Organization: A Link-Up

our monthly link-up topic for September is Organization, and for anyone who knows me, it is laughable that I would have anything to say on the topic. :) i am quite honestly, the least organized person EVER. my personality actually finds order in disorder. for example, if you were to go look in any of the drawers in my house, they would look completely chaotic to most people, and yet, I would know exactly where something was if I needed to find it.

now don't get me wrong, there are elements of my home and life that are extremely organized, i just have to work really really hard to keep them that way. there is one area, in particular, that i have had to force myself to be organized in...and that is in the kitchen. in order to maintain the vegan lifestyle that we prefer to primarily eat, to stay within our pretty tight food budget, and to actually manage to have a dinner meal prepared each night for our four little people 4years and younger, i have had to pull up my big girl pants and create some organization.

I thought I would share a few of the ways I am able to maintain this!

plan! plan! plan! this is another thing i struggle with as i usually am a fly by the seat of my pants gal, but when i truly take the time to plan each and every meal and snack, i am much more successful at staying within our budget, as well as feeding us well. this is where pinterest has come in extremely handy for me. i have a board that i have created for our weekly meals. (i made it secret for some reason...i think because i am changing it constantly). i go through each week and pin the meals/snacks that i plan to make and then make my shopping/meal planning lists from there.

prep ahead of time. whether its a full meal, or snacks, i like to pick things that can be prepared ahead of time and saved for later. so for example, i may cut up and freeze fruit, and place in individual snack bags for the boys to pull out as they want. or i pre-make our oatmeal, freeze it in individual servings and then pull it out in the mornings to heat up real quick. (recipe can be found here). i try to pick dinner meals, such as the spinach and artichoke wonder pot, that can be prepared in the morning, and then simply thrown into a pot at dinner time to cook.

cook in bulk. another method that has allowed me to keep our kitchen and my meal planning organized, is cooking in bulk. as much as i possibly can, i will prepare things that can be made in bulk and then frozen and saved for later. beans are one of the obvious things i do, simply because we eat so many of them throughout the week. 

well there you have it.

a few very simple tips i follow to help keep this area of my life organized.
i hope you will link up and share some of your best organization ideas! :)

xo. 

An InLinkz Link-up

spinach artichoke wonderpot

this recipe was easy, cheap, and liked by every single member of my family.

a HUGE win in my book!

since having ellis, the hour or so leading up to dinner, can be pretty hectic.

so, i have been on a mission to find meals that can either be prepped and/or cooked earlier in the day, or that don't take much prep time at all...

but that still fit into our primarily vegan lifestyle.

(i say primarily, because we are known to cheat from time to time ;))

i am in love with any and every recipe with the word "wonderpot" in it, because you basically throw everything in one big pot, cook it, and voila, you have a meal.

the original recipe can be found over here.

i not only love this site because of the delicious recipes, but because she breaks down the total cost, the cost per serving, and the cost of each ingredient for each recipe. 

for those of us on a tight food budget, this is incredibly helpful!

and she has recipes for all kinds of dishes, not just ones that fit in a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle!

spinach artichoke wonderpot

ingredients

8 oz. mushrooms $1.99

1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts $2.50

4 cloves garlic $0.32

1 medium yellow onion $0.34

5 cups vegetable broth $0.65

2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32

12 oz. fettuccine $1.33

1 tsp dried oregano $0.10

½ tsp dried thyme $0.05

freshly cracked pepper (15-20 cranks) $0.05

4 oz. frozen cut spinach $0.40

directions

rinse the mushrooms, then slice thinly. 

drain the can of artichoke hearts and roughly chop them into bite-sized pieces.

thinly slice the onion and mince or slice the garlic.

place the vegetable broth, olive oil, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, onions, and garlic in a large pot.

break the fettuccine in half and add it to the pot along with the oregano, thyme, and some freshly cracked pepper.

push the ingredients down under the broth as much as possible.

place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a rolling boil over high heat.

as soon as it reaches a boil, stir the pot to evenly distribute the ingredients and prevent

the pasta from sticking. 

turn the heat down to low and allow the pot to simmer, with the lid on, for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.

be sure to give the pot a stir every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking.

once the pasta is cooked through, add the frozen spinach and allow the heat from the pasta to thaw the spinach. stir the pot to help break up the clumps of spinach as they melt and serve hot.

enjoy!!!

xo.

essential oil bug spray

i don't know about you guys, but the bugs this time of year sure can be frustrating!

not only are they plain ole annoying, but they can carry an assortment of awful diseases.

the kiddos and i have been arming ourselves with our doTERRA TerraShield essential oil bug spray, and i wanted to share it with you guys.

i actually really like the smell, and because we add the oil to our fractionated coconut oil, it not only absorbs quickly into your skin, but doesn't feel gross at all (like some of the synthetic bug sprays do).

i encourage you to try it out!

you can go here for more information about doTERRA

or here to start shopping!

xo.

on guard, an essential oil blend.

it has been a while since i have done a post on essential oils so i thought i would do one on an oil blend that has been getting a lot of love around here lately!

doTERRA's On Guard, (similar to an oil known by some distributors as "thieves" oil),

is a highly protective blend, with one of it's primary purposes being to boost immune system support!

it is a blend of the following oils:

cinnamon

clove bud

eucalyptus

rosemary

wild orange

i am currently using this oil daily on the feet of my little guys to help boost their immune system during a time of year when sickness seems to be around every corner.

seriously, if i were to recommend one oil you do not want to be without at this time of year, 

this would be it!

instead of reinvent the wheel, i thought i would share an amazing list that R. James came 

up with over here. 

here are 52 of the top uses for On Guard antimicrobial

 blend of essential oils!

and i guarantee you I have already done about 20 of these!!

1. Mix with a tblsp of water, gargle for 1 minute then swallow at the on-set of a sore throat.

2. Put 5 drops Oregano and 5 drops on guard in a 00 capsule and take 3 times daily at the on set of cold or flu symptoms.

3. Put on the soles children's feet at night during cold & flu season to 

support immune system.

4. Put several drops on a bowl of hot – hot water and Breathe in the vapors as it begins to volatilize when you have lung congestion.

5. Put 50 drops in a spray bottle with 30 oz of distilled water. Shake often and use to sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

6. Add to your dishwasher for micro clean dishes.

7. Add to your laundry cycle for micro clean clothes.

8. Add to your mop water for cleaner floors.

9. Apply to bee and insect stings to neutralize the toxin and relieve the pain.

10. Gargle and brush daily for healthy teeth and gum's and to prevent and treat gum disease.

11. Apply to gum's and teeth, or swish with 5 drops of on guard & 1tbsp of water for pain relief from toothaches and after dental work.

12. Diffuse in homes or business to kill air borne pathogens, inhibit mold and build immune systems.

13. Put a few drops on air filters when changing them to kill pathogens in the duct work.

14. Add to Emergen-C or Orange juice to help congestion and fight flu and cold.

15. Put a drop in your mouth and push or squeeze it around to relive smoking urges. (enhance with an extra drop or two of Clove.)

16. For warts, apply topically, rotating between Oregano & Frankincense.

17. Apply a drop on a pets sore or wound to enhance healing.

18. Have the diffuser going in your home when the kids come home to ward off germs.

19. Make an anti-biotic blend using On Guard (12 drops) Oregano (6 drops) Frankincense (2 drops) in a 00 gel cap.

20. Add 15 drops to every cup of corn starch, mix and sprinkle on carpet. Rake, leave for 1 hour then Vacuum for micro clean carpet.

21. Mix a 2-3 drops of on guard and 2 drops of Lemon EO with honey or agave in a teaspoon for a cold or cough relief medicine for kids.

22. Gargle with 1 tbps of water and 1 drop each of Lemon and on guard hourly for laryngitis.

23. Put several drops on the HVAC vents of a hotel room or office to kill airborne pathogens and germs.

24. Mix with baking soda to clean bathtubs.

25. Apply neat to the toes and nails to combat fungus.

26. Combine 2 tbps of water with 5 drops of on guard in a small glass and store your toothbrush overnight to sanitize.

27. Use a 50/50 mix of on guard and purified water and spray onto oven interior. Leave for 15 minutes, then wipe away greasy spots.

28. Apply to hands to remove stubborn, sticky substances like tree sap.

29. Add to the water in your vacuum cleaner/steamer to disinfect the carpet.

30. Put a few drops in your vacuum bag to kill pathogens.

31. Put 15 drops in a 6oz spray bottle, shake and spray rooms, desks, or bed sheets to protect against pathogens.

32. Clean the upholstery and dashboard of your car.

33. Gargle with on guard and 1 tbsp of water prior speaking engagements or singing performances.

34. Rub on stains as a pre-wash stain remover.

35. Add 3 drops to your tooth brush and brush every day for a healthy mouth and to prevent cavities, gum disease.

36. Apply to teeth that have been damaged or broken to help them heal.

Make an On Guard^® spray with 15 drops for every 6 oz of water, use the spray for:

37. Wipe doorknobs and other things touched by the public.

38. Wipe dirty piano keys to clean and disinfect.

39. Use to clean childrens hands when traveling.

40. Use on the steering wheel and gearshift of your vehicle.

41. Use on public telephones to remove germs.

42. Use on public computer keyboards and mice.

43. Use as an underarm deodorant.

44. Spray on hands before and after shaking hands with a lot of people.

45. Spray in public restrooms on airplanes to reduce airborne bacteria.

46. Carry for protection in countries with cholera, malaria or dysentery.

47. Use as an air freshener for cooking odors or other unwanted smells.

48. Take to the gym and spray all the equipment you use.

49. Take to the supermarket and use to disinfect shopping cart handles.

50. Use in the classroom for desks, tables and other items handled by children.

51. Spray in your mouth and throat at first onset of cold or bronchitis.

52. Spray on shower stalls and bathroom walls to disinfect and remove mold.

if you are at all interested in ordering a bottle, head on over here.

or if you would like information on becoming a wholesale member to receive a 25% discount on all purchases, go here.

and of course, feel free to email me at thelaneabove@gmail.com with ANY questions!!!

much love friends!

xoxo.

five favorites: health edition!

so i have been on this quest for a few years now.

a quest to lead a more holistic and natural life...

one step at a time.

when i first embarked on this journey, i had a list that was far too long and overwhelming, of every little thing that i wanted to change.

i wanted to change big things, like what we ate and how we treated ailments...

and small things, like our deodorant, toothpaste, cleaning supplies and grocery store bags.

my list seemed to grow by the day.

the more i learned about our bodies, our environment, raising babies, and living truly clean lives,

the more i was eager to dive in and transform the way we lived.

i am most definitely a dreamer. a visionary. a big picture person.

so while i knew where i wanted us to be,

i got completely overwhelmed by my "big picture change" and often found myself discouraged.

for every one thing i changed,

i seemed to find five others to add to my list.

and this is where my perspective shift came in...

i was doing the best that i could, with what i was learning, in each moment.

i quickly realized that i would need to pick a few things at a time, work to fit them into our daily lives and then go from there.

once those few changes were made and had become an ingrained part of our every day life, 

i would then pick a few more to embrace.

this drastically cut down on how overwhelmed that I felt and gave me such a sense of joy and peace and empowerment when those few new things became permanent.

i have decided to share some of the health changes we have made as a family.

there may be posts where i share several.

and there may be some where i share only one.

it helps me to put things down to celebrate where i have come from and where i am going.

today i have decided to share five of my favorite holistic health changes.

they are little ones.

simple.

easy to tackle.

first.

did you know that lime can be used as a natural deodorant?

all you have to do is slice a lime and apply it to the underarm. you can reuse this slice for up to 1 week, just keep it clearly labeled and in your fridge!

i stopped using your regular, store bought deodorant when i started breastfeeding my babies! 

here is another slightly more involved homemade deodorant that works great:

1/4 cup of arrowroot

1/4 cup baking soda

5 tbsp coconut oil

20-30 drops of melaleuca (tea tree oil) and lavender (or as much as you like!)

store in the refrigerator.

second.

raw. apple. cider. vinegar.

amazing!

i started using apple cider vinegar when i learned it can help with allergies/eczema, as well as detoxing.

and then i discovered the many other uses and fell instantly in love.

you can go here and here for some good lists of uses!

third.

natural, homemade household cleaners.

getting rid of all chemical cleaners in our home became a must when our oldest began to struggle with respiratory issues.

i quickly threw everything out and started using a few simple ingredients:

vinegar, baking soda/borax, lemon, and essential oils.

this is my favorite all purpose cleaning spray:

(if you use essential oils, you want to use a glass spray bottle)

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 3/4 cup water

1 tsp borax

30 drops of your choice essential oil

(my favorites to use are lavender, lemon and on guard)

fourth.

lemon water!

i started drinking lemon water daily a while ago and will probably never stop!

lemon is a natural energizer, boosts your immune system, flushes out unwanted materials,

decreases wrinkles and blemishes, cures throat infections, reduces fever, is a blood purifier 

and so much more!

i sometimes add straight lemon, but lately i have been using a few drops of my 

doTERRA lemon essential oil instead.

fifth.

sun rays!

i know that sounds cheesy, but getting us out in the sun several times throughout our days is one of the best things we can do!

i love to be outdoors, so this isn't necessarily something we changed since we were already doing it consistently, but we definitely increased it.

basking in the sun, allowing our bodies to soak up the vitamin D, and enjoying nature is one of the best things we can do for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health!

thanks for letting me share!!!!!!!

xoxo.

linking up with hallie at moxie wife.

i run...

i run because it shows me just how much i am able to overcome. how much i am able to push myself.

i run because it helps me be more productive and focus better.

i run because it is time for me to be alone with my thoughts, to mentally process my day or work through issues that may be bothering me.

i run because it puts me more in tune with my body and teaches me about endurance.

i run because of the "runners high." the release of endorphins is enough take me to a point where pain turns to pleasure.

i run because it is a blissful state of motion.

i run because the bravery it takes to push myself farther than imaginable, is empowering.

i run because it causes stress to completely dissolves. i think more clearly about life.

i run because it helps boost my immune system.

i run because it is time to model perseverance, health, determination, and strength to my boys.

i run because it is sweet time to worship. i feel closest to God in these moments.

i run because it gives me energy during a season in life where i am in need of any
additional boost that i can get.

to run is to experience freedom.

i have formed a bond that will last a lifetime.

a shot of essential oils, please.

i have always felt like mama's should not be allowed to be sick.

i mean, you are never truly afforded the time it takes to rest and heal...life simply must go on.

but alas, such is not the case.

a few years ago, i found myself pretty much bed-ridden with pneumonia from what started out as a seemingly innocent summer cold.

i fully believe that had i approached that initial cold differently, i may have been able to avoid getting as sick as i did.

but, i had two little ones under the age of two and my husband had just started two-a-days with the football team he worked with.

so long story short, i did not take care of myself well at all in an attempt to take care of everyone else.

two years and some essential oils later, i now approach not only my family's health completely differently, but mine as well.

a key to reaping the most benefit from your essential oils, is beginning to use them the minute you start to feel sick and to be aggressive with attacking the illness.

while there are a variety of ways to take EO's, a common way is internally with the "shot glass" method.

you simply fill a shot glass with 1 to 2 ounces of water and then add your oils.

the oils you choose to use, and the amounts, will vary based on the person and specific health need.

another option is to fill a veggie capsule (you can find them here) with your oils of choice and then swallow that. 

individuals who have a hard time tolerating the more "hot" oils (such as oregano and cinnamon) may prefer this method.

-----------------------------------------------------

//  here are some common ways to take EO's in a shot glass  //

allergy shot // mix 2-3 drops of Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint. (it is beneficial to start doing this even before symptoms start to occur and then take as often as necessary until symptoms cease)

everyday (immune booster) shot // DDR prime oil. (blend of Frankincense, Wild Orange, Lemongrass, Thyme, Summer Savory, Clove, Niaouli)...great for supports healthy cell proliferation and lifespan)

flu shot // Oregano, On Guard, Thyme, Wild Orange and Frankincense. a specific combination that works great is: 3 Oregano, 5 On Guard, 5 Melaleuca, and 5 Lemon (take every 3-4 hours until you start to feel better). some other great recommendations for the flu can be found here.

immunity booster shot // 3 drops of Lemon and On Guard daily.

mouth and gum related issues // 2 drops Myrrh, 2 drops Clove, 1 drop Lavender or Peppermint. swish for up to 10min. and then spit out. 3 drops of On Guard can be used as a mouthwash. 

nasal congestion shot // 4-5 drops of Lemon.

sore throat shot // 3 drops of Lemon and 1 drop of Oregano. Another combination for a slightly less-mild sore throat is 2 drops Lemon and 2 drops On Guard.  you can also apply 2-3 drops Lavender topically to the throat at the initial signs of a sore throat.

toothache // 2 drops On Guard, 2 drops Clove and 1 drop Melaleuca. swish for up to 10min. and then spit.

tummy/digestive issue shot // 2 drops DigestZen, Peppermint and Ginger. If DigestZen is not available, consider using Coriander, Fennel, Ginger and/or Peppermint. 

please feel free to email me at thelaneabove{at}gmail{dot}com with any questions about doTERRA essential oils specifically. 

 the post was inspired by healing with essential oils and my own personal experience with the majority of these "shots."

running and joint pain.

so i am in the process of training for my very first 1/2 marathon!

i have always been active and loved running, but have only run short races and in sprint triathlons up to this point.

one of my SIL's asked if i wanted to run a 1/2 with her this fall and since i'm actually not pregnant right now ;), I decided to give it a go!

what i was not expecting is how much i would fall IN LOVE with running long distances.

i find myself looking forward to each run.

they are sweet moments where i am able to push myself physically, process emotionally and practice endurance mentally.

running is highly spiritual for me.

i feel more alive in these moments...more spiritually aware...more at peace.

i am most definitely attached.

and don't see myself ever stopping.

as i started working my way up to 8 and 9 miles, i started recognizing some joint pain and inflammation in my knees, and particularly in my left knee.

not only would it hurt during these runs, but i would have a mild irritation continue for several hours after and even on into the next day.

while it would eventually work its way out, i wanted to do whatever i could to prevent any real injury or the inflammation becoming chronic.

enter: the Deep Blue essential oil blend!

this stuff is AMAZING!!

Deep Blue is a blend of blue chamomile, blue tansy, camphor, helichrysum, osmanthus, 

peppermint and wintergreen.

not only does it smell amazing, but it is very effective for a variety of pains, 

such as arthritic pain, bruises, carpel tunnel, headaches, inflammation, joint pains, migraines, muscle pain, sprains and rheumatism...just to name a few.

i have just been using the oil, but doTERRA has an actual deep blue rub that i plan on trying for the rest of this training.

while i would highly recommend this oil blend for any inflammation or pain, these other oils are also anti-inflammatory superstars:

AromaTouch Massage Blend 

Basil 

Bergamot 

Eucalyptus 

Fennel

 Frankincense 

Helichrysum 

Lemongrass 

Marjoram 

Myrrh 

Oregano 

Peppermint (i have also personally had success with this one for joint pain!)

Rosemary 

Sandalwood 

Thyme 

Wintergreen 

(( important: wintergreen and other hot oils should be diluted with a carrier oil 

before applying topically! ))

you can go to my doTERRA page for information on ordering Deep Blue or any others of the doTERRA products!

xoxo.

essential oils and the beginnings of a love affair.

i would like to begin the first of many posts on essential oils,

 with how our little love affair came to be.

it all began a little over one year ago...

well, actually much earlier than that.

in order to truly understand our relationship with essential oils we must go back to the
winter of 2010-2011.

our sweet Kale was around 15months old and we were a mere two weeks away from
delivering our baby boy #2.

a bad bout of pneumonia and rsv had kale hospitalized two different times within two weeks, the second one being the night we brought madden home from the hospital.

to say this was a difficult time for us would be an understatement.

little did we know that it was only the beginning of years of severe respiratory issues for our little guy.

years of daily steroid preventative breathing treatments,

regular emergency trips to the pediatrician or emergency room,

several additional hospital stays,

countless nights up holding our son as he took breathing treatment after breathing treatment,

multiple rounds of prednisone and steroid shots to help with the more severe attacks,

and days upon days upon days of hurting for our sweet boy.

fast forward to a year ago, the summer of 2012. 

we were desperate for a change,

unwilling to accept that this was our son's lot in life,

and determined to find alternatives to the prescription medications that his little body was growing dependent on and suffering from.

i began what would end up being a very long and rewarding journey of researching everything i could find about alternative health practices for respiratory issues/asthma.

i scoured articles, medical research and personal testimonies of others in similar situations...

i literally sought out as much information as i could find and eventually began lingering in the region of essential oils.

the first two oils i began using for kale were oregano and eucalyptus. 

i stopped using the daily steroid preventative treatments cold turkey, but kept the albuterol on hand for emergencies.

i saw almost immediate improvements, especially in the frequency of attacks.

they decreased drastically.

after a year of using these two oils alone and only a few emergency asthma attacks later, i returned to the essential oils drawing board, aware that i had MUCH to learn.

i felt that i had only begun to scratch the surface of all that essential oils could do.

and that is when i found doTERRA!
(you can click on the link to go to my doTERRA page)

i would love to talk with you or answer any quesitons you may have about the use of essential oils!

we are now using them in our home for a myriad of ailments, and seeing significant benefits!

"...their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
ezekiel 47:12

juicing!

"let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food"

hippocrates

we have been on a journey for the last two years of examining our diet as a family, 

learning as much as we possibly can, 

and making pretty drastic changes.

two of our boys have suffered from the trifecta that is: 

allergies (both food and environmental), eczema and asthma.

it has been awful, to say the least, 

but through some pretty incredible dietary changes (as well as the use of essential oils)

 we have seen significant improvements and a drastic decrease in dependence on prescriptions medications, steroid use (both topically and orally), and hospital trips.

i will be sharing much more about the details of this journey in later posts!

today i simply want to share one way that i have been able to successfully get lots of fruits and veggies in my little guys.

we try to eat a primarily plants based diet, with some exceptions here and there.

we have found that a 75:25 ratio works best for us as a family,

75% plants based and 25% other.

within this, we try to stay away from processed foods completely and keep sugar to a minimum.

now do we cheat from time to time?

absolutely!

especially when we are being served by others. :)

anyone who has kids, knows that getting them to eat raw fruits and veggies in mass quantities can be difficult.

however, juicing has worked wonders in our household for doing just that!

i usually only offer my boys water or almond milk, so any variation in that is very welcomed.

they have liked almost every juice i have made so far, and that is saying something, because i am pretty heavy handed with the vegetables.

they have dubbed all of our green juices, their "hulk juice." :)

i also make smoothies for them daily and use whatever juice i have made as the liquid base for the smoothies.

it is no secret that raw fruits and vegetables work miracles in our bodies!

i have seen improvements in our family not only with the allergies, eczema and asthma,

but with our overall skin health,

moods,

ability to bounce back quickly from illness,

energy levels,

sleep patterns,

and so much more!

we have yet to do an actual juice clean, primarily because ricky and i want to do one together.

 because i am still nursing our youngest (you do not want to do cleanses while breastfeeding since a large portion of the toxins will leave through your milk) and running 20-30 miles a week, we have decided to wait on that one.

a resource i have gleaned much from is of course joe cross's website

and then a go to for new recipes is this site.