Thursday, July 31, 2014

July's Favorite Things

1. this man.
2. jessica wakefield: the original baddest bitch

3. crazy hair day
4. silly bob the circus clown

5. narls' note asking clay & me to join his book club
6. em's getting fancy for our evening walk

7. new hair!

8. puppy playdates

Monday, July 28, 2014

A League of Her Own

 
Another baseball season ended for Em and her TownSquare Media teammates. This division went a bit longer than others because they had so many rained out games to make up.

 
It was a pleasure watching this beautiful girl play.

 
She's so healthy and strong and confident...

 
and silly!

 
She played hard this season, despite having to miss almost all of the Wednesday night practices because of her ballet class, a class that started nine months prior.

 
Ballet versus baseball- that's a big debate in our home.

 
We're working on it though. Striving to find a balance. Giving her the opportunity to do both. Working hard to teach her that throwing like a girl is an amazing thing, that dance is more about athleticism than tutus and recital makeup.

 
Raising a little girl is hard.

 
Raising her so that she retains her health and strength and confidence throughout her youth and puberty and into adulthood is even harder.

 
♥ ♥ ♥

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Dinner Winner Indeed

 
How awesome are these plates?
 
My kids happily ate their dinner.  HAPPILY. Which is amazing because tilapia and asparagus always get at least two complaints per child.
 
I can't recommend them enough.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Putt Putt & Go Karts

 
I remember when Clay & I would play putt putt and race go karts with each other on Friday night date nights. Now we're taking our kids.





 
Crazy how time flies.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Summer Saturdays

A perfect day downtown:
 
 
Coffee at Café Rhema,

 
and a stroll through the Farmers' Market.


 
Lunch at Sweet Pieces Vegan Café,

 
and soaking up the sunshine with my favorite people.




♥ ♥ ♥

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Happy Fourth!







 
Hope you had an amazing holiday.
Ours was wonderful, from start to finish.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Easy & Amazing Uses for Lemon Essential Oil

 
Lemon essential oil is a necessity.
A natural mood lifter. More people in the world could use it.
 

 
One of the benefits of lemon essential oil is it improves circulation. Rubbing several drops on cellulite will get the blood flowing to this area and help eliminate waste from the cells resulting in smoother skin.  You can create your own cellulite body scrub by mixing 1 cup sea salt, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, and 10 drops lemon. Store in an airtight container. 

Daily Detox: mix 1 drop of oil for every 8 ounces of icy cold water in a glass or stainless steel container (citrus oils will eat through plastic).  I love the way it tastes and I heard it's good for speeding up a person's metabolism.  I'll do just about anything for a fast metabolism.  Plus, it's a natural energy-booster.
 
If you're keeping a bottle on lemon essential oil in your purse or backpack to add to your water, then you have a handy hand sanitizer as well. 

Diffuse in your home for happier moods all around.

I cannot tell you how many times I put a load of dirty clothes in the washer and then forget about them. For days. A few drops added to the water as I restart it takes away that gross mildewy smell.

Add a few drops to a cotton ball and toss it in your vacuum cleaner bag for a fresh, clean scent.  You could also place cotton balls in garbage cans to eliminate odors.

Lemon is a fantastic disinfectant for cleaning fruits and vegetables; simply add a 2 to 3 drops to a half a sink full of water and soak your fruits in it. Rinse well. Mix a few drops with water and add to a spray bottle to clean countertops and kitchen surfaces.

Got 12 Barbie stickers decorating your hallway wall? No? Just me? Well a couple drops of this oil on a cotton ball will wipe up any sticky residue that may be left after the babes are peeled away. 

Add a few drops in your dishwasher before the wash cycle to get streak-free dishes. On that same note, a couple drops down the garbage disposal will keep it smelling fresh and clean.
 
It's also great for cooking. Add flavor to frostings, cakes, cookies, and drinks by adding a drop or two.  Add to fish, shrimp, or steamed veggies.  Use to keep sliced apples from turning brown.