The reality is that guitar picks really aren’t that expensive. But I became pretty annoyed at purchasing them again, and again, and again on Amazon.  Ironically, after visiting an Indian American and Western Art museum, I discovered that you can make your own homemade guitar picks.

Because I have a penchant for novel items, I got one for myself that I happen to share with my kids. I know, that’s nice of me.  While I own a guitar named Stinky, it is my children who appear to be collecting instruments.  Not only do I make guitar picks, but I also know how to restring instruments.  It became a necessity, as you can see.

Instead of losing guitar picks, I now step on them like Lego pieces.  In fact, nearby are 2 homemade guitar picks that have been lying on the floor for 3 days.  I’ve been running an experiment to see how long it takes before someone, besides myself, confiscates them.

I have a sneaky suspicion I might sweep them up.  I mean it’s an accident.  Brooms seem to have a mind of their own.  They are attracted to Lego’s and food alike.

Because plastic gift cards, reward cards, hotel key cards seem to abound — I know we can manufacture guitar picks for not only our family but supply other needy, musically inclined families.

How To Make A Guitar Pick

The process is simple.

Find a plastic card, preferably NOT your charge card.

Insert it into the Pick Maker (see my favorite pick maker here).

Push the handle down in the desired location of the plastic card.

And out pops a guitar pick ready to play anything but a cacophony.

The post Make Your Own Guitar Picks appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I think people who can make colorful Excel spreadsheets and keep organized planners are real life magical unicorns.  

Thankfully, I happen to live with such a human.

I’ve found that since The Engineer retired from being a full-time Engineer to a full-time homeschool dad at age 39, many of the tasks that made Brian successful at work he has implemented on the home front.  He likes to plan.

Menu Planning Genius

Like a weekly meal plan.  Where has this been all of my life?  I have always been envious of these moms that create meal plans.  I have tried to sit down and write one, but the blank calendar spaces frighten me.  Planning 21 meals seems daunting.

Yet, The EO Engineer even creates a grocery list that he uploads to Google Keep.  He shares this with me, and I click the check boxes when I am shopping at the store.  Basically he uses the recipes that I have often cooked with and cycles through them.

As a result we aren’t eating out nearly as much, I don’t stand looking in the refrigerator for hours,  the kids don’t ask us what is for dinner because it it posted on the fridge, and the cooking load is shared amongst the two of us — meaning we each have a “night off” from being the chef.

It is amazing.  Simple for him, but a magical moment for me.

A Customizable FREE Homeschool Planner for You

Most recently recently he created a homeschool planner that is color coded and . . . has check boxes, which has helped the kids and I become far more productive.

I’m totally in love with it and it works well for us.

We had a lot of people comment on my Facebook page that they WANTED and NEEDED this tool.  Now you have it!

The EO Engineer made a video to show you how to use this free tool that you can modify on your computer to suit YOUR needs.

Click on the arrows to enlarge the video.

Free Homeschool Planner from Wise House Oils on Vimeo.

Comb Bind Your Child’s Planner

Now, after The EO Engineer created the spreadsheet, we printed the number of weeks we still have left in the school year and comb-bound them.

The kids get the book out each morning and fill in the check boxes and squares where applicable.  They don’t always come to us to review their work, but this planner has HELPED improve accountability.

Theoretically, when the day is done their planners should be placed back in their cubbies after showing us their planner.

Never Purchase Another Planner

The beauty of this planner?  It’s customizable and duplicatable every single year!

Helpful Links

• Learn how to bind your own books here.
• Download your planner here.

The post Free Customizable Homeschool Planner appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Last year, I read 53 books according to Goodreads. That’s 53 books that I let the world know about.  I actually read more, but those unmentioned ones were largely vacation reads with little to no redeeming value.  I didn’t intentionally plan my reading list as I have done for 2018.

As we set our goals on New Year’s Day, I really wanted to create an epic goal.  A goal that made me look really smart and bookish. Wise, perhaps.  But then, Jon Acuff’s sage advice rang in my ears — cut your goals in half in order to complete them and create new successful ones.  So this year, my audacious goal is 55 books.  (If you do the math then you know that my initial goal was 110 books.  However, I am already behind compared to last year. So halfsies it is.)

Be sure to check back to this post.  I will be updating my reading list throughout the year.

My Reading List

I will divide my reading list into a couple of different groupings.

Currently Reading

• Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown (Completed)
• Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol Truman
• The Quest by Beth Moore
• The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
• The Cure for All Diseases by Hulda Clark
• Lucy Libido
• Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Kenneth Bock
• It Starts with Food by Melissa Hartwig and Dallas Hartwig
• The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock L Edie

My To-Read Pile

• Everyday Watercolor by Jenna Rainey
• Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo
• A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
• All But My Life by Gerda Weissmann Klein

Books Relating to Health, Wellness, and Essential Oils

• Healing Oils of the Bible
• Shemen:  Oils of the Ancient World by Joshua Graff
• Essentials by Lyndsey Elmore
• Mind Your Brain
• Exploring Essential Oils by Cole Woolley
• Conquering Toxic Emotions by Rhonda Favano
• Taming the Dragon Within by LeAnne Deardeuff
• The Cellulite Myth
• The 85% Solution by Dan Purser

Specifically Christian Reading List

Now this list grows over the year . . . because I REALLY rely on friends’ recommendations!

• All Things New by John Eldridge
• Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman
• Come and Eat by Bri McKoy
• Heroes in History: Mary Slessor

Fiction Reading List

• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Stewart
• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
• The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
• Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
• Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
• Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
• The Land Of Stories by Chris Colfer
• The Windfall by Diksha Basu
• Wonder by  R. J. Palacio

Audible

• The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
• The Healing Code by Alexander Loyd
• Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
• The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty
• The China Study by Y.Colin Campbell
• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

How many books are on your Reading List for 2018?

Join me on Goodreads!

The post My Audacious 2018 Reading List appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Introversion is my default.   Yet,  I have this need for people — which isn’t altogether surprising.  It’s  how God designed us:  we need people.  My favorite places to feel connected to humanity are:

• corporate worship (please come to church with me)
• field trips to locations that have impacted culture
• art museums
• musicals that feature overcomers
• live sporting events
• the Olympics
• the Symphony
• a U2 concert
• even a unplanned visit to a drum circle on a beach

These places connected me to  God’s kids — people that He has called me to help, support, and encourage.  People that God uses to dispel the notion that I am alone.   I am only ostracized when I choose to allow myself to feel that way.  It’s easy to allow ourselves to feel alone.

But we aren’t alone.

The Paradox of Depression

The paradox of depression, from my experience, is that you have no desire for human interaction – yet this is the most non-toxic cure (assuming you choose a life giving set of friends).

It is when we separate ourselves from human connection that we feel such intense loneliness and miss out on the opportunity to truly be known. To have joy and to share it with others is the most vulnerable emotion we can offer to the world or allow others to see in us, according to Brené Brown.

Joy is when we truly act like a little child. And so many adults feel this ridiculous need to be prim and proper, satisfied with decorum and following self-created rules that feel like a starched shirt.

I don’t iron.  Thus, I don’t appreciate a starched shirt.  But I love the novel.  I adore the whimsical.  I seek the adventure, the mess, the hard questions.  I loathe the self-created rules and seek the life God intended for us filled with wellness, purpose and abundance.

I choose joy.  I choose to act like a child.  I choose to need people and invite them to experience childlike joy with me.

Do Not Neglect Meeting Together

When people come together, something magical happens.  As much as I LOVE to be alone, this is not always the best course of action for me.

The husband and I hosted a conference back in October called the Wise House Oil’s CONTREAT (Conference + Retreat).

I wanted to hide before the CONTREAT started.   It was hard work and required a lot of adulting.  But I wager there was an element of fear.

Fear of the unknown.

Fear of CONNECTING.

Because when you connect, you care. When you connect, you become known. When you connect, you experience joy. When you connect, you realize that all these people that are only a circle face on Facebook become wacky people in your life that you can’t live without.

They make you brave in the wilderness when you must stand up for what you believe.  They inspire you to accomplish challenging things. They become your cheerleaders. They hold you accountable.

And that is scary. But necessary to belong.

Show up for collective moments of joy and pain so we can can actually bear witness to inextricable human connection. — Brené Brown

Find Humans Regularly

Attending two U2 concerts was surreal.

Serving as a missionary in India opened my eyes to the plight of millions.

Cheering for our high school Alma matter at a football game with our kids felt like a full circle moment.

Driving across country to the Young Living Convention, with our kids, demonstrated to our family how large America is.

Walking through an art museum, where we saw paintings that were hundreds of years old, allowed our family to become storytellers together as we peaked over the shoulders of greatness.

Don’t even get me started on the value of seeing The Greatest Showman as a family.  Music is truly one of the most powerful human connectors.

Don’t Wait For Others To Invite You

You create the party.  You find humanity.

As a family we often create what Emile Durkheim calls, collective effervescence.

This is where you experience a “sensation of sacredness” that happens as you are a part of something bigger than yourselves. You essentially shift from self to the group.

I think this is hard to explain, but you know if you have experienced collective effervescence, right?  It’s what makes you return to that moment in your storytelling, your dreams, and your highlight reel.

It’s time to cling to your family, find a bosom friend, invest in community and create collective effervescence from within through a shared movie, song and dance, fun food, meaning conversation, or game.

I want to hear about it.  Because it doesn’t matter if you are an introvert or an extrovert.  We need people.  Go find them.

(See what else is on my booklist!)

The post Why We Need People appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Kombucha is the effervescent fermentation that’s in vogue.  Your palate either loves it or hates it.   And it ain’t cheap.  Over the years, I have shared our different methods of hosting this organism in our home.  However, the continuous brew kombucha is by far my preferred method of growing and nurturing SCOBY’s.

While, kombucha mothers aren’t necessarily attractive, they really love well by prolifically birthing new baby SCOBY’s and providing an amazing amount of probiotic cultures for your gut when you drink it.  Your gut is your second brain, so it seems wise to feed it well.

I have opted for the continuous brew method mostly because I think it is the EASIEST way to to make kombucha and produces a variety of cultures.

Let’s be honest, the continuous brew kombucha is the fermentation method for lazy people.  Or people that travel a lot.

NOTE:  This blog post isn’t to tell you why you should drink Kombucha.  It is only to tell you HOW I brew my kombucha at home with the continuous brew method.  

How to Feed Your SCOBY

My recipe is going to prove to you how insanely forgiving kombucha is.  As an INFP-T, I value beauty and peace — and having that SCOBY sit on my counter inspires calm and hope oddly enough.  My novel hobby provides actual value and health to my family.

But you don’t want to know the philosophy behind my role as a doula to my SCOBY.

In short, these are your EASY PEASY steps:

1. Boil 4 cups of water (But I never measure)
2. Add sugar and stir to dissolve.
3. Add  approximately 4 tsp of Jasmine tea to brewing vessel.
4. Steep 7-15 minutes, then strain (umm . . . what is time? I’ll get around to it)
5. Fill pot ¾ full with purified cold water – this will  bring down the temperature of the tea.
6. Place strainer on top of sun-tea jar and pour sweet tea into container.  Add extra filtered water to further dilute if necessary.  With practice, you will know if you need to do this.  I add more because I like a lighter kombucha.

I typically fill a pot of water with water from our Reverse Osmosis filter.  I’ll have you know that we are QUITE pleased with the whole house filtration system we bought from Cooper’s Water Conditioning.

Bring water to a boil.

I add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of organic cane sugar from Costco to the boiling water.  How much sugar I add DEPENDS on how long my kombucha has been sitting without being fed.  I add more sugar and water if I’ve largely ignored the bacteria colony on my counter.

Here’s the struggle — waiting for the sugar to dissolve before I add the Jasmine tea.

Let’s Talk About Tea

So tea.  I am particular about this issue.  Tea is one of the main reasons I have had epic fails and even temporarily retired from kombucha motherhood.

I do not use black tea, though it is often suggested as a staple for kombucha brewing.

I use Jasmine tea from Frontier.  You can get it here. Why?  My taste buds think that black tea makes the kombucha bitter and sour.

Almost done!  Sometimes I steep the tea for 15 minutes . . . sometimes it sits in a safe and undisturbed spot on the stove for a few hours, which I wager would cause a large gasp from the purest of kombucha brewers.

At this point, the family FLOCKS to the kitchen.  If our continuous kombucha brew container has gotten low . . . . the pouring day is epic.  Mostly because I spill a lot of sweet tea, and fail to realize this until the counter is insanely sticky 2 days later.

Because why wouldn’t sweet tea be delicious?

I typically do not let my kids have the fresh kombucha until the SCOBY has eaten some of the sugar . . . 24-48 hours.  That doesn’t mean, I don’t take a few sips though.

I mean, I need something to take my supplements with, right?

Wipe up any spills and cover the top of your kombucha container

During the summer when fruit flies seem to be more prevelant, I also put a wash cloth over the spigot and weave the wash cloth through the metal stand.  (It looks super professional.)

Ready to get started?

I have your supplies ready to go over in Amazon . . . find them here.

But for those of you who like to know EXACTLY what you need because you value stability, here you go:

• 2 gallon glass sun-tea jar with stand of your choice (this makes it easier for yourself and children to get a swig)
• stainless steel spigot to replace the plastic on the jar may come with
• clean tea towel to cover the top of the jar
• large rubber band to secure the tea towel
• washcloth to cover spigot during the summer
• organic cane sugar
• 1 cup measuring device
• organic jasmine tea — approximately 4 teaspoons per feeding
• filtered water
• pot to boil water
• teaspoon to measure with
• starter culture and scoby . . . (new tutorial coming soon)

Feel free to watch my Instagram Story on Kombucha!

When Can I Drink My Continuous Brew Kombucha?

Once I have fed the kombucha, I typically allow my family to start drinking our kombucha after 12 – 24 hours.  They could drink it sooner, but not as much sugar and caffeine has been eaten at that point.  They would rather drink it immediately.

Want to Flavor Your Kombucha?

I love to flavor our kombucha with Young Living Vitality Oils.  I add them to my cup right before I drink my kombucha.  Don’t have any Vitality oils?  No problem!

• Set up a Young Living wholesale membership with the purchase of a Premium Starter Kit.  Use my referral number 970238 as the sponsor and enroller.
• Or use this link but make sure you see that number 970238!!
• Send me an email that you joined Young Living with my number at thegranolamom4god@gmail.com (or leave a comment below) and as a thank you, I will send you 3  Vitality oils to flavor your kombucha with (they may be different than the ones you see above).
• I will also connect you with some great resources and a care package!!!

The post How Do You Continuous Brew Kombucha? appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

My personality type (INFP-T) lends me to attempting things that are novel — like growing a Kombucha SCOBY. Or owning a button maker.

Why purchase a kombucha SCOBY when you can grow your own.  Right?

However, if you would rather purchase a SCOBY, my favorite kit is from Kombucha Kamp that you can snag here (for those of you reading in an email, go directly to my blog for the link).

The most important ingredient that you need is patience.  Growing your own SCOBY will take a few weeks.

(NOTE:  the pictures were originally featured in my InstaStory.  The purpose of this article is NOT to tell you why you should drink kombucha, but instead to show you how to grow a SCOBY.)

Ingredients to Grow a SCOBY

• a pot to boil water
• filtered water
• 1 tsp of organic cane sugar
• 1 tsp of organic Jasmine tea
• raw store bought kombucha (my favorite is Presto)
• 1 quart Mason jar
• paper towel
• a teaspoon
• rubber-band

How to Make SCOBY Food

Measure out 1 cup of filtered water and pour into a pot to heat on the stove.

Bring water to a boil and add 1 tsp of Jasmine tea.

Then add 2 tsp of organic cane sugar (I typically purchase mine from Green Bean or Costco).

Allow tea mixture to cool.

Meanwhile, pour bottle of raw (unflavored) kombucha into your Mason jar.

Strain cooled sweet tea into Mason jar.

Cover and store in a safe location where the unborn baby SCOBY can grow into adulthood.

I simply use a paper towel with a rubber band over the birthing baby.  She usually sits beside my continuous brew.

Actually, what am I smoking?

I grew this SCOBY from scratch just for this blog post.  You see, my continuous brew method came from birthing my own SCOBY with Presto Kombucha.

Allow the Mason jar to sit for possibly up to 2 weeks before actually starting to brew Kombucha for drinking.  After the SCOBY has become 1/4 inch thick you can begin to ferment kombucha using the continuous brew method or in a bowl (lacking a spout and requiring you to clean . . . every . . . . single . . .  time.)  But maybe you like extra work?

Did You Know I Have A Special Gift for Kombucha Growers?

• Set up a Young Living wholesale membership with the purchase of a Premium Starter Kit.  Use my referral number 970238 as the sponsor and enroller.
• Or use this link but make sure you see that number 970238!!
• Send me an email that you joined Young Living with my number at thegranolamom4god@gmail.com (or leave a comment below) and as a thank you, I will send you 3  Vitality oils to flavor your kombucha with (they may be different than the ones you see above).
• I will also connect you with some great resources and a care package!!!

Happy Birthing!!

The post How to Grow a Kombucha SCOBY appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

After 110 days of homeschool, I figured it was appropriate for me to share about our school year.  

Technically, this week was Spring Break from our Classical Conversations Community.

I know, early, right? I won’t be complaining when we are DONE in 6 weeks, though!

Nature SURPRISED us big time with a warm day that resulted in a family walk.  And sadly, the Oily Engineer decided that most of the Christmas lights needed to be taken down — all except for one lone pole on our front porch that happily remains a candy cane.

In an effort to support the notion that Spring Break should be fun, we celebrated Presidents’ Day with Cupcakes.

Navigating Dyslexia

I’ve never had a problem, chucking a curriculum when it simply wasn’t producing the educational success I wanted.  However, recently I had to do that with some educational material that I adore.  Really, it’s probably the relationships that I formed with that company that make me feel like a traitor.

This past summer, we had two of our kiddos tested by an sweet educational psychologist (is that what they are called?)

It proved what I already knew:  that one of our sons (Gabe) was blessed with out-of-the-box, dynamic thinking that is commonly referred to as dyslexia.

Fun Fact:  There are so many heroes all throughout history that had dyslexia — it’s pretty inspiring. 

I knew that he sometimes struggled — but it wasn’t ALL the time.

I knew that I had the skill set to help him — but I just needed the right tools.  So really, I paid money for someone to tell me what curriculum to use.  It was money well spent.

I became vulnerable and began processing our journey with other moms on Instagram.  Through that community, I discovered two game changers for dyslexics:

1. Learning Alley — a website that has thousands of audio books that volunteers have read aloud and unlimited listening time (you do need a “diagnosis” letter to gain full access to the website).  Gabe has really grown confident being able to listen to a book while he reads it and loves the freedom he has to “read” as many books as he wants SUCCESSFULLY.
2. The Logic of English — while this curriculum has a lot of books and materials . . . wozers.  I am even learning new things after all of these years.  But more on our journey later.

Because The Logic of English also helps improve short term memory, I decided to have both boys use it — which is super easy because you can teach multiple levels at the same time!

Talk about multitasking!

A First Grade Update

Meanwhile,  Naomi is enjoying the new app from All About Reading and is close to finishing All About Reading Level 2

She also finished A Reason for Handwriting A and we launched into Book B.  I think I am going to have her join in with us on The Logic of English Cursive.

We are also in the final lessons of Math U See Alpha and her Beta book just arrived yesterday!

History and Science

The perks, though there are many, of having my husband retire from his engineering job to work at home with me, include him joining us for history and science.  I think his penchant for random facts compels him to join us in our studies.  

After 4 years of enjoying the Mystery of History, we are taking a break to snuggle on the couch with Beautiful Feet Books Science and History curriculums.  

I am loving all of the reading.  I think the kids are too.  Even our eldest is joining us — which we aren’t requiring as his Classical Conversations Challenge B work is all encompassing and all-consuming.

Other Learning

I taught a make-up class which seriously cracks me up.  But yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.  However, I’m finding it’s fun to be girly and there isn’t an imaginary club I thought you had to have a membership to.

I’ve been using Savvy Mineral makeup, have taught multiple makeup classes, found it easy to use, and am preparing for the day Naomi wants to highlight her natural beauty.  Let me know if you’d like to know more or maybe I can even do a makeup class on the blog!

And yes — those two pictures are me — within 10 minutes of each other!

And we re-instituted family game night!

Life Skills

The kids have been a huge help this week.  We have been able to mail out over 200 packages and stamp close to 1000 postcards to people who have chosen to use essential oils and Savvy makeup in their homes!!!

Did you know that you can pay your kids?  Genius.

What was the best part of your week?

Mine — honestly cupcakes and getting that massive mailing done.

The post Homeschool Weekly Wrap Up appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I used to think there was a secret club just for teenagers.  And if you didn’t make it into the dazzling club by the time you were in high school, then you had missed your opportunity.  The club was closed to tomboys.  It didn’t allow nerds.  It involved giggling.  And after a while, I deemed this imaginary “makeup” club as fake.   However, I always wondered, did I misplace my invitation to the club at some point?  The makeup club that is.

At the age of 40, having only worn mascara randomly, I realized that:

There no club.

I repeat, there is no makeup club.

You don’t have to giggle to be a part of this community.

Just because you wear makeup doesn’t mean you are fake.

Anyone can wear makeup.

Smart women wear clean, non-toxic makeup.

My First Makeover

In June of 2017, I was gifted with a makeover.  I did not want to get painted, but you would think by the reaction of others that I had been given $1,000,000.

As I processed this torture opportunity with my husband, I broke down in tears, consumed with fear, insecurity, and embarrassment.  He calmly told me that he thought I could actually enjoy myself — if I changed my attitude.  You are what you think afterall.  This notion seemed ludicrous to me — why would I want to be painted like a clown?

Now, the logical person would recognize the fact that the company gifting me (and a friend) with a makeover, would NEVER support me twinning with Bozo.  In fact, my benefactor would only want me to feel confident, unique, and special.  The makeup that was going to be used on me was new, non-toxic, subtle, and focused on accentuating inner beauty with an outer, natural looking confidence.

In my heart of hearts, I knew that getting a makeover with Savvy could be powerful.

In hind-site, I see that the potential change in myself and my looks scared me.

Because I’m the yoga pant, homeschool mom.  I’m supposed to be haggard, overworked, stressed, burnt out, frazzled, no-time-for-herself mom.  It helps facilitate conversation.  It is the password into feeling included at times. Telling stories of epic overload is . . . well strangely inspiring — especially to the mom who needs to feel better about herself.

You know what I’m talking about.

Right?

But that view, that personae, well — it’s not healthy or good for a marriage.

God didn’t design us to be an Eeyore.  We are created to live out His story, live vibrantly, and inspire curiosity as to what fuels us to lead others into a relationship with Christ.  My life should reflect God’s goodness.

Not a lack of abundance.  Not perpetual weariness.

My Makeover Changed My Life

I’ll be quite honest.  My Savvy Mineral Makeup Makeover changed my life.  Seeing it typed out feels trite and silly.  But it is the truth.  It’s when I really started to wake up from the numbing sensation of busyness and laundry.  For the first time in a long time, I didn’t define myself as a homeschooler — not that there is anything wrong with that label.  I LOVE educating my kids.  Seriously.

But I saw myself as God’s daughter, created for a purpose, and called to speak life into other women’s stories.  Learning how to use makeup by multiple friends since my initial makeover has been empowering, confidence boosting, and dare I say it — fun.

Because of my new confidence I decided to purchase a new curling iron to get those fun ringlet curls.  I’ve gotten sassy on our dates.  I wear skinny jeans with tall boots.

Umm, I get dressed every day.  It really makes a difference.  Make your bed while you are at it. 

I’ve discovered that I look forward to my weekly date with my husband, knowing that I’ve brought out that inner confidence to be that young girl my husband fell in love with.

I love that because the Savvy Makeup line is so clean, I can make sure that when and if my daughter wants a little sparkle or she desires to wear makeup as she becomes a woman, I can give her a safe, non-toxic choice that will support the changes going on in her body and not disrupt her hormones.

I appreciate that I don’t feel fake.  Nor do I look like a clown when I wear my makeup.  As a lifelong learner, I value that Savvy Mineral makeup is ridiculously forgiving as I experiment.

Do you have a similar story?

Has makeup been a foreign world to you?  Did it make you feel awkward, yet you remain curious about it — wondering what the fuss is all about?

I can’t give you a makeover, but I can and am inviting you to join me.  Don’t feel bashful.  It’s time to add some sparkle to your story.  I really want to help you feel more confident.  I don’t want you to hide behind your new makeup.  I only want to help bring out what is already within you.

To hear my full story, please join me over at Cultivating the Lovely for this month’s podcast about Natural Skin Care and Make-Up.  It’s a pretty fun (there that word is again) podcast because MacKenzie and I come from two different experiences with makeup!!

What’s Next?

I’m officially inviting you to cultivate some bold, daring, and lovely action steps.  I’m daring you to try makeup out — especially if you didn’t get the invite to the makeup club that never existed.

I promise to help you figure it out and to navigate the new terms and the brushes and the colors.  If I can learn at 40 — seriously anyone can learn.

Where Can I Purchase Your Makeup?

Great question!  I’m so glad that you asked!  Purchasing Savvy Mineral Makeup is super easy.   I will break it down into manageable steps.

1.  We need to color match you.  Basically this means that we determine whether you have warm or cool skin tones.  Refer to my guidelines below.

2.  Now that you have decided if you are warm or cool, then you will pick which Savvy Mineral Kit you need.  There are 4 options to choose from.  In case you are wondering, I am a Warm 2 (and starting to creep into a Warm 1) but MacKenzie (my co-host) is a Cool 2.

3.  Visit Young Living to purchase your Savvy Mineral Starter Kit.  When you are over there you will notice that there are other Starter Kits to choose from.  I think they are all great.  Those are products that you can experiment with at a later date if you like, or you can add products to your new order.  I actually receive a monthly subscription box from Young Living and try new products out every month.

Anyway, I’ve created a link for you, to make it easy.  Click HERE to purchase your Savvy Mineral Makeup Kit that (swoon) comes with lavender!!!  Make sure you see my referral number 970238 — this way I know to send you a welcome gift and add you to our Facebook group.

The post Why I Started Wearing Makeup at 40 Years Old appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

This week flew by, seeming to usher in warmer temperatures, daffodil buds, rain, and ants. Our penchant for the great outdoors, makes me feel like we didn’t do as much homeschooling as normal, though their planners tell me otherwise.

What I’m Excited About

My friend, Trisha, sent me an email recently and she has a new chalk pastel course out — Essential Oil Chalk Pastels!  I’m looking forward to this creative outlet that combines art and the aromas we love!

Speaking of art, Naomi decided to paint yesterday and then bring her palate from the school room into the kitchen alone.  She had a paint tattoo on her foot.  So did the floor.

First Grade

What else has my first grader been doing beside painting the floor blue, well she begged to start Cursive!  The Logic of English just makes learning new things easy across multiple grades.

Otherwise, we pretty much did the same old same old, except Naomi makes everything a display.  She also has been working hard at earning money so that she can purchase The Greatest Showman CD.

Logic of English Update

All these years, and this week I just learned that “ck” only comes after a short vowel.

#micdrop

Favorite Quotes

I remember loving teaching Across Five Aprils — so it is super fun to read it with my kiddos now!

• The candlelight was like pure gold, and his teacher’s shadow against the wall was like a picture.
• But you remember, Jeth, that it took far more courage for Bill to do what he did than it does for John and me to carry out our plans next week.
• Shadrach raised a black eyebrow.  “Thou too, Brutus? he asked, grinning a little sourly.  Jethro did not understand the allusion, and Shadrach seemed to be in no mood for explanations.

Math

Both Naomi and Gabe will be finishing the Math-U-See and moving on really soon.  That’s always exciting!

Mom’s Been Learning

In many ways, I feel like I have been learning way more than my kids.

For example, we are all beautiful.  Own it.  Post a picture of it somewhere and encourage other women in your life to do the same.

For example, I gained a new life skill this week by taking labels off of used bottles.

And I surprised myself, by finally reading that Lucy Libido book on my 2018 Reading list — and teaching what I am learning in my personal Facebook group.  So, I’m saying some taboo words that really shouldn’t be so taboo, because the good Lord saw that it was good!!!!!

If you’d like to learn about using essential oils in the bedroom and you aren’t yet a Young Living member, I’d love to help you get started.  It’s actually a great month to join Young Living because the new Desert Mist diffuser is included.  And it is just so pretty.  Not to mention, a sample of Thieves Cleaner is now included.

But if you think that money is an issue — we need to talk.  And if you think your husband will have an issue with your oils, we REALLY need to talk.  If you learn to use essential oils in the bedroom, he’ll give you an unlimited budget.

Just kidding.  Kind of.

Next Steps for Your Bedroom (and Homeschool too)

1. Join Young Living using this link.
2. Sign up for our free oily community once you have become a Young Living member.  Use your new Young Living number.  Just so you know, if you choose to support your essential oil habit by building a home based business, you can invite your team/friends/downline to utilize our website too!

McFamily Homeschool

So that’s a wrap — add another 5 days to our 110 from last week.

Feel free to follow us on Instagram.  I use the hashtag #mcfamilyhomeschool201718 to represent this school year!

How Was Your Week?

What did you learn, mama!???

The post McFamily Homeschool Weekly Wrap-Up appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Last week will go down in the books as a week that was filled with hours and hours and hours of preparation  for the Indiana Vex Robotics State meet.  I’m going to keep you in suspense on the surprising outcome for the NEXT weekly wrap-up.

Big Accomplishments

Now initially, my Gabe pretended to reluctantly attend gymnastics class.  There were a variety of reasons we wanted him to attend, the biggest one being he needed exercise that wasn’t with his brothers.  He needed a chance to shine and thrive — and his sister loves to cheer him on.

As you can see, something big happened.  While he’s as limber as a rubber band on the trampoline, he tightens up on the floor.  However, he has persisted and accomplished his first backward bend. 

And because the older two brothers were super busy with robotics, the littles and I had a lot of extra time.  So, they learned how to bake gluten free cookies!

Classical Conversations

We participated in our 18th week (and 5th year of Classical Conversations).  The focus is now on orchestra.  And much to my delight, we have this insanely educated mom share how the conductor makes his motions, what it means, and how the musicians sit in the orchestra pit.  It amazes me how some people can just make complicated ideas, simple and understandable.

The big research paper in Ezra’s Essentials class has been announced.  He has decided to research and dress up like Henry Ford.  I can’t wait to see what my mom designs this year!

Naomi has been working REALLY hard and copying down all her memory statements and tracing the maps!

What About Reading?

I continue to be happy at having switched the boys over to The Logic of English.  We mastered some latin roots, plurals, and all the spelling words!

Naomi is super close to finishing her All About Reading Level 2 . . . which is an accomplishment.  She really moved through that book!  I went ahead and ordered Level 3!

Science or History

It’s a fact that we all love Beautiful Feet Books, however, I’m not sure if we love our history or our science from them.  Last week we focused mostly on history.

Consistency With Latin

We all love Latin.  However, we are struggling to consistently watch our videos and complete the workbook.

Highlights

This week had some fun highlights.

My monthly box came from Young Living.  (Stay tuned for an online class that helping out with specifically focusing on using essential oils with kids.)

The whole family hustled and we made it to First Wednesday at our church.  And it was pretty spectacular.  Not that it was a show but that it made me think about how cool heaven is going to be, that changing churches was hard but I see God’s purpose in that for our family, and that God still does miracles.

We found a new coffee shop on our way home from the dentist.

We had a friend hang out with us the ENTIRE day to practice driving the robot.  For some reason, my kids decided to do school at the table that day — which was odd.

They NEVER sit at a table to do school.

And Ruth continues to be amazing in all that she does.

As you can see I took a lot of pictures.  If you follow me on Instagram — some of these might look familiar.

But if you do follow me over on my FAVORITE social media platform, will you say HI?  I’d love to connect with you!

The post A Review of Last Week appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Do you have oily kids?  What kind of creepy question is that?  Well, it comes from the same person who totally used to be a creepy blog lurker.

You see, there were two “older” homeschool moms (Carisa and Jolanthe) that I really looked up to as I entered the toddler and preschool eras with my children many moons ago.   These once distant faces on a website pretty much did all my planning and research for me, as their kids were older.  I printed ever single printable they created.  I bought the laminator; displayed their chore charts; invested in the bulk Velcro; and read the books they suggested.

But here’s the cool thing.  These two ladies knew who I was.

On Line Friends Into In-Real-Life Friends

I’m not entirely sure HOW Jolanthe and Carisa knew who I was, unless they actually creeped on my blog?  I mean EVERYONE wants to know how to make chai, find recipes for the Vitamix, and ferment kombucha right?

Well, apparently Carisa and Jolanthe did, because after what seemed like years of only knowing them through their blogs, one day I found myself sitting in their hotel room at a blogging conference.  Farting and eating chocolate. 

Yes, bloggers fart too.

Thankfully, there’s an oil for that.

Which brings me to my invitation.

You Are Invited

You’ll be hanging out with Carisa from 1+1+1=1  and Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations and myself.  We are really looking forward to having you join the oily journey with us!

Mark your calendars for a behind the scenes look at how the three of us use essential oil and oily-infused products with our kids!  

Want More Details?

Through Facebook, we have set up a public recurring event hosted by all three of us. Over three weeks, one of us will be hopping in to share on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting March 19 at 1pm EST! The topics will be a surprise, filled with either LIVE or pre-recorded videos, some graphic-based tips, and several fun PDF downloads!

ALL are welcome to attend, even if you aren’t on our Young Living team, but please know this event will be specific to Young Living products. Only positive and helpful comments will be allowed!

What Topics Will Be Covered?

All of the topics will center around kids.  But there might be a surprise for mom, too!  And a few giveaways.

• Focus
• Sleep
• Emotions
• Wellness
• Moms
• Cleaning with Kids
• Healthy Bodies, & more!

When Does This Begin?

Join us on Monday, March 19th as we launch the fun with the topic schedule, downloadable note taking guide, and giveaway. On March 19, the fun will begin at 1pm and posts will appear throughout the day, closing up by 9pm. Be sure to pop over on the 19th so you don’t miss the giveaway and PDF download!

How Can You Participate?

Click “GOING” in the event here and you will be able to access all of the recurring events.

STARTS: Monday, March19th, at 1pm EST

Continues every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm through April 6th.

See you next Monday!

The post Do You Have Oily Kids? appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

Did you know that you can change how you think?

Have you ever said, “Well, this is just who I am.”

I used to think that I had to be how I was.  After a lot of research and through some trial and error, I’ve come to realize that in reality, I am what I think.  And if I truly wanted to change, I had to change my thought life.

I Was Wonder Woman

Once upon a time, I thought I was Wonder Woman.  I had the swimsuit and the Under-roo’s.

However, I had a few defining moments in my life, that I allowed to shape my future.

You see, I was overweight as a child and incredibly conscious of what I looked like.

One of the most poignant memories in my childhood occurred while I  was riding my bike in my neighborhood.   As I entered a cul-de-sac to experience that exhilarating centrifugal force that would propel me into my imaginary Themyscira (Wonder Woman’s homeland), I instead found myself chased by 3 boys and a dog yelling how fat I was. Actually it was the boys yelling at me, not the dog.

That summer I was bound and determined to lose weight. I lost 30 pounds. I felt good about myself after losing so much weight.

Upon entering 6th grade, a boy (who must have been possessed by the devil himself) called me “fatso.” I was wearing a size 6 pants at this point. I had succeeded in my goal of losing weight so I should have been able to shrug it off as the demonic voice that it surely was.

But I couldn’t.

I chose to believe that voice and considered myself a failure even though I knew I had succeeded. I let it get under my skin. Even worse, I let his words take root in my mind.

Even today, I still hear that heinous voice from time to time. It doesn’t just call me “fatso” anymore. It’s there to whisper to me during any moment of success, small or large.

Your not good enough.

This success won’t last.

You are a fraud.

All lies.

I was deceived into believing that even if I thought I had achieved success, I really hadn’t. That voice set me up to think that I was destined to be overweight the rest of my life, destined to be a failure and a fraud.

That would have been true if I hadn’t made another choice.

Enter Vigilant Vernacular

I made a choice to change the way I talked and spoke to myself.

Christ tells us to take every thought captive. I use Vigilant Vernacular to lasso my thoughts.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. — Ephesians 4:29

Other synonyms that I like are Intentional Language, Purposeful Parlance, Watchful Wording, Sensible Speech, and Edifying Expression.

Vigilant vernacular is  the script from which you speak that is supporting of yourself and others.

It is positive language.

Intentional Language edifies yourself and others.

It affirms and states what you choose to experience, be, do, create.

It doesn’t limit or short change others.

In short our speech both inside our brain and what flows from our mouths is:

• supporting,
• affirming,
• and edifying.

Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

How do you practice this Vigilant Vernacular?

You improve how you think.

Be aware of what you say after I AM.  I know God thinks it is a pretty big deal in the Bible.  After all, HE alone is called the I AM . . .  so when I am stating something — I make certain to chose my words wisely after this statement.

Don’t say I AM __________ it if it’s not consistent with where you want to go.

What would it look like if you stopped dwelling on where you have been?

I used to say,  “I am always late.”  You know how I overcame this? My kids set all of the clocks in our house 10 minutes fast. I didn’t know this. The result was that we began to arrive on time to appointments, if not early.  Then, we had a power failure and I reset the clocks. Guess what? We continued to be on time to appointments . . . You see, I got used to being on time and so now I continue to walk in this habit.

You Have A Choice

What if you began to choose your words carefully instead of carelessly?  I think it could change your life, your home, your relationships, your walk with God, your marriage, your work, and even your relationship with your kids.   We have a tendency to say,

• I should
• I can’t
• I need
• I must
• I shouldn’t . . . .

These phrases focuses on lack and you are setting yourself up as a victim. I don’t know about you, but being the victim isn’t a fun place to be and I’m done living there. I’ve tasted freedom and abundant life, and it has me craving more.

Change Old Thought Patterns

I always knew the scripture that says “For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

But I’m not sure I really understood what this meant for me. It wasn’t until I became a real student of the brain, fueled by my passion for essential oils and all that they can do for the brain, that I really grasped this.

You see, the science confirms what has long been in scripture: Our thoughts and speech determine who we are. Recent scientific evidence confirms that the human brain has neuroplasticity, meaning it is malleable. Our brains are constantly creating new wiring and physical pathways.  Whatever pathway in our brain doesn’t get used, gets bulldozed while you sleep.

The crazy thing is that — our thoughts actually drive these physical changes in our brain. Because when you think, you actually create physical grey matter in your brain.

What kind of gray matter do you want to build?

It blows my mind that we were created to literally renew our minds, just by changing the way we think and talk.

Dr. Caroline Leaf says it best in her groundbreaking book Switch on Your Brain,

Thoughts are real, physical things that occupy mental real estate. Moment by moment, every day, you are changing the structure of your brain through your thinking. When we hope, it is an activity of the mind that changes the structure of our brain in a positive and normal direction.

If you want to be better, you have to start thinking better.

If you want to change, you have to change the way you talk about yourself.

Learn to Reframe and Teach Your Kids to Reframe

I still have bad days where it is a constant battle to think and speak rightly — but the changes I’ve seen in my life have been huge.

For me, it began by replacing the dangerous “I am” statements I warned you about earlier with affirmative statements like….

• I choose to be full of Joy.
• I can lose weight and be healthy.
• I desire to be a good steward of my money.
• I choose to claim healing for my body.

You will see changes when you start to really think and talk like this.

However, you will need to surround yourself with people who think and talk in a similar manner. You may need to sever toxic relationships that don’t help you change your thinking. Even if you do — that you may find yourself slipping into old thought patterns. You may get off track and find yourself in the same rutted thinking you were once so familiar with.

Each day I take my thoughts captive. I work very consciously about using statements that say I choose, I can, I desire.  Life isn’t just happening to me. I am co-partnerning with God to live the very best life to fulfill His purposes in me.  I am not that 5th grader being chased in the neighborhood or the 6th grader who was crushed by a careless comment.

How do you get out of the rut of old thought patterns?  Well, if you find yourself say something negative or limiting – reframe it.  When you or your child makes a statement that isn’t taking you in the positive direction you want to go, isn’t truthful, or isn’t edifying, then stop what you are doing and rephrase it truthfully.

OLD: This is just the way I am.  REFRAME:  I am a new creation in Christ and honoring the Lord in what my next best step is.

OLD:  I’m always late.  REFRAME:  I am going to set my clocks ahead and I will create the opportunity to be on time.

OLD: I’m not good at that.  REFRAME:  I don’t necessarily enjoy running.  I am going to start walking 3 times a week to improve my chances at running in a 5K.

OLD:  I need to be better at ______.  REFRAME:  I choose to memorize Bible verses about the fruits of the spirit so that I can encourage my family and stay calm.

Thoughts Are Powerful

This means that you have the ability to change as a result of mental activity. 75 – 98 % of mental, physical, and behavioral illness comes from ones thought life. Your thoughts literally turn genes on and off in your DNA.

Whatever you think about the most will grow.

There Is No Trying

Take the word try out of your vocabulary.

There is no trying, only doing.

Either you are doing it or you aren’t doing it so start speaking that way.

Some of you right now are thinking to yourself, “I’ll try and do better with the way I think and speak.” STOP IT!!!! Choose here and now to change your thought patterns by changing your speech.

There is no try.

Recognize that and own it. Because when you own your story, you avoid being trapped as a character in a story it feels like someone else is telling.

It may take you time to make all the changes you want to see in your life but begin speaking about yourself here and now as though you are changing, not trying to change.

Be The Change In Your Family

It is time to change the script in your head and what you say to yourself and others.

What you say out loud and silently leads you to what you are thinking inside of your head.

This then leads to what you are feeling inside and affects how you live your life.

Our lives are controlled by our feelings, which in turn, create our thoughts.

Everything we are today is the sum total of all the feelings we have had to this moment. If we wish our lives to be different in the future, it is necessary to change our emotions, which then changes our thinking in the present.

By so doing, we change the direction of our lives because…. You are what you think.

What Would Happen If You Changed Your Thoughts?

Would you rather listen to my story?  Watch it below.

But if you REALLY want to create some NEW habits that will help your brain partner with you in changing, join me over at Oily Kids for a three week long opportunity where you will learn how changing my thoughts changed my family, and it all began with one little essential oil. 

The post What If You Could Change How You Think? appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

I must admit that I have had a rocky relationship with my goals at times in the past.  We would both get swept up in a New Year’s Eve romance but then we’d drift apart as the melodious notes of Auld Lang Syne faded from my memory.  I guess that I am ultimately the one who broke it off but, to my defense, it is pretty easy to break up with anyone when you only really see them once a year.  This year started out much the same way.  By February, my grand aspirations towards making 2018 the most epic year of my life were slipping away. They may have been forgotten completely if not for the two most ingenious inventions ever created to help us stay in a committed relationship with our goals:  chocolate and calendars.

Chocolate and Goals

What does chocolate and calendars have to do with nurturing that beautiful relationship between a dreamer and her goals?

Well, let me tell you.

We have tried the chocolate route before but this year we decided to add in what should have been obvious all along.  You see, historically on January 1st we have made a tradition of indulging in Endangered Species chocolate bars while we reviewed last year’s goals and set goals for the upcoming year. After several years of failing to really achieve ANY of our goals from the past year, we sought a better way.

While everyone knows that chocolate can cover over a multitude of shortcomings, it was still depressing to face the puny success meter hovering at whopping 5% while the failure meter, plump on idleness, hovered at a generous 95%.  We felt like underachievers due to our negligence to revisit our dreams and aspirations.

But I think what really bothered the husband and I was the fact that when we revisited our goals ever year, we hadn’t used the time the Lord had given us wisely.  What had we done to inspire curiosity in other people’s lives allowing an opportunity for us to introduce them to our bestie, Jesus?  And let’s not forget that losing 20 pounds has been my goal for 7 years.  There’s that.  The only moral booster of the yearly ritual was the local chocolate we were eating and the false promise that things would be different next year.

Enter the calendar.

Just like maintaining a relationship with your spouse, kids, friends, or God, you have to be purposeful about scheduling quality time to spend together to connect.  The husband and I put date nights on our calendar.  We schedule time alone with our kids on the calendar.  We text friends to schedule times to have coffee.  We have a routine to spend consistent time with God.

Why wouldn’t we be this intentional about spending time to nurture that struggling relationship with our goals?  I don’t just hope that I bump in to a friend at some point during the year.  I make a plan and schedule time together.

It should be no different with our goals.  We are still early in 2018 but we are off to a much better start on staying in touch with our goals because we took the time to schedule monthly meetings on our Google Calendars for us to sit down with the whole family to revisit our goals and hold each other accountable on our progress.  And because we include a little bit of chocolate at each meetings, I’m confident this will continue to happen throughout the rest of the year.

The Truth About Goal Setting

Each January I hear the full spectrum of comments ranging from, “I don’t set New Year’s Resolutions,” to “I’m going to set a goal for the first time this year,” to “I’m picking prestidigitation as my word for 2018.”  No matter where you fall on the spectrum of goal setting, I want you to consider these interesting statements with an open mind:

• 92% of New Years goals fail by January 15th
• People who don’t make any goals have 0% chance of accomplishing that goal (duh)
• The act of writing down a goal down is a very powerful motivator
• People who write their goals down are 50% more likely to achieve their goals than people who keep track of goals in their mind
• Writing down goals forces us to be avoid being vague
• Specific goals which are time-bound and measurable work best for keeping people on track
• Most successful achievers agree goals should be reviewed frequently by hanging in a visible location

Our family goals are based off of a simple approach introduced in the book Oola Find Balance in an Unbalanced World.  It was an easy way for the Oily Engineer and I to help our children move from where they were to where they want to be.  By limiting ourselves to only one goal in each of the seven key areas of Oola, we are helping them manage and create a sort of balance in their life from an early age.

The seven Oola areas foster direction and stability — not to mention the family goals we all share create a set of grammar we all understand.  (By the way, Oola is also a brand of tea, that I happen to LOVE.)

What is Oola?

oo-la (noun): That state of awesomeness. It is when your life is balanced and growing in the seven key areas of life .

Those seven key areas (aka the 7 F’s) of Oola are:

1. fitness
2. finance
3. family
4. field (career)
5. faith
6. friends
7. fun

Steps to Teach Goal Setting to Your Kids

Now, I have to be honest — goal setting isn’t always fun.  It especially isn’t fun when your family knows what your goals are and whether or not you are working towards achieving them.  Big Brother is ALWAYS watching me (and so is little brothers, little sister, and husband for that matter).  However, it is fun having my family partner with me and encourage me.

I mean, imagine if I forget my goals, so will my family!

We would like to help you and your family use your time here on earth with intention.  Download a pdf of the our family goal worksheet based on the 7 oola areas.

Then, be intentional and schedule a time to meet with your family and work through specific and measurable goals.  What I love about this particular goal sheet is that my husband took what he learned from engineering projects and applied it to this worksheet.

1. You have to have a goal first, right?  Write the goal down.  A goal should be a statement of where you want to be, not simply and action that you complete.
2. But then you’ll notice in the second column you are given the opportunity to write down the steps to get to that goal.  Here is where the rubber meets the road.  List the specific actions that you need to take to get you to where you want to be.
3. When you meet the following month (we choose the first Sunday of every month), write down the steps you took that previous month to achieve that goal.  At this monthly meeting, we typically have a few more squares of Endangered Species chocolate and sip on Oola Tea.
4. At your meeting, then list the steps you will take next to bring you closer to your goal.
5. Finally, guesstimate how much progress you have made by filling in your percent complete for each goal.  Some goals you might be able to achieve in 2 months, but other goals, such as reading through the Bible in a year, that percent complete will move along slowly as the year progresses.

Printing this chart will get you closer to achieving your goals.

I can’t wait to hear how your family goal planning goes!

The post What Family Goals and Chocolate Have In Common appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

There came a point when our then 6 year old just couldn’t fit the length of her toddler bed any more.  I hesitated to purchase a new bed for her for two reasons:

1. Washing toddler sheets every night was exhausting and I couldn’t imagine washing a twin sized set of sheets every day and then drying those sheets in our lukewarm dryer.
2. All mattresses are toxic (Or so I thought).

However, her 7th birthday was rapidly approaching and all she wanted was a new bed.  I can’t blame her.  I wanted a new bed too after spending 6 plus hours a night on our 16+ year old mattress.

Like most fools educated people, I looked to Google to show me the safest mattress on the market.   I watched countless videos, read tons of reviews, and found sleep elusive because the search for the perfect mattress had opened Pandora’s box regarding the toxicity behind the mattress industry, all in the name of producing comfort that won’t burn in the event of a fire and created cheaply in a laboratory.

And even the mattresses my health conscience friends were purchasing, failed to convince me of being natural, safe, and most importantly, free from “ingredients” that wouldn’t irritate Naomi’s lungs.

I had just figured out the perfect trifecta that supported her lungs and kept her free from pneumonia — after acquiring it every fall the first 5 years of her life.  I didn’t want to disturb that balance by bringing harmful chemicals into her bedroom.

Enter The Clean Bedroom

On our way to Whole Foods one day, my son spotted a sign for The Clean Bedroom.  We thought that was an interesting name and went home to research what exactly this store was all about.  Come to find out, The Clean Bedroom was everything I had been looking for.

The kids and I decided to stop in and check this store out — because it seemed too good to be true.  But ya’ll it became an answer to prayer.

In fact, as I was going through my Instagram I came across this post where I wrote,

Words can not express how stinkin’ excited I am about today’s turn of events. The hunt for an organic twin mattress is over! You see, Omi (my 7 year old as of tomorrow) has always struggled with respiratory issues each fall and spring. I have long dreaded the day she needed a big girl bed because of the serious off-gassing and chemical exposure of traditional mattresses. I have feared the chemical exposure would only perpetuate her respiratory issues. I’ve only found organic mattresses online — but never locally!! Until today. I’m officially excited to have a non-toxic mattress for my daughter that is safe for her to sleep in each night. Tom from @thecleanbedroom called me this afternoon to let me know he found a twin mattress perfect for my girl!!! So excited!!! But shhh she won’t know until her #7thbirthday !!!!

Why Did We Purchase from The Clean Bedroom?

The Clean Bedroom did all of the legwork for me and offered transparency about their products.  I actually took some of these statements from their website ONLY BECAUSE they really described our experience at The Clean Bedroom.

• Their prices were fair.
• They research every brand they carry, testing the mattresses and bedding to be sure they meet rigorous standards for purity and construction.  (This is incredibly important to me, which is one reason we ALSO use Young Living products.)
• Their extensive product knowledge helped us select the mattress and bedding that is right for our daughter.  (Tom, our salesman, has been in the mattress industry over 20 years.  When I asked him HARD questions about his competitors, he had a response that wasn’t canned but authentic.)
• Tom worked to find the right solution that led to our customer satisfaction, not just the sale of a mattress. The Clean Bedroom in Indianapolis truly wanted to help us find not just a solution, but the right solution for our little girl. They listened.  They recommended. We decided.

Why Is An Organic Mattress So Important?

Like I said, our daughter struggled with respiratory issues for 5 years until I found the right trifecta to support her respiratory system like a boss.  I didn’t want to trigger a relapse in her health because I opted to purchase a cheaper mattress.  We chose an organic mattress because it honestly made sense considering that we mostly eat organic, we have eliminated chemicals from our home, and clean air is really important to us.

Did you that most mattresses are created from made-made materials, many of which are petrochemical based?  These mattress are highly flammable due to the fact they are made from the same oil that we fill our cars with.  This oil is toxic though it works great for our cars.  Think about it, if you sleep on a foam mattress, you’re spending a third of your life sleeping on oil. If the salesperson says it’s natural because it comes from the ground, remember it’s still made from a petrochemical.

In the United States, mattress companies have to meet the U.S. Fire Code burn test.  This means that mattresses need to be treated so they don’t ignite in a fire, which is a good thing, right? However, the chemicals used to treat mattresses so they are flame proof are highly suspect. No long-term studies have been done to see what effects these chemical treatments may have on humans. Information stating they are safe is provided by the mattress industry, backed up by a vague statement from the FDA.

Our largest organ, our epidermis or skin, absorbs toxins that it comes in contact with and our lungs breathe in the airborne vapors. When you purchase a new petrochemical mattress, that mattress will off-gas and the smell can give you headaches, irritate your lungs, disrupt sleep, and potentially interfere with your endocrine system.  I dare you to research some of the chemicals in mattresses such as: Methylene dianiline / MDA, Vinilideine chloride, Methyl benzene, Dimethylformamide, Acetone, Methylene chloride, and Formaldehyde to name a few.

A toxic mattress didn’t seem like a good birthday present.  It could have been a birthday present that would forever change her life . . . for the worse.

Feel Good About What Your Kids Sleep On

• Organic mattresses are made with materials found in nature, using resources that encourage sustainable farming throughout the world.
• The cotton is grown without pesticides.  Because whether you like it or not, what is used on the plant during the seed to production process ends up in the plant and in your home.
• The wool from sheep  that is used to cover the mattresses is raised on organic farms.

What Did We Choose?

We chose to have Omi sleep on the Obasan Fundy  1.0 6 inch organic rubber mattress.  Here are some stats about this mattress:

• It is 6″ of GOLS-certified organic latex from the milk of the rubber tree, or Heveabrasiliensis tree, in SriLanka and cooked using the dunlop process. Due to the material destabilizing quickly, the rubber is molded into sheets on the same day before it is shipped to Canada.
• The benefits of using Hevabrasiliensis? It has superior durability and elasticity, retention of shape and firmness, excellent heat and moisture regulation, superior air circulation and it is dust mite resistant. It is also naturally anti-bacterial and insect-repellent (which is INCREDIBLY important to us because we once had bedbugs and managed to get rid of them naturally).
• It has a removable organic cotton jersey cover.
• It is recommended for children up to 150 pounds.
• All Obasan organic mattresses pass the flame test in Canada and the USA (BECAUSE the organic wool serves as a natural flame retardant.  The wool is quilted inside the cover of all of The Clean Bedroom mattresses.
• It is handmade in Canada.

What Questions Should You Ask Before Purchasing a Mattress?

1. What percentage of the latex is actually rubber?   It should be 95-97%
2. What materials in the mattress are organic? Often it is just the outer cover. You’ll get a healthier night’s sleep on a mattress made with materials that are all certified organic or all natural throughout the bed.
3. How does the mattress meet the U.S. Fire Code burn test? The answer should not be a list of elements you have never heard of or can’t pronounce. Look for wool, or silica which is sand and baking soda. Yes, those elements self-extinguish when put to a flame.

Because We Liked Her Mattress So Much . . .

Because we liked our daughter’s mattress so much . . . we actually ended up purchasing a new mattress for ourselves.  It has been a blessing for us during my husband’s healing from having a herniated disc and arthritis.  But that’s another story for another day.  Sweet dreams until then!

We did purchase our mattress locally at The Clean Bedroom at 1776 E. 86th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana.  However, don’t despair!  You can purchase your mattress anywhere in the US by calling (212) 764-3232.

The post A Non-Toxic Bed for a Child appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

We neglected the homeschool room all summer long.  Remind me never to do that.

There were stacks of books, piles of paper, and remnants of former school years littered in every nook and cranny. The shared school computer was nearly stuck in hibernation, and dust bunnies were multiplying.

From the Great West to Our Schoolroom Walls

After living in a camper for a month this summer out west, I saw how little we needed.  I discovered freedom in owning less and embracing more intentional living.  (For this reason, I am so excited to read The Cozy Minimalist.   I pre-ordered it! Author, Myquillyn Smith, was so instrumental in how I decorated the homeschool room and our living space upstairs.)

By no means would our school room be considered spartan, but there are empty spaces and everything has a place.

I still have plans of taking the wall hangings down above the backpacks and creating a collage over the fireplace.  In fact, you can see some objects I am compiling for this purpose.

Go with me.

You see, I’m trying to create a wall or multiple spaces all over the house to think.  Or maybe not to think, but to daydream.  It is the wide open, majestic spaces out west that inspire me to dare greatly.  I envision wide open walls facilitating this very notion of dreaming space instead of feeling cluttered by daily life.

180 Days

Using a yearly wall calendar is probably my favorite way to record the 180 days required by Indiana.  Additionally, it allows me to prepare the kids for any upcoming travel or events by writing them on the calendar.  It would be neat to keep these over the years, but the reality is that after I took a photo of last years At-A-Glance calendar, I threw it away.  It has served its purpose.

Storing Teacher Books

This year I am monitoring our 2nd, 5th, and 9th grader, while my husband tutors our 7th grader in our Classical Conversations community.  I’m trying something new by keeping my teacher books separate and sorted by child.

For starters, all of our Classical Conversations curriculum is in one canvas cubby.

I have a stack for Naomi’s current manuals (2nd grade) on the left.

And a stack of Gabe’s (5th grade) teacher guides on the right.   Some of the curriculum is still in flux and I might weed some of it out.

Stay tuned to learn about what we are using in our curriculum this year — because some of it you can’t see here as it is online, like Teaching Textbooks!

The post The #McFamilyHomeschool1819 School Room appeared first on Jodi McKenna.

How can my youngest child be in Second Grade already?  This will be the last time we teach 2nd grade.  Unbelievable. Just yesterday it seems like Ezra was in 2nd grade!

In a few short weeks she will be turning 8 years old.  Sometimes I just want to stop time.

So what does our 2nd Grader learn?  Let me share with you!  (Many of the links won’t show up if you are receiving this post as an email.  Feel free to click here to be taken directly to the blog for easy access to the curriculum links.)

Our 2nd Grade Curriculum

• Teaching Textbooks Level 3 — I’m loving the online version after years of re-threading the spiral in the paperback books.  And quite honestly a family subscription just makes sense.  I’m super excited to have all 4 of our kids using the same math this year!!

• We are wrapping up All About Reading Level 3 — Naomi is a legit book worm.  I am in a quandary over what’s next after we  finish Level 3.  Many of the “rules” she has already picked up on and come quite naturally to her.

• Wordly Wise 2 (Book 3 that you see above is for 2nd Semester)
• IEW Grammar Fix It — After going though 6 years of  Essentials with Classical Conversations, I decided to be a bit more proactive about learning grammar early with Naomi.  How I wish I had known about this curriculum years ago.  It is manageable and requires ZERO prep on my part.  However, in the few short weeks we have been using it, the compound effect of knowledge has truly happened.  In hindsight I would have purchased this for Gabe too. (He is doing The Well Trained Mind Grammar.)

• Foundations Memory Work from Classical Conversations — I am LOVING the copybook from Sunshine and Oranges!!!

• Math-U-See Beta — This may confuse you.  Why two maths?  Well, Naomi completes the Beta when she is at Classical Conversations Essential Siblings, while her brother Gabe is in his Essentials class!
• Classical Conversations PreScripts Cursive Medieval to Modern History — I love weaving everything together and this writing program aligns with the timeline the kids are memorizing.
• A Reason For Handwriting B
• Latina Christiana — true story –>  we thought we were in the right Latin book (Prima Latina) and quickly discovered that we were in over our head and that there was a curriculum designed to come before it!!!  Phew!!!!
• Becoming God’s Champion — It gives me no greater joy than to teach my kids how to study the Bible for themselves and NOT just rely on what I tell them or church tells them.  So I have been teaching them how to do the Inductive Bible Study Method.

• The Story of the World (at lunchtime with the rest of the family)

I am still continuing our Beautiful Feet Books Science and History . . . but we currently haven’t added that back into our day because there are a few read-alouds we are consuming, like:

• Haven (from Growly books)
• Misty of Chincoteague — Marguerite Henry
• Heroes of History — Klaus John

Do We Do ALL the Subjects?

Do we actually accomplish work every day in each of the subjects I have listed?  It depends on the day.  But I will say that most days, Naomi does seem to accomplish all of the course work simply because she really has been enjoying school this year.

Don’t forget these other Homeschool Posts!

• Did you miss our School Room for 2018/2019? Check out #McFamilyHomeschool1819
• 5th Grade (coming soon)
• 7th Grade (coming soon)
• 9th Grade (coming soon)

The post The Last Time We Teach 2nd Grade appeared first on Jodi McKenna.