Birth Story

My Dear Sweet Savannah,

 June 22, 2017 was the day you decided to come into this world and into our arms. You were welcomed not only by your daddy & I, but by a curious older brother, a very supportive midwife, and alot of excited friends & family. Some were with you as you entered the room & some were celebrating your birth in other parts of the country ♡ You were welcomed with a fierce & deep love!

You took your time and tested mommy & daddy's patience! We arrived at the beautiful birthing suite around midnight and knew today was the day we would get to hold you in our arms.  The room was filled with peace & excitement. Your daddy, grandma and the midwives were all there at the birthing suite. We tried to get some rest but each contraction brought a new wave of excitement with it! 

I had been planning to give birth to you naturally & depended on your dad, positive birth affirmations & low deep moans to get me through each contraction. By morning, I was starting to get emotional because things were not progressing. Thankfully I had a great support team & they were able to build up my confidence and I remembered that my body was not broken, you would come when you were ready and I could get through those contractions no matter how long it took. Well my dear...you decided to test my patience even more. My contractions contuined this way well into the afternoon. At one point I needed some warm water to help with the pain.

The water relaxed me, the low lights brought a sense of reverence and the ocean waves your sweet grandma put on for us was very peaceful. Your sweet dad massaged my shoulders at some points and helped time each contraction. You and I labored this way for awhile & then the midwife made the decision to break my water, in hopes that it would help with progression. Once the water was broken, things got alot tougher for momma. The contractions that had been managable up to this point, became stronger and more difficult to endure. I leaned on your dad for support and he held me up through each intense wave. After awhile of enduring these harder contranctions, we decided that my scar from my previous c section may be interfering with my uterus and we made the decision to transfer to the hospital to finish your birth. 

Once we arrived at the hospital, my contractions picked up in intensity even more and I finally hit what they call transition. I knew this would be the hardest part and I had hoped to be more mentally prepared, but because of the long exhausting day we had already endured, this became very tough for mom. The hospital nurses kept offering me medication to take the pain away, but your sweet daddy, grandma and the wonderful midwife continued to remind me of the determination I had to give birth to you naturally without an epidural! I knew I had already come so far and I was reassured that you were on your way from Heaven now and would join us very very soon! The next two hours were the most difficult hours of my life  thus far. Ill never forget the way your dad held my hand and wiped away many tears. I will also never forget the moment I was told it was time to push! ♡ I felt so much relief as you moved into the birth canal. My contraction pain ceased and I felt strong urges to push. I was so tired at this point that I was afraid I did not have the strength I needed to get you here.

 I remember a nurse placing some ice in my mouth and I was too exhausted to chew that ice. It was a scary thought to think I had come that far and had no stength left to push. However, my sweet angel, I prayed and I know I received heavenly help because each time I needed to push, I was able to muster up strength that I know I did not posses. I remember the midwife reminding me that there were angels in our midst and I clung to that sweet thought!

Your dad and grandma never left my side. Your sweet aunt also stayed and captured this miraculous event, so we would never forget. 

Your daddy & I had been told that you would be a boy. So when you finally entered the room and we were told that you were a girl, the room erupted into cheers, gasps and many many tears were shed. Your daddy & I cried and rejoiced! We were so thrilled to have a sweet daughter! 

 You are so loved and cherished my dear! The day you came into our lives will always be such a sweet and beautiful memory! ♡ 

A Story About Lavendar ♡

Lavendar, Lemon & Peppermint Mmm

Those are the three main Essential Oils I grew up around. My sweet mom always had them in stock and they cured quite a few ailments from allergies to headaches. However it wasn't until I became a stay at home mom and wife that my own interest in Essential Oils began. Ever since I have become a stay at home mom and wife, my interest in taking care of my husband and baby has increased immensely. I have become obsessed with being the "perfect" care taker you might say. I also have begun a journey (thanks to my husband) into the world of clean eating and Yoga. Which is why I started this blog in the first place. I think these two passions collided and this is where my interest in Essential Oils truly got started. I wanted to help my little family while providing natural and healthy products at the same time. If it was so important to put healthy, natural, organic foods into our body...then shouldn't it be just as important to surround ourselves with natural, healthy products? I am not a doctor by any means, however it does make perfect and complete sense to me that natural is better than synthetic and that plants are better than chemicals.

My husband is a hunter. He has complete respect for the animals he hunts and he treats them as a gift provided from God. So the question I have is... If God can provide animals for us to eat and to help our bodies, why wouldn't he also provide plants for our benefit as well?

WHAT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL?

An essential oil is a plant that has been distilled into a pure, very concentrated oil.  From that sentence alone we can assume essential oils have many benefits. AND that they do my friend! From the simple starter kit I have purchased so far, I have eased my husband's migrains, my babie's teething (you heard that right), insomnia, fatigue & I have been able to take my Yoga to the next level!

WHAT HELD ME BACK AND FIRST

Easy answer. My husband, our budget and confusion. I had noo idea where to start. The oils I had researched were wayy too expensive and I never thought I would be able to afford them. Not to mention I was overwhelemed with information and had no idea which ones to purchase or how to start incorporating them into my life. Plus....my husband totally thought it was strictly a "hippie" thing. He was very against it and thought they carried zero benefits. Fortunately for me, I grew up next to the BEAUTIFUL Lavender Fields at Young Living Farms in Mona, UT so I was able to automatically begin my research with the right company 😉

WHERE TO BEGIN

Once I was able to convince my husband that essential oils were a bible thing, not a hippie thing. He agreed to give it a try. I started more research and found the very best information and price with Young Living Essential Oils. They have a perfect Starter Kit for newbies like me. It comes with 11 oils, a diffuser and alot of samples, information and BENEFITS. ♡ I will never regret this purchase.

If you are interested in becoming Lavendar obsessed like me, or lemon obsessed like my husband...we can make it happen.

We can either get you set up with your own starter kit, or can provide you with some samples, or simply just order your favorites for you each month.

If you would like more information on what oils are & how I use my oils, I will be more than happy to help, without the pressure of purchasing. ♡

The end.

Yoga is a Gift

Have you noticed that it has been awhile since I last wrote a blog post? Let's just say I let my motivation falter a bit the past few weeks. I let my creativity become blocked and my lack of energy keep me from progressing as a Yogi. I hopped on my mat everday but let distractions keep me from making it personal and getting the most out of my practice. I think this happens to us all, but have no fear because I am going to teach you my tricks to getting back in the groove...no matter how long you have been "stuck."

As a new mom (or just being human in general) I think it is very easy to fall into a trap. I personally think sometimes that just because I am tired from a long night that it warrants sitting in bed all day in my jammies. Maybe some days it does 😁 however if you let yourself fall vicitim to this trend, you will probably find yourself feeling worse not better. Which is how I woke up feeling this morning after choosing to lay around all day yesterday. So this is where I start once I hit this point.

Beginning with these following questions...

1. How much sleep am I getting lately? Too much or not enough?

2. What kind of foods am I eating lately?

3. How much TV have I been watching?

4. How much fresh air am I getting?

I can usually find my reason for the lack of motivation and energy within those four questions. So once I assess and discover  things I need to change in my daily routine I make the changes then tackle this check list...

1. Open up the blinds and windows

2. Throw on your favorite music or motivational talk

3. Clean up your surroundings

4. Freshen the air with a candle or a diffuser. (I just ordered my first diffuser in the Premium Starter Kit with Young Living Farms Essential Oils.) I am soo excited♡

5. Next throw on some comfy clothes and hop on your mat (or a blanket if you don't have a yoga mat)

This is the best part....take a minute in Anjali Mudra (hands pressed togther at the heart) and just focus on you. Focus on your breath. Exhale all the old stale energy and inhale new, fresh energy. Bring balance back into your life. Its a great time to review the Chakra's.

This is also where we address any issues or negativity going on in your life. Remember my distractions I talked about earlier? Branden and I both got a nasty case of poison ivy, Hudson is teething and hitting milestones which means he is eating alottt but not sleeping well, holiday celebrations and others activities going on and all with very little sleep! This is probably not alot to get most people down but it sure kicked my booty. I mean come on...have you ever dealt with a sick husband? 😂It felt great to mindfully become aware of them and just decide to let them go.

I chose to do my own freestlye Yoga practice today to stretch and renew my energy and motivation. There are plenty of free awesome videos on YouTube that can help you achieve the same thing if you aren't into freestyle Yoga though. If you ever have questions about how to get to that point or want some ideas on Vinyasas I do and how I freestyle then feel free to ask 😊

Be aware as you move through your practice, however you choose to do it, that Yoga or any form of exercise that makes you feel good and does good things for your body and soul is a gift. It is easy to sometimes dread the mat or the gym...trust me I get it. But try to remind yourself that you are lucky to be healthy enough and strong enough to be a mom, a wife, a friend or just a person. That Yoga truly is a gift. The way it can transform your body, your mind and your spirit is something to not take for granted! So enjoyy your practice.  Make it personal and bring some peace and balance back into your daily life.

Namaste ♡

Lets celebrate Sunmer with Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar is the sanskrit name for Sun Salutation, a yoga sequence dedicated to giving thanks to the sun. It is a Vinyasa that links our body, breath and mind into an attitide of gratitude for the sun, heavens and earth. It may seem silly to some but by freely giving thanks for this beautiful life we have been given and for the sun that offers light...we will leave the mat feeling happier and full of purpose! So in celebration of Summer, lets learn a sun salutation.

A sun salutation is a flow of asanas (poses) that are connected by the breath. It is important to pay attention to the breath as you move between poses because it will greatly benefit your practice. I didn't have someone to photograph me doing this so please refer to my guide above.

You will begin in mountain pose or tadasana with your hands in Anjali Mudra (hands pressed togther at the heart). Here you can close your eyes and set an intention for your practice today. Remember that yoga is about making a change from within.

 Then on an inhale you will raise your gaze up and bring your hands up above your head for a breath then slowly on an exhale bring them down into uttadasana or forward fold.

From there raise your back into half forward bend (make sure you keep a flat back and bring hands to the knees or shins) and take a breath here, then on an enxhale release and place your hands on the mat, step your feet or hop back into chaturanga dandasana.

Here slowely lower as if doing a pushup and then raise your heart on an inhale into urdva muka, (uppdog.) Open your chest, feel the stretch and give thanks to the sun.

 Then on an exhale push up into down dog, lowering your gaze to the earth. Take a few breaths here and then slowely walk or leap to the front of your mat and end your vinyasa back in mountain pose with your hands at your heart. Repeat as many times as many times as you would like.

Make Surya Namaskar a regular part of your practice and it will generate a feeling of peace and gratitide in your life. Then go eat some pineapple and enjoy your summer♡♡
Namaste

My Happy List ♡

Yoga can be so much more than a way to exercise! For me, it brings an abundance of peace and happiness into my life! Thus the inspiration for this blog post! Maybe it's cheesy....ok yeah it's definitely cheesy, maybe even slightly annoying to most people, but today was not exactly a joy filled day, until I made my list! Just do it....I promise it will make you smile♡♡♡

~Happy List

Hudson Bailey Labar (Duh! Did anybody see that coming...I only post a million pictures a day of him)

Branden Bailey Labar😘♡♡

My parents & siblings

Driving around this beautiful southern state we currently live in with the windows down and the country music up

Yoga

Mexican Food

The sunsets and fireflies here in the south

Hot showers

Sunday naps

New clothes

Book of Mormon

Hugs

Milkshakes

Fireworks

Thunderstorms

Raspberries

Soft Pillows

Soft towels

Soft sheets

Anything soft

Coconut oil

Lavender Oil

Bath Bombs

Fall

Pumpkins

Candles

Angels

♡♡♡

Lets learn the Chakra's.....what??

When I would first hear Chakra's talked about during Yoga, I would sort of start to tune out. Why? Well...it seemed weird quite honestly! I like many others started Yoga for the physical aspect and didn't have an interest in "connecting" to my "subtle self" . However.....the more I dived into Yoga and started to ask myself WHY does it change the way I feel, and WHY does it feel so wonderful, the more I started to realize that the Chakra's are actually part of the physical aspect of Yoga! Infact....they are pretty important! Knowing the Chakra's and what they mean, give you a great understanding of why you are doing the poses you are doing and how to sequence your poses when you do your own freestyle practice! Which is why I have chosen to write about them as one of my first posts! I, myself, am just learning, so if you have any insight to add I would love to hear it!


So what is a Chakra anyway?? Ancient Yogis believe that there are portals in our body through which energy flows. Specifically 7 that we call the Chakra's! Yoga tradition states that these portals or vortexes can get blocked. Certain poses (asanas) can help unblock "prana" or life force from the subtle body! When this happens we become more physically, mentally and emotionally balanced! So without further ado...What are the Chakra's??

The Root Chakra (Muladhara)

The Root Chakra's element is earth and its color is red! When this Chakra is out of balance you may feel low self esteem, sense a lack of belonging or not feel grounded! Focusing on this Chakra and keeping it balanced can create confidence and self worth! One pose that can open up this Chakra is Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

Sacral or Pelvic Chakra (Svadhisthana)

The Sacral Chakra's element is water and its color is orange. This Chakra represents creativity and fertility. When this Chakra is out of balance you may feel emotionally unstable and hard on yourself. When it is in balance you should feel creative and positive. One pose to help open up this Chakra is the Goddess Pose (Deviasana)

Navel Chakra (Manipura)

The Navel Chakra's element is fire and its color is yellow. This Chakra represents self esteem and confidence. It gives you motivation to take action and be productive. When it is out of balance you may feel stagnant and have a lack of courage. One pose to help open up this Chakra is the Boat Pose or Navasana.

Heart Chakra (Anahata)

This Chakra's element is air and its color green. This chakra represents love, compassion, forgiveness and acceptance. When it is blocked you may feel possessive, codependent and form dysfunctional relationships. A great pose to open up this Chakra is Camel Pose or Ustrasana.

Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)

This Chakra's element is Ether and its color is blue.  When this Chakra is blocked you may feel like you can't find your own voice. You may also have a hard time listening well to others. When this Chakra is open you have an easier time communicating well. A great pose to help unblock this Chakra is a supported shoulder stand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

Third Eye Chakra (Anja)

This Chakra's element is light and its color is indigo. This Chakra determines how you govern all other Chakras. It represents your intuition or "sixth sense." When it is functioning well you have insight and trust your inner wisdom. When it is blocked you become close-minded, untrusting and cynical. A great pose for this Chakra is Sukhasana (The pose of ease)

Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)

This Chakra's element is cosmic energy and color is violet or white. The crown Chakra connects to beauty itself and the spiritual realm. It helps you understand who you are. It is very personal. When it is blocked you think happiness can only come from the outside or from other people and you suffer. Savasana or Corpse Pose is a great way to connect to this Chakra.

Stuffed Salmon & Brown Rice with Creamy Ricotta Sauce!

SO I made this recipe last night! I found the idea for the stuffed Salmon and then I saw this recipe for a Ricotta sauce and I thought to myself....those things belong together! So I combined them and let me tell you.....Its a match made in Heaven! <3 So I decided to share my match making skills with you! Give this recipe a shot and let me know how you liked it!! 

Serves 2

Ingredients-

Salmon: 2 Salmon Fillets

               Butter/Olive Oil (Your Choice)

               Salt & Pepper

               1 Roma Tomato

               Handful of fresh Spinach

               Handful of Fresh Cilantro

Brown Rice: Brown Rice

                     Butter/Olive Oil (Your Choice)

                     Salt/Pepper

Creamy Ricotta Sauce: 1/4 Cube of Butter

                                      1/4 Cup of Ricotta cheese (Low in fat, High in protein! Win Win)

                                      1/4 Cup of Milk

                                      Salt/Pepper

                                      Garlic Powder or Fresh Garlic (To Taste)

Directions: I start by getting my Brown Rice in the rice cooker and cooking! 

Once that is cooking, I get out my Salmon fillets which should have been previously thawed. I slice them in half with a sharp knife! (I am not the best at this part... mine are not cut perfectly but it works! I then take a butter knife and spread some butter or olive oil on the inside of the fillets! After this is done I sprinkle sea salt and pepper and add diced tomatoes (Sun Dried Tomatoes are also a yummy option), Fresh chopped Spinach and Fresh chopped Cilantro and then close my fillets.

You can choose to bake your Salmon if thats how you prefer it! We are currently staying in a hotel that does not have an oven...So I cooked mine in a small frying pan over medium heat! I cook one side for about 7 mins until it is cooked 3/4 the way through and then flip it, turn off the heat and put the lid on and let it steam for another 7-10 mins. (You can tell when its done when it looses the translucent look)

Once that is cooking I pull out a medium sauce pan and add my Butter, Ricotta and Milk and stir over low heat until it has all melted nicely together! I then add Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder or Fresh Garlic to desired taste! Once everything is cooked I add the Salmon and Brown Rice to a plate...pour the sauce over it and add some more fresh Spinach and Cilantro for garnish and whalaa! Sooo good and healthy so no guilt about going back for seconds!