Cayt's Chronic Creations

06/09/2026

Have you ever had a season where every time you feel like you’re finally getting your footing, something else comes along and knocks you off balance?

The last few years have felt a bit like that for our family.

There have been chronic illness diagnoses, autoimmune conditions, rare diagnoses, hospital stays, surgeries, endless appointments, research, lifestyle changes, and learning how to help myself and my children as they’ve faced some of their own daily health challenges. It’s been a journey of adapting, learning, and finding new ways to thrive in circumstances we never expected.

And honestly, I felt like we were finally finding our groove.

Then the stomach flu made its way through our house. Everyone got it and recovered, but it saved me for last. Let me tell you, it was violent... and triggered a flare that hit harder than I expected. Before I could fully regroup, I broke my foot.

At some point you start to wonder if the enemy sees you’re making progress and decides it’s time to throw another obstacle in the path.

The good news is that obstacles aren’t roadblocks unless we stop moving.

Some seasons are for running. Some are for walking. And some are for limping forward one faithful step at a time.

I won’t pretend I’m not tired. I am. The kind of tired all the sleep in the world wouldn't fix. But I’ve also seen God’s faithfulness too many times to believe He’ll stop now.

So if you’re in a season that feels heavier than it should, keep going. The pace may change. The path may look different than you expected. But God is still leading, still providing, and still working even when life feels harder than it should.

One step at a time. That’s enough for today.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." -2 Corinthians 4:8-9

06/06/2026

✨ Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls ✨

There’s just something special about warm cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven! These gluten-free and dairy-free cinnamon rolls are soft, fluffy, and packed with that classic cinnamon-sugar goodness—without the gluten or dairy.

🧡 Dough:
• 3½ cups gluten-free flour blend (recommended Authentic Foods Steve's Gf bread blend) *see note
• 3 Tbsp cane sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup non-dairy milk
• 3 Tbsp light oil
• ¼ tsp salt

🧡 Yeast Proofing:
• ¾ cup warm water
• 1 tsp cane sugar
• 2 tsp active dry yeast

🧡 Filling:
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup cane sugar
• 2-3 Tbsp cinnamon

🧡 Icing:
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp dairy-free milk
• Dairy-free cream cheese, softened

Directions:

1. Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Mix dough ingredients together, then add the yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms.
3. Roll dough into a rectangle between parchment paper.
4. Mix filling ingredients and sprinkle evenly over dough.
5. Roll tightly and slice into rolls.
6. Place in a greased baking dish and let rise 30–45 minutes.
7. Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes or until lightly golden.
8. Whisk icing ingredients together and spread over warm rolls.

Perfect for slow mornings, holidays, or whenever you’re craving a cozy homemade treat! 🤍

Have you found a gluten-free recipe that tastes just like the original? Let me know below! ⬇️

*If you choose to use a different flour blend, you WILL need to add more flour. Be sure to choose a flour blend that works with yeast; many blends do not. Also this brand is more expensive, but you will use significantly less flour per recipe.

https://amzn.to/4e8b5Kv

06/04/2026

Everyone says kids need more outdoor time… more sunshine, more fresh air, more movement but the real reason I take mine outside is because my house can’t survive another indoor parkour competition. 🏃🤸💥🪑

Anyone else’s kids turn into caffeinated squirrels if they’re stuck inside too long? 🤣🐿️🤪👇

06/04/2026

🧜‍♀️ Mermaid After-Shower Hair Spray 🧜‍♀️

This simple DIY has become a favorite in our house! It helps freshen hair, tame tangles, and supports a healthy scalp—all with a light, woodsy-floral scent that reminds us of long summer days.

✨ Recipe
• Equal parts distilled water & witch hazel
• 15 drops lavender essential oil
• 15 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 15 drops rosemary essential oil

🌿 Optional: Add 15 drops tea tree essential oil during the summer months to help discourage ticks and other unwanted buggy visitors.

💜 Why these ingredients?
• Witch Hazel – Helps disperse the essential oils throughout the spray, reduces greasy buildup, and leaves hair feeling fresh between washes.
• Lavender – Helps soothe the scalp, adds shine, and leaves hair smelling fresh.
• Cedarwood – Supports scalp health and may help reduce excess oil buildup.
• Rosemary – Traditionally used to support healthy hair growth and strengthen hair.
• Tea Tree (optional) – Helps keep the scalp feeling clean and refreshed while offering natural bug-repelling properties.

✨ Shake well before each use and lightly mist onto damp or dry hair. We love using it after showers, after swimming, and before heading outside for summer adventures.

Simple ingredients, healthy hair, and a little mermaid magic. 🧜‍♀️🌿

06/01/2026

June is Mast Cell Activation Syndrome Awareness Month, and this one feels especially personal in our home. 🤍

MCAS is a condition where the body’s mast cells — part of the immune system — overreact and cause inflammation throughout the body. It can affect everything from allergies, skin, and digestion to energy levels, heart rate, headaches, mood, and the nervous system. It also commonly overlaps with things like hypermobility/connective tissue disorders, celiac disease and gut issues, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and Emma’s rare eye disease, Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.

For us, MCAS isn’t just one diagnosis on paper. Emma, Henry, and I all struggle with it in different ways, and each of us has our own “friends” that come along with it.

What I’ve learned is that awareness matters because understanding matters. The more you learn about your own body or your child’s body — triggers, foods, stress, environment, routines, and supportive tools — the more empowered you become to help make life feel as “normal” and manageable as possible.

Some days are harder than others, but learning how our bodies work has helped our family live with more grace, more understanding, and better support for each other. 🤍

05/15/2026

🤍

This week on the podcast: Spiritual and practical encouragement for moms who are homeschooling with chronic illness. Read more: https://simplycharlottemason.com/blog/homeschooling-with-chronic-illness-and-pain/

05/04/2026

For homeschool this week at the Roettger Academy, we will walk through the Armor of God—giving our kids real, practical ways to stand firm, guard their hearts, and walk in peace no matter what they face.

Because the goal isn’t just “be kind”…
it’s raising kids who know why they’re kind,
who they belong to,
and how to stand strong in His love when the world isn't kind or loving.

So we are sharing our simple, rooted in truth Armor of God bible study in case it blesses your family too 🤍👇🏻

🛡️ Armor of God: 6-Day Bible Study

Read the passage theme as a family:
Ephesians 6:10–18

⸻

✨ Day 1: Belt of Truth

📖 Ephesians 6:14

💡 Teach:

Truth holds everything together. Without truth, everything falls apart.

* God’s Word is truth
* The world can be confusing—but God is not
* We need discernment to recognize truth vs. lies

🧠 Ask:

* What is something we know is always true about God?
* How can we tell if something is true? Or if something is untrue?

🎨 Activity:

Make a “truth belt”
Write truths on strips of paper and tape them together

🙏 Prayer:

“Lord, help us know and stand on Your truth.”

⸻

🛡️ Day 2: Breastplate of Righteousness

📖 Ephesians 6:14

💡 Teach:

This protects our heart.

* Righteousness = choosing what is right with God
* We guard our hearts by what we choose
* Jesus helps us live righteously

🧠 Ask:

* What are ways we can protect our hearts?
* What does choosing right look like?

🎨 Activity:

Draw a heart shield and fill it with:
Kindness • Honesty • Forgiveness • Obedience

🙏 Prayer:

“God, protect our hearts and guide our choices.”

⸻

👣 Day 3: Shoes of Peace

📖 Ephesians 6:15

💡 Teach:

We are called to walk in peace and bring peace.

* Peace doesn’t mean everything is easy
* Jesus can bring calm into hard situations
* Kindness and peace go together

🧠 Ask:

* When is it hard to choose peace?
* How can we be peacemakers?

🎨 Activity:

Trace their feet
Write: “I will walk in peace”

🙏 Prayer:

“Jesus, help us carry Your peace everywhere we go.”

⸻

🛡️ Day 4: Shield of Faith

📖 Ephesians 6:16

💡 Teach:

Faith protects us from fear and lies.

* Faith = trusting God even when we don’t see
* Doubt and fear are like arrows
* Faith blocks those attacks

🧠 Ask:

* What is something you trust God with?
* What helps your faith grow?

🎨 Activity:

Make a shield
Write:
God’s promises + things you trust Him with

🙏 Prayer:

“God, grow our faith so we trust You in everything.”

⸻

⛑️ Day 5: Helmet of Salvation

📖 Ephesians 6:17

💡 Teach:

This protects our mind.

* Salvation = we belong to Jesus
* We don’t have to believe every thought
* God helps guard our minds

🧠 Ask:

* What thoughts should we keep?
* What thoughts should we reject?

🎨 Activity:

Make a paper helmet
Write: “I belong to Jesus”

🙏 Prayer:

“Thank You for saving us, God. Protect our minds like only You can.”

⸻

⚔️ Day 6: Sword of the Spirit

📖 Ephesians 6:17

💡 Teach:

This is our weapon—God’s Word.

* The Bible helps us fight lies with truth
* Jesus used Scripture when He was tempted
* Speaking truth out loud is powerful

🧠 Ask:

* What is a Bible verse you remember?
* How can we use God’s Word when we’re afraid?

🎨 Activity:

Make a cardboard sword
Write a favorite verse on it

🙏 Prayer:

“Lord, help us use Your Word daily and boldly.”

⸻

🛡️ We’d LOVE to see your armor in action!

If you did this study with your kids, drop a picture below of your Armor of God creations—belts, shields, swords, all of it! 👇

And tell us…
✨ Which day spoke to your child (or you) the most?

Was it standing in truth?
Guarding your heart?
Walking in peace?

✨ I threw together a simple worksheet packet to go along with our Armor of God study for anyone who wants to use it with their kids!

It’s nothing fancy—just something practical to help bring each piece to life and make it stick a little deeper 💛

You can grab it here: https://canva.link/z2h8yhtyppax9g2

If you end up using it, I’d love to hear which part your kids connected with most 🛡️

05/04/2026

Kindness is one of the most important things we teach our kids… but it’s not just something we say—it’s something we live. 🤍

And in a world where kindness can be hard to find, it matters more than ever.

It’s in the little moments:
✨ Letting someone go first
✨ Speaking gently when we’re frustrated
✨ Including the kid who feels left out
✨ Choosing patience when it would be easier not to
✨ Respecting the boundaries and fears of others

But we also teach them this—
Kindness doesn’t mean weakness.

We’re raising kids who are rooted in Christ.
Kids who know how to love like Jesus… but also have discernment.
Kids who can recognize when something isn’t right and have the courage to stand firm.

Because the truth is, the world can be harsh.
So we don’t just teach kindness—we teach them to put on the full armor of God and walk in it daily. 🛡️

To lead with love.
To speak truth with grace.
To stand strong without hardening their hearts.

Our kids are always watching.
They learn kindness by how we treat them, treat others… and how we trust God through it all.

The world needs more kind hearts—
but hearts that are also wise, protected, and grounded in Him.

And it starts right here, in our homes. 🏡

How are you teaching your kids to walk in both kindness and discernment? 💬👇

04/16/2026

“But what about socialization?”
Or my personal favorite: “I could never stay home all day with my kids…” 🤔

Not only is that kind of a weird thing to say about your own children… it’s also one of the biggest misconceptions about homeschool life.

Coming from an introvert mom—our life is actually busier and less at home than ever. Between sports, co-ops, friends, cousins, real-life experiences, and everyday adventures… my kids are constantly building relationships, learning how to interact with all ages, and growing in ways a classroom alone could never provide. 🤍📚

Homeschooling hasn’t isolated us—it’s opened our world.

And this is just in the last month!
If anything… we had to learn how to slow down. 🫶

What's another homeschool misconception that you've heard or believed? I'd love to hear about your experiences navigating these misconceptions! 👇🏻🤔🥰📚