What's in My Purse?

The Mama Purse - a magical space.

Does it remind you of this?

(image source)

I thought it would be fun to show you what is routinely found in MY purse - a mama, artist, teacher, oiler.

Thanks to my awesome mother in law, this is the purse I am currently carrying:

Large with pockets inside and outside.  Brightly colored a plus and chevrons a double plus!  This purse happens to be a Vera Bradley, but lately I have been REALLY into Thirty One bags.  Check out my cousin's Thirty One site here.

The cavernous purse of a mama.... a truly incredible sight!

Want to know what all this junk is??  I have to say, when I pulled it all out, I was impressed that there wasn't anything weirder in my purse.  Usually, I could win competitions for the most bizarre items in a purse, haha.

Here's what is in my purse now:

1.  Crayola Twistable Colors - I keep these in my purse for my girls.  When we are at restaurants or waiting rooms, they love to color.  Mommy wins, too, because the girls are occupied and being creative.

2.  Home Made Peppermint Lip Balm using Young Living essential oils (stay tuned for a tutorial!)

3.  Various Essential Oil Products - currently, I have home made bug spray, Tranquil and an Respiratory Blend that I made.

4.  A travel case with 8 sample bottles of Young Living essential Oils.

5.  Work Keys

6.  Organic lollipops - my husband calls these bribery ;)  We rarely get to this point, but occasionally the girls need a treat, so I keep a couple on hand.  I bought these at Sprouts.

7.  Green Tea Mints from Trader Joe's

8.  My wallet - with a thousand receipts because I am terrible about remembering to clean it out.  It's rather worn - might be time for a replacement soon!  Use it up and wear it out is our motto though :)

9.  Wall charger for my phone

10.  Toys - Likely, this was something that Olivia walked out of the house with and handed to me before school, but I generally have something to keep the girls occupied in my purse.

11.  Checkbook - who uses checks these days??  I do.  Once a month for our milk co-op and rarely for school stuff.

12.  Diapers - We use Honest Company diapers and we LOVE them.  Have you tried them?  Click my link and you can order a FREE sample - you just pay shipping.  I was sold after seeing the adorable designs, the amazing packaging and reading about their quality and attention to purity and the environment.


Ok, now tell me - what is the weirdest thing in YOUR purse??

7 Verses to Pray Over Your Child as They Go Back to School

Back to school - such a bitter sweet time in our family. My girls were so excited to start at a new school today - to make new friends, be in a new room with new toys and new books, to sleep on cots and eat at new tables! But it also means that they are not with me 24/7 - that I am missing out on those silly little things they say that keep me going through the day. And it also means that I am not there for those teachable moments. But I trust their teachers and in our most amazing God to care for them and to love them, and to ease my worries, I pray.

Here are 7 verses I will be praying over my girls as they go back to school:


1. 1 Timothy 4:12 - Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Lord, help my children to be little shining lights - a sign to all of your love for us. Help them to make good choices and develop good friendships. Help them to love their neighbors.


2. Joshua 1:9 - This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Lord, remove all fear from my children about school this year. Help them to adjust to a new schedule, help them to not be afraid to talk to new people and make new friends.


3. Philippians 4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Lord, I ask that you please fill their heads with so many true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and admirable things that there is no room for anything negative. Give them JOY in their day, and good thoughts and dreams as they sleep.


4. Isaiah 30:21 - Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left.

Lord, guide their steps. Even as preschoolers, they are learning to make choices that will stay with them in life. Please help me to guide them in the way they should be going and to encourage them as they learn to listen to you. Please help me teach them to pray and to always turn to you first.


5. Matthew 18:10 - Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

Lord, I ask that you surround my children with your presence and your angels. I ask that you protect them from harm and from illness. I ask that you place people in their lives that will value them.


6. Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Lord, help my children to honor you with their speech. Help them to talk to each other and to their friends, teachers, family, and parents in a way that is pleasing and deflects anger. And Lord, as parents, help us to model this loving, gentle speech.


7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Lord, above all else, I ask that you bring my children in to your arms. That you help them to KNOW you, to desire you, to trust you, and to rely on you.

Blessings on your school year, whether day care, elementary, middle school, high school, home school, private, public, or even teaching!  May you also find Joy in your days and remember to turn to your Heavenly Father when you feel overwhelmed or afraid.

Traits of a Good Daddy (And Why My Girls Are So Blessed)

On this special day, Father's Day, I would like to take a second and tell you 5 very important traits of a daddy and why I feel so blessed that my girls have the daddy they have:

1.  Godly

 This is a photo of Drew, Myself, our Pastor and our Children's minister at Olivia's baby dedication.  I love that my husband finds this important - that we present ourselves as a family before our church, vow to raise our children in a Godly home, and ask for support from our church family.  He is a leader in our church, teaching Sunday school, volunteering for nursery duty every so often and even accompanying the youth group on a backpacking trip.  He shows our children by example what it is like to love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.  Taking the girls and I to church is a priority for him, and we are so blessed to have a strong Spiritual leader in our home.

2.  Hardworking

In the nearly 9 years Drew and I have been married, I could count the number of days he has taken off work for personal reasons on one hand.  He is dedicated to his teaching job not for the money (obviously), but for the sheer fact that he has incredible work ethic.  He cares for those he comes in contact with each day (hence the Funniest Teacher Award hanging on his classroom wall) and then comes home and works some more.  He sets an excellent example for our daughters in his work ethic.  I love this photo because it is proof that the girls are watching and learning by his example.  He does it without grumbling, always pushing on even when he is tired or doesn't feel like it. 

3.  Fun

 One of the biggest reasons why I married Drew, and one of the biggest reasons my girls are so blessed to have him as a daddy is that he loves to have FUN!  Whether it be a simple fort in the living room with blankets and dining room chairs, a trip to the park, or a family vacation.  He is showing our daughters that it is important to have fun and what GOOD fun looks like.  I asked Izzy this morning what her favorite thing about her daddy was and she said "he likes to tickle me and then I laugh."  They love his fun loving side, too!  Who wouldn't?

4.  Cares About Education

I love the quote by Emilie Buchwald that says "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents." This is certainly true in our home.  Drew makes it a priority to read to the girls before bed, whether it be one book or ten.  We love trips to the library and book stores, too.  Just part of ensuring that our girls find worth in being educated and being a child of God, not in being pretty (even though they are and he does make sure to tell them so).  He is such a great daddy to teach them this valuable truth.

5.   Encouraging and Protective

    

Our girls feel safe with daddy - they know he will protect them and he always encourages them to try new things, even when it is hard.  Being around daddy makes my oldest, Izzy, fearless.  If he isn't at home at night, she doesn't sleep as well.  He is kind enough to stop on a trail and empty her shoes of dirt, but still encourages her to keep going.  Such a great balance that my girls are lucky to have in their lives.


Drew, we are so blessed by you.  Thank you for your tireless hard work, your dedication to your family and your Heavenly Father and for making us feel safe and loved. 

And to you, reader, Happy Father's Day!  May we recognize the wonderful father's in our lives and help each other raise a generation of boys to be excellent Fathers in the future!

100 Ideas to Entertain a Toddler

Being a parent is wonderful.  But it is a wonderful, difficult, rewarding challenge!  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year... Sometimes, it can be really hard to come up with ways to entertain your little ones and not have them sit in front of the TV all day.  So, I have been brainstorming 100 things to do with your kiddo.  Obviously not all of these are appropriate for every situation.  Some days you might have more time, some days you might have less money... we get that.  But hopefully this will spark some creative ideas for you.  Have any to add to the list? Comment with your suggestions!

1. Legos
2. Sing a song
3. Color
4. Stickers
5. Go on a walk
6. Movie night with popcorn and a pallet on the floor
7. Build a fort
8. Play a game.  I highly recommend the Roll and Play Board Game.
9. Play a Letter Game - name all the things you can think of that start with a particular letter.
10. Collect something (leaves, rocks, sticks, etc)
11. Have a play date - invite over another mama (or daddy) friend and let the kids play while you chat
12. Try some mommy and me yoga
13. Practice words in another language
14. Go to the park
15. Go to the Aquarium
16. Day trip to a location you have been to before and pretend to be tourists
17. Do a little science (and art at the same time!)
18. Blow bubbles
19. Read a book - or ten
20. Go to a book store - teach your children to appreciate the smell and feel of a good book
21. Play a game on the iPad or tablet
22. Play-doh (make your own for even more fun!)
23. Dance
24. Make a picnic (and eat it outside!) - let your child help make the sandwich and pack the bag
25. Learn to ride a tricycle (this is surprisingly hard for my girls, haha)
26. Throw a ball
27. Play Barbies
28. Swing on a swingset
29. Play Mommy (or Daddy) - baby dolls, play stroller, etc.  They love you and want to be you!
30. Make up new verses for Wheels on the Bus ("The Izzy on the Bus plays with Legos... ")
31. Skype with Grammie
32. Help in the kitchen (mix the flour for bread, put the cheese on the tortillas for enchiladas, etc)
33. Play Explorer with home made binoculars from toilet paper rolls
34. Walk on a beach and collect sea shells
35. Go outside and play with chalk
36. Visit a farm and see where milk comes from, or eggs, or cheese
37. Go to the grocery store - not for weekly groceries, but to make something specific and special
38. Have a half birthday party
39. Explore a foreign culture (visit an Asian art museum or celebrate Chinese New Year)
40. Get a little pampering and paint everyone's toe nails
41. Have a tea party
42. Plant flowers on the deck
43. Take swim lessons
44. Make animal noises - how many animals can you think up?
45. Make macaroni necklaces (remember this from when you were a kid?)
46. Make cookies with your child
47. Paint with water on the sidewalk
48. Check out local rec centers for toddler playtimes
49. Visit a local arboretum
50. Take a drive with the windows down
51. Let your kiddo take a few photos with your phone or with a child's camera
52. Run!
53. Hot Lava - the floor is lava - put pillows on the floor and have kids jump from pillow to pillow
54. Have a race - who can .... the fastest?  (ie:  Who can pick up 10 legos the fastest?)
55. Practice balance - try standing on one leg
56. Practice cutting with safety scissors
57. Print out shapes or letters and have your toddler try tracing them with a pencil
58. Visit the Science Museum
59. Pass out food at a local shelter - or do some sort of community service
60. Have a lemonade stand for friends and family
61. Take a bubble bath
62. Test out some magnets - what do they stick to?
63. Make lunch time exciting - serve the meal in an unusual container
64. Set up a tent
65. Look at clouds and find shapes in the clouds (or the trees)
66. Make something out of a big cardboard box
67. Have an Easter Egg hunt (even if it isn't Easter)
68. Blow a dandelion
69. Make a flower arrangement for the dinner table
70. Set the table - show them how and let them be in charge
71. Play Simon Says (or a version of the game, at least) "Simon says, hop.  Simon says, crawl"
72. Make up Nicknames for everyone
73. Play Hide-n-seek
74. Mirror play - something so simple can be so fun.  From just looking in the mirror to drawing on it with a dry erase marker.
75. Make a light box and find things that the light will shine through.
76. Make a sensory box and fill with beans or rice - hide things inside for your child to discover
77. Write a story.  Start with "Once upon a time..."
78. Let your child pick out their clothes for tomorrow
79. Allow your little one to help "clean" the floor with a spray bottle of water and a cloth
80. Freeze little toys in ice and see what makes the ice melt to find the toys
81. Practice measuring (how many hands is this table, etc)
82. Sort colors in egg cartons - use small puffs or objects from around the house
83. Make an obstacle course
84. Use potatoes or apples to print with paint
85. Play school.  Take turns being the teacher
86. Do a random act of kindness for a friend or neighbor, but remain anonymous
87. Pop the bubble wrap that came in Mom's package
88. Go visit grandma
89. Date night with Daddy (one on one time with dad and one kid)
90. Use bath crayons and draw in the bath tub
91. Use items around the house to make a drum set (like an old oatmeal canister)
92. Find seasonal fun - go to a carnival, a corn maze, or something family friendly
93. Tie Dye a tshirt to wear to bed
94. Make cards to send to soldiers
95. Watch (or count) airplanes that fly overhead
96. Let your child help sort socks.  Can they find all the matches?
97. Rake leaves (and jump in them... or take them to the compost pile)
98. Practice doing flips (on a pallet on the floor, on mommy's bed, etc)
99. While in the car, see if you can spot all the A's on signs on the way home (or B's or C's...)
100. Snuggle!  Spend some precious time with your babies that won't always be babies.

 Many of these activities are Montessori inspired.  My friend, Catalina, from Art of Peace Montessori School says, "Allow your toddler to join in real daily daily activities it makes them feel happy contributors of the home and community: washing dishes, feeding pets, setting the table, etc. All of these activities are special and can be really fulfilling and important to their physical emotional and spiritual and cognitive development. One way to make them special is to buy real child size tools from Montessori catalogs along with beautiful aprons for each activity. Children love doing real jobs and having special aprons of their own."

I hope you find some inspiration here for things to do with your child on this list.  I also hope that you stop and do a few of these things WITH your child, not as just a means to keep them busy.  It's pretty amazing how much wonder and excitement we can find as adults when we stop and see things from the point of view of our child.

Happy playing!

Ten Best iPad Apps for Toddlers

The world of technology for children is vast these days.  I have seen lots of posts on avoiding technology, or limiting and, though I think being in front of a screen in excess is not the best option, I think we should be embracing technology for our kiddos.  By all means, get those babies outside and play play play, but also allow them opportunities to engage in technology and learn those skills, too!

In the spirit of quality technology time, I would like to share with you my ten favorite iPad apps for toddlers.  Enjoy!

1.  Elmo Loves ABC's

     Cost - $4.99 (free version available with just a few letters)

My 3 year old daughter loves this app.  She is able to select a letter, learn to trace that letter in capital and lower case, and then play activities for each letter that introduce her to the sound the letter makes and various words that start with that letter.  This is an app we have had for a while and my daughter has just started to really enjoy it without help tracing the letters.  The educational value of this app is off the charts, plus, she loves Elmo, so it is a Mama win and a Kid win!

2. Little Genius

    Cost - $2.99

This app is great for hours of play - we still have not reached the end of this app. The home screen is reminiscent of Candy Crush where there is a map and you unlock each new puzzle when the previous is completed.  Each treasure chest contains different puzzles, memory games, coloring challenges and matching games.  My daughter's favorite is the color challenges where she can match her colors to the image they provide.  Each section gets slightly more difficult, so it is perfect for little ones and grows with them.  Great for helping with hand eye coordination, matching skills, and color recognition.

3. Toca Hair Salon

    Cost - $2.99

Both of my girls totally get a kick out of this app.  On the home screen, you can choose between 6 different characters, both boys and girls.  You then have the option of cutting their hair, making their hair grow, curling, brushing, washing, drying, adding bows, and hats and accessories.  The characters express different emotions depending on what you do to their hair.  Beyond the fun of this app, it is just well done.  The graphics are excellent, and it is incredibly user friendly.  Toca Boca is one of my favorite app developers for kids.

4. Toca Band

    Cost - $2.99

Again, an incredibly well done app from Toca Boca.  Children can explore different musical styles and rhythms by moving characters around on the board.  I actually love the music that my girls create in this app, but if repetition bothers you, you might want to get your little one some headphones for this app.  This is one that both my one year old and three year old girls adore.

5. Emotions by Avokiddo

    Cost - $2.99

This is such a fun app!  Even mama gets into this one!  The lever on the side makes items drop down from the top - you can use each of the items on the character (three to choose from) and see how they react.  Some things make the character feel silly (see image above), some things make the character mad, etc.  Your child can gain a better understanding of emotions and how each person feels differently about different things.  This app is endless as each time you pull the lever, different combinations of items drop down.  Literally hours of enjoyment for my kids over the past year or so.

6. Stella and Sam Interactive Story Books

    Cost - $3.99

This app is amazing.  It includes 5 interactive stories with incredible illustrations.  The stories are sweet, kind hearted and educational.  Both of my girls love to explore the stories, complete the tasks (put flowers in a line to get ants across a puddle, reveal constellations, mimic bird calls, etc).  All of them include Sam (the little brother) and Stella (the big sister) and various friends.

7. Nighty Night

    Cost - $2.99

Another interactive story that takes your child through a farm house to put all of the animals to bed.  As an artist, this app is highly attractive to me - it has amazing graphics!  I love to look through all the scenes and see the details.  Obviously, my children aren't that observant, yet, but they adore the beauty of this app as well and love searching for the light switches in each scene to put the animals to bed.  It has relaxing music playing in the background and a very soothing narrator.

8. Shape Puzzle HD

    Cost - FREE

I am not sure I  have ever seen a more high quality free app for kids.  This app contains several different scenes with puzzles throughout.  Various skill levels are available, so the puzzles can have lines to guide or you can bump it up and take the lines away for a harder puzzle.  My 3 year old has been using this app for over a year and still loves it!  It is also a great app for identifying various objects, from animals to sea creatures to produce in a grocery store.

9.  Paint Sparkle

     Cost - FREE

Get creative with this drawing app.  I love that there are lots of color choices, different brush options and fill options and coloring pages available.  I believe the color pages are an additional cost, but the app is a great one even without those pages.  Great art app for kids.

10.  The Three Little Pigs

       Cost - FREE

This is a beautiful interactive story with excellent graphics and illustrations.  There are options to read it to yourself, or have the app read the story to you and different surprises on each page.  It takes the traditional story of the Three Little Pigs and adds a creative, interactive experience to go along with it.

And a bonus app -

Apps Gone Free

Cost - FREE

This one is for you, Mom and Dad!  A good majority of the apps I have listed above cost around $3.  By itself, $3 is no big deal, but when money is tight and you need more than one, it can add up quickly.  Here's a little secret - I did not pay for the apps listed above (the only exception is Elmo Loves ABC's)!  I found them listed as free on Apps Gone Free and downloaded them to try that day and fell in love with them.  I see several of these cycle through on the Free lists, so I highly recommend you check Apps Gone Free daily - I think they update the list around 11am CST each day.

Enjoy this list!  Are there any apps your kids love that you can add?  I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Toddler Sleep Tips

Over the past several weeks, my oldest daughter, Isabel, who will be 3 this week, has given us a total challenge at bedtime. She learned to open her door and would sneak around the house, pull up a chair in the dining room, and come find us every 10 minutes or so until well after 9:30pm. She was so tired, but her new found freedom was far more exciting than sleep. It was affecting her days at school, her evenings at home, and everyone was noticing that we were not dealing with our normal, sweet curly headed girl.

I'd like to share with you what I have learned over the past few weeks. In no way do I consider myself an expert. In fact, after 3 weeks of frustrating nights, I reached out to the experienced Mamas I know who gave me lots of good ideas. I'd like to pass along some of these ideas to you.

1. Make sure you have a time at night to relax.

Do not rush to sleep, have time with no tv, no iPad... Just wind down time. Perhaps a warm bath with a handful of Epsom salts. Maybe you read a book each night. Set aside a few minutes between wrangling kids into their pjs and putting them in their bed to have a special routine that helps your toddler know that sleep is coming soon.

2. Grandma knows best.

Certain things do, in fact, make you feel relaxed. Diffusing Lavender Oil at night can give a soothing effect. A glass of milk (warm is good) can help fill the tummy and relax you (dentists and pediatricians recommend not giving babies milk or juice in bed - save those teethies!)

3. Assess the reason why your toddler is not wanting to sleep.

For mine, it was just because she thought we were having more fun than she was, but for some of the littles I know, there was fear or discomfort involved in their sleep issues. Too hot or too cold in their room? A light shining in the window? A fear of something like monsters or robots? (Yes, that is Isabel's go to thing she is afraid of.) Give your baby a sense of courage by making monster spray (just water in a spray bottle, though you could add some lavender for added benefit). Or you could do what we do every night and pray - we thank God for his blessings and we pray that He would watch over the girls and protect them through the night. When we skip this step, Isabel always reminds me.

4. No talking.

Once the night time routine is done, the lights are off and your toddler is in bed, that is the end of communication (obviously there are exceptions to this rule). This was the game changer for us - when Isabel would get up, I could hear her door open and I would meet her at the door, pick her up, kiss her head and put her back in her bed without saying a word. She did not like this one bit. On the first night of doing this, she said, "Mommy, why are you doing this to me!?" It just about broke my heart! But I was not doing this to be mean, I was ensuring that she was getting enough rest. I was not having a discussion with her about whether Darth Vader was a good guy or a bad guy - even though that might be an important discussion (yes, we are nerds), it was not important right then. I only had to do that 2 nights before the waking and walking around then house stopped.

5. Stand your ground.

Remember, you are the parent. What you say goes. When you BELIEVE this, your children will get that. Our kids test us - not to be disrespectful, but to see how far they can go. It is so important for us to empower them, but to also set boundaries and to help them grow up to be respectful adults. Believe it. Do it.

Tips for Tantrums

Whether it is time to leave the park, time to go to bed, or because a favorite toy was taken, inevitably all of our children throw a few good tantrums in their toddler years. As a parent, this can be incredibly frustrating and can easily escalate into a shouting match or display of dominance where everyone leaves with their feelings hurt and nothing real is accomplished.

I would like to give you a few tips on how to tame a tantrum. Please know that I write this as a parent that has been there - today even! I am not perfect, but sometimes we all need a little reminder or a new idea.

1. Slow Down

Understandably, life is busy. Imagine how stressed you feel when you are running late to work, your daughter won't put her shoes on and your other daughter is sitting on the floor crying because you can't pick her up. Our children sense our stress. Make sure that you have enough time to allow little ones to contribute by putting on their shoes, walk down the stairs by themselves and jump into the car seat. Simply slowing down can stop tantrums before they even start.

2. Be Consistent

Make sure there are clear, easy to follow rules that are consistently communicated. When small children (any children really) know what to expect, they are more well equipped to handle the situation.

3. Be Present

Be present with your kiddos. When you get down on the floor with them, play, listen to their stories, sing songs and giggle, there is a stronger bond between you and your child for when those tough times do come. I know that load of laundry needs to be started. Trust me, mama, I understand. But when you come in the house from a day at school, take a moment to play and get them started with an activity. Then it is easier to slip away to start a load of laundry or put something in the oven.

4. Get Down on Their Level and Talk Softly

When the inevitable tantrum does ensue, yelling across the house will not solve anything. Get down on their level, look them in the eyes and speak to them clearly and in a soft voice. You might even try whispering so they have to quiet their cries to hear you.

5. Time Out/Time In

Even as adults, sometimes we just need to separate ourselves from a situation in order to calm down. When my daughter is crying for what seems to me to be no reason, she knows that she has a chair where she can sit, or she can go sit on her bed and "take a breath." It is not necessarily a time out (we do not call it that) because she is not being punished. She knows once she calms down, she is free to get up and play again. It is just a separation from the event that caused the meltdown.

6. Redirect

Did a tantrum begin because of a particular event (ie: a toy being taken)? A good way to approach this issue is to simply redirect to another activity. I have seen tears stop in an instant by just suggesting a different toy or giving the opportunity to color instead.

7. Go Outside

When tempers are short in our house, one of our tricks is to go outside. It is amazing what a little fresh air can do for your perspective.

8. Speak Kindly and Lovingly

Remember that these are children. They process differently, they need guidance for how to act, and their environment does affect them greatly. Your words now dictate their words in the future to their friends at school, to their siblings, etc. As a mom, I have had many, many "check yourself" moments when I have heard Izzy say something like "stop that RIGHT NOW" to her baby sister. Is that what I sound like? Yes, on occasion it is. Sometimes these reflections through our children are good teaching tools for us parents

9. Give Affirmation

Do not focus solely on the negative. Find things that your children are doing right and give them a high five for those awesome things! "I saw that you shared with your sister. That is so awesome!" Or "Wow, you are such a big kid when you take your plate to the sink all by yourself!" Children will beam with pride hearing your words. Give them positive things to live up to.

10. Give Oils a Try

When it seems that my girls are having melt down after melt down and nothing specific seems to be triggering them, I love the option of turning to my shelf of essential oils. A drop of Young Living Peace and Calming on the back of the neck, or a drop of Joy over the heart, or a drop of Frankincense over the liver.... Calm, promote a sense of togetherness and joy. I have seen some pretty rough days turn into peaceful nights by using essential oils.


Always remember, as hard as it is sometimes to believe this, that this too shall pass. The days go by, bedtime comes for a little breather, and soon, this stage will be over.

Get Those Babies Outside!

How often do you and your children stop the errands, slow down, go outdoors and take a deep breath? This is one of my goals - as often as possible, whenever the weather is good, whenever our patience is thin - stop and go outside. When we were driving home one day down a street with a few trees and Isabel, my 2 year old proudly proclaimed, "Mama! We are in a forest!", I knew it was time to reconnect with nature and get outside!

Simply being outside has many benefits for mind body and spirit.

Running, climbing and playing is good for the body - it develops muscle, helps to strengthen the bones, develops coordination and even can help your child's eyesight!

Being outdoors exposes us to vitamin D, a crucial nutrient that so many of us are lacking that can be preventative for heart disease, diabetes and so may other health concerns.

With my children, even from a very early age, if they were cranky, overtired, or even unhappy, going outside was the easiest, quickest fix.

There is something about being outdoors that uplifts our moods and calms our spirits. One of the biggest reasons behind our lack of outdoor play is a busy, hurried lifestyle. This go, go, go pace can contribute to anxiety and depression in adults and in children. Giving our children time to play, specifically outdoors, reduces these feelings of anxiety and promotes creativity.

And this is not a mommy opinion! A recent study shows that being in green space outdoors "reduced symptoms significantly" of ADHD. "Notably, 1 study revealed direct evidence of superior performance on objective tests of impulse control in a sample of urban public housing children" exposed to nature. (A Potential Natural Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence From a National Study, Frances E. Kuo, PhD and Andrea Faber Taylor, PhD)

Going outside promotes a sense of curiosity in our children. Even something as seemingly mundane as a squirrel with a nut is immensely fascinating for a child - and those ants climbing over that rock! And birds! And counting the petals on this purple flower!

I also believe that spending time outdoors gives us the opportunity to connect with something that is greater than ourselves. How better to get a sense of the Creator than to be in His creation?

My children are collectors - we have to schedule an hour to walk around the block because we will stop a thousand times to pick up rocks, sticks, and look at flowers, tree stumps and cacti. They have an empty pot by our front door to empty their hands and pockets before going in the house. Doing this routine has lead Isabel and I to some wonderful conversations. When they see new things, they become inquisitive - and isn't that a trait we should encourage?

So, mama (or daddy, aunt, grandma, big brother, etc), your mission is to slow down, get yourself and those you care about outside and spend a little time seeing things you don't normally have time to notice. Literally stop and smell the roses.

Go outside. Smile. Relax.

My Favorite Things About Fall

The Dodd Squad lives in the great state of Texas. Our state has one true flaw (wink) - it's really stinkin' hot! Yesterday, in the first week of October, it was 90+ degrees. This morning, a cold front came through and it dropped into the 50s. The excitement was palpable. My kids were happy, my neighborhood gathered at a wonderful pumpkin patch with smiles on our faces, Isabel and I did some snuggling... These things get me excited about the coming months full of family and friends, wonderful food, and gift giving. Here are some of my favorite things about fall:

1. That first day in hot Texas when the temperature dips low enough to wear a jacket and every single person you know spends all day outside enjoying it.

2. Cool weather clothes - jeans, hoodies, sweaters, cardigans and boots.

3. Pumpkins, Pumpkin Patches, carving pumpkins, pumpkin decor... There is just something about a pumpkin that makes me feel like a kid again.

4. Warm beverages like homemade hot chocolate, hot tea, and apple cider. My mom and sister love Hot Dr. Pepper, have you tried it?

5. Sitting around a fire pit with friends. There is absolutely no better way to spend a grown up fall evening.

6. Snuggling under lots of awesome blankets.

7. Soup. And the thousands of varieties warm, wholesome ingredients you can combine.

8. The smell of fall - cinnamon, clove, nutmeg - this year I am diffusing Young Living Essential Oils in my home for this amazing smell PLUS benefits for our health.

9. Being outside. Pumpkin patches, trick or treating, football games, walks around the block to collect rocks with my girls...

10. Not sweating - can I get an amen?

Why Art

I am a woman who wears many hats - wife, mom, sister, daughter, artist, teacher....

Artist is the hat for which I have received the most training and get the least recognition, haha. But I can not help myself, I love it.

Several times, I have had people ask me if I hope my children become artists when the grow up. My answer is always the same - I hope my children become whatever they WANT to become. However, I do hope that I raise my children with an appreciation for the arts.

Here are 5 reasons I believe it is of the upmost importance to expose our children to art:

1. Imagination

Albert Einstein said it well - "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Why would it be that one of the greatest minds in history would say this? Without imagination, how would we think up new, innovative ideas? How would we dream up the next iPhone or solve hard moral conundrums. I have been a teacher for 8 years now, and I can tell you that some of my favorite students, and some of the students that I have seen succeed since graduating are not the students who can memorize chapters in the math book and they are not the ones who necessarily outperformed others on tests and quizzes - they are the students who know how to think outside the box, who look for unusual ways to solve problems. This is what our current generation is lacking. Our children need time to be creative - outside playtime, art classes, dance and kinestetic learning opportunities.

The imagination of a child is an incredible thing. This afternoon, we were painting pictures to send to our loved ones and Isabel put one single dot on a piece of paper and said in all seriousness, "This is one dot. It is for Grandpa." I asked if she wanted to add anything to the image, and she said no, it was finished. What an imagination! If not fostered, this kind of thinking is crushed out of too many people. Imagine if every adult had the confidence and imagination of a 2 year old.

2. Global Thinking

When was the last time you stepped into the Art museum? Bathed in that experience? When you looked around, what did you see? More than likely, you saw lots of different kinds of people, art from throughout history, art from other cultures... Exposing our kids to art is one of the most valuable ways to teach them history from everyday people's experiences and from a wide range of perspectives. We are extremely lucky in Dallas to be surrounded by world class museums (art, history, science, etc). I relish in the fact that I can take my kids to 10 different museums and show them so many beautiful things and let them jump into the images and imagine themselves in another culture, even if only for a moment.

3. Escape

When we were children, life wasn't as hard as it is for today's children. They are faced with alarmingly difficult situations on a daily basis - ever changing technology, sex drugs and rock n' roll in their face 24/7, divorce at an all time high, financial issues of their parents... When do our children get the chance to be children? Even for my high school students, I pray that my art class is a chance for them to escape the fear of the grade they got on that test, or the demands of sports and drama and clubs on top of classes, or the drama that is going on at home and just BE in the moment. Being absorbed into an art project is one of the most freeing, soul soothing activities I can imagine. As Twyla Tharp said, "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home." I find this to be an incredibly poignant idea.

4. Gives Us A Voice

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. " - Thomas Merton
As I said earlier, the youth of today has it rough. They are being forced to grow up quickly, to face real, hard truths. Some of them rise to this expectation, and some turn and act out - seeking acceptance in negative ways. As a teen, one thing that art gave me was a voice when I thought no one was listening (whether this be true or not, it was how I felt at times, and I imagine nothing has changed in today's kids). I was able to escape into my painting and, I believe, turned into a much stronger adult than if I did not have that voice to discover.
On a lighter note, art also gives voice to the voiceless. This is a truly amazing thing. My 18 month old, Olivia, can color something and be absolutely ecstatic to show me her creation. This is HER voice. I do not think that she is simply scribbling lines on a paper.

5. Encourages Independence

Art was one of the first activities that Isabel was able to do by herself. We have an art table in our dining room, supplies on a shelf, and a place for her to display her work. She learned to peel stickers from pages, to choose colors, and even to clean up after herself. This inspired confidence in her. She learned all her letters with ABC stickers, she learned animals and the sounds animals make with a Discovery coloring book... For her, art has been a way to grow.

Without art, we become bland, single-minded individuals with no connection. Art is a bridge to a life we would not otherwise experience.