Have I told you how much I have loved the Meet and Greet events so far? And how much it made me want to meet ALL of you!!?!
One of the topics we discussed at the Springfield Meet and Greet was how nice it is that once you have some key, real food ingredients in your kitchen – it suddenly becomes much easier to put healthy, whole food meals on the table.
I took a few minutes to make a list of the top two dozen ingredients I always try to have on hand in my kitchen. With these ingredients, I can make hundreds of recipes. Check it out:
So what can I make with the above list of ingredients? Well, off the top of my head, I can think of spaghetti, mac and cheese, tuna casserole, muffins, pancakes, a few casseroles, stir fry, and pizza. And if I stood on my head for a while and got more blood flowing, the list could go on and on…
But I won’t. I’d likely break something (like a wall or my neck) if I tried to stand on my head.
I’d love to hear from you on this!
Have you found that you’re finding your way around your real food kitchen? Have you discovered your top 24 or so ingredients that help you stay organized in your real food kitchen? What ingredients would you add to the list I came up with? What meals have you found to create with your staple, real food ingredients?
And are you with me? Are chocolate chips a staple ingredient or are they not?! :)
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We have two great freebies for you to help get you started on learning more about saving money on real food!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. In fact, when hubs and I were married, we decided we would “take” Thanksgiving.
Everyone fights over Christmas and birthdays, so we just decided to make Thanksgiving “our” holiday.
So far, it’s been a great success, and every year, I’m reminded of the things I love about Thanksgiving.
I was inspired this year to collect my favorite Thanksgiving things into one place.
#1 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Candy Corn and Peanuts
Here’s your helpful tip of the day: put 3 peanuts with one piece of candy corn and you get…a Payday candy bar. (You’re welcome.) ��
#2 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Gratitude
I love the spirit of gratitude that is the heart of Thanksgiving. We spend time together, and isn’t time the most important commodity we have these days?
#3 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Cuddling
I’m a cuddler, it’s true, and when you add blankets and a fire-pit…well, I’m in Thanksgiving heaven.
#4 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Diffuser Fun
If Thanksgiving was reduced to a smell, I’d be tempted to call it wild orange and clove in my diffuser.
#5 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Hot Apple Cider
I’m a fan of apple cider cold, and I drink it that way quite often. Heat it up, maybe put in a stick of cinnamon, and that’s a taste of all that’s great about Thanksgiving.
Why don’t we eat this all year long? I guess it wouldn’t be a special Thanksgiving favorite of mine if we did…
#7 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Apple Crisp
Pie has its place, but pass me the apple crisp and I’m beyond happy. The smell while it’s cooking, the heat of it fresh out of the oven, the taste of it as I savor it…
Did you know you can add pumpkin to EVERYTHING? No, really. Even chili. (Shhh.)
#9 Favorite Thanksgiving Thing: Leaves and Their Glorious Colors
The photographer and artist in me just basks in the colors of fall here in the Midwest. While the leaves do change in the South, it’s nothing like what we have here in Indiana.
I’m enchanted by the way that the trees even change differently each year, like they’re trying on different outfits. It feels a lot like a fashion show all around me, and I can’t get enough of it.
What are YOUR favorite Thanksgiving things? What are you thankful for?
Original article and pictures take keeperofthehome.org site
You won’t want to miss this dad’s perspective on the Mommy Wars!
By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!)
I know that some would say I have no business even writing about the Mommy Wars–that because I’m a dad (or a guy in general) my gender somehow disqualifies me to discuss this subject.
I, however, respectfully disagree.
I actually feel that being married to a mommy blogger gives me a unique perspective, as I have seen these topics unfold across social media and our own online community.
I could make this post really short and to the point.
Basically, the mommy wars are senseless and shortsighted.
The comparing, judgement, meanness, offensiveness, etc. are all ridiculous and unwarranted. It needs to STOP.
There…done!
But that’s no fun.
Seriously, though, I just have to say, “Ladies, enough is enough!”
All of this negativity, getting easily offended, comparing yourselves, and judging each other has to be exhausting. I honestly don’t know how you do it.
Yes, I know it’s not everyone. Really, it’s not even the majority, but the ones who do participate sure are loud.
This blog is meant to encourage, educate, and empower, but I often feel as though people project their negativity into a post where there is none.
As a husband, I am well aware that women and men are not wired the same…thank goodness. We process things and handle situations from varying viewpoints. There are exceptions, but typically, men and women function differently.
For the most part, men often try to fix the problem when presented with a situation. However, as a Believer and Follower of Christ, I am commanded to understand and encourage my wife (1 Peter 3:7), not try to fix her.
(If anyone needs fixing, it’s definitely me!)
As such, I do not want to fix the mommy wars with this post; I don’t think that’s even remotely possible.
I merely want to offer some observations based on what I have witnessed from my interactions with the blogosphere and the work with my bride on this site.
Many would say that I shouldn’t waste my breath. That people are going to be react regardless of what anyone says. That the people who need this either won’t read it or won’t change anything.
Well, if one person reconsiders their actions, then it is worth it to me.
Maybe this will give some food for thought and challenge some people to think before they type.
A messy or clean house does not make you a good parent.
1) A Better Mommy (or Daddy)
There are many things that determine what kind of a parent you are…
quality time spent with your children
how you interact with your children
the words you use with your children
strong, selfless relationships
disciplining and shaping your child’s character
showing unconditional love, grace and support
investing in your child’s spiritual development
providing a trusting, respectful home
cultivating an attitude of gratitude
nurturing their interests and confidence
And there are equally as many things that have nothing to do with how good a parent you are…
Regardless of the choices that we make (some by our own plans…others by unforeseen circumstances), we should be supporting each other and encouraging each other.
So many things that people get upset over or offended by are really inconsequiential in the grand scheme of things.
There is really no need to compare yourself with someone else or for someone else to compare themselves to you. I know this is easier said than done sometimes, but we are all different and make different choices.
Comparing ourselves to others really does nothing for us and keeps us trapped.
Is their house cleaner? So what. Do they feed their kids corn? Who cares.
As long as the child is not in danger, many of these things are personal choices. Yes, I choose to do things my way, and I may disagree with how someone else does things, but that does not make them bad parents.
What really matters is that our kids are loved, safe, cared for, and supported.
Don’t let the guilt weigh you down.
2) Mommy Guilt
One of the things that I often read the most is that something has “made” someone feel guilty.
The only way someone can make me feel something is if I give them the power to do so.
You should not feel guilty about the choices that you make if you are sure that you made the best choice for your family and situation.
Just because someone chooses a different manner of doing things does not mean that they are secretly judging you for the choices that you make.
And just because something worked for my family (and we share our experience) does not mean it will work for you or that we are judging you because of it.
However, I will also say that if someone does feel guilty about something, perhaps they should examine their heart and motives and determine the “why” behind the feeling.
Maybe that person does need to reevaluate and reflect on their actions or choices…or maybe they just need to throw that feeling out the window with assurance that they made the right choice.
There are times when I have found myself reflecting on a particular issue, was convicted, and realized that I needed to change something. Other times, I have been totally comfortable with the decisions that I made and just move on.
I think people would be offended by unicorns and rainbows.
3) Easily Offended
I think we live in a society that is easily offended at the slightest thing.
After blogging for 4 years, I honestly think that we could post a picture of unicorns and rainbows, and someone would somehow take offense to the picture…perhaps because unicorns aren’t real or the rainbow colors were in the wrong order.
I know you can’t please everyone, but come on, why are we so quickly offended?
You cannot say or do anything without offending someone. I’m sure the fact that I’m breathing offends someone…maybe I’m taking oxygen that could be used for more productive purposes.
Seriously, I just don’t get it. Why are we so sensitive?
Much like feeling guilty, feeling offended is a choice.
Are there things that offend me? Yes. Do I go nuclear on someone because of it? No.
There are definitely things worth fighting for, and I can have strong convictions about those things.
However, I don’t have to jump down someone’s throat if they say or do something that challenges my convictions. I can approach them in love and grace.
I have a choice to let it go (and yes, the Frozen song just went through my head…argh!) or let it fester and taint my thoughts, mood, actions, etc.
Do you choose to be a positive light or a negative cloud?
4) Negativity
Quite honestly, all the negativity, rudeness and mean-spiritedness (if that’s a word) is exhausting and really wears people down.
If a person doesn’t find something applicable to their situation or life experiences, then just skip over it. It’s not necessary to comment on everything. There are many things that I read that I just scroll past.
Sometimes a person may not struggle with a particular issue, but others may need encouragement in that area. I may not have the same struggles that some of my friends have, but I don’t chastise them for their struggle. We help each other.
For someone to comment statements like “This article is stupid because you shouldn’t feel that way” invalidates the feelings of the other individual.
Perhaps they shouldn’t feel that way, but they do, and they need some uplifting support to help them move past those feelings and on to a better place emotionally or mentally.
Furthermore, tone cannot be interpreted through written correspondence and tends to be one of the main issues for miscommunication and misunderstanding when it comes to email, text, and social media.
Can we just assume the best intentions in people and just read something through a positive lens?
Remember these are moms just like you on the other side of the computer.
5) False Courage
I have found that social media gives us a false sense of courage and security. Because I’m not looking someone in the eye, I can say or do whatever I want.
That is not courage; it’s cowardice.
You do realize that there are real people with real feelings sitting on the other side of the screen reading all the harsh words, right? Moms just like you who on the same journey and facing some of the same challenges.
In addition, if you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, then why would you type it in a social media setting. We control our tongues (well…sometimes), so why can’t be control our typing fingers?
Just like I have to bite my tongue, I need to keep my fingers in my pockets.
Or at the very least, I can type out my thoughts and come back in 30 minutes before I send it to see if I have calmed down and the situation still warrants the response I gave.
Daniel Tiger says, “When you feel so mad that you want to roar, take a deep breath and count to 4.” (or 400 if need be)
I sincerely hope that people do not treat others in real life like they do on social media. Some people tell me that they do, and I can’t possibly imagine being friends with that person in real life….or them having many friends.
I would not allow someone to sit in my living room and speak to me that way, so why should I allow it to be done over social media?
Their response is usually, “Well, I just tell it like it is.” Sometimes we do need to speak truth to others, but it should always be seasoned with love…even when we have hard things to say.
Jesus said many hard things to people, but he did so with love and in an effort to see them turn from their ways.
Other times we just need to pray for that person and move on.
Sometimes it’s not what is said but how it is said.
6) Opening Up
I know that many will say, “Well, when you put your opinion out there, you open yourself up and should expect people to give their opinion.”
The issue is not people giving their opinion; it’s HOW that opinion is given.
Now, I’m not talking about good, honest discussion that leads us to think or challenges our perceptions. I need a good reality check and different perspective from time to time.
I have many discussions with people all the time, and I don’t agree with all of them. But, we are aren’t yelling at each other or calling each other names.
We can actually have a constructive conversation. We can open up to share our opinions without critizing or belittling.
Grace For Each Other
All I’m saying is that, ladies, you are all in this together. Why must this continue?
We have Proverbs 16:24 as a wall decal in our home as a constant reminder of the power of our words. It says:
This would be a good reminder for all of us as we interact with people on a daily basis, whether face to face or online. Our words have the power to give life and encouragement or bring death and discouragement.
Regardless of your faith, here are some other good words to live by:
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear…
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32
If you want a female perspective on the Mommy Wars, Erin’s good friend Katie wrote an excellent post on why she doesn’t believe in the “Mommy Wars.” Check it out here.
What words of encouragement would you offer to put an end to the “Mommy Wars”?
Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Thank you for supporting my site!
Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site
Are you a dad “stuck” with daughters? Or is your husband “stuck” with daughters? It’s time we stop letting society try and tell us this is a negative thing!
By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s husband!)
The couple at the table next to us smiled as my daughters and I sat down at a restaurant that we frequent. I was taking them to lunch so that Mommy could have some alone time.
I loved these outings. They were always a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the daddy/daughter time…except when they all had to go potty (but that’s another story).
Between mouthfuls, the man at the table looked at me and said, “Man, I hope you have a male dog.”
With 3 girls, I was used to comments like this by now, and it didn’t bother me. It just rolled off my back. I laughed and responded, “Nope. Just a betta fish.”
But his next comment did catch me a little off guard, “Well, I feel sorry for you. Stuck with all those girls in one house,” he laughed.
I smiled politely and answered, trying to put a positive spin on his comment, “Nah, we have a lot of fun. Yes, there’s a lot of drama, but we have a good time, and they are such blessings.”
I turned my back to look over the menu, even though I already knew what I wanted because I always got the same thing.
Honestly, I had no desire for the conversation to continue because I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my 6-year-old was listening intently to the dialog, as she typically does, soaking in everything that she hears or observes.
I thought to myself, “Really? Feel sorry for me?”
I actually felt sorry for him. His comment betrayed a deeper issue concerning his view of girls, and quite possibly, the broader context of women in general.
I wasn’t trying to psychoanalyze him, but I couldn’t help but think….
My thoughts were interrupted by my daughter’s question, “Dada, I’m sorry you only have girls in the house. Do we need to get a dog so you are not by yourself?”
I reached out to her, and as I answered her, I glanced over the menu at the man who had, albeit perhaps unintentionally, devalued my girls and caused my oldest to apologize for who God had created her to be.
Granted, she soon forgot the man and his statement, but she has since asked me again about getting a dog so I have another “guy” in the house. (But secretly, I think she just wants a dog.)
His comment itself did not bother me. I know he meant no harm and was trying to be funny or supportive in some strange, manly way.
However, the underlying attitude that positioned my daughters as somehow second rate really rubbed me the wrong way. And they, or at least my eldest, had heard him.
Would he have made the statement if I had sat down with 3 boys or 2 boys and a girl?
If I had sat down with 2 girls and a boy, would he have said, “At least you got your boy?”
I have heard that statement said about a friend’s children as well as listened to other comments concerning kids and parenting.
I had learned long ago not to let statements people make bother me. Still, I have heard plenty. Things like:
“Wait ’til they are all teenagers and on their periods.” (I am well aware of female biology, but why is that appropriate to discuss with a stranger?)
“Hope you are saving for all those weddings.” (I will be happy if they get married and add sons to our family…but still blessed if they don’t.)
“You are surrounded by women.” (Why, yes…yes, I am. Thank you, Captain Obvious, for clarifying.)
“Are you going to try for a boy?” (Well, we may have another child, but I am not concerned about the gender.)
Most of the comments are harmless and go in one ear and out the other. People are just trying to make conversation, and I try to assume the best. While I don’t particularly enjoy the comments, they are not offensive to me.
However, some statements do cause me pause; not because I’m offended or sensitive, but on some level, I feel troubled or saddened.
Some statements about girls reveal a disturbing narrow-minded perspective camouflaged behind humor.
On another occasion, at a different restaurant, a guy with 3 boys told me, “Looks like I won.”
I know he meant nothing mean or rude by this statement and was just engaging in friendly male banter, but I didn’t quite know how to respond.
My internal question was “What exactly did he win?”
Just because he has all boys and I have all girls, does that entitle him to some trophy or priority status in our society? Do their anatomical parts make them superior?
I’m pretty sure my girls can be just as rough as boys at times. They really don’t follow the stereotypes. They climb trees and watch Super Hero Squad as well as have butterfly tea parties and sing Frozen. Nonstop! They play with worms and have their nails done. And I’m totally fine with that…well, except the nonstop Frozen.
The dialogs above demonstrate to me a very low value placed on girls. And though I cannot speak to raising boys since I have all girls, I know there are challenges there as well.
No, it’s not always easy being in a house full of estrogen, and I get frustrated at times, but I love my wife and my girls. They are all an absolute blessing to me and bring me more joy than anything else in this life.
Yes, I struggle with the drama and the whining sometimes, but I would not trade them for anything.
The squeals when I come home from the work as they run to the door to greet me with hugs and kisses. The tea parties and dances. I would not change any of it.
I’ll be glad to be stuck with them for as long as I live.
They are sweet and kind, yet they are strong and passionate, and I love that.
Now, I am not supporting some hyper feminist philosophy, but girls (and really any child) should be valued for who they are and who God created them to be.
I’m sure parents with all boys or those with large families or those with one child or those with no children can all share stories about things people have said to them about children and parenting.
I tell my stories to…
Make us aware of our words and how they affect others, even some we may not think are listening.
Bring attention to our underlying preconceptions about children or parenting that we need to challenge and change if necessary.
Encourage us to value all of our children — no matter their differences — as blessings knitted together by the Creator. (Psalm 139)
We all say or do things without thinking at times. Or at least, I know that I do.
But we really do need to stop and consider what little ears may be listening and how they may process those comments. What is seen as some harmless banter may reveal a deeper issue that needs to be addressed.
How do you handle comments about children or parenting? Do you find other people make these types of comments to you? Do you try to consider your own words before speaking?
Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site
A Crunchy Minimalist Mom’s List of Baby Essentials
By Andrea Vandiver, Contributing Writer
According to the all-knowing Urban Dictionary, a crunchy mom believes “that there is something bad or less beneficial about buying mainstream products or doing other common activities in the mainstream way.”
I’m a crunchy mom. Not because it’s cool or hip, because trust me, it’s not always easy going against the norm in your circle of family and friends. I’m a crunchy mom because I genuinely believe that we have strayed unbelievably far from God and nature’s intended way of living. Especially when it comes to babies.
I also don’t like having a lot of stuff. I’m not a true minimalist by any stretch of the imagination, but it influences my decisions regularly. And, I’m thrifty. Like counter-cultural this-kinda thrifty.
Throw all that together and my list of baby essentials looks differently than most. Even so, most of these are luxuries in comparison to what our ancestors used.
So if you think a little outside the box and are overwhelmed with all of the stuff you’re told you need as a mom, this list is for you.
Travel
An ergonomic soft-structured carrier
I prefer those over wraps or ring-slings because I just found them to be easier to learn and use. You want to look for one where baby faces you (whether on your front or later, on your back) and has a wide base that stretches from knee to knee. Like this Tula. Or my personal favorite is the organic Ergobaby.
The Ergobaby is a lot more affordable than others in the category and the organic option is super soft and cuddly. You can also find them at discount stores like Ross or TJ Maxx.
My handsome husband baby wearing while hiking in northwest Washington state.
I hope and dream that one day I’ll get a toddler Tula but every once in a while I still wear my three-year-old in the Ergobaby. It doesn’t fit him perfectly anymore but that’s how much I love it. I just recently bought a $15 umbrella stroller that we use when visiting the zoo or the mall. But that’s the only stroller I’ve owned. The Ergo is just so much easier! Can you tell how much I love it?!
Yes! You can tandem wear with soft-structured carriers. Oh the places a carrier can go but a stroller cannot.
A car seat that allows extended rear-facing
My friends… change is coming. If you’re not required to already (and you live in the U.S.), soon you will need to rear-face until AT LEAST two years old. This is happening state-by-state and I can almost guarantee yours will adopt this next, if it hasn’t already.
And I think it’s great! Rear-facing is safer and in my experience children fall asleep faster and can’t see what I’m eating or drinking and beg for some. We use and love this one.
Feeding
A booster chair with tray
When we starting prepping for baby, we lived in a 900-square-foot townhouse. We had moved there from a house nearly double the size and brought that much furniture with us. It was cramped.
One of the things I knew right away was that we simply did not have room for a traditional highchair. So we bought this one. Once we moved back home (all of this because of a military move) we kept it. We enjoy having him sit right at the table with us. Now that he’s older we keep it in a closet and bring it out when we have guests with young children.
Approximately 531 jars of baby food
…or not. Seriously. My child has never eaten a bite of that stuff and *miraculously* he’s alive and healthy and eats fruits and veggies. We are firm believers in baby-led weaning. Half because we think that’s the healthiest, most natural way for children to learn to eat and half because parents – IT’S EASY.
That’s right. I’m giving you permission to cloth diaper… or not cloth diaper. Mother to mother. Peer to peer.
Me: Hello, fellow crunchy mom. Nice to make a friend with similar convictions.
Crunchy mom: Yes! Agree! So do you cloth diaper?
Me: No. *shamefully hang my head*
Crunchy mom: How dare you fly the banner of Crunchy Motherhood. Go back to ruining your child and the planet.
Cloth diapering was just something I couldn’t quite master. Although I probably didn’t try hard enough. I made all of my own covers but when baby boy came I was tired and already had a stockpile of diapers people had bought us. Six months later I decided what we were doing was working for us and continued with that. Even Beth, crunchy mom extraordinaire, wrote about her cloth diapering struggles.
Now if you want to cloth diaper, the Red and Honey team has you covered. There’s a lot of lingo surrounding that world and you may feel overwhelmed at first. The Newbie’s Guide to Cloth Diapering will tell you everything you need to know. We’ve even got a DIY tutorial for cloth baby wipes.
However, if you do choose disposable diapers and wipes, I recommend choosing a brand that strives to use the fewest amount of nasty chemicals as possible. You’re not going to find a perfect one but this site has a lot of good information.
Sleeping
Nothing
That’s right. We celebrate co-sleeping around here and happen to think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. I won’t go into the whys of that because I covered that extensively here, but you don’t need fancy contraptions and doo-dads (I’ve been waiting all my life to use that word in a legitimate blog post).
Not only does co-sleeping save space and money, it’s healthier for everyone involved. My husband and I joke that the crib we bought was simply the most expensive laundry basket on the market.
Breastfeeding
Several different pricey nursing pillows
Wait. Just kidding! You don’t technically need one of those either. When I had my son, a beautiful, wonderful, hero of a lactation consultant named Ruth taught me about laid-back breastfeeding. I’ll never go back to what I thought was the right way to breastfeed – uptight and in a specific position and with a $40 pillow. (Of course, if the nursing pillow works for you, that’s awesome. Just don’t assume you absolutely need one from the get-go!)
Nursing pads
I tried nearly every single brand out there of cloth nursing pads, and none were sufficient. They all leaked. Until I found these ones, and they rocked my world with how amazingly well they work. (I wash them with my regular laundry.)
Nursing tanks
I wore these all. the. time. Seriously. Find ones that have enough built-in support, toss in some nursing pads and you don’t need to wear a bra. Then you can use the two-shirt trick (lift your top shirt up and leave the tank down) for super discreet nursing in public.
Miscellaneous
Gentle shampoo
I used this one. (Beth highly recommends this one, which the whole family can use.) And I used it sparingly and rarely in the early days. Like so rare I won’t admit how rare on the internet. Water is perfectly suitable for cleaning young babies. Too much soap can get rid of good bacteria and dry out their skin. Plus they just don’t get that dirty. A plain ol’ water washing in the places it counts is all you need.
Burp cloths
And carry around an extra shirt too… for you. Throw in a few comfy clothing choices and you’re set.
I’m sure your list will vary a little from mine, as we all have our own favourites. When it comes down to it – use whatever works for you! Start with the basics, and add on as you find a need. Don’t worry about buying every single baby item in the store just because they’re there. You’ve got this, mama!
Andrea Vandiver is a work-at-home mom and freelance writer in Oklahoma. She spends her days imitating animals and blowing bubbles. Her favorite things are those that taste, smell, feel, sound and look wonderful: the stuff that romance is made of.
Original article and pictures take redandhoney.com site
A Complete Meal in 15 Minutes – From Start to Finish
It’s a complete meal, and I made it in 15 minutes from start to finish. Look how beautiful:
First let’s talk about pork for a little bit.
I like feeding my family hormone-free meat, antibiotic-free meat, grass fed meat, free range meat, all the happy, healthy kinds of meat.
But sometimes I compromise.
I have great local sources for chicken, lamb, and beef. But I almost always buy my piggies at the store. We don’t have pork very often, but shucks, pork is so delicious. We love bacon, ham, and sausage. My boys are athletes and often ask for meat in the morning (and all day long). I’ve decided that in order to keep life simpler (and to avoid completely killing my already very high grocery budget) – I’ll go ahead and buy pork products when I find them on sale at a regular grocery store.
I don’t feel great about this, but I guess I feel good enough about it that I haven’t stopped doing it. So that’s that.
So now let’s get on with the fun part where I tell you how you can put a complete meal on the table in 15-minutes from start to finish!
A Complete Meal in 15 Minutes
Sometimes I buy a pre-cooked ham as pictured above. I slice it all and put it in a Pyrex dish in the fridge to pull out as needed for quick lunches or to go with eggs at breakfast.
Having this on hand is fantastic! This sliced ham fries up within a few minutes in a skillet. We’ll steam some peas and pull out the mixed greens and salad dressing. We’ll prep some fruit. Just like that, we’ve got a complete meal ready to eat.
If you don’t feel good about eating pork, there are Turkey Ham options available – or maybe you’d enjoy another variety of meat that fries up quickly to complete your meal.
Either way: Never forget the ease of steaming a veggie, prepping some fruit, and pulling out fresh greens to complete a meal. This is THE way I make our meals simple and nourishing. The variety of fruits and vegetables is so good for our bodies and feeding us like this takes only a tiny bit of effort!
Are you pork eaters at your house? What meals have you found to be easy enough to throw together in just a few minutes?
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Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site
A Common Sense Guide to Vaccines (+ a free printable)
When my first child was born, I didn’t blink an eye at the large schedule of vaccinations awaiting her.
We showed up exactly on time for every appointment and carefully checked off every single shot.
But then, I ran across a reference to the fact that one of the injections she had just received included aborted human fetal tissue. I was sickened. Could that possibly be true?
I opened up her vaccination record book and counted through the 31 injections she had received – was it possible that she had the genetic cells of 31 other people in her?
It was that question – whatever the answer – that propelled me to seek out every piece of vaccination information I could get my hands on.
(Spoiler: There are currently 24 vaccines that are grown in human fetal tissue, although not all of those are given to children during routine vaccination.)
Why Vaccination Matters
Disease is real – and can be serious. But it's also important to keep in mind that there are two different types of disease.
Illnesses such as the common cold, most stomach viruses, and similar viruses are diseases that the body fights off with proper rest and nutrition, provided you are an otherwise healthy individual.
However, chronic or acute disease is such that the body cannot fight it off without outside help, whether that's in the form of antibiotics, vaccines, or other forms of treatment.
It is absolutely essential that our bodies build up immunity to these chronic diseases and that our immune systems are vigorous and strong (though not overly so, as we see with auto-immune diseases where an overly zealous immune system attacks itself). Proper rest and nutrition are crucial to this, but so is building and establishing immunity.
This is where the crux of the vaccination debate lies – do we best establish immunity through natural means (that is, exposing ourselves or our children to the disease) or through specialized, manufactured ones, namely the modern vaccine?
UPDATE February 2015: If vaccines are the way to go, the next logical question is Should they be mandatory? My colleague, Heather over at Mommypotamus, has written an outstanding article responding to this question.
Common Sense Guide to Vaccines from NourishingJoy.com
So, let's take a look at a very brief overview of what the advocates of each approach claim, then consider a few decision-making strategies, and finally look at things to keep in mind for each choice.
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
Arguments FOR Vaccination
Those who support mandatory vaccination cite the following reasons as why it's important to vaccinate children fully and on-time:
Childhood diseases can be devastatingor fatal, but they can be controlled or eliminated with vaccines, provided that all children are vaccinated.
Since serious disease can be debilitating or fatal, the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risks associated with vaccines.
Widespread vaccination programs have nearly eliminated the common childhood diseases from the US.
The timing of each vaccine is crucial and intentional – vaccines are purposely administered to newborns to counteract the waning of antibodies the baby inherited from the mother in vitro.
Those who do not vaccinate their children are putting the entire society at risk for the sake of their own children.
Arguments AGAINST Vaccination
Those who desire to avoid vaccination cite these rationale:
The risks associated with vaccines are real, which include toxic mercury and heavy metal exposure, genetically modified particles in the vaccines, contracting the vaccinated disease, and vaccine injury including neurological and autism spectrum disorders. While there has not been extensive research recorded to prove those risks, proponents cite that the anecdotal evidence is mounting at undeniable rates.
Traditional vaccines are given via injection, which introduces a disease into the body in an unnatural fashion. For example, influenza naturally enters the body through the mouth, nose, ears, or eyes and by and large is a respiratory mucosal infection, but the vaccine introduces the disease directly into the bloodstream.
In the US and Canada, the recommended vaccination schedule begins at birth or shortly thereafter. Anti-vaccination supporters claim that it is unjustifiable to expose a baby under 1-2 years of age to any vaccine risk, since the baby's immature nervous system, immune system, and brain are at such critical times of growth. They also argue that it's “too much too soon”. As of 2012, there are 38 vaccinations recommended in the first six years, as compared to 10 recommended vaccinations in 1983. (And according to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, American biopharmaceutical companies are currently developing nearly 300 new vaccines to bring to the market, so this number will likely continue to increase.)
There is conflict of interest on the part of the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture and market the vaccines, according to the New York Times and NaturalNews.com. Anti-vaccination advocates often state that information provided by these companies cannot be trusted to be for the good of the child.
Anti-vaccination proponents argue that a child of any age should not be exposed to more than 1 disease at a time. For example, the DTaP-IPV shot – which is given three times in the first six months, then twice more before the age of 5 – includes diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio all in one vaccine. (Source: Health Canada) See more on this PDF from the National Vaccine Information Center.
It is too simplistic to say that vaccinations alone reduced or eliminated certain childhood diseases from the US. Clean water, improved hygiene, and urban sanitation systems have also played a significant role in ousting polio, smallpox, and other diseases from our midst. Dr. Howard Morningstar, MD, states: “I would rather use the long-term, tried-and-true ways to prevent epidemics— sanitation, nutrition, hygiene, health-awareness—and save the emergency measures, like mass vaccinations, for true emergencies.” (Source: “Vaccine Debate,” Mothering Magazine, July-August 2009, pg 51)
There are too many ethical questions about what manufacturers use to produce and preserve vaccines – aborted fetal tissue, green monkey kidney tissue, and genetically modified human tissue are all used today in various vaccines for culturing and stabilizing the product.
Common Sense Guide to Vaccines from NourishingJoy.com
How to Decide
So, in the midst of all the torrents of information available, how do you go about deciding what will work best for you and your child?
First, know that you have alternatives. Contrary to common belief, you have options when it comes to deciding how and when to vaccinate – it's not an all-or-nothing proposition. More about that in a minute…
Second, take the time to examine each vaccine carefully and decide whether it's right for your child and your community at this point in time. Feel free to use our Vaccine Evaluation Worksheet!
Delay vaccinations – Dr. Donald Miller, Dr. Robert Sears, and other physicians recommend starting vaccines at age 2 rather than at birth or in the first few months of life. Here's a look at the schedule Dr. Miller recommends.
Vaccinate against one disease at a time – Another alternative therapy is to vaccinate against only one disease at a time. For example, in the current standard schedule, a 2-month-old baby receives four injections vaccinating against 7 diseases in one visit, which can overload the immature immune system. An alternative schedule would introduce only 1 disease every 6 months.
Homeopathic vaccinations – Homeopathy is all about stimulating the body to build its own defenses. Homeopathic nosodes are highly effective and can be used at any age. Some practitioners advocate that homeopathic treatment be used only in the case of an epidemic or for travel, but they can also be applied as routine prophylaxis as well. (source)
Request the preservative-free version of each vaccine – There are preservative-free versions available for most vaccines, which will help you avoid mercury and other toxic substances in your injections.
Know what's legal where you live – Each state in the US has different laws about vaccine exemptions and what the ramifications are for not vaccinating. Educate yourself on local law as part of your decision-making process and you'll be well prepared to talk rationally with health care professionals, school officials, and other members of the community.
Cancel the appointment if there's any sign of illness – A person of any age – but especially children – need a fully healthy immune system to handle a vaccine. If your child has the sniffles, is unusually fussy or cranky, or has been ill in the last 2 weeks, cancel the appointment. If complications are going to happen following a vaccine, it will be because the immune system can't keep up, so give your child the best chance possible to build healthy antibodies and fight off infection.
Free Downloadable Vaccine Worksheet
It is often helpful to put into writing all the information related to each particular vaccine in light of each child.
Since vaccines are immuno-stimulants and many are created with allergenic materials (e.g. eggs), you may come up with different decisions for different children according to their needs and overall health.
Putting things into writing can also help you revisit each decision years down the road as you re-evaluate for a new child or if you've decided to delay a certain vaccination and need to re-think its timing.
If you have ethical issues with any ingredients, writing down the entire list in each vaccine can help you spot those ingredients you find questionable.
Tip: Don't feel that you have to fill in an answer for EVERY question – just fill it out as much as you're able and you'll still have a good overview from which to base your decisions.
Common Sense Guide to Vaccines from NourishingJoy.com
Resources
If you know of a resource that's not listed here, please add it in the comments!
The Parents' Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations by Lauren Feder, MD – This is an especially excellent guide to pro and con arguments, vaccine ingredients, and practical ways to protect your children whether you choose to vaccinate or not
At least, that’s what my prospective mother-in-law told me the first time we were introduced: “It’s so nice to meet you, Jennifer…. By the way, Doug was murder to potty-train.”
Those were practically the first words out of her mouth. Nearly twenty years had elapsed, and she still hadn’t forgiven him for all the trouble he’d given her while training.
What she neglected to explain was that she began said training when he was only nine months old. Is it any wonder, then, that she encountered a little difficulty? Yet, after two short months of trying, he was trained.
Obviously, what she should have announced to me at that initial meeting is, “You’re dating a child prodigy. He toilet trained before he was a year old. You’d better not let this one get away!”
Last week, one of my readers sent me this “very random question: I have read many of your blog posts, but I don’t see anything on potty training. You did it 12 times so you must be a pro…Can you write on that subject? Thanks.”
Well, I can assure you, I have no desire to ever turn professional when it comes to potty-training, but she is right on one count. I have had to do it twelve times, so I do have some experience.
Here’s what all that experience has taught me about training little ones to use the toilet:
Every child is different.
Do not compare your child to your neighbor’s child, or your sister’s child, or neighbor’s sister’s child, or your sister’s neighbor’s child. Your child is your child, and he will reach milestones (including toilet training) at a rate appropriate to him. Encourage him, cheer him on, support him as he learns and grows, but don’t pressure him to do things before he’s ready out of pride or just because little Suzy down the street is already doing them.
Watch for signs of readiness.
Your child will let you know when she’s ready to train. At a minimum, she should be able to communicate when she needs to go potty, walk to the bathroom herself, and get her britches down without help once she arrives. Other signs that your child is ready to potty train include:
Staying dry all night or for other extended periods of time
Stripping off her own diaper as soon as it’s wet
Changing into an older sibling’s underwear every time your back is turned
Pretending to potty by squatting naked over the dog’s water bowl
Flushing an entire roll of toilet paper, 12-pack of markers, and/or platoon of army men, just to watch them disappear down the pipes (and simultaneously ensuring nothing else will disappear down the pipes until a plumber pulls the toilet… again)
If your child is exhibiting any of those signs, save yourself a big headache and lots of damage control by setting aside a few days ASAP to devote to intensive potty training!
It’s okay to wait awhile.
Want to know the best time to potty-train? Take a look at the following chart. See how the difficulty of training goes down as your child grows older, but the difficulty of explaining why he isn’t trained goes up? The slopes of these lines will vary with different children and different circumstances, but the easiest time to train is right where they intersect — at that moment when it becomes harder to explain than it is to actually train.
If your child will be starting pre-K at three and the school requires he’s trained before he begins — or if your mother-in-law (who considers nine months the optimal age to train) lives next door — your lines are going to be much steeper and intersect much sooner than if you homeschool your children and your mother-in-law lives two states away.
For the vast majority of our children, we waited until it was their idea to potty-train, then hopped aboard with that plan. It normally makes training so much easier when the child is self-motivated to learn — unless, of course, your two-year-old becomes suddenly intent on training two days before the family is scheduled to embark on a 2000-mile road trip. Not relishing the idea of stopping at every gas station that daughter spotted between here and Yellowstone, I tried to talk her into waiting until after our vacation, but she wouldn’t be swayed. The extra pit stops were a little inconvenient, but the pride she took in being such a “big girl” were well worth the hassle.
If your child is later in wanting to train than his siblings or peers? Don’t sweat it. He is likely making great strides in other areas of learning and development and just needs a little extra encouragement in this one. The child in our family who trained the latest (well past his third birthday) graduated the earliest (high school at 16, college at 18, and now at age 20, he’s just begun his second year of medical school). A couple of months this way or that in learning to use a toilet is really no big deal in the grand scheme of things.
Set aside a block of time.
When I noticed that my first child woke up with a dry diaper shortly before his second birthday, I told him I would buy him some “big boy underwear” that evening if he stayed dry all day. He did, so I did. And such was the extent of his training.
It usually isn’t that quick and easy — especially with boys. If at all possible, delay training until you have at least a weekend to devote to helping him master this new skill. Summer time is a good choice, because the weather is warmer and he can run around the house wearing nothing but a T-shirt and his new undies. Not only will this make it easier for him to get his pants down to use the potty, but it will also serve as a visual reminder to you to remind him to try again every half hour or so. Provide lots of water, juice, popsicles, soup, and other liquids for him to enjoy during training days, so that he’ll have plenty of opportunity to get the hang of it.
If there are steep lines on your graph because of outside rules imposed by schools or daycares, start training at home early enough to build success before the big deadline. Delayed training in those circumstances may lead to more frequent accidents when your child is away from home or under stress. The book Toilet Training in Less than a Day is one we consulted with a couple of our harder cases.
Don’t make it a power struggle.
Do what you can to make potty-training fun. I don’t remember ever bribing ours with M&Ms (their chocoholic mother would have finished those off before potty-training was even an hour underway), but we have done all of the following:
Let your child pick the color/style/design of his new “big boy pants”
Buy your daughter a “Betsy Wetsy” doll so they can train together
Float a Cheerio in the water for your son to use for target practice
Call grandma and brag about your child’s progress (make sure he’s within earshot at the time)
Tape a simple progress chart to the wall of the bathroom and give stickers for both attempts and successes
For our progress charts, I normally just write the child’s name across the top of a piece of construction paper, and sometimes draw lines for days, then award one sticker every time she attempts to potty and two when she succeeds. By the time the stickers are all used up or the page is too full to hold any more, the child is usually trained. We glue the little chart in her scrapbook and she’s fine going potty without a reward thereafter. If you don’t have any construction paper handy, just click on one of the following images to print a free customizable chart for your child.
So that’s about all I know when it comes to training. One last word about accidents. I’ve known a few moms who’ve made a much bigger deal about accidents than is warranted. However, my own mother handled accidents with a lot of grace and understanding, which is fortunate for me, because I had plenty of them, even beyond the window of time when you might expect a child to be wetting her pants.
If your child has accidents during the day, don’t ever shame him about it, but do carry an extra change of clothes in your purse and gently remind him to take a bathroom break as needed. Some children get so busy and involved in what they are doing that they simply forget to attend when nature calls. I think that was my problem as a child.
If your child has accidents at night, know that this, too, shall pass. Restricting fluids for a couple of hours before bedtime may help, but the problem often stems from the fact that bed-wetters are unusually deep sleepers. Invest in some plastic mattress covers and extra pads, let your child wear pull-ups until she outgrows the problem, and patiently teach her how to take the wet sheets off her bed, put clean sheets on, and start a load of laundry. It will help her self-esteem if she can tend to the mess herself.
Blessings,
Jennifer
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