I'm a busy wife & mom. 
I'm a busy wife & mom with 7 kids.
I'm a busy wife & mom with 7 kids, 2 of whom have sensory processing issues.
I'm a busy wife & mom with 7 kids, 2 of whom have sensory processing issues, and 1 on the Autism Spectrum.
I'm a busy wife & mom with 7 kids, 2 of whom have sensory processing issues, 1 on the Autism Spectrum, and a thriving business.

That is only the beginning of the description.
I could write pages and pages of my responsibilities. Some days, the only thing that matters is that I have kept my 3.5 year old hurricane of a child safe. Other days, I call it a win that we make it to school within 15 minutes of bells ringing.

Mom life is not an easy life, whether you have one child or whether you have twelve. In fact, I often think about how seven kids is way easier than five was... but for me, two kids was harder than three and four kids... Every mom is different. Every child's personality is different. Every stage of our life is... you guessed it, different!!

The question I get every single day of my life...

Well, I'll give you my secret...

​I HAVE NO IDEA!

Really! There is no secret! There is no magic formula. We have a routine that helps us stay on task, but sometimes we oversleep or there's an argument about the way somebody looked at somebody else across the breakfast table and it causes... "disruption" to the routine. Ha! That's the understatement of the year, you guys!

Sometimes, mommy gets sick. Really sick. Like, bursts two eardrums sick. (Yep, that's actually what happened last week) And it is then that everything falls apart.

BUT I have three tools that help immensely.
1. Coffee
2. JESUS
3. Essential Oils

They get me through the tough days. They make me feel a little less crazy. 
​And if mommy is less crazy... everyone is less crazy!

I made it pretty clear that I hate the winter in yesterday's post. Well, today we get to have a high of 24* so the kids are back to school and although I'm still freezing, at least I'm not going crazy and breaking up arguments! Pros and cons, right?!

I though it would be a great time to share how I SURVIVE when I despise the cold and deal with feelings of sadness, depression, and complete lack of motivation during the winter months. You may have heard of "Seasonal Depression" or "Seasonal Affective Disorder". It's basically a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year exhibit depressive symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in the winter.

There are a few reasons behind this. According to the Mayo Clinic*, the specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown. Some factors that may come into play include:

• Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.
• Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression.
• Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

So, what can we do?

1. CHECK OUT LIGHT BOXES
Something I haven't ventured into yet, but plan to soon, is using a Light Box*. I have heard great reviews on it helping during the winter months when we're not getting enough light.

Here are a few other things I do to help myself in these cold, winter months:

2. SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMIN D 
Generally, a liquid form will be more bioavailable. I also learned in recent years, the benefit of taking a combo D3/K2 supplement, to increase absorption*. We use this brand off Amazon. 

3. HIGH QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS & HEALTHY DIET
I find that in the winter, when I'm miserable, it's really easy to just load up on excessive amounts of carbs, sugars and other unhealthy things. However, that just makes me feel even worse. So, staying on top of a healthy, balanced diet is a key factor in not falling apart the moment Christmas is over! Haha! 

Sometimes, I need help though. As a busy mom of seven, I sometimes miss breakfast as we 're running out the door... or I don't make time to prepare my lunch ahead of time, so I end up needing to eat out. Stuff happens! Not to mention, even the healthiest food isn't as nutrient dense as we often need. So, for our family, we have found that supplementing with a high quality, food/plant-based multivitamin and fish oil supplement is crucial during the winter, but also all year round. I have seen significant health benefits and I continue to, even with my healthy diet! We use doTERRA's Lifelong Vitality Supplements and LOVE THEM! Check out this info and video to learn more! They are available only to wholesale customers, through the Loyalty Rewards Program that doTERRA has, which makes them extremely cost-effective for us. 

4. STAY ACTIVE
I know! All you want to do is curl up under the covers and never get out of bed. However, even the slightest bit of exercise and activity will help. Try joining an aerobics class, maybe easing into Yoga, doing simple jumping jacks and stretches in the morning, or even just go walking at a mall. Those are mostly simple things that just get you moving.
I am getting back into Yoga and it has felt great to incorporate not only the exercise and flexibility that Yoga brings, but also the mindfulness.
​I'm also using our new Yoga oils and they have helped make this gentle transition really lovely! 

5. UPLIFTING ESSENTIAL OILS
I love to use grounding, and uplifting oils to really boost my mood and give me a little extra energy this time of year. Some of my favorites are Arise (Yoga collection), Cheer, Balance, Citrus Bliss, Frankincense, Peace, Lime, Copaiba, and Siberian Fir. I find myself reaching for those a lot, blending them together, and diffusing them throughout the day. Check out our Facebook page for some great daily oil tips as we focus on Beating The Winter Blues this week. doTERRA has this great list on 10 oils for winter, as well! 

Comment below and tell us what YOU do in the winter to feel better!
Are you planning to try any of these? Be sure to come back and let us know how it goes!


*References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
https://riordanclinic.org/2013/10/vitamins-d3-and-k2-the-dynamic-duo/
http://www.sadlamps.org

This winter I've coined a new phrase: "Stupid cold". It refers to a type of cold that has no purpose, makes zero sense, and also in this case, makes me super cranky. 

Those who know me in real life know I am not a fan of the cold. Now, it's out there on the inter webs of life... I, Kourtney Owens, HATE THE COLD!

I've been curled up on the couch for weeks, under my warm knit blanket, wearing socks and scarves and slippers and uggs and fleece and layers. It didn't really get stupid cold until after Christmas around here. However, it's so cold now that the kids had a snow day for windchill today... that's my cue. Adding BEACH HOUSE to my vision board. I need to just move to Florida for the winter, starting the day after Christmas. Life goals!

In honor of the stupid cold, here's a cozy and warm diffuser blend to try. Make some coffee (or tea or hot cocoa, I guess, if you're one of those non-coffee people), cozy up under your blanket, and try to pretend it's not below zero in STL.