The Secret to Entertaining Twins on a Budget

I often see negative posts on Facebook about how some of us were so blessed to be raised before the invention of the internet, computers, tablets, and the likes because as kids, this forced us to be creative.

I have good news!

Creativity is not dead.

Today, my seven year old twins have been able to entertain themselves for HOURS with tape and printer paper.

Yes, my stack of paper is half gone.

Yes, they went through one roll and a half of tape.

Yes, there are little itty-bitty bits of paper all over my living room.

Who cares?

They had fun!

They were creative and they are so proud of their creations.

I can buy more paper and tape and they WILL clean their mess.

Little boys must grow up and  in the meantime I am so grateful for the messes they make and the smiles they put on my face.

I hope this makes you smile too.

On a side note: Excuse the mess, I have been "Spring" cleaning in July going through closets and such...so basically, my house is a mess.

Blessings!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I can’t help but hum ‘These are a few of my favorite things’ like Julie Andrews when I think of… a few of my favorite things! J

These are the things that I absolutely do not let myself run out of, and for good reasons.  Now, please note, this is not an extensive list by any means… just my top 3 must-haves!! 

#1 Essential Oils

I have been using essential oils for many years and I. LOVE. THEM!  I cannot imagine my life without them.  They are rubbed on, inhaled, infused, and diffused!!  I carry some of them in my purse wherever I go.  Yes, I am that weird person with an arsenal of things in a tiny purse (I really dislike purses, by the way).  Essential oils keep my family healthy and they just plain smell good.  The ones I ALWAYS have on hand and carry with me are: Peppermint, Thieves, and Lavender.

If you ask which was is my favorite, I’d have a hard time because they each serve a wonderful purpose.  And although Thieves has helped to keep my family ailment free for many flu seasons, I think at this point I would lean towards peppermint. 

I did a clean eating challenge to start off my New Year and right at the same time I had read about a study that used peppermint for weight loss.  All you have to do is inhale peppermint whenever hungry and you lose weight.   What?!?!  Sign me up!!  I did lose more weight on the clean eating when I inhaled the oil vs when I did not.

So it smells great and you lose weight: win-win!

#2 Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Even my 6 year old daughter enjoys and cup of warm ACV sweetened with a little honey.  Yum!!

It is refreshing, helps keep our body alkaline AND, (this is my favorite part) it stops pimples in its tracks!

That’s right!!  It is wonderful for your skin anyway, but let me just tell you: I has helped me on numerous occasions to prevent a second head from growing out of my face!  Sorry if that was graphic!

Try it: The next time you start to feel a zip / pimple pop up, rub ACV right on it and, at least for me, it is gone by morning!

#3 Coconut Oil

Coconut oil: I have used it in my hair, I use it on my face as a moisturizer.  It is used for oil pulling…like my other favorites, the benefits seem endless.  The reason I list it as a favorite is it is a great cleaner. Let me explain: We have been putting up fencing and I decided to stain the wood posts to match the RR ties.  I didn’t have any gloves, so as you can imagine, my hands were covered in stain (even though I tried hard to be ‘careful’).  I scrubbed and scrubbed and the stain would not come off.  Imagine that!

I looked online and discovered that you can rub your hands with coconut oil, then use a regular soap and voila, the stain is gone!!  Clean hands!! Yay!! 

Conclusion:

I love these, and many other products.  I love learning new uses for them.  And I look forward to hearing from you.  Please share a few of your favorite things!!  

A Birthday Tea Party

Well, I finally threw my first tea party.  It happened to be for my daughter Kathleen’s 6^th birthday.  It also happened to be a success. The girls loved it…everyone loved it. 

I had invited a few of Kathleen’s closest friends [which included some cousins, too] and with those little girls came their rambunctious brothers – whom also enjoyed being a part of the tea party, I might add!  Sadly, a few of the girls were unable to make it, including one who had pink eye… but there is always next year.

I had to do a little research, but I had been to a tea party – or two – before and knew the basics.  I was a little nervous because every attempt I have made in the past at getting decorations to look like a Better Homes and Gardens cover had been a total fail.  But I must say: it turned out very cute.

I looked at different tea party themes and was torn between lemon and strawberry – so, I combined the two! 

We had lemon scones with lemon curd, strawberry cookies, hamand cheese tea sandwiches and pirate punch [which my husband couldn't get enough of]. 

It was only upon clean-up that I remembered the quiche…

*sigh* 

Guess I’ll just have to enjoy those a little later!  ;)

I went to Goodwill to find the – intentionally - mismatched tea set: which the girls were able to keep as a little gift and reminder of this day! 

The food was great – even the pickiest of critics enjoyed it.  The company was a delight.  The weather was perfect [what’s not to like about 78 degrees in sunny San Diego?!]... and I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the next occasion on which I can plan a tea party…isn’t Valentine’s day coming up?? 

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

We are the outdoorsy types:  we love to camp [tent and RV], we love to hike and we love to enjoy all of creation.  This should come as no surprise since we have moved into a 39’ trailer in November.

This summer our family found a new love: our RZR 1000.  Well, let me restate that.  It’s not so much the RZR itself, but the quality time it allows our family to have and the different adventures on which it takes us.

 

 

We can just hop in a find trails right from our property.  Several times we have ventured up Otay Mountain which overlooks all of San Diego County.  You can see lakes and even Mexican Islands 20 miles out to sea!

We recently went to a place called Corral Canyon.  We ended up covering over 20 miles winding through oak trees and splashing through mud puddles.  We climbed higher and higher until the air was scented with pine and the trees towered over us.

And the views…

The views were breathtaking.  Pictures could never do them justice.

Once we reached the top of the mountain we had a little picnic.  Although, it was so cold we were thinking of ways that we could have crockpot chili to warm us up instead. 

It’s one of those times when you keep talking about it and are planning the next trip before you even get home.

 

I am excited for our next adventure…we are in desert season, after all.  Superstition Mountains, here we come!

Dubiosity by Christy Barritt

I was blessed to receive a copy of Dubiosity to review. I started it on December 26th before bed. I was so tired that I could not keep my eyes beyond the first couple of chapters.

So yesterday, I settled myself in my new chair in front of the wood burning stove, with my blanket and pillows. I did not move for hours as I read this romantic suspense.

Dang, Christy did it again!

She held my attention from cover to cover as the story of Savannah Harris unfolded page after page.

My only complaints:

1. I get nothing accomplished when reading Christy's books
2. They end way too soon and I have to wait for the next one

I have enjoyed every book I have ever read from Christy Barritt. Some I liked more than others. Dubiosity definitely goes into my "favorite" category.

Summary of Dubiosity

Savannah Harris vowed to leave behind her old life as an intrepid investigative reporter. But when a friend raises suspicions about two migrant workers who’ve gone missing from the sleepy coastal town Savannah calls home, her curiosity spikes. 

As ever more eerie incidents begin afflicting the area, each works to draw Savannah out of her seclusion and raise the stakes—for both Savannah and the surrounding community. Even as Savannah’s new boarder, Clive Miller, makes her feel things she thought long forgotten, she suspects he’s hiding something too, and he’s not the only one. Doubts collide in Savannah’s mind: Who can she really trust? 

As secrets emerge and danger closes in, Savannah must choose between faith and uncertainty. One wrong decision might spell the end…not just for her, but for everyone around her. 

Will she unravel the mystery in time, or will doubt get the best of her?

Buy the book.

Other Books Reviews:

• Hunted by Christy Barritt
• Random Acts of Murder by Christy Barritt

Reading in the Mornings

I love to read, although I didn’t discover this until I was in college and actually took the time to read a book just because.  I was always reading text books, reports or studies.  For the most part – BORING!

My husband does not share my love of reading – though he does enjoy me reading to him.  So…in the mornings before he goes to work: we cuddle up on the couch with a blanket in front of a fire, he sips his coffee and we embark on a journey together.

I absolutely love this time with him: after all, quality time is one of my love languages. 

We just finished reading a book by Max Lucado called Facing Your Giants.  He asked me to buy it after someone read a chapter from it at a men’s group. 

From the back cover:

You know your Goliath.  You recognize his walk.  The thunder of his voice.

He taunts you with the bills you can’t pay, people you can’t please, habits you can’t break, failures you can’t forget, and a future you can’t face.  But just like David, you can face your giant, even if you aren’t the strongest, the smartest, the best equipped, or the holiest.

David. You could read his story and wonder what God saw in him.  His life has little to offer the unstained, straight-A saint.  He fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered.  But for those who know the sound of Goliath, David gives a reminder:

Focus on giants – you stumble.

Focus on God, your giants stumble.

If you’re ready to face your giants, let David’s story inspire you.  The same God who helped him will help you.

This book really got us to think and put some things into perspective. And I am sure it is one that we will pick up again one day. J

Random Acts of Murder by Christy Barritt

I started reading Random Acts of Murder the day I was supposed to make 12 pies (yes, 12) for Thanksgiving. I hated putting the book down and started my pies one hour and a half behind schedule. I could not wait to get back to that book!

I finished it within 24 hours and loved every minute of it. I was kind of sad when it ended because as of now there is no number 2 book in the series and this means I have to wait (not my favorite thing).

I have not enjoyed a book that much since the Squeaky Clean Mysteries by the same author.

I love Christy Barritt's styles and her plots. She is genuine, funny and one heck of a writer. I have read most of her books. Some I have enjoyed more than others and Random Acts of Murder is certainly at the top of my "Christy Barritt Favorite Book List."

If you like clean suspense/mysteries with a touch or romance, you'll love this book!

Summary of Random Acts of Murder

When Holly Anna Paladin is given a year to live, she embraces her final days doing what she loves most—random acts of kindness. But one of her extreme good deeds goes horribly wrong, implicating Holly in a string of murders. Holly is suddenly in a different kind of fight for her life. 

Only two other people know Holly was at the site of the murder, and one of them is the killer. Making matters stickier is the fact that the detective assigned to the case is her old high school crush and present day nemesis. 

The clocking is ticking as Holly is forced to play a dangerous game. Will Holly find the killer before he ruins what’s left of her life? Or will she spend her final days alone and behind bars? 

Holly was introduced to us in one of the Squeaky Clean Mysteries.

Buy the Book

Hunted by Christy Barritt ~ Book Review 

Our Big Move to a 'Smaller' Life

So today, December 8th, is one month since we made the big move to our smaller life.  And we are so happy!

Our family has moved onto 10 beautiful acres in southern California, where a house once sat on a hilltop. The bottom of the property boasts tall oaks and a creek that winds through them.  You can still see the different tiers where avocado trees once thrived.

In 2007, one of many wildfires in San Diego County burned many homes, including the one built here in the early 20th century.  Sometimes, I feel like I will be pulling up burnt PVC pipes for the rest of my life!

This is a labor of love: a move that we have thought about and wanted for years. 

With so much land how is this a smaller life?

Well, we moved out of our house and we bought a new 39 foot travel trailer that actually has 2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms!!!!  Can you believe it!?  I never knew one like this existed.

It is perfect for our family and will serve us well as we clean up the land and prepare to build our next home...debt free, I might add!  :)

We just started to work the soil where there was once a huge garden... thank God for tractors and a husband who loves to 'play' in the dirt!  I can't wait to see what it will let me grow.

I have had my doubts about this move, especially downsizing our family of 4 to a travel trailer.  But days before the 'big move' I saw this on Pinterest and it brought me peace:

December 2014 Young Living Promotion

Every month Young Living has a promotion. We wanted to share December's promotion with you!



Reach 300 PV: $104.60 Value

• You earn a 5 ml bottle of Vetiver and a 5 ml bottle of limited time seasonal oil blend Treasure of the Season.

This essential oil blend combines two different varieties of Frankincense essential oil with Cinnamon Bark and Idaho Balsam Fir essential oils.

• 10 percent back in extra Essential Rewards points (up to 50 points)! (You must enrolled with Essential Reward program)

Reach 250 PV: $52.30 Value

• 5-ml Vetiver essential oil 
• 10 percent back in extra Essential Rewards points (up to 50 points)! (You must enrolled with Essential Reward program)

Reach 190 PV: $27.50 Value

• 5-ml Vetiver essential oil 

Special Bonus Promotion:

• 10 Percent Off NingXia Red and Thieves Premium Starter Kits for new enrollees.

Christmas Spirit Essential Oil

I love, love, love this essential oil blend from Young Living and I use it all year round not just around the Holidays.

Christmas Spirit promotes feeling of joy and happiness. It uplifts your mood and well being. It helps during times of stress.

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Spirit blend is made of three therapeutic grade essential oils:

• Orange ~ Citrus aurantium
• Cinnamon Bark ~ Cinnamomum verum
• Pine ~ Piicea mariana

Orange

Orange has an ORAC of 18,898 (TE/L).

"Orange essential oil has a rich, fruity scent that lifts the spirit while providing a calming influence on the body. Orange brings peace and happiness to the mind. It is rich in the powerful antioxidant d-limonene and aids in maintaining normal cellular regeneration." *

Orange be considered GRAS and ingested. Young Living's is Kosher certified.

Cinnamon Bark

Cinnamon Bark has an ORAC of 10,340 μ TE / 100 gm.

"Cinnamon is thought to promote healthy cardiovascular and immune function, and acts as an antiseptic. You can also use it to enhance your cooking, or dilute and massage into chakras to create a soothing, relaxing sensation." *

Cinnamon Bark be considered GRAS and ingested. Young Living's is Kosher certified.

Pine

Pine has an ORAC of 890 uTE/100g.

"First investigated by Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, pine is soothing for stressed muscles and joints when used in massage. It shares many of the same properties as Eucalyptus globulus, and the action of both oils is enhanced when they are blended." *

Pine be considered GRAS and ingested. Young Living's is Kosher certified.

Christmas Spirit Uses

• Apply several drops (2-4) to wrists, over heart, neck and feet (you may want to dilute 50:50 with a carrier oil)
• Apply to vitaflex points
• Wear as a perfume 
• Inhale
• Diffuse
• Some put a few drops in their water or tea

Alisha's Young Living number 958919

Florence's Young Living number 910945

* Sources:

• http://oilhealthbenefits.com/cinnamon-essential-oil-bark-leaf/
• http://www.natural-motherhood.com/
• http://www.essentialoiltherapies.com/downloads/training-tools/EDR_5/ravintsara.pdf

Hunted by Christy Barritt

I finished reading Hunted by Christy Barritt yesterday morning and I loved it! I devoured it in one day (no small feat for a mom of many!)

Then again, no big surprise. I recently read all eight - yes eight - novels in the Squeaky Clean Mystery Series by the same author. I love Christy's style and I love mysteries. BUT, the mysteries I read have to be clean as in not gratuitous gore, sex and/or foul language AND it must have an exciting plot and Christy delivers on all aspects.

Hunted is the second book in the Sierra Files (Pounced is the first on the series) which is spin off series from Squeaky Clean Mysteries  in which Sierra Nakamura is a secondary character. In the Sierra Files,  she becomes the main character.

I was a tad concerned I would not like this series as much as I liked Squeaky Clean Mysteries. I should not have worried. The two series fit together perfectly. It was delightful to read about characters from the "past" and again Christy penned great character and an awesome plot.

Hunted: Summary

Who knew a stray dog could lead to so much trouble? 

Newlywed animal rights activist Sierra Nakamura Davis is coming face to face with her worst nightmare: breaking the news she eloped to her ultra-opinionated tiger mom.  

Her perfectionist parents have planned a vow renewal ceremony at Sierra’s lush childhood home, but a neighborhood dog ruins the rehearsal dinner when he shows up toting what appears to be a fresh human bone. 

Between the dog, a nosey neighbor, and an old flame turning up at all the wrong times, Sierra hunts for answers. 

Surprises abound at every turn as Sierra embarks on a journey of discovery that leads to more than just who did the crime. 


If you love fun and exciting mysteries, read Hunted, you will not be disappointed.