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

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte - "You're Welcome"

It's "Fall" here in lovely South Florida! Which means the afternoon high is eighty five degrees instead of ninety, and you can sometimes feel a breeze. But its underneath the darkest grey cloud you've ever seen five seconds before getting soaked with more water than you did during the ALS ice bucket challenge, and running to shelter from ear piercing bursts of lightning.

I digress.

It's still fall and just like any delusional NY transplant I fully intend on celebrating all of the perks that come with it. That means Pumpkin people. Pumpkin EVERYTHING! Like you haven't already rushed to Starbucks to get a sip of your first cup of their signature Pumpkin Spice Latte. That used to be me, until I found out that not only is their milk chock full o' GMO's but there isn't one trace of actual PUMPKIN in the coveted beverage. I don't know about you but that was enough for this lover of all things homemade, call me silly but I assume the name of the beverage was a foreshadowing of the actual ingredients.

I digress..

After much thought and research online I finally found an all natural alternative recipe that I looooove, and so will you!

You will need:

• 10 pitted dates
• 1 3/4 cups of water
• 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
• 1 star anise pod
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 vanilla beans

Soak the dates for twenty minutes, then drain. Put the dates and water into blender and blend until smooth. Add the date syrup and all of the rest of the ingredients to a small saucepan and cook on medium heat until the mixture is slightly bubbly. Strain the entire mixture through a cheese cloth to get rid of any large bits, then store in a bottle! Add two tbsp of pumpkin syrup to your coffee as desired and a little GMO free milk for your all natural homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte! These ingredients yield 2 cups.

I couldn't help but add a little cream and cinnamon!

You're welcome folks..

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Blogging To Remember: "There is no footprint so small, that it cannot leave an imprint on this world.."

I've always been pretty open about my experience throughout the years with pregnancy loss (three in total), in hopes that it could help someone in some way. It's a topic that seems pretty taboo, people tend to get twitchy and distant when you bring it up. Of course, this makes me bring it up in hopes that they begin to feel a bit less uncomfortable by the end of the conversation. It doesn't seem to matter whether you've battled with infertility, or already have children and experience a pregnancy loss. I myself, have dealt with both (two losses before my boys and one after). They each hurt equally and take the same emotional toll on a famly. I can't tell you how many times I've heard an insensitive (albeit well meaning) comment like: "At least you had two already". Grrrrrrr.

All life is important and should be acknowledged, it doesn't matter whether you suffered early pregnancy loss, late term loss, still birth or child loss. Which brings me to my point!

In late May I posted openly about a dear friend and fellow blogger Lindsay from You Are The Roots and how she tragically lost her beautiful baby girl Wylie in her third trimester from congenital heart failure. Lindsay is quite possibly one of the best moms I know who gives selflessly in a capacity that can only be described as superhuman. Never would I ever have imagined she could have experienced something so tragic. But that's the point, grief knows no distinction. These experiences happen to everyday families, and they need support.

Every year Lindsay takes part in a blog-a-thon, an online marathon of sorts. She participates by blogging every half hour for 24 hours straight, in hopes of bringing awareness to a specific cause and gaining sponsors to donate to that cause. This year naturally, she is blogging for The Compassionate Friends. It's an incredible organization that provides grief support to families who have experienced pregnancy or child loss.

The Mission of The Compassionate Friends: When a child dies, at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated. The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.

Blogathon 2014 will will kick off at 8:00 a.m. EST on November 22nd, 2014 and will come to a close at 8:00 a.m. EST on November 23rd, 2014. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to this organization! You can donate here. Donations will be accepted up until the very end of the Blogathon, but the earlier you donate, the more raffles you'll be eligible for!

Yes, there are prizes! For info and updates on all the eligible prizes click here.

I have already donated and hope you will too, every donation counts! You can learn more about Lindsay and her beautiful baby girl  Wylie Meadow.

"Someday we may see a woman king" 

- Iron & Wine

                                    

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Essential Oils: I Am Woman!! Must I Roar?

Soooooo... There are days I just want to curl up in a ball with my "magic blanket" and disappear from the world into my deep dark cave -- at least that's how it feels. But not before growling at my husband and then asking him where he's going, "come back and hug me".These are the days when I hear him whisper to the kids, "Be nice to mommy boys!" while running walking out the door to work. This.. I can only assume is guy code for "just smile and nod and everyone makes it out alive".

In times like these I learn to empathize a little more with my toddlers. They aren't the only ones at home who wants to throw a tantrum because they're overwhelmed with tons of emotions they can't explain. After of course, not during. It's all I can do to keep from wandering off into the woods to die slowly (how mammalian of me).

So of course I was searching for the most natural of ways to handle the cramping and crazy totally normal hormonal outbursts episodes. Battling endometriosis for so long I'm used to dealing with pain each month, but hated having to succumb to modern medicine (Naproxen) all the time. Sad as it may seem, when I was struggling with this sort of pain in the past I actually had a doctor offer to prescribe me monthly doses of narcotics!

Naturally, I turn to my trusty essential oils first. DoTerra makes an awesome blend for women called Clary Calm. 

It temporarily relieves cramps, nausea, hot flashes, fatigue, and emotional swings (ahem) associated with PMS or Menopause. This, mixed with the Deep Blue Rub for my killer back pain takes care of all my monthly woes! I'm so happy to have found a natural alternative to dealing with common everyday symptoms.

This blend is most certainly #HusbandApproved and #ToddlerApproved! In fact, it may be #WorldPeaceApproved

If you would like more information on all of DoTerra's blends you can check it out here.


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

Essential Oils: Ah, Ah, Ah....Allergies???

Gesundheit!

I hear it day and night, allergies are in an uproar this whole season and it seems its worse for everyone!
Either everyone I know who have always had allergies has it worse this year, or people who have never had this problem suddenly develop it well into adulthood. Is it a coincidence that allergies are strongest now more than ever and as a society we are riddled with chemicals now more than ever? Don't get me started

As always I like to find a natural alternative to deal with these kinds of issues and cut them off at the pass if at all possible.

Soooo... Here are some allergy fighting alternatives to over the counter antihistamines:

Purify, definitely one of my favorite oil blends! It's anti-bacterial pathogen killing properties make it perfect for fighting off all sorts of things. I use it in my homemade lysol spray (if sprayed on baseboards in your home can also be used as a natural pesticide, great for picnics!), in my homemade laundry detergent, I even pour a couple of drops on our a/c filters at home for cleaner air.

By applying a few drops of Purify topically, not only will you keep the bugs away but it can also help to protect you from unwanted reaction associated with seasonal allergies!


Wait! There's more...

Another popular line of defense in the oil community is what I like to call the "trifecta". A blend of three powerful go-to oils: Lemon, Lavender & Peppermint. Combining these three oils can help to bring down inflammation from your's body's allergic response, they are great for airborne allergies. There are a few ways you could use this oil blend, I've broken them down into three different methods:

Ingredients:

2-4 drops Lavender
2-4 drops Lemon
2-4 drops Peppermint

Method #1: Place all the oils in a glass with water or juice. Gargle, then drink.

Method #2: Place all the oils in a veggie capsule and swallow.

Method #3: Place all the oils in a spoonful of raw honey and swallow. (Excellent way to administer to children, especially since local honey is great for seasonal allergies)

For really young children and toddlers, you can blend all three oils and rub on the bottom of their feet and along their spine.

Breathe is another one of DoTerra's awesome blends that is wonderful to diffuse at night for added respiratory relief.

Side Note: DoTerra's oils are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade, which is labeled as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the Food and Drug Administration. The same cannot be said for all oils. There are different grade oils and I only trust DoTerra for this reason.

These three oils together and separate are so powerful they are even offered in an "Intro Kit" by Doterra, you can find out more about this kit and all of their oils at: www.mydoterra.com/erikasessentials.

The new Tri-Ease Seasonal Blend Softgels are also a wonderful way to fend of seasonal allergies, this can also be found at the above mentioned website. The blending work has pretty much been done for you with equal parts distributed in each softgel if your looking for a shortcut.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at: EssentiallyErika@gmail.com!


Essentially Yours,


Erika

What I'm Reading:" Liberated Parents, Liberated Children" by AdeleFaber & Elaine Mazlish

Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish are both Theater Major NYU graduates (be still my heart) with a B.A. in Education, both taught in the New York City school system for a number of years bless their hearts, each have three children of their own.
Their book "Liberated Parents, Liberated Children", spawned from the workshops and meetings with the acclaimed Dr. Haim Ginott author of last week's "What I'm Reading" pick, "Between Parent & Child". It was a natural progression to read this book next, what an easy and informative read it was!

In my opinion perfectly titled because for me this book was liberating! The choice to raise my children differently from how I was raised is most certainly one of the most empowering decisions I've made thus far. It's also rendered me completely vulnerable, in many cases ending with me not totally understanding how to handle most situations and therefore always fearful I'm doing something "wrong". Wondering if at times I'm doing enough, or too much? That perfect dance of holding on and letting go that can be so very delicate, it's one of the treasures of parenting really (unnerving as it may be). I suppose that's why parenting is often compared to riding a roller coaster, it teaches us how to really live. I once heard a quote that said: "You don't know what it is to live, until you've learned to have your heart walk around outside of your body". THIS is parenting...

This book follows their journey through their parenting workshops, where parents with all different age children meet to discuss their triumphs and tribulation in their respective homes. A "safe" space where different examples to teaching communication skills are highlighted and even some role playing. Their "homework" is to implement some of these skills at home, results are discussed at the next meeting and more in depth "town hall" style discussion about feelings and acknowledgement of what was learned. They must have known how clueless some parents felt in these situations because they even included cartoon scenarios in which you are given an example of the "right" and "wrong" way to react. Except it's not really right or wrong, more like a cause and effect for each way you could communicate in a situation. One might fix the behavior, but certainly not the supposed "problem" or teach anything. Choosing to change the frame in which you look at a situation has the possibility to change the situation itself.

I've learned this in other areas of my life, no clue as to why it didn't come natural to apply it here! Instead of looking at situations as problems or behavior that needs to be corrected ("Behaviorism" save that debate for another day!), look at them each as a learning opportunity. An opportunity not just to "teach" in the conventional sense of the word, but in a way whereas you arrive at a conclusion together. It not only reinforces problem solving, but also fosters a deeper connection. It's all about the journey in other areas of our lives as adults, why not in parenting?

Another focus from the book that really helped me was the importance of remaining authentic throughout this process. As I mentioned before, not having these communication skills growing up means having to almost completely ignore my primal instinct of drawing from a "familiar toolbox". Instead to be conscious at all times of which tools I use to work through a situation, this can be jarring. In the beginning it can feel rather disingenuous. It's important during this process to still remain authentic because if you are constantly treading on unfamiliar territory and unsure of yourself, the only sure bet is that you are going to stumble and fall. Which is okay, but in the process I've learned that the relationship is a two way street. Your needs are also important and in order for the relationship (yes even between parent and child) to function, each of you needs to also take care of yourselves. I feel as though this is a difficult lesson for some moms, namely me. This impossible goal of being "everything" for your child at all times is just a way to set yourself up to fail. It's also doing your child a disservice in many ways, more on this in the future I promise!

Only through constant submersion i.e., reading, discussions and educating yourself can you really begin to accumulate the new set of "tools" to draw from in times of need. After a while, it becomes second nature to use the communication skills that you've acquired. I'm still very much a work in progress and am adding to my toolbox, I have a feeling I will be adding to it for a very long time!

How liberating indeed.. To be able to work alongside those with whom we have the deepest connection humanly possible (our offspring), and be able to do so with respect and dignity on both ends. This book is a keeper for my library at home and all parents looking for a great go-to guide.


What are you reading these days? I'd love to know!


Essentially Yours,


Erika