Saturday, May 31, 2014

May's Favorite Things

1. wacky wednesday
2. Narls is a total bookworm just like I am. He begged for days to go to the store and get the newest Star Wars chapter book then read it in two days.

3. a cat being a cat
4. lainey girl, who waits for her boy's bus every afternoon

5. tiny tutus, for Em's recitals
6. all access to Lana Del Rey

7. Narls lost his fourth tooth! On the bus on his way home from school. Our sweet bus driver stopped the bus and got on her hands & knees to help Narls find the tooth, which dropped under his seat.
8. presents for our thoughtful bus driver to show our appreciation for helping our boy

9. last field trip of Narls' first grade year!
10. Clay's not-so-healthy but oh-so-delicious grocery shoppin' picks

11. our minis at girls' dinner
12. my handsome brother & stepdad

13. volunteering at the school bookfair
14. em putting in work

15. happy times
16. sharing all the chicken in my salad with this girl

17. a matching set
18. sunday mornings

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Narls' Solar Panel Experiment

 
Narls brought home one of those solar powered desk flowers that sways back and forth with this note from his teacher. She lent him the flower so he could do an experiment. Clay suggested we record the whole thing and make a video, and Narls was all in. He did all the experiments, chose his own words and even did quite a bit of the video editing. I think we were all pretty proud of the finished product.  
 
 Take a look.
 

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

2014 Preschool Recital

 
My baby girl graduated from her pre-k class last night.
And she performed in her last performing arts recital.
 
 

 

I held it together pretty well, considering my heart was swelling with happiness and sadness and pride.
 



 
Where has the time gone?

2011 recital here.
2012 recital here.
2013 recital here.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Morrish Community Picnic

 
Narls' elementary school does this incredible picnic to kickstart Memorial weekend.
 
The student's whole family is invited from parents to siblings to grandparents. It starts with a picnic, and then there are all these cool events like a cupcake walk, bounce house, magic show, rock-n-roll show, and a dunk tank.  This year they even had the first Morrish Monster Mash, a mix of a mud run and an obstacle course. Both Narls and Em participated in it and had so much un.
 





Thursday, May 22, 2014

Pretty Pretty Princess

 
My salon recently did this amazing princess package for little girls, complete with a pedicure, manicure, hair style, and makeup application (body shimmer and lip gloss). Although I'm not quite sure Emerson needs anymore indication that she may, in fact, be a real live princess born into a common family, but I knew she'd love it so I made the appointment.
She received a wand and tiara and was also waited on by beautiful princesses who served her tea and sweets.  The whole appointment was so very lovely and Em left feeling wonderful.

 
It was nice to treat my girl to a day of pampering.
♥ ♥ ♥
 

Monday, May 19, 2014

Truax Wedding



 
Congratulations Lance and Elissa.
 
Clay and I wish you a lifetime of happiness and love.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Mother's Day 2014






 
♥ ♥ ♥  

Friday, May 9, 2014

Mother's Day Gift Guide 2014

Do you want to know what Narls asked me this morning as we drove to Muffins with Mom, his elementary school's annual Mother's Day event:  
When is Kid's Day?
 
I answered him the same way my parents answered me, and their parents answered them, and every parent everywhere answers their child when they get asked this timeless questions: every day.
 
Every damn day is Kid's Day.  No joke.
 
This brought on a conversation about Mother's Day gifts, and I told him and Emerson what I honestly want from them is something they've made.  Tiny handprints forever molded in clay, flowers made from fingerprints, a picture colored just for me. A mom will never want anything other than a homemade, handmade something from her babies. Truth.
 
But from daddy, now that's a different story.
And if daddy should need some help picking out a perfect something, here is an all new gift guide.
Last year's is here, filled with more super great ideas.

 
2. A massage. Deep tissue, hot stone, either, both. 60 minutes of pampering is an amazing gift.
3. Travel coffee mug, stuffed with a Starbucks giftcard.
4. Perfume.  Moms love smelling good.
5.  Workout clothes. The ruching on those leggings? I mean really.
6. Slippers.  The fuzzier the better. Extra credit if you slip a pedi giftcard in there.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

A Full (and healthy) Heart

At school, Narls has been learning about ways to keep his heart healthy, which is something very near and dear to my own heart. Heart disease is prominent on both sides of my family; my mom had a heart attack and a quadruple bypass before she was 50, and my dad had a heart attack and stroke by 60. I remember talking to one of my mom's heart doctors who said if you have heart disease in your genetics, you are 40% more likely to have a heart attack. Forty percent. And that's not even taking anything else into account - that's starting at square one.
 
 
The threat of an unhealthy heart was a huge motivator for when we started eating clean a couple years ago. Our diet is still a big topic of discussion in our home; Narls knows all about proteins and healthy fats and over-processing and Red 40 (he even mentioned the dangers of Red 40 to his teacher when he found out M&Ms were a topping selection at the valentine ice cream social). That's not saying he didn't eat the M&Ms, because he totally did, but he ate less of them and with a bit of 7-year-old understanding about the composition of the things he's putting in his body and how it affects his health.  
 
  
Heart disease is a huge motivating factor when it comes to exercise, too. The kids see Clay go to basketball and me to yoga and the whole family often goes swimming together at our gym. Even something as simple as taking Lainey for an evening walk is important, which I don't do with Clay & the kids enough.  It's a struggle for me to exercise every day because honestly? I kind of hate it.  But I hate being overweight even more. And I imagine I'd hate having heart disease most of all. So I do it, even though it doesn't come natural to me like it does Clay, so that it will always be a way of life for Narls and Emerson, so it will always come natural to them. 
 
And it's beyond awesome that these same goals - healthy diet and daily physical activity - are being echoed in Narls' classroom.  The school recently held a Jump Rope for Heart where the kids spent the entire afternoon at different jump rope stations being active and energizing their hearts. Parents came and we helped and cheered them on. The school also encouraged the children to raise money for heart disease and Narls took it upon himself to collect donations.  He set a personal goal of raising $25 and do you know that boy collected $121? Almost five times his goal.  We're so proud of him. And he's proud of himself!
 
We're teaching and we're learning and we're trying and we'll get there.
We have to.  For healthy lives and healthy hearts.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

We're Nerds...

 
and we're completely, absolutely okay with that.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Easy & Amazing Lavender Essential Oil Uses

  
So I'm on an essential oil kick.
 
A friend invited me to a DoTerra class and it was an instant obsession. I love that they're natural, I love that they're pure, and I love that they provide an holistic option for common ailments.
 
Lavender was one of the first oils I purchased because of its incredible emotional and physical benefits.  It's also one of the few essential oils that doesn't have to be diluted before applying to the skin, and unlike some oils, it's non-toxic for pets. Easy enough for a beginner, right?
 
There's a ton of info out there on how & when to use oils. Almost too much. Like, for ulcers do this, and for tennis elbow mix with this, and for scabies do this while jumping & up down, and blah, blah, blah. Information overload. So I am creating cheatsheets for myself on what works for me and my family, with lavender up first.
 

 
Stressed? Rub 2-3 drops of lavender oil together in your hands, then cup over mouth and breathe deep.  Instant zen.
 
If you find yourself somewhere where there are entirely too many people, just rub a drop or two on your temples or wrists for immediate calming.
 
At the end of a long day, add 5 drops to a hot foot bath and soak your feet. The soles are particularly porous, so applying oil here allows it to reach your bloodstream quickly.
 
Is your mother coming over for dinner? Apply two drops of lavender oil on each light bulb; when you turn the lights on, the heat will activate the oil and scent the room.  Diffuse for added protection serenity.
 
Speaking of diffusing, diffuse lavender oil in your office on the days you have big presentations, interviews, and other stressful appointments.
 
Rub a drop or two on your palms then smooth over your children's pillows to promote sleepiness. Could also work on your husband's pillow for the nights you "have a headache". 
 
Mix a 1/2 cup oatmeal with 2 teaspoons of honey and 10 drops of lavender oil to make your own chemical-free lavender oatmeal face scrub.

Another great beauty tip is to add 2 drops to your mascara, then use the wand to gently mix. This will help strengthen lashes, and since lavender acts as an antibacterial, it helps your mascara last longer.
 
Combine 1 cup coconut oil with 6-8 drops of lavender oil to make your own massage cream. Grab a partner and play the I'll-massage-your-back-if-you-massage-my-back game. Light some candles. Let one thing lead to another. I guarantee you'll end up feeling amazing.
 
Add several drops to a bath before bedtime. Great for adults and kiddos.
 
Mix 10 drops for every ounce of water in a spray bottle. Mist yourself as needed while driving through traffic to ensure you don't ram the asshole in front of you.  On the complete other end of the spectrum, spritz on your yoga mat right before savasana to really enlighten those chakras.
 
Put a drop on a bee sting or insect bite to speed up healing, stop itching, reduce swelling, and bring instant relief.  You can also apply on minor cuts and burns to sooth pain, prevent infection, and reduce scarring.
 
Step up your drink game this summer by adding a few drops to ice water, ice tea, or lemonade (vodka optional but recommended).  On that same note, add a few drops to a nighttime mug of sleepytime tea (again, vodka recommend).
 
It's great for deodorizing and freshening, too: put 2-3 drops on a cotton ball and place it in closets and drawers, and put a few drops on a dryer sheet when doing laundry.
 
Easy peasy.
And much more relevant than using oil to cure gout.