Sweet Summertime

Summer time is in full swing for our family. We have taken our 1st beach trip as a family of 4, started swim lessons and eaten a lot of watermelon! Today I want to share a couple must have summer products & the importance of a quiet moment.

Summer Must Haves

All Natural Homemade Sunscreen($18) 

It is no secret that big name sunscreens are often loaded with ingredients that have been proven harmful. I'll spare you the research articles for now but I do have a solution! Bree, a local mom, makes all natural sunscreen from beef tallow and other clean & moisturizing ingredients that you can feel good about putting on you and your children.  I have been using her homemade sunscreen for a few weeks now on myself and my kids and not only have we not had any sunburns, we are moisturized! I even used it on my 5 month old with sensitive skin as his 1st experience with any sunscreen product. Not only did it prevent burn with no irritation, it left some dry patches he was dealing with moisturized and feeling much better! 

If you would like to try it for yourself, you can reach out to Bree directly at 949-939-4608 or just let me know and I will get some custom ordered for you! 

Lavaderm ($28)

This summer must have is a product through Young Living made with the highest quality essential oils to cool your skin when you forget sunscreen or miss a spot. Earlier this summer, I decided I didn't needs sunscreen to be out in the sun for a short time however my shoulders did not agree. After my shower, I rubbed just a few spritz of this awesome product on the burn and within 5 minutes I was feeling much better and the redness had subsided tremendously. After my positive experience with it, I used it on my toddler's face after a few too many minutes in the yard and it tamed the redness with no irritation. It's definitely a summer must to have on hand when you need a little relief. You can also use it on minor cuts, scrapes & insect bites to ease pain and promote healing. You can buy some for yourself here: 

https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/4485127

A Moment of Reflection

In this season of life, a quiet moment can be the difference in how the day begins, how much anxiety creeps into my thoughts or how I speak to those I love. With 2 kids under 2, I often feel as if I am being pulled in multiple directions all at once. One kid wakes from a nap while the other needs lunch or dinner needs to be prepped but the toddler needs to get outside to burn that after nap energy and the list goes on and on. Quiet moments are not in excess for me right now and that is okay however I have discovered finding a moment for myself daily is vital to being grounded in a season that can feel so overwhelming. 

These moments look different depending on the day. Especially with summer in full swing, our days are filled with lots of activities that are fun but do often get us off schedule which can lead to a new set of challenges and more time cleaning up messes, prepping snacks for outside or travel. It sometimes feels like there wasn't a moment in the day to grab for myself however I am here to tell you that you deserve to have a few minutes. It does not have to be long, at the same time everyday or planned. Sometimes it is coffee on the patio listening to the birds chirp before the kids wake up. Sometimes it is sitting in the car an extra 2 minutes before going inside. Some days it is a devotion and prayer time before bed and other times all I can muster up is just to sit in silence after the bedtime routine. 

Whatever the moment, make the most of it.  We have to remember that we are worthy of self care and remind ourselves that we have what it takes to conquer each day. We are the exact person God made for our children and we do not have to do hard things alone. Christ does not give us more than we can handle with His help every step of the way.  He also places people in our lives to lift us up and walk alongside us through tough seasons. I encourage you to look around and identify those people and turn to prayer to cast your anxieties on the one who created and knows what you need. Take the quiet moments to cry out to Jesus or just sit in the stillness and rest that He provides.