Category: Family

Up your study game!

Leave a comment

Natural ways to increase brain power and purpose.

Believe me we could all use this even if we aren’t studying –wink wink.

 

qitem

Standards of Learning tests, college exams, high school exams, and for us older peeps maybe you’ve decided to get yet another degree or certification— all of this is upon us (okay, maybe just me), but I like to think globally and include that “village” idea into my daily thought processes. That way I am never alone.

So, what does this all mean? It means we need some nudging and a little help to get through it all. Here are my go to ways to help my #greenboys and myself get through these extra brain demands.

Sleep… good quality sleep is my Number 1.

Set up a good diffuser in your bedroom and get a routine down. Each bedroom in our house has a Young Living diffuser. Each #greenboy knows how to set it up, turn it on, and put in their magic essential oil blend to help them fall asleep easily and sleep soundly.

Here are our Good Sleep Diffuser Blends in The Oil Dropiversity.

This also includes letting my kids sleep a bit late and then — gasp — drive them to school.

Eat good food and get your Vitamins is my Number 2.

Everyone in #TheGreenHouse takes a Vitamin D supplement. Check out why you might want to add this supplement to your daily regime. We also take a good Vitamin B supplement and Mindwise™.4747

 

This is amazing stuff, folks! I started with two teaspoons for two weeks and now just take 1 teaspoon a day. Gotta keep the wheels and cogs greased with the good stuff.

Brain Power™ and a Focus Roller/Stick is my Number 3.

Brain Power™ is a powerful essential oil blend containing some super charged high megahertz plant essences including Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Melissa, Blue Cypress, Lavender and Helichrysum. We diffuse this with Rosemary – wowzers! We also put a drop directly on the crown of our heads.

I also like to make application easy with some super power boosters! Here is my all time fave Focus Roller Recipe. I also put this same recipe into a lip balm base so it is easy for the kids to transport and apply in the classroom.

Focus Roller

Diffuse, Diffuse, Diffuse is my Number 4.

Yep, I have the diffusers going all the time in my house. Sometimes it is just random essential oils and blends. Other times it is purposeful and with a desired effect in mind.

Here are my Study Time, Homework Time, & Gotta Focus Diffuser Blends.

Study Times Diffuser Blends

 

If you don’t have good quality, therapeutic, non-adulterated, no additive essential oils, sign up here to get started on your oil journey. I only use Young Living Essential Oils in my household. You can start with a super cool Premium Starter Kit by checking this link out.

 

A Conversation with a 10 Year Old Girl…

Leave a comment

conversation blog post

I had the pleasure of visiting with my best friend since high school over the Thanksgiving Holiday. She decided to fly in to Virginia from California with her oldest daughter. Her main goal was to visit with her mother and father, and show support.

As we chatted and reminisced about PG-rated memories, you end up learning so much about yourself and things you “shoulda, coulda, woulda” grasped sooner. That is the essence of living… learning from your past!

Here are some of the nuggets of “wisdom” that I didn’t even know that I had, but so glad I figured them out during a conversation with a 5th grader.

1. Like who you are. This statement is so much easier said than done. So much of it comes with age and maturity, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could instill this into our kids daily. It has taken me a few decades to just like myself. This is a deep down like, not just the surface. You need to learn to like your strengths and weaknesses. These are the ingredients that make you unique and draw other people to you. Do yourself a huge favor and “just like yourself.” Stop the internal struggle and stop finding that acceptance from the outside. No one will like you more than you like yourself. Let’s all teach our kids this, so they can jump forward into life and living with self-confidence and self-love.

2. Find friends that are just a little bit different than you and bring out the best in you. None of my friends are just like me. That would be b-o-r-i-n-g! I like to have a few things in common with my friends because that is how the initial attraction draws two people together. Other than that… let’s mash things up! Let’s all be different and unique. This is how we lift each other up and love each other more deeply. I love that I have friends that are super outgoing, great photographers, incredibly fit, meditate, artistic, down to earth, and flashy. We have fun when we are together and can appreciate each other’s talents. We often find ourselves learning new things because of these differences.

3. Love your job. I thought I loved being a middle school teacher. That was my first “real” adult job. And, I did love the kids, learning with them, sharing US History with them, the camaraderie with the other teachers… But, I did not love the grading tests and papers! Blah! It took me having my own children and using a home birth midwife to find my true calling. Yep! I made the leap from History Teacher to Home Birth Midwife!!! And guess what? I super duper LOVE my job. It doesn’t even feel like a job. It is a calling. The people around you will know whether or not you love your job! You can’t help but bring that happiness into your everyday life. It is called passion. Passion is a must for loving you job. I recently added another job to my everyday life. I am a Lemon Dropper! A Lemon Dropper is a Young Living Essential Oil Independent Distributor. I sell essential oils! And, I LOVE it!!! Midwifery and Essential Oils (especially the Lemon Droppers) have changed my life in so many ways. They are all positive and ignited passion in my heart and in my purpose.

20130408-103107

4. Don’t be afraid to be smart. I have been told that I am smart since I was a young kid. My mom made sure that we all were told this… You are smart! I know for a fact that because my mom told me this over and over as a child that I believed I was SMART. Since I believed it, I made it happen. I love learning. I love reading. I, even, like tests! I know weird, right? I have actually had people in my life disconnect from me because I was too smart. What? Their loss. I have never, ever understood why you wouldn’t want to be around smart people. They make you stretch your own mind, your view of situations and problems, and they become an incredible resource for knowledge. My mentor midwife is a genius! I love being around her and learning from her. It seriously makes my mind boggle when she pulls information from an experience years ago or something she has read. My husband is also smart. He knows so much about the human body, movies, cars, and other random guy things. I want to be around smart people! So, don’t be afraid to be smart. Don’t be afraid to talk intelligently. Don’t be afraid to be a resource for those around you. Smart is cool. Smart is useful. Be sure to tell those people around you and your kids that they are SMART.

5. Stay connected with your friends. Friends are the spice of life! Find those friends that make you a better person and make the effort to stay connected. Listen to them. Find out about their families, their relationships, their passions. Encourage open conversations. Support their decisions. Support their passions.

If you do all of the above, you will do Epic Shit! And you just might find yourself turning into a Unicorn!

It’s been awhile… and I am almost a licensed midwife!

Leave a comment

summerofstudying

So, it’s been almost four months since my last post. There has been tons of stuff happening here at the Green House. Summer has officially started and ended, then school started again — when did all that happen?

Here’s what happened so far. In order of appearance:

1. I finished my Phase 3 paperwork for the Portfolio Evaluation Process for NARM (North American Registry of Midwives). This has been a 4 year apprenticeship process for my family and I; and there is an end in sight. This paperwork is one of the main reasons that I had to take a break from the blog. I spent 5-6 hours a day on the computer and my nose in textbooks to finish the requirements to my satisfaction. Now, I just await an answer on when I can take my certifying exam. Exciting and scary.

2. School ended! Whew! I now have a rising 7th grader, a rising 3rd grader, and a rising 2nd grader. Where does the time go? The almost 7th grader also grew 4 inches since Christmas. Soon, I will be craning my neck to look him in the eyes.

3. I have read my first fun novel since Winter. Midwifery textbooks took over for about 6 months. It’s nice to let my brain relax and just read for fun.

4. Had to put away said fun novel and pick up the books again. I was notified that my Phase 3 was approved pending a small handful of corrections to make and return to NARM. During this time, NARM changed its testing protocols. They announced that testing could take place at anytime at approved testing sites instead of the 3 testing dates held each year. This announcement rocked my world! No longer did I have to wait until the conference in St. Louis October 23rd. This meant I could drive to Richmond, VA, and take it sooner. Egads! This also meant I needed to crack open the heavy midwifery tomes again.

5. Lots and lots of studying!

6. The youngest green boy made the Divisional and All-Stars Swim Team for the VBTCC Tarpons. Our family was so very proud of his achievements in freestyle, backstroke, and coed freestyle relay.

7. More studying…

8. I turned 39. That milestone birthday is right around the corner. Age and numbers are such an interesting concept. I don’t feel like what I imagined my  late 30’s to “feel like.” I can credit much of these young feelings to eating a clean diet (except for chocolate and wine), CrossFit-ting 3-5 per week, weekly yoga, and keeping up with 3 incredibly active boys.

9. Even more studying for the credentialing exam from NARM. {I will post more about this in a separate blog post.}

I look back at this summer and feel slightly sorry for my boys. There was a mountain of studying that I had to conquer which meant less fun activities with them.

Luckily, we spend a large amount of our summer at the beach on the Chesapeake Bay and at the local swimming hole for organized swim team. Both of these places allowed me to bring along the books and notecards, so that I could continue my review and reading.

summer collage 2014

All this really boils down to is… I am glad the studying is behind me, the summer is coming to an end, we have a successful start to the new school year, and I get to spend time working on the blog and being creative.

Things I Love {part two}

Leave a comment

things i love part 2

More on the Things I Love… It is so refreshing to walk around each day and capture pictures of those things in my life that make me happy. Sometimes it is the simple things in life that bring us pleasure. Other times, it is a complex feeling of love or friendship so deep that you honestly cannot fathom living without it.

Things I love part 2 pics.jpg

The view of the backyard shed… with the homemade bird houses from the boys and the wisteria. Memories from the past with great friends and music from Woodstock ’99. Transplanted hostas from people you love. My oldest Green boy and his blue eyes. CrossFit and the change it has made in my life. Blooming irises by the front door. The youngest Green boy and his strive to be like his older brother. My husband and best friend, Mithra. Rose buds.

And, in honor of Mother’s Day and the woman who has made such a enormous influence on the mother and woman I am today, my mother Susan! She has always been there for me and has taught me how to be the best person I can be. She comes to the boys’ sports games and school events; she is their second loudest cheerleader right after me. She makes it a priority to show her grandchildren that they are loved unconditionally. She is giving. She is kind. She loves. And, she is humble. 

things i love mom.jpg

Continue to look around you for the things in your everyday life that make you happy. The search is fun and enlightening.  You may be surprised by all the little things that brighten your day.

Things I Love…

Leave a comment

Things I Love Title2

Being happy is so very important for your health — mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is an essential element in making a difference around you. 

So, I have decided to document the “Things I Love”. I am certain that once these are identified your happiness will literally fall into your lap, soul and heart.

I started by observing those things in my home which make me smile. I share these with you now in hopes that they will inspire you to also find those “Things You Love.”

Things I love collage

My striped cat, Maximus. Peace hearts. Cacti from Arizona to remind me of my family living there. Starfish! Glass door knobs. And, beautiful indoor nature.

Things I love 4

Simple glass jars catching the sunlight. My kids, especially the Middle Green Boy’s smile. Coffee and all forms of said caffeine. Seahorses and shades of blue.

Things I love 3

Hobbes, a fluffy furball that loves to sing the song of his people at 4am. My new front door wreath made of coffee filters. Me! It has taken me years to find a true love for myself. I can honestly say that I am happy with who I am and what my future holds. Family photos on the wall in DIY frames. Seashells collected on each and every beach we visit. Chester, our old man pug.

Take time to embrace those around you and find the “Things You Love”. I did and it is amazing.

Please comment below on the “Things You Love”. Feel free to post links to your own blog as you take time to document “Things I Love”.

Kiss Me I’m Irish, Really!

Leave a comment

St. Patrick's Day banner

I’m a Quinn. Never really thought about that last name much, but I’ve done a bit of research for this post. I wanted to know more about my surname. My husband knows quite a bit about his father’s Scottish surname and history. He hails from the McLean Clan. I reasoned that I needed to know more about mine as well. We are competitive in that way. Plus, I have the added boon of an Irish holiday to spur the curiosity.

Here goes.

Quinn Clan Coat of Arms

Quinn Clan Coat of Arms. Pretty cool Pegasus.

Irish Derivation is Ó Cuinn.  It means the descendant of the Conn (or chief). Quinn is the Anglicized version, and can be spelled Quin,too. It hails from the legendary High King of Ireland, Conn of the Hundred Battles. Sounds pretty impressive, right? Conn is derived from ceann (or head) which signifies someone of intellectual ability. Pretty much sums me up, don’t ya think? I also found out that the Catholic descendants spell the Anglicized versions with 2 N’s and the Protestants with 1 N. Probably made those religious battle lines a tad easier to distinguish later in history. The most prominent Quinn clan hails from County Clare in Ireland. They date back to 1014 and Niall O’ Cuinn, who was the first to use this surname before dying that year at the battle of Clontarf.  Quinn’s began immigrating to the British North America as early as 1685 with David Quinn landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Other means of migration occurred with soldiers hired as mercenaries in Europe, the resultant aftermath from the Protestant Reformation, the lure of freedoms and wealth in the New World, and smaller crop famines throughout Ireland’s history. The biggest influx of Quinn settlers was during the Great Potato Famine of Ireland in the 19th Century.

I hail from the Quinn’s of Wisconsin. I’m really not sure how they got there either. My dad left there as a young adult and joined the Navy. He met my mother, who hails from a Baron that signed the Magna Carta, in Florida. Modern day Quinn’s move around and migrate, too. Our family ended up in Virginia thanks to the military. Good thing… cause I don’t really enjoy the cold. Although if I could afford or take the time to knit a Quinn Clan Aran sweater, I might feel a tad warmer.

The Quinn Clan Aran Sweater.

The Quinn Clan Aran Sweater.

I had no idea that each clan had a different pattern for their Aran sweaters. It looks toasty doesn’t it. It also looks like it might take me 10 years to knit.

So, I think this St. Patrick’s Day I won’t wear green. I will just tell everyone that I am Irish, that I hail from Niall O’Cuinn, and that my blood runs green. Oh, and I will gladly accept any and all kisses from “hot” guys instead of pinches.

Oh, and just to prove I’m legit, I signed up at The Home of the Quinn Clan and received my certificate.

MyCertificate

This may have to go on the wall.

Holiday Traditions. Don’t got ’em? Get Some!

Leave a comment

What are your Holiday Traditions? 

Traditions are important. I love them. They are tied into my fondest memories from childhood. I try my hardest to build traditions with my boys – unique to our family- and instill in them traditions from my past.

Traditions give symbolic meaning and special significance to our holidays… they keep us connected to our origins and our pasts. Fall heralds the holidays… These holidays are filled with tradition in our family. This past Thanksgiving we made a paper “Thankful” banner. Each person in the family wrote on the banner exclaiming what it is they are thankful for in life. We hope to add our “thanks” each year and build upon these blessings. What a wonderful reminder of what we have and those around us to share these “thanks”.

thankful banner

Every Christmas season my family <meaning the girls and the kids> gather and bake cookies. Lots and lots of cookies! My favorite sugar cookie recipe is here at Martha Stewart. The kids decorate the cookies and gorge themselves on sugar. Then we package the cookies and mail them to family far away. We consider it a box of homemade love. It seems stressful and chaotic in the moment. That is mainly because there are 3 cooks in one kitchen. But, as my sister’s family prepares to move cross country to Arizona, this tradition will have a more important impact on the family. Next Christmas we will be sending each other these boxes of love. This tradition will mean more to my kids and me.

We also spend weekends watching our fave Holiday movies. Here is a good list for movie ideas.  Not all the movies on the list are kid appropriate. Our must sees each year are Elf, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Christmas Vacation, and Home Alone. These movie days are excuses to slow down and just chill on the couch. With a fire in the hearth, cookies in our bellies, and snuggles under shared blankets, those movies are made special by the laughs from the boys.

Come Christmas morning we have fun opening presents that repeat themselves each year. There is always a wrapped gift with a humorous T-shirt for each person in the family. The funnest part is picking the shirt for the person. The kids also know that there will always be a pair of socks from the cats and pajama bottoms from the dogs under the tree. 

This year we are adding the Pickle Ornament to our fun traditions. Here is what contributors say on Wikipedia. I bought it today at Target for $4. A Google search finds many buying options if you can’t find one locally. I chose lots of sparkles. Cause, who doesn’t like a sparkly green pickle ornament? I have already prepped the kids, too. Here is how it will go at my house… We will hang the ornament in the tree until Christmas Eve. Then, the kids will take it down and place it by the cookie and carrot plate left out for Santa. They also plan to leave a note asking Santa to hide it well. Santa will then rehang the ornament but in a hidden location in the tree. The first kid to “eye spy” the pickle will be able to open a special family gift from Santa and that kid will get “good fortune” for the new year. The middle Green boy exclaimed, “I will find it first, then I will go out and buy the lotto-ry and win millions!” I like his go get’em attitude – most of the time. And, great minds think alike. I was actually considering Lottery tickets as the special gift. One for each family member.

Put some simple and fun traditions into the Holiday mix! 

merry xmas picture

Photography by Stacey Pryce of Cute E’s Photography. 2013. Lynnhaven Fishing Pier, Chesapeake Bay.

Go To Breakfast: Egg Muffins

Leave a comment

Mornings are not the best time of day in my house. Getting three boys up and out of bed by 6:20 a.m. is no easy feat. And, it’s not just them. I can be grumpy and am known to hit snooze too many times.

See. This is what I have to deal with Monday through Friday. Cuteness. But, waking up the youngest Green boy is like poking a bear during hibernation. He should come with a warning sign.

See. This is what I have to deal with Monday through Friday. Cuteness. But, waking up the youngest Green boy is like poking a bear during hibernation. He should come with a warning sign.

But, mostly it is them… excuse my #mom0f3boys rant <deep breath in> They eat a ton of food. I mean lots. I have friends with girls and my grocery budget is about triple theirs. I am also certain that they have hollow legs that must be filled with food before it even begins to affect their stomachs. Don’t even get me started on 11 year old boys. Ravenous pit monsters when it comes to eating. <and, exhale>

To make the most of the rushed mornings, I have taken my favorite breakfast food — EGGS— and made them into easy to grab, three-bite, filling, protein-packed sanity. Hence, my hybrid Egg Muffin Cups recipe. 

Spinach and ham egg muffins with 1/2 an avocado. A great breakfast.

Spinach and ham egg muffins with 1/2 an avocado. A great breakfast.

This recipe is a great one because it can be altered easily depending upon leftovers and picky eaters. Treat them like mini-omelettes. Make them vegetarian. Make them a meat-lover’s dream. Then store them in the fridge for a week and grab one on rushed mornings, on the way to the box, as a midday snack, or to fill up the bellies legs of hungry boys.

egg muffins collage

Remember that protein and vegetables are what kids and adults need in the morning to jump start their brains, metabolism, and body systems. These Egg Muffin Cups are the perfect solution.

Use the recipe below, but be creative when it comes to the ingredients… Our favorite additions are kale, onions, bacon/sausage, and gouda cheese.

egg muffin cups recipe

What do garlic and sunshine have in common?

Leave a comment

How are you preventing the flu and other common colds & viruses this season?

I know what I am doing… and it does not include any flu vaccinations. The one and only time I got the flu vaccine was my first year as a public school teacher. And guess what? Yep, I got the flu. Have I mentioned that I do not like to puke –at any cost. So, suffering through the flu after getting the vaccine was not cool.

The flu vaccine from 2012 only prevented strains from Influenza Type A & B. This only represents a small number of circulating viruses – about 10%. I am not a statistics major by any means but this low percentage doesn’t add up for me. With this low percentage, there is not a huge value to the public. It does not greatly impact the number of people hospitalized by the flu or lower the number of work days lost to the flu. Just research the adverse effects of the Tamiflu.  Dr. Mercola states, “However, some patients with influenza are at increased risk for secondary bacterial infections when on Tamiflu, which of course would defeat the plan of being able to jump out of bed a day sooner. Furthermore, adverse events reported include pediatric deaths, serious skin reactions, and neuropsychiatric events, including suicide committed while delirious…” Yikes! The most important lesson here is to do your research and carefully weight the risks and benefits from any vaccination or medication.

After weighing the risks and benefits for my family and I, clean eating and essential vitamins/minerals are the way we will avoid the flu and other colds this year.

Here are some easy things you can do at home to avoid the flu:

  1. GARLIC. Yes, garlic! Several compounds in garlic are known to kill many organisms, such as bacteria and viruses. Taking garlic daily for 3 months will seriously reduce the number of colds and shorten the duration of any colds you may end up experiencing. Check out this recipe for a garlic clove soup guaranteed to knock out any viruses or bacteria in your body
  2. Cut back on grains and sugar. Both of these will cause systemic inflammation in your body and lower your immune response. Bad bacteria feed on sugar, too. Replace these with fresh vegetables and fruits! These contain vital nutrients to have your body working at 100%.
  3. Get more sleep. 7-8 hours every night! Lack of sleep will also adversely affect your immune system. Maybe the universe is smarter than us… more hours of dark = more hours to sleep, hmmm?
  4. Get more exercise. I can personally attest to this fact. Staying active with 3 boys and CrossFitting on a regular basis keep me energized and healthy.
  5. Lessen emotional stress. This is the hardest for most with the Holiday season quickly approaching next week. But, saying “No” is freeing and allows you to lower this stress. Make it a point to surround yourself with those that truly appreciate your mind, gifts, and talents. Oh, and LOVE more. Oxytocin, the love hormone, is great for releasing emotional stress. It is also contagious, so spread the love and oxytocin.
  6. Drink more WATER! Good, pure water. Not water made into tea or coffee. Drink at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day. Sounds like a bunch, but you will notice a difference in toxin release, energy, and skin appearance.
  7. Vitamin D3. New research comes out almost daily about the value of Vitamin D in our health. As these nights grow longer and our chance to get good sun exposure disappears during Winter, it is important that we keep our levels up.  Vitamin D is an antimicrobial agent. It helps produce up to 300 antimicrobial peptides in your body that can help kill off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. If there is a sunny, cloudless day and you can expose large portions of your body, DO IT! The real stuff is the best. The real stuff comes from the sun. If this is not an option, you should seriously consider supplementing. Most adults can safely take up to 8,000 IUs per day of Vitamin D3. Children can safely take up to 35 IUs per pound of body weight per day. Supplementation of Vitamin D3 means that you need to also supplement Vitamin K2. This vitamin is necessary to help process the Vitamin D and create healthy bones and heart. For every 1,000 IUs of Vitamin D3, you should take 100 micrograms of Vitamin K2. We are all individuals and our levels will be different. If you are unsure of your Vitamin D levels, you can submit to a blood test to determine these levels. Ask your care provider or order a Vitamin D testing kit online.
  8. Get adjusted! Chiropractic care is important to the central nervous system health. Chiropractors are experts in realigning the bones in your vertebral column to reduce any spinal nerve interruption. These misalignments are called subluxations. Healthy spine equates to a healthy body. If you are local, make an appointment to see the hubby at Atlantic Coast Chiropractic. If you are not local, visit his website at http://www.vbchiro.com for articles and more information on how Chiropractic can help you and your family.

Stay Healthy this Winter!

Even old pugs know the value of Vitamin D uptake!!

Even old pugs know the value of Vitamin D uptake!!