10 of my favorite recommendations for a natural birth!

These are 10 of my favorite things to have for a natural birth, although my list is longer than this and my favorites are ever changing!!

Helios Homeopathy Childbirth Kit

This is 18 homeopathic remedies that might come in handy at any point during your labor/birth. It has a handy little booklet that has all the info you may need for any circumstance. I highly recommend looking through it beforehand so you have an idea of how the dosages work and all the different things there are remedies for!

Labor-Aide Recipe

2 cups water

2 cups coconut water

2 oz ningxia red (YL)

½ cup lemon juice

¼ tsp real salt

¼ cup(+) raw honey

3 dropperfuls mineral essence (YL)

5 drops/sprays Rescue Remedy

———————————-

This is a wonderful drink recipe to sip on throughout your labor to keep you properly hydrated and to give you all the nutrients you may need!

Rescue Remedy- available on Amazon or Whitakers Market in Bellville, OH

Rescue Remedy is a combination of five Bach Flower Essences. It is taken from a dropper bottle/spray bottle and placed directly on the tongue or can be added to a beverage that you sip on. It is known for its calming, grounding effect and ability to head off panic attacks. Flower essences are vibrational in nature and perfectly safe for everyone—pregnant and breastfeeding mamas, doulas, children, pets, the dying … everyone! designed to combat fear, panic, shock, trauma, stress, and fear of losing control, as well as labor pains may also be prescribed for the few days prior to labor, particularly if you’re feeling anxious, or fearful about labor.

Doula

Birth doulas are amazing for helping you understand labor, cope with the discomforts, and support you emotionally. Each doula is different, but I highly recommend that every woman has one! Even if your spouse is super helpful, it really helps having someone knowledgeable about birth, and to help you AND your spouse through every moment of labor.

Grace Sinclair was my doula, and her hip squeezes were life-saving! She also used oils on me throughout my labor, and made me the Labor-aide and encouraged me to drink often.

Jenn Baker is another great option in the Mansfield area.

Hydrotherapy- Hydrotherapy, or immersion in warm water during labor, can be used for comfort and pain relief during any stage of labor. Some say that hydrotherapy can also lead to shorter labor, less severe perineal trauma, and lower risk of hemorrhage

Surrender- : Lavender, Black Spruce and Roman Chamomile, plus other essential oils provide aromas to help awaken your inner potential. Altogether, Surrender helps to bring feelings of inner calmness, relaxation and strength.

Great for helping you surrender to what your body is capable of doing to birth your baby!

Valor- powerful blend that can give you a boost of courage and empowerment when you need the reminder that YOU ARE CAPABLE!

Cool Azul Pain Cream- pain relief; Delivers full-strength cooling relief on contact; Penetrates deep into muscles and joints to provide effective temporary relief

Frankincense- Great for using on the umbilical cord after birth while it’s still pulsing to help the placenta push all the blood out as quickly as possible; helps keep it all clean and helps the healing process; powerful healing oil; emotionally calming for your baby but it also supports every single cell in your baby's body and assist with bonding; helps eliminate toxins in the body and bring the body to a state of complete health

Believe- Believe essential oil blend has been formulated with Idaho blue spruce and Ylang Ylang from the Young Living farm in Ecuador and has a pleasing aroma that is both grounding and invigorating. This blend contains Idaho Balsam Fir and Frankincense essential oils that may encourage feelings of strength and faith. With other complementary oils, the combination in this blend may help assist as you move to a higher level of awareness. As you are able to move past emotional setbacks and barriers, you will be able to reach your true, unlimited potential. BELIEVE that you CAN DO THIS!

Amazon

Here’s the Amazon list of some my favorite essentials for a natural birth!

Young Living

Here’s a list of my favorite Young Living products for a natural birth.

What are some of your favorites for a natural birth?

Our 2022 in Review

Our 2022 was pretty phenomenal and special… <3

Here’s a recap of our year…

JANUARY

Tough first couple months of the year….

Aunt Gwen <3

In January, Brian’s Aunt Gwen passed away.  I was actually closer to her, helping her with the drama productions at Temple Christian School every year.  It was a sad shock, and she is greatly missed!'

FEBRUARY

Brian and I visited Orlando for a few days.  We visited SeaWorld! It was a nice little getaway for sure, especially as we approached the due date of baby #2 that we lost.

Valentine Masquerade

We also had our church’s Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball, which was very fun.  My character was a femme fatale FBI agent, and Brian’s character was a very arrogant ER doctor. Both of our names included the color red, so we incorporated red in our costumes and dressed the parts!

Unfortunately, Brian’s grandma passed away just days after her 92nd birthday, rather unexpectedly.  We are so thankful we got to spend her birthday with her and get pictures, and make memories <3

Brian’s deacon dedication

Brian was also voted into a deacon role at our church, Gospel Light Baptist Church in Sunbury, and the deacon dedication took place the last Sunday in February.

Pregnancy #3

ALSO on that same day…. We found out we were pregnant with our third pregnancy after 2 losses.  Excitement and anxiety instantly filled our minds, not knowing what the next few months would hold, especially after the trouble we had last year. 

MARCH

Meet Lucy!

We got our first dog!!!! She’s a St. Berdoodle (a poodle & St Berdoodle), and we are her guardian home.  She will be bred this year with a poodle! (So if you’re looking for a new pup, I can hook you up!)  She’s so fun and Brian has done a fantastic job training her. She’s very sweet and wants to be everyone’s friend!

The first time we’ve ever heard a heartbeat <3

We started lots of doctors’ appointments this month, making sure all was good with baby. On March 22nd we got to see and hear our baby’s heartbeat… something we’ve never experienced <3

APRIL

We had an appointment at 8 weeks and got to see our baby on an ultrasound, wiggling around and waving… what a precious sight!

Poconos!

We took a trip to the Poconos for a week with some of our best friends! Had to visit Scranton since we are fans of the show The Office! This is the sign that is featured in the beginning credits of the show!

MAY

Brian got me my own bow!

Brian took up bow hunting last year, and got me my own for our anniversary so that we can shoot together! It’s been so fun to have a hobby to do together!

JUNE

We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary!  We went to Cincinnati for a couple nights and visited the Eighteen at the Radisson revolving steakhouse, BB Riverboats Cruise, and Newport Aquarium. 

It’s a BOY!

We found out we were having a BOY at our gender reveal party, which we had on our anniversary weekend. Made it extra special!

JULY

Celebrating what could have been.

Our first baby that we miscarried in November 2020 would have been turning 1 this year in July.  In memory of that precious life, we had a little ice cream cake on what would have been it’s due date/birthday <3

AUGUST

We took a babymoon to Nashville!  We had the coziest Air B and B which was perfect for all the resting I needed to do as I entered my 3rd trimester!  We visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, Gaylord Opyrland Hotel, McKay’s bookstore, and more, including, of course, lots of yummy restaurants!

SEPTEMBER

I had my baby shower at the same place we got married, which was so sweet.  The theme was Twinkle Twinkle Little star, and it was so beautifully decorated! 

We took maternity pictures after as well on the same golf course that we took our wedding pictures on!

NOVEMBER

November 7th, at 39 weeks and 1 day, Bradley Lucas came into this world <3

You can read his homebirth story here if you’d like! It was an absolutely amazing experience, and November was filled with baby cuddles and lots of learning as first time parents!

DECEMBER

We are SO excited to celebrate our first Christmas as a family of 3.

Last Christmas, we should have been celebrating our first Christmas with our first baby, and also would have been pregnant with the second baby that we lost last summer. It was tough to get through the day, honestly. So that night, we decided we would start praying that we would have a baby by the next Christmas… and the Lord answered that prayer <3

Thank you so much for reading our 2022 in review <3 We pray for a blessed, healthy, and happy 2023!

~ Brian, Autumn, & Bradley

Bradley's Homebirth Story

This blog post contains sensitive information about our homebirth. Please be advised!

Sunday, 11/6, I had fallen asleep to the tv like I always do around 10:30 pm and felt fine and normal. Around 11:45 pm I woke up and felt a little off, so got up to go to the bathroom. As I sat on the toilet, I felt a subtle pop in my low back, and noticed fluid coming out. I thought that was a little odd, but I went back to bed. After about 5 minutes I just couldn’t get comfortable, felt a little pressure, and couldn’t shake the feeling that my water could have just broken. I went back to the bathroom and more fluid seemed to come out. This time I made sure to look at it in the toilet, and it definitely looked different... kinda cloudy with things floating. Then my back started hurting a bit, and I basically felt like I needed to use the restroom... a feeling I remember from my miscarriage. I decided to give my midwife a call at 12:19am to give her a heads up and let her know what was happening. She agreed that it sounded like things could be starting. She told me to try my best to relax and get some rest, but to keep her updated. I went ahead and called my doula right after just to give her a heads up as well, then I went to bed and woke Brian up. At this point, I was shaking profusely and could feel contractions definitely starting. Laying in bed was not comfortable, especially with the shaking. This whole time I had been texting my doula, and gave her another call at 1:22 am and told her I truly thought things were moving fast and that she might have to head this way soon. Contractions were already just a few minutes apart, lasting about a minute. I told her I would hop in the bath and see if things picked up or slowed down. Brian ran me a bath and I turned on my Christian Hypnobirthing app to try to relax and focus. Brian sat with me in the bathroom, observing and updating my doula and midwife. The contractions slowed for a bit, but then ramped back up, moving mainly to my back and hips. Brian started getting things ready, and I decided to call and update my midwife at 2:25am. She asked me to time my contractions. I timed them for about 15 minutes, and they were 1-2 minutes apart, medium intensity. She said she would head our way soon.

At 2:45am I got out of the tub and transitioned to downstairs. My doula arrived shortly after 3AM. She and Brian helped me through contractions, which felt like they were almost one on top of each other at this point, as I leaned over my birth ball. After only about 10 minutes, my doula took me upstairs to go to the bathroom and try to labor in the bedroom while Brian set up the birthing pool, which took about 40 minutes.

My midwife arrived about 4 AM. When she walked in she checked in with Brian, then heard me upstairs laboring and realized things were definitely progressing. She and my doula and I were in the bedroom for about 10 minutes, working through contractions that were definitely starting to be accompanied by the urge to push. When the pool was ready, my midwife said we better go ahead and transition there. I was happy to do so, knowing how relaxing the water would be. We got in the pool, where I shortly began pushing. Brian held my hand and reassured me while my doula coached me, gave me sips of Labor-Aid, and squeezed my hips with every contraction. My midwife assured me that I was pushing well, and could tell the head was coming. They kept telling me that it wouldn’t be much longer and he would be born. I believed and trusted them and my body, but they kept saying that for a while! They had me change positions a few different times, which was never fun... but again, I trusted my midwife and did what I was told, knowing whatever position she told me to get in would help me progress further. We worked through a few positions, but he just wasn't quite moving down any further. She had me flip on my side, which was much more comfortable for me. We continued pushing and thinking he would be born soon. I labored in the pool until about 8 AM.

My midwife decided we needed to move outside the pool into a squatting position, knowing that's probably what we needed for him to finally arrive. It was not my favorite or most comfortable position, but again, I trusted her. We moved to the squat where Brian was supporting me from behind. As he began to crown, my midwife gently grabbed my hand and directed it down so I could feel his head. This is when I really knew it was happening. The next push was crowning time, and I was getting a little scared of the pain. Between that push, my midwife started praying out loud for me, my birth, our baby. <3

Never once did I doubt that my body that God designed couldn't do this... but as he was crowning I for sure didn’t want to do this! I made sure everyone knew it hurt! But with everyone's encouragement and coaching, and the love and support that filled the room.... Bradley Lucas Kurtz came into this world at 8:29am.

I held his slippery little body in my hands in disbelief of what I had just accomplished... of what my body grew and did... of this precious son that was finally in my arms. They helped me up into our love seat recliner where I just got to hold and stare at our son with Brian right beside me for a long time ♡ We waited about 30 minutes after birth for the cord to stop pulsating before we cut it. Then we started working on getting out the placenta, which was being stubborn. We passed the baby off to daddy, and moved to a sitz bath. My midwife sat with me and just talked with me for the longest time, which I loved. After 1 hr and 46 minutes, and a little tugging, we finally got the placenta out. It was tiny! (My doula made it into capsules for me to take during postpartum!) We transitioned to the bedroom where we got cozy and watched my midwife weigh and measure Bradley. We all made our weight guesses, but were all shocked to find that he was under 6 pounds !! What a tiny cutie! Everything checked out great!

Labor was tough, crowning and pushing SUCKED, but the homebirth experience was AMAZING.

If we ever get pregnant again, I will 100% be having another homebirth.

I will gladly share our homebirth story and the few details we left out with anyone who asks, because it was so special and empowering. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below in the comments, or reach out to me personally! Thanks for taking the time to read about our homebirth <3

Pregnancy After Loss

Pregnancy

after Loss….

After losing a pregnancy, or more than one, getting that positive test can be less exciting and filled mostly of anxiety and questions….

What will I have to do to keep this baby alive?

When and who should I tell?

What if this baby dies, too?

Truth is, you don’t know if this baby will live… and that “unknown end” is scary and haunting.

You’re scared to celebrate. Scared to get excited. Scared to get attached. Scared to buy a baby item. Nervous at every single appointment and ultrasound.

It’s true that something can happen at any time, which doesn't help ease the anxiety. After a loss, you never truly feel like you’re in a “safe zone.” At first, you feel safe once you’ve passed the point you lost the other baby, or you’re in the second trimester… then 20 weeks… then 24 weeks… and so on… but truly, anything can happen at any time… there are stories everywhere of heartbreak happening at every stage of gestation. And that sucks, and makes you never actually feel safe.

A hard truth to accept is that as much as we want to believe that God will keep this baby safe this time, that might not be part of His perfect plan. (And those of us who have had multiple losses know that.) He, of course, has the capability and power to keep this baby alive, but we don’t know His plan, which is always perfect and trustworthy, no matter how gut-wrenching it feels in the moment. He created our baby, and we must surrender it’s entire life into His loving care.

This is when we have to learn to simply TRUST the Lord, which is way easier said than done. That might even mean avoiding some of the things that you think will give you peace of mind… because if something is off is can send your anxiety through the roof. (for example, I stopped checking my BBT the day I found out I was pregnant, knowing a lower temp one day would worry me all day) Our mindset has to shift to “No matter what- God is good and can be trusted.” We have to learn to pray, and truly mean, “I trust you Lord, no matter the outcome. Your plan is perfect.”

We also have to learn to celebrate every moment… be present… soak in every moment you carry this beautiful life, no matter how long that will be. Every life is precious, and we must celebrate each life God creates. For me, this meant not being too worried about telling select people early on… because it validated that baby’s existence, and gave me people to pray for us and someone to talk to.

Walk in faith, not your feelings. Have more faith than fear. Speak of your Father instead of your fear. Replace worry with the Word.

No matter what we have to go through this pregnancy, as much as some of the things may suck (like being on progesterone suppositories for 14 weeks…), we have to remember that it will all be worth it to have that precious baby in our arms! If you’re doing all you can to keep that baby healthy, than truly the only other option you have is to trust the Lord with the rest that you can’t control!

Sometimes, though, Satan tries to make us replay the trauma of our past so that we fear the future and feel hopeless… just waiting for something else to go wrong. (Trust me, I experienced this almost my entire pregnancy) A couple things that helped me prayerfully fight the devil’s reminder of the trauma of my past and remember the goodness of God even in those situations was using Trauma Life essential oil, and verses such as Isaiah 43:18-19 which says, “18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Having trouble trusting? You’re not alone…

Fill your heart with Scripture and song that you can lean on anytime you’re fearing and doubting.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite Scripture, songs, quotes, and other resources that have helped me feel less alone and a little more brave during this pregnancy after 2 losses…

• Courageously Expecting - every word was EXACTLY how I was feeling. This book helped me feel less alone, and made my thoughts feel heard and validated.

• This podcast led me to that book ^^ and was also super encouraging.

• Isaiah 26:3- “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

• “If He brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it.”

  • I had heard this quote before, but I actually found it on a ring at JCPenney and knew I needed it. I’ve worn it almost every day since then and it’s a daily reminder that whatever the Lord has for me today, He will get me through it, just like He’s faithfully helped me through every other hard situation in my life.

• “You Are Always, Only Good”- a song that played in my mind constantly, reminding me that His plan is ONLY for our good, and His glory

• Essential oils with emotional support can help you prayerfully get through the tough days… Here’s a list of the ones I used throughout my pregnancy…

  • Surrender

  • Believe

  • Valor

  • Joy

  • Acceptance

  • CBD Calm Roller

• Isaiah 41:13- “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

• Philippians 1:20- “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death”

• “I Will Fear No More”- I actually printed the lyrics to this song and have them on our fridge

• “But if Not”- the lyrics to this song, specifically the chorus, repeated in my mind often

  • Also similarly, “Even If” is a great song to keep on replay. Remember that EVEN IF… God is still good and you are still blessed!

I hope you have found something encouraging here today. If you’re currently pregnant after a loss, I SEE YOU. You’re not alone, and I am praying for you, mama! Find peace in knowing God is good, and know that you will probably have to DAILY remind yourself of that fact.

If you have had a pregnancy after loss and have wisdom or resources to share, please comment below! Thank you for sharing!

Thank you for being here <3

All my love and prayers,

Autumn

Our 2021 in Review

2021… honestly?… probably our toughest year yet. We went through a lot and learned a lot, and through it all we are reminded of God’s faithfulness.

Here’s our 2021 in review….

JANUARY

Brian and Autumn’s dad took ownership of Baldauf Construction in Marion, OH. The company has been around since 1882, and has been in the Baldauf family until now. Autumn’s dad, Mike, has worked there for about 15 years and had a great relationship with the owner, Jeff Baldauf. When Jeff was ready to retire without any other family interested in carrying on the business, Mike & Brian bought the company and kept the Baldauf name. Baldauf Construction is a commercial general contractor. Their main jobs often source from local medical renovations and expansion projects.

Jeff Baldauf, Brian, & Mike

FEBRUARY

In February, Autumn & Brian flew out to AZ for a week long getaway with Autumn’s parents. Brian was in need of a new truck, and the flight out there wasn't fun…. so Brian found a truck! They drove it home straight through… about a 30 hour drive in negative temperatures!

MAY

Autumn was the assistant director for the 8th year in a row for the play Snoopy, The Musical at Temple Christian School.

On Memorial Day, we found out we were expecting our 2nd baby ☺ (unfortunately, we discovered in July that this pregnancy also ended in miscarriage)

JUNE

We celebrated our 4th anniversary by spending a day in Port Clinton!

Our annual “anniversary pose”

JULY

We experienced our 1st miscarriage in November 2020. We found out we were pregnant again with our 2nd baby on Memorial Day. However, our first ultrasound at 8 weeks revealed an empty gestational sac (blighted ovum). On top of that, the ultrasound also revealed a very large cyst in Autumn's abdomen. This was obviously concerning, so we began our process of finding a team of doctors to help.

At the end of the month, around the time our first baby was supposed to be due, we took some time away and went to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee with Brian’s brother, Kevin.

AUGUST

August 3rd, Autumn’s body finally miscarried naturally. However, she was at the point of hemorrhaging and had to be rushed to the hospital. There it was evident it was serious when the bleeding didn’t seem to be stopping, and she passed out in the hallway in Brian’s arms. She ended up having an emergency D&C, and was able to go home that evening. It took a good week or two to get her strength back.

SEPTEMBER

Now it was time to take care of the 12x24x2 cm cyst in Autumn’s abdomen. The around an hour long surgery was a Laparotomy & Salpingo-oopherectomy, and left Autumn with a 4” scar on her lower abdomen. Surgery went well and recovery started well right from the start. The first 5 days were tough, with Autumn constantly needing Brian’s help moving. But she has healed nicely!

At the end of Sept into Oct, Autumn earned a free retreat through her business with Young Living Essential Oils out to Utah, and Brian was able to go, too!

OCTOBER

We headed to The Wilds in NC for a couples conference with speaker Scott Pauley. The last time we were at The Wilds was for our Senior Trips in 2012 & 2013! It’s a gorgeous place with amazing preaching and beautiful music.

Autumn’s piano teaching business gained 5 new students in October, and her photography business had 3 clients in one week!

NOVEMBER

Brian took up bow hunting!

DECEMBER

Brian got a goose during his first goose hunting experience!

December 18th & 19th we are directing the play at our church, Gospel Light Baptist Church, and also playing the parts of Mary & Joseph. It will be livestreamed and available for replay at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWQ1RaIZbZ8

We invite you to watch the replay!

Here’s to hoping 2022 is much better than 2021, and praying you have a blessed Christmas and New Year!

My 60 Day Nightmare

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my story and experience with…

Blighted Ovum, Emergency D&C, Laparotomy, and Salpingo-Oopherectomy

… all within about 60 days

Here is this story in video format if you prefer!

HOW IT ALL STARTED…

I found out I was pregnant on Memorial Day. Initially, I was filled with peace. But fear crept in the following days. I started telling friends and family even though it was early because #1) I wanted the extra prayers/support, and #2) I wanted to validate this baby’s existence, no matter the outcome.

Our first ultrasound came around 8 weeks, and somehow, I knew it wouldn’t go well. Not only did it reveal an empty gestational sac, but also a large cyst of unknown origin that needed taken care of.

Being filled with fear and grief and unknown for weeks straight was torture. AND this all happened around the due date of the first baby we lost…. so many emotions.

We didn’t find the right doctor until 2 weeks later, and by a month after our first ultrasound, my body still hadn’t released the empty gestational sac growing inside me. Finally, a month and and a day after that first confusing and dreaded ultrasound, my body released the gestational sac at around 12 weeks…. which all seemed fine, until an hour later. My body was near hemorrhaging, and I was almost fainting with each visit to the bathroom. At my OBGYN’s discretion, my family took me to the emergency room. There I passed out in the hallway after a trip to the bathroom with my husband, and a few hours later ended up having an emergency D&C to stop the bleeding.

As traumatic and scary as that day was, God was still in a lot of the details.

1) My mom was home and able to come over and monitor me and phone my doctor and keep Brian updated

2) Brian was able to rush home and get there just in time to help me into the car to get to the ER

3) The hospital staff was fantastic. Super sweet and kind

4) My doctor just happened to already be at the hospital that day. So he was able to find me, update me, and do my surgery. That was a huge blessing.

5) I’m glad it all happened fast and that the surgery just had to happen so I didn’t have to dwell on it and dread it. It was definitely for the best for me emotionally.

The following days I was very weak, and it took me a week or 2 to recover and regain my strength. But we still had the cyst to deal with….

LAPAROTOMY/SALPINGO-OOPHERECTOMY EXPERIENCE

I ended up having to wait another 5 weeks for the cyst removal surgery/laparotomy. It was a long several weeks of taking more tests and awaiting the results. The incision was about 4” long, the cyst was about 12x24 cm, and about 33 oz of fluid was drained from it during surgery. Unfortunately, the cyst had completely engulfed my ovary and majority of my fallopian tube, so they had to be removed.

Me a couple hours after surgery

Prep:

• Took several YL supplements to boost my body before hand. Those supplements included:

  • Life 9- probiotic to keep my gut functioning properly

  • NingXia Red- full body support

  • Inner Defense- immunity

• Week leading up to surgery I drank raw organic juices from Nourish Wellness Bar

Recovery:

• Allerzyme to keep things moving 💩

• Ningxia Red to support your entire body

• I do recommend using ice packs around your incision as much as possible. 3 nights post op I went to bed without one and I was sore that morning, didn’t sleep well, and the incision starting itching. I think the ice helps a lot.

• You’re gonna really appreciate night gowns/sleep shirts and high waisted panties. Trust me!

Day of and day after were the hardest. Getting up and down was painful, so much so that I dreaded needing to use the restroom. I needed help moving, and getting up and down constantly.

By day 3 I was able to get off the couch on my own.

By day 4 I was able to get out of bed on my own.

By day 5, I felt more normal. Moving around came with very minimal discomfort, and I was even able to get in and out of bed on my own.

By day 6, I was tired but not really sore. Doc took my steri strips off and replaced them with a few fresh ones and some glue, but said it looked really good.

SCAR/INCISION CARE

I started using a Scar Roller filled with skin supporting and healing essential oils and Vitamin E around the incision and steristrip area 6 days after surgery when doc put a few fresh strips on. Each week after, I added a new Young Living product to my care routine. I used Claraderm, Tender Tush, Rose Ointment, and Regenolone.

THINGS PEOPLE DID FOR US THAT WE APPRECIATED

• brought us food! I mean, I’ll never turn down free food and the excuse not to cook! But this was greatly appreciated!

• I also had my mom and friend volunteer to clean and help with laundry and that was a huge blessing, especially since I wasn’t really able to do those things due to restrictions.

• Texted to check-in- people just asking how I was doing and for daily updates made me feel remembered and prayed for, and that means a lot to me!

GOD IS GOOD…

Let me tell you about the amazing doctor God gave us.

You see, we found about the cyst and blighted ovum the Friday of 4th of July weekend. I called so many places and they either wouldn't help or only suggested the emergency room. I reached out to an acquaintance of mine I met through Young Living. A few months prior, she had mentioned to me that her husband was an OBGYN and my husband had done some landscaping work for him. I reached out to her that weekend to see if her husband’s office could be of any help. Even though they were on vacation, Dr. Alford personally reached out to me a few times that weekend to offer help, advice, and to just check in. He was the only person who made me feel like someone cared. He walked through the next 3 months with us…. Respected my wishes, performed my emergency D&C, and my laparotomy/salpingo-oopherectomy. He even prayed with us moments before I was wheeled back for my latest surgery, which meant that absolute world to us. We are so thankful God put him in our path.

VULNERABILITY- How this miscarriage effected my emotions

I spent 6 weeks thinking and believing I was pregnant.... because that's what my body and the pregnancy tests kept telling me. How could I have known that my body never actually produced a baby? How cruel of my body to lead my to believe I was 8 weeks pregnant, only to reveal an empty gestational sac on the first ultrasound. I'm not quite sure how to cope with this.... sure, there might not have been an actual embryo there, but I spent so many weeks believing I had a baby inside me and sharing the news with friends and family. And also, life begins at conception, so I did lose a baby. Truth is, I almost feel dumb for believing my body.... I'm not sure I could trust it ever again. Especially since this is the 2nd time my heart has been broken…. Miscarriage sucks.

THINGS THAT HELPED….

This time, I immediately bought myself some special reminders of this baby, including a nice necklace with the February birthstone, as well as 3 charms from Origami Owl: Pregnancy Loss ribbon, July & February birthstone to remember my 2 babies in heaven.

I also really enjoyed time away from home to keep my mind off everything. I went out with friends, treated myself to shopping and a movie one day, and also got my hair done.

The book that helped me TREMENDOUSLY through this time was It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst. Every word was exactly how I was feeling, and everything I read was encouraging. Chapter 3 specifically opened up my heart after days and weeks of feeling like God had abandoned me.

My top essential oils to help me emotionally were Acceptance and Surrender. After my ER visit and emergency surgery, I used Trauma Life.

So, this was my experience. It sucked, but we learned a lot. If you’re reading this, it could be for a few reasons.

If you’re reading this because you love and care about me- thank you <3

If you’re reading this because you’re going through a blighted ovum, I’m so sorry. It sucks, and it’s so confusing. I pray you find something encouraging here and remember that you’re not alone.

If you’re reading this because you’re preparing for a laparotomy or salpingo-oopherectomy- hang in there! The first few days are the toughest, but you’ll survive, friend!

The Scents of Fall, with NO Chemicals at all!

Last updated 8/16/22

Trust me, my mom and I would run to a name brand store in the outlet mall every fall and stock up on all of the fall candles and hand soaps at the fall of the first leaf or temperature drop!  But in 2013, we began our journey to health and wellness, and started learning about all the side effects and dangers of all those chemicals we were bringing into our home.  We’re talking headaches, hormone disruption, and so much more.  But we still loved our fall smells, so what were we gonna do!?  Enter in: YOUNG LIVING.  Did you know that you can still make your home smell amazing without the chemicals this fall?  I’m here to help you with this giant, yet important step towards a healthier home and healthier you. 

Let’s dig in. 

CANDLES 

Did you know…

• That the air in our homes is more polluted than outdoors?

• That studies show that toxins released by candles are as dangerous as second hand smoke?

• That many candles contain very dangerous chemicals that can lead to cancer, hormone disruption, allergies, asthma triggers, disease, nervous system disruption, and more?

• That one hour of burning a candle produces the same harmful effects as smoking a single cigarette?  

DIFFUSING

Did you know…. 

• That diffusing can impact your body positively before you’re even aware of it?

• That diffusing can set the mood and atmosphere in any environment? 

• That studies show that when therapeutic essential oils are inhaled, they can reach every cell in your body within 20 minutes?

•   That your sense of smell is directly connected to the limbic area of your brain, which is also known as the emotional control center? 

• That the limbic lobe plays a big role in your mood, memory, behavior, feelings, and emotions?

• That scents send electrical impulses into your brain, causing different physiological reactions (memories & moods) depending on the aromas detected? 

• That the sense of smell has a profound impact on your emotions and inner desires? 

• That diffusing purifies the air, increases oxygen, helps boost the immune system, improves focus and concentration, and promotes relaxation?

• That you can change up the scent you put in your diffuser each time you refill?

• That you can recreate your favorite scents using oils? 

• That diffusing is actually significantly cheaper than burning candles?  

• That diffusing is way healthier and safer than burning candles?  That there is a candle flicker mode on most of our diffusers?

THE CHOICE IS YOURS...

So… with all those facts about candles vs. diffusing… which option sounds like a better choice to you?  Trust me… the switch from candles to diffusing is WORTH IT.  Fewer headaches, fewer hormone problems, fewer lung issues….. Doesn’t that sound worth trying?  

If you already have a diffuser, awesome.  If you don’t, I recommend starting with a Premium Starter Kit for the best deal, because you get 12 oils and a diffuser for an amazing price.  You could start diffusing some Stress Away and Thieves for a nice fall smell! 

You can also order anything you want, and if it equals 100 PV, you’ll receive the wholesale price and your own wholesale account!

I wanted to make a little list for you of great fall oils to have on hand for those lovely diffuser blends: Northern Lights Black Spruce, Cedarwood, Stress Away, Cinnamon, Clove, Orange, Ginger, Nutmeg… what else would you add to the list of must have fall oils?

BTW.. My current FAVORITE fall diffuser blend is Campfire Donut: 5 drops Stress Away, 2 drops each of Cinnamon, Northern Lights Black Spruce, Orange, and Cedarwood!

ROOM SPRAY

To make this easy, know that air fresheners are as dangerous as candles.  Air freshners can lead to major lung issues, hormone disruption, headaches and migraines, asthma attacks, infant illness, and more. I mean, I can't be the only one who feels like they can't breathe when I walk into a room that has been sprayed with air freshener, right?!

  So, make your own room sprays to freshen things up!  There are so many fun recipes, but I thought I’d share one of my favorites with you here.  This is a Vanilla Spice Spritz!  You’ll need 6 drops of Orange, 5 drops of Cinnamon Bark, and 5 drops of Clove essential oil.  You’ll also need to add 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract!  Combine all these with water in a 2 ounce glass spray bottle, and spritz on your sheets, spray in the air, or use as a body spray!  

BROWN SUGAR SCRUB 

Do you love super soft hands? Or have some skin that needs some extra TLC? Sugar scrubs brighten tired, dull-looking skin to promote healthy, smooth, and flawless skin. Sugar scrubs also fight skin aging in a natural way. However, if your sugar scrub contains harsh chemicals and fragrance, it can do more harm than good!  Remember that your skin is the largest organ in your body, and anything that comes into contact with it goes straight into your bloodstream. We MUST be mindful of what we put on our bodies!

 This brown sugar scrub is natural, chemical free, and easy to make yourself!  It smells so good, you’ll probably try to lick your hands! LOL  

Here’s the recipe:

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup coconut oil (fractionated)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

3 drops cinnamon bark EO

2 drops clove EO

2 drops orange EO

Combine all in a small glass jar.  Add a small amount to your hands, rub in, and rinse off! 

PUMPKIN SPICE THIEVES CLEANER

Thieves Cleaner is the only cleaner we use, and we use it for EVERYTHING. Like, we literally have no other cleaner in our home, at all. That means we have no concern of chemical exposure, and we are never worried about our pet’s safety or the safety of our friends kiddos running around and inspecting every cuppoard!  Thieves Cleaner is plant based and toxin-free, and safe for your entire family (furry family, tiny family, old family… all of them.)  Thieves Cleaner smells kinda fally anyway because Thieves has cinnamon, but I love adding fall oils to make it smell super fally!  I seriously LOVE cleaning my house with this blend… SMELLS. AH-MAZING.  So, here’s the recipe….

• 1 capful of Thieves Household Cleaner

• 10 drops of Orange

• 5 drops of Cinnamon Bark

• 2 drops each of Clove, Ginger, & Nutmeg

Combine in a spray bottle, and clean away!

DIY FOAMING HAND SOAP

Trust me, I always enjoyed a delicious fall smelling hand soap.  However, they are full of so many harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritations, headaches, and lung problems. 

Did you know you can make your own hand soap and change up the smell everytime you refill?!

All you need is a foaming hand soap pump, unscented castile soap, water, and oils.  Fill the foaming hand pump about ⅓ of the way with the unscented castile soap.  Now comes the time for oils.  I personally like to find a diffuser blend I like, and triple or quadruple the amount of oil drops to add into the soap. Then you add your water, shake, and BOOM.  Chemical free and fall hand soap ready to go!

CARPET FRESHENER

Think of the pets and kiddos that are constantly crawling and walking all over your floors.  Sometimes your carpet needs to smell a little better and be a little cleaner, right?  But, keeping those kiddos and pets in mind, you’ll need to make sure you’re not using harsh chemicals. Most carpet deodorizers contain many unsafe ingredients linked to lung damage, kidney damage, nervous system damage, hormone disruption and blood disorders along with possible carcinogens.

This is a simple, chemical free recipe!  Combine 15 drops of oil with baking soda , sprinkle on carpets, let sit for an hour or so, and vacuum! You can pick your favorite oil or pick a diffuser blend and double or triple it until it’s at least 15 drops!

So, there ya have it.  Some amazing ways to enjoy the scents of fall, with NO chemicals at all! 

Ready to get started? Click HERE to see a list of all the oils & products we talked about in this post!

What was your biggest takeaway ?!

It's All In Your Head

If you’re reading this blog post, it’s probably to learn about supporting your headaches naturally! 

In this post, we are going to share some things that cause headaches that you'll wanna avoid, and some natural remedies to combat your headaches. There are endless possibilities, but I stuck to 5 things in each category.

 I'll be honest… it's not like I never reach for an ibuprofen anymore, but it's my last resort. I try all the natural remedies first, and I encourage you to do the same! So let's dig in!

Causes of headaches … tonight we will discuss 5 potential and common causes of headaches including diet, fragrance, chemicals, hormones and eye strain . I'd be curious to hear which cause you believe you suffer from the most. 

• Cause #1- Diet

This is a big one for me. I really have to watch how much dairy & gluten I consume, especially in the evenings. I found by trial and error that if I eat past 8 pm, especially if it's gluten or dairy, I suffer from a headache and upset stomach the next day and I'm usually spending my day on the couch. Next time a headache shows up, think about what you've recently eaten and consider if that may be the cause.

• Cause #2- Fragrances

Did you know that thousands of chemicals can be masked under the word "fragrance"? The FDA allows companies to put this word on their labels and claim their ingredients as a "trade secret" so they don't have to disclose all the ingredients. Crazy right?! We found that getting rid of perfumes and candles significantly cut back on our headaches.  But FRAGRANCE is found in so much more…. Beauty products & cosmetics, soaps, detergents, feminine products, and so much more. This is definitely something that I almost guarantee could be giving you headaches.  Can I challenge you? Stop using fragrance products (especially candles and perfumes) for a month, and see if you notice a difference. If you don't, try using them again and see if a headache is triggered. You can easily swap out your perfumes for beautiful oil blends and candles for diffusers!

• Cause #3- Chemicals

Chemicals are found in our everyday products.  We are talking, again, beauty products & cosmetics, cleaners, soaps, toothbrushes, furniture, toys, etc. This could definitely be triggering headaches. My first suggestion is to ditch every cleaner under your sink and switch to Thieves Cleaner. This cleaner is plant based and will not irritate your skin or lungs, and will not trigger headaches. Start here, and slowly ditch & switch your other products. 

• Cause #4- Hormones

This is another common cause for me. I can always tell what time of the month it is, because I almost always get mild headaches for a few days in a row. So I support my hormones! My go-to for hormonal headache support is SclarEssence & Copaiba vitality in a capsule. 

• Cause #5- Eye Strain

Do you find that you get headaches from your screen time? A lot of that has to do with the blue light that can really strain your eyes and cause headaches. I'd encourage you to start using these 2 things: blue light glasses & Illumineyes. Blue light glasses block the blue light from getting to your eyes and Illumineyes is a supplement from young living that helps support your eye health in significant ways!

Natural remedies….

Let's chat about some natural support options for your headaches.  There are so many natural remedies you can find on pinterest and even Instagram, but tonight I'm going to go over 5 with you including hydration, food, fresh air, grounding/earthing, and hot/cold compress.

• Remedy #1 - Drink water  

Proper hydration is often forgotten. Dehydration can lead to many problems, including headaches! (It's actually almost always the underlying cause of all types of headaches.)

Next time you have a headache, drink 2 glasses of water ASAP. You may also consider adding Vitality Drops for the electrolytes, which provide minerals your body needs to function properly! 

• Remedy #2 - Food

Sometimes a headache is triggered when you need to eat. If you haven't eaten yet and have a headache, try putting some food in your stomach to help your headache. There are also specific foods you may want to consume that have been found to help relieve headaches such as baked potatoes 🥔 (because of the high potassium), watermelon 🍉 (because of the water and magnesium content), coffee ☕ (IN MODERATION, because of the caffeine), whole grain toast 🍞 (because of the healthy carbs), almonds 🌰 (because of the magnesium), spicy salsa 🌶 (because it helps open up your airways)  yogurt 🥛(because of the calcium), sesame seeds 🧧 (because of the nutritional punch they offer), spinach salad 🥗 (because it decreases blood pressure). Ready to stock your pantry?!

• Remedy #3- Fresh Air

One of the reasons fresh air may help a headache is because you're exiting the environment that could contain fragrances and chemicals that caused the headache in the first place. In fact,  there are some places we go that I always get a headache from because of the fragrances and chemicals used. So go outside and take a walk, and fill your lungs with that extra oxygen. If you can’t go outside due to weather, open up some windows and let the fresh air fill your home.  

• Remedy #4- Grounding/ Earthing 👣

If you've never heard of Grounding or Earthing, it's pretty fascinating. (watch this when you get the chance >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=44ddtR0XDVU&app=desktop )

Just touching the earth through your bare feet helps reduce inflammation significantly by calming the nervous system and improving blood flow. So  many people have amazing testimonies of how simply walking around barefoot helped relieve their headaches. A great option for winter months and rainy days is an earthing mat, which can be purchased even on Amazon. So, next time you have a headache, get some fresh air and walk around barefoot. Double benefits!

• Remedy #5 - Cool/Hot Compress 

Sometimes a change in temperature on location can really relieve the pain.  Cold compresses have a numbing effect, which may help dull the pain.  Hot compresses help to relax the muscles and tension.  So it really depends on the type of headache, but you could even alternate with each every 15 minutes or so. (You could also take a hot/cold shower/bath!)  Which do you prefer- hot or cold?  

OILS! 

Okay, let’s talk about 5 specific oils that could help support your headache trouble. There are many that can help, especially depending on the type or cause of headache.  We’ll talk about Lavender, M-Grain, Peppermint, Deep Relief, and Copaiba. 

• Oil #1- Basil

Basil oil is fantastic for muscle discomfort and tension. It’s historically known as a home remedy for its ability to relax and relieve. Because of it’s amazing abilities, it can be a great support for headaches caused by tension and tight muscles. 

• Oil #2 - M-Grain 

I’ve heard so many great results from migraine sufferers who use M-Grain.  It’s a powerful blend of Basil, Marjoram, Peppermint, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and Helichrysum. This is a great oil to keep by your computer to apply when you start feeling that tension in your head and neck!

• Oil #3 - Peppermint 

This is one of my first go-to oils for headache support. The menthol is so soothing and comforting, and helps relax muscles and support pain levels.   It’s actually one of the most popular uses for Peppermint, mentioned many times on the internet for natural headache support. For an extra umph, you could follow application of Peppermint with a hot/cold compress to drive in the Peppermint.  Also, remember that Peppermint is an amplifier, so you could combine this with another oil for an extra boost. 

• Oil #4 - Deep Relief

This might be my favorite oil for headache support because it’s so convenient to apply!  The roller makes it easy to roll on my forehead, temples, neck… anywhere that needs some deep relief!  This is a blend of Peppermint, Lemon, Balsam Canada, Clove, Balsam Copaiba, Coconut oil, Wintergreen, Helichrysum, Vetiver, and Dorado Azul.  Definitely a great one to have on hand!

• Oil #5- Copaiba 

This oil is wonderful for supporting your body in its natural defense against inflammation.  You can apply it topically on location.  My personal favorite way to use Copaiba is to take Copaiba vitality internally in a vegetable capsule. This also is an amplifier, so you may want to consider using it along with another oil as well.

SO, there ya have it!  5 causes, 5 remedies, and 5 oils. Thanks so much for joining me tonight, and I hope you learned some valuable information. What was your biggest takeaway? Have any other headache tips to share? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Vitality Oils

One of my favorite things about Young Living is that their oils are top-notch quality. They have a specific line of oils called Vitality oils, which are designed specifically for internal usage. You can add them to your water, food, or put them in a Vegetable capsule! I’m going to share some of my favorite ways to incorporate YL Vitality oils in our daily life…

Lime

We love adding lime vitality to our rice with a little cilantro to go with our vegetable bowls.

We have also made some delicious popcorn with lime vitality!

Popcorn

If you like popcorn, you can make some delicious popcorn with coconut oil and vitality oils.

My favorite is adding Thieves & Orange vitality oils! I cook my popcorn in coconut oil, then drizzle the vitality oils (About 5 drops each), maple sugar, and 1/4 cup of coconut oil over top. DELICIOUS, and always a big hit!

Peppermint

I personally love adding a drop of peppermint vitality to my water. It helps keep my breath fresh all day long!

You can also add a drop to brownies…. yummmmm!

Vegetable Capsules

These are empty capsules that you can fill with vitality oils to help reach your wellness goals. To give you a few examples, I’ll fill my capsules with…

• DiGize Vitality when my digestive system needs a boost

• SclarEssence Vitality when my hormones and endocrine system need some love

• Copaiba Vitality when my body needs some natural support for inflammation

Lemon

My husband loves adding a drop of Lemon vitality to his water. (BTW- His new favorite is the Lavender Lemonade vitality drops!) This is actually a much healthier option then just drinking lemon water. Lemon oil has no acidity, and it also doesn’t have the yucky germs that lemons do! Lemon is also a great for detoxing, supporting your liver, and boosting your immune system!

Quick note about YL vitality oils vs. aromatic/topical oils...  Although they are labeled differently for different uses, Peppermint Vitality and Peppermint (aromatic/topical) are the same exact oil.  The only difference is the label.  

This is just a taste of a few of our favorite vitality oils! I’d love to know what your favorite vitality oils and uses are! Comment below!

3 Things That Strengthened My Christian Walk in 2019

I implemented three things into my life this year that I truly feel strengthened my walk with the Lord. They made everything I did more purposeful, and drew me closer to Jesus. I want to share them with you, in hopes that they will be an encouragement to you!

1. Prayer Wall & Journal

   We have a dedicated wall in our dining room where we post sticky notes with prayer requests on them. It serves as a visual reminder to Brian and I to pray for those requests each time we walk past them. It is a literal wall of prayer, which also happens to be one of my favorite songs. (I linked the video to this song at the bottom of the post if you’d like to listen to it!)

   Brian and I also keep a chalkboard of more personal requests in our room.

   I also keep a prayer journal. I’ve actually had the same journal since 2013, and it is so neat to flip through it and see what requests God has answered.

   Oh, and one more thing! I try to keep visual reminders to pray for people at certain times when they need it the most. Sometimes it’s a reminder on my phone at a certain time someone has a meeting, or some days I wear a bracelet from a friend who is on duty as a firefighter.

   All of these things have made my prayer life a little more purposeful, and it serves as a reminder to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17)

2. Gratitude & Affirmation Journaling

   Psalm 19:164 says, “Seven times a day do I praise thee…” At a ladies conference several years ago, a speaker encouraged us to sit down daily and write down 7 things we are thankful for. I have become more faithful in doing so, and you will often find in my journal things that we take for granted. I also have started writing down three affirmations daily to keep myself encouraged.

3. Devotion Journal

   This has probably been the biggest blessing. Each day, I write down a takeaway from my devotions. It keeps me accountable, and also makes me get something from my devotions instead of just quickly doing them as a chore. I also always write down a prayer request for whatever is on my heart that day. It was also a blessing when Brian and I did it together so we could keep each other accountable, see what the other got from their devotions that day, and see how to pray for one another.

There you have it… three simple things that strengthened my walk with the Lord in 2019. I hope they encourage you and help you in some way. I would love to know some of your favorite tips for staying close to the Lord daily, so drop them in the comments!

Road Tripping Necessities

About a week ago, Brian and I flew out to Utah for Young Living International Grand Convention, and drove back home to Ohio! I enjoyed it much more than flying, but Brian did all the driving (even though I offered to drive a few times). We found some things that were super beneficial along our journey, so we want to share them with you here!

1. Deep Relief

   Deep Relief is a magical little rollerball blend from Young Living that eases any tension or discomfort you’re feeling anytime. While traveling, this is a common occurrence! The Roll-On makes it easy to swipe along your head or neck with simplicity and gives almost immediate relief.

2. Get snacks ahead of time

   Gas Station snacks are EXPENSIVE. We stocked up on some of our favorites ahead of time at the grocery store, and we never did have to stop for lunch! We always had a big breakfast, snacked throughout the day, and then stopped for dinner.

3. Find a hotel with a mini kitchen

   This was SUPER handy since we had a cooler full of food leftover from our groceries for the week. We stayed at two Marriott hotels, and each had a mini kitchen, including a full size fridge/freezer. It was great!

4. Castille Soap in a Foaming Hand pump

   I don’t know about you, but I find the bar soaps offered at hotels just super annoying to wash your hands with. Plus, we live as toxin-free as possible. So even the name brand soaps offered at our Airbnb wasn’t our top pick. I put a little bit of liquid castille soap in a foaming pump bottle, added my choice of YL essential oils, and then topped it off with water once we got to our destination. This made it super easy and clean to use as a hand soap! Plus, there are MANY OTHER USES for castille soap if needed in a pinch!

5. Orb Diffuser

   Having this handy dandy Orb Diffuser was perfect for our journey. It runs off a USB input and fits perfectly in the cup holder of the car! We diffused Peppermint and Citrus Fresh often on our car ride to keep up alert and energized! I definitely recommend having some sort of a car diffuser on any long distance trips!

6. Peppermint Neck Massage

   At one point on our trip, I put some Peppermint on my fingers and gave Brian a neck massage as he drove. Safe to say he loved it, because he asked for it again a couple times on our drive back home, and told me I should share this tip with others! A peppermint neck massage can help keep tension low and energy high!

7. iExit App

   This app was a LIFESAVER. Anyone else picky about where they have to stop for potty breaks?! This app shows you what is coming up at all the exits ahead on your drive. It shows you gas stations, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and more. SUPER CONVENIENT, and definitely worth downloading!

8. BONUS: For all the ladies….

   If you’re lucky like me, Mother Nature decides to let Aunt Flo join you for every trip. Yay… These were an absolute lifesaver. They saved me from embarrassment and having to change clothes. This is one purchase I definitely don’t regret!

I also found some clever ways to pack my Young Living products for the week, so here are a few tips!

Mirah Shave Oil - Instead of packing the whole bottle, I pumped just enough into an empty 5 ml essential oil bottle, and put a dropper top on it. It was super convenient to just drop into my hand and throw into my bag!

Supplements- I packed several supplements, and I didn’t want to pack all the bulky bottles. So I either put them into little jewelry ziplock baggies, or in pill containers from Walmart, and labeled them for each individual supplement.

Dry Shampoo- I make my own dry shampoo, so I just put some into an empty Savvy Minerals Foundation container and was able to shake it on as needed! Here is my recipe >>> https://www.instagram.com/tv/BuB75uLBW4B/

Prenolone +/Satin Mint Face Scrub- These were a couple of products that I only needed for a few days of our trip, so I just put the amount I needed in small empty containers!

Laundry Soap- I figured I would only need to do one load of laundry, so I poured my Thieves Laundry Soap into a small pill container and was good to go!

You can watch my IGTV episode on my packing tips here >> https://www.instagram.com/tv/Bz_JaODh0bY/

Do you have any travel tips? I would love to know about them, so comment below!

Dollar Date Idea

photo from Pexels

We promised to make date night a priority this year, and to take turns planning the date. I came up with this idea, and it was so fun and affordable. The whole date cost less than $15, so it is super budget friendly!

First, we went to 3 different restaurants and chose whatever we wanted off the Dollar Menu. We had 4 items at Taco Bell, 3 items at McDonald's, and Jr frosties at Wendy's 😊 Our 3 stops totalled to only about $10 🙌🙌

Our final stop was the most fun. We went to Walmart, split up, and had to find something for each other that was only $1. It turned into a race, and I won. 😅 It was actually harder than we thought! It was hard to find something that was only $1 that the other person would like. We kept running into each other, and we were both struggling! In the end, I found my gift first, paid for it and met Brian at the door when he found and paid for his. I got him a headlamp to work with, and he got me Dark Chocolate Fudge brownies 😅😋

We had plenty of food, a lot of fun, and stayed within budget easily.

What's your favorite date night ideas?

Bambi is special to me because...

Photo found on Google. I do not own the rights to this photo

I grew up in a Christian home.  We went to church three times a week, and basically anytime the doors were open.  Growing up, I knew about Heaven and Hell and knew that I definitely didn’t want to go to Hell! 

When I was four years old, I was sitting on the couch with my mom, who was reading the story of Bambi to me. We came to the part in the book where one of the deer dies, and the layout of the page is still embedded in my memory. It was a fiery red page, and it reminded me of Hell that I had learned so much about.  I asked my mom if that deer went to Heaven or Hell.

As an adult on the verge of having my own kids in a few years, I can only image trying to answer that question from an adorable four year old girl.  I honestly don’t remember how my mom answered the question, I just remember the conversation turning into knowing how I could get to Heaven when I die. 

That night, my mom led me to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  I can distinctly remember all my sins being washed away- past, present, and future.  It was a glorious feeling, and I couldn’t wait for my daddy to come home so I could tell him all about it!  I even remember my mom standing up during church the following Sunday evening during testimony time to tell my church family of my salvation.

What a glorious day and memory!  And that is why Bambi is special to me!

What’s your salvation story? I would love to hear it in the comments!

3 Simple Tips to a Healthier Life

Who wouldn’t want to be healthy?  Does anyone actually enjoy being sick?  I know I definitely don’t- so I wanted to share 3 simple steps that are proven to help you live a healthier life!

1.       Drink More Water

The rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces daily.  So, as an easy example, a 100 pound person would need to intake 50 ounces of water daily to stay properly hydrated.

It's important to know that not all bottled water is the same.  According to Dr. Jim Bob Haggerton, Fiji water is one of the best/purest bottled waters available, so we buy ours in bulk at Sam’s Club.

I know, drinking water can get boring...

Thankfully, there are a couple different ways to drink water without it being just plain water!  Tea is a great way to get your water intake, and my all-time favorite tea is Young Living Slique Tea.  When Slique tea is out of stock, I choose Numi, Rishi, or Traditional Medicinals  most often because I know their teas are non-toxic and safe. (Check out this article if you're a tea drinker)

I also love drinking LaCroix sparkling water.  They come in all sorts of flavors, and we usually pick up a variety pack at Sam’s Club or individual flavors at Menard’s. My current favorite flavor is Lime!

Another way to spice up your water intake is to put Young Living Vitality essential oils in your water!  My favorite Vitality oil in my water is Peppermint, and my husband’s is Lemon!  When drinking oils in your water, be sure to use a glass or stainless steel cup. I love Contigo stainless steel cups for drinks on the go, and I have ordered stainless steel cups and straws off of Amazon!! Essential Oils flavor your water while also supporting your body systems, so it’s a win-win situation!

2.       Go Outside

Fresh air is seriously good for you! Even just the simple task of opening a window to let a fresh breeze into the house can boost your immune system!

Ever heard of grounding/earthing? Walk around barefoot!  Believe it or not, it’s very good for you. By walking barefoot and letting your feet make contact with the ground, earth’s electrons transfer into your body and do amazing things. 

Fresh air aids in ridding of the toxins in your body, and can help you sleep better.

I know it can be hard to go outside and open your windows frequently in the winter.  But if it’s not too cold outside and the sunshine is out, take advantage of that!  Also, keeping live plants in the house is a great way to help purify your air and bring a little bit of the outdoors into your home.  Another fun way to do so is to diffuse essential oils, which are basically “plant juice!” 

3.       Support Your Body Systems- especially your Immune and Digestive systems

Did you know almost every disease and illness stems from the gut?  Supporting your digestive system will lead to a healthier life!  And of course, our immune systems have a lot to say about how we feel, too. 

By using Young Living Essential Oils, and taking Young Living Supplements, I am supporting every single one of my body systems.  Essential oils also contain some of the highest frequencies of any substance.  Using essential oils can raise our own body frequency and support our health in remarkable ways.

Some of my favorite ways to support my digestive system is through drinking Kombucha (my current favorite brand is Simple Truth Organic), taking Young Living’s probiotic supplement, Life 9,  and drinking Peppermint Vitality essential oil in my water.

Some of my favorite ways to support my Immune System is applying and diffusing Thieves essential oil from Young Living, and using Young Living supplements such as ImmuPro and InnerDefense.  In fact, my Thieves household cleaner also boosts my immune system!

I also love drinking NingXia Red from Young Living every day.  It only takes 1-2 ounces to support every single body system, but I will take more if I need a little boost. It also pairs really well with LaCroix.  It is a delicious super fruit juice that does amazing things for your body.

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So there you have it- three simple ways to improve your health.  What step will you take today towards a healthier lifestyle?

If you're interested in learning more about Young Living, a major component of a healthy lifestyle, click here.

I would love to hear how you are supporting your health today!

Touchable Memories

We live in a visual time.  All of us crazy millennials like to take pictures of everything, but we have a good reason for that.  We like to capture memories as they are happening. 

Take a wedding for instance.  Flowers die, dresses can fade, cake gets eaten eventually, and meals can only be enjoyed once. As a recent bride, the most precious things I have from my wedding (besides my husband, of course) are the photographs and videos taken on my wedding day.  It’s an opportunity to relive the happiest day of my life over and over again, and I can look at those at any time and they will always be there. 

Have you ever found yourself frantically trying to find a picture of a certain place you visited or of you and a loved one only to find you don’t have any pictures of those moments or those people?  Pictures are a gateway to the past that help you relive your most precious moments in the best places with the people you love over and over again. 

Think about it… have you ever actually regretted taking too many pictures?  I mean, sure- you may run out of memory card space and you may have a lot of pictures to sort through.  But, in the end, aren’t you glad you have those pictures?  Each time you touch those photographs it’s a visual time portal for you to have the chance to relive those memories over and over again. 

Photographs allow you to show your memories to friends and family, and even grand-kids and great grand-kids. Look at this adorable picture of my grandparents.  I came across this picture when my grandmother passed away 6 years ago, and it now hangs on the wall of my home. I look forward to showing that picture to my kids someday, and telling them all about my grandparents and the memories I shared with them.

My grandparents!

As a photographer, my favorite pictures to capture are candid pictures, where people are simply enjoying life and the company of their loved ones.  Those pictures will be there for a lifetime for families to revisit and cherish, and even print and hang on their walls as a constant reminder of the people they love and the times they spent with them.  Take a moment to look at the pictures surrounding you in your home.  I can assume that most, if not all of them, bring you joy.  I also can imagine all the memories that are currently flooding through your mind. 

So take those selfies and pictures with your friends and family.  Take pictures of your vacations. Take pictures at church and of special moments in people’s lives.  You won’t regret it, because you are creating touchable memories at every sound of the shutter. 

What is your favorite thing about photographs?  Comment below!

Tips from a Bride

Photo by Alexandra Faith Photography

Our wedding was simply beautiful.  I loved every part of it and wish I could relive the day over and over again.  Plus, I learned a ton from planning my wedding.  So, as a recent bride, I have thought of several tips to share with both brides-to-be, and guests-to-be!  I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.  

FOR THE WEDDING GUEST….

Since I've been a bride, I have come to learn the importance of each of these things and will remember these tips for myself at the next wedding I'm invited to!

1.       Give encouraging words

  So many people make comments about how annoying marriage is, and that is the last thing an engaged couple wants to hear.

2.       Don’t pry too much into the wedding details

  So many people ask how the wedding plans are going and ask about the details.  Keep in mind the bride may want to keep most things a surprise!

3.       If you RSVP, do your best to attend, especially to the reception!

    First of all, RSVP whether you are attending or not by the date they have asked- there’s actually a reason for that date, believe it or not!  And chances are your meal is already paid for if you said you are attending, and it wasn’t cheap.  Most caterers don’t allow the family to take home leftovers either, so your food goes in the trash. That means it was a waste of money.  Bummer!

4.       Stay as long as possible.

  There are probably a lot of fun activities and maybe even surprises that the bride and groom want each of their guests to experience at their wedding and reception.  If you leave early, you’re missing out and it may even be a bit discouraging to the couple to see half of their guests leave before the fun happens.

5.       Take advantage of the food and fun that the bride and groom had planned for you while they are getting pictures taken.

     We know pictures can take a while, but remember that the bride and groom are making memories.  So take advantage of the appetizers and fun things they may have for you to do, and try not to give too many discouraging comments.

TIPS FOR THE BRIDE….

These are all things I was either glad I did or wish I would have done!

1.       Get the majority of stuff done early to save stress as the wedding day gets closer!

 Obviously the most important things to get done are the ones that fill up fast.  I found that the top 3 important things are the venue, photographer, and videographer.

2.       Realize it’s about the marriage, not the wedding. 

  You’re preparing for the rest of your life.  Even if something doesn’t go as planned on your wedding day, you will still be married (we hope…)!

3.       If dressing up for your shower, wear a long dress or skirt.

   Opening presents and trying to keep your legs together and lady like the whole time is a bit of a struggle!

4.       Get a good idea of your guest list before picking your venue.

   If you know ahead of time an approximate number of how many guests you will be inviting, that narrows down your venue choices.

5.       Take pictures of all your gifts to remember who they’re from!

   If you love pictures and remembering even the small details, this is an excellent idea.  May even come in handy when writing thank you cards, too!

6.       People will be disappointed if they don’t get an invite.  But you have to draw the line somewhere. 

  Family and close friends are top priority.  If people who aren’t invited get upset, or heaven-forbid angry, that’s their problem and not yours.  Don’t let them steal the joy from your day!

7.       Splurge on a nice photographer and videographer. 

 These 2 things will help you relive your day whenever you want!

   Also, if you don’t know your photographer very well, I’d suggest doing a small engagement session with him/her.  Then you will be more comfortable spending the entire day with them at your wedding! 

8.       Send Thank You cards! 

   You wouldn’t believe how many people don’t do this anymore, and how many people actually do appreciate a thank you note!  Make sure you keep track of all your gifts and mark off when you send their thank you card! 

9.       Don’t be afraid to take a ton of pictures throughout your engagement.

  Take pictures of your planning, showers, parties, rehearsal, and even take some selfies on your wedding day.  I love looking back at all of the memories, and a couple of my favorite wedding pictures are ones that were taken by me or my friends on our phones. 

10.   Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion and desires- within reason.

  Don’t be a demanding bridezilla- but it’s your day and it will only happen once! 

11.   Try the first look!

  We did the first-look, and we are so glad that we did.  We were able to hang out with our entire wedding party right before the ceremony and just enjoy each other’s company.  It was a little less nerve-racking that way too!

12.   Get ready the morning of the wherever it is most convenient.

 We got ready at our houses with our wedding party, and it was a lot less stressful in my opinion!

So there ya have it… things I learned, experienced, or wish I would have done! (I'm sure I'll add to this post as I think of more!)  I hope it helped! 

If you’re a bride-to-be reading this, then congratulations!  Soak in every beautiful moment <3

Refer to #9 and #11 :)

What are some tips you have as a past bride for any bride-to-be?

An Easy Snack for Any Holiday!

This easy snack is transformable to use for any holiday!  All you need is 3 things:

1. Pretzels (square pretzels work nicely!)
2. Chocolate 
3. Small candies (more chocolate is always a good idea!)

So here's what you do!....

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.  
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place the pretzels on the lining and top them with your choice of chocolate.  Add some variety depending on the holiday!  For Christmas, you could use peppermint flavored chocolate!  My go-to is almost always dark chocolate. 
3. Bake for about 6 minutes until the chocolate is shiny and soft, but not melting- they should keep their shape. 
4. Carefully place your candies in the center of your chocolate and press it down to spread the chocolate onto the pretzel. Have fun with your candy color choices!  For St. Patrick's Day, I went with green and yellow!  For Christmas, you can use green and red.  For Valentine's Day, you can use pink and red.  So many options!
5. Allow the pretzels to cool completely.  If you need to serve them immediately, let them sit in the fridge for a few minutes and you will be good to go.  Enjoy!!

Step #3

Step #4

What holiday are you going to make these Pretzel Buttons for?

5 Reasons Why You Should Live Like Your Dog

Now why would I want to be like my dog?  I’m not talking about sleeping all day and having an easy life… although the thought has crossed my mind!

I’m talking about the effects that your dog has on your life.  I have found 5 things to be true in the lives of my two dogs that should be true in my life as well.  Here are five reasons why you should live like your dog.

1.       They make you smile every time you see them

·         Am I right? Every time you walk in the door, they are there to greet you with a tail wag and that cute puppy “smile,” which in turn puts a smile on your face!

·         Do you make people smile when they see you?  Be sure to give people a reason to smile.  Often it’s just as simple as smiling at them and saying “hello!”  Treat people kindly, and compliment someone today!

2.       They’re forgiving

·         My dogs together weigh less than 12 pounds and were both the runts of their litter.  So they have been accidentally stepped on quite a few times in their lifetimes unfortunately.  But they are quick to forgive and want all of your attention again within the next five minutes.

·         We need to be quick to forgive and forget just like our dogs do.  We as humans tend to let things linger in our hearts and grow roots bitterness- but we shouldn’t let that happen.  Sometimes we just have to forgive the wrong, and continue loving that person like nothing ever happened.

3.       They’re loving

·         My dogs love to cuddle and show their love.  Sometimes that means barking uncontrollably until we let them up on the couch, and then they like to crawl up on my dad’s chest and stare at him until he returns the love!

·         Be quick to love others and make sure they know that they are loved.  You wouldn’t believe how many people go through life believing that nobody loves or cares about them.  Show someone the love of Christ today in some way!

4.       They aren’t quick to judge, and give everyone a chance

·         Most dogs want to be friends with humans the moment they see them at the door.  They jump all over them and love on them no matter who they are, where they came from, what they smell like, or what they look like.

·         Why are we as humans so quick to judge others by things we’ve heard about them or their appearance?  Give them the benefit of the doubt, and show them Christ’s compassion immediately! 

5.       They are always there to cheer you up and make you happy

·         Some days when I just have a mental breakdown and I am on the floor crying my eyes out, my dogs are the first to come to me and love on me.  They always seek to love me and cheer me up.

·         We need to be the kind of friend that our friends can come to on rough days.  Love on them through the hard times and let them know that you will always be there for them.

I highly recommend the movie, “A Dog’s Purpose.”  I am not a crier during movies, but this one brought tears to my eyes more than once.  The story-line is about one dog that lives the lifetime of several different dogs and always has the same purpose- to please his master.  I have never lost a dog, and I am not looking forward to that day.  But this movie gives you a warm feeling knowing your furry pets are always seeking to make you happy.  So grab some tissues, curl up on the couch with your furry friend, and watch this adorable movie. 

I also HIGHLY recommend this book, and it is a must-read for everyone, no matter what your opinion is on the matter. 

It was written by a KJV Bible student, teacher, and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ who has done more than 30,000 hours of personal Bible study. 

He shows us that there is absolutely no where in the Bible where it says that animals will not be in heaven. It actually says the exact opposite! I especially love chapter 6 where he shares several portions of scriptures that prove the Providence and promises that God has for all His creation, including animals. 

I have been mentally preparing for several years for the passing of Whitney, who was my first dog and is currently 15 years old. I'm even crying as I write this LOL I dread having to say goodbye to her, but I like to think that as soon as she gets into heaven she's going to recognize Aaron's face and run right to him, and this book has given me the reassurance that this is probably exactly what will happen the moment she reaches Glory. 

Quite honestly, if you have a very strong, uneducated opinion that animals will not be in heaven, I don't care to hear it, and I hope you will have the courage to read this book and realize what Scripture actually says. And if you're an animal lover like me, you will absolutely love this book! 

So no matter what your opinion is ....
Go get this book on Amazon and read it now!

But more importantly- watch your dog often and learn from your furry friend.  They have more to teach you than you could ever realize.   

What else have you learned from your dog?