Personalized Portrait

Currently working on some commissioned portraits for a Mothers Day gift. Would you like one? Please email me soon. I have some space available, but not for long! thecheekywhale@gmail.com

Art Lessons

Live in Utah? I'm offering art classes for kids! And private lessons for anyone.

$5 Prints TODAY ONLY

Receive $15 off a print worth $20 or more! Use coupon code 5DOLLARPRINT at checkout. 

www.etsy.com/shop/thecheekywhale

Natural and effective treatments that I swear by

I have always been one to gravitate towards more natural options. When I had serious stomach issues, I was thrown from one doctor to the next who just kept putting me on prescription pills, which gave me horrible side effects, which I needed more prescriptions to fix. Such a mess. Finally after a year of feeling deathly ill with no end in sight, I demanded a gall bladder test. My instincts were right. My gall bladder wasn't even functioning by that point and my stomach lining was bright red with holes from the onslaught of unprocessed acid.  After gall bladder surgery I still wasn't feeling well so I finally went to a homeopathic specialist for $20. She did some kind of test with a copper pen hooked to a computer that read the weaknesses in my system. $100 of natural supplements and strict schedule of when to take them was what I left with. Within a month I was healed.

Fast forward about 8 years later. I had gastritis. I went to one doctor, he put me on a prescription. I said screw that, and went to a reflexologist that a friend recommended. She read the weaknesses in my feet by pushing a pencil eraser onto my reflex points in my feet (if it hurts, it's a weakness) sent me home with a bunch of herbal drops and supplements and a schedule. Once again, healed.

So you can see that I firmly believe in using what the earth has given us because it has worked for me countless times.

About four years ago my friend told me about Doterra. At the time I had just had a baby and he had eczema on his face and seemed to always be constipated. I decided to try the oils and bought the Family Physicians Kit. I applied lavender and melaleuca diluted with olive oil on Sawyers eczema and within a week it was gone and has never returned. For his constipation, I used DigestZen diluted with olive oil and rubbed it on his belly. Within five minutes he would have a nice poo. Amazing.

I started to use Elevate along with my Prozac. I was terrified to go off of it because I had tried that before and it just never worked. Before long I added Balance to the equation and finally felt daring enough to go off my Prozac. I haven't been on it since. As long as I use the oils every single day, I don't need it.

The same goes for my ADHD. Doterra came out with a blend called In Tune, which I use every day.
I used to use Strattera which worked well but it made me light headed at times, so I tried Adderall which quickly landed me in the ER with heart attack symptoms. No thanks.

My regimen is this:
Each morning after I get out of the shower I rub Serentiy, Balance, Elevate, In Tune and Wild Orange on the bottoms of my feet. Only a couple drops of each is needed. I use it throughout the day if needed, rubbing it on the back of my neck or using a diffuser for aromatherapy.

My website is www.mydoterra.com/melissamae

If you have any questions feel free to email me at thecheekywhale@gmail.com

Imagination takes over with The Little Mermaid

Finished! Onto the next, this time it's a Beauty and the Beast theme :)

For custom illustrations like this one please contact me at thecheekywhale@gmail.com

WIP

A commissioned piece I am working on that I'm super excited about! This is a crappy cellphone picture, but you get the general idea.

Apple Butternut Squash Soup

I am really digging my Health Master Elite! Tonight I tried out one of the recipes from the book that came with it, and added a few of my own ingredients. It turned out delicious!!! Even the kids were  asking for seconds! Along with the soup I served bib lettuce leaves with cherry tomatoes. We just sprinkled a little lime juice on top then wrapped them up like little rolls and dipped into our soup! 

Like I mentioned, I made this with my Health Master.

It can be made in any kind of blender that has the same "cooking" options, like a Vitamix. If you don't have anything like that you can cook it on the stovetop.

You need:

-One butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cooked

-1 Red Delicious apple cored and chopped

-1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped

-1 small onion, peeled and chopped

-1 sprig of thyme, stem removed

-1 tbsp coconut oil

-1 tbsp cinnamon

-2 cups of low sodium vegetable broth 

-sea salt and pepper to taste

-lime wedges

-1 tbsp coconut sugar (optional)

-Sauté onion, garlic, Apple and thyme in coconut oil for about three minutes.

-Add all ingredients except salt and pepper and coconut sugar to blender. If you are using a Health Master/vitamix, turn speed up to 8 (medium high) and blend for 8 minutes. 

-Add coconut sugar and blend for about 10 seconds.

-Plur into bowl amd squeeze with lime juice. Add salt and pepper if desired. Serve and enjoy!

*STOVETOP: after sautéing ingredients, add the rest of the ingredients minus the coconut sugar. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes then add the coconut sugar at the very end. Stir in and remove from the stove. Blend until desired consistency is reached. 

Daily Click - Cavities

Terrified.

Daily Click - Bubbles

I am back with the Daily Click. After a move back to Utah, new jobs, new school, etc. I am feeling settled enough to get back into regular blogging. 

We had a great Christmas! I worked my fingers to the bone designing a dollhouse for Mae's Lalaloopsies. I can't wait to show you guys! 

Daily Click - Mickey

Can you speak CHEWBACCIAN???

An oldie but a goodie. Around 2010.

HOW TO ENTERTAIN YOURSELF

Daily Click - Those EYES!!!

I had the honor of photographing the lovely Miss Katie Lohman! Her eyes are INCREDIBLE. No touch ups or enhancements here. Every photographers dream!

Katie is a Premier Designs rep. I LOVE their jewelry! Check out her facebook page!

Book your session with me today!

thecheekywhale@gmail.com

I make money online. Interested? Click here.

BUTT SLAP DANCE, PICKING NOSES, AND I FARTEEED!!!

Click here to find out how I make money just from blogging. 

MUD FIGHT!!!!

I have been blogging for years and now I get paid!  Click here.

I'M THE MEANEST TEACHER EVER!

I've been blogging for years, and now I get paid for it! Interested? Click here.

Daily Click - Mess

In honor of my earlier post, my photo of the day is what my kitchen table looks like this very moment.

Not to mention that a certain child of ours wet their bed, got into their siblings bed, wet that bed, got into our bed, and wet in our bed. All in one night. We were all sleeping on towels by morning. I totally forgot to buy said child nighttime dipes. So I have three beds worth of linens that need warshing. All I want to do is take a nap.  

I make money online. Interested? Click here.

Supermom I am NOT

This article appeared on my Facebook feed at just the right time. In fact, it's something I should read at least once a week to remind myself that I need to STOP being so hard on myself. (Am I allowed to use "myself" in the same sentence twice?).

Even though I wrote this post awhile back, I am still guilty of framing things just so in order to appear that I have all my crap together, when in fact I do not. My house almost is always messy. My kids fingernails get clipped only when I realize they are 7 inches long and have dirt and who knows what else caked underneath. My daughter dresses herself like Punky Brewster daily and I encourage it. Who doesn't love one Hello Kitty sock, one robot sock, a batgirl cape, and a dinosaur mask all at once?

Anywhoodles, my life is chaos. It's a daily battle to accept that and love it. I'm working on a free printable just for you guys, to remind you that it's the memories that matter most. Stay tuned!

JUST LET ME TAKE A FREAKIN NAP ALREADY!!!

Trying to take a nap with a 2 year old and a dog is like...well..it's like this.

Daily Click

Each day I will be posting a photo from my life. The purpose is to remember that every day is unique and beautiful, and captured moments like this are something that I will appreciate looking back on.

Mae Veon, age 6- in front of a strange shop on Main St.