Essential oils are a hot wellness item, and have been for almost a decade. When I became a health coach, they were just gaining popularity, and I’ve watched the craze skyrocket, to where folks will claim an EO solution to literally every ailment.
We do use some in our family, and appreciate the support they give, but I don’t believe that EOs should be emphasized strongly, over for example, nutritional supplements, proper nutrition and fitness plans, and an over all non-toxic and clean lifestyle. They are just one small piece of the puzzle, and should be approached as such. And. like supplements, it’s very true that not all brands are created equal. Have you been wondering just which ones are the best of class? Well keep reading…
I also have a strong opinion about using orally. I had a HORRIBLE experience with ingesting oil (let’s just say, oregano), and I’m not a big fan of emphasizing these uses, since they can be improperly done, not diluted, potency not understood etc. I’ve done sometimes grapefruit EO in water as a nice cleanse/weight loss aid, but I don’t believe in giving them to children, or doing anything regularly with them internally. There are safer and very effective ways to approach your health goals than starting to ingest oils.
I’ve personally used a handful of oils over the years. In the winter month, I usually have thieves oil diffusing, and occasionally apply it to my kids’ feet when they are fighting off a cold, along with lots of immunity support like vitalized immunity,garlic supps, nutriferon, probiotics and more.
I love the deep blue oil by DoTerra for massage & muscle relaxer, it’s a staple on my bedside table.
For pregnancy, birth and hormone support, I use a handful of other oils, such as clary sage and frankincense. I also love lavender for diffusing at bedtimes, or peppermint, orange and other oils to mix in with my favorite unscented non-toxic cleaners.
Regarding diffusers, I’ve used several, and I love this one the most. It’s Young living brand, it’s served us well for several years, I love the asthetic, and my kids love the setting where it rotates colors, glowing a rich blue, green, red, yellow etc while filling our house with a wonderful smell.
Basically, they can be a wonderful addition to a holistic lifestyle, as long as care is taken with the quality of the oils, where they are sourced from, and you’re careful to use carrier oils, dilute them properly, and avoid ingestion.
But, have you wondered how the EO brands stack up? I certainly have. And it can be hard to find all the info for in-depth research and comparison.
Luckily, Consumer Advocates just did this research for all of us, and agreed to share it with you all, since this is the question I get asked most often–which oils are best/safest to use, and how do all the most popular brands compare?
In a recent study of Essential Oils, ConsumersAdvocate.org conducted over 600+ hours of research and sent 11 different, well-known brands over to the Aromatic Plant Research Center in Utah to determine what was really inside each bottle. The results were jarring – to say the least.
The team of researchers considered the health benefits and risks, quality and purity, and sustainable sourcing practices – just to name a few. They even covered the essential oils that are recommended for pregnancy, children, and pets.
I’m resurfacing and returning to blogging in this humble corner of the web, after a whirlwind fall 2019 into Jan 2020. We were doing a big renovation of an old home, and moved the family in right before Christmas. With this season of life, many things were put aside and the essentials came into clear focus. It helped to further frame some of my thoughts and experiences around healthy living, self-care, staying balanced even while being quite busy, and my mantra “radical self care for radical service” which I developed in the midst of trying to keep my sense of self, my achievements and balance in the midst of a busy season of motherhood. This phrase has resonated with many–we can sometimes struggle with feeling like self-care is actually selfish. And don’t get me wrong, it can be. Our cultural extremes of prioritizing expensive yoga weekends away in Costa Rica, massages, weekly manicures, and much more (gym memberships we hardly use) all justified by “self-care”. But in these busy seasons of life that we all experience, we can know all too well that without proper healthy habits, we can burn-out, or start being miserable, losing connection with the joy of the everyday, and our bigger purpose. I already faced that exact challenge (9 years ago, as a new mom, and pushing myself in a demanding career/work environment…it all fell apart, and took months of self-exploration to discover where things went wrong with my inability to have healthy boundaries and personal habits for effectiveness) That’s what led me to where I am now…a health & mindset coach. Sometimes our biggest challenges turn into our biggest blessings.
So for me, especially last year–when life demanded much of me, in the form of 4 small children (a brand new babe), running a business, launching new offerings, and renovating a home and moving the family–it became even more crystal clear to me–in the moments when life demands much of us; we need to work hard to BE at our best, so we can rise to the occasion.
And sometimes, those habits have to be streamlined to fit into the smallest margins of the day–not less important, just less time given to them.
In an era where we are increasingly sitting, often at desks, or hunched over a glowing screen, I believe that daily mindful/functional movement, and time outside, as well as consciously unplugged, away from our phones, is a crucial form of self-care, as well as a means to preserve our sanity and our mental and physical health. I am a big proponent (need to go back to this habit) of unplugged weekends, and mini 7 day screen detoxes…to keep ourselves free from the unhealthy patterns and behaviors related to it. We all know we need that space to be our most creative, alive, thoughtful, and focused.
I didn’t do a single gym workout btwn Sept-Dec, but I did manage to squeeze in regular walks with the boys–from our new home site, to local Church, and walking naps for them. Regular walks are so good for my mental health as well. I didn’t spend alot of time developing new recipes, or all those things my health coach self normally loves to do, but I (we) did eat well, to fuel ourselves for a busy season, and meal planned/prepped, batch cooked so that we wouldn’t get swallowed up by eating on a crazy schedule. We also learned to not sweat the small stuff as much, to give things up temporarily, knowing that things would re-balance and come into a new, better normal in our new lifestyle. Sometimes that perspective and mindset shift is all we need, and the most important thing to let go of is…expectations, and guilt!
I’ve spent 2 years resetting my own mindset to be around “intuitive eating” vs a restrictive/obsessive focus on “clean” eating. With so many ways of eating “healthy” out there, it can truly begin to take too much of our mental space. Clean eating is a means to an end, not an end in itself. During our busy project, we ate our fair share of meals grabbed on the go, take out (not Mcdonalds of course) etc while wrapped up with the home–BUT, having the baseline of self-care, resilience habits and tools built in, it meant that I didn’t go into overboard burn-out mode, like the me of a few years ago might have. I knew the demanding days required a strong balancing act, so I focused in on those few (simple, quick, affordable) self-care habits that work well for me. When you zero in on what those are, then you don’t have to worry as much about what the busy seasons of life will do. You know, that at your core, your priorities, values and habits can remain the same. And that you’ll be able to take in new things, and adjust/shift/offload (I said NO to quite a few normal commitments), and then re-evaluate and continue on as life evolves.
This was the opportunity to test all of what I’d been experimenting with, and I found that the exploration I had into mindful movement, intuitive eating and a “less is more” mentality regarding focus on exercise and health (yes, this coming from a coach!) served me VERY well in a season when absolutely every day, I needed to be functioning at my best. And don’t get me wrong, when you have a little one under 1, sleep is often the sacrificed element, and that can be hard, and wear on us, but we can also be strategic about the habits of REST that we build into each day.
Needless to say, at the start of this new decade, I’m completely in awe of the experiences of the past years, the lessons learned and where they’ve lead me. I hope to share bits of it, in case any of it is valuable. I know alll too well the familiar burn-out that is sadly quite common in our go-go-go culture. It can sneak in to our life without us realizing it, and it can steal our daily and deep joy.
I encourage you to consider–what are the daily tools and habits that are most important to you, to be at your best? What are the areas you’ve been ignoring or need to give attention to for a more balanced life? It might even be habits related to mental and emotional health, which cannot be neglected, just like our nutrition can’t be ignored without consequences…
It’s good to step out of the cliches of self-care, and do a deep personal examination. For one person–the loud cross fit gym is the perfect place to discipline themselves and build health, for another person, it’s quiet hikes in nature, alone. For one of us, it might be regular pedicures, and for another person, it might be more crucial for self-care to get time in prayer, or visiting with dear friends, or for a mom, to stroll through the grocery store alone can be the ultimate perspective/life giving habit…it’s all about being deeply AWARE of where you’re energized, where you’re drained, what habits will be a part of building you towards your larger, more long-term goals and desires. We explore all of this in my life design course, and it’s powerful, crucial stuff.
As I’m reminded by my dear husband, it isn’t good to idolize health, or to prioritize focusing on it, over other goods. BUT, it’s also true that a baseline of health–physical, mental, emotional, is crucial and needed for any service and good we hope to do in the world, in our families and communities. Otherwise we’ll end up causing more harm than good to ourselves and our endeavors, without a proper perspective and balance. Radical self-care for radical service is my choice, and how I want to live and model for my children to live.
What about YOU? How are your habits in this new decade, reflecting the sense of what you believe you’re called to accomplish in the coming months and years?!
And, just to get you started, here’s a few of my favorite weekly/daily self-care moments that help me. You’re going to create your own…just don’t be afraid to experiment and fight hard to make them part of your reality!
*Daily journaling/reading/praying in the am
*Pom Energy tea and chia seeds (I don’t drink caffeinated coffee, just tea or decaf)–this is my “secret energy drink” especially when mixed with the natural electrolytes.
*Daily vitalizer strip–my baseline of powerful nutrition that gives me fantastic energy & helps with sleep, digestion, and much more.
*Walks, several times per week, 1-3 miles, usually with kiddos. Time outdoors is soo important for our mental and physical health, even in the winter months.
*Easy salad mixes or shakes with collagen for lunch–making sure I don’t skip that meal.
*Healthy snacks in home and car, so I can reach for them quickly (trail mix, bars, etc).
*Once a week, out of the house, with no kids–time to breathe, read, think, maybe work a little, or just re-calibrate.
(If you don’t have kids, it might just be helpful, setting aside time each week to give yourself permission to explore new hobbies or interests, away from the pressures of your to-do list or job.)
*Stretching & simple yoga sequences, just reminders to reconnect with my body, breathing. Feeling where things feel stuck, releasing. Being grounded & grateful for the gift of a healthy body.
*Evening rituals: gratitude journal, epsom salt baths, cal mag supps, sometimes reading, bullet proof hot cocoa for good, restful sleep.
I can’t wait to hear what daily habits you’re creating in this new decade, to power you towards new dreams and goals!
So, I don’t know about you, but just hearing the word “simplify” causes me to exhale and smile. This time of year can feel extra busy, and we all need to round-up the tools and resources that will allow us to breath, enjoy it, find a new balance and rhythms, and, importantly, to free up our time for these precious moments with our little ones as they grow. My motto: less errands, more backyard yoga. Literally.
We want to be mindful. Not mind-full. Our kids show us by example just how beautiful it is to welcome and take in all the changes; we see them stretching and growing into their new classes, grades, and routines. We cheer them on, and we also celebrate getting a moment of quiet for ourselves, here and there. It’s the beautiful balance of September, before life rushes us ahead to think about the holidays.
So…how will you live this season? Can we support each other in making it calmer, and allowing you to feel confident, energized, ready to take on each day and to clear out the unnecessary, so that the really good stuff shines through?
I’m right there with you, taking it day by day. And we’ll do more of this work in depth in my LIFE DESIGN: Fulfillment in 5 course, re-opening for a brief period this fall to continue supporting our major transformations (hop on my email list at top of page to be the first to hear when it’s open)
I wrote another post last fall about 4 of our favorite quick and easy breakfasts (that are nourishing and sustaining) for busy back to school mornings. Can’t wait to hear what your favorites are!
A few favorites for simplifying and planning well: we all know what a difference that makes. Meal planner and list (Anthro) School lunch notes (the cutest) (Anthro) Shopping list (Kate Spade)
Even something as simple as having my morning tea water prepped and the mug ready to go helps me wake up and feel ready to slay the day.
For 4 weeks of ridiculously yummy and healthy meal plans, email me (they come bundled with product packages and life design course too!)
When you actually get a quiet moment to yourself, enjoy it! And tag me in your photos sharing what you’re up to to during back to school (this was during a baby nap, and toddler playing quietly nearby).
I’m using #fallreset to share what I’m doing to care for, replenish and appreciate the energy boost of the #proveitchallenge kit. Treasure the moments, and we’ll know we did this phase well, even though it flies by.
This is such a special season; let’s enjoy it healthy and thriving, enjoying simple memories and finding our motherhood FLOW, not running to the doc with all the bugs that are around, or feeling frantic.
Jump on my Healthy Kids email list for a series of 5 detailed back to school emails where I share all the recipes, tips, tools and more for a great year ahead.
In July, we launched and shared about a summer #loveyourlife challenge, focusing on good habits, intentional eating, a 7 day cleanse, and the habits of daily strip and shake, along with adding in more exercise, so that we could feel good and make strides towards our health goals in a season when most folks are just aiming for laying on the beach, BBQs, and a laid back approach to sleep and good routines.
Well, out of our VIP community, it was hard to select a winner, because everyone was motivated and making major strides towards their best life. These changes we make with proper care for, love and balance within our bodies and daily habits, make major ripples into the rest of life.
One amazing lady, Kendal, began the challenge in a tough spot. She knew she needed it, but was unsure when she would have time in her full days, as a mom of 2 and running an in-home daycare, caring for alot of people (which she excels at!) leaves her little time for herself. But for the first 3 weeks of the challenge, she hit the gym every day for anywhere from 1-2 hours! And with this commitment, and her health tools of the daily shakes, she began to see amazing transformations. She told me she was doing this to not only help with her mood, to bring herself to a healthy weight, but also for her mindset, her overall energy, and at the end of a month, she found herself no longer needing one of her medications!!
She went from 220 to 207 in just 3 weeks time, and she told me that she’s just getting started!!
In addition, the things that many of us might take for granted, like hopping on a treadmill to run a mile or two, is not something that everyone can automatically do. With a history of severe RA (Rheumatoid arthritis), even the simple act of being able to run on a treadmill without pain and without her joints giving way, was a huge cause of celebration!! Talk about warrior status.
“How many of my friends have health problems that have claimed to your soul? Health problems that affect you in every way every day. When I started this challenge my first goal was to be able to run on a treadmill. Yeah I know what your thinking. “ everyone can run on a treadmill” well not everybody can. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in my SI joint at the age of 24 some days it has left me crippled. Some days I feel like nothing has ever been wrong. Until I stepped a certain way or bend a certain way pick up things. This is something I will have to fight for the rest of my life. But….. I am ok with that!! 💪 I have found the most amazing support system. That has helped me in so many ways.i know my time is weak but I hit my goal the more I try the bettering get!! #ididit!!!! #Challengecomplete
(This is not construed as medical advice to change or drop medications, it’s just a story of what worked for one person)
And of course, with new fitness routines, comes new levels of soreness. Kendal started doing epsom salt baths, stretching, and taking the PM recovery complex, and saw improvements right away that motivated her to keep up with her newfound gym routine.
Precisely these moments that we find ourselves in, test us at our core. We discover what motivates us, and what we’re truly capable of.
Not only is she celebrating a lighter life, and how good she feels with the weight coming off (and she’s not stopping now!) but more importantly, for many of us, healthy weight is tied to so many other markers of a better life–less joint pain, less foggy-headed or headaches, more energy and better mood. These are JUST as important as the scale victories, and make the journey all the sweeter, as we learn about ourselves; just what we have inside to give when we dig deep, and additionally, creating habits and positive momentum so that it’s possible to deeply #loveyourlife.
Kendal West is a truly heroic woman, and someone I’m so lucky to call my friend. She is the proud winner of this challenge, and her attitude when she got the news says it all–“I want to share and tell everyone about this, and how good they can feel”
When you have excepted a challenge, that could forever change your life, not knowing what’s going to come of your goals, not knowing if you are going to find the time to make things happen, you have to want it but most importantly need it. don’t start off with a huge goal start small and work your way up to those top 5 goals. #challengesmashed 🏋️♀️💪🧘♀️
She is continuing her journey with the #proveitchallenge kit, which involves a 7 day cleanse, and 30 days of strips and shakes, to be at her best. When I last spoke with her, she was down another 3 lbs, and really, really happy with all the changes that she’s created in her life.
Congrats, Kendal. Thank you for sharing the details of your #loveyourlife journey with us. We know that the best is yet to come for you, and your sweet family!
Ready for your own transformation? Whatever your goals, this is the moment!
If you’d asked me in June how I was feeling about the summer–I would have said–excited and nervous. Going from 3 littles last summer to 4 this summer was definitely an adjustment for all of us. And now, as I pause, and breathe deeply on the far side of our first summer with 4, I want to document a bit about our summer rhythms, and flow, how we grew, and adapted. This year, one of the words I chose for 2019 was integration, that of integrating a new person into our family, and this summer was the true beautiful test of all that. Since Blaise joined us in the middle of our school year routines, his calm, sunny presence changed things a bit but we did early postpartum with lots of quiet at home, and had our school schedule set in place…so when mid June rolled around…I faced the prospect of a summer with alot of time together, & setting new schedules and rhythms with the 4 littles, and I sent up a quick prayer, wondering just how it would go.
And GO it has…nothing like the days flying by when we’re busy…but it’s been truly incredible to see the kids all grow in their relationships with each other, and to see that these days have enriched all of us so deeply, as we pause on the cusp of a new school year.
Another word for 2019 for me has been Intention–and this related to our more intentional use (or limiting use) of technology this summer. It’s such a fight that for many of us mommas, begins with awareness of our own habits. I know my little ones, at all three ages above infant, are watching and modeling, and I wanted to foster more intentional “down time” or “unplugged time” so that the kids would just focus on–being kids, in the summer. This also meant less screen time for me, and I can’t tell you how much freer, happier and more alive I feel when I limit my use of screens during a given day. Understanding why, where, when we reach for our phones, especially when the daily needs and challenges of leaning in to being present to the kids, was calling to me to pay attention, in an urgent way. It has been a transformative time in that regard, and I am entering the fall with much clearer sense of the role I want screens to play in our lives (read, limited).
A baby, a book, and likely a drink nearby: the good life.
As I share in my post reflecting on keeping a humble garden in the summer (coming soon!)…it’s so tempting to keep things tightly scheduled in summer (for kids)–for fear of summer boredom. Boredom is the seed of so much creativity, resilience, imagination and more, but we’re often wary of it, unsure of how it will be resolved…or more directly relevant, the constant pull/challenges of fighting the draw of screen time: with more unplanned hours, there’s more of a draw towards it…which no mother wants to always be battling.
BUT….what we’ve found, in the midst of our mellow summer pace–besides traveling the first 2 weeks of summer, and a mid August local getaway—we’ve pretty much stayed put–is that so much develops and unfolds in a beautiful new rhythm, and I’ve had to be flexible, with what the days should look like–involving 4 little people’s schedules and their needs, as well as those of the momma 😉
It’s a joy to my heart that I couldn’t begin to put into words until it was happening–having them all around, relaxing, and sleeping in until whatever time we want…I LOVE seeing the kids all wake just exactly when their bodies tell them to.. Often they rush in, rubbing eyes, one by one, and just hang out in mom and dad’s bed with us, chatting, without any urgent deadlines, our plans for the day…these moments have felt like such a special gift.
It’s such a brief moment of summer (9 weeks) before back to the stricter schedule, so a relaxed morning structure for them—while it starts to get to me—is balanced with a sense that this rounds out the year. And it means I can focus on my morning rituals as well, before they wake–several times a week I am sneaking out on a walk before things get busy and Joel gets out the door, to get my head clear and ready for a full day of mothering. Those early moments in nature on summer mornings–on country roads with the world just teeming with aliveness–are some of the best thinking moments I have. And then slooww breakfast times, being creative with what we cook up, doing whatever the heck we want around the house and yard, tending to garden, playing with their car, etc…and giving me a moment to do tea with journal, a garden kale omelette, and some spiritual or other reading on the porch.
Momma time-out moments: I fight hard to find those moments, they are truly what keep me going. And I take those time outs for myself, without guilt, and especially since with girls around they can mind the boys for a few min at a time, and are usually adoring on Blaise anyway…as any mom will tell you–sometimes looking at the day as a marathon, rather than a sprint, helps us to plan and conserve/rebuild our energy and mental rest. Because I’m postpartum (5-7 months during summer, I was always focused on my own good energy-building habits, good rest, stretching, and mental time-outs, as needed). See my fav postpartum life enhancing tools here.
Mid morning, during Blaise’s first long nap, I’m always doing a quick clean-up, making sure folks are mostly dressed (even if it’s swimsuits ;)) a load of laundry, checking in with relevant clients, coaching groups and my quick business touch-points–knowing I can come back to it again during an afternoon naptime. I scale way back on my already very low-key work balance during the summer, and most days, it works. Setting up a business to run well on it’s own has taken years, and it’s SO worth it. The blessing of passive income. I use the summer months to dream, think big picture, brainstorm, occasionally try new things (run challenges) but often to just pause so I can let new ideas and plans percolate. This summer I’m in a business incubator, helping me with some new growth focus, but in a very low-key way. I am often torn–excitement and plans for the next course I’m creating/thoughts of blog posts to write, connections to develop, clients to connect with, etc. But when I remember just how short the summer is (no matter how long a single day can be!) it helps me put aside the temptation to multi-task/focus alot elsewhere…and really work on being present to them.
It’s so nice to be able to outsource things like deep-cleaning, save groceries for a single shopping on the weekend (often as an outing with dad), laundry systems, and other things we’ve done to streamline and simplify life, transitioning from 3-4…those all stood us in good stead. I know my time and energy–though very present–should be applied to the right things–starting with the kids. I also welcomed, relied on family members taking the kids out once a week or so, or pitching in for a day that felt extra busy, so that we could all stay balanced…one whole week my cousin stayed with us, and I got to sneak out for salon time, have one-on-one time with my kiddos, and a date night. Having extra hands around is always welcome and always a blessing…themes from my early postpartum that are continuing to remain relevant and oh-so-helpful. It does take a village.
This summer I also was re-balancing my own social media and tech habits in a big way, craving being outside more than looking at a screen, and feeling SO MUCH more alive when I keep a closer control on when I use it, why and how. The #unpluggedweekend habit is now something I love and look forward to starting…Thursday 😉 These tech habits and our access to screens is something that can just take over our attention and minds if we’re not careful. I’m so aware of how we’re modeling our priorities for the little ones, so this has been my huge and important challenge turned blessing.
This is my mantra in the summer, and shifts my perspective perfectly, whenever I’m tempted to focus on to-dos, inbox, etc.
Being creative in the kitchen (which I LOVE to do with my olders when we’re not rushed), being in my garden, doing art with the kids, talking to them, some yoga on the porch, lounging by the pool, reading good books, hikes and outings, these are the things that make my day rich. And over-documenting can certainly take some of the magic out of the moments too, so there’s a balance to be had. I know many of us are learning as we go, and I welcome your perspectives.
The constant juggle of little needs, for various stretches of the day, has certainly stretched me way beyond my comfort zone, and into the zone of self-gift. It’s a beautiful thing to realize that you’re giving all your energy and falling into bed or a bath at the end of the night, having spent it all on these little people, who are such gifts to me, and as crazy as they make me, I KNOW I want to keep that perspective of gratitude central, and also, this beautiful paradox that giving of ourselves just increases our capacity for more. Our hearts are not limited, even if our physical capacity (or my joke that I need 4 arms) is.
At least once a week I am grateful for babysitter time–a few hours to either focus on something work related, get out by myself, do an errand or self-care (reflexology is a favorite) and just re-balance mentally–it changes the whole week and allows me to be more fully present to them when I’m home.
The challenge—that is a blessing–of learning to be truly present, in the summer, just as they are to whatever they are doing. Taking life moment by beautiful moment, even if that means items don’t get checked off in the planner, or the day’s timing gets adjusted because we get lost in an activity, craft, playtime, or anything else. I am humbled and learning from the way they are fully present to it all, feeling it all (reacting exactly as they feel), and letting it change us.
By 10:30/11am, we’re usually ready for an outing (after Blaise’s morning nap, which can often stretch almost 2 hours–what a guy). The kids have had time to dress, we’ve prepped snacks/lunches as needed, and we’re ready to head out–whether it’s to pool, to pick up friends, a nearby hike, or something else that’s our main event of the day. Occasionally this will be an errand (though I tend to batch errands, save for weekends and mostly get stuff online–in my strong theme of “creating space” that I hone in on in my life design course). Taking 4 kids into a grocery store is almost a laughable excuse for entertaining the other shoppers. But when it needs to be done, we definitely do it 😉 I’ve dropped them all at the gym daycare with their buddies, and done a zumba class with a friend. It’s all about mixing it up, and making sure they have input in how we spend our days, referencing our big summer bucket list hung on the wall often to make sure we’re checking it all off. What a gift, these days are, when we can focus on the good stuff!
Whatever it is, we try to make sure it’s maximal energy expended, and fun, and weather consistent–ie, by water on the hot days, and library or indoor events on rainy days 😉
I have 2 little guys who need their naps, so I try to allow the day to flow around those with consistency. When we’re home all day, Blaise naps like a king–3 naps of 1-2 hours–gotta enjoy this phase while it lasts ;)–so it’s a tradeoff and balancing act of sometimes having the older kids just play in the sprinkler, the yard, do crafts, make their own fun while he naps happily here, or making Blaise push his midday nap back to get an outing in, or he’ll take it en-route in the car, or in my carrier. Ambrose does best with a 4pm ish nap, and usually after a good chunk of beach or pool time, he’s toast. The trick is always transitioning him into his bed…but on a few occasions, when the universe smiles upon me, I’ve had both boys sleeping at the same time (3-5ish) and will even get a quick siesta in my room or on the porch, an uninterrupted late lunch salad & energizing tea, some book time on the porch, and the girls play happily/make their own fun (or are lovingly reminded to read!) without their boisterous and interrupting brothers 😉
Nature, the perfect place to cultivate wonder, and let the hours fly by.
Fast forward to after 6pm, and we’re in dinner mode, I’m in my cooking (don’t interrupt me!) flow, usually planning meals around what I can pull right out of the garden; Joel comes home, and we try to spend a bit of time on the porch, or in the yard before it gets buggy and dark. The kids have chased and caught fire-flies on a few occasions and those are some of the best vivid memories from my childhood that I’m so glad they’ll have too. At least one night a week, we try to get out–whether it’s for a simple picnic, a concert in the park (with picnic), or just an easy meal out on a restaurant patio. It helps me to look forward to an evening or two without prep or cleanup, and we all enjoy dining al fresco and staying out until it’s dark. And sometimes, if the day has been especially crazy (and I didn’t get out in am for walk)…I’ll literally run out the door in my sneakers and head for a few mile run, as Joel jumps in to take over. The craziest days remind me to work hard to maintain my serenity and sanity, and sometimes the best solution is to #sweatitout and get some time away, a needed perspective. These moments can completely flip the evenings when needed…the marathon of dinners and bedtimes after an already full day can leave many mommas grabbing for the wine, but I try to find other outlets, like mindful movement. We find our balance, continually adjusting.
This summer, we did 1 main camp week (tennis) which had its own flow (brought the boys and I back to our daily walk and errands routines, etc), lots of play and swim dates, and other mini adventures like hiking, berry picking, and the pool on the hottest days (and it pays to have fun friends with pools too!:)
I love having the flexibility in the summer for long outdoor hangouts with friends that we’re often lacking of in the structured school year. And of course, sleepovers punctuate it, and make the kids especially grateful for and loving of the freedom to do these any night of the week. Summer nights are simply the best.
Having these slow days at home helps the kids (and I!) anticipate the bigger plans, and while it’s tempting to pack things in, we’re always better when we leave things open. One main outing per day works for everyone (2 smaller things if they are spaced out by a calm lunch and siesta time;), and if we push it too far, someone from any age group will let me know that it’s too much. Respecting this has been the main goal and challenge, and when it’s all over, I will be grateful for the lessons that it’s taught all of us. I also truly loved the days that we were home all day long. For someone who’s always out and about, resetting that expectation and just thriving in our own place helped me be grateful for all the little moments and rituals and watching the kids navigate the stages of the day. Sometimes, I just had to gently nudge them out the door, to remember to just enjoy their own patch of earth, their 2 acres that they run wild and use all their imagination and energy on…it doesn’t take much and I see them growing as a result of these hours of free play and more “encouraged” recreation, at home.
For someone who craves/loves personal development opportunities: working with, loving on, apologizing when I get upset/lose my cool, being present to littles and their needs is one of the best chances to grow and work on myself that I know of. Keeping the gratitude and perspective front and center can be hard from day to day, moment to moment, but I’m extra motivated since they will never be these exact ages/stages again, and it’s so special for each of them, watching them experience life, grow their capacity for love, and bring their particular selves to the summer flow. Their memories of summer time are always the strongest, so I want us all to look back on these days as beautiful, peaceful, transformative in all the right ways.
I’ve been reading Finding Flow, the follow up book to the incredible work Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (highly recommend it, it’s quite rigorous, not a light read at all, but wonderful if you like musing on the topics of what makes a good life). This quote is a good reminder to me, that how we choose to spend these moments is what truly counts.
A friend who has 4 kids told me that she’s found it helpful to have a bit of alone/one-on-one time each week with your kids once there are several. I totally agree and have been trying to implement this in little ways…the girls so appreciate a mini outing when it’s just me and them, and now that Blaise is of an age that it’s easier to pop out and leave him, I’ve aimed for this each week. Their little worlds are just exploding and I love being able to connect with them and work to be that listening ear, that mom that they can count on to be available, fun, and THERE for them. This matters more to me than any perfectly executed meal plan, or having the laundry all folded the same day it comes out of the dryer. Gulp. Priorities and working to do things with a sense of perspective, and most importantly, guilt free, will always be what I fight for. I don’t want to have regrets when I look back on these crazy, beautiful, sometimes overwhelming days.
In the midst of particularly crazy days, I have to pause and remind myself–these are the days you’ll look back and treasure. Trying to keep a sense of humor and not sweat all the small stuff is key for me. The house will be tidier, and quieter, again, very soon–when school starts back up. And then I’ll surely be missing these summer moments…but the very fact that we get to juxtapose them and appreciate each season means I’m able to put some things on hold/aside, and focus in on just the needs of each day. It’s a huge challenge for me (not to be living in the to-do list, the 1 or 5 year plan, or just “ahead” of where we are)…but I’m learning. These 4 are teaching me the absolute wonder and magic of each and every summer moment.
I want to know–if you’re living it or just reminiscing now–what were the best elements of your 2019 summer rhythms? And how did these days shape your heart?
Something I always learn (re-learn) in the summers–how important habits of self-care underlying our mothering efforts are, at every stage. See my post on summer self-care from last year.
You guys. This is SO good. I made peach icecream a few weeks back and got re-acquainted with my kitchen-aid attachment for icecream. BEST gift that I had on my wedding registry–you know, the obscure thing that you think you won’t use, or don’t use…well I’m using it 🙂
I do have the best childhood memories of making ice-cream with an old-fashioned ice-cream maker, the rock salt, hours of churning it on the back porch of my cousins’ house (there were alot of us so we took turns and it went OK–but I remember that it disappeared in an instant!). When I was looking up recipes to inspire my peach ice-cream with freshly picked peaches, I ran into a coffee ice cream recipe, and just left it open, bookmarked in my phone (one of my ways of remembering/noting to come back to something–anyone else?). Anyway, this is entirely my own creation, because low and behold, Trader Joes happens to have this incredible coconut cold brew concentrate. As soon as I saw that, I knew this would be happening.
I had thought about doing a non-dairy or vegan version of this, it would be pretty simple to do, but the intrigue of using egg yolks, and my obsession with sweeten condensed milk and coffee together (a thai combo that I’ve had before) just led me to keep it straightforward. I’ll suggest the substitutions, in case you need to make it vegan or dairy free.
Homemade Coconut Cold Brew Ice-cream.
*TJ’s coconut cold brew concentrate (I used like 1/4 cup, depends on how strong you want the coffee flavor to be)
*1 can sweetened condensed milk (could use coconut cream to make it vegan)
*1 can evaporated milk (see above)
*2 egg yolks, lightly beaten (skip for vegan)
*1/4 cup raw sugar
*1.5 cup heavy cream or regular milk (use a coconut-almond milk instead like the califia one, for dairy free)
*1/4 c to 1/2 c flaked coconut
That’s it!! Crazy, right? If you have the kitchenaid mixer, just throw all the ingredients in with the pre-frozen bowl (freeze for 24 hours first), and let it mix for 20+ minutes (we were outside in the sprinkler while it was happening. Classic summer afternoon).
Then, place bowl in freezer and try to patiently wait. I was dipping my spoon and getting samples as it hardened and was just blown away by the flavor…
Warning to the wise: I think the caffeine in the cold brew made me stay up crazy late the first night I made it (I had a big helping after dinner, and I normally have little to no caffeine ;))…but SO worth it.
Let me know how you love it, and who you’re with when you enjoy it. Summer moments like these will live on in our memories for a long time.
And hop on my email list (above) for more of this delivered right to you—soon we’ll be focused on healthy kids back to school, healthy fall routines, recipes, and more…but for now…enjoy summer to the last moment!
I LOVE the tradition of showering new moms with meals, after a babe. It’s a simple, perfect way to support her and her family, in those moments when she needs extra rest and less to think about (food shopping!)…so, when I get the chance to do this for friends, it makes me so happy.
I decided on this seasonal meal because it emphasizes eggplant, which is known to be very good for toning/healing the cervix after birth. It’s hearty while being vegetarian, and is a favorite that can please the hub and kids too.
The side dish is a beet and goat cheese salad, filling and beets are an incredible detox food…giving a gentle cleanse to the organs—so perfect for a pp momma.
And for dessert–a seasonal crisp–light and refreshing…we chose blueberry, you can do peach or any flavor that suits you and the season, and who you’re making it for.
And…adding a loaf of fresh bread and a bottle of wine will make it a treat that truly honors the beautiful mother and her family in this special season.
There are a number of steps to this meal, but if you get into a flow and do all of it in overlapping stages, you can get it all done in the space of a…say…6 month old afternoon nap time 😉
Eggplant Parm
*1-2 medium to large eggplants, organic is best
*1 jar of local marinara sauce
*1 log (10-12oz) of fresh/local mozzarella cheese.
*2-3 eggs (blended in a bowl)
*3/4 c. whole wheat flour, for breading
*olive oil, for medium saucepan, and bottom of the 9×13 dish that you’ll be baking the eggplant parm in.
*Salt & pepper to taste
Blueberry Crisp
*1-2lbs of organic blueberries, seasonal.
*1/2 cup butter (softened)
*3/4 cup oats
*3/4 cup brown sugar–sprinkle 1/4 cup on the fruit and let it sit for 30+ min while you’re doing other things. The other 1/2 cup will be for the blueberry crumble.
Beet, goat cheese and lettuce salad
*1 small log organic goat cheese
*1 container of mixed greens, or 2 heads of lettuce
*3 med beets, roasted, peeled, cooled and chopped (see below).
Serve with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, lightly tossed right before serving.
Throw the beets in the oven at 400 to roast in tinfoil. It will take about 40 min to an hour, depending on how big they are. I had one monster one from the farm, and 2 smaller, so I took them out at different times (poke a knife in to be sure its buttery soft)…then peel the skin off once they cool, chop, and they are ready to go in the salad later on.
Next (while those cook) prep the eggplant parm.
Prep the 9×13 baking dish, and heat the olive oil until hot. Take the medium sliced eggplant and dunk to cover, first in the egg, then in the flour–to bread it. Throw 3-4 into the sizzling oil at a time, and cook until slightly brown on one side, then flip. Note, depending on how thick you cut, and their pan cook time, they may not be fully tender in the middle. That’s ok, because you bake them with the sauce and they full cook at that point.
Once you’ve arranged these eggplants in a single layer (usually 6 for me, when using the 9×13)…then we go to the sauce and cheese layers. Dump some sauce to cover, and throw a slice of mozzeralla on each eggplant slice–very satisfying to the organized mind 😉
Complete these steps until you have 2-3 layers, with the sauce and mozzarella on top. Then you can put it aside, to have the baking take place at the new momma’s home (so it’s hot and fresh) or, bake it at your place to simplify things for her. 350 oven for 20-30 min, until you see it bubbling well. (Note, can be baked in conjunction with the crisp…efficiency!)
Finish assembling crisp (fruit with sugar has been sitting), use a pastry cutter to cut in butter, oats, and brown sugar. This is gluten free, and OH SO good. Then crumble the oat mixture on the fruit, and let it sit…again, either bake at home and bring warm, or pop it into the oven at her place so that the smells of baking dinner and dessert are part of the experience.
As a health coach, food is definitely a love language for me, and I love supporting moms (and being supported!) during postpartum, a time of special attention, love and rest for mommas who are doing so much work in healing and feeding, loving on their babies.
I hope you enjoy this and let me know what you think–if you’re bringing it to a friend, be sure to make double so you feed your own family too 🙂 And if you’re a new mom, send this link to someone who will be happy to make it for you!
Currently postpartum? I made a special stretching series that helps us focus on loving & honoring the postpartum body, while building new layers of strength and body image.
I started a postpartum community on FB a few years back, it’s been a wonderful community, chatting all things thriving in postpartum (and that could be 3 weeks or 6 years after baby).
It’s the time of year when we want to do all the things–early morning workouts, late evening hangouts until dark, and all the memorable travels. BUT…we also want to feel amazing, and not be exhausted by summer fun. We want to intentionally build habits and memories that we can carry with us beyond these fun hot days.
We can easily just let all the good habits slip, or we can look at it as an opportunity to make all the new, good habits, and take a new, fresh look at what we love about our life.
This challenge incorporates quick and easy energizing tools (healthy doesn’t have to be hard!), encouragement to make and take good habits with you wherever you are, and a challenge to share the moments that make your summer memorable–with the hashtag #loveyourlife.
How it works.
Choose 1-2 tools from the energizing tools list below. Or start with a personalized health quiz if you’re new to all this. Some folks are doing a 7 day healthy cleanse which is awesome for this time of year…totally up to you, and if you’re pregnant or earlier than 6 mo PP I’ll recommend a few modifications to get the same effect–lighter, clear-headed, and crazy energy for summer!
Commit to 2-3 new good habits regarding daily mindful movement or other things you know will make your summer amazing.
OPT IN to our private FB group–connect with others, grab the free meal plans for each week, and share inspiration as we go. I’ll be going live with tips on healthy summer flow and my daily habits as we go 🙂
Email me if you want regular check-ins by text or support in any other way…I’m here for you! (submit your email at the bottom of page if you’re not already on my list).
Share photos of your energized, happy summer moments with the hashtags #lyl and #loveyourlife so we can find each other on Instagram posts and stories. I’m @maddypidel.
ONE lucky challenge member will receive $100 in FREE healthy goodies in September. Winner will be chosen based on their participation, active sharing on social, and their challenge results!
That’s it!
ENERGIZING TOOLS LIST (Pick 1-2 (or more))–place order by July 20!
If you’re already a member–be sure to log in to get your discounts!
*1) Pomegranate energizing tea–packed with B vitamins and amino acids for a perfect (low caffeine) mid-day boost. Best paired with seltzer, the hydrate drink, and
*2) Vitalizer strip. This is what I call my daily power strip. All the nutrients and energy you could need for your best life.
*3) Protein–plant or soy, high protein, low sugar (1 g sugar per 20 g protein)—and it tastes amazing. I’ll be sharing some shake recipes/ideas in the private FB group. A perfect summer breakfast or lunch. Consider getting a canister of vanilla and chocolate for all your summer frozen treats!
*4) Optiflora DI–A powerful probiotic which can help with all the delicious/indulgent meals we may be enjoying this time of year.
*5) EZ-Gest–digestive enzymes. Perfect for summer travels, and healthy digestion throughout this season of daily, fun, indulgence.
*6) Stress relief complex–for all the mommas—and really anyone who knows stress is taking a toll this time of year. Feel more relaxed within minutes…!! You deserve it.
*7) PM Recovery—ready for more restful nights this summer? Working out and need to help your muscles recover? This is a powerful way to fully send your body into a deeper level of sleep and muscle recovery–with tart cherry. It’s my secret weapon, and ALL postpartum mommas need this.
*8) Optional: 7 day healthy Cleanse kit—this is a powerful way to reboot metabolism, cravings, digestion, and the average weight loss over 7 days is 6 lbs in a clinical trial. I LOVE this program for a jumpstart to true, intuitive eating, when you trust yourself to be craving the good stuff. Perfect moment in the year for it, and you’ll get extra support from me while cleansing.
I recommend that you wait until 6 months postpartum before doing this program as is (I can suggest some modifications and alternatives–so reach out to me to discuss!) If pregnant, reach out to me to discuss other good options for your goals as well.
*9) Healthy weight and cleanse kit–if you’re committed to a serious weight loss goal and ready to make some big changes–this is a great starting point. Get ready to feel INCREDIBLE.
*10) Performance electrolytes. Stay hydrated, naturally, this summer! This is one of our favorite daily tools that helps us feel at our best–especially for active kiddos, families, and others.
Shake prep.
What you get with the challenge:
*4 weeks of clean eating and delicious meal plans to make cooking and prep simpler in this full time of year.
*Regular inspiration and support in our community–this time of year, accountability can make all the difference for motivation!
*A whole new level of health and energy to enjoy these long, beautiful summer days to the full.
Let’s LOVE LIFE this summer and feel amazing.
I’m right in there with you, building good habits and self-care rituals amidst a summer with 4 littles.
So, this time of year, seasonal eating means all the fruits for this crew, and especially some quick and delicious fruit desserts, that are light and refreshing.
I have shared this crisp recipe before, in apple form. It’s SO easy, and can be made GF if desired.
And of course, on these hot summer days, sometimes we prefer to have a nice cold shake…those are our family breakfasts of choice often in this warmer season…so I also include a fun peaches and cream shake recipe, for any peaches that don’t make it into the crisp…
Peach Crisp
*4-5 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
*1 stick butter, some for the pan, some for the topping.
*1 cup organic oats
*1/2 cup organic brown sugar, raw sugar, or coconut sugar
*1/2 cup flour: coconut flour, regular flour, or omit if you want.
Directions:
Prep the 9 in glass pie pan with butter, then toss in peaches with a tiny bit of raw sugar, let them sit while you prepare the crumble.
Cut butter into oats and flour & sugar, using a pastry cutter.
Preheat the oven to 350. Pop the crisp into the oven and bake 15-20 minutes, making sure it’s browning on top, bubbling well and smells like summer goodness as you pull it out. Let cool then douse with whipped cream, because, life is short, and the little things can make all the difference 😉
When you prefer to sip your peach crisp…:)
You all know we love our #lifeshakelife. Only plant protein I trust and use and recommend. It’s seriously amazing and if you’ve been wanting to try but haven’t been ready to commit to a 30 serving bag, hit me up for a sample serving.
So, this shake is easy and tastes heavenly. Of course, I’m always tempted to add greens, but the peach skins add a nice amount of fiber and it’s balanced well by the texture of oats, making it an awesome summer lunch that will keep you energized and on your A-game.
Peaches & Cream Shake
*3 ripe peaches, pitted and chopped (leave skins on, extra fiber)
This time around…my 4th postpartum…my motto for building back to fitness habits and feeling great–has been…”less is more”. Now, let me start with saying that for me, postpartum fitness secret #1 is—stay fit in pregnancy…it’s just so much easier to jump back in and your body responds so well if it’s a habit that was built over that time…rather than taking a break for all of pregnancy (if possible!)…of course the other secret is, mindful movement—it’s more likely to be long walks and playing with my kids or stretching on my porch rather than rushing to hit the gym machines. Functional movement is so good for us, when healthy flexibility, energy and mood is the goal.
So what’s your INTENTION for postpartum fitness? Let’s start there. It can’t be just to fit into a certain pair of pants, that just won’t feed us in the way that another motivation will. Some of us have been there, done that, and it’s a vicious cycle, when the focus is meant to be on nourishment, feeling energized and alive, nourishing our babies, and just enjoying this special season, even as you work to get to a weight that’s the healthiest for you.
I have alot of thoughts on healthy weight loss in PP…if you’re struggling in this area and want to connect–message me.And check out my body image bonus videos in the series below!
We want to be approaching postpartum fitness from a perspective of self-acceptance and honoring our bodies for what they’ve accomplished in bringing these children into the world. They are beautiful beyond measure.
And with my experience…3 very different postpartums before this, but often a common denominator of, even with a good focus on nutrition and supporting myself, still pushing myself and my body before I was really ready…this time has been easy…restful, slow (for me), and while I have hit some fun targets–prepping for and running a 7 mile race at 3 months PP (yay!), I haven’t been pushing myself on a daily basis or doing intense workouts. Instead, if given the choice between a nap and a run, I’m likely to choose the nap. And some miraculous days, I get both 😉
Well, in response to what I hear alot from moms in postpartum when I work with them—it’s hard to come to terms with these bodies–we want to love them, but sometimes they are unrecognizable to us, and their changes are causing us to wonder if life will ever be the same as “before”. Here’s a hint–it won’t. BUT, you deserve to be stronger, fitter, more energized and feel better than ever. Seriously. That’s been my experience in PP and it can be yours. So much of it starts with nutrition, hormone balancing, rest, resetting the nervous system, establishing patterns and structures of self-care and mental breaks that allow us to do the mothering well, when it can feel all-consuming.
Of course, you know about some of my favorite postpartum nutrition tools…you can find more about those here.
I decided to focus on a baseline of stretching, this time around. I knew I wanted to do a strong core recovery, after dealing with and reversing DR after my 3rd pp (thanks Every Mother!). I’m a big yoga fanatic, but even the standard flows can be too taxing in early postpartum. So this series is meant to be the most gentle, mindful movement possible, targeting the low back, hip flexors, shoulders, and all the areas that get tight and get used so much in daily motherhood. Pelvic mobility and gentle core awakening are the key for a great recovery, so I wanted to start there.
I hope this benefits other mommas as a habit, as it has me, and I wanted to also explore the important topic of postpartum body image, and share some reflections, both from my own experiences, and from the amazing moms I work with and coach. This is a bonus section of the video series.
If you’re not a mom but you know someone who would benefit from this—please share!
*You can also get 15% off the Every Mother early reclaim program I mentioned above, through this link, and entering MPIDEL15 when registering.
Cheers, friends. Life is meant to be lived to the full, with intention, as the best versions of ourselves. Yes, even in motherhood 😉 Our babies deserve it too, and these are days and moments we want to look back on with the most joy.
