Costco Haul

Last week, I ran to Costco, so let's take a look at the goodies I grabbed! 

DJ is working on getting better about taking his lunch to work; I grabbed these burritos for him to take to the office, and I will eat this for a quick lunch too while I'm between speech kiddos. 

Gluten free pizzas for Gretchen... she was complaining that her last ones didn't have pepperoni, so I grabbed her these. 

I love making this sausage with potatoes and peppers for an easy weeknight dinner! 

The little girls love these individual pizzas. On nights that I don't feel like cooking or when Megan needs to take dinner with her to gymnastics, these are great to throw in the microwave. 

The girls love cocktail cucumbers! I wash these as soon as I get home, and chop the ends off, and throw them in a bowl. They're perfect to add to school lunches. 

Speaking of school lunches, these chicken skewers are a great option for Gretchen to take to school! 

We love these fruit bars for a little snack during school, in a lunch, or after school. I also throw a few in my purse, in case the girls get hungry when we're on the go! 

We love their organic turkey.

Adalyn asked for blueberries :) 

And the girls love tomatoes too! 

I buy these for Gretchen, but I'll eat them with hummus! 

Please toss out your junkie cooking spray. Avocado oil (or coconut oil) is the way to go! I love that I can get these in a set of two at Costco. 

I was thrilled to find a gluten free brownie mix! Gretchen baked these last night, and they're not bad at all! 

We also like their gluten free bread. 

And the Dave's Killer Bread for Megan and Adalyn. 

I love these little granola bites! You can find them at Target too, but obviously Costco has a huge bag of them! But, Target has them in bars and has a few more flavors.... either way, these are a win, and they're allergy free. 

I bought a huge bag of chocolate chips so I can make DJ's student's some cookies, but let's be real, the girls and I eat them right out of the bag. 

Gretchen has been wanting Corn Chowder, so I bought a huge bag of corn so I could make her some soup sometime in the next few weeks. 

I also picked up more gluten free cereal for her. 

And I thought she'd want to try these gluten free cookies. 

And these gluten free cookies too. 

We love the Siete brand of chips and have been buying these for a while.

And, I feel like this has turned in to a gluten free post, because I ended up finding lots of options this time around! We use to buy Costco's ciabatta breads in the bakery section- they are so good for sandwiches with a little gourmet flair, so I was excited to find the gluten free ones. I like making a sandwich with these and heating it in the oven ;) I froze one section, and kept the other section out for Gretchen. 

We love their bell peppers. I chop them when I get home and the girls will eat them for snacks, but then they're also ready to go for dinners. 

I also love their eggs. We do a lot of baking, so these get used often, and the girls love hard boiled eggs for breakfast or school lunch. 

I bought a bunch of bananas, but the girls haven't eaten them, so I'm about to make some banana bread with them. Do your kids do that too? They'll eat a fruit when I buy it, and then the next time I buy it, they won't touch it. Sigh. 

A big bag of potatoes! Mostly for a quick dinner... I can bake these and then use the chicken skewers and peppers for a loaded baked potato, but I also grabbed them for the corn chowder. 

And orange juice, because my kids love it. 

Whew! That was a lot from our last Costco trip!

Can you believe I actually need to go back soon and pick up some more fruits & veggies, and sigh, lunchables for the days after gymnastics. 

 

Two Final Meets

Megan's level 2 competition season is officially over. Her last two meets were definitely the most difficult, but gosh, we are so proud of the work she puts in! 

She competed at the district qualifier in October, and had a huge cheering squad. My parents, her sisters, DJ, and DJ's aunt were all there to watch. 

I will never pretend to understand gymnastics scoring, because I thought her beam was flawless, and she scored an 8.85, and came in 6th. 

She didn't place in any other event, but her scores were high 8's other than her floor, which is always her most difficult routine. 

She earned 1 medal, and honestly, her heart was a little broken after this meet. It didn't help that the medal broke, and had to be fixed, but she was not wanting pictures taken at all. We finally convinced her to get 1 picture with Gee and Papaw once we got home. 

Last weekend, we traveled to Dallas so she could compete at the state level. All of the level 3s were allowed to go and compete, but once she reaches level 4 she'll have to qualify for this meet. Everyone had the same leotard too. Once we made it to Dallas Friday night, we drove over to pick up her leotard. She competed at 8 am on Saturday morning and I didn't want to have to be rushed and standing in line to pick up her leo. 

I would say this was her toughest meet so far. She started on floor, and I could instantly tell it wasn't going to be a great event for her. She finished with a score of 8.15, which was her 2nd lowest floor score of the season. Sigh.

Her vault was her 2nd event, and she scored her 3rd highest vault score, and then she was off to compete in bars, which is one of her best events, and she fell at the end. I could have cried for her. She has never fallen from bars, and finished with a bar score of 8.95. It's crushing knowing that her bar score would have been a 9 without that fall. 

She finished on beam with an 8.975, and came in 14th in the meet. 

We will know by the end of December if she's able to move up to level 4 next year, which will mean even more hours in the gym, but gosh, this girl never complains (unless I ask to take her picture.) and absolutely loves gymnastics. I can't wait to watch her grown in a sport that she absolutely loves. 

Her Gee & cousin, Amelia came down for the meet, and we were so thankful to have them there with us! 

 

Gluten Free Finds

Back in September, we decided to switch Gretchen over to a gluten free diet. There were some signs and things that we wanted to see if going g-free would help, so we've been on the search for alternates that she can eat, so she doesn't feel like she's missing out.

Of course, eating foods that are naturally gluten free are our best bet. Meats, eggs, fresh veggies, fruits.... all of those are the best option. But, I also know that when raising a teen, we need to be realistic, and do the best we can. 

I thought I'd share with y'all a few of our favorite brands and products we've tried this far. 

I found these King Arthur mini-muffins at Target, and Gretchen loved them! They are definitely a treat, and I'd love to find more of a breakfast muffin option for her, but if we have something sweet that isn't gluten free, these are a great option for her to have. 

Highey is a brand that I've found on Thrive Market, at Target, and at Costco. So far, the Costco bags are the biggest and best value. All of the girls tried these cookies and they all liked them! 

They even have snickerdoodle cookies. 

I've been buying this cereal for several years now, and it's always been a hit. Other g-free cereals include Rice Krispies, some chex cereal, and I've found a keto g-free cereal at Costco that similar to honey grahams. 

I don't typically buy oreo's, but we wanted to try out the gluten free ones and they were a hit. The girls all ate this package within a few days. Downside- the regular oreos come in larger packages. 

We've found lots of gluten-free options from Thrive Market too. I've bought flour, muffin mixes, a cookie mixes, and banza pasta through them. Thrive Market will give you 30% off your first order when you click here to join! I love that you can shop through Thrive based on your dietary needs. So, if you're gluten free, you can refine your search to just gluten free items! You can also search for Vegan, Dairy free, and more! I also love that I can hop on the app, place an order and within a few days it will arrive at my door! 

Those are just a few of the gluten free finds we've found & love! Stay tuned, because I'll have a part 2 coming soon! 

 

The Water Challenge

Let’s chat water!!

It’s one of the best things you can do for your health.

Did you know that water is one of the most important nutrients your body needs? Without it, you’ll only survive about 3 days.

A great rule of thumb is that you should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. So if you weigh 160 lbs, you’ll need 80 oz of water per day.

Water does all of the following:

Lubricates the joints

Forms saliva and mucous

Delivers oxygen through your body

Boosts skin health

Boosts productivity

Flushes waste

Helps the digestive system

Regulates body temperature

Cushions the brain and tissues

Maintains blood pressure

Reduces fatigue

Transports minerals and nutrients

Helps kidney function

Over the weekend, I attended a wellness course and even though I already drink a ton of water each day, I really learned how important it is to start your day with water!

So, I’m launching off a NOVEMBER WATER CHALLENGE!

Each morning, you’ll consume 20 oz of filtered water, plain/unflavored, and room temperature before drinking anything else! Yup, no more starting your day with coffee!

This is one of the easiest and cheapest things you can do for your health!

When you do this, you’ll be improving the function of joints, ligaments, and muscles since they’re dehydrated from sleeping!

Why can’t you flavor the water? Because your digestive system will be triggered and will begin to use it for digestion. And we want to hydrate the rest of our body first!!

I have included two graphics for you to use to keep track of your daily water! One is dated, one is not. Screenshot them and check off each day you complete!! 

 

To learn more about the importance of starting your day with water, listen to this video here. 

Save one of the graphics above, and join me in starting your day with 20 oz of water each morning! Be sure to tag me on Instagram when you share your challenge! 

5 Diffuser Blends for November

Hello November! I love when November finally rolls in, because it starts to feel like Fall in Texas. I love a Texas Fall, because the weather is perfection, but I'll admit, I miss the gorgeous changing colors of the leaves. 

November brings us a month of giving & thanks, and family. There's no better time to introduce essential oils and diffusing to your family than now! 

Here are 5 diffuser blends for you this month!

Cozy Flannel

Favorite Scarf

Thankful Heart

 

Orchard Stroll

Vanilla Bean Marshmallow

Happy Diffusing! 

Click here to grab your oils and diffuser and receive a $10.00 gift card back from me!

 

Halloween Weekend Wrap Up

Well, I'm not sure about y'all, but I'm thankful that October is over. And Halloween too. Gosh, I feel bad about this but this was not my most favorite Halloween ever. Our girls were fighting, no one was listening.... I had a sinus infection, and we celebrated the very basics of Halloween. There was nothing pinterest-worthy about our holiday. 

Last week we had dress up days at work and the girls had them at school & gymnastics. It was definitely a busy week. 

On Wednesday, our theme was super hero day, and I dressed as super mom. 

Because our month was busy, and we went camping rather than going to a pumpkin patch, Adalyn and I went to Costco last Wednesday, and picked out 3 gigantic pumpkins for the girls to carve. They were running so low she had to get in the box in order to get them out. 

The girls had crazy hair day, and I only managed to get a picture of Adalyn's faux-hawk. She completed the look with lots of bows and clippies. 

Megan had character day at gymnastics, and she went as Peter Rabbit. 

And on Friday, the girls had book character day. Megan went as Pippi Longstocking; we used a wire hanger for her pigtail braids. 

Their book parade was first thing in the morning, so after I dropped them off, I parked and waited for the parade to start. And, I totally lucked out because Megan and Adalyn's classes were one of the first few classes, and I was able to leave within 5 minutes! 

Adalyn dressed as Harry Potter. 

Friday night, the girls had a sleepover. I tried to get them to watch a Halloween movie, but they much preferred playing! Saturday morning we got doughuts and then they went back to their friend's house for the day for a Halloween party. 

Sunday morning we were up for church, had lunch, and curled up to watch Hocus Pocus. I ended taking a nap because I did not feel well (thank you sinus infection). Once the girls woke me up, it was time to carve pumpkins. 

And friends, this was not the Instagram worthy event at all. Two of my kids were fighting, screaming, and kicking over which pumpkin they would carve. I sent the two of them to their rooms, and only carved pumpkins with one kid. Eventually, they agreed upon which pumpkins they would carve. But then I still had to send another kiddo to her room when she decided to argue. Sigh. It was no fun. 

DJ was able to come home after work. We had dinner, and then we got ready for trick or treating. Thankfully, all of the fighting subsided and we were able to head out for a fun night of trick or treating! 

Adalyn was a police officer and she asked me to be her robber. 

DJ went as my partner in crime. 

Two robbers & the police. 

We have the best neighbors and all went trick or treating together. 

Lots of houses and lots of candy. 

We learned a long time ago to take an extra bag to empty out treat buckets halfway through; it was my perfect robber accessory. And, I'm so glad we brought one, because we came home with 16 lbs of candy!

Happy Halloween! 

 

November Freebies

Hello November!! Young Living has some amazing promos and freebies this month to encourage us as we celebrate a month full of giving & thanks! 

Let's take a peek at all the freebies! 

Goodness, look at them all! These are some great oils friends! And, you can earn the promos twice this month! Once on Subscribe to Save, and once again on Quick Orders! 

As always, shipping is free on 100 pv orders! If you're order is around the 90 pv mark, you may as well round up and grab a product and get the free shipping! I love adding on the lip balms, soap, or vitality oils to make sure I hit that mark! 

190 pv GRATITUDE

This blend was specifically formulated to elevate, soothe, and appease the mind while bringing relief and relaxation to the body. While the body is relaxing, the heart and mind can be opened to receive the gifts that are given each day. We all need a little extra gratitude ya knowwww! This blend contains Balsam Canada, Frankincense, Myrrh, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Coriander, Northern Lights Black spruce Vetiver, and Geranium. Soothing for sure!!!!! Diffuse this one with lemon for an uplifting environment, add to wool dryer balls, apply over your heart.

190 pv GATHERING

This oil is only available through Loyalty Rewards, so you'll only get this one once this month. It's the perfect blend to bring loved ones together, this blend raises your attraction rate friends - if you’re doing a Young Living Business, this oil is a must. Want to bring more people to your classes and events? This oil! Also, this oil is great for anyone who experiences chaotic energy and needs to focus and get into alignment with their highest potential. I like to call this the self-improvement oil. It’s gives us clarity and helps us stay grounded. The oils in this blend increases the oxygen around the pineal gland and pituitary gland, bringing greater harmonic frequency to receive the communication we desire.

190 pv CAR FRESHENERS

Okay, when I first saw the promos, my eyes went straight to these! Toss the Christmas tree car fresheners out; they're full of toxic ingredients that are not good for your health. These are unscented, so just hang on your rear view mirror, and add any oil of your choice. I love using peppermint or orange when I'm in the car to keep me alert and focused. These would also make adorable gift tags on Christmas presents, and you can include an oil or two! These are available only on Loyalty Rewards, so you'll snag these once this month!

250 pv MYRRH

Myrrh promotes spiritual awareness and is uplifting. It contains sesquiterpenes which stimulate the limbic system of the brain (the center of memory and emotions), and the hypothalamus, pineal, and pituitary glands. The hypothalamus is the master gland of the human body producing vital hormones including thyroid and growth hormone. So if you want to love on your hormones and thyroid, use your Myrrh.

This is also a wonderful oil for your skin. Add to your moisturizer or even just apply topically to your skin. It is hydrating and gentle. Myrrh can also help hold the aroma in your DIY roller blends. Add a drop of Myrrh and you will notice have the aroma holds and is more powerful to the nose. I also do this with my wool dryer balls - The myrrh helps hold the aroma. If you have a newborn, a drop of myrrh mixed into a 2ml of coconut oil and then dropped on the cord will make magic happen!

300 pv HOPE

This blend contains Melissa, Juniper, Myrrh, and Spruce. Hope helps you connect with a feeling of strength and grounding, restoring hope for tomorrow. For extreme sadness, rub on the outer area of your ears daily!!

Hope is essential for moving forward in life. Hopelessness can cause loss of vision, goals, and dreams. This blend will help you to reconnect with a feeling of strength and grounding, restoring hope for tomorrow. The blend contains Melissa, Juniper, Myrrh, and Spruce. It is also linked with the emotion of “blindness”- when we close our eyes to things and ignore them as well as lack of respect. Who could use some Hope this month and everyday? Here is a challenge for you - when you get your Hope oil this month, place a drop on the center of your forehead daily and repeat a positive affirmation to yourself. See what starts to happen!!!

300 pv BELIEVE

TOP 10 oils for sure!!!! Believe has a beautiful aroma and so many love wearing this as perfume! Believe was formulated with us in mind, to help each person release their unlimited potential.

So many things can hold us back if we allow them to. That's why I use Believe, to help me believe in the MORE that is within me, because It was created for so much more, AND SO WERE YOU! Believe helps to restore feelings of hope. If you are in a season of waiting, I hope you use this oil. Put a drop in your hands, cup your hands over your nose and mouth and take a few deep breaths. Relax. Put it in the diffuser! Add a couple drops in epsom salt in your bath. Drop on your hair then brush or put on the crown of your head!

Gosh, aren't these so good!? Log in to your Virtual Office, or click here to start shopping and earning freebies!