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Raising Biracial Kids in Today's World

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How to Jump Start Your Wellness Journey with Essential Oils

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This post contains  Amazon affiliate links.This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.

My Oily Beginning

I started my wellness journey with essential oils 3 years ago.

I decided I needed oils out of desperation. My then two year old was sick ALL THE TIME.

No matter how much we sanitized, kept her home from school, ate healthy, she KEPT GETTING SICK.

The breaking point was her 2nd birthday. It was just a few days before Thanksgiving. She threw up all day. Even when there was nothing left to throw up, she still kept throwing up clear liquid.

Watching my baby be sick on her birthday and feeling completely helpless was devastating to me. I knew that I had to try something different.

One of my former church members had started posting on Facebook about essential oils. She is a grandmother, and said that if she had known about oils when her children were little, she would’ve used them.

I trusted her experience and I reached out to her. She suggested that I started with a Premium Starter Kit. At $160, I wasn’t ready to make an investment into something I wasn’t 100% was going to work.

And here we are 3 years later. I can count on 1 hand the times that she has been sick like that since we started using oils. The oils don’t prevent sickness from coming, but it is a start to preventive care.

I started my wellness journey with Young Living essential oils.

So I started with RC & Thieves. I purchased some roller bottles off Amazon, mixed with coconut oil, and applied the oils to her chest and the bottoms of her feet.

 

Now that you know why I’m so passionate about essential oils, let me answer a frequently asked question: What essential oils should I start with?

Honestly, I would start with the Premium Starter Kit. For $160, you get 11 of the most popular essential oils, a diffuser + samples!! You are getting a value of over $300 for only $160. In your starter kit you get:

Peppermint, Lemon, Thieves, Copaiba, Digize, Frankincense, Raven, Citrus Fresh, Stress Away, Panaway & Lavender.

When I first started my wellness journey with essential oils, I used the ones I needed for preventing colds and viruses, but I had no clue what to do with the other oils.

One of the easiest ways to jumpstart your wellness journey is with essential oils. Young Living makes products that are free from harmful toxins.

The Best App For Essential Oils

A friend recommended a helpful app that I use almost daily!

It’s the reference guide for essential oils. In the app, you can look up uses for various oils, as well as use the guide to see which oils assist with various issues.

There are so many oils, it impossible to memorize what each one is good for, so this app is an absolute must! It isn’t free ($6.99), but the value you get far outweighs the price!

Why Young Living?

There are other essential oil companies that exist, and due to a rise in homeopathic medicine, people are confused about who to buy from as the market continues to be more and more saturated.

Young Living provides a seed to seal standard that ensures that every pure essential oil and Young Living product your family uses has been naturally derived from plants.

One of the easiest ways to jumpstart your wellness journey is with essential oils. Young Living makes products that are free from harmful toxins.

 

Young Living prides itself on not using synthetics, contaminants or cheap fillers. The oils are sources from their own corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and seed to seal certified suppliers.

My husband is a farmer and we pay close attention to the food we eat, so reevaluating our products was the next natural step.

How Do I Get Started?

One of the things that I love about Young Living is the community.

Some of the nicest people I have met (online) have been oily friends!

We have connected over having the same (wellness) goals for our family. If you are ready to dive in, all you have to do is click here. 

Pick your the diffuser you want, the starter kit, pay, and your oils will be on their way!

Make sure that you Sign up as a Member (you DO NOT have to sell oils) it just means you are getting a starter kit & will therefore get 24% off retail prices.

What If I Can’t Afford Essential Oils For My Family?

Most of my oily friends (my husband laughs every time I say that) use the ditch and switch method.

It’s really simple–ditch all the toxic products in your home, and switch them out for products without all the harmful chemicals.

Have you ever wondered why being in the same room with certain cleaning products makes your lungs feel on fire?

Do you notice all of the warnings on the labels if your child happens to ingest some of the contents?

When you purchase Young Living essential oils for your family, you don’t have to worry about exposing them to toxic chemicals.

Their products have something for everyone! Baby products, makeup, supplements, kids, home, the list goes on!

Once I began to reap the benefits of oils, the decision share my story with others was a no brainer.

Supporting my family’s wellness journey with non-toxic products (especially with a mobile baby) is just one of the many reasons I have chosen to use Young Living products in my home.

Not to mention all of the amazing support from my fellow oily friends!

Disclaimer: Any suggestions made on this blog are very specific to Young Living essential oils and should not be used with oils from another source. Statements made on this website about Young Living Essential Oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician. If you are currently on medication, please do not stop.

The Best Essential Oils for Common Childhood Ailments

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Three years ago, I started using Young Living essential oils and made a step towards wellness for my family.

It all started when my daughter, who was two at the time, stayed sick. She was in a half day preschool program at a local church and every time she would get over one sickness, she would catch another.

It was exhausting, costly and sad. On her 2nd birthday, she got a stomach virus and threw up all day. Because her birthday is so close to Thanksgiving, none of her school friends showed up (thankfully!) The party was at my mother in law’s house and we went home early.

Even after there was no food left in her stomach, she continued to throw up. As a mother, I felt completely helpless. She had been sick off and on all year, and to be sick on her birthday was the last straw for me. I knew I had to do something different.

A church friend of mine had been posting on Facebook about Young Living essential oils. She was a grandmother and said that she wished she knew about them when she had children.

A recurring cough was the biggest issue for my daughter, so I asked her what she recommended to help make it less brutal.

She pointed me in the direction of RC and Thieves. She printed out some information and told me how to make a roller bottle.

After a few months of continuous use, I started to see a difference. Not to say that she never got sick anymore, but the length and intensity of her sickness decreased! We were no longer sitting up at night watching fevers for weeks off and on.

When she got a cold or virus, we rubbed our roller ball mixture of thieves & RC on her feet. When she had a cough or sniffle, she was able to run around and play instead of just lying around on the couch.

So when I share about my love for Young Living essential oils, it’s because of how it has helped my family!!

Here are a few of my favorite oils that I use for my children when they have various ailments:

Using essential oils is investing in your family's overall wellness. They may seem like a new trend, but they have been around for thousands of years.

Emotional Support

Joy, Gentle Baby, Peace & Calming.

Itching

Rose Ointment. It is gentle enough for babies. I used this a lot of my feet and stretch marks while I was pregnant.

Insect Bites

Purification Or Owie. Since Owie is already diluted for kids, I put it directly in a roller bottle and keep in my purse or diaper bag at all times.

Once we were headed out the door and a horse fly bit my daughter. I applied Owie on the bite site and she was fine after a few minutes. Trust me, this is the child who would normally scream and cry.

Restlessness/Insomnia

lavender for the win. Young Living also makes a sleepy blend gentle enough for babies!

Accidents

Are your kids clumsy sometimes? I know mine are. When they fall and get hurt sometimes the smallest scrape can cause the biggest tantrum! Young Living makes an Owie blend that is already diluted for kids.

Cradle Cap

Diluted lavender on the scalp

Cold weather sniffles

RC & Thieves.

*Side note: when children are not used to essential oils, it is best to dilute them with a carrier oil. *

Common Carrier oils=jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil

For the most common ailments in my house (cough, teething & tummy pain) I have roller bottles made and ready to go. The kids know that oils make them feel better, so my two older kids will often apply the roller bottles themselves.

pdf EO Using essential oils is investing in your family's overall wellness. They may seem like a new trend, but they have been around for thousands of years.

BONUS:

Here are a few oils that have been helpful to me during the postpartum period:

Fennel: applied directly to breasts to aid in milk supply

Frankincense: applied to c-section scar to help reduce swelling after surgery

Gentle Baby: applied to baby when fussy and on dryer balls for baby’s laundry

Peppermint-I used this heavily for nausea while pregnant, diffused in my hospital room after birth and I dropped two drops in the baby’s bath water when he had the sniffles

Are you ready to start your wellness journey with Young Living? Click here.

Disclaimer: Any suggestions made on this blog are very specific to Young Living essential oils and should not be used with oils from another source. Statements made on this website about Young Living Essential Oils have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone suffering from disease or injury should consult with a physician.

Using essential oils is investing in your family's overall wellness. They may seem like a new trend, but they have been around for thousands of years.

Marriage With Young Kids: How To Stay Madly in Love With Your Spouse

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Just last night, my husband and I were talking about how we’ve been married for almost 8 years. We are still in love, and we haven’t killed each other yet!

Raising young kids and have a happy, romantic challenge may seem like an oxymoron, but if you work together, it can be a reality.

We have two young kids, ages 6 & 3.5 (and another on the way). Showing our love to each other hasn’t always been easy. The stress of raising young children, and life in general, causes many couples to grow apart instead of together.

When we first got married, we made a vow to each other to never say the D word (divorce) and to love each other through whatever life threw at us.

That was easy to say, well, until life threw things at us.

Eight years later, we’ve faced the diagnosis of dementia & the death of a parent, the death of a grandparent, job losses, career changes, babies with colic, surgeries, debt & miscarriage.

Raising young kids and have a happy, romantic challenge may seem like an oxymoron, but if you work together, it can be a reality.

We’ve always wanted three kids, and we knew that having a large family would be a challenge, but we never stopped to think about how raising young children could be a challenge in our marriage. Here are a few things that have kept the love alive while we are raising our young kids:

Plan Physical Touch

This sounds strange I’m sure. Why in the world would you have to plan physical touch? Well, because when you are raising young children, they demand so much of your time, energy, emotions, and physical touch.

Raising young kids and have a happy, romantic challenge may seem like an oxymoron, but if you work together, it can be a reality.

By the time you see your spouse, there is often nothing left. That is not the way it should be. Plan to kiss your spouse before you part each day, and when you see each other again in the evening.

Raising young kids and have a happy, romantic challenge may seem like an oxymoron, but if you work together, it can be a reality.

Plan date nights where the two of you can be together, without interruptions–for a night of hand holding (and more!) Keeping the physical spark going will sustain you on those tough days.

Plan Time to Communicate About Important Things

Instead of throwing chores at each other or texting a to do list to your spouse, make time to discuss the things that are important in your family. Important things can include your kids, finances, business trips, etc.

Spend Time Together With Your Young Kids

One of the things that makes me love my husband even more is seeing him love on our children. As a mom, and wife to an entrepreneur, I am often taking the kids on errands or short trips alone. This often causes frustration for me because I get overwhelmed dealing with their behaviors alone, and then when we are together, I catch myself trying to micromanage how he does things.

Raising young kids and have a happy, romantic challenge may seem like an oxymoron, but if you work together, it can be a reality.

The more we do things together, the more we work together as a solid unit, and our young children see that mommy and daddy are a force to be reckoned with.

We can divide the duties, and no one is resentful–not to mention the joy it brings our children!

Raising young kids and have a happy, romantic challenge may seem like an oxymoron, but if you work together, it can be a reality.

What keeps the spark going in your marriage? How do you put your spouse first?

 

 

The Best Non-Toxic Sunscreen Options for Brown Skin

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This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.

It’s hard to find non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin. Trust me, I’ve been on this quest for a while.

As a kid, I never understood why I needed sunscreen for brown skin if I didn’t burn.

As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list!

 

I quickly learned the benefit of having more melanin than my lighter-skinned friends.

My parents are Jamaicans, so were use to spending large amounts of time in the sun. My mom made sunscreen mandatory.

What I always hated about it, was that it left a streaky, white residue that never seemed to rub in.

My mom wanted us to rub it all over, but it just sat on top of my skin, and made me look ashy. Sunscreen was just embarrassing to wear.

When I became an adult, I switched to face moisturizers that had sunscreen in it as an alternative, and spray sunscreens so that I didn’t have to rub in the white stuff anymore.

What I noticed about the sprays is that if it happened to get in your mouth or near your face, it tasted horrible and would make you cough.

Since diving into a more non-toxic lifestyle, I’ve realized that so many of the products (and brands) that we’ve all come to know and love are filled with toxic chemicals.

When I started having (biracial) children, I began to pay attention to the ingredients listed on the bottle. Now I’m “that” mom.

The mom that reads EVERY SINGLE LABEL.

As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list!

I promise, I’m not just doing it to be extra, but because I’m investing in my family’s wellness.

So here are a few non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin:

California Baby

California Baby is a little on the pricier side, but when you purchase their products, you know that your child’s skin is safe. The founder (mom) Jessica Iclisoy found plant-based substitutes for harmful chemicals in baby products. Many of the plant-based ingredients used in California Baby products were grown on a farm right here in the U.S.

Babo Botanicals

Ya’ll know that I’m a sucker for companies that are transparent about their ingredients. If you head over to the Babo Botanicals website, you will find an ingredient list with pictures AND what each ingredient is good for. They make sunscreens formulated for babies and adults.

Baby Bum Baby bum is on my list of sunscreens to try next. I spotted this brand while on a Target run. Their products are vegan, plant-based, tear-free, dermatologist tested and cruelty-free. 

As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list!

Earth Mama Organics Kids

I love the Earth Mama brand. I used their nipple butter while breastfeeding (and it also doubles as an amazing foot cream!). They have launched a new kids line, and I love using products from companies I can trust.

                                          As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list! As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list!

Young Living

Ya’ll know how much I love natural, non-toxic products. Young Living makes sunscreen options for brown skin that are lightweight and fast-absorbing. It protects against UVA & UVB rays.

What I love about Young Living products is the seed to seal promise. In short, Young Living prides itself on not using harmful synthetics, contaminants or cheap fillers. The oils & ingredients in their products are sourced from their own corporate-owned farms, partner farms, and seed to seal certified suppliers.

Are you ready to start your wellness journey with Young Living? Click here.

Black Girl Sunscreen

What I love about this one is that is works on ALL complexions and doesn’t leave white streaks or sticky residue. It glides on like facial moisturizer. It’s worth every bit of the price.

As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list!

Sunscreen Tips

Remember, babies need sunscreen too, but it’s best to apply when your baby is older than 6 months old.

If you plan to be in the sun, your baby needs sunscreen daily. In addition to sunscreen, utilize clothing and shade to protect your baby’s delicate skin.

How often should I reapply?

Reapply sunscreen based on your activity. The rule of thumb is generally every 2 hours. However, if you are getting in and out of the water, you may want to apply more often.

The sun’s rays are hottest from 10 AM- 3PM. (I grew up hearing my mom telling me to wait until after 3 before I could play outside.)

As the weather heats up, finding non-toxic sunscreen options for brown skin is tough. Most sunscreen leave a white residue. Here is a great list!

The sun’s UV rays can be damaging to all skin-even brown skin. There is a misconception that melanin is an instant protector against the sun’s rays and sunscreen isn’t necessary. Although people with more melanin are not as prone to sunburns, UV rays can still cause significant damage. 

Finding a sunscreen that doesn’t make brown skin look ashy and provides non-toxic protection can be challenging. Share this list with someone that is looking for some sunscreen options!

How to Talk to Your (Young) Biracial Child About Skin Color

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*I was provided with a set of the MVP Kids books, but the opinions expressed in this post are my own. *

One day your multiracial child may be faced with questions about their skin color. It can be difficult facing questions from strangers about your child.

Mothers of biracial children often struggle with how and when to breach the topic of race and skin color.

Everyone else seems to notice the differences between you and your child and you dread the day that your child asks why they look different from you.

One day your multiracial child may be faced with questions about their skin color. It can be difficult facing questions from strangers about your child.

When my oldest was a baby, I took to Facebook to rant about an encounter with a black male at the check out line in TJMaxx. He asked repeatedly if she was mine, then finally said, ” his daddy  must be really light-skinned.”

At the time I was so shocked that I showed him a baby picture I had of myself that closely resembled my daughter. Later when I thought back on the incident, I was angry with myself for feeling the need to explain anything to him. I wished I had ignored him or given him a piece of my mind. After that day, I told myself that I would never be in that kind of situation again.

I wished I would have had some rehearsed responses and I would know what to do or say if it happened again–and I knew I wanted to prepare my children in the event it happened to them.

Here’s how I plan to tackle coversations with my kids about race:

Kill the Curiosity About Your Multiracial Child

My daughters are seven and four, and thankfully I haven’t had anyone ask them what they are, but I live in South Georgia, so I know it’s coming. I can see the surprised look on teacher’s faces when they meet our entire family for the first time–they aren’t always good at hididng their shock (or displeasure).

One day your multiracial child may be faced with questions about their skin color. It can be difficult facing questions from strangers about your child.

Since my kids are young, we don’t have open forum conversation about race (yet). We keep things age appropriate and talk about how our differences make us unique. The girls love the point out the things that they have with me versus the things in common with my husband.

Representation Through Media

One of the ways we encourage healthy self concept  is through books like the MVP Kids series. What I love about these books is that The sixteen MVP Kids, along with their parents, siblings and other family members, make up twelve families.

Not only do kids see themselves in the MVP Kids series, but they also learn about character values, responsibility and language. Each book offers a section of helpful teaching tips for parents at the back of each book.

Sometimes the greatest lessons can be learned through conversations that you have with your children while reading a book with diverse characters.

One day your multiracial child may be faced with questions about their skin color. It can be difficult facing questions from strangers about your child.

Thankfully authors are beginning to understand the need for children to see themselves represented everywhere (TV, magazines, books, etc). When your children see others who look like them, having these coversations get a little easier.

In the south, people often think that “mixed” means black and white, when in actuality, being of mixed race could be a combination of any races.

One day your multiracial child may be faced with questions about their skin color. It can be difficult facing questions from strangers about your child.

Representation In The Community

Not only is it important for your multiracial child to see themselves represented in print media, but also their families. I love to attend multicultural events where there are not only a variety of races and family dynamics present, but also cultures.

As a child raised in a Jamaican (military) family, I loved that our neighbors were also from different countries. We learned alot from each other and often shared new things about our cultures. I want to afford my children the same opportunities.

One day your multiracial child may be faced with questions about their skin color. It can be difficult facing questions from strangers about your child.

Discussing race with your child doesn’t have to be as daunting as it seems. Keep conversations age appropriate and use books, community events and everyday happenings to begin the important conversations about race with your young child.

Remember, if you don’t take the time to discuss it, someone else will. Help your child to take center  stage and own their identity.

Living While Black: The Day to Day Plight of Black Women

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Being a black woman in today’s day and age is hard.

Living as a black woman in America is hard. We are often treated differently, yet are expected to adhere to a set of invisible standards.

The death of Ahmaud Abrey Breonna Taylor has brought to light many issues in our country that have yet to be resolved.

In both cases, innocent black Americans were minding their own business and were murdered. Their families were left grieving without resolution and without justice for the murders.

Ahmaud Arbery was a 25-year-old black male running in his own neighborhood when he was cornered and gunned down because he was thought to be a suspect of break-ins in the neighborhood. At the time of his jog, he was just running. He was not committing a crime.

Breonna Taylor was a 26-year-old EMT who was shot in her home asleep by unmarked officers who entered the wrong home.

These stories need to be told so that we can take action and begin to receive justice.

As much as we like to use phrases like we all bleed the same, for black people, these words carry far heavier weight.

Hearing about the murders of innocent black men and black women is scary.

It causes us to have deep conversations with our children and in our communities–conversations that we shouldn’t have to have.

My children are biracial and light-skinned, but these conversations are still important for me to have with them.

Living as a black woman in America is hard. We are often treated differently, yet are expected to adhere to a set of invisible standards.

They are young, so they may not always understand the importance of these conversations, but they have to be had nonetheless.

The conversations start with my (white) husband and me, and then we talk about how to navigate life as a multiracial family during these times.

It’s not easy y’all.

As black women, we’re often treated differently. yet are expected to adhere to a set of invisible standards.

If I wear my hair in a certain way, people will judge me. They will make assumptions about my intelligence.

When I’m out alone with my kids, people often assume I’m a single mom until they catch a glimpse of my wedding band.

When I’m seeking medical attention, staff assume I am on public assistance (this has happened on more than 1 occasion. I even switched pediatricians because of it)

My pediatrician at the time even spoke to my daughter (who was 1) and told her to tell me to stop spending all of her college funds on her clothes.

I am treated differently when I wear my (large) natural hair vs. long straight hair.

Women assume that I find all white men attractive (sorry sista, just mine).

Being a black woman in complicated. Want to know more about what you can do? Check out this YouTube video I did with Brittany from The Almost Indian Wife.