1// ESSENTIAL OILS: These two essential oil blends are the ones I reach for over and over these days. You can find them both here (I love this company.). I put our diffuser right behind the sofa on this little shelf so that while the boys are sitting watching TV or reading books, it diffuses close to them. Also, have you ever cleaned a bathtub with oils? I’m telling you, a few drops of lemon, baking soda, and a little elbow grease will have your bathtub more sparkly and fresh smelling then ever. Spring cleaning with oils! Makes it all the more bearable. Your favorite ways to use?
2// BOOK: Magic of Motherhood is speaking right to me these days. It’s in short essay form so it’s simple to pick up, read an essay while your kids are watching an episode of Paw Patrol, feel like you had a sweet conversation with a mom-friend, and put down when the episode is finished. Actually, you could probably read two in that time! One that has come back to me many times now is about how seasons are cyclical juxtaposed with childhood–and how year one, year two, etc.–only happens once. Are you crying yet? It was so poignant and true and something I hadn’t thought of before. Anyway, pick this up for you, for a friend. It’s a keeper. Those Coffee + Crumbs gals can write.
3// FOOD: This wrap is one of Parker’s new favorite lunches. We rotate between this–hummus slathered on liberally, and sliced cucumber on top–or peanut butter slathered on with slices of banana. It’s a nice departure from bread for a change. I like mine with spinach, lunch meat, a few slices of cheese, sliced peppers, some salt, and maybe a bit of my favorite salad dressing. Anders likes it too. 
4// ANDERS: This kid. He cannot sit through even one episode of Daniel Tiger without getting up and watching it from the back of the couch. It’s so freaking endearing I could eat him. The energy that little boys possess, man, I’m learning more about it all the time. Steve and I laugh in the mornings because there we are, sitting, hardly moving, until we’ve had at least a few sips of coffee, and then you’ve got Anders and Parker buzzing with energy and ready to play. Where does that go when we’re adults? And how do I get some of that back?!? So anyway, I want to remember Anders on the back of the couch, because he spends a lot of time there. Like, he’ll literally sit for about 6 minutes of an episode, and then, like clockwork, climb to the back of the couch and watch the rest from there. (And sometimes pull the books off the shelf too. Mmmhmm, not as big a fan of that, Anders.)
5// DRESS: This pretty dress (on sale) from Gap that feels like it’d be such an easy throw-on day or night dress. I’m loving so much of Gap this season. This culotte jumpsuit by them is so fun too.
I’m super into essential oils too! The citrus blend one you have sounds really nice, might give it a try after my current one runs out.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
gap is so good this spring! i seriously just keep on ordering. i’m so intrigued about the oils you posted- all i hear about is young living or doterra and i kind of avoid that like the plague, but these look so cool!
xo, brittany
budget friendly nursing top roundup on my blog today!
http://www.notablob.com
Today’s post makes me smile! Oh, the ups and downs of life! Definitely more ups!!!! Enjoy everyday to the upmost.
Love RMO!! So many different uses! I like to use lemon in the trash and disposal, or to mop the floors, I’ve used peppermint, purify, and lavender on my dryer balls, I love their aligning blend too 🙂 That book sounds really good!
Ah, so can’t wait to get my hands on Ashley Gadd’s book! Love her.
http://www.backwardsnhighheels.com
I also love using baking soda and essential oils to clean my bathtub!
OH MAN. So, I ordered the mega humidifier/diffuser you posted in the FB Sale Rack group last week. I had one old mellow type blend essential oil already lying around I’ve been using, but ordered a set through Amazon so I could have endless options. Amazon tells me it arrived today. AND THERE’S LEMON. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to clean my bathtub. The condo my husband and I purchased 4 years ago was a foreclosure. GREAT price, but came with a few…quirks. One of those quirks is an impossible to clean grime/scuzz/who-knows-what on the floor of our shower. Like, I can “clean” it…and it still just looks gray. It’s disgusting and I’ve tried so many products. Going to give baking soda + lemon essential oil + the greasiest of elbow scrubs a try!
And, that’s the story of our gross shower and why I’m excited to clean it.
report back. i am feeling hopeful that baking soda and lemon eo will do the trick on even the subbornest of grout dirt!!
Well, I scrubbed and scrubbed until I ran out of baking soda. Honestly, I can tell a difference, though there is still a long way to go. One reason it’s so difficult is the floor of the tub has all these “helpful” tiny grooves that are supposed to prevent you from slipping. These grooves are the grime catchers! The pros: works better than other other super chemical smelling cleaners and I can work longer since the fumes don’t make me nearly pass out. Cons: uh, well…None really. Should have tried this a long time ago!
I always feel like such a domestic diva when I find something natural that actually works BETTER than the chemical-laden stuff. Ten points for me and Katie!!
I love your library! Those shelves filled with books are amazing! We just added a reading room to our house, and I love seeing all of our books displayed. Also, I love essential oils. I’ve been diffusing thieves.
The Magic of Motherhood – good for moms of all ages/all ages of kids? or just ones with kids living in the house? Any advice is appreciated!
I think you could appreciate it as a mother, no matter what/when!