Iowa Essential Oils | Marcie Spight Tobin

This week I had the opportunity to interview Marcie Spight Tobin of Iowa Essential Oils, an independent distributor with Young Living Oils.

Marcie started her journey when she began using Young Living Essential Oils one year ago when her best friend introduced them to her. She was dealing with a personal matter and the emotional stress was making sleep extremely difficult. Her friend gave her a bottle of lavender essential oil and as Marcie stated, “the rest is history”.

After Marcie had been using the oils in her home for a few months for everything from supporting a healthy immune system to cleaning she decided to dive into the business side of things. It was her true passion for the oils and their effectiveness that made her focus on sharing and educating about each oil’s uses and effectiveness and that’s when she began Iowa Essential Oils.

A Colorado native, Marcie has been living in Iowa for the past 4 years. Although she’s still trying to get used to the weather she stated she “loves raising her kids in Iowa”. She and her husband have been married for almost 10 years and they share 3 boys, ages 15, 5 and 3. Between her business and being an active mother to 3 very active boys she doesn’t get much free time, but then again, what mom does!? When she does have the rare spare moment she loves to read and garden. She also loves to cook, learning and craves knowledge.

Marcie will be hosting an Essential Oils 101 Facebook class on February 22nd at 7pm and everyone is invited to attend from the comfort of their own home. To learn more about the class go her her Facebook page {HERE}. Marcie is also running a free handmade diffuser necklace and essential oils reference guide promotion for anyone who signs up to be a distributor under her sponsorship.

To stay up to date with Marcie ‘Like’ her Facebook Page {HERE} and ‘Bookmark’ her website {HERE}.

 

Event Post: Irish Christmas Céilí

Have plans this coming Sunday? If not you don’t want to miss out on Champagne Academy’s Irish Christmas Céilí!

“Dear Friends of the Irish Arts,
Our 4th annual Irish Christmas Céilí is coming up on Sunday, December 14th, 2014 (6:00 – 9:00pm) at Old Brick in Iowa City, Iowa. We’re excited about promoting a local céilí (pronounced “kay-lee”); which is a relaxed gathering involving traditional Irish folk music and social dancing.

This special holiday event is open to the public, will have traditional live Irish music, called social dancing (no experience necessary), and a performance by some of the Champagne Academy of Irish Dancers. In addition to the social dancing and short performance, we will also have a silent auction that spotlights many local artists and businesses.”

When: Sunday, December 14th at 6:00pm.
Where: Old Brick Church. 26 E Market St, Iowa City, Iowa 52245
Why: Live Music, Dancing, Irish Dance Performance, Silent Auction, Beverages and MORE! 

Quite a few of our WAHM’s have donated to the silent auction and plan on attending. We would love to see some of you there as well. Thanks for reading!

– Riley

Elizabeth Harker | Share the Love Cloth Diaper Bank | Iowa City

This week’s Feature Friday blog post I will be sharing about an organization I’m passionate about and involved in.

Share the Love is a national cloth diaper bank with host sites all over the United States with our very own operating out of the Iowa City area by myself with some very lovely helpers through the North Liberty, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area.

Share the Love was founded in 2012 by Cotton Babies CEO Jennifer Labit. Share the Love provides cloth diapers to low income families. Our growing network now has more then 100 locations nationwide.

“Through education, resources and support, Share the Love does more than just distribute diapers. It teaches people about the underlying effects of poverty such as diaper need. It enables more parents to provide their babies with clean diapers. It allows a family to buy better meals, pay a bill and save for the future. But most importantly, Share the Love provides hope to those who need a caring, helping hand.”

The benefits of cloth diapers are endless. They will save a family approximately $2000 from birth through potty training. There are also environmental and health benefits to cloth diapers too. For more information on the benefits of cloth diapers go to: The Real Diaper Association

What can you do to help? Donate! We take all kinds of donations to help families cloth diaper, everything from old receiving blankets, flour sack towels, used cloth diaper covers, pockets, prefolds, diaper pins, Snappies, wet bags, pail liners and detergent to wash the cloth diapers with. The owner of Itsy Bitsy Boutique, located at 201 Iowa 965 in North Liberty, IA has been generous enough to offer her location as a drop off site for any donations you have, where I then go and retrieve them and distribute them to families in need. Myself or any of my helpers would also be willing to meet with you to gather any donations you might have. To contact me go to: Share the Love.

Are you in need of cloth diapers? All you need to do is: be a U.S. resident, have a valid photo ID, obtain proof of enrollment in WIC, TANF or any other assistance program, complete the Share the Love application in its entirety and agree to the Terms of Service. Check your email after applying to the program! Keep in mind the cloth diaper bank loans diapers to you for the first 3 years of your child’s life and they are expected to be returned so they can be passed on to the next family in need. To see all the expectations of participation in the program and apply go to: Share the Love.

I want to thank everyone who as donated to this program to help their community already! I’m extremely happy to be in a community that has so much care and concern for others that they have taken the time to donate and helped by volunteering their time, location and space to improve the quality of life within their community!

Halloween Event Guide for the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Area

Tomorrow is my absolute favorite holiday of the year, Halloween! So here at Dreams from the Heart and Home we are going to make sure you make the most of your weekend with some of the area’s funnest events and trick-or-treat times listed right here! Trick or Treating Times:

Anamosa: Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cedar Rapids: Friday, October 31, no specific time

Center Point: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Central City: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Coralville: Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Iowa City: Friday, October 31, dusk to 8 p.m.

Lisbon: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Mt. Vernon: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Muscatine: Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

North English: Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

North Liberty: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Riverside: Friday, October 31, 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Solon: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tiffin: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Washington: Friday, October 31, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

West Branch: Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

West Liberty: Friday, October 31, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wellman: Friday, October 31, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Wilton: Friday, October 31, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. As far as area events this weekend, there are plenty for kids and adults a like.

Fall Harvest at Farmer’s Daughter’s Marker, located at 495 Miller Rd. Hiawatha, IA 52233.  They have fresh pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, pies, pumpkin bars and other fall desserts and each Saturday they have pumpkin painting for the kids.

Halloween Story Time at the Hiawatha Public Library, located at 150 W. Willman St. Hiawatha, IA 52233. At 11:00 a.m. on Halloween start off your trick or treating early with some stories and treats!

Halloween Comic Fest at Alter Ego Comics, located at 331 7th Avenue Marion, IA 52302. On Halloween and Saturday, November 1st, from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. head over for Free comic books, treats and prize drawings for all ages. Adults who come wearing costumes will receive a free comic book plus be entered to win prizes and children who arrive in costumes will receive a very chocolate treat from Forever Chocolate in Marion and be entered to win prizes.

Harvest Celebration “Trunk or Treat” at Alliance Church, located at 1622 42nd St. NE Cedar Rapids, IA. On Halloween from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. come visit the Alliance Church for a safe Halloween alternative for the entire family.

Scream Acres at Bloomsbury Farm, located at 3260 69th Street Atkins, IA 52206. On Halloween from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. come check out their re-vamped indoor haunts and their famous Haunted Cornfield. There is a fee. For more information go to: www.ScreamAcresMaze.com.

Special Populations Halloween Dance at Ushers Ferry Historical Village, located at 5925 Seminole Valley Tr. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52411. On Halloween from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. come celebrate the 23rd annual  “Special Populations Halloween Dance” co-sponsored with the ARC of East Central Iowa. People of all ages and abilities are welcome to attend and wear a costume. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Admission is $5 per person at the door.

Circle of Ash Haunted Attraction – The Haunt, located at 412 7th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. On Halloween from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight come get the scare of your life with a new, one of a kind, coffin ride! There is a fee and for more information go to: http://www.circleofash.com.

Family Free Friday at the Coral Ridge Mall, located at 1451 Coral Ridge Avenue Coralville, Iowa 52241. Between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. come for: – FREE Admission to the Ice Arena (2 kids free with 1 paid adult) – FREE Carousel rides for all – FREE Admission to The Iowa Children’s Museum to all – FREE Kid’s Meal at the following participating retailers (1 free kid’s meal with purchase of 1 Adult Combo Meal): Arby’s, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Chick-fil-A, Panda Express, Sarku Japan, Subway, Taco Bell, Villa Pizza

J & A Tap, located at 440 N Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA 52317. Adults head over for a costume contest from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Enjoy live music from the Noize Junkiez.

Hands of Christ Worship Center, located at 132 E Main St. Oxford, IA 52322. On Halloween from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m they are having a Halloween Party and will be helping any child attending to safely trick or treat around the neighboring homes.

Jack SPLAT at The Iowa Children’s Museum at Coral Ridge Mall, located at 1451 Coral Ridge Avenue Coralville, Iowa 52241. On Sunday, November 2nd beginning at 11:00 p.m. bring your Jack-O-Lanterns and toss them from the CityWorks Balcony at 1:00 p.m.! There is an $8 fee.

Tot Monster Mash at Mercer/Scanlon Recreational Center, located at 2701 Bradford Drive Iowa City, Iowa 52240. October 31st 9:30 – 11:30 am. “Enjoy this annual Halloween adventure, designed for kids aged 6 and under (dressed in their Halloween costumes, of course!) Inflatables, games, stories, crafts, and more are in store for tots and their parents or guardians.”

We hope your Halloween is filled with fun, games, lots of candy and as always, stay safe! Don’t forget to “like” Dreams from the Heart & Home of Facebook: here!

Little Hippo’s Creations | Feature Friday

This week’s featured mom is Sarah Keedy of Little Hippo’s Creations!

Little Hippo’s Creations is a unique embroidery shop based out of Cedar Rapids. They specialize in custom embroidery, birthday shirts, small dolls, key fobs and ornaments. Sarah enjoys getting custom orders and is “always looking for new ideas to try and expand my product line”.  If you have any special embroidery projects, look no further. First birthday shirts for cake smashes, customized bibs for baby showers, fall & holiday door hangers; Little Hippo’s Creations has great gifting options for all ages!

Sarah has been sewing ever since she was 10 years old.  Four years ago she picked it up again creating clothing and accessories for her eldest daughter.  Two years ago she purchased an embroidery machine.  She started out by making things for her own children, but ended up getting requests from others for custom items. Embroidery led her to the business she has today! Between her full time job outside the home and raising her two daughters, Sarah keeps herself very busy. She continues to pursue her embroidery business as well to supplement her income and provide for her daughters.  They give her motivation and inspiration to keep going. “I love to craft and I find inspiration in every day life – my girls keep me busy and they are my number one customers. If they love something I make, then I know it’s a winner.”

If your home is lacking fall decor, pick up a custom holiday door hanger that can be used as a stand alone decoration or added to a Holiday wreath.  Mention this post and receive 15% off any orders placed before November 15, 2014!

To view more Little Hippo Creations “LIKE” her Facebook {HERE}  To request a custom embroidery project inquiries, you may contact Sarah via e-mail at littlehipposcreations@gmail.com!