Is anyone else here a master list-maker? I can make a to-do list that would make the most ambitious person nervous, even if they have 35 hours in their day.   Then I can really beat myself up when everything on the list doesn’t get done. I’m guessing I’m not the only one with this super power!

Yesterday I decided to turn this whole process on its head. I made a GOT DONE list. As I went through my day, I made a list of the things I got done. I listed some things I accomplished for my day job, some housekeeping tasks I tackled, some homeschool supervision work I did… You get the idea. 

It wasn’t a race to see how much I could get done. I didn’t have a goal of twenty things I wanted to accomplish. Instead it was proof. It was just what I needed when my mind started the I DIDN’T GET MUCH DONE TODAY game. There it was in black and white. I did get things done. It wasn’t a wasted day.

The emotional and mental weight of the day-to-day can be a bit much right now. We’ve never lived through a time like this. Be gentle with yourselves, friends. Give yourself grace. Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can with where you are right now. 

Want to add this reminder to your phone screen? You can download a copy of it here.

It’s mid-October, and that means it’s time to prep for fall and winter wellness! I know you want your family to be healthy and thriving this year, and I definitely want that for you!

So how do you make that happen without breaking the budget?

My pick for fall & winter (and year-round!) wellness is this amazing starter kit from Young Living. It’s packed with twelve essential oils to support all sorts of things…. digestive system, emotions, sleep, immune system, respiratory system, and more! And friends, let me tell you this… It’s much simpler to STAY healthy than it is to try to fight your way back to health!

The starter kit even includes a diffuser, which is so important! It’s the best way to get these oils out into the air for your whole family to breathe in. (So even if they’re a bit reluctant to apply oils, they still have to breathe!) Plus you’ll get some samples of other Young Living products — including a hand sanitizer that’s our go-to for cleaning our hands on the go!

And during October, you can get all of that plus a free bottle of Nutmeg (amazing for fall scented diffuser blends {swoon}), $10 to spend on other products on the site, free shipping from Young Living, and two bonus diffusers from me! Whew!! That’s what I call value!!

Here’s how!

• Go to YoungLiving.com and click Become a Member in the top right.
• Choose your starter kit. I recommend the oils kit with the Desert Mist diffuser. I love the design, and it runs up to 10 hours!
• For the best value, mark YES for both boxes to make your starter kit your first Essential Rewards monthly box.
• Choose one of the two kits shown for next month. (This just makes it simple and quick. You can easily change or cancel this within 30 days!)
• When prompted, enter the number 1531545 for the sponsor and enroller codes. That gets you connected with our group so we can support you as you get started!
• Check out & wait for your package to arrive!

Then you’ll enjoy your $10 in free points to spend on other products AND your free Nutmeg oil! I’ll ship your diffusers to you!

Zero commitment. Hands-down best deal. I call that win-win!!

Want to learn more about the oils that come in the starter kit? You can see what comes with it over on our sister site, The Oil Society!

Still have questions? Drop them here or email me at jennifer@theoilsociety.com. I love helping people get started with Young Living and walking together as we pursue a healthier lifestyle together!

This offer is good through October 31 for new Young Living members only.

You should NOT use Young Living essential oils if….

1. You would rather stare at the ceiling than sleep restfully at night.

Adding some Lavender or Stress Away essential oil to a diffuser at night may help you with more restful sleep. You may find your ceiling-staring time becomes very limited. So beware if you prefer the ceiling.

2. You want to hang on tightly to ALL THE STRESS of your day.

Do you truly enjoy the everyday stress that life can throw your way? If so, you don’t want to let that go, right!? You’ll want to avoid Frankincense, Lavender, Stress Away… any of the oils that help combat everyday stress.

3. You enjoy stomach discomfort.

If supporting normal digestion isn’t your cup of tea, then definitely avoid Peppermint Vitality and DiGize Vitality oils. They won’t help you hang onto that stomach discomfort!

4. You love the smell of stinky tennis shoes.

Do you wish someone would bottle that musty gym bag smell? Or maybe you prefer the aroma burned popcorn or laundry that’s been left wet in the washer for several days. Well, you certainly won’t want to allow Purification oil into your home. You don’t want anything that actually eliminates odors rather than covering them up!

5. You want your muscles to stay sore after you exercise.

You prefer to remember that workout with each move you make, right? If you don’t want to soothe those muscles after exercise (or even after a long car trip or sitting in meetings!), then avoid PanAway for sure.

6. You don’t want to support your immune system.

You prefer to let your immune system fend for itself rather than giving it the tools it needs to work well. If this is your mission, definitely avoid Thieves Vitality oil.

7. You don’t enjoy healthy-looking skin.

If healthy-looking skin irritates you, you should probably ban Frankincense from your house too. You wouldn’t want it sneaking in to keep your skin smooth and healthy-looking.

8. You prefer products filled with synthetic ingredients.

If the thought of those man-made, hard-to-pronounce ingredients makes your heart skip a beat, you definitely won’t want to go near Young Living essential oils. Young Living’s Seed to Seal purity guarantee is designed to keep harmful ingredients out. So that’s totally going to mess up your plan for indulging in preservatives, synthetics, and other toxic substances.

9. You don’t want to feel your best.

If feeling your best is highly over-rated in your book, then Young Living is not for you. Young Living is all about vibrant wellness. People who begin swapping out their old toxic products for all-natural products from Young Living often find that they have more energy and feel better.

10. You adore paying full price!

If you wouldn’t dream of getting the most for your money, don’t bother with Young Living’s wholesale account option. You wouldn’t want the 24% discount, right? You probably prefer things with strings attached, so a Young Living membership (with no strings!) isn’t for you.

I’m assuming that this is NOT your wish list. If you actually prefer the opposite of that list above, Young Living probably IS for you. We’ve spent the past few years enjoying more restful sleep, more days filled with wellness, removing harmful products from our home, and so much more. It’s been a lifestyle shift for us, and I wouldn’t ever want to go back.

The Premium Starter Kit is hands-down the best way to get started with Young Living. In the kit you get 11 essential oils and oil blends, a diffuser, product samples, travel-sized bottles you can fill with your favorite oils, and your wholesale membership, which entitles you to 24% off everything from that point forward! You can read more about what’s included in the kit by clicking here. You’re also welcome to send me a message with any questions that you have.

 

Plus, when you join through my link, you’re connected with my group. That means you have access to online classes, personal coaching, educational materials, private Facebook groups, and the support you need to get you started confidently. I want you to experience the same benefits that we have!

 

Click here to get started.

Once you get started, I think you’ll find FAR more than 10 reasons why everyone SHOULD be using Young Living essential oils.

Anyone else’s Facebook feed filled with people talking about how awful they feel? Or does anyone else have someone under their own roof who you wish wouldn’t share??

We’ve all been there! So let’s dive in and talk about what we can do to keep our immune systems strong! If we can keep that running smoothly, we can keep ourselves well.

Sugar

Okay, let’s get me being the bad guy out of the way from the get go, m’kay? Sugar has to go, especially in the winter months. Eating sugar suppresses the immune system for several hours. Grabbing a handful of berries is a much better option.

Sleep

Let’s talk about my personal weakness… Getting enough sleep. Does anyone else fall prey to One More Thing Syndrome every night? When it’s time to go to bed, I always think of one more thing that needs done. Surely it won’t take that long, right? But often it does, and I end up shorting myself some much-needed sleep. Not getting enough sleep can raise our stress hormones, which can raise inflammation in the body. That’s not what we want for our immune systems. So making sure we get 7 to 9 hours each night is the goal!

ALL the Thieves!

Thieves Vitality is our BFF right now. One drop in a cup of tea or apple juice is a great way to boost the immune system. We also love to keep counters clean with Thieves Household Cleaner (all the clean and none of the nasty ingredients). I keep Thieves Hand Purifier in my purse for quick freshening up without water when we’re on the go too.

Supplement It

I can’t say enough about the amazing lineup of supplements we’ve been using this winter. Let me give you a quick rundown of why we love them.

• Life9 – This is Young Living’s high-potency probiotic. When I learned that a strong immune system starts with a healthy gut, I got busy focusing on gut health. Probiotics put the good bacteria in your gut to keep it working well. Our daughter doesn’t swallow capsules yet, so we open one and sprinkle it on some applesauce or yogurt for her. She promises that she can’t taste it at all.
• Elderberry Syrup – We weren’t using this daily at the beginning of the winter season, but we are now! Elderberry syrup boosts the immune system and feeds the body antioxidants at the same time. I’d like to investigate making my own, but for now we use this syrup or these gummies.
• Colloidal Silver – For the sake of time and not wanting you to read a novel here, I’ll let you Google this one. It’s got SO many uses and benefits!
• Inner Defense – This is Young Living’s immune system superhero! It’s packed with essential oils that promote healthy respiratory function and boost the immune system. Some people take one daily. Others take 3-5 daily just as needed. Either one works!

Diffuse the Situation

We also love to run our diffuser through the winter. Not only does that keep us from using toxic sprays, wax melts, or candles in our home, but it also helps to freshen and purify the air. That’s a win!

Some of our winter diffuser favorites are RC, Purification, Frankincense, Lavender, Stress Away… There are SO many great options!

Diffusing makes the house smell great, helps clean the air, and calms everyday stress. Those are all helpful for staying healthy!

Getting Started

Getting your oils is simple! Just head on over here, and make sure my number (1531545) shows up in both boxes. That’s going to get you connected to our group, some fabulous free resources, exclusive Facebook groups, and the support you need to get started!

Then choose the Premium Starter Kit with the Dewdrop or Desert Mist diffuser. If you want to add on some Thieves Hand Purifier (for you, your kiddos, or your favorite teacher) or Inner Defense, you can do that before you finish checking out.

Work your way through all of the screens, and you’re set! Be sure to write down your member number, password, and PIN so you can use them in the future. Then drop me a note and let me know that your kit is on its way! Then I’ll drop a welcome package in the mail for you!

This has been the absolute best health investment that my family has made. I can’t wait for you to join us on this journey!

Around here, I’m known for being a hand washing drill sergeant. The moment we walk in the door from ANYWHERE, the first words out of my mouth have something to do with washing your hands. {Those words may be met with eye rolling from my family…}

Hand washing is a quick & easy thing to do to support our wellness. But I want to make sure that we’re not washing our hands with anything that will do more harm than good. Antibacterial soap may sound like a good idea, but not when it washes away the good bacteria along with the bad. Most grocery store or Bath & Body Works soaps contain artificial fragrances that aren’t good for you at all. Let’s not defeat the purpose of hand washing… staying healthy!

My solution? I’ve been mixing up my own healthy foaming hand soap. It’s SO easy!

Don’t have Young Living essential oils yet? Let’s change that, my friend! Drop me a message here with your questions, and we’ll make sure you have all the info you need to get started!

Our daughter Emma ditched food dye about a year ago. While that may sound like something that should make a mama do a backflip of joy, it’s been hard. Really hard. But it’s also very important. We all realize how food dye affects her, and she doesn’t like feeling out of control like that.

Emma is an amazing label-reader… much better than I am even. I’m pretty sure she’s got a mobile food dye radar rigged up inside her pocket!

We’ve been blown away by the strange places we’ve found food dye sneaking in! Emma was going to splurge once on a Little Debbie Swiss Roll. (I know. I know. Don’t judge! ) Would you believe that Swiss Rolls contain Yellow #5, Red #40, and Blue #1??? TO MAKE CHOCOLATE LOOK LIKE CHOCOLATE! Needless to say, there’s other junk in there that we don’t usually eat, but hey… it was supposed to be a rare splurge. She chose to not splurge on Swiss Rolls.

When her 12th birthday was approaching in January, she decided she wanted an emoji themed party. That sounded like fun to me! Emoji napkins! Emoji plates!

Then we came to the cake. I always make her cakes. (And y’all… I make a KILLER buttercream using the recipe in this ebook!) How was I supposed to make emoji cakes without food dye?

I started searching and found two more natural options. So of course I ordered both of them. This definitely called for some kitchen experimenting!

The Color Kitchen Cupcake Coloring Set worked well, but the McCormick Natural Food Coloring was awesome! They were both packets of powder, which was a big difference for me. Both brands blended into the icing well. Neither made the icing taste funky (a HUGE factor! Don’t mess with my buttercream!).

When I order next time though, I’ll choose the McCormick brand colors. Both brands were pretty, but the McCormick ones were much more vivid. This was crucial for emojis.

The McCormick colors also had resealable envelopes for each color. Truth is… I still didn’t save the ones that were open. I had visions of them unexpectedly falling out of the box and forever staining my countertops. I’m OCD like that.

I thought the finished cakes came out well, but Emma was absolutely THRILLED with them! And that’s what really mattered!

Chocolate and peanut butter. In my world, the flavor combinations don’t get much better that that! So when my sweet tooth starts me craving a Reese’s cup, I need to make sure I have a healthier option on hand. The struggle is real, friends.

Today I took the Pay Off Day Candy recipe from the THM cookbook and put my own chocolate-peanut butter spin on it!

Ahhhhh… Daylight Savings ends this weekend, and that means we get an extra hour of sleep Saturday night! (My heart goes out to those of you who have small children or pets who don’t seem to care about things like extra sleep. )

However, with the extra hour of sleep comes the season of less sunlight. And less sunlight means that many of us will need extra emotional support. There are some things we can do to help balance our emotions this time of year.

Get sunlight when you can.

Sure, sunlight may be less available this time of year, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there! Sometimes getting outside to soak in a bit of sun can be just the mood boost that we need. Grabbing a few extra minutes with some skin exposed to the sun also lets your body produce its own vitamin D, which is a huge boost to your immune system. That’s win-win!

Pay attention to your gut.

Hmm… Your gut and emotions all in the same post? While it may sound a little strange, science backs it up. I recently learned that over 90% of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut. If you’re not familiar with serotonin, it’s a neurotransmitter that affects mood, sleep, and more. I don’t know about you, but I want to make sure that my gut is healthy and producing what it’s supposed to produce!

We support gut health by taking a high-quality probiotic. Our choice is Life9 from Young Living. It not only helps support our immune systems, but it supports overall gut health. As strange as it sounds, gut health is key for emotional support.

Support your sleep.

The change in seasons can also affect our sleep cycles. I don’t know about you, but I can function far better when I’ve gotten a solid night of sleep! We originally got our Young Living essential oils to help our daughter get more restful sleep (which meant WE could get more restful sleep!). This has definitely been one of our biggest oil successes! Over the past few years, we’ve found so many different oils that help with sleep.

• Cedarwood ::Cedarwood is balancing and relaxing. Our daughter rolls this on her feet at night.
• Stress Away :: The name says it all! Stress away is relaxing and comforting. We put this in our daughter’s diffuser at night.
• Orange :: Citrus oils are all happy, uplifting scents, but they’re also great for emotional balance. We also put Orange in our daughter’s diffuser at night. Mixing Orange and Stress Away reminds me of the smell of orange creamsicles. It’s divine!
• Lavender :: Lavender is known for it’s relaxing properties, which make it a perfect choice for sleep! You can add several drops to a cup of Epsom salts to make a relaxing bath soak, apply it directly on your skin, or put it in a diffuser.
• Tranquil :: Tranquil is a pre-blended roll-on that kids and adults can use before bed. The roller makes it easy and convenient to apply.

Balance your days.

While we love our oils for sleeping at night, we also love them during the day. I personally use them for emotional balance, especially on gloomy days that can affect my mood. I regularly reach for Joy, White Angelica, Stress Away, and Valor II. These are fabulous oils for applying topically or diffusing.

When I’m going to be out running errands or away for the day, I make sure to put at least one emotional balancing oil in my purse. I regularly apply it away from home, and I’ve shared it with others! Diffuser jewelry is another great way to make sure that you’re getting that steady stream of emotional balancing oils throughout the day. I’ve been amazed at what a difference this has made for me.

People matter.

Trying to manage the swings that can come with the changing of the seasons isn’t always easy. Be sure to surround yourself with some people who understand what’s going on and who can walk with you through the harder days. There are legitimate changes going on – both outside in nature and inside with our body chemistry. So lean on your support system, or be that support for someone who might be walking through some seasonal struggles.

If you would like more information about how to get started with Young Living essential oils, click here.

If you’ve been around for a while, you may remember the 30-Day Giving Challenge. If not, let me share the history of one of my favorite events with you!

The 30-Day Giving Challenge started back in 2009 when my friend Alyssa challenged us to give in SOME way each day of November. We each used a journal to jot down how we were able to give each day. It could be a grocery store gift card for the single mom in need, or it could be as simple as a phone call to someone who could use a little pick-me-up. The most important part was to simply focus on giving.

What started out as one woman’s challenge spread the following year. A group of us worked together to get the giving message out. After doing that for a couple of years, our group had to lay down the organized project. I know that many of you have continued this tradition on your own.

But this year…. Our group event is back! And YOU can be a part!

How?

It’s simple! Be intentional, and give in some way every day for the next 30 days. It doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost you a penny! Clear out some clutter in your home and donate some things to a charity. Get something free with a coupon, and give it to the food bank. Bake some cookies for a neighbor. Call someone who needs to smile. Get creative!

You can use one of our printable calendars to journal your giving. It might be fun to print one for each member of your family!

For me, November is going to be all about taking my eyes off of myself and being more aware. I want to be aware of other people and their needs. I want to make a conscious effort to meet some of those needs. I want to be a blessing to someone each day, even if they don’t know that it was me who blessed them. I want to be God’s hands and feet, helping people who could use a smile, a kind word, or a helping hand. And I want to teach our daughter to do the same.

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving and get ready for the Christmas season?

Join Us!

This year The 30-Day Giving Challenge is partnering with Oily Families to encourage you to create a legacy of abundant giving. We’ll be sharing inspiration, ideas for giving, and more in our Facebook event. Come over and join us so you can follow along!

We’ll be working together to bless our friends, family, neighbors, and complete strangers by making a conscious effort to give each day of November. And we’ll do it all for God’s glory! Join us?

photo credit

It’s that time of year…. Pumpkin Spice ALL.THE.THINGS. I used to have candles in every room of our home. Now those same scented candles make it hard to breathe and just don’t smell good. People are finally waking up to the fact that their air “fresheners,” scented candles, and wax melts are actually pumping harmful chemicals into our homes. I always wondered why candles and plug-in air fresheners gave me such a headache and breathing issues.

Unfortunately manufacturers can hide many harmful ingredients on their product labels. They simply group them under “fragrance” on the ingredients lists. These artificial perfumes can cause headaches and so much more.

Spray and plug-in air fresheners have similar effects. The EPA has found that air fresheners “release pollutants more or less continuously” and that they contain other hazardous air pollutants.

Wax melts have become a candle alternative for many people. Unfortunately the major producers of wax melts won’t release the full ingredients, calling them “secret”. We do know that they’re made with paraffin wax, which is a petroleum by-product that is formed when crude oil is refined. Heating paraffin wax can release formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, and other toxins into the air. These increase the risk of cancer. Wax melts also contain artificial fragrance.

A Healthy Alternative

I don’t know about you, but for me cooler weather means cozy sweaters, hot tea, and spicy fragrances. Since I want to avoid the harmful chemicals found in candles, air fresheners, and wax melts, I was excited to find a healthy alternative for our home.

Rather than lighting a candle or spraying something harmful, we’ve been firing up our essential oil diffusers this fall. If you’re not familiar with diffusers, they’re a simple way to get essential oils into the air of your home.

Our Young Living Dewdrop Diffuser (pictured above) is an ultrasonic diffuser that releases a cool mist combination of oils and water. It also acts as a humidifier for dry fall and winter months. I love that I can use it to make our house smell fresh and inviting in a healthy way.

Here are some of my current favorite scents and blends.

• Light the Fire :: This is a Young Living exclusive blend of Northern Lights Black Spruce, Nutmeg, Cassia (Cinnamon), and other oils. The fragrance is warm and inviting, perfect for cooler fall and winter days.
• Thieves & Orange :: I love the combination of the Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, and other oils in Thieves. A few drops of Orange oil sweetens the fragrance for the perfect combination.
• Christmas Spirit :: This is a blend of Orange, Cinnamon, and Spruce, all in one bottle. These are ideal scents for the fall and winter.
• Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Nutmeg :: I really enjoy combining different fragrances in our diffuser. This fall I’ve been mixing different spicy scents. It reminds me of the scented candles I used to burn, but without the negative side effects that come with synthetic fragrances.
• Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lime :: We affectionately named this one our “fruit salad” diffuser blend. The fragrances are uplifting and enjoyable.

It’s fun to experiment with scents to freshen our home. If you would like to try using essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances to freshen your home, this is a great time to make the switch. If you don’t yet have essential oils, I would love to help you get started with them. They’ve made such an impact on our family’s wellness, and I want each of you to have that same experience.

It’s super easy. Here’s how:

1. Click here to start the sign-up process.
2. Choose the ‘Member’ option so you can get the 24% discount.
3. You should see my member number (1531545) in the Enroller and Sponsor boxes. This ensures that we’re connected so I can support you as you learn about oils and how to use them. Young Living also sends me a small bonus when you enroll through me. Hit the Continue button.
4. Choose your starter kit. I HIGHLY recommend the $160 Premium Starter Kit, as you’ll get the most bang for your buck that way.
5. Choose your diffuser. The $160 Starter Kit comes with the Dew Drop Diffuser or the Home Diffuser, both great choices for starting out.
6. Skip the Essential Rewards Kits, and we’ll chat more about that later.
7. Add anything else that you might need (supplements, Thieves hand soap, etc.) or hit Next to leave the order as-is. If you continue on, a pop-up will confirm that you want to skip the Essential Rewards and continue enrollment.
8. Fill in all of your information.
9. Keep your username, password, and PIN so you can use them for future orders.
10. Check out and wait for your box. The waiting is the hardest part!!

If you have questions, feel free to send them to me. You can also check out my Young Living information page for some general information or click here to learn why we chose Young Living over all the other brands of essential oils.

I hope you’ll consider switching from candles, wax melts, and air fresheners to the healthier option of essential oils in your diffuser. You’ll miss out on the harmful chemicals and reap the benefits of diffusing.

Westward the Dream by Judith Pella

As the U.S. descends into the Civil War, photographer Brenton Baldwin travels west with his sister Jordana, taking pictures of the developing lands and in search of their sister. Along for the trip is young Caitlan O’Connor, who has just arrived from Ireland. Will they make it to California to find their family despite the danger that looms ahead? And can early romance grow into love in the face of trials and tragedy? Click here to download.

Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson

The logging industry in eastern Texas is booming, and Deborah Vandermark plans to assist her family’s business now that she’s completed college. Unexpectedly, her best friend, Lizzie Decker, accompanies her back home–fleeing a wedding and groom she has no interest in. Deborah, the determined matchmaker, puts her sights on uniting her brother and dear friend in a true love match.

Deborah soon meets Dr. Christopher Clayton, a much-needed addition to the town. As their lives intersect, Deborah realizes that she has a much greater interest in medicine and science than the bookkeeping she was trained in. But when typhoid begins to spread and Lizzie’s jilted fiance returns, Deborah wonders if true love can overcome such obstacles…for those dearest to her, and for herself. Click here to download.

A Promise to Believe In by Tracie Peterson

Gwen, Beth, and Lacy Gallatin fashion a life for themselves in the Montana wilds, operating a roadhouse that is located at the crossroads of two major stage lines. When their father is accidentally killed, the oldest sister, Gwen, reasons that she’s cursed. After all, death seems to haunt her: her mother, now her father…and she was married for a mere ten days before her husband died from a bout of measles.

As Gwen and her sisters struggle to maintain the inn on their own, an unexpected visitor adds to the mayhem. Hank Bishop claims to be searching for something in the possession of Gwen’s late husband. But mayhem of another sort builds in Gwen’s heart as she finds a growing attraction to this man. Can she dare to hope that love might again be hers? Click here to download.

The Icecutter’s Daughter by Tracie Peterson

Merrill Krause longs for a family of her own, but she’s bound by a promise to her dying mother to care for her father and older brothers until they no longer need her. She enjoys being part of the family business, harvesting ice during the brutal Minnesota winters. Merrill actively takes part, possessing a keen ability to work with the horses–despite the advice of her good friend, who disapproves of her unladylike behavior.

When Rurik Jorgenson arrives in their small town to join his uncle doing carpentry, he soon crosses paths with Merrill. But unlike other men, who are often frightened away by her older brothers, Rurik isn’t intimidated by them or by Merrill’s strength and lack of femininity. As he thrives under the mentorship of his uncle, Rurik dreams of inheriting the business and claiming Merrill as his wife. But while he is determined to start a new life, the past is determined to follow him when his former fiancee and her brother show up in town. Soon Rurik is put in the center of a major scandal that may damage his relationship with Merrill. Can they learn to trust God–and each other–and embrace the promise of love? Click here to download.

The Tender Years by Janette Oke

Continuing the story from Love Comes Softly, the granddaughter of the Davis’s experiences a tragedy, she has a crisis of faith. Click here to download.

Chasing the Sun by Tracie Peterson

When her father disappears in war-torn Mississippi, Hannah Dandridge finds herself responsible not only for her younger siblings but for the ranch her father recently acquired on the Texas plains. Though a marriage of convenience could ease her predicament, she determines to trust God for direction.

Wounded soldier William Barnett returns to his home only to discover that his family’s ranch has been seized. Though angry and bitter at this turn of events, he’s surprised to discover that it is a beautiful young woman with amazing fortitude who is struggling to keep the place running.

Hannah, desperate for help, and William, desperate to regain his family’s land, form an uneasy truce. But nearby Comanche tribes, the arrival of Confederate soldiers, and a persistent suitor all threaten the growing attraction that builds between them. Will they be able to set aside their own dreams and embrace the promise of a future together? Click here to download.

Dawn’s Prelude by Tracie Peterson

Newly widowed Lydia Sellers discovers that through an unforeseen fluke, she is the sole recipient of her husband’s fortune. But instead of granting her security, it only causes strife as her adult stepchildren battle to regain the inheritance for themselves. Lydia, longing to put the memories of her painful marriage behind her, determines to travel to Alaska to join her aunt.

Lydia’s arrival in Sitka, however, brings two things she didn’t expect. One is the acquaintance of Kjell Bjorklund, the handsome owner of the sawmill. Second is the discovery that she is pregnant with her dead husband’s child. What will this mean for her budding relationship with Kjell? And what lengths will her stepchildren go to reclaim their father’s fortune? Lydia soon finds her life–and that of her child’s–on the line. Click here to download.

Gathering Shadows by Nancy Mehl

Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn’t take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can’t pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station’s photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town’s handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family’s past hides in the shadows, it’s clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she’s searching for hidden forever–even if the cost is Wynter’s very life. Click here to download.

Remember, you don’t have to have a Kindle to read these. You can read them on your computer, iPhone, BlackBerry, iPad, Droid, or Windows phone. Amazon changes prices quickly, so if you want these free books, be sure to grab them now. I haven’t read all of these, so I’m not personally recommending them. I just wanted to let you know that they were available for free. You can find more free eBooks here.

Mental focus…. It’s one of the biggest obstacles kids face as they head back to school. Who am I kidding? Mental focus is one of the biggest obstacles we grown-ups face as we work through our daily tasks! I’m sure I’m not the only one who has struggled to keep my focus on a task until I get it done.

Fortunately there’s an oil for that! Actually there are LOTS of oils for that. One of the most powerful combos is nicknamed The Focus Roller. It combines three oils known for their calming properties – Cedarwood, Lavender, and Vetiver.

Cedarwood has a relaxing, calming, comforting aroma. Because of its benefits, Cedarwood is also an ingredient in Brain Power, Grounding, and Highest Potential oil blends.

Lavender is well-known and respected for its soothing and relaxing scent. Lavender is also used in several oil blends, including the popular Stress Away.

Vetiver has a scent that is earthy and grounding, making it a natural choice for focus support.

Does it surprise you that all three of these oils that support focus have relaxing properties? It makes sense! When do we focus and concentrate best? When we’re stressed and anxious or when we’re calm and relaxed?

These three oils can be used individually. You can diffuse them or apply them topically on you or your children. For The Focus Roller, you combine all three into a focus powerhouse! Simply add 15 drops of each oil to a 10ml roller bottle. Top it off with some of Young Living’s V-6 oil, or use olive oil or almond oil. Add the roller top, shake it all up, and roll it on the back of the neck before school, before homework time, or any time when you or your kids need an extra boost of mental focus.

Vetiver is a very thick oil. You may need to take the silicone stopper off the bottle and let the oil drip directly from the bottle. You can do your best guesstimate the 15 drop amount. You can also put the bottle in your pocket or roll it between your hands to warm it, thinning the oil a bit.

If you’re already a Young Living member, your Premium Starter Kit came with a bottle of Lavender. You’ll just need Cedarwood and Vetiver to make your Focus Roller.

If you’re not yet a Young Living member, you’re in luck! Order your Premium Starter Kit now through Wednesday (8/31), and you’ll get a FREE 15ml bottle of Cedarwood! If you want to make The Focus Roller, simply add a bottle of Vetiver to your order. You’ll be ready to make your roller.

I mentioned before that there are LOTS of oils you can use to help with mental focus. I personally use Peppermint and Clarity when I need to concentrate. Peppermint wakes me up and makes me feel more alert. Our 11 year old sometimes grabs the Peppermint bottle before she starts working on her math during our homeschool time. Clarity is one I apply topically when I have a project I’m working on.

You can order by clicking here. Using that link will auto-populate my member number (1531545) so that we’re connected. I’ll send you some of my favorite educational resources so you can learn more about your oils. You can also be added to our private Facebook groups where you can ask questions and find more ideas for ways to use your oils!

Mental focus is just one of the many ways we use our oils. We also love them for cleaning, freshening the air in our home, freshening carpets, calming and relaxing naturally, boosting our immune systems, better sleep, chemical-free personal care… all kinds of things! I’d love to walk with you as you get started on your own essential oil journey!

If you’re new here, you may not know that I spent many years as a fifth grade teacher in public schools. I remember well the excitement, anticipation, and stress of the back-to-school season. Whether you work in a public or private school or teach your own kids as a homeschooler, you want this year to be the happiest, healthiest school year ever!

Are you a teacher?

If so, you can get a $20 Amazon gift card from me when you get started as a new Young Living member with a Premium Starter Kit this month. Plus, Young Living is throwing in a 15ml bottle of Cedarwood essential oil with every kit purchase. So you’ll get TWELVE bottles of oil instead of the usual eleven. And as always, you’ll get amazing support from me and our oils group! I’ll hold your hand as you get started and give you some fabulous reference materials to help you use your oils like a PRO from Day 1.

**** This offer is open to homeschool teachers too! ****

In your starter kit, you’ll find oils to help with immune system support, memory and recall, occasional stress, mental focus, minor muscle tension, classroom odors, and more! Plus you’ll get a diffuser to help get oils into the air where everyone can benefit from them.

Want to learn more? I’m co-hosting a Back-to-School essential oils class on Facebook on Thursday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Join us to learn how these incredible oils can help you make this the best year ever! You can RSVP and find more information on the event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/339255123072462/

If you’d like to get started and take advantage of this August-only special, you can contact me here or click here to get your starter kit ordered. Using Young Living essential oils is one of the best decisions my family has ever made. We’re experiencing health and wellness and removing SO many toxic chemicals from our home. If you would like that for your own family, let’s talk about how to make it happen!

*Must use sponsor and enroller number 1531545 when ordering to qualify. Bonus Amazon gift card will be delivered via email within 30 days of ordering.

We stepped out of Cracker Barrel just as six fingers of lightning split the sky and made us jump back further under the cover of the roof. I love a good thunderstorm, but I hadn’t seen lightning like THAT for a long time! I made Emma RUN to the truck. We weren’t going to waste time strolling through the parking lot tonight.

As we drove home, the sun broke through ahead of us, clearing away the clouds. If we looked out the front window, we saw bright sunny skies. If we looked out the back window, we saw the ominous storm clouds. We knew this was the perfect setting for a rainbow.

We watched and waited as my husband drove. We checked each of the windows over and over, our heads moving like we were watching a tennis match behind us. Sure enough we spotted it making an appearance just before we exited the highway! It was HUGE. My husband pulled into a parking lot at the end of the exit ramp so we could admire it without causing a wreck.

Of course my picture through the water spotted front window of the truck didn’t do the rainbow justice. But we sat and enjoyed the view for a few minutes before continuing home.

As we drove, we (minus my husband who was driving) continued to stare at the rainbow. Emma commented on how its brightness made it easy to distinguish each color. I was captivated. While I’ve seen my fair share of rainbows in my lifetime, I’ve never specifically watched for one to appear and then been able to see it end to end like that. It was fun!

Then I realized that people were missing out on our rainbow. The semi truck driver in the parking lot was busy typing on his phone, head down, oblivious to the beauty. As we pulled into our road, I noticed a man tucked away in his garage with his car hood propped open. Another neighbor was working on his yard. Their busyness meant they were missing out.

How often do we miss the rainbows? How often does God put a fun blessing right in front of us only to find us distracted or too busy?

This week, let’s try to keep our eyes open for the creative ways that God shows His incredible love for us. Let’s hear the birds singing His love song to us. Let’s admire the special delivery of a springtime bouquet in the fields. Let’s feel the rumbles of thunder as we watch with anticipation for the beauty of the rainbow to appear.

As we’ve been talking about spring cleaning this week, I’ve realized something about myself. As much as I wish I was a person who could pop out of bed one morning and decide that TODAY’S THE DAY to do spring cleaning, that’s just not me. I’m more of a spring cleaning survivalist. I will make it through the process if I’m smart about it. Today I want to share a few of my survival tips with you.

Have a Manageable Plan

I don’t know about you, but I can’t tackle it all in one day. If I tried to do that, I would start the day ambitiously but fizzle mid-morning. Instead, I prefer to break big jobs like this into smaller, bite-sized pieces. I figure the dirt didn’t get there in one day, so there’s no need to remove it all in one day either.

Using this Spring Cleaning Checklist, try splitting the tasks into manageable amounts for each day. Spreading it out can make spring cleaning feel a lot less overwhelming! My plan is to tackle one room each day and do a task or two from the “Throughout the House” section each day.

Planning ahead is the key to make tackling a huge project (like spring cleaning) a little easier.

Gather Your Supplies

Knowing which tasks I’m going to get done is as important as gathering supplies, making sure I have some chocolate stashed for mid-cleaning emergencies… All the important things! But seriously… I mentioned my love of lists yesterday. I’ve also started another list, a cleaning supply list. Being ready with supplies means being able to move from task to task without having to make a run to the store.

I stopped by Walmart the other day to stock up on a few spring cleaning essentials. When there’s a lot of dirt to tackle, I prefer Viva® paper towels because they’re strong and durable like cloth. Plus the Viva® Vantage (with their scrubby texture) hold up well whether I’m scrubbing baseboards, getting toothpaste off of bathroom counters, or degreasing the stovetop. I can choose Viva® Towels for other jobs (including hands and faces!) where their smooth texture works best. I was thrilled to find $1 off coupons stuck on the packages of Viva® Vantage and Towels. Win!

I’ve also got a spray bottle of my all-purpose natural cleaner and a bucket ready. You can find all kinds of great spring cleaning supplies here.

Recruit Some Help

Making spring cleaning a shared job has several benefits. Cleaning as a team makes the job go much quicker. It also helps everyone in the house take ownership of the final product. Maybe helping get the house clean will help everyone keep it cleaner long-term.

Delegation isn’t my strong suit, so this is one I’ll need to work on. I’ve found that laying the day’s to do list on the counter and asking everyone to choose some jobs has worked best in the past. So we’ll be trying that again.

Restock Along the Way

As we clean, we’ll also be taking note of things that need restocked around the house. Having household staples well stocked before summer means fewer trips to the store and more time spent at home.

Walmart is helping everyone stock up with great prices on bath tissues. Cottonelle® is the only brand with CleanRipple Texture. Scott 1000® offers long-lasting value. Either way you can stock up at pocketbook-friendly prices.

Plan for Dinner During Breakfast

If you’re the kind of person who likes to tackle as much of the list as possible in one day, it helps to plan ahead for dinner. After a long day of cleaning, the last thing anyone wants to do is spend time cooking dinner. Taking a few minutes to put dinner in the Crock Pot at the beginning of the day means a home-cooked meal without much prep.

Make it Fun

Cleaning can be tiring and a bit of a drag, but only if you let it. Instead, crank up some music or make a game of it. Have some contests to see who can get their job done quickest. Narrate your tasks with silly voices. Dance through the house while cleaning. The job will feel lighter and get done quicker if it’s fun.

Reward Yourself

Who doesn’t love a good incentive for getting a job done? Rewarding yourself (and your helpers) is a fun way to end your spring cleaning project. Maybe it’s a dinner out, a family game night, or a long soak in a hot (and now sparkling clean!) tub. Do something to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

Want more spring cleaning tips and tricks?

Pinterest is full of fabulous cleaning ideas! I’ve gathered a few of my favorites on my spring cleaning board. Enjoy!

Feel free to share your favorite spring cleaning tips in the comments!

We’re talking about Spring cleaning this week, and our discussion wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of organization. It’s time for a LIST! Don’t you love checking things off of a list? Confession… Sometimes I write things on my to do list just so I can check them off.

This list may or may not cover all of your Spring cleaning tasks, but it’s a good place to start. Take a look at the tasks and start making a list of the supplies you’re going to need to get cleaning.

Click here to download our printable Spring cleaning checklist.

Be sure to read the week’s first post about using safe cleaners.

Spring is in the air, and that means birds chirping, sun shining, and dirt seemingly popping out of nowhere inside the house! Where WAS all this dirt hiding all winter? Unfortunately it was right here hanging out in our space. Now’s the time to get ready to tackle it.

This week we’re going to be chatting a bit about how we get ready for Spring cleaning. I don’t know about you, but around here we kind of need to gear up to tackle a BIG cleaning project.

Check Your Labels

Before we start our actual cleaning, let’s take a look at the products we’ll be using. Without even checking the labels, you may know of some products you don’t want your kids to handle. Maybe they have an ammonia-type smell, or maybe the labels carry warnings against kids using them. There are some products that simply aren’t safe for kids to use for cleaning.

Let’s think about that for a moment. If those products aren’t safe for your kids, do YOU really want to be handling them or inhaling the fumes? Sure you can open a bathroom window or use an exhaust fan, but the toxic odor still lingers.

Some people clean with white vinegar. This can be effective, but I honestly don’t want my house smelling like an Easter egg when I’m done cleaning. I’d rather be left with a pleasant scent AND the knowledge that the house is clean. I want our home to be clean, fresh, and inviting for everyone.

My Solution

For the past two years, I’ve been cleaning our home with Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner. My mom and I shared a bottle when we got our first set of essential oils. I was intrigued by the idea of natural cleaning that smelled good.

Thieves Household Cleaner is infused with Thieves essential oil. Thieves is a blend of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils, giving it a rich, spicy aroma. The name may seem a bit odd, but it comes with a story. The blend is based on the legend of four 15th-century French thieves who formulated a special aromatic combination composed of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals used while robbing the dead and dying. Thieves is a cleaning powerhouse!

Once I used Thieves Household Cleaner, I was amazed at how well it worked! Now I’m hooked! I love that it’s free of dangerous and synthetic ingredients and that it contains Lemon essential oil. Talk about an uplifting scent! I also love that it’s kid-safe and pet-safe, made with 100% plant- and mineral-based ingredients. It’s freeing to be able to hand our daughter the Thieves Household Cleaner bottle and some paper towels and send her off to clean. I’ve also heard that you don’t have to panic if you happen to spill Thieves Household Cleaner on the kitchen counter and it runs down the cabinets onto the floor and your dogs start licking it. Not that I’ve ever done that. Ahem. Did I mention that it’s pet-safe too???

We use our Thieves Household Cleaner to clean sinks, counters, mirrors windows, baseboards, carpets, floors, and more! It’s truly an all-purpose cleaner.

The bottle of Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living is a concentrate. One of the 14.4 oz bottles will actually make about 10-12 large spray bottles of cleaner. That means that each bottle ends up costing less than the traditional chemical-filled cleaners I used to buy!

Want to Try It?

If you’re as intrigued as I was, you can get your own Thieves Household Cleaner straight from Young Living. You can order a bottle as a retail customer (where you’ll pay a little more), or you can sign up as a wholesale member. As a wholesale member, you can choose the traditional essential oil starter kit, or you can get a starter kit filled with Thieves products. This is such an incredible way to clear the chemicals out of your home!

To get started, click here. If you’re most interested in the Thieves Starter Kit pictured above (which comes with TWO bottles of Thieves Household Cleaner concentrate!), just click the “Other Premium Kits” tab when it’s time to choose your starter kit. You’ll see the Thieves kit there.

You should automatically find my member number on your signup form (#1531545). This associates you with me, and it allows me to offer you support as you get started with your oils or your Thieves Household Cleaner. It makes you eligible for our private Facebook groups where we share tips and information about natural wellness and cleaning. If you choose one of the Premium Starter Kits or the Thieves kit, I’ll also send you a valuable welcome package that will help you get started. I can’t WAIT for you to start with these natural solutions you can feel good about.

You can get more information about getting started with Young Living by clicking here.

More Uses for Thieves Household Cleaner

Want to make the most of your Thieves Household Cleaner? I’ll leave you with several ways you can use it around the house. Be sure to come back later this week as we do more Spring cleaning prep!

I love being able to buy fresh, organic fruits and veggies for my family. We don’t live in the land of Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, so organic selection can a bit limited, especially during the winter months.

GrubMarket firmly believes that you, your family, and your friends should always have the opportunity to eat well, and that price should never be a barrier between you and healthy, delicious, and freshly-harvested food. GrubMarket is all about accessibility by offering:

• Unbeatable Prices: Many food delivery services cater to high-income earners. GrubMarket is committed to making fresh and delicious food accessible to all people by keeping their prices consistently lower than all comparable grocers.
• Convenience: GrubMarket is committed to providing people in food deserts (areas without farmers’ markets and fresh grocery stores) with access to high-quality, freshly-harvested items they might find at a farmers’ market or Whole Foods stores.
• Food Discovery: GrubMarket offers small farms and vendors an opportunity to sell directly to customers. Many of these food producers don’t have shelf space at grocery stores or table space at farmers’ market tables. Though GrubMarket, we have access to these food producers.

GrubMarket offers wholesome foods at wholesale prices, bringing you high-quality foods and other items at prices that are up to 50% OFF what you’d typically find at Whole Foods and other grocers. Now that’s a WIN!

We were excited to have the California Fruit Bounty box delivered to our home!

It was fun to unpack all of the unique fruits that were part of the box. We found a pineapple, a pomegranate, some pears, some apples, a grapefruit, some Medjool dates, some oranges, an avocado, a Minneola tangelo, and a blood orange.

A couple of the fruits were new to us, so we packed them in our lunches when we went to our homeschool co-op. As we peeled the blood orange, we ended up having a mini food lesson right at our lunch table! We shared some samples and looked online for more information about the fruit. The kids were fascinated!

And my family may have had a little fun with the package contents while I wasn’t looking…….

GrubMarket is offering a 20% discount for all readers of The Simple Pen. To claim yours, simply head over to GrubMarket, place your order, and use the promo code GRUB20 at checkout. Orders of $59 or more also get free shipping!

The Giveaway

Would you like to try GrubMarket? One reader of the The Simple Pen will win a regular-size California Fruit Bounty box from GrubMarket… delivered to your door! To enter, visit the GrubMarket site, come back here, and leave a comment about one of the products that you might like to try.

Entries will remain open until Wednesday, February 10 at 9 p.m. EST. One winner will be randomly chosen. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response, a new winner will be chosen. U.S. addresses only please. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Disclosure: I received a fruit box from GrubMarket in exchange for hosting this giveaway. All opinions are – as always – honest and my own.

photo credit

I’ve been on a mission to clean up my office space. It’s not a new mission. It started back in 2009 (see here) and continued when we moved into our current home (see here). I had almost given up on the idea of EVER having an office that was neat, organized, and not a room where the door needed to be shut every time we had company. This is especially an issue for me, because I don’t work well when I’m surrounded by clutter and chaos. I can’t focus.

This year I realized something that has become a game changer for the messy office. I’ve always been an organized person at heart (some people even think my house is organized!). I breathe easier when everything is put away and orderly. However, we have allowed so much STUFF to creep into our home that organization has become impossible. Sure, I could run out and buy some cute patterned storage bins or some sturdy plastic tubs and stack them full of the things that need to be organized. But that doesn’t solve the deeper issue.

We have too much stuff.

Time for Change

I kept hearing good things about Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. The reviews were all similar, saying that Marie’s methods were revolutionizing the way that people viewed their stuff. They also all mentioned her strange way of thanking things like her clothing for working so hard for her. While I don’t plan to praise my socks or applaud my sweaters any time soon, I’m learning a great deal about how to pare down what we own and organize what’s left.

The key idea is to only keep the things that truly bring you joy and to get rid of the rest.

Back to the Office

I’m not quite done reading the book, but I have found myself starting to implement the ideas in small doses. Emma and I started cleaning out her storage bins of art and craft supplies in the office closet. They were stuffed and overflowing (much like they were back in 2012). In the past, we would go through each bin and see if there was anything she wanted to get rid of. Then we would straighten what was left and try to fit it all neatly back into the bins.

This time, we emptied each bin, and I had her handle the items one at a time. I asked her to only keep the things she loved and that brought her joy. She got rid of a lot more than she ever had before! We were able to fit everything back in the bins, organized by category, with room to spare.

We discovered that the “room to spare” concept was key. Rather than hunting for something in a tight space (and wondering how in the world she would get it put back later), she was able to easily find what she was looking for. Being able to easily remove and replace items meant she was able to USE what was there.

For me, applying Kondo’s principles to the contents of the office has involved evaluating each item. Is it so useful that I can’t function with out? Do I love it? Does it make my work easier and therefore make me happy? Or does it drive me completely bonkers and make me want to throw it out the window every time I look at it? The questions make the decision process easier. Some things I’ve gotten rid of immediately, because they aren’t useful and I don’t love them. Some things I’ve kept, because I love them, use them regularly, and find them helpful for getting my office work done.

While Kondo would probably recommend that I immediately pitch the ENORMOUS MONSTROUS rather large color printer/copier/scanner (because I hate how it operates and how big it is… Did I mention that it’s rather large??), we need the functionality that it offers. I plan to look for a smaller wireless version and then celebrate the day that we can part with this one.

A Faster Process

My past organization attempts involved bins, plastic totes, and finding interesting little spaces where I could stash things I didn’t want to look at all the time. Sure, I would send a carload of boxes and bags to the local donation center and fill some trash bags with things to toss. But there was still SO MUCH left behind for me to organize.

The problem? I was trying to organize my clutter.

No wonder I was never successful!

This time, I’m seeing progress more quickly. There really IS carpet on the office floor! (Who knew??) There’s breathing room in the office closet. The catch-all table where the big printer lives is almost cleared off and ready to be moved out of the room (as soon as the printer is replaced). My desk has become useable space.

By keeping just what is incredibly useful and what sparks joy, I’m paring down the contents of the room. The things that are left truly belong in this room… and in our home.

My motivation has stayed high, because I’ve seen quick results. The office is more peaceful and more inviting. I’ve even been inspired to start some decorating! I’m not quite ready to show you office pictures today. But that will be coming soon. After I finish reading the book, I’ll be diving head-first into the full tidying process, starting with my clothes. I’m truly excited to finally get a handle on how to truly organize our home!

Have you been frustrated by your past organization attempts? Are you ready to consider the possibility that you may need to lose the storage containers in favor of a different strategy? If so, I highly recommend the you pick up a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and join me!

I promise that I’m not going all Christmas deal-happy on you. There have been a couple of things that are just too good to pass up though! Especially if you’re a last-minute Christmas shopper like I seem to have become this year.

Through Tuesday (12/15) Amazon is offering 25% off any one book. This is for a physical book, not a Kindle book or audiobook. To get your 25% off, click here, choose your book, and enter the code 25OFFBOOK at checkout. You’ll type this in the gift cards & promotional codes section. The maximum discount is $10.

This is a great way to save a little extra on a gift or to treat yourself to that book you’ve had your eye on! Happy shopping!

If you didn’t see it yet, be sure to check out the free mug deal that’s only good through today (12/14)!

Today (12/14) through 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, Tiny Prints is offering a free 11 oz personalized mug. Use the promo code TPFREEGIFT, and you just pay shipping. I just ordered one for my grandma, and mine came to $10.67 for shipping and tax. These are such a fun and practical way to capture time!

Be sure to click here to get this today before the sale ends.

Congrats to Aimee who won the Chris Tomlin album!

Confession… I’m a Christmas music junkie. My husband and I have an ongoing debate about when Christmas music listening should start. He tries to get us to avoid Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. Who wants to wait that long!? Not me!

Each year I try to add at least one new CD to our growing stash of Christmas music. This year’s happens to be from one of our favorite worship leaders, Chris Tomlin. I’m loving this album, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship, because it’s not a traditional Christmas album. Yes, there are some traditional Christmas songs on it, but those are interwoven with worship music, truly capturing the joy of this holiday season.

This new album features classic Christmas songs with a mix of original Christmas songs. I love the guest performances by Lauren Daigle, All Sons & Daughters, Crowder, and more.

The Giveaway

One Simple Pen reader will win a copy of Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship. To enter, simply leave a comment telling us one of your favorite Christmas songs.

(If you’re reading via email, click here to leave a comment.)

Entries will remain open until Thursday, December 3 at 9 p.m. EST. One winner will be randomly chosen. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond. If there is no response, a new winner will be chosen. U.S. addresses only please. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this album in exchange for hosting this giveaway. All opinions are – as always – honest and my own.

If you’re looking for a fun way to count down the days to Christmas, here’s one that you can make. I created these Advent Activity Pockets a couple of years ago, and Emma LOVES them. Each brightly-colored pocket contains a folded message. Every morning Emma pulls out that day’s activity, and we do it. She enjoys the mystery of what the day will hold. I like that I can place the activities on days where they’ll work with our schedule.

Here’s how you can make your own pockets.

Materials:

• Diecuts with a View Box of Cards, Bright Printed 80-pack (These black and white ones would be really classy-looking too.) You could also use scrapbook paper or patterned cardstock. The cards just make it easier because they’re scored, folded, and color-coordinated.
• Permanent double-sided tape
• Hole punch
• Ribbon
• Printable numbers (free download)
• White cardstock (for printing numbers)
• Printable list of Christmas activities (or write your own)

Directions: 

Important: Do not discard your scraps as you trim these cards. There will be no leftover card when you’re done with your set.

1. For each pocket, choose a card design.
2. Keeping the card folded, trim 1.5″ from one end of the 5.5″ side.
   
3. Unfold the card and trim 1″ from the top of the card.
   
4. Refold the card.
5. Use double-sided tape to keep the card folded as a pocket.
6. Attach a 1″ piece from a different pocket to the front of the pocket. This will create a stripe across the front of the pocket.
   
7. Attach one of the circular numbers (from this free printable file) to the pocket front. This will represent the date.
8. Choose a 1.5″ piece from another pocket. Write an activity inside the folded piece.
9. Punch a hole near the fold of the 1.5″ piece.
10. Tie a ribbon through.
    
11. Insert the activity into the pocket.

You can use this printable list of Christmas activities and trim them to fit inside your cards, or you can write your own activities inside your cards. I like to keep a couple of emergency (easy!) activities on hand for the days when life gets crazy. I have a couple of snow-related activities on our list. If there’s no snow, I swap in an alternate activity for that day.

You can hang these as a garland or put them all in a basket. They’re definitely colorful to display! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

It’s here!! While I’m not the kind of Black Friday shopper who hits the stores at 6 a.m., I do like scouring the online sales to find a few great gift deals.

If you’ve been waiting for a deal to get started with Young Living, today’s the day! Through Monday (11/28), when you get started with a Premium Starter Kit, you’ll get a FREE 5ml bottle of Christmas Spirit (which smells DIVINE in the diffuser this time of year!!) AND $25 cash back from me!

What do you get in your Premium Starter Kit? I’m glad you asked! You get 11 incredible oils that you can use for everyday life. You’ll have tools to help with sleep, stress, skin, digestive support, immune support, muscle tension and more. You’ll also get a diffuser to help you get these oils into the air in your home, an educational product guide, travel-sized bottles you can fill, and product samples. In fact, you’ll get well over $300 worth of products!!

Ordering your starter kit also makes you a wholesale member, which means you get 24% off the retail price of anything else you want to order in the future. It’s kind of like Sam’s Club, but you don’t have to pay for your membership each year. You simply order $50 worth of products over the course of the year to keep your membership going.

You also have access to two private Facebook groups where you can ask questions and learn from other Young Living members. We also have regular classes you can attend to learn more. And I’m here to answer your questions!

So how do you get started?

It’s super easy. Here’s how:

1. Click here to start the sign-up process.
2. Choose the ‘Member’ option so you can get the 24% discount.
3. You should see my member number (1531545) in the Enroller and Sponsor boxes. This ensures that we’re connected so I can support you as you learn about oils and how to use them. Young Living also sends me a small bonus when you enroll through me.
4. Choose your starter kit. I HIGHLY recommend the $160 Premium Starter Kit, as you’ll get the most bang for your buck that way.
5. Choose your diffuser. I have both the Home Diffuser and the Dew Drop and love them both. The Home Diffuser would probably be my first choice for someone new to essential oils.
6. You can skip the Essential Rewards Kits, and we’ll chat more about that later. Then you can decide if it will work for you or not. You can order without enrolling.
7. Add anything else that you might need (supplements, Thieves hand soap, etc.) or leave the order as-is.
8. Fill in all of your information.
9. Keep your username, password, and PIN so you can use them for future orders.
10. Check out and wait for your box. The waiting is the hardest part!

Drop me a note if you decide to order. I’d love to chat with you about your oils, and I’ll get a new member welcome package in the mail to you!

Offer good for new members who join Young Living using my member number (1531545) today through 11/28/16. Please allow 30 days for cash back delivery.

If you’ve been considering getting a Young Living Premium Starter Kit, now’s the time! I’m offering a Black Friday – Cyber Monday sale, and we’re starting it early!

If you sign up as a wholesale member using my member number (1531545), you’ll get three free bonuses:

• an essential oils reference book (which we LOVE!)
• a 15ml bottle of Orange Essential Oil (which smells amazing in the diffuser)
• and a set of labels for your oil bottles (which makes my OCD quite happy ).

This is a fabulous way to give your family the gift of wellness this Christmas. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. If you’re ready to sign up, click here to get started.

Want more information about why we chose Young Living over all the other brands? Click here.

For some frequently asked questions about Young Living Essential Oils, visit this page.