given my love for oils, I wondered: can you beat the winter blues with essential oils? What are the "Winter Blues" If you feel as gloomy as the weather looks, you're probably experiencing the winter blues. Feeling sad, but not for a specific reason? That's the winter blues. Feeling lethargic and like your get-up-and-go got up and went...yup, that's the winter ...Read More
Foods 30 Minute Recipe: Parmesan Salmon and Veggies
I have a confession to make. I don't like salmon...or any other fish for that matter. However, my kids and husband love this parmesan salmon and veggies recipe. And I want them to love it (even if it means I have to hold my nose while I'm cooking and diffuse some extra essential oils to clear out the fish smell!). Salmon is a powerhouse food and I don't want them to miss out on all its benefits just because mom is a party pooper. Many regard wild-caught salmon one of the healthiest fish available. However, to get the awesome benefits of salmon, you want to be sure to avoid farmed salmon. The best salmon are ...Read More
What are Essential Oils (and do they really work)?
What are essential oils — and do they really work? If you're like me, when you first heard of "essential oils," you might have thought it all sounded like a bunch of hippie voodoo and snake oil. There was a time when I scoffed at the use of essential oils because I didn't understand them. I didn't know exactly what these oils were, what made them "essential" in the first place, and just what kind of research had been done on their effectiveness. Now, I use them every day in my home and regularly teach others about the amazing benefits they bring. One of the first things I didn't understand was the name: ...Read More
Gluten-Free Spices: the brands you can actually trust
It might seem silly to write an article about gluten free spices, since on their own, individual herbs and spices do not naturally contain gluten. When my family first went gluten-free, I didn't bother to check my spice cabinet. However, I soon found out that it was booby trapped! Many companies are tempted to add anti-caking ingredients when they make spice blends. This includes gluten products or by-products. Unfortunately, you can't take for granted that you're consuming gluten free spices! Additives to Watch For While some anti-caking ingredients spice ingredients don't cause a problem for those trying to ...Read More
Pregnant without Health Insurance: How I Saved Thousands
"Fill out these forms and I'll need your drivers license and health insurance cards." I told the receptionist, "I don't have health insurance"—and noticed her raised eyebrows. But I quickly followed up with, "But I am part of a health sharing plan, so the bills won't be a problem." She looked skeptical, but nodded. Through my pregnancy, every time I had to tell someone I didn't have health insurance, I was a little worried at what they'd say...what they'd think. It was my first pregnancy with no health insurance, and truth be told, I was also a little worried about the bills. At first. While we'd had ...Read More
Homeschooling Copywork Using Great Literature Broadens Minds
I love using copywork in our classroom because it’s such a powerful teaching tool. I’ve found it has numerous benefits that reach far beyond just learning to write neatly. Today I'm going to share some tips for copywork using great literature. (To learn more about copywork read What is Copywork? And why it’s the missing piece in your homeschool day!) One of the great things about copywork is how it lends itself to broadening a child’s world. Through copywork, beautiful works of literature are available to a child in a way that’s more easily consumed and understood. It’s one thing for a child to sit down and ...Read More
How to Get Your Husband on Board with Essential Oils
Hands-down, one of the questions I get asked the most is: how do you get your husband on board with essential oils? Now, I admittedly have a very supportive husband. I was the skeptical one. And when I finally got to the point where I was ready to dive in, he trusted my judgement that these little bottles of oily goodness were worth the investment. But I get it: if you're reading this article, your husband may not be on board with your desire to try or buy essential oils. Learn more about my favorite essential oils in this post. 4 Steps to Helping Your Husband Understand Your Love of Essential ...Read More
Mouthwatering Sweet Fire Skillet Dinner
Who doesn't enjoy a hearty skillet dinner? I myself love them because they're easy to make and the mess is greatly reduced because there aren't a ton of pots and pans to clean. Plus, it gives me a chance to use my cast iron pan. I'm convinced cast iron makes everything taste just a little bit better. You'll notice this recipe uses coconut aminos. Have you tried this before? It's a liquid made from coconut sap. It's dark and salty and a little sweet. It's similar in taste to soy sauce—but without the soy. It's also gluten-free! If you're like me and always looking for a way to keep your family's sugar intake on ...Read More
