Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Day 31: A Picture, A Prayer, & A Prize



Today, may we embrace holy fear for God. May His light shine on the dark places of our hearts, and may we not live in fear, but live in love. May we love the life we're given and live the love of the Father who came to bring life in overflowing, joyful abundance as we simply abide. May we know His truth in the very depths of our being, and may it set our hearts free to sing every day of our lives.

This is Day 31 of {Healthy} Living. Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts. Many thanks to Nester for inspiring me and so many others to write this month! She ended her series on "Home, On Purpose" with a good word on contentment. And isn't that really what our lives need? A good dose of contentment? Read her final post here and print your free download as a prize for hanging in here for 31 days. You will love seriously love it. I can't wait to hang it in my kitchen to remind me each and every day...

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Day 30: Giving Up on Martha


I'm giving up.

Not giving up on "Living," but giving up on Martha.

She's just not reality.

She's plastic and perfect, and I've finally decided perfection is over-rated. And boring.

I'm slowing learning to love the cracked, the broken, the dirt, and the mess. It's real. It's relational. It's life.

So I'm learning to give up.

Slowly, but surely.

I'm painfully realizing it wasn't perfection so much I was after, but it was my ugly pride and my performance that really mattered. And this is not life. At least not the Zoe life in the Spirit that truly is living.

I'm going to need more time. Maybe a lifetime. But I'm learning. And that's what counts. That's what counts to make this life beautiful.


I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.



Monday, October 29, 2012

Day 29: Beating the Monday Morning Blues



Got the Monday Morning Blues today?
Love these words from Justin Taylor at the Gospel Coalition.

And, IMHO,

Mornings go better with...
1. Annie!
"You're never fully dressed without a smile." Tomorrow morning, try punching in "Annie" to your Pandora, and start out the day on a great note!

2. Truth from Twilight

"Twilight" is our kitchen bulletin board owl. Last week we {finally} got serious about learning our Kiddie Catechism. We put up this bulletin board and affectionately named her Twilight so that she would be staring at us each morning as we eat cereal to remind us to read and review the latest questions and answers we are learning. These past few weeks Tim Keller has shared some good thoughts on memorizing a catechism {and no, it's not just for Catholics and Lutherans} He also has a great new resource, called New City Catechism. I personally love listening to "Ask Me WhoOo" with the little ones. Not sure if it's the catchy tunes, the Bible verses added to flesh out the meaning, or just my newly found love for all things owl-y.

3. Watching "Pioneer Woman" on the Food Network while folding laundry!
Yesterday I tried to make Rosemary Focaccia bread and it sadly flopped. Not sure if it's my yeast or the higher altitude. I'm having a do-over today with the Pioneer Woman's Recipe {I just might reduce the amount of olive oil, however} and I'm hoping it will be successful and will make our Meatless Monday menu of plain 'ole spaghetti something special.

4. Remembering to Get Dressed for Battle
Most days I forget that life in Jesus is really a battle, and I am sorely under dressed. More than a smile and good thoughts, I need a helmet and a shield, a breastplate and shoes, oh, and don't forget my sword and belt. This is not pretend and I'm not just dressing up to beg for tricks or treats; this is war. And how many days do I merely forget my belt, and then life gets a little messy and I just come undone? The battle for healthy living is in my mind, and my whole outfit falls apart when I merely forget my belt of truth. I'm becoming painfully aware of my need for more and more grace, and thankfully, there's more than enough in Jesus. Especially on a Monday morning.

5. Coffee
Enough said.

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.


Sunday, October 28, 2012

Day 28: A Prayer for Life

Rest, again?

Yes.

Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Rest.

It's a lovely pattern. Ahhh....

Here's a prayer for {healthy} living today:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.  
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.  
Where there is injury, pardon.  
Where there is doubt, faith.  
Where there is despair, hope.  
Where there is darkness, light.  
Where there is sadness, joy.  
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; 
to be understood, as to understand; 
to be loved, as to love.  
For it is in giving that we receive.  
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.  
It is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

{a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi}

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I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Day 27: Happy Neewollah Palooza!

Tonight we had a blast at Neewollah Palooza.
What's that, you ask?
It's Halloween spelled backwards!

Our family's church has a Halloween tradition of celebrating "Neewollah Palooza." It's their way of redeeming the holiday by taking it back and giving it new purpose and meaning. And I think that's a healthy way to think about Halloween. Some receive. Others reject. We choose to redeem.

I do understand the conflict that other believers have about the holiday, to be sure. I can understand concerns about its pagan roots. {I'm wondering if those who oppose Halloween also know of the pagan roots of many Christmas traditions that they have never questioned.} But our family has chosen to look at it this way: It's one of the few days of the year that most neighbors come out of hibernation, and it's one way to build community. It's choosing to focus on the light instead of darkness, and doesn't the Christian believe that life comes out of death? So we don't celebrate death, but we choose to celebrate life and be a light in a dark world.

I love what Justin Holcomb from the Resurgence has to say,
An informed understanding of the history of Halloween and the biblical freedom Christians have to redeem cultural practices (1 Cor. 10:23-33) leads to the conclusion that Christians can follow their conscience in choosing how to approach this holiday....For those who are still bothered by Halloween’s historical association with evil spirits, Martin Luther has some advice on how to respond to the devil: “The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him for he cannot bear scorn.” Perhaps instead of fleeing the darkness in fear, we should view Halloween as an opportunity to mock the enemy whose power over us has been broken.

{And I love this graphic. photo credit

So, we hammed it up today! My little lady was dressed as quirky, fun-loving Pippi Longstocking, and my snake-loving boy was a member of the Venom 1 Team. {his life-long dream}


Aren't they cute?

So today, {healthy} living is trick or treating for toothbrushes, pretzels, or pencils {we need to balance out all that sugar somehow!} and healthy worldview thinking about Halloween.

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Day 26: The Voices in My Head

I have an aunt that heard music.

All. The. Time.

And the glorious pleasures of her musical mind turned dark and painful and slowly made her sick.

I've heard that some hear crickets.

Others hear a ringing, a buzzing, a humming.

Puts a sad twist to the line, "Like music to your ears."

"The hurting people I work with hear 'You're worthless. You're a loser. Your life doesn't matter,' " she tells me.

And it begs the question,

"What are the voices in my head, heart, mind?"

and

"Who am I listening to?"

and

"Am I listening to my Father's voice, or to the Father of lies?"

Do I hear,

"You are my daughter."

"I am pleased."

"There is therefore now no condemnation..."

"I've done the work. Rest."

"I am here. Now. Forever."

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

"It's in My hands. Trust Me."

"I like you."

"I. Love. You. Listen to My song..."


Now that's music to my ears.

Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." 

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I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Day 25: The Fruitful Wife {and Son}

"Mommy, I was looking out the window just now and the beautiful snow reminded me of God's creation..." he squeaks in his sweet, baby voice.


I haven't had my coffee and I'm barely awake. But this. This woke me up faster than a cup 'o joe.

"Yes?"

"And I was thinking about the Garden of Eden and wondering...Where do you think the tree of life is now? I'm thinking that God probably moved it after Adam sinned, and it's probably in heaven waiting for us when we get there..."

Really? This child of mine who I play tug of war with in the mornings just to get him going? He's talking theology over a bowl of Crackling Oat Bran?! To be sure, many mornings start with an unhealthy dose of whining and complaining and meaningless conversation. This morning is different.

"Those are great questions. I'm glad you're thinking, and God's stirring something in your heart."

But I'm looking at the barren tree and what's stirring in my heart is something different.

This lifeless tree is sometimes a picture of my life and heart. Cold. Dead. Fruitless.

Except for when I'm connected and rooted to the source of life. But for the grace of God, I know I can't muster up fruit on my own.

Does the apple speak to her tree and say, "Produce!"

Does the peach shout to her branches, "Grow!"

Does the grape command her vine, "Make fruit!"

And fruit. It's more of what I need. More than the recommended four servings a day. I need Jesus fruit to really live.

But I can't make it on my own. Like the apple, the peach, and the grape, I can only cling to my Source. Trust. Pray. Abide.

God, the Master Gardener, in His infinite grace, must grow the fruit. I can't. {The fruit I try to grow on my own barely resembles a fruit roll-up. Pure imitation.}

A pile of books is scattered next to my bed. Buried under a stack, I pull out one I'd almost forgotten. Crossway was kind enough to send me this sneak peak of a book a few months ago. I remember first reading the intro of The Fruitful Wife and thinking to myself, "This book is for me."

It's not just another "try harder, do better" wife-kind-of-book. It's food for the soul and the healthy dose of truth that my heart needs. Every day.

Author Hayley DiMarco writes in her introduction,
"The reason that The Fruitful Wife came into being is that without abiding in Christ by being mindful, without the knowledge of the nature of God and the fruit of His Spirit, we are less likely to respond to the circumstances of life with spiritual fruitfulness, regardless of how much we say we love him, beg him, or trust him. It is because of her lack of knowledge of who God is and what he's done that the believing woman finds it so hard to abide and trust in Christ and so to develop the fruit of the Spirit in her life. As we abide, we come to know more about him and His Word, and as this mindfulness grows, so does fruitfulness."

This fruit of the Spirit. This fruit. This is health and life.

{For more of a taste of what her book offers, see this clip}

The Fruitful Wife: Cultivating a Love Only God Can Produce from Crossway on Vimeo.

"You know," I respond to my boy. "I just wonder if that tree of life is really Jesus. And if we're connected to Jesus, my son, then it's living in our hearts. And if He's living in our hearts, than we'll grow Jesus fruit. And we won't have to wait until heaven."

Good words for him. Better words for me.

{Anyone interested in reading this book, The Fruitful Wife, with me and having a virtual book club? Just a thought...}

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Day 24: Space to Breathe

Sometimes, we just need to fly away...


and find space to breathe. Breathe in Holy Spirit. 
Exhale stress. Exhale worry, control, and fear.


We need formation and transformation. 
We need more than a makeover. We need a metamorphosis.


We need new life. Desperately.


We need to be reminded Who is feeding us 
and where we are finding Living Water 
and how to feast on Daily Bread.


We need to walk and pray and remember.
We need to do this slowly, very slowly,
without all the crazy distractions of life that tug and pull and weigh.


We need to return and rest and remember
His goodness, His grace, His glory.


We need to realize that reflecting His image is 
less about doing more and more about just being His child.
 

And more importantly, we need to lift our hands in surrender to the One who surrendered all for us.


 We need to retreat and be recreated.

 

This is {healthy} living.

{This past summer I found a hidden jewel in the cornfields of Nebraska. I spent two wonderful nights for a short personal retreat at the St. Benedict Center Retreat House in Schuyler, Nebraska. It was truly nourishing for the soul. Care to join me next summer?}

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Day 23: Tea Time

{Healthy} Living is a steaming hot cup of tea.

And a kitty to love on.

I'm a little obsessed over tea these days, too. I pulled out 4 of my favorite 10 or so flavors stocked in my kitchen. I'd buy 10 more to try if I could. I'm replacing my addiction to sugar with an addiction to tea. : )

So, what's your favorite tea?

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Day 22: Meatless Monday and My Slight Obsession

Meatless Monday!!!
So, what are you cookin' up tonight?

Here's what's on our menu:

Still not sure whether I'm making the Pioneers Woman's Mac and Cheese or my inspiring friend Tiffany's Sneaky Mac & Cheese. It's not baked, but it's packed with more nutrition. 

Hmmm....nutrition or cholesterol? I know the Pioneer Woman's recipes are not the definition of "healthy," but I've been so good this month. {Or at least better than last month!}

True Confession:
Last Monday's dinner plan got ditched for my Dad's choice restaurant {I still went meatless!}, so I made the spinach lasagna this past weekend, and it's still in my fridge. We may have that, too! And a salad, just to round things out a bit. {We just got a last minute dinner & debate invitation, so Meatless Monday just might turn out now to be Try-It-Again Tuesday!}

More True Confessions:
I am slightly addicted to cookbooks. I love them. I can even go to bed with a good cookbook. A dear friend once said, "You don't need to be a great cook. You just need to find the right recipes." I'm on that hunt! Right now I'm reading through Dinner: A Love Story. Lovely. Maybe someday I'll write my own cookbook of family recipes I've discovered along the way. And take my own pictures. Dreamy!

Last True Confession:
I found a new bloggy "friend." Okay, I haven't really met her yet, but I really want to someday. Check out Iowa Girl Eats...I want to be her when I grow up someday. And she's from Iowa. Score!

So, what's cooking in your kitchen today, and what's your favorite cookbook, and do you have a true confession? Do tell!

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Day 21: Resting on God


A Prayer for Resting on God:

O God Most Hight, Most Glorious,
The thoughts of thine infinite serenity cheers me,
For I am toiling and moiling, trouble and distressed,
but thou art for ever at perfect peace.
They designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment,
they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Thy power knows no bond,
they goodness no stint.
Thou bringest order out of confusion,
and my defeats are thy victories;
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
to leave every concern entirely to thee,
every sin calling for Christ's precious blood;
Revive deep spirituality in my heart;
Let me live near to the great Shepherd,
hear his voice, know its tones, follow its calls.
Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth,
from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit.
Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
that I may bear its reproach,
vindicate it,
see Jesus as its essence,
know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief mars my confidence,
sin makes me forget thee.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots;
Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee,
that all else is trifling.
They presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong, and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God. 

from The Valley of Vision

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Day 20: Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing

For those of us who love the Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones has just published another reason for our hearts to sing--it's her new devotional book for children entitled, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing.

And guess what arrived on my doorstep this week?


I can't wait to read through it with my kiddos at breakfast before school. The kiddie devotional thoughts are short and sweet and just long enough to read over a quick morning bowl of cheerios or hearty oatmeal. I can't think of a healthier way to start the day. Nourishment for the body and soul! And what's healthier than singing?


Tim Keller writes in the foreword:

"Why has so little attention ever been given to the devotional lives of children? Of course we should be doing all the standard things: teaching them the catechism, including them in family devotions, helping them to participate in worship. But encouraging a child to develop his or her own devotional life has long been a missing piece that has direct effect on whether a child grows up with a balanced spiritual life or one that is dangerously one sided....Somehow, however, the experiential side of a relationship with God is often neglected so that by the time children are teens, they are woefully lopsided--long on information, but short on experience of God's presence."

Hmm...good food for thought.


I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.


Friday, October 19, 2012

Day 19: Grieving Loss

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
from Ecclesiastes

The seasons do change, and there is purpose in each season. Today, I believe it.

This is a certainly a season of change for me and our family. Our move to Colorado has been good and right, but harder than I ever dreamed.

As we were preparing to move, I knew deep down in my gut that I would need time to adjust. Time to transition. Time to rest and rediscover God's purpose for this next chapter of our life.

{My husband, he's not wired this way. He thrives on change. I run from it. Some days I wish I were more like him.}

But in a wave of panic, I ran ahead on my own and tried to run from this season of change. Since we were transitioning from homeschooling to traditional school for this year, I thought it was time for me to get a"real" paying job outside of the home. I rationalized it in my head, even though my heart knew better. I even got a job offer. A good job. What I forgot was how much my family still needed me here at home and how my first and favorite job was still to be a mom. Some moms can do more. I just can't. So I had to make the very hard decision to step back and say no. Hardest. Decision. I've. Ever. Made. It was not my time. And for that, I'm grieving. For so many things, I'm grieving. Saying goodbye to dear friends, moving farther away from family, and leaving behind a growing church and school community was and still is painful. The reality of that loss is still sinking in. But for the first time in a long time, I know that Jesus truly knows and understands my pain. He lost a lot, too. Even more than a job or an identity or a family or a home.

I'm finally understanding that there needs to be a time to grieve loss. Even in a move. And taking time to grieve that loss is healthy, even though it's hard.

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Day 18: Scarecrow Theology


When our desires become demands, we've made an idol.

When we say "Life only has meaning and I only have worth if _______", we've fashioned an idol.
 
When there is something besides Jesus that captures our hearts, we are enslaved to an idol.

These empty idols are powerless and lifeless. Kind of like scarecrows.

Jeremiah 10:5-6
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,
and they cannot speak;
they have to be carried,
for they cannot walk...
There is none like you, O Lord;
you are great, and your name is great in might.

Jesus, your name is LIFE!

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Day 17: "Would You Rather..?" and other interesting dinner conversation

Dinnertime is more than what we are eating; it's sharing life together.

Sometimes we struggle with that, and our time together does not exactly look like a Norman Rockwell scene at Thanksgiving. Complaining, arguing, criticizing, fighting...no fun, if you know what I mean. {Are we the only family who experiences this occasional torture?}

Our latest strategy, besides offering enough healthy food choices for everyone to be happy, is to divert everyone's attention away from the problems of the day and take some time to laugh together and get to know one another.

So, here are my recipes for great dinner conversation:


 The Would You Rather...? book by Justin Heimberg & David Gomberg has over 300 crazy questions like...
"Would you rather...have parents who taught life lessons in haiku or in song-and-dance routines?

If you picked a question from the American Girl box, you might have to answer this one:
"What is your favorite thing to do that doesn't cost money?"

My kids love the Gabbit. Push the button and it asks you a question like,
"If you could take one family photo to show people 100 years from now, what would you be doing in the photo?"

And the latest addition to our conversation starters is this beautiful box of Table Topics. You might pick the question:
"Who is one of your heroes and why do they inspire you?"

It all makes for great dinner conversation, sweet family time, and it's way better than listening to my children complain about having to eat their vegetables.

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Day 16: Motivating Mantras

So it's half way through the month...how's my {healthy} living going?

I'm finding it's hard to say no to sugar-loaded ketchup and Panera's pumpkin cookies, but so far I've been fairly successful at significantly reducing refined and artificial sugar in my home and slowly increasing our fruit and vegetable intake. I haven't been perfect, but I've progressed. {I did resist a whole batch of Mom's homemade chocolate covered rice krispie treats that sat on my counter for several days. BooYa!}

So, what goes through your mind during times of temptations?

Here's my top 10 "Motivating Mantras":

10- This ________ will surely taste like vomit.

9- If I eat this, it will totally cancel out my morning workout. I worked too hard for that!

8- Losing weight is hard, being overweight is hard. Pick your hard. {Thanks to my friend, Mary, for this wisdom from Weight Watchers!}

7- Vomit, vomit, vomit!!!

6- If I put this in my mouth, I will feel like the complete slug I felt like last month.

5- If I put this in my mouth, I will have nutrients, energy, and LIFE!

4- Progress, not perfection.

3-Vomit, vomit, vomit!!!

2- This temptation is only an opportunity to forget my worth, God's goodness, Christ's sacrifice, and that my ultimate satisfaction comes only through Jesus. {Thanks to the lovely Kayla Smith for these wise words from Dan Zink!}

1- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Okay, now your turn! : )

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Day 15: Meatless Monday and {Healthy} Links

Here's what's cooking today for Meatless Monday:


Spinach Lasagna Rolls!

Thanks to my sweet Auntie Darla for sharing the recipe. I thought I'd test it out on my dad while he's here visiting. {Hope he doesn't mind the spinach!} Right now we are off and running to take a tour of the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, so for now, just pretend that this is the pretty dish I've prepared all by myself. I'll get to it when we get home, unless we are FAMISHED and our local Chipolte is calling our names. We'll see...

I'm always inspired by what others are cooking for their families. Please share your favorite meatless or healthy recipes that you love. {Don't send the ones that make your family complain; I've got plenty of those!}

Here's some {healthy} links to keep you inspired:
The Healthy Dessert Blog- can't wait to try her Black Bean Brownies
The Sneaky Chef - have you hid veggies in your kiddo's foods lately?
80 Healthy Recipe Substitutions - which ones have you tried?
31 Days of Essential Oils - check out this 31 Day blogger
31 Days to Healthy School Lunches - think outside the traditional PB&J

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Day 14: Return to Rest


May we slow down today to ponder "what it means to live life like a poem instead of a program, a lyric rather than a list..."
from Chatting at the Sky

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Day 13: The Toliet Bomb or How To Get Your Boys To Help You To Clean

I've been inspired lately by essential oils. They are so wonderful, and there's so many ways to use them. My favorite ways to use them recently have been in cleaning. In an effort to use more natural cleaning products, I found this recipe on Pinterest for homemade toliet cleaner. The best part? Turning a cleaning chore into a science experiment TOTALLY motivates my little guys to get cleaning. Gotta love that!



Here's how to make your own Toliet Bomb:
In a medium-sized jar, add
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
5 drops of essential oil (I like to use tea tree or cinnamon)

Mix it up by popping on a lid and shaking or using a spoon to stir.
Enjoy the explosion!! {This is what hooks my boys...go figure!}
Pour mixture into the toliet and scrub with a brush to your heart's content.

It's easy. It's safe. It's fabulously fragrant. I love it!

Click here for a link to other homemade cleaners to use with essential oils.

Now it's your turn. Do you use healthy cleaners around the home? Essential oils? Do share your favorite ways to use essential oils...I'd love to hear!

I'm writing for 31 days of {Healthy} Living this month.
Join me and let's LIVE! Check out the end of Day 1 for the link to all the posts.