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Just a few fun ideas to spice up your weekend!
Make potato prints (very kid friendly!) via The Artful Parent. This isn't for a month, but I'm giving you advance warning so you can put it on your calendar: Attend the Holi celebration at your local Krishna Temple. You will be SO glad you did!
Get down with whole grains; try a new recipe this weekend!
Try your hand at making soap.
Make a woodland love shrine.
And have a relaxing, creative, lovely weekend!
I'm so excited to begin this series of birth stories. Every birth is so powerful and unique, each a miracle in its own way. Between now and our baby's birth in July, I'm going to be sharing a story each week of a beautiful birth to serve as inspiration, education and a point of reflection and source of empowerment. I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I have enjoyed reading all the wonderful stories that have poured into my inbox (if you've been considering sharing yours, please do! I don't know if I'll be able to share them all, but I've read and enjoyed every one and we still have plenty of weeks to share before July!)
KC says of her daughter Sofia's birth, "I get so filled up with joy every time I
think about the experience that I feel as if my heart will burst!" Here is the story in her own words:
My daughter Sofia was born on October 21st 2009 but her story
really begins two days before that on Monday. That afternoon I went for
my weekly visit with my midwife. I was extremely heavy, tired and
wanted so much to get the show on the road! I was feeling anxious and
flustered all day. So during my appointment when she told me my blood
pressure was a little high, I was afraid she was going to tell me I
couldn't give birth at the birth center. She sent me home that
afternoon with all the necessary containers to do a 24 hour urine
sample to test. When I got home, I cried in my
mom's arms for at least half an hour. She told me to cheer up, that I was going to have this baby tomorrow!
Around 10:30 I felt the most wonderful feeling in the world: the
urge to push. I didn't need to be told when to do it, or how; my body
just did it. It felt beautiful and powerful to vocalize with each
push. Occasionally Judith would remind me not to strain my arms when
holding my legs and to keep my muscles loose. At this point the heat
from my actions became overwhelming and I felt like I was in a sauna.
My mom gently fanned me while my husband replenished the ice water wash
cloths I had on my forehead and chest. When the ring of fire came
between my legs I knew it wouldn't be much longer before I met Sofia.
When she finally came out, Judith pulled her from the water and put her
on my chest. She immediately snuggled deeply into my breasts as we
waited for the cord to stop pulsing. I was completely amazed by the
power of what I had just done, while everyone else was crying with joy,
I was basking in the glorious feeling of having joined this ancient
club of motherhood. As I held Sofia I said to her, "We've taken this
first amazing leap, now the real journey begins." After birthing the placenta, Sofia was handed back to me and we tried
breastfeeding for the first time. She latched on like a pro, and the
three of us snuggled the rest of the night. I couldn't sleep a wink, I
just kept playing the experience over and over again in my head. images from Stock Exchange.
I was invited to contribute to Simple Organic, part of the Simple Living family. Such an honor to write among so many talented, inspiring voices! You can read my post today about replacing some of your beauty products with simple ingredients you probably have in your kitchen- a good follow up to yesterday's post!
With all those apple peels left over from the apple grunt, I decided to finally try my hand at making vinegar. I've been itching to do this for awhile and finally emptied the enormous bottle of rice wine vinegar we had, so I had the perfect container for it.
I combined the instructions from Wild Fermentation
It's been about a week and there's some definite bubbly action going on. It also smelled initially like sweet cider, but is now smelling more like a sweet wine with some acidic notes. I'm exactly sure how I'll know it's done, I suppose when it smells like vinegar and not like wine. At some point I'll strain out the juice and removed the peels, then let the liquid continue to vinegar-ize until it's nice and zippy. I can't wait to have our own home-brewed vinegar. We've also got a fresh pineapple sitting on the counter that may be destined for a batch of pineapple vinegar!
When I went to that great Herbs 101 class, the teacher also handed out a list of the super-bad personal care villains, the stuff you really want to avoid. I don't think she'd mind me sharing, so here's the list (I've linked each to more in-depth information). You can skip to the bottom for a list of healthy alternatives.
DEA, MEA, TEA: These can cause allergic reactions, irritate eyes, dry hair and skin and they're a liver and kidney carcinogen.
Petrolatum (aka mineral oil, vaseline, paraffinum, liquidum and baby oil): Causes photosensitivity, strips the natural oils from your body and hair, causes premature aging, causes acne and prevents the elimination of toxins from the body.
Imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin: preservatives that can cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pain, chronic fatigue, dizziness, insomnia and asthma. They also weaken the immune system and are carcinogenic. You'll find them in body and hair care products, antiperspirants and nail polish.Alcohol or isopropyl: This is a denaturant, meaning it alters the structure of other chemicals. It causes nausea, vomiting, headaches, flushing, depression, dries skin and hair, creates cracks and fissures in the skin and encourages bacterial growth.
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS): This is found in shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, and body washes. It's a detergent that causes eye irritation and can cause permanent damage to the eyes, skin rashes, hair loss, flaking mouth and mouth ulcers. In combination with other ingredients it can form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. It easily penetrates the skin and can lodge itself in the heart, lungs, liver and brain.
Padimate-O (aka octyl dimethyl, PABA): This is found mostly in sunscreens and is a nitrosamine-forming agent.
Methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl paraben: This is used to extend product shelf life and inhibit microbial growth. It's highly toxic. It can cause rashes and other allergic reaction and is also a gender bender- yikes! It's highly estrogenic.
Synthetic colors: Coal tar dyes are generally labeled as FDC7 or D4C followed by a number. They are very carcinogenic!
Talc: It's found in baby powders, face powders, and body powders, as well as on some contraceptives such as condoms. It is a known carcinogen and a major source of ovarian cancer when used in the genital area. It can also lodge in the lungs, causing respiratory disorders.
Fragrance: These are usually petroleum-based. They can cause headaches, dizziness,rashes, respiratory problems, vomiting, skin irritations and multiple chemical sensitivity.
Okay, whew! That was a lot of scary stuff. But don't despair, there are good products out there! Here are a few sources for products without all that yucky stuff. Once you get used to reading labels and find a few brands you can trust, it's not nearly so overwhelming to steer clear of the bad stuff.
Aubrey Organics for hair and body care.
Baby Bear Shop for baby and mama products.
LuSa Organics for clean, delicious-smelling soaps.
Vegan (casein-free) condoms (not sure if they have talc or not, but I think Durex doesn't.)
Dr. BronnerBadger Balm for healthy sunscreen
Toothpastes to try: Solay, Herbal Choice, Miessence, Peelu
The Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database is a great resource to dig a little deeper and to find safe products, as is Safe Cosmetics.
I was craving chocolate pudding last week and since we never have milk around, I used coconut milk, which turned out to be a brilliant substitution. Chocolate pudding is one of those things I indulge in when pregnant. Does anyone else use pregnancy as an excuse to eat naughty things you'd be craving even if you weren't pregnant... ?
The recipe I used is the basic one from The Joy of Cooking, the cornstarch version (no eggs in this one either). I think everything else was the same, except for the switch to coconut milk, which I think may have actually been an improvement. I'm nuts about coconut milk. I never cover the pudding in the fridge either, I know they say to put plastic wrap over the pudding to keep a skin from forming, but the skin is my favorite part!!
Have you got spring fever yet? I do, big time! And if you're not knee-deep in it yet, this giveaway should get you all excited about gardens and green, growing things! I've mentioned the Hudson Valley Seed Library before as one of my favorite seed sources, so I'm excited that today they're offering a Seed Library Membership, which gets you all sorts of discounts, as well as a gift certificate for the winner's choice of 4 Art Packs! The art packs are completely swoon worthy; you'll want to get the seeds out carefully to preserve the beautiful artwork on the packages.
Membership is a great way to support the Seed Library. You get a selection of seeds with your membership and if you plant them, save the seeds from those plants and then send some back to the library, you'll get credit towards your next year's membership and help save heirloom varieties- cool!The home page of their site is updated regularly with season-appropriate gardening tips and advice. Right now you can find information about creating a seed starting schedule.
Each art pack is designed by a different Hudson Valley artist to "celebrate the beauty inherent in heirloom gardening and seed saving." They're enclosed in petal-shaped envelopes and each contains a generous helping of heirloom seeds. Wouldn't these make the loveliest gift for the gardeners in your life?
Leave a comment to be entered to win. You can gain FIVE additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. 1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog. Good luck!
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Congratulations to Kathleen who said, "What a great giveaway! My husband and I are planning our first veggie garden for this spring so we would certainly put these seeds to use."
I'm starting something new here; each Friday I'll give you a few links from around the web or perhaps some ideas of my own, of fun things to make and do over the weekend! When Clayton was little they had a series of books they called the Make and Do
So, in part to inspire myself to do fun things over the weekend, and in part as a little Happy Friday treat for you, expect to see some fun ideas here each week's end. I'll try to have a variety of things for mamas, papas, little ones and those in between.
Make paper matchbox cars and decorate them- via Filth Wizardry
Make a Sweet Pea Pilot Cap for your little one; via Sew Liberated
Take a walking tour and learn about your city's architecture
Pick out a unique baby name.
Make homemade ginger ale: via Berlin's Whimsy
Have a wonderful weekend!
I'm kicking myself because I just returned this book
PS If you're looking for some brain candy to get lost in, my book club just read The Hunger Games
I've really been wanting to create a space to share positive, empowering birth stories. Birth is such a transformational, magical experience that deserves to be celebrated. So often it's the negative ones that we hear the most. I don't know what it is about human nature, but we seem more eager to share the heartrending or traumatic, than the simple, peaceful and natural. But, as women, I think we need to be better about sharing positive stories so that we can create a culture of positivity and optimism about birth. Of course, I'm coming at this from a slightly selfish view; I'm looking for all the positive birth associations I can to feed into my psyche in preparation for the big day in July! So, I'm asking all of you to share your positive stories of natural birth. If you know other women who have uplifting stories to tell, please ask them to share as well. I'd like to post a story once a week until this summer, a small step toward recreating our cultural image of birth into something more natural, more healthy, more joyous and more empowered. You can email the stories to me at progressivepioneer@gmail.com. Here's what I'm looking for:
Now, I've never been particularly fond of the name, Apple Grunt, a rather course name for such a delectable mealtime treat. So, if you can think of a more apt name, feel free to suggest it! In the meantime, I'll share the recipe for one of my favorite childhood comfort foods. The apple part couldn't be more simple; peel a bunch of apples, core and slice them. Put them in your stock pot with a bit of water on the bottom to prevent scorching. You won't need too much as they'll make their own juice, just an inch or so.
For the biscuit topping my version is a bit different than my mom's heavenly, fluffy, white biscuits. Mine are pretty dense, being all whole wheat, but we love the flavor and moist texture. I add plenty of butter too, just to make sure I'm not being too healthy! Growing up we used to eat them with a side of breakfast links, though sausage is a rare treat 'round these parts.
For the biscuits I hijacked about three different recipes and put them all together.
2 scant cups whole wheat
2.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 TBSP sugar
Mix that all together, then cut in 6TBSP butter.
Add 3/4 C coconut milk and 1 TBSP vinegar
Mix it all up, shape it into a ball and roll it out. Traditional biscuits get rolled about an inch thick and then rise quite a bit in the oven. These are heavier and don't do much rising, so I roll them thicker. And we just eat short biscuits. You can bake the extras in a 450 degree over for a little over ten minutes.
You'll put the biscuits close together on top of the apples and then turn it on to steam. As the apples cook down, the biscuits will cook into a nice, moist, dumpling-like topping. You can't really overcook the biscuits, so concentrate on how you like your apples done; they can range from firm enough to hold their shape, to complete applesauce, depending on how you like them. I like my apple grunt straight out of the pot, steaming hot with plenty of salt and butter (and sometimes a side of sausage!).
A good friend of Jenny's suggested I consider her for a MamaView, and I'm so glad she did! What a treasure trove of beautiful work and inspiring thoughts her website is. And just after "meeting" her I saw her picture book
You seem very aware of the process of acquiring experiences that
influence your art. Tell us about a few key experiences that have
influenced you creatively.
, is one
story from my little years, but there are also many other bits of
stories recorded in the details of the pictures. Sneaking personal
things into my books adds another layer of excitement and interest for
me in creating them. There is so much stored in our memories. I love
doing timed journal writings about my childhood because I rediscover so
many things.
countless times throughout my life, and my mom stayed up
late with me (ignoring bed times) so I could finish elaborate,
"extra-credit" art projects. My parents weren't artists, but these 2
basic, yet powerful things, helped me on my path as an artist: cheering
for and believing in me. I think this is also why I never once thought
I couldn't or wouldn't be an artist.Can you think of a tougher question?! I'll start with some of my favorite authors and illustrator: M. Sasek, Margaret Wise Brown, Brian Wildsmith, Leo Leonni, Dr. Seuss, Winsor McCay, Clement Hurd, Richard Scarry, Sara Fanelli, Calef Brown, Giselle Potter, Maira Kalman, Peter Sis... I have a big library of picture books, but my list of books to add is much bigger. Just to name a few really special ones in my collection: The Little Red Fish by Taeeun Yoo, Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett, and The Sound of Colors by Jimmy Liao.
Jenny, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us. I've now got a new list of books to pick up at the library and added fuel for our dream of real homesteading some day! Keep in touch!
I got the coolest thing in the mail last week from Hometown Seeds; a sealed package of non-hybrid, emergency survival seeds that keep for up to five years (ten if frozen)! Talk about some brilliant food storage! The whole package is only thirty-odd dollars (on sale from $50) and you can plant 3/4 of an acre worth of food with it. And, of course, all the seeds are non-hybrid, non-GMO so you can save the seeds and continue the whole storage/preparedness/self-sufficiency thing. But I just love that someone else figured out which are the best varieties and put it all together in a little kit (I love kits!) that you can simply tuck in the back of your freezer for a few years for some peace of mind.
I, of course, opened ours right away because a) the curiosity was killing me, and b) we're going to plant a lot of them this year anyway and then save the seeds. I wish we had room for corn though... maybe we'll give those seeds to Clay's brother and sister-in-law. So, here's what spilled out of the shiny, silver package; Golden Bantam Sweet Corn, Lincoln Peas, Champion Radishes, Spanish Onions, Beets, Tomatoes, Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach, Golden Acre Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Paris Island Lettuce, Scarlet Nantes Carrots, Peppers, Butternut Squash, Cucumbers, Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans, and Black Beauty Zucchini!! That's a whole garden's worth!
The seeds came with a whole packet of information about the seeds; they were chosen because they do well in short season climates (and thus would be fine in long season ones too), are easy to grow and are adaptible for most regions. They quote a study that says that with $30 worth of seeds you can grow $600 worth of vegetables; that's a way better return on your money than playing the stock market! The packet gives tips abot soil modification, moisture, planting times, harvesting and saving the seeds and even nutritional info about each of the veggies. And it's all really simple and basic, no frills, nothing fancy, just good, honest seeds. I love it and I can't wait to plant some!
It's Presidents' Day, and in honor of Washington and Lincoln's birthdays, Clay put together some thoughts on politics, playing nice and embracing the opportunity to be involved citizens. I love politics, though I have a ton to learn. And I love being a citizen of the good ol' USA! Ever since my grandpa's 21 gun salute at his memorial service at the Veteran's Cemetery, and witnessing the reverence and respect the other veterans gave their "fallen comrade" and my grandma, I've gotten a little weepy whenever I hear the national anthem. Here are Clay's thoughts:
A very long time ago, a man whom I revere invited us to love both our
neighbors and our enemies and pray for those who seek to take advantage
of us. Every once in awhile I flip through the radio stations. It turns
out that there are people who make a living by stirring up controversy and
hostility. Some radio hosts audibly froth at the mouth and hurl some
pretty damning accusations in the general direction of whoever happens to be on the other side of the fence. The sad part about it is
that there are a lot of people getting
their primary political education from these folks who are constantly
losing control of their mouths and minds on the airwaves. We can rise above this sort of spoon-fed "education," do a little research, and form our own opinions.
This is not a forum for my personal political opinions (and please
keep comments politics-free!) This is to remind us all that our
country is governed by “we, the people.” And that we are basically
good! It isn’t right to feel powerless in the face of decisions that
seem to happen without us. Let’s get involved if we feel like things
are happening politically that aren’t to our liking. But let's have
some class and show genuine love and respect for our brothers and
sisters standing on both sides of each issue. Let's get
information from the source and focus on true understanding and creating solutions.
In an inspiring speech given last year by James Leach the head of
the National Endowment for the Humanities, we hear a sincere plea for
civility:
“In a society as complicated as ours has become, it is
irrational to think that Republicans cannot find some Democratic
initiatives helpful to society and that Democrats cannot from time to
time vote with Republicans.
As for attitudes, the public goal should be to recognize that it is
great to be a conservative or libertarian; great to be a liberal, a
moderate, or progressive. But it is not great to hate. It is not great
to refuse to respect one’s fellow citizens at home and refuse to
endeavor to understand fellow peoples abroad."
He closes by saying:
“Bridging cultural divides and
developing a sense for a common humanity are moral and social
imperatives. Together, we in the humanities are obligated to help
advance an ethic of thoughtfulness rather than conformity of thought,
decency of expression rather than coarseness in public manners.
Civilization requires civility.”
We’ve got to learn to love our neighbors especially if we
disagree. If we are going to protest, let educating our minds be our
primary activism! And for my poor stomach, please turn off the talk
radio! Let us replace fear about the future with faith and hope for
the human family.
about him. I chose the picture of Washington on his death bed, surrounded by his family, as a reminder that we're all, politicians and neighbors alike, human, part of a family with the same basic concerns, fears and loves. And the donkey and the elephant? Just because it's rad!
I love the name of this company, it reminds me of a special tree my dad and I had where we would go to talk. It was a big, old oak with a forked trunk that you could sit in the middle of. But about the shop, The Sitting Tree; I want everything she makes! I would so dress Sam in these overall longies every single day, heck I'd even wear them myself if they were big enough!
And I need about half a dozen of these cute-as-pie wool soakers for the new little one.
Sam has a back-zip hoodie similar in shape to this one and I think it's the most brilliant design; there's no struggling to squeeze it over big baby noggins, the zipper's in back so no scratching (or unzipping).
You can win a $50 gift certificate to The Sitting Tree shop and apply it to any of these treasures. There is simply nothing that compares to beautiful, hand knit clothing in quality, durability and wearability. You'll be able to pass these down through all your kids. She hand dyes her own 100% sustainable virgin wool with low-impact dyes, so you can feel good about helping keep the earth a lovely place for future generations as well as purchasing a piece of clothing that can very likely be passed down to several members of that future generation!
Leave a comment to be entered to win. You can gain FIVE additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. 1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog. Good luck!
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Congratulations to Saskia, who said, "wow, her stuff if gorgeous!"
Jessica Purdy sent me her smart, little book Conscious Kids
My only complaint is that I at times felt like I was getting a
lecture on political correctness. When I got to the back of the book
and saw Jessica's picture, that feeling subsided because she
looks like such a sweetheart. But I always bristle at suggestions such as
"teaching your children that even though something is not your family's
choice, it doesn't make it wrong." This amounts to moral ambiguity in my view. I believe in right and wrong and I believe in teaching my children that people are free to make their own choices, that they make
them based on their own knowledge and beliefs, and that we
respectfully allow each person the right and room to live how they may
without passing judgment.But, let me tell you some more about what I loved
about it! She takes all the major US holidays and gives you wonderful,
simple ways to make them more meaningful; more giving than getting,
starting a tradition of writing to Santa asking for gifts for other
people (perhaps children in impoverished parts of the world), family
love letters on Valentine's day and handmade valentines, sponsoring an
animal for Easter etc. I really like that they're simple ideas. The
book doesn't suggest that your kid needs to be starting their own
non-profit and lifting small countries out of poverty, but rather that
they simply begin looking outside themselves, beyond their own culture
and perhaps go with the flow less and question more. She has wonderful
ideas about how to make birthdays celebratory and special while also
using it as an opportunity for generosity and social consciousness.
She also tackles environmental awareness, developing a sense of
community, media, money management and tackling tough issues. But I
think the biggest benefit of the book is simply the sense of liberation
and encouragement to parent in an eye-opening, enriching way, free of
the trappings of our consumer-based and self-focused society. It's a
great book to tuck into a bag (or set on the nursing table!) to pick up
in spare moments for some encouragement and fresh ideas.
You can read more ideas on her blog, here.
Since I've started taking this knitting class, I think I may have unraveled more yarn than I've actually knit! The funny thing is, I don't even mind. The process of knitting; looping, yarn over needle, needle over yarn, tucking, turning, again... it's just so peaceful. I almost care less about the finished product than the actual process. My first piece of knitting was just a length of garter stitch. That got unravelled because it was just practice. Then I started a pattern. It was only four rows long, but that third row was a doozy! There were yarn overs and knitting through the back and, oh, I don't know, but it just wasn't working. I was spending more time picking out stitches, counting knits and purls and referring to my instructions. I just wanted to knit without getting frustrated (no quicker way to ruin a nice new hobby than by biting off more than you can chew!). So, I just decided to take it a bit slower and simply took out that third row, which gave me a ribbed pattern. I started over, but unfortunately, after awhile I realized it was curling up on the sides, so out came those stiches as well! But really, I was okay with that.
I finally started a simple pattern, called Moss, I think. It's just alternating two knits and two purls and then switching every two rows; very simple, very meditative and very pretty. Just what I needed. I love the process of adding line upon line and watching the scarf grow, running my hands over the bumpy pattern and watching the ball of yarn grow smaller and smaller. Even just looking at the project in progress, waiting patiently for me to find a few spare minutes, is soothing.
Let me introduce you to some of the wonderful folks supporting Progressive Pioneer this month!
Of course, you know Hazelnut Kids after last week's wonderful giveaway. I wish we had a nesting house and Waldorf doll for each of you! Their website is lovely to stroll through and easy to navigate; you'll find plenty of treasures, all safe, green and guaranteed to fuel the imagination.
Boomerang audio adventures give your kids the chance to "sit in on an 'interview' with Henri Matisse... help solve the neighborhood detective's latest case, hear two young brothers grapple with the concept of gravity," and more! And today they're giving away a sweet Valentine's Day story! What a lovely way to spend part of the holiday, sipping hot cocoa with your little ones while listening to a story together- sounds like the beginning of a wonderful tradition! We have two to give away, so get your comments in! Hip Mountain Mama is new to Progressive Pioneer this month and I'm so excited to have them! They're basically your one-stop-shop for all the rad natural parenting stuff you've been coveting; mini Mobies, play silks, beautiful handmade clothing, yoga mats, cloth diapers, bamboo picnic ware... I could seriously go on and on; they have so much good stuff. Definitely worth a browse!
I can't help thinking of summer and warm grass on my feet every time I open up Raglan Guld's page. Maybe it's the dreamy picture of the girl in the field, but something about their pants just makes me want to go shopping at the farmer's market or stroll through the park. And what's really fun is that you can get them custom made to your exact size and in whatever fabric you like; brilliant!
And please make sure to stop by EC Wear, Reverie-Daydream, Wee Gallery and Bird & Little Bird. You "met" them last month, but it's always nice to visit:)
For a chance to win the Valentine's story from Boomerang, just leave a comment below!
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Congratulations Elle and Ashley Fuller; I'm emailing your stories now!
I went to a fantastic class on using herbs for health this past weekend. The class was free (though you could pay extra if you wanted some materials) because the woman teaching it is all about empowering moms to care for their families naturally. I really do feel so empowered when I learn about simple things I can do to keep us healthy. I feel like there can often be a lot of fear in our culture about taking your health into your own hands, but who else knows your body better than you? Or understands the subtleties of your children's health better than their own mama?
She talked about whole health (the mind, body spirit connection), the benefits of herbs and how to incorporate them into your regular health care. She gave us a whole list of "substitutions" for common over the counter medications, things she uses in place of pain killers, cough syrups, allergy meds etc. I can't wait to start growing more medicinal herbs this summer. I get so excited about this kind of stuff! And I love thinking about how our bodies and the natural world are designed so brilliantly and work together so well.
There's a class at the end of the month about making herbal remedies. The class is free, but you can purchase all kinds of fun stuff like salve kits, encapsulation machines, tincture supplies etc. I'm can't wait! Maybe I'll see you there:)
All images from Mountain Rose Herbs, a great source for all sorts of raw ingredients.
I haven't had much success getting Sam to drink green smoothies. But last week we ran out of spinach and so I started making a plain fruit smoothie, something I've tried to tempt him with before, but with little success. However, this time, as I was halfway through blending up all the frozen fruit, I noticed I had made ice cream! When I offered this to Sam, it was met with wholehearted enthusiasm! And now we've been having ice cream for breakfast every morning. The basic recipe is frozen fruit and almond milk; you can feel positively virtuous feeding it to your kids (or having it yourself!). You could use any kind of milk though, we've done hemp milk, and I think coconut milk would be delicious. These pictures are of a mango one I made with some coconut mixed in. It was pretty yummy, but our favorite is still mango-blueberry-strawberry.
We use a Vitamix
If making your own sling isn't in the cards or up your alley, how about a beautiful, handmade sling from Baby 'Roo Slings?! Made with love by a WAHM, you can feel good about supporting a small cottage industry and carrying your baby in style.
She has plenty to choose from; wraps, ring slings, mei tais, and more. And our winner will get to choose a basic ring sling or one of their new woven wraps! A sling is such a great gift for a new mom, especially first time moms. And for you seasoned moms, maybe it's time to upgrade to a pretty new sling? Baby 'Roo also has great information about why babywearing is so great and how to wear your baby.
Leave a comment to be entered to win. You can gain FIVE additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY. 1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog. Good luck!
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Congratulations to Jenn who said, "My sister is three months pregnant, and I'm actually waiting for the doc to call with results from my pregnancy test this morning! I would love to give or keep the sling. Honestly, I added your blog to my google reader before I saw the giveaway. Just browsing your gardening entries had me hooked."
I'm so excited to have Jean here today, sharing her ideas and insights about creating art with children. Her blog is a treasure trove of great ideas for art projects and raising creative kids. In fact, she may have inspired a potential toddler art group with a friend and I for this summer!
Aside from more creative children, what benefits do you see from living in a creativity-rich environment?
Oh, so many benefits! The foremost being that it’s FUN! Fun and beautiful and enriching.
Art is not just an end in itself, but also a way to explore and learn about the world around you. About color, observation, and cause and effect, for example. The same is true for other creative endeavors as well.
Being creative involves making something new. Whether you
draw, paint, sew, cook, build, dance, or sing you are bringing something new
into the world that wasn’t there before. And that is just so exciting! It’s a
way of sharing yourself with the world and also of exploring what you are
about.
Do you find it easy to create alongside your daughter and to feel somewhat fulfilled by the act of creation, or do you find that you need to carve out your own time and space for mama-creating?
This is something I struggle with. I would like to feel fulfilled by creating alongside my daughter, and sometimes I do, but I really value having my own time and space to create. I am a quiet-seeking introvert who thinks and works best when I have plenty of mental and physical space. And space like that is rare when you have young kids, especially if one of them is a rambunctious extrovert!
I love exploring art alongside Maia, though. I am fulfilled
in a different way by facilitating art experiences for her (and sometimes for
the art group). I love observing her interactions with art activities and art
materials and watching her change and grow and learn over time.
What books can you recommend for
parents wanting to develop a more creative environment for their little ones?
I’m a book junky so it’s hard for me to limit myself. But I’d say my favorites are those that promote open-ended art exploration and that really seem to get the magic and creativity of childhood:
Scribble Art: Independent Creative Art Experiences for Children by MaryAnn Kohl (or anything else by her!) for so many fun art activities
Young at Art: Teaching Toddlers Self-Expression, Problem-Solving Skills, and an Appreciation for Art by Susan Striker for the developmental stages of drawing, painting, etc
The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections by Amanda Soule for a wonderful outlook on life and ideas to infuse everyday family life with creativity
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Activities To Do in the Garden by Sharon Lovejoy for creativity outdoors, gardening with children, and exploring nature in our backyard
Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative & Naturally Curious Children by Ginger Carlson for tons of ideas on encouraging an active exploration of our world by our children.
Aside from the straightforward
ways of encouraging creativity (ones that involve art supplies and whatnot),
how do you find the goal of encouraging "creative expression,
imagination, joyfulness, and a love of learning" influences the rest
of your parenting?
I try to say yes as much as possible, encourage Maia’s interests and her ability to explore the world, and provide plenty of books, art supplies, games, excursions, time with friends, and other things that keep her excited and interested.
This is a goal, mind you. I don’t always succeed. There are
days when I find myself saying no to messes, yes to DVDs, and when I think I’m
far from the best parent out there! But I’m trying. We also have wonderful days
where everything flows so beautifully – where we bake, laugh, create, play, and
generally feel creative and happy. My goal is to have more days like those!
What are some of the most fun and/or successful projects you've done with your daughter (or other kids) that you think we might want to try with our own kiddos?
Oh, the funnest are generally the messiest. Are you ready for this?
Also, some not-so-messy-but-still-very-fun art projects:
Melted
crayon and watercolors
And if you want more, here’s
a list (with links) of many of the art projects we’ve done.
Thanks so much for sharing all your great ideas, Jean! Keep in touch!
PS There's a great giveaway coming up later today (as soon as I get time to sit down and post it)!
Yesterday I brought home an enormous stack of picture books from the library, inspiration for my marathon(!). But, today I'm going to share an old, falling apart copy of one of my childhood favorites from off our own bookshelf. My mom got me The Rainbow Goblins
The goblins are creepy, kind of freaky little guys, which made it all the more fascinating. They are the bad guys in the book, and the flowers (who come to the rescue in the end) are the good guys. The goblins truly look and play their part well, putting their bald, pointy-eared heads together, rolling their scary eyes and conspiring in dank, dark caves.The illustrations always swept me away; beautiful, two-page spreads of rainbows, birds in flight and animal filled valleys. They were rich and detailed and so easy to fall right into. Sam is just now getting to an age where he will sit still for a reading of it and is starting to enjoy the images. Each page must be turned every so carefully, flipped really, as none are holding on to the binding any longer and just sit as a stack of loose pages between the covers. The sign of a very well-loved story.
I have always loved getting things in the mail; hand written letters from friends, belated birthday presents (isn't it kind of exciting when they're late? It prolongs the celebration!), even things I order for myself are fun. I forget they're coming and then it's like getting a present when they arrive! So, I was beyond delighted to get this wonderful package from Abi (remember her great interview a couple weeks ago?) in the mail. Not only were the contents wonderful, the whole package was just so lovely. Brown paper packages truly are the most fun to open, I think. And this one was made of thick paper, sewn together at the edges! How clever is that?
Inside were the most thoughtful gifts; I always admire people who can think of just the right gift. That really is a talent. I'm always wracking my brain trying to come up with something just right. For my burgeoning career as a serious knitter(!) she made me a beautiful cloth roll to store my needles in! It's linen on the outside with a cheerful pattern inside and bright turquoise ties. And accompanying the needle holder was the softest, loveliest yarn in varying shades of bluish green; the shifting colors remind me of the ocean. It's a nice baby weight and you know I can put that to good use! The yarn was hand dyed by a good friend of hers.
The whole thing just made my day; so thoughtful, so full of handmade goodness and warm sentiments.
