It’s a new year, and I decided to start up a new monthly feature. Each month, I’m going to feature a handful of my favorite things. The items will be wonderfully eclectic and unexpected, ranging from toys and movies to books or food products. Anything goes. I hope you’ll come along for the ride and find a new product or two to try this year!
1. Essential Oil
I was pretty skeptical to try essential oils. However, so many of my friends kept raving about how oils had transformed their family. My curiosity grew, I did some research, and I took the leap. I bought my first six-pack of oils and fell in love. While we’re definitely going to keep traditional meds on hand, the oils have had some tremendous results – and I love that I have more options for helping my kids when they’re sick.
*I am not taking “sides” in the essential oil company war. I use the brand I linked to, as it was an affordable and low-pressure way for me to try out oils in my home. Every major distributor carries these or similar oils.
Some of my favorite oils are:
Thieves – Any time anyone in the house starts to show signs of illness, everyone gets thieves. I firmly believe thieves has helped keep my husband and I from the last few bouts of bugs and illnesses in our house. It’s a great immunity booster, awesome for sore throats, and an easy way to ward off the “sickies!”
Peppermint- Peppermint is kind of amazing. This oil has brought down fevers within hours, cured upset tummies, and taken the edge off of a few killer headaches. This was the oil that made me a believer.
Lavender- Lavender is such a good basic oil to have. It has helped me with burns, itching, and cuts and scrapes. I love it for cleaning too! I put a cotton ball with a few drops of lavender in my vacuum canister, and my whole home smells SO good after vacuuming!
Calming – This is one of my personal favorites. It lifts my mood, calms me down, and smells incredible. I diffuse this while I’m working, when I’m upset, or when tensions are running high in the house. It’s a must-have!
Kinetic Sand has been our “go-to” rainy day afternoon activity this month. The kids never tire of it. Kinetic Sand is a one-of-a-kind sensory play experience that has to be touched to fully appreciate. My four year old can spend hours at the table, inventing stories and having fun digging in and shaping the sand.
3. Disney Infinity 2.0 Toybox Starter Pack – Wii U
Since receiving this for Christmas, my older children have had SO much fun playing this game. They love to build in the Toybox, create new worlds, complete quests, and discover bits of Disney magic. The kids can’t wait to continue adding to our Disney Infinity collection, but are perfectly content with our starter pack plus a few extra figures. This is a great investment for Disney fans and families!
4. Lakeshore Learning 3 in 1 Tabletop Easel
I got this to use next year in our homeschool, but am already loving it! My two youngest children enjoy using the easel to practice writing (and I love that we’re using less paper!) You can use the easel with chalk, dry erase markers, or paint! It’s the perfect size to keep on your kitchen table, and is a must-have for any homeschooling family! (More detailed review coming soon!)
5. A Year with Six Sisters’ Stuff: 52 Menu Plans, Recipes, and Ideas to Bring Families Together
I have a major cookbook addiction. I received this cookbook for Christmas from my Dad and LOVE it! This is one of those cookbooks where just about every recipe is something I want to make. The recipes are kid and budget friendly and every recipe includes a picture! This is definitely one of my favorite “go-to” cookbooks for menu planning.
I was lucky enough to see 10 minutes of this film before anyone at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference last spring, and had the chance to meet the wonderfully talented Elle Fanning. But then, I wasn’t able to attend any of the screenings, and never got around to watching the film – until this month. Disney has outdone itself. I so enjoyed this re-telling and genuinely enjoyed the twists and changes. This is a masterpiece and a must-see for all Disney fans. (*It may be a bit dark for younger or more sensitive children!)
*I received the Tabletop Easel for free and all links are affiliate.
