2018 is My Year to tackle My Health Prepare to Be Amazed

2018 is My Year to tackle My Health: Prepare to Be Amazed

There's a lot of talk around this time of year about setting goals and what we can do to achieve them. I, myself, got rather an early start on my 2018 goals by starting a new health program on December 1, 2017.  I am determined that I am going to succeed this year and amaze myself like never before. 

There have been times when I questioned my sanity of starting a no sugar, low carb eating plan just 3 weeks before Christmas.  I was gifted with no less than 3 boxes of chocolates (one was ginormous) and an entire box of Italian cookies. Yi!  

Truthfully, there is no perfect time to change your eating habits.  If it's not Christmas, then it's Valentines or Easter or Halloween.  Sometimes you just have to dig deep and say "I'm going to do this now.  I need to change." 

That's what I did.  

How did I survive the gorging season?  Easily, because the results helped keep me going.  When I want to take a bite of that Nanaimo bar sitting in the back of my fridge, I remind myself of what I've accomplished. 

I am a Type II diabetic on two kinds of diabetes medication, high blood pressure meds and high cholesterol.  I've been struggling with diabetes for over 7 years.  My high blood pressure rose when I was in labor with my son and never went normal again.  Ten years ago!

Yet, in just 5 short weeks I've managed to bring my blood pressure under control, my blood sugar is amazing and I've lost 21 pounds.  My medication has been reduced drastically and I expect to be off all of it within the next two weeks.  

So that, my friends, is worth not having that Nanaimo bar or box of cookies.  It's worth not eating bread or using butter.  For the first time in 14 years, I weigh less than when I first started having children. 

My clothes are looser and my overall outlook is more positive because for the first time I am actually succeeding.  It's amazing how just being successful at this one thing in my life has helped me be more positive.  Hence the 2018 Resolutions post I wrote a couple of days ago. 

Why am I successful now when I've failed so many times in the past.  I don't know.  Maybe the timing was just right.  Maybe my doctor scared me with talk of increasing my medication.  I don't know. 

Whatever the reason, 2018 is my year to tackle my health goals.   The year to be a newer, better me. 

How about you?  Is 2018 your year? 


Zeemaid

Young Living January 2018 Promotions

Young Living is setting us up for success with fantastic January FREE gifts!


➕ 5 ml Spearmint Vitality (ER exclusive): Who has some weight management goals this year? Support your metabolism with this vitality oil by adding a couple drops to your water, tea or Ningxia.

Wonderful for the digestive system, this is a family favorite in our house. It is not as hot to the skin as peppermint so topically we use on kids’ tummies.


This is a MUST have for pregnant mamas experiencing some of those morning (or all day) tummy woes! Rub a few drops over your liver before you get out of bed in the morning. And it's just a yummy vitality oil to mix with any of your fave citrus vitalities for some added minty freshness. 

My Top Seven New Years Resolutions for 2018

My Top Seven New Years Resolutions for 2018

I generally don't like to make New Year's resolutions.  After all, it seems like the most sure way to fail is to make a resolution about it.  I generally have "good intentions" but I don't think I've ever stuck to those good intentions.  Yup, that's the pessimist in me but this year feels a little different. 

It could be because for the first time, we are not facing crushing debt. Oh, we still have debt but with my husband's new job really taking off there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

It could be because for the first time in a really long time - I've gotten serious about improving my health and have already made a great start and I don't plan to stop.  I started at the hardest time of the year and I've crushed it.  Not a single gram of sugar has been consumed the entire holiday season. 

Young Living's September 2017 Promotion!

If you've been on the fence about starting in with essential oils - now is the perfect time to jump.  Young Living has extended their September promotion of 10% off  a Premium Starter Kit to September 23rd - that's $20.00 off the price of the kit.  

The Premium Starter Kit with DewDrop (PSK) is the ultimate foundation for your wellness journey, with eleven premium essential oils and blends, a home diffuser and more, the PSK includes everything you need to get started on the path to whole-life wellness as an oiler, business builder or both!

If you do decide to purchase a premium starter kit using my sponsor link you will also from me: 

• Essential Oils Resource Guide
• an free introductory e-course covering essential oil basics
• access to the Oily Tipsters Facebook Group for essential oil information and support (we all love to talk about oils and the ways we use them personally to support our health)
• 99 Ways to Use your Starter Kit 

and for a limited time only - if you make your purchase by September 23rd - you will also receive a shipping rebate in the form of a paypal or email transfer in the amount of $20.00.  (please note rebate will be issued approximately 2 weeks after verified purchase is made)

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 everyday 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!

Please note this offer is valid in Canada only!  Sorry my U.S. friends - Young Living has a different set of September promotions for you. 

So who's ready to get oily? 

Back to School Essentials - Calming Play-dough

My kids love to play with play-dough.  It's amazing how creative they can be. They make hair salons, create amazing these amazing meals they invite me to "try" and all kinds of wacky animals.  One thing they hate though is old, crusty play-dough that has the colours all mixed up.  Thankfully, play-dough ingredients are cheap and it's so easy to make. 

This particular play-dough recipe I use when we've had a stressful morning and just need a break from learning and a time to just be present.   By giving them something they enjoy doing gives them a chance to be quiet without much effort and the addition of the essential oils helps add a soothing layer.  Plus it smells so great!!

Here's a little video we put together on how to make our version of calm-down, play-dough

Reclaim Your House After Kids Go Back To School

Reclaim Your House After Kids Go Back To School

Guest Post by Tracy McCubbin, Founder, dClutterfly

Website: https://tracymccubbin.com/

Non-Profit Website: http://onekidoneworld.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracy_mccubbin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracy_mccubbin/

It’s the most wonderful time of the year -- time to send the kids back to school and reclaim your household!  After a summer of camps and goofing around inside, your house may need a little tough love to get back into shape for the fall.  Research shows that the average American home has 300,000 items in it, and back-to-school is the perfect time to get rid of the ones that you don’t need anymore.

As the kids head back to school and you take the steps to get your house back and order, I’m sharing ten of my favorite tips and tricks to declutter and organize your home this fall:

1.            Pull out all the homework and artwork from the previous school year. Before the onslaught of this school year’s homework and artwork, make sure you have decluttered last year’s. We all know Little Timmy is smart as a whip, but you don't need to keep every piece of homework he brings. Homework has one purpose and one purpose only: to help kids learn. It's not to be immortalized in boxes in the garage that you'll never look it. Empty backpacks, desk drawers and those piles you've been meaning to tackle and pick the best of the best. Save the things that are substantial and remind you who they were at the time in their lives.  As for artwork, how many turkey hands does one family need? Pare down to a small but great representation of their masterpieces and let the rest go.  Take photos if you just can't bare to let them go.  You might want to also consider making art books out of the artwork.  A crayon self portrait looks so much better in a book for the long run than in a box in your garage. You can make them yourself with any number of apps but if you need a little help, I love Souvenartebooks!

6 Tips to Encourage Your Kids to Eat Healthier

At some point in time, every parent has gone through the food wars with their child.  Whether it’s from the beginning of refusing the bottle or breast or they turn up their noses at fruit and vegetables.  For most of us – our picky eaters eventually outgrow their pickiness and expand their repertoire of foods.

I’m know that I’m lucky that my children actually love most fruit and vegetables.  If I have fruit available, they will eat it.  However, with a special needs child in the house, meal prep can become a huge problem.  Especially when that child has become a full-fledged teenager and no longer willing to be guided; however reluctantly, away from poor choices.  It also doesn’t help when her “won’t eat” foods changes frequently.  I just get into the groove of making potatoes one way when she announces she will only eat potatoes if there are made a different way. 

I swear having a special needs child was all about teaching me to become more flexible!  Believe me, it’s an ongoing learning process but here’s my take on how to get your kids to eat healthy.

Ditch and Switch - Simple Steps to a Toxin Free Home

What if you could ditch all the toxins in everyday products that you use and switch to toxin-free products? You are already buying these products at your local department store.... so why not earn 20% back in purchases that are healthier for your family's well-being? 

Join me on June 12th at 7:00 p.m. (PST) on Facebook from the comfort of your own couch to learn more about how you can replace the toxic chemicals in your home to toxin-free products so you can live a chemical free life!  

For more information on the event and to RSVP click here. 

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

I'm listing to my son make a YouTube video right now.  Apparently, he's doing the sour candy challenge.  Every time he falls off his "skateboard" online he has to eat an extreme sour warhead candy.  I've seen him play.  He's going to run out of candy.  The funniest part of him playing these games though is listening him narrate the game while he's playing.  He's trying to play it extremely cool and nonchalant but it cracks me up.  It's like he's talking to a cooler version of himself.

Last night he and his sister did the same challenge playing another game while recording it.  They still had sores in their mouths when they woke up this morning.  Sometimes you just gotta let them do stupid things.

5 Tips to Save You From Being Hacked

We had a devastating blow just before Christmas.  Perhaps devastating isn't exactly the right word. After all, it was only money we lost, not a life.  Yet, it's been money we had been saving for over 9 years.  You see, we had one of those travel reward credit cards.  Through the good times and bad times and well, let's face it the last 9 years have been lean times for us so every time we added to our reward points, it gave us hope that we'd be able to take our children to Disneyland one day.

That was all wiped out this past December, when we discovered that our account had been hacked and some random stranger drained our entire rewards account to nothing.  We are talking about $6,000.00 absolutely gone.  I can tell you it knocked the wind right out of me.  My husband and I were in complete disbelief as we processed what happened.  We tipped-toed around the children, frantic whispered conversations, as we tried to keep them from hearing the terrible news.

How did it happen?  My email account was hacked.  That's it.  By somehow guessing my password, the thief was able to go through my emails and glean little pieces of information that would guide them on best how to steal from me.

Not only was my rewards credit card hacked, they also managed to log into my rarely used Ebay account and set up a number of fake auctions.  In that case Ebay was suspicious and shut down the auctions.  Can you imagine the liability I would have been under if the auctions had been allowed to go through?

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.