If you want to sound extra crunchy, tell your friends you want a Himalayan salt lamp for Christmas.

If they haven’t heard about Himalayan Salt Lamps, you’ve got to tell them what all of the fuss is about. There are many people out there who own these lamps and will swear by the countless benefits that they offer.  

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. See my full disclosure policy here. 

Don’t have a Himalayan Salt lamp?  If you are on the fence and would like a little further information before you buy, here are 5 benefits of Natural Himalayan Rock Salt Lamp that might help you decide.

Static Reducer  

Static electricity is so annoying!  Who hasn’t had to deal with frizzy hair or an article of clothing that is stuck clinging to your skin (typically at the most inopportune time) or, my favorite, a sock stuck to the back of your outfit where you will never see it?  And the dreaded shock you get from touching a doorknob or even your loved ones is the worst.  Static cling is to blame for all of these annoying life situations, but Himalayan Salt Lamps can help you to avoid these by neutralizing the the air and the ionized particles that cause static.

Mood Booster

 Since Himalayan Salt Lamps are known to produce negative ions which are good for boosting moods, they are said to be good at helping to boost your mood when you are feeling down.  In addition; the soft, warm glow is similar to that of the sun, and many people enjoy the sun-like glow in their home year round.  For those that tend to feel down during the darker months of Fall and Winter, that glow is a benefit.

Air Purifier and Cleanser  

Himalayan Salt lamps are excellent at removing dust, pollen and impurities from their air.  This is perhaps their most well known benefit.  They essentially act as a great air purifier and filter locking all of the impurities into the salt.  Because of their abilities to reduce impurities, these lamps are great for those that suffer from allergies and asthma.  Placing one or two of the lamps in each room, the sufferer will likely see results within a couple of weeks.

Budget Friendly and Long Lasting

Have you ever shopped around for a Himalayan Salt Lamp?  If you have assumed that they are expensive, you should check them out.  You will be surprised to find that they are relatively budget friendly (many like this one can be found for less than $20).  In addition, they last a very long time.  Many Himalayan Salt Lamp owners report that their lamps have lasted for decades.

Gentle on Your Eyesight

 The soft glow of a Himalayan Salt lamp is easy on your eyes, which is more than can be said for many of the fixtures and lamps that are currently in most homes.  The majority of the lights we encounter on a daily basis (lamps and light fixtures, televisions, phones, computers, etc) are blue lights which are straining to the eyes.   Their soft yellow light also makes them a perfect choice for a nightlight for your little ones that don’t like the dark.  

So what do you think? Have you given Himalayan Salt Lamps a try? What benefits have you seen?

The post Pretty Stellar Benefits of Himalayan Salt Lamps appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

“Mom, can you help me put on my shoes?”

“Mom, the cat snuck out!”

“Mom, we’re out of peanut butter!”

“Mom, what does ‘Delinquent’ mean?”

Being a homeschool mother means that you claim many roles, including chef, teacher, secretary, librarian, referee, maid, friend and teacher. 

It’s a lot. And it’s overwhelming.

Make your life easier with some of these simple pointers and helps!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please my full disclosure policy here. 

Know What’s Coming

A little preparation can go a long way. Have a set time every week where you take a quick glance at all the subjects your students will be covering. Write down anything that requires set up or extra materials. Print out and gather any common supplies so you’re not hunting around when all the kids are clamoring for attention.

I’ve found that having an organized school room has made this task rather enjoyable! I use portions of this free school planner so I can see what is planned for each subject, as well as an overview of the week and month.

Every night I do a two minute scan again so I remind myself of what will be happening the next day. That way we’re ready to get started first thing in the morning.

Cook Ahead of Time

I’ve been learning some things about myself these past few months. While I enjoy the idea of cooking and I LOVE eating, I don’t actually want to spend time cooking. Like, at all.

Of course, that doesn’t really work with reality because of finances and health.

So my alternative???

Cook on the weekends when someone is home to keep the kids out from under my feet!

I like to make some healthy breakfast foods that can keep for a few days. Think muffins or protein bites.

Then, once a month, I make some freezer meals. It only takes an hour or two, but knowing I have tons of healthy quick options in the freezer is WELL worth the time. I have used the “Chicken and Beef Dump” books. There’s tons of variety and it’s well organized. Even printable labels with instructions!

It’s been a BIG improvement to not have to worry about meal prep on a daily basis. Give it a try! You won’t go back!

Get Help with the Cleaning

Cleaning is pretty much on the bottom of my priority list. But still, if I don’t keep on top of things, chaos reigns and there’s imminent danger of drowning in our own filth! So to keep the dust bunnies at bay, I do three things.

First, I’m trying to get my kids to help. They’re still young and tend to make more of a mess than if they hadn’t helped. But eventually, I know it will pay off.

Secondly, I bought a Robot Vacuum Cleaner. We’re a bit sensory bin crazy, so there’s always little bits and pieces stuck to the bottom of my feet. This little guy keeps things looking SO much better and as an added bonus, my kids are so fascinated by it that it can double as a babysitter/entertainer!

And last, and for some reason I’m afraid to admit it, I’ve hired a house keeper. Once a month I know that my bathrooms are actually clean. Trust me, there’s still PLENTY for me to do. It’s more for my peace of mind, knowing that we won’t have some strange fungus growing somewhere or a dust bunny so large that it can smoother us in our sleep.

Yup, my house is clean 12 out of 365 days!

Cut Down on Errands

The biggest time suck in our family is errand running. Something about getting three kids in and out of carseats, stopping for the occasional potty break, etc etc. Oh, and it SERIOUSLY messes with nap time!

Trips to the store are of course inevitable, but to cut back on the amount, I’m trying to do three things.

First, I keep a running list on my phone of things that we’ve run out of. Ketchup, lightbulbs, you name it. But now the random stuff won’t slip my mind while we’re at the store. Big time saver.

Second, I have a bag in the trunk of our car that I fill with things that need to be returned to various people or stores. That way, if I’m near by, I’ll have it there and ready to go! Yea!

Third, I’m trying to have a well stocked gift cabinet. A couple of generic kids toys and mom favorites like natural soaps and such can work in a pinch when you’ve forgotten a birthday or need a thank you gift.

So while you’ll still be pulled in a million directions, hopefully some of these ideas will help you streamline and save time. Being a homeschooling mom is a lesson in balance. You are juggling a lot, and things won’t always get done. But you’ve made your kids the priority and that, is awesome!

The post Time Saving Tips for Homeschooling Moms Pulled in a Million Directions appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

Ingredients:

We fill up our Casabella Microfiber Spray Mop with this recipe because you can put whatever cleaning solution you want and the microfiber works great and is washable.

 

The post Simple Yet Powerful All-Natural Laminate Floor Cleaner appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

Supplies:

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Lavender Essential Oil (Or your favorite smell. I love orange!)

Directions:

(You can find it at any health food store, or Target). Now you can get creative and add some essential oils.

The one in my kitchen is a combo of orange and lemongrass. About 10-15 drops each. It smells heavenly. I did another one with peppermint and lavender. Different, but I like it. More flowery and feminine. Give it a try. It’s fun!

Don’t skip the essential oils as they give the soap its antibacterial properties.

The post The Simplest DIY Natural Hand Soap Recipe appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

I’ll be honest, I used to think Earth Day was kinda lame. In fact, I had a rather flippant attitude towards “green” living in general. It seemed like much ado about nothing. And it felt like more work than it was worth.

But once I had kids, I started singing a new tune. I realized how much my chemical-filled, wasteful living was effecting my family and I knew things needed to change. Then I was pleasantly surprised to find out just how do-able natural living can be. I’ve made it one of my goals to help other moms see that the process doesn’t need to be overwhelming. When you go to the store, how can you tell what is an earth-friendly product? Often times, the less ingredients the better. No one needs extra artificial preservatives, dyes and fragrances. These ingredients are harmful to our immediate health, as well as to our agriculture. Show the earth you care by being conscientious with what you consume.

As a busy mom, I need solutions that are simple and reliable. We’ve been turning to Tom’s of Maine for natural toiletries for years. They have a new Made to Matter line exclusively at Target that is easy to love. Their all-natural Luminous White toothpaste is gluten and paraben free. It’s safe on enamel and helps make your teeth extra pearly white. Tom’s of Maine makes a large variety of toiletry products including toothpastes, deodorant, lotions and more! They’re sure to have something that meets your particular needs. North Woods and Wicked Cool! are two of their beloved deodorants and antiperspirants.(Check out this cartwheel offer before you head to the store to save.) Going green doesn’t have to make your head hurt. Thankfully there are companies like Tom’s of Maine that you can trust to keep the ingredient list short and natural. So even though Earth Day is behind us, let’s keep the spirit of the day going all year long.

The post Keeping the Earth Day Spirit Alive appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

The toys, the artwork, the trash that has become a treasure.

With kids, comes STUFF and lots of it!

The job of picking up is too big for one person. And you’ll be doing your kids a disservice in the long run if they don’t learn how to stay organized.

But have you ever seen a three year old stay focused on a task like picking up their toys???

I have.

It wasn’t always this way. It used to take an insane amount of time to get a Lego off the ground and into a bin. But things have changed around our house.

Here’s how we get our kids to pick up their toys quickly…

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my full disclosure policy here. 

The Basic Concept:

Have a crate or box that is designated the “Toy Jail”. Warn your children when the toy jail is coming. Tell them they have a set amount of time to pick everything up and put it where it belongs. When the “toy jailer” comes through the room, any forgotten belongings will be place in the toy jail overnight.

The Results:

Wow. Wow. Wow. I can’t believe how much I like this system!

My oldest boys are 5 and almost 3. They both spring into action when they hear toy jail is coming. My oldest tries his very best to get everything and I mean EVERYTHING off the ground and safe from the big mean jailer. I don’t have to remind him to pick up the next thing and the next thing and the next. He’s totally self directed compared to a typical clean up session.

Adaptations, Tips and Tricks:

• Only do one or two rooms at a time. This keeps it from being an overwhelming cleaning session and it also makes a ten minute deadline doable.
• Have “Toy Jail” go through the house regularly. I try for every room once a day, or the high traffic rooms twice a day.
• Make toy storage SIMPLE! Kids will probably cause an even bigger mess if they don’t know where to put their toys once they get them off the floor. Nobody wants to find an old sippy cup under the bed! So make it obvious and make it simple. We love cubby shelving and storage bins. (This one is a Reading Nook with Cubbies that just looks SO inviting!) I label their bins with adorable chalkboard signs.
• Enforce the consequences. My three year old is not quite as impressed with the toy jail. Or at least, he’s figured out ways to avoid the work. He and his brother share a room and so when toy jail comes through, he stalls and lets his brother do all of the work. To remedy this, I asked my oldest to purposefully leave out a toy that clearly belongs to the three year old. When it inevitably was confiscated by the toy jail, he was shocked that I meant business. He takes more seriously now, but he still needs reminders.
• Make the “punishment” fit the age. I know that eventually my oldest won’t be too distraught about having a toy spend the night in jail. When that day comes, I plan on requiring the boys to “post bail” by doing a small chore around the house in order to win back their wayward toy.

Want MORE simple parenting hacks and advice? 

• Helping an Anxious Child Sleep
• Crippling Parenting Insecurities
• Helping Kids Stay Connected to their Out-of-Town Grandparents
• How to Spend Quality Time with Kids AND Get Stuff Done

The post How to Get Your Kids to Pick Up Their Toys Quickly appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

Being a new mom can be ugly work.

There’s the sleepless nights, the bodily fluids everywhere, the body that feels like a stranger’s.

Sometimes it’s hard to feel presentable, nonetheless beautiful. Try these simple, doable ideas to remind yourself how beautiful you really are!

Take Care of Yourself (And Ask for Help to do it!)

Desperate for some shut eye? Can’t remember the last time you took a nap? If there isn’t a current emergency going on, enjoy a little “me time” that will have you feeling better. Ignore the dishes, let the mail pile up. You can’t run on empty for long. I’ve learned that the hard way. Just can’t get away? Ask for help. You’d be surprised how many people would love to cuddle your baby while you get refreshed.

Get a Haircut

I’m one of those gals that gets her hair cut roughly once a year. So I have what looks like a style for roughly a month. After that, I look more like a Wookie! After my third baby, I decided I’d cringe about my appearance a bit less if I gave the locks a fresh look. Now it’s short enough that it doesn’t get spit up on. That’s a big step up!

Buy Clothes that Fit

This is a hard one for me. It feels like I’m admitting defeat to go up a size (or two) in clothing. While technically I can squeeze into my pre-pregnancy clothes, they were incredibly uncomfortable and a constant reminder that my body had taken on a new shape. When I finally caved and bought a pair of pants that fit, I was shocked. I actually looked much thinner! It gave me confidence and some much needed breathing room!

Try a New Makeup Product

It’s always fun to try a new color or makeup product. I recently went to Target and found that Burt’s Bees has a new line of all natural lipstick. It’s full of 100% natural ingredients like Moringa, Raspberry Seed Oil, Beeswax, Vitamin E. These powerhouse ingredients are actually GOOD for your lips, providing fatty acids and conditioning oils to improve elasticity and provide moisture.

I’ll admit, I haven’t worn lipstick since grade school. I always felt like they sucked the moisture right out of my lips. But Burt’s Bees lipstick felt creamy and kept them feeling that way for a good 8 hours! Definitely something I could start wearing regularly, not just on special occasions. And there’s a color for every occasions: 14 full coverage, satin-finish shades to chose from. I grabbed three.

Burt’s Bees in on the roll. They even made a new line of all natural BB cream. It’s good for you and for the environment!

It comes in three different shades and check out the benefits! It evens skin tone, provides moisturize, protects from the sun (SPF 15), reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, visibly firms, conceals, smooths, and brightens. I love knowing that what I put on my skin is helpful and not hurtful. THAT makes me feel beautiful! Available at Target

Remember that You MADE a Baby, and THAT is Beautiful

Regardless of what you see in the mirror or how you feel in your heart, you are beautiful, your child is beautiful and your role is beautiful. Being willing to humble yourself and serve your little one is stunning and oh so very lovely. Keep up the hard work and know that you are gorgeous!

What are your favorite ways to feel beautiful when motherhood is wearing you down? Share them in the comments below!

The post How to Feel Beautiful as a New Mom appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

That is, until I research them. I usually find myself nodding my head in agreement with the logic. Then I cautiously give the new idea a try and am pleasantly surprised with the results.

Dry brushing has been that experience for me!

Find out what dry brushing is and why you’ll want to join me in this quirky habit!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Please read my full disclosure policy here. 

What is Dry Brushing

Well, it’s certainly not rocket science! Using a natural bristled brush like this one, brush your body. Do it firmly though don’t cause yourself pain or scratch your skin. Move in the direction of your heart, or the nearest lymph nodes (arm pits or groin). It only takes a minute and very little effort, but check out these health benefits!

Why You should Dry Brush

Exfoliation: Another no brainer. Rubbing off the upper layer of dead skin helps skin look fresh. I was amazed how quickly those little annoying bumps on the back of my arms disappeared!

Lymphatic System Support and Cellulite/Swelling Reduction: Fascia is a little known substance made of connective tissue that helps are muscles and skin slide over each other without harmful friction. Often times with stress, diet and other factors, the fascia can’t do it’s job properly and the skin begins to adhere to the underlying tissue. This can cause all sorts of problems like lymph not being able to drain, cellulite and swelling as well as general pain. When the brush runs over your skin, it has similar benefits to the myofascial release techniques used by medical professionals.

Energy: While it could be all in our heads, many people report feeling more awake after brushing their skin. I certainly feel energized from the tingling sensation all over my body!

Increased Blood Flow: I feel that this is related to the energy surge as well. I usually suffer from cold feet. But when I do the brushing technique before bed, my tootsie’s are a lot less chilling as they’re getting more blood circulating!

Have I convinced you to give this odd practice a try? Grab a natural brush and at the very least, you’ll have the smoothest skin in town!

The post Dry Brushing: What It Is and Why You Should Do It! appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

Please tell me you’ve heard of essential oils!

Like the name suggests essential oils are natural oils, extracted from plants, spices and other such goodies. They’re highly concentrated and have some pretty incredible healing properties.

But I’m not writing this post to convince you that these oils work. Let’s just assume you’re already on board with this staple of natural living.

I’m writing this to help clear up some confusion about where I go to get quality essential oils and why you won’t find me selling oils from the most popular companies on the market.

I’ve started using essential oils long before I ever got into blogging. I love that they’re powerful and beneficial. I use them for homemade toiletries and cleaning supplies. I also use them to help my son with Sensory Processing Disorder. I even use them to take away my aches and pains.

I’ve always used an assortment of different brands and found them to be highly effective. (Please note, these are 100% pure essential oils, NOT fragrances oils that are often laden with harmful chemicals).

It was only after years of use that I was introduced to two brands that make some very different claims.

DoTerra and Young Living are two companies that sell essential oils in a multi-level marketing scheme. They’re quite popular and VERY lucrative, especially for a blogger, since our sphere of influence is usually quiet large.

I’m thrilled that these companies have taken EO’s from weird hippy medicine into the mainstream. It’s great that friends no longer give me a blank stare when I mention my love of the oily brown bottles.

MLM systems have also proven to be highly effective for many of my blogging buddies. The money they’re making is greatly impacting their family’s bottom line. And as you probably know, one of the goals of my blog is to help supplement our family’s income.

So why won’t I be selling essential oils via Young Living or DoTerra???

First let me say, “I WANT TO!!!”

Goodness sake, I want to!

I have tried on many occasions to justify joining the program. But I can’t ignore the following problems I see with Young Living and DoTerra.

Huge Mark-Ups

If you do a price comparison between these two brands and the other brands on the market, it’s shocking. In fact, it’s a huge deterrent for many people to even be able to purchase these great products. The price hike is due to the large chunk the consultants receive and those above and below them in the pyramid chain.

I’m uneasy with that type of financial gain. If there’s a MUCH cheaper, high quality product on the market, I want my readers to know about it, so they can get more of these awesome EO’s for their money.

(Please note, I do have affiliate links to EO’s on my site. If readers click through and purchase through that link, I get a very small percentage of the purchase price as a finders fee. It in NO WAY affects the product’s price for the customer. If they’d found the product on their own, they’d still be paying the same price.)

Advocating Unsafe Uses

Essential oils are all-natural, but they are in no way “all-safe”. They have very powerful medicinal qualities, and should be administered in a way that is safe for the individuals using them.

I have found consultants for YL and DoTerra consistently promoting extremely shady uses for EO’s, namely, ingesting oils or using them “straight” without diluting with a carrier oil. These practices should be used sparingly and only under the direction of an essential oil specialist.

There also needs to be great caution taken when EO’s are administered to children and pregnant/lactating women. I’m still learning the ins and out of this and am always concerned about  promoting unsafe practices myself.

Deceptive Claims

The main distinguishing characteristic of Young Living and DoTerra is their claim to be the ONLY quality oil on the market. They both have a registered trademark mark, phrases that only that company can use.

Example: DoTerra claims to be the ONLY “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” essential oil on the market, and that’s true. They coined the phrase and made sure no one else can legally use it.

But there are plenty of great high quality oils on the market. If fact, there have been a couple independent studies done comparing brands and most got good results. (Here’s the results of those tests.)

I’m not writing this post to make enemies, but to explain my reasoning behind not joining the multi-level marketing essential oils bandwagon. I understand that others have different convictions and have come to different conclusions.

(One of my blogging buddies decided to do the opposite and wrote a great, balanced post about her choice. Read that here. )

I want you as my readers to trust that I’m looking out for your safety and your pocketbook. I want you to be educated and to do your own research. I want to be transparent and honest about my findings.

And I want to represent Christ well.

It should be no secret that I’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus. He has changed my entire worldview and where I find my security (hint, it ain’t money). When He convicts me of something, nothing  is going to sway me otherwise. I answer to Him alone.

I hope that you find this helpful. I’d love to hear your own thoughts in the comment section below.

Please remember that everyone is free to have a unique opinion and to be respectful of all other readers.

The post Why I WON’T Be Earning the Big Bucks by Selling Essential Oils appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.

One of my least favorite chores used to be cleaning the sink.

We make most of our toiletries products and one of the common ingredients in coconut oil. While it’s awesome for your body, it makes our sinks extra gross and slimy. No cleaner cut through the grease quickly. It took lots of time and lots of paper towels to wipe up the icky gunk.

Then I had an epiphany.

This post is part of a HUGE series of natural living posts by tons of other great bloggers. You’ve gotta check it out! I know I’ve learned a lot! There’s even a chance to win awesome natural prizes!

What would happen if I sprinkle dry baking soda in a dry sink and wipe it up with a paper towel?

Well, let me show you.

P.S. This is proof I’ve lost all my dignity. This is my real sink. This is my real life. Don’t judge me!

The coconut oil was a sticky trap for shavings and stray hairs. YUCK!

But look what happens when I gently rub dry baking soda on a dry sink. Comes up immediately! It’s not just being spread around. It’s seriously awesome!

And the end results after 30 seconds…

My only additional advice would be to make sure everything is dry, or you’ll still be dealing with sliminess. Once all the gunk has been dislodged, rinse the clumped baking soda down the drain, it will just slip away.

Want a natural way to clean your bathroom mirrors??? This recipe is cheaper AND works better than the store bought stuff! 

Are you wanting to “green up” your life without losing your mind in the process? Check out this series that’s full of recipes from soup mix to deodorant. Baby steps, nothing overwhelming!

Want to learn along with us? Subscribe to get an email with each new post.

The post Get Rid of Nasty Sink Grime in 30 Seconds with ONE Cheap Natural Ingredient appeared first on My Mundane and Miraculous Life.