Daily Self-Care Routine

Solitude - Schedule some alone time each day. It can be as simple as a cup of tea before anyone else wakes, a long soak in the bath, a few moments with your journal, a quiet walk outdoors, deep breaths of Young Living essential oil blends like Awaken or Release or even some much needed spiritual refreshment with your Bible or favorite devotional.

Movement - Take some time to exercise each day. Whether you have 5 minutes or 2 hours, commit to some form of movement. I fluctuate between walks, yoga, HIIT, short jogs and strength training. The best exercise for you is the one that you'll do. So pick something you'll enjoy and get going.

Nutrition - Consume less sugar and cafeine and add in more water and plant-based whole-foods. Avoid eating out or grabbing take-out and, instead, cook your meals from scratch. Pay attention while eating and begin to eliminate foods that negatively effect your physical, mental and emotional health.

Monitor - Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Monitor what you watch, what you listen to and what you say. Choose to surround yourself with what and who lifts you up.

Rest - Learn to practice relaxation techniques, like meditation, and be sure to get around 8 hours of sleep a night. But remember that rest isn't just about sleep. If you can, take a day off every week, a weekend off  every month and a week off every quarter. Whether it's a get-away or a staycation, the purpose is to unplug and come back refreshed.

It's NOT too hard to travel with kids!

Have you ever been told it’s too hard to travel with kids?

I knew having a baby would change my life forever, but I went into this determined to still have a life.

So, since the week Ivy was born, I’ve made an effort to get outside for walks, try new restaurants, go for coffee and hang out with friends. I was hard in the beginning and I would come home exhausted, but it made me feel like I hadn’t lost all my freedom.

She's three now and we're doing more and more...road-trips, adventures, crossing things off our Bucket List, being involved with church and friends. It's been amazing to prove to myself that I can have a kid and still do all the things I did before!

What’s insane is to think back. With four small girls, my parents traveled the world. We lived in Ethiopia and traveled to Kenya. We spent the summer in Peru and Bolivia and then moved to Bolivia the next year. We’ve gotten lost roadtripping the USA, broken down as we drove through the African countryside and burnt out the breaks in the Andes mountains. I’m familiar with too many airports to count. We’ve piled into subways, trains, buses and taxis all over the world. Getting lost was our style.

We swam in jungle rivers with piranhas, anacondas and alligators, found ourselves in the midst of protests and tear gas, run from the police and tried to fend off lose monkeys while they swung on my youngest sisters neck. I’ve got a lifetime of crazy memories and, until I moved back to the USA for college, thought that my life was totally normal.

But the truth is, my sisters and I experienced more during our childhoods than most in their lifetime. Based on my history, you’d think nothing would scare me. But I have to work hard to be adventurous as a mom. It’s really made me admire my parents laid back attitude and trust in the Lord.

I have so many good memories from my childhood abroad. And the thing is, I didn’t have a cell phone for my parents to check in on me all the time. And yet they allowed me a lot of freedom to explore, hang out with friends and truly experience the cultures we lived in. I want that for Ivy. But I realize that if I want that for her, I have to start by being brave myself. Right now.

Life doesn’t stop because I had a baby. It’s different, sure. It’s hard, yes. But, it’s new and fresh and can be a lot more exciting.

Having kids doesn't have to change anything. Just plan, be flexible, move forward and keep doing what you love, teaching your kid to love it all with you!

Home is "base"

Over the years, I’ve come to see our home as “base”.

I love to come home, wash my clothes, catch up with friends and enjoy my routine. But, then I remember the far-away friends I miss, the vegan restaurants we’ve yet to try, the places I haven’t seen and the things I still want to try. I think of my ticking clock and the fear of leaving anything until “someday”.

And then I know I can’t just stay home.

I want to be free.  Free to forget about the chores.  Free to listen to the silence of the outdoors.  Free to go without a plan.  Free to think clearly.  Free to cross things off my Bucket List.  Free to wander.

Because travel changes us.

I see it each time we hit the interstate on the way out of town.

New ideas for writing come to my mind.  Nick opens up and shares his recent thoughts. Together, we dream and plan and make big life decisions.  We are a better version of ourselves when we get away.

Every time.

We get out of our bubble and the world becomes a bigger place.

We have things on our minds as we set out on yet another road trip...dreams that could be plans if we can just get away and brainstorm.

So, I’m pumped as I think through another road-trip.  Just us three and the open road.  No distractions.  Just food and naps and us and adventure and I can’t wait to see where we are and how we’ve changed and the decisions we’ve made when we settle back into our home base once it's all over and time to plan another adventure.

My favorite makup remover

Do you use a makeup remover?

My favorite cleanser for removing makeup and brightening my complexion is our Young Living Mirah Luminous Cleansing Oil!

If you’ve never tried a cleansing oil, here’s how you’d use it:

1. On dry skin, massage 2-4 pumps between hands and then over face

2. Give yourself a quick little face massage until you’re a little red and tingly

3. Steam and then wipe off face with hot washcloth to remove oil

4. Keep repeating steps 1-3 until you are satisfied

5. Finish with toner and moisturizer

When you're done, you're face will feel clean, but still hydrated and, over time, you'll notice your skin becoming softer and brighter!

***Order your Mirah Luminous Cleansing Oil from me HERE and use code SHAREYL for 10% off :)

48 items to pack on your next camping trip

FaceBook memories keep reminding me that Ivy's first road-trip was 2 years ago and it's got me ready to pack up and go ago. Just last week, I bought a smaller tent, since she's no longer in a playpen, so that we are ready to go at a moment's notice.

If you're ready to be adventurous too, here's my packing list from 2 years ago. I promise we had everything we needed as we were on the road for 2.5 months! 

Camping Packing List:

First aid kit

Ibuprofen

Sleeping bags/mats

Tent

Tarp

Flashlight

Headlamp

Cooler

Water bottles

Lighter

Camp towels 

Camp chairs

Hammock

Stove

Pot

Pan

Spatula

Plates

Bowls

Spoons

Forks

Cutting board

Sharp knife

Mixing spoon

Mixing bowl

Tongs

Oven mitt

Measuring cups/spoons

Can opener

Scissors

Ziploc bags

Aluminum 

Salt

Pepper 

Oil

Dish soap

Sponge

Paper towels 

Trash bags

Clothes line/pins

Stain remover

Laundry detergent 

Broom/dustpan

Thieves Essential Oil

DiGize Essential Oil

Bikes

Bike helmets

Bike rack

Bike pump

Scrubba Wash Bag

Are you a camper? If so, tell me what you always pack in the comments below!

***Order your Young Living essential oils HERE. Use code SHAREYL for 10% off :)