A Spooky Scrumptious Treat

I love any excuse to create a fun, unique, festive treat. This Halloween season I created these spooky little grave yard scenes for my family.

I started by lining a plate with a piece of wax paper. Then, I took the Cool Whip from the freezer, put plastic gloves on my hands, and dug a piece of Cool Whip from the container. I shaped the piece like a little ghost and put him flat on his back on the wax paper. I took two sprinkles and pushed them into his little face to make eyes. I made about six ghosts this way and then placed the plate in the freezer for about three hours. 

Then, I made an instant vanilla pudding and added red and yellow food coloring to make it orange. I divided the pudding into little custard cups and filled the cups about 1/2 full. Next, I took about six Oreos, placed them in a plastic sandwich bag and crushed them up by hitting the bag with an ice cream scooper. I sprinkled the Oreo crumbs on top of the pudding so that there was an even layer covering the orange pudding in each cup. I broke up a chocolate Hersey's bar into pieces and stuck them into the pudding to resemble headstones. Then, I took my ghosts from the freezer and placed them upright in the pudding cups.

These treats are easy and inexpensive to make, the perfect fun snack for family home evening or after school. Happy Halloween!!!

Essential Oils: A Voodoo Among Us?

The smelly, miraculous liquid that is stored in tiny brown bottles. It is rubbed on ailments and infused into the air to cure a widespread amount of issues. One drop is all it takes... You have to admit the whole thing seems a little creepy.

When my husband and I were engaged we went over to his sister's house. She had a diffuser running which glowed a blue color and created a fog-like mist in her front room. She had a whole slew of tiny brown bottles, each one holding a precious, unique liquid. I knew then and there that hola-balloo wasn't for me. Which is pretty hilarious considering the fact that I pound echinacea, garlic, and zinc when cold and flu season sneaks up, to ward away any virus.

Mentally, I stashed essential oils away into the "Big Foot" category of my brain. I learned the definition of 'placebo' in middle school and I was pretty sure these essential oil people must have missed that lesson at their school...

Then, something happened that threw me from my high horse. Desperation. Some of you might remember my sick baby post last summer. I was an extremely sleep deprived momma when I came crawling to essential oils for help. To make a painful story short, I decided to try using the Doterra Oil 'Breathe' to help my little baby breathe through her nose. I was also using a boogie bulb and nose drops, so after my little lady recovered I appreciated the oil, but I wasn't gaga over it. However, this was the first step I made in the oil "voodoo" direction. ;)

Now for the real kicker. Since I didn't learn my lesson the first time and truly become converted to the essential oil way, essential oil karma came back for revenge. When Eric and I moved back from Dallas in August, Kirra stopped sleeping. Ok, that's a little dramatic. She stopped sleeping as well. She went weeks without sleeping longer than three hours at a time. I was dying. Once again, I was one sleep deprived momma. Lucky for me, I had solace come in the form of a sweet lady at church. My mom suggested I talk to her about Kirra having trouble sleeping. She has a vast knowledge of many things and oils is one of her areas of expertise. She is a Butterfly Express Supplier and helps many people in town with their essential oil questions and needs. This sweet lady asked me how often Kirra woke up and what she acted like when she woke. After chatting, she suggested I try the 'InsideOut' oil. Because Kirra was arching her back away from me when she would wake up throughout the night and crying inconsolably, I was given the advice to use an oil that would sooth her tummy. The ingredients include: anise, cardamom, cilantro, fennel, juniper berry, kana, lemon, lemongrass, patchouli, peppermint, tarragon, and thyme. My husband totally snubbed the idea when I came home with the oil. "Ugh, it stinks." Were his exact words after rolling his eyes. (It doesn't stink by-the-way) Haha. The first night I rubbed it on her belly before I put her to bed and she slept 8 hours. When I woke up the next morning, (with a spring in my step) I was elated about how the night had gone, but 50% of me still chalked it up to coincidence.  The next night I may have had a few lingering doubts, but I still put that oil on her tummy before putting her down in hopes the same results would surface. Guess what folks, MY BABY SLEEPS NOW!!! I put that oil on her tummy every night (mixed with a carrier oil as directed) and she sleeps 7-8 hours before waking up. When my doubting husband saw the results and relished in the sleep our family was finally getting, he started to half-way believe in this oil... Then, he had his own oil trial when he had digestive issues about five days after I started using the oil on Kirra. In the middle of the night he asked me where the oil was. I got it for him and applied it on his stomach. The next morning, he was a believer. He said, "Voodoo or not, that stuff works." Haha. He is a goober.

I'm not going to claim that essential oils are cure-alls, but I will say that there is something to them. If you read about essential oils online you will find that they were used as early as 1188-1248 A.D. They have been historically used for medicinal purposes. It makes sense that the oil harvested from a plant would contain the healing characteristics of the plant (like an herb). After my success with the InsideOut oil, I started putting one drop of lavender on Kirra's feet after she gets out of the tub to help her calm down for bed at night. 

Call me creepy ;)

A Letter to the Little Ones We've Lost

In honor of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, I'm sharing a very personal letter I wrote to our two angels we lost to miscarriage.

My hope is that it can reach out to others going through similar losses and help those around them understand what their loved one might be going through.

Dearest Little Ones,

I've started this letter many times. Each time I struggle to find the correct words to express the thoughts and emotions I carry closest to my heart. I hope to do so now.

There is so much I wish to convey to you. So many thoughts I've wished I could express to you. First, the deep desire to see you, to hold your little hands, and kiss your sweet feet. I can't tell you how many times I've longed to know what color your soft hair is or the beautiful hue of your big eyes. Are your ears like Dad's? Are your noses like mine? It's so hard not knowing. Many times my arms have ached to have had the opportunity to hold your sweet little frames, even just once. What I wouldn't give to have even one short memory like that of each of you to hold on to.

As I go through my life, which inexplicably continued after you each passed on, I hope you know I think of you often. Even though you are no longer on this Earth, I still remember you and love you just as much as our sweethearts that are here with us. I never want you to feel forgotten because you are not physically here. I will always remember you and love you. You will always keep a special place in my heart.

I'm so grateful that our Savior sacrificed His life for us that we may live again with Him. Because of His Atoning Sacrifice, our family is sealed together for eternity and we will be together again. I know that it is only through Him that I am blessed with the ability to see you, hold you, and kiss your sweet cheeks after this life is through. I look forward to the day that we are reunited.

Until then, I want to thank you for teaching me so much about patience, love, humility, and faith. Your lives may have been short, but they touched mine deeply and I am eternally grateful for that. Thanks in part to your sweet lives, I continue to grow and progress each day. Until we meet again, remember how much I love you.

Love,

Your Mother

If you have lost a little one, please know that you are not alone. There are so many of us who have been there too. We love you and pray for you.

If you know of someone close to you who has lost a little one, please reach out to them today. It will mean the world to them. My own sweet family sent us a bonsai tree this week and I'm eternally grateful to them for the special love it shows. What a wonderful, living reminder of the little ones we will see again.

There is also a candle lighting tonight. If you'd like to participate, light a candle at 7pm in your time zone and leave it lit for an hour. This will create a wave of light across the nation. Our candle is ready, next to our bonsai tree.

For more information on events and history, please visit october15.com

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair: Hair Care

Long hair. It takes forever to grow it and then keeping it long and healthy can be tough. Especially if you want to color, straighten, curl, and enjoy it! I am kind of a hair fanatic. I love long hair in any color as long as it looks healthy and clean. I have spent 22 years figuring out how to control and take care of my hair and let me tell you, I have learned a lot. Just like anything else in life, getting fabulous results requires time and effort. People tell me all of the time how "lucky" I am to have long hair. Luck has absolutely nothing to do with it. Taking care of it is the key.

When I was in seventh grade I decided to cut my hair to my shoulders and do that little "flip-out" style. (Que the hideous middle school awkward phase picture)

After that I started trying to grow my hair back out. Back then I didn't have the hair tricks that I have now so it took a good five years to get my long tresses back.

Ever since that expedition I have tried to take good care of my hair and I will share with you what I have learned.

Now, if you are reading this in hopes to grow your hair out I will say this once, do not abuse your hair. If you want your hair to look gorgeous you have to baby it a little. I learned this lesson the hard way on the road of hard-knocks, I call: over-processing.  Freshman year of college I decided I wanted every single strand of my hair to be platinum. I decided to go about this by letting my roommate bleach my hair every three weeks for a while. Now, this was a dark time in my hair life that I have trouble talking about, but I will suffer for your benefit by recounting the story. ;) As you can imagine, soon my hair felt like straw and every morning I had to wrestle it with product and a straightener to make it look as though every thing was fine. (Of course it kept getting worse) I will end this story by letting you know that I did see the light and correct my hair-abusive ways.

Now that the over-processing warning is out of the way, lets get started.

1. Use GOOD shampoo and conditioner.
This is important because the soap that you use to wash your hair will dry out and damage your hair if you use cheap products. There is an old saying, "You get what you pay for" its true. You don't need to go overboard but you do need to invest a little more than a Walmart shampoo into your lovely tresses. If you have noticed more than one hair dresser using a specific brand of shampoo and conditioner, chances are that brand is a good one. My favorites are Redken and Matrix. There are tons of other fabulous brands but these are two of my favorites for the price. (Of course I would die for Kevin Murphy but my hubby might kill me ;) (I included the link in case you also want to drool over it. Haha) Redken has a special place in my heart because the product is like a spa day for your hair and the smell is to die for. They have a shampoo and conditioner called 'All Soft' that leaves my hair silky and smooth throughout the day.

You can count on Redken when it comes to any product you are after, I would vouch for their quality in a second. Redken knows what they are doing when it comes to hair products. They have this anti-snap solution that your can put on your damp hair to keep it from breaking while you are combing it. I LOVE it. You seriously have to try it (sorry, I warned you I'm a hair fanatic... I'll take a couple deep breaths).

I have used Matrix Shampoo and Conditioner for years and I love it also. There are multiple kinds but my favorite is Matrix: Sleek Look it moisturizes my hair and leaves it soft without being heavy. It also smells great without being over powering. You can consult any hair dresser about this brand, many use it. It is a salon level product without costing a fortune. You can get the HUGE bottles, the shampoo and conditioner each containing a liter of product and they last forever. For example, I used mine for 8 months straight before they ran out last time.

2. No over-washing.
If you have colored your hair at all and/or have long hair, you should not be washing your hair everyday. Ka-peesh? When you wash your hair with shampoo you are stripping the oil off of the strands. This oil was produced by your scalp in order to protect and keep your hair healthy. It doesn't make sense to quickly remove your natural oils every chance you get. I understand you don't want to look like a grease ball. You don't have to. Start slow by washing your hair the first day and doing a hair style that keeps the front pieces off of your face. Then, braid your hair at night or tie it back loosely so that it doesn't collect your face oils. The next day put it up or style it back somehow. You won't even miss your hair wash for the day. Just put your hair on your head that morning and jump in the shower to wash your body and shave. (that's what I do!) I shower everyday, I simply don't wash my hair every time I shower. Once your scalp starts catching on, it will stop producing as much oil (it was trying to compensate for your over-washing) and this will allow you to go longer periods without washing and still look fresh! I only wash my hair every three days and sometimes I can still wear my hair down on the third day!!! Just be patient.

My hair timeline:

Day1 (Washed and Air Dried)                          

Day 2 (Waved)

Day 3 (Brushed Out) 

Day 3 (Ponytail)    

I promise I only washed my hair on the first day in these photos!!!

3. Wash correctly.
If you have long hair you do not need to shampoo the ends of it. Unless you went on a muddy four-wheeler ride or just came back from a camp fire, your ends will get plenty of shampoo from you rinsing the shampoo from your scalp. Apply ample shampoo to all areas of your head until your whole head is lathered and then rinse. Now give your ends a drink of water (so to speak) by putting plenty of conditioner on them. I also condition the strands by my face that get the most heat from straightening, etc. because they get a little dry. The hair that you didn't shampoo should get conditioner. The top of your head does not need conditioner. It gets enough oil and moisture naturally from the scalp.

Maybe this will help:

Front                 Back 

4. Wrestle those snarls in the shower.
Once you have your conditioner on the correct area of your hair, comb it through with a wide toothed comb.

This is important because it gets the conditioner to all of the strands and also keeps you from combing your hair after you get out of the shower.

(Beautiful make-up free picture... haha)

Dragging a comb through your hair after getting out of the shower will result in a lot of breakage. You know what I mean, you have heard the strand snapping, nobody wants that. If you insist on combing through after you get out, I suggest using an ant-snap product to increase the elasticity of the strands.

5. Avoid the heat.
Avoid using straighteners, curling irons, crimpers, and ESPECIALLY blow dryers as much as possible. I consider my blow dryer to be an emergency tool. It only comes out of the drawer if my hair is wet and I have to be at church in 45 minutes. Try to wash your hair at a point in the day and week when you can let it air dry. Blow dryers are split-end makers. They love to split the strands of your hair and torture the moisture right out of them. If you are straightening your hair or curling it for the day, make sure you use a heat protectant first. Spray your ends really good and give the length of your hair a quick shot too. Be sure to cover the areas you are going to apply the most heat to. (This usually includes the strands around your face) I don't get too carried away with brands on this particular issue but I am using Chi Iron Guard and I really like it. I looked over the beauty supplies at Ross and found it for $10 so you can't beat that. Plus this stuff lasts forever.

6. Be cautious about chlorine.
Skip this section if swimming in chlorinated pools isn't a regular occurrence in your life. I had another learning experience when it comes to this topic. I was in a lifeguard course on campus that lasted all semester long. I thought that washing my hair after I got out of the pool was removing the chlorine from it. Wrong. If your hair is dry when you hop in the pool your hair strands are going to soak up that water, chlorine and all, when they get wet. Simply washing your hair after-wards, won't get the amount that your hair soaked up out. So try to get your hair wet with chlorine-free water before hoping in. This will keep your hair from soaking in the chlorine. Also, if you are a regular swimmer, be sure to use a chlorine-removing shampoo after swimming each time. I have a Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three which removes impurities including chlorine from my hair. Like I said, if you aren't a regular swimmer don't panic about this, but if you are, this is a must.

7. Give your hair a rest.
Embrace your natural texture. Find ways that you enjoy your hair without manipulating it too much with heat. Also, at night when your ready to get some rest, give your hair a rest too. I braid my hair loosely along my back at night so that it won't break as I move my head around on my pillow and so that it doesn't collect face oils. I also put a little Moroccan oil on the ends so that they stay hydrated.

This stuff lasts forever (as you can tell by my beat-up bottle) 

and it works wonders on dry and damaged hair.

Although looks aren't everything, it feels good to be happy with something as obvious as your hair. This is why I am glad to share what I have learned over the years with you. I have lots of tricks when it comes to styling it also, so leave a comment if you would be interested in any hair styling posts. Also, I am considering a skin care or make-up post, so let me know what you think!! Thanks for reading. :)