Ingredients For Citrus Bath Salts

• 2 Cups Epsom Salts
• 1 Cup Baking Soda
• Fresh Grated Zest from 1 Orange or Lemon
• 20 drops of essential oil. Use Lemon, Orange, or Citrus Bliss essential oil. I combined lemon and citrus bliss for this recipe. You can do whatever you prefer.
• Glass bowl, metal spoon, and large bath salt jar (available at Walmart for $2.97) or use any clear glass jar you like.

How To Make Citrus Bath Salts

• Combine Epsom Salts and Baking Soda into a glass bowl.
• Grate zest of orange or lemon and add to bowl.
• Stir all of the above ingredients together.
• Slowly add in about 20 drops of essential oil and stir, until well incorporated.  I used lemon and Citrus Bliss which is an exclusive scent to doTERRA. (It smells a lot like a Creamsicle.) You could combine lime and lemon, or orange and lemon. Even grapefruit would be wonderful….you decide!
• Spoon the citrus bath salts into a clean empty jar and seal.
• Let your bath salts sit for a day or two to get infused with the scent of the oil.
• If giving as a gift, embellish with a ribbon, tag or whatever you like.

Total time for this project : 15 minutes

Do you like to make homemade bath and spa recipes?  Have fun making this easy refreshing recipe for citrus bath salts for yourself or a friend who needs some perking up!

Here are 25 more ways to use Lemon Essential Oil!

The post Refreshing Homemade Citrus Bath Salts appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

Ingredients for Lavender Sugar Foot Scrub

• 1 Cup Sugar I prefer the natural cane sugar- it is a bit more course and I like the natural brown color.  You can use whatever you like.
• Approx 1/4 cup of Grape-seed oil, Sweet Almond oil, or any unscented body oil.  You will want the oil that is for body use, not cooking.  The NOW brand is a good one.
• 6-10 drops of lavender essential oil (depending on the strength of scent you want)
• glass bowl, metal spoon, empty jar (available at Walmart for $1.97 or you can use a pint size fruit jar.)

**This makes enough for one small jar of scrub-perfect for gift giving.

How To Make Lavender Sugar Scrub

1. Start with one cup of sugar in a glass bowl

2. Add grape-seed oil or sweet almond oil a little at a time and stir until you get the sugar scrub to the consistency that you want.  You don’t want it too wet or dry.  Just so the sugar is really moistened well. Some of the oil will settle to the bottom of your jar and that is okay!

3. Add drops of lavender essential oil to the sugar and stir.

4. Spoon into clean empty jar and seal tight.  Let lavender sugar scrub sit for a day or two to let the scent infuse well.

5. If giving as a gift, you can add a ribbon, tag and any embellishments you like.

Total time for this project: 15 minutes 

Do you make your own spa recipes?  I hope you will have fun trying this quick and easy sugar foot scrub.  If you don’t want to use lavender essential oil, you can substitute your favorite essential oil scent, or even try combinations of scents together! Now have fun making your own sugar foot scrub for silky smooth summer feet!

Here are 25 more ways to use lavender essential oil!

The post Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub For Smooth Feet appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

If your kids like strawberry lemonade they will love this quick recipe, and they will never know you were trying to cut out the high fructose corn syrup and add in some healthy fat! Coconut milk is a very healthy ingredient and your kids won’t even know it’s in there. They won’t taste any coconut flavor.

For this quick frozen treat you will only need 4 ingredients! It will take minutes and you’ll have the kids happy for a handmade treat from you.

How To Make Frozen Strawberry Lemonade (Dairy Free)

Throw these 4 ingredients into a blender.

• 3/4 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup pink lemonade (in this photo you see I used Newman’s which does have sugar in it, but not HFCS.  If you prefer to start with no sugar, you could make homemade lemonade.)
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• Honey to sweeten as needed.

Whip it all up in your blender on high for a minute or so.
Serve and enjoy with a straw!
This recipe made enough for two small glasses of frozen strawberry lemonade

What kind of sweet treats are you looking forward to making for your kids this summer? Let me know if you try this recipe.
Have fun planning for summertime fun!

The post Creamy Frozen Strawberry Lemonade (Dairy Free) appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

25 Ways To Use Lemon Essential Oil

1. Spot free dishes: Add a couple drops of lemon essential oil to your dishwasher for spot free dishes.
2. Body cleanser: Add one drop of lemon oil to a glass of ice water for a gentle natural body cleansing in the morning.
3. Furniture polish: Combine lemon oil with olive oil for a natural furniture polish.
4. Kill aphids: Just like peppermint oil, you can Add some drops of lemon oil to water in a spray bottle to kill aphids.
5. Remove scuff marks: Rub some lemon oil on floors to remove scuff marks.
6. Homemade all-purpose vinegar cleaner: Add lemon essential oil to this citrus vinegar cleaning solution for a fresh and very effective cleaner.
7. Removes sap and sticky tar: Lemon essential oil will remove tar from your skin, carpet, or clothes.
8. Lemon iced tea: Add some lemon oil to fresh cold iced tea.
9. Sooth a sore throat: Add lemon essential oil to hot water and honey to soothe a sore and scratchy throat.
10. Freshens up stinky laundry: Ever have your towels and washcloths get stinky or mildew smelling. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the laundry detergent, let them soak for a while, and run through the washing machine.
11. Removes hard water spots: Use lemon oil to remove hard water spots in your shower.
12. Sanitize your kitchen cutting boards: Lemon oil is known to kill the bacteria that can hide in your wood cutting boards.
13. De-greaser: Remove engine and bicycle grease from hands. Add lemon oil to some hand soap and it will cut the grease.
14. Keep cut apples fresh: Use lemon oil in water to keep sliced apples from turning brown.
15. Lemon butter: Add a couple drops of lemon essential oil to softened butter and use on fish, and steamed vegetables.
16. Hair highlights: Add some drops of lemon oil to a spray bottle of water and spritz hair and go out in the sun for natural highlights.
17. Mood uplifter: Combine lemon and lavender and use topically or diffuse in your room to uplift your mood, and chase away the blues.
18. Add lemon oil to sweet treats: Lemon frosting, lemon meringue, lemon cakes, lemon squares, lemon cookies, and of course lemonade!
19. Softens calluses, corns, and bunions: Apply lemon essential oil consistently to your hardened skin conditions, and the lemon oil will soften those areas.
20. Gum, label and crayon remover: Lemon oil is great for removing gum from hair, or carpet. Remove sticky residue from labels on bottles and jars. Lemon oil will also remove crayon marks from walls.
21. Mind clarity: Add lemon oil to a room diffuser to clear your mind and bring clarity. You can also rub the lemon oil on your hands and inhale for a quick pick-me-up!
22. Skin brightener: Add lemon oil to your facial cleanser to help slough off dead skin cells and create a fresh clear complexion.
23. Carpet Freshener: Add lemon essential oil to baking soda for a carpet freshener. Place it in a mason jar and seal up. Let the lemon oil infuse the baking soda for a day or two, then sprinkle on carpet. let sit for 15-30 minutes and vacuum up. You will love the fresh light scent through your house!
24. Soften up and preserve leather: Rub lemon oil on your leathers to preserve them, and keep them from splitting and cracking. Great for leather jackets, furniture, and anywhere you need to soften leather.
25. Stainless steel polish: Rub lemon oil on stainless steel appliances to freshen up the surface and create a nice shine. ( You could also combine lemon oil and olive oil for a nice sheen.)

Not All Essential Oils Are Created Equal

When choosing essential oils there are different grades available.  There are low priced essential oils available in your local grocery store.  Those are most likely fine for using in cleaning supplies and recipes. But, If you are using lemon essential oil for medicinal uses, and internally, be sure to check with the oil company that they are safe to ingest. Essential Oil Safety is very important. I highly recommend using a Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oil, such as doTERRA.

How do you like to use lemon essential oil?  Share with me the ways you love to use this fresh, bright oil in your home and lifestyle.

You might also like these posts…
25 Ways To Use Peppermint Essential Oil
25 Ways To Use Lavender Essential Oil

Linking up with The Prairie Homestead and The Better Mom

The post 25 Ways To Use Lemon Essential Oil appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

I know we always anticipate the time off from school schedules in our family, and look forward to a change of pace. But it can be a daunting task to come up with new ideas and ways to keep the kids occupied all summer long.

That’s why Susan, from The Confident Mom has created the perfect solution for us busy moms with the Summer Survival Calendar!

Susan, the founder and creator at The Confident Mom, is a personal friend, so I know first hand how much thought and time and exceptional work she puts into all of her wonderful mom resources. The Mom’s Summer Survival Calendar for 2013 is no exception!

You are going to love it!

What is the Confident Mom’s Summer Survival Calendar?

The 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a four month calendar with over 120 activities to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31. The calendar comes in a digital PDF download so you have it instantly, and most activities include a clickable link so you can easily view directions or supplies needed. The activities are mainly targeted for ages 3-12, but every family and child is different.  The Summer Survival Calendar keeps kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days—and moms will find it to be a lifesaver when kids exhibit symptoms of the “boredom blues.”

Activities You’ll Enjoy

These activities are not only easy on your pocketbook, they will inspire your child’s creative side and allow you to enjoy time together. You’ll find things like making marshmallow shooters, scavenger hunts, tie-dye socks, and ice cream in a can to planting sunflowers, coffee ground fossils, painting with milk paint, outdoor twister, and making frozen yogurt dots.  There is no shortage of ideas to keep your child’s mind engaged! You’ll enjoy watching their faces light up when they spend time with you—these moments as a family are the ones they’ll remember forever!

New Activities Each Year!

If you’ve purchased the Summer Survival Calendar in the past, you’ll be excited to know that the activities change each year – so you are receiving fresh, new content each summer.  More than 90% of the activities and recipes are new!

Here’s what’s included in the Summer Survival Calender

• Summer Goals worksheet
• Ideas for Summer Fun checklist
• 10 Strategies for Your Best Summer Ever Action Guide
• Your Best Summer Ever Audio Workshop
• Quiet Time Activities worksheet
• Important Summer Dates checklist
• Standard Operating Procedures worksheet
• Weekly Menu Planner/Grocery List
• Summer Weekly Planner
• Be Summer Organized checklist

How To Purchase The 2013 Summer Survival Calendar

You can head on over to The Confident Mom’s site to purchase your copy of the 2013 Summer Survival Calendar now.  Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity, as the calendar even includes the month of May!  You can also click on the button below, and get started planning your best summer ever!

I know I can’t wait to get started! Let me know what you think. I would love to hear your feedback about the calendar.

this post contains affiliate links

The post The Confident Mom’s Summer Survival Calendar For The Best Summer Ever appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

20 Ways To Rejuvenate Your Body Mind and Spirit

1. Say no to something. I find summer is the perfect time to break off commitments and gives me time to re-evaluate my obligations before fall.  The summer break is a good season to prioritize what commitments I make for the coming ones.
2. Add something to your schedule that is for fun, such as taking a pottery or photography class.
3. Start a new hobby like knitting, or gardening for pleasure.
4. Turn off electronics often.  Summer is a time for being outdoors more and a great chance to debrief from electronics.  Leave your iphone or computer closed for a while and go out and breathe in nature.
5. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.  I love this time of year to get loads of nutrients in fresh veggies and fruits. This is the perfect time to change eating habits.
6. Drink water and more water.  Since we are out more in the sun, and more active, it is that much more important to stay hydrated. Summer is a great time to start the habit of drinking more water for all year long.
7. Make a summer bucket list with your kids. Together plan some activities. Head to a park, visit a beach, eat ice cream cones, and run through the sprinkler. Making a list is a great way to feel you made the most of the time you had.
8. Take a family vacation. If you can’t afford to go away plan a stay-cation. Become a tourist in your own town, and even camping in your backyard will work!
9. Walk barefoot in the grass, and let it tickle your toes.
10. Stack up the books.  Have fun losing yourself in some good books. I like to mix up pleasure reading with educational ones as well.
11. Meditate on the scriptures and journal what you are learning in them.  I find that summer is a great time for soul reflection.
12. Make plans and goals for the year ahead. We tend to look at the New year in January for making lists, but the summer is also a wonderful time to reflect and plan for the coming year.
13. Get good rest. Take naps, and find down time as often as you can. Schedule it in if you have to, there is no better way to heal the body, then with rest.
14. Find some girlfriend time because we all love the fellowship of sisters don’t we?  It’s cheap therapy!
15. Get a new hairstyle, or shop for some new clothes.  Summer is the perfect excuse to try a little makeover.
16. Pamper yourself with some essential oils, and a pedicure or spa treatment.  It is good to love on ourselves once in a while.
17. Watch a sunset and hold hands with your husband or that special person in your life.
18. Add fifteen minutes of prayer time to your day, and see what happens.
19. Add fresh flowers and fruits to your home to bring in the fragrance and tastes of summer.
20. Don’t forget to smile and laugh along the way!

 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

What are ways that you want to take time to rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit this summer? 

The post 20 Ways To Rejuvenate Our Body, Mind and Spirit This Summer appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

So I wanted to share with you some fun and interesting ways to introduce foods to your kids, that will hopefully make you feel a bit more equipped to take up the challenge.  I have a feeling you may be seeing some changes and get quick results.

Keep it cold.  Raw veggies and fruits are so much better when served crisp out of the fridge.  I have noticed my boys lap up carrots sticks and crisp apple slices so much better when I do this.  You can even cut up veggies at the beginning of the day and have them ready to go, so your kids can run to the fridge and self-serve when they want to.

Offer a dip.  Ranch dip or hummus is the perfect thing to get more veggies in your kids.  It’s all about flavor.  Now my boys just eat carrots plain, but they used to need the dip.  As they have gotten used to eating fresh veggies their palates have changed, and they enjoy the plain sweet carrot.  Peanut butter and nut butters are a winner for dipping apples as well!

Spring LunchBox Ideas

Make food fun!  The same old way you serve foods isn’t going to work.  You are going to have to pull out all the stops and make the food appealing and kid friendly. I do a lot of divided snack plates like you see above. My kids eat this kind of meal in the day so much better then other kinds of meals, and love the variety.  Have fun cutting cheese and lunch meats into cubes and offering a toothpick to pick them up.  They will love it!

Make food interactive.  We make these apple snacks you see below, and the kids get to add their own toppings.  By letting your kids get involved in the assembly process, they think it is the best thing ever.  These apple snacks are a perfect example of creating something sweet that isn’t loaded with junk like a big piece of cake, and it satisfies the sweet tooth in a moderate way.

Beat them to hunger.  I have found that if I fix a plate of food for lunch before my kids ask for it,  I get much better results.  This way there is no negotiating necessary. I also anticiapte snacks times, as this keeps their blood sugar levels better, and keeps the moods lifted when they are fueled with nourishing foods on time.

I no longer ask my kids what they want for a meal.  I just serve it up and say “here you go!” It’s amazing how much better that works, and they love the surprise of what I bring them.  I also do this with snacks.

If your kids come in the door from school starving, try having some healthy snacks waiting for them, so they will eat the right thing instead of junk. Blend up a smoothie, or set out some apple slices with peanut butter.  How about some veggies and dip? See how they respond, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Offer a variety and always include favorites and not-so-favorites together.  I always mix it up, and then I say “you have to eat at least so many bites of each thing. ” This way my kids are having to keep experiencing new foods, and we all win, and we stay in control!

Require a certain number of bites.  We always require so many bites of the not-so-favorites at dinner.  Otherwise my kids want to just fill up on the tater tots and not eat any of the meatloaf.  So we monitor numbers of bites, and it works out well.  They can’t be excused from the table if they haven’t eaten enough variety from their plate.

Keep trying and don’t give up.  I once read that you have to introduce a new food to children like seven times before they will like it.  I have one boy who was a gagger.  If he thought he didn’t like something he would hold the food in his mouth and gag to the point of throwing up some times!  But with persistence that never happens anymore.  That same boy is still a picky eater, but he is getting so much better.  My kids beg for brocoly at dinner!  They never would have done this, had we not started young and kept having it at most meals.  I steam it and put butter on it, and a little sea salt.  They lap it up and tell me it’s their favorite food! Yeah it can happen–I promise.

Require protein before other things.  I have taught my boys about food groups and having a balanced diet.  So from an early age they have known they had to eat protein along with veggies and fruits in order to get a balanced diet and to feel good.  (They also know that if they eat well they will get a homemade cookie for dessert at dinner)  I have taught them, that a cheese stick and apple make a good healthy snack.  Or they know that carrot sticks are good to have with a PB&J.  They don’t argue anymore about this, as I have hammered it home over time.

Ditch the sweet drinks.  My kids used to be hooked on juice, and I could see it was causing a problem. So we limited the juice and that helped with the sugar carvings, and ti doesn’t spoil their appetite. Now it’s rare that my kids drink anything sweet like juice.  We never drink sodas, and we offer water and milk.  I also have to limit milk or my kids will fill up on it and not eat a good meal.  We always just have water with dinner, and this helps a lot with getting them to eat a good amount when we sit down.

Try making fruity flavored waters.  My kids love just water in a mason jar with floating fruit and a straw, like these above.  I let my kids make their own combinations of fruit. Be sure to mash up the fruit a little but so the flavor infuses into the water.  This is the perfect summer refresher and it’s not sugary but your kids will love it.  They can eat the fruit as well.

Plant a garden.There is something about planting a garden with your kids that gets them so interested in eating fresh.  My kids are already asking me for pea pods and fresh corn from our garden.  When kids can eat veggies straight from their own planting efforts, the taste can’t compare to store bought, and they want to eat them, because they watched them grow and had a part in the process.

Season and prepare well.  I am a stickler that if foods are healthy they need to taste really good too.  Season your foods so your kids will like them.  I keep foods in their whole state as much as I can. We don’t eat casseroles and mixed things, so that my kids learn to appreciate the flavor of the food.  Learn how to steam veggies and keep things light and fresh.  I find this helps tremendously.

Get the kids cooking with you.  Let the kids in the kitchen to prepare some meals with you.  When your kids have a part in preparing a meal they are more prone to try the foods they cooked.

Have the kids go grocery shopping.  When our kids are part of the process of choosing healthy balanced foods it makes all the difference.  Make the shopping a learning experience.  If you homeschool this is a great way to teach health and nutrition, and your kids will feel good that they made great choices for the week.

Pick berries, and fresh fruits. Let your kids pick berries with you and then enjoy the process of washing and preparing them for pies and freezer jam.  There is nothing like homemade jam and pies!

Always make a fair trade. One mistake I think people make is in deleting all things from their kid’s diets that they love, and then not giving them a healthy alternative that tastes good! I make homemade cookies that have organic ingredients where I can monitor the ingredients, and sugar in them. My kids think it’s the best thing ever to have homemade chocolate chip cookies after dinner, and it’s a treat for eating all their meal. If you want your kids to change over you will have to find healthy alternatives to help them out. I have found this to be the best success. I find organic and natural foods selections that my kids like, and they then never feel deprived.

You can do it! I promise with some patience and tweaking, you will be able to get your kids eating healthy and begging you for more.

Don’t expect to change all the foods in your house at once either. Do one thing at a time, and take it slow. My kids used to beg for candy and sweets.  We would stop at the local fast food joint often….back in the day.  Over time our palates have changed. We never eat at fast food places and we only like good wholesome organic and fresh foods.  You can change your kid’s palates with some perseverance.  So hang in there, and don’t give up!

The post How To Get Kids To Eat Healthy Foods & Beg For More! appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

10 Homeschool Resources To Encourage You

My hope is that these 10 homeschool resources will take you from being unsure to feeling more confident in a decision to homeschool or not. I pray these will inspire you in your parenting and ignite the interest to explore more about your children, their learning styles, and their unique abilities. Maybe they will even help you in making a decision for educating your children.

#1: The Way They Learn : Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

The Way They Learn was one of the first books I read on learning styles, and it helped me see my children in a whole new way.  I highly recommend this to any parent whether you homeschool or not.  The Way They Learn, is practical and so useful for dealing with your kids personalities in practical ways, so that you can effectively parent and teach to your child’s strengths. This had to be at the top of my list, because of the impact it had on me.  A must read!

“The learning-styles expert gives parents a better understanding of the types of learning approaches that will help their children do better in school.”

#2: Home Grown Kids : Raymond & Dorothy Moore

Home Grown Kids was one of the first books I read about homeschooling.  It is 25 years old, and still a great resource for any homeschool family. One of those classics that I highly recommend to anyone who wants to homeschool.

“Raymond and Dorothy Moore have prepared this influential book to show how, by using the everyday resources and experiences of your own home environment, you can truly enjoy your child and give him or her a wholesome, first-class education that neither stifles creativity nor hampers character development.”

#3: Things We Wish We’d Known : A Guide To Abundant-Life Homeschooling

Things We Wish We’d Known is a great encouragement for homeschool moms.  When you wonder if what you are doing is enough, or you see that things aren’t working right.  This books draws on the advice of veteran home educators who have gone before us.   This is a great read to lift your spirits and help you not feel alone in your journey. I highly recommend this.

“In “Things We Wish We’d Known,” Bill and Diana Waring, authors of “Beyond Survivial: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling,” make available to you the time-earned secrets of fifty veteran homeschooling families. Coming from pioneers and leaders in the homeschooling community, “Things We Wish We’d Known” will become an indispensable guide and inspiration for your own journey.”

#4: Better Late Than Early

Better Late Than Early: A New Approach to Your Child’s Education
This is a great resource that helps us understand that we can wait for formal education in the early years. Our society wants to push children earlier and earlier.  Raymond Moore shows us that waiting to let children develop is best before pushing formal studies.  A great book for helping the new homeschool mom relax and not push her preschooler too much, but enjoy the process.

“Moore brings a wealth of evidence from a wide variety of sources to indicate that early schooling, although promoting (perhaps) earlier cognitive organization, introduces a host of fateful “iatrogenic”- disturbances. Our knowledge of maturation, development, developmental stages, and critical developmental periods for the human, all support Moore’s basic thesis…

#5: Playful Learning

Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder, is one of my new favorite books! It’s as if this author got inside my head. I have always wanted to make my home a whole learning environment for my kids, even if they went to school out side the home.  I like creating an environment that encourages learning, exploring, and creating and that is exactly what this book does. You will feel inspired by this book full of photos, tips and ideas for making your home a place that welcomes learning in a delightful way.

Playful learning is the magic that takes place when we meld a child’s sense of joy and wonder with thoughtfully planned learning experiences. Through easy-to-implement, hands-on projects you can engage your child in fun and creative ways that encourage learning and impart the joy of discovery. With a little bit of information and forethought, you can play a pivotal role in the cognitive and creative development of your child. You can visit the site at Playful Learning.

#6: Bringing Up Boys

Bringing Up Boys was one of the most influential books my husband and I read when my first born son was about eight years old.  We actually did the DVD series at our church, and it gave us a fantastic overview into the way boys are wired.  Dr Dobson really gives great insight into what boys need from their parents, and he addresses education as well.  After doing this study we felt even more compelled to homeschool our sons.

2002 Gold Medallion Award winner! Sensible advice and caring encouragement on raising boys from the nation’s most trusted parenting expert, Dr.James Dobson. With so much confusion about the role of men in our society, it’s no wonder so many parents and teachers are at a loss about how to bring up boys. Our culture has vilified masculinity and, as a result, boys are suffering. Parents, teachers, and others involved in shaping the character of boys have lots of questions. In Bringing Up Boys, Dr. Dobson tackles these questions and offers advice and encouragement based on a firm foundation of biblical principles.

# 7:Bringing Up Girls

Bringing Up Girls: I haven’t had a chance to read this one, because we don’t have girls, but since we loved the boy version, then I know this would be a good read as well.  I wanted to include it in the list for those of you raising girls.

Peer pressure. Eating disorders. Decisions about love, romance, and sex. Academic demands. Life goals and how to achieve them. These are just some of the challenges that girls face today—and the age at which they encounter them is getting younger and younger. As a parent, how are you guiding your daughter on her journey to womanhood? Are you equipping her to make wise choices? Whether she’s still playing with dolls or in the midst of the often-turbulent teen years, is she truly secure in her identity as your valued and loved daughter? In the New York Times bestseller Bringing Up Girls, parenting authority and trusted family counselor Dr. James Dobson will help you face the challenges of raising your daughters to become strong, healthy, and confident women who excel in life.

#8:Beyond Survival: A Guide To Abundant Life Homeschooling

Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling is a great encouragement to starting homeschool.  You will feel equipped and a sense of “I can do this” as you read this classic homeschool book that has been around for a long while, and for good reason.  A great one for your nightstand!

Teaching your children at home is much more than giving lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic; it is a journey toward a lifetime of learning that will expand your horizons as well as theirs. In order to help you on your way, Diana Waring offers this transparent description of her family’s own homeschooling experience. Whether you are contemplating homeschooling or are a seasoned veteran, this insightful guide can help you build a healthy environment that fosters enthusiastic learning. Diana includes a list of recommended resources that will allow you to dig more deeply into what you find interesting. With warm encouragement and inspiration, Diana gives you the courage that you, too, can do this!

#9:Waiting For Superman

Waiting for “Superman” is a documentary film about our public education system.  My husband and I enjoyed this film a lot, and encouraged us to keep on with the journey to home educate, but mostly it made ius grateful for the choice that we have to homeschool.

From the Academy Award-winning Director of An Inconvenient Truth comes the groundbreaking feature film that provides an engaging and inspiring look at public education in the United States. Waiting For “Superman” has helped launch a movement to achieve a real and lasting change through the compelling stories of five unforgettable students such as Emily, a Silicon Valley eighth-grader who is afraid of being labeled as unfit for college and Francisco, a Bronx first-grader whose mom will do anything to give him a shot at a better life. Waiting For “Superman” will leave a lasting and powerful impression that you will want to share with your friends and family.

#10:IndoctriNation

IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America:  This is hands down one of the best resources in the argument for homeschooling that I have ever seen. My husband and I loved this film, and it just solidified our decision for our family to home educate. If you have a spouse or family member that is doubting homeschool, I highly recommend this DVD as well. This film is an honest look at how our education system has changed so much over the years.  I can’t say enough good about it for the pro-homeschool side.

From the award-winning director of The Monstrous Regiment of Women and Shaky Town! If you’re not ready to take a hard look at the true state of public education, you will want to avoid this unflinching and highly controversial documentary. But that would be a mistake!

Most Christian children attend a public school. Their families have a vested interest in all that happens there. Join Scottish filmmaker Colin Gunn a home school father of seven on a field trip across the USA.

Driving an old school bus, Colin and family travel across America, asking questions about the origins and social impact of America’s public education system. Colin asks:

• Who established the American Public Schools system?
• Are my kids physically and morally safe in the schools?
• Are the public schools religiously neutral?
• Shouldn’t Christian kids be “salt and light” in the Schools?
• Can the public school system be fixed or redeemed?

Featuring compelling interviews with teachers, administrators, parents, and other whistle blowers, this film is part documentary, part testimonial, and totally captivating. Above all it is both an encouragement and challenge to the millions of Christians who need to know what God’s Word says about the discipleship and training of the next generation. You will want to give this DVD to every parent you know.

Featuring interviews with Samuel Blumenfeld, Col. John Eidsmoe, John Taylor Gatto, Ken Ham, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Doug Phillips, Howard Phillips, Bruce Shortt, R.C. Sproul, Jr., Kevin Swanson, and many more! You can visit the site here.

I truly hope these 10 homeschool resources will be a blessing to you, let me know what you think. I love to hear your feedback!

This post contains affiliate links

The post 10 Homeschool Resources To Encourage Moms appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

Peppermint Essential Oil – 25 Ways To Use It

1. Stay alert while driving:  Place peppermint on temples and under nose or just put the bottle under nose, and inhale several times to wake up.

2. Cool a fever:  Place a few drops of oil on a wet washcloth and wipe down fevered body to cool down.  You can also apply the peppermint to bottoms of feet to bring down the fever.

3.  Herbal tea: Add a drop of peppermint oil to a cup of herbal tea to clear sinuses, and enjoy a brisk cup or warmth to soothe you.

4. Relieve nausea: Rub a drop of peppermint oil on the tummy, and place a drop in a cup of hot water and sip it.

5. Repel spiders: Place peppermint oil on a cotton ball or cotton pad and place in areas where you find spiders.  You can also make a spider spray repellent.  Add 4-5 drops of the oil to water in a spray bottle. Make sure it has a strong peppermint scent, and spray in areas you want to repel spiders. Check out Momasuarus for more about repelling spiders naturally–be sure to watch her great video too!

6. Relieve joint pain: Rub on joints to relieve tendinitis and arthritis pain.

7. Make your own peppermint coffee mocha:  add one drop of peppermint oil, cocoa powder, or chocolate syrup, stir and enjoy

8. Freshen breath: Place one drop of peppermint essential oil on tongue for a freshness.

9. Ease seasonal allergies : combine lavender, peppermint and lemon essential oils together to relieve allergies. Add the three to a carrier oil, and rub on bottoms of feet, to the back of the neck and across the forehead. Then take hands and cup over nose and inhale with deep cleansing breaths to bring fast relief.

10. Remove ticks: Rub the tick with a peppermint essential oil soaked q-tip.  Look for the tick to withdraw its head and then remove it.

11. Bring focus and alertness: Rub peppermint on the back of neck to wake up and bring focus when you are tired.

12. Improve digestion: Add peppermint to a glass of water hot or cold and drink for a daily digestive aid.

13. Relieve headaches: Place drops of peppermint on temples and back of neck, even across the forehead to ease a headache.

14. Use in cooking: Add peppermint essential oil to cookies, brownies and sweet treats, oh yum!

15. Curb your appetite: Inhale peppermint oil right from the bottle to help suppress hunger.

16. Relaxing foot soak: Add peppermint oil to a warm foot soak, or add peppermint to an unscented lotion and do a foot massage with it to relieve the tension.

17. Make refreshing drinks: Peppermint is a wonderful addition to iced tea for those hot summer days

18. Kills Aphids: Add drops of peppermint oil to a spray bottle of water and spray plants to kill aphids.

19. Clear congestion: Add peppermint oil to a hot cup of steaming water, and inhale.  Even make a tent over your head and bend over the peppermint steam and inhale to relief pressure in sinuses.

20. Relieves itching: Apply peppermint oil to bug bites to stop itching.  (don’t apply to open sores, it will burn!)

21. Relieve motion sickness: Rub peppermint essential oil to tummy, place some on your tongue, and even to your wrists to help with travel  and motion sickness.

22. Relieve chest congestion: Rub peppermint oil combined with a carrier oil to the chest to relieve congestion, and you can combine with #19 in this list.

23. Add drops of peppermint to a humidifier to freshen air and relieve breathing while sleeping.

24. Massage it in: Combine lavender and peppermint essential oil to a massage oil to bring relief to feet, shoulders and back.

25. Air cleansing spray: Combine peppermint, lemon, and bergamot to distilled water to make an air freshener and cleaners for your rooms.  ( You will use less peppermint then the other oils, as it is stronger)

Not All Essential Oils Are Created Equal

When choosing essential oils there are different grades available.  There are low priced essential oils available in your local grocery store.  Those are most likely fine for using in cleaning supplies and recipes. But, If you are using peppermint essential oil for medicinal uses, and internally, be sure to check with the oil company that they are safe to ingest. Essential Oil Safety is very important. I highly recommend using a Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade oil, such as doTERRA.

Word of Caution:
Peppermint essential oil is very strong.  You should always add it to a carrier oil when applying it to children, and if peppermint gets in your eyes it will burn, so be sure to use caution when applying this oil to your face.

How do you like to use peppermint essential oil? Please share if you have other ways of using this wonderful oil then ways I have mentioned.  We all love to learn more about the benefits of essential oils!

Linking up to The Prairie Homestead and The Better Mom

The post 25 Ways To Use Peppermint Essential Oil appeared first on Denise In Bloom.

Homeschool Room Rain Gutter Bookshelves

 Homeschool Project #1:  Rain Gutter Bookshelves.

I have been seeing rain gutter bookshelves online for several years, and couldn’t wait to try this inexpensive way to display books and make reading much more interactive for my kids.  I love the way the rain gutter shelves encourage reading, but also become the art on the wall. The array of color is very stimulating.  You feel like you are in a candy store!

Here is how we did the project.

Supplies We used for Project:

• 3- 10 foot lengths of PVC rain gutters
• 9 gutter braces (we used 3 per 8 foot length)
• 6  gutter end caps (2 per shelf)
• hack saw
• stud finder (if you need one)
• level
• screws
• cordless screw driver
• Total cost of project under $50.00
• The gutters were only $5.88 each. The braces and end caps added the additional cost.
• Total time for project: 45 minutes.

Mark and cut rain gutters to desired length with hack saw. – we cut ours to 8 foot lengths, you can choose whatever works for you.

Locate studs and mark them on wall.

Have one person hold the gutter and the level, and the other person can screw in the braces.  If you are using shorter lengths you can adjust the amount of braces needed.

We spaced our rain gutters 16 inches apart from each other.  I have seen all kinds of ways that people do these, varying the distance between shelves.  I wanted mine to work with most book sizes, and we grabbed a variety of our books to check for adequate height ahead of time.

Slide on end caps.

Here is a good photo to show how the braces were spaced to hold the weight of the gutter and the books.

Here is the Before/After photo to see what this wall looked like before we started the room redo. We had bookshelves that were always hard to keep neat.  We took them out and love this solution so much more.

My report: Within minutes of putting up the first rain gutter bookshelf, our kids ran to get their books and started filling them up as fast as they could. That was then followed by lots of reading! Just what we wanted.

Mission accomplished!

I think next we are going to put some of these in our boy’s bedroom.

Maybe you would like to try rain gutter bookshelves?  This is a simple and fun project that yields big results.

**For those of you looking for the Life In Bloom link up.  I have decided to let it go at this time.   Thank you for participating!

The post Homeschool Room Rain Gutter Bookshelves appeared first on Denise In Bloom.