It's been a rough start to the week around our house. It seems like everyone's sister's neighbor's cousin twice removed is experiencing a summer head cold. We did fairly well to avoid it... until the beautiful 3-day holiday weekend. Of course.

Yes, the very weekend I had set my sights to kick booty on my to-do list... a cold ended up kicking my booty.

And so, after a meaningful pep talk from my husband, I took a dose of my own medicine and went to bed.

We did it, folks! 

We completed our 6-week diet and fitness challenge as outlined in the book 42 Days to Fit! Whoo hoo!

Besides keeping up with the food challenges from the previous weeks, this week we were expected to eat only whole real food for all three meals, snacks, and dessert (allowed just once per week).  Our fitness routine included the same cardio, HIIT, and strength-training schedule as last week, but this week we were instructed to add on one of the following:

Years ago as a newly married gal I attempted to jump on-board the menu planning bandwagon. I was so smitten with my husband and I wanted to do everything. Just. So. And menu planning... that's what all successful homemakers do, right?

My problem? My husband was away at law school most evenings and frequented the corner deli far more than he stepped foot in our gleaming unused kitchen.

In truth, he must have come home at some point, though, because after just 3 months of being married I found myself battling the raging roller coaster of morning sickness and thinking maybe he should have stayed at the deli. Just kidding.

But who wants to think about food at a time like that? So much for being the "successful" homemaker. ::shudder::

We are nearing the finish line as we wrap up Week 5 of our 6-week diet and fitness challenge following the book 42 Days to Fit.  Boy, are we feeling good! 

The usual food challenges applied this week, but we were also instructed to ramp up our carb control by limiting our carb intake and avoiding all fast food.  Needless to say, fast food is usually out of the question when you're on a real food diet, so that last one was just routine.  And except for a favorite pasta dinner that I had promised my husband as a special treat one night this week, the majority of mealtime was focused on fruits and vegetables. 

Guest Post by Contributing Writer: Chelsea Nelson

Essential oils can play a predominate role in our natural medicine cabinets and make wonderful substitutes for common over-the-counter drugs found there. Today we're going to talk about one of my favorite oils: peppermint.

For years the herb peppermint has been used in fresh, dried, and oil form to address digestive difficulties, especially in easing nausea and cramps, and to provide refreshment for more than just your mouth, but your overall energy, too.

We're on the downhill swing of our 42 Day Challenge (week 4 of 6) though we're anything but coasting to the finish. This continues to be a wonderful challenge to get into the healthy habit of eating well and exercising, and we all struggle with that for sure!

In just two short weeks our challenge will be complete (::sniff::), so where are we going from there? Coming up we'll be discussing a common disorder many of us may not have heard of before: Diastasis Recti. This condition affects the abdomen muscles of most mothers and can be largely responsible for that wonderful pooch in our midsections. We've some great exercise tips to share on that front that will help you find your core strength again! And...

We're back after a brief hiatus, and boy, were we ready to jump back in!  Picking back up where we left off we encountered a new food challenge: eat a healthy lunch and dinner compiled by 50% fruits and vegetables. 

We were also instructed to monitor our portion sizes, especially where carbs were concerned, and to try to avoid all processed foods.  (If you read our post on eating real foods, then you know that we had that last one covered!) 

Of the past six weeks my family has spent three, nearly four, of them on the road. I'm not a homebody per se, but I'll be honest: I'm done traveling for a while. 

Growing up as an only child I had the chance to travel extensively with my parents. My dad, a firefighter by primary occupation, was also a contract instructor, teaching shipping companies, the railroad industry and other venues in how to safely handle hazardous materials.

I have fond memories of all the 46 states I've had the privilege of seeing (some several times) and a few other countries, too. But I also remember vividly the handful of times I was sick while on the road. Who could forget Scarlet Fever in Portland, a double ear infection in Jacksonville, Mono in Saint Louis or the Chicken Pox in Toledo?

Gosh, these experiences sound like disturbing handles for Match.com... Hi, Sleepless in Seattle, I'm Scarlet Fever in Portland.

Wondering if Rachel and I have flown the coup? Truth is, we have in a way, but not for long! Of the last six weeks, I've spent three and a half of them with my husband and littles traveling from California to Virginia. Yes, my husband and I did drag four children ages five and under all the way to California... and live to tell about it. And then two weeks later headed off to the opposite coast for another lengthy stay. What were we thinking?!

And now that we're back on home turf (::sigh of relief::), the laundry... yard work... school work... grocery shopping... garden chores (the aphids found my tomatoes while I was gone and the leaf hoppers have been feasting on my beans!) and house cleaning just have this way of demanding my attention. Pathetic, aren't I? Suck it up and put your big girl panties on, my friend! Welcome to the real world! I hear you. 

In Part One of our two-part series, we briefly discussed the basic, "essential" elements of an essential oil.  A pure, additive-and-pesticide-free oil is a true essential oil.  But when all six of the oils companies in our orange oil comparison claim they offer the purest, highest-quality oils available, how do we avoid just blindly picking one?

At this point, let us take a look at the hard data.  What can the cost of each oil and each company's ability to prove organic certification and gas chromatography testing tell us about their oils?