Vegan White Bean & Avocado Hummus

This recipe is AMAZING!  No joke.

So- I found the original recipe here from Two Peas and Their Pod and then I made a few changes.  The original is great and I encourage you to try it out.  This fellow Mommy blogger has some great recipes, so please browse her website- I'm a huge fan!  With that being said, I really enjoy this dish with the changes I've made.  You'll be astounded that something SO simple can taste SO good!


Vegan White Bean & Avocado Hummus

1 15 oz can white beans *I use garbanzo
1 ripe avocado
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon white onion
juice of half lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small clove garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
small pinch cayenne pepper

The directions for this are RIDICULOUSLY easy.

Dump all the ingredients in your food processor and blend away.  If you're making this for sandwiches or prefer to leave some larger chunks (which sometimes I do) then leave out a few beans and some avocado and add back in later.  Otherwise just pulse away.

Then- and this is super duper important- put it in your fridge for at least a couple hours.  Trust me on this one!

When the mixture has chilled in the fridge for a bit, you can eat it with some yummy Late July chips, put it in a tortilla for a wrap, scoop some on top of lettuce and eat it as a salad, slather it on some toast, eat it with some tomato and lettuce in a sandwich- seriously...the sky is the limit here!  I call this a hummus because it has a thicker consistency- much like hummus.  But as you can see, its super versatile!

I can't thank Two Peas and Their Pod enough for this starter recipe.  But secretly, I hope you'll give my recipe a try too!

Enjoy!

Mourning School

I am a product of public school.  For the most part, I enjoyed my public school years and made some really great friends that I'm still in contact with today.  Of course, I always thought when I had children that I would naturally send them to public school too.  Seriously- the thought never occurred to me that they wouldn't follow the same path that my husband and I did.

And then I had William.

Like they said, the rest is history.  Suddenly, my path- my husband's path, simply wasn't what we wanted for our child.  But some small part of me, OK- a fairly big part....mourned the loss.  Yeah, I said loss.

I had some great times in public school.  And it makes me sad that my child won't really get to experience these things.  The Halloween parties, dry ice in the pumpkin punch bowl, wondering if that boy you have a crush on will put a Scooby Doo valentine in your doily and heart decorated Kleenex box.  Goofing off in the back of the school bus during field trips, going on overnights with choir, buying corn nuts for lunch from the ASB store, spending the day getting ready for the school dance....yeah, my heart is sad when I think about all these things that my child will never experience.

It's only natural, right?

I think that we as homeschoolers are automatically characterized as hating all things public school.  Or anything to do with the institution that is school really.  But for most of us, that simply isn't the case.  We made our decision to homeschool based on many different factors and quite often, hating public school isn't one of them.  Really- it's not.

So yes- I'm sad that William won't know the excitement of many of these things.  I won't ever be a PTA Mom or volunteer in his classroom.  I don't get to have the parent teacher conferences where I learn what a "joy" my child is to have in class.  We won't ever have that "1st day of school" photo and there's no need to go shopping for cool new school clothes.

It's a loss for us both.

But then I think of all the great things we do have- all the wonderful benefits to homeschooling and I have to be OK with this trade off.  We get to do so many more things with our children and we spend the best part of our days together.  And I know that some public school Moms are probably envious of all that we as homeschoolers have.  I get this.  The grass always looks greener on the other side, right?

So yes- sometimes I still mourn the loss of "school".  But then I sit down at my dining room table and help the kiddo with his science experiment and I know that no matter what, I made the right choice.

Superwoman Does Not Exist

In speaking with one of my new co-workers who is just a few years older then my own 33- I had to stop and really think about our society and the pressures it places on women today.

My new co-worker is a super sweet GRANDMA, yeah- you heard that right, from Africa.  She got married and started having her five babies at the tender age of 15.  Holy Buckets, that's young.  But in her culture, that's just what they do.  Women are the caretakers, they are the Moms, the Wives and that's pretty much it.  She expressed to me that it's weird for her to have friends here in the United States that are just starting to get married and raise families in their late 30's or early 40's.  "By that age, I was already done!"

It wasn't until she moved here that she learned just how different our two worlds really are- suddenly she was expected to work, to help pay the bills, to continue to raise her children and to balance this extremely progressive and modern society with her more reserved cultures.  "My teenage daughter wanted to be a cheerleader, but I told her she couldn't wear those short skirts."

What a shock for her!  Her role as a woman had now completely changed and to be honest- I'm just not sure if it was for the better.  She now works two jobs, has a mortgage that she struggles to pay, a husband who now has a girlfriend, a pregnant teenage daughter and on and on it goes.  She's desperately trying to hold it all together and continue to be the backbone of her family.

Whew!

Let this be a lesson to you ladies.  First- the grass is NOT always greener but secondly, that we as women, don't have to do it all.  Sure- society is pushing the "Superwoman" concept on us all.  You too can have your family AND your career.  But at what price?

I'm not advocating that you choose one or the other here.  For some women, they really want it all.  But let's just redefine our definition of what it means to "have it all".  Why can't it mean having a house you can afford, a husband who loves you, a kid or two that sometimes tolerates you, a job you enjoy, good food, laughter etc.  Who says that you need to buy a fancy house and then work 80 hours per week just to afford said house?  And why in the world would you have 10 kids if you had no intention of being home with them?  Kids need their Mamas- period.  A fancy car just because the neighbors have one?  C'mon now...that's just silly.

Let's refocus our priorities ladies.

If you want a career and children- maybe you shouldn't have four kids then?  I know...I know...I said it.

If you want a happy husband and fulfilling marriage, perhaps you shouldn't spend so much time enjoying happy hour with your co-workers after the work day is over.

Do you want a home you love filled with laughter and happiness?  Or an empty museum full of expensive things that you struggle to pay for?

Sometimes, more is NOT better.  Seriously, it's just not.

I can't help but think of my new co-worker.  She was happy with her life in Africa with her five babies, her husband and extended family.  But someone told her she needed more and look where she is now.  Stressed out, struggling, working 7 days per week, unhappy that her children are not following her religious beliefs and the ways of her culture, unsatisfied in her marriage...seriously- how is this better?

What a great reminder to me and all of you- let's really focus on what we want out of life and not what someone else tells us we must have.  Be happy and grateful for your role, your place, your life.  There is nothing wrong with being content and fulfilled exactly where you are, nothing.  And by the way, it's totally OK to want it all but balance really is the key.  If you want to be a Mom and raise your family and someday re-enter the work force and have an awesome career- you CAN totally do that.  It just might mean that you will need to put your career on the back burner for awhile as you raise your kids.  Or lets say you want the career and husband first and don't start having babies until later in life?  Don't push yourself to be that Superwoman- she doesn't exist.  Instead focus on your priorities and find the balance in your life to make it happen.

Homeschooled Housewife's MASTER Recipe List

Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta 

Breakfast Foods:

• Pumpkin Bread

Vegetarian:

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

• Corn Chowder
• Garlic Parmesan Orzo 
• Mac & Cheese
• Easy Enchilada Casserole 
• Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Black Bean Taquitos
• Lentil Shepard's Pie
• Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
• Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta
• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Mexican Lasagna Casserole
• Broccoli Garlic Pasta 
• Smothered Burritos 
• Lentil Chili Cornbread Casserole 
• Savory Creamy Noodles & Veggies 
• Crockpot Refried Beans
• Lazy Mama's Vegetarian Lasagna

Lentil Shepard's Pie

Cauliflower Soup

Vegan:

• Quinoa with Black Beans, Corn & Cilantro
• Cauliflower Soup
• Lentil Chili
• Veggie Fajitas
• Split Pea Soup
• Kale Pesto
• Tortilla Soup 
• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas

Crockpot Shredded Beef

Meat:

• Meat Chili 
• Tator Tot Casserole 
• Baked A'Tato Soup 
• Kale Soup 
• Copycat Frozen Burritos 
• Crockpot Shredded Beef  
• Mac & Cheese

Done in Just 30 Minutes:

Kale Pesto

• Garlic Parmesan Orzo
• Black Bean Taquitos
• Creamy Spinach & Tomato Pasta
• Mexican Lasagna Casserole
• Fettuccine Alfredo
• Kale Pesto
• Broccoli Garlic Pasta 
• Savory Creamy Noodles & Veggies
• Kale Soup

Snacks/Misc.


 

Blueberry Peach Cobbler 

• Green Smoothie
• Yogurt Berry Smoothie
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Blueberry Smoothie
• Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie
• Homemade Broth/Stock
• Vegetarian Whole Food Freezer Meals
• Honey, Lemon & Ginger Tea
• White Bean & Avocado Hummus
• Black Bean Hummus

Desserts:

• Blueberry Peach Cobbler
• Pie Crust
• Chocolate Cake

DOG Food

• Puppy Stew

*Check back often since I'm always posting new recipes to the blog!  I will do my best to keep this master list updated so make sure to bookmark it.  And don't forget to check out my Menu Planner!

Our Favorite Real Food Breakfast Items

Well it's almost time for back to school, at least for some of us.  The kiddo attends a homeschool program two days per week, usually for a few hours.  This means that some mornings can be rushed as we head out the door to "school".

But under NO circumstances does my child ever eat Fruit Loops or a frozen breakfast sandwich.  Of course it helps that I don't buy that junk but the temptation isn't even there for him.  So what do we eat?

Food.  Real Food.

For the purpose of this post- I will be sharing our favorite breakfast foods.  Most of them take less then 5 minutes to make but some of them have been baked or prepped ahead of time.  So Mama's- you will have to spend a little time on some of these items but fear not- there will be plenty of things that don't require any time at all.

Let's Go!

• Fruit.  It's a staple at our breakfast table.  You'll see it in lots of different forms but my favorite is to simply cut up whatever's in your fruit basket and make a big bowl of fruit salad.  It's filling, healthy and tastes great.
• Smoothies.  I can whip up a batch of Yogurt Berry Smoothies in 2 minutes flat.  No joke.  With yogurt, berries, some flax seed or chia seeds- this is a complete meal on the go.
• Toast.  Occasionally we mix it up and have toast for breakfast.  But here's where we probably differ from most....we eat it with organic peanut butter and banana slices.  Or top with half of an avocado.  And for goodness sakes, if you're not making your own bread- then please buy a good quality organic bread.  We LOVE Dave's Killer Bread and I buy it at Costco so it doesn't cost quite so much.
  
• Parfaits.  Simply genius!  Kids think they are eating ice cream or a special treat but us Moms know better.  Just layer some organic plain or vanilla yogurt with berries and a little granola for something fun and different.  Drizzle with a little local honey if your kids will go for it!
• Muffins and Breads.  Ok- so here's one of the "make ahead" items on this list.  If you're planning on these being breakfast foods only- try to find recipes that are dense, nutrient packed and limited sugar.  My favorite breakfast muffin is the Applesauce Oatmeal muffins.  Bake a double batch and freeze half.
  
• Oatmeal.  Take the five minutes and make it from scratch, don't buy those little oatmeal packets full of chemicals and extra sugars.  Blech!  We love our oatmeal with a little organic brown sugar and cinnamon or a handful of mixed berries and a little local honey.  SO good!
• Waffles and Pancakes.  The other "make ahead" item on this list.  Next time you make a batch of pancakes or waffles simply double or triple your recipe and put the leftovers in the freezer.  Then when your kid wants a waffle, just pop it out of the freezer and warm it under your broiler for a minute.  Easy peasy!
• Ants on a Log.  Veggies for breakfast?  Well why not!  Celery, organic peanut butter and some raisins- who wouldn't love that?  You can also make a few extras for a snack later in the day.  A little prep work now will save you time down the road.  Add in a banana for the full meal deal!
  
• Burritos.  You can freeze these ahead of time or just make them fresh in the morning.  Takes hardly any time at all!  Sausage, egg and cheese burritos or if you're the kiddo, just some beans and cheese.  Take it up a notch and make your own tortillas.  I like this recipe here courtesy of 100 Days of Real Food.  Yum!
• Biscuits.  I use this recipe here and always triple it.  Yields enough biscuits for dinner the previous night and then one or two mornings as leftovers.  Spread with some organic preserves (blackberry is our fav!) and eat with a small bowl of fruit on the side.  Perfection!  These biscuits also freeze pretty well, so make a ton and stick in the freezer for another day.
  

So did you notice that there's not a lot of meat in this list?  Eh- maybe you didn't.  If you are currently eating meat at breakfast, I want to encourage you to try a few more plant based meals like those above.  The reality is that you simply don't need meat for protein because a whole foods diet will provide everything your body needs.  So don't worry about sending your kids off to school or your husband off to work and not filling their stomachs with "protein".  If you're eating your fruits and veggies- you're good to go!

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

This recipe is pure genius.  Genius, I tell you.  Genius.

It's super easy to make, can easily be doubled and freezes beautifully!  Oh- and very little cleanup.  Seriously, what more could a busy Mama want?

Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 small can diced green chilis
1/2 red onion or one small white onion, diced
2 bell peppers, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 15 oz can red enchilada sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
avocado, diced
sour cream
salt & pepper to taste

Step 1- Cook your rinsed quinoa in a pot with your garlic cloves.

Step 2- Slice & dice remaining ingredients while you wait for the quinoa to cook.  Throw it all into a large bowl.

Step 3- Add quinoa when it's done cooking and stir it all together.  Adjust seasonings as needed.

Step 4- Dump half of your quinoa mixture into a 9X13 glass baking dish.  Sprinkle with only 1 cup of the shredded cheddar and then add the remaining quinoa mixture over it.  Freeze NOW or bake at 350 for approximately 45 minutes.

Top with diced avocado, remaining shredded cheese, sour cream and enjoy.  SO good.  Seriously- amazeballs good- even the husband, who is VERY picky, loves this dish.  You'll seriously enjoy this easy and healthy recipe, I guarantee it!

Back to Homeschool

It's crunch time!

We've got approximately three weeks before the kiddo is officially back at his homeschool program.  In that time, I have a shit ton of stuff to do.  Oh yeah- and I started a new job.  Since I'm still working the old job in addition to the new job- this means that I'm super busy.  Add in family obligations and sometimes I wonder how I get it all done.

Oh wait- I'm organized.  As in, just a little OCD organized, that's how!  So today I want to share with you exactly what happens in the weeks leading up to the official back to school season for us as homeschoolers.

One Month

• Clean out school supplies.  Throw away any broken items.  Donate what you don't need.  Make a list of what you do need and put it on the fridge for later.
• Organize school room, or kid's desks- basically, clean up the area you'll be doing most of the schooling.  Add any needed items to the list- things like more light bulbs, new desk chair or lap desk, etc.
• Rotate seasonal clothing.  Separate into piles for keep, trash, donate and sell.  If your kids need something, like a new pair of shoes or more underwear- then add it to that list on the fridge.
• List items for sale on Ebay and Craigslist.  Donate what doesn't sell.

Three Weeks

• Shop those back to school sales!  Remember that list from the fridge?  Now's the time to shop, shop, shop!
• Complete your last major summer project.  Planning on re-doing your kids bedrooms?  Or are you selling the swing set?  Plan on getting new tires on the car?  Try to finish up any leftover summer projects during these last few weeks.
• Drop off any items for donation if you haven't already.

Two Weeks

• Time for fun!  We always plan a mini trip or vacation for the two weeks prior to the start of school.  One last hurrah before it's back to the grind!
• Get some baking done.  Quick breads and muffins for fast and healthy breakfast's are perfect.  Prep some frozen meals too if you've got the time.
• Plan out next month's menu.  Need help?  Click here to read how I do this!

One Week

• Do a major house cleaning.  Deep cleaning stuff- washing the walls, vacuuming the baseboards, laundering the curtains, etc.
• Get your kids ready.  Make sure all their clothes are ready and they have the needed school supplies.  If you will be using lunch boxes & bags- make sure those are washed and ready too!  And don't forget hair cuts.
• Do a major grocery store visit.  I always try to stock up so that I can avoid the grocery store during those first 2 weeks of back to school.
• Go over your Fall schedule.  Check for any errors, see what needs to be added, make any reservations or sign up for any winter classes.

This list will work well for both homeschoolers and public schoolers.  I find that it's easiest to break things down into weekly tasks instead of thinking about the mountain of stuff that needs to get done before starting the new school year.  Add in a few things you might need to accomplish, tailor it to your family and you're ready to go!

Get the Butterflies Back in Your Marriage

The husband and I have been married for 10 years and we've officially been a couple for 14 years.  So yeah.  That's a long time.

Now, if you've read any of my popular posts about marriage or being a Traditional Housewife, you probably have a pretty clear idea of how things work around here.  But listen, we all know that no matter how much you love one another, shit still gets old.  Oh boy, does it ever.  But at the end of the day, the one thing that will never change is that we (as a couple) will never stop working on our marriage.

Let me say that again just in case you missed it...We.  Will.  Never.  Stop.  Working.  On.  Our.  Marriage.

We are like every normal couple, we are happy, we have our highs and lows, we struggle over finances, we discuss parenthood, we argue, we have sex, we laugh together and sometimes we make each other cry.  We are living a life together and that's hard.  But let me just tell you a secret.  Shhh....listen real close....marriage can be pretty damn awesome too.

And because I choose to focus on the positive, I want to help others do the same.  So in that effort, I'm going to talk about some super simple ways that you can spice up your marriage and make it stronger then ever.  Disclaimer- Mom, Dad...if you're reading this, you should probably stop.  Yeah.  Just stop now.  Trust me.


Ok- we all good?  Here goes, a list of 10 things you can do to bring the butterflies back into your marriage.

1. Do one nice thing per day just for them.  It can be as simple as a text message- I'm not talking about long, drawn out convos here.  But a funny photo that reminds you of happy times or even just a "Hey Hot Stuff".  Making them a coffee in the morning or changing your ringtone to your favorite song.  Just make it your goal to surprise your spouse and put a smile on their face.  Doing something sweet and thoughtful will go a long way towards showing your spouse how much you love them and value them.
2. Shower together.  Folks, showering together doesn't always have to lead to shower sex but it is a nice bonus.  The idea here is to spend time together.  Unwind, pamper each other and be 100% in the moment.  And busy Moms- we all know it's hard enough to find time to shower or pee alone let alone find time together as a couple.  So once the kids are asleep, light a few candles, grab your shower beer, turn on the hot water and just relax.  
3. Make the time for each other.  If your husband is like mine, he works way too much.  Seriously....way too much.  Just last night he didn't get home until midnight and he was back out again by 7am.  He wasn't even home a full 8 hours!!  So you have to make it a priority to at least be awake to welcome him home with hugs and kisses.  You can't succeed in your marriage if you never spend any time together.  So whenever the husband is out late, I always wait up for him.  My husband really appreciates this simple gesture because I show him that he's more important to me then sleep.  And ladies, I really love my sleep.
4. Set challenges for your marriage.  I love this one because, well...I love a good challenge.  You can do this either as a couple or all by yourself.  Make it fun- things like having a monthly date night or saving up for a second honeymoon.  You can also commit to becoming more involved in church or finding other like-minded couple friends to hang out with.  Get creative and just have fun with this one!  And trust me when I say that working together towards a common goal will only strengthen your marriage.
5. Learn your spouse's love language.  Ok, so this phrase is all the rage but really, the concept is simple.  How does your spouse feel loved?  What do they need to feel cherished and appreciated?  For me, I love small gestures like a phone call to say "I Love You" or when the husband brings me home my favorite candy.  And of course, the husband is totally different.  He needs constant physical communication through hugs, hand holding, kisses and so on.  Figure out what your spouse needs to feel loved and then give it to them.  Easy as that. 
6. Have more sex.  When I became a Mom, sex went to the back burner- as I'm sure it does for most new Moms.  I didn't realize the stress this would put on my marriage and so I've been committed to making this a priority ever since.  One simple thing you can do is just decide that your going to have sex at least once per week.  Once you've got that handled, then go for twice, then 3 times and so on.  Don't underestimate the value of intimacy with your spouse!
7. Put your beer goggles on.  Remember when you were in your drinking and partying days, ie your 20's, and you and your friends would joke about the "beer goggles" making people more attractive?  Well there it is....look at your spouse with those goggles on.  Choose to see the good, change your perception of them, look at them with desire, love what's in their heart even when their actions may bug the crap out of you.  See them how you want to be seen and it will be returned to you.  I promise.
8. Get comfortable with your own skin.  Listen- I'm overweight.  I've got a roll and a couple extra lumps and some pooches that quite frankly- I could do without.  But it is what it is and I don't see that changing anytime soon.  And even though I'm not a size 8 or even a size 10, my husband still loves my body because he loves me.  And I love me, just the way that I am.  And ladies, you know there's nothing sexier then a woman who is comfortable in her own skin.  If you think you're awesome, you're husband will too.
9. Talk to each other.  I know...I know...you're probably wondering how this could be considered "spicing up your marriage" but it's not always about sex.  Geez....get your mind out of the gutter folks!  But seriously, when was the last time you just talked to your spouse?  About nothing, everything, your feelings, future plans and goals, etc.  Remember back to those dating days when you would stay up way too late just talking on the phone?  Or you didn't want to go home because it meant you wouldn't get to see them until morning.  Get that back.  You need that feeling.  So the next time you don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn (hell, even if you do!) stay up super late, pop some popcorn, grab a drink and just talk.
10. Make them your everything in front of everyone all the time.  Well there it is.  By simply putting your spouse first, you honor them.  You are showing the world how much they mean to you and who wouldn't want that?  The truth is, that this really isn't all that difficult.  Commit to speaking only good things about them, seek them out in a room full of people, stand by their side in silent support, be their soft place to fall.  When you love your spouse unconditionally you'll find that they will do the same in return.  Trust me when I say that this makes for a very happy and content marriage.

Phew!  Well there you have it.  Ten awesome things you can do in your marriage to get that "feeling" back.  Some of these things will take time and others will just come naturally but promise me just one thing...promise me that you'll try.  Marriage is hard and it takes work.  Sometimes you can become broken but it is possible to put those pieces back together- don't give up.  You got this.

Cold & Flu Season Survival Kit

Ok everyone- the cold and flu season is fast approaching.  So NOW is the time to get yourself and your family ready.

I'm going to personally share with you what is in my kit.  Ok, ok...it's not really a kit per say but it's my "go to" survival items for when the cold and flu season arrives.

You will not find any chemical laden over the counter meds, so no Nyquil or Sudafed here.  This kit is strictly all natural, well as natural as possible.  There are two parts to our survival kit- the first being preventative care and the second being what you can do when you actually get sick.  Here we Go!

Honey- You simply NEED to be buying raw, local honey.  I buy from Farmer's Markets, pumpkin patches, local farms, produce stands and even smaller specialty grocers in my area.  Stock up because you will be using a lot of this.  During the colder months, I highly recommend you use your local honey to make this awesome tea.  Tastes great and SO good for you!

The kiddo eats it straight from the jar!

BTW- you and your entire family should be drinking this several times per week.  I'm not kidding- several times per week folks.

Apple Cider Vinegar- Make sure you are buying the organic stuff "with the mother".  You will be drinking this at least 5 times weekly.  For now, its just me and the husband that drink this although we've warned the kiddo that he'll be starting on it in the next year or so.  Trust me when I say, it's worth it.

Mix 2 tablespoons with one cup cold water and try to drink it first thing in the morning.

Elderberry- During the colder months, you should be taking this daily as part of your vitamin/supplement regime.  There are different ones for adults and for kids.  My husband and I take the ones in pill form while the kiddo drinks his each morning.

I buy from Amazon for the best price!

Essential Oils- I fully admit that this is a new one to our survival kit.  I've started with this simple starter kit and anytime we begin to not feel well, I mix up a small batch of EO's depending on our symptoms.  Typically you need a carrier oil to mix it with so I always use organic coconut oil.  So far so good!

Coconut Oil- Make sure it's organic and start using it with everything you can think of!  I personally use it on my face at night (it's great for preventing wrinkles!), we use it for oil pulling, as sunscreen, I cook with it....seriously, so many great things you can do with coconut oil.

Green Tea- If I'm not drinking honey and lemon tea, then I love a good strong cup of organic green tea.  Strong antioxidants and so good for your immune system.  And if you do fall ill- make sure to drink some green tea with a little lemon to help you feel better!

Remember to buy good quality organic tea.  And I highly recommend you read this article courtesy of The Food Babe to learn more about why tea matters.

Vitamins/Supplements- If you aren't already on a regular vitamin/supplement regime, I highly recommend it.  You'll need to do some research here and speak with a medical professional to find out what's best for you.  My husband and I currently take, magnesium, cinnamon, vit C, vit D, glucosamine and fish oil.

Epsom Salt Baths- I know this may seem like a strange thing to include here but Epsom salts help to draw out the toxins.  During the colder months, I take a bath at least twice per week.  I use regular Epsom salts from Rite Aid (nothing fancy here!) about 1 cup total and put in 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil.  It's also great for helping to ease muscle aches and relaxation.


Alright, so all the above is pretty much preventative care.  But what about for when you are actually sick?


Boiron Homeopathic Medicines- Seriously, I swear by these meds!  At the first sign of sniffles, the kiddo starts taking these coldcalm pellets.  After a full day, the symptoms have cleared up.  He's never actually had  cold, as in, a real full blown cold and I attribute it all to these bad boys!

Zicam- When the husband and I are fighting something particular nasty or feel the beginnings of a cold coming, we always turn to Zicam.  The rapidmelts work great at stopping symptoms in their tracks!  But I'll be honest here and say that because we do all the preventative work, we almost never have to use these.

Zarbees- I love this brand and the kids cough syrup works great.  All natural and kid tested.

Quick Tips-

When you have a sore throat or bad cough- grab a spoonful of your local, raw honey and squeeze some lemon juice onto it.  Then drink.  Repeat as needed.  Honey is a great cough suppressant!

For an upset stomach- in a bowl, mix a small amount of organic coconut oil with several drops of peppermint essential oil.  Rub directly onto your stomach, behind ears and on the bottoms of your feet.  Repeat every 2-4 hours as needed.

You should also be drinking small amounts of green tea and lemon.  Both help settle an upset stomach!

For chest congestion- in a bowl mix a small amount of your coconut oil with 2 drops each eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary oil.  Rub behind your ears or "steam" and repeat every 2-4 hours as needed.

Shout out to my favorite all natural and fairly local company, Fiddlebumps.  I love their muscle balm and will be trying their chest congestion rub this winter as well.

Wow!  That's quite the survival kit.  It's completely possible to keep your family healthy this cold and flu season.  I cannot stress the importance of preventative care enough and combine that with a healthy, organic and non GMO diet and you'll be amazed at the difference this makes!

To Homeschool or Not To Homeschool

That is the question, right?

Taking that initial leap is huge.  Seriously- HUGE.  It's scary, you're mind is full of doubts, you've got comments from the peanut gallery coming at you, your spouse might not be fully on board but in your heart- you know.  This is the right decision.

Recently, I had a girlfriend reach out to me who is wrestling with this.  Her son is about to start Kindergarten and she's not sure if she can homeschool.  She needs to keep working and is just overcome with all of this.  She's me five years ago.

My advice to her was this- follow your heart.  The rest will simply fall into place.  Now I know this sounds pretty lofty, "fall into place"...yeah right.  But I'm here to tell you that it will.  When we step back from our lives and take a good look at what our priorities are, the details simply have a way of working themselves out.  Trust me on this one.

So seriously- how do they work out?

Five years ago the husband and I had to make a decision.  Enroll William in public school Kindergarten, look into private school options, consider the nearby "crazy" Clearwater school or officially become homeschoolers.  At the time, we didn't know anyone who was homeschooling.  Seriously- no one was doing this and everyone thought we were crazy for even considering it.  But what we didn't fully realize at the time was that we were already homeschooling.

William was learning at home.  He had been learning at home for the last five years.  Sure, financially it was tough- lots of juggling, odd hours, part time jobs and so on but we were doing it.  So why now that we were suddenly faced with the decision about officially enrolling him in Kindergarten, did we think we could no longer juggle it?  Clearly we were just a bit overwhelmed with this decision that we failed to realize that we didn't even really NEED to make a decision.

Say what?

Yeah- we didn't actually have to really do anything.  In our state you have until kids are 8 years old to "state your intent" as far as schooling.  So we still had several more years to decide.  Oh well...

What we finally decided to do was to try this scary thing called homeschooling.  We gave ourselves a year and if it was still working and our son was learning, we would consider that a success and keep going.  By about year 3 we stopped giving ourselves this out and realized that we are homeschoolers.  Deep down to our core- we are homeschoolers.

In order to make this work financially, I had to keep working.  We simply couldn't afford for me to be a full time stay at home homeschooling Mom.  I know for many of you, this is also your reality.  You can click here to read more about how I work and homeschool.  But the main point from this is that you have to switch up your priorities.  If you've got a great job that you love but it doesn't work with a homeschooling schedule- you'll need to make some tough decisions.  You might have to sacrifice your weekends so you can work or ask friends and family for help but it can be done.  Really- we are doing it, so I know it's possible.

At the end of the day, this decision is one that your entire family needs to make together.  You'll need the support of your spouse and you need to hear what your kids have to say about all this.  So gather together and have an open dialog about homeschooling.  And if you do decide to follow this path- please know that you are not alone.  Even if you don't have the immediate support of your friends or family, there's so many of us and we've all been in your shoes.

Take the stress out of this decision and simply follow your heart.  You can do this.

What's In Your Kitchen?

I have a tiny kitchen.  Seriously, it's a one person at a time deal.  Perhaps two people but then the second person just gets in my way.  So really, it's my domain and mine only.  With that being said, you can imagine that there's not a lot of cabinet space.  Yeah- there really isn't.  Upon moving into our home, I had to improvise and buy large cabinets just to store my food around the corner in the living room.  So you best believe that the kitchen items and tools that are currently in my kitchen are there for a reason.  I am very selective in what I buy because clearly storage space is an issue.

Below are my top 10 must have kitchen tools.  I use these either every day or weekly.  If you're cooking from scratch like I do- I'm pretty sure you'll find that these items come in super handy.



1.  Sharp knife.  Ok- seriously, you just can't beat a good quality knife.  Find one that fits your hand just right and that has a wide enough blade to cut through a variety of things.  I hate doing extra dishes so I tend to use the same knife for everything.  And no- I do not have a knife block that takes up precious counter top room.  Just put your knives in a drawer with your silverware.

My favorite style of kitchen knife!

2.  Super large cutting board.  I like room to move and trying to dice carrots and celery on a tiny little cutting board just doesn't work.  Do yourself a favor and buy the flexible kind too, like these here.  Lots of room to cut and then simply pour it into your bowl or pan.  Love that!

3.  Mini food processor.  Years ago I had a really fancy (insert expensive!) huge food processor that a family friend gave to me.  It had all these cool attachments and could pretty much do anything.  But you know what- I never used it!  It weighed a ton and took up way too much space and was just a pain in the butt to clean.  I scaled down and now I use this smaller version just about every week.  Bonus- it's dishwasher safe!

4.  Kitchen Aid mixer.  This is the most expensive must have on the list but if you are a baker- you really need one of these.  It sees more use in the winter time when I'm making savory breads, muffins and cakes but I still use it frequently to mix up a batch of pizza dough or lemon meringue filling.  And yes- the bowl is dishwasher safe too.  Sweet!

Buy it for under $200 during the Christmas season!

5.  Spatulas.  Not all spatulas are created equal.  I love these Rubbermaid heat proof ones and buy them at Costco for super cheap.  Make sure you get a few different sizes too.  I have 2 larger ones and then one smaller one.  The smaller one comes in handy for scraping the sides of things- trust me on this one.  Oh- and stay away from the hard plastic spatulas.  These will melt when put to the heat and then you'll have hard plastic flakes in your food.  Gross!

6.  Blender.  The first appliance that I ever bought was the blender that I still have to this day.  A cheap (under $20) Oster that has seen over 15 years of abuse.  So clearly I don't think you need to go out and drop a fortune on a blender.  And yes- this gets used several times per week in our house.  Whip up a batch of smoothies, make some margaritas, grind cashews for soup- love my blender!

7.  8 cup glass measuring bowl.  How in the world did I ever live without this?!?  I was lucky to find mine at a home discount store (Ross) on sale for just $4.99 but even at full retail price, these things are well worth it!  Mix up a batch of pancakes or waffles, which I do at least once per week, and then simply pour it into the pan or waffle maker.  No need to make extra mess and then it goes right in the dishwasher for easy clean up.  Yeah- you need one of these.

This one comes with a lid!

8.  Crockpot.  The second appliance I ever bought was a crockpot.  Sadly, the original one took a crapper last year so the husband bought me this fancy new one last Christmas.  Get a big one and plan on making at least one meal per week in it.  By the way, it's not just for roasts!  You can make berry cobbler, bread, soups etc and of course it comes in super handy to keep drinks warm.  Think hot apple cider for a Fall party- yum!

9.  Immersion blender.  A few years ago I discovered the awesomeness that is the immersion blender.  To be honest, I always thought it was a silly waste of money.  If I wanted to blend things- I could just use my blender, right?  Boy was I wrong!  I use this mainly for soup but because we eat a LOT of soup, it's been the best $20 I ever spent.  No need to transfer hot soup to your blender then pour it back into the pot all while trying not to scald yourself.  Works great for marinara sauce too!

10.  Waffle maker.  Alright, I confess- this is a relatively new addition to my must have list.  However I have used it just about every single week since getting it for Christmas.  I no longer drop a fortune on organic frozen waffles and let's face it- nothing tastes better then a fresh, homemade waffle.  I always make a double batch and freeze what we don't eat.  Oh- and make sure you get one that flips, like this one here.  If you can, try and wait until Christmas time to buy one of these bad boys.  I've seen them as low as $5!!!  Sweet!

Honorable mention goes to these awesome silicone popsicle molds!  They do get used year round but more often in the summer time, because- well....yeah.  I mix up a batch of smoothies and pour the extra into these molds.  Then simply pop in the freezer for a homemade and healthy popsicle for the kids.  Now that's awesome!

Wait- This isn't Clam Chowder!

And that's exactly what the kiddo said after taking just one bite.  "Mom!  You said we were having chowder!  This isn't clam chowder!"  But not too worry, he still liked it and even went back for seconds of this super yummy and easy to make Corn Chowder.

Now- you can totally make this vegan by skipping the last step and using veggie broth instead of chicken broth.  You can also please the carnivores by sauteing your veggies with bacon- it does add a really rich and delicious flavor.  But for us- we like it just the way it is, so without further ado-

Homeschooled Housewife's Corn Chowder

4 1/2 cups frozen corn or approx 7-8 ears of corn, shucked
3 medium potatoes, diced
1 medium onion, diced
6-8 cloves garlic, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon thyme
3/4 teaspoon paprika
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt & pepper, to taste
bay leaf
1/2 cup heavy cream, optional
shredded cheddar, garnish

Step 1:  Saute onion, garlic and celery in olive oil.  If you are using bacon, simply saute it with the bacon and about half the oil.

Step 2:  Add thyme, paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaf, potatoes, corn and chicken broth.  Continue cooking on low boil for 30-60 minutes.

Tip: Reserve about 1 cup corn and small handful of diced potatoes to add in later.  Trust me on this.

Step 3:  Get out your immersion blender and blend baby blend!  But don't forget to take out your bay leaf first!  Add in your red wine vinegar and reserved corn and potatoes and cook another 15 minutes or until potatoes are cooked.

Step 4:  Finish with heavy cream.  Garnish with shredded cheddar.

Corn Chowder- YUM!