Spotlight on Malu Organic

This week's spotlight  is on a new favorite Etsy shop, MALU ORGANIC. I've long been obsessed with sustainable clothing and I've finally found my go-to for stylish toddler duds that I'm in love with!

A friend of mine recently brought back some awesome patchwork harem pants straight from Bali (yes, she met Ketut!), and I absolutely adore them. I wear them EVERY chance I get. When I found these adorable toddler harem pants, I just about died!

Mali & Kalen Allmandinger, stole my heart as  former NYC residents turned California transplants. MALU Organic was born shortly after the birth of their daughter Marnie.
She wanted to create baby/toddler apparel that would convey their laid back Malibu beach lifestyle with a free-spirit undertone. They hit it right on the money, my son not only felt incredibly comfortable (I've seriously never felt a softer, more breathable fabric), but it had plenty of give allowing him to "fly free."

If you follow my blog you know that I try my best to be a conscious buyer and sustainable wear has long been on my radar for my boys. It can be tough with how much wear and tear they put on clothes and how active they are.  Malu Organic's 100% organic fair trade cotton isn't only the softest cotton I've ever felt but it will surely stand the test of time. It's #ToddlerApproved! I couldn't feel better knowing that this sustainable wear isn't wreaking havoc on our planet and it was made by workers who are treated well and paid fair wages. #IntentionIsEverything

In their own words:

We’ve created an ethical brand that is fully eco-friendly, using the softest, most comfortable fair-trade organic cotton and hemp fabrics, and environmentally friendly, solvent-free inks and natural dyes. We strive to be sustainable and to have a small footprint, sourcing our materials from as close to home as possible. The creative part is done in Malibu. We design and print everything in our home and then we manufacture in downtown LA, using fabrics made in the USA.

As if it couldn't get any better,  5% of every purchase is donated to the "Every Mother Counts" organization. An incredible program providing transportation, education and supplies to pregnant mothers in need all over the world.

You can follow MALU Organic on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. When ordering don't forget to use coupon code ESSENTIALLYORGANIC for 10% off!

Be Well, Be Green, Be Malu!


Essentially Yours,

Erika



Disclosure: Essentially Erika was provided with complimentary apparel featured in this article in exchange for a product review. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor.

Essential Giveaways: Ticket's to Miami's Ultimate Baby Affair (MUBA 2015)

The hottest show in Miami is back in town and I've got tickets to give away! I've been waiting for this even all year! This is Miami's Premier Event for couples planning to conceive, expecting moms and new parents.  This is the place to be for all things baby & child related, leaders in the industry will be presenting Infant / Baby / Toddler products that parents will love. Not to mention the list of celebrity parenting experts in attendance.

BONUS: The proceeds from this event will go to the Ronald McDonald House charity of South Florida and the Kristi House.

The generous folks at Tutti Bambini have gifted me with a pair of tickets for one of my lucky readers!

All you have to do to qualify is tag a friend on our Instagram page or invite a friend to like our Facebook page. The winner will receive two free Premium tickets to Miami's Ultimate Baby Affair taking place this Friday at 6pm at the Miami Airport Convention Center! 

No worries if you don't win and you'd like to purchase tickets, Tutti Bambini has something for EVERYONE. Visit Tutti Bambini online and enter coupon code "ESSENTIALLY" for 15% off your tickets!

The winner will be displayed on Friday morning, Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guess Who's Back in Town... It's Green Baby Fair Time Again!!!

We're fresh off the heels of the Mother of All Babyshowers event from last night, but we're ready to jump on in again!

The Green Baby Fair is in town once a year and it is taking place once again at the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami! I will be there for sure getting the scoop on all things baby AND green! General Admission is $15 if purchased online or $20 at the door. Children 13 and under are free. But of course you know I had to sneak in a last minute ticket giveaway! Enter now until midnight to win a pair of tickets to the greenest fair in Miami! Only a few hours left to enter! You can qualify by following us @EssentiallyErika on Instagram and tagging a friend, it's that easy! The winner will be announced tomorrow before 10am, which is a good thing because that's when the festivities kick off! a Rafflecopter giveaway Good Luck! Remember, if you don't win tickets you can still purchase online by clicking here.
In the meantime, check out our visit to the Green Baby Fair 2013!

Essentially Yours,

Erika

When Life Gives You Bruised Bananas... Make Banana Bread!

Some days I wake up wondering exactly how I am physically going to accomplish everything that needs to be done. It seems there just aren't enough hours in the day, I'm programmed to tell myself this. Now I stop myself and think, "There are just enough hours in the day to accomplish whatever it is I need to get done". The former control freak slowly loses this battle as I become more and more aware of my words and the power they hold.

As I get older I realize that I cannot do EVERYTHING all of the time. I simply cannot be EVERYTHING to all people in my life, and I'm finally okay with that. I feel as a society we get wrapped up in "yes" and don't realize the wonderful power in the almighty "no". Being okay with however things turn out and accepting them as if they were chosen to be that way has been a power struggle for me. There is no such thing as "perfect", only how your mind chooses to perceive the way something should be. Anything outside of that is okay too I've come to learn. It's ALL okay and is going to be just fine. The belief in this is what has lead to my peace and stillness while things seem chaotic or overwhelming.

There is a certain surrender that happens when you have children (especially if you have them close in age) that helps you understand that at the end of the day it's not all under your "control". A surrender I feel is necessary to be able to enjoy the "bruised bananas" so to speak. Let me elaborate...

Last week was a doozy! A busy week where it seems we just couldn't seem to catch up. An endless rotation of dishes, laundry, packing/unpacking snacks and lunches, groceries, meals on the-go and rushing through our bedtime routines. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job. I call it a job because it is the hardest work I've ever done in my life. Although it is my greatest pleasure to raise my boys and be able to witness the constant evolving miracle they are, it's a round-the-clock, never-ending, no-lunch-break-having, lucky if you get a shower in before racing out of the door kind of job. Still, I consider myself a very lucky woman, whose husband is not only capable of providing for his family but wouldn't have it any other way. I am well aware of the struggles that working mom's go through as well, I couldn't imagine working a full shift and only getting a few stolen moments with my boys each night before rushing to do it all again the next morning. I also know working moms who couldn't imagine pulling off what work-at-home moms do all day without a break or much adult interaction.

I feel as though sometimes mom's compete in this arena. DON'T! We ALL have our struggles, no matter what we choose. What works for you may not work for other moms. What you may be willing to sacrifice could be unimaginable for some. We come in ALL shapes and sizes and so do our families! The more comfortable you are with your decisions, the less you need others to be comfortable with it. So do what works for you and your family un-apologetically and move on! (That's all I have to say about that) I can only speak from my own experience and my experience is this:

Some days I look at my house and have no idea how I am going to pull it all off. Last week I looked at dishes piled high (the price you pay for being Eco-friendly and refusing to use paper products AND cooking everything from scratch) and decided I was going to skip the frantic cooking/cleaning mom bit and do what makes me feel good in the midst of chaos, BAKE!

I had some old spotty bananas and remembered I had pinned an awesome banana bread recipe that called for some fresh blueberries. I decided to round up my two favorite assistants and get to work!

The joy that they get from helping me bake is endearing, all they have to do is hear my Kitchen Aid stand mixer turn on and they race from the playroom to the kitchen with bright eyes eager to help. These baking breaks we take are fun and informative. They are allowed to add and mix the ingredients and following recipes all on their own as I stand by and facilitate for safety and the good chuckle I get from their little conversations. I enjoy showing them the process of cooking / baking from scratch and using whole ingredients, teaching them the importance of using real food instead of canned / boxed items. I stop and embrace these simple special moments knowing that all too soon they will be in school and a new phase of our lives will begin.

It still doesn't take away from the nagging pressures of everyday responsibilities, sweeping, mopping etc... I used to have internal meltdowns or hustle until the wee hours trying to get it all done, only to start again each day. I often see new or young moms struggling with the same pressures and figuring how to juggle it all. I've since learned to stop in these moments I feel overwhelmed and get back in touch with what really matters. To center myself and be fully present in the moment, no matter what it may be. My boys won't remember how clean the kitchen floor was growing up or how dinner was always promptly at 5pm. They will remember those times their mom threw caution to the wind and "changed the dance" so to speak. Those evenings she left the laundry on the couch and took them for pizza at the park on the inter coastal to watch the boats go by at sunset. Or the time she used all the bananas in sight to bake the best Blueberry Banana Bread known to man in a kitchen that would scare Cinderella.

Having lost a parent I know all too well the memories that stick with you the most and get me through the toughest moments long after they are gone. If all I'm doing is dishes and laundry what sort of memories will I leave my boys with? What will I teach them about coping with life and learning to let their freak flag fly? How will they learn to be silly and draw laughter and perhaps a bit of grace from those tense moments life often offers.

So if you come on over and the floors are a little sticky, or the tables, windows and counters aren't polished. You must excuse us, we are baking memories...

Buttermilk Banana Blueberry Bread Recipe

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Cloth Diaper Confessions!!

Today I am discussing one of my favorite topics, were talking CLOTH DIAPERS people!

So I usually get one of three reactions when people find out that I used cloth diapers on both of my boys:

• They think it's gross and old fashioned "Why would anyone do that when they don't have to anymore"?

OR

• That's awesome! "But I don't think I have the time for all of that".

I suspect there is a crowd of "in-betweeners" who just don't understand how cloth diapering is done nowadays. It's not as gross and outdated as it may seem, and it doesn't take much time at all. I'm pretty passionate about climate change and the effect that we leave on this planet. When I was pregnant with my first son, we made a conscious decision as a family to not only be mindful of the footprint we left, but also in the footprints started by our children. The choice to cloth diaper our children was more than just a parenting choice, it was a lifestyle choice. 
We agreed wholeheartedly that we wanted to model values of accountability. We strongly felt/feel there is a disconnect between people and what they use just as there is a strong disconnect between people and what they eat (we will save that conversation for another time). It was important to us as a family instead to teach our children to not only be "consumers", and to feel responsible for how much we use. For every action there is a reaction, we wanted to show them not only to be mindful of what you "take" but also to give back as much as you can. Within your life, your home, your community and local surroundings in order to be a part of the "solution" as opposed to just being a part of the "problem".




Time for some facts: Disposable diapers are the third largest consumer in landfills to date, and represent about 4% in solid waste. In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of the household waste. I was disturbed to find out that diapers are dumped into landfills, covered and not exposed to sun or air at all, nobody knows how many hundreds—or even thousands—of years they could be around.

Without sun and air, even so-called “eco-friendly” diapers labeled biodegradable do NOT biodegrade in landfills, and cause just as much of a problem as regular diapers. It's estimated that every five minutes another 200,000 throw away will enter landfills in the United States alone where they will sit for at least 500 years before decomposing.

 That means long after you AND your children are long gone. That doesn't even include the wipes used!


This just breaks my NY heart! In 1991, an attempt towards recycling disposable diapers was made in the city of Seattle, involving 800 families, 30 day care centers, a hospital and a Seattle-based recycler for a period of one year. The conclusion made by Procter & Gamble was that recycling disposable diapers was not an economically feasible task on any scale.
You can check out more facts on the effects of disposable diapers on our environment here.

Now that we understand a bit about the effects disposables have in our landfills, lets talk health! It's no secret I go through great lengths to limit the amount of chemicals and toxins my family is exposed to. This is the reason I make all of my home cleaning products, laundry detergent, you name it! I'm either making it at home already or researching the recipe. Some of the chemicals listed as ingredients in disposable diapers are just downright scary, and to think were putting that on our baby's genitals!

Not So Fun Fact: Did you know that the instructions on any disposable diaper pack require that you dispose of any fecal matter (you know, poop!) in the toilet before disposing of the diaper itself? When you toss a disposable into the trash can, you are adding to the 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter going into the environment every year. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and The American Public Health Association advise parents that fecal matter and urine should NOT be disposed of in the regular trash, because it contaminates the ground water and spreads disease. 

Have you ever seen what happens to a diaper in a pool when completely submerged it water? It explodes! A weird gel substance oozes from the back end. Some big name diaper companies have been under scrutiny over the past few years for some terrible rashes and in some cases even welts that were experienced in children who used their diapers. 

Now that we've covered the hazards and harmful effects of disposable diapers, let's get to the fun stuff..

Does it get any cuter than this???

Cloth diapering is not what it used to be, no more pinning and poking yourself nonstop. Lots of cloth diaper companies have gotten pretty fancy with snap and velcro enclosures and All-In-One inserts that make changing your baby simple and affordable! 

Not to mention the designs! They are absolutely adorable, crunchy AND cute! There are so many to choose from. I've decided to list the companies that we have had success with. I can only speak from personal experience and offer advice on where we were able to purchase these options online for the best price.

Fuzzibunz:
These were awesome, easy cloth diapers that were very easy to figure out and worked best for my boys during the daytime. Their cloth insert made quick changing possible. You just put the cloth insert in the pocket diaper when you are putting it on and remove the insert when you are changing and dispose into a diaper pail liner bag.

These specially designed bags are excellent for keeping tough smells inside until you prepare to wash a load, you can place them inside a makeshift diaper pail like I did or you can hang them on back of a door (I've only seen this online and is not my personal recommendation). Fuzzinbunz also sells an awesome travel wet bag for on-the-go changing.

This is also excellent for keeping odors locked into its zipper pocket compartment. The specially designed lining inside keeps the moisture and odor in, while staying dry on the outside. The nifty loop makes it ideal for latching onto strollers or diaper bags in case you didn't want to stuff a stinky diaper inside. You can take it to the next level like I did and even use the Fuzzibunz cloth wipes! These fleece wipes are so soft and smooth, they wipe up a lot more than the store bought disposables I've used in the past. Plus, your already washing cloth diapers just toss the wipe on in when your done!

I was fortunate enough to purchase a six pack of Fuzzibunz diapers online at Baby Steals for about $45, which helped to really give me a good base for my stash.

It's also great if you can find an online store that is local to cut down on shipping costs. If not, you can find a website with low shipping costs like the All Natural Baby Center or Kelly's Closet.

Bumgenius:
These  are wonderful highly absorbent one size fits all cloth diapers that grow with your child. They are easy to maneuver and even come with a weight limit for each setting to make it even simpler. Another pocket insert which allows for multiple inserts (doubling or tripling) making it perfect for over night wear. As my boys grew older and needed more nightly support I was able to use a Knickernappies organic hemp double insert that fit inside the Bumgenius pocket diaper. This assured me dried bottoms each morning!

Bumgenius also provides Flip diapers for a more on-the-go option. This insert diaper allows you to only change the insert  and keep the diaper shell on for quick access.
Perfect for park days or a stroll through the mall. The stay dry shell was great for preventing leaks, a much thinner insert with great absorbency.

Most of my Bumgenius products were purchased online at Cotton Babies. They have great sales where you can buy five diapers and get one for free. This is a great way to also add to your cloth diaper stash. Seeing as how babies need to be changed 8-10 times a day, its best to have at least 20 or so diapers on hand so your not washing daily.

Washing:
Ahh yes, the part that scares most people away from using cloth diapers... POOP!

Folks, there's nothing to fear here. With all of the updated cloth diapers on the market today, you simply empty the diaper over the toilet, remove the insert and put into your lined diaper pail. If you have enough diapers in your rotation you can wash every other day. When I needed to wash I would simply remove the lid on the diaper pail, grab the diaper bag and empty straight into my washing machine for a cold soak. There was a secret to my soak, I would add about a third of a cup of Bio`kleen Bac Out.

This all natural stain fighter contains live enzymes ensuring bright whites as well as a fresh scent. Once I felt they had soaked long enough (usually overnight), I would start a hot wash with my cloth diaper safe detergent, also by Bio`kleen.

This laundry detergent is cloth diaper safe (not all detergents are), I found that this worked best for me and I was able to purchase it locally in a pinch if I needed to. Most cloth diaper detergents like Rockin' Green are only available online which can be inconvenient. I've seen Charlie Banana detergent on sale at Walmart before but haven't had any experience with it.

I would also include a hefty scoop of Bio`kleen's Oxygen Bleach Plus for good measure.
I found that this was helpful when dealing with tough stains and any strong odors as the boys grew. Plus it made me feel better knowing there was some bleach action going on, even if it was all natural.

I would end with a cold rinse before drying the inserts, or a few hot rinses if I was stripping the diapers.

Stripping is the process of repeatedly rinsing the inserts in hot water. This is usually done when you first receive the diapers before your first use, or if you feel they have lost some of their absorbency due to build up. Some folks use dish detergent and bleach in their stripping, I always went the old fashioned route with vinegar and hot water.

Just like detergent, not all diaper creams are cloth diaper friendly. There are quite a few on the market, we've only tested three and had great success with all three:

• CJ's Butter
• Grandma El's
• Earth Mama Angel

All are available for purchase online at any of the sites mentioned above. 

If you are considering cloth diapering your baby and still are unsure of which brands to trust, there is a great trial program offered at Jillian's Drawers. This site is a great starting place if you are new to cloth diapering looking for information, and great if you are finished with cloth and looking for outlets to pass on some of your experience. 

Also, if you're very interested in cloth diapering your baby but just can't seem to find the time or energy to wash at home, you can consider a company like Mother Earth diaper service. Pick-ups and Drop-offs with ease, no muss no fuss!

At the end of the day cloth diapering is much like anything else, a personal experience. There is no one size fits all for every family. I hope that my experience can help anyone considering taking this rewarding journey. 

What's your cloth diapering experience been like?  I'd love to hear about it!


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Tot School: Farm Week!

***Warning: Late post!

Last week was Farm week in #TotSchool, I was so excited for this theme just because of all of the really cool printables I was able to find!

I had made a few adjustments to the Tot School / Play Area in order to accommodate more trays. I'm not quite sure it will stay this way, there are definitely more man hours required in keeping the room tidy. This room is constantly evolving and growing with my boys, much like the rest of our lives! I've come to pride myself on the grace and humor with which I handle these changes on a day to day basis with two boys under the age of four. Hey, were all a work in progress right?

I kept it simple at first with some Do-A-Dot printables. Printables are great for entertaining two children at very close, yet very different stages. Any excuse to use my laminator! #nerdalert I  much prefer hands on process art and play, but these do serve a purpose in bringing them together for something they both enjoy. Plus it helps me get dinner on the table. Don't judge me.

I found these on one of my new favorite Tot School sites to visit The Gift of Curiosity, they had all the farm animals available to print (their favorite was the "wooster"). Trying to put together tot trays can be very tricky when dealing with two toddlers close in age at different developmental stages. I often feel as though the trays can either frustrate my two year old, or bore my three year old to pieces. It's a fine line and The Gift of Curiosity is great at balancing the two. Now, if I could only keep them from intruding into each others trays.

They both seem to really enjoy practice cutting. My oldest is definitely a bit more experienced so these spiral sheets helped to keep this activity interesting. My youngest is content with just holding the scissors and practicing how to work the springs. All around these are usually a hit.

My three year old has gained somewhat of a reputation as the "Puzzle Master", he can quickly put together pretty elaborate puzzles in a very short time (I promise I am not clocking him with a stop watch). It's as though he can see the "big picture" from the start, it's fun to watch his eyes glisten as his mind puts together piece by piece like a young mad scientist.

Naturally these homemade puzzles were right up his alley, he thoroughly enjoyed finding all the different pieces and putting them together. My little guy??? Not so much. 

He was more interested in our newest purchase for Tot School, the Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center. This was awesome! It really allows for much less re-printing and I don't have to use all of my laminator pouches on one theme.

Matching animals to their shadows was great for my three year old, and my little guy enjoyed tracing the animals steps back to the barn. Win / Win! Matching and size sorting are favorites for my puzzle master. 

Here they are matching animals, shapes and sorting by size. Much more popular for my three year old. He moves through these pretty quickly though. 

The balance between catering to the two different stages is a weekly struggle in Tot School, but well worth it. Especially when I get to witness these two working together. 

Be still my heart..

Can't wait to see what will be in store for Tot School next week!

Essentially Yours,

Erika

"It's My Party & I'll Plan If I Want To"

It's September! Yaaaaaaaay... Can you smell the sarcasm?

September was never one of my favorite months living in South Florida. First of all, the rest of the country is enjoying Indian Summer or Autumn and in some places even fall weather. Not here though.

September in South Florida is about as disappointing as December. Don't even get me started on my "You call this Christmas?" rant. September is just another summer month in South Florida! The same exact weather it seems as July and August. Unforgiving heat, relentless humidity. The only time of year you can take a shower just before leaving and sweat by the time you walk to your car. Every year I complain to anyone willing to listen about how THIS will be my last summer in Florida, and argue with anyone who is interested about why it would be better living ANYWHERE else (specifically the Northeast). A walk to the mailbox is a chore, not to mention resulting in what can only be described as a "drive-by" of mosquito attacks (I once counted 32 bites in under ten minutes outside!).

It wasn't until 2009 when I actually looked forward to this month, I was pregnant and due the end of September! Even though I had to spend my ENTIRE third trimester in July, August and September I managed to remain in good spirits. Once our not so little guys first birthday rolled around I was in crafty heaven! You mean I get to plan parties every year??? I first rekindled my childhood love of crafting during the planning of my wedding. Getting married at a young age and paying for everything yourself apparently awakens the crafter's spirit. So off I went, as my husband likes to put it "hot gluing myself to everything under the sun". Boy did I go off! I went with a circus "motif" seeing as how our local park had an incredible vintage-style carousel.

One of the most enjoyable parts about planning are all the fun and personalized details you can add. I would go nuts adding specific little details to every facet of the party! From photo booths, to directional signs and even face painters. Goody bags were my specialty!

Staying true to the theme I would incorporate specific food or drinks, the possibilities are endless! Don't get me wrong I LOVE this stuff, I practically LIVED for it. It's yet another way for me to be creative and create wonderful experiences and memories to share. Invitations had to be perfect and foreshadow all of the fun to be had! I would put all my heart and soul into making everyone feel special, I spent most of the time running around making sure everything was "just right" so that everyone else was having a good time. OR that everything looked "just right" so that the pictures and memories would be wonderful.

But there is one other aspect of it that rarely gets discussed, I was also EXHAUSTED! When you are exhausted you cannot be your best self, or the best mom. I would stay up all hours of the night stapling myself to something or spilling paint from sheer exhaustion. At some points it felt like work, with two toddlers under the age of two it definitely took its toll. Especially the weeks leading up to the party, I could just see me now up until 1am sticking Elmo eyes and noses onto red paper plates for the Sesame Street party.

Then something happened...

I was at George Snow Park one day (a favorite of ours, nice and shady in the summer months), when one of the fellow Seedlings moms showed up with her three kids in tow and a whole foods bag. She proceeded to park under a tree at a picnic table, and set up shop. Linens, cutlery, a fruit and pasta platter and some vegan cupcakes. Her husband showed up with a cake and some balloons a few minutes later. She had invited a few of her daughters friends and told the rest of us park stragglers, "We're having A's birthday party here, you are all welcome to join in on the food and fun". That's it? "It's really that simple"? Of course it is I thought, some of my fondest memories as a kid were impromptu birthday parties with an Entenmann's Devils Food cake and some Cheetos! Oh the high fructose corn syrup goodness! My boys had the greatest time that day, all of the kids and parents did. There was no stress, no muss and no fuss. It didn't matter who showed up, who didn't. Whether anyone brought a gift or not, or if anyone had any criticism. There was no comparing to other parties, or any jealousy about anything. It was what parties used to represent, FUN!

I started wondering if it was also the image I wanted to portray for my boys, making an insane production for every single year of their life? Would this instill a sense of entitlement? Where would I draw the line? I was certainly happy and grateful for yet another wonderful year of having the honor of playing mommy to these two incredible human beings, and that certainly felt worthy of a celebration. But did that celebration need to be this type of a grand production? The time, the resources and the money spent in pulling off these extravagant parties... Was it all for them? If given the chance to decide, would they really care about centerpieces or photo booths? I asked my 3 year old what he wanted to do for his 4th birthday, he asked if his cake could be orange and can he have an orange balloon? That's his favorite color. It's that simple for him, and I hope he never loses that simplicity. How can I teach them to appreciate the still moments in life if I'm constantly upping the ante?

Don't get me wrong, not all of these over the top crafty parties are about status or competition. I just started to feel like some of the parties I was going to (and planning) we're more "parent centered" than "child centered". Parties in park playgrounds where parents were more concerned with serving alcohol to adults than really focusing on the kids. Feeling pressure during planning to invite someone or their plus 1 because of "what they might think". Something clicked in me that I couldn't describe, I had scaled back in so many other ways in my life on my quest for "less is more" I guess it was only a matter of time before this would follow suit. Balance is the key to all happiness they say, and in fact balance is where I find I am most at peace and connected in my life. So I made a conscious decision to scale back, and focus on what truly mattered. With decisions like these my mind always goes to an article on the Sunflower Blog I once read titled "Being vs. Buying", you can find it here: http://sunflowerblog.org/2013/07/23/being-vs-buying/. I decided I would focus all of that time and energy into creating life experiences, adventures and collect moments. We were going to "Be" instead of "Buy", or "Plan". Children know more than we ever can about being fully "present" in the moment, if only we would follow their lead a little more instead of trying to teach them about "our world" or "the real world". The swift fleeting moments that whiz by in a parents life, those ordinary Tuesday nights where you just hang out with eachother, thats where the magic happens.

I wasn't fortunate enough to have a lot of time with my Dad, he died just before my freshman year in highschool and he worked a ton when I was growing up. I don't remember any expensive gifts or lavish parties. I can't recall the sacrifices he made so that I could have the Gameboy I wanted or those new boots I had to have. I remember the handful of moments we spent alone. Just a simple drive to run an errand when he introduced me to Jazz & Blues, the day he took me to get my first pair of glasses, or the time he took me to work with him "just because". The simple banter between father and daughter are imprinted on my heart. Those are moments I treasure till this day, and I draw from these moments when faced with these opportunities in my own parenting.

Here are some of my party pictures over the years..

Doesnt my son look happy?

All this while 7 months pregnant!

Everything gets decorated, even the bump!

The devil's in the details...

More "fun" for the little guy!

"Seuss-tastic" party!

We've decided not to stop celebrating or throwing parties, but to introduce a bit more balance in the mix. I will always love party planning and making parties special for all who attend, just not Every. Single. Year. So we will party it up for the "big ones" as I like to call it. First is always a biggie, Fifth, Tenth, 18th, 21st and possibly 30th. Instead, we will fill all that in between up with all the juicy ordinary special moments that weave their way into our lives while we are just "being".

We don't have many pictures of the past couple of birthdays, we were too busy having fun!


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Stain, Stain, Go Away!

Stains. They are inevitable! Especially with two boys under the age of four. Around here, they are unfortunately a constant occurrence (insert my mother shrieking here). 

Refusing to use any laundry products with chemicals, I've somewhat backed myself into a corner where I'm either in denial about these stains or I've accepted them as the newest member to our family. Either way, I was in trouble. 

Until now!!!

I'm amazed at the power of essential oils and all they can do for my life! When I first started this blog I didn't intend on promoting any oils, but the change they've made in my day to day life is worth mentioning. The name I chose for this blog was actually just "catchy" and at the end of the day I'm essentially just me. I digress...

I introduce to you essentially the easiest stain remover recipe EVER! 

This concoction only has two ingredients!

You will need:

1/2 cup of vinegar

20 drops of Therapeutic Grade Lemon Essential Oil 

(For more info on different grades of essential oils you can visit:http://www.modernwellness.com/webinar-makeover-your-medicine-cabinet/, this webinar is lengthy but so worth it!)

That's it! 

Add to a glass spray bottle and spray those stains away.

Now, I'm always down on myself for not catching before and after pics for all my oil miracles. I'm still new to this blogger mentality and often race straight into "mommy mode" to fix an issue. But not this time! 

I finally snapped a quick before shot for you fine folks!

It seems my little guy is an artist like his father, I can't keep the crayons, paint brushes or markers out of his hands. It's amazing to watch his natural talent unfold as he tries to color inside the lines and watch his strokes, he's only two! That is until it's on my sofa, then it's no longer miraculous and now it's just inconvenient (ha, ha still cute though). Here is his latest masterpiece..

I've been looking to throw a pop of color in my living area, this wasn't what I had in mind...

A few sprays and a little scrubbing from my newest concoction and here you have it:

Back in action! We live to fight another stain!! 

To purchase doTerra's lemon essential oil, or any of their fabulous oils you can go to: www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials

In my research I found tons of advice on how to remove crayon stains, some were quite "crafty", what's your all natural go-to stain remover?


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: Bumps & Bruises

Living with two boys under the age of four, you can imagine how many bumps and bruises I see on a weekly basis. Oddly enough it's always my little guy who takes all the tumbles. He tends to be a bit more risky than his older brother who is a little more of a risk analyst when it comes to tricky maneuvers.

The tumble he recently took off off the couch onto my tile floor and into his Fisher Price record player was not a pretty one. It caught him right between the eyes and it started to swell so fast he was beginning to look like a unicorn!

I remember reading on the coveted Modern Wellness page on Facebook that Deep Blue was supposed to help with swelling.
I raced to my oil stash and grabbed ol' trusty tried and true blue! Just a dab will do, although I will say this: Be sure and keep away from the eyes, this oil is potent and can burn terribly if rubbed into a little one's eye.

The true test would be in the bruising in the days to come. I should have taken a picture right away but I was busy consoling a very distraught two year old.

But here you have it!

He never got a shiner as I suspected, and it went straight into the healing phase. By the next day it was visibly swollen, but nothing like before and it was already turning yellow / green. It wasnt tender to the touch and as you can see his mood had greatly improved! (Pardon the shameless plug, I couldn't resist!)

By day two the swelling had completely subsided and you could barely tell he had any bruising at all.

Another victory for Deep Blue and #DrMom!

Thinking of ordering an extra bottle to keep on hand just in case. With these two guys something tells me I'm not quite in the clear just yet!

If you'd like to learn more about Deep Blue or any of DoTerra's essential oils you may do so at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials.

If you'd like to learn how to gain access to the coveted online Modern Wellness Facebook Forum, please contact me at essentiallyerika@gmail.com.


Essentially Yours,


Erika

Essential Oils: Growing Pains.. Who Needs Em'?

Until recently I've only heard of these "growing pains" that parents speak of. 

Don't get me wrong, my boys were both really fast growers, but I could never recall a time where they complained about any aches or pains.

Maybe I was just really lucky?? Or perhaps these parents were just exaggerating? Giving the wrong diagnosis?? Nope.

It seems as though the boys waited until this summer to suddenly start complaining about constant nightly pain. 

Nowhere is off limits either, legs, ankles, feet and hips. You name it!

Poor little guys must have hit a major growth spurt this summer amidst all my #CampMom activities (I know I feel they've grown an entire foot and seem like little men all of a sudden).

So I turned to old faithful... 

You guessed it... Deep Blue! (Lovingly dubbed as "The Truth" in these parts)

I decided to give this a try, lo and behold "The Truth" shall set you free! It worked like a charm and made nighttime a bit more tolerable with these new baby /man problems. As with every other Deep Blue experience, the relief is immediate.

Needless to say, another reason to be sure I don't run out of this miracle oil EVER!!

Another win for #DrMom!

As always you can find out more about this oil and all of DoTerra's products at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials.

Essentially Yours,

Erika

It's Time To Sleep, My Love...

I've been getting a lot of questions about our bedtime "oil routine". 

So here it is!

After baths, while dressing my boys I rub some OnGuard on their thymus for immune support if they've been around other kids or public places (which is pretty much everyday).

I put all of these oil mixtures in roll on bottles for easy application on tired wiggly boys. This allows me to keep a stash of oils in their medicine cabinet, it's all about location, location, location! 

Then, I rub some Balance on the back of their necks for a grounding effect. (This helps calm all the "sillies".

I massage some diluted Lavender on their feet to help ease them into a peaceful sleep-mode.

Lately, I've added a new magical oil to the diffuser and the results are amazing! I already would diffuse Lavender each night, but I've also been adding a few drops of Vetiver and it is snooze central in my home! It helps to cut the bedtime shenanigans by half the time and my almost four year old's (waaaaahh!) old 5am wake up calls are now at 7am! (Hey, it's progress people!)

After applying our oils it's bedtime stories with some cuddles, then off to dreamland! 

You can learn more about the oils I've mentioned at www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials

If you'd like to learn more about giving your medicine cabinet an "essential" makeover, feel free to email me with questions about an upcoming webinar at EssentiallyErika@gmail.com.

Essentially Yours,

Erika