Whipping up good things....and HAPPY SPRING EQUINOX!!

My skin is so extremely sensitive, so I have been using a combination of coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil and grapeseed oil. It works pretty good, and is a good compliment to my coffee/sugar/sea salt body scrub I use three times a week. Then, I cam across this Whipped Coconut Oil WOWSA!
This has been awesome! I blended mine with some Rosemary and Tea Tree essential oils and I love it.

My next batch I really want to add some Orange and Sandlewood essential oil for a fresh, summer scent.

Yesterday and today I was out in the garden checking on my soil and trimming up a few of the dead heads. Added a small amount of mulch and next up will be some fertilizer. I think I will go with my compost as well as a coffee ground and kelp mix again. It seemed to do really well in my soil.

I placed my first order for some seeds and plants earlier this week, so they should be arriving soon!!
Then I get those babies into the peat pots and get 'em growing! I am also trying to think ahead and see about having a late fall/early winter garden with some kale and brussles.
We are also going to be building another small raised bed for the fruit bushes (strawberries and raspberries) I simply cannot wait to get things going!!

Busy next few days around here, dentist appointments and family coming to visit this weekend! Yay!!

Happy Wednesday and Happy Spring Equinox

Sh*t Crunchy Mama's say....

Okay, so there are a ton of these going on around you tube and I have to say that a lot of them are so darn funny. However, this one stood out.

And here's part deux!

Too funny, eh?!?!

I *heart* This!

Had to share this quick. I am so happy to see something like this hitting mainstream, it's about time!
Mayim talks about Parenting

How awesome is THAT! The only thing we didn't do was elimination communication. Main reason was that I didn't really know that much about it and in all honesty, I.am.a.chicken. Yup! There, I said it!
Of course, now it's too late as Breanna is coming up to 3 and half and is quite attached to her dipes still.*sigh*

While I realize that our style of parenting is not for everyone, I think it's quite alright for others to learn with an open mind. There is a lot of false ideas out there as to what truly entails AP (attachment parenting) it's NOT about never saying No, it's not about always having the child be right. It's about raising individuals who have respect for themselves and for other people and being responsible for their actions. It's about raising individuals who are safe and secure in their environment. So what if that means a 5yo still breastfeeds?!?! Who cares! Obviously that child needs the nourishment and connection. I have yet to ever see a Mama FORCE their child to breastfeed and when you think about it, it's impossible to force anyone to breastfeed as the whole act of breastfeeding requires the person to be an active participant.

The sheer idea that it's expensive to AP is complete hogwash, I can't even believe people suggest that. So it's more economical to buy a $500 strollers, and brand name clothes and special jumpers and bouncy seats and seats that vibrate (which by the way I had) As opposed to buying a wrap or a meitai and clothes at a thrift store?!?! I am confused.


Also, in this day and age where a lot of mama's have to employed outside the house, AP offers even much more to you and your child, including co-sleeping. I can't even begin with the whole it's dangerous to co-sleep...what?...WHAT?!?!!? Are you for real?!?!?! Of course, if you are under the influence of a substance (even tylenol) that can disrupt your natural sleep cycle , then yes, I would say not safe. But given a normal bed with cotton sheets (no silk or polyester junk) and no pillows for the babe, it is perfectly natural and normal to sleep with your children. No, they won't want to sleep with you when they are in college. Children naturally migrate out of the family bed when they are ready and that can be anywhere between 3-10 yo. 

This is not a fad, this is not just for hippies, this is not spoiling children. This is a natural way to parent and if most parents would just listen to their intuition and follow their guts with parenting, they would see that this style comes naturally.

Thank you Mayim for taking a stand and speaking out about natural parenting.

Oh and by the way, breastmilk is a wonder drug and can cure a load of stuff...including pink eye! (ask me, I know)

What does a 'real food' pantry look like?

Okay, so you hear all this good stuff about eating healthy, wholesome 'real food', but what does it look like?
Here is an awesome little video from Naturally Knocked Up. She takes us on a tour through her fridge/freezer and pantry. Her cupboards resemble pretty close to mine, lots of ingredients to make yummy things from scratch!




Did you notice what ISN'T in there? Did you see any frosted cereals? Or any boxed cereals for that matter! Did you see any processed boxed foods?
Making the switch is hard, I won't lie to you. We have done a complete full circle and it's been hard at times and other times it's been easy! Giving up the flavours that processed foods offer is hard, they taste sooo good. But, the truth is, it's not REAL flavour. It's sodium and artificial flavours, a chemical soup of preservatives and additives. Not to mention the sugar content. A good rule of thumb, if it's advertised on TV, STAY AWAY!!!
You can virtually make everything you can buy at the store, trust me! It does take some time for your body and taste buds to adjust to REAL FOOD flavour, but when it does, let me tell you, the processed stuff tastes AWFUL! I promise you.
We are just in the final stages of clearing out the last few things (ketchup, mayo and whole wheat crackers) we just limit the use, eventually we will either make our own or buy a different brand.......baby steps! We do on occasion buy organic mac n cheese(ANNIES) as a treat, but prefer the homemade version made with brown rice pasta.

We also use our pantry items in the bathroom too!!lol I use a coconut oil/arrowroot powder/baking soda/teatree oil deodorant. Baking soda/Apple cider vinegar, for shampoo/conditioner, EVOO/sea salt body scrub and olive oil soap for washing, olive oil and coconut oil mix for body lotion, and baking soda for toothpaste! For cleaning, baking soda/sea salt/vinegar is all we use (I did have some pink solution for awhile, which is awesome stuff, but we've run out now).  Laundry, we use a seventh generation type soap and fabric softener. I was happily using my cloth diapers until I discovered that my much loved front loading washer/dryer does not clean my diapers properly no matter how many times I strip them...grrrrrr...I have tried a gazillion different things and combinations and nothing has worked to get them from stopping to smell like ammonia every time she pees, it was so bad it was burning her!* So, as much as it breaks my heart, I am using 'sposies. ICK! I hate them! Hate, hate, hate them!!lol I do however try to use the most earth friendly ones I can, but still. I'm looking into maybe trying G-Diapers as an alternative. But I can't help it, I miss my hemp/wool combos.
Also, the one other area that I am about to change is my make-up. Right now, I use mascara, eyeliner and some blush/bronzer. All of them are your basic run-of-the-mill stuff......loaded with all kinds of garbage.....I know!::groan:: I try to only wear when I am going out instead of a daily basis. I'm hoping to slowly replace my brands with a more natural/eco friendly product, I'm just in the process of researching the best brand to fit my budget. Obviously I can replace my $5 Maybelline with a $45 natural brand!!lol I'll keep you posted on my quest! :o) And although I have completely let my natural hair color grow out completely (oh yes, I did! first time since I was 12!!) I do plan on adding some highlights after my haircut in a few weeks.
Lastly, minimal sunscreen. This is a touchy subject with some I have learned (okay, maybe not as touchy as not vaccinating my kids...lol) we do not use sunscreen UNLESS we are going to be in direct sunlight for a really long time or if my kids or myself already has a bit of pink. We use coconut oil for regular use! I am in the process of making my own combo with some other oils that have known low SPF levels. For the most part though, we are relying on a healthy tan to provide our SPF! Next on the list is bug spray, no DEET here. Citronella oil is pretty good alternative. We use a product called All Terrain Herbal Armour with really good results. I have also noticed though, that with our diet change, the pesky mosquitoes don't seem to have much taste for us anymore. Increasing Bananas in your diet also works good!

Blessings!
Penny

Frugal friday

Funny thing that today's topic over at FrugalFriday is budgeting and all that jazz, since that

was exactly what

I was going to write about today. Then it dawned on me that it was Frugal friday so I thought

I'd check

out what the scoop over there was!!lol Must be on a lot of peoples minds lately.

We went to a budgeting class on Wednesday night. It's part of a series of homeowners classes

that

are mandatory for Bill and I to take as part of our agreement with Habitat. The gal who

presented

the class was really good, but unfortunately, I didn't learn anything new about budgeting.

bummer.

We did however, learn about some really awesome programs that are available and we will

definitely be

doing those. The one program is called Fair Gains. We join for a year and each month we submit

up to

$50 into a bank account and we also take part in budgeting and financial classes. At the end of the

year

if we successfully saved at least $600, they will match 3 times that amount!! The catch is, we

have to use

it towards assets. No problem with that! cool, eh?!?!

I'm not sure if they are just for our local area, you can Google 'momentum' and see if there is

one in your

area. One thing though, it is for lower income individuals.

Our income is changing because I will no longer be babysitting my friends daughters, so I need to

get our budget in order. Bill and I have discussed him taking on a part time job to help. We'll see.

Here's what I have done thus far to lower our budget:

-ensure we know the difference between WANTS and NEEDS

-reuse as much things as possible. (ie; wash and reuse ziploc baggies)

-make coffee at home versus buying it

-cut everyone's (except Robbie's!!lol) hair at home

-enjoy free activities

-do not buy:

processed foods, cleaning products, brand new clothing/shoes etc

-make all foods as much as possible, from scratch

- make the budget AND stick to it

-shop the sales for foods and other items you might need

-keep your vehicle with a full tank of gas

-use groups such as craigslist and Freecycle and Kijiji for household items and clothing.

-sew whatever I can and repair clothing rather than buying new or second hand first.

Add to the list where you can!!

We do not use credit cards. It's very difficult in certain circumstances, many places won't even

give

you the time of day without on one 'on file'.

Right now we are in the process of paying off our line of credit from years ago *sigh* and of

course

we have our van payment as well. First things first...baby steps!!We plan on attacking the

remaining

line of credit first.

Since we use something similar to the 'envelope method' I am setting out to make these!!

Aren't they so uber cool?!?!

Check out the rest of the site here for more great info and tips.

The need thing about frugality is it sometimes goes hand and hand with sustainability and

eco friendly

Pretty neat if you ask me!!

Have a fabulous Friday!!

Blessings!!

Works for Me Wednesday

Cloth, cloth and more cloth.......

I LOVE anything that is cloth that I can use for stuff around the house.
Cloth napkins, tablecloths (except for birthdays sometimes), towels (although I do buy some recycled paper towel for extremely dirty stuff like dog messes...she's a puker) and of course cloth diapers and wipes. My newest most favourite has got to be personal cloth or family cloth as some know it as. I have been using family cloth for quite sometime now and I have decided to share it with cyberspace (yes, I know very thoughtful...I thought so too!!lol)
Ok, so I hear you know "Ewwwwwwwww" that sounds disgusting! No toilet paper?!?!? YUCK!! I know this because my husband shares the same opinion!!lol
I have done this for so long now, it is just second nature. However in the beginning it took some getting used to. Mostly just the concept and remembering.
It is very easy and economical, although I'd imagine there would be much more saving involved if the entire family converted. Right now it's just me and Matthew and I am trying to talk the others into it. The younger ones think it's cool while the older ones think it's a bit weird.!!

So here's the positives I have found so far:
*I have not had issues with bladder or yeast infections since switching (I switched about 10 months ago) now this could be partly because of dietary changes as well.
*It is really, REALLY easy to do especially if you are using cloth diapers. I just toss them in the diaper pail and wash with them.
*The cleanliness level is WAY up there...nuff' said
*I'm sure there would be a huge cost benefit if the whole family used this method, but since we don't, I'm not sure.

The Negatives:
* It does get tricky while out and about or visiting people, not so bad while I am toting a baby since I normally take the baby to a bathroom with me. Or at least a kid anyways!!lol
I have found that just by keeping two ziploc baggies in my purse or diaper bag one labeled DIRTY and the other CLEAN is pretty easy.
Before we go out I wet some cloths and stick them in the clean baggie...good to go!

I use two kinds of cloths, one is just regular plain white facecloths. I used a totally different color since my husband was worried about the possibility of using a facecloth that may have inadvertently been used for another purpose!lol The face and body cloths are colored (blue, black etc). After use, I just take it with me and toss it in the diaperpail.Done!
I also have a bunch of 'baby washcloths' that I use only for butt's....they're a bit smaller and are pretty portable. All of the clothwipes and diapers get washed on my sanitary cycle, so I'm not worried about bacteria. Plus, I trust vinegars antibacterial properties as well as a shot of teatree oil every once in awhile...or even a bleach wash every two or three months.

I also can't recommend enough about using cloth for feminine hygiene as well. I made a bunch before Breanna was born and let me tell you how happy I was to have those in the hospital and afterwards.
I am a complete convert....and let me tell you I NEVER thought I would ever be able to get rid of my tampons, but here I am!!! Happy to never buy those again!!
The health benefits are amazing too!! Can't beat that aspect!

So, that is my tip for this week's edition of WFMW-Frugal Edition!!
Any questions? Leave me a comment and I'll see what I can do!!

Oh, and by the way...for those I know in real life....
If you're ever in my house and find yourself looking for a cloth for some reason in my bathroom....heed this word of caution:
USE THE COLORED FACECLOTHS!!!lol!!

Frugal Friday

Re-Fashioning Clothing is my tip this week.

I know a lot of this most of us all ready do, but it's well worth reminding. I rarely and I mean rarely buy the kids brand new clothing. Truthfully, I see it as a waste of money and really not eco-friendly at all. Second hand is a perfectly good thing and an excellent resource to make use of. Whether you purchase through a thrift store or consignment. Another even more cost effective is to get in touch with other mama's who have children in similar age groups and get together twice a year with all the clothing your own children have outgrown and have a clothing swap!
(this is my own personal goal as well)

Here's what we do (and why I don't EVER turn down clothing despite it's condition)
-turn pants into skirts for the girls
-take the long sleeves off of stained shirts and sew them into the short sleeves of a good top...instant long sleeve top!
-use pillowcases for sun dresses for the girls...the bottom is already hemmed and if I need length, just sew a few inches of contrasting material to the bottom. Plain colored or white pillowcases work the best. Make the top with cute little ties at the the shoulders or shirred straps.
-remove the picture of a childs favorite top that has become too small (cut it out as best you can) and carefully attach it to a different shirt that fits. This looks so neat because if you just sew it on, it kind of frays around the edges and looks really cool.
-take the sleeves from mens shirts and make pants or shorts for the kids.


I'm sure there are more that we've done, including making pillows from sweaters and t-shirts, bags from jeans and blankets out of scraps.

Sometimes a totally new outfit is right there in your closet, just use your imagination! Check out the sewing section of my blog to find a ton of links to other Mama's who have blogs that have tutorials available on how to make some wonderful things!



Blessings!!