First Birthday Smash Cake (Gluten Free, Allergy Friendly).
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by American Greetings. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A gluten free, allergy friendly, two layer smash cake is perfect for first birthday photos! This recipe is easy to make and delicious!
There are so many wonderful milestones in a child’s life. The first steps, the first haircut, the first cute little word that they speak. Each and every one of those moments is special.
One of the most memorable occasions is the first birthday. Oh, how we love to celebrate our little one’s first year of life! It’s a wonderful day, whether you choose to celebrate with a large party, or a small family gathering.
The first birthday feels so momentous. You’ve made it! You and your baby have made it through the sleepless nights, the teething, the baby-proofing, and all the other ups and downs of the first year. You’ve gotten to know this special little person, and have fallen in love with every sweet smile and giggle, with every hug and snuggle.
One way to remember the first birthday is with a special birthday card. I know that my children’s baby books are full of the heartfelt cards from family – these cards are beautiful reminders of how much they are loved.
It’s easy to find wonderful cards for a first birthday or any birthday when you take a few minutes to shop the card section at your local Target store. There are so many cute and colorful cards that are just right for kids. And if it’s an older child or adult you’re shopping for, Target has the perfect card for them, too.
It can be easy to forget to purchase a greeting card, and that’s why I love the card section at Target. I’m at Target all the time…it’s so convenient to cruise through the card aisle and grab a greeting card that’s a perfect fit for the person I’m shopping for.
Writing out your wishes and thoughts in a birthday card takes only a few minutes, but the sentiments last a lifetime, especially when those cards are saved in a baby book, and the child can look back on them years later.
Of course, another important detail of the first birthday party is the cake. A sweet little smash cake that your precious little one can play with and eat is the perfect photo opportunity during the birthday party.
This two layer birthday smash cake is gluten free and top 8 allergen free. If your little one has food allergies or intolerances (as so many children do, especially early in life), this is the cake to make!
Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of making this pretty layered cake. I kept it super simple by using two five-inch round pans, and I decorated this cake with a #4B tip. I piped a swirl design on the sides, and just did simple stars on top. It’s a very easy design, but it will look cute in all the photos you’ll be taking on the big day.
It does make it easier to frost this birthday smash cake if you apply a thin layer of frosting (a crumb coat), then chill the cake for an hour or so before doing any piping.
And if you don’t have a first birthday to celebrate, but still want to make a mini layer cake for another occasion, you’ll love how this cake turns out! It’s the perfect size for a small gathering – this little cake serves six people.
Have fun celebrating with this sweet little cake! And don’t forget to grab the perfect, thoughtful birthday card at Target so you can share your birthday wishes!
The true heart of Christmas isn’t in the gifts, the decorations, or the to-do lists. Here’s a reminder about what’s important and where we should be looking.
Note from Ann: Christmas is such a joyful, stressful time of the year, and I’m so touched by how Janie encourages each of us to find the “true heart of Christmas.” I pray that each of you will find hope in her words, as I do! ~ Ann
Christmas can be a mixed bag for everyone, but particularly for the women of the household. In case you haven’t noticed, it is usually the women in the family who make Christmas happen! We are the ones who generally oversee the decorating, the purchasing and wrapping of gifts to put under the tree, the cooking, and the hospitality.
Needless to say, all the heart-warming comfies of a Norman Rockwell Christmas that everyone has come to expect usually comes from Mom. And it’s Mom, of course, who is exhausted when all of the torn wrappings lie around the messy house after it is all over!
Something is wrong with this picture!
Yep. When Fall rolls around, even now, I tend to think of it with a bit of a sigh: “Oh, the holidays are coming…”, because I know the work that it entails for me.
Can anyone else relate?
I still feel that way a little—even with an attitude adjustment that took place quite a few years ago when I received a message from above that was my greatest Christmas GIFT ever. It came in a very mysterious package—and not one that I necessarily wanted!
I was a young mother with my firstborn son, Luke. He was a toddler and so was our fledgling new church in Wellington, Florida, the Wellington Presbyterian Church.
I decided to host our first annual ladies’ Christmas Tea in our home for the women in our church. I had never had a Christmas Tea before, so I figured it all out as I went along … busily preparing with visions of Christmas perfection in my head.
I saw a beautifully decorated home (on a limited budget), delicious homemade Christmas treats (all prepared by me as a gift to the ladies), and an inspiring program and message for the ladies (given by me, of course).
Anyone noticing a pattern here?
So on I worked. The day before the Tea, I began to feel guilty that my little “Lukey” needed some focused attention and fun. So I packed him up and headed to the nearby neighborhood pool. This was South Florida after all, and no winter wonderland was in sight!
We waded into the water and I held him while he paddled around. The sun could not have been brighter or the air warmer.
Until it wasn’t. Suddenly, as can happen in South Florida, the sky darkened as the the sun became hidden by clouds that rolled in like a locomotive. The air turned cooler and the wind kicked up.
Much to my shock, Luke started to cough. Naturally, I took him quickly out of the water, wrapped him into a blanket and headed back for the condo.
Within a few hours, the cough had turned into a full-blown asthma attack. Don and I rushed him to the ER at the hospital where he had been born less than a year earlier.
Hours later, we headed home with Luke snuggled in his car seat breathing much more naturally, and I held a bag full of meds to keep him on the road to full health.
It was after midnight. I was exhausted and now hours behind in my preparations for the Tea to happen the very next day.
However, my son was “saved” from a potentially life-threatening disease that we have continued to manage all of his life.
I remember the shock I felt as I sat quietly in his rocking chair in the wee hours of the morning.
Why this? Why now?
“Lord Jesus,” I prayed, “what do I do?”
I wondered if I should cancel the Tea … but how would I get the news out? (These were the days before texting!) How can I possibly be ready? And what if Luke’s condition worsened?
What a mess! Christmas joy was drained from my soul.
Then, I heard the words: This is Christmas.
My weary brain struggled to focus. In the fog, I saw Mary traveling on a donkey nine months pregnant. I felt her discomfort, exhaustion, and her anxiety.
I saw Joseph’s slumped shoulders as he led the donkey. It was dark. The path ahead was unclear even though the destination was Bethlehem.
The angels were not singing. They were alone on their journey.
I saw Christmas … for the first time … and I joined Mary and Joseph there. It is still where I go year after year after year when I forget all over again and get caught up in the “shoulds” of the season.
Joy welled up in my soul that cannot be described in words. Real joy—warm, alive, energizing.
I don’t remember ever going to bed that night. Luke slept peacefully and deeply. When the women arrived, the house glowed with something that cookies and bows and bells cannot give.
Somehow I ready enough. It was bright enough. There was plenty to eat.
We were nourished by the life of Christ in our midst. At the appropriate time, I stood to deliver the same simple Christmas message that had been given to me. I gave the women the GIFT that I had received.
I had found the true heart of Christmas.
So, my friends, I want to encourage you to know . . .
… Christmas is found in the rough edges of your life . . . as you let the loving Spirit of God come and comfort you with His presence.
… Christmas is messy love.
… Christmas trusts when the road is dark and lonely.
… Christmas is the willingness to wait for angels to sing.
… Christmas is poor shepherds who tend their flocks on the rough terrain.
… Christmas is not comfy; Christmas is His coming … to the least of these.
He comes … hallelujah!
Look for Him!
Be the servant. Be the least. Be.
He is with you!
In closing, I would like to share a poem I wrote years later.
Come, Holy Spirit, wondrous Dove,
fluid radiance, fall from above;
Flood my manger with Your holy light,
presence of God on this cold, dark night.
Come and dwell in union with me,
though I unworthy and empty be . . .
Warm my veins with Your holy love,
that I may bear Your Son from above.
Prince of Peace, come dwell with me,
Abba’s heart, my manger be!
(Janie Seltzer)
May your heart be a manger for His love. Emmanuel, God with us!
How have you found the true heart of Christmas in your life?
Up Next:
This post was originally published in December of 2012 but we find these suggestions to be a great list to revisit each year for inspiration and…
Ann Timm considers herself blessed to be the wife of a Christ follower and mother to six amazingly cool kids. She strives to keep a happy, healthy home, although she openly admits to failing often. She loves to share her foibles and encourage other women on their journey to healthy living.
Target carries a plethora of healthy living products! They are easy to find once you know where to look!
When my family first began our healthy living journey seven years ago, it was incredibly difficult to find natural, non-toxic, and green products in mainstream stores.
And while I actually prefer online shopping, it’s often frustrating to have nowhere local to purchase things when I run out at the last minute.
I was thrilled to recently discover that Target, which happens to be one of my favorite stores, carries a plethora of natural, organic, and sustainable healthy living products!
The “Made to Matter – Handpicked by Target™” line is in its second year, and I can’t believe I didn’t know about it until now!
My husband and I began transitioning to using more natural and non-toxic products when I was pregnant with our first child.
We wanted to feed our children the very best foods and to remove as many toxins as possible from our home–especially when it came to cleaning products and toiletries, etc. that we knew we would be using around our babies daily!
Even though I am past the baby stage now, I am excited to be able to refer new moms to the same brands I used and loved. I am thrilled that Made to Matter includes both Plum Organics and Happy Bellies, two brands I used frequently during the baby years.
I love both of these brands because they offer wholesome, organic first foods for babies. Even though I made a lot of my own baby food, the choices these brands offered really saved the day when I needed something quick, easy, and portable to feed my children!
I am also excited to see some of my favorite household and cleaning products in the Made to Matter collection, including items from Seventh Generation. I personally use their liquid dish soap, and I’ve just started using their stain remover as well.
These products work just as good (and maybe even better?!) than conventional cleaning products, yet they allow me to eliminate so many toxins from my home.
When I previewed the Made to Matter collection online, I was excited to see so many great products made with simple, recognizable ingredients.
This healthy living collection includes over 200 exclusive products!
The actual assortment of the Made to Matter collection will vary store-to-store. Some products will be available in all stores, some in a select number of stores. Most will be available on Target.com. (Yay for online shopping!)
The Made to Matter collection includes products from many different Target departments, including Baby, Grocery, Household, Cleaning, Beauty, and Health! They come from a variety of brands, including some of my favorites, like Yes To, Annie’s, Hyland’s, Zarbee’s, KIND, and many more!
The 31 brands in this year’s collection include:
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day
Annie’s
OLLY
Askinosie Chocolate
Pacifica
Babyganics
Paddy’s Bathroom
Ben & Jerry’s
Plum Organics
Cascadian Farm
Senda Athletics
EcoScraps
Seventh Generation
Ella’s Kitchen
SheaMoisture
EVOL
Simply Balanced
Freshpet
Soma
Happy Family (Happy Baby and Happy Mama)
Stonyfield
Hyland’s
Suja
J.R. Watkins
S.W. Basics of Brooklyn
Justin’s
Yes To
KIND
Zarbee’s Naturals
Method
You can check out all the #madetomatter products here!
Do you ever shop at Target? What are some of your favorite healthy living products at Target?
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target. Thank you for supporting my site!
Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site
As I learned that products were unsafe, I researched how it was possible – it’s possible because of lax safety regulations in the U.S. (In America, manufacturers aren’t required to disclose what’s in their cleaning products or personal care products.)
Very quickly, I discovered my first step in healthy living: know what’s in my products. When I don’t make my own products from scratch, I need to know the ingredients.
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Read before you buy
This is as easy as reading ingredient labels.
But it’s also tricky. Exactly what are all the ingredients – especially the ones I can’t even pronounce? Are they safe – or unsafe?
As a simple solution, I try to stick to products that have ingredients I know and can pronounce – and only a few ingredients are used. Take my bottle of unsulphured blackstrap molasses, for example. I looked at the label and the one and only ingredient is – you guessed it! – molasses.
Know your personal preferences
Over the years, I’ve also developed my own personal preference list of ingredients that are acceptable – and ones I also avoid.
I’ve made mental notes and know what I want to avoid in my food.
It’s safe to say I want to avoid EVERY ingredient on this list!
This, by no means, is my entire list, but for starters I choose to not buy food with:
On the flip side, I also know what I want to look for in ingredient labels – particularly anything that’s non-GMO or certified organic.
I know that every single product I choose to use isn’t completely safe. But my current product choices are radically different than when I didn’t care about my health.
I love using safe products – and being willing to try new products that are safe for my family. These safe products enter my home after I’ve done my research … and that all starts by reading labels.
Do you read labels? What ingredients do you choose to avoid?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through our links, we earn a small commission, which helps to keep this site going so that we can continue to offer free and useful content, so thanks!
This post is sponsored by Plan To Eat. If you know you need to make strides towards regular meal planning and you’re looking for a tool to make it easier, I highly recommend you check out Plan To Eat’s virtual tour. Sign up for a free 30-day trial to see how it works! Plan To Eat was born from a desire to eat real food — great food — prepared at home, together as a family. Plan to Eat is an online menu planner that uses your recipes, scheduled for the days you want them, automatically generating your grocery list, organized the way you like to shop. Eat well. Eat together.
Original article and pictures take keeperofthehome.org site
Establishing a nighttime routine has helped me finally begin to get adequate rest. Going to bed earlier has made me feel like a different person!
A few months back, my mentor asked me what I thought it would take to get me to a place where I felt like I wasn’t constantly spinning my wheels.
“Going to bed earlier,” I told her. “I honestly think if I could just discipline myself enough to get to bed at a decent hour that it would improve every other area of my life–or at least maximize my energy to confront my work load head-on.
But still…I continued going to bed late and regretting it each morning, telling the girls that mommy needed to make her coffee, so she could be cognizant enough to make them breakfast.
Then, in January, I crashed. I had finally gotten to the point where it actually scared me to think where continuing the cycle of sleep deprivation would lead me.
So, I quit cold turkey.
I began a nighttime routine (which did not involve spending hours on the computer after my kids went to sleep), and I started getting in the bed at 10 p.m. and sleeping in until I naturally wake up.
(I’ve been sleeping anywhere from 8 to 10 hours per night. I hope to eventually back it up to just 8 hours per night.)
The results? Incredible.
I don’t mean this post to sound like I’m writing a sales pitch on sleep, but, friends, it’s true: Getting adequate rest makes me feel like a completely different person.
Before, I spent many, many days feeling fatigued, foggy brained, and just plain lethargic. I was definitely not functioning at my optimal level. I felt completely drained.
When I go to bed around 10 p.m., I am shocked to find I have energy the next day! I almost always feel like a normal person! I honestly think I had forgotten what it feels like not to feel tired!
Rest is Vital to Health
Although I’ve known for a very long time that rest is important to our health, it’s something I ignored. But really, it’s not just important: it’s essential.
What’s interesting is that the Bible even addresses rest and repentance in the same verse in Isaiah 30:15:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”
In his foreword to Bonnie Craig’s book Finding Spiritual Whitespace, Jon Acuff addresses our culture’s neglect of rest:
“Somewhere along the way, we stopped valuing the idea of rest. We lost sight of the fact that it’s a critical part of creativity. It’s a critical part of our health and it’s a critical part of our faith….We preach a thousand sermons on repentance for every one we preach about rest. And then our lives burn out, our pastors burn out, our families burn out–and we wonder why.”
My Nighttime Routine
1. After we get the girls into bed (between 8 and 8:30 p.m.), I throw a load of laundry in the washing machine. My husband and I finish cleaning the kitchen, and I usually sit down for a few minutes on the computer, to quickly skim through emails. (I would love to not turn the computer on at all, but because I am a work-at-home mom whose work hours are never enough, this few minutes is usually a must.)
2. I settle down with a cup of hot tea–usually chamomile or something else calming. I drink this tea while finishing up my computer time.
3. I take my supplements before heading up to bed. I follow a winter supplements regimen, and right now it’s usually vitamin C, vitamin D3, elderberry, magnesium, a multivitamin, 42 Fruits and Veggies, and a probiotic. (I get most of my supplements from Vitacost.)
4. I head upstairs, stopping to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer. (I fold and put them away the next day.)
5. I put on my pajamas, and I wash my face, floss and brush my teeth, and rub on some calming essential oil blends.
6. I lie down in bed and read a few chapters of whatever book I’m currently reading. Right now it’s The Fringe Hours!
(You can follow up with what I’m reading over on Goodreads!)
Sometimes, if we get the girls into bed extra early or if I don’t need to get back on the computer for anything, I will take a little detox bath. This is so relaxing!
I’m finding that this time of self-care via this nighttime routine is exactly what I need to put me in the mood for truly restful sleep. Although there have been a few nights when I have stayed up past 10 p.m., I always regret it in the morning.
Whereas, before, I would keep working late into the night, thinking this was the best use of my time, I am finding that I feel so much better with adequate nighttime rest that I am actually looking forward to my nighttime routine and guarding my rest time!
What about You?
Is it just me? Am I the only humbled homemaker dealing with sleep deprivation?
Sometimes, in the name of being “good moms,” we will feel like we have to do it all–sign up for that bake sale, keep the church nursery, volunteer to be the room mother. The list can go on and on.
But if we’re not setting aside time for adequate rest, we will not have the energy to be the moms our children truly need us to be. I know because I’ve been there. I am there.
I’ve decided that I don’t want to keep waking up grouchy because I stayed up past midnight. My girls don’t deserve that. My husband doesn’t deserve that. And I don’t deserve to do that to my body.
Crystal has been an early riser since age 11, and she is an expert on maximizing morning time before her three children wake up. She spends time with the Lord, exercises, and runs a full-time business. This gives her room to breathe the rest of the day.
Each course comes with a printable workbook and video sessions for each day. The sessions are short enough to not be overwhelming, but they most definitely pack a punch!
I have been pouring over some really great encouraging books this past month that the Lord has used to speak “rest” into my life. Along with these, I’ve been encouraged by other women who have walked this past of burnout before and have found or are now finding rest as well.
I hope you will find these books and posts encouraging in your journey to rest.
Finding rest might be as simple as starting that nighttime routine.
Pump up our immune systems through real food to minimize how much we get sick in the first place
Use many simple, effective home remedies to deal with illness when it does happen. We eat foods like raw garlic and fresh citrus, cut out all sweeteners, stay extra hydrated, enjoy warm herbal teas with raw honey, among other things.
We turn to natural, herbal store-bought remedies when necessary.
Though I make many of my own remedies, I’ve also experimented with various types of cold syrup over the years, for those times when we get hit really bad (or when mama is too sick to make anything).
It’s slightly ironic that I’m sitting here typing this review during a week when both myself and my youngest son have actually used this cough syrup, because by golly, I’ve been feeling under the weather. I know it’s mostly the result of a lowered immune system while pregnant, and of course the simple fact that colds and flus are going around our community right now. Nonetheless, it’s never fun.
Two days ago, my cold went from being more in my head (headache, low fever, badly stuffed up nose) to my chest. Now I’ve got a sore throat and I’m coughing. A lot. My little guy woke up the other night with a bit of a wheeze and a bad cough as well. All of this was entirely unplanned, but did give us the perfect opportunity to really try out the Maty’s All Natural Cough Syrup I was sent for review.
(Seriously, if I got sick just for a blog review, that would be real dedication. I promise, this was pure coincidence.)
What’s in YOUR cough syrup?
Now, I’m pretty picky about ingredients and I’m not a fan of most products on the pharmacy store shelves. Even supposedly “natural”cough syrups tend to have some sort of sugar and preservatives in them, or else they taste truly awful, or they don’t particularly work to promote healing.
High fructose corn syrup and artificial food dyes, I figured, as well as some sort of pharmaceutical intended to suppress a cough. But propylene glycol, so many nasty preservatives, parabens? I didn’t not expect it to be that bad (though really, I should have known better), nor that they would have so many possible side effects.
I was pleasantly surprised when I got Maty’s All Natural Cough Syrup in the mail and saw these ingredients (compared with several other conventional brands):
This is really all that’s in it (other than distilled water and olive oil and a little banana flavor in the kid’s version). Nothing extra, nothing hidden.
I really love this ingredient list. If there’s going to be a sweetener, honey is the one that I would want to see (especially because honey is known for its soothing and healing properties, and buckwheat honey is a great choice in particular).
The funny thing is, when I look at the list, I realize I could probably make something very similar. Isn’t that what we natural mamas do?
That’s why I chuckled a little when I saw this in the FAQs on the Maty’s website:
Bingo. My thoughts exactly.
I can’t tell you how grateful I was this week for the convenience of a product I could really trust, made with ingredients just like the ones I would reach for myself.
In fact, we also have Maty’s All Natural Vapor Rub, and both of those little jars got a whole lot of use, because I didn’t have the energy to do my usual thing and whip something up.
Actually, I think that often becomes a barrier or excuse for not using something better. We know that we should use more natural, pure ingredients instead of something off of a shelf, but we lack the time and energy to make it ourselves. So we reach for something easier, something more convenient. (All the while, inwardly cringing and feeling a bit guilty about it, right?)
As my lifestyle has gotten busier over the last few years, with a growing family (in quantity and in age), more school-aged kids to homeschool, and taking on more part-time work along with my responsibilities as a mom and homemaker, I’ve had to make a bit of a shift. My focus used to be on learning how to make everything and anything myself. I wanted to control every ingredient and I wanted to do it frugally. I had more time on my hands back then, and it fit that season of my life.
These days I often feel like I have to choose a more convenient option. Thing is, my values and views about health, the foods we eat and products we use haven’t changed. That’s forced me to look for more and more alternative options, from farmers I trust, from companies I believe in, from brands I can rely on.
Now, there is absolutely a value in making and doing things ourselves. I still try to make as much as I can, and I probably always will. That personal quality control, not to mention the cost savings, is priceless.
But a number of years ago, when I was getting more and more into gardening and backyard homesteading, my husband had to really lay it down for me and let me know that while he supported my interests, this was something that he had absolutely no interest in ever taking up himself. He told me “Stephanie, I’ll never be a farmer. Never. But, if you believe in this stuff then we’ll spend our money supporting really great farmers and buying their food instead of growing it all ourselves. I’m all for that.”
When it comes to some of the products we use for our beauty, skincare and home remedies, I’ve been taking that same perspective lately. I want brands making products just like the ones I’d want to make myself, so I can support them while simultaneously crossing one more thing off of my to-do list.
That’s how I feel about companies like Maty’s. In fact, that’s how I feel about most of the companies I do reviews for. All that you see is the review that goes up in the end, but what you don’t know is how carefully I check out the company before I ever say yes – I read their website, I look at their ingredients, I learn about their practices and products, and then, if I like what I see, I say yes to that review.
Bottom line on this cough syrup? I think it does 3 things really well:
It soothes and reduces coughing. Does it do it completely? No, because it’s not meant to mask your symptoms. But for both myself and my 2 year old, it calmed down our coughing and soothed our throats enough that we were able to sleep decently.
It boosts the immune system, naturally. One of the key points in using natural remedies is that we’re aiming to support and build up our immune system so that it can battle what we’re fighting more effectively (rather than just cover up our symptoms and hope they eventually go away). The ingredients in this syrup are all effective immune boosters.
It does it with ingredients you could find in your kitchen. In other words, they’re pure, simple and safe.
I would buy this again. It’s probably the best of the various natural cough syrups I’ve tried over the years (and for that matter, we liked the vapor rub a lot, too).
What do you use for a cough? And I’m curious… where are you currently at in the balance between making things yourself and supporting brands that are making products you can believe in?
Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by Maty’s Healthy Products. Product was also sent to me for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own (unless quoted as being directly from the Maty’s website).
Original article and pictures take keeperofthehome.org site
Feeding your Family Healthy Food When You Are A Single Parent
Single parent families all have their own individual struggles, but nearly across the board we’re short on time, attention, energy, money, and yet still are passionate to provide wholesome food for our children! In many families, understandably, the need for wholesome food gets pushed aside for more seemingly urgent tasks.
I’ve found through trial and error that when we slip into eating less healthy everything falls apart- we all feel sick, I have less energy, the kids appear to have shorter attention spans, we all sleep worse, and we’re sick more often. So healthy food, at least 80% of time time, is a priority for me.
I’m a single parent, and have been for 2 years now. I haven’t been very open about it because there’s a stigma attached to being divorced, especially when you come from a religious background as I did and I know a lot of you do. But I am a single mom, and I’m more comfortable talking about it, so now I’m ready to share the things that have worked for me as far as still providing my small family nourishing foods!
1. Use the 80/20 Principal
Unless you are doing a specific therapeutic diet like GAPS or have food allergies, the 80/20 principal makes eating healthy much more attainable. The 80/20 principal is just doing what you think you should be doing 80% of the time, and not worrying about the other 20%.
When we were on GAPS we still used this principal- but just in the form of GAPS cheats for the 20%. Now that we’re not on GAPS I make it a point to serve nourishing meals a home, but I don’t worry much about what we eat when we’re out. I also get take-and-bake pizza if the dishes are piling up, we’re in the middle of some sort of crisis, or we have an abnormally packed schedule. Our 80/20 is most likely closer to a 90/10, but it works for me.
I also use 80/20 to make my life realistic. Realistically I’d like to recycle everything, use reusable grocery bags every time, purchase second hand more often, walk rather than drive, grow a garden and preserve the harvest, and find local sources for most of our food, and limit screen time to just a couple hours a week. In reality I can only do so much- my 80% is to spend time with my children, feed them nourishing food most of the time, and locally source most animal products to purchase in bulk, and toss obvious recyclables into the big blue recycle bin. My 20% includes often forgetting my reusable grocery bags, shopping at Trader Joes often where I can buy fresh produce, nuts, and organic most-likely-not-really free range chicken, AND dish soap and shampoo all in one trip, throwing away trash rather than worrying about reusing it, and gardening as a hobby with the kids without any pressure to actually produce much, and doing one or two days media free but also using The Magic School Bus as a bribe way more often than I think is ideal.
2. Minimalize
The more minimal I am in my life, the easier preparing healthy meals is for me. In the kitchen, you’ll see that most of my recipes use less than 10 ingredients and only 1-2 pieces of kitchen equipment. That’s less to get out, put away, wash, remember, measure, and mix!
I also keep a fairly minimal kitchen as far as pots, pans, bowls, plates, etc go. We have a saucepan, stockpot, stainless steel skillet, and cast iron skillet. That’s it for what I have that can go on the stovetop- but when you think about it, I only have 4 burners on my stove, how could I possibly use more than that at one time?
I minimalize in all areas of my life, not just the kitchen. As long as my children are happy with it I’m going to continue purchasing staples of their clothing in coordinating sets. By that I mean I purchase similar or the same item in different colors for the kids; They have the same rain coats, fleece jackets, fleece vests, sweat shirts, jeans, socks, similar swimsuits and similar snow suits when we need them, similar shoes and PJs too. They have different shirts and underwear (boy/girl) but that’s about it.
This may seem like overkill, but it simplifies the daily (or multiple times a day!) task of dressing because they understand what I mean when I say to go get your raincoats on because it’s windy, I don’t have to think through what each child owns and should put on, this simplifies shopping because I know how many of what article of clothing each child needs so I don’t have to go out and buy more as the weather changes and don’t make impulse purchases, and since they often (but not always) are wearing similar items of clothing it’s simple to see if we’re leaving things behind, things pass down from girl to boy, and if you choose blaze orange in their coats, the children are easy to spot :)
For toys, household items, books, and other things that accumulate in any home I ruthlessly declutter and give away everything we’re not using currently. Anything that has to be picked up and put away should be used often- I don’t want to be moving around stuff that we don’t need to own. I also try to stay out of stores like Target, where impulse purchases are made.
I warn people not to offer to help me unless they want me to actually take them up on it ~smile~. I ask for help with my yardwork (it’s hard to mow the lawn and listen for young children at the same time!), taking my car and picking it up from the shop to avoid having to transfer two carseats in and out of shuttles, childcare so I can exercise and grocery shop on my own, and for help moving.
People don’t realize how invaluable the help is even if they’re just sitting on my couch watching Netflix after the kids are asleep so I can run errands, go to the gym, or attend a class. Once they hear me gush about how helpful they’ve been for any task they help me with, people are always happy to help again.
We also are dabbling with different school settings- I’m a homeschooler at heart, but as a single parent I’m working on accepting help from the school system as well. I choose to look at it more as ‘educational childcare’ than the source of my children’s entire education ~grin~.
I also ask for lots of help from my children. My daughter is 6, but developmentally about 3 with some scattered skills that are higher. My son is a typically developing 4 year old. I work chores and help into our daily routine. My son fills the click here for berkey water filters target=”_blank”>water filter, my daughter puts away all the folded laundry (mine too!), they both move the laundry from the hamper to washer to dryer, unload groceries, and take care of the dog.
Not only does this help them to learn work ethic, but it keeps them occupied and feeling included as I get things done alongside them. I can either spend my time correcting behavior and coming up with activities all day for them to do and then do all the chores at night when they go to sleep, or I can include them in what I’m doing and we all can have more time to do fun things like go to the beach, park, soccer, visit friends, etc. Of course they also get plenty of ‘free’ time to play on their own, but in general if I need to occupy them while I get something done I show them how they can help rather than distracting them with a toy or TV.
4. Unconventional whole food meals are better than ‘normal’ junky meals
Scrambled eggs for dinner? Oh yeah, I did that even when I was in a two parent household. Jerky and fruit is a legitimate lunch, smoothies are acceptable for any meal as is soup, peanutbutter stirred into applesauce is lunch in a pinch (and the kids love it), and popsicles made from kefir are a way to double up as a fun treat and probiotic boost at the same time. Popcorn (not GAPS legal) and string cheese with a family friendly movie is a favorite after a tiring or stressful day here.
Often by the end of the day I’m exhausted, so we usually have our main meal at lunch or breakfast. For our main meals I’ll cook with the
Crock pot meals can often be prepared during breakfast, cooked on high, and served at lunch, then leftovers served for dinner
kids, or they play on their own while I cook and we do a full balanced ‘normal’ meal of a protein, fat, carb, and probiotic (or I’ll send it with them to daycare/school) For dinner we eat something simple like yogurt, tuna salad, green salad from a bag, or leftovers from lunch.
For single parents, we’ve often been up and going full force for 12 hours by the time dinner comes around, and we still have a few hours of work ahead of us still to get the kids ready for bed, in bed, and then work on the bills, clean out the car, or do other activities that are hard to do with the kids underfoot. The appeal of frozen pre-made dinners, frozen pizza (which we eat too, occasionally), or hitting the drive through is understandable. By not feeling like we have to stick to the mold of having a ‘real’ dinner, it’s easier for me to avoid the junkie convenience foods. Since I made a substantial lunch or breakfast, I don’t feel any guilt over this.
If you’re a single parent and want to use my meal plans, you may find that you just end up using them for breakfast and lunch, and then dinner once a week or so. That’s ok! I don’t cook like that either, I just wanted to provide recipes for those who are making full meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in case they wanted them.
5. Take time for yourself to recharge
I know this is cliche, but this makes or breaks my mood and ability to provide healthy food and a healthy mood for my children. Unlike two parent households, it’s one parent giving giving giving all the time, and we miss the interaction with other adults even if we don’t notice it at first. A trip to the gym or taking a class is my favorite way to get some adult time where I’m not nonstop answering questions and being responsible. Another great option is to have a friend over after the kids go to bed for some adult conversation.
Single parenting is rewarding and our children are always worth our best, I hope this helps some of you to feed your family in a less stressful more nourishing way.
Because there are so many variables in single parent households, I hope we can all continue this down in the comment section. I have full custody of my children, so I don’t have any experience with shared custody arrangements and didn’t touch on that at all. Also, I didn’t touch on the money aspect of it much since there already is quite a bit out on the internet on eating real food on a budget.
Original article and pictures take healthhomeandhappiness.com site
FDA’S ‘New’ Warning is an Old Attack on Teething Tablets
By Krista, Contributing Writer
The FDA recently issued a smear campaign very urgent sounding press release warning parents of the supposed dangers of using popular homeopathic teething remedies. In the release, it stated, very vaguely, that homeopathic teething tablets may pose a health risk, and goes on to urge parents to immediately discontinue use and also seek immediate medical care in case of a host of symptoms following the use of teething tablets appeared. The symptoms stated in the press release ranged from seizures to difficulty breathing to constipation. It all sounds super scary. Which, if one does not understand the full picture of what homeopathy is (and isn’t!), then it could be. Unfortunately, homeopathy, and the concerns surrounding this unfair vendetta against a well-established and well-respected homeopathy brand (as well as homeopathic remedies in general), is getting yet another unfair bad rap by way of a fear filled press release with no substance to back it up.
Hyland’s, the main brand referenced in FDA’s press release, had this to say about the ‘investigation’:
“Homeopathic medicines are regulated as drugs by FDA. We are fully cooperating with FDA’s inquiry and we’re providing them with all the data we have. We also hope to learn from FDA what facts, if any, the Agency has based its action on.”
Did you hear that? Even the company that is coming under fire doesn’t know why the FDA, the very same regulatory board that approved the products to be on the shelves in the first place, is suddenly issuing such a strong statement about the safety of their product!
What is Homeopathy?
To fully appreciate the full extent of why the FDA’s press release is so wrong, one needs a small crash course in what homeopathy is, and isn’t.
Homeopathy is not a catch all term for anything natural or alternative. Homeopathy cannot be used interchangeably to describe a remedy that is herbal in nature, or an essential oil, although those things are wonderfully healing as well. It is important to make this distinction, because homeopathy is its own system of medicine. It is used worldwide; in fact the British Royal Family has used homeopathy as its main medicine for generations. There are whole hospitals that are homeopathic in nature.
So what is it?
Homeopathy was developed in the 18th century by a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann. He developed homeopathy based on what is known as the Law of Similars: a substance that causes a certain set of symptoms in an otherwise healthy individual will cure an illness with those same symptoms, and will do so homeopathically when given in minute amounts. How minute? To borrow, again, from Hyland’s press release, in the case of the teething tablets, “two trillionths of a milligram in a tablet.”
How does something so minute even offer healing benefit? The other leading principle behind what sets homeopathy apart as its own system of medicine is the way in which the medicine is prepared. The substance used in a particular remedy is made into a tincture and then is diluted in either water or alcohol, and then mixed vigorously by a method known as succussion. This whole process is known as potenization, and the different potencies of a remedy are labeled in such a way that you are able to tell how dilute, or potent, it is by looking at the numbers and letters on the bottle. The most commonly used homeopathic remedies (especially for home care situations) are measured in the Roman numerals ‘C’ (diluted in a ratio of 1 part substance to 99 parts water/alcohol) and ‘X’ (diluted in a ratio of 1 part substance to 9 parts water/alcohol).
The hallmark of what makes a homeopathic remedy a healing substance is the combination of the dilution, as well as the vigorous shaking. As you can tell by the sheer amount of dilution going on, many potencies of remedies don’t even have the original substance left in the end product! However, when studied under a microscope, the structure of the water of the homeopathic remedy is actually changed in the potentization process!
One of These Things Is Not Like the Other
The homeopathic process of potentization takes something that begins as toxic in its original form and renders it as something healing, and even curative in its homeopathic form.
The FDA is not acknowledging this at all in their press release, instead referencing back to their original investigation in 2010, where they made reference to merely the presence of belladonna–a highly toxic plant–in the formulation of Hyland’s teething tablets, and a discrepancy in the amounts found in the tablets. This discrepancy launched a voluntary recall, and, while the FDA stated back in 2010 that there were reports of ‘adverse events’ following ingestion of teething tablets, they admitted there was NO conclusive link to it being from the teething tablets themselves.
The president of the company that is responsible for manufacturing Hyland’s teething tablets had this to say about the lack of uniformity in the amounts of belladonna from the 2010 recall:
“Where the situation became complex for us is that we were interpreting data in one way, and the FDA was interpreting data in a slightly different way. They [the FDA] found one tablet that had more belladonna in it than we had on the label. That really was the essence of problem. Their view was that that was an unacceptable risk. Our view was that, even with that risk, there was still a very large margin of safety with the product.”
The Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States is the regulating agency that regulates the manufacture of homeopathic remedies. Remedies that have been manufactured according to this standard will have the letters HPUS on its labeling to denote that it is in accordance with the stringent manufacturing standards set forth by this regulating agency.
Homeopathic remedies have been on the market for decades, and have never had any reported side effects when taken as directed. In fact, homeopathic remedies are so safe that it is virtually impossible to experience any side effects at all from them!
I wish I could say the same about other popular pain relief/teething remedies–like acetaminophen. According to Tylenol’s own website, severe liver damage may occur if your child takes more than 5 doses in a 24 hour period. There are more than 5 doses in a bottle.
And yet, Hyland’s has this to say about accidental ingestion of not one, but several BOTTLES of their teething formulation:
“A 10-pound child would have to accidentally ingest, all at the same time, more than a dozen bottles of 135 Baby Teething Tablets before experiencing even dry mouth from the product.”
Parents are often at their most vulnerable when their children are not feeling well. That’s why it is so important to arm yourself with accurate information to help you navigate through all the ups and downs of parenting without resorting to fear to make the decisions for you.
That does, and should include seeking out appropriate medical care when it is warranted. Seizures, difficulty breathing and the like is a perfectly acceptable time to be seeking out that medical care, and for that, I agree with the FDA on that note. I myself know firsthand how scary it is to witness a seizure, and the helplessness that accompanies it. My five month old at the time had what amounted to a febrile seizure, which I did seek medical care for, to rule out anything more serious. Febrile seizures, as a side note, happen when a baby who is susceptible to them, spikes a fever too fast, not necessarily too high. (They are also completely benign.) My son’s temperature was barely over 100 when he had a seizure, but he had gotten hot, fast. It’s also important to note that fevers associated with teething are not very high, so febrile seizures could conceivably happen in the context of a teething related temperature spike. Thankfully, my son ended up having a mild cold that resolved itself within a week or so, and is no worse for wear.
Mamas, information is such a powerful tool to use and have. I encourage those that are interested in knowing more about homeopathy to seek out additional resources. Here are a few of my favorite ones:
www.joettecalabrese.com–Joette offers a wealth of information about homeopathy, as well as a number of courses. I have taken one of her courses, and have found it to be invaluable.
Everyone’s Guide to Homeopathy by Dana Ullman– I have referenced this book many, many times over the years. It contains chapters on various different illnesses, and common homeopathic remedies to consider based on the various symptoms of each illness. I like that it also has a section with each illness on when to seek medical care beyond home care as well.
www.homeopathic.com– This is the website of Dana Ullman’s, and, while I haven’t used it as much as the other two sources listed above, this is a great resource as well.
What do you think about the FDA’s recent statement on teething tablets?
Original article and pictures take modernalternativehealth.com site
