Engaged and Entertained Without Electronics

My daughter has become the child who often asks, "Mom, can I have your phone?" while we are traveling in the car or at the grocery store. She is looking for a source of entertainment and something to keep her mind engaged. Here is a great article about when it is appropriate to let you child use electronics.

http://www.somedayilllearn.com/streaming-movies-for-kids/

I have nothing against her using it occasionally since I keep a collection of educational apps on there for her. I keep a limit on electronics and TV time so occasional usage (short periods of time, a few times a week at most) is all I allow. I do also admit, if I am trying to focus on driving or get my shopping done quickly without interruption having that there for her to use is rather convenient.

However, as a child I was forced to use my mind to create my own entertainment and I think that is part of the reason I am creative today.

Part of me wonders, as today's society looks more and more to electronic devices to provided educational material and entertainment for our children are they going to lose some of that ability to use their imagination?

When my sister shared this Etsy shop with me and wanted to share it with all of you. Felt boards are a simple product that can allow your child tons of creative options. Allison creates some super adorable boards and characters. Just keep them in your car or bag and when your child is looking for entertainment they can create and tell their own scenes and stories over and over and again.

Felt boards allow unlimited imagination in creating a scene.

 

 

What adorable carrying case!

Perfect for a pirate story.....

Or for someone who loves to tell fairy tales.....

And how CUTE are these little arctic animals!!!

Allow your child to relive their favorite family memories by recreating the scene.

Lots more at the Etsy shop. Hours of endless, reusable, mix and match fun.



Link to Allison's Shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BusyKidActivities?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Essential Oils: For a Wonderful Smelling and Healthy Home

Who doesn’t love walking home at the end of the day, opening the door, and smelling your favorite scent?

 Problem is paraffin candles, chemical filled plug-ins, and chemically manufactured air freshener sprays are some of the ways that we have become accustomed to making our homes smell appealing – but these products are adding to the toxic environment in our homes.

Well, I found a solution! I recently learned that my local grocery store carries essential oils. Better yet, they are natural and very reasonably priced! (You can also purchase them on the web for very reasonable prices).

I knew there were natural “air fresheners”. A search on Pinterest will give you thousands of links! I did a quick search and collected the basics here for you.

Common essential oils and their benefits:

◦   Basil: helps relieve headaches

◦   Rosemary: stimulates the mind and improves memory

◦   Clary sage: calms the nervous system

◦   Clove oil: helps relieve congestion and has aphrodisiac qualities

◦   Eucalyptus: expectorant, this eucalyptus species is indicated for children with respiratory congestion, useful for colds and flu, antiviral

◦   Ginger: relieves nausea, warming emotionally and physically.

◦   Geranium: PMS, indicated for hormonal imbalance, antimicrobial, nerve pain

◦   Lavender: improves sleep quality and calms the nerves

◦   Lemon: acts as a natural antidepressant and calms anxiety

◦   Mint: invigorating

◦   Orange: refreshes and relaxes

◦   Peppermint: relieves nausea, relieves/reduces migraines, energizing, antispasmodic, Studies say do not use around children under 30 months of age.

◦   Ylang ylang: aphrodisiac, antidepressant, nourishing

There are many more oils. Search our your favorite scents or find scents that will assist with natural remedies for things you are dealing with.

Ways to use essential oils around your home.

Make a Room Freshener:

◦   Fill a small decorative jar or dish with plain white rice and add in a few drops of oil. Place the jar in whatever room you wish to fill with the fragrance. (Peppermint or lemon work great the bathroom and lavender is soothing in the bedroom.) Click here for a tutorial on this

Clothes freshener:

◦   Dab cotton balls with essential oils and place in the corners of your drawers and closets. It also helps ward off moths!

Freshen while you vacuum:

◦   Place a few drops of oil on a cotton balls and put in your vacuum bag. Each time you vacuum it will smell wonderful!

Freshen your car 

◦   Place a few drops of oil on a cotton balls and put a plastic bag, leave it unsealed. Place it in your car under your seat. 

See full tutorial on the Live Life Whole website here.

To deodorize and clean furniture:

◦   Place a few Combine baking soda and several drops of peppermint, eucalyptus or wintergreen essential oil and sprinkle on furniture, floor, or mattress. The baking soda will absorb moisture, deodorizes and sanitizes. The essential oils will drive away dust mites and leave a clean refreshing smell.

For more research on the dust mite issue read this article: http://doterrablog.com/diy-use-these-two-ingredients-to-say-goodbye-to-dust-mites-and-hello-to-a-cleaner-mattress/#sthash.pkTJ9SDY.dpuf

If all that good smelling stuff isn't good enough reason, there is research out there at proves essential oils are beifital to our health and well being! 

February Challenge: Love Your Body by Eating Clean(er)

A year ago,  February 2014, I challenged myself and all of you to find something you loved every day. I managed to get 25 out of the 28 days with the chalkboard art graphic of something I loved.

This February I am going to kick off another challenge!

February is a shortest month of the year so why not use it as a trial for healthy living!?!

Last year I did a lot of exercise and I'm feeling great. This year I think it's time to challenge myself to make even more changes, specifically in the everyday foods I eat.

Despite all the exercise I've done and my overall daily healthy eating, haven't lost that last 10 pounds of baby weight that I want to get off of me. (Although I know some of that is gaining muscle and losing fat from running and all that kind of thing…)

But after lots of reading and investigation I've come to a realization that I've crossed that threshold into the mid 30 range and it's not just about exercise our calorie consumption (a.k.a. quantity). I really think it has to do a lot with quality. 

I'm really thinking at this point I need to seriously think about metabolism and hormones and overall healthy body balance. 

I've talked before about feeding our kids good food and organic versus healthy versus junk food I think it's time for me to really step up the game and see how much of a difference clean eating makes.

So here's what I'm going to do. I am going to take the month of February and challenge myself to gradually switch my family over to eating high(er)-quality food thought the entire month of February.

Over the next three weeks I'm going to do a series of posts about healthy eating geared towards moms who cook for kids and families. I will also setup a basic framework for the February healthy eating challenge.

I would love to challenge you to join me. No need to jump on the organic or vegan bandwagon, just make some small steps to making your families eating a little more healthy. 

Let's get together, share some tips, recipes, resources, and most importantly encouragement to love your body by eating cleaner and healthy.

Let's make February the eat healthy and love your body month! ❤️

New Years Motto.

Any resolutions from you this year? 

Mine is, "I resolve not to make any resolutions". 

Kidding, kind of. 

For many years I did not make "resolutions". To me resolutions feel so strict:

"I will lose weight"

"I will exercise more often" 

"I will learn Spanish" Etc..

 So often people make one resolution and if they don't stick with it they've 'failed.'

I don't want to set myself up for failure. Life is full of unpredictability when you are dealing with kids, family, work, and life in general. 

That is why last year I created a general motto that I could  strive towards during the year. 

Last years motto was " New Year New Me" and I succeeded in making myself  into a much more healthy person by exercising more often, growing my hair out, taking time to learn new things, landing my dream job, and even stepping out if my comfort zone and running. Leading to me completing three 5Ks last year!

For this years motto I've chosen "Be an example". This came about as a realization that I so often see my 5 year old daughter's actions mirroring mine, both good and bad. I have decided to constantly strive to be a good example for her to follow in all I do. Through this, I think we will both become better people. 

It is not just her though, the world is so full of problems and negativity, I want to inspire others to be better through my actions. 

If I am nice and let a driver in instead of cutting them off, maybe they'll drive a little nicer or do the same to another driver. 

Maybe help someone reach something on a high shelf at the grocery store  will inspire them to smile or an observer do something nice for another person. 

Maybe just take a second to calm myself and not yell when my daughter misbehave instead chose my disciplinary words carefully. 

I want to think about how I act daily so that I can be a good example to everyone around me.

If I can strive to be a good example for my daughter and people around me each day we can all become better people. 

What's your motto for the year?

Removing acrylic paint from clothes

My daughter want to a cut little event that had kids paint flower pots.

 Great craft, except they didn't use washable paints, they had acrylic craft paint and she, of course, got it on her clothes. 

Several hours later when we got home I attempted to remove it. No luck.

But I didn't want to give up. This was a really cute outfit and I wanted to save to.

I searched the web for "paint removal from clothes". The best suggestion seemed to be using rubbing alcohol.

 First saturate (and I mean saturate) the area with rubbing alcohol.  

Next hold the material taught and use a knife to firmly rub away the paint. (Apparently what is happening is the rubbing alcohol breaks downs the bonds in the paint and allows you to scrap it away.)

It was kind of a repeate process but it worked! 

I used a sharp knife I the skirt because it was a spandex knit but the shirt was cotton and started to give under the sharp knife so I used the dull side of a butter knife and it worked just as well. 

Outfit saved! 

I put it in the washing machine right away, because I didn't know what would happen if it sat in rubbing alcohol for an extended time, and it came out better than I could've hoped!

Genius idea!

I love those little tidbits of info shared online that make you say, "That's genius  yet so simple! Why didn't I think of that!!!!"

Here is a prime example of that:

Is always have trouble with shoulder bumps. I've tried all sorts if ways to hang my shirts. This is such a simple solution!

Have you found other genius ideas that you love? Please share.