Happy 3rd Birthday Luke!

Luke had a great birthday celebration this weekend. We celebrated with our immediate family and had a Western/Cow Boy themed party. It worked out nicely because we just wore our Halloween costumes from this past year. The menu was sloppy joes, baked beans, potato salad and bottles of root beer. The favors were cowboy hats, bandannas and a sheriff's star. Luke's favorite gifts were his new bike and his super hero dress-up clothes. :) All in all, it was a wonderful success.

A tribute to my brave little girl!

After a few days in the ICU and a BIG scare, I am so happy to report that Lana is home with her crazy family. All of us are fighting over who gets to hug and kiss her next. Her joyful laugh and spunky personality are slowly returning. We feel so blessed! :)

In Need of Winter Projects/Activities???

I have never been a mom that goes to story time every week or does lots of extracurricular activities. Starting off with preemie twins that were basically home bound for their first year of life, due to health issues, didn't allow for many outings. As mentioned on blog, I got pregnant with Luke when my twins were nine months old. Just as Jake and Ben started to turn a corner with their health, I welcomed another baby into our life. And then another! Anyway, sometimes I feel like we missed out on a lot of fun outings, but we have managed to create our own fun. I am definitely getting more confident with taking my large crew out and about, but it is not easy. Kevin and I have certain places mastered....Costco, parks, family parties...but that's about it. Soooo I have been forced to come up with a lot of in home projects/activities. If you have any to share, PLEASE send them to me. Especially with our big winter storm coming up this week...I'd love some new ideas.

Two activities we have been enjoying are:

1. Making Cheerio necklaces/bracelets. Jake and Ben's teacher would like us to work more on fine motor skills so I thought this one would be perfect. Plus it is a great time kill. :) You could also use large pasta. The pasta is easy to paint or color with a marker. I was also thinking it would be fun to make homemade pendants with the kids favorite characters. Speaking of homemade jewelry, Maria sent me the cutest ideas. For Valentine's Day, you could make adorable homemade bracelets sewn together with ribbon and big red gum drop candies. ADORABLE!

2. Lisa, my wonderful sitter came up with the second fun idea. I am sure everyone owns a little cash register and if you are like my house, you probably play store, restaurant, etc. Her idea was to make homemade menus. The kids loved picking out pictures of food from magazines and coming up with their own prices. You could get really creative with this one. I use to do something similar to this when I taught middle school Life Management. Even my middle school students loved this activity.

Again, feel free to share some of your winter activities/projects. :)

Update on Green Self-Tanner

I love it! The information about the product is a few posts below. It really works and you don't have to worry about putting chemicals on your skin. My only critique is that it does streak a bit around your ankles and knees...just like most self-tanners. I think you can perfect putting it on and hopefully avoid streaking. It is a really nice product! :)

Winter Project #2

When we renovated our basement a few years ago, we decided to do a mini workout room. Sadly, we NEVER used it. My hubby told me if he could sell all of our workout equipment on Craig's List, I could take the money and do a craft room/home office. I had so much fun putting it together. It's a little get away from our wonderfully crazy life. Although, the kids have spent more time in there than me. :)

A Healthy Holiday Treat: Watermelon Hearts

Pot Pie from Scratch

Amy found this recipe on the OWN channel. Today I spent nap break making this yummy meal. Check out my personal notes below.

Ingredients:

2 carrots

1 potato

1/2 cup frozen peas or corn

2 cups cooked chicken, cut into small pieces

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP butter

1 medium onion

1/4 cup flour

2 cups warm chicken stock

salt and pepper to taste

hot sauce to taste

Corn bread mix for top of the pie

1- Parboil carrots and potato

2-While veggies are boiling, heat olive oil, butter, onion and flour on stove until it is clumpy.

3- Once it is clumpy, add warm chicken stock.

4- Then add potatoes, carrots,and peas (any any other veggies you would like), chicken, salt and pepper and hot sauce. Mix together well.

5- Place mixture in a 9x9 pan.

6- Make a corn bread mix (you can make from scratch)

7- Scoop corn bread mix onto top of pie mixture. Spread around the top. It does not have to cover completely.

6- Cook for 22-25 minutes at 400 degrees.

Personal Notes: This recipe is good for a Sunday...when you are not working or the hubby is home. I thought it was somewhat time consuming. I really like this recipe because it doesn't use cream of potato soup, cream of chicken soup, canned veggies, etc. All from scratch, except for the crust and frozen corn or peas. Frozen organic veggies are sometimes healthier than fresh vegetables, depending on how long they have been sitting out before consuming. I used Frank's hot sauce. It doesn't have HFCS or red food dye #40. I also used whole wheat flour. (FYI:The whole wheat flour gave the sauce a brownish color.) I also added lots of spices, minced fresh garlic, celery and homemade chicken stock.

I used these cute mini pie plates (Thank you Jodi for the recommendation! ) from Crate & Barrel, now on sale for $3.00. I thought the kids would enjoy having their own mini pie. I love cooking gadgets that make meal time fun and unique. I also thought these would be fun for making individual pumpkin or apple pies, come fall time. I used pie crusts for a few of them and corn bread for a few. After eating them both for dinner tonight, the corn bread pot pie won the taste competition and is going in rotation. The pie crust version was a little dry. Enjoy! :)

Making the best of the snow!

Ben is the King of the castle.

I am sooo happy we use our swing set all year round.

Jake trying to make his way up the climbing wall.

Too cold to go outside...soooo we brought the snow INSIDE!

Our mini snowman.

Don't mind our pink gloves. :)

Oops....our snowy activity got a little messy. :)

Shopping Tip: Natural Sweeteners

When I went on my shopping tours with my nutrition experts, they both recommended three natural sweeteners.

1. Raw/Local/Organic Honey- Honey is good for your immune system, your digestive system, allergies, asthma, etc.

2. Pure Organic Maple Syrup- Maple Syrup contains manganese and zinc. It is good for your immune system, your heart, and the male reproductive system.

3. Stevia or Stevia Extract- "Stevia leaf is an all natural sweetener. It comes from a shrub which grows naturally in Brazil and Paraguay. While people in South America have been using it to sweeten their foods and beverages for hundreds of years, it has been used widely in other countries over the past few decades. In 2008, stevia sweetener became approved in the USA as a food additive and is rapidly growing in popularity due to its many benefits.

Stevia helps reduce food and other cravings

One of the main reasons stevia is so popular is that it can help people in losing weight. By sweetening foods and beverages with stevia, people who need to reduce calories in order to lose weight can do so safely without sacrificing the sweet foods they love. It can also benefit weight loss by working as an appetite suppressant. This works when a few drops of concentrated stevia leaf is swallowed about 20 minutes before eating. Since stevia sweetleaf is all natural and has no known side affects, it is certainly far safer than taking dangerous diet pills!

Not only does this amazing substance suppress food cravings, it has also been shown to reduce the desire for tobacco and alcohol."

Stevia also helps regulates blood sugar, prevents cavities and has health-promoting antioxidants.

All three can be used for cooking and/or baking. Try to substitute these items for artificial sweeteners and sugar.

FLORA 101

Taking a good probiotic is essential for good health. Here is why:

Your gut has three types of bacteria.

1. Beneficial Flora- Friendly bacteria that do good in our body.

2. Opportunistic Flora- These microbes/bacteria are normally limited and controlled by the good flora in a healthy person.

3. Transitional Flora- We ingest these daily. When we have a good amount of beneficial flora, we are able to digest these and pass them through without harm. However, if we do not have a healthy amount of beneficial flora, these microbes cause illness and disease.

Lack of beneficial flora causes illness (stomach virus, common cold, etc.) disease (cancer), autoimmune disease, and mental illness. Basically everything is linked to our gut. It is the root of your immune system. Being on antibiotics and even certain vaccines kill our gut flora. That is why kids who are on several rounds of antibiotics continue to get sick over and over again. The antibiotics keep killing their healthy gut flora making them more susceptible to illness. It is a viscous cycle.

Some of the books I am currently reading also discuss the link between your gut health and mental health. Many doctors believe Autism, Add/ADHD, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, OCD, etc. are all linked to your gut health. This theory is called GAPS- Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It makes so much sense and is fascinating to learn about.

If you are not on a good probiotic, look into getting one from a health food store. Try to get one in the refrigerated section. Infants to elderly people can all benefit from being on a probiotic.

Extreme (GREEN) Pantry Make-Over

My sister inspired me to do an extreme pantry makeover this weekend. However, it was a lot more time consuming than I anticipated. It is so hard to find time to do organization projects, now that I am mother. All of this stuff gets pushed to the back burner. I finally made it a priority and boy oh boy....I love it! Things are sooo much better when they are visual appealing! Every time I open my pantry, I feel a sense of pride and happiness versus stress and anger as a box of cereal is falling on my head.

I decided to take my organization project one step further and make some green changes. Here is a list of ways you can do an extreme (GREEN) pantry.

1. DO A MAJOR CLEANING OVER HAUL: Be sure to use green products to wipe down your cabinets. The pantry is no place for harsh chemicals.

2. TOSS EXPIRED FOODS: I was surprised to find cans from 2008! I thought I was somewhat on top of things before my makeover...but I was WRONG!

3. READ LABELS: In the process of going green over the last few years, I am not one to toss the naughty food or chemical ridden products. It is a huge waste of money. I like to use things up first and then make my move to a better product. However, there are some things I will not knowingly consume, now that I know how toxic/harmful they are. For example, to start, foods you should toss/use up and then switch (your preference) are foods that contain any of the following: A) High Fructose Corn Syrup B) Sodium Nitrate (This chemical is used to preserve processed meats and is linked to an increase in cancer, particularly stomach cancer), C) Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Fats or Trans Fats (Linked to heart attacks and cardiac deaths) and D) MSG. I like to keep little sticky notes in my cabinet or purse as a personal reminder of which ingredients I should steer clear of.

4.BYE-BYE PLASTIC: Over the last year, I have switched my Tupperware to glass containers. Recently, I purchased some glass Fido jars at IKEA and Crate & Barrel for my oats, nuts, seeds, quinoa, rice, etc. Be sure to recycle the boxes you empty. I just love the way it looks! Plus, Miss Lana loves to rearrange my pantry during dinner time and usually spills quinoa all over my kitchen floor. Not any more!! :)

5. ORGANIZE: Rearrange your pantry like the grocery store. Put all of the baking stuff together, the cans, the pasta, etc. Also put the older cans in front and the newer ones in back. Use up the old stuff first.

6. LABEL: Labeling your pantry will help the entire family know where various items are located. Use a label maker if you have one. For the little ones who can't read yet, put little clip art pictures next to the words. The kids love helping me unload groceries. I am sure that won't last forever, but for now it is a fun game for them. However, I usually find sour cream in my pantry a week later. :)

PS) Confession: My pantry is not 100% green. My hubby still requests certain naughty foods like good old toxic Ramen noodles. I still can't believe we lived off of this devilish food in our college years. I should have known how bad they are when you can purchase 100 of them for $10.00!

Taco Stew

This meal may be as good as the tortellini soup. It certainly is as easy, if not easier. We served it with shredded cheddar cheese and crunched up blue tortilla chips on top.

An easy-to-throw-together, affordable stew that feeds a crowd. Top bowlfuls of this beefy tomato and corn stew with dollops of sour cream and spoonfuls of your favorite salsa. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available as Whole Foods Market Brands.

Ingredients

1/2 pound 85% lean ground beef or turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons taco seasoning (gluten-free)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth*
1 large zucchini or summer squash, cut into small cubes
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans*
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes*
1 cup frozen corn kernels*
1 cup medium salsa*

Method

Brown meat in a large pot over medium high heat. Drain, remove and set aside. In the same pot, sauté onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add meat back to pot and sprinkle mixture with taco seasoning to blend. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.

Green Self Tanner

I have been struggling with awful pasty skin this winter. I swore off tanning beds about a year ago. Yes, I had an addiction to tanning beds several years ago! I admit it. I can't stand how pasty white/gothic looking I get in these cold winter months. Being sprayed down with chemicals did not seem like a better option.... Sooo I found the product below. I have not tried it yet but am excited it will be a quick fix for my Marilyn Manson look. :) However, if the next time you see me, I look like a pumpkin...you will know it did not work so well. I am happy to be the guinea pig and will keep you posted on how it works.


"THE PERFECT SUNLESS TAN We all know how dangerous the sun’s UV rays can be for our skin. With that in mind, do you expose your skin to get that perfect tan, hold your nose and subject yourself to that foul smelling chemical tan, or avoid the sun altogether and miss out on that sun-kissed summer glow? You’ll be pleased to know there’s a safe, natural and fabulously scented alternative! There are now two organic self tanning lotions from Lavera - one for the face, another for the body, that’s completely chemical and toxin free.

Two natural ingredients, vegetable-derived DHA (Dihydroxyactone) and the sugar agent Erythrulose, give your skin a wonderful fresh tan on a natural basis. These two ingredients react with the amino acids of the skin, resulting in a brownish tint of the pigment. This reaction is completely harmless and a safe alternative to chemical tanners.

This unaltered photo shows a smooth, natural tan develop on the right arm only 3 hours after initial application, compared to the untreated left arm.

As with all Lavera products, our self tanners are certified natural by the BDIH, contain organic ingredients and are free of parabens and other synthetic ingredients."

"Special Innovation Prize 2002" Winner.

Website: http://www.lavera.com

Valentine's Day Idea

I always talk about my green mentors, health mentors, etc. I also have a craft/Martha Stewart mentor. :) My long time girlfriend, Maria, is the ultimate crafter! Very talented! She always sends me great ideas for various events. Earlier this week she sent me the cute craft shown above. The boys have to bring in one Valentine for each classmate and I thought these would be perfect. The candy in the little plastic bag is Sweedish Fish and the tag reads "You are O' Fishally a super Valentine!" It was a fun Sunday afternoon project. :)

An Alarming Statistic!

Once in a while I catch a Dr. Oz show. I really like Dr. Oz and actually got the pleasure of meeting him and participating in one of his health studies about four years ago. Kevin got me tickets to the Oprah show for my 30th birthday and we were randomly selected to fly down early and go to Harpo studio for a health study. It was a really interesting experience. Dr. Oz was sooo kind in person and a wealth of knowledge.

My point of telling you this long, drawn out story is that Dr. Oz had a show on this week about Pancreatic cancer...the most feared, deadliest cancers of all. He said that drinking 2 cans of pop a week DOUBLES your risk of pancreatic cancer!!!! What an alarming statistic. If you know an extreme pop drinker, risk being that annoying friend and tell them this scary statistic.

I love this article! Check it out:

How Eating At Home Can Save Your Life

"The slow insidious displacement of home cooked and communally shared family meals by the industrial food system has fattened our nation and weakened our family ties. In 1900, 2 percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50 percent were eaten away from home and one in five breakfasts is from McDonald's. Most family meals happen about three times a week, last less than 20 minutes and are spent watching television or texting while each family member eats a different microwaved "food." More meals are eaten in the minivan than the kitchen.

Research shows that children who have regular meals with their parents do better in every way, from better grades, to healthier relationships, to staying out of trouble. They are 42 percent less likely to drink, 50 percent less likely to smoke and 66 percent less like to smoke marijuana. Regular family dinners protect girls from bulimia, anorexia, and diet pills. Family dinners also reduce the incidence of childhood obesity. In a study on household routines and obesity in U.S. preschool-aged children, it was shown that kids as young as four have a lower risk of obesity if they eat regular family dinners, have enough sleep, and don't watch TV on weekdays.

We complain of not having enough time to cook, but Americans spend more time watching cooking on the Food Network than actually preparing their own meals. In his series, "Food Revolution," Jamie Oliver showed us how we have raised a generation of Americans who can't recognize a single vegetable or fruit, and don't know how to cook.

The family dinner has been hijacked by the food industry. The transformations of the American home and meal outlined above did not happen by accident. Broccoli, peaches, almonds, kidney beans and other whole foods don't need a food ingredient label or bar code, but for some reason these foods -- the foods we co-evolved with over millennia -- had to be "improved" by Food Science. As a result, the processed-food industry and industrial agriculture has changed our diet, decade by decade, not by accident but by intention.

That we need nutritionists and doctors to teach us how to eat is a sad reflection of the state of society. These are things our grandparents knew without thinking twice about them. What foods to eat, how to prepare them, and an understanding of why you should share them in family and community have been embedded in cultural traditions since the dawn of human society.

One hundred years ago all we ate was local, organic food; grass-fed, real, whole food. There were no fast-food restaurants, there was no junk food, there was no frozen food -- there was just what your mother or grandmother made. Most meals were eaten at home. In the modern age that tradition, that knowledge, is being lost.

The sustainability of our planet, our health, and our food supply are inextricably linked. The ecology of eating -- the importance of what you put on your fork -- has never been more critical to our survival as a nation or as a species. The earth will survive our self-destruction. But we may not.

Common sense and scientific research lead us to the conclusion that if we want healthy bodies we must put the right raw materials in them: real; whole, local; fresh; unadulterated; unprocessed; and chemical-, hormone- and antibiotic-free food. There is no role for foreign molecules such as trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup, or for industrially developed and processed food that interferes with our biology at every level.

That is why I believe the most important and the most powerful tool you have to change your health and the world is your fork. Imagine an experiment -- let's call it a celebration: We call upon the people of the world to join together and celebrate food for one week. For one week or even one day, we all eat breakfast and dinner at home with our families or friends. For one week we all eat only real, whole, fresh food. Imagine for a moment the power of the fork to change the world.

The extraordinary thing is that we have the ability to move large corporations and create social change by our collective choices. We can reclaim the family dinner, reviving and renewing it. Doing so will help us learn how to find and prepare real food quickly and simply, teach our children by example how to connect, build security, safety and social skills, meal after meal, day after day, year after year.

Here are some tips that will help you take back the family dinner in your home starting today.

Reclaim Your Kitchen

Throw away any foods with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats or sugar or fat as the first or second ingredient on the label. Fill your shelves with real fresh, whole, local foods when possible. And join a community support agriculture network to get a cheaper supply of fresh vegetables weekly or frequent farmers markets.

Reinstate the Family Dinner

Read Laurie David's "The Family Dinner". She suggests the following guidelines: Make a set dinnertime, no phones or texting during dinner, everyone eats the same meal, no television, only filtered or tap water, invite friends and family, everyone clean up together.

Eat Together

No matter how modest the meal, create a special place to sit down together, and set the table with care and respect. Savor the ritual of the table. Mealtime is a time for empathy and generosity, a time to nourish and communicate.

Learn How to Cook and Shop

You can make this a family activity, and it does not need to take a ton of time. Keep meals quick and simple.

Plant a Garden

This is the most nutritious, tastiest, environmentally friendly food you will ever eat.

Conserve, Compost and Recycle

Bring your own shopping bags to the market, recycle your paper, cans, bottles and plastic and start a compost bucket (and find where in your community you can share you goodies).

Invest in Food

As Alice Waters says, food is precious. We should treat it that way. Americans currently spend less than10 percent of their income on food, while most European's spend about 20 percent of their income on food. We will be more nourished by good food than by more stuff. And we will save ourselves much money and costs over our lifetime.

To learn more tips for taking back the family dinner and using your fork to effect change in our world visit www.drhyman.com."

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

Mark Hyman, M.D. is a practicing physician, founder of The UltraWellness Center, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and an international leader in the field of Functional Medicine. You can follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, watch his videos on YouTube, become a fan on Facebook, and subscribe to his newsletter.

An Assembly Line Lesson

The kids had to come up with a snack that had an "M" in it for school this week. We decided to make trail mix with M&Ms. I thought this was a good opportunity to teach them about an assembly line. Each kid had a specific job and had to measure a certain amount of food for the mix. I used old Tylenol/Motrin measuring cups for the measuring tool. It seemed to be the perfect amount for our trail mix concoction. I thought it would be fun to take a kid grocery shopping and have them pick out the ingredients for our next trail mix assembly line. I like how this activity also incorporated a measuring lesson.

Winter Time Blues!

Anyone else feeling cooped up?? Today we decided to do a fun craft to kill the mid-afternoon slump. These little puppets were such a hit. I piled up some old Highlights magazines, family pictures, and some ratty paper back books that were missing pages (and were basically headed toward the recycle bin) and we cut out funny faces/characters and made our own puppets. All you need is faces/characters, construction paper, kabob sticks and tape. You could also color pages from coloring books and use those shapes for your puppets. Great fine motor activity too! :)

Meal Idea: Super Healthy Oatmeal

Did you know the package directions for oatmeal (rolled oats) used to include directions for soaking? Eventually these directions were removed as it’s not critical if your goal is to have hot, edible cereal and many consumers are only interested in convenience. Here is a brief description as to why it is so important to soak your oats:

"All grains contain phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorous is bound) in the outer layer or bran. Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron especially zinc in the intestinal track and block their absorption. This is why a diet high in unfermented whole grains may led to serious mineral deficiencies and bone loss. The modern misguided practice of consuming large amounts of unprocessed bran often improves colon transit time at first but may lead to irritable bowel syndrome and, in the long term, many other adverse effects. Soaking allows enzyme, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to break down and neutralize phytic acid. As little as seven hours of soaking in warm acidulated water will neutralize a large portion of phytic acid in grains. The simple practice of soaking cracked or rolled cereal grains overnight will vastly improve their nutritional benefits. " From my favorite cook book: Nourishing Traditions.

Recipe from the nourishedkitchen.com:

To prepare this soaked oatmeal recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 Cup Rolled Oats
• 1-2 Tablespoons Raw Cider Vinegar, Whey, Yogurt, Lemon Juice or Kefir
• 1 Cup Whole Milk
• Pinch of Salt
• 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• ¼ Cup Nuts and Seeds
• ¼ Cup Raisins

Instructions for Preparing Soaked Oatmeal:

1. Soak rolled oats, seeds and nuts overnight in enough water to cover – adding lemon juice, kefir, whey, yogurt or cider vinegar to the water.
2. In the morning, drain oats and rinse them well.
3. Add milk to a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. Immediately turn down heat and add remaining ingredients.
5. Stir frequently and continue to simmer until oatmeal has thickened to your liking.
6. Serve with yogurt, kefir and natural sweetener of your choice.

** Personal Notes about soaking: Soaking oats is not a timely thing. In fact, they cook much faster (maybe five minutes) if you have soaked them overnight. I am talking about large rolled oats that would normally take 20 minutes to cook. Buying large rolled oats from a bulk section at Whole Foods is much more cost effective and way healthier then purchasing instant oatmeal. Also, when soaking, I prefer whey (the watery stuff on top of the yogurt) or vinegar. Lemon juice gave the oatmeal a citrus flavor.

Enjoy!!! :)

Homeopathy

(Before I begin this post, please consult a doctor and/or certified homeopath
before taking homeopathic medicine.)

Homeopathy has helped our family with several different aliments. It has also helped several friends of mine. I recommend seeing a certified homeopath for your first experience with homeopathy and then once you have a comfort level with it, you will be able to treat your family's acute health issues. Acute meaning: colds, flu, injury, etc. Chronic pain or illness must be handled by a professional. If you are familiar with homeopathy, check out this website: http://www.abc homeopathy.com/go.php. You enter in your aliments and then it will suggest a remedy that may be helpful for you. Again, I would use this site for acute health issues. I mostly use homeopathy for colds and flu. It works wonders with helping the kids power through a virus. My new favorite remedy is Chamomile. I administer it to Lana when I suspect she is teething. It relieves her discomfort and irritability. I also use it for an upset stomach. It has been known to help with colic, as well.

I believe there is a place for conventional medicine. My preemie twins are living proof that modern medicine is a necessity. However, my homeopath has taught me that a lot of medications suppress an illness versus curing an illness. I like to use my homeopath in addition to our pediatrician. She is my go-to-gal for second opinions/alternative care for my family. Her website is: http://www.transformationalhealthpc.com. Check it out! :)

Jake's Favorite Christmas Toy...His new scooter!
Lana's Favorite Christmas Toy...Anything that wasn't hers! :)

Ben's Favorite Christmas Toy...A Spiderman Playdoh set!

Lukey's Favorite Christmas Toy...Spiderman dress-up gear!

Kevin's Favorite Christmas Toy...His self-made ice skatting rink in the front yard!

Lana's first sled ride.

The kids first time on the rink didn't go as well as we hoped! Kev basically had to carry them around the rink. He was exhausted. :)

Happy New Year!

The holidays were wonderfully chaotic! We had a great time. I am still trying to organize all the gifts and make room for new toys. This year I started a new tradtion that before Christmas, the kids have to donate the number of toys that is equivalent to their age. For example, Jake and Ben had to pick out four toys and Luke had to pick out two. We were going to donate to a women's shelter near by but ended up finding a family with a little boy (the same age as my kids) that needed some donations. It worked out well and the kids seem to feel good about their donations. Hoping everyone had a nice holiday.

Happy 34th Birthday to a

great hubby and daddy!

I don't care who you are, birthdays are special!!! 4 or 34..it doesn't matter. We were in Chicago for a wedding on Kevin's birthday/New Years Eve. He got the best gift of all...sleeping in!!! :)

Tea Tree Oil & Castile Soap

I have two green mentors, Christina and Amy. These two gals have done their homework. A few years ago, they decided to rid their homes of harsh chemicals and did a lot of reading on the subject area. The rest of their friends got to benefit from their new found knowledge, including me! :) I so often email them asking what do you use for this or that? They have given me sooo many recommendations over the years...I am eternally grateful for their willingness to share their knowledge. Here are two of my all time favorite products they have recommended:

1. Amy: Castile Soap- The soap can be used for anything and everything. From cleaning your kitchen to washing your hair. You can purchase it at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, etc. You only need a little tab and it will go along way. Amy had the great idea of buying one hand soap pump and keep refilling it with the an ounce or so of castile soap and water. I wash my hair with it 75% of the time and then rotate in my naughty shampoo once a week. Even my hubby uses it for his hair. I think it is so important to use green products in the shower. You ingest sooo much of those nasty chemicals in a hot, steamy shower when you use the chemical ridden products. THANK YOU AMY!

2. Christina: Tea Tree Oil- I recently started using Tea Tree Oil for acne and it really works. I know my friend Maria puts a few drops in a spray bottle with water and cleans Ruby's toys with it...such a great idea. I know there are a million uses for Tea Tree Oil..my Holistic Mom's Group uses it for everything. THANK YOU CHRISTINA!

What is your favorite green product?