Whether you are just getting tired of a long winter or just looking for some new ideas for having fun with the kids, I thought this article had some great ideas. It's called "100 Ways to Keep Little Kids Happy" http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/parents/story/data/1205253638265.xml&psrc=fpparentsmag031208p3
I can remember my family building forts in the living room, using the couch cushions, blankets, and chairs. Those were great times and we had a lot of fun!! I also remember on Sunday evenings when I was really little we'd turn on the music and all of us would dance to John Denver in the living room. These memories and other's like it, are some of my favorite memories of childhood...and they didn't cost a thing. I sometimes walk into a store, see the huge areas devoted to toys and wonder if my son needs more...but I don't think he really needs the toys as much as he needs me and my hubby and some great interaction, playtime and some fun ideas to get his creative side going....someone is up from naptime, gotta go, it's time to play :)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
All we need is given to us, we just need to find it...
I was reading an online article today and someone had made this comment below: All we need is given to us, we just need to find it. And I stopped and read it over and although it's a very simple statement, it really says alot.
I believe that we, as humans, have always been able to nourish our bodies with food from the land, be it fruits, vegetables, or animal sources. In the last century though, the types of foods that we put into our bodies has changed. As we changed our ways of living, our food changed too, and so did our health concerns. I am currently reading What To Eat by Marion Nestle, which is a book that I highly recommend. Nestle teaches nutrition at New York University and she basically goes through all of the foods that are available to us in modern society and tells you more information about each (such as the true differences between butter and margarine or the big difference between natural and organic). She really gives you all the information you need to know about what food is good and what's not so good. It's a little slow reading, mostly because there is so much information, but it's definately been an eye-opener!
I'm about half way through the book and it kind of makes me want to move to the country, live on a farm, and grow my own fruit and veggies...and maybe raise some chickens and cows :) I find myself at this moment, trying to simplify my life...I am trying to simplify my stuff, my activities, and my food. I keep getting pulled back to the basics and what really makes me feel the best that I can.
I know not everyone has had to deal with stomach issues in their life, but maybe you can still relate on some level. The way you feel after you ate a greasy meal....queasy, sluggish, and feeling like maybe it was not really worth it... Last fall a friend made me some butternut squash soup and I loved it...so I decided to make my own after my MIL told me that she had a crop of them. It was a simple recipe, the only time consuming part was cutting the squash, it had a few ingredients, herbs, broth, and squash...but the best part of the whole meal was how I felt afterwards, I felt great....and that really hadn't happened all that often with food and me.
I grew up with a love/hate relationship with food-loved the way it tasted, hated the way it made me feel. But as I ate that soup I realized I could have both, have food that I loved the taste and the way I felt after eating it. Since then I've been on a search for more foods and recipes that make me feel that way. I find myself being drawn more and more to simple food, whole foods, and raw foods. I find myself feeling better, having more energy, and just feeling better about my life when I eat foods that my body needs (and not just thinks it wants).
All we need is given to us, we just need to find it...I believe we may have already had it all and many of us just let it go, without really knowing it....but I know what I need now and so I will find it and I hope you will join me.
I believe that we, as humans, have always been able to nourish our bodies with food from the land, be it fruits, vegetables, or animal sources. In the last century though, the types of foods that we put into our bodies has changed. As we changed our ways of living, our food changed too, and so did our health concerns. I am currently reading What To Eat by Marion Nestle, which is a book that I highly recommend. Nestle teaches nutrition at New York University and she basically goes through all of the foods that are available to us in modern society and tells you more information about each (such as the true differences between butter and margarine or the big difference between natural and organic). She really gives you all the information you need to know about what food is good and what's not so good. It's a little slow reading, mostly because there is so much information, but it's definately been an eye-opener!
I'm about half way through the book and it kind of makes me want to move to the country, live on a farm, and grow my own fruit and veggies...and maybe raise some chickens and cows :) I find myself at this moment, trying to simplify my life...I am trying to simplify my stuff, my activities, and my food. I keep getting pulled back to the basics and what really makes me feel the best that I can.
I know not everyone has had to deal with stomach issues in their life, but maybe you can still relate on some level. The way you feel after you ate a greasy meal....queasy, sluggish, and feeling like maybe it was not really worth it... Last fall a friend made me some butternut squash soup and I loved it...so I decided to make my own after my MIL told me that she had a crop of them. It was a simple recipe, the only time consuming part was cutting the squash, it had a few ingredients, herbs, broth, and squash...but the best part of the whole meal was how I felt afterwards, I felt great....and that really hadn't happened all that often with food and me.
I grew up with a love/hate relationship with food-loved the way it tasted, hated the way it made me feel. But as I ate that soup I realized I could have both, have food that I loved the taste and the way I felt after eating it. Since then I've been on a search for more foods and recipes that make me feel that way. I find myself being drawn more and more to simple food, whole foods, and raw foods. I find myself feeling better, having more energy, and just feeling better about my life when I eat foods that my body needs (and not just thinks it wants).
All we need is given to us, we just need to find it...I believe we may have already had it all and many of us just let it go, without really knowing it....but I know what I need now and so I will find it and I hope you will join me.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Recipes: Guacamole and Hummus
I tried out the tumeric as an egg dye this past weekend and it worked great!! The eggs were a really nice yellow color. The only problem we encountered was pouring the leftover liquid down the drain, my parents have a white sink and it was temporarily stained yellow :) But don't worry, it came out! I also made the Apple Tart Recipe for my family and it went over great :)
I am on the search for recipes that are simple, require few ingredients, use natural and raw ingredients, and little prep time...I believe as our family grows (and I have less time) that will become even more important, so I am starting now!! I like to make appetizers and snacks to bring to different parties and get-togethers, but sometimes it's hard to find healthy choice. My favorite ones are items that can be made easily, but are still healthy and fresh.
I fell in love with Guacamole at my BIL and SIL wedding down in New Mexico. I had never thought of myself as a big fan of avocadoes, but they had this amazing guacamole at their recepetion and I was hooked! I bought it in the containers for awhile and used those little prepacked mixes, but one holiday my Aunt was making it and she showed me how easy it was to make (plus it tasted way better than the others!).
You can easily make as little or as much as you want. I'll start with using 1 avocado and you can easily just use more for a larger quantity. By the way, I try and pick fresh avocadoes that are somewhat darker skinned (unless you plan to wait to use them for awhile then choose greener). They should be relatively firm, but have a little give (if they are too hard, they might never ripen up). But they shouldn't be too squishy, else they are probably bruised and black on the inside.
Natural Mama's Guacamole:
1. Avocadoes
2. Salsa
3. Lime (or lime juice from bottle)
Just cut the avocado in half, peel the outside off, and take out the seed. Mash up the avocado with a fork (or you can also puree it in a food processor or blender). Then add a little salsa to taste (start with a little less than 1 tablespoon). Then add some lime juice also to taste (or about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon). See, that was easy!! Hope you enjoy it :)
My Favorite Hummus Recipes:
Recipe for corn tortillas, haven't tried it yet, but it looks easy!http://www.recipezaar.com/50820 And then to turn them into tortilla chips, follow this recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/4378
Hope you enjoy!
I am on the search for recipes that are simple, require few ingredients, use natural and raw ingredients, and little prep time...I believe as our family grows (and I have less time) that will become even more important, so I am starting now!! I like to make appetizers and snacks to bring to different parties and get-togethers, but sometimes it's hard to find healthy choice. My favorite ones are items that can be made easily, but are still healthy and fresh.
I fell in love with Guacamole at my BIL and SIL wedding down in New Mexico. I had never thought of myself as a big fan of avocadoes, but they had this amazing guacamole at their recepetion and I was hooked! I bought it in the containers for awhile and used those little prepacked mixes, but one holiday my Aunt was making it and she showed me how easy it was to make (plus it tasted way better than the others!).
You can easily make as little or as much as you want. I'll start with using 1 avocado and you can easily just use more for a larger quantity. By the way, I try and pick fresh avocadoes that are somewhat darker skinned (unless you plan to wait to use them for awhile then choose greener). They should be relatively firm, but have a little give (if they are too hard, they might never ripen up). But they shouldn't be too squishy, else they are probably bruised and black on the inside.
Natural Mama's Guacamole:
1. Avocadoes
2. Salsa
3. Lime (or lime juice from bottle)
Just cut the avocado in half, peel the outside off, and take out the seed. Mash up the avocado with a fork (or you can also puree it in a food processor or blender). Then add a little salsa to taste (start with a little less than 1 tablespoon). Then add some lime juice also to taste (or about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon). See, that was easy!! Hope you enjoy it :)
My Favorite Hummus Recipes:
Low Fat Hummus Spread http://www.recipezaar.com/152291 I would recommend using a little less garlic than it calls for and I subsituted olive oil. This is a really easy and cheap option for hummus that I've made in my blender several times now.
But if you want a really genuine Hummus, imo, try adding tahini, you can find it in the natural food sections usually, but it does add to the total cost. Here's a favorite recipe using that: http://www.recipezaar.com/11424
Now, what to eat the dips with?? Well if you are searching for healthy chips make sure to read the label and opt for ones with no hydrogenated oils. I thought it would be nice and cheaper to make my own chips from corn or flour tortillas...but have you ever looked on those labels? I've had an extremely hard time finding tortillas that aren't made with partially hydrogenated oils/ lard. So I decided I will make my own, it actually looks pretty easy and will be a great deal cheaper.Recipe for corn tortillas, haven't tried it yet, but it looks easy!http://www.recipezaar.com/50820 And then to turn them into tortilla chips, follow this recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/4378
Hope you enjoy!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Natural Products: Natural Mama Favorites
A few years ago I started to look for natural cosmetics and personal care products...and I didn't find much and what I did was expensive!! I also really didn't know what to look for, but the more research I do, the more confident I become in finding products that are safe and good for my family and me (and are becoming more affordable).
The place to start is http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ They have a huge database with tons of different cosmetic companies and their products (if you don't see you product on there, you can search by ingredients). It'll tell you what's in your products you are currently using and then you can search by, for example "lotion" and it will come up with all the lotions in the database, from the least harmful to the ones loaded with chemicals. The lower the score, the better.
These are some of my current favorite cosmetics and personal care product lines:
Aubrey Organics is a company that I've heard a lot of good things about. They have been around for a long time and I believe were one of the first cosmetic companies to go organic. Here's their website http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ We use their baby shampoo and body wash for our son. It ranks a 2 on the cosmetic database scale, which is a good rating and means it is considered a very low hazard.
I am also planning to try out Aubrey Organics makeup when it becomes available again (they are currently repackaging their products and their website says it will be out sometime in 2008).
Another great company is Earth Mama, Angel Baby and we've been using their lotions with my son. I love their labels because I can actually tell you what everything is on it! Like calendula, aloe, vanilla, etc. Simple and really nice, but definately a little bit pricier, so I only use it on his face. Check out http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/ That lotion actually ranks 0 (zero) on the cosmetic database scale, which is the best you can get! It says it's good for eczema, skin allergies and diaper rash.
A company that does a pretty good job with most of their products, is easy to find, and a little cheaper is Burt's Bees. There products aren't perfect, but the ones I do use are phalate free and no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, which is always good to avoid: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?brand_id=141&&showmore=products&atatime=500 I've been using their shampoo and conditioner, but I also plan to try out Aubrey Organics as well.
I use The Body Shop's aloe facial care line, well mostly the Aloe Moisturizing Day Cream. It was rated a 1 on the cosmetic database. I like it because it's made for sensitive skin and I've never had a reaction to it.
I've learned to be really cautious when it comes to labeling on cosmetics and personal care products. Here is some info from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Website:
*Consumers use as many as 25 different cosmetics products in a day and up to 70% of what is applied to the skin is believed to be absorbed into the body.
*Almost 90% of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have never been evaluated for safety.
*Major loopholes in federal law allow the $60 billion cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing and no monitoring of health effects. http://www.safecosmetics.org/
You can't just necessarily trust a bottle that has "Natural" or "Organic" written on it, because there isn't much regulation on the use of those terms when it comes to cosmetics and personal care products. You really have to watch the labels and check for more information. I recently read that the term "fragrance" is especially tricky, because they can include a variety of chemicals under that one term. So I try and opt for fragrance-free when possible.
I will continue to update on cosmetics and personal care products as I find them. Have a great night :)
The place to start is http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ They have a huge database with tons of different cosmetic companies and their products (if you don't see you product on there, you can search by ingredients). It'll tell you what's in your products you are currently using and then you can search by, for example "lotion" and it will come up with all the lotions in the database, from the least harmful to the ones loaded with chemicals. The lower the score, the better.
These are some of my current favorite cosmetics and personal care product lines:
Aubrey Organics is a company that I've heard a lot of good things about. They have been around for a long time and I believe were one of the first cosmetic companies to go organic. Here's their website http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ We use their baby shampoo and body wash for our son. It ranks a 2 on the cosmetic database scale, which is a good rating and means it is considered a very low hazard.
I am also planning to try out Aubrey Organics makeup when it becomes available again (they are currently repackaging their products and their website says it will be out sometime in 2008).
Another great company is Earth Mama, Angel Baby and we've been using their lotions with my son. I love their labels because I can actually tell you what everything is on it! Like calendula, aloe, vanilla, etc. Simple and really nice, but definately a little bit pricier, so I only use it on his face. Check out http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/ That lotion actually ranks 0 (zero) on the cosmetic database scale, which is the best you can get! It says it's good for eczema, skin allergies and diaper rash.
A company that does a pretty good job with most of their products, is easy to find, and a little cheaper is Burt's Bees. There products aren't perfect, but the ones I do use are phalate free and no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, which is always good to avoid: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?brand_id=141&&showmore=products&atatime=500 I've been using their shampoo and conditioner, but I also plan to try out Aubrey Organics as well.
I use The Body Shop's aloe facial care line, well mostly the Aloe Moisturizing Day Cream. It was rated a 1 on the cosmetic database. I like it because it's made for sensitive skin and I've never had a reaction to it.
I've learned to be really cautious when it comes to labeling on cosmetics and personal care products. Here is some info from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Website:
*Consumers use as many as 25 different cosmetics products in a day and up to 70% of what is applied to the skin is believed to be absorbed into the body.
*Almost 90% of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have never been evaluated for safety.
*Major loopholes in federal law allow the $60 billion cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing and no monitoring of health effects. http://www.safecosmetics.org/
You can't just necessarily trust a bottle that has "Natural" or "Organic" written on it, because there isn't much regulation on the use of those terms when it comes to cosmetics and personal care products. You really have to watch the labels and check for more information. I recently read that the term "fragrance" is especially tricky, because they can include a variety of chemicals under that one term. So I try and opt for fragrance-free when possible.
I will continue to update on cosmetics and personal care products as I find them. Have a great night :)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Holidays: Natural Easter Egg Dyes
This year I am going to try dying my Easter eggs with nature's dyes! I think it'll be an interesting experiment. While I am pretty sure that the colors will not be as vivid as with commercial dyes, I am excited to see how they turn out!
Here's some ideas from http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm
To get Natural Easter Egg Colors:
Pale Red: Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries
Orange: Yellow onion skins
Light yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin
Yellow: Ground turmeric (this is what I am going to try)
Pale green: Spinach leaves (Parsley is also another option)
Green-gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels
Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves (Blackberries might work too)
Beige to brown: Strong brewed coffee (or tea)
To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's what to do:
1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.
2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.
3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl.If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.
Another neat sounding idea: "Onion Skin Eggs...Gather lots of onion skins; the dry outer layers. (try to get a good variety of colors--I like plain brown best; red onion also makes a good color) Gently wrap them around*raw* eggs and hold them in place with rubber bands. Hard boil the eggs like usual. Unwrap them and WOW! Beautiful colors and designs! You may polish with vegetable oil for a nice gloss. This is a natural dye and the eggs are still quite edible. Happy eggs-ploration!" http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm
If you try any of the ideas, let me know how they turn out!
Here's some ideas from http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm
To get Natural Easter Egg Colors:
Pale Red: Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries
Orange: Yellow onion skins
Light yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin
Yellow: Ground turmeric (this is what I am going to try)
Pale green: Spinach leaves (Parsley is also another option)
Green-gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels
Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves (Blackberries might work too)
Beige to brown: Strong brewed coffee (or tea)
To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's what to do:
1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.
2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.
3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl.If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.
Another neat sounding idea: "Onion Skin Eggs...Gather lots of onion skins; the dry outer layers. (try to get a good variety of colors--I like plain brown best; red onion also makes a good color) Gently wrap them around*raw* eggs and hold them in place with rubber bands. Hard boil the eggs like usual. Unwrap them and WOW! Beautiful colors and designs! You may polish with vegetable oil for a nice gloss. This is a natural dye and the eggs are still quite edible. Happy eggs-ploration!" http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm
If you try any of the ideas, let me know how they turn out!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Toy Trades and More...
It's been a particularly long winter around here and I know we are all looking forward to spring! I can't wait to walk with dh and ds in the stroller to our summer farmer's market. I feel like the end of winter is close....and it's a good feeling!
A friend also has a son the same age as my son and we decided that our little boys were just getting darn tired of their same toys (and frankly, we were too!). So we decided on a little temporary toy exchange in which we'd trade a few toys (not their absolute favorites) for a few weeks. It's a great way to try out some different toys, save money on new toys, and when the toy is returned it's suddenly fun all over again!
I heard about a lady who started a company that rents out toys, supposedly it's doing excellent! I am not surprised actually, it's very tempting to spend a lot of money on kids toys and for some people, renting them might be cheaper. But I prefer to share with friends, go to garage sales, inherit toys from family, and buy second hand. But before I give my son any toy I always check out the CPSC website (US Consumer Product Safety Commission). These are the folks who send out those recalls and you can get on their email list so that you can be notified of recalls immediately. Go to: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx They also can notify you of things more than just toys, such as clothes, household items, sporting equipment, baby items, etc.-I think it's worth being informed.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!
A friend also has a son the same age as my son and we decided that our little boys were just getting darn tired of their same toys (and frankly, we were too!). So we decided on a little temporary toy exchange in which we'd trade a few toys (not their absolute favorites) for a few weeks. It's a great way to try out some different toys, save money on new toys, and when the toy is returned it's suddenly fun all over again!
I heard about a lady who started a company that rents out toys, supposedly it's doing excellent! I am not surprised actually, it's very tempting to spend a lot of money on kids toys and for some people, renting them might be cheaper. But I prefer to share with friends, go to garage sales, inherit toys from family, and buy second hand. But before I give my son any toy I always check out the CPSC website (US Consumer Product Safety Commission). These are the folks who send out those recalls and you can get on their email list so that you can be notified of recalls immediately. Go to: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx They also can notify you of things more than just toys, such as clothes, household items, sporting equipment, baby items, etc.-I think it's worth being informed.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!
Friday, March 7, 2008
Apple Pie for Breakfast
Okay, so maybe it wasn't exactly apple pie, but that Bakeless Apple Tart from Wednesday's post sure tastes great!! I was really pleasantly surprised and since it doesn't have any sugar and just lots of great fruit, nuts, and seasonings, I figured, hey good breakfast :) You should definately try it out!!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
My Quest for Healthy Desserts!
I have a weakness for desserts...well, maybe I shouldn't look at it like a weakness. Maybe I'll call it a good appetite for sweet things :) I know that I shouldn't eat the sugar and chocolate that I do, but what to do? What are the alternatives? I have been working on coming up with desserts that are still healthy and it will be a work in progress, but I found this recipe for a Bakeless Apple Tart recently and it sounds great, and the best part is it's dairy free, sugar free, wheat free, vegan, etc., but it does have nuts in it. I'm going to try it out soon and I'll let you know what I think! Here's the link:
http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/apple_tart/healing_foods/healthy_recipes/140
My favorite healthier cookies are:
Healthy Honey Oatmeal Cookies (As modified by Natural Mama)
Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons applesauce (or other fruit sauce)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpouse is good too) (I am looking into using oat flours, etc.)
1/4 rounded teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups rolled oats (aka oatmeal) (I use slightly more)
1/4 cup Ground Flaxseed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raisins
And I usually chop up about 1/8 cup or less chocolate chips, cuz I really like chocolate!!
Other Optional ingredients:
chopped dates, figs, currants, chocolate chips, or chopped chopped nuts , etc.
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter, brown sugar, honey, egg and water thoroughly.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients then stir in the oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add any additional ingredients you've chosen.
4. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet (I like to flatten them down a bit into a little disc shape, they seem to cook better). Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on pan for a minute or two and transfer to a wire rack.
Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/147497 It was originally from http://www.foodnetwork.com/
These are not super sweet cookies, but they are tasty enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. And they taste really good dipped in milk (that's soymilk for me :).
Let me know if you have great recipes that you'd like to share. Hope you enjoy!
http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/apple_tart/healing_foods/healthy_recipes/140
My favorite healthier cookies are:
Healthy Honey Oatmeal Cookies (As modified by Natural Mama)
Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons applesauce (or other fruit sauce)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpouse is good too) (I am looking into using oat flours, etc.)
1/4 rounded teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups rolled oats (aka oatmeal) (I use slightly more)
1/4 cup Ground Flaxseed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raisins
And I usually chop up about 1/8 cup or less chocolate chips, cuz I really like chocolate!!
Other Optional ingredients:
chopped dates, figs, currants, chocolate chips, or chopped chopped nuts , etc.
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter, brown sugar, honey, egg and water thoroughly.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients then stir in the oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add any additional ingredients you've chosen.
4. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet (I like to flatten them down a bit into a little disc shape, they seem to cook better). Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on pan for a minute or two and transfer to a wire rack.
Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/147497 It was originally from http://www.foodnetwork.com/
These are not super sweet cookies, but they are tasty enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. And they taste really good dipped in milk (that's soymilk for me :).
Let me know if you have great recipes that you'd like to share. Hope you enjoy!
Monday, March 3, 2008
These Ain't Your Mama's Cloth Diapers...
When I told people that I was going to start using cloth diapers with my son, many of them were surprised. Why would I want to go back to the hassle of cloth diapers, pins, plastic covers?? Cloth diapers have come a long way and these sure aren't my mama's cloth diapers!! They are very similiar in design to disposable diapers and ease of use. There are lots of different varities and costs involved with cloth diapers, but I recommend that them to anyone who has kids or will be having them. Here's a link to explain the different varieties: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/DiaperDefinitions.php
I am currently using pocket diapers, called Fuzzi Bunz, with my son:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=70 Benefits for these are they dry quicker and are slimmer. I am also planning to buy the Bumkins, which are cotton and are in the all-in-one (AIO) category. These can take longer to dry, but are easier to use and I like the thought of him wearing a natural fiber: cotton.
They do seem like a huge cost initially and that is what originally kept me from buying them, but after seeing how many disposable diapers my son goes through in even a week's period, I've changed my mind!!! Still not convinced?? "Your baby will go through about 8 -12 diapers a day ~ or about 9000 diaper changes by the time he/she is potty trained. At $0.24 a diaper, that adds up to about $2,160! Disposable wipes will cost at least another $600-800. In contrast, purchasing your own cloth diapers and cloth wipes to wash them at home will cost somewhere between $250 and $750. Considering your laundering costs (about $.50 a load or $120 over the course of 30 months) you will still save about $2,000 - $2,500 over an average 2.5 year period! And if you reuse your diapers over multiple babies, you can multiply this savings!" Info from: http://www.babycottonbottoms.com/cloth_vs_disposable.htm
Since I have switched to using cloth diaper and cloth wipes, my son has not had any problems with diaper rash! (Using disposable diapers, we had an almost weekly occurance of diaper rash...which led to use of rash ointment...which of course costs more money and I don't even like to use chemicals on my son!). I highly recommend the cloth wipes and a little spray bottle of water to clean baby bottoms, it does a better job, imo (in my opinion) and they are so much cheaper in the long run! Even if you don't go with cloth diapers, at least think about cloth wipes.
Another popular, but somewhat pricey in my opinion, is gdiapers, which have a flushable liner that you just put right in the toilet and you reuse the cover until dirty http://www.gdiapers.com/.
How about washing them? After they are dirty I have a bucket that I keep the wet diapers in, with no water or anything to soak. The dirty diapers you just hold over the toilet and the waste generally just falls into the toilet and you flush, then put those diapers in the pail. When you are ready to wash, simply do an initial load in cold water, with an extra cold rinse and a tiny amount of soap. Don't use fabric softener with cloth diapers because it can mess with the absorbancy. Then I start a load with soap, vinegar in the fabric softener compartment (or one of those fabric softener balls if you have one), and hot water wash with an extra cold rinse. (The vinegar helps balance the ph level). Here's a link for more details and ideas: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/WashingInstructions.php
I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy cloth diapers are to use and wash. And I love it every time that I don't throw another disposable diaper into the trash. I know my mama was impressed by the new cloth diapers and I highly recommend that you look into cloth diapers for your little ones. Feel free to email me or comment with any questions or your own recommendations.
I am currently using pocket diapers, called Fuzzi Bunz, with my son:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=70 Benefits for these are they dry quicker and are slimmer. I am also planning to buy the Bumkins, which are cotton and are in the all-in-one (AIO) category. These can take longer to dry, but are easier to use and I like the thought of him wearing a natural fiber: cotton.
They do seem like a huge cost initially and that is what originally kept me from buying them, but after seeing how many disposable diapers my son goes through in even a week's period, I've changed my mind!!! Still not convinced?? "Your baby will go through about 8 -12 diapers a day ~ or about 9000 diaper changes by the time he/she is potty trained. At $0.24 a diaper, that adds up to about $2,160! Disposable wipes will cost at least another $600-800. In contrast, purchasing your own cloth diapers and cloth wipes to wash them at home will cost somewhere between $250 and $750. Considering your laundering costs (about $.50 a load or $120 over the course of 30 months) you will still save about $2,000 - $2,500 over an average 2.5 year period! And if you reuse your diapers over multiple babies, you can multiply this savings!" Info from: http://www.babycottonbottoms.com/cloth_vs_disposable.htm
Since I have switched to using cloth diaper and cloth wipes, my son has not had any problems with diaper rash! (Using disposable diapers, we had an almost weekly occurance of diaper rash...which led to use of rash ointment...which of course costs more money and I don't even like to use chemicals on my son!). I highly recommend the cloth wipes and a little spray bottle of water to clean baby bottoms, it does a better job, imo (in my opinion) and they are so much cheaper in the long run! Even if you don't go with cloth diapers, at least think about cloth wipes.
Another popular, but somewhat pricey in my opinion, is gdiapers, which have a flushable liner that you just put right in the toilet and you reuse the cover until dirty http://www.gdiapers.com/.
How about washing them? After they are dirty I have a bucket that I keep the wet diapers in, with no water or anything to soak. The dirty diapers you just hold over the toilet and the waste generally just falls into the toilet and you flush, then put those diapers in the pail. When you are ready to wash, simply do an initial load in cold water, with an extra cold rinse and a tiny amount of soap. Don't use fabric softener with cloth diapers because it can mess with the absorbancy. Then I start a load with soap, vinegar in the fabric softener compartment (or one of those fabric softener balls if you have one), and hot water wash with an extra cold rinse. (The vinegar helps balance the ph level). Here's a link for more details and ideas: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/WashingInstructions.php
I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy cloth diapers are to use and wash. And I love it every time that I don't throw another disposable diaper into the trash. I know my mama was impressed by the new cloth diapers and I highly recommend that you look into cloth diapers for your little ones. Feel free to email me or comment with any questions or your own recommendations.
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