When "Thank You" Isn't Enough...

   One thing is for sure, I have the best friends in the WHOLE world.  Yes, I do.  Even better than yours. My friends are my very favorite. In order to be my friend, it is a requirement that you can make me laugh. That's it.  And I'm not even that strict about that because there are a few friends that I have that don't make me laugh. And I don't make them laugh...yet.  So either, you make me laugh OR I find it a challenge to make you laugh. One of those two scenarios and you are officially "in" the Darbi club. I have a particular friend who makes me laugh so easily. And hard. Like I consider wearing a diaper when I'm with her because I know one of these days the fortunate/ unfortunate event of laughing so hard and not making it to the restroom in time is just GOING to happen.  (Also, I come from a line of strong women...who laughed...and wet.)  Her name? Kluber.

    Kluber (or "TAMARA ANN!" when she's in trouble) is just that friend who everyone needs by their side.  Feeling happy and want to share it with someone? She's your gal! Feeling sad? Here she comes. She'll pour you a glass of wine and have you laughing in no time.  Got kids?  She's the best adopted Aunt out there.  Loves them like they are her own.  Want to go to Vegas?  She'll buy.  Wait a minute, WHAT???

    Let me back up. I love being a mom. Love it.  Love my kids so much. But it's hard. So hard. And I just need a change in scenery sometimes.  Something other than cleaning up poop and explaining for the fifteenth time in one week why we don't kick the dog, and why we keep our tongue in our mouth. Tiring.  Mike and I have been to Hawaii 3 times. To me that's the definition of a spoiled brat, so I have nothing to complain about, but I had just been feeling like I needed to get away to do something...but the child care would be very hard for anything more than a few hours. And then Kluber called. She just wanted to take me to Vegas because she loves it so much and wants her friends to see how awesome it is. That's it.  To her, it was probably a really nice thing for her to do. But for me, it was so much more. And she could only understand if she was in my shoes, which would be hard because I wear a size 5 and often glittery shoe, while she sticks to buying every shoe Nike comes out with. She just couldn't wear my shoes.  But for this blog post I wanted to try to thank her for her generosity...

  Tami- Seriously.  I got to take a shower for 3 days...in a row...without having to get out, sopping wet and do roll call, making sure to hear all 4 childrens' voices before rinsing the shampoo. Just got to take showers! And when I was done, if I wanted? I could brush out my hair! Dry it even!  That part alone was SUCH a treat. Such. And you were the best hostess...always asking what I wanted to see/ do and not making me feel rushed. I'm still mad at you that we missed the drag show, but I guess that just means we have to go back. Mike will LOVE it.  Thanks for teaching me how to gamble.  Thanks for ordering room service and having a party in our room when I didn't feel too well. There were SO MANY OPTIONS for you...but you hung out with me.  Thanks for not getting mad when my new purple hair dye job turned our bathroom and half of the hotel towels purple...knowing the room was on your credit card.  Thank you for our dinner at Collichios.  I felt like we were movie stars but we just needed a break from the public so we went there to eat our lobster bisque. We laughed, we cried, it was the best.  

   Thank you for everything we did together and that you bought for me/ with me/ near me that trip. I will never, EVER forget it.  But it wasn't just the trip, it was that it was with you and your amazing family.  Your loving, generous spirit, your ears that are willing to listen to any lame complaint I have about life, your contagious laughter, I just can't say enough about you.  You're pretty dang amazing.  Dang amazing.  Thanks for being just who you are. Oh, and for taking me to Vegas. 

*****ALSO a HUGE thank you to my husband who trusted me to leave with Kluber (we didn't even get arrested! Not once!) and took on the kids by himself. I'd write more and get mushier about all of that, but he doesn't read my blog, so I'll just tell him again in person.

Darbi Dabbles in Oils...

(Sigh...)I'm that mom. When I call Poison Control I no longer panic. I just say, "Hi Doris, It's me again." And she says, "Hey, Darbi." I am the mother of four, and every time they sneak their tiny hands into something they shouldn't I always think to myself, "There is no way they can possibly top this!" And then they do. The kids have eaten sleeping aids, swallowed the insides of a glow stick, dipped cheddar chips in garden poison, gotten into prescription medicines, downed half a bag of cough drops, all while under my supervision. (Or perhaps one could argue to call it not-so-super-vision.) They are quick. They are stealthy. And while they are all alive and accounted for, I am constantly scared for the next time I have to call Doris. Every time I get myself into a frightening situation with my children, I think to myself, "Why does this constantly happen? What more can I do to keep my kids safe?" And friends, I think I have found something pretty amazing. DoTerra essential oils.
 It seems the more I am learning about essential oils, the more harmful things I can get rid of in my household, and replace those harmful things with the products which are made from natural resources, rather than harsh chemicals. In my short time with the products I have used them for help sleeping. For gardening. For stomach aches, headaches and the common cold. For mood lifters. For a household cleaner. Basically they have already replaced everything I have had to call Doris for except for a few prescriptions (although I'm working on getting rid of those!) and the glow stick. This is an amazing feeling. A sense of well-being, freedom from chemicals and pride in doing the best thing for my family came along with introducing essential oils into my household. I just can't keep this kind of information to myself, right? So if we were girlfriends having coffee in my living room (It would be something home roasted, brewed in a french press, served with heavy cream. No canned stuff in my home. Get the picture?), here is what I would say to you: Try some oils right now! I just made you some really good coffee! It's the least you can do! But the DoTerra catalog, to me, is a bit overwhelming. Each oil seems to have a use tied to it that I definitely will want to try eventually, but I can't buy it all. Plus I feel like starting with a basic set gives someone the chance to see if oils are right for them, before making a big investment. After one falls in love with the oils, then they can invest more confidently.
"So, what would you recommend I start with, Darbi, and can I please have some more coffee?" I thought you'd never ask...The three most versatile oils come in a nice, affordable package.
DoTerra's introductory kit introduces you to peppermint, lavender and lemon (5ml each) for just $26.67 (plus shipping).
To give you an example of how necessary DoTerra essential oils are, let me tell you some highlights of a vacation I recently took to Vegas and how my oils saved me:
- A little nervous about the flight? Lemon and lavender rubbed into my pulse points both lifted my mood and relaxed me.
- A seat next to a real talker whose breath smelled like 2 week old burritos? One swipe of peppermint under my nose and I was fine!
- Getting a headache from the stuffy air on the plane? Peppermint to the rescue again!
- Getting to the hotel only to find that a bottle of water cost $6 and the tap water tasted like warm feet? Lemon added to the water made it wonderful! And good for me! A great cleanse!
- Tummy getting a little upset from that 32 oz margarita? I drank a small glass of water with a drop of peppermint oil. Yes, they are so pure you can even drink them. Say goodbye to "that pink stuff" forever!
- Muscles sore from walking all around viewing all of the strange people...I mean architecture?  Apply peppermint to the sore area! (But avoid the eyes!)
- Can't get to sleep because of the cheap hotel pillow? A little lavender to the bottoms of my feet and the back of my neck and I was out like a baby.
This is just how I used the oils on a short trip.  In my home I use them so many more ways. There is just so much for me to still learn...and then pass along to you! Aren't you excited??
For more information on how to use these three oils go to http://www.doterraeveryday.com/101-uses.
When you are ready to place your order go to http://mydoterra.com/darbijohnson.  If you have any questions, feel free to email me at darbidocards@yahoo.com.