Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

According to Instagram, twenty-two weeks ago I posted a delicious photo and promised a blog post on an incredible recipe.

That was before I got a big girl job and my son started t-ball.

So, it's been a little bit, y'all.

But seriously, whatever, I have no valid excuse as to why I'm just now getting around to posting it. It's probably because I am the worlds largest procrastinator, ever.  But since I'm the CEO of my own life, I have been living to the fullest for the past few months.

You guys, I'm not even kidding, we've been doing everything we want. 

 We've been hiking, multiple times. 

We've been on a few small road trips. 

The baby turned one. 

We've been on some pretty fantastic dates.  

I started crossfit, we've been to a plethora of amazing new restaurants, Jacob has lost 40 pounds since the start of the new year... 2016 has just been awesome.

I'll even throw in the ridiculous, "hashtag we are so blessed" because we are. Truly. Our lives are at full speed and we are loving every minute.

That's another reason why I love this dish. Our lives are so busy right now, so I don't have time for meals that take an hour to prep. Nor do I have time for these ridiculous, off-the-shelf exotic item in which all of the flavor resides. I need simple, fresh recipes that are literally bursting with flavor so that I can enjoy them and get back to the aforementioned boys in my life.

I'm going to go full disclaimer on you guys right now and let you know that I am not responsible AT ALL for the creation of this delicious soup. Side bar: I am and have always been a pen and paper kind of girl. I'm all for the digital world, but I regularly scribble recipes down on whatever sticky note/scratch pad is laying on my desk. That's how this one got started. I think I probably saw it on Pinterest, I quickly jotted the ingredients down, and then it stayed on my desk for a few weeks. And then one day when I was cleaning the many piles that are my office, I came across the note, and decided to make it for dinner.

And it was the best soup ever.

But, when I say soup, please don't think of like a brothy, high liquid to content ratio. This is like a creamy, delicious vat of Mexican flavored goodness that will leave you so full but not miserable.

I searched high and low for the original pin & blog post, but I can not find it anywhere. So if this is your recipe, please let me know, and I would be beyond happy to give you credit for it.

Want to know what the best thing about this recipe is? I can totally be done in the crock pot.

I know, I know. It just keeps getting better and better. Wait until you see the ingredients. You probably already have all of them on hand. 

Please excuse the apples. They are not invited. You need 1 cup of salsa, 2 cans cream of chicken, 1 can of corn and 1 can of black beans. We also add a pinch of cumin at the end and occasionally I will add 1 to 1.5 cups of water to it, depending on how thick it is.

AND THAT'S IT. 

 Go from this...

To this...

In 2-4 hours on high, or 4-6 hours on low.

Top it with your favorites: sliced avocado, fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, Mexican shredded cheese, and some crushed tortilla chips, or just eat it plain. You really can not go wrong with this one.

My husband asks for this every week, and even my kiddos will eat it, so you know it's good!



Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup 

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup of salsa
1 can of corn
1 can of black beans
1-1.5 cups of water*
1 teaspoon of cumin

Optional toppings, dressed to your liking:
chopped cilantro
avocado
green onion
cheddar cheese
sour cream
crushed tortilla chips

Directions:

Coat your crock pot evenly with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken in the bottom of slow cooker. Add cream of chicken soup, salsa, 1/2 cup of water, cumin and stir. Allow to cook for 2-4 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high (with frozen chicken, 6 hours on high, 8 on low). Remove chicken and add drained can of corn and drained black beans. Shred chicken with mixer and a paddle attachment or two forks. Incorporate shredded chicken back into soup. If the mixture looks too thick, add 1/4 cup of water at a time until the mixture is to your liking.

*Side note: I have found that frozen chicken usually releases a lot of broth & water into the soup and gives it great flavor, but does add cook time. I typically use frozen chicken and set this up in the morning before work (at 7 AM), so I will put it on low. When I get home at 4:00 the mixture is usually slightly bubbling and the chicken is almost always done. Sometimes I have to add a little water, sometimes I don't. You will have to play with the water amount depending on the chicken you use and get it to how you like it. With our kiddos, it's easier for them to eat it if it's a bit thicker, so we never add more than about 1/2 a cup of water total.


Eat well!
-C

Are You Thinking About Buying A Gun, Ma'am? Part 2

Read part 1 here.


It hurt.

The first time I pulled the trigger, my life was changed forever. My dad's Mossberg shotgun went off in my nine year old hands and the recoil really, really hurt.

Like I felt it for days after, y'all.

I say that my life was changed, though, because my curiosity was gone.

We were at the gun range with maybe 4 or 5 of my dad's guy friends, all of them bringing their own firearms, and not one of them accidentally discharged. No one got hurt. And my curiosity was wiped away because I felt how hard I had to pull to squeeze the trigger. It was not an easy feat for my small hands. Sure, it was probably easy for my dad, but for me, I had to really squeeze to get the gun to go off. And just like my dad said it should, it surprised me when it went off. I guess because, in my mind, I thought I only had to move the trigger back a few millimeters for it to fire. That was not the case. So as I was pulling it back, I thought, wow, you really have to want to shoot this gun to get it to discharge.

My curiosity, my timidness, my anxiety was gone. With one shot. Dad asked me if I wanted to shoot it again, and I politely told him, "No, thank you." I remember going back and climbing into the back of his pick-up, and sitting there for the rest of the day thinking about how my shoulder felt like it was dislocated.

It was my first crash course in recoil. One that I desperately needed and am so thankful I got.

I didn't fire another gun until I was maybe twelve. This time it was a little .22 pistol which went off with a little bit more ease than the shotgun did. The recoil was light, and it was a great gun to use while perfecting my sighting technique.

My parents built a gun range directly on their property, which was subject to different regulations since we lived outside city lines. We shot often. As an only child, I knew my parents room was loaded down like Fort Knox with firearms, and my dad often had me help him clean them.

Guns were just a part of my life. It wasn't uncommon for there to be one at the dinner table with us when I was in high school. 

I never worried about safety. My dad always carried a firearm for personal protection, so I never feared for my surroundings or worried about getting robbed when I was with him. When we watched the news at night, my dad would take his gun out of his holster and lay it on the coffee table. I remember hearing story after story of robberies, car-jackings, murders, and thinking to myself those things could happen to anyone, but I know my dad wouldn't go down without a fight. That was comforting.

As a latch-key kid, I was often home for 2 to 3 hours a day without my parents. I had to walk about three quarters of a mile down our dirt road from the bus stop to the house. My dad constantly questioned me about what would I do in certain scenarios, and how would I protect myself in certain situations.  What would you do if someone tried to take you? Punch them in the nose. What would you do if you were home alone and you heard someone breaking in? I would grab your gun and protect myself. My personal favorite, when we were out at a restaurant one night-identify all of the exits without looking around. Well there's the one we came in through, and there's a second in the back by the restrooms, and I'd imagine there's a shipping door in the back of the kitchen.  Always questioning, always mentoring, always guiding. That was my dad.

He instilled a sense of personal responsibility for my own safety in me from a very young age. My dad taught me that it wasn't a cop's responsibility to make sure that I was safe while walking down the street, but instead, my own. He taught me that by being aware of my surroundings, I can reduce the likelihood that I will become a victim of an assault or something far worse.

And naturally, when the time came that he could legally equip me with a firearm, he did just that. My dad gifted me a Beretta 92-FS and a box of ammo for my 18th birthday. And naturally, when I got my own apartment in a college town with considerable amount of crime, I never worried, because I knew that I was capable of protecting myself in my own home.

Owning a gun, to me, was no different than owning a drill. It was a tool I could use to accomplish a job. That job was protection.

Thankfully, I have never been put into a position where I have ever had to use it.

But I'm so thankful that I've always had the choice.

I obtained my concealed carry permit when I was 24, and my Beretta 9mm was just too big to carry for personal protection.

So for the first time ever, I went and purchased my own firearm.

Part 3 coming soon.

Essential Oils for the Oncoming Cold

You know it when it's coming. It takes hold of all of us in different ways. Every person has their symptom-it might be a lingering headache, feelings of lethargy, or a sore throat. And when you get whatever your symptom is, you know an illness could be in your future. 

I was fortunate to have been blessed with a pretty stellar immune system. I typically get sick one to two times a year. When I do, the illness is usually pretty mild. My little ones immune systems are still developing, though. My oldest will get sick at least one time each fall. It typically comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas, or right after the first cold snap-whichever comes first. 

This year, our cold snap fell on Thanksgiving! Temperatures dropped into the low 40s, and even though we were prepared with jackets and sweaters, it seems as though this year’s sickness is coming right on schedule. Generally speaking, they get sick first, and then it gets passed to the rest of the house (even though I sanitize everything -_-). So as soon as I start feeling it, I know they are too. 

My symptom is a sore throat. This morning I woke up with one. I actually haven't had an upper respiratory infection in a while, so you could say I was due.  I also ran a 5k last night in 40-degree weather and rain, so that could be why I'm feeling lethargic. Either way, we are in full scale, DEFCON 1 sickness preparation mode. And this mama is pulling out all the... 

Wait for it... Essential oils! 

I could write a dissertation about how I got introduced to essential oils and their benefits (some day I will), but the bottom line is, they're fantastic. So here are my go to essential oils and my first line of defense against illnesses. 

Thieves. 

Thieves is a blend of essential oils exclusive to the Young Living brand, developed by four French thieves during the 15th century. While robbing the dead and dying, they coated themselves in this unique blend of oils that supported their immune and respiratory systems¹. These oils included clove, rosemary, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and few others. 

My first line of defense against an impending cold is to diffuse this oil in the common areas of our home. This can help purify the air and also disperse the tiny particles that make up the oil into the air so they can be inhaled. 

I also put thieves on the bottom of all of our feet before bedtime and cover the kiddos feet in socks. My husband, who was totally against buying the oils in the beginning, now asks me to put thieves on him when he starts to feel sick. 

I also use Thieves household cleaner² and clean the common parts of the house that we all touch but often don’t get sanitized, including door handles, toilet handles, light switches, sink handles, refrigerator doors, cell phones, and remotes (this is what I will do later this afternoon, actually!). Sometimes I get a little crazy, but doing this makes me feel like I’m doing all I can to combat the spread of germs. 

R.C.

R.C. is another exclusive blend from Young Living that can support proper respiratory function³, and this one replaces how I used to use Vick's Vapor Rub. R.C. is a unique blend of Cypress, Spruce, and multiple genera of Eucalyptus. I (always) dilute R.C. in a 1:1 ratio with a carrier oil (coconut oil or jojoba are my two favorites) and rub it on my chest. I will also rub this on my kiddos backs if they have a cough or stuffy nose. I find that this blend really helps support my respiratory system, but doesn't come with the stickiness factor of the Vick's. In fact, after my skin absorbs the oil, it feels as if there was never anything there in the first place, and I often reapply! 

Lavender. 

Lavender is one of the most popular oils in clinical aromatherapy practice⁴. It's extremely versatile, and has been studied for years for its effectiveness. I find that it’s a terrific aid in helping me fall asleep! Sleep when you recovering from an illness is so important. While you are sleeping, the body's natural processes that fight infection are strongest⁵, so it really is vital for your recovery. Lavender provides a soothing, slightly floral aroma that has been proven to help people fall asleep⁶. Any time the babies are restless, they want to get in bed with us, and I find that when I diffuse lavender they usually go back to sleep easier. I also love to use lavender behind the kids’ ears if they start pulling on them or if my oldest complains of an ear infection (never use essential oils in the inner ear canal). I find that for viral ear infections these will soothe my babies just as well as acetaminophen, and I would much rather give them something that doesn’t have a laundry list of side effects (always see your physician to confirm the presence of a viral or bacterial infection). It's one of Young Living's most popular oils!⁷


So those are my go to oils for combating illness! Today I am diffusing Thieves in the great room and lavender in the bedrooms, cleaning with the Thieves Household Cleaner and rubbing R.C. on all of our chests and praying that we escape this one! My oldest starts swimming lessons tomorrow and in a few weeks it’ll be Christmas, so to say we are busy is an understatement.

If you are in need of some essential oils or would like to do some more research, feel free to visit the sites below.  I only use Young Living Essential Oils because of their Seed to Seal Guarantee, so it is for that reason I only recommend their brand⁸. If you are in need a sponsor to guide you, please feel free to email me or message me for my sponsor ID. I love sharing the benefits of these amazing oils with family and friends.

Hopefully everyone had a great Thanksgiving and can stay healthy through out these winter months. I will be in the kitchen cooking up some Sheppard’s Pie tonight, in an attempt to finally rid our refrigerator of leftovers!

Be well!
 -C

1. www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils/blends/thieves-essential-oil  
2. www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/home/natural-cleaning/thieves-household-cleaner
3. www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils/blends/rc-essential-oil  
4. www.decodedscience.org/lavender-essential-oil-chemistry-and-therapeutic-properties/21340  
5. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20398008
6. https://sleepfoundation.org/bedroom/smell.php  
7. www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils/singles/lavender-essential-oil

8. https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/seed-to-seal

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Four Rules for Gun Safety

Today I took my "license to carry" course for our new state.

It was really quite an experience. I have always really enjoyed firearms-people might call me a little bit of a gun nut, and that's fine. I'm okay with everyone knowing that this is something I'm passionate about. I'm also passionate about a person's God given right to defend themselves, by all justifiable means. In today's world, guns and self defense are a hot topic. You can be absolutely skewered in today's Court of Public Opinion if you are caught having to justify yourself and your use of force-especially if it becomes deadly force.

So in order to familiarize myself with our new state laws, I decided to retake the license to carry class. I certainly didn't have to, but I wanted to make sure I was covered under the fullest extent of the laws here, should I ever need to use deadly force. That meant having an in-state resident license. This matters because in January, my state will allow in state residents with an in-state permit to carry their firearms openly. I have no desire to carry my firearm openly, but it makes it less of a hassle to have an in-state license.

I say today was "quite an experience" because I actually did learn quite a bit, and I got to see things from the side of some of my more liberally bent friends (I do still love you guys). Number one, I learned that some of my friends are partially correct when they say it is too easy to get a firearm. I say that because there were clearly some newbies out at the range today. I also learned that only a staggering 8% of concealed carry holders take additional classes after they take their CHL course. So that means they go buy a gun, they take one class and then they put their gun in a bedside table and never pick it up again, unless they need it to defend themselves. That's kind of scary! As gun owners, we never know if we will be put in a position where we have to use deadly force-but we need to be prepared if we do. Having additional training makes it easier to react in those stressful situations when adrenaline is pumping. Having additional training keeps you proficient with your weapon, and gives you confidence behind the trigger.

Today also made me realize that not everyone grew up around guns like I did. In that, I mean that the natural ability to handle a gun has not been modeled to everyone by someone who loves them and wants them to be protected, like my dad did for me. Today made me realize that yes, there are some people out there who need to have a little bit more training before they start carrying a firearm. Does it mean they shouldn't have one? Absolutely not. Everyone has the right to self defense-but they also have the right to educate themselves on gun safety. They owe it to their loved ones, neighbors, and fellow citizens to follow up on additional training, and to hold themselves accountable with their weapon. It's actually paramount to preserving our gun culture that we are educated and making smart decisions with our weapons. It's also paramount that we model these behaviors to our friends and family.

That begin said, I want to add to the discussion four very practical, very applicable rules of gun safety. The term "rules" does not mean "laws". You won't find this in any state penal code. It's more of a set of guidelines for gun safety. Think like the 10 commandments of being a Christian, except less wordy.

1. Thou shalt treat every gun as if it's loaded.

I'm going to stop with the thou shalt. But you absolutely should treat every gun as if it has a live, chambered round in it. If you treat every gun as if it is loaded, you'll never be surprised if the gun "goes off".

2.  Never, ever, EVER, point the gun at something you wouldn't be prepared to destroy.

This one is tough, because you can do it without even realizing you're doing it. I like to pretend that there's a laser beam shooting out of the tip of the barrel, and its trajectory can destroy anything it crosses. So when I lay it down on a table in front of me, I'm aware of what is in front of it. If I'm loading it or activating the decocker on the side of my Beretta 92, I'm watching where the front of the gun is pointing simultaneously. If I'm handing the gun to my husband so he can put it back in the safe, I'm passing it to him with the muzzle pointed down between the two of us, instead of back at myself, while also watching the floor because that's where our children are playing. Constantly be aware of what you're pointing the gun at every moment you're handling it, and you'll never have an accident.

3. Always be sure of your target, and know what is behind it.

This one is two part. First, always know what you are shooting. So if you wake up at 2:00 in the morning to a strange sound, don't just grab your gun and start firing through a wall. It's likely that you'll injure a member of your own family. If it's dark in your home, turn a light on before you pull the trigger. Your 5 year old isn't breaking any laws by getting a drink of milk from the refrigerator at 12:00 in the morning. You will be if you unknowingly shoot them. Always, always, always identify your target.

Secondly, know what is behind your target. Contrary to popular belief, bullets don't hit a person and then explode upon impact. Some will fragment, but several different types of bullets will go through a person or object and out the other side, and continue on with enough speed to injure another. It depends on several factors: the caliber of the gun, the type of bullet, the grain of the bullet, and the distance between the object being shot and the tip of the barrel. So if you shoot something, you absolutely need to consider what is behind it. Drywall will not always stop a bullet. Also, there's a high probability that if you shoot something, you'll miss. What is behind your target, plus a 5 or 6 degree shift each direction if you mess up? I ask this because most houses have a split floor plan. If you're standing in the doorway of your master bedroom, shooting into your living room because someone is in your house, where are your children sleeping? Chances are they're behind your target. And what is the relative location of your neighbor's home? As a gun owner, you have to consider this every single time you pull the trigger.

4. Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to pull it.

This is one reason why I have such an issue with the Amy Schumer SNL gun skit. Through out the entire video (where she is subsequently making fun of gun owners), she has her finger on the trigger. I realize that it's satire, but if there's any way to identify yourself as a person who is truly uneducated about firearms, that's it. This finger on the trigger position has been perpetuated by Hollywood and while her point was to degrade gun owners, she in turn added herself to the list of people who demonstrate and further spread these bad habits. People who have little to no firearm experience watch that video, go out and buy a firearm and think it's okay to walk around with their finger on the trigger. Thich contributes to things like negligent discharge and shooting your neighbor while you were "just cleaning your gun". Never put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to fire the weapon. While handling a firearm, you should keep your finger outside of the trigger guard, resting on the side of it directly below the slide until you are ready to shoot. Even when we are at the range, I will keep my finger outside of the trigger guard until my sights are aligned-then I move my finger over and fire. Don't be like Amy Schumer, please. 

These four, seemingly simple but significant rules will help keep you and your family safe-especially if you are new to the firearm world. I would highly encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about firearm safety to sign up for the NRA's basic pistol or basic home defense course before purchasing their first firearm. There are also many training schools that offer women only classes, so you can go and learn how to safely use a firearm with your girlfriends. Developing safe gun habits are critical to the safety and security of not only ourselves, but our children and those around us!

Be well (armed)!
-C

Are You Thinking About Buying A Gun, Ma'am? Part 1

I was seven, maybe eight years old when my dad forgot to put his gun away for the first time. We lived by ourselves in a small 2 bedroom home with minimal furnishings, so the gun stuck out like a sore thumb. I walked into the kitchen and there it was; cold, hard steel laying on the other side of the room. It was a Ruger GP100 .357 magnum. I recognized that it was a revolver from watching Western movies with him. I knew only two things about that gun: that you could pop the barrel out and spin it, and not to touch it. I knew that even in all of my curiosity that I was not to pick it up.

So I stood paralyzed in fear, as its trajectory blocked the path between myself and the kitchen, where a snack was awaiting. I stood there. Staring at it. Wondering if it could just accidentally go off. I pictured it firing by itself in my mind.

I was interrupted only by my Dad coming in from the garage, and he noticed quickly that it was out. He said, "Don't touch that, it'll kill you," in his stern voice. I remember thinking, I know, Dad.

I remember it like it was yesterday.

Later that evening I remember asking my dad why he had guns in the house. I told him I thought they were dangerous and that they scared me. He asked me why, and I told him I was scared because a gun could kill me.

At first he laughed! I was struck by the sound. But then he said something that changed my entire perception of guns.

"Not by itself, it can't. It's no different than a screw driver. It's just a tool, boo."

Less than a year or so later, I found myself out at the gun range with him, firing my first gun. This was preceded by weeks worth of preparation; I asked a lot of questions, he answered a lot more. He asked me questions to make sure I was listening. I felt like I got a crash course in gun handling and ownership before I ever had a gun in my hands.

He quizzed me. Where do you always point the gun? In a safe direction, until you're ready to fire. Where do you put your finger when you hold a gun? Never on the trigger, until you're ready to shoot. What do you do if you pull the trigger and the gun doesn't go off? Buy better ammo.. er, wait for 10 seconds for a misfire, and then discharge and reload. What do you always need to be aware of before you fire? What is behind your target. How do you... the questions went on. When I finally couldn't take it anymore, we went to the range.

Like a dance we had rehearsed, armed with a shot gun, protective eye wear and headphones, I prepared to stand behind the trigger and pull it for the first time. He was standing right behind me, showing me how I should position the gun, and warning me about the recoil.

"The gun should surprise you when it goes off. Center yourself, align your front and rear sights, put your finger on the trigger, and pull back slowly."

I did as he said, took a deep breath in and steadied myself, closed one eye and BOOM!!


Part 2 to follow.

The "Ready For Anything" Diaper Bag

Waaahooo, you're pregnant! Yayyy!

I think if I knew God planned for me to just be a work at home mom for the rest of my life, I would pop out kids like the Duggars. Okay, well maybe not that many. But the truth is I just adore babies. I love every sweet little wrinkly inch of them. Especially newborns. They're so cute and squishy and sleepy and cute.

I mean come on! Look at this kid!

Now that I have baby fever, let's turn this back to you. Waaahooo, your uterus is currently the one expanding. And this means you will be in the market for a diaper bag.

Whether this is your first kid or your sixth kid, you will probably want and need a new one. So here are a few tips from this handbag expert on how to choose the right one, and what goodies to put inside of it.

Your diaper bag needs to be functional.

Functional, meaning, the bag fits your exact needs. Those needs will differ slightly from mom to mom. Breastfeeding moms are not going to have to carry a ton of bottles, but you will need room for extra diapers, wipes, change of clothes, receiving blankets, and your changing pad, at the very minimum. So we aren't talking about a small bag here. And you will definitely want lots of pockets!! Formula mamas, you'll need to toss in a bottle or two plus some formula to go. You can put it one of these nifty little formula dispensers so you aren't carrying around an entire canister of your kid's powder.

Your diaper bag should be fashionable.

Choosing a diaper bag that is neutral will help it coordinate with many different outfits. I wear a lot of blacks, greys, and denim, and accessorize with colors, almost all year long. So for me, a black diaper bag went with pretty much everything. If this isn't a priority for you, then that makes it even easier. However, you're going to want to hang onto this diaper bag through out your little one's entire first year-so you'll need something that can make the transition through the seasons. It might be Fall now-but how are you going to feel about that bag next Spring? A timeless look like this one will keep you interested well into your babe's walking days.

The Zip Top Organizing Utility Tote & Littles Carry All Caddy in Black Links

Your diaper bag must be clean-able. 

With my first born, I went out and bought a beautiful, expensive, but beautiful leather diaper bag. I was convinced that leather would be the only quality that would last me the entire length of time I planned on using it. Unfortunately, I ended up spilling one of my son's medications in it when he was about 6 months old, and it stained the seams and inside of it bright red. Want to know a fun fact about leather? You can't get it wet. I couldn't wash it. Although the bag looked okay from the outside, it was sticky on the inside and it smelled absolutely horrid. I was so upset I wanted to switch to a plastic bag for a bit! And then I thought, how awesome would it be to be able to toss your baby's diaper bag in the wash every once in a while?! Well, with this bag, you can! When I discovered that this product, which is made out of a laminated nylon, was so easy to clean, it was a dead ringer that this was the perfect diaper bag.


Your diaper bag must be economical. 

When it comes to dollars and cents, the first year can be expensive. Believe me when I tell you that between doctor visits and paying your hospital bills, plus setting up a nursery with everything you need for a baby, you will be spending enough money in one year-on one person! So spare yourself a little in this department, and get something that is economical. I'm not at all saying to compromise on quality-you definitely want to get something that will last, too. But that doesn't mean it has to break the bank. You can get this bag for just $35. And believe me when I tell you that it will last you for quite a while! I have been using Thirty-One's utility products for almost 4 years now, and most of my bags still look like day one!

Your bag must be yours.

One thing that I love about bags from Thirty-One is the ability you have to make them your own. Not only can the outside of the bag be personalized, you can also add so many things to it to make it yours. One of my personal favorites is the large zipper pouch. I keep this inside my bag along with a mini zipper pouch for organizing! We have an LZP  in black chevron with "diapers & wipes" embroidered on the outside. This is nice because when my husband and I are splitting up for the day and he takes the baby, he can just grab my LZP and head out the door, and he doesn't feel like he has to carry my entire purse with him. It's also great when we drop little man off at church, I have another one with his name on it (just like the one below) and there's never a question as to which bag belongs to our little guy!

Well, there you have it, mama! Those are my recommendations for your "Ready for Anything" diaper bag!

And congrats to any expecting mama's out there! What are some of your must have diaper bag items?!

Mom Products I Can NOT Live Without

Hey y'all! So as a busy mom of two, I am constantly finding new ways to do things faster and easier. I am constantly trying to shave time off of meal planning, organizing, laundry, you name it. Sometimes, I feel like there isn't enough of me to go around. I know every mom says this, but I'm pretty sure both me and my husband would benefit from there being two of me! Ha!

But until then, here's a list of the products I simply can not live without!

1. Thirty-One Large Utility Tote

 If I had to bet my commission alone on our best selling product, I would place my chips in the LUT's corner. There is no reason for any mom not to own at least 5 of these things. From groceries to storage to trunk organizer to life saver, this thing does it all. Get one. That's all I can say.

2. Plum Paper Planner

I have been a planner girl ever since before I can remember. They used to pass them out to us when I was in grade school, and I think that's when my addiction started. I can not function without this thing. It has a section for everything-and what I love about PPP is that it can be customized to fit your needs. In 2015 I knew I was having a baby, so I ordered a baby tracking section in there. It's been great to have at little man's doctors appointments, I just jot down his stats and then I have them for my records to transfer into his baby book. I also added a "home" section, which has spots for projects and cleaning. There's also a section for my business, and a full 10 pages of contact information, so it's my address book all in one. I can not live without the thing, and would encourage you to try them as well!

3. Zipper Pouch

Just like the LUT, I probably have 10 Zipper Pouches stashed through out my house. There's one in my car with some random survivalist stuff in it like a box of matches and a flash light. Another one holds my range gear for my pistol. Another holds my baby's diapers and wipes. Another is for mail. You get the picture. I have a ton. Bottom line, they keep me organized, and I'm so glad they're only $15. Some of the earlier ones I have are still in perfect condition, and I'm super glad I discovered these.

4. Mason Jar with Lid & Straw

I made it a priority at the beginning of the year to drink more water and waste less plastic in 2015. Water is so, so, so good for you. Everyone knows that the body is made up of like 70% water-but it really is so vital to our organs in order for them to be able to do their jobs. Especially organs that filter, like the kidneys. It's obviously easier to drink water when you are carrying a jug of it with you. We recently went out and picked up some of these large mouth mason jars to fill a few areas in our life-for both drinking, AND canning salads. We bought the tall ones, but this picture shows the lid and the straw mechanism. With all of the talk about BPA and how many bottles of water American's consume in a year, I just decided to make the switch to glass. It's safer, easier to clean, and I can put my essential oils in it, which brings me to my final must have mama item.

5. Young Living Citrus Essential Oils

I used the term "citrus" to include any of those in the category-lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus fresh, tangerine, and orange. Since I've been drinking a lot of water lately, I've been experimenting with adding a drop or two of these powerful EO's to my water. I can say, without a doubt, that they are having a profound affect on my body. Entering TMI zone. I refrained from ingesting YLEOs during my pregnancy, and I was subject to repeat UT and bladder infections.  These have to be treated with an antibiotic. I felt like I was on an antibiotic for my entire pregnancy-and what comes with antibiotics? Recurrent yeast infections. This made me miserable for almost the entire 9 months. Obviously under the care and direction of my midwife, when I finally popped out the little one, I asked her what my options were for treating these issues naturally. Everyone knows that using antibiotics repeatedly decreases their effectiveness. Recent studies have shown that they can also interfere and permanently damage good bacteria in the digestive tract. So I was ready to get off of antibiotics as soon as possible. I inquired about using essential oils as a way to treat them, by ingesting them internally. At first she was wary of me ingesting the oils-these things can and do enter the body in a way that a drug would, so it is of the utmost importance that anyone using them understands how they work. But after she did some research on them, she said I would be fine to put one to two drops in my water and to see what kind of affect it had on my bladder issues. During my pregnancy, I was coming back with a flora count of over 60,000, which indicated an infection of some type. After I started putting 1-2 drops of YLEO in my water, my counts were coming back less than 10,000. My midwife was astonished! She encouraged me to proceed with caution, but after I educated her on Young Living's Seed to Seal Guarantee, she felt confident in my ability to use them safely. So right next to my water jar, you will find an abundance of citrus oils. I encourage you to research essential oils before you start using them. Taking time to understand the chemistry can help you make the best decision on whether or not they are right for you! I do want to note that I do not have any experience with any other oils but Young Living, and I can not encourage you to ingest any other brand because I can not speak on their purity!

So that's it, mamas! What are your must have products right now? I've got lots of great things planned for the blog so please subscribe. As we move into fall, I plan to incorporate some giveaways. I would love to keep in touch with you!!

Be well.
-C