This isn't my usual style for a blog post but I have to rave about this new product I tried.
For those who know me well know that I have terrible eczema.
I struggle with it everyday, and it is at its worst on my hands. The crack, they burn, and they hurt all the time. My hands are constantly in pain due to the dryness. Sometimes when I would hold a pen to write in my journal, cook dinner or change the babies diapers, my hands would burn so bad that I would cry.
I have tried numerous skin products, prescriptions and changes to my diet (I cut out all dairy for 3 weeks to see if that would help it. Minimal change to the skin issues but I did find that with less dairy in my diet my stomach felt better then it had in years, go figure!)
Nothing seemed to work.
I was truly going to give up hope.
Just learn to deal with it.
Accept that my hands will always be in pain.
Live in that state.
and then I found it....
My saving grace!
It all began last week when Lindsay and I watched a 'marketplace' episode on so called 'natural skin products' on the market and what was really in our lotions and creams. The results were truly surprising. Especially for the babies products. It really got me thinking about what I put on the girls. I though I was doing well by using Avenno baby products. I had did some research and decided to avoid 'johnsons and johnsons' due the ingredients and simply due to the fact that when I put it on the babies it burned my hands like nothing I have ever felt before. I assumed Avenno was a good choice, by low and behold, Avenno is owned my 'johnsons and johnsons'. The ingredients are not much different.
I was on a mission to find something for my girls that was natural. I am not to concerned about organic, I simply was searching for something natural. A cream/lotion/oil that used products that their bodies would recognise and absorb properly.
I tried a few places that sold natural and organic products and found some soaps and shampoos for the babies. I even found a locally made goats milk soap for me. I was successful, but I still hadn't found a moisturizer for them.
I decided to stop into my new favorite store, Soul Scents in Almonte. I browsed the store for a bit, had a great conversation with Sara, and found a skin care line that I was hoping I would love.
It is called badger balm . I bought a tin of balm for the babies and a tin for me.
The ingredients are so simple and wonderful. The main ingredients are organic extra virgin olive oil and bees wax. Each variation of balm differs in essential oils (The balm I bought for myself is called 'yoga and meditation' and contains cedarwood, Mandarin, sandalwood, ginger, frankincense, vertivert, calendula, rosehip and myrrh. It smells amazing.)
There is nothing else in it. The two oils and essential oils.
It is incredible.
I have been using the balm on my hands and body and I truly cannot put into words how fantastic it is working. This morning I woke up with out dryness in my hands.
I have not felt that in months!
I am very happy today!
My hands don't hurt and I didn't realize how much that affected my mood!
If any of you struggle with dry skin, eczema or are just looking for a new skin products that leaves out the chemicals and unknowns and is a little more 'real', I highly recommend checking out badger balm.
It is amazing!
As crude a weapon as the cave man's club, the chemical barrage has been hurled against the fabric of life.
- Rachel Carson
I hope you all have a wondeful day!
Much love,
Jessica
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A little peace through reading
I just put my babies down for a morning rest.
Before every nap/rest and before bedtime, I have started reading them a chapter from a childrens novel.
I used to do this when they were first brought home.
I think I did it then to save my sanity.
You see, I love to talk and I found the long days alone with the girls while they still slept for 18 hours in the day were tough for me.
So I would read.
I read out loud.
Anything at all, just to keep my sanity.
I stopped doing this when the girls were able to move. They would crawl all over me and try to steal the books and rip the pages. It was too frustrating to always be moving the book and fend off attack babies.
So we stopped this beloved practice.
I decided to start it again just recently.
You see, a couple week ago a new phase for my children set in. They have become very sensitive (especially Chloe). The cry alot more and alot louder. If you look at them the wrong way they will scream bloody murder, and you don't even want to know what happens if we tell them no.
They scream more and steal each other toys, southers and blankets.
They will cry if I walk out of a room even for the slightest second.
Choas ensues when myself, Court or my parents actually leaves the house without them.
They get themselves all in a tizzy.
It can be very hard to get them to calm down.
At this point I will try anything to keep the peace and calm energy in my house.
So I started reading novels to them again.
Not in the conventional way, where the little ones sit in your lap calmly and happy while you read a book to them. i doubt my children will ever be able to do that.
I do it in a much more logical way.
I plunk them in their crib and sit far enough away that they cannot grab the pages of the book.
Sometimes they cry, fuss or scream and I just keep reading.
Each day the crying last less and less.
The calmness of my voice and consistency of the dialogue seems to get them to calm down. They even lie down with thier duckie or bear-bear and relax.
It can be quite nice.
Calm and peaceful.
and if it is only for story time that I get peace for the day, then it is worth it.
It is better then nothing.
This morning we just finished 'Charlotte's Web'.
I forgot how fantastic that book is.
It is deep, philosphical and simply just cute.
Next I think we will read 'The BFG' by Roald Dahl.
"This hallowed doorway was once the home of Charlotte. She was brilliant, beautiful, and loyal to the end. Her memory will be treasured forever."
-Charlottes Web (EB White)
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Much love,
Jessica
Before every nap/rest and before bedtime, I have started reading them a chapter from a childrens novel.
I used to do this when they were first brought home.
I think I did it then to save my sanity.
You see, I love to talk and I found the long days alone with the girls while they still slept for 18 hours in the day were tough for me.
So I would read.
I read out loud.
Anything at all, just to keep my sanity.
I stopped doing this when the girls were able to move. They would crawl all over me and try to steal the books and rip the pages. It was too frustrating to always be moving the book and fend off attack babies.
So we stopped this beloved practice.
I decided to start it again just recently.
You see, a couple week ago a new phase for my children set in. They have become very sensitive (especially Chloe). The cry alot more and alot louder. If you look at them the wrong way they will scream bloody murder, and you don't even want to know what happens if we tell them no.
They scream more and steal each other toys, southers and blankets.
They will cry if I walk out of a room even for the slightest second.
Choas ensues when myself, Court or my parents actually leaves the house without them.
They get themselves all in a tizzy.
It can be very hard to get them to calm down.
At this point I will try anything to keep the peace and calm energy in my house.
So I started reading novels to them again.
Not in the conventional way, where the little ones sit in your lap calmly and happy while you read a book to them. i doubt my children will ever be able to do that.
I do it in a much more logical way.
I plunk them in their crib and sit far enough away that they cannot grab the pages of the book.
Sometimes they cry, fuss or scream and I just keep reading.
Each day the crying last less and less.
The calmness of my voice and consistency of the dialogue seems to get them to calm down. They even lie down with thier duckie or bear-bear and relax.
It can be quite nice.
Calm and peaceful.
and if it is only for story time that I get peace for the day, then it is worth it.
It is better then nothing.
This morning we just finished 'Charlotte's Web'.
I forgot how fantastic that book is.
It is deep, philosphical and simply just cute.
Next I think we will read 'The BFG' by Roald Dahl.
"This hallowed doorway was once the home of Charlotte. She was brilliant, beautiful, and loyal to the end. Her memory will be treasured forever."
-Charlottes Web (EB White)
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Much love,
Jessica
Monday, March 21, 2011
Ice cream girls
I though I would share this picture.
It is of the girls last night eating their first ice cream cone.
Banana Ice cream!
Delish!
It is of the girls last night eating their first ice cream cone.
Banana Ice cream!
Delish!
My love
Life as a mom with twins,
Stressful, busy, chaotic and always so full.
Full of noise, full of toys, full of joy!
I always feel like I am running on a treadmill. Never completly getting everything done that is needed and always striving to do better.
I am always busy.
Being a a mom of twins is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.
It is a postion that was easy to recieve but is a challenge everyday.
I strive to be a good mom. To be a loving mom. To be a happy mom.
This can come easy, but somedays I need to push.
I need to not give up.
I am not allowed to wallow.
I am not allowed to cave.
I am not allowed to give up.
My girls depend on me.
They are my life.
My soul
My love
Stressful, busy, chaotic and always so full.
Full of noise, full of toys, full of joy!
I always feel like I am running on a treadmill. Never completly getting everything done that is needed and always striving to do better.
I am always busy.
Being a a mom of twins is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.
It is a postion that was easy to recieve but is a challenge everyday.
Some days the challenege is difficult, hard to catch the flow, tough to stay afloat. Other days seem to come organically and naturally, like and old pair of shoes that I can slip right into. Everyday seems to elicit new struggles and new adventures.
Being a mom of twins is a pactice of will poer and strength. I push myself furthur then I used to. I strive to be a good mom. To be a loving mom. To be a happy mom.
This can come easy, but somedays I need to push.
I need to not give up.
I am not allowed to wallow.
I am not allowed to cave.
I am not allowed to give up.
My girls depend on me.
They are my life.
My soul
My love
Children make you want to start life over. ~Muhammad Ali
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
much love,
Jessica
Saturday, March 19, 2011
poetry
I have been writing alot of poetry this last few weeks. It has taken all my writing away from the blog. I would post everyday becasue I have been writing everyday, but I find I am much more lenient with posting all my poetry. I think I become more attached to my poems then just my blog posts. I just can bear they idea of them being judged. They are personal, they are truly me.
But either way, I did post a recent poem I wrote...
Hope you enjoy, don't be too tough, I am no professional.
Memories held in time
Those moments
held with pure joy
in the web of memory
their delicate existence
their wanting desire
they come in an instant
leave with no questions
moments I will always remeber
moments like this
how I feel
how I change
how they make me be
moments with you
I will never forget
Hope you have a wondeful day!
Much love,
Jessica
But either way, I did post a recent poem I wrote...
Hope you enjoy, don't be too tough, I am no professional.
Memories held in time
Those moments
held with pure joy
in the web of memory
their delicate existence
their wanting desire
they come in an instant
leave with no questions
moments I will always remeber
moments like this
how I feel
how I change
how they make me be
moments with you
I will never forget
Hope you have a wondeful day!
Much love,
Jessica
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
your gift of unique existence
as the words unfold
the stories flow outwards
the aura of perfection
the light of envy
they all go away
they all drift into the atmosphere
we are all the same
you and I
we all struggle for the same cause
we all search for the same treasures
our divine purpose is congruent
though our individual journey is truly our own
our gift to our existence
I wrote this last night. After working and talking with clients, it hit me that truly we are all the same. Sometimes in life we want what others have, the appearance of others life and accomplishments may seem more extensive then ours. We thrive with envy at times to be in the light of perfection of the ones we know and love, but truly we are all the same. We all struggle towards the same outcome but our journey just have different paths. That is what makes our lives truly unique. The purpose is the same the trip is just different.
Honor your individual journey. It truly is special.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
Much love,
Jessica
the stories flow outwards
the aura of perfection
the light of envy
they all go away
they all drift into the atmosphere
we are all the same
you and I
we all struggle for the same cause
we all search for the same treasures
our divine purpose is congruent
though our individual journey is truly our own
our gift to our existence
I wrote this last night. After working and talking with clients, it hit me that truly we are all the same. Sometimes in life we want what others have, the appearance of others life and accomplishments may seem more extensive then ours. We thrive with envy at times to be in the light of perfection of the ones we know and love, but truly we are all the same. We all struggle towards the same outcome but our journey just have different paths. That is what makes our lives truly unique. The purpose is the same the trip is just different.
Honor your individual journey. It truly is special.
I hope you have a wonderful day!
Much love,
Jessica
Monday, March 14, 2011
The power of love
Last night we decided to go for an 'after dinner walk'. There was still daylight at 6:00 pm, it was truly wonderful.
We had to stop at the movie store and drop off some late rentals. While we were there, I decided I was going to rent a movie and have a movie night myself while court watched hockey. I rented "Love and other drugs" with Jake Gyllenhall (oh how I love to watch movies with him!) and Anne Hathaway.
I absolutely loved it!
I haven't watched a romantic movie in a few weeks, and this movie hit just the right spot.
I am a romantic.
I love movies in which people fall in love and realize the intensity of that love. I love happy endings and cheesy lines. I love tears and heartfelt monologues.
I love it all!
Love is such a powerful emotion. All kinds of love. It seems to resonates so true to all of us. Everyone seems to have their own intensity in feeling love but we all crave it. We all want it to be given to us, and we all want to give it back.
Hollywood Blockbusters exaggerate love. It is like romance on steroids. Maybe that is why some people hate romantic movies, because they don't reign true to real life. But I think that is why I love them.
They are exagerated versions of real life. They intensify the dynamic of romantic love and make you feel passionately strong for 90 minutes. They strongly envelope you with feelings of love. They remind you of your own feelings.
What would we do with out the cheesy love movies to remind us to live with love?
"Love and other drugs" was just what I needed last night. It allowed me to connect with that inner romantic in me (I needed to connect to that inner romantic and be a little nicer after my meltdown regarding my Costco trip yesterday, but that is for another time!)
I've never known anyone who actually believe that I was enough until I met you. And then you made me believe it too.
Jamie Randall "Love and other drugs"
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Much Love,
Jessica
We had to stop at the movie store and drop off some late rentals. While we were there, I decided I was going to rent a movie and have a movie night myself while court watched hockey. I rented "Love and other drugs" with Jake Gyllenhall (oh how I love to watch movies with him!) and Anne Hathaway.
I absolutely loved it!
I haven't watched a romantic movie in a few weeks, and this movie hit just the right spot.
I am a romantic.
I love movies in which people fall in love and realize the intensity of that love. I love happy endings and cheesy lines. I love tears and heartfelt monologues.
I love it all!
Love is such a powerful emotion. All kinds of love. It seems to resonates so true to all of us. Everyone seems to have their own intensity in feeling love but we all crave it. We all want it to be given to us, and we all want to give it back.
Hollywood Blockbusters exaggerate love. It is like romance on steroids. Maybe that is why some people hate romantic movies, because they don't reign true to real life. But I think that is why I love them.
They are exagerated versions of real life. They intensify the dynamic of romantic love and make you feel passionately strong for 90 minutes. They strongly envelope you with feelings of love. They remind you of your own feelings.
What would we do with out the cheesy love movies to remind us to live with love?
"Love and other drugs" was just what I needed last night. It allowed me to connect with that inner romantic in me (I needed to connect to that inner romantic and be a little nicer after my meltdown regarding my Costco trip yesterday, but that is for another time!)
I've never known anyone who actually believe that I was enough until I met you. And then you made me believe it too.
Jamie Randall "Love and other drugs"
I hope you all have a wonderful day!
Much Love,
Jessica
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