May 2015 - Bare Feet on the Dashboard

26
May
2015

Using Essential Oils to Get Better Sleep for the Whole Family

When our family made the decision to try essential oils back in February, one of my top priorities was to try use them to help us get better sleep. I’ve had trouble falling asleep for my entire adult life, and was pretty desperate for help. My son was also struggling, taking almost 2 hours to fall asleep some nights. Some of the oils we’ve tried have really helped us, so today I’m sharing how to get started using essential oils to get better sleep for the whole family. I’m not a doctor and can’t tell you what is best for your family, and this is not medical advice in any way. I’m just a mom who is trying out natural remedies with my family and sharing what has worked for us with you. Click here for more information on why we use essential oils and to see our current oil deal.

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22
May
2015

20 Ideas for Summer Fun with Preschool Kids

categories: play, preschool, summer

Summer is here and we are ready to play! Are you looking for fresh ideas to keep your little ones entertained this summer? Here are 20 ideas for summer fun with preschool kids to help you have fun with your family during the hot months ahead. Need ideas for your toddler? You’ll find five fun ideas to entertain your toddler this summer here. I’ve joined with my favorite kid bloggers to share our favorite summer ideas for kids and families, so be sure to hop around to the links at the bottom of this post.

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20
May
2015

Family Fun in DFW: Amazing Jake’s Plano

categories: DFW, family, kids

Summer days are long and hot in Texas, and we are always looking for a way to beat the heat and have fun as a family. Recently we had the opportunity to visit Amazing Jake’s in Plano, and it was a blast for the whole family. Located close to 75/North Central Expressway in Collin Creek Mall, Amazing Jake’s is worth the drive from all over the metroplex. Read on to find what we thought about the entertainment at Amazing Jake’s for toddlers, preschoolers, and adults.

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15
May
2015

One Easy Way to Get Kids to Want to Brush Their Teeth

categories: kids, parenting

Managing your child’s hygiene can be a daunting task. Those little fingernails grow so fast, the dirt just seems to stick, and they never want to brush their teeth. While the nails and the dirt can’t be helped, we’ve found the easiest solution to get our kids to brush their teeth. I shared strategies for teaching kids how to brush their teeth last week. Establishing healthy oral care routines for kids is so important, so this time I’m sharing how to get them WANT to brush their teeth. It is so simple, I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out.

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11
May
2015

Five Simple Strategies to Help Kids Conquer Bed Wetting

categories: kids, parenting

It isn’t fun to talk about, but bed wetting can be such a frustrating struggle for kids and their caregivers. Our son was potty trained for months, with no accidents during naps or a night when all of a sudden he started wetting the bed again. It was so hard not to get mad and frustrated when we were changing the sheets AGAIN after months of dry nights. When I learned that enuresis (bed wetting) is normal for kids long after the potty training years, I realized we needed to develop a few strategies to make sure we were all getting good sleep and help us conquer bed wetting.

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10
May
2015

Motherhood Changed Everything

categories: baby, parenting, pregnancy

I often think of the befores and afters of my life, how I came to be who I am today and how I evolved from the person I once was. Transformations happen naturally as we grow and mature, and sometimes abruptly through traumatic events or drastic changes. Reflecting on milestones is big part of the human existence. We think about our graduations, weddings, job changes, deaths of loved ones, births of children. I’ve experienced a lot in my almost 36 years, but the biggest transformation of my life has come from motherhood. I am a very different person today than I was five years ago, and the two sweet babies who made me a mama are the reason.

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07
May
2015

A Thank You Letter to the Teachers Who Made a Difference in My Life

categories: inspiration

Most of have at least one, that teacher we remember who cared about us, challenged us, brought out the best in us, that made a difference. I was lucky enough to have many such educators in my school years, and today I’m joining a group of bloggers to take the time to say thank you. I has been 18 years since I graduated from high school, and yet the memories of my school years are still vivid. Good times and bad, my worst moments as well as a few great ones, the school years shape us and give us a foundation for the future. During this Teacher Appreciation Week, take a minute to thank a teacher. Thank one who made a difference in your life or the life of your child. Teachers work hard and get paid little to mold young minds, and the demands on them increase year after year. I want to thank the teachers who made a difference in my life.

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07
May
2015

Glow in the Dark Fun Indoor Play Ideas- A to Z Rainy Day Activities Series

categories: kids, play

Glow in the dark activities are REALLY fun for kids (and you), but they are SUPER difficult to photograph. I tried, really I did, but nothing worked out. So, I’m sharing a few fun ideas for glow in the dark fun with your kids for those hot or rainy days when you need to play indoors and you’ll have to use your imagination to picture them. Thanks for understanding. These are ideas are simple, but will provide endless fun for your family. Be sure to check out the rest of the A to Z Rainy Day Activities Series at Something 2 Offer for more fun indoor play ideas.

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05
May
2015

Create a DIY Leather Feather Diffuser Necklace {Tutorial}

categories: diy, essential oils

Making jewelry can be a fun and frugal way to add style to your wardrobe. A diffuser necklace is so much more than an accessory. Diffuser necklaces help you to enjoy your favorite essential oil throughout the day without having to reapply. I love using essential oils to lift my mood, bring focus, or help me relax. I’ve seen many different diffuser necklace styles, but hadn’t found one I loved. I wanted something that would work well but also blend with my wardrobe and sense of style. This necklace is functional and fashionable, and so easy to create. Use the tutorial below to make our own.

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04
May
2015

A Summer Mission Trip Opportunity at YoungLives Camp

categories: jesus, life to the full

For the second summer in a row, our family will be serving at YoungLives Camp this June and we would love for you to join us. I am the child care admin for our camp for teen moms in the Texas Hill Country, so Jed and the kids join me at Camp Buckner to help give pregnant and parenting teenage girls from all over Texas and surrounding states an incredible week of summer camp with their babies. YoungLives is part of Young Life, an international Christian youth outreach ministry that Jed and I have both been involved with for over 15 years. We actually met at a Young Life camp in North Carolina called Windy Gap.

We love getting to be a part of kids hearing the Gospel at camp, and would like to invite you to come and serve with us. In order to run camps for teen moms, we need LOTS of child care volunteers to help take care of the babies. Camp starts June 6, and we still need over 30 volunteers for each week at Camp Buckner. Would you consider giving a week of your time to rock a sweet baby or chase a toddler so their mama can learn that she has a Father in heaven who loves her and her baby?

Teen moms often face a lot of obstacles and have a lot of odds stacked against them. At camp we help give them the tools they need to be the mom they want to be AND share God’s love with them. Watch the video below, and consider joining us this summer. If Texas is too far, check out the other service opportunities at YoungLives camp weeks across the U.S. For more information and to apply to serve this summer, check out the YoungLives Experience here.

YoungLives Experience from lisa fiedler on Vimeo.

Month: May 2015