Feathers in Our Nest

a blog about faith, family, food, & more written by a wife and stay at home mom of five

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Preserving the Everyday Memories

February 24, 2015 by Aliesha

I take a lot of photos with my cell phone, and I love to share the little, everyday memories on Instagram!  I’ve uploaded well over 1500 Instagram photos since I got the app almost three years ago, and I’ve always wanted to find a way to print them out inexpensively and easily!

I learned about Chatbooks from another blogger, and I was super excited to get started printing out my Instagram collection!  It’s incredibly easy to make books (i.e., they do all the work for you!), and each book is just $8!  You download the app, then import your photos… easy peasy!

Chatbooks-1

I started a subscription service with Chatbooks, which means that every time I fill a new book (60 photos), they’ll send it to me automatically (after I give it a glance and approve it)!  You can choose to exclude any photos you don’t want to print in the book.  Shipping is always free when you do a subscription!

Chatbooks-2

It’s so fun to preserve the everyday memories… that time I took the girls to the pet store when I was super pregnant with Jude… or that time CC started eating a peanut butter sandwich like a big girl.

Chatbooks-3

Or what I learned in my quiet time that morning… or what my kids looked like at 10:30AM that morning in May.Chatbooks-4The kids love looking through the books too and seeing how they’ve changed and grown!  It’s much more fun (and accessible to them) than scrolling through a phone gallery!

Chatbooks-5Oh, and this great wire basket (that is the perfect size) was just $3 in the Target Dollar Section!

If you’d like to get started preserving your everyday memories captured through Instagram, here is a code you can use!  Use code “AVWZFQ2E” at Chatbooks to get your first book free (when you sign up for a subscription), saving you $8!

Chatbooks-code

Happy “lazy scrapbooking”!  😉

The secret to EASILY printing your Instagram photos!

Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links.  If you choose to use my coupon code (saving you $8), I will receive referral credit. Thanks! (You’ll get your own code after you subscribe so you can share this with your friends and earn credit as well!)

Filed Under: instagram

Things I Like About Winter

February 18, 2015 by Aliesha

I don’t really like winter, but I’m trying to seek joy this week even though it is ridiculously cold for Eastern NC!  (And on top of that, our 95-year-old home isn’t any too warm.)  As an exercise in contentment, I decided to make a list of things I like about winter!

DSC_0133copysm 1. This outfit (similar).  I mean, for real.  It has ears!

DSC_0152copysmIt just doesn’t get much cuter than this.

DSC_0142copysm2. This hat (handmade by MiMi). Speaking of cute, hello, little owl!

DSC_0163copysm3. These mocs (Target).  I wear them all the time. Seriously. (Ignore the socks… as I mentioned, it’s quite cold here this week!)

DSC_0165copysm4. This blanket (gift). Softest thing ever and perfect for snuggling!

DSC_0160copysm5. These cookies. Winter makes me want to hibernate and eat cookies. What’s better than White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Craisin Coconut Cookies?

DSC_0172copysm6. This party. I’m so glad CC has a winter birthday. It gives me something fun to plan for in the midst of the long stretch between Christmas and spring! (Can you believe she’ll be three next week?)

Your turn!  What’s on your list of current things you like about winter?

Filed Under: Cordelia, everyday, Jude, winter

Essential Oil Blends – What Works for What?

February 17, 2015 by Aliesha

essential oil blendsAnother thing I love about Rocky Mountain Oils/Native American Nutritionals (same company; different websites) is how they have created a large amount of essential oil blends that are useful in many different ways!  Looking at all the blends can be a little overwhelming, so I’ve found it’s best to hear from people I know about what blends work for which things!

A little tip… all of the blends are available in 15ml OR 5ml bottles.  The 15ml bottles are the best deal, but the 5ml bottles are a great option when getting the larger bottle isn’t affordable for you at the moment.  I have some of both sizes!

Here is my stash of essential oil blends from Rocky Mountain Oils (read why I chose this company here).

Note: Always check each essential oil blend’s ingredients to make sure that the oils in it are safe for the person you’re using them with (kids, pregnant moms, etc.). Also, please test any oils on a small part of your skin first before using them on larger areas of the body or in a bath.  

Aligning

I got this blend to use for back massages.  It eases tension, relaxes the muscles, and calms stress.

Attention Assist

This blend helps with concentration and focus.  I have diffused it for Tad in his home office on days when he’s tired or needs a little boost.  I know other moms who diffuse it while homeschooling to help keep their kids focused! One study showed that vetiver (one of the oils in this blend) improved the performance of ADD/ADHD children (source).

Baby Skin

This is a very healing skin oil.  If you oil cleanse, you could easily add Baby Skin into your nightly oil cleanse, or you could apply it after your face has been washed.  The oils in this blend help rejuvenate skin, tone and tighten, treat acne, reduce oiliness, treat wrinkles, and soothe rashes and psoriasis.

Blend of Jasmine

This is more affordable way to reap the benefits of jasmine (antidepressant, aphrodisiac, sedative, etc.). I bought it primarily to use in homemade soaps, but I also used it in a linen spray recently as well.  I also hope to use this in the fall when I’m in labor as it can help stimulate uterine contractions.

Breathe Ease

This is a must-have oil blend for adults.  It’s not safe for young kids (due to the eucalyptus), but it is awesome for taking care of congestion in adults!  You can put a drop in the shower while you take a hot shower, or you can fill the sink with a bowl of steaming hot water, add a drop of Breathe Ease, drape a towel over your head over the sink, and breathe deeply.  Perfect for cold season!  It’s also helpful for laryngitis, sore throats, and asthma. Note: A good kid-friendly alternative to this blend is Respiratory Ease/Deep Breathe!

Calming

I just got this blend recently, but I already love it.  It was highly recommended to me, and I’m glad I purchased it.  It smells so peaceful, while at the same time happy and uplifting.  I love inhaling it when I need to chill out.  It’s a great one for the diffuser too!

First Aid

I think this is another must-have, especially if you’re constantly bandaging up cuts and scrapes.  When I’ve used it on injuries, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how it actually numbs the pain as well as works to heal it quickly.  The oils in this blend help prevent infection as well.

Gentle Healer

For more serious cuts or wounds, Gentle Healer (now called Mother’s Touch) is the blend to have. This one is pricey, but you don’t need much (I diluted it in coconut oil, which is also healing).  I’ve seen awesome picture testimonials of people using this oil to heal large cuts.  I’ve used it on my kids and seen their scratches/cuts go away quicker!

Pain Ease

If you like wintergreen, you’ll enjoy how this blend smells!  This blend is designed to reduce pain of muscles, joints, ligaments, and skin (bruising, etc.).

Peace and Quiet

This blend smells so good to me.  (I love blends that contain vanilla!)  My girls like it too and often ask to smell it!  I sometimes rub it on my heart or use it as a light perfume (dilute and rub on wrists).  It’s very uplifting!

Purify

Because I have kids, I don’t know what I’d do without this blend.  Let’s just say… it’s great for all kinds of odors and for the cleaning up of all bodily emissions.  Sometimes there’s a stink in our house that just won’t leave, and this oil always comes to the rescue!  I have sprayed it on various surfaces to help clean and purify them, and I have also diffused it in stinky rooms to purify the air! It’s antibacterial, antiseptic, and antiviral.

Relieve Me

This oil is helpful for cramps, muscle spasms, Charlie horses, and restless leg syndrome.  It reduces inflammation and it’s great for massage, especially for sports-related injuries.  It can relieve headaches too.

Sonata (now discontinued)

This is a romantic oil blend.  It can be diffused in the bedroom, used in a linen spray, or applied as a personal fragrance (dilute and dab on pulse points).  This blend also eases anxiety and stress!

Tummy Rub

I love how this blend smells and I find it so soothing/relieving for tummy troubles!  I can’t use it now that I’m pregnant, so I use something else for morning sickness.  Tummy Rub is great for indigestion, gas, bloating, motion sickness, and many other stomach issues.

I’ve made a few of my own blends too, but I may chat about those in another post!

View all blends from Rocky Mountain Oils here!


Feel free to pin this post for later (and scroll to the bottom of this post for an exciting giveaway!)Essential Oil Blends: What works for what and how do I use them?

If you’ve now decided what blends you want, you’ll also want to read this post with some frequently-used single oils and research for how to use them.

*Giveaway Now Over* And now… for a fun giveaway!  Rocky Mountain Oils would like to give away one blend to three different readers! You can pick any blend featured in this post! To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below (you don’t need a Facebook account to enter): a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms: Three winners may each select one (1) bottle of any essential oil blend featured in this post (aligning, attention assist, baby skin, blend of jasmine, breathe ease, calming, first aid, gentle healer, pain ease, peace and quiet, purify, relieve me, sonata, or tummy rub). Giveaway is open internationally, but winner will be responsible for any custom fees or taxes that are incurred.

You may also enjoy reading other posts I’ve written on essential oils, particularly THIS ONE on essential oils for kids!

RMOKidsPinterest

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, so if you are looking for medical advice, please contact your physician.  Also, in this post I link to the essential oil company I use and love. If you choose to make a purchase through my links, it will help support my family and this blog. Thank you!

Filed Under: essential oils, health and beauty, popular

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This blog shares our family's story and our journey from newlyweds to a family of seven. We share milestones, we share struggles, we share sweet memories, and we share about our Savior. Keep reading...

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