Quinoa with Black Beans, Corn & Cilantro

This is the recipe that I give to everyone who is new to quinoa.  If you've never made a dish with quinoa before or think you don't like how it tastes- I encourage you to give this a try.  It's super simple, healthy and tastes great!  Plus, it's easy to customize to your individual tastes.  It's simply perfection.

Black Bean, Corn & Cilantro Quinoa

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3-6 cloves garlic, depending on how much you like
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 cup veggie or chicken stock
1 1/4 cup frozen or fresh corn
2 cans (15 oz) black beans, reserve some liquid
1 can (15 oz) diced tomato
3/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
salt & pepper to taste
avocado

Step 1:

Rinse your Quinoa!

You MUST rinse your quinoa.  I've found that it's easiest to rinse in a measuring cup.  If you try to use even a small colander, your quinoa will simply spill out the bottom.  When you're done rinsing, set it aside for later.

Step 2:

Saute your onion and garlic in the olive oil.  I use all organic ingredients and encourage you to do the same, especially with your olive oil!

Add in your spices and saute for another couple minutes until your onion is translucent.

Step 3:

Stir in the remaining ingredients.  So now is the time to add your corn, tomatoes, black beans and quinoa.

It will look a little "soupy".  Not too worry, after
the quinoa cooks, it will thicken.

I like to use frozen organic corn because it's easy and yes, I don't defrost it.  Just take it out of the freezer & dump it in.  I also reserve some of the liquid that comes in the canned beans and pour it in.  Usually it's about 1/2 cup from both cans of beans.  And you guessed it, the juice from the canned tomatoes goes in too!

*Tip- now's the time to add additional spices if you like it hotter.  Increase the amount of chili powder, you can add a splash of Tabasco or even a jalapeno pepper.

Step 4:

Bring to a boil then turn down to low and allow to simmer for 30-60 minutes.  You don't want to overcook your quinoa but simmering for 60 minutes will really bring out the flavors.

Garnish with a little fresh cilantro, sour cream and cheese.  It's also great with sliced avocado and chopped green onions.  We like to eat it with tortilla chips on the side, SO good!

Makes 4 servings.







*Full disclosure- I found an original recipe for quinoa with black beans and corn and I've adjusted it a bit to suit my family's tastes and preferences.  I do not have the link to the original recipe, otherwise I would give full credit to whoever came up with this awesome base recipe.  So please know, that I am in no way attempting to take credit for coming up with this great recipe.  However, I did make changes, so this "new" recipe is directly from me.  Enjoy!

How A Traditional Wife Begins Her Day

Recently, I had someone ask me what my day looks like- with homeschooling, work, kid, classes, activities, husband, dogs etc- it is certainly busy.  Every Mother and every family has their own routine, but it you're looking for something new or wanting to incorporate a few health routines or even just curious how other Moms do things- I hope you'll read on.  Below is simply how I start my morning, I haven't included the entire day- I'll save that for another post!

My day typically begins at 7am.  Some mornings I have to be up at 5:30 for work, but I try to avoid those days.  Sleep is super important.  I cannot stress this enough!  Busy Moms and parents, you simply must make it your priority to get at least 8 hours of sleep.  Being well rested will help you preform better at work, causes less stress to your body, gives you patience when dealing with difficult children and bonus- it helps you look good!

This is the Coconut Oil I use,

I wash my face and put some coconut oil on and sometimes I use that same coconut oil for oil pulling.  I usually average 3-4 days per week.  Do this in the morning before brushing your teeth or eating.  If I'm oil pulling that morning, then I will come downstairs, open the curtains, let the dogs out all while still oil pulling.  I've learned it's easiest to do if you are a little distracted with other things.  Do this for at least 10 minutes then spit it out & rinse with saltwater.  If I don't oil pull, then I simply brush my teeth and come downstairs.  Once I'm downstairs- before I have any coffee or breakfast, I drink my Apple Cider Vinegar.  I do this every single morning.  One tablespoon ACV to one cup water.

Use Bragg's Organic Unfiltered, Raw ACV

So before I've even had a cup of coffee, I've already done a few things that are very beneficial to my health.  Oil pulling is amazing for your teeth, prevents cavities and decay and great for your overall health.  Apple Cider Vinegar helps to alkalize your body, prevents against disease, helps with sinus issues, clears up your skin....really, I could go on and on.  I will also prep a glass of ACV for the husband to have when he comes downstairs.

Once I'm finally ready for my cup of coffee, I will sit and read work emails, log on to my work chat for my at-home customer service job, get on Facebook and try to have a few minutes of quiet to myself.  Not always possible, but I try.

By 8am, it's time for me to start feeding people.  First I make my husband's lunch and then begin on feeding our 2 dogs.  They eat mainly people food that I make from scratch each week- we call it "Puppy Stew" and it's SO much better for your pets then commercial dog food.  Fresh meat, lots of veggies, pasta, lentils, barley, or rice- and they LOVE it!  Once the dogs are happily eating, I make breakfast for us.  My husband is really a meat and potatoes guy, so he would love nothing more then sausage, bacon, hash browns, etc.  While he does get those foods some days, I do my best to balance out our breakfast menu.  My rule of thumb here is to make at least half your plate be a fruit or veggie.  Which works out just fine because both husband and son love fruit.  Many mornings I will also make a smoothie, either as breakfast or for the husband to take on the road with him.  He loves Green Smoothies and it's an easy way to get your veggies in at breakfast time!  We always sit down together at the dining table and eat.  Some days, this will be the only meal my son and I get to eat with Daddy, so we make it count.

My husband and I also take our morning vitamins/supplements with breakfast and if it's cold/flu season, the kiddo will take his Elderberry syrup.  I do not give my son a daily children's multi vitamin.  I used to but then found that most of them contain toxic chemicals and so we focus on eating a whole foods, balanced diet instead.  However, for myself and my husband we take magnesium, vitamin C & D, fish oil (although we are currently on a break due to the issues with contaminated fish), glucosamine, elderberry during cold/flu season and a daily multi.  The reason behind this?  Our bodies are deficient in many areas and although we try our best to eat all our nutrients, we are simply not their yet.  We will continue to consult with our naturopath and I highly recommend that you do the same before starting any vitamin/supplement regime.

By 9am, the husband is usually out the door for work.  He's usually pretty forgetful so I always ask him if he has his work phone, personal cell, wallet, keys, laptop, lunch etc.  Many days he forgets one so this reminder works for us.  Before he walks out the door, I always hug and kiss on him.  A lot.  Something that I think about often is- if this were the last time I got to hold him, love him, kiss him etc- would I look back and wish I held on just a little longer?  Would I wish I had told him how much I love him?  I know it's morbid, but you just never know when your last goodbye will happen and I want my husband to know and to feel how very much I love him.  So wives, send your husbands off to work properly!

Two days per week, the kiddo has homeschool classes.  So on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we all walk out the door together.  However, the other 3 days per week, the kiddo and I are at home all day.  So by now my work phone has been turned on and customer service calls will be coming in throughout the day.  The kiddo will start with his quiet reading and then move on to workbook.  I am usually cleaning up the kitchen, prepping for dinner if need be, starting laundry and doing all those things that need to get done around the house while balancing work and helping with the kiddo's schoolwork at the same time.

So let's recap.  Everyone begins their day differently and there's no right way, really- that's just silly.  But there are a few things that I hope you'll take away from me today.

• Make sleep a priority, for you and for your kids.  My kiddo gets at least 10 hours of sleep each night and if he doesn't- trust me, you know.
• Get up and start your day, be productive.  Don't lounge in bed every morning.
• Incorporate some healthy habits to your morning.  Stretching, oil pulling, yoga, Apple Cider Vinegar, vitamins etc.
• Prepare a homemade and healthy breakfast to start your family's day off right!  If you have to open a box, it's probably not as healthy as you think it is.  Make sure you have lots of fresh fruit and veggies too!
• Make your husband a lunch.  Doing something nice for your spouse is always the way to go.  And bonus, you can include a special treat or sweet little love note.
• Send your husband to work with lots of love.  Seriously, just stop what you are doing for 5 minutes and give him a proper send off.  Trust me, it will make a difference.
•  Prep now for later in the day.  Mornings can be busy, but once you've hit that calm- usually for me this is around 10am, it's time to prep for later.  Do you need to wash your kids soccer uniform?  Or how about taking a roast out of the freezer?  Even simple things like refilling the dog's cookie jar or making another batch of granola- now's the time.
• Take time for yourself.  Yep, every Mom needs quiet time.  I usually get mine at the very beginning of the day.  Like now, I'm writing this blog post and drinking my coffee.  This is my me time and we all need this!

Lots of good, helpful tips here, not just for Traditional Wives but for everyone.  I hope you've found something useful and will incorporate some of these tips into your morning routine.

Want to read more about being a Traditional Wife?

• A Morning Checklist for Traditional Wives
• How a Traditional Wife Can Support Her Husband
• Marriage: A Traditional Housewife

Cheese Sandwich

When William was just a little guy, we would always make what we called, "Cheese Sandwiches".

Basically, whenever the kiddo saw Mommy and Daddy hugging (which was often) he would squish in and scream, "Cheese".  And we would all hug and then the husband and I would smoosh him between us- ie. smoosh the cheese.  This would always end with giggling and laughing and usually Lucky Dog would start barking.

This used to happen all the time.

Then William got older and he forgot about it.  Seriously, it's been years and I had thought he probably didn't even remember.  You know how it is....as you get older, you forget about all that stuff you used to do.  Especially when you were just a little guy.

Then this morning something pretty sweet and unexpected happened.

The husband and I were kissing and hugging goodbye, as we always do each morning, when William yelled "Cheese!"

Oh.  My.  God.

He remembered.  I can't believe my baby remembered.

And so this morning, we did something we haven't done in years.  We made a William Cheese Sandwich and it was the best sandwich any Mom could have.

What a beautiful reminder for me that our children remember what we do.  They remember even the little things and it becomes a part of who they are.  Something as simple as making a Cheese Sandwich, can have a profound impact on who your child will become.

This morning I was encouraged to keep doing the little things.  To be the silly Mom, to laugh, to giggle, to squish and play and most importantly, to be affectionate with my child.  Thanks Kid- I needed that.

Here's to more Cheese Sandwiches!

One Meal at a Time

My parents came over for Easter dinner yesterday.  And as we were sitting in the living room, visiting and waiting for the Ham to cook- we started talking about food.  I'll summarize for you, but basically- my Dad, who does all the grocery shopping and cooking was stating how the price of meat (not organic meat) has gone up.  How it's difficult to feed all 8 people in their household with the rising costs of food in general.

I totally get it.  Food is expensive.  And good food is extremely expensive.  Sadly, the cost of organic is out of reach for many.  And yes- I know you can coupon, shop the sales, buy in bulk....yada, yada.  I know how to save at the grocery store.  So let's just put that aside for now.  The fact of the matter is that organic food costs a shit ton more then conventional.  There are less coupons and less sales on these items and typically the packaging is smaller.  So not only are you paying more, but you're also getting less.

For my parents, and I'm sure many others out there, eating 100% organic is simply out of reach.

So as the conversation progressed, I expressed to my parents that instead of stressing out about the rising costs of meat, how about simply eating less of it?  This will save you money, I said.  Plus it's better for you!  I went over some alternatives that are healthier and cheaper- foods like lentils, barley, beans and quinoa.  These items are very easy to make, most people like them and they are cheap.  Even the organic versions are fairly inexpensive.

Now, my Dad, who is a MEAT LOVER- said this will simply not work at their house.  Everyone in their household eats meat daily, almost at every single meal.  Is your house like this?  I'm sure you can relate....bacon or sausage with breakfast, ham sandwich for lunch, chicken at dinner and then repeat.  Day in and day out.  Trust me- I know.  I grew up eating this way and for the first few years after moving out, I continued eating this way.

So here's the question that I posed to my Dad and I want you all to really think about what your own answer would be.

If you knew 100%, without a doubt, that eating meat every single day would give you cancer, would you continue to eat it?

Then I followed up with this question-

If you knew that reducing the amount of meat you eat would drastically cut your risks for getting cancer, would you eat less meat?

Now, you may be thinking....geez, that's a pretty crazy question.  But the reality is that eating lots of meat, especially conventional meat, will increase your odds for disease, especially cancer.  Google it- no joke.

So here's what I challenged my parents to do.  Simply start by making one day, one meal without any meat.  Do not add meat to the side, do not center your meal around meat and do not cheat and go eat a turkey sandwich later.  Just make the decision that you will make one night per week meatless and stick to it!  You have to start somewhere and there is nothing wrong with taking baby steps.  That's how my husband and I did it, so I know it works!

I sent my parents home with a fool proof recipe, Quinoa with Black Beans, Corn & Cilantro.  It combines yummy Mexican flavors with beans and quinoa for a protein packed, satisfying vegetarian entree.  It's easy to make and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a larger household.  And best of all- it's cost efficient!

They said they will give it a try and I hope you will too!  Challenge yourself and your family- making positive changes doesn't have to be difficult, it can be as simple as making one meal.

Want to read more?

• So You Want to Eat Less Meat?
• An Organic Cow is a Special Cow

Interested in finding out more about the amazing benefits to adopting a more meat free life?  I highly recommend you check out the documentaries, Forks Over Knives and Vegucated.  And of course, if you haven't watched Food Inc yet- you simply MUST!  Here's a short clip below from Forks Over Knives.

Mom- I Know You're the Easter Bunny

Oh shit.

The time has come- can the childhood magic of believing in the Easter Bunny really be over?  So I did what any halfway crazy Mom would do in this situation, I turned it around.

"And what makes you think that?"  I asked.  Bwahahaha, take that Easter Bunny!

Mom, it's just not possible.  A bunny the same size as Dad?  I just don't see how that could be real.

"Hmm....well, you do have a point there.  But what about this summer when you were convinced you saw Bigfoot at Mt. St. Helens?  Bigfoot is just like the Easter Bunny.  Many people believe in him and have claimed to have seen him but no one really knows for sure if he exists."

And then it got really quiet.

You might be right Mom.  Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not real.

"Exactly.  And sometimes, things exist only in your heart or in your imagination.  If you believe in them, then they are real."

Ok.

And just like that, the conversation was over.

Yes, I fully realize we are approaching that age when the kiddo will know longer believe- he is 9 years old after all.  Trust me, I get it.  But is it SO wrong for me to want him to hold onto that childhood magic and excitement just a little bit longer?  And you tell me- do things NOT exist because you can't see them, feel them, hear them etc?  Of course not!  I've never held a million dollars but I know it's real.  I've never seen Santa coming down my chimney but I know that the childhood excitement of him exists.  I've never been to Hawaii but I know it's there.  And let's not forget about Jesus.  Perhaps THE BEST example of them all.  We see him in everything- our children, the flowers in the spring, mercy and forgiveness of our sins.  We feel him in the sun upon our face, the ocean and sand upon our feet.  We hear him in the whispers calling in the wind and the tiny little voices from our children.  We speak to him in churches and through prayer.  He is real.

So yes- I will continue to teach my child to believe in things that are not concrete.  To trust in faith, in magic and in his imagination.  The world would be a sad place otherwise.

Children Have Rights Too!

We parent differently.  This I realize.  I don't think we do anything out of the "norm" but when compared to other kids, it becomes obvious.  William is different.  We, as parents, are different.  We have always taught William to be honest, exercise kindness and to be strong in who he is.  

The other day, I posted on my Facebook page, a great snippet of a conversation between William and a friend who attends a local public school.  The were discussing one of the teacher's at the friend's school.  Below is a great example of just how different William's mindset is- especially when it comes to sticking up for himself and for his rights.

Friend- She's the meanest teacher & says bad things to all the kids. 

Kiddo- Why does she do that?

Friend- I don't know, just does. 

Kiddo- So tell the Principle. 

Friend- Why would I do that?

Kiddo- Because she has no right to do that.

Friend- But she's an adult. 

Kiddo- So? No one should be mean to you. You're supposed to say something even when it's a grown up or a teacher.


Teaching your children about their rights is just as important as teaching them about math or science. I think many parents are missing out on teaching a valuable lesson, children have rights too.  More and more, I am finding that children simply don't know that they do not have to accept things as they are, that they can question authority (in a respectful way!) and that they have rights, just like adults do.  Would you agree?

How Do YOU Homeschool?

If you've been following my blog, you may have heard me say- "we are eclectic homeschoolers and lean towards unschooling."  If you're new to the homeschooling world, this may as well be a sentence in Latin.  Trust me, I know.  It took me awhile to get the lingo and some things I still have no clue what people are talking about.  So allow me to explain exactly what I mean when I say this sentence.

Eclectic homeschooling is simply the idea that curriculum, lessons and learning comes from many different avenues.  For this reason we do NOT have a set curriculum.  I pull William's lessons from several sources and incorporate lots of resources and tools.  Some things that I am currently using are:

• Scholastic Workbooks
• Sylvan Math Workbook
• Compass Odyssey online program
• Science experiment kit from Lakeshore Learning
• Classes taught by certified teachers and experts in the field at Edmonds Heights
• Sports
• YMCA membership
• Field trips and activities
• Worksheets printed from Education.com
• Online math games from CoolMath.com
• Board games
• Projects around the house
• Free quiet reading
• Weekly library trips
• DVD's and YouTube videos
• Art projects and classes
• Holiday themed activities
• Building projects at local hardware store

With unschooling there is no curriculum, there are no workbooks, no formal classes- nothing.  The concept of unschooling is that children learn what they want to learn when they want to learn it.  It is 100% child led.  

I love this concept but have to admit that 100% child led learning is just a little scary.  When I say that we LEAN towards unschooling, I simply mean that we try to let William direct his education.  If he's really interested in volcanoes, we allow him to pursue that.  We do not wait months later for it to come up in a unit study or perhaps wait a year for him to learn about a certain subject when he's older.  We let him learn now, when he's curious about it and the information will be more exciting to him.  By the way, did you know if kids are passionate about a subject they are more likely to enjoy the learning process and better retain the information?  Score for unschooling!

While you may think that parents who unschool would be fairly hands off in their approach to their children's education, this simply isn't true.  The role of an unschooling parent is to provide vast amounts of materials to help facilitate their kids learning process.  For example, last summer when William was interested in volcanoes, I helped him check out books on volcanoes, pulled up YouTube videos for him to watch, bought him a volcano making kit, put together art projects and took him to see a real, live volcano.  This can be much more exhausting and time consuming then simply following a set curriculum.  So parents- you've been warned. ;)  

We incorporate both of these styles into our son's education.  He takes classes during the regular school year- typically twice per day for 2 hours daily.  He also does 60 minutes of workbook, worksheets or computer learning as well as 60 minutes of daily, quiet reading in a book of his choice.  The rest is unschooling.  Once he's done with his "school work" as he calls it, he is free to pursue his own interests.  Some days he wants to go swimming at the YMCA, or go to their youth center to do a new craft.  Other days he makes an invention in the backyard with his trusty sidekick, Buddy Boy.  Perhaps he draws replicas of Lego Bionicals and spends time online researching all the characters.  He might want to play Monopoly or write a story complete with illustrations.  Some days he wants to go to the library to pick out new books or take a walk in the park and look for treasure.  For this reason, we also homeschool year round.  There is no off button when learning is happening.  And you really never know where the day will take us, the sky's the limit and I have to admit, that it's pretty fun too!

If you want to read more about what it means to be an unschooler, I highly recommend you check out The Unschool Bus.  They are awesome!

For us, this is what we do now.  This may change in the future and that's the great thing about homeschooling.  The ability to do what works and if it's not working, the freedom to change.  But I have to say, that right now- I'm pretty happy with how we homeschool and the methods we've adopted.  How do YOU homeschool?

Recipes Every Mother Needs

About 5 years ago I set a challenge for myself- Find THE perfect recipes for many common dishes.

Part of being a great Wife and Mother- not to mention, a wonderful hostess- is perfecting the craft of cooking.  And let's face it- we can't all be excellent cooks.  Sometimes it takes work, practice and a little trial and error.  I can't even tell you how many meatloaf recipes and chocolate chip cookie recipes I've tried in an effort to find THE perfect one.

But the ability to make a few dishes REALLY well is an easy way to impress your family and guests.

Here's a list of meals that I believe every Traditional Wife and Mother should excel at:

Chicken Noodle Soup

Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Chili

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Cake

Roast Turkey, whole

Burgers

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Macaroni and Cheese

Roast Chicken, whole

Pancakes

Waffles

Biscuits

Cinnamon Rolls

Spaghetti

Oatmeal Cookies

Enchiladas

Steak marinade

Egg Salad

Rice Krispie Treats

Cupcakes

Blueberry Muffins

Lasagna

I'm sure I've left off a few but this was the list that I started with over five years ago.  I am happy to say that I've perfected almost every single one.

You should also have some easy side dishes and some hor d'oeuvres on your list.  I'm a big fan of Beer Cheese dip (served cold), Artichoke and Spinach dip (served warm), Baked Potato Casserole, Garlic Green Beans, roasted veggies and of course you should know how to cook potatoes and eggs several different ways.

Please keep in mind that these items on the list are 100% made from scratch.  I do not use a mix for pancakes or biscuits and you better believe that my marinara sauce is completely homemade!  No cheats allowed!

So today I want to challenge you.  Think about what recipes might be on your list or simply use this list as a guide.  Then begin the process of perfecting each one.  It might take you a very, very long time but it will be well worth it in the long run!

And That Is How We Discovered Homeschooling

 ***I posted this over on my Homeschooled Housewife Facebook page today and it was SO good that I wanted to share it here too.  Sometimes, finding the right path to take can be difficult.  Overwhelming.  Full of challenge and uncertainty.  And sometimes, it's as easy as figuring out what you don't want.

Most parents sit down & go over a list of what they want out of their kids education. We were no different. However, before we listed the "Do's", we first listed the "Don'ts". Here's our list of things we knew for sure that we didn't want for our son & his education.

1. We didn't want limitations put upon him.
2. We didn't want to place his safety in someone else's hands.
3. We didn't want him to grow up & be a bully or get bullied.
4. We didn't want him to learn poor behavior.
5. We were afraid he wouldn't get the attention he needed from his teacher.
6. We didn't want him learning about sex, drugs etc before we were ready to teach him.
7. We were concerned he would grow up too fast & not enjoy his childhood.
8. We didn't want to have to wake him up early.
9. We didn't want him to feel peer pressure.
10. We didn't want to spend hours each night struggling over homework.
11. We didn't want him to get bored & possibly act out.
12. We didn't want him to be labeled.
13. We didn't want to hand our child over to someone else for 6 hours every day.
14. We didn't want him to fall in with the wrong crowd.
15. We didn't want a "one size fits all" attitude towards his education.
16. We didn't want him to have to sit still & go against his natural learning style.
17. We didn't want to give up parental control.
18. We didn't want to be left in the dark on what he was being taught.

Sometimes beginning with what you don't want will lead you to find what you DO want. And that is exactly how we discovered Homeschooling.

I'm Offended

I've put myself and my family "out there".  We are now officially in the public eye.  Ok, not really but we are to a certain extent, right?  We are certainly not The Duggar Family or Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie.  But once you start a blog and create a brand that talks about your life and your family, you're officially "out there".

For the most part, this doesn't bother me.  I want to share my journey with others and I enjoy talking about my family and our story.  But here's where it gets just a little frustrating- we are human.  I am human.  I am not perfect.  I'm not throwing myself out there as a role model or someone to look up to.  I'm simply being me.  We are living our life the best we can and this is what I want to encourage others to do.

Recently I had a few folks get offended because I allowed my son to say "the President has dung for brains".  Well, I'm sorry- but he does.  Listen- folks will find anything to get offended over. And just because you say that you're offended, doesn't mean that you're right.  It simply means, that's your opinion.

For the most part, I'm very careful in what I post on my Facebook page.  I tend to stay away from political and religious topics because those are hotbeds for many people.  And really- that's not what Homeschooled Housewife is about.  But the reality is this- this is my page and my blog.  I can post, share, write about, discuss whatever the heck I want to.

Do I want you here?  Of course I do.  Do I want to share with you?  Of course I do.  Do I want to offend or upset you?  Of course not.

Listen, I could post a simple statement and someone, somewhere would be offended by it.  The internet practically guarantees that this will happen.  Let's try this one on for size.

"Man, I wish that black cat that keeps wondering around my front yard would stop shitting all over my lawn."

Someone might say-

• How come you don't like cats?  That's discrimination.
• You noticed the color of the cat pretty quickly.  You must be racist.
• How dare you say the word shit!  
• I hope your son didn't hear you say that swear word.  If so, you're a bad Mom.
• Why don't you go outside and help that cat?  How could you be so uncaring?
• A Christian woman wouldn't care if a cat shit on her lawn.  You must be a bad Christian.
• You're a bad person for getting so upset over a cat.
• I've lost all respect for you because you said this.
• You're teaching your son not to care about cats- how could you!

Pretty silly, eh?

So here's my advice to everyone who follows a page or a person.  Please remember that they are people too.  If they are opening up their lives to share just a glimpse with you and if you mostly enjoy what they are sharing- then just relax.  We are all different.  We will not always agree 100% of the time with everything that everyone says.  That's just life.  And to be honest, that's what makes it so interesting.  And if you are so bothered by something, simply click the "unlike" button.  Easy as that.

After reading this post, I hope you'll walk away with this-

• I'm so glad you're here.
• I appreciate you.
• I listen to your comments and feedback.
• I do my best to be respectful and considerate of others.
• I am not perfect.
• I will make mistakes.

So let's all just take a deep breath and relax.

*BTW- there is NOT a black cat that shits on my lawn, it was simply an example.  I like cats.  No cats were harmed in the writing of this post. ;)

Pills- A Week Later

A follow up-

Read the Prequel to this Article Here

• Pills, Pills, Pills

So it's been a week and a half now since my husband hurt his back.  Eight days since I took him to the doctor and he was prescribed all those pills.  Thankfully, he is feeling much better.  I wanted to share with you all something amazing that he discovered.

He rested and medicated for only one day.

The 2nd day after receiving all the pills,Thursday, he went back to work on very light duty.  Still medicated but not as much.

He rested and continued meds all weekend.  However, we put the focus on tapering off with the pills.  Unfortunately, do to the nature of his injury, he wasn't eating, sleeping or moving around.  So for a few days, he really did need them.  Once he was able to get some good food in his body and more then an hour of sleep- he was doing much better.

This week has brought the elimination of all the prescribed pills.  He was taking a heavy painkiller, an anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxer.  Yikes!  So we worked hard to get him off of them ASAP!

Love this stuff! Order Here.

He's been eating lots of fruits and veggies that contain natural anti-inflammatory properties and drinking one green smoothie per day.  We've increased his magnesium supplement, he's used a natural healing balm and applied plenty of ice packs to naturally reduce pain and swelling.  Luckily, it seems to be working!

I know that this would not have been possible without using the prescribed medications.  Yes, I know this.  Sometimes we need modern medicine and it can truly be a great tool in our health.  However, it should not be the only tool.  We tried the natural route first and it didn't work by itself.  We used both modern medicine and holistic care to heal my husband and have done our best to wean off the modern medicine and rely solely on the natural methods.

But here's the one thing we have both noticed in the last week since he's been on the pharmaceutical drugs.  He is not himself.  He doesn't feel like himself and he knows that something is just "off".  Now, I can't describe it to you and neither can he.  But we discussed it last night and I told him that I had noticed a difference in him this last week.  At first I thought it may have just been the pain he was in and the slight nausea from the pills.  But now that he's stopped taking the pills and the pain has reduced considerably, we both know that it has to be the side effects from the drugs lingering in his system.  They've altered him.  Somehow.

And that folks- that is a very terrifying thought.

If one week of prescribed meds can make him feel NOT like himself- imagine what years of them will do?  And these aren't even drugs that are meant to be used for depression or anxiety- they aren't prescribed for mood lifting or mind altering.  Can you imagine what these types of drugs are doing to people?

Now- you all know that I'm not a doctor.  I'm not a nurse or even someone with ANY amount of medical training.  But I am a Wife and Mother and I'm concerned.  You should be too.  So I am highly encouraging you to look at what's inside your medicine cabinet.  Take a closer examination of the pills and drugs you are putting in your body and in your children's bodies.  Talk with your doctor, find a naturopath and do your own research.  You know your body better then anyone- do what's right for it!

Want to read more about healing back pain naturally?  Check out this great article from Dr. Mercola, How to Treat Back Pain Without Dangerous Drugs.

10 Tips to Encourage Kids to Eat Well

Feeding kids can be a real pain.  Seriously- a real pain.  But if you start off on the right foot, it can really be a breeze.  In fact, dare I say- it can be downright easy AND fun!

My son loves to eat.  Holy Buckets does he like to eat!  He's always been an eater and now that he's 9 years old, he's still an eater.  Through the years, I've worked hard to encourage a child that will pick healthy foods over junk food.  Its important to balance his diet and allow for some occasional special treats while being mindful to not create a child with "food issues".  You know what I'm talking about right?  The kids that will only eat things that are orange, gain 50 pounds while away at college or live off potato chips and chicken nuggets because Mom keeps pushing them to eat better.  It's a delicate balance. 

So how exactly do you go about encouraging your child to eat well without giving them a complex?  How can you ensure they will choose the fruit over the chips?  Below are a few simple ideas that just might help.

1. Involve them.  Seriously, take them to the store and allow them to pick out one new (healthy) food each visit.  Have them help you with dinner time prep or wash berries.  Have them write down the grocery list or help with menu planning.  The more involved they are, the better!
2. Don't buy it.  You think this one will be easy but for most folks, it's probably the most difficult.  If you simply don't buy the junk, they can't eat it!  And last time I checked, a 10 year old couldn't drive himself to McDonald's.  This one's all about willpower- YOURS!
3. Always have good healthy snack foods available.  Kids LOVE to snack and really, I don't see anything wrong with this.  Simply change up your idea of what a snack is- we like fresh fruit and veggies.  Popcorn popped at home and not from a bag, organic cheese and yogurt, nuts and

   

   A healthy kid-approved snack!

   occasionally, I will buy some smoked salmon.  Yum!  Make sure the snacks are prepped and ready to go.  Spend a little time washing and cutting, then separate into little bowls or containers for easy to grab, kid approved snacks.
4. Never force your kids to finish all their food.  Rather work on the concept of "listening to your stomach".  When your body says its full- stop.  Do not make meal times a battlefield.  If your kids say they are full, respect that.  If they are hungry later, offer them some fruit or veggies.  Take the stress out of meal times.
5. Try everything at least once, repeatedly.  You, as parents, should constantly be exposing your children to new and healthy foods.  Chances are it will take several times before they like it and for some foods, they probably never will.  That's OK- we don't all like the same things.  Don't be afraid to change up how you prepare the new foods too!  Some kids only like raw veggies and enjoy dipping them.  Some like their broccoli cooked and sometimes you have to blend it into a smoothie.  Keep trying!
6. Establish routine.  We worked hard to set up a feeding schedule when William was a baby and that has naturally carried over as he's gotten older.  We have approximate times where we eat and when we are at home, we almost always sit at the dining table together, as a family.  Routine is important to kids, don't underestimate its value.
7. Educate them.  Children need to learn that food doesn't come from a box or package at the store.  It comes from plants and animals.  So get out there and visit the farms, pet the animals, watch videos, grow a garden, visit farmer's markets or join a CSA.  Make food real.
   
8. Allow treats.  Say what?!?  You heard me- allow your kids to indulge, every once in awhile.  Set up boundaries for special treats.  My son has a candy bowl where all his trick or treating candy, Easter candy, soccer snacks etc goes.  In the evening, after dinner, he's allowed to pick out one small treat.  And to be honest, many nights he forgets.  The candy bowl is more about freedom then it is about the actual candy.  Give your kids some control and allow them the freedom to make good choices, even when it comes to treats.  This also applies to non-candy items like chips, root beer and other "junk".  Yes, every once in awhile, I allow my child to indulge.  It's OK. 
9. Offer fruits and veggies at every meal.  Seriously, every single meal.  This one might take some work for us parents as we learn this behavior but once you get the hang of it, it will be super easy!  I'm a big fan of smoothies with breakfast, sliced apples or oranges for lunch instead of chips and a bowl full of berries to finish off dinner- along with your veggies of course!  The end result is that your kid will eat the fruits and veggies first before going for the main course.  Just you wait and see!
10. Model proper food choices.  Kids learn what they see.  If you are eating right, they will eat right.  Simple as that.

William enjoying one of his favorite
 foods- raw local organic honey.
YUM!

So there you have it.  These are easy things that every household can do and I guarantee you that it will work.  I have a child who knows what healthy food is, knows that candy is a special treat to be eaten with permission only, who would rather munch on carrots then potato chips and thinks cows are amazing because of all the food they provide to us.  It's possible- but it will start with you.

What To Do With Your Tax Refund

It's tax season and you know what that means- FREE MONEY!!

Ok, not really.  But- as far as our house goes, we do consider this a little like free money.  Perhaps a bonus is a better way of looking at it.  For many years, we've had to pay the IRS.  So when it comes tax season, we always go into it with the expectation that we will have to pay.  Our motto- prepare for the worst.  So that's just what we do.

I highly recommend this book!

Thankfully the last few years we'e actually recieved a refund.  Not a shit ton but really, anything would make us happy as long as we don't have to pay the government!

So that brings up the question- what should you do with your tax refund?

I've talked a bit about my goals and resolutions during the coming year.  Many of these things take money.  So this is a great time to work towards these goals when you have a little extra money.  Here's my recommendations on how to spend your tax refund in order of importance.  Please note- this is simply how my husband and I do things.  I'm not a financial expert and certainly no Dave Ramsey but I like to think I have the basics down.

1. Save It!  Holy Buckets people- of course you should be saving as much of your tax refund as possible.  My suggestion is to put 50% of it directly into savings.  Then leave it alone.  Here, I'll say it again.  Put half into savings and then LEAVE IT BE.
2. Pay Off Debt.  Now why didn't I put this item first?  Simple- without money in savings you are screwed.  If you need cash in an emergency and chose to put it all towards debt, then where would you be?  Turning to credit cards most likely...That means you'll get hit with high interest rates- no bueno.  My recommendation for the amount you'll put towards debt really depends on how much debt you have.  If you're swimming in it- then you should just put the remaining 50% towards it.  Otherwise, I would go with 25%.  Pay off the credit/debt with the highest interest rates first.
3. Personal Use.  Ah- and we've reached my personal favorite!  If you were allowed to pass #2, then you'll have 25% of your refund left.  Now's the time to take a look at some of those goals that you set back in January.  Any big purchases you've been holding off on?  Perhaps a family vacation you wanted to go on?  This category is yours to do with what you want- so go for it!

Splurging on a new light fixture!

Now, you're probably wondering why I include room for personal use.  Wouldn't it be more responsible to just put all your money towards savings and debt?  Well- der.  Of course it would be!  But think about it- what kind of life would that be?  How depressing to be stuck in this cycle year in and year out.  Don't underestimate the value of quality of life.  If 75% of your refund is going towards being responsible then I don't see anything wrong with using the remaining 25% for having a little fun.  Do you?

And just in case anyone is wondering- the husband and I are buying a new light fixture that has needed replacement for 3 years, a ceiling fan for the kiddo's bedroom and new tires for the car.  So yeah- sometimes personal use is still going the responsible route.  But man- will it be awesome to have a new light fixture for our office space!