Living in West Virginia comes with pros and cons. The beautiful landscape, friendly people, outdoor adventures galore and all four seasons are just some of the pros.
The frequent power outages is one of the cons. There is nothing worse than starting your day with a cold shower to really put you in a great mood. 🤨
During a power outage one of the biggest things people complain about is not having hot water. I mean who wants to be stuck in a house with your family and not be able to shower? It’s one of the luxuries that we have become accustomed to and don’t want to live without, am I right? And a cold shower is, well, less than pleasant at best.
Not to mention all those dirty dishes piling up.
Now this little ingenious trick will save you some frustration and give you a needed stress relieving hot shower during your next power outage. I will preface this by saying we have a natural gas fired water heater that uses very little electricity once it gets going.
If you have a hard wired water heater you will need to have an electrician create a way to plug it into an outlet for you first.
For under $200, you can purchase a device that can jump start your car, inflate a flat tire, charge your phones with a USB port but most importantly for this discussion, it can also help you get a nice hot shower!
Most people grab one of these to have in the car for emergencies but don’t think about the possibilities of what you can use it for during a power outage!
When you know bad weather is headed your way and there's a possibility of a power outage, take it out of the car and be sure it's fully charged. When the power goes out and you need hot water, plug in your hot water heater to this handy and very portable battery backup!
We have survived for almost a week without power and no generator during the great ice storm of 2021 using our gas fireplaces to keep the house warm and dry clothes from playing in the snow. Our natural gas stove top to cook and this little battery to keep everyone from stinking up the place. 😂
What I like about this device is that it's multifunctional - you're not just buying a generator that will only be used for the house when you loose power, this thing has come in handy several times for helping people jump start their car, inflate tubes for tubing the river and charging phones on the go.
This is the one we have and I highly recommend it!
Here's to making your next power outage a little more pleasant!
*this is an affiliate link and I may earn commission from it, however, I would not recommend a product I don't actually use*
One year ago, I was planning out the last few days of summer vacation and how to get the most out of it before the kids headed back to school. Planning last minute trips to Ace Adventure lake, an overnight camping trip to FMC Sportsman’s Club so we could swim ALLLLL day, and deciding who needed new underwear, jeans, shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, mechanical pencils because the ones they have accumulated over the years are some how not good anymore… you know all the things to start a new adventure.
This year things are a little different. Still packing in all the summer fun we can manage while staying socially distant of course… isn’t it strange how we use this term “socially distant” like it’s always been in our vocabulary? But what school supplies do we need, are we going to be schooling from home, going to the classroom or something in between, we don’t know yet. And that is unsettling. There’s all these new rules, suggestions and recommendations, I can’t hardly wrap my head around them and I know for certain our kids and teachers will be more stressed about school that ever before.
One thing that appears to be certain is wearing a mask. I don’t like wearing one, I’m not sure who does really. But there’s a few ways I’ve come up with to make wearing one a little more bearable.
- Make it fun – give it some personality! Ask a friend to liven one up for you with their Cricut machine or find some fun material to make your own (they aren’t hard I promise) or find a cute one on line – there are tons of places selling them now. And make sure you have several for each person in the household because you’re going to be washing them…. Every day ok?
- Set an example – when kids see adults doing something without complaining about it, they will generally fall in line – maybe not right away, but they will… think of a fun game to play while wearing your mask like guess the face I’m making, have a special one to wear to certain places and be sure to do something that makes you smile or laugh while wearing it.
- Make a spray to freshen up your masks and make them more enjoyable to wear – In a small empty spray bottle fill with witch hazel and add 1-2 drops of Citrus Fresh Essential Oil. Shake and spray your mask before you put it on. The smell of citrus will brighten your mood and make wearing the mask a little more bearable!
We can complain about the circumstances we are in, or we can choose to make the best of it. The only way is THROUGH! There are a lot of things we cannot control, but one thing is certain, you are 100% in control of your thoughts.
Choose joy, fun, and love over frustration, anxiety, and fear.
A mask cannot hide your joy and love.
If you like these ideas, I invite you to join my upcoming “5 Days of Gratitude” challenge in my free private Facebook group called Hearts of Gratitude. We are going to delve into all kinds of topics in that group and you will get massive value out of it, but everything starts with gratitude. Get access to the group by clicking HERE
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Health and Wellness Fears
In this time of uncertainty, worry and concern about the health and wellness of yourself and your family, it’s time to take a long hard look at the things you do on a daily basis! Turn FEAR to something different: Fully Educated and Ready!
You know that you should eat a well-balanced diet and move your body to stay strong with some form of exercise. These are not new revelations. And yet, you push those things aside because you are “too busy” or “don’t feel like it” or “the kids won’t eat that” or “I don’t like vegetables” or “my joints hurt too much to exercise”…. You can fill in the blank with whatever comes to mind. This is the time, right now, to embrace changes in your diet that will fuel you with good energy!
On March 27 at 1:00 p.m. I will hold a zoom conference call to chat about some things I've implemented in my own diet that help me stay appropriately fueled, help me achieve my weight loss goals and keep me above the wellness line. You can join in the call or receive a replay HERE.
Control your Mindset
The fact of the matter is YOU ARE IN COMPLETE CONTROL of what choices you make and what actions you take. You are also in control of the THOUGHTS that you allow into your head! You must be super intentional about your mindset especially in the reality of the pandemic we are facing today. It is so easy to get derailed with constant news and updates of things that may concern you and cause worry!
On March 28 at 7:00 p.m. I will hold a zoom conference call to chat about some things I've implemented in my own daily routine that help me keep my emotions in check. You can join in the call or receive a replay HERE.
Many people are fearful of loss of income right now. It is real. Maybe it's time to think of adding an additional income stream for your family. If that's where you are, I'm going to break down the network marketing opportunity as it relates to Young Living on March 29 at 7:00 p.m.. Maybe it's for you and maybe it's not, join me to find out more HERE.
Be Intentional
I have been doing something everyday since December that has helped me stay laser focused on the things that I want to achieve – one of which is wellness. Maybe you’ve heard of Rachel Hollis and her Start Today Journal? She sells a beautiful journal but I just grabbed a notebook I had on hand and started doing it! You can check out her video here..
The power of writing your goals down everyday (AFTER you list several things you are grateful for) brings them front and center in your mind, every.single.day. And you know what happens? You start thinking about those things more and you start taking actions to make them happen. Grab a journal/notebook/a piece of paper and start writing!
Environmental Choices
I have been super intentional about wellness and I don’t just mean what food I fuel my body with or how much exercise I get, but I have also focused heavily on eliminating as many toxins from my home environment as possible to reduce the chemical burden on my body.
Being intentional about your physical well being is not just a fleeting moment in time. Not just because there's a pandemic going on. It has to be for the long haul. Your physical well being does not just involve eating veggies and limiting sugar, although that is pretty important. Your physical well being is also about paying attention to the products you use in your home that could be negatively affecting your health.
Grab a bottle of your most used cleaning product and google some of the ingredients listed on the bottle. Inform yourself about what you are using! You have other options to clean your home with plant based cleaners that are effective and not harmful to you or the environment.
On March 30 at 1:00 p.m. I will delve into a few cleaning products I choose to use in my house. Join me HERE.
On March 31 at 7:00 p.m. I will explain why I use essential oils in my everyday routine and how I use them on a daily basis (pandemic or not) to keep my family above the wellness line. You can join that discussion HERE.
Right now, more than ever, it’s on everyone’s mind…. How in the world do I keep my family healthy?
Educate yourself
If that’s you, I want to invite you to join me in one of up coming discussions (held via zoom so we can be appropriately socially distant 😉). RSVP to a zoom call discussion here!. I would be honored to have you join me.
I will cover using essential oils to help deal with emotions, jumpstart your wellness with some great recipes, Network marketing 101 for those considering adding a supplemental income, cleaning with Thieves and rounding out the month with an essential oils samples class (registration for the sample class closes March 27 so I can mail out the samples.
Join an upcoming zoom call
Check out the topics, times and RSVP to a zoom call discussion here!. Can't wait to see your smiling face on one of my upcoming zoom calls!
I am available to chat one on one as well just leave a comment below and I'll touch base with you.
Meanwhile, I'll be praying for wellness, purpose and abundance for everyone!
💕Gwen
CBD is a hot topic right now with signs for “CBD HERE” on every corner. You can find it at most gas stations and a myriad of other places. So why would you choose to use CBD in the first place?
The research on the benefits of CBD are at the very early stages. There have been many personal reports about CBD assisting with reducing anxiety, pain, helping with ADHD symptoms, etc. There have been minimal studies done because CBD was only downgraded to a Schedule V controlled substance in July 2018. Meaning that it has some benefits and the potential for abuse is low.
The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was passed that legalized hemp farming. In this act, the term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration (THC) of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
Interestingly, a pharmaceutical company released a drug called Epidiolex which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2018. This drug is being used to treat seizures in children over the age of 2 and adults.
There’s a couple of important points from my research about CBD that I want to pass on to you. As you do your own research on the potential benefits of CBD, investigate where to buy it if you choose to do so! The FDA doesn’t regulate hemp production, it only regulates what is on the label of the product you are purchasing. There have been many companies issued warning letters from the FDA for false claims on their product labels. Check out that list here!
CBD products can be labeled full-spectrum, broad spectrum, isolate or smart spectrum. Full spectrum products use the whole plant and therefor may contain up to .3% THC. This is important to know if you are in a position where drug testing may occur. A CBD isolate does not contain any THC, however it also lacks the terpenes that give the CBD the full effect. Smart Spectrum is a CBD isolate that is combined with the terpenes found in Young Living Essential Oils to give it the full effect. It can be very confusing to look at all these different types, so grab a copy of my free quick reference guide to CBD here.
Always talk to your doctor about starting a new protocol like CBD. It can affect the ability for the body to process other prescription drugs, so it’s important to know how to use it to ensure the efficacy of other prescriptions you may be taking.
Because there are so many companies selling CBD, it’s very important that you do the research to know what is in their products! Find out if they test their soil (hemp is a natural phytoremediator – meaning it naturally pulls toxins from the soil), find out if they use pesticides, find out if they have a quality assurance testing on their products. There are very little known side effects of CBD, however, some people have reported side effects that could be related to other things that are in the CBD product they used.
To get you started on your research journey, go grab my free quick reference guide to CBD here.
Do you use CBD already? Click on the comments button at the top of this article and let me know what you have found beneficial about it!
Lavender Linen Spray. Freshen closets, bedding, cars, and more with this calming scent.
Ingredients:
10 drops Lavender essential oil
2 tablespoons witch hazel
6 tablespoons water
10 drops Lavender essential oil
2 tablespoons witch hazel
6 tablespoons water
Directions:
1. Combine witch hazel and Lavender in a small glass spray bottle and shake together for about 30 seconds.
2. Add water and shake for another 30 seconds.
3. Spray lightly on fabrics that need refreshing.
1. Combine witch hazel and Lavender in a small glass spray bottle and shake together for about 30 seconds.
2. Add water and shake for another 30 seconds.
3. Spray lightly on fabrics that need refreshing.
Welcome to the Secret Sauce Blog where I help modern moms simplify life with tools that make life easier. We have a lot of responsibilities and it can get overwhelming. Keeping the family healthy, organized, actually eat together and tread lightly in the process takes some serious #momskills!
