Gluten and Dairy Free

So a few weeks ago I did a 3 week detox. In short I had a nasty candida infection and other issues that occurred from my hormones going back to normal from stopping nursing. Details aside I spent almost 3 months in almost constant discomfort and in a last ditch effort I decided to do a detox. This was super super hard for me for a couple of reasons 1. Tho I pride myself in a super strong will power I didn't know how long I would have to do the detox and thus saw no destination of relief 2. I really really love food... no like limitations on my food kind of makes me depressed, you should know that I was raised vegetarian and already live a very healthy lifestyle with many limitations I live with every day, so maybe it's the fact that I couldn't eat things that I knew weren't necessarily bad for me that really got to me and 3. making 2 different meals for 3 weeks with a toddler can really get challenging. But I did it.. and I made through it.. and I felt amazing- despite the hunger pains... and I am better! And best of all... Now I can eat anything I want again- within reason.

A few friends have asked me for some gluten dairy free recipes I might have, and tho you may not be going on a Candida diet (which includes only eating vegetables, some meats, yogurt and gluten free grains) even significantly cutting out these two ingredients will make a noticeable change in your health. Disclosure.. I am an advocate for living a healthy lifestyle but, as I have said before I am not a Natzie about anything, I believe while the majority of your life should be spent eating lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and nuts that we all need to experience life and a slice of cheesecake or a scoop of ice cream is not going to kill you. I think what we all need to learn is to not be a glutton about our food, take smaller bites, smaller portions, and eat less frequently the foods that aren't necessarily the best for our body. A little background on dairy and gluten, for those who don't know, the main issue with both are that they create mucous in our bodies.. while some people have gluten or lactose intolerance every human body has a negative reaction to too much of anything and today gluten and dairy seem to be in everything! Too much mucous is dangerous because it can hold onto toxins in our bodies, not letting them get flushed out in due time. Mucous likes to linger and stick like glue not only in our sinuses, chest and throat but also in our intestines causing blockages or even breaking down the healthy mucous walls. (I am trying to explain this in lay terms and am no doctor so it is always best to do your own research) If you are looking for ways to cut back on your gluten and or dairy intake then I am here to help.. but if you are looking to cut them both out totally from your diet you may need to do more research beyond here.

So to the point... In general a lot of my recipes are made up and forgotten on the spot LOL I do a lot of digging on the internet and substitute with what I have or take the best out of multiple recipes and smash them together. Sometimes the results should be forgotten and other times they go into the books. In the end you are going to have to experiment and be willing to eat what you made even if you don't love it. Without knowing your dietary needs here are some tips that got/get me through my gluten/dairy free days  that are "beyond raw and stir fry deals."

1. I USE BUTTER... while technically it is dairy, the process of making butter leaves behind most everything that makes it dairy. In addition butter makes everything better... and really when you look at the alternatives, even smart balance- which is supposed to be safe but still worries me.. you are choosing the best option.

2. Yogurt.. while yogurt is dairy, the fermentation process basically kills the lactose an other harmful elements in milk and leaves you with some pretty awesome active cultures. On top of it you can use yogurt in place of sour cream or cheese and it is even a great thickener for sauces/smoothies/???

3. Make from scratch.. I think this is a great tip for any lifestyle.. making from scratch is cheaper, you know everything that is in it, and it's fresh! Making from scratch is key for a gluten/dairy free diet because so many products have both in their ingredients... just start reading labels, you will be surprised!

4. Learn to use brown rice flour ( I say brown because white rice is also a mucous former) I am still learning how to effectively use this. While companies have done their best to make it mimic regular flour their is really none other like wheat flour. I have found that it is much lighter and doesn't hold together the same.. there is a reason why some of the best paper mache paste is just flour and water- think of what it is doing in your body!! - but back to the subject.. So in efforts to get the same consistency I have been using 2/3 rice flour and 1/3 regular flour in some of my recipes. I am actually starting to like the airiness it gives to baked goods.

5. I love almond milk! While again.. it is hard to find a good substitute for the fat in regular milk, when cooking, almond milk keeps a great thickness and doesn't change the flavor too much. When it comes to drinking it or using it in things like cereal, I have no issues, then again I was raised on soy milk.

6. As far as cheese goes, I really can't give much advice. I love love love cheese and really have not found a good substitute for it. So I just try to cut back on the amount or frequency of use when I need to. But I would give up every other dairy product just to have a little bite of cheese a day.

7. Rice/Corn pasta.. I have tried quite a few brands and am very impressed with every single one of them.. they can get a little pricey but you won't be disappointed.

8. Grab some rice puffs or other gluten free snacks.. I even love a rice cake with peanut butter and honey on top. I found in my detox that I really missed being able to snack here or there. I couldn't even have fruit! which would often be my go to snack. But what about those pretzels or gold fish I would nibble throughout the day. You don't realize how much you nibble until you can't :) I found that investing the $4!!! for a tiny bag of treats was totally worth it. Because it was all mine it would last me over a week and it was a great reprieve for feeling depressed cause "I couldn't eat anything!!!"

9. Ice cream.. I am not a big ice cream eater, so I am mostly writing this because I know a lot of people are. Don't get me wrong I love ice cream but for years now I have only been able to eat a small small amount without sitting in agony for the next 8 hours. It's something to do with the dairy and sugar I think. So I have found other joys.. like cookies!! But when I need my occasional fix I have found a few good choices. Tofutti Almond Bark, unfortunately it is loaded with sugar but there is no dairy!! I don't personally care for their other flavors but you may! So Delicious has also come out with a variety of coconut milk based ice cream and yogurt.. they are a little sweet for my taste buds but have a great flavor and texture. and then there is Rice Dream who makes a great ice cream sandwich! Again your going to have to pay $4 for a little container but if you learn to nibble like me it could last you a good 3 weeks!

10. Bread.. oh yes bread!! I sure do love me some bread, I did mention that I love food right!? anyways it is really hard to find a substitute for some good old bread but I have recently tried one brand that hit the mark pretty good. udi's.. I've heard some of the other brands are pretty good too. (with the number of gluten allergies arising there has been a surge of good products that have made the market)

Basically look around you will be amazed at what you find.. Chex cereal has a whole gluten free line, and Red Mill has a great line of baking goods that I can find at my local Publix. There is also this awesome gluten free pancake mix  Gluten Free Pantry's Brown Rice Pancake Mix they also have a whole line of baked goods in a box that I have not tried. And if you can make it to Whole Foods you will find even more variety of both gluten and dairy free products that you can use to make your regular meals.

Another place I get a lot of great inspiration is another blog. ohsheglows.com. The recipes are vegan but substitute where you like. She has some amazing recipes for every meal and even desserts!! If you get overwhelmed by the amount of recipes she has try doing a search with something you have in your cupboard.

There is so much information and creativity out there all you really have to do is spend a little time searching for it...

Here is an example of some things I ate/eat when sticking to gluten/dairy free:

Breakfast:
-Smoothie- banana, strawberries, cranberries (any fruit really) a splash of juice ( I like orange juice) a splash of almond milk, a few spoonfuls of plain yogurt, and I often through in a few pieces of broccoli or spinach.. (but I'd rather eat them cooked by themselves then in my smoothie)
-Pancakes- gluten free pancake mix or my own mix with rice flour, I throw in some shredded apple or carrots or zucchini a little cinnamon and top it with butter and honey/maple syrup
-omelette.. I like a scrambled omelette but to each his own. You can throw in a bunch of vegetables and eat with a slice of gluten free toast

Snack:
- homemade cookie- with rice flour, some oats (I know they aren't gluten free but just a little goes a long way to make the texture that much better) add some cranberries and zucchini and the regular cookie ingredients
- rice cake with peanut butter
-nuts
-fruit
-vegetables dipped in hummus or ranch dressing made with mayo, plain yogurt and spices
-store bought gluten free snacks
-yogurt with nuts and fruit

Lunch:
- I almost always eat leftovers from the night before but...
- veggie sandwich with gluten free bread
-salad with potato salad on top

Dinner:
-gluten free pasta, brown rice, potatoes
- roast/saute vegetables.. I solely use an iron skillet to cook. I throw in varying combinations of onion, garlic, and whatever other vegetable I have in the fridge with a little butter and olive oil and some simple spices.
-experiment with other vegetables.. there is a lot of vegetables out there and you need to experiment with them and you will be amazed at how much variety they will add to your meals.
- squash: if you haven't discovered the wonders of squash it is time to start experimenting. Delicious, nutritious and can be eaten roasted or smashed or added to dishes as a sauce or thickener . oh so much to do with this wonderful org..
-beans beans beans.. mix them in with  your veggies or serve them on the side hot or cold
-sauces: I make almost all of my own sauces. A little butter and flour (your choice) and make a roue and then add some flavor either with vegetables or spices. I almost always through mine into the blender at the end to get the flavor well distributed. (if your interested in a more exact recipe just let me know!)

Dessert:
- we don't really eat dessert and if we do we would probably go for the good stuff. I do however often grab one of my homemade muffin cookies and a glass of almond milk before I go to bed.

I hope this little insight on my experiences helps you to find new ways to add variety to your diet! Happy Cooking!

Homemade

So in efforts to save money I have been experimenting with things homemade. I already make 99% of my meals from scratch but what about those everyday items that you just think of as an ingredient, like butter, sour cream, yogurt, buttermilk, pie crust, cheese, mayonnaise, bread, and this list goes on.... I have tried my hand in quite a few of these but many are not very cost effective (unless you are buying/making organic) and others just don't have the shelf life for how in often I use them. However, I will note that if money is not your issue than making things from scratch is always the way to go. First you can get an organic product for usually half the price, you don't have any stabilizers or preservers, and the taste is usually 5 times better!

Still I can't imagine my life without homemade yogurt, especially while I have been on this Candida diet and have been eating around a half gallon of yogurt a week. I spend about 20 minutes of active waiting 8 hours of unwatched waiting and an overnight and the fridge and I have can have yogurt for half the price!!! I got my recipe online and now wouldn't have it any other way! (http://www.makeyourownyogurt.com/ great step by step tutorial that I used my first few times)

 First Bring Milk to 185 degrees

 Then cool to 110 degrees

Then mix in your few TBS of yogurt

Let it sit for 8 Hours 

( the recipe call for minimum 7 but I like mine strong and the longer you go the thicker it gets)

Stir it Up!

 Put in in containers

And let it sit in the fridge overnight!

Other homemade experiences: 

- pie crust... pros: delicious, can make using butter instead of crisco cons: good amount of extra time, messy, toddler pokes holes in it, pies are already time consuming without

-butter... pros: all you need is heavy cream, a blender and a strainer... supper yummy and fresh cons: not cost effective at all- takes a quart to make a pound of butter. right now a quart of cream is going for about $6 and a pound of butter $2.80. But if you can get cream from a local farm in bulk and in the summer (the time when farms have access cream) and freeze your butter then it would be worth it for sure!

-sour cream... pros: very cost effective, simple ingredients, no added preservatives, nice fresh taste, can have organic for about 1/3 price. cons: have to prepare 24 hours in advance, sour cream is often on sale when I buy it so no work for same price

-bread/bagels/pretzels.. pros: simple ingredients, not too much time needed- mostly waiting, really good, price is better compared to quality breads  cons: time- have to set aside a good amount of time and it goes bad faster. 

-ricotta... pros: great flavor cons not very cost effective (similar to butter issue)

-cheese.. I haven't made my own yet but research shows pros. flavor flavor flavor cons. waiting .. price is about equal in the end compared to quality cheeses but not compared to bogo Publix cheese

-Mayonnaise... pros. taste no preservatives cons. shelf life... if I used mayo enough this would be cost and time effective but for how in often I do it is easier to just buy when on sale. 

cookies/treats... pros. good ingredients, can use organic, can put less or no sugar, can use what is in your pantry,  no other ??? ingredients, great taste, cons. time, shelf life- if they last that long, experimenting with recipes

Popsicle... pros. less sugar or refined sugar, can use left over smoothie or juice, get more for your money, more variety, better flavor (in my opinion) cons. waiting time if not prepared

beans... dry vs can pros... cost cost cost half the price cons. have to be prepared, have to do day ahead if want beans cold

ok my brain is fried... can't think of what else I make. Let me know if you have any questions on something homemade you have been considering! 

Don't be afraid to experiment a little... cooking is just science, with the right recipe anything is possible!!

Hope you are having fun in your kitchen this week :)

The Two's Are Upon Us!

I knew almost from the get go that my son had a strong will, honestly I shouldn't have expected any less with my husband and me as his parents... my husbands stubbornness matched with my brains was sure to be a fun combination.. ha well I can't really say much for my brains but I am a very determined person. Anyways the past 20 months has been filled with increasing levels of fits by my son. Don't get me wrong, he is a wonderful, loving, funny, and peaceful little boy but he, like all of us, has his moments where he transforms into a little screaming destructive ball of furry. It seems there are very few of us parents who are graced with a child who doesn't go through these "Terrible Two" it's natural and unless your child can communicate perfectly all his or her wants and needs then you too probably have a screaming child on your hands every now and then. It is not always easy as a parent and I find the older he gets the harder it gets. But here are a few tips that seem to work for us and maybe you can adopt some to fit your own parenting styles.

I read that children around the 2 year mark throw tantrums because they don't have words for their emotions. Up until this point they have always reacted physically to express their emotions and thus need guidance on how to put their emotions into words. The article suggested a great way to do this is to say what your child might be feeling while they are fitting. For example, almost everytime my husband walks out into the garage and leaves my son behind he throws himself to the ground and screams and cries "dadda." So I will go over to him and say " You want dadda? " at which he usually say "uhh" which is his yes. He will then start fitting again and I repeat myself and usually add something like "I know you want dadda... you want to go outside with him because you like to follow him, but sometimes you can't have everything you want, sometimes dadda goes out in the garage without Ephraim" (note I often use the second tense with Ephraim rarely using words like I, me, or you. I tell him things like "momma is going to go into the bedroom now, you can follow me if you want" I adopted this after reading another article on delaying a child's "mine" sense of themselves and I do agree that it seems to help him to see beyond himself when the possession has been taken away slightly). While putting words to the emotion doesn't always calm him down right away I see that it makes him think about what he is really upset about.

Another thing I do is count. I find this is as much for me as it is for him. As you may know it can get quite frustrating to constantly repeat yourself and not feel heard. For me this is a major trigger, I actually have nightmares where I can't talk or no one can hear me, so when this happens I boil over pretty quickly. You might think of me as a soft spoken calm person but watch out for the wrath of Amanda... she is pretty ugly. And the worst part of it all is I feel aweful after exploding on my son and then feel torn between continuing to discipline him and apologizing for my actions. It can turn into a horrible mess. So counting has helped both of us, and I am not talking about the whole 1-2-3 then intervine (which is a wonderful way to give your child time to make the right decision themselves while still keeping control), rather I am talking about taking a deep breath, telling your child to take a deep breath, counting to ten and taking another deep breath. We usually end this by looking at each other (if he has calmed down enough) and talking the situation over again. Me explaining more calmly what needs to happen and also coming up with a plan to allow him have what he wants to (if appropriate). The breathing helps me to calm down and refocus on what I am actually trying to accomplish and allows my son the few seconds to realize I am serious and action is going to be taken soon.

When it comes to tantrums I have heard a lot of advice from walking away and ignoring to putting in time out. For us walking away does nothing, it just allows him more time to stew over it and become more upset and similarly with time out it just gives him another reason to be frustrated. Here is another method that seems to be working well lately... If my son starts to through a fit I give him a few seconds to see if he will just let it go but if he continues for more then  about 10 seconds I then tell him to change his mind and give him another 5 seconds. If he has not begone to calm down I then pick him up with a fast motion or a little jerk, this has the same idea behind my idea of spanking- it is used to grab his attention and snap him out of it even if just for a second, I then place him on a counter or bed or other elevated surface and get right in his face. Close enough where I am all he can see but far enough where I am not a blur. (I do not make him look at me in the eyes but if he looks up then he has no choice) I then talk him through what is going on and why. I also explain how it is ok to be upset and frustrated but that now it is time to change his mind and move on. I then try and find him something else to do. This is key! Teach your child to refocus their energy on something else, as he gets older I will integrate talking to God or singing or using an artistic outlet but for now I give him something to play with- usually something he hasn't done before or hasn't seen in a while. Most of the time he is really getting so upset because he is hungry or bored or has a wet diaper or ??? I take this time to see if any of those needs need to be met and usually we are good and able to move on, for a little bit anyways.

I have to add that while I may have found a lot of things that work for us, I don't always remember to use them first. I, just like my son, get caught up in my own emotions of being frustrated or just trying to finish what i am doing before I really address his frustration. Sometimes I just don't take the required amount of time to do it right, half assing it if you will (pardon my language). And other times I may have been up with him for 4 hours the night before and just don't have the energy or will power to keep it up. Those are the moments that I usually explode and end up yelling in anger at my son. This usually snaps us both out of it and we move on more peacefully but it is still not a good habit to get into.

Overall, don't be afraid to keep trying different things. Think of ways you calm yourself down when upset and remember to be careful to still let your child feel the emotion but learn to control it or outlet it in a less aggressive way. I am also finding as he gets older that when I take away his control it upsets him more. My husband likes to give him about a second to obey before forcing him to do it. I am working on all of us to give him time. If it is about him not wanting to do something I have told him, I give him a minute to finish what he was doing. I then repeat my command and begin counting to 3 at which point 50% of the time he comes right on 3 and the other 50% I have to pick him up and make him, say put on his clothes. Even with the times that I have to force him to, he usually calms down much more quickly then if I had not given him the time to make the decision.

In the end it is about keeping your own peace. For me sometimes counting works, other times I have to pray or S.I.T and other times I have to lock myself in my room and let him cry at my door for a minute till he understands I am serious and I have had time to refocus, without him clawing at me. Every day is a different day but in the end remember that it will end and that your job as a parent is not to just survive but teach valuable lessons that will help create a healthy, independent and stable human being.

Wishing you the best in your parenting adventures!


Answer to Question:

Hmmm… well obviously it is hard to write down everything you do in a nut shell… after I finished writing I thought of another 5 things I do with him. LOL. Ephraim started throwing fits around 10 months, while they were nothing like they are now he would when ever frustrated just throw himself on the ground and cry. That is when I started the talking it over with him. Don’t under estimate their ability to understand or learn. While he may not be able to put his own emotions into words he can understand much much more than you may think. The more you talk about it the sooner he will start reacting to the talking. Also keep in mind that while he may not understand all of your words he can read, better than you or me, your tone and your body language. They have done tons of studies on children that prove they can recognize the expressions of even a monkey! ! I don't know what exactly is triggering his fits, which does have a lot to do with how you handle it- for me anyways, but your consistency and firmness are going to be what makes the difference. Back in March (he was 14 months) I started the counting to ten thing. I used it for everything, even things that he wanted that I was going to give him but that he had to be patient for (this is something he gets upset quickly about- he has trouble being patient) anyways this helped give him the a surety that I wasn't ignoring his request . It was at this time also that I started being firm with my request. If I asked him to do something and he refused we sat there for as long at it took until he did it. (for example just picking something up off the ground) This often led to more fits but I continued to stop him before he escalated. It helps that I am more stubborn than he is. If I say something than I have to stick to it. This also means that I have to be very careful to think before I say something. We are often very quick to say no to something and then realize there is no real reason they can’t have it once they have started crying, giving in then, while rationally makes sense to us, would be horrible for your cause, he doesn’t understand rationality just yet but he does understand cause and affect and he just got his way because he cried (in his head anyways) We are kind of a no nonsense household, maybe to more of an extreme than most people could handle but I don't tolerate whining or being rude.(not that we don’t have our fair share of whinnning) If he wants something I tell him to use his words (or back when he was 10 months to use his signs).  As far as hitting and biting go we don’t have too much of a problem with this. Ephraim will first start stomping his feet, try to knock down anything he can around him- or throw it, and then throw himself on the ground and cry. To me it is one thing to be upset and cry and another to act violently to others, so any signs of hitting or biting or pushing (his new things)  that have or do occasionally occur get nipped in the butt right away. It was around 7 months old that E started biting in frustration. He got me a few times real good- even drew blood with those tiny sharp teeth. One time I even smacked him on the cheek out of reaction… it did nothing. It wasn’t until he bit my husband shortly after and my husband bit him back pretty good that he basically quit. I am not recommending this… I was very upset with my husband for this but it worked… same thing with the hitting and smacking. I don’t think that if I had done it, it would have made a difference but because his dada, who rarely disciplines, did it, it hurt his feelings and made an impact much more. I have had, in the recent past, issues with him throwing hard objects or head butting people, not necessarily out of anger just playing. In those instances I make a big fuss. I don’t just say no in a stern voice… I usually pick him up right away and move him to another location, repeat the we don’t throw. I ask him did you through the block and repeat till he answers yes and then repeat we don’t throw blocks… sometimes I have to make him upset by not letting him get up or ???(hurting his feelings in some way by letting him know I am upset) till I know he is taking me seriously. At that point we are usually good. All I can really encourage you to do it expect more from him. He may even need that mental challenge which is why he is acting out. I don’t wait until the recommended time for anything. Yeah sometimes he is still not ready for it but when I try again he is still usually ready sooner than expected. Also he may be more of a physical person (my husband is this way and I have learned a lot from dealing with him over the years that has helped me with my son), explaining his issues with biting and hitting, which may mean you need to focus on giving him more physical outlets. I know we can sit and read all day long, and he is content but if I don’t at least get him out of the house for a good walk or an hour swim or an hour or so at the playground EVERY day then he does start acting out more physically. Every child is different as you know.. have you ever heard of the 5 love languages? If not look it up! Try and figure out what his languages are and implement them into your daily lives…  Also try and access what are his triggers. I know that if we are out and about and staying busy E hardly even cries if he is tired or hungry. But if we are home, forget it! He is throwing a major fit because he can’t get a toy out of the toy chest. If he starts getting into a funk I always take him outside and sometimes go to a park or for a swim. Also if he is not able to communicate in any way yet than maybe that is something you need to work on. Things are much easier now that E is using more words but I can’t imagine if we didn’t have signs or him knowing how to show me what he wants. I still tell him to “show me”, when he is upset and I don’t know why. Just think how hopeless you feel in the middle of it all and times it by ten. That is probably how he feels. He wants something and can’t make it happen or doesn’t understand why not. His mind is beyond his physical, social and verbal capabilities and he probably often feels stuck. Remember this is only a stage! I really want to reiterate that he may need you to challenge him more. (my sister gave me this advice over a year ago and I am so so so so thankful) Give him things that are beyond him, talk to him like he understands everything you are saying, and give him lots and lots of physical activity! Show him you are in it together, tell him you want to and are trying to help him, and give him praise and encouragement overflowing when he does it right! I hope I answered your questions. I know it is really hard to think about things when all you want is to stop being screamed at for everything.  But keep trying, your efforts now will have a lasting impact on your future together. Keep up the good work Momma!

Did somebody say Q & A ??

So I have not been feeling very inspired to write lately... not that I don't have a whole list of topics written down that I want to write about, just not focused enough to write. But now that I've detoxed and I am starting to eat a little more regular food again (woohooooo) I am feeling the fire beneath me again. However, now the problem is what to focus on... design, health, budgeting... this list goes on- I have too many interests (I am thankful I was finally able to choose a major) I told my husband this and he suggested I open the floor to you all and see what questions you may have. I can't promise I have all the answers but I will do my best and research where I am unsure. So here is your chance, while I am still not famous and don't have to charge people to shake my hand. psshht like I'd ever want that!

So go on... give me your best shot! I need some inspiration and I'd love to know better what kind of topics you'd rather read about.

One of my favorite quotes since I was a young teen: (Author unknown)

It is easy enough to be pleasant

When life flows along like a song,

But the man worth while is the one who will smile,

When everything goes dead wrong. 

Ribbon! Ribbon! Ribbon!

now read that title again inserting Jan's voice from the Brady Bunch saying "Martha Martha Martha!"

(So my design tips blog seemed to get the most hits so far so I'm going to indulge in another)

My obsession with ribbon started my senior year. We had just moved into a new house that prior summer and I was redecorating my room with more intention and creativity than I ever had before. With my sister's help we transformed vaulted ceilings and a dark bathroom into a bright and cheerful teen room.

ok so here is the only picture I could find that gave any glimpse of the room! but oh that bright purple man did I love it and my dad of course didn't just paint it purple but added depth and dimension to it by layering on some lilacs and pink ( have I ever mentioned I have the most amazing dad ever!) 

So anyways with this room started my ribbon experimentation. My favorite thing I did was hang ribbon at the threshold of my in suite bathroom door.. inspired by those wooden bead curtains from the 70's and 80's (btw I totally think we should bring them back- in a new classy way of course, but I'll save that one for later).

Mine looked a lot like this(minus the kissing newlyweds):

All I did was tape a strip of that double sided foam tape at the top of the molding and stuck the precut strips of ribbon on it. It was super easy and since it wasn't a major walkway the only time they ever got pulled down was if I tripped on my way into the bathroom. I found a few pictures of people who had tied the ribbon to a rod that they then placed above the threshold with brackets. You could also use an adjustable shower curtain for the same stability but it would have to be in a threshold without a door and in my opinion looks a little tacky. I like the clean, how did they do that look! And if that's not enough to convince you... tape is much much cheaper!

You know you love this!

another great way I found to hang from a dowel instead of tying, decorative clips!

So here are a few other clever ways to use ribbon around the home:

1. Shower Curtain!!! 

This shower curtain used to be made by Garnet Hill but why not make it yourself! If you are super crafty you can sew and grommet your own header for the rings to go in and the ribbon to hang by. But if that idea intimidates you could easily take an old shower curtain or an ugly one on clearance at Ross and cut everything but the header off (make sure the color goes well with your ribbon colors). Then, with some care, begin sewing your ribbon onto that strip leaving about a quarter inch on the backside. Yes it won't look as beautiful when you are taking a shower, but the clear plastic curtain should help with that!

2. On the Wall!

I recently, out of desperation to bring some quick color to my master bedroom and draw the eye onto the wall and away from the clunky old dusty TV that sits on our dresser, tried this one. I'd just get rid of the TV but for the few times we've turned on CMT music on a saturday morning, those memories of cuddling I wouldn't trade for anything. But back to the wall. So in my ditch effort I was considering hanging my jewelry as decoration from horizontal ribbon or wire on the wall (great idea btw. I currently have a small frame with fabric behind and ribbon and wire hung horizontally to hang my necklaces). So I decided to do a test run to determine the ribbons strength. All I found in my box that wasn't purple was a very thin, maybe quarter inch mauve ribbon... blahhh but like I said I was desperate! So anyways I hung it by thumb tacks first on the maybe 5 foot span and immediately saw it wasn't going to work. But wait! I liked that! And so I hung a few more and created two stripes before I ran out of ribbon. Ha this is my life's home decorating story! Hopefully I can get out and get some ribbon I actually like and finish my project!

Here is an embarrassing picture of what I have so far.. but you'll be amazed how well it does the trick.. I can't wait to get different ribbon and bring some real color to the wall (my husband asked when he got home if I was going to paint those stripes or was I just leaving the ribbon :/ )

Vertical stripes are great too! These stripes are made using electrical tape- which is supposed to not pull paint off or leave marks but I'd be a little afraid of that black smudge it likes to leave when it heats up and seals... soooo why not do it with ribbon. A whole wall may take a little time to get it all even and straight but a few yards of ribbon and some half inch nails will transform your room!

3. Curtains (indoor and outdoor)

If you are using curtains to merely be decorative why not use ribbon. Cheap, easy, and custom! All you need is a curtain rod and tie each ribbon to the top then hang or swag as you would normally. This idea is not only for a kids room!

Check out these images:

 

4. Canopy

When I moved away for college I took that same ribbon with me. I updated my wall color to a teal tinted Robbins egg blue (the secondary color in my old room). But this time I hung the ribbon from the center of the head of my bed out to either side.. I would have loved if it had hung down all the way to the floor but I was using what I had. 

Here are a few pictures of others canopies

I like this idea for hanging from a dining table chandelier 

5. On Accessories

Everyone has seen this one, but it doesn't down grade its glory. Ribbon on a lamp shade!

Don't be afraid to try ribbon out to trim other things up... 

To put a few ideas out there: 

  -put ribbon along the inside trim of a door- instead of paint

  -wrap ribbon around a pedestal or leg of a piece of furniture

  -wrap ribbon around a column

  -create molding like squared framing *

The Ideas are endless but now's your turn as my brain is just about fried ;)

"And that's the news from lake Wobegon where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."

Starting a new season with my little boy...

I am so excited about this age with my son. At 18 months he is, to my excitement, able to play and interact more. While he still cannot understand everything I am saying he can at least enjoy more hands on activities, which I am all about!

I've been looking around for ideas for a while now of things to do with my toddler besides sit on the floor and play with the same old toys over and over again. I bore easily and get antsy just stacking blocks for my child to knock over. But for the past year or so I stuck it out for the love of being a mom. But enough is enough already and now that his attention span is longer and his understanding is growing every day and probably most importantly he doesn't put everything in his mouth, or at least obeys when I say No, I am going to work on showing him something fun or creative every day we don't have outings, which can be pretty often :)

So anyways in my web travels I came across a lot of stuff one however is notable, another blogger and you can check out her site that will overload your brain with ideas! http://mommasfunworld.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to continue to explore the world more with my son.

Today we took it easy and used what I knew I already had in the house.. we made PLAYDOUGH :)

I looked around and found a few recipes and choose this one because it had the least ingredients and I had sufficient supply of them too. I read that the cooked ones last the longest so kinda ruled out any that weren't because I live by the words "waste not want not".

The recipe I used is as follows:

     1 c. baking soda
     1/2 c. cornstarch
     3/4 c. water

     sift all ingredients, cook over medium heat in sauce pan, add food coloring, cool and enjoy


(next time, just for tryings sake, I am going to try another recipe that is supposed to last at least 3 months. It calls for 3 c. flour, 1 1/2 c. salt, 6 tsp cream of tarter, 3 TBS oil, and 3 c. water)


ok so we've got all our ingredients! (I cut the recipe cause I had never made it before)

and now we sift.. I added the sifting as the recipe said to make sure there were no clumps and well this seemed easier.

then we added the water and put it on the stove to cook. 

and my son tried to wait patiently and then started playing with the "sifter"

ooops I almost forgot to watch the pot, taking pictures of his cuteness.... starting to thicken.

ok so we've got a nice consistency and I didn't burn it! yeah! Divided it into two and added two drops of neon food coloring to each.  

and I mixed it in with my hands after folding in the majority of the liquid with a spoon ( so I didn't end up with blue hands :) )

 And I hardly had them both in the containers before he was reaching for them.

For a minute there it had been so long since I played with playdough that I forgot what to do. LOL, but then it all started coming back to me. We used cookie cutters and frosting dispensers and knives and forks but his favorite thing to do was to tear it into little pieces. He put it in his mouth a few times but after getting a lick and me saying no he got the idea!

It left a nice film on our hands but was still a lot of fun!

Some of our creations... Ephraim made these cut outs himself.. I just lifted them out. (might I mention after over an hour until he finally let me put it away)

and I made Ephraim a dog which he played with till his leg fell off then he tore him apart :)

To Settle or Not to Settle.

Since I moved to the West coast of Florida, from the Orlando area, exactly 7 years ago I have struggled with making this area my home. Always longing to be somewhere else I didn't commit to friendships or favorite parks or even paint colors. My goal was always to finish school and then get out of here! Ha! Really I can't believe I am still surprised when God shows me he has other plans for my life.

So here I am still longing to be somewhere else, somewhere cooler, somewhere I can soak in the view of the mountains and stand under the waterfalls, somewhere that I get goosebumps every time I walk out the door and look around me. Maybe it's just a fairy tail love story, that once I get there the romance will wither away and I will be longing for somewhere else again. It's extremely possible. I have the itchy need for change bones. Growing up, from the age of 10, we moved on average about every year and a half. Actually, except for my childhood home from age 4-10, my first home with my husband was the longest I had lived in one place. Needless to say I have come to enjoy and almost need that clean slate feeling on a regular basis.

But God is telling us we need to stay here, and while I'd almost rather him be telling us to move to Africa I am coating my itches with Cortisone and trying hard to settle in. God has been so faithful over the years to bless us and meet our hearts desires while also keeping us on the path that has taught us so many great life lessons. Because of that I wouldn't change a thing in the past 7 years, except maybe chosen a different DJ for our wedding and kissed my brother while he was sleeping the last time I saw him. So here I am trying to settle in again, hoping this job, for my husband, is a more permanent one and even thinking about buying a house again.

It has been a huge lesson in trust this past year but God has shown us great things come to those who trust in him. And as I finally let go and let myself get comfortable here I find I finally feel at home. I have made great friends and involved myself in things that have made my life so much more enjoyable to the point that leaving here would be hard now. Yes, I am complicated :)

So anyways, what to do about those itchy bones...

One way I have found to console the itch is to decorate, or rather redecorate. If you know me or have ever been to my house more than once, you know things are always changing. Furniture is moved, walls are painted, new things are hung on the walls. I am always trying to find a way to make things more functional or fit my mood better. But most importantly I look to make the biggest impact for the smallest price. We don't have the money to spend on my redecorating the house every time I want to go antique from modern or want to be surrounded by bright instead of natural tones nor would I spend it if we did. Honestly I find I come up with some of my best ideas when given limited resources, like that dinner you make when you look in the cupboard and think you have nothing that everyone thinks is the best thing you've ever made, yeah like that. So here are a few ways I have spruced up my house to make it more functional for our ever changing living with a toddler life and give our home some new life.

Tips to my madness:

1. Garage sales, garage sales, garage sales. I can't tell you how many things I have gotten for a dollar or two that I repainted or ??? and now could not part without.

2. Dumpster Dive. I don't know about you but people in my neighborhood throw out some awesome things that might need a drawer fixed or a sanding or just a new purpose. Using things you find in nature works great too. I have some great stones and sea glass I have collected as well as unique pieces of wood or bark that have a great story behind them as well.

3. Salvage Stores/Antique Stores. This takes a little diligence, patience, and getting to know your area but we have a few places we go to somewhat regularly that we have gotten some amazing deals at. Ask what they have in the back that may still need to be cleaned up before put on the floor or has a messed up drawer. We have found some amazing treasures that nobody else even noticed.

4. Ask your friends and family. If they know you are in the market they might call you before throwing something out. While as a designer I would love to go to Sherwin Williams and buy the exact color of paint I want it gets pretty expensive. So I often do a shout-out asking if anyone has any left over paints etc.. .tho I must admit some of my walls are only half painted. If I prioritized it I could go back and get the same color- still saving money, to finish the job.

5. Buy what's on sale. The only things I spend good money on are the big ticket items like hutches and dressers and tables or maybe the perfect rug, tho quite a few of those we've gotten for free from people too. Everything else is off the clearance or oops rack.

6. Use what you have. This is the most important one. It helps if you are the creative type like me with a bin full of paper and ribbons and .... well it's kinda like the Barney Bag. But when you can use what you already have in a different way you can't loose.



Here is a Big impact of color with no paint. Old frames my mom gave me that I have repainted a dozen times and filled with fabric (easy to change out too). The Leaf explosion is just Colored Card stock paper cut into leaf shapes and taped to the wall.

Got these simple frames at a garage sale for $3 for the pair. Took out the pictures inside and made my own quirky stick figure drawings. 

Ok one more example for today... I used large pieces of matte board I had laying around and painted the trees on them and just nailed them up. We also found an old roll of piano tape (a lullaby) on vacation, you know the kind they put in automatic pianos, at an antique store for $5 and I put it up behind the picture frames, which were all random finds or gifts (Ross is a great place for cheap frames). [hint if the frame doesn't have a wall hook on the back- take a ribbon and a few flat thumb tacks and make a string to hang from] The book shelf is a top to a hutch that we found at one of our favorite antique stores for $30 and had been painted a mustard color and the bed is an IKEA craigslist find for $60 including mattress and mattress cover.

Hope you got a few good tips to help you liven up your home. Until next time.....

Okay Okay Okay... I got it!

Seriously.. why do I ignore advice from other people, why do I consistently second guess my instincts, and pretend I don't hear that little voice in side of me? Well actually I know why... it's cause I am LAZY.

Well not really lazy... seeing as I collapse on the floor in exhaustion every night after giving my son his bath, but if it ads more work to my life I am the first one to try and find a way around it. I like things simple and my husband likes things simple, so the minute things start to get complicated or off our pretty little schedule I start to stress. Why you say.. because it won't be as easy.. yeah that sounds ridiculous now that I write it. LOL

I think to the days before we were parents. The days we worked what seemed all the time and vegged on the sofa the rest of it. We would do nothing and go no where. If by chance we happened to make it out the door with a fun itinerary ahead of us, we'd 99.9% of the time cut it short after dinner and head home because we were TIRED. There is no sense regretting the past but I am learning to take better advantage of the time I have with people, better advantage of my body and mind while they are still in their prime, better advantage of what the world has to offer. It's not easy to let go of who you were, to push your boundaries or to even stay motivated, and there are days I fall so short I can't even recognize where I am, but I'm trying and that's what matters.

So all ramblings aside I am FINALLY starting a blog. I hope through my many interests and passions you can take a little inspiration for your life. Keep checking back here for Design Ideas, creative projects, recipes, nutritional blurbs, words of encouragement or anything else I find interesting.