Homeschooling: The Week Before the First Day

Covid was the catalyst - but now I am excited to start homeschooling my kids. Could we do this forever?

I have been scouring the internet reading about different types of homeschooling, took quizzes to determine "What Type of Homeschooling is Right for [Me]," bought out the dollar store craft section, read curriculum reviews, read more curriculum reviews, and bought a curriculum. Then I second guessed the curriculum I bought, joined Facebook groups, left Facebook Groups, signed up for Teachers Pay Teachers, and second guessed everything again... third guessed? 

I know I am not the only person in our country going through this battle with the uncertainty of schools opening, school safety, and online learning. I know I am not the only person in my neighborhood for that matter! 

Here is what I know so far:

• I have no idea what to expect.
• I need to be flexible.

My boys are 7 and almost 5 and very different children with very different needs. I have been working hard to create our first week of school without our purchased curriculum (it was on back order, unsurprisingly) and I think it is a good way to ease into a whole new world. I am not totally comfortable with this unstructured beginning - and I never want my boys to fall behind their peers or later feel like I did them a disservice in their education.

We will start with curriculum learning but also follow the path of "unschooling" where we learn on adventures and in our garden, visiting museums, and learning music skills. We will cook more and play more. Our world is becoming our own and I think that I am finally feeling connected to the hippie mom I always wanted to be. 

Between now any Monday you will find me consuming as much Pinterest as possible. Please tell me if you have homeschooling tips that would help a first timer!

My Gratitude Today

Today, March 5th, 2019, I received the best news. My sister is cancer free!

Tears started flowing, and wouldn't stop. The release of the subconscious stress and worry jarred me. I could have sat in bed all day and cried; letting go of the fear, the possibilities of continued pain and illness for her, it was all melting and I found myself looking for someone to thank. Who? God? The Universe? Science?

I went to sit with my garden, as I often do when I am looking for connection or answers from that which I cannot explain. (In all honesty, while trying to "do the work," my oldest son came out, certain that his foot was poisoned. I gave him some dill from the garden to cure it, and we went back inside.) This isn't where I was going to find it.

After putting my youngest son down for nap, I, again, went outside and listened to Tara Brach's talk on Authentic Thanks Giving. While it was featured during the holiday season, the message was Gratitude and Generosity. She led "us" through a moment of saying "I am grateful for ______." I said I was grateful for my sister's health, for the doctors, for the nurses, for the coldcap, for the chemo, for eastern and western medicine, for her strength to get through it, for the support our family was able to show her..." the list went on. While I was sincere in it all, it wasn't until Tara Brach prompted me to say "Thank You," that I completely lost it. I said it over and over and over through tears, and shortened breath. As I write now I am still misty with it all.

That is the answer. There isn't one person to share the gratitude with. It is everyone. It is God, The Universe, Science, the doctors, Chantele's body and for fighting, her community, her family, the person who gave her a massage when she was feeling really run down from the chemo. Her husband's employer for providing great benefits so they wouldn't have to worry how to pay for saving her life.

The list can go on.

I am also thankful for the people who supported me. Who checked in on me on quiet days. Who asked how my sister was during school pick up and just walking down the street. Thank you for not allowing me to feel alone and letting me talk about it.

So, let's continue on the journey of sending her good healing vibes so she can continue to heal and put this chapter behind her. Behind us.

In gratitude,
Emily

Searching for a Spiritual Sunday, Maybe

Growing up, I was baptized Episcopalian, in my teens, I joined a more evangelical Christian church (possibly for the babes), and then eventually developed my current agnostic/Buddhist beliefs. While I like where I am in my beliefs and values, I miss the community of church. I miss the devotion of a few hours to find meaning, a lesson, and motivation for the coming week. Finding a few hours to encourage personal development and service to others.

I try to meditate daily, but even guided meditation isn't doing it. My favorite meditation leader, Tara Brach, gives many amazing talks, which I turn to when looking to do "the work." While I HIGHLY recommend checking out all of her talks and meditations, especially Stress and Every Day Nirvana, I still long for the community.

It is a hard thing to find these digital days, community. I am a stay at home mom and the only adult conversations I have is the 20 minutes during parent pick up and when my husband gets home, if we can talk over the children yelling for our attention. I have Instagram friends, but I hardly know their real first names, only their IG handles, and only what they want to share on social media.

So, how do we create community? Meaningful community? Purposeful community? Where we can commit a few hours to each other, in service, in contemplation, in productivity? How do we find the time with our children's activities, family obligations, and general reclusiveness.

Next Sunday I am going to attend a Unitarian Church  service to see if that is a fit for me in an earnest attempt to find community. Perhaps old habits die hard? I'll keep you updated.... if you are out there.

Finding a New Purpose

2018 ended in a terrible way for me. 

This brought me into a new year in a major funk. I am a gal who always has clear intentions going into a new year. I know what my next steps are going to be, where I want to go, how to get there. 

2019 did not start that way. I felt lost. I was floundering for ideas, purpose, I was down, feeling like I was just existing.

Yesterday I started to write stuff down to help me start a direction. Anything. While I don't have any major goals yet, I have a few plans to keep me positive and moving forward.

2019 Goals

1. Learn Italian. 

After our trip to Europe last spring, it is certain that Italy is my favorite country to visit. We stayed in Airbnbs and tried to do as the locals do, but also enjoying a tour or two. I fell in love with the food, the language, the culture, the architecture, the history, and did I mention the wine? Definitely the wine.

Learning Italian will empower me to visit the country again and feel braver when conversing with Italian locals. That was a big pain point for me on our last visit, while luckily, most people speak English; I am certain I would feel much more comfortable knowing more of the language, rather than just the general greetings. 

I am starting with the Duolingo app, but will be looking into actual lessons or courses soon. Do you have any recommendations? Do you speak multiple languages?

2. Grow more/eat more plants.

Plants ground me. Whether I am growing them in my garden, in a pot indoors, or a cactus on the mountain, plants connect me to something bigger than me. I am a vegetarian, working harder on eating less and less animal products. By eating more plants, I will have more energy, be healthier, and reduce my carbon footprint. This will also continue to create good habits for my boys and their health.

My sister, who just finished her last round of chemotherapy (YAY!), and I will be working together on creating some plant-based meal plans. This is a form of cooking together, but across the country... and may play into my next goal, too.

3. Act creatively.

This is to ensure I am doing something outside of being a mom, wife, friend. While all of those things are of dire importance to me, it's easy to be lost in those roles. This ensures I look inside to find me, my voice, my visions for things. This can be painting more, writing more, blogging more, picking up my real camera again... 

How did the beginning of 2019 find you? I hope you have some clarity in the path you are venturing down this year. I hope it is a year of growth and positivity for all of us. 

Who's Got the Booch?

Anyone else have that song in their head now? If you don't know what I am talking about, I've included this gem of a 90's video at the end. You're welcome.

I was surprised when I did a kombucha post on Instagram and a lot of people hadn't tried it, or didn't know of its benefits. I'm happy to elaborate a bit.

What is kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented green or black tea. During the fermentation process a living Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast (SCOBY) forms. This process produces vinegar, acidic compounds as well as a tiny bit of alcohol (around 0.5%) and gases, which makes it fizzy and FUN!

The SCOBY can be used to create other Kombuchas, kind of like "The Mother." These bacteria and yeasts are also known as probiotics, and they are still alive in the "booch!" That is most important component of probiotics, are the bacteria, or cultures, still alive?

Kombucha Benefits:

• The good-for-you bacteria and yeast make their way to your gut and help with digestion, inflammation, weight loss, and more. YAY Probiotics! 
• You receive all the benefits of the tea itself. Green tea is full of antioxidants, as is black tea. Both contain caffeine (some kombucha contains more than others), so you will certainly get some of that. This is why I drink it in the afternoon instead of afternoon coffee.
• The acids and vinegar created also help ward off the bad bacteria and yeast hanging around. See ya later candida! 
• Supports heart health and maintains healthy cholesterol levels. 

My favorite brands are first and foremost GT'S and the one pictured above, Holy Kombucha, which is a little sweeter.

Lastly, make sure what you are buying isn't pasteurized. This will kill off the bacteria and basically becomes an expensive juice drink.

If you have more questions, I suggest checking out GT'S FAQ page or doing more research. Listen to your body and start with half a bottle if necessary. I would love to know what you think of kombucha! Have you tried it? Will you try it? 

Happy Sipping!

Four Herbs and Oils for That Time of The Month

*while this post is not sponsored, it may contain affiliate links, this means at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a commission. 

Aunt Flow:

We all get it, none of us like it, and we definitely don't want to talk about it, right? Yes, that monthly visitor reminding us that we are indeed women, and human, and our bodies are capable of amazing things. For me, after having two babies, my body was like, "You REALLY wanna see what's up?" My period, which was never good, got even worse.

Cramps, clots, the heaviest flow I have ever endured, and don't get me started on the mood swings and irregularity of it all. It was a new year resolution of mine that I had to get my PMS under control, it was making me and my family completely miserable. Clearly, something was out of whack. Other gals I talked to recommended I get on birth control, or an IUD, but those things just ain't me babe. I knew there had to be something out there to help, some support nature could provide.

Herbs:

Herbs came first for me. Food as medicine is my one true love. Here are the herbs I found that help with my cycle:

Cilantro

Removes heavy metals and toxins from the body, helping to improve hormonal functions.

Parsley

Assists and promotes detoxification, as a diuretic helps relieve water retention, cramps, head ache and PMS symptoms.

Red Raspberry Leaf

Tones and relaxes the uterus, relieves cramps and PMS symptoms, reduces heavy flow.

Nettle

Reduces cramping, heavy flow and possibly duration of one's period.

That is really just touching the surface about how these herbs can support your body regularly. The easiest way to incorporate these herbs is in every day cooking, smoothies, and tea! As seen above, I love the Traditional Medicinal Healthy Cycle tea*. It is sweet and easy to drink. I even enjoy it as an iced tea on a hot day - because it's always hot in the desert it seems. 

Essential Oils:

After the herbs came the essential oils. I don't believe anything in nature acts alone. If we can find what works for our bodies, we can have a Swiss Army Knife of solutions in our back pocket, nay and entire tool kit. That is why I was thrilled to supplement what I had been using for more than six months with doTERRA's essential oils. Here are the go to oils to support a healthy menstrual cycle:

Clary Sage

Calming and soothing, supports healthy skin and hair 

Lavender

Eases feelings of tension, anxiousness, promotes relaxation and sleep.

Rose

Uplifting and stimulates proper hormone levels. 

Ylang-Ylang

Lifts mood, reduces anxiousness, antispasmodic qualities to ease cramping

OR you can save yourself time and easily use this amazing doTERRA blend, ClaryCalm. I will rave about this oil blend until my voice is gone. Simply roll it on your  temples, abdomen, behind your neck, to soothe heightened emotions, cool hot flashes, and promote relaxation.

The last, but maybe the most important tip from me is hydrate and eat well. Hydrating will help to minimize almost all of your symptoms as it allows your body to work in its ideal state.Eating well will help to refuel the vitamins and minerals that are being expelled or used during this month.

Now having used the ClaryCalm and herbs for the last two months, my period was only 5 days early (as opposed to two weeks early) my flow has lightened up significantly, and my mood is improving.  

If you have questions, or want to know how these essential oils can help your or you want to buy some to try for yourself, visit my.doterra.com/thesimplechoice or email me! I would be happy to help you learn more about how oils can support your health!

doTERRA - Essential Oils Boost Well Being

For three years I have been using essential oils in my life, from making soy candles, to diffusing for aromatherapy, to adding them to my homemade body products. This last year my sister has helped me to really take the leap to adding them to my family's life for wellness.

Over Christmas 2017, like the rest of America, we got the flu. We were hit hard, but my youngest son was hit the hardest. This included a trip to the emergency room, steroid breathing treatments and so much stress and anxiety for all of us. After this, we were gifted "Breathe," This blend has helped out every member of our house. My youngest son benefits the most. He hasn't had a breathing treatment in seven months. Those used to be a monthly occurrences, which is unacceptable to me. 

Essential oils are "naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compound ... found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants." states the doTERRA website. Because these are made of the highest quality plants, it was a completely natural fit for me; it supports everything I already believe in. 

Plants are our best source of medicine, wellness, and wealth. 

This blog will continue to follow my simple life, but that will also include essential oils and how I use them in my every day life. I hope you will follow along! If you're interested in more, contact me through the comments below, or check out my doTERRA page! Keep up with the day-to-day on my Instagram Page.