How to Organize Winter Gear

Well, it's that time of year again, the weather is changing and summer has given way to fall.  Whether you're ready or not, it's time to start digging out those hats, mittens and scarves to chase away the chills.

Today, I'm guest posting over at the Stay At Home Mom's Survival Guide where I share my tips on How to Organize Your Winter Gear!

Cheers,

Zeemaid

Young Living's October Promos for Canada

It's the first year that I've really been excited about the upcoming holiday season because of essential oils.  Already, my Facebook feed is full of great recipes for spicy fall drinks and diffuser blends that will have your house smelling like pumpkin pie or falling leaves.  I can't wait to try a few.

I also look forward to the end of each month for the next month's promos.  One of the things that I appreciate most about Young Living is that they give you freebies just for ordering products you were already going to order.  You also have an opportunity to earn a percentage back on what you spent as credits towards a future order.

If you are interested in learning more about Young Living's Essential Oils, please check out my page here or send me an email and I'll be happy to answer your questions.  

Zeemaid

4 Weeks of Homeschooling

I can't believe it's already been 4 weeks since we've started homeschooling.  What else can't I believe?  How easily the kids have taken to it. I'm not going to lie and say it's been all sunshine and roses or unicorns and rainbows but it's definitely been smoother than I would have thought.

The kids sleep in until 8:00 a.m. at which point I turn their lights on and tell them to start getting up and usually they do get up fairly quickly.  My oldest (she's 13) is still struggling with this but since we've instituted the "you'll be grounded from screen time" if I have to ask you more than once, is much more motivated in getting out of bed.  By 9:00 a.m. they've breakfasted and are ready to start. That's a far cry from the days where I was up before 7:00 a.m. and nagging them from 7:15 to 7:45 to get up and then rush around trying to get them ready to leave for school.

Our New Adventure in Homeschooling

This year we have decided to home school our three children for grades 4, 6 and 8.  There are numerous reasons as to why we made the decision to home school but it really came down to the belief that we didn't think our children were thriving in the regular school system.

Many of you have read my posts about my daughter on the spectrum and how difficult that has been for her both socially and academically.  However, even my other two children who don't have any particular special needs weren't really thriving at school.   It is our hope and desire that we can help our children not only realize their potential but also to provide them a less stressful environment for learning.

Having said that, I can honestly say it's been a little difficult watching all our friends' children head back to school.  I still receive highlights from our old school's Facebook page and it's with a small pang that I watched the flag raising ceremony and see all the faces that I have been used to seeing over the past 4 years.

What I didn't miss was the frantic scrambling for shoes, backpacks and uniforms the last few weeks of summer.  Or the money spent.

Stress Away Essential Oil

Have you heard about Essential Oils?  I had been reading Facebook posts for months about them before I finally decided to cave and buy a Premium Starter Kit through Young Living.

What attracted me to the use of oils was reading about their use with children who have ADHD and/or Autism and how using oils may help these children focus and even calm down.  When you have a child who struggles with either of these issues, you tend to grasp for anything that might help.

At first, I was completely overwhelmed and unsure exactly what to do with the premium starter kit.  If you've googled or been on Pinterest, you will know what I am talking about when I say there is a plethora of information on essential oils out there. Fortunately, I received a quick reference guide with my oils and I was soon diffusing citrus oils throughout the house.  The kids were cautious, they liked it but not completely.  I even found my son hiding the little dish of purification oil I had stashed in the bathroom because he wasn't crazy about the smell.

Young Living Essential Oils - Starter Kit

I have been using essential oils for a while now.

So why Young Living? 

First - their Seed to Seal Quality Commitment!

Education and Support

When you become a Young Living member, you get a whole team of people who will guide you and support you at no extra costs.  It's through education and support that Young Living promotes whole-body wellness which is why they offer extra layers of support to current members through private groups and an e-course you receive once you sign up for your wholesale membership.

Whole Sale Pricing

You can save 24-44% off retail pricing on Young Living products.  You can also save even more money with exclusive specials and promotions every month.

Essential Rewards

As a member, you are eligible to enroll in the Essential Rewards program and earn as much as 20 % back from each order in Essential Rewards points.  These points can then be used like cash on some of your favorite products.

Exclusive Experiences 

You are welcome to show up at a Young Living farm anywhere in the world and experience their Seed to Seal process firsthand at farm harvests and planting.

Community

A close-knit community of support.  In addition to your sponsor, the entire Young Living family is ready to assist you and encourage you in your journey. There are private Facebook groups for members as well as public groups for anyone wanting to learn more about Young Living Essential Oils.

Education

Young living provides educational opportunities through annual conferences, events and newsletters to keep your informed.  Many seasoned essential oil users, run a variety of classes both in person and online through Facebook.  Contact me if you'd like more information on the latest upcoming classes.

To sum it up -  Essential Oils:

• Are immune enhancing • Support the body’s natural defenses • Support the immune, circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, digestive, nervous, and other body systems • Aid in maintaining normal cellular regeneration• Are mood elevating• Are antiseptic (topical use only)• Are high in antioxidants• Are aromatic• Are oxygenating• Boost stamina and energy• Help you relax• Help manage stress and frustration• Help reduce the appearance of aging• Improve mental clarity• Promote overall health, vitality, and longevity• Support normal cellular function• Help with focus and concentration• Encourage proper nasal function• Support the lungs and sinuses

Premium Starter Kits

If you purchase the premium starter kit, this will enroll you as a wholesale member which will qualify you for the ongoing 24% discount.  Depending on which country you reside in there are different options for the starter kids.  In Canada, we are offered the Thieves Premium Starter kit with diffuser or the 11 Essential Oils with and Diffuser.

In addition to receiving what's in the kit, you will also receive: 

• Essential Oils Resource Guide
• a free introductory e-course covering essential oil basics
• access to the Oily Tipsters Facebook Group for essential oil information and support
• 99 Ways to Use your Starter Kit 
• A personal wellness plan created by me. 

If you are thinking of purchasing a starter kit but have questions - send me an email zeemaid@gmail.com and let me know which is the best way to contact you. Let me know some of your wellness goals.   I'm happy to chat by email, Facebook, Facebook messenger or even text.

If you are ready to purchase a starter kit - Here's how

1.  Head over the Young Living page here and fill out your information.

2.  Be sure the "wholesale member" option is checked so that you don't end up paying retail prices.

3.  Be sure the "sponsor id" and "enroller id" say 3156589 (so I can send you your freebies!)

4.  Select which starter kit you want to get.  My recommendation is the Premium Starter Kit because there are oils there that you'll use every day and combined with a fantastic oil diffuser it's such a great deal.

5. Go through the check-out process and pick the kit right for you!

6. Leave a comment on this blog - letting me know you purchased the premium starter kit and I'll get in touch with you for more information to send out your freebies!


Does it all sound confusing and you  need help walking through the process?  I can do that too.  Just send me an email  zeemaid@gmail.com and we can set up a time to talk and go through the process.

FAQ:

Does signing up make me a "distributor"?

NO! You are not required to sell anything to anyone.  When you become a wholesale member, you get a special link you can share with friends and get credit for their purchases.

Am I required to make a minimum purchase each month? 

There are NO minimum monthly purchase requirements.  To remain a wholesale member, you have to make $50.00 worth of purchases per YEAR to keep your membership.  But if there's a year that you don't make a $50.00 purchase, you can reinstate your wholesale membership discount by just placing a $50.00 order.

If you do find that you're making regular purchases every month, then Young Living has a rewards program called Essential Rewards where you can make a percentage back in product credit each month on all of your purchases.

How will I know which oils to use for what? 

One of the benefits of purchasing this starter kit through this website is that you'll be added to our private Facebook groups that's specifically for questions about essential oils.  Also the reference guide I will be sending you is an excellent resource.

Thank you so much for reading and please let me know if there are any questions I can answer for you!  Patricia (Zeemaid)


*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.

It's Been Three Years and It Still Hurts

It's been 3 years today since I lost my mother and yet I still have the tendency to refer to her in the present tense.  While my grief may not be as fresh or present every day, it certainly seems like it is never really that far away.  So many things that I have come from her.  Like clothes or teddy bears she sewed for the children, the little knick knacks and china cups and plates in my china cabinet, decorations she made for my wedding.

I was re-watching the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility yesterday evening and you may recall the scene where Marianne is lying at death's door and the doctor tells Elinor "prepare yourself".  As in prepare yourself for the worst.  This scene hit me especially hard as that was exactly what the doctor said to our family.  We fought those words and the thoughts of what that meant and hoped against hope for her recovery.  It was not to be.

Do You Know How Lucky You Are?

I am extremely tired of parents of so called “normal” children who choose to remain ignorant about what it must be like to have a special needs child.  They sit on their little thrones and pass judgment on these children who don’t fit the norm.  A kid acts up in the hallway, they roll their eyes at the other parents in the hallway.  They will even stand around and say things like “God, that kid is a nightmare.”  When a parent was confronted by her child’s continually bullying of another child, her basic response was “But my kid thinks your kid is weird”.  And…. that justifies what?

In a casual conversation about picky eaters from sensory issues, one parent pipes in with kids should eat what they’re given or go hungry.  When I tune in with that it’s not always possible to be rigid like that because of sensory issues it waved off with a “bah, I don’t believe in that stuff.”  You don’t believe in that stuff?  It’s not like we’re talking about the tooth fairy or Santa Clause.  Thousands of children are just making it up and their gullible parents are buying into it?  I also see that your child is being given a weight belt and ear phones during class time to help keep him grounded.  Oh right, you don’t believe in that stuff so the teacher shouldn’t be helping him. Wiggle seats – throw those out the window.

Life on the Spectrum

As my daughter gets older, it gets harder to walk the line of what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.  When she was 5 or 6, a tantrum or excessive display of anger or frustration was easier to sweep under the rug and just chalk up to her age; however, disrupting the outburst may have been.  But then when she was 5 or 6, we didn’t know she was on the Autism Spectrum. 

When she’s 12; however, explosive outbursts and stomping of feet is no longer so easier to ignore or let slide by.  Unfortunately, now that we know she has Aspergers it’s not like we suddenly have deep wells of patience.  We get just as much pissed off and frustrated by her behaviour as we do for the children without it. 

Minecraft Birthday Party

Has Minecraft taken over your household?  It certainly has mine.  I was completely resistant at first to the whole idea of Minecraft.  At first I thought it was some sort of fighting or war game which I refuse to allow my children to play.   However, my husband researched Minecraft and with the help of the neighbour children, it was explained to me that playing Minecraft in creative mode is about building and exploring only.  So while it may be harmless fun, I’m not sure about the hours that my son plays building and them blowing things up.  I don't really get the attraction but there it is.

So when my soon to be 8 year old wanted a party it had to be Minecraft.  Fortunately, it was a pretty easy theme to decorate for what with pixelated graphics, a black, green and brown colour scheme.  Of course, my first start is to check out Pinterest for ideas and a quick visit to Party Palace to see what was available.

It's My Party and You're Not Invited

With all the party shaming going on these days and what with human nature being what it is, there is always someone willing to take advantage of people's generosity. As a parent of a special needs kid I decided to stop doing the big party for a different reason entirely.

You see (except for two years at this one terrible school) all the kids show up to my girl's party. That's because I throw rocking fun parties.  I don't mean over the top expensive Pinterest parties that only people with double incomes or at least larger incomes than we have can manage.  I just put a little more effort and thought into it than some of the other parents around here.  At least I think I do. I guess I wouldn't really know because my kid only received 1 party invitation the entire school year.

School's In

If you live in British Columbia, it's most likely that your children are not in school.  The teacher's strike continues and there is no sign of it ending quickly.  I will not comment either way on the issue, I just pray that it gets resolved soon so that the children can get back to school. I feel both for the children and the parents as they worry about their education.  I feel for the teachers while they are out of work and not receiving an income.  It's hard all around no doubt.

I'm fortunate in that my children attend private school.  That seems to be a touchy topic these days as I prepare for my kids to go back to school.  People either tell me that I'm lucky in a snarky voice or that they couldn't afford private school as if to infer that I can.

I can't afford private school.  But we do it.  The last three years that our children has been in private school has been the worst financially for us.  Not only is our business on the verge of failing, I don't have another outside job and yet we manage to scrape together the $580.00 a month it takes to pay for schooling.

Let's see, I don't live in a fancy house.  I don't own a fancy car.  My once expensive minivan has paint peeling off the front fender that we can't afford to fix.  My husband is driving a 12 year old car with broken air conditioning, windows that won't roll down and the ceiling fabric is coming away from the interior so it's falling on his head.  We don't have cable and sometimes foods a little scarce in my cupboard and some days or months the bills are er delayed. We can't afford trips to Disneyland or heck even up the mountain to go skiing.  Extra activities are limited to one thing per child and pretty much the cheapest thing we can find.

Is it worth it?  I would have to say yes.  My kids feel safe and secure where they are.  They are being cared for not just taught. My oldest is no longer bullied and while she may still not fit in completely with her autism, they are working to include her into programs that ensures she gets the social interaction she needs.  Paying for private school is like making a car payment without the new car. ;)

What do you think about private school?

Zeemaid

In Which Life Goes On

Not every day is full of sadness. After all, life continues and I have a husband and three children to keep going for.  They need me more than ever and it seems like this summer has been one complete whirl of busy-ness that it's all become a blur.

We sold our house.  Finally!  After six months.  Like every other house we've sold, the process has been long drawn out and torturous.   However, the deal is signed and if everything goes alright with the home inspection on Friday the SOLD sign will be gracing our front lawn.

Back to School with Crayola

Not quite back to school herein British Columbia, school is still out but we're hoping and praying that the strike will be over soon.

In the meantime, we need to keep the kiddos busy and an easy way to do that is ART. My favourite go-to medium in the realm of art supplies?  Why, Crayola, of course!  Crayola is not just about crayons, from markers to mess free color wonder inks to craft kits, Crayola has something for everyone.

Breaking the Silence

It seems when you stop writing, it's hard to get back on the proverbial horse.  Inspiration can flicker only to be snuffed out by apathy. Apathy, lethargy, depression.  You think you are on a certain path in life and in a moment it can be altered.  

Journey to Rainbow Island - Book Review and Giveaway

Journey to Rainbow Island written by Christie Hsiao

Journey to Rainbow Island is about an 11-year-old girl named Yu-ning who thinks her perfect life on Rainbow Island will never end.  That is until a nasty dragon called the Obsidigon returns from beyond the grave. Now her beloved island is in flames, her best friend has been kidnapped, and the island’s Sacred Crystals have been stolen.  Yu-ning has been chosen to embark upon the dangerous journey to the dark corners of the world to uncover secrets, find a weapon thought long destroyed, and recapture the seven sacred stones.

I love to read so when I am asked to read and review a book, I am quick to say yes even if it may be a little “young” for me.  This book is written for grade levels 2 through 7 but, as often is the case, proves just as entertaining for the grownups as it is for the children.

Having said that it did take me a little bit to get into the book.  While Christie Hsiao’s descriptions of the island and the children who lived there are beautiful, I did find myself tripping over the names of various people, places and creatures at first.  Words like Obsidigon and Metratron do not exactly roll off the tongue easily.  Still the story engaged me and it’s simple message of love and courage was carried throughout it.

I appreciated that the main character of the story was actually a young girl.  Girls today need to see that it is possible for them to lead and be leaders.  While Yu-ning certainly was young and often scared, she was able to find her courage and do what was right. 

While the premise of the book certainly sounds like it might be a dark one what with crystals and dark corners of the world etc, this book is not dark. Although some situations Yu-ning finds herself in can be dangerous, it is not overly graphic or violent.  There is one scene in the book which refers to the slaughter of animals by a woodsman which may upset younger children who are perhaps unaware of such things.  As well, if you object to sorcerers or wizards then this book is not for you or your child. 

I think overall Christie Hsiao’s vision to create positive, uplifting entertainment has been achieved in this story. I also feel that young readers aged 10 and up would appreciate this story the most. 

For more information on Journey to Rainbow Island and Christie Hsiao, you can check out her website at http://journeytorainbowisland.com/site/.

Available for sale now through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  

Would you like to win a copy of Journey to Rainbow Island?  

ENTER TO WIN

1.     Mandatory Entry – share what you’re currently reading

Extra Entries

2.    Tweet this once per day and leave link in comments (cut and paste)

Enter to Win Journey to Rainbow Island http://tinyurl.com/ma2o2q6 #bookreview @zeemaid @j2rainbowisland

3.    Share the above on Facebook and leave link in comments

Contest ends April 3rd and is open worldwide.

Zeemaid

Writing through the Chaos.

Today's guest post comes from Killarney Sheffield.

Writing through the Chaos.

Hello, my name is Killarney Sheffield and in addition to being the mom of five crazy kids between the ages of 12 and 18 years I am also an award winning multi-published romance author, a horse trainer and rancher’s wife. How do I manage it all? I’m nuts. No seriously, it requires patience, great juggling skills and a family willing to pitch in when the going gets rough and I’m lucky enough to have such a family. My office is the living room, un-orthodox I know, but I found my own office to be more distracting than the chaos of everyday life. Why? Well, I’d rather be right there to answer, ‘Mom, where’s the toilet paper?’ rather than down the hall, kids screaming over the blaring TV and pounding on the door. Is it hard to write a romance novel with all the kids roaring through, arguing, banging dishes and flipping TV channels? You bet it is! Sometimes, ‘can you give mommy a minute’ turns into an hour and sometimes it turns into ‘for the love of God, go play outside for an hour please!’ Would I trade it all for a brilliant novel career? Yes, some days to be perfectly truthful, but in the long run? No way. One day the novels in me will all be written but my kids will still be there, hopefully with kids of their own.

I was at one of my daughter’s volleyball games one day and a fellow mom leaned over and asked if I was ‘that romance writer everyone in town was talking about’ (we live in a small farming community). When I said yes she giggled and glanced at my hubby. “Are you’re books all about him?” she asked. I nearly fell off the bench laughing. A ranch and five kids doesn’t leave much time or desire for romance. Maybe that’s why I pen them. To me romance is hubby actually throwing a load of laundry into the wash machine rather than on the floor beside it. Would I trade my life for one of my heroine’s ones in my books? Yes, to be perfectly truthful some days I would, but let’s face it, life is not a romance novel. I am content writing about every woman’s dream hero because I know in life there is no knight in shining armour. What is there? A fantastic dad who may not be perfect but he’s mine and he loves me no matter if my hairs a mess and I’ve forgotten what make up is.

I guess for me writing amid the chaos of a ranch and five kids is my little patch of heaven.

If you’d like to find out more about me and my books: http://www.killarneysheffieldromanceauthor.com

My blog: http://killarneysheffield.blogspot.ca

Follow me on Twitter at: @authorkillarney

My can be found on Amazon and anywhere books are sold online as well as coming to a store near you summer 2014. 

Little Boys

Having had two girls first and then the "surprise" arrival of our son, we didn't really know what we were getting into with this whole "boy" thing.  You'd think my husband would have clued me in but other than being a "man" which means he communicates nothing that he's not specifically asked about, there's the "selective amnesia" thing. He only remembers being good. Yeah, right.

I love my son and am thankful that God chose to bless us with this addition to our family.  I love that I get to experience the joys of parenting both girls and a boy.  Some days though, I'm ready to trade him in for another girl.

Christmas with Hallmark – Review & Giveaway

It’s that time of year again.  When our thoughts turn to picking out the perfect presents, finding the right hostess gifts and finishing off that annual holiday letter.  It’s also when I find out what’s new and fabulous at Hallmark.


Dreading the annual Christmas photo? Why not make it fun with
Pics ‘n’ Props.  Show off your family’s Christmas spirit with this Pics ‘n’ Props Christmas Fun Kit. Use the winter props to stage a fun photo shoot in front of the holiday-themed backdrop. Then add your favorite snapshots to the coordinating album or use them to personalize your party invites or holiday cards.

Beauty that Won’t Break the Bank

Recently, I was sent a care package with beauty tips and it was so creative and fantastic, I just had to share these tips with you. Especially since it’s that time of year again.  You know, the spending season? 

With all the money we fork out on food, gifts and decorations it’s no wonder we’re stressed and left with very little over for ourselves.  It’s so easy to find some of these things around the home and it’s comforting to know how much money I’m saving.

Dry Skin	Moisturize and repair damaged skin with coconut oil. Costs less than $1.00 per ounce.	Department store moisturizer $50+
Teeth Whitening	Whitening toothpaste like Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Stain Defence less than $4.00	Whitening strips or dentist whitening $30 – $300
Puffy Eyes	Steep 2 black or green tea bags for a couple of minutes in hot water, let cool and place bags over closed eyes $0.20	Fancy eye cream $25-$80
Nails and Cuticles	Rub a dollop of petroleum jelly on each nail and cuticle.  A little goes a long way so a small tub can last several months. $2.50	Upscale hand and nail cream.  $15-$50
Rough Skin	Mix Arm & Hammer Baking Soda with water to make a paste and lightly rub on skin to gently exfoliate: $1.99	Department store exfoliator:  $15-$50

These are just a few tips, I’m sure there are many more affordable tips out there.  I liked these ones because none of it requires fussing around making up mixtures with ingredients I probably don’t have on hand already.

What’s your beauty regime at this time of year?  Do you have any “easy” remedies to share?   

Zeemaid

*disclosure – this post is sponsored in part by Arm & Hammer in that I was sent a care package containing Arm & Hammer products. Be sure to check our their website for more tips and tricks on their teeth whitening  products and uses for Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. *

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