Roasted Beet Garden Salad

You've heard it said before that certain foods provoke certain memories. Every single time I even see a jello salad, I am transported back to childhood (jello+cottage cheese+whip cream does not equal salad people!) The same can be said for country time lemonaid in an orange cooler (a Lutheran church staple), hamburger helper (a seemingly hearty meal that usually ends up in a gut bomb), & cottage cheese (I can literally count the meals where we did not eat this with our meal on one hand). Food is powerful like that.

This salad was inspired by past memories that I want to re-live. These are moments when we (John+me) stayed up laaaate because we couldn't get enough of each other (compared to now going to bed moments after our toddler because we're dog tired). Moments where we could enjoy & afford a two-hour+ long luxurious dinner. Moments where we had much more exciting things to talk about than day-to-day life happenings. Yes, I am talking about the dating/engaged/newly married phase in life.

When John & I started dating, he made me feel awkward all the time (in a "good" awkward kind of way he would say). He did things like talked about his feelings for me, asked hard questions of me, & most awkwardly, he always, always, always paid the bill. I'm still not sure why this was so hard for me (looking back at it, I so should have taken advantage of this!) but it was. He had literally no struggle with taking me out to a fancy restaurant, ordering whatever he wanted (not looking at the price) & encouraging me to do the same. We always got wine. We always got dessert. Those were basically non-negotiable. He wasn't wealthy or anything, he just really valued good food & that is what he chose to spend his money on (you should have seen the place he lived...)

One of our favorite places to dine locally was/is Kates On State. That's where I drew inspiration for this salad. It's fresh, earthy, & edgy. It's hearty, wholesome, & healthy. And it's timeless, unique, & down-right romantic, if a salad could be so. This salad takes me back.

Even though it's so easy to say "things were better before" or however you want to put it, that's definitely NOT what I'm saying (I know it seems like I am, doesn't it?) What I am saying is that we have had some incredible moments, but also ones that were such a challenge to get through that we wondered how it was all going to work out. We've been through a lot together in our short nearly 4 years of marriage. We just met with a couple last night who just had their first baby to encourage them a little & we were surprised at the moments of struggle that we've had that we were able to share with them with ease because we've had a lot of struggle. We've been through a lot. Don't let my facebook pictures & instagram shots fool you. Life has been hard.

But of course, we've also had many rich times in our marriage. We've had special times of being able to eat at sexy places like Kates, & now our lives are different & that's ok. That's more than ok. I absolutely love the phase of life that we're in. I love having a crazy little person who is learning to become herself more & more every day. I love that we can sing with her to sleep. I love that she needs cuddling every now & again. I love that she actually requests to listen to the Beatles or Bob Dylan on vinyl. I love that she asks me literally every day, "mama, who's coming over? new friends?"

I love that John & I are confident in our marriage. I love that we know each other through & through, but still find things that we are learning about each other. I love watching us learn how to parent & sometimes laugh, but other times cry at the frustration of the whole thing.

Our lives are at a unique place in time & I love it. I want to savor it, but I also love reflecting on where we've been, & of course where we are going. This salad brings me back & now that we make it at home & share it with our daughter, it helps me especially appreciate the moments we are in- not every moment of course because that's impossible, but the moments that are the most meaningful. Plus, I've discovered that when you make your favorite meals at home you can customize them so you can get as much salami on your salads as you would like, which makes for a very happy husband.

Do you have any foods/meals that are especially meaningful or significant to you?

Roasted Beet Garden Salad
Ingredients
Roasted beets, sliced
Hard boiled egg, sliced
Mixed greens
Fresh mozzarella balls
Red onions, sliced
Salami
Soy nuts
Tomatoes, cut into wedges

Directions
Slice, boil, roast, cut, & place on a plate! Serve with some homemade balsamic vinaigrette!

One Crunchy Mama's Wellness Tips

How crunchy are you?

According to Urban Dictionary, a "Crunchy Mom" is: a member of an increasingly growing group of moms who are neo-hippies. They generally believe (for varying reasons) that there is something bad or less beneficial about buying mainstream products or doing other common activities in the mainstream way.You might be a crunchy mom if you:

1. Bake all your own bread 
2. Make your own jam, jelly, pickles, applesauce, etc. 
3. Gave birth at home -- by CHOICE! (With a midwife, doula, or unassisted!) 
4. Prefer to teach your children yourself at home instead of letting the public or private schools do it for you. 
5. Grow your own food as much as possible, and buy the rest at farmer's markets or health food stores. 
6. Are vegan or vegetarian. 
7. Choose not to use birth control. 
8. Don't wear a bra or shoes. 
9. Don't use shampoo or soap, but instead maybe sea salt or a variety of other things. 
10. Had your placenta chopped up for an anti-depressant pill or smoothie. 
11. Have no television in your home -- and actually read BOOKS for entertainment! 
12. Grind your own grain to make your own bread with (did you know that wheat looses about 90% of it's nutrients within 7 days of being ground?) 
13. Don't cut your hair or wear pants (not going around half-naked, but wearing skirts! Silly people! Get your mind out of the gutter!) 
14. Can add 10 more things to this list that I didn't even think of!

OK, so I might be more crunchy that I even realized, since I can check off at least 9 of the above mentioned (can you guess which ones?) This post might put all that over-the-top, but I thought it could be helpful to share.

The other week Ruby & I were coming down with a bit of a cold. Immediately, I started doing many things you will see on the list below & thought to myself, "We (I) are (am) so weird. Maybe there are people out there who want to be more weird like us?" Maybe that's the case, maybe it's not. Either way, here is a collection of some of the rituals we do either to prevent sickness or to nurse ourselves back to health.

I would love to hear if you have anything to add to this list or if you have any questions regarding some of the things we do. Please know that I am not a Dietitian, nor am I a Doctor or anything fancy like that. These are just some things that have worked for me & my family. Please see your family Doctor if you are needing medical attention!

• Hand washing
  It's very basic, but it's one of the best ways to prevent spreading sickness. Wash your hands before you eat, after you use the bathroom, after handling money, after diaper changes, etc.
• Safe cleaning at home
  We don't have anti-bacterial anything (we make all of our cleaning recipes). Outside of the home, I'm a bit more diligent about disinfecting (things like shopping carts, high chairs, & table tops, etc. especially with little ones who touch everything & put their hands in their mouth).
• Nutrient-rich eating
  Food is fuel for the body, so what do you want to fill it with-- junk or food that will nourish your body? (we eat lots of whole grains, lean proteins, full fat dairy products, colorful vegetables, & some fruits & try to stay away from processed foods, empty sugary drinks, & lots of sugar). Check out this winter immune boost.
• Eating fermented foods that are filled with probiotics
  Yogurt is our fav & it's super easy to make at home in your crockpot! I also give Ruby probiotic supplements when she's sick, but especially right after she started eating solid foods or if she's had to take antibiotics for any reason. Probiotics are super beneficial for a healthy gut & healthy body!
• Vitamins
  Look for ones with no funky ingredients or artificial sweeteners (I recommend Rainbow Light).
• Raw garlic
  It has to be raw! Raw garlic is a natural immune booster. I like it best minced on some scrambled eggs so it's easier to eat.
• Garlic ear oil
  We use this to naturally heal ear infections (instead of taking antibiotics). Even when Ruby has a cold I put the drops in to prevent ear infections. I just put 3-5 drops in each ear 2-3 times a day.
• Snot suckers during snotty times
  When I first saw the Nose Freida, I thought it was a joke. But then I heard all the rave reviews & caved. Although Ruby still isn't a huge fan, it really helps to clear out her nasal passages, especially right before bedtime or naptime. It works so much better than those ball syringe things & it's WAY easier to clean!
• Ecalytpus essential oil on the feet with cotton socks
  I mix a little bit of oil (olive oil or sesame oil) with a few drops of essential oil & then rub them on Ruby's feet to alleviate coughs. I love Aura Cacia oils.
• Vapor rub on the chest &/or feet
  I also like to use this vapor rub on our chests when we're stuffy or coughy. LuSa Organics is local & smells amazing!
• Homeopathic medicine 
  We love Hylands line of medicines for coughs, allergies, & teething.
• Steamy, hot showers 
  Shut the bathroom door & crank on the hot water to loosen mucus! You can take it one step further & hang sprigs of eucalyptus from your shower head or sprinkle the essential oil on the tub floor for an even more refreshing shower.
• Unless dangerously high, we leave fevers alone
  Fevers are our bodies way of fighting infections, so I'm not big on giving Tylenol or any other fever reducer unless it's really necessary. We snuggle a lot & drink lots of fluids (namely tea, water, & 100% fruit juice) & I just keep an eye on Ruby's personality, which can be a big indicator if she's really dangerously sick or not.
• Homemade pedialyte when dehydrated
  Pedialyte has so many funky ingredients in it, but if Ruby has been throwing up, it's important for her to be well-hydrated. This more natural recipe is one that I've used to help replentish her electrolytes. I haven't tried it yet, but I've also heard amazing things about coconut water.
• Nursing
  My original goal was to nurse Ruby until she was 1 year old, but after I learned all of the benefits of continued nursing, I changed my mind. The World Health Organization actually recommends breastfeeding until age 2 or beyond to provide incredible nutrition for the child & many health benefits for mama, too. Check out this site for some humorous myths about nursing into toddlerhood & this site for a few other benefits.
• Restful sleep/naps
  Sleep is one of the most important things when sick. There have been times where that means I need to sleep with Ruby if she's having a hard time napping during the day or just needs more cuddle time (she's a very cuddly sleeper!) I really think that sickness is often our bodies way of saying "slow down & rest!" & if we just keep go-go-going, we will just feel miserable longer.
• Drinking lots of water (sometimes with lemon)
  Water is my cure-all for most things. Have a headache? Feel dizzy? Trying to kick a cold? Guzzle some water. When I'm starting to get sick, I aim to drink about a gallon of water a day with some fresh lemon. If it's hard for you to drink straight up water, try one of these refreshing recipes (I also like sticking cucumber spears in my water). Water is so important to me that I have even set an alarm on my phone every couple of hours so that I remember to drink more throughout the day (yes I am a super dork).
• Smoothies packed with healthy fruits & yogurt
  Sometimes when we're sick, we don't feel like eating, but it's important for our bodies to get good vitamins & minerals. We eat this smoothie (or a variation of it, depending on what we have available) a lot so that we have energy to fight off the sickness.
• Fresh air/sunshine every day
  I'm a big believer of outdoor therapy. There have been many days where Ruby was teething or fussy about something & just a 30-minute walk would alleviate her symptoms (or at least help me from not going too crazy because we were out of the house for a bit). If I have a headache, often times a good stroll will help me feel better. Fresh air & sunshine are restorative for your body! If you're not convinced, here are 10 reasons kids need fresh air.
• Drinking tea
  Try peppermint & lavender for headaches/tension/anxiety, nettle for allergies, camomille for teething, etc. Kids can drink tea, too (non-caffeinated of course). I just steep it for 3-5 minutes & then pour it over ice so it is lukewarm. Ruby loves tea! Here is an exceptional tea blend to help with allergies (I swear that nettle tea has cured my allergies... I promise).
• Essential oils for headaches & migraines
  I especially have found relief with peppermint & lavender oils. I usually take a hot bath & put some oils on a wash cloth & then put that on my forehead for 20 or so minutes (I love Aura Cacia's essential oils).
• Neti pot for cleaning out the sinuses
  This works wonderfully if you've got a cold or are suffering from allergies (once you get the hang of it). Just make sure you don't use tap water.
• Washing your face often during allergy season
  If you're sensitive to pollen, it's a good idea to at least rinse your face off before bedtime so that you aren't bringing a bunch of pollen with you to bed. Here are a few other helpful allergy prevention tips.
• Using raw, local honey for allergies
  There are literally hundreds of benefits to eating raw local honey, but allergy relief is one of the best ones I've experienced!
• Exercise
  I know I already mentioned getting outside, but if it's rainy or something, we still try to do something physical. I like to start most days off doing a 40 minute yoga session (sometimes Ruby joins in if I'm too lazy to wake up before she does). We also like to go for an hour-long walk or bike ride most days & generally walk or ride whenever we have errands that are within a short-ish distance (we live right on the edge of downtown). Exercise is so important, even when you're sick, but make sure you don't overdo it.
• Massage
  Massage is amazing for so many reasons, but I especially enjoy it for preventing headaches & for more comfort while pregnant. It can even help babies with teething or colds!
• Hazlewood necklaces
  We have used these on Ruby for teething pain as well as clearing up ezcema & they really work! Last spring she was having some pretty funky skin rashes & after wearing her necklace for a day it was completely cleared up.
• Amber teething necklaces for teething
  Amber necklaces are a little more popular & we have also tried these to help with Ruby's teething pain. The evidence hasn't been as obvious as with the hazlewood necklace, but there have been times where she wasn't wearing the amber necklace & was exceptionally cranky... who knows.
• Homemade cough drops
  I don't like to take most cough drops because they contain so many sugary, fake ingredients (check out Halls cherry cough drops: Menthol 7 mg, Eucalyptus Oil, FD&C Blue 2, FD&C Red 40, Flavors, Glucose Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Sucralose, Sucrose, Water). These cough drops don't take much time to make, don't have artifical colors, & taste sooo much better.
• Epsom salt baths
  A lot of people are deficient in magnesium. Epson salt baths are a super easy way for the skin to absorb some good-for-you minerals. Especially when you're sick these baths are beneficial to help remove toxins from your system. I like to buy the plain epsom salt & add a few drops of my favorite essential oils in before mixing the salt into hot water.
• Chiropractic care
  We love our Chiropractor! Both Ruby & I go every 6 weeks or as needed (especially if Ruby has a bad fall or has a cold). For me, it helps prevent migraines & headaches & was especially helpful while I was pregnant. For kids it's very important since their little bodies are going through so much growth & trauma all the time (it's especially helpful for newborns since being born is kind of an event for them). And I bring Ruby when she's got a cold, too, to help prevent against ear infections & even strep throat! I started bringing Ruby to the Chiro when she was 7 or 8 months old, but I will definitely bring our future kid(s) within days of being born.
• Natural ingredients to treat sunburn
  This is the only thing I'm suggesting that I haven't actually tried: putting a mixture of aloe, coconut oil, & raw honey on sunburn. I think I'm going to give it a try this summer!

And in case this wasn't entertaining enough, check out this funny video on sh*t crunch mamas say. I know it's old, but it still makes me laugh so much. Whew! That was a lot of things... what do you like to do to treat or prevent sickness naturally?

(This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something from amazon, I will get a small compensation).

Screen Printing At Home

Every little girl needs her very own wolf tee

Even before Ruby was born, John & I were way into making shirts for her (check out this post with a few of the firsts & this post for a pic of her princess tee). Again, when I say "we" it mostly means "he." I help come up with ideas & pick out colors, but John does most of the work. This time, I need to brag that I actually cut out the Wisconsin stencil (thank you very much). And after giving it a whirl, I appreciate my husband even more! It's hard work & my neck was really sore for a few days from hunching over to cut it out.

Although these shirts are time consuming, they really are quite simple & totally rewarding. What is more precious than your kid getting super excited to wear a shirt that you custom made for them? 

WI represent!

Items you need

Fabric (we've mostly done onesies & other cotton shirts)

A stencil printed on very thick paper or cardstock

Exacto knives

A board to cut the stencil out

Tack adhesive spray (we use Krylon Easy Tack)

Spray paint or acrylic paint (there's a bit more accuracy with acrylic)

Paint brushes

Cardboard 

Masking tape

Directions

Start with washing your clothing or fabric. If it's something you're going to have someone wear, have them try it on & measure where you would like the design to show up (you could put a little masking tape where the top of the stencil should go). Then get to printing & cutting your stencil.

The more intricate the design, the more challenging the cutting will be. You might want to try something more simple for your first projects. Make long smooth cuts whenever possible (avoid short, choppy cuts). Although it might be obvious, stencil cutting is kind of a mental game so stay focused (you need to cut out what you want to show up on the shirt). Once the stencil is cut out, spray the tack on spray over the stencil (the side that is going to be touching the fabric) & lay the tack sprayed side down onto the fabric.

Then tape the stencil onto the fabric using masking tape. Secure a piece of cardboard on the inside of the shirt (you don't want it to bleed through to the back of the shirt). Then you can get to painting. You can either spray it with spray paint, using short thin layers of paint, or you can use acrylic paint & brush it on. We've had luck with both, but have come to enjoy acrylic more because it's a bit more accurate, we can blend colors more easily, & it smells way better! It may be necessary to do several layers of paint, depending on the fabric you use & how thick you want it to look.

And that's it! Although it dries fairly quickly, we wait 24 hours to wear them, just to be sure. Also make sure that you wash them inside-out so that the stencil lasts longer. 

Ruby loves foxes & her favorite stuffed animal is a fox named "batu"

Cabin Outing 2013

This past weekend, John, Ruby, & I were able to get away, deep into the heart of Wisconsin & cabin with a bunch of friends (yes, we consider "cabin" to be a verb). It was a sort-of central location for all of us coming from La Crosse, Chicago, Minneapolis, & Duluth & it was quite the little retreat.

Can I just say that we have the coolest, most talented friends ever? Not only are these people absolute joys for these introverts to be around, they know how to celebrate with food, art projects, games, music, & absolute fear. Ruby was thrilled to be around so many of her dubbed aunties & uncles & we will forever treasure this weekend in our hearts.

My quiche contribution for Friday's breakfast: sausage, onion, green pepper & cheddar quiche, roasted red pepper, spinach & feta quiche, & mushroom, onion, & swiss quiche.

Friday's dinner: mole chili garnished with sour cream & cilantro with a side of cornbread

Saturday's breakfast: cinnamon pancakes with sweet potato hash

I neglected to get a picture of Saturday's dinner because I was still suffering from a nap coma, but we ate homemade turkey egg rolls, vegetable fried rice, & orange chicken.

We were able to enjoy the snow a lot & even tried our new snowshoes

Collaboration at its best

Which turned into this! Meet Reggie, our snow gnome.

 Many moments were spent staring at this. After waking up very early on Sunday morning, the sunrise coming through these windows was enough to almost make me a morning person.

 Sunday brunch at another lodge sort of nearby. Ruby was still the entertainment.

Our ride home was mostly uneventful. Ruby & I napped almost the whole way & John witnessed a coffee shop called Shekhinah Glory Coffee, which is an event all on its own. Thank you, friends, for getting away with us & helping us rest with your company, oh so many laughs, & way too many mouthfuls of food.

(here is the recipe for the whole wheat coconut chocolate chips cookies I brought)

(here is the cabin that we rented, which we would absolutely recommend & will visit as often as we possibly can)

Christmas Card 2012

Love John, Gillian, & Ruby (17 months)

Cloth Diapering

This isn't even one of the topics I listed to blog about, but my super green, hip brother asked me to write a piece on cloth diapering for his blog, so I figured I'd do a more extensive version on my blog (have you checked out the Minnesota Green, by the way?)

John & I really have a passion to love & care for our earth as much as we can, but what really got us into cloth diapering was my frugality. On average, parents who use disposable diapers spend about $2,400 in 2.5 years of diapering per child (about $80 per month). Parents who choose to cloth diaper can spend as little as $200 & the best part is that once you buy them for one kid, that's all you really need to buy. You can use cloth diapers for multiple kids, which is even cheaper.

We registered for our diapers almost immediately after finding out I was pregnant because I knew it would be expensive initially. We decided to go with an amazing local business in Duluth, Little Neetchers, mostly because I have obvious ties to Duluth, but also because they are amazing people who have a passion for cloth diapering. Now that it's becoming a bit more trendy, cloth diapering shops are popping up everywhere, so they are definitely more accessible.

I'm no expert on cloth diapers, let's just get that out there, but what I do want to share are some of the diapers that we have used & loved, so these are just my humble opinions. In this post I'll share some of our favorite diapers, our system for washing & other ways to make your money go farther.

My favorite diapers (we chose the cover & pre-fold route, which is the most financially friendly way to go)
Initially, my favorite cover was the Super Whisper cover. They are super affordable, seemed very cozy, & have adorable prints, which of course is very important. Over time, once Ruby grew to be more mobile & learned how fun it was to un-velcro her diaper (hello many hot "only diaper" summer days!), we switched to GroVia covers & Thirsties covers because of the snaps, but also because I liked how they allowed for a little bit more movement & will be able to diaper her for her entire diapering experience.

A GroVia cover on the left & a Thirsties cover on the right. The GroVia cover allow for use from 8-30 pounds & the Thirsties cover is 8-40 pounds because of the adjustable snaps. There's even more savings when you don't have to buy 2 or 3 sizes of diapers!

This is a Fuzibunz pocket diaper (you put the insert in the pocket). I have found the inserts that these come with to not be as absorbant as the inserts that we use (read below), so for these, we use the same inserts that we use on our other covers.

My favorite inserts are the Bummis Organic Pre-folds, hands down. We have these in 2 sizes (one for when she was an infant & one for her current crazy toddling stage). They are so thick & soft & oh-so-absorbant. I normally change Ruby's diaper every 2-2.5 hours & I think I've had maybe one leak, so I'd call that a success.

The Bummis Organic pre-fold in the toddler size

Folded in half

Then folded into fourths

Placed in the cover

We also use bio-soft liners on top of the pre-fold every time we change a diaper. They are super handy because whenever Ruby poos, we can just take this liner with poo & flush it down the toilet (if she just pees on them, we wash them by hand & let them air dry & use them several times). There's no scraping or touching or using a sprayer or anything. You really want to get as much poo as possible off of your diapers before you wash them, but who wants to be exposed to the poo any more than you have to, right? These little liners are our saving grace & at $6 for 100 of them, it is so worth it.

Liners

We have found that it's nice to have 10-12 covers & 18-24 pre-folds so that I'm not washing diapers every day, which leads me to the next topic of washing...

Washing routine
If you happen to google cloth diaper washing, you will come across maybe thousands of different methods. It was honestly SUPER overwhelming for me at first because I didn't want to screw up this investment I made. I learned that I had to find a method that worked well for us & also that I had to experiment until I got it down right for us. In the beginning of cloth diapering, we had a beautiful olive green 1970's top loader, but we now have since joined the front loader era, so that took a long time for me to get used to. The most important things to remember with washing are you need a safe detergent & lots & lots of water.

When we have used diapers, we put them into a wet bag (again, inserts are only used once before they are washed, covers can be used several times). The wet bag is double lined & has a zipper on it, so all the stink is contained. I prefer to wash the diapers 3 times a week (I do them on M, W, F) because I find that if they sit for more than 3 days in a bag, they are harder to get clean.

Some diaper covers & our wet bag hanging on the amazing drying rack that John built

We have tried several kinds of detergent, but for the price & power, we really like Country Save. I buy it on Amazon in bulk once a year & it lasts forever. I also like how I don't have to have a separate detergent for our clothes. We also use wool dryer balls to dry them because you are not supposed to use ANY kind of dryer sheets on your diapers, even if they are eco-safe or biodegradable.

Wool dryer balls & Country Save detergent

So here's my crazy washing routine that has been perfected for us. Note that we have extremely hard water & a front loader, so this system may not work for you-- play around with it!

1. Empty the wet bag into the washer (the covers, pre-folds, & wet bag can all be washed together). Make sure the wet bag liner is pulled out so it gets cleaned properly. Do the longest wash (my machine calls it "heavy duty") on cold with NO detergent. You want to do this so that all the pee & poo are rinsed from the diapers. If you don't do this, you're washing your diapers in poo water... mmm.
2. Do another of the longest wash ("heavy duty") on hot with 1 scoop of detergent. Here I also add a soaking wet beach towel to "trick" our washer into thinking there is a bigger load. I absolutely love the mystery of our water saving front loader (for our other laundry), but for diapers, it's not always helpful. If you are able to change the water levels on your machine, do that. Ours doesn't allow for that, so I trick it with the towel. With cloth diapers, you need TONS of water to clean them & rinse them well, otherwise stink, & sometimes infection can linger in them.
3. Do a normal wash on cold water with no detergent. This is just to get out all of the soap, if there happens to be any left. If you happen to be watching your machine rinse your diapers during step 2 & don't notice any bubbles on the final rinse, then you won't need to do this.
4. Dry the covers only on the hottest setting for 20 minutes with the wool balls. If it's summer, I hang them outside to finish drying, but in the winter, I dry them for the full 40 minutes inside. All of the covers cannot be dried in the dryer.

If you have any stains, set them in the sun for a few hours or days. You don't need any other product to remove these stains-- the sun is powerful enough (even in Wisconsin winters). It just might take a few days. Also, if your baby is still on an all-milk diet, there is no need to scrape the poo off or use liners on top of the pre-folds. The poo is very runny & easily rinsed out in step 1.

Other tips

To cut costs even more, we use cloth wipes & make a diaper wipe "juice" to spray on them. The baby wipe juice concentration that I am in love with is from LuSa Organics, which is a company that has amazing baby products & are produced just 45 minutes away from us! All you need to do is use half of the bottle of juice & mix it with a gallon of water. You definitely don't need to use a juice of any kind- you can use water, but I like the lingering lavender scent & knowing that Ruby's bottom is clean & moisturized. I think we've gone through 2 or 3 gallons in 15 months... not bad!

Cloth wipes, LuSa baby wipe juice & our spray bottle

We use cloth diapers the majority of the time. The only time we ever use disposables is at night (we have yet to find a system that works for 12+ hours of pee that isn't tremendously bulky & the vast majority of my cloth diapering friends tend to agree with me on this one) or sometimes when we are traveling. Although I may have been long-winded in this post, they honestly aren't much more work-- just a little know how & time doing a few more loads of laundry is all it takes.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or if you would like me to expand on anything I posted.

Bye-bye white sugar

That's right- we are in for quite the ride! We (I, with John's support) have decided that we are going to remove as much processed white sugar from our diet as much as possible. While we aren't going through the cupboards like mad, throwing out everything that has sugar in it (which is oddly, just about everything!) we are going to use up what we have & then it's adios to the (delicious) white stuff (addictive chemical).

While there are tons of substitutes for sugar, we are going to try & stick with local honey, 100% maple syrup, & taking advantage of other sweet things like bananas & applesauce in place of sugar because, really, like I'm going to give up baking?!

I have a few reasons for this craziness. First of all, it's all Ruby's fault. Seriously. I have especially been thinking about how I want her to grow up actually enjoying real foods that aren't processed & looking forward to fresh fruits & seasonal vegetables because she likes them. I don't want them to be a torture device. And although John & I enjoy our share of vegetables (kind of), we aren't really "fruit people," so we've got some expanding to do. I want to be a good role model for our daughter & if I'm not eating my fruits & veggies, she probably won't either.

There is this statement I cut out of an article from Clean Eating (a superb magazine, by the way) & I have it taped up on our cupboard. It says, "Like Mother, Like Child. The most important influence on toddlers' eating habits may well be what & how their mother eats, says researcher Mildred Horodynski from Michigan State University's College of Nursing. Her study of 400 women found that their children- aged one to three- were far less likely to consume vegetables & fruits if their mother avoided these essential foods. Plus, the study noted that when mothers viewed their kids as 'picky eaters,' there was also a decrease in the consumption of fruits & veggies on the part of the children."

It's pretty much common sense. Your kids will eat what you eat, but I need that reminder when I am rummaging through our cupboards when I'm bored, lonely, & occasionally hungry. I want Ruby to have a healthy relationship with food, filling her ever-growing belly with foods that can fuel her, not just fill her up or satisfy a craving. And I'm totally convinced that healthy foods can be delicious, so I don't think she'll be deprived by any means.

Another reason for giving up sugar is the simple fact that we're addicted, I don't like that, & I'd like us to be healthier. Having a history of migraines, I know how important it is to be really mindful of a healthy diet. I always, always find that when I suffer from a migraine, that I can trace it back to something I ate, which was usually highly processed. It's been amazing that I haven't had one migraine since giving birth & only had 2 when I was pregnant (so really, only 2 in about 14 months!) which compared to my 1 or 2 a week in college, is a vast improvement & I completely attribute that to my diet.

There isn't any nutritional value to sugar. And I don't want any artificial sweeteners in our diets, either (ew!) But the emotional "value" is what gets me, so we'll see how this goes. I'm not being completely crazy, though, because I won't give up chocolate. Ever. But we are committing to eat real chocolate, which isn't really a sacrifice because it's sooo much better than a kitkat anyway.

On top of all this, we're trying to implement more clean/raw foods in our diet & focus more on getting whole grains in, which I enjoy, so that shouldn't be as hard. We welcome your successful whole grain & vegetable sides recipes, though! Here are two sites that I've been reading a lot lately:

• Mama Natural (a ton of natural-inspired recipes, conversations, & parenting fun)
• 100 Days of Real Food (so many great recipes!)

In other news, Ruby is amazing... rolling over consistently, talking like a wild woman, melting our hearts any chance she can. We are some pretty lucky parents!

 Afternoon snuggles with mama

 Rolling around on the ground with Hartley

 She loves Hartley

 And her other puppy... the bench Uncle Aaron built for her!

 Mmm! Squash, avocado, sweet potato, chicken, carrots, peas.

 Distracted by her monkey during diaper changing

 Loving her new Sophie the giraffe teether

 Too much fun=sleepy girly

 John's latest creation for the Superbowl

 Go Patriots!

 Excited for story time at the library

Love this little lady!

Haas Christmas Card 2011

truly he taught us to love one another,
his law is love & his gospel is peace
chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother
& in his name, all oppression shall cease

sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we
with all our hearts, we praise his holy name
christ is the lord! forever we will praise thee
his power & glory ever more proclaim!

Christmas 2011

Surviving the 4th trimester

As I sit here & type one-handed with my 3 month & 1 day-old baby girl, I have a lot to be thankful for. I can't believe how quickly 3 months have gone, nor how satisfying it has been. Life with a newborn has, of course, had its rough times (like the night that Ruby cried almost non-stop from 1am-3am), but even those times have been special (once they are over, of course).

I recently had a dear friend visit Ruby & me at our home. As a newish mom (she has a 2-year old & is expecting another little one in December), we shared some struggles & challenges that we've faced, realizing that not many parents truthfully share how hard this thing is! It inspired me to put my thoughts down for 2 reasons: 1) so that it might encourage any new parents & 2) so if we ever have more children, I can remember what the first 3 months were really like & plan accordingly. Obviously every babe & mama are different, but here are a few juicy handfuls of things I've learned in my crazy 3 months of mamahood:

1. During pregnancy get stellar care.The best thing I did for me & my baby was to get awesome prenatal care with someone we completely trusted. We chose the home birth route because that fit us so well. We were able to meet with our midwife often, but she was not just our midwife, she became a friend. I looked forward to our visits & totally trusted her advice, opinions, & expertise. I can't imagine not having this kind of relationship with someone who oversees the birth of our child. She challenged & encouraged me to eat super well, rest, exercise, & enjoy the magical time of growing a human being inside of me (!!!) & I know that has contributed to the health & happiness of our little Ruby!
   
2. Prepare like the dickens for after birth & not just with baby junk.One of the best pieces of advice I got was to get people around us who would help out after Ruby was born... & by help I don't mean people who would hold Ruby while I did laundry, but people who would do those chores for us. For weeks (& even still) we've had people cook, clean, walk Hartley, do laundry, & run errands for us so that we could spend a lot of time bonding as a family of 3. Those moments were completely priceless & the simple act of getting a free, hot, home-cooked meal was out-of-this-world amazing! Make sure you have people around you who will really, really take care of you. I don't know what we would have done if we didn't have this (actually I do know- we would have eaten lots of Toppers & lived in a filthy house with a cranky dog).
   
3. Ditch the books & listen to your instincts. OK, so I did read a lot, but sometimes I wish that I didn't. I believe that God has created parents with instincts to know how to meet their babies needs & that sometimes that takes time, trial & error, & prayer to get it right, & that's OK. I find that a lot of pregnancy/newborn books are centered on fear & that's not how we want to parent. I've learned infinitely more by trying different things, talking to other parents, & seeking God's direction than I have from reading a book. It's been quite the experience to get to know Ruby & how she communicates her needs & just about the time we figure something out, it changes, so we've had to be super flexible. There have been many times where Ruby was crying & we had no idea what to do. My first thoughts weren't "what did that one chapter say about crying babies" but they were prayers & cries out to God. One night, as Ruby was faithfully crying for hours on end, I started crying as well because I couldn't console her & that hurt. It seemed like I couldn't do anything to help. All I could do was hold her, rock her, & sing to her & eventually she stopped crying. They always (eventually) stop crying. After time, we've learned that she needs extra burping or that she likes to cuddle after waking up for awhile before getting changed or that she doesn't like baths so we better make them quick & we have learned all that from experience, not books.
   
4. Find ways to still invest in your relationship with your partner & parent with someone who can totally be there for you (or you might fall apart).Props to all you single parents out there... I literally don't know how you do it! After John had to go back to work, it was so hard for me. The simple fact was that I was so dependent on him & other people to help meet my basic needs & that was really hard for me. There have been many times, still, where he has come home & I'm covered in sweat, puke, & sometimes poo, & all I want to do is shower. Just shower! And John has always been faithful to play with Ruby & withstand her fussiness while spending a few moments away from mama, which leads me to another challenge: it's the best & worst thing to be the only one to be able to comfort your baby. It's only been the last couple of weeks that Ruby has been OK with spending more than 5 minutes with John & I'm so thankful for their own bonding time. I have had to learn to let John console her in his own way & realize that we do that differently & that is good thing. Because we're a team, that adds strength to our parenting! And when Ruby won't let me out of her sight without crying, John is there to get me another glass of water, or food, or sit with me, or, clean the kitchen up after I destroy it, like he's doing now. I couldn't do this without him, nor would I ever want to! So it's so important to still find little ways to invest in each other... like we still have a weekly date night, it just looks a lot different. We figure that we better invest in our relationship or our family will be out of sorts!
   
5. Let your body heal in its own time.This has been, by far, the hardest thing about being a new mom for me. I have friends who have had babies & were able to do normal things just weeks after birth. You know, normal things like walk, go up stairs, make toast, get out of the house. Although I do not regret not leaving the house until over 2 weeks after Ruby's birth (or the basement for that matter), the following weeks were really hard for me because my body took (& is taking) a long time to adjust. I've really had to learn how to not compare my birth experience/after birth body with anyone else's & be OK with my own healing in its own time. Let's just say that it's really made me dependent on Jesus & our community a whole bunch. During pregnancy there's (rightfully) so much attention & time spent on the arrival of a sweet new baby. And if you're lucky, you take some great baby classes, teaching you how to adjust to life with a newborn. But I've had few conversations with woman, talking about the lasting pain after having a baby. Now I will say that I've had quite the experience, but I know there's ladies out there who have had just as hard of a time as I have & I think that it's important to talk about that (& not just the horrors of labor).

I'm so thankful for the experiences we've had, even the super hard moments. There are countless things that I'm learning about myself now that I'm a mom & I'm trying to really enjoy those things, instead of being repulsed by then. But I'm making a promise right now to never wear mom jeans, because I also believe that just because I'm a new mom doesn't mean that I now have to look frazzled & frumpy :)

Ruby Sofia Haas just moments old, born at home on July 26th at 7:56am

Apple Sauce & Baby Shirts

So we completed our applesauce project & are happy with the results-- 15 pints of delicious, spicy sauce! The process was very simple, although it was very time consuming because I decided to peel all 30 pounds of apples since they weren't organic (a bunch of recipes I read said that you didn't need to peel them, but I didn't want to risk it since I'll be feeding the sauce to Ruby in just a few short months). I can't believe that she'll be able to eat "real" food soon, but I'm really excited to be making our own food for her as much as possible. I got a great baby food cookbook & a new food processor, so I'm looking forward to putting them to good use! The food processor seriously made the applesauce soooo easy to make (all I did was peel, core, & cut up the apples, stick them in a stock pot with a bit of water, cook until mushy, then process until smooth, add a bit of cinnamon, & a touch of raw sugar & then I canned them). So easy! I think Ruby was excited, too...

Our little kitchen helper (I have decided that I need to find a chef's hat for her as soon as possible!)

 Too many apples!! Our sleeping apple blossom

I've moved Ruby's cradle into our kitchen so that she can play & sometimes snooze in it while I'm busy in the kitchen. A lot of the time, she sleeps during the day in the ergo or in my arms, but there's only so much I can do safely in the kitchen like that. If she's sleepy enough, she'll sleep right in the cradle while I bake or clean up after a baking marathon. Since it's getting chilly out, I've enjoyed being in the kitchen more & discovering more recipes to try out (like this recipe for double chocolate pumpkin cupcakes.... to.die.for!) I'm also on the hunt for the most perfect whole wheat sandwich bread recipe. I've tried a few recently, but they are always too dense. I think I just need to play around with the ingredients a bit to get the perfect consistency. So if you have a great recipe that doesn't use a bread machine or kitchenaid mixer (or if you would like to donate yours...) I'm all ears! I think I need to start saving my pennies for a kitchenaid mixer.... I've got my heart set on this one to match some of our other appliances :)

 More sleeping with one of her favorite blankets from her auntie Jamie while mama bakes

This isn't really a fall project, but yesterday was another first for our little miss.... she wore some adorable little black shoes that were mine as a child :) So far, all of her shoes have been too large, so this was a big day! I put them on her & immediately, she started dancing away! I can't wait until she can wear some of her other footwear (remember this post?!) but I'm trying to be patient because before I know it, she'll be outgrowing everything.

I had a hard time getting an in-focus pic because she was dancing so much!!

John has also been hard at work at making more shirts for Ruby. Here are the latest two prints he's made:

Princess Leia for our little princess

A lovely pink tree

Oh no! IPhone baby!

It was a little chilly this morning & we haven't turned on our heat yet so we're bundling up!!

I've been meaning to post a few videos of Ruby talking/moving (for you grandparents out there), but our internet connection us so sketchy.... but I'll try to get a few up soon!