Healthy Gummy Fruit Snacks

There is an interesting article from blog.grasslandbeef.com about fruit leathers.  I know many parents that give these to their children INSTEAD of fruit snacks but did you know that it's actually not that much better... read this...

With their healthy halo and claims of providing “half a serving of fruit” in each leather, many parents buy into the healthy appeal of these snacks. But the truth is, fruit leathers are not much better than candy bars when it comes to nutrition.  

In fact, a single serving contains up to 14 grams of sugar (often in the form of corn syrup) and provides no protein or healthy fat. The result is a snack that will neither satisfy your child’s hunger, nor fulfill their need for nutrition. Rather, it is a food that encourages cravings for sweets, promotes blood sugar imbalances and could even set the stage for childhood diabetes and obesity. 

Just as concerning as the sugar content is the fact that fruit leathers are typically made from fruits that are the most contaminated with pesticides – including apples, grapes, raspberries, cherries and strawberries.

Because children are still growing - and consume more pesticide residue than adults relative to their body weight – they are especially prone to the health risks of these chemicals.  

Read more @ blog.grasslandbeef.com

BUT DONT WORRY!!! - The website offered a WONDERFUL recipe to make your own healthy fruit snacks. 

Lemon-Raspberry Gummy Fruit Snacks (Pesticide-Free and Protein-Packed)

Using organic frozen berries and pure gelatin from grass-fed cows, these simple and delicious fruit treats are quick to whip up. Experiment with a variety of berries and citrus juices to suit your little one’s (and your own!) taste.

Ingredients
•    2/3 cup organic lemon juice (fresh or bottled from Santa Cruz or Lakewood)
•    1 ½ cups organic frozen raspberries (try Cascadian Farm)
•    5 Tbsp. grass-fed gelatin (try Great Lakes)
•    10-15 drops organic liquid stevia (to taste)

Instructions:

1.    Add lemon juice and raspberries to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat.
2.    Cook, stirring until simmering. Let cool slightly.
3.    Pour the mixture into a blender (preferably a VitaMix or Blendtec) and blend until smooth. (NOTE: Raspberry seeds contain powerful phytonutrients that are liberated with high speed blending)
4.    Add the gelatin and blend to combine fully. Adjust sweetness with stevia.
5.    Pour gelatin-berry mixture into a 9x9 glass dish or candy molds. Refrigerate for 45 minutes to an hour.
6.    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
When it comes to keeping your family healthy, making small changes like this one will pay big dividends in your child’s long term health and your peace of mind.

_____________________________________________

Picture from pintriedit.com - rejoicing in the present 

Silky Smooth Legs

So I saw this on Pinterest and I decided I had to do this! Many times after I shave my legs, they still seem a little bristly. This is a all natural recipe for silky-smooth legs. Check it out....

SUPER SILKY SUMMER LEGS

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup oil (I used olive oil, but you can use any oil, coconut oil, baby oil, canola oil, etc.)
• 3 tablespoons citrus juice (lemon or lime) OR 20 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• Razor

Mix everything together. I put it into a mason jar and just shook it all up. (If you take the glass jar into the bath or shower with you, please be extra careful.)

Soak your legs in the tub for 5 minutes. Or if you’re taking a shower, wash and conditioner your hair first, then after your legs have had a chance to soak for a few minutes, apply the mixture to your legs and rub it in.  I was surprised at how GOOD this felt!  I ended up using it on my feet and arms as well!

The abrasiveness of the sugar rubs off all the dirt and dead skin, the lemon juice works as a mild skin peel revealing brighter, smoother skin, and, of course, the olive oil penetrates deep into the skin and provides long-lasting moisture.

After rubbing the mixture in for a few minutes….it’s time to shave your legs. Feels pretty good huh? Well, we’re just getting started!  Now, rinse and REPEAT!  When you get out of the bath or shower, put lotion on and enjoy your silky smoooooooth legs!

This is from onegoodthingbyjillee. Check her out for other neat ideas and recipes! - rejoicing in the present. 

Cooking W/ Brandy - BBQ Cranberry Chicken

Sundays are HARD for most families, because by the time you get home from church, your children and husband are STARVING. So I have decided to share some different yummy crock pot recipes over the next couple weeks. These are good for working moms and busy days. 

What is REALLY neat is that these recipes are also freezer meals. So you can prepare these meals, freeze them and then on the day you want them, you get them out and throw it all in the crock pot. HOW COOL!!!!! So it's easier then just easy!

What you need:

1. 2 lbs of Chicken
2. 1 cup of BBG sauce
3. 1 16oz of Cranberry
4. 1/4 cup of minced onion

What you do:

1. Place all the ingredient in a freezer-safe gallon size bag
2. Mix well
3. Place in the freezer
4. When you are ready for it, get it out of the freezer and thaw for 24 hours
5. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8

Serve with :

1. Mashed Potatoes
2. Stuffing

YUM - Brandy O

Sewing Kit in a Jar

I saw this on Pinterest and found this how-to from Martha Stewart and so I HAD TO SHARE! This is a super-cute idea and a great gift idea for moms, grandmas, teachers and secret sisters.  It would also be good to have one handy in your kitchen or office.  So ladies, here it is!

Sewing Kit in a Jar

What you need:

1. Mason Jar
2. Cushion Material
3. Compass
4. Material
5. Hot Glue Gun and Hot Glue
6. Cardboard
7. Pins
8. Items you want to fill the Jar with

What you do:

1. To begin, separate the lid's sealer and screw cap.
2. Trace around sealer on cardboard. 
3. Using a compass, draw another circle on linen or cotton, 1 inch larger in diameter than the first. 
4. Cut out both circles; make cushion by placing batting between fabric and cardboard. 
5. Turn screw cap upside down, and apply hot glue to inside edge of rim; quickly press cushion into lid until cloth protrudes smoothly above screw cap's opening and cardboard is flush against rim. 
6. Apply hot glue around edge of cardboard, fold over excess fabric, and press down. 
7. Glue top of sealer to cardboard. 
8. AND NOW THE FUN PART - Fill jar.

These directions are from Martha Stewart , Picture from doitandhowto.com 

The Evolution of the Swim Suit

 I have had this thought many a time...Why is it okay to wear underwear on the beach, but not other places?  Why can you suntan half naked, BUT if you try to breast feed your child, using a cover, people have issues. Why?  I personally don't wear a swim suit unless it is covered with a shirt and knee length shorts.  I personally just don't think it's any different.  This is my conviction and so I have to hold myself responsible.  However, you may not have this conviction BUT you still see a problem with the itsy bitsy, next to nothing, bikini's...

Here is a clip from Jessica Rey who designed a more-modest BUT cute swim suit line for girls. I love what she is doing. Take the time to watch this mind-opening clip. - Rejoicing in the present

Equipped Child = Saved Child

We had been at Disney most of the day and we were tired, we were just going to see the parade, watch the fireworks and go home. It was dark and there were thousands of people around us. We had found a place to watch the parade when we found out that the parade wasn't going to even go by us.  So we moved.  As we moved forward, my 7-year-old niece Ashlee followed.  Unfortunately, she thought we had gone a certain way and we thought she was right with us.
We didn't notice for about 2 minutes because my husband and I wandered a little bit forward in a different direction, so we just thought she was with her uncle. When we gathered back and asked the others if they had seen her, our hearts dropped and we started getting desperate. I pushed through the crowds yelling her name.   I went to the front and asked everybody if they had seen her. It was hard to see much and it was loud.
My sister, Ashlee's mother, stayed with my baby and her two little ones, staying strong while Ashlee's dad, my husband and I searched the crowds.  I ran into a worker and notified him of the situation.  I was praying in my head "God, please keep her safe, PLEASE GOD please God, Please God, keep her safe. Help her to know what to do."  The worker immediately notified others and I then followed him to a phone where he called others. It was an eternity standing there. I wanted to be looking for my niece, my precious baby girl niece.
While he was on the phone, I ran to the headquarters where my sister was and she had moved. While I was running I was asking people if they had seen Ashlee.  Most of the people knew her name and were asking me as well and telling me they hadn't seen her yet. I headed to the baby-care center where lost children were kept and ran right past the group.  Luckily my husband saw me and and ran after me. "They found her," he said. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WORDS of the night. We had lost her for a period of about 15 minutes. So what's the rest of the story. How did they find her in a thousand people, in the dark? Here it is...

Equipped Child = Lifesaving  

Her parents had a talk with Ashlee in the past that if she was to get separated, she should

1. Find a safe adult (adult that worked for the place she was in )
2. Give the adult her mommy's phone # so that the adult could find her mommy--they had had Ashlee memorize their phone #s

Ashlee did just that!  When she got separated, she walked up to a cast member, and told them she was lost. They immediately took her to the baby-care center, then they called her mommy's phone.  My hubby told Faith to turn on her phone and so when they called for her. She was able to talk to them her parents had in preparing their child for an emergency.  My heart still quivers at the story but it's been a learning experience that has taught me to teach my child what to do.  Equip your child, it could save their life or keep them out of danger! - rejoicing in the present

Dear Mommy

This is not mine. It's from the gianelloni family. I really like it because I think we get too carried away with our kids and we treat them like idols instead of children. They come before everything and every one. We teach them that they are #1 instead of teaching them to be servants. Then when they get to be adults, they still have their hands out waiting to be served.
WE SHOULD love and kiss on them, but we should also teach them them to be patient, to serve others and obedient. Here is a great article by gianelloni

Dear Mom with More than One Child, Let me Tell you What you Don’t See…

This is sort of a Part 2 post: Yesterday I wrote a post answering the question someone asked me: “How Will You Spend Time With All Of Your Kids?”

I referenced an article that has gone viral and has been shared over and over titled:
“Dear Mom On the iPhone; Let me Tell You What You Don’t See Right Now”

I received a lot of comments from other mothers thanking me for addressing the judgment of the Dear Mom On the iPhone article. So I thought I would expand.

I don’t think it was a horrible article. I got the point of it. I think the author may have had a moment of self conviction concerning her own cellphone use. I am ALL for self conviction. Two of the main ways I learn most of my life lessons is through conviction and perspective. However, when you write a self-conviction piece and then title it “Dear Mom”, it suddenly turns into a judgmental piece. Had the author maybe written the letter to herself, it would have let the reader determine if they had the same self-conviction or not.

However, my issue wasn’t really the with the judgmental aspect of the piece. It was that the article portrays the warped view that our culture has deemed is the “role” of a mother.

In keeping with my post from yesterday, and the word ATTENTION (about how does a mommy spend time with multiple kids), let’s keep the exact wording from the Dear Mom on the iPhone article (but change the topic from “iPhone” to “more than one child”. Every word replacing iPhone is bolded) And suddenly we can see the root of the problem with this article.

Dear Mom with More than One Child, Let me tell what you don’t see right now.

I see you over there on the bench, messing with your baby.  It feels good to relax a little while your kids have fun in the sunshine, doesn’t it?  You are doing a great job with your kids, you work hard, you teach them manners, have them do their chores.

But Momma, let me tell you what you don’t see right now…..

Your little girl is spinning round and round, making her dress twirl.  She is such a little beauty queen already, the sun shining behind her hair.  She keeps glancing your way to see if you are watching her.

You aren’t. You can’t because you are changing your babies diaper.

Your little boy keeps shouting, “Mom, MOM watch this!”  I see you acknowledge him, barely glancing his way. But you could only give him a glance, because you were bent down tying one of your other children’s shoes.

He sees that too.  His shoulders slump, but only for a moment, as he finds the next cool thing to do.

Now you are pushing your baby in the swing.  She loves it!  Cooing and smiling with every push.  You don’t see her though, do you?  Your head is bent,  your eyes on one of your other children who is about to fall off the top of the slide and so you absently push the baby in her swing, because you are worried that your son might fall of the slide and you need to keep your eyes on him.

Put your eyes back on your prize…Your kids.

Show them that they are the priority. Wherever you are, be ALL there.  I am not saying it’s not ok to have more than one kid, but they are a time-sucker: User Beware!

Play time at the park will be over before you know it.

The childhood of your children will be gone before you know it.

They won’t always want to come to the park with you, Mommy.  They won’t always spin and twirl to make their new dress swish, they won’t always call out, “WATCH ME!”

There will come a point when they stop trying, stop calling your name, stop bothering to interrupt your attention you give to your other children.

Because they know…

You’ve shown them, all these moments, that their siblings are more important than they are.  They see you interacting with and taking care of their brother and sisters while waiting to pick up other siblings from school, during playtime, at the dinner table, at bedtime…..

I know that’s not true, Mommy.

I know your heart says differently.

But your kids can’t hear your words, Mommy. Your actions are screaming way too loudly.

Can you imagine? The absurdity of the words in this article really shine through when you remove the word iPhone and insert…well anything else that distracts you from giving your children 100% of your attention 24-7.

Here’s what I’m quickly learning about American culture. We start out well-meaning. We want to give our children the WORLD. We want them to feel loved and special. And this is all great and wonderful. Until…we suddenly realize we have raised an entire generation of entitled children who feel overly important. We smother and saturate our children with attention. And it starts at such a young age. The b-day parties that we throw for little girls these days are nauseating. Full blown princess parties that mimic a wedding for a 5 year old. Little girls are raised getting manicures and pedicures starting at age 3. And heaven forbid they twirl in their new dress at the park and we missed it. Are you kidding me?

We are raising our children with a me-me-me mentality. Our children expect to be served. And according to this article, they also deserve our constant attention.

Do children not know how to play by themselves or with each other anymore? Is the role of a mother to be constant playmate, entertainer, cheerleader?

Not in my house. I want to teach my children how to serve, not how to be served.  I want to raise my children with servants hearts. Not asking “what about me?” but to ask “what about others?”

How can we serve the least of these if we raise our children teaching them how to serve only themselves?

I sat at a b-day party for one of my children’s friends last week. It was a precious party. The little girls (age 5) were put in robes and treated to a spa night. They did make-up and hair and nails. They were given dress-up outfits, walked down a runway, and put on a fabulous fashion show. It was a great night. Every little girl left thinking knowning she was the Queen of the Universe.

So yes, with that mindset…an article that makes a mom feel guilty because she is looking at her iPhone instead of watching her children play, yes that sort of article would make me feel like I am failing as a mother.

All I could think about at the b-day party is “what exactly are we raising our children to think is important?” What a rude awakening it is when you grow up and realize that after all, life isn’t about you at all.

Don’t get me wrong, we are all about making our children feel special. We are guilty of it and go overboard at times as well. My husband has spent many late nights cutting out the age they are turning on construction paper to make sure we have atleast 50 of those numbers hanging on every wall in the house when they wake up. The looks on our children’s faces when they wake up and see their new age plastered everywhere, is priceless. They feel special. And we want our children to feel special.

But our culture and society has gone completely overboard. Toddlers and Tiaras? And on the other side of the world, 147 million orphans and toddlers not with tiaras, but dying from malnutrition and malaria. Orphaned by poverty. And what are we doing about it?

We can start teaching our children (yes, even at a young age) that although we love them with all of our hearts, that NO the world does not revolve around them. That NO, I do not have to watch them constantly play, solve all their problems, & provide them with every need/want/request/demand.

And maybe, just maybe….they will grow up knowing that life isn’t really just about them. That really it is about putting OTHERS first. And instead of going to the store to pick out a new toy for themselves, they will want to buy a new toy to send to an orphanage. Or they will go in their closet and realize they have 15 pairs of shoes and their brother waiting for us to bring him home currently doesn’t have a single pair of shoes.

That’s what large families teach. That life does not revolve around just you.

When I bring my children to the park, they are learning that YES mommy loves and adores them, but that NO mommy does not have to watch them play.

This is what judgmental eyes will never see…that a 7 year old little girl is learning what it means to serve others. That when we go to the park, she doesn’t demand my attention….she offers to help me! “Mom, do you need help with the littles at the park today? I know it’s hard for you to keep your eyes on all of us, so I wanted to help you today”.

Our children are the next generation adults. What are you teaching them? - rejoicing in the present