"Don't Color With Your Kids!"

source 

 

I don't know if this qualifies as someone giving me parenting advice. It was said to me back when I was not a mom. My "future" husband and I were just engaged, and I was working as a one-on-one aide in a preschool for a little boy with autism. My job was to shadow him through the classroom and step in as needed to help him interact with other children and use the toys appropriately (several of the non-autistic children could have used someone to do this as well, but I digress). My little one-on-one pupil was absent that day which meant that I became a regular classroom aide for the day. I went to sit with the children over at the table and began to chat with them about what they were making. We began discussing animals and fast cars, dinosaurs and castles, and I began to draw with them. The kids were all very interested in what I was doing, they watched my picture progress and all seemed to enjoy the camaraderie of coloring together. That's when the classroom teacher came over to me and pulled me aside. "Don't color with the children!" she said. "I can't color with them?" I asked. "No, we were taught in school to never color with the children, it will make them think their coloring is inferior and damage their psyche." "Okay" I said and walked away. And that conversation has still rattled around in my brain until today, when I decided to evict it out onto my blog.
 

This is really more a discussion about perspective. Could a child, if you color with him (or play a game with him, or cook dinner with him) feel badly that he can't do it as well as you? Sure, but what is the issue that really needs to be addressed here, is it that he is feeling badly, or is it that he is comparing himself to someone else and feeling like he doesn't measure up?
"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." -Galatians 6:4-5
I think the bigger issue is whether we remove obstacles when they are difficult or unpleasant for our children, or whether we teach them how to change their perspective and look at things in a new way.
 
"A merry heart does good like a medicine" Proverbs 17:22
 Our three year old daughter is working on that verse (we learn a lot of Scripture through song, this CD is one of our favorites!!) She is learning (and we are all getting the refresher course) that your attitude can change not only YOUR experience, but the experience of those around you as well! If you choose to look at the negative, what you can't do, what's been taken away from you, what you wish you could have, then you will be unhappy and make those around you unhappy. But if you choose to be happy, to enjoy what you have, to not compare what you have to others but instead be grateful your merry heart will make you feel better!
I do color with my children, I love coloring with my children and if, as has happened on occasion, one of my children says "Wow Mom, I wish I could color like you!" I tell them that it wasn't the work of a day, that I have practiced coloring for a long time, that perseverance has helped me learn how to be better at it. (and of course I compliment their hard work as well!) So there's my piece of advice for today, color with your children- and remember that EVERY moment is a teaching moment. 
 

 



Non-Toxic Cleaning Solutions : My top 7

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 Looking for ways to clean your home without using toxic chemicals? Here are my top seven! Why seven? Well, when I thought about what things I use to clean my home on a regular basis, that's how many I came up with! (It will drive my husband crazy that it's not an even number, he's funny like that. =) )

        I first started looking into cleaning my home with non- toxic cleaners when my first son was born about 8 years ago. At first, I bought store bought natural and organic cleaners but they were too expensive to keep in the budget. Then I started researching formulas for DIY cleaners, that was fun!


       In the long run as as we had more little ones running around making time scarce), they took too much time and effort. I believe in non-toxic, but I believe in easy more! So over time I came up with my own solutions. You'll notice that all my spray cleaners use the small travel spray bottles (I buy mine at Walmart), I have tried to use the larger cleaning bottles from Lowe's or Home Depot, they always clog or break (admittedly I am a huge clutz and break things often)! So, although these smaller bottles need to be refilled more often, I've stuck with what works!



NOTE: one thing I have learned about non-toxic cleaners, they need a little more time to be effective, so spray the surface you want to clean and walk away for 1 minute to let it do it's job- then wipe it away!

 

#1

All-Purpose Cleaner

Fill your bottle with Plain Vinegar. Add 25 drops of Grapefruit seed extract(or GSE) (more if you have a bigger spray bottle) and 10 or 15 drop mix of cinnamon and clove essential oil(less if you buy more expensive therapeutic grade oils- but I really don't believe they are worth the expense for this formula). Shake before each use.

      Why do I believe this combination works so well? Lets start with the Vinegar. Vinegar is very affordable and we use it ALOT. it goes in the washing machine, in many of our cleaning solutions, even in our hair! Ironically enough, the one place we don't use it is in our food (we use raw apple cider vinegar for that)

     Vinegar has a long history of being used for cleaning, because it's so acidic it works to kill germs, mold and bacteria. However there is little data to exactly HOW much of the bacteria is killed by vinegar alone, so I add a few extra things to give it a little more punch! Grapefruit Seed Extract contains a natural antibiotic compound from the grapefruit seed. It has been shown to be effective against not only bacteria, but also many parasites, fungus, and viruses. The bottle will last you a LONG time, I have had this bottle for over a year and still have about 1/4 of it left!

     The last thing I add is the Cinnamon and Clove essential oils. Not only does this give it a very nice smell but these two essential oils have been shown to be some of the most effective germ killers out there! Cinnamon Essential oil has even been shown to be able to kill Staph, E.coli and MRSA. I use this cleaner in my bathroom, in my kitchen, on doorknobs, it even works well on glass if you have a good dust-free cloth to use it with (old birdseye cloth diapers work GREAT) But because cinnamon and clove oil can be caustic if they get in contact with sensitive skin, I change formula up a little bit and put it in another bottle for a few sensitive jobs. 

 

#2 Fruit and Vegetable Spray

This formula is the same as the one above but eliminating the cinnamon and clove oil. So fill your bottle with vinegar and add 25 drops of GSE, shake well before each use. I use this spray for the baby's highchair, for cleaning fruits and veggies (spray in a colander and leave for one minute, then rinse fully), and when the kids help me clean (this is why this bottle is such a horrendous bright pink- no mistaking which bottle is theirs!)

 

#3 

Microfiber Cloth

 

I am the first one to admit, paper towels are easier! and I do use them for certain(read:gross) cleaning applications. But Microfiber is antibacterial all by itself! Microfiber has been found to remove 80-90% of bacteria from surfaces all by itself! That's worth the extra effort of having more rags to clean! I buy mine in the automotive section of Walmart. There are companies out there selling more high quality cloths, but these are cheap and work well. (and when they get ruined- I don't mind throwing them out!)

#4

Baking Soda

 

     This one ranks right up there with Vinegar as super useful! And there's no formula- just use it straight! I like to put some in a shakeable container (old spice containers or parmesean cheese containers are great for this) Baking soda is a great abrasive for the kitchen sink, toilet, shower. It also is very effective (when combined with vinegar) to get a clogged drain moving. and if you create a paste with it (just baking soda and water) and spread it on a really dirty stainless steel or stoneware pot  or pan, leave it on overnight, it will do a great job cleaning off stuck on/baked on food!

 

#5

Room Disinfecting Spray

 

add 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol to your spray bottle, and then fill it almost to the top with water (I've seen a lot of recommendations for filtered or distilled water, I use tap water- the alcohol and essential oils should kill any germs that might be in there- if you have very hard water I might use bottled instead) then I add an antibacterial combo of essential oils. I make my own blend that I use based on the story of the four thieves who robbed the dead during the Plague but did not get sick themselves because of the herbs they used. My own formula is this: equal amounts of

clove oil, cinnamon oil, lemon oil(or another citrus oil if that's all you have- I have used orange or grapefruit as well),eucalyptus oil, and rosemary oil. I keep this in a little essential oil jar (one that I saved when it ran out of oil) and I add anywhere from 20 to 40 drops to the Room spray (more if we are fighting colds, less if we aren't) I spray the air, the beds, the furniture, the dog's beds, the carpet, the drapes, etc. This smells nice and it's got lots of potent germ killers in it to help keep us well!



#6

Hot Water

 

 

I know, I know Duh! right? But I still wanted to add this to the list because it's what our healthy and robust forefathers used!  Don't underestimate the power of plain old boiling water! Great at unclogging sinks, removing baked on food. Pour it all over the bathroom sink and toilet if someone is sick in your house. Clean your floors with it(you could add a few drops of essential oil as well- maybe tea tree or lavender ) If you have a stubborn rug stain, try boiling water and a stiff bristled scrub brush. Also, it's a great way of making sure your microfiber towels, and various brushes are clean (hold your toilet brush in the toilet and pour boiling water over it to make sure it's not harboring germs- do the same with your plunger)

 

#7

"Colloidal"(Ionic) Silver Generator

I debated whether or not to add this. It's not super cheap for the initial purchase (this one is similar to the one I have but not identical) I don't necessarily believe the claims of all the internal help this type of silver does. NOT because I don't think silver is a powerful antibiotic (it is!) but because these generators don't make "true" colloidal silver, they make ionic silver, which once it combine with HCL in your stomach will become silver chloride and no longer be effective (true coillodal silver wouldn't do this and would be more effective internally) However, when we first moved South we were BESET with skin infections. Every bug bite seemed to get infected! My oldest son, at one time had 5 or 6 VERY painful pus-filled spots on his knee. I tried Epsom salts and bentonite clay, antiseptic herb poultices, and essential oils, they kept spreading- until a friend gave me some of her home-generated colloidal silver. Within 24 hours they were SIGNIFICANTLY  better, and they healed completely with no other intervention than me rubbing coillodal silver on them with a q-tip twice a day. Since then I have bought my own generator and we have used this treatment on countless cuts and small infected bug bites, even sore throats and canker sores. Those uses are all great but why I am including it here as a cleaning supply is that it is an easy, fast and safe hand sanitizer for whenever you are away from a sink and have touched something germy! I keep it in the little tincture bottle you see here and everyone gets a dropperful on their hands to rub all over when we leave a store or public place. Simple and effective! If you are not interested in buying your own generator I've used this brand before with good effect.

 

I hope I've added something new here that maybe you hadn't though of before!  Please share in the comments ways you keep your home free from toxic cleaners! I pray these simple cleaners would help your family stay well this winter! 

 

 



Simple Saturdays
I am a blogger, not a medical professional. In compliance with the FDA regulations, any advice is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Scripture and a Snapshot

 

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" ~Matthew 6:25-27

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a felt food set! 



Trim Healthy Tuesday : Matcha Pudding two ways (FP)

Have you heard of Matcha? Well, if you haven't, you have certainly heard of green tea!!

Matcha Green tea powder is a powdered form of dried tea leaves rather than steeping some of the powerful antioxidants from the leaves and then throwing the leaves away, you are adding the leaves (in powdered form) directly to your food and thereby not missing any of the benefits! Green tea is known as a cancer- fighter, weight-loss helper, anti-aging drink, detoxifier and stress reliever. We like to drink green (and black) tea in our house but recently I watched this video from the authors of the Trim Healthy Mama book and was inspired to try Matcha!

  

But I decided to get a little creative and make a Chocolate Matcha pudding and a Raspberry Matcha pudding.  

Let's go with the chocolate first. =)

Chocolate Matcha Pudding- FP

Ingredients:

(these puddings are based on the Choco Pudding p366 from the Trim Healthy Mama book)

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

6 tsp Truvia(NOT the baking blend with added sugar)

1 heaping tsp of Hershey Special Dark Cocoa powder

1 tsp Matcha powder

pinch of salt

1 1/2 tsp Glucomannan powder

Add the Almond milk, cocoa powder, matcha, Truvia and salt to the blender and blend until well blended. While the blender is still running add 1 1/2 tsp of glucomannan powder to the blender. Blend for a few minutes and then stop the blender and let it sit and thicken. (I usually put in my finger and this point and taste to see if I need to add extra sweetener or salt) Start blender again and blend until the pudding is thickened (it will still be slightly runny but will continue to thicken in the fridge) Pour into a container and put into the fridge until thickened and cool.

tastes especially good with a little fat-free reddi whip on top!

(this is what I found locally, there are some questionable ingredients in it

you may be able to find something more pure online or at a healthfood store)

Raspberry-Matcha Pudding- FP

Ingredients:

(these puddings are based on the Choco Pudding p366 from the Trim Healthy Mama book)

2 cups unsweetened almond milk

4 tsp Truvia(NOT the baking blend with added sugar)

2 tsp Matcha powder

1 tsp raspberry extract

pinch of salt

1 1/2 tsp Glucomannan powder

Add the Almond milk, raspberry extract, matcha, Truvia and salt to the blender and blend until well blended. While the blender is still running add 1 1/2 tsp of glucomannan powder to the blender. Blend for a few minutes and then stop the blender and let it sit and thicken. (I usually put in my finger and this point and taste to see if I need to add extra sweetener or salt) Start blender again and blend until the pudding is thickened (it will still be slightly runny but will continue to thicken in the fridge) Pour into a container and put into the fridge until thickened and cool.

If you haven't heard of Glucamannan yet, and how it's the key ingredient to make this into a pudding go here to read a little more about it from one of the authors  

Both of these puddings were good, my husband liked the raspberry Matcha one a little more, he loves all things tea-flavored, I liked the chocolate one, but the raspberry was great too!

 Enjoy!!!

A GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Might as well start off right! This blog is my space to discuss the things that are important in my life. I am a mom- and most of my time is spent caring for my four children. I love to be crafty, if I have free time it is usually spent knitting, sewing, scrapbooking beading or looking up new projects to add to the never-ending list of "things I'd like to make"! I also work hard at keeping our home as free from toxic foods, chemicals, toys, etc. as I can. I homeschool our children and I firmly believe that the larger part of their learning happens when we are NOT sitting at the table doing "school". So it's an important decision when I choose which toys I allow in our home, or which videos we will borrow from the library, or what kind of activities we do together as a family. These are the things that will shape their world view, their opinions, their characters.

So this seemed like a great giveaway for me to do as my very first giveaway. Felt Food!

All lovingly hand-stitched by Yours truly,

 A toy set that fosters imagination and playing together

 

 Creativity and fine motor skills

I hope you enjoy playing with it as much as I enjoy playing with my own children in their kitchen

 

Enter through the Rafflecopter widget below (US and Canada only please). This contest will end on 10/11/13 and will notify the winner within 12 hours.

 

ANNOUCEMENT!: And the winner is....Stacie Lewin!! Congratulations Stacie! Check your email! ;)

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday: Southern life

Trim HealthyTuesday: Apple Cinnamon Granola (E)

Yeah! My first Trim Healthy Mama post! This is a quick an easy E (energizing) breakfast that won't spike your blood sugar. (if you are interested in learning more about the Trim Healthy Mama Book go check out Gwen's book review about it!) THM is all about separating your fuel sources to loose weight, and IT WORKS, I've lost over 40 pounds so far. One of the main reasons it works for me, is because I can still eat dessert(and lots of yummy healthy fat in a S-satisifying meal setting!) and loose weight! (life without dessert? no way!) This breakfast also works as a yummy dessert just add a little Fat free Reddi Whip on top ;)

 

Apple-Cinnamon Granola- E

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Ezekiel 4:9 cereal (original only)

1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt (I like Chobani)

1/2 an apple

1/2 tsp maple flavoring

2 tsp Truvia (or a few sprinkles of stevia to taste)

Cinnamon to taste

 

Add 1/2 cup of Ezekiel cereal to your bowl

and top with one tsp Truvia, sprinkle with cinnamon to taste (nutmeg or cardamom might be nice here as well!)

 

In a separate bowl (or all in the same bowl if your in a rush) add 1/2 a cup of Greek yogurt, 1/2 tsp maple flavoring, and 1 tsp Truvia

Mix well

 

Dice half and apple

 

 

Add yogurt to your granola

 

Add the apple on top (and giggle with your kids over the reference to this book)

 

 

Mix together and enjoy!!

 



 

 

 

(for easier printing)

Apple-Cinnamon Granola- E

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Ezekiel 4:9 cereal (original only)

1/2 cup 0% greek yogurt (I like Chobani)

1/2 an apple

1/2 tsp maple flavoring

2 tsp Truvia (or a few sprinkles of stevia to taste)

Cinnamon to taste

 

Add 1/2 cup of Ezekiel cereal to your bowl and top with one tsp Truvia, sprinkle with cinnamon to taste (nutmeg or cardamom might be nice here as well!) In a separate bowl (or all in the same bowl if your in a rush) add 1/2 a cup of Greek yogurt, 1/2 tsp maple flavoring, and 1 tsp Truvia. Mix well. Dice half and apple. Add yogurt to your granola and add the apple on top,mix together and enjoy!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a felt food set!