Too Much Goodness

So much goodness to post! The older kids are out of school for the summer and we kicked it off right with a trip to beautiful Lake Chelan - here in Washington -  for our family reunion.

Surrounded by family - cousins to play with, Fourth of July fireworks, Grandpa's 90th bday - it really marked the beginning of summer for us!

This summer is also seeing a refreshed commitment to my parent coaching business. My own life has been so transformed by this process that I truly can't imagine NOT bringing this to as many people as possible. I'm enjoying the connections being made on the blog and my FB page. I can't wait to see what the future brings and all the wonderful families who will be impacted by this work!

To this end I'm busily creating a peaceful parenting ecourse for busy parents! I've had some great feedback about the live 4 week telecourse. Some people who want to attend are nervous that they aren't in the optimal place (time limits, internet down, other commitments) to receive the course and really apply the lessons. Because I totally understand that (I've been there myself!) I'm creating this course to be a self-paced study with interactive components that replace our weekly, live calls. I can't wait to get this out to you all!

In other news, babies grow up. This is both a happy and (very) sad thing. Eden is 6(!) months already. She's such a content baby - and her siblings are still so excited about her. Sibling Love has to be one of the best Loves in the world. I'm an only child - but I get so filled up watching their love for each other that I can imagine how sweet it must be for them.

We'll begin introducing food to Eden very soon - I think this is one of the most exciting parts of raising babies! That's the real foodie in me talking.

When Eden was born I bought the book Beautiful Babies and the companion online course from Kristen Michaelis of Food Renegade. I love all the information in this book and course! We're all set to start food with pastured egg yolk and probiotics leading the way.

What was your baby's first food?

5 Steps to Peaceful Parenting Workshop - Kitsap, WA

For anyone in the area interested in learning more about peaceful parenting I am presenting a workshop next Saturday, Feb. 23rd at Port Orchard Massage and Movement. See the link for more details!
 The event on Facebook is here.

Spread the word and change the world!

We are also conducting a giveaway on the Early Endeavors blog. Hop on over to enter!

Parenting in the New Year Workshop

This little blog is pretty quiet nowadays as my attention shifts to growing a small business to impact and inspire young families like my own. I do love to check in here and see how things are going. I also think this is the perfect place to share some of those happenings from Early Endeavors.

I'm getting ready to host a free workshop on December 17th! I'm excited to share some tools for parents on how to end nagging, power struggles and tantrums. It's also about honoring our intent as parents - our core values - regardless of where we're at right now.


If this speaks to you then please come on over and register for the live teleconference. In just one hour we're going to shed some light on common behavior issues and what you can do about them!

Winter Immunity Boosters and a Smoothie Recipe

So the winter yuckies have hit our house! Being that I'm 9 months pregnant I REALLY don't want to catch what's going around, know what I mean?

Our oldest currently has a confirmed case of type A flu -I didn't even realize they could test for that- and was given scripts for Tamiflu and steriods. Mind you, he's not having difficulty breathing and his worst symptoms are a headache and fever.

We decided to home treat and fill the steroid prescription later, if needed (he has a history of lung issues, we don't mess around).

Yesterday he looked terrible. He asked to go to the doctor, which he doesn't do unless he really feels bad. Since pneumonia is a problem for him I always listen to his pleas to go and get checked. His eyes were dull, he slept and moaned and threw up a few times. Bad.

This morning, after beginning home treatment for his flu yesterday, he is bright-eyed! He says he feels so much better. His appetite is back and he can read while resting in bed. We're continuing treatment today and I expect he'll be back up and on his feet tomorrow! The doctor we saw at urgent care made sure to tell us that he will be very sick for at least 7 days. We'll see, but I think he is really on the mend thanks to herbs, powerful flu-fighting foods and rest.

I'm always curious about what others do to treat or prevent illness at home and thought I'd share our routine and a recipe!

The stuff we use:

• Elderberry - I really want to make my own syrup but we were caught off guard so I made due with some lozenges
• Zinc - came as part of the lozenge I picked out but we do this anyway at the first sign of illness
• Echinacea - in tea form from Yogi teas (along with peppermint, rose hip, mullein and a host of other immunity boosters)
• Vitamin C - the big one! Mega doses of vitamin C are the surest way that I know of to prevent and treat the flu. Use the ascorbic acid form.
• Garlic - fresh garlic in everything!
• Lemon - I use it in tea with honey, ginger and cinnamon
• Bone broth - I make up stock on a regular basis - whenever I have chicken bones to use up - and I use this to simmer fresh, minced garlic, oregano and mushrooms. Salt to taste with sea salt.

I started Jake on 1000mg of vitamin c each hour. We were trying to reach bowel tolerance but it never happened for him. He must have really needed the C! I cut back to 1000mg every 2 hours this morning.

He also got tea or broth once an hour. The tea is steeped extra long and I add a chunk of ginger root to the hot water. Pull out the tea bag(s) - I use 2 in the beginning - and the ginger. Add a squeeze of lemon, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and honey to taste.

The broth is simmered on the stove and I just use the liquid because Jake won't eat the minced garlic or mushrooms. He's still getting some great immunity boosters from the garlic oil. Plus, bone broth is full of nutrition - gelatin, postassium, calcium and more!

Every time he takes the vitamin C he also dissolves one elderberry and zinc lozenge in his mouth.

Add to this routine lots of rest and water!

Since he was feeling so much better this morning I made him an immune boosting smoothie! This recipe is yummy, easy on the tummy and uses things that you probably already have around the house.

Immune Boosting Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 clementines - peeled
• 1 cup of echinacea tea infusion - kept in the fridge overnight
• 1/2 cup kefir - probiotics are key in maintaining immunities
• 2 bananas - mostly for sweetness but I'm sure the potassium doesn't hurt
• 2 tbsp melted coconut oil - the lauric acid will help fight viruses and bacteria
• 5 ice cubes

This comes out like a milkshake! It makes a little over a quart of smoothie so he can have some for lunch too.

I also took him off any sugar or refined grain as this can make your system work harder to heal.

For the rest of us who are hoping to avoid this crud I do a modified, scaled down version. Rest, water, no sugar. We start drinking the tea right away, washing our hands a lot and eating soup made from bone broth. I also up my dose of vitamin C to about 2-3000mg per day (in comparision Jake is taking about 5000mg per day).

What do you do to boost your immune system during cold and flu season?

Summer Lovin'

Just an update on what we're doing these days!

Summer has finally arived in the PNW and we couldn't be happier about it! We've been at the beach and hitting the parks, visiting family far away and generally making the most of it.

I'm excited to be over at the Early Endeavors site more and more, growing a business that will impact families and bring positive parenting to more people. Just started a series on shifting your parenting paradigm. Come check it out!

Also, on the newsfront, we are expeccting our third baby sometime around Christmas! If you have 3+ kiddos please give me any tips or pointers you've got! Ours will all be about 5 years apart so the spacing is nice (for me) because the older two are very independent and helpful.

What's new in your neck of the woods? I hope the weather is nice yet mild wherever you are!

Weekending - Spring Edition

Ah, the weekend, takes so long to get here and is gone in a flash!

This weekend was kicked off with hunger games and dinner sans little ones

a lazy saturday (we're definitely too old to be staying up past 3am), pizza and catching up with the dvr

a walk and bike ride around the neighborhood to enjoy the sunshine

another row of knitting and pb + chocolate ice cream

wrapped it all up with a clean garage (!) and a mega-trip to goodwill - where things were only donated and nothing bought

basil + tomato pasta for dinner and an early bedtime!

I had such a busy weekend that it didn't feel like a weekend at all! Saturday, I taught a child development class for teachers on partnering with parents that lasted all day. I was able to squeeze in a quick trip to Old Navy and Trader Joe's after but, really, it was a long day.

Sunday I drove about 250 miles to meet with a doula client (not to worry, they are delivering much closer to me). That was 250 miles in rain, snow and hail. I had a harrowing adventure driving 8 miles down their mountain in driving snow that had accummulated to about 4 inches on the road. Have I mentioned that I do not drive in snow? Yeah, I was both completely sure I would die and equally proud of myself for staying alive.

Top off this busy, busy weekend with daylight savings time and you can probably guess how Monday's going! I feel out of it and not quite sure where I need to be and at what time. Gotta love springing forward!

How was your weekend?

Extended Weekending

Hooray for this long, full weekend!

Hanging out at Kaiya's school early Friday morning
Early pick up for the big brother
Saturday was Thai curry with a good friend, followed by good conversation
Girls' night, hand-me-down Barbies (that mom decided to let her keep)
Mockingjay
Sunday was long and lazy, burgers and strawberry milkshakes for dinner
Watching Griff the Invisible

Monday brings a faraway friend's visit and chat over coffee
A baby in handknits and a (semi) clean house.

I'm looking forward to Tuesday as our weekend continues! Planning to make a fresh batch of playdough,
Get busy on some posts for my business' blog, make mini pizza's with creamy tomato sauce....

Oh! And maybe some knitting too.

Organic Family Cookbook Love

Oh my, I've been meaning to get this on the blog for awhile...you know how it is with kids and life and all of that, right?

Way back in October I was sent a copy of Anni Daulter's The Organic Family Cookbook and I love it! Our family typically follows a traditional foods-type diet and so I was a little skeptical that the recipes would work for us (we don't really do any processed sugars, including agave nectar). But I'm so glad I checked it out anyway!

I think our favorite recipe so far is the Veggie Parmesan Popcorn. We eat a fair amount of popcorn and this recipe ups the flavor and the nutrition perfectly.


I eat up the Super Green Crispy Kale right out of the oven! Yum!


One of the great things about this book is the little nuggets of info and ideas throughout. Anni talks about food choices, sourcing your food, cooking with a family and "greening" your household. I love her recipe for making your own cleaning solution!

This weekend we're going to make these pastrami and blue cheese melts....they look so yummy!

Has anyone else tried out some recipes from this cookbook? What is a must-make for your family?

700 Hats to Wear

I am a self-described multi-passionate person...to me this just means that I have about a thousand different ideas that call to me. So many options for work, life and fulfillment, you know?

So this leads to today's post. Today I was feeling rushed and ragged by 9am. I was late getting out of bed (but loved the extra sleep. Ahhhh!), both kids were late to school, and I was running late for a 9:30 appointment for one of my work projects.

After dropping off Kaiya at school and realizing that there was no way I was going to be on time, I sighed. Heavily. Out loud. And then I realized something....it was going to be whatever it was at that point. I could choose to mentally rush the traffic around me, look at the dashboard clock every thirty seconds and work myself into a self-loathing tizzy for being late or I could slow down (mentally), take a deep breath and call the person I was meeting with to let them know I would be late.

I chose the latter of these. Turns out I could relax on the rest of my drive as the person I was meeting with wasn't in yet...running late herself.

Teaching, consulting, coaching, being a doula and being present and open for my family are all things I hold dear; all things that I want to do and be. I'm learning that balance, self-care and concious choice are really important. Whether I am setting out to wear 7 hats or 700, I need to take time to breathe and savor what is good in each moment, even (or especially) when the moments present obstacles or other imperfections.

Sharing

We're finally getting some much-awaited snow around here and I've been cooking, cleaning up from cooking and knitting away as the snow falls!

I was also looking back at some family pics we had taken back in October and wanted to share my favorites.

Okay, seriously? I love her faces, gah!

We had such a good time with Linenko Photography. Memories made and captured!

Slowing Down

After all the hustle and bustle of the holidays January sure feels s-l-o-w...and I think I like it. This is the first year that I've really noticed the slow, cozy, unhurried feeling of this season and I am deciding to embrace it, welcome it and enrich it.

Menu plans are all about soups, stews and casseroles. Roasted veggies over fresh salads. Morning soaked oatmeal and tea. Lovely.

The Christmas knitting that didn't get done is actually quite needed right now. Instead of starting something new, it feels like welcoming an old friend; the familiar pattern.

The kids feel it too, I can tell. Jake is devouring the Harry Potter series (watching each movie as he finishes the books - of course)...a nice, long read.
Kaiya is enjoying arranging scenes in her new dollhouse and helping in the kitchen.

Life is just a bit slower paced right now. I'll just go with it because - really- spring is just around the corner and we can speed up then!

Welcome {Winter}

Thanksgiving, Christmas and Solstice are well put to bed and we're gearing up for a cozy family New Year's Eve.

~Not all of the Christmastime knitting got done, of course (it never does!)

~The kids had the best Christmas, complete with trying to stay up All. Night. Long.

~I started a new, very part time, job that is turning out to be just what we needed

~Business taxes, website redesign and new opportunities loom for this mama

~Feeling up to all the challenges and blessings being found this season!

What's new with you?

Unrelated pic of some knitting (unChristmas type) that did get finished. This is the test knit for the new Green Apple dress. I'm in love!

Hello, November!

Okay, I think I'm in love with November...and I don't care who knows it!

We are experiencing a truly crisp, bright start to the holiday season and it's wonderful. I've been neglecting my knitting but my kitchen has seen more action than usual.

We're enjoying a sausage, potato and kale soup that I heavily modified from one I found on All Recipes. I'll have to write down what I did before I forget! That's how my chili turns out different everytime.

I tried out Butter Belle's Soaked Pumpkin Muffins and all I can say is - yum! They are light and moist and perfect with a generous pat of pastured butter. I've had 3 today....just don't tell anyone. And this recipe reminds me why I keep the Kitchen Aid out on the counter. When I'm not doing a lot of baking I sometimes wonder why I have it!

I just started a new sourdough starter after killing one over the summer. I used to think getting a starter going was so hard but now that I've done it a few times I think that starters are super hardy and probably not easy to screw  up. I feel so rewarded when the starter begins rising each time I feed it! It's the little things, folks.

The knitting will have to be unneglected very soon to churn out all the gifting ideas I have in my head. I'm in a definite knitting slump - one where I have lots of ideas but no motivation to get things together and get started. Also, I've decided I need a swift and a ball winder. A lot of my yarn is in skeins and that doesn't help my motivation at all. I was going to ask for one for Christmas but then it would be too late for gift knitting. I might just buckle down and buy a set myself.

What are you working on for this holiday season?

Weekending

Oh my, it's been a busy week and an even busier weekend! One of those weekends where there just isn't enough time for everything - laundry, friends, Halloween preparations, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping - the list goes on!



Enjoying the pumpkin patch and all it's fun activities - like an apple sling shot and the photo ops!

Or maybe the puddles are more your speed - they have plenty of those too; it's Washington after all.

The makings for an impromptu apple pie on Sunday afternoon - well deserved after a weekend of hard work and hard play!

I hope your weekend was fabulous and family-filled!

Weekending

Our weekend was full!
full of trips to the farm for milk
full of good friends and little boys growing up (sniff)
full of catching up with old friends
full of SUNSHINE!
full of cleaning up and cleaning out

Trips out for coffee (much needed for the cleaning part!)
Dusting off the sewing machine (literally, whoops)
Maybe a row or two knit
Planning many, many other knitting projects
Trying to maintain the self-discipline to shop only from my own yarn stash and not that of the (lovely!) local yarn shops (failing only a little)

How was your weekend?

Even If The Sun Doesn't Shine

I am in love with the deep curiousity and action of my young children. They can seemingly take any activity and find the best parts, you know?

Right now:

:: paper boats and mud puddles

:: relearning to knit garter stitch

:: acting out Calvin and Hobbes (hehe!)

:: wanting to cook and cook and cook

Sometimes I have to step in and curb a little of what they want to do for what needs to get done - but for the most part I let them at it. You only get one childhood!

There's still plenty of riding bikes too because - really - the best part of riding a bike is done with boots on and through huge puddles! A quick shoutout for Kaiya's Skuut manufacturers - last week her back tire popped and they just sent us a new one in the mail, free of charge. I love great customer service like that!

What are your kids doing know that the weather has turned? (or will turn soon, or doesn't turn as the case may be)

Autumn Cooking

I love seasonality (pretty sure I'm making that word up). The cycle of our lives - indoors/outdoors, sun/rain, holidays - there's just a natural time for everything, if we're only willing to listen.

Right now I'm filling our kitchen with fall favorites and enjoying the smell of simmering and baking.

Our roasted chicken from dinner

This chicken will make many meals just from one roasting. The bones are simmering away to make stock and the remaining meat can be used for another dinner.

My hope is to feed my family whole, nourishing meals without breaking the bank. I want our meals to bring us warmth and good health in every season but especially in these cooler, darker days of fall.

I use this simple recipe for roasted chicken from Nourished Kitchen. Do you have a favorite recipe that makes you feel warmed and satisfied?

To GAPS or Not to GAPS

Oh, that is the question that is heavy on my mind right now.

The GAPS diet is a gut healing and sealing diet with far reaching benefits for many chronic disorders. Designed by  Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, the Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) diet promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract while ridding the body of the unwanted yeast and bacterias that make so many of us ill.

Sounds great, right? The thing is this diet looks tough. I've been following a few online journeys through the GAPS Intro and the Full GAPS diet (less restrictive than Intro) and I'm starting -just starting- to think that maybe we could do this.

Our son (9) has a host of chronic conditions that the GAPS diet could really help. Asthma, autism, allergies and ezcema. He has had these ailments since infancy. Each day that I wait and ponder whether or not we should do this I think to myself that it is another day that he could be feeling some relief, you know?

So hard for a mama.

My first step will be to get the book from the library and arm myself with some more knowledge. I'm also seeing more and more resources out there for doing the GAPS  diet successfully; especially with kids. This makes it seem much less scary!

Do you have any experience with GAPS?

Right Now

Things that I am loving right now:

Knitting ::  a special Christmas gift

Listening :: to Michael Franti and Feist on my Pandora

Simplifying :: our home and  getting down to brass tacks for winter

Working :: on new passion projects taking me in all sorts of wonderful directions!

Watching :: the drizzly, Northwest weather outside my door...so very Fall

Hearing :: a 4 year old begin the long, wonderful journey toward reading

Spending :: some one-on-one time with the big brother

Making :: new friends over chicken soup and conversation

What are you enjoying right now?