Vanishing Green Bean Casserole Recipe | Money Saving Meals

  Green bean casserole is a favorite for some of the people at my house. It is also a crowd pleaser at most potlucks. We make green bean casserole every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Alex(15) absolutely loves it. He eats most of the pan by himself. 

  I like green bean casserole also, but I sometimes feel like it tastes a little on the bland side. I decided to change it up a little today and added a new ingredient. It made all the difference and even the few people who eat it but don't love it said it was better than normal.

  I will always make it this way from now on. So I won't forget what I did today, I'm posting the recipe here. 

VANISHING GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

*Click title link to print*

4 cans green beans(drained)

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup milk

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

1 packet onion soup mix (that's the new ingredient)

1 tsp ground pepper

1 container fried onions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, worcestershire sauce, onion soup packet, pepper and half of fried onion container in bowl. Stir to combine and coat green beans. 

Pour mixture into 9x13 baking dish. bake for 30 minutes until bubble. Top with remaining fried onions and bake another 10 minutes, until golden brown. 

Allow to cool for 10 minute, serve warm.

Enjoy!

~Lyndsay

Day 6

Chocolate Cherry Mice | Mom Life Journal

 This Christmas has been strange for us. As I'm sure it has been for most families. It's hard to find normal and to be in the Christmas spirit this year. We are trying, but in reality we all have been walking around commenting that we kind of just wish the Christmas was over so we could take down the tree.

 

  Even though it is a strange Christmas we are still trying to follow our old traditions and muster up the spirit. Especially for the Littlest Moehrman...Anna. She is so excited and can not wait to open presents on Friday. So we are all trying our best for her. 

 Keeping in the tradition of the spirit of Christmas, today was Chocolate Cherry Mouse Day! We make them the weekend before Christmas. We typically give most of them away as gifts, but decided against it this year. I'm doing my best to make less of all of the goodies this year, because normally we make a lot and pass most of it along. 

  The mice are Dustin's favorite holiday treat and continually asks when they are going to be made each year. He and the older kids like to eat them all in one bite, while holding it from its tail, like a giant. It is quite humorous. 

  The girls helped me make the mice this year. We made less, but there are still quite a few. My husband doesn't know it yet, but I snuck and hid half of them in our sons room to surprise him on Christmas Day. He is always so sad when they are all gone. Now he is in for a nice surprise when he thinks they are gone. :) 

 We also made Christmas Crack and buckeye dough.

  Today we also unexpectedly started the utility room remodel. Well it was unexpected to me. Dustin and I had discussed moving the deep freeze today and removing a few items in preparation. However, Dustin informed me he was ready to gut the room and get started. The kids and I jumped in and helped him get everything removed and sorted into other rooms, the garage and wood shop. Dustin made a supply list. I helped pick out a few items, a new back door and light fixtures to name a couple. I'm so excited to see this room take shape in the next few weeks. After Dustin made the supply list, he started on the tankless hot water heater. It is now mounted on the wall. He is going to Menard's first thing in the morning to get supplies.

 I remembered to take before and during pictures today. I'll be starting a remodel post with them shortly.

                   Today was day 5 of consistent writing. I feel like it is getting a little easier. Plus, basically no one is reading it, and that makes this more or less my journal. I'm ok with that for right now. 

      

  ~Lyndsay

Day 5

Better late than never...right? | Mom Life Journal

 It is 10:15 pm, and everyone is in bed. Notice I did not say asleep, but just in bed. I promised myself I was going to start writing everyday, and here I am. Writing words. I'm glad I decided to do this, but the day I decided to do this, I realized there would be days like today. Days when I went a thousand miles an hour all day and then crashed on the couch to eat dinner and watch a movie with the family. Today was one such day. 

I left the house by 8:45am, dropped the little girls off at the office, took the oldest daughter to Kroger with me, shopped for holiday food(Food, Starbucks and do a little Christmas shopping for a friend), got gas, picked up the little girls, came home to unload groceries and make some phone calls checking in on some friends who are ill, checked email, turned around and went back to the office to have lunch, bank, played Santa by dropping off gifts on a special little girls porch for a friend, home to do school, back out to Walmart for a pick up order, home to do chores and put away groceries, back in the car to pick up dinner with the husband and look at a piece of property we are considering purchasing, home again and on the couch for family movie night by 8:05pm.

Told you it was a crazy day. I have no plans to leave my house again until Tuesday or Wednesday, when I will get fresh produce and milk for Christmas. Although I might be persuaded by my husband to accompany him to Menards to pick out flooring. He said there are too many to choose from and I need to help pick.  

School is finally done! Yay! Except the high schooler has an essay to finish and a painting to paint. It should hopefully be wrapped up and finished by Tuesday. Thank Goodness because this Mama is so ready for a break it isn't even funny! 

Tomorrow is Saturday, I plan to work on a few cleaning projects, move the deep freeze to the wood shop in preparation for the utility room renovation, clean my room (It's a mess and I'm never in there, I blame the husband and the little girls.), and to make  some holiday goodies. My husband has been promised chocolate cherry mice and I normally make them the weekend before Christmas. Yep, the time has come. 

Ok. I have now accomplished my goal of writing for the day. I have zero plans to proof read this one. If you happen to read this, you are a saint to make it this far. 

~Lyndsay

Day 4

Thursday...and a picture! | Mom Life Journal

    Well, would you look at that? I put a picture up. Ha. I get busy with life sometimes and that I neglect to take enough pictures, and other times I take a ton of them. 

Today is our next to last day of school and eight days until Christmas. I really just want to announce that school is out and be free. Although we really need to finish our days. Especially with the four weeks we are taking off afterwards. All of this hard work will be worth it during this upcoming break and in May, when we are ready to be done for the summer. 

All of our Christmas plans have been cancelled because of Covid. Some of our family members have compromised immune systems, and we have opted to avoid catching any viruses between now and our time off. We hate to miss things this year, but we aren't the only ones being extra careful. We have been known to be this careful in past years, but this year we aren't the odd ones out doing it. It isn't so much about Covid for us, as it is all viruses. If we catch the flu it hangs around the house for a month or more, and brings its friends sinus infection and bronchitis. Toss in some asthma and we are down and out for an average of six weeks. We really would like to get through this winter without being six for a month and a half.

As of last Friday I had nine packages floating around in the oblivion of the delivery systems. A few of them are gifts for the kids. A couple have randomly shown up this week. One finally arrived yesterday, and a few more might straggle in within the next week. The one that came last night was semi important, the rest I can work around, or do without. 

Tomorrow morning I am going to the grocery store for groceries for the weekend and part of next week. Since tomorrow is the last day of school for most of us,(The high schooler will be working through part of break.)  I'm thinking a pizza party might be in order! 

On Sunday, Dustin (My husband) is planning to smoke a turkey on the smoker he got in early fall. He has smoked just about anything he can get his hands on this fall. The kids and I are making all the trimmings to go with the turkey and calling it an early Christmas feast. 

On Christmas Day we will be having more of a buffet style meal to snack on throughout the day. Plus most of the kids eat junk half the day and are rarely truly hungry until later in the day. I'm planning to make a very small ham, a Butterball turkey breast, meatball and lil smokies in the crock pot, cheese ball, a veggie tray and a few other things to snack on throughout the day. It takes the stress off of me having to try to make a big meal and then everyone sitting at the table and not wanting to eat it.

I think I am going to try a new recipe for dinner. Cheesy Tater Tot and Ham Casserole. We've been trying to see how long we can go without going to the store for groceries this month. With the utility room remodel happening in a couple of weeks, we needed to use up some of the food in the freezer and pantry. Plus it was getting to be time for a 'use and restock' of the freezer and pantry. Aside from shopping for food for the week of Christmas, I probably won't go back to the store until sometime in mid January.

Well, I think I have spent enough time clicking away at this keyboard for the day. Time to get dressed, get on with the school day and then move onto chores in the afternoon. 

~Lyndsay

Day3

It's Snowing! | Mom Life Journal

   It is snowing! I love snow, especially when it drops inches and it stays for a while. They had been predicting 1-3 inches, but in true Ohio fashion, have changed it to a small amount of snow and then rain. Talk about a let down. Oh well, moving on. 

   Today is Wednesday, December 16th. It's nine days until Christmas, and three more days of school for us, including today. After Friday we will be off school for four whole weeks. We typically only take two weeks off for Christmas and New Year. However, since it is 2020 and nothing has gone as planned, we did not take any trips this year, so we are taking more time off during the holidays and into January. We are so ready for a break!

   During the break we are going to finally finish the last room in the house, the utility room. It has been a long time coming, and I'm excited about it. We are switching to a stacked washer/dryer combo and from a chest style freezer to an upright to save space. Also in the theme of saving space, we will be swapping out our hot water tank for a wall mounted tankless propane hot water heater. Our dehumidifier will also be changing from a roll around floor model to one that is attached to the furnace air filtration system. No more emptying the dehumidifier tank a couple times a day. 

  There will also be more storage for household items, a counter with stools and computer work station, a pantry, shoe storage and winter coat storage. Many much needed improvements to that particular room. I will be taking before and after pictures of this particular project. Sometimes I get busy during these types of projects and I do not take enough pictures. I will be taking more pictures and sharing them here. 

 Well, it is time for me to get school finished up for the day, and to start tackling some of my to do list that has been neglected so far this week. I also need to work, read my Bible and read the Advent Devotion with the kids. 

~Lyndsay

Day 2

Why don't I write more? | Mom Life Journal

 I used to love writing, I did it every single day. It brings me peace, helps me to sort out how I feel about life and centers me in an ever changing and sometimes chaotic life with four kids, homeschooling and owning a business with my spouse.

I should write more. I want to write more. In reality it becomes more difficult to pick it up again the longer you are away from it. It has been a VERY long time since I have written on a regular basis and it will take me a while to get back into the swing of it. 

Some reasons why I shy away from posting have to do with a personal struggle with perfection. I see other blogs and want mine to be just as beautiful. I want to say things as elegantly. I also don't want to risk being judged or offending others. All things I need to work on within myself. 

As I sit in front of "my husband's" laptop, helping my son with algebra, thinking over my to do list, contemplating how quickly Christmas is approaching and considering some chocolate, I ask myself...Why don't I write more?

The answer is a mixture of all of the reasons listed above. However, I feel all of those things listed, the sum of their parts, does not a good excuse make. Especially when the Lord has been prompting me to pick it up again.

I am going to challenge myself to write again, daily. It doesn't have to be beautiful, poetic, 'Gram' worthy, contain a picture, or even make absolute sense. I'm not going to even make any assumptions as to what my writing will be about.  I'm just going to start putting thoughts to page, and see where my words and the Lord lead me. 

~Lyndsay

Day 1

Change Your Life Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

I'm about to share one of my family's absolute favorite cookie recipes with you. I'll be honest and confess that I'm tempted to keep this recipe to myself and make you all have to be my friend and live in hope that I'll reveal it to you in my will, upon my passing.

That was dramatic, wasn't it? We are about to start into week three of COVID quarantine over here, give me a break. 

I started making these cookies last fall when our oldest started having issues with sugar. I was looking for a lower sugar, high protein cookie. We have to be very careful how much and what kind of sugar he consumes. He is not correctly considered diabetic, we are actually still trying to figure out what is going on. However, he can't eat the standard American diet, and sticks mostly to the diabetic diet...but can have some sugar if it is combined with enough protein. It's been a crazy journey figuring out what does and doesn't work for him. As of right now, his sugar and health are fairly stable. Praise the Lord! 

I discovered this recipe last November and have been making it fairly regularly ever since. I figured my family would be sick of them by now, but they keep asking for them. I'm not going to fix what's not broken, and will continue to make them until they refuse to eat them. 

I normally wouldn't share a recipe as my own, unless I have made it enough and changed it to suit my family. We love this recipe and I have changed it a bit to our liking, so I'm going to officially call it mine. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/4 Cups Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Crisco
1 Large Egg
3 TBSP Milk
1 TBSP Vanilla
1 3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 TSP Baking Soda
1 TSP Salt
1- 1 1/2 Cups Chocolate Chips (We prefer semi-sweet but have used dark chocolate.)


Preheat oven to 375°
Beat brown sugar, peanut butter, shortening, egg, milk and vanilla in a large bowl with mixer on high speed until smooth and fluffy.
Stir flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl until blended. Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating just until blended.  Add chocolate chips and mix until combined.
Drop in spoonful amounts onto a lined cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes, DO NOT OVER BAKE, it makes them hard and crumbly. You should pull them out when they look just a little golden around the edges, but still a little doughy in the middle. They will continue to set up while they cool.

Tips

1. DO NOT OVER BAKE. Seriously, I mean it. There is a very fine line between these cookies being perfect and over done.
2. Don't try to sub butter for the Crisco, it will be a mess. Yes, I know butter is better for your health, and I agree, but it just won't turn out right without the Crisco.
3. These are best with a glass of ice cold milk, or a coffee. YUM!

ENJOY!

Mexican Goulash Recipe

I've been dusting off some old recipes recently. I don't know why we stopped making some of them, because everyone loves them. We do that sometimes though, we have meals we love and then it's like we just forget they exist. 

This is a family recipe from my husband's mother's side. His Grandma Ellen created it years ago, and all of the grandkids grew up eating it. Anytime I make it we always comment that the house smells like Grandma Ellen's house. 

It has kind of an odd name, but it is also like no other recipe I've ever found. It's called Mexican Goulashh. It's not technically 'goulosh', it's more like a Mexican dip...but not like any Mexican dip I've ever seen. I'm kind of a traditional person and I would never attempt to change the name of a recipe that a beloved family member has created. So, it will remain a goulash, although it's technically not. 

We serve this with sour cream, guacamole, fresh jalapeno and tortilla chips. 

Mexican Goulash
(Printable Version Below)

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef (browned/drained and seasoned with taco seasoning)

1 can refried beans

1 large package shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups chunky salsa (We use medium, you can use whichever you prefer)

1 onion (finely diced)

Instructions

The layers are listed below. 

Layer 1- Refried beans spread evenly in bottom of 9x13 (or smaller) dish. 

Layer 2- Beef taco mixture

Layer 3 Cheddar cheese

Layer 4- 2 cups salsa, spread evenly

Layer 5- Cheddar cheese

Layer 6- Onions

Layer 7- Cheddar cheese

Yes, it's a lot of cheese...and yes, you really need all three layers of cheese. I've tried cutting back on the layers of cheese, and it just doesn't taste like Grandma's. Something magical happens to all three of those layers when they melt in the oven. It's amazing. 

Bake uncovered at 400° for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubble. 

*I sometimes follow this recipe but double the meat to stretch the recipe farther. 

Enjoy!

I've made this for a pot luck more than once and I always return home with an empty dish. 

This meal is fast, semi healthy,(if you over look ALL that cheese.) and budget friendly. 

If you give it a try, be sure to come back and leave a comment! 

~ Lyndsay

The Fish in the Toilet Story

** This is an incident that happened at our house last January. It showed up in my memories today, and I realized I wanted to share it here. **

It's story time folks. 

  Last Thursday night one of our Betta fish passed away. I was up most of the night with a sick kid and didn't bother to do anything with it until the next day. 

It was Alex's fish, so I had him and Emma flush it down the toilet. In typical preteen/teen fashion they started goofing off, being silly and absolutely ridiculous about it. Alex kept saying he didn't want to flush it, then Emma was joking that it didn't go down. Which then morphed into them continually 'pranking' each other about it coming back up in the toilet, bathtub, bathroom sink etc. 

Low and behold, who was watching them? Their newly potty trained, now traumatized baby sister, Anna. 

  Yep. She went from being all but 100% potty trained to absolutely positively NOT potty trained in about thirty seconds flat. She was also afraid to wash her hands and take a bath because the fish might come back up the drain and 'bite her on the butt'.

  

  I started pulling out all the tricks trying to remedy the situation. Lies, candy, bribery. At one point in time I tried to just place her on the toilet and it looked much like the old cartoons, when they try to bathe a cat! 😂🐈🚿 It. Was. Bad. 

  We finally got her to go number one on the potty again, but she refused to go number 2 because the fish might see. 🤷🤦‍♀️

We tried to tell her that we took the fish back out, but she wanted proof. 

We told her the fish was never really flushed, bit we had no fish to prove the fact. 

  After many days of discussion and many more accidents, we collectively decided (through three year old reasoning.) That the best approach was to 'remove' the fish from the pipes under the toilet, take it to the vet, (the same vet that our dog sees, per Anna's instructions.) And bring it back home after it is 'all better', as proof that it's 'all better'. Super Dad to the rescue. 

  I'lll be the first to say that I'm not one to play along with little kids' whims, but this was fear. Real fear. 

She gave her daddy special instructions on the pipe that she thought the fish was hiding in, the 'little baby pipe' in case anyone wanted to know. As well as gave him a description of the fish in case any other fishes were in the pipes as well, 'Him's has black hair.'

  My husband just sent me this picture asking if it is close enough to the original fish, and is on his way home with our now revived miracle fish. While we all pray that this is enough proof for her to get past the toilet fear. 😌

Myself, my close friend and the kids have been laying the ground work all day to make this as smooth of a transition as possible. I also may have promised to buy her a new baby doll if she starts going number two in the potty again. Desparate times my friends, desperate times. 

  

  We have learned three things this week.

1. Older kids are fun, yet highly overrated.

2. There isn't much that two desperate parents won't do to help potty train their kiddo. Especially their last one. 

3. To never underestimate the determination of a strong willed and frightened child.

Debt Free Chicken Wings

 Let's talk about debt for a minute.

 We have made our fair share of mistakes with money in the past; from owning too much house for our income, credit cards, not budgeting, multiple vehicle payments, the list goes on. We even did the really dumb things like financing meat and fitness equipment. We have joked that the only debt mistakes we didn't make were student loans and time shares.

  When we started on our debt free journey and worked to change our habits, and dig ourselves out of the debt we had created for ourselves, we all had to make some sacrafices. 

  One thing that hit my husband hard was chicken wings. 

  Yes, really.

  He loves chicken wings, always has and probably always will. During baby step 2, he decided to give up chicken wings. This was not an easy thing for him to do. However, when he saw how expensive they were, and how fast it adds up, he was usually happy to skip them. He still had his moments though, one Friday evening a little over half way through our journey, he proclaimed 'When we are debt free, I'm ordering wings whenever I want.'

And I said. "So basically you want 'debt free chicken wings?'"

To which he replied. 'Yes, when we are done, I will have my debt free chicken wings whenever I want and I won't feel bad. Because it's a luxury, and we will have earned it. 

  Guys, he takes his chicken wings very seriously. The very day we paid off our last date we ordered pizza to celebrate and he brought home three kinds of wings! 

  

  It's been almost three years since we finished baby step 2, and he almost always orders chicken wings. He proudly brings them home and chows them down. I have not once ever said a word about him ordering wings since finishing step 2. Because everyone needs that one thing that they can just have after finishing that big step. Now, I just secretly smile remembering that conversation every single time I see him add wings to our pizza order. It's a good memory, of days and debt that have 'gone bye'. 

*See what I did there?*

  Friends, temporarily giving something up to reach a goal that will forever change your life will always be 100% worth it in the end. 

  So tell me, what is you one thing you are giving up to make your life better in the long run? 

What's your 'debt free chicken wing'?

Happy Saturday!

-Lyndsay

9 Random Facts About Me (Confessions of a Homeschool Mom)

For those of you who keep commenting that you think I have it all put together. 

Here are a few random things that I feel you should know.

1. I'm a recovering Supermom. Don't believe me? You should read my blog. Google tinyhousehomeschoollife, find the blog and then search postpartum anxiety. You can read all about how and when my entire self worth as a person crumbled and I had to learn to rely on God, my family and my friends just to get through the day.

2. My house used to be spotless on the daily. One downsize into a 100yr old renovation with zero closets, a fourth kid and a whole lot of life later....and we try but it's far from spotless. I supposed I could spend all of my time cleaning and it would look nice, but we'd have no life. I like to think they won't remember the clutter in the corners. 

3. I have not worked out consistently in a long time. Yes, I used to be that annoyingly fit person, I lost 90+ lbs, trained for a half marathon, wore a size 2 and assumed I'd stay that way for the rest of my life. Yeah, life happens and I'm not in that place mentally, physically or emotionally. I'm not sure I'll ever be back in that place, or that I should ever want to be. I do plan to take more time focusing on my fitness this next year. It's not easy adding one more thing back in, especially when I'm not willing to drop any of my other priorities or compromise my health. I'm not going to say I'm unhealthy right now, but I will say I need to work on my strength and fitness level. 

4. Homeschooling and raising four kids is wickedly hard and majorly time consuming. It's exhausting guys! I'd be lying if I didn't confess to considering alternative options from time to time. I love being with and teaching my children daily...but it means I'm with my children daily. It can be a lot, especially when you want to do it right, and send some very prepared and capable adults out into the world. Sometimes it is all we get done. 

5. I love to cook and serve healthy foods for my family, but sometimes life takes over and the focus is on filling bellies. Whether it be by a compromise in what meals I'm cooking or a run through a fast food place. It is how it is right now and that's ok. I push vitamins, vegetables and fruit when I can. Fun fact, I've ruined more meals in the last two years than I think I have in my entire adult life. 

6. I sometimes forget to take care of my husband. We've been married 18 years and together for almost 20. We own a business together, have four kids and life...and in the midst of it I sometimes forget about him. Seriously. Last Sunday I went to Chipotle after church for lunch and totally forgot to order his food. Thankfully one of the kids reminded me once we got back in the van or I would have went home without food for him. I truly love him and do not mean to forget about him. This goes both ways right now, he has forgotten I'm allergic to chicken(It's a new allergy) and brought me a chicken sandwich.(It used to be my favorite thing to eat.)

 It's just the season we are in, it will get better as the kids get older. 

7. Twice a week there is a pile of clean laundry so tall if it fell over it might hurt someone. My husband refers to it as the laundry monster. I have tried many things to keep it under control and folded daily, but it just hasn't worked out. So I have resorted to throwing a 'folding party' twice a week. I turn on a show, put it all in the living room and fold every single piece and match every sock. Then I lovingly call out (I yell) this phrase...'If you live in this house, come put your own clothes away!'. Interestingly enough, my husband started putting his own clothes away after I started doing this. I didn't bother to tell him I only meant the kids, and just went with it. 😂

8. I wrote all of these with my feet propped up after a day of school...while my children are cleaning, doing their daily chores. After school is done I need one full hour before I can address any of their questions/wants/needs. I am an introverted extrovert, I need my down time. 

9. Sometime I forget to take care of myself. I've been known to order a meal at a fast food drive thru and forget to order food for myself. I have also showered on a Monday night and not had a moment to take another one until Saturday morning. This wasn't with a baby in the house, it was three weeks ago. Sometimes I forget to drink water and have four cups of coffee throughout the day instead. At least two of them are decaf, I like to think that makes it a little better. 

Why did I type all of these random facts about myself? Because I NEVER want my life to be a stumbling block to anyone else. I fail every single day and it's by the grace of God that I'm still here raising these four crazy kiddos while trying not to forget about my husband. 

All of this being said, I'm not perfect, no one is! If you are struggling in life and need someone to remind you it's okay to struggle, call me. I promise I will have a reason for you to feel better about yourself. We need to band together to help each other, not just assume someone has it all together. Satan loves for us to compare and assume, and isolation is his biggest tool of destruction for women! Don't give him the satisfaction. 

Blessings! 

Lyndsay

Bug Bite Relief Roller (Essential Oils Recipe)

Last fall I discovered essential oils and how beneficial they can be for my family and our health!

One recipe that has come in handy this summer is this bug bite relief roller. I have been selling them, but I also figured it wouldn't hurt to share the recipe with others who already use oils regularly.

We have only used it a few times, but others have said they like using it for relief of pain and itching after being bitten by bugs. The best part? It smells like peppermint patties!

*While oils are a wonderful took to use to support your health. There are safe and unsafe ways to use them. You should always read the dilution recommendations for oils. As well as use them sparingly with children under the age of ten, until you know how the child will react. 
I have made this roller with children and adults in mind. It is diluted enough for children under ten, but should not be used(or used with extreme caution) on children under two. 

Bug Bite Relief Roller Recipe

This recipe is for a 10ml roller bottle
I used fractionated coconut oil for the carrier oil.

10 drops tea tree oil
6 drops peppermint oil
6 drops lavender oil
6 drops frankincense oil
3 drops copaiba oil

My son has used this for bug bites and was surprised how quickly it helped the itching. I also tried it recently and was happy with how quickly the itching stopped and the swelling went down.

I personally use only Young Living Essential Oils. I realize not everyone uses Young Living, and I can not determine how other brands of oils would work with this recipe, not all oils are created equal.

If you use this oil recipe and it works well for your family, I'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment, drop me an email, or leave a message on the fb page. :)

I also have these rollers available for purchase, $10 a roller. They last a long time.

~Lyndsay

10 Steps To Taking a Relaxing Mom Bath *Humor Edition*

 I love taking baths. They are an essential tool in my busy mom life!
  

 I used to be a shower person, and I still am to an extent. In recent years I have found that a good soak in the tub can work wonders on my mood, it helps with sore muscles (Thank you T-TAPP boot camp!), stress, anxiety and my arthritis pain too! In all honesty it is my time to decompress after being with the kids all day, every day.
I absolutely love being a homeschooling Mama to four awesome kids, but it can be mentally and physically exhausting.

 I try to take a soak 2-4 nights a week. If I'm having an arthritis flare, it's even more often than that. You would think this amount of repetition would make it painfully simple for the kids to understand that Mom is taking a bath, all other things can wait fifteen minutes or at least be redirected to Dad until further notice. 

Nope. Nada. Not happening. 

*Sigh*

 

We only have one bathroom in our house, so I tend to not lock the door while I'm actually in the tub. I lock it before I get in and after getting out. I do it in case of urgent needs or emergencies etc.

It has come to my attention that my children do not know the difference between urgent needs vs. totally unnecessary whims. 

 I've been keeping count and on average I am interrupted no less than six times per bath! SIX! How many times do they go to their Dad? Zero. Zero times. 

 Upon further thoughts on this topic and the sheer mass and absurdity of the interruptions, I decided to mentally keep track of my interactions with my children while taking a bath and then relay a sampling of them to you. Because we all could use a little more humor in our lives. Plus if we are being honest, this happens at your house too. 

So I present you with my typical bath time 'routine'.

Step 1
  Place tired, freshly bathed, milk cup holding, blanket snuggled toddler up with an episode of Doc McStuffins on a tablet, on the couch near Dad. Announce to my husband that I'm taking a bath. Tell the children I am taking a bath. 

Step 2
  Grab my towel and favorite pajamas. Wait outside bathroom for the traffic jam of kids who can't wait fifteen minites to go. 

Step 3
 Remove toys, and wet wash clothes from tub. Run the hottest water possible into the tub.

 I do this for two reasons.

 Reason one; I am usually the last one to bathe and the hot water tank is typically tapped out by now. 

 Reason two; because the tub never stays hot long enough and non dissolved Epsom salts are not your friend!

Step 4
  Add Epsom salts and turn on favorite worship music on my phone. My phone automatically starts playing The Greatest Showman sound track, because one of the kids was borrowing my phone. Switch music to Lauren Daigle.

Step 5

 
  Strip down, avoid mirror (I've had four kids after all) and climb into tub.

  Child knocks on door, interruption one. 

 It's Addison(age 7) she enters the bathroom because she has to pee. I remind her she just went pee, but she has to go again anyway. She turns down the music because it keeps her from being able to go...makes perfect sense. 

Still sitting on potty, 'Mom, what are you doing?'

Me: 'I'm shoveling snow. Why? What does it look like I'm doing?'

Addison: *giggles* 'Oh. I thought you were taking a bath. I thought it was summertime, I didn't see snow?'
*All sarcasm is lost on this one.*

Me: 'Yes, I'm taking a bath. But you already knew that and probably did not need to ask.
Are you done yet? Please go finish your evening chore.'

Addison: *Washing hands painfully slow, asks five more questions and comments ranging from why the sky is blue to how babies are born. I politely suggest she go ask her father. She finally starts to leave,
'Do you want me to keep you company? Do you want me to sing you a song? Are you lonely? I'm gonna miss you!'

Step 6
  Soap up wash cloth, shave legs above the shins for the first time in longer than I care to admit, and wash body. 

Someone stands outside the bathroom door, doing a rather loud, completely  believable cry.
Interruption two. 

  

I yell through the door and ask if someone is bleeding. 

'Huh Mom? What? Do you need me? Did you miss me?'... It's Addison again. 

After reassuring her that I promise I'm not lonely, and as long as no one is hurt I'm good for her to leave. 

She leaves, but leaves the door cracked 2.5 inches. *Sigh*

Ten second after Addison leaves, Emma (age 10) appears at the door. Knock, knock...'It's me Emma, I figured you would shut the door for your bath?'

She is doing her kitchen chore, 'Mom, how do you get the lid off of this cup. It is on really tight.'
Me- 'There are two very strong and able-bodied men in the living room.'

Emma: 'I already asked Alex (13), he said it was too tight, Dad said he couldn't because of the tendonitis in his arm.'

Emma hands the cup into the bath, I open it in .5 seconds. 

'Wow Mom! How did you do that?!'

Me- 'Magic mom powers.' *hint of sarcasm*
Emma leaves, actually closing the door.
That's the end of interruption number three.

Step 7
  I attempt to listen to music(at it's still lowered volume) and think calm thoughts. Twelve seconds later...
I hear a scratching  and meows at the bathroom door. Ah yes, interruption number four (Anna, age 2) has shown up right on time. 

Anna: 'Mommy, I WANT you! Meow! Mommy I NEED you!' Scratching. 

Me: Silently praising God that the toddler lock is still on the doorknob. 'Why do you need me?'

Anna: 'Doc turned off. I need Doc.'

Deep breaths, with the mental image of her getting up from near her father and walking past three other capable people in search of me. I remind her that Daddy is home and can help.
She mumbles through the door and walks off, meowing. 

Forty-five seconds later, Knock knock. 

It's Addison...again.

Number five.

 
She wants to make sure I don't actually miss her. Comes into the bathroom and makes herself comfy on the toilet lid.

'Mom, can I get on my tablet? I did my chore.'

Me: 'Yes, put PJs on first.'

Thinking to self. This is great, she will go and watch a show!

Nope. 

 
She decides to hang out for a few. She is writing a note on the mirror, so I can read it; in case I get lonely and want something to read. Also in case I might forget about her in the whole fifteen minutes of my bath.
She opens the curtains and insists I should read the note, so she can see the surprise on my face. 

Me: 'Addison'

Addison: 'Yes, Mommy?' *doe eyed*

Me: Cringing from guilt before even opening my mouth. 'Get out.'

Addison: 'Won't you miss me? Will you be lonely? Do you want me to tell you a story? Do you want to tell me a story? Can we have ice cream for a snack?

*Slowly leaving room and sticking her face in the crack as it closes.*

'Bye Mom, I'll miss you, I can stay if you want. I love you!'

Walks away leaving door cracked 2.5 inches. Every single time.

Interruption number six. 

 
  Alex (age 13) sees door is cracked and assumes no one is in the bathroom. Whips open door.(Yes, I'm smart enough to shut the shower curtain while bathing.)

 
Alex: ' Oops, sorry Mom. Didn't know you were in here. Hey?! Why don't you shut the door so people know to knock?'

Me: 'That's a really good idea. I'll have to remember that in the future. I'll be done soon.'

Alex: 'Ok. Hey. Since you aren't busy I have some questions about co-op, is there going to be...'

Me: cutting him off. 'Get out.'

Alex: 'But...'

Me: 'Unless you want me to come in and ask you questions while you shower, get out.'

*Silence*

He is gone.

Step 8

 
  Having lost all hope of having a relaxing soak in the tub, I release the tub plug and admit defeat. I Climb from the tub to find my towel has been used to dry someone's hands and my clean clothes have been trampled, I lock the door.

Vowing to never leave it unlocked again.

Then I hear a knock knock on the door and a 'Hey, why's the door locked?' from Addison. 

SEVEN. 

 

Step 9
  I emerge from the bathroom 17 minutes after entering to find everyone happily engrossed  in other things. They don't need me anymore, I'm clearly available to help them now.

Anna is passed out cold on the recliner. 

 I walk into the living room and my husband looks up from the movie he has been watching uninterrupted and asks, 'How was your bath?'

Maybe yoga would be more relaxing?

Step 10

 
Briefly consider running away to a deserted island and then secretly admit that I would miss them, plus the art work here is priceless! 

Blessings!

~Lyndsay