Parenting: Brilliant Time Out Discovery

Ah! I just had a great discovery about time outs: If I designate my sons' time out location in the kitchen near the sink, I can do the dishes while the offender is in time out. This is great for two reason: (1) I keep myself distracted from them and the frustrating situation, and (2) do something productive with my energy and desire to control the situation... instead of trying to control them. Perhaps once the dishes are finished, I'll move the time out stool next to the pile of clothes that need to be folded.

Gabe's Prayer

11.21.10 // 6:45 AM

Jon is off at work, and the boys and I have had a great time hanging out in the kitchen this morning: Will on the counter eating a breakfast snack and Gabe standing on the stool up against the counter making brown rice and sunbutter cracker sandwiches.

It was a peaceful time of me having a few minutes to get the dishes done while staying engaged with the boys.

Gabe was finished and cleaning up then went to the bathroom to wash his hands before wanting to work on his Lego plane. He came back to the kitchen after washing his hands and told me that before he washed his hands he was "just praying to God." He folded his hands as he talked about praying.

I was intrigued by this as only a few times before has he mentioned praying on his own, independent of nudging or routine. I asked him what he prayed about and he said he had already sent his message up to God and that it was gone now. Ah, this kid is amazing.

I was really curious what he was praying about so I asked again using different words about what he said in his message and after a couple of tries, this was his prayer:

"Thank you God, that Ninevah is not a bad city any more."

The reason I love this prayer is because it shows Gabe's heart and the thoughts consuming his precious mind. We haven't read stories from the Bible in a few days and clearly the stories have run through Gabe's head several times since. Gabe's concern over Ninevah and the choices the people there were making shows that he wants people to make good choices and that he has a desire for others to experience God's grace when bad choices are made. He wants good and he wants love to prevail. This simple prayer gives me a sense that there is a seed in Gabe to become a global citizen in caring for other people and cities. Gabe has had previous conversations with us about how everyone needs to be loved and how he has a lot of work to do to tell everyone in the whole world that they are loved. I am curious to see where life takes this little guy and where he takes life.

Of course, I am his mom, and it is possible that I'm reading a little too much into this situation. But I also believe that a mom knows her child's heart and is able to see into it with a keen awareness – for the harsh or exciting reality – more so than an average observer.

Tuckered out

Will was already asleep tonight across the room, and I was tucking Gabe in. We were nearly finished, and I asked him if he had any roses or thorns (a little game we play) to share about our day. (In all honesty, I was stalling because I just wanted to enjoy the moment of peace after our earlier moments of unmanageable behavior while brushing teeth). Gabe responded with his eyes half closed: We can't talk about that right now. We can talk about that tomorrow. Good night, with a fluctuation in his voice while pronouncing an extra syllable in the word night that suggested I leave him alone because he just wanted to go to sleep. It made me laugh inside as my mind perceived the interaction as a hint for what might lie ahead in the adolescent years. One more sweet kiss and I left the room with two sleeping boys.

A new frontier

Well, the time has finally come: We are transitioning to a no-napping household. Gabe no longer needs a nap – which I have finally accepted and embraced as of yesterday – and, well, I'm still oscillating on what to do about Will. His behavior often tells me that he needs a nap, but he has been resisting, so the jury is still out on how it'll all go down. I'll note that Gabe will be 5 in less than a month and Will is 3.5, so they've really done remarkably well at napping up until this point. And I will say I've been quite intentional about wearing off their energy so they would sleep during the day.

I have been dreading this transition despite my many older and wiser friends assuring me that it wasn't as bad as they thought it would be. I was leery of my friends' opinions, and so I have to say, it hasn't been nearly as bad as I anticipated! After all, both Gabe and Will were asleep by the time I left their room at 7.15 PM. In fact as I was rocking Gabe, he told me that he was done rocking and needed to go to bed because he was tired!

I'm a creature of habit and love a good routine so the fact that their sleep routine has been hairy as of late (hard to get them to nap, later bed times with routines full of resistance to sleep, night wakings), is not what I consider fun. I like to know that they're going to sleep at a given time every day so that I can organize my time and count on my expectations of what is going to happen and when. (I know I sound very rigid, and I've come a long way toward embracing flexibility.) So the fact that my boys are back to going to bed early and on regiment is fantastic for my heart and knowing that I have an extra hour back into my night! ...Though I know that will disappear at some point as well.

For me, the number one lesson in parenting is that kids cannot be controlled. It took me a long time to realize that I needed to remind myself daily that my role was not to keep my kids under control, but instead view my role as managing them. ...But that is another topic.

On a more practical note, both boys will definitely still have a quiet time in their room alone by themselves for about an hour. Gabe has transitioned beautifully because of our routine; For the last few months, while I was putting Will down for a nap in the boys' bedrooms, I would have Gabe keep himself busy in my and Jon's bedroom (where he napped) with worksheets, coloring or reading and such. He enjoyed this independent time as part of his nap-time routine and so now he's already used to going in our bedroom and keeping himself busy in a constructive way.

It's been a challenge to teach the boys to sleep and prioritize the rest of two little dudes that are 15 months apart. Yet, it's definitely been well worth the journey both to me and my character (patience and perserverance!) as well as an asset to their well being.

I've been rather obsessed with keeping my boys well rested because it truly means for a much happier child and family! So if I can share thoughts or nitty gritty details of keeping energetic children close in age on a sleep schedule, by all means, ask, because I'd love to pass on what I've learned.

Yuck. Avoid corn sugar!

Check this out. This is terrible! Please spread the word that the Corn Refiners Association wants to change the name of high fructose corn syrup to corn sugar.

Here's a response by Dr. Mercola to the article above.

xo

O Little Town of Bethlehem

I am becoming more aware of the crisis between Israel and Palestine. Recently I watched a film called O Little Town of Bethlehem and went to a screening of the film.

In the film an Israeli Jew, Palestinian Christian and Palestinian Muslim shed light on the issue in an effort to spread word of the situation. The three men featured in the film support non-violence and hope that equality for both people can be met through a peaceful solution.

Sami, one of the men featured in the film was also at the screening. He was compared to being the Martin Luther King of Palestine. Yanatan, another of the three men in the film, is feature in this article. The event mentioned in this news story was happening while I was watching the film.

My heart and prayers go out to him and his family. I wish there was something tangible I could do to help.

My hope is that we can all become more aware of this situation in the Middle East and that the media can cover news in this region in a truthful, unbiased manner. I highly recommend watching O Little Town of Bethlehem if you're interested in the situation between Israel and Palestine.

Jon will be going to the two countries next month.

Amazon = a mom's best friend!

I have so many blog entries rolling around in my head, just not enough time to sit and type them out. So for now what I will say is short and sweet:
I heart Amazon.com!

Please note Subscribe & Save plus Amazon Mom discount plus two-day free shipping. Hello fantastic!

A few photos from SF

My sistas (Jessica, Angie, Sarah) + Me at Fraiche

Hydrangeas + my neice, Abi, at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Mi Madre + Mi at Jessica + Jonathan's wedding

My dear hubby + Me

Last Month's To Do List

Moving truck came one month ago today! Honestly I can't believe it was only a month ago.

Here's my to do list in short from this last month:

Move from Minneapolis to Chicago, maid of honor at sister's wedding in SF, host bridal shower + bachelorette parties, unpack, potty train my three year old, prep to start new job, hire nanny times two (since the first one backed out), meet with new pediatrician, date with cute husband, prep boys + paperwork for preschool, visit brother-in-law's farm downstate, get together with old Chicago friends, unpack + organize, make homemade pasta sauce + salsa from the six boxes of tomatoes collected at the farm, teach boys what it means to live in a condo building, politely communicate with downstairs neighbor that her demand for a household rule of "no running ever" will in fact not be possible, Chicago adventures with the little dudes including North Avenue Beach during the Air + Water Show, Shedd Aquarium, Green City Market, Lincoln Park Zoo, Hancock Observatory (today = so much fun!), convert three year old's crib to toddler bed, wait for house to sell, reinforce boys' sleep rules, miss Minnesota + friends, unpack.

Whew.

More evidence links pesticides to hyperactivity

Check out this short article from the Chicago Tribune. Interesting and not surprising. A valuable read.

Interesting Article from The New York Times

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Scientists go hiking to probe effects of technology on brain

How do laptops, cellphones affect the way humans think? 

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It would be interesting to hear the results of a study that rivals this idea:
to understand how heavy demands on a mother's attention and time changes how women think and behave, and how a retreat into nature might reverse those effects caused by too much stimulation from trying to meet the needs of multiple babies or young children at one time.

Any scientists out there able to shed light on this topic?

Victory!

Today is an amazing day, not only because the date is eight.nine.ten, but because after an entire year, plus, my son Gabe ate his entire helping of quinoa with little prompting!

I know I'm a nerd about food, but I was so excited by my little dude's nonchalant eating of his quinoa tonight that I was nudging my husband under the table and couldn't help but bust out a blog entry about it after taking a month break due to the busyness of moving and transitioning from Minneapolis to Chicago.

I literally have put this delicious grain on Gabe's plate at least every week for a year and have gotten push back nearly every time. The reactions have ranged from tantrums because it was on his plate even after I told him that he didn't have to eat it (but that it needed to stay on his plate) to him taking a bite, saying it was good and then refusing to eat a second bite. Only on a couple of occasions has he taken a second, very teeny tiny bite.

And so today was special, affirming and inspiring as I continually seek to expand the palette of my two boys. And to think I almost made noodles because I didn't want to risk a smooth dinner experience. And to think that I almost didn't put the quinoa on his plate even after making it because I didn't want to deal with the whining. Perseverance has paid off! And now if the resistance reoccurs, I'll always be able to gently remind my dear Gabe of how much he enjoyed his helping of quinoa "that one night."

Please note that I'm not sharing this story to brag in any way, but hope that one mom's struggle and perseverance can serve as an inspiration for those trying to help their children eat foods that their little one continues to refuse. Hang in there caregivers and keep putting it on their plate!

We're hosed.

This early morning as our family was driving Jon to work, we again entered into our on-going light-hearted conversation to help the boys understand what potty talk is and isn't. It started when Gabe made a silly comment to Jon that ended in "coo coo," and Will thought Gabe was talking potty talk. So we clarified saying that even though it rhymes with "poo poo" that Gabe said "coo coo" and that it wasn't potty talk. This sent the boys on a language exploration. The boys went on adjusting the first sound of said phrase to find words that rhymed with it and edged up close to the line of potty talk. It was very cute. Finally one of the boys said something like "coo poo" and Jon and I decided to classify that as potty talk in the context of our conversation. Then Will started singing Winnie the Poo, and Gabe accused him of potty talk. Will said, "No, that's bear talk." Jon and I couldn't help but laugh and enjoy his smarty-pants three year old logic.

I've been really into juicing this year and have shared my excitement with my boys, Gabe and Will. Both of them have enjoyed our juicing adventures, particularly Will. He's 3 and can pretty much make his own juice, right down to tipping our juicer forward which pours out the last few drops of the nutrient rich beverage. Juicing has been a great way for me to get veggies, like radishes and kale, in to their little bodies that I wouldn't otherwise be able to. And the best part is, I'm not sneaking it under their nose. Now they ask to put radishes in their juice. Getting to this point was a process though. We started with just apples and the hands-on process of making juice was very intriguing to them. Then we added carrots and eventually spinach. Once they accepted those ingredients, it was pretty easy and exciting for them to experiment with other ingredients. This has been a great way to help expand their palette and keep them healthy!

I must also share that there is a Curious George (a favorite in our house) episode in which George makes his own juice with a juice maker. This has further supported my cause and for that I am thankful. All in all, juice making is fun! It's hands-on and interesting to see a machine squeeze juice out of an edible product of nature. Below one of Will's juice recipes (different than the one pictured above).

organic feminine products

Most people that know me quickly find out that I despise harmful chemicals because of their harmful affects on the health of humans, animals and our Earth. I seek food, cleaners, beauty products and materials that are free of chemicals, if not organic.

My product preferences have changed over time as I've learned about what's actually in the things I buy, and this educated / research-based purchasing aspect permeates all areas of my personal health and home life. I seriously weigh all options whenever I buy a product, from chewing gum to the paint I put on the walls of my home. Sometimes I drive myself insane during the process, but it always pays off and the decisions get easier as the knowledge builds over time. My purchasing method and search for all things truly natural (not just marketed as such!) carries over to feminine care products as well.

Feminine care products come in to contact with the most delicate tissues of a woman's body. Probably about seven years ago I read an article that alerted me to all of the nasty, harmful chemicals in most tampons (and other feminine care products). And so I decided to try organic ones. To be honest, they just feel better and my mind rests at ease knowing that my skin isn't absorbing toxic, cancer-causing chemicals. Sure, organic gear is more expensive, however I am convinced that the return on investment is worth it to the health of my body.

I use Seventh Generation tampons and Natracare liners. Both are available at health food stores and on Amazon. Both are cheapest if you buy in bulk via Amazon's Subscribe & Save program which takes 15% off the price. Through this program you can cancel, order or delay a shipment at any point – plus free shipping! Try a box or two first, then order in bulk as it makes the price more reasonable.

I believe this is the original article that opened my eyes to switching my buying habits. If you read one article on the topic, I'd suggest said article from Dr. Mercola.

Ignorance is not bliss. Let's choose our products wisely, starting with tampons and liners. :)

diapers + wipes!

For a limited time, starting on June 28, Amazon is offering 30% off diapers and wipes with Subscribe & Save. I love ordering diapers, wipes and a lot of other stuff via Amazon's Subscribe & Save program. It's great getting diapers in bulk and not having to lug them home form the store. Amazon makes it so easy – you can cancel, order or delay a shipment at any point – plus free shipping! It's really a win-win situation.

Also, because of the discounted price I can get on Amazon (typically 15% off through Subscribe & Save), it makes the price of Seventh Generation diapers and wipes much more reasonable than Whole Paycheck prices. Hooray for unbleached, unscented (no parabens or phalates on those precious little bums) disposable diapers and wipes!

I know I sound like a commercial... Only wish I was getting paid! :) Enjoy the discount, friends.

cinnamon play dough

Tonight the boys and I made cinnamon play dough. Gabe found the recipe a few days ago while he was scanning High Five (the junior version of Highlights) and we agreed that we would have to pick up some corn starch and whip this up. It's super easy, fun and smells great. I plan to make this at the holidays. I think it'd be a wonderful, cozy sensory experience during the fall and winter seasons. After all, it makes the house smell so good. After some ado, here's the recipe (verbatim):

Spice Up Some Play Dough

1. Put 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a pot. Stir.
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of water. Stir.
3. Adult: Cook the dough on medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture looks like mashed potatoes. Remove the dough from the pot.
4. When the dough is cool, knead it until it is smooth. What will you make with your new play dough?

Note: This sweet-smelling dough will stay soft for a long time if you keep it in a zippered plastic bag.

I will add a short comment here: When the dough was warm, I let the boys play with it and they loved how it felt in their little hands. They played with it for a few minutes just before bed and I think it was calming and therapeutic to their noses.

Also, one of the reasons I love this play dough recipe is because it's wheat / gluten free. And this is a great place to use up any genetically modified corn starch you may have tucked away in your pantry.

Enjoy!

William Li: Can we eat to starve cancer?

Amazing. Fascinating. Exciting. Please watch this video!

Take Our Kids to the Park...And Leave Them There Day: Saturday, May 22

(Or rather... And Let Them Play Without Hovering Day)

This is an interesting article from TODAYMoms. I think Lenore Skenazy has some valid point / ideas to consider.

Erupting volcano + two little boys = so much fun!

Gabe, Will and I made a volcano for the first time. The idea was inspired by a project Gabe's class did in school a few months ago. We were looking for a little fun and this project was the result. It's not nearly as messy or as much work as I thought it was going to be.
We grabbed a bottle from our recycling bin. I think it was a empty bottle of Izzy (good stuff, by the way!) and were on our way. Below are our simple directions.

To make the volcano:

1. Place a soda-shaped bottle on a rimmed pan (we used a broiler pan) lined with aluminum foil. 
2. Tape the bottle to the aluminum foil and cover it with play dough. We used some old red play dough that was on its way out due to loss of moisture. The boys enjoyed covering the bottle with the dough.
3. Decorate if you feel like it. Sticks and dandelions worked wonders in our case. 
4. Let the volcano (dough) dry. Ours sat overnight and built anticipation the whole time. 

To make the lava:

1. Mix 1 tbs. liquid dish washing soap, 1 tbs. baking soda and a few drops of red food coloring in a cup.
   
2. Pour or scoop the mixture into the bottle.
   
3. Pour 1/4 c. white vinegar into the bottle and stand back to watch your volcano erupt! It may take about 30 seconds before you're able to see the lava coming out. Very exciting!

Here are more detailed directions which we referred to and certainly simplified.
Have a blast!

2010 Dirty Dozen list by Franklin Goose

Just read this 2010 Dirty Dozen list that was featured in Franklin Goose's e-newsletter and was compelled to share. I'm always intrigued at just how many pesticides / chemicals are used to produce food that we put into our bodies!

Yet again, another reason to adjust the budget, vote with our wallet and buy organic. ...Or hit up the local farmer's market and support those hard workers that don't use chemicals (ask them if they spray or use chemicals) but aren't yet a certified organic farm because it costs a lot to become one.

1. Celery
Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the 64 chemicals that are used on crops.
Alternatives: organic celery, broccoli, radishes, and onions.
2. Peaches
  62 pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards.
Alternatives: organic peaches, watermelon, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.
3. Strawberries
If you buy strawberries, especially out of season, they're most likely imported from countries that have less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries.
Alternatives: organic strawberries, kiwi, and pineapples.
4. Apples
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Tests have found 42 different pesticides as residue on apples. Scrubbing and peeling doesn't eliminate chemical residue completely, so it's best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.
Alternatives: organic apples, bananas, and tangerines.
5. Blueberries
New on the Dirty Dozen list in 2010, blueberries are treated with as many as 52 pesticides, making them one of the dirtiest berries on the market.
6. Nectarines
With 33 different types of pesticides found on nectarines, they rank up there with apples and peaches among the dirtiest tree fruit.
Alternatives: organic nectarines, watermelon, papaya, and mango.
7. Bell peppers
Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They're often heavily sprayed with insecticides. Tests have found 49 different pesticides on sweet bell peppers.
Alternatives: organic bell peppers, green peas, broccoli, and cabbage.
8. Spinach
New on the list in 2010, spinach can be laced with as many as 48 different pesticides, making it one of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable.
9. Kale
Kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year.
Alternatives: organic kale, cabbage, asparagus, and broccoli.
10. Cherries
Even locally grown cherries are not necessarily safe. In fact, in one survey in recent years, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries. Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries.
11. Potatoes
America's popular spud reappears on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list, after a year hiatus. America's favorite vegetable can be laced with as many as 37 different pesticides.
Alternatives: organic potatoes and sweet potatoes, eggplant, cabbage, and earthy mushrooms.

12. Grapes
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Only imported grapes make the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape's thin skin. Remember, wine is made from grapes, which testing shows can harbor as many as 34 different pesticides.

 

Past Dirty Dozen Contenders

Try to purchase organic leafy greens, carrots, pears, and tomatoes.

Happy Birthday, Abi!

Today is my neice's birthday! She is sweet, spunky, precious and a beautiful little lady.
 Last week I whipped up this tutu and sent it to her. It was super easy and fun to make, a great gift to send across the country as the finished product is light in weight. And the best part? Fun for Abi! She wore it the entire first day after opening it.

G + W = no pacifiers + 1 bedroom!

So there have been a few major transitions in our home over the last week.

First, the pacifier fairy swung by for a pick-up last Wednesday. I've been dreading this transition and we made it through! I will admit that it was less painful than anticipated and that I'm happy all has smoothed over with missing their good ol' comforting pacies.

Second, the boys are now sharing a bedroom. Gabe and Will have been asking to have sleep overs with each other for months and reminded me that the deal I made with them a couple weeks ago was that once they get through the pacifier transition and sleep well without their pacifiers, they can share a room. Gabe called Jon and I on this last Saturday. So we did it because we said we would.

This has been quite an adventure. So far I've loved it and hated it (mostly during the times they're supposed to be sleeping but decide to throw a party ... the kind that includes emptying the clothes in their dresser and using it as confetti -- let's just say they had a 40 minute exercise in which they learned how to fold clothes and put them away).  But I mostly love it, partly for the sweet memories I recall from sharing a bedroom with any one of my sisters and partly for their sake and what it's teaching them about sharing, being flexible and a host of other qualities that I won't share b/c I just want to go to bed.

The main reason I'm sharing this info is because of these sweet photos of built-in bunk bed ideas I came across after my dear friend Natalie passed on a link regarding kids sharing bedrooms. We don't have bunk beds yet, but I'm guessing we will in the future! G + W are already talking about it.

Here are a couple of my faves from said photos of built-in bunks.

Reset Button

Yesterday morning I was a little grumpy. I was desperately trying to not take out my moodiness on my boys despite their million demands before and during breakfast all pre-7 a.m.

Despite my best efforts to suppress my issues, my snappiness showed up on the table. I know by now that suppression isn't sustainable, yet I'm still working on figuring out what to do with my emotions when they aren't what I want them to be in the moment.

After a bit of regrouping and calming my heart, I apologized to my Gabe and Will, told them I was kind of grumpy and made a bad choice by taking it out on them and told them that I thought it'd be a good idea to hit the reset button and start our morning over.

This sparked an idea that I thought might help to make the concept of resetting a little more tangible for Gabe and Will and actually make a pseudo reset button. I drew it, cut it and we pressed that button. Both boys wanted a turn and we went on our merry way.

At the end of yesterday I was satisfied that I was able to turn around my moodiness and have a way to walk my boys through this process in a way that they could grasp at 3 and 4 years old.

So today I had almost forgotten about said button until Gabe brought it up several times today at appropriate instances suggesting that we hit the reset button. One such time was after he had bit his brother. (This doesn't happen often and there is definitely a back-story to his frustrated emotions turned to action.) On his way to time out he looked at me and said "Mommy, I think we need to hit the reset button." Man, that kid is adorable. ...And it's a good thing he can whip that asset out at times when I'm not so happy with his choices.

Since the reset button has been a helpful tool in our house, I decided to make a little printable of one in case it might helpful for you to have your own. It's worth a shot. Download from above, print, cut and use! Seize those teachable moments and the grace that can sometimes turn things around.

Easy, Yummy Breakfast

I think the recipe below might be the easiest breakfast in the world. And it's very healthy too. Mornings can intimidate me in my typically groggy, sun-rising state at 6 a.m. with two boys ready to cease the day and exert all the energy they stole from me.

Last night I whipped this up in the 5 minutes before heading to bed. It was well worth the minimal effort. I used to make something similar years ago when I was single and working. In both cases, it was delightful to have breakfast ready for consuming.

Benefits: This gig is healthier, just as easy and less expensive than boxed cereal. Plus it gets better the longer it sits and doesn't fall apart like gross, soggy cereal (a plus when dealing with the kiddos). It's gluten, dairy and corn free, raw and delish!

Here's the recipe I made this morning which has a high capacity for modification. Adjust to your or your family's taste and quantity. Let's call it:

Soaked Mueslix Recipe Template
Serves 4-ish

2 c. Rolled oats (I use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oats)
1/4 c. Raw honey
Water (enough to cover mixture by about 1/2 inch)

Optional add-ins:
Cinnamon (to taste)
Chia seeds (2 tbs. or so)
1/2 tsp. Ground Kelp (a few sprinkles)
Raw sunflower seeds (a couple handfuls)
Raisins / cranberries (whatever floats your boat)

At night, in a large glass container add oats and raw honey. Using two spoons stir / cut honey into oats until mixture starts to clump together. Add cinnamon, chia seeds, ground kelp and sunflower seeds. Mix until evenly distributed. Cover with filtered water and give it a mix. Cover container with lid or towel. Let sit on counter until morning. Just before eating add in dried fruit to whole container or atop individual servings.

Note: This will also work in the morning with about 20 minutes to soak. It won't be quite the same, but still delicious and my boys like it just the same. However I like the convenience of tossing it together before bed.

Enjoy!

Food Timeline

Fascinating! foodtimeline.org

Muna

Muna + me, last summer (2009)

My neighbor is the cutest little thing. Her name is Muna, she's seven and is usually in mismatched clothes including high water pants that accentuate her tiny frame.

Every afternoon around 3.15 p.m. I can count on seeing her. She knocks on our door after she gets home from school. We have sort of a standing play date: her, my sons Gabe (4) and Will (3) and of course me. She's really good with the boys, and it's been fun seeing her grow over the last year and a half. She's a good kid.

Yesterday the boys and I were outside after their naps which ended earlier than the recent usual. Gabe loves knocking on Muna's door and asking her to play in our backyard: this makes him feel like such a big boy. So yesterday he was asking if he could knock on her door. I knew she wasn't home yet, but nonetheless we went to the front yard to scope out the situation. As we arrived, her bus pulled up to the corner across the street from us, and we told her that we were waiting for her to come home to see if she could play with us. Her face lit up, she dropped her bag inside her front door and ran the 20 feet distance between us. Off we went. Another afternoon full of backyard adventure, snack time, story time, digging in mud, playing in sand.

A few minutes ago I heard knocking at the door during my peaceful nap-time break (sigh). It was–of course–Muna. I told her that the boys were sleeping and wouldn't be able to play this afternoon but that we could tomorrow.

Then she asked if we could do what we did and wait for her like yesterday.

Her yearning to know that someone would be waiting for her to come home from school melted my heart.

And I told her yes, we'd be waiting for her tomorrow.

Food: A Popular Topic Today -- Hooray!

Healthy food and eating well is important to me and is a topic that I spend much time thinking about, researching and practicing.

I am excited to see that Michelle Obama and her new campaign to end childhood obesity has spurred much talk and press on the subject surrounding food in America today, including Jamie Oliver's new show Food Revolution. Check out this blog entry, the source for the graphic that I could not help but post above!

Below is a list of interesting resources on the topic of food, our world, country and its industry:

(to come!)
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Will decides that he is done wearing diapers.

Yesterday in the late afternoon during one of Will's routine diaper changes, he told Jon that he wanted to wear underwear and not diapers. So Jon listened to him, Will wore training undies and went the rest of the night without an accident.

This morning, Will requested underwear again. I put them on because I knew the opportunity needed to be embraced even though I wasn't totally up for the thought of cleaning up accidents. The good thing about today was I knew we'd be spending it inside since Gabe and Will were still experiencing some sniffles.

At one point this morning while watching tv, Will popped up from his chair and said "I need to go to the bathroom!" I went in with him and helped him get on the toilet. He asked me how to get his pee out so I explained that he needed to relax. He wanted me to read a book to him, so I started reading Little Quack (the boys just got new rubber ducks), he relaxed and went. Then after nap time he opened his door, sleep wrinkles on his face, messy hair, red cheeks and said, "I have to go to the bathroom!" I helped him get on the toilet and right away he started saying "Ahhhhh." Eyes rolling back and closing still relaxed from just waking up. Then when it was ready to get pjs on, I let him know that he needed to try and go to the bathroom before we put a diaper on. He did and went again!

Will went the entire day without one accident! The funny thing is though that once this morning close to lunch he told me that he had a pretend accident on the rug and proceeded to tell me that he was sitting in it. What a funny little guy.

Dear Amazon,

I LOVE Amazon and LOVE getting packages. I feel like a kid on Christmas when a package arrives, even if it's just a box of coconut oil. Yes, I'm a stay-at-home mom nerd. On to my point: Our house is overloaded with beautiful shipping boxes that I feel guilty throwing out. I keep thinking that maybe I'll use said boxes, but the likely hood of me using 50 shipping boxes in the next year is not rooted in reality. It's rooted in my heightened awareness of how much garbage we create as a society and knowing that our garbage never really goes away. It just ends up filling our earth and creating space issues for future generations.
So I started wondering if Amazon has a box reuse program. I called customer service today and they do not. However the kind woman on the phone thought it was a great idea and encouraged me to provide my feedback. See below and consider sharing your voice if you too would like your extra Amazon boxes to live another life.
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Dear Amazon,
I am a regular customer and am wondering if Amazon has thought of – or can start – a box reuse program. I get a large number of packages from your company, the boxes are really nice, and I would love if there was a way to send the boxes back to you so that they can be reused. Please consider this idea as a way to lighten Amazon's and your customers' footprint on our Earth. It may even save Amazon some expense!
Respectfully,
Christina Klinepeter
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If you are a regular Amazon customer, please consider suggesting this to Amazon via their packaging feedback section by copying and pasting this into the Share Your Experience/Tell Us More comments field.

Gabe's nap time prayer today

God,
Please keep our world clean so it doesn't have any garbage in it, and please help mommy find her phone if she loses it.
Amen.

Babycakes

One of my favorite baking cookbooks! I've been searching for about two years to find a good allergen friendly cupcake recipe and at the time was trying not to think about what I would serve at my sons' birthday parties when we started having kids parties – instead of family days – to celebrate. Enter Babycakes. Thankfully Erin McKenna came out with this book in perfect timing! I received Babycakes as a birthday gift this last year and have made many batches of cupcakes and frosting(!) since. This last November we had our first friends birthday party for my older son and I made mini cupcakes using Erin's recipe. They were delish and the frosting divine! The kids loved them, the parents loved them and the two best parts: (1) my son could eat his own birthday cake and enjoy it with his friends and (2) none of the kids were hyper on sugar after too much cake.

Yum!

Less waste

I often receive Amazon packages and along with the product I ordered comes packaging material. I'm tired of throwing this in the garbage and feeling guilty because I'm throwing away perfectly reusable material.
This afternoon I did a little research. I set out to find a place close to my home where I can drop off these shipping gems so they can be reused instead of die to the landfill or be made into something else (for sure a better option than the previous but still not an optimal solution).
I called UPS and FedEx. Both are not allowed to reuse the type of material I have (AIRplus – basically air pouches). UPS is able to reuse peanuts. FedEx can only ship using their approved material from FedEx. Mail Boxes Etc. is able to reuse this material, however the closest one to me is too far to make it an environmental gain to drive there.
Finally I called STOROpack, the makers of AIRplus. The woman I talked to was very helpful and gave me this number to call in order to find local businesses that will reuse the material: 1.800.828.2214.

See Plastic Loose Fill Council.

I am pleased to report that I've found a good option and am happy that my efforts and packaging goods have not turned to waste!

Perhaps now I'll call Amazon to see if they have a reuse program for boxes.

During this process I had an idea: What would it look like if waste management companies (or an independent company) started community stores that would serve as reuse centers? This would be great to keep items such as boxes, packaging material, etcetera (I don't have any more time to brainstorm right now) out of landfills. After all, one man's trash is another person's treasure. Perhaps tax incentives can be offered to the company and to customers or the reuse centers can be based on donations or a small fee. One of the rewards for participants aside from inexpensive materials would be the fulfillment of social responsibility and helping our Earth.

Map: Where the Undernourished Live

Map shows countries resized relative to undernourished population--where the undernourished live.  

[Image courtesy of Worldmapper, 2009]

Bureau of Public Affairs

What do coal waste + food have to do with each other?

See Washington Post article.
See Wall Street Journal article.

This is an important issue and both sides have a major problem.

I wish with all of my heart that I could solve problems like this. I have a hard time shrugging off issues – with our world and its future – such as this.

One way to move toward a solution is to spread awareness of both problems:

1. Farmers are being encouraged to spread a chalky waste from coal-fired power plants on their fields to loosen and fertilize soil ultimately affecting the food that we eat. Yuck and hazardous! We need to use our voices against this.
   
2. There is an excessive amount of waste being produced. We as a society need to figure out practical everyday ways in which we can use less product from the power industry. Let's all use less electricity in an effort to lessen this ugly waste product so the power industry has less to problem solve. We need to implement the old stand-bye: reduce, reuse, recycle. 
   

Also, perhaps we can brainstorm effective ways to use this product other than in ways that it will eventually leach into our bodies through guidelines of use. Perhaps this hazardous material can be used in parking lots or locked between layers of commercial buildings... not in drywall that is cut and breathed in by construction workers and very close to the interior habitat of small children, office workers, our lovely human race! It does not belong in or near toys, food, paint, textiles, interior or even exterior building materials (think deterioration and residue developed over time left to fall on side walks and tracked into our homes, parks, environments); Let's keep this waste only in materials that will be effectively sealed and away from humans, animals, sea life and life sources.

I know and trust that we have very intelligent and brilliant people in Washington and abroad diligently working toward a solution to this problem. At the same time, I think the more people that can be aware of this issue the better.

A Paper Free Kitchen

Simple mom explains a great system for this environmentally friendly approach in the kitchen:
http://simplemom.net/how-to-create-a-paperless-kitchen/

My kitchen isn't totally paper free, but over the last few of years, we've significantly reduced the amount of paper towels used.

I call my approach the rag system. I have about 20 inexpensive white bar cloths, two hooks above the kitchen sink and a bucket underneath the sink. Here's how it works: One of the hooks holds a rag for cleaning the kids (we'll call this the kids' hook), the other hook holds a rag for cleaning the kitchen (the kitchen hook), and the bucket holds dry, dirty rags. Throughout the day and at the end of the day, the rags hang on the hooks. In the morning the rags are dry and I rotate their position. A clean rag is placed on the kids' hook, the old kids' rag moves to the kitchen hook and the old kitchen rag moves to the bucket. Once the bucket is full or I'm doing a load of towels, I bring the bucket to the laundry room and either soak them in the bucket with some Nature Bright by Shaklee (similar to Oxiclean powder only better smelling, more environmentally friendly and better at removing stains) before washing or immediately toss them in the washing machine.

Often if I need to clean a spill on the floor or wipe up melted snow that's been tracked into the foyer, I'll dip into the bucket under the sink and use a dried dirty rag. The rags are clean enough to use on the floor since I switch them every day.

When the rags get really stained, they're transferred from kitchen use to a bin of rags in our basement for household projects and maintenance (cleaning paint, washing/buffing the car, etc.)

I still need to do cloth napkins and have added it to my new years resolution list.

The older I get the more I become aware of the reality that our earth (and ultimately us) is in serious trouble. We each need to do our part to help eliminate waste and use less. This is a small way I've been able to live in a way that's sustainable.

Delicious juxtaposition

Anthropology January 2010 catalogue

Will's first prayer

The four of us were at dinner and he told us he wanted to pray.

"Dear God, Thank you for this great day and for the food that Daddy made to us. Amen."

So precious! I couldn't help but open my eyes and peek at Will saying his first prayer. I've asked many times at dinner if he wanted to pray and his usual response is no. This time it was all on his initiation. Beautiful!