Mommy Knows: When Frustration Gets The Best of You

Mommy Knows: When Frustration Gets The Best of You

I LOVE being a mom. Its something I always knew I would do. I grew up baby sitting all the neighborhood kids and lasted all the way into college! I was the “Go To Babysitter”. I assisted my mother in her In Home Day Care and I worked in various Day Cares separate from hers. I love children! I always thought I would be a teacher one day because of this passion!

I ended up never becoming a teacher because God had other Plans for me, and I am thankful that His hand on my life has led me down the path it has. I am a young mother married to a man I prayed for, for many years, and God answered my prayers ten fold. We are just starting out but thankfully God has blessed me with a business I can run from my home and help women transition from birth into motherhood with community and support! I love what I do and I love that I can be home with my two year old while I am at it! My daughter comes with me on all of my outings. She’s amazing and helpful during prenatal visits and client meet ups, then I am blessed that my husband watches her when I met clients postpartum to honor their sacred space.

My daughter is amazing. Patient, kind, and scary smart!! But with all of that said, she is also 2…. and that presents MANY challenges.

Now that she is getting closer to the age of 3 we are embarking on much more mental break downs, tantrums, and….. ATTITUDE!!!!

I was not prepared for this! ATTITUDE!? I always was on the other end of the “TUDE” but now I am getting a small glimpse of the maternal side.

I know just about every mother goes through this. And there are about a million “How To” books and Blogs and such on how to cure them and treat them, and thats great. But For me they stress me out… and confuse how I feel my daughter should be parented. Or they might intimidate me! But the point is…. Sometimes, my frustration with my daughter gets the best of me, and I sacrifice my influence as her mother for selfish reactions that are always based out of the wrong place.

I have experienced a number of times where, I “snap” and then as soon as it starts, its over, and then my conscience weighs on me, along with the shock in my daughter’s face. This has taken many forms, but they are all ugly, and solve nothing.

Finally, one day it happened again. I lost it…. and It sent my heart crawling back to The Lord for guidance. I am thankful for His forgiveness, and his mercy because clearly I need it. Then it hit me. How God parents me, is exactly how I should be parenting my daughter, with Grace and Mercy. And then a Daniel Tiger Episode popped into my head. “When you’re feeling mad and you wanna ROAR… Just take a deep breath… and count to four…. 1…2…3…4!” Yes there are lessons in cartoons for adults as well it seems!

At that moment I realized that I was in a position to teach and simultaneously learn and hone in the skill of patiently parenting. Firm and strait forward, but full of Grace and Mercy. So now when my daughter loses her cool in the parking lot and everyone is starring at me and her…. I’ll run the Daniel Tiger song through in my head, and then say “Ok God…. guide my discipline here, help me to parent her firmly in the way she needs me to Father.”

At that moment I am WAY more effective as a mother than I was before and instead of two people in shambles, there is one guiding the way for the other, and showing my daughter what is appropriate by treating her appropriately.

I am in NO WAY a parenting expert, but this switch flipping in my head has already really changed the atmosphere in our home, even my husband noticed it! (It could be also that I get gym time ALONE now… Thank you Jesus!) But I know that this change too is contributing to a better vibe to our home. I heard it said before that women are to be the Thermostat in the home….. NOT the Thermometer. And I really keep that vision in the for front of my mind as well….

So when you’re about to lose it…. Flash forward a few years and see how your influence now in guiding your children in their emotions will benefit them… For me it really tugged on my heart strings…. and got my mind turning. Use your unique set of Mommy Sense that I believe God gives the each of us…. and keep your cool momma!

You GOT THIS!

 

Have Grit Sweet Ones,

KH Signature

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in Truth.” 3 John 1:4

Mommy Knows: Essential Oils Every Momma Should Have

Mommy Knows: Essential Oils Every Momma Should Have

Many by now have heard about the new craze of Essential oils. Its easy to dismiss something that seems like the latest fad. However, the science behind how Essential Oils work makes it undeniable that these oils effectively protect and heal our bodies in multiple ways! On top of that, the usage of Essential oils extends all the way back to the beginning of the Bible! That says something about their power! With the wide variety, there is literally an oil that can be used for every single situation in life.

As mothers, it is no secret that we need to be equipped… for EVERYTHING! All mothers know that the inevitable not only is possible, but it WILL, at some point, happen! This is why this new year, I encourage you to revamp your Diaper Bag, Purse, Snack pack, and Beach Bag with a few oils that are a necessity for those rogue moments!

There are 5 Oils that you cannot go without…

The first Oil that MUST be with you at all times is Melaleuca (Aka Tea Tree Oil).

 

Melaleuca’s Benefits Include:

-Cleansing and renewing benefits to Skin

-Boosts Immune Functions

-Protects against environmental threats

 

Awesome Ways to Use This oil:

-Diaper Rash Creams

-Sanitizing Hand Sprays

-Cuts and Bruise Spray

-Mixed with a Carrier Oil (Fractionated Coconut oil, and Almond Oil are my favorites) and used topically for warts, blisters, rashes, and infections.

 

Another Oil that is a MUST for Mom’s is Lavender.

 

Many people just flat out love the smell of Lavender and savor it solely for that! However, Lavender is a powerhouse when it comes to using Essential Oils.

 

Lavender Benefits Include:

-Aromatherapy- Calming, Stress and Anxiety Reducing, and Sleep Aid

-Topically: Bee Stings, Insect Bites, Minor Burns, Cuts, Eczema, Dry and Chapped Skin, Dandruff, and Cold Sores

-Also helps with: Fever, nosebleeds, Nausea and Motion Sickness

 

Ways to Use Lavender:

-Diffused: In the car or in the home, Great for fussy restless babies, Tantrum prone toddlers, and grumpy over worked Husbands…. and ladies, when you can’t take anymore, drop a few drops of lavender in your palms rub them together and take a deep breath….. (I call this the “Chill Pill” ) It works.

-Topically: inflamed skin, cuts, burns, eczema and more (Paired with Melaleuca these two are a healing power house!)

-Motion sickness and Nausea: A drop on the tip of your tongue (Only use Pure therapeutic grade essential oils internally) Also Pregnant women should refrain from the use of Lavender internally and in some cases topically.

-Nose Bleeds: Using pressure point on the top lip directly under the nose and put a drop or two of Lavender on the tissue or rag you’re using to catch the blood.

-Cold Sores, and Distressed Lips: Chapped or cracked lips are desperate for some relief and lavender is just the thing to soothe them. Cold sores can be healed from putting Lavender EO directly onto the sore.

-Taste Buds!: Not many would think of Lavender as a tasty flavor but Lavender can be added to many recipes to add a unique and absolutely DELICIOUS flavor! My favorite is Raw Lavender Cheesecake….. Yes Its possible, and goodness its tasty! And Healthy!

 

The Next oil is Eucalyptus

 

Eucalyptus Benefits of use are:

-Anti-inflammatory

-Decongestant

-Deodorant

-AntiBacterial

-Anti-fungal

-Stimulating (Mentally)

 

Uses for Eucalyptus Include:

-Massaged onto the chest and back helps to soothe asthma, and congestion. Diffusing this oil also helps with these respiratory problems

-A few drops in warm water gargled for sore throats

-Diffused and topically placed at the base of the back of the neck to treat mental exhaustion as well as mental disorders, the cooling effect of the oil is refreshing and helps to remove the mid day fog…. (For children who have learning disabilities, behavioral differences, or when your coffee has worn of in the middle of the day this is a powerful oil to always have on hand!)

-Massaging into skin with a carrier oil for sore muscles and joint pain. (Growing pains are the worst…. this will give your child relief!)

-Mixed in your tooth paste! Helps to prevent cavities and gingivitis!

-Dropped onto the scalp to treat lice! (Every mom’s fear!) Eucalyptus is a natural pesticide!

-Placed on the bottoms of the feet, paired with peppermint to break fever (Fevers come out of no where sometimes so its really important to keep Peppermint and Eucalyptus on hand)

www.organicfacts.net

 

That leads us into our Fourth Essential Oil that is Essential…. Sorry I couldn’t resist…Peppermint

 

Peppermint Essential oil Benefits:

-Antiviral

-AntiMicrobial

-Anti-fungal

-Antioxidant

-Radio-protective

 

Ways to use Peppermint Essential Oil:

-Tummy Aches: can be taken internally in tablets (DoTerra carries peppermint tablets) or a drop under the tongue will do it.

-Rubbed onto the chest to decongest and reduce inflammation for those who suffer from Asthma

-Added to bath water for sore muscles or over tired bodies ( it happens to all our kiddos at some point and this is a great way to lead them into a deep sleep to recover from a long day)

-Diffused: Helps to increase emotional comfort and reduce stress and nervous system overstimulation….. Need I say more?

The Last Essential oil is Actually one of my absolute favorites! And I think you will see why!

 

Frankincense Essential is not only AMAZING to smell but it is a POWERHOUSE Essential oil!

 

Benefits of Frankincense Include:

– Antiseptic

-Disinfectant

-Astringent

-Digestive

-Diuretic

-Sedative

These are just some of the many uses and Medicinal benefits of Frankincense! Some others that cannot go with out mentioning are:

-Immune Boost

-Oral Health

-Emenagogue (Encourages regular and healthy Menstruation)

-Carminative (Eliminates gas in the body and prevents gas build up) -lets be real Ladies, No one wants Gas build up

-Cicatrisant (Fancy word for Miracle Worker…. Anti Aging and encourages healthy glowing skin… More on this later!)

-Digestive (Again a miracle worker in the speeding up of digestion and helps with indigestion!)

-Stress and Anxiety

 

Ways to Use Frankincense:

-Diffused with Other complimenting Essential Oils such as Cypress, Bergamot, Lemon, Lime , Orange, and Sandalwood! This is a Great way to combat stress and anxiety, as well as treating nervous system ailments.

-1-2 Drops under the Tongue: Momma’s this one is for you. This is a great way to keep up immune functions and over all health to make sure you’re the best mommy you can be and feel great while doing it!

-Combined with a carrier oil and rubbed onto the bottom of kiddos feet and the sides of their spine (Immune Booster Roller Ball Recipe to follow!)

-Mixed into lotions, lip balms, body wash, and fragrances (The ultimate secret weapon when it comes to Beauty Regiments!)

*Applying Frankincense to the skin encourages regeneration of healthy skin cells and encourages the tissues to remain healthy! Using this oils will help remove sun spots, scars, acne, wrinkles and tighten your sin wherever you apply! Like is said…. MIRACLE WORKER!

** This is an oil to refrain from during your pregnancy… But use it on your kiddos still!

Using Essential Oils may seem daunting at first, but once you know your main Oils to have in your arsenal you’ll be a Essential Guru! And then you can branch out after you further your own research!

Happy Essential Oiling!

 

Immune Booster Recipe 

Essential Oils12 Drops Frankincense

10 Drops Melaleuca

5 Drops Oregano

10 Drops Lemon

 

Have Grit Sweet One,

 

KH Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woman To Woman: Intentionally Optimistic for 2016

Woman To Woman: Intentionally Optimistic for 2016

After a full year of day to day hard ship, going into another year is easy to feel many emotions. However, the other morning I got up early while my baby girl was still sleeping to seek time with The Lord. In that time I was just praying and thanking God for the HUGE amount of GOOD He did in this last year in the midst of the hardship. In that moment, a domino effect happened. My eyes somehow were opened to the realization of all the break throughs last year had, the victories, the blessings…. Oh the Blessings! It made me recall a short quote I wrote when I was a Senior in College.

“Music… Vibrational reassurance that beauty is not always tangible, and that melody will still thrive in dissonance.”

God is the music in our lives, and He is Thriving!

I think a lot of us make it to the end of the year huffing and puffing, I know I did. And seeing another year coming strait at us seems like endless waves crashing overhead. But I encourage you sweet one. Stand yourself strait up, Hunt for the Good, and the Good will drive your life forward. Going into a new year, after coming out of a hard year, is a wonderful position to be in. Why? Because you are stronger! Because you overcame! Because you are on the hunt for Good! And Because you are choosing to propel your best into this next year!

CHOOSING to brush off the year that past and look head on into what is to come is invigorating and requires BIG Faith! But I know we all can do it! So, Cut your hair! Dye those locks and get that gym membership you’ve been putting off, but above all, focus on the Good! This is my challenge to you!

Have Grit Sweet ones,KH Signature

Woman To Woman: Treat Yo Self!

Woman To Woman: Treat Yo Self!

I’m going to go ahead and assume that if you’re a woman you are a giver. The days and weeks of your life consists of serving others. You freely give your time, your energy and the best of yourself to your loved ones. This is such a good quality and the true mark of a servers’ heart. However we often get lost in making sure everyone else is taken care of that we forget to take care of ourselves. I can always tell when I haven’t taken care of myself by my attitude. The minute serving becomes burdensome instead of enjoyable or when I start going through the motions and not be intentional with every action and move is when I know it’s time to stop and treat myself.

I recently fell into a huge writing slump. If you’re a writer you know how scary these slumps can be. It feels as if you’re stuck on sticky tap and can’t find a way to get unstuck. For a whole week, I couldn’t jot down one sentence let alone a word for my novel. I was paralyzed at this certain part of my story and it was looking like it was going to be a long road back to the light. Luckily, I have a husband who knows me inside and out and he came home from work one day and simply said, “On Saturday, you’re going to go take some time to be alone.” It’s amazing how our loved ones know truths about us before we can see them. I agreed and all of a sudden I was looking forward to Saturday morning, a date with myself, and a chance to gain a new perspective.

Saturday morning came, I got up early, before the babies, got dressed and headed out! With my laptop, charger, phone, and headphones in a tote I was ready to write and be renewed by time well spent with myself. As I sat down and was prepared to write I was still in a major slump. So I read a little, listened to music and even called an old friend of mine to catch up and laugh. By feeding myself, I got inspired and just like that the floodgates of my creativity burst open and I was able to jot down 4,000 words!!! The light was nearer than I thought, it just required me to put myself first and allow my creativity to be feed. If you starve yourself, you’ll end up being unhealthy. Same with your spiritual/mental body. If you starve your spirit and mind of love and nurture for ITSELF, then you’re going to be unhealthy and insufficient. Ladies, while I love that we are servers and that that’s a true reflection of our creator, I also want you guys to remember to TREAT YO SELF in order to give to yourself and others in a healthier and happier way.

What will you do this week to treat yo self? Let us know in the comments below!

With love and big smiles,

Torrie.

She Loves: Singlehood

She Loves: Singlehood

We’ve all been there. Going home for the holidays and hearing family members and old friends ask if you have a special someone in your life. Truth is you are either still recuperating from that last situation or you are waiting for that special someone to get it together. Either way, the last thing you want to talk about at the dinner table is your struggling dating life. Well, I am here to tell you that you are not alone and that there is nothing wrong with being single

As I’ve gotten older and matured a little, I’ve always felt this pressure to always be in a relationship and if I wasn’t then there was something wrong with me. Between the media, my friends, and my family, it’s been hard to accept this newfound singlehood. However, the fact still remains that sometimes you have to be alone to get yourself together. I’ve heard countless sayings like “You can’t love someone until you love yourself first,” and “Worry about yourself and the rest will come,” or “God is preparing your special someone” or my favorite “How can you expect to have someone in your life, when you don’t even know what you want?”

Well, sometimes the wait is daunting and I may not always be the most patient.

However, I can honestly say, I have never seen myself in this light. I am actually taking the time to get know myself, and I must say that I am pretty amazing. This has been a long time coming, but I trust me when I say that it couldn’t have happened at a better time. So now that I have been on both sides of the spectrum from being madly in love with someone to completely alone, I can say that singlehood isn’t has bad as the movies make it seem. I am achieving my goals and dreams like never before. Now that’s not to say I couldn’t have done this with a significant other, but the truth is it took me to be alone, to get up and go after all the things that I wanted.

So, embrace that singlehood, love yourself, chase those dreams, and once you have done all that God wants you to do at that time He will drop that special someone in your life, I promise.

 

Taylor G.

Mommy Knows: The Mom Word

Mommy Knows: The Mom Word

It is far too often that I hear the term “Mom” thrown around. Especially in the world of the work force I will catch people, sometimes even myself throwing this pinnacle of a word around like its, well….. not much. Going into the new year my goal for my own life, and for the life of the mothers in my social sphere, I want to regard that word with respect. By intentionally offering this honor to my fellow mothers and of course my own mother. I pray that this ACTION will seep into my own maternal heart with each outward jester I make. Mothers are born to serve. And that is a calling that comes with a heaviness and an unfathomable reward. I am proud to be a mother…. and I am blessed to be amongst a community of Women who are also MOTHERS! What a privilege to be in a community to help blossom and grow one another! Who is a mother in your social sphere that you can build up and regard her title with RESPECT in an OUTWARD action? Watch the domino effect this will make!

 

A Mother’s Crown

A mothers eyes…. And the wrinkles beside them….

Revealing her choice and privilege

She is the one that stays back and focuses on bath times and reading baby books,

Stays back to clean and cook and discipline….

Often unseen…. Often not heard..

The wrinkles around her eyes….are the testament of her story

They are the stories of her denying herself repeatedly throughout each and everyday…

The wrinkles are reminders of her sacrifice which she does with pleasure for the family she would gladly die for…

Her wrinkles are the sweet reward for being the back bone, for being her husbands help mate, for choosing her family over herself….time and time again.

The wrinkles are her crown for the hard work of her hands and the throne for her humility….

From countless smiles… From laughter that came strait from her soul…. A type of joy only a mother would know.

The wrinkles that meet her every time she looks in the mirror….

They are her privilege to showcase…. Each line precious and dear…

Each crevice the evidence of serving her family…. Each line a reminder…. That Love is choosing all others before herself…. The reason she was created…

The wrinkles around mothers eyes…. Reveal the joy in her servants heart…. They are her reward….Above all they are her crown.

®Kiersten Homalon 2016

Philippians 4:4-8  “ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

 

Have Grit Sweet Ones,

Kiersten Homalon

 

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