How to Tuesday: Raw Energy Balls

I have made this recipe several times now. It is a big favorite around my house. I have modified it some from the original to fit my family's likes and dislikes. I also make a smaller amount to avoid overeating.

Though I normally like to have my kitchen very clean before starting any projects, I have found that there is no point in sweeping due to the coconut that somehow always makes its way to my floor.

I got my "base" recipe from this great book and DVD series:  Making Babies by Shoshanna Easling.

1 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup of  almond butter (peanut butter also works, but has less health benefits)
2 Tb of raw honey
1/2 cup of raisins
&
1/2 cup of shredded coconut for coating
*I use organic ingredients

Place first four ingredients into mixing bowl.

Mix together.

(While mixing, I spilled a little coconut out of the bowl.

Bunny told me we need to be careful sometimes!)

The mixture should resemble a cookie dough.

Pinching out about 1Tb, squeeze and roll together into a tight ball.

(Expect messy hands.)

Roll in the remaining coconut.

Chill and serve!

These store nicely for up to 10 days (though they never last that long in my house).

I linked up to Creative Fridays, Make Something Mondays, Making Mondays Marvelous, and Sundae Scoop Link Party!

Earth Day Every Day

Playschool Earth Day Project

Yesterday was Earth Day--a yearly reminder to all of us to take care of our planet.  Two years ago, on Earth Day, I decided to attempt cloth diapering Bunny.  I was pretty nervous about it, as I do not like doing things at which I am not sure I can succeed.  I had a lot of support.  Both my mama, and my older sister, Meagan, were CD veterans and had lots of good advice and help to offer.  My mama actually started cloth diapering me on Earth Day, 22 years ago. Needless to say, CD went quite well for Bunny and I.  Her papa even got into it.  He said he liked that her bottom always had some padding.  Bunny was potty trained at 21 months, which seems to be very common when CD.  She still wears a diaper at night, but most mornings wakes up dry.  I am looking forward to cloth diapering Squirrely from day one, and plan to write more about that in a later post.

My experience with the ease of cloth diapering led me to try more things that I had formerly thought would be difficult.  For me it wasn't as much an issue if something was eco-friendly, as it was if it was people friendly.  I am driven by my desire to keep toxins and harsh chemicals away from Bunny and out of my home.  Turns out, they are almost always the same thing.  If it is good and pure and healthy for my family, then it is probably good and pure and healthy for the earth.  I have made many changes over the last two years.  Some I eased my way into.  Others, I jumped into with both feet.  There are many ways to start, you just have to decide what is important to you.

One of my most recent endeavors has been to use salt instead of antiperspirant/deodorant.  It all started when I was watching some random TV show after Bunny was in bed and someone said that scented toilet paper can give you cancer (I had heard that before, as well), because your bottom has the biggest gland in your body, except for you armpits.  It just got me thinking that if we shouldn't perfume our bottoms, we probably shouldn't perfume our armpits either.  I bought a salt block, and keep it on the sink next to my hubby's regular deodorant. Since it is bacteria that makes our armpits stinky, and salt kills bacteria, it works quite well. I just rub some on at night, after my bath, and again when I get up in the morning. Salt will not keep you from sweating (which is actually healthy), but it does keep you from stinking.

My goals for this coming year are pretty simple. I want to make my own laundry detergent and toothpaste. I am also attempting a small garden, but with the funky weather we have been having, and also a new baby in July, I am not sure how succsesful that will be. It is important not to beat yourself up about it. The point is to make a healthy change. Could be big or small. Could be the way you live, or just the way you think. I am sure by this time next year I will have more ideas of changes I want to make. Things that I probably wouldn't even consider now. As long as I am continuing to make better, healthier choices, I am celebrating Earth Day, every day of the year.


Sharing with: Wildcrafting Wednesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Homemade Mondays, Natural Living Mondays

An Enchanted Childhood Playschool ~ April 16th-20th ~ The Letter Y

We have been asked many times to write up our "lesson plans" so others could use them.  Honestly, we just spend a little time thinking about how we want the "school year" to look and go from there.  We wing-it a lot, doing impromptu things that add to our plans.  I am always amazed that anyone would think what we do is worthy of writing down for others to read, but here it goes!

Come join us, at An Enchanted Childhood Playschool, as we continue to work through a letter of the alphabet each week: learning the sound, the ASL sign, the shape, and having all sorts of fun with related activites!

We are pushing on to finish our Alphabet Study, using rainy days to complete our creative activities,

because giving up beautiful OutSideTime is.not.an.option!

Y is for Yellow YoYo

Y is for Yellow Yarn bracelets!

Every week we get to spend more and more time outside!!

Join as we ventured to various "play areas" on our property!

I join in with Happy Family Times, Show and Tell, Living Life Intentionally, Friday's Nature Table, and Family Frolics!

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

(more multi-generational love goin' on!)

Crafting On with needle and thREAD

Over the weekend I found this beautiful fabric and bought three yards, not knowing what I'd make, but knowing Bunny and I both needed something made from it!  After making six girlie dresses and two dolly dresses, plus a few other little girlie sewing projects in the last two weeks, I decided to try my first ever maternity shirt. Poor Bunny was quite confused that I was not sewing for her!

No pattern. Like always. One afternoon.

My reading today--Little House in the Suburbs

I am pretty please with my 1st attempt at a maternity shirt!

And a picture of Bunny--showing off her gray, flannel, "mama-made" dress with pockets!

I love that in most pictures she has her toes curled!

 I am joning in at needle and thREAD, Keep Calm and Craft On, Creative Friday,  Sundae Scoop Link Party, Make Something Mondays, Homemade By You, Whimsy Wednesday, and WIP Wednesdays.

Wonderfull (Full of Wonder) Wednesday

Looking for the wonder in everyday life!  I'd love for you to join me on this journey.  If you find wonder along the way today, please leave a link in the comments, so others can share in your wonder!

It is so Wonderfull to have a friend!

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in” ~ Rachel Carson

Join me in the fun over at the Kids' Co-op Link-up, TGIF Linky Party, and The Magic Onion's Nature Table..

How To Tuesday: Green Smoothies

It IS Easy Being Green~

Up until recently, I have always had a love hate relationship with leafy greens. I LOVE what they can do for my body (especially when my body is growing a baby), but I HATE to eat them. Not sure if it is the taste or the texture or whatever, but I just have not been able to learn to like them. For some reason I had it in my head that I had to suffer through consuming greens until my taste buds adjusted, then I would miraculously love them. Sadly, the later never happened.

Finally, I began to look for alternate ways to get in my greens. I found that I do not mind them nearly as much if they are a part of a recipe, as opposed to by themselves. I like spinach in my lasagna or pasta bake, and mixed in with my scrambled eggs. But my absolute favorite way to eat greens, is in fact to drink them. I found some awesome green smoothie recipes and tried them out. After some mixing and matching and adding my own ingredients, this is what I came up with:

1 1/3 cup of spinach or kale

1 cup of frozen fruit (I like to use 1/2 a banana and 1/2 cup of berries)

2Tb ground flax

1 cup of milk (can be almond, soy, or cows milk)

1/3 cup of vanilla yogurt

I just realized that I left the spinach out of the picture.

Blend well ( I use a Magic Bullet), and enjoy!

They make great afternoon pick-me-ups.

We call them green milkshakes!

Bunny loves them and will drink over half of one by herself (I drink a whole one).

Perhaps over half is a little much for her though...

She looks a little stuffed.

I linked up to Making Monday Marevelous!