RazNoggle

The De-chemical-ification Process

2012
03.15

I don’t think I will ever actually use the term “crunchy” when referring to myself, but I imagine others will when they read all this stuff. The first time I heard someone say they were a “crunchy mom” I had NO idea what they were talking about. I figured it out eventually, but never thought that I’d reach the point of being ‘crunchy’ myself. Especially since attachment parenting didn’t really work out for me. I put my babies on a schedule as soon as they came home from the hospital, and they nearly always slept in their own bed. I can’t sleep if they are in my bed.

BUT, there’s more to being ‘crunchy’ than attachment parenting, I’ve discovered.

I’ve thought for quite some time that processed foods, chemical sweeteners, fake flavors and such are bad, Bad, BAD for us. I don’t believe that God created our bodies to deal with and process chemicals. And since the rise of issues like autism, type 2 diabetes, and a whole slew of cancers have convinced me that we’re not doing ourselves any favors.

While I’ve been making changes in the way that we eat over the last couple of years, I know there is still room for improvement there. Baby steps tend to be the best because making changes slowly makes it easier on everyone to adjust. However, I’ve been inspired by a couple of other blogs and a slew of info online to make other changes besides diet. I’m going to de-chemical-ize our home.

If you follow me on pinterest you may have noticed a few of these natural products that I’ve been pinning. Over the next few months or year, I’ll be trying out some recipes I’ve found for natural beauty products and cleaning products. We like to ‘stock up’ on certain supplies so we’re going to work our way through those before we completely banish them. My frugal side won’t let me just chuck them all.

So I’m going to blog about this journey to chuck the junk that we don’t need in our bodies and on our skin. Some of the things that we’ll be testing (or at least me) will be, homemade and natural deodorant, tooth soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and shampoo.

A lot of these products will have coconut oil in them as I have fallen in love with the amazing things you can do with that stuff! WOW! I’ll also be adding it to my daily diet due to the amazingness of this food! Seriously, look up the stuff, it’s fantastic.

Besides it’s actually pretty frugal! A lot of the products include ingredients like white or apple cider vinegar, baking soda and of course coconut oil. Some of the other products represent a bigger upfront investment, like the natural castile soap and essential oils. But those kinds of ingredients will last a very long time, even when using them in several different products.

So stay tuned for these experiments. I don’t know if they will all “take” or not. Some changes are more difficult than others to adapt to. But if they work the way that people claim they do, then I think we’ll be good to go. I’m excited for the process, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and hopefully will help us eliminate even more of the icky, toxic stuff that we shouldn’t be around.

My first experiment will be natural laundry soap…. next week, wait and see!

Category Frugal me |

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Insanity… again, but with a twist. :)

2012
03.10

So I’m about to embark on a ‘beach body’ challenge with some friends. A gal I know on FB is a Beach Body coach and is assembling a team for some friendly competition as we all work toward getting in shape. We get points for sticking to the workout schedule, obviously, and for eating fruits and veggies rather than junk, and drinking enough water. There are several “teams” competing with each other and the team with the lowest points each week has to do some kind of challenge. I’m not exactly sure how it all works, though I’m sure I’ll have it figured out soon.

I’m glad that this opportunity came up because I have been having the WORST time motivating myself to do what I know needs to be done. If I have a team “depending” on me doing it, I’m much more likely to find that bit ‘o discipline that has been sadly lacking and get ‘er done.

Plus I have convinced Stu to do the workouts with me, and that will help a LOT!! I don’t like to work out alone, and with 2 of us on the case I’ll be more likely to make the effort in the moments when I’d rather quit.

Hey, I’m a completive soul.

So we’re breaking out the dusty Insanity program. Part of me is psyched about this and part of me is dreading it. That program is just… well,… insane! And the thing of it is that it doesn’t get any easier as you go along because however ‘better’ you get, you’re still going all out the whole time. So you might see progress in your reps and such, but you’re not going to feel like it’s getting easier. In fact it gets SUPER DUPER intense in the second month…. which is hard to believe when you’re doing the first month’s workouts. Still, I’ve committed my brain to doing this and I’m really looking forward to seeing the results!

I still have to take my “before” photo and measurements which I’m not really thrilled about, but I do want to see how they compare to the “afters.” So here’s to getting fitter, and more healthified in the next 60 days! Wish me luck, and come back to hear my moanings about how sore and pathetic I am as I go along. Ha ha!

Category About Me |

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Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho

2012
03.05

It’s off to work she goes!

Although, honestly, I can’t see her getting anywhere fast in those boots!

Category Ella |

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A big bro’s work is never done

2012
03.01

I had to get some photos of this because it hadn’t happened before, and I don’t think it’s really happened since, but on this day it did happen, and totally cracked me up!

Ella has a habit of leaving her half finished sippy cup of milk laying around wherever till later when she returns and finishes it. Unbelievably she prefers her milk on the warm side as opposed to icy-cold like me. Well, on this particular day, Myles discovered the “unfinished” milk and went to work to fix the situation. Ha ha!

Ah-done!

Category Kids |

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Yo-Cheese and Greek Yogurt (homemade)

2012
02.29

I know I’ve raved about homemade yogurt to you enough times that you’re probably sick of hearing about it, but I was prompted to do a follow up post by a friend who has been having her own adventures in the land of homemade stuff! I’m going to have to try some of Amy’s breads here pretty soon.

Anyway, here’s what I typically do with my yogurt after it’s made and completely cooled.

I prefer a little thicker yogurt, think Greek strained, so I bought the biggest mesh strainer that I could find at Wal-Mart. Then I just put it in a bowl (the only one I have that actually fits it, oops!)

and line it with a linen napkin. I used cheesecloth the first time, but it’s expensive and it won’t hold up, so if you want to stay on the frugal side, just find napkins or tea towels that won’t pill up and shed in your yogurt (eww) and use those.

I have become a fan of plain yogurt because then you can flavor it however you want when it’s time to eat, but either way it all works the same. Today because I’m making yo-cheese (think cream cheese in your head) I’m going to add some garlic and onion powder to the yogurt before straining it.

You can use just about anything you want for flavor. Let your imagination run a little wild. Do you like honey and nuts on your bagel? Well, throw some in! Cinnamon, vanilla, Maple Syrup… you get the idea.

Poor the flavored (or plain) yogurt into the lined strainer. A whole batch of yogurt will usually top off this strainer and look like it wants to spill. I had already used some of this batch, and I don’t typically make a whole batch of yo-cheese, though I do of greek yogurt.

Fold the corners of the cloth over the yogurt.

And to speed things up, I put a plastic lid on top

and a can of sweetened condensed milk on top of that. The weight helps to speed up the straining/draining process. Sweetened condensed milk is great because it’s heavy, but not tall, so I can still slide the whole thing back into the fridge without any problems.

Leave it for a couple/few hours depending on how “dry” you want it to get. That’s the only difference between the “greek” yogurt and yo-cheese is how long you let it strain. I usually leave a whole batch in for a couple of hours to get it greek-y, and a little longer to achieve the cream-cheese-y consistency for yo-cheese.

Notice how much the lid/can has sunk.

Yo-cheese!! (or greek yogurt)

Then the messy part. I use a rubber spatula to scrape the yogurt out of the cloth into a container. I couldn’t take a photo of me doing that, so you’ll have to use your imagination. I rinse out the cloth in HOT water and then just wash it with the rest of my dish towels.

The whey can be used as a very high protein liquid substitute in baking!! You can also add it to smoothies and such for extra protein. However, I wouldn’t if you flavor your yogurt. Onion could SO throw off the groove of a berry smoothie.

Ta-da! This stuff is great on ritz crackers! And my Hurb likes it because it “scoops” easier than regular soft cream cheese. This batch could have strained for a leeeetle bit longer, but I was impatient to get the pictures and the blog done. Can’t wait to surprise Stuart with a yo-cheese snack this afternoon!

Enjoy!

Category Frugal me, Recipes |

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The anatomy of a fit

2012
02.29

This series of events happened a while back, but I just have to post it because I still crack up over the recollection, though I suppose that laughing is not a good way to nip fits! Sometimes it simply cannot be helped!

The first stage of a fit is usually enjoyment. The reason a fit normally comes along is because one was thoroughly enjoying something and it got interrupted in some way. In this case, Ella was enjoying sitting in the laundry basket while I folded clothes.

She thought she’d have more fun if she had some company in the basket, but unfortunately fell out while trying to reach it.

The fit has not yet started because she remembers climbing into the basket the first time, so she figured she could do it again, except she picked the “long” side to try to climb over rather than the “short” side, and yes, it does make a difference when you’re 16 months old. Now frustration sets in after 2 or 3 failed attempts to get back in the basket.

She felt the need to share her frustration with Mommy because Mommies fix EVERYTHING! Except this time I didn’t fix it.

She returned to the basket to try again, and this time when the attempt failed the fit set in for good. Notice flushed, contorted face as she rails on the basket for being so mean!

Finally she turns from the basket in disgust as she is completely involved in throwing a fit, and bounces up and down on her knees to emphasize the point that she is very far from pleased.

I didn’t get a photo of the last phase, because I didn’t know when it would come but it’s the most hilarious part of the whole thing! Ella finally threw her arms out over her head as she lay face down in the carpet and just sobbed like the world was coming to an end. Poor baby! Mommy finally put down her camera and scooped the girl up to give her some lovin’. I did not, however, put her back in the basket… some things she’s just going to have to learn on her own.

Category Ella |

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An Outside Day

2012
02.27

It’s been so warm here this winter! No complaints from my side, that’s for sure! I’d ever so much rather have it warm than freezing! Yep, I’m a wimp!

But warm or cold, the kids always benefit from some outside playing time. And I always feel better about sending them outside when it’s warmer. Ella, however, can’t go out alone or even surprisingly with the supervision of her big brothers. Ha ha! So it has to really be warm before she gets to go out, because this Mama doesn’t like to be cold. Have I mentioned that? This photo of the car’s eyes and Ella’s eyes, cracks me up!

So lucky for her on this particular day, quite a few of them actually, it was warm enough for me to venture out with them. I love the static hair look she’s got going on! Ha ha ha!

Myles and Qade were busy “decorating” their play-set with some old pieces of sidewalk chalk that they dug up somewhere.

Myles had this “Scooby” bandaid on his head for at least 3 days! Yes… it was a “serious” owie!

I have no idea what she’s thinking. Maybe it’s, “Take me inside where it’s warm by the fire, Mommy.” Hmmm??

Qade will not interrupt his talking to take a photo. Nope! Especially when he is explaining something very important or serious.

Ella was having a hard time on her ‘sea legs’ trying to get up this little slope of dirt. She’d fall down then stand up, dust off her hands, try again and fall. Eventually I think she gave up and walked around the other way.

Category Kids, Photos |

5 comments

How to build a snowman

2012
02.26

Photo tutorial by Myles.

First, you find a big strong Daddy. Then you convince him that you are helping by walking behind him as he rolls the big balls of snow.

Pick the very best spot to assemble your camouflage snow man and tell your strong Daddy how to lift and place the snow ball.

Then you have to show Daddy how to pat down the snow and leaves and grass and stuff…

Making sure he does it just the right way!

Finally, you have to decorate your snowman with your brother’s hat, some shovels, Daddy’s Nerf gun, and a bunch of legos that Mommy “got rid of” because she was tired of cleaning them up.

And THAT is how to build the best snowman EVER!

Category Sillyness |

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Faces

2012
02.24

I think the faces my kids make when I have a camera in my hand (or glued to my face) are hilarious! I don’t know why they can’t just “act natural.” ha ha! Actually… maybe they are, now that I think of it.

Something that almost always gets them to stop being grumpy is when I start snapping shots of their “grumpy face.” At first they try to keep it up, and then they laugh even though they’re trying not too, and eventually they give up and start grinning followed by a request of, “I want to see!”

Remember the days of flim? You never heard kids begging to “see” the pictures of them the second after it was taking. Ha! Most of our video coverage of the kids has one or more of them trotting over to the camera holder asking to “see.”

Even Ella wants to see all the time now. She’ll park herself right in my lap and watch on the viewfinder as I flip through the photos. She believes it’s an unalienable right any more.

I love these faces! I think it’s hysterical how these kids can contort their features! The other day Stuart took Myles on a trip for his “special day” with Daddy, and said that he was cracking up as he’d watch Myles in the rearview mirror because Myles was apparently “practicing” all kinds of different faces. ha ha! One day, they’re future dates will get the biggest kick out of these kinds of photos! Bwwwwah, ha ha ha!

Category Kids |

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Thus and Such

2012
02.24

Ella is suddenly into accessorizing! Ha! Every morning now, after I get her dressed, she points to the box that has her headbands and bows in it and signs please. It cracks me up because the headband doesn’t last more than a few minutes, but she seems to think that her outfit isn’t complete without it. Ha ha!

Should I be concerned that Qade is cracking up at the naughty antics of Huey, Duey and Luey as they torment their uncle Donald?

I don’t give my “baby” enough credit. Just because she isn’t talking, doesn’t mean she doesn’t understand. Tonight after dinner, I handed her the empty bowl and asked her to put it in the sink which she did right away! I was so impressed! So were the boys. Myles was trying to tell me that “Ella can’t put it in the sink” as she was doing it. Ha ha!

Disappointment is feeling like you REALLY need another cup of coffee, but finding the pot empty. *sigh*

This morning Myles was chuckling to himself and saying, “It died, it died” so I asked him what died, and he answered with a grin, “My tummy!” Hmmmm???? I didn’t think breakfast was THAT bad!

I just hollered out the window at the boys, “Stop putting your trail mix in your nose!” And while part of me felt like laughing because I never imagined myself saying something like that, the other part of me was thinking, “I really do not need a trip to the ER today to dig a raisin out of someone’s nose!”

I’m making chili today. I’ve been looking at recipes online so I can add a little something more flavor-interesting. Well, I found several that looked good and taking bits of elements from a few I’ve thrown together ours in the crock-pot. It includes coco-powder, nutmeg, and Maple Syrup, which I never in my wildest dreams would have thought to put in chili. I’m a little frightened of what the result might be, but hoping that the people who say it wins “blue ribbons” weren’t lying. It could be some huge cosmic joke…. but I’ll keep you posted. Ha ha!

(a few days later)

Today is Friday, and I’m being all domestic. The laundry is laundering, the floors have been swept AND mopped, and the carpets have been vacuumed. The boys have done a great job helping me with their “strong muscles” to move chairs around and pick up toys! I still have some dusting to do, and the bathroom to clean, but right now I’m giving myself a break and going to have another cup of coffee. Housecleaning is not on my list of favorite things to do, but I prefer to get it done on Friday so that we can relax more and have fun on the weekend.

And the verdict on the chili was unanimously in favor of the flavor! Even the boys gobbled it up (except Qade picked out his tomatoes which he has decided to take issue with in EVERY dish they show up in) because it wasn’t really “hot” but it had a LOT of flavor. I think I might add a pinch if Cayenne next time just to give it a bit more kick, but I’m going to be using those flavors again! I’ll post it sometime for you guys too in case you wanna do something different with your chili next time.

Yesterday Ella happened to wipe her “yucky nose” on Myles special monkey, Ottis. When Myles saw the “yuck” he was completely disgusted and kept saying “Oh gross! Ella did to my Ottis!” I was laughing so hard, but told him to get a tissue to wipe it off and through the whole process he kept saying, “This is ‘skustin’” Ha ha ha!! He’s right, of course, it was disgusting, but I’m pretty sure it’s not the only time something ‘skustin’ has been on Ottis.

Have you ever taken a mop to your dining room walls? Ha ha! I did today. I was surprised at how well it worked actually. I need to do it more often! Especially since one little 3 yr old I know likes to fling his utensils around regardless of whether or not there is something on them.

I can’t read Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book without yawning. I’ve tried. Fail! Seriously, can anyone read about all those creatures yawing so wide you can see down their neck and not yawn themselves?? I’d like to meet that person if such a one exists and congratulate them on getting more sleep than anyone else I know.

Category This and That |

RazNoggle

Wisdom is better than wit, and in the long run will certainly have the laugh on her side.

The De-chemical-ification Process

Insanity… again, but with a twist. :)

Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho

A big bro’s work is never done

Yo-Cheese and Greek Yogurt (homemade)

The anatomy of a fit

An Outside Day

How to build a snowman

Faces

Thus and Such

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