doTERRA Essential Oils for Mental Health

It's no secret that the mental health system in our nation is lacking. Although most primary care physicians are willing and able to provide medications that will address a variety of chemical imbalances, there are a lot of folks who are reluctant to speak up about emotional ups and downs.

There are a lot of people who might go through seasonal lows, experience temporary periods of anxiety or mild depression, or simply get overwhelmed when life becomes exceedingly stressful. Just the daily grind itself can make you want to pull your hair out some days. Can I get a amen?

If that sounds anything like you, doTERRA essential oils may be the perfect solution to your mild emotional instabilities.

**Let me just stop right here - before I go any further - and clarify one very important point: if you are experiencing recurrent, regular, unchanging symptoms of severe depression, please seek help from a licensed medical professional. Mental disorders are most often classified by a chemical or hormonal imbalance in the brain - a biological dysfunction that may only be helped with prescription intervention.**

From my own personal experience taking a prescribed serotonin reuptake inhibitor shortly following the birth of my second child, a couple of months taking a daily pill was enough to get me back to my normal self again. I was so glad to stop taking that medicine, but I'm a mom. I'm human, and some days still just get the best of me. This is why I am so grateful to have found doTERRA essential oils.

There are a variety of blends and single oils that are great for treating mood swings, disparity, lack of motivation, insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, stress and the list goes on. Here are some of my favorite EOs and how they are most often used to address common mental health concerns.

The Mood Matrix is a great tool to figure out which exclusive doTERRA oil blend is going to be most effective for your current emotional state.

Serenity has a smooth, soft, sweet aroma with notes of lavender and sandalwood. It is great for diffusing at night to promote relaxation and sleep.

Citrus Bliss is a combination of the citrus oils with a touch of vanilla. It is very reminiscent of a creamsicle.

Balance is a sweet, earthy aroma with hints that remind me of luscious trees perfectly paired with a salty sea breeze. It is the perfect blend for reducing stress and promoting relaxation.

Elevation is also a floral and citrus based blend that promotes rejuvenation. It reminds me of the first warm spring days following a harsh winter. It is a very uplifting blend that is both refreshing and joyful.

Vetiver has a very woodsy scent. It is earthy and pure. One of my friends described this oil with the following:

'Whenever I feel like I'm going to yell a my kids, I put on some vetiver to calm me down.' Truth.


For me personally, I feel that the citrus oils (lemon, wild orange, bergamot, grapefruit etc.) are great for an uplifting boost. I prefer to diffuse these oils in the morning for an instant pick-me-up.


I prefer the soft, earthy scents toward the end of the day when I need to regroup, unwind, and relax from a busy day. Lavender, cedar wood, sandalwood, Roman chamomile are just a few.

Another source of emotional ups and downs for a lot of women is their menstrual cycle. Although this is another topic entirely, I do believe that addressing your cyclic swings and sexual health is a key component for overall mental health. doTERRA's Clary Calm rollerball blend is excellent for addressing hormone fluctuations, mood swings, PMS symptoms, menopause and more.

I wasn't a huge fan of the sexual side effects that occurred from the prescription medication I took shortly after having Simon. Once I got my hormones back under control, I have found that these oils help to keep me in check. They ease my frazzledness, calm my stress, and help me to relax when I'm wound up.

If you have days like my momma said...like my momma said, check out these great blends and single oils from doTERRA. They just might change your life!

Pinwheel Taco Salad

I threw together a quick lunch on this beautiful snow day that was originally inspired by a recipe I had seen on Pinterest, but not very far into the construction of the bite sized taco bites I realized that my attempts were yielding something that looked nothing like the ones in the picture.

Instead of being frustrated that my plan was not going the way I wanted, I ran with it. These unintentional, palm sized pinwheels were perfect under a simple, southwest inspired salad and were incredibly filling.

These would also be very easy to make ahead and freeze for a quick snack, lunch or dinner on the fly.

*tips: allow cooked meat to cool significantly before topping the crust. Warm meat will cause the dough to become soft, stretchy and difficult to handle. Use a sharp, serrated knife to cut the pinwheels.

If you prefer to make bite sized pinwheels, cut the crust in half before topping and rolling so they make two smaller spirals rather than 1 large one


Ingredients:

1 canned pizza crust flattened.
1 lb ground meat of choice - we used turkey.
1 c. Shredded cheese
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
salad toppings of choice
we used lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced yellow bell pepper, salsa, avocado, and sour cream.

Other options include corn, black beans, rice, raw onion, you name it.

Cook meat, drain of necessary, add taco seasoning. You don't want this mixture wet or it will cause the dough to become soggy.

Spread out the crust and top with seasoned meat and cheese. Tightly roll the crust into a log and slice into approximately 1-2 inch pinwheels.  Bake at 350 on a lightly greased cookie sheet until crust is browned.

Top with salad fixings and serve. Enjoy y'all!

My Oil Story

Six months ago our family battled endless runny noses, lingering coughs, virus after virus, and symptom after symptom, many of which I had no ability to address or safely treat with traditional, over the counter medications.

Seeing your child sick and being able to do absolutely nothing about it is such a helpless feeling. 

I didn't seek out essential oils - they found me - and we hit it off rather quickly.

Six months ago I had seen relatively few posts about essential oils, and even when I did, I didn't understand them and I had no clue what they were capable of. Truth be told, I was a skeptic. With a strong background in science, mechanisms of action, and a general understanding of how pharmaceuticals work, this entire platform just seemed...silly.

Until I tried them.

Even the sales pitch didn't really have me sold. It wasn't until I got the chance to sample some oils from my mom's kit that I started to see just how quickly they get to work, how efficiently they address problems, and how versatile they truly are.

Within a few days of using oils, I knew I wanted some for our family.

I decided on the doTERRA Family Physician Kit for a number of reasons, but the top two are:

1. It offered a wide variety of oils that would address our family's most common ailments and issues.

2. It is one of the most affordable starter kits available.

As someone who has never been involved in a tiered marketing company, I am still learning the ins and outs of this sales business, but so far, the free inventory that I have earned and the income has been completely worth it - in just the 6 short months that I have been a Loyalty Rewards Program following Wellness Advocate, I have earned well over $500 (retail value) worth of products, and each month, I have more coming. I've been able to drastically expand our inventory and even try some of the health/beauty/wellness products that doTERRA offers outside of essential oils.

Perhaps the most outstanding thing that we have gained from essential oils is more wellness. In the past, we would sit back and watch mild symptoms slowly progress into something worse, still without many options for treating them. Eventually, over the course of weeks sometimes, the symptoms would reside, and then the bug would move on to the next member of our family. We'd start all over again.

With essential oils, I can treat the initial symptoms and give our own immune systems the boost they need to fight off colds and viruses faster. Instead of allowing a runny nose to end in terrible chest congestion, I can diffuse Breathe and literally see my kids' symptoms begin to clear up.

We've found sleep aids, stress reducing blends, air purifiers, first aid treatments, and protection through the use of essential oils, and luckily, we've avoided the doctor's office for a sick visit this cold/flu season. Most people I know can't say that.

Essential oils are not a miracle cure, and I personally do not think they should completely replace modern medicine, vaccines, or a prescription medication if severe symptoms continue to progress. Oils are a supplement that offer balance, purity, detoxification, and homeostasis so our bodies can proactively defend and heal - faster and with more efficiency.

I love that we finally have a safe and effective option for addressing our family's common issues without making a trip to the doctor's office - from headaches to tummy troubles - essential oils are completely natural. EOs are incredibly potent and powerful, so if you are new to them, be sure to read up on their safety so you can avoid an unwanted reaction or sensitivity.

Sharing my love of oils with others has become a bit of a passion, so if you'd like to learn more about them, please let me know. You can also visit my website at www.mydoterra.com/maggiebohannon



The Reason I Will Probably Never Shop at Harris Teeter Again

In preparation for a pending blizzard (~ 4 inches) I knew I needed to run by the store on the way home from work and grab a loaf of bread. Not just to fit the stereotype of the South, but we truly were out of bread.

At work, I browsed through the weekly Harris Teeter ad and naturally, some of their specials caught my eye. There was also a printed $10 off store coupon that I cut out to help save me a few extra bucks. In the past I've gotten some decent deals with their B1G1 or two or three free sales so I made a short list and after work, I pulled into the very crowded parking lot. Had I not seen the sale add, I probably would have stopped at WalMart instead. Both are located along my route home. In hind sight, I probably would have saved more money there...

There is a large open cooler to the right side of the store, near the produce, where most on-sale items are kept. Generally the same item spans across the width of the cooler. Price tags are located along both sides and occasionally a sign is positioned right in the middle of the cooler highlighting the specials. I'm visual, so I drew a fancy little diagram to help describe what I'm talking about:

I approached the cooler with the intent of calculating the price per pound on two items: frozen chicken and shrimp.

I came up to the cooler from the right side, so I saw the cheapest shrimp option first (see yellow area, letter A - $25 and some change per bag of shrimp). Keep in mind this is the B2G3 free, so ultimately, after tax each bag would come to roughly $11 each. Or at least that's what I thought. I did happen to notice that there were two types of shrimp directly beside each other - item B - with a slightly larger size and larger price tag. The packaging looked identical, except for a number representing the amount of shrimp in the bag. Even that option would have only increased each bag by about $1. I assumed that because the sign was in the center, it applied to all present shrimp varieties - at this point I only saw and assumed that two different types were available. I was wrong.

At the checkout, the 3 free bag discount was not applied, and a kind associate offered to go exchange them for the correct ones. Sure, I thought, it will be the $27 bags and it should only add a few extra dollars to my total.

The store was busy, my mistake was causing a lot of people to have to wait in line, so I just went along with it. Only after getting to my car and reviewing the receipt did I discover that each bag of shrimp was almost $36 each! That's a $20 difference on my total bill. I furiously returned in the store carrying my receipt, walked to the cooler to review the price tags only to find the above labeled section C which contained a completely different size of shrimp. Mind you, the bags still had the same design, color scheme, etc. The only difference in the packaging was the number under the larger logo and print. Nearly identical.

Ok, so yes, this is a minor issue that could have been prevented if I had just passed on the shrimp. I reluctantly left the store, but I knew that had I paid more attention the first time around, this price difference would have been apparent. I can't help but think though that these shrimp were strategically organized as such to promote this exact scenario, or something similar. People rarely approach this cooler from the back side, and the sign itself was placed so that it indicated all shrimp in that section were applicable to the discount. Wrong.

Maybe I'm just being crazy, but every other product in the cooler was positioned so the same item could be reached from either side of the counter. Why were the shrimp the only item in this case that were arranged differently? Very misleading.

Speaking of some other products in that open cooler, bags of frozen chicken on the B1G1 sale broke down to $2.20/lb when you can ALWAYS get fresh chicken from the meat counter for $1.99/lb. Explain to me how that B1G1 is saving me any money?

A few aisles later, I came across the BBQ sauce that was on sale. I couldn't help but question the advertising tactics and the actual prices offered with these products. The sale price on a smaller bottle was actually cheaper per ounce than the more enticing idea of B1G1 free in the larger size.

Basically, do your math, folks. Sometimes sale signs are just used to get rid of inventory that's been sitting...amIrite?

Finally, Bird's Eye frozen veggies in the steamable bags were on sale as well for B1G1. The retail price for one bag was listed at $2.26. That comes to $1.13 for each bag. Most other grocery stores sell this same product for no more than $1 each. Sale? I think not.

I probably could have spent more time picking apart Harris Teeter's inflated price tags and not-so-great featured weekly sales, but I'll stop with these. It's retailers like this that make grocery shopping entirely more complicated than it should be. It's retailers like this that make consumers question honesty and integrity. I feel like customers are being taken advantage of here, and it sucks. I'm not so naïve to believe that Harris Teeter is the only store pulling these kind of stunts, but I just wanted to point out that if you are trying to make the most of your grocery budget, be careful and don't allow yourself to get sucked into the sketchy and misleading tactics of sales advertising. Live and learn, y'all. Live and learn.

I'm not really sure why I keep insisting on visiting different grocery stores and forcing myself to buy things when I know I can get better deals elsewhere. Can someone please develop a grocery retailer that offers double cart seats, great prices (like Aldi), but a bigger selection, and produce that doesn't rot in 48 hours? Is that too much to ask?

Kitchen Sink Quiche

I've never attempted to make quiche before, but last night, I got a craving for something savory...with sausage...and bacon, so quiche it was. With the addition of some extra veggies, I felt like this was the ultimate western omelet, on steroids, with a flaky crust.

Can I get a amen!?

I'm delighted with how this recipe turned out. It was fluffy, full of flavor and the kids ate it right up. So, here ya go!

Ingredients
1 uncooked, prepared pie crust
8 eggs
1 1/2 c. milk or cream (I only had milk on hand)
8 slices of bacon (we use the turkey variety because it's cheaper) cooked & chopped
1 1/2 c. ground sausage (I did a mixture of 1/2 mild and 1/2 maple flavor)
spoonful of minced garlic
1 1/2 c. shredded cheese
veggies of choice (I used diced onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms)

Cook and crumble sausage on medium heat until ~1/2 way cooked. Add garlic and optional veggies and sauté until veggies are cooked.

While meat and veggies are cooking, thoroughly whip eggs and milk. Add salt and pepper along with the cheese. Mix in meats & veggies. Unfold pie crust into deep dish pan. Pour egg mixture into pie crust and loosely top with foil. Bake at 400 for ~1 hour covered, followed by ~10-15 minutes uncovered to brown the top. Adjust cooking time if necessary - our quiche was incredibly thick so it needed quite a bit of time to cook up completely in the center.

We actually ate ours for dinner, but this makes a great breakfast or brunch treat too. Enjoy!

 

 

7 Ways to Make Money & Earn Free Stuff

Let's face it - people like making money and earning free stuff. I know I do. We have a very tight budget right now, so even if I'm not able to spend a lot of money when I go shopping, it just makes sense that I'm taking advantage of opportunities to rack up points that can be applied for free stuff, right?

Right.

In addition to being a proud doTERRA Wellness Advocate, I also do quite a bit of freelance writing on the side to supplement our income. These two platforms alone have helped our family tremendously.

1. doTERRA What can I say? I'm an essential oil junkie. Being a doTERRA wellness advocate has not only given us a little extra income, but I've been able to acquire quite the oil inventory....for free! Free product earnings depend on purchases and sales, but ultimately, I'm able to keep our family's oil box stocked with a little extra at no cost to me. If you'd like to learn more about oils in general, see my post Essential Oils 101. To earn wholesale price, free product credit, and income through this platform, visit this site and be sure to choose enroller ID: 1158991.

2. Fiverr - From childcare costs to Christmas presents, my earnings from writing are sent directly to my PayPal account which makes it super easy to conduct my online shopping, send a payment to friends/family, or transfer straight to my bank account. Fiverr's platform is set up so you can solicit your gig - be it graphic designing, content writing, voice overs, videos, photography, editing etc. Basically any skill that you can conduct using your computer is acceptable.

Newbies start off with limitations - they can only earn $5 per each gig, but as you earn clients and complete more work, you earn the ability to charge more, offer larger gigs, do bigger projects, and best of all, earn more money. Fiverr is a platformed designed to help you get paid for your work - it's not a get rich quick scheme, and you have to put forth the effort to see the earnings. If you have a digitally marketable skill, this is a great way for you to earn some extra money on the side. See my referral link here.

3. ShopKick app - ShopKick is a smartphone app that gives you points for visiting stores, making purchases, or scanning certain items. Most places do not require a purchase - simply walking into the store earns you points. You can also earn points for scanning certain items within the store. Points can then be redeemed for gift cards to a variety of different retailers and restaurants. It's a very easy way to rack up points if you need to go run some errands. I highly recommend this app, especially if you're out and about a lot so check it out here.

4. Survey Mini app - similar to shopkick, SurveyMini is a mobile app that uses location-based pings to generate short surveys about your shopping experiences as well as your household. Earn points that can be redeemed for retail/restaurant gift cards AND certain surveys give little freebies like a free BoBerry Biscuit from Bojangles, free menu item at Church's Chicken, or even a free DVD from the local pawn shop. Although it will take us some time to build up enough points for a gift card, it doesn't require much effort.

5. BestMark mystery shopping - BestMark is a legit mystery shopping company that offers mostly automotive, beauty counter, and restaurant mystery shops - in my area that is. There is an occasional electronics store shop too. I have gotten several free oil changes and tire rotations for Blake's vehicle, and best of all, they pay CASH on top of the service reimbursement. We've also been out to dinner a few times and had the tab paid back to us for completing a fairly simple survey. Most shops do not allow kids, so if you are a parent, you'll need to arrange these outings solo. Regardless, it's a very quick and easy way to get a little extra cash for the places you likely need to go anyways. BestMark offers referral bonuses too, so be sure to sign up here and then share your own referral link to your friends!

6. Zulily - Zulily offers tremendous discounts on major fashion brands for men's women's and children's clothes. They also sell tons of toys, educational materials, household items, and decor. I've been shopping on Zulily for about three years now, and honestly, even though I've had a few issues with late shipping or a cancelled order, the customer service department is probably the best that I have ever dealt with.  I browse inventory regularly, but really shop the most right before Christmas or when they have major seasonal blowout sales. If you refer friends and family (and they place an order) you earn an extra $15 shopping credit for ever successful signup. If you haven't set up a Zulily account yet be sure to take advantage of their excellent deals here.

7. Influenster - Influenster is a great platform for getting free stuff! They have a large product database for leaving reviews and asking questions. Fill out surveys and answer questionnaires about your consumer habits, favorite products etc. for chances to qualify for VoxBoxes - completely free samples of things like food, cosmetics, cleaning products, beauty supplies etc. It's completely free to sign up - no obligations and no requirements. Check it out here.

So there you have it folks. The seven sources that our family uses to earn free stuff and additional income. Have fun!

Making Your Food Choices Go Further

I'm going to take a second here and be a little geriatric. There was a time in our lives that we didn't really have to think too much about our purchases. We didn't worry about expenses nearly as much, we ate out a lot, and I didn't think twice about making that unnecessary, but very fulfilling purchase of new shoes.

The economy, job changes, two kids - life happens, and perhaps now more than ever, we have to be very cognizant about our spending habits. Although it takes time and dedication, meal planning has truly saved us a ton of money when it comes to the grocery bill. In addition to making wiser choices about what we eat, I've developed some tips and tricks for making your food budget go a little further.

1. Keep it simple - Unfortunately, I was blessed with a very spontaneous and sporadic set of taste buds. I would not classify myself as a picky eater because I'll try and eat almost anything, but it's my current cravings and preferences that get in the way. Truth be told, I don't like to fix the same recipe twice. I like to make it different, change it up, be a rebel.

Part of minimizing our grocery bill includes the necessity for simple meals. A basic protein + veggie + starch kind of plate or even those quick fix skillet meals or single dish entrees. I typically meal plan for 2-week spans, and at least 3 of the meals within that list (of 14+ dinners) are usually something like frozen lasagna or skillet chicken teriyaki. Many of these other dishes include a more involved recipe for the protein portion along with canned or frozen veggies and a box of mac & cheese, quick fix mashed potatoes, or instant rice.

Basically, I focus my attention on the main dish aspect, and fill in the holes with side items that can be thrown in the microwave or a saucepan.

I have had to get over a lot of my persnickity preferences, but ultimately I have become more satisfied with simpler meals knowing they are saving us money.

2. Cut up the meat. I have also found that slicing and dicing our protein not only preserves portion control, but we waste less and save more. For example, instead of preparing 4 chicken breasts for our family, 2 large pieces that have been cut up are more than enough.

3. Add bulk to your meals with extra veggies and occasional grains. For example, a classic skillet meal with 2-3 servings can feed our family of 4 with leftovers when I add 1 extra bag of veggies and 1-2 servings of rice.

4. Meat isn't always a necessity.  I love my bacon, but the idea that every meal needs a meat is a misconception.  Every now and again I will fix a flavorful vegetarian meal, and I only get minimal complaints from my carnivorous husband. He gets over it and ultimately we save some money in the process.


I'm always trying to find new and creative ways to stretch our food budget. What are some ways that your family makes the most of a limited grocery budget? 

Oats Oats and More Oats

My recent pantry inventory revealed an excessive volume of cooking oats, so naturally I've been on the lookout for some not so predictable ways to use up this ingredient.

I started out by throwing together my own version of the 'no bake energy bite.' At the time, I had not yet graduated to technologically savvy with my new smart phone, so you'll have to settle with a stock photo from stridebox.com:

The glory about these delicious snacks is the fact that they can be assembled quickly and you can customize them based on what you have available. I didn't record exact measurements, but my bites were a combination of the following:

~3 c. cooking oats
2 leftover packets of Sweet & Salty trail mix (from Lily's birthday party)
~1 to 1-1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. Reece's spreads (can just use more peanut butter if you don't have any of this)
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. sugar free chocolate chips
1 tablespoon Hershey's chocolate syrup

Mix all ingredients well and shape into 1-2 inch balls. Refrigerate in a sealed bag for keeping.

More peanut butter or honey can be added to help hold the bites together when you shape them. They can be a bit sticky, so I found shaping them with damp hands was more efficient.

Some other ingredients that might be fun to add to these bites might include: shredded coconut, raisins, flax seed, any other chopped nut variety, sunflower seeds etc. The possibilities are endless, but basically these bites are incredibly filling and are great for satisfying a sweet tooth.

__________________________________________________________________________________

My most recent attempts to reduce our stash of cooking oats includes a fantastic recipe that I found on thewholesomedish.com.

Amanda Fink's recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup canola oil
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup applesauce
• 1½ cups skim milk (or whatever milk you like)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• Optional: your favorite toppings (fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with paper or paper/foil muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, and brown sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the applesauce, milk, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk until well combined. Stir in the oats and baking powder.
3. Fill the muffin tin with ¼ cup of the oat mixture in each muffin cup. Add your favorite toppings. Push the toppings down into the oat mixture with a spoon.
4. Bake for 30 minutes. Let them cool for 5 minutes before eating. Store in an airtight container or freeze in a zip top storage bag.

 

 

 

 

Don't skip the muffin liners in this recipe <-- seriously - these suckers stick to the liners and can be quite a pain.

 

We made banana/walnut, raspberry/blueberry, apple/raisin, and plain.

 Although our muffins were fun to create and ended up quite tasty, perhaps the best part about putting this recipe together was the leftover batter that I poured into a small baking dish (~3/4 inches thick) to result in oatmeal cereal bars, or 'breakfast cookies' as my daughter called them. They were delightfully soft and chewy.

When I make this recipe again in the future, I'll skip the muffins and just make a couple pans of the flat bars. Our favorite muffin variety was the banana/walnut, so I can only imagine how delicious these bars would be with some bananas and walnuts on top.

 

So there you have it, y'all - a few ways to use up some of those lingering cooking oats if you have any on hand and happen to be looking for something a little different. Enjoy!

Crispy Chicken & Roasted Veggie Mac N Cheese

Crispy Chicken & Roasted Veggie Mac-N-Cheese

 

Ingredients:
4 large pieces of breaded chicken (I used tenderloins) - cooked & cut into bite sized chunks
Cooked pasta of choice (I used penne)
1 bag of preferred frozen veggies - suggested: California Blend of carrots, cauliflower, broccoli
Additional veggies of choice (I used canned corn + a handful of frozen peas)
3 wedges of Laughing Cow flavored cheese spread
1-1/4 c. milk
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 small block (8 oz) + 2 additional oz Colby jack (or other preferred) cheese (cubed)
salt & pepper to taste.



Evenly arrange veggies on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Roast at 400F for ~15 minutes or until edges start becoming browned.

Combine milk, butter, salt, pepper, 2 oz. block cheese, and 3 cheese wedges in a sauce pan and simmer on low-medium until melted and combined.

Mix well the chicken, pasta, remaining cheese cubes, and cheese/milk mixture in a large (seasoned) 11-inch cast iron skillet (add a little more milk if the sauce mixture does not lightly coat all ingredients). Top with extra shredded cheese if you like, and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melty.

 

 

 

As with any dish I prepare, I'm more or less eyeballing the amounts of certain ingredients. Feel free to add, take away, or substitute to your liking. I've also prepared this dish before with grilled, shredded chicken, but the crispy version is WAY better. Enjoy y'all!



My God Story

We attend a contemporary, non-denominational Christian church in Kernersville. The Summit is one of the larger churches in the area, and it is growing.

 

We love our church. <- That's an understatement.

Like any church, there are good things and some not so good things, but all in all, this is where our family fits. The Summit offers a variety of service times on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, but they do not have 'Sunday School' or any other regularly scheduled, formal opportunity for us adult people to get together, meet, socialize, and get to know one another.

(Babies, kids, and pre-teens are strongly encouraged to attend their structured, age appropriate settings that are held at the same time as the service. It's kind of like Sunday School for them, but better. At first, this protective mama bear wasn't too keen on leaving my kiddos with anyone I didn't know, but we have grown to love the staff that volunteers with them. Maybe someday I'll write up a whole blog post about the many reasons why we love not having our kids with us in church...but that's another day.)

One of the downsides to a large church -> you can often feel lost if you don't get involved in regular serving or a small group.

Although the process of becoming connected in a small group is somewhat awkward at first (hey, when is it ever easy to meet brand new people and share some of life's most intimate and emotional details??) but ultimately our experience with small groups has helped us to better communicate and share with others more about our relationship with Jesus.

One of the challenges presented to newly forming small groups is the task of sharing your God Story.

Basically, some leaders at our church came up with a 3-question formula to help everyone shape and create an easy dialogue for telling others about how they came to know Christ. From each of those 3 questions, you pick one word that best describes your answer.

1. What was your view of God when you were growing up?

2. What was the catalyst or most profound, heart-changing moment in your relationship with Jesus?

3. What is Jesus doing for you in your life now?

Once you can lockdown your own personal God Story and the three words that help you to transition from one question to the next, you should be able to tell your story to others, quickly and efficiently.

I tend to get a bit wordy, and I truly have a difficult time locking down 1 word for each question, but phrases are OK too.  Here is my feeble attempt at verbalizing my personal God Story.


1. Inconsistent.  My relationship with Jesus growing up was spotty, up and down, sometimes high, sometimes low, but very rarely ever passionate, motivated, or truly dedicated in every aspect. I went to a variety of different churches, was exposed to a plethora of different Christian customs and traditions, and in early high school, I had a very emotional and uplifting experience where I officially accepted Jesus as my savior and asked God into my heart. Unfortunately, my persistence in pursuing Christ quickly faded and I just got by with the occasional visit to a church or a desperate prayer.

2. (My answer to this question is 2-part) Parenting & Tragedy. I could write a novel about how much kids have changed my life, but for now I'll keep it simple by saying that the day God graced our house with the presence of a baby girl was the day that something just clicked for me. For the first time, I was able to grasp that sense of unconditional love and the unbreakable bond that I share with my child. Even though this feeling and connection is just a fraction of the love that God has for each of us, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for my Heavenly Father through His gift to me of being a parent.

I'm a firm believer that God uses tragedy and unexpected or even unwanted circumstances for a purpose. Even though we may not be able to see it immediately, our personal tragedy might help someone else avoid or overcome theirs. Our situation and ability to triumph in the face of struggle might be the inspiration that someone else needs to survive. Tragedy draws us closer to each other and closer to God. It encourages us to lean on Him, rely on Him, and be grateful to Him for all that we do have.

About one and a half years ago, my brother, Jeremy, committed suicide. After almost a decade of struggling with depression, addictions, and insecurities, his one of many repeated attempts to take his own life was successful. Despite living through this nightmare, I was reminded of so many blessings. The support and love from friends, family, and community was absolutely overwhelming. Jeremy's story has touched the lives of other people that were ashamed of their situation and afraid to seek help. Our grief has been shared with other families who are grieving a similar story. Did we choose to walk that part of the journey? Heck no. But along that very dark path, Jesus held our hands and kept whispering the promise that He would never. leave. our. sides. Through that tragedy, and even as I continue to grieve Jeremy's loss, I'm confident that God's plan is purposeful.

3. Comfort. God gives me comfort, relief, assurance, and peace. Even when I have no clue what tomorrow might bring, it is my relationship with Jesus that allows me the liberating freedom to worry less. Through financial strains, stress at work, unpredictable expenses, even more unpredictable family drama, and two toddlers that wear me slap out, I am confident that God will take care of us, no matter what.

Lily's Purple Princess Pony Party

I think it's safe to say that this was Lily's best birthday yet. She is old enough to understand. Her enthusiasm is so raw, innocent, and real it almost hurts. And so far (knock on wood) she is so grateful and so satisfied with even the most simple things. She's also not old enough to notice when I stash away a few of her presents in our bedroom so she can open them on a rainy day (you'll understand when you see her TWO wagons full of toys).

There isn't a word in the world that can adequately describe her happiness on the day of her 3rd birthday. If only I could bottle up her energy, spirit, and joy.

I had a lot of fun planning Lily's 'horse' party. This girl can't get enough of horseback riding, and even though I consider myself pretty clueless about horses, I'm excited to learn more about this sport so I can cheer her on and encourage her to chase her dreams.

Back to the party. We hosted her get together a the Winston Salem Children's Museum, and if you're in the Triad area and haven't had a chance to take your kiddos here, you're missing out. For the record, any party space in the area is expensive, but the staff were incredibly helpful and our guests had a blast.

Here are some pictures from her big day!

 

 

Until Lily stops asking, I will always bake her cupcakes (or a cake) from home for her birthday. Oh, I found those cute plastic horses in the dollar section at Target. Most of them were unicorns, but it worked.

 

We served trail mix, horse treats (apples & carrots), hay bales (rice crispy treats) and cupcakes. We also gave take-home packs of sweet & salty mix to everyone. Simple, but tasty!

 

 

 

 

A lot of people have asked about the stick horses - yes I made them (with the help of my mom), and not only was it a lot of fun putting them together, but they were a huge hit with our guests.

 

 

The dowel rods came from the Home Depot ($2.88 ea.)

The horse heads are actually socks from the dollar store ($0.50 ea.)

I purchased 2 large bags of poly fill from the craft store with a coupon ($8)

The remaining yarn, buttons, ribbon, and hot glue were all items I had in my craft closet.

 

After stuffing the socks, I hot glued them to the poles and doubly secured them with some yarn. I tried stapling them, but it ripped the sock and the wood was too dense for the staples.

 

I used a plastic yarn needle to thread the ribbons and yarn through the sock itself, and then knotted everything so it was secure.

 

The buttons are tied on using that same method.

 

The ribbon bridles were either hot glued or tied onto the sock using the yarn needle.

 

Although the sticks are long and I'm not sure how 'sturdy' these horses will be after few rounds with a feisty toddler, but I have hope that they'll hold up. Best of all, they weren't all that expensive to make!

 

All in all, Lilyanna Grace had a fantastic 3rd birthday, and we are so grateful for the friends and family that came to make her feel special.

Playing Catch Up

When work and home life are consuming (which, when are they not?) and my already full plate is even fuller with freelance and content writing that I do to supplement our family's income, my personal writing endeavors have to take a back seat.

In the rare event that I'm caught up and have a chance to think about my own avenues of expression, I tend to write 3 or 4 posts in one day. I'm playing catch up. Over the course of the last 2 weeks, I have had tons of ideas - many of which I still plan on getting to...eventually. But for now I'll do my best to hit the high points and cover what's been going on.

Perhaps the most surprising news I could share is the fact that I am no longer living behind the times. My family got me a smart phone for my birthday. For those that know me well, this is huge. Although I'm incredibly excited about the photo, video, instant calendar, and searching capabilities of this new device, I'm terrified that I'll become one of those people. You know, the one with their nose constantly stuck behind the screen. The parent who uses their technology as a babysitter. The rude customer who is too busy with their conversation to place an order or complete a transaction. God, please do not let me become one of those people. I wrote a note a while back which I featured on the blog about smart phone dependence. Honestly, my opinion hasn't changed.

I'm still doing my best to purge our kitchen, freezers, and pantry of the items and ingredients that tend to linger. I did end up going to the grocery store recently, but my trip was far from a success. I very naively thought I could pull it off with the help of my smartphone (and not much else in terms of planning), but I was so wrong. Bad idea.

I've discovered that although my phone might be a great resource for spontaneous things, I'm still more efficient when I plan ahead, make a written list, and do my own price comparisons.

Now that I can take pictures of what I cook without having to fumble with my large camera, I'm hoping that I will be more inclined to write about what we've been eating. One can hope.

Thanks for playing catch up with me.

The Reason I Don't Look Forward to My Birthday

Most people don't look forward to their birthday because it's just another reminder that their annual, celebratory cakes are looking a little something like this. 

Although my age is escalating exponentially, or so it seems, the idea of getting old is just a drop in the bucket compared to the fact that for me, birthdays just aren't the same anymore. 

Exactly 28 years ago, my mom gave birth to her second son. A spit fire of a kid with uncontrollable energy, a mischievous grin, a contagious giggle, stubborn tenacity, and devious dexterity. He was loud, and fast, and bold. He never slowed down - even when he sliced his toe down to the bone trying to get some milk out of the fridge.

Exactly 2 years and one day later we started celebrating our birthdays together. Although my parents were always really great about giving each of us a spotlight on our respective days, the week was about us. Going out to dinner was about us. We both stood up to take a slice of cake at the Japanese steakhouse. If we didn't eat out, the cake read 'Happy Birthday Jeremy & Maggie.' The sign at the Mountain View Restaurant read, 'Happy Birthday Jeremy & Maggie.'

This is the second year that I will celebrate my birthday without you, and to be completely honest, it's much harder than the last. Getting older is very much overrated, but it was a little less overrated when you were here to celebrate too. My family still takes the time to do even little things that make my day incredibly amazing - and for that, I'm immensely grateful- but it's just not the same. 

It wasn't always easy celebrating our birthdays together. But now it's even harder celebrating without you.

So even though you aren't here to share the birthday spotlight or a slice of cake, I want you to know how much I miss you. Hope your birthday in Heaven is extra special.

Essential Oils 101

I was introduced to essential oils by a fellow mom. At first, I was incredibly skeptical about their efficiency, but since becoming a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA, we have taken control of our family’s health and wellness. Best of all, doTERRA’s vast line of products has allowed us to address, treat, and even prevent a wide variety of common ailments ranging from coughs, colds, and upset stomachs to headaches, allergies, and even sleepless nights. Want to learn more?

What are essential oils?    Essential oils are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers and other parts of plants. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatments, and for medicinal uses in healthcare practices. Essential oils do not disturb the body's natural balance — or homeostasis – but rather, help to restore that balance for optimum cellular function.

How do they work? Essential oils are comprised of a variety of microscopic molecules that easily penetrate the skin and have a wide range of biological uses. The molecular complexity of essential oils is what allows a single essential oil to serve so many different purposes. Blends of multiple oils can do even more! doTERRA stands by their promise that they offer the most pure, potent, and efficient essential oils on the market today.  

How do you use essential oils? Essential oils can be used one of three ways: topically, aromatically, or internally.

Topical Application: When applying essential oils to the skin, less is more, and it is almost always recommended to dilute your essential oil in a carrier like fractionated coconut or almond oil. doTERRA offers fractionated coconut oil within their line of products, but you can also shop for carrier oils at grocery/health food stores, your local pharmacy, or Amazon.com.

Oils can be rubbed directly over an affected area or massaged into the feet. The feet have the most pores of anywhere on the body, and it only takes about 26 seconds for the oils to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Proper dilution is imperative for avoiding skin sensitivity. Also, be sure to check out this helpful article regarding photosensitivity of certain essential oils.

When mixing and storing essential oils, always use glass containers. Essential oils are incredibly powerful, and their properties will break down the synthetic components of plastic over time. Amazon offers a great assortment of glassroller balls and glass spraybottles for essential oil use.

Aromatic use of essential oils: Oils can be diffused with an ultrasonic, aromatic diffuser that is specifically designed for use with essential oils. doTERRA offers several different diffusers within their product line, but you can also find them at your local GNC store (that’s the one I use, personally) or shop for them online at Amazon.com.

An aromatic oil diffuser creates a cool, vapor-fine mist that dissipates into the air and makes your home/car/office smell amazing while simultaneously dispersing the healing benefits of essential oils. Most importantly, an essential oil diffuser does NOT use heat. Heating essential oils can cause them to break down and lose their effectiveness.

Internal use of essential oils: Some (many) essential oils can be taken internally, and it is believed to be one of the most powerful ways to experience the healing benefits of oils. Always be sure to check the side of doTERRA bottles to ensure they are safe for consumption. It will read “Essential Oil Supplement” if the oil is safe to take by mouth.

You can also check with the FDA’s list of safe for consumption compounds. I highly recommend doTERRA’s veggie capsules for ingestion of essential oils. They are safe, mess free, and eliminate the potent flavor that can be somewhat intense, depending on the oil(s) you are taking. 

Essential oils are highly potent and incredibly efficient for treating a wide variety of common issues. As with any supplement or medication, be sure to explore the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy’s safety recommendations, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have been diagnosed with a major illness.

What’s the best way to get started with essential oils? Personally, I opted for doTERRA’s Family Physician Kit because it offered a range of oils that would adequately meet our family’s healthcare needs. doTERRA kits are also designed to help you save money as compared to buying individually. In addition to a free 15 mL bottle of the Slim and Sassy metabolic blend, this purchase also qualified me to become a Wellness Advocate.

Another great starter kit is the Home Essentials kit that comes with larger (15 mL) bottles and a diffuser.

If you are just getting your feet wet with essential oils, they offer an introductory kit that includes 5 mL bottles of their three most popular oils: peppermint, lavender, and lemon. The intro kit also comes with an audio CD that provides helpful information for those who are new to oils.

Researching and reading more about the health benefits of essential oils will help you and your family decide which specific products are best suited for your needs. This book is a great piece of literature that teaches and guides the use of essential oils. The internet is also a very valuable tool for learning about which oils should be used to treat certain ailments. doTERRA also offers a variety of specially formulated oil blends that are strategically designed for a user-friendly, straightforward approach to health and wellness.

Why become a Wellness Advocate? Becoming a wellness advocate not only gives you the chance to earn cash income (20% of all sales + team incentives), but it also allows you access to exclusive discounts and product promotions like wholesale pricing and Loyalty Kits, which are only offered to participating advocates. Wellness Advocates also generate product credits (based on sales volume) which they can redeem for free oils. 

There are no monthly order requirements to maintain Wellness Advocate status, but if you participate in a minimum monthly order, you’ll receive the product of the month for free, and generate even more product credits. You’ll also have the chance to earn additional cash bonuses and sales incentives.

**Participation in the LRP program is completely free and can be cancelled at any time.

The more people you can sign up as Wellness Advocates and build into your team, the more income and product credit you will earn.

Why my team? I am confident that you are going to love doTERRA products, and as a team leader I promise to help you succeed. Not only will I share all of my sales tools (pictures and printouts for social media and marketing – including a document similar to this to customize for your own sales), but I will help you conduct house and/or virtual-online parties as well as coach you through everything that I have learned about essential oils.

If you’re interested in direct sales, why not choose a product that promotes overall health and wellness?

Come join my team and not only will you have the chance to experience doTERRA’s revolutionary products, but you can earn more income and experience the success and personal satisfaction of sharing wellness with your friends and family. You can email me with questions and/or product recommendations at mlbohannon1120@gmail.com or visit my website for more information about doTERRA essential oils.




**I am not a licensed medical provider of any kind. The views expressed in this blog are opinion only and should not be used to diagnose or treat major illness. I am a doTERRA Wellness Advocate, but I am not compensated for any affiliate links in this post**