Your Life As Art Photography by Pam

So very much to be thankful for ~ Family, Fall Weather, Diffuser Blends! | Thanksgiving 2015

I love reflecting on the past year at every holiday. A true reminder of how far we can come and the happiness we can open our lives to.

I simply adore the fall season! The colours, how rich and deep they are. The air is so fresh and crisp.

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From my family to yours – take a moment this weekend and truly count your blessings! Life isn’t about what we have, its who we have in our lives. Spending time with our loved ones enjoying life! Living in the now and appreciating what is to come. Capturing the love and fun, creating memories for years to come. Take time to reflect on yourself. What is holding you back in life and what can set you free. Everyday is a gift and an opportunity to create a memory ❤

I am so very thankful for our family, our friends and the life we have been given. Filled with love and growth.

I am especially thankful for my own little family of 4. They truly are my world and what I was meant to be.

Happy Thanksgiving and all the best!

Enjoy some of these fabulous diffuser blends this fall! I just LOVE the way the deep scent of the essential oils cleanse and fill the house !

Pam

Meatloaf Mania & Fall Weeds

This morning while driving to work I was almost drooling over the light and the gorgeous fall weeds!

Yes weeds, you know that you see driving down the road in gorgeous fall colours of deep green, yellow, purple, reds.

My latest Essential OIls order arrived – YAY! Its like Christmas every month. This month I purchased Black Pepper!

Tonight for dinner, we had to make something with ground beef without having to cook in the house – love the BBQ and the lowering gas prices. Then it hit me – MEAT LOAF!

After work I picked up a couple mums for our front porch and saw and fell in love with a gorgeous tall, leafy plant – I have NO clue what it is but its my colours, deep red, deep green and brown. Fills the void next to my new (to me) office space. Its a little rough on the edges but Im determined to keep this sucker alive!

Meat Loaf time! Here is what I used…

Essential Meat Loaf
2lbs of ground beef, some garlic, some dried onions (or fresh if you have), Worcestershire sauce, 2 drops of Basil Essential Oil, 1 drop of Oregano Essential Oil, 2 drops of Black Pepper Essential Oil, 2 eggs, mixed all together put in a BBQ safe pan and then top with some beer.

Well lets just say there is NO left overs! NONE!

The flavour was SO smooth, rich and deep! You HAVE to try cooking with Essential Oils! Even my hubby was blown away at the taste!

All those dried spices of each individual spices ALWAYS expire in my cupboard – these oils don’t!!! Well if they do (some do have an expiry) its years and not months PLUS you can do SO much with the oils next to cooking! I enjoy using some spice blends along with the essential oils – which the oils are going to replace my individual spices such as Oregano, Thyme, Cilantro, Dill, Basil etc… We use the dried spice blends for SO much with cooking including dips!

While supper was cooking, I took the kids out for a drive to get some shots down by work… where the gorgeous weeds are!

These kids totally blow me away, they don’t exactly enjoy posing for mommy or going alone with every idea, – however ice cream is excellent incentive – but they certainly were so incredibly well behaved tonight – even venturing into the store themselves to choose dessert! My mommy heart was so full – also thankful for living in a small town.

Love these littles!

I just LOVE this photo and how it turned out.

Another Year Wiser… Our Birthday Boy | 2015

Looking back on this past year, has been amazing! The absolutely best part is seeing how much our children have grown, physically and emotionally.

This week we celebrated our little man for his birthday and this weekend will be with our extended family and his good friends!

This boy continues to amaze us everyday, even through struggles and challenges he shows us true love, caring and that smiling is always better than a frown! He is thoughtful, energetic, creative, athletic, imaginative (even more so thanks to his lil sis!), determined, family oriented, laid back and so very smart!

This boy of mine has been by my side absorbing the wonderful Essential Oil information since the very beginning. He was excited and interested to hear of the new oils announced this week. Prior to having Essential Oils in our life, he typically followed his own body’s cues to what he needed if he was feeling ‘off’ and was never a child who enjoyed any type of medicinal support, it is because of this boy of mine that I began my oils journey to live a more natural life! I am so proud of him in his own personal development and positive growth over this past year.

Some of his favourite oils are Spearmint, Lemon, Wild Orange!
Interesting enough Spearmint is known for its primary benefits of promoting digestion, cleanses the mouth and promotes fresh break and promotes a sense of focus and uplifts mood.

Lemon is an oil that he was naturally drawn to and enjoys wearing and diffusing! Lemon is also known as the Oil Of Focus! “The delightful citrusy aroma of Lemon oil nourishes the mind and aids concentration. While Lemon supports the emotional body, its major effects are experienced in the mental field. The crisp scent of Lemon oil improves one’s ability to focus.” (Emotions & Essential OIls Third Edition 2014).

Wild Orange is a citrus oil that absolutely everyone can benefit from and enjoy with its fresh and invigorating natural fragrance! Wild Orange is known as The Oil of Abundance, “It inspires abundance, fosters creativity, supports a positive mood, restores physical energy and aids in transitions. Wild Orange also reconnects individuals with their inner child and brings spontaneity, fun, joy and play into one’s life.” (Emotions & Essential OIls Third Edition 2014)

World Suicide Prevention Day and Emotional Aromatherapy

For anyone who knows me knows my life now involves the daily use of Essential Oils for myself and my family.

The natural, potent capabilities of Essential Oils can have such a profound effect on your heart and soul in a variety ways emotionally and the unique ability to cleanse your entire body, your heart, your mind and your soul!

Emotional Aromatherapy can provide each individual with their own unique experience. For example uplifting, calming, energizing and elevating, excitement, intrigue, passion, soothing, clarifying, grounding, balancing and comforting.

With the use of pure essential oils one can customize their experience based on their needs and what brings a sense of emotional feeling they require. Many times our bodies are naturally drawn to scents or specific essential oils which will support our emotional need.

I personally love how our lives have changed with use of Essential Oils in so many positive ways!

Open your heart, open your mind and you will be amazed at what you will experience and how you will live!

“Everyone will go through some hard times at some point. Life isn’t easy. Just something to think about. Did you know the people that are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are the first to get mistreated? Did you know the ones who take care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it the most? Did you know the three hardest things to say are I love you, I’m sorry, and help me? Sometimes just because a person looks happy, you have to look past their smile to see how much pain they may be in. To all my friends who are going through some issues right now–let’s start an intentional avalanche. We all need positive intentions right now. If I don’t see your name, I’ll understand. May I ask my friends wherever you might be, to kindly copy and paste this status for one hour to give a moment of support to all of those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just needs to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune.”

A song hit me hard the other day when leaving work, a song I had heard SO many times but for some reason this day the words were speaking to me – each and every word. The song was about how she felt so alone and that no one understood. I didn’t just listen to the music, I heard every single world.

It was a strong reminder that too many people suffer in silence or are treated so very poorly when they do reach out for help.

Depression and any mental illness can happen to ANYONE. Judging someone, treating them poorly or encouraging someone to end their life, does and says nothing for or about the person battling their depression or a mental illness. Treating someone with a mental illness in these ways is down right cruel and heartless.

Reach out and be a friend to someone in need. Mental Illness affects EVERY single one of us at one point in our life… and is no different than breaking a bone in our body!

Mental Illness and Suicide is no joking matter, its real life for many people. Many people who ARE worth the life they have! If you are reading this and you are struggling, you have SO much to live for – so much ahead of you. If you are nervous or scared to go speak with anyone, I highly recommend giving Essential Oils a try to assist you with your emotional needs.

If you desperately need help now... Please call one of the Crisis Hot Lines or find one at http://suicideprevention.ca/thinking-about-suicide/find-a-crisis-centre/ or The Canadian Mental Health Association https://ontario.cmha.ca/mental-health/services-and-support/crisis-support/ and the Ontario Mental Health Helpline http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/

Much love…

The FIRST Day Of School | Back To School 2015

Well today was the day, I feel like we were lucky and had an extra week of “summer break” and a fabulous end to summer holidays with a wicked hot weekend! Lucky for us we got to spend it with a whole lot of family at our family cottage swimming in the water and relaxing on the sand! I love our little impromptu “shoots” they seem to truly capture them, right down to their clothes, the way they stand or sit. Of course with a little direction from mommy 😉 This is what I truly love about lifestyle photography – capturing them, in the now and everything beautiful around! The miss and I decided to go for a walk down the beach, the lil man came down and met us, completely impromptu, not perfect, but the perfect moment with two of the best kids I know.

Now that we’re back into our school routine – the first thing I did tonight when I got home (and the afternoon at work) was load up the diffuser with my On Guard Essential Oil Protective Blend! This blend gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling – yes even when its 30 C outside! When used in a diffuser it is excellent at cleansing the air – a must especially for fall and winter! This also protects against environmental threats and can also be very calming and relaxing. With kids back in school we all know how fast germs can travel – especially on their little hands! Add the On Guard Protective Blend to fractionated coconut oil or even water for a natural hand cleanser! Add the blend to some water and vinegar for a very effective all purpose cleaner! Our family has only been using water, vinegar and oils for cleaners for almost a year now and they’ve even stood up to raw chicken and have passed the test!~

Here is our little’s on their first day back… the nerves were already on edge. Mommy reassuring them that its OK – even I was nervous for back to school, or other days for that matter. The sun may not have been shining, but we were blessed with another warm day.

…and they are off!

I hope all of your little’s had a great day back! I was so excited to hear about their first day, who their teachers are, all the other exciting things that happened. Looking forward to a successful school year for them (and us!) :).

Homemade Multi-purpose Wipes

A must for back to school and in general to keep hands and surfaces clean!

Dog Days of Summer | August 28, 2015

This summer is flying by, soon the kids will be back to school and the cool fall evenings upon us – I just LOVE Fall! The colours, the temperatures… its my favourite season!

Even though the summer is flying by… we have had SO much fun!
Fun with our family, friends and especially our little family of 4 and fur babies! Not necessarily doing anything crazy spectacular, but spending time together, enjoying the moments and the fantastic weather we have been blessed with. A lot of use out of our family cottage which we are so amazingly blessed to have in the family as a fav summer vacation spot typically enjoyed by many!

So much in fact that I am WAY behind on my photos haha – typically not me BUT Im excited to process and upload once the summer craze is over 😉 I can’t believe its been a month since my last blog post… time flies when you are having fun!

This is the first summer that I have truly been able to 100% enjoy life! I am feeling great and even tackling things around home!
Rearranging, major de-cluttering, tackling some “pinterest projects” even, more growth within myself and some well deserved R&R!

Some snaps from my phone – until I get all of the others processed and even more to come in the next few weeks 😀

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#OilyPhotographer at the beach

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Our little girl is on the cover of the latest Butter Tart Trail Brochure!

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Our kiddos were even a part of a local drama club production Wizard of Oz as a part of their summer drama camp!
(More pics that still need to be processed 🙂 )

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Hope you and yours are enjoying these last few days of summer – here’s to hoping the warm weather continues well into September and even October!
Hard to believe hockey starts NEXT week!!!

Mount Forest Fireworks Festival | 2015

My family and I had planned for months to go to the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival and when the day came we were in the midst of a major heat wave! We met up with my sister and took the kids downtown through the car show and out to the midway on cork street.

It was crazy humid hot, but we had a great time … and then bailed and went to the cottage LOL. No offence to anyone who worked so incredibly hard for the 15th Annual Fireworks Festival – its amazing not only as an attraction for our town but for those who call Mount Forest Home! An outstanding job as every year! 🙂

These kids ❤ ! I am totally NOT a ride person, but they love them and I LOVE seeing the smiles on their faces, especially when it was as hot as it was, they still had a blast! We had fun watching them 😉

Why I needed a mom vacation… | Beach Vacation

Well first off Im going to say its not just about being a mom. Yes being a mom is the majority of my life.

I was a wife before I was a mom. 51 weeks of the year we are 100% mom and dad THEN husband and wife… in what little time is left.

My mom, bless her heart, has the kids at the cottage. We had a fabulous week away leading up to the Sunday where our kids reminded us ALL day that we were going home that day!

Why did I need a mom vacation. Seriously mom’s out there do you feel you can ever truly “relax” or “get things done” when the kids are around. I get things done, in time. We lead a busy life – well as “busy” as we want to be.

When I get kid-less time I remember a “simpler life” – not in the “I want to go back” but in the, “this is how I want to raise my kids”.

A simpler life when we didn’t have the stress, we were newly married, not even knowing the struggles that were ahead. A reminder that I NEED time as a woman, as well as a wife. To enjoy being me and having no responsibilities. To re-connect with my hubby not on a physical level but emotional. To talk about what WE want to talk about. A big one for us… To get things done around the house. Many nights we rush home to get dinner on the table, enjoy time with the kids before getting them to bed and then are exhausted. Not having to eat early for a kids bedtime, we can do what we need to do, then relax and have a good home cooked supper, or lets be real some guilt free appetizer type dinners in front of the tv!

Reminds me I need to meal plan more with the kids.

I get to enjoy not only my husband’s company, but our pets and just simply be home.

Its ok for me to miss my kids, but completely enjoy being kidless, because we spent a fabulous week with our kids and other family at the cottage. I honestly can’t wait for them to come home, to see all that we have planned not only to make our life easier but also theirs. However while they are away, I also am loving this adult time not just with my hubby but to tackle some projects that have been on our to do list for far too long and am totally going to soak up every minute!

I am so very thankful that my passions in life (beyond my family) is photography and essential oils. It completely warms my heart going back through the photos during our vacation and seeing how much fun we had as a family and for the kids just being kids! This past weekend, a friend was dealing with a bee sting, it was sore, hard, raised and very red. After they were so impressed with my Repellant Blend in the diffuser keeping the bugs away, I offered some more oils. I am so happy to say that less and less people are responding with “ok witch doctor” haha. I applied the Cleansing Blend and then layered with Lavender. They were brilliantly impressed that not only did the ache go away, his skin cleared right up from the sting! Seriously amazing.

A few of my fav photos from our vaca!

Really?! They have a photographer as a mother… odd!?

Really does kind of blow my mind at how fast these kids of ours are growing up.

However focusing on my “adult” time, I was able to edit 260 photos from the past week! Hubby is working on my mud-rage and I made a fantastic home made dinner tonight. Feeling very blessed.

YUM!
Have you ever cooked with essential oils? I hadn’t either until tonight. I am making a warm potato salad with the potatoes and veggies cooking on the bbq, eggs cooking ready to be chopped and a fabulous potato salad dressing.

1 cup of mayo
1/2 cup of healthy cooking oil
1 cup of greek yogurt
Splash of vinegar
3 drops of lemon
2 drops of dill
1 drop of cumin

Hubby loved it!!! The flavour is just amazing! I am SO excited for dinner … AND leftovers for a few lunch’s! This made a HUGE salad 🙂

‪#‎CookingWithEssentialOils‬ ‪#‎EssentialOils‬ ‪#‎Cooking‬
‪#‎doTERRASummerEssentialOils‬

Kids Life | Beach Stream and Tadpoles

This boy of mine has his daddy’s keen sense of adventure for discovery of all things new, slimy and gross 😉 The past few summers this small stream has been FULL of tadpoles, this year the stream was moving much more quickly so the kids were on tadpole duty rescuing them from flowing out to the lake.

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Your Life As Art Photography by Pam