Bluesy

My Little Monkey came home from church the other day looking a little melancholy.  Usually, he's optimistic and happy, kind of mischievous and always looking to get a laugh out of you.  But this time his shoulders slumped a little and he was very quiet.

Worried, I asked him if anything had happened at church -- Did anyone hurt your feelings?  Did you get into trouble?  No, no, he assured me.  Nothing like that.  He just felt a little bluesy for no good reason.

Citrus Bliss

What do you do when your go-to guy for cheering people up needs cheering himself?  My hugs and hovering weren't helping.  I remembered that citrus oils are helpful for lifting your mood.  I'd used them a few times myself during my down days.  They rank right up there with chocolate.

So, I got one of my little plastic inhalers and added a few drops of Citrus Bliss blend essential oil to it.  I gave it to him, and told him that whenever he felt kind of sad, he could twist the cap and take a whiff of it to feel better.  He tried it, and gave me his lovey smile, then slipped it into his pocket.

I noticed him pulling it out of his pocket and sniffing throughout the rest of the day.  I don't know if it was the oil that helped, or just having a small talisman reminding him that his mother loves him, but his spirits did seem to lift little by little.  Soon, he was playing videos games and laughing with his brother, just like normal.  He gave me a hug before bed and said thanks.

"Can I take some of this to school?" he asked.

Of course.  I can't be there to shield him from every disappointment, bump and bruise throughout his days.  But with Citrus Bliss in his pocket, a little part of me can.

*****

E-mail me for a free sample of Wild Orange essential oil today.

Flops

I get ambitious sometimes.  I'll see a great idea on the internet and think, hey, my kids would love that!  I'll give it a try, and sometimes it works out great.  I'm a hero.  Sometimes, however, it doesn't turn out exactly the way I'd like it to.

Hershey's Kisses Acorns

For example, I saw a really cute snack idea in a Family Fun magazine.  Hersheys' Kisses acorns.  Like this: 

See?  It doesn't look that hard, does it?  Hershey's Kisses, mini vanilla wafers, and a little chocolate frosting.  What could go wrong?  Well, my Man Child went shopping for me, and he couldn't find the mini vanilla wafers, so he got the regular-sized. 

OK, I thought, maybe we could substitute mini Ritz crackers instead.  He brought some home, and they were still too big.  I tried it anyway, and asked my Little Fashionista what she thought they were.  She gave me her best dumb blonde look and a big, "Huh?"

Likewise, I had great plans for my blog post today.  I was going to make homemade peppermint patties, taking pictures step-by-step, and then wow you with my cleverness. 

It sounds easy enough.  You take some coconut butter, add a little Stevia or powdered sugar and a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil.  Make patties and cool in the fridge while melting the chocolate.  Dip, cool, and done.

Peppermint Patties

Yeah.  But I couldn't find coconut butter and decided to make my own.  Supposedly, you put coconut chips in a blender for ten minutes and it magically turns into coconut butter.  Unless, I discovered, your blender isn't powerful enough.  Then, the motor starts to smoke and you find little flecks of melted plastic in your ground coconut.

I'm not giving up yet.  I just need to find some coconut butter.  Or buy a really good blender.

****

Do you have any good after-school snack recipes to share?

The Best Motivation Video

It's OK to let our kids fail sometimes.

Friday Funnies

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?

Filling The Well

Hey, Momma – I know you. You are a giver. You give hugs, fix boo-boos, cheer when your child makes the football team and cheer him up when he doesn't. You walk the floors at night trying to calm your colicky newborn and then again when she's a teenager out on her first date. You'd do anything for your family...but when was the last time you did something for yourself?

You know what they say: If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. It's true that you can't draw water from an empty well.

I get a massage twice a month. Now, Vivian doesn't look like a virtuoso masseuse. With her Albert Einstein hair, English teeth, and flower child insistence that bras are unnecessary (even after the age of 60), you'd never guess that she learned massage from an Afghani yogi master and was once masseuse to the stars.

Until she goes to work, that is. Unlike most masseuses these days, she doesn't pound my muscles like she's trying to tenderize meat. Instead, her fingers are drawn like magnets to that spot that's been bugging me for so long, and she gently coaxes it to release the pent-up tension. And she always finishes with an incredible foot massage. To ground me, she says. I can tell how well I've been taking care of myself by how I react to the foot massage. Sometimes, it's a pleasant and relaxing way to finish the massage. But some days, I find my eyes welling up with tears as I think, “Man, I really haven't been doing well lately, have I?” By the time Vivian finishes with me, I feel like a strangely energized noodle.

I would love it if you were reaching for the phone book right now, ready to look up the nearest spa to schedule a massage for yourself. But I know you, remember? I suspect you are shrugging your shoulders with a sigh, thinking, “Ah, that would be nice.” And you're ready to turn away and get back to tidying the house or baking some cookies for after school snacks or taking your turn at the carpool.

But I'm sure you at least have time for a foot massage. Here is a great technique that you can do on your own. Better yet, get your significant other to do it for you. And make it a habit every night before bed. :)

FYI -- These are the "zones" Dr. Hill talks about:    

And if you would like a free sample of Wild Orange and Peppermint essential oil or the Aromatouch massage blend essential oil, please e-mail me at SuperMomEO@gmail.com.