Summer Kick-Off!

Summer Kick-Off

Memorial Day has always felt like the first day of summer for me. We spend it around the pool, with the smell of barbecue wafting in the air. My children are giddy with excitement, knowing that school will be over in a week or two and then they will truly be free.

However, with the kick-off of summer comes summer worries. Back in the olden days when I was a kid, sunscreen was a novelty. Each year, my skin would burn, and then peel, before turning into an acceptable tan. I was still susceptible to sunburn as the summer wore on, especially on those days we spent sun up til sun down at the beach. My older sister, slathered in baby oil, would develop a deep, dark tan without my hazards. How I envied her.

Today we have lotions that tout 80+ SPF, and you'd think we were wearing invisible armor when out in the sun. Yet, skin cancer rates have not gone down. What's up with that? Perhaps the ingredients in many sunscreens are just as bad for us as the sunburns they are meant to prevent.

Sunburn

Sounds like a catch-22. What's a mom to do? This year, I'm going to try an all-natural, homemade sunscreen. Coconut oil naturally has sun-blocking properties, as well as several essential oils.

Sunscreen

1 oz. Coconut oil (fractionated is fine)

5-10 drops helichrysum, myrrh, roman chamomile, or lavender essential oil

Use a little more essential oil per ounce at the beginning of summer, when you are not yet used to the sun, and a little less once your skin has become habituated.

Now, I have some very fair-skinned children who seem to get a sunburn no matter what I do. For them, I keep a spray bottle of distilled water and 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil on hand. I just spritz it on the burn, and it soothes and helps rapidly heal the skin.

Enjoy your Memorial Day, and remember to take a moment with your family to remember the real reason for this holiday, the men and women who serve our country and put their lives on the line to give us the freedoms that are uniquely ours.

The Perfect Mother's Day

Mother's Day

I have a confession. You know what I want for Mother's Day? A break from being a mom. Not from the good stuff – I can never get enough of the hugs and kisses and “Mom, you're the best!” I'm talking about the cooking, the cleaning, the refereeing, the unrelenting expectation that whatever the problem, Mom can fix it. My idea of the perfect Mother's Day is instead of an endless chorus of “Mo-om,” I hear “Da-ad” instead.

I've been a parent for almost 21 years, and I have yet to experience even one such day. I suppose I'll have to wait until my youngest leaves the nest – but by then, I imagine my “perfect” Mother's Day won't seem so perfect then.

I guess it's up to me to make sure that my Mother's Day is the kind of day I want. So, I'll curl up in bed while my kids prepare my breakfast (and leave the mess for me to clean later), reading homemade cards and unwrapping gifts made at school. I will take a nap. I'll eat through half the box of chocolates from my husband, and at the end of the day, when the house is finally quiet, I'll slip into a warm bath and be thankful for this beautiful chaos that I'm sure I'll miss one day.

Relaxing Bath Salts

Relaxing Bath Salts

4 cups sea salt, kosher salt, or Epsom salts
5-10 drops essential oil (lavender, Serenity, Whisper, or Balance)
Dried fragrant plants such as lavender or eucalyptus (optional)

Mix ingredients together.  Pour into decorative container for yourself or as a gift for others.  Use a few spoonfuls of salts per bath.

Pocket Hand Warmers

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Pocket hand warmers!

I'm one of those people that does not do well in the cold.  No matter how high I turn up the thermostat, my hands and toes are always frozen.  Here's a great idea to keep warm during these chilly winter days.  And these are the perfect size for stocking stuffers.

Pocket Hand Warmers

Pocket Hand Warmers

flannel fabric
thread
uncooked rice
essential oil (optional)

Cut two pieces of fabric 5 1/2" by 4 1/2".  Sew right sides together, leaving an opening at one end.  Turn right side out and fill with uncooked rice.  Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.  OnGuard and Holiday Joy essential oil blends have a nice Christmas-y smell.  Lavender is always soothing.  And Balance has a nice, woodsy scent.  Sew the open end up, and you are finished.  Include a small card with instructions to heat in the microwave for 1 minute.

*****

E-mail me for a free sample of your choice of essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas!

Lavender Eye Pillow

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

A soothing lavender eye pillow!

The scent of lavender helps you fall asleep.  This eye pillow is great for a quick nap, relaxation, to ease a stress headache, or to add scent to your lingerie drawer.  Make some to give away, but be sure to keep one for yourself!

Lavender Eye Pillow

Lavender Eye Pillow

Fabric of choice
Flax seed or dry rice
3-4 drops lavender essential oil

Cut fabric approximately 8" x 10".  Fold in half and sew inside out three sides.  Turn right side out and fill with flax seed or dry rice.  Add lavender oil.  Finish sewing the fourth side.

*****

E-mail me for a free sample of lavender essential oil.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Lemon Lavender Cookies

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Lemon lavender cookies!

Here's another delicious recipe to try this holiday season.

Lemon Lavender Cookies

Lemon Lavender Cookies


3 1/4 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 c. butter
4-6 drops lemon essential oil*
4-6 drops lavender essential oil*
3 eggs
1 tsp baking powder


Cream butter and sugar, then ad lemon and lavender essential oils.
 Add eggs one at a time.
Add dry ingredients.
If the mix is too soft: cover and chill for 15-30 minutes.  If the mix is too dry: add milk one tablespoon at a time until the dough is wet and soft enough to pass through a cookie press.
Fill your cookie press with your dough, using whatever shape for your cookie you would like and press onto an ungreased cookie sheet.  Alternatively – drop by the heaping spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed and slightly browned on the edges.  Transfer to a cooling rack.

*****

*Use only PURE essential oils.  Check the label to be sure it is safe for internal use.

E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.  And come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

Scented Bath Salts

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Scented bath salts.

Everyone loves relaxing spa products.  And while you could spend $15 or more for scented bath salts, it is much less expensive to make them yourself.

Bath Salts with Essential Oils

Bath Salts

4 cups sea salt, kosher salt, or Epsom salts
5-10 drops essential oil
Dried fragrant plants such as lavender or eucalyptus (optional)

Mix ingredients together.  Pour into decorative container for yourself or as a gift for others.  Use a few spoonfuls of salts per bath.

Try some of these essential oils:

Lavender, for stress relief and relaxation
Breathe, to ease congestion and soothe during a cold or flu
Deep Blue, to soothe muscle pain

*****

E-mail me for a free sample of the essential oil of your choice.  And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more 12 Days of Christmas ideas.

The Problem with Pink Eye

“Mom. I think I have pink eye.”

I pried my eyes open to see my Little Thinker standing next to my bed. I inspected his face. Red, goopy eyelid – symptoms universally recognized. Yep, he had pink eye.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is usually more of a nuisance than an actual health concern, but it is highly contagious. So, coming down with a case means a free vacation from school.

I sent him into the bathroom to dab a little lavender and melaleuca around his eye. Then, he ate breakfast and settled in for a video game marathon.

I interrupted his play at lunch time.

“I think it's gone already, Mom.”

Once again, I inspected his face. His eyes were clear. I couldn't even tell which one had been a problem. We put the oils on a couple more times, to be sure.

I checked one more time before bed. Everything was just fine.

“Maybe I should stay home one more day, just in case,” my Little Thinker said hopefully.

Nice try, sweetie. Nice try.

*****

Don't forget, you can e-mail me for a free sample of any of the essential oils mentioned on my blog.

Back To School Blues

Waiting

 

The night before the first day of school, I lay in bed and confessed to my husband that I was nervous.

“Don't worry, babe. We've got your back.”

See, my husband and I have been sending kids off to school for the last 15 years. And one thing that I've learned is that the first day of school is a minefield for mommy mishaps. Forgotten lunches, arriving late, missed buses. Yep, been there, done that, and those are only the ones I'm willing to admit to.

Meanwhile, my kids weren't worried at all. First day of high school? No problem. No friends at the new school? Sounds like an adventure to an 11-year old boy. My kids bubbled over with giggles, envisioning good times, blissfully unaware of all that could go wrong. My youngest came in right before bed, asking for some lavender oil because he was too excited to fall asleep. If only a dab of lavender behind the ears could silence my concerns.

So, all day long, I waited with bated breath until the clock finally read 2 p.m. and my kiddos started trickling in, all smiles and excited stories. They were right, I was wrong.

I guess I can stop worrying. You know, as much as a mom can stop worrying.

For a good night's sleep, e-mail me for a free sample of lavender essential oil at SuperMomEO@gmail.com.

And please share, what are your most memorable mommy mishaps?