30 Day No Sugar Challenge

One thing I love about technology and even about the Internet (although it is often used harmfully) is the abundant source of reading material in the form of great blogs. I have literally learned so much just by reading posts from some very wise women on their own journey to live better lives! One such blog is Keeper of the Home. Stephanie recently posted about consuming too much sugar and ways to cut back. Her links at the bottom of her post lead me to another great blog with more great information about sugar! That's just the way it works :-)

So here is my personal journey with sugar. I have never been big on eating sweets. Thankfully, I haven't had to worry about that aspect of sugar. By biggest weakness has always been sweets in the form of drinks: soda, tea, juice, etc. However, when I was pregnant with Caleb, I craved sugar and unfortunately ate lots of it. I'm still paying for the awful way my body feels and the, duh, weight gain it caused.  Ok, but knowing you have a problem and doing something about it are two different things. Caleb is 6 months old and I still feel awful, still have unwanted weight and still haven't kicked my addiction to sugar.

So, here is what I propose to myself (and my family). I checked out the "Beyond Sugar" Challenge from Wardeh at Gnowfglins. It's a great post I recommend you read. She was already ahead of my family in the sense she wasn't really consuming refined, processed sugars and I am, so the challenge for me will look a little different. I have made a list of non-consumables to help me see what I shouldn't be eating/drinking for these 30 days but the overall premise is to break free from all refined, processed sugars and severely limit my intake of natural sugars. I will allow myself some Stevia (we buy the liquid form with a dropper for teas, etc) and small amounts of honey in our smoothies, etc. A few items on my 'do not consume' list are: Sodas, desserts, candy, conventional cereals, fruit juice. There are some things I will eat but have to modify for the 30 days like: bread - I'll probably make my own without sugar, tea - unsweetened or sweetened with Stevia, smoothies - we usually put sugar in but will now put a little honey.

I'm so excited to start this 30 day-no-sugar Challenge! In case you want to join me on this no-sugar journey, the start date will be October 1st. I've included some links at the bottom of the page so you can read more about sugar and it's effects on your body. Look for more posts about how this will effect my family and our kick-off date!

The "Beyond Sugar" Challenge - the post that inspired it all :-)
Cut Down on Sugar by Stephanie at Keeper of the Home
Get the Refined Sugar Out at Kitchen Stewardship
A whole site devoted to 'no-calorie' sweeteners and why they are harmful to your body here.

Tranquilizer Darts...and other natural ways to get your child to calm down

Anyone that knows Isaac Landon loves him. He's extremely smart and curious (which is probably why he loves Curious George). He's not a 'bad' child. Most kids aren't bad. Even the ones who seem that way are in need of something, whether it be attention, boundaries or an old fashioned hug. But Isaac could easily be tagged as a handful. He's into everything and five steps ahead of me. I'm forever left behind, cleaning up some catastrophe while he's on to figure out how the toilet works or how sunscreen looks on the curtains.

Many times I tease, I wish they made tranquilizers for children; something to knock them out from 8pm to 8am, no interruptions. As any mom knows, there is no such thing. So when you have a child that is nothing but pure energy from morning to night, how do you cope? I've been collecting ideas for Isaac I'm going to share with you.

1) Cut out the sugar! Rod's 95 year-old grandma keeps trying to convince me that this is just an old wives tell. As she offers Isaac a bite of yummy ice-cream, I'm sure she'd love to believe it won't have any effect on him but that's simply not the case. Of course everything we put into our bodies has an effect on our bodies. Most of the time it's easy to say 'no' to the obvious junk foods: cookies, candy, soda, etc. But what's not so obvious is the hidden sugar culprits: bread (even some whole wheat breads), ketchup, pastas, juice etc. Isaac loves "gummy snacks", as he likes to call them. While these may not be bad every once and a while, every day is a bit much and may be contributing to his hyperactivity.

2) Check for a physical cause. We always know when Isaac is ready for a nap because, one room at a time, he starts destroying everything in site. He will literally just throw stuff on the floor in disgust and walk away. Sometimes, a child may seem 'crazy' when, in fact, they just need something physical. Check to see if he is hungry, thirsty, needs a nap or isn't feeling well and try to stop everything to make that need a priority. You'll be pulling your hair out if you don't.

3) Check for an emotional cause. While a physical reason for a hyper child may seem obvious, emotional needs are just as important. Isaac's 'bad' behaviour keeps me in check for how much time I'm actually spending with him. And I mean quality time, like getting in the floor and playing and tickling kind of attention. He's not allowed to whine but after we've talked about it, I know I need to give him some TLC and we make time to bond.

4) Drink up! Kids love juice. Adults love juice. It's such a nice alternative to sodas when you don't want water but, let me tell ya, juice is FULL of sugar. I never put much stock into how much juice I was giving Isaac. He drank juice all day but it was only like 1/4 or less juice to 3/4 water. However, last weekend, we ran out of juice and decided not to buy any until Monday night. He had to drink water. There was no other option. And wow, what a different boy! I started giving him juice again last night and all today... My new motto: I hate juice. And apparently juice doesn't like Isaac. He's been a fussy butt all day. Juice will now be a special treat and not an all day, everyday occurrence.

5) Burn off some steam. This may seem like a no-brainer but it may be the hardest lesson for me to learn. Having chronic pain, I struggle with taking Isaac outside or on a walk. I would love to wrestle with him in the floor but my body would hate it. Rod definitely helps Isaac release some energy when daddy gets home from work but it's important for me to find creative ways to help him constructively blow off some steam. For those of you that can, take your kiddo outside! If your having a tough day, go for a long walk. If your child seems hyper and you plop them in front of the t.v to do nothing but stand or sit for an hour...trust me, you'll regret it. Find an outlet for that energy!

6) Home remedies: There are lots of natural ways to help kids relax. All of these don't work for all children, so figure out what works best for you. In our house, warm baths help relax the boys before bed. All natural Lavender lotion for kids works wonders too. Ask your Dr and do some research. Just like chamomile tea soothes adults before bed, so can herbs works wonders on children as well, just in smaller doses. A good resource too is check your local health food store. There are lots of products available made just for kids.

7) Routine, Routine, Routine. The biggest upsets we have at our house occur when something unexpected and/or out of the ordinary happens. But, when I learned how to 'trigger' Isaac into a set routine things cleared up a lot. Let me explain.
Isaac hates putting away his toys and moving onto the next task, whether it be leaving the house or eating lunch. But he knows, when I come over and turn off Dora and it's 'clean up time' he gets to sing his clean up song and we transition smoothly to the next activity. I do this every time I need him to switch gears. Each situation has a different transition trigger but we're consistent so Isaac knows what to expect and is much more compliant about it.


8) If all else fails...laugh about it. I'm not going to lie. There are times I feel so overwhelmed I want to scream and run away and pull my hair out, if not more! I have days where keeping up with two little boys feels like more than I can handle. But let me encourage you (and myself at the same time), nothing is ever more than we can handle when we are Christians! I may have to remind myself each minute this is true but God has blessed me with where I'm at in life. My energetic toddler is not a curse...he is a blessing! And sometimes I need to see the blessing for what it is and learn to laugh along side his craziness. Not to mention it makes him feel better too. He doesn't like to see mommy stressed all the time.
So laugh when your kid puts diaper cream in their hair...and take a picture! After all, you may as well laugh about it 10 years from now too.

Homemaking Binder: Organizing the Home

Updated: April 18, 2011
Organization is a huge topic, especially among busy moms. And I totally understand! Who doesn't want a quick way to get their life organized and functional?
I wrote this post less than a year ago but it already needed some improvements. Here is the revised edition on making a Homemaking Binder. More info. More ideas. More organized. Enjoy!


Several months ago, I sat down and made a 'rough draft' binder of the blueprints, so to speak, of my home. It wasn't very pretty and needed some fine tuning but, honestly, I've lacked motivation. Honestly, I've lacked general home management motivation for a couple weeks. That's what living at 90mph will do to you!

So, back to my story. My binder, which I like to call my Homemaking Binder, was a wreck. Papers were thrown in at random, my labeling tabs were hard to see and out of order, papers weren't properly filled out, etc. The only section that was usable was my 'Bills' tab and it wasn't exactly organized. It was just functional.

My motivation has finally returned thanks to some pressing issues and a great need for organization. I sat down and googled "Homemaking Binder" to which an immense amount of information came up. Thankfully, I found some trusty bloggers that I already love to read, namely Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking. She has a wonderful video blog that goes over her binder layout if anyone is interested you can view it here.  I put together some ideas I found plus ideas I already had to get me started towards organization!

I can't believe how much this little three ring binder has helped me already. I've been able to keep track of our family schedule, my to-do list, menu planning, bills to pay, budgeting and reading list and those things were done in just the last week or so. It was incredibly easy, so just in case your curious, this is how I did it!

New Note: I recently bought a 2in Heavy Duty Three Ring Binder. It's big, yes. But it's able to fit everything I need and I'm in love with my black 'button' that opens the binder rings without killing my fingers (I have very lazy fingers, oh well). It's more expensive but worth the extra money if you want a binder that will last.

1) First I have all my monthly calenders so I can get an easy overview the minute I open my binder. The same is true for my to-do list. It's right up front so I don't have to search for it. I keep most of my schedule reminders in my phone and you may too. But I take a few minutes at the beginning of the month to jot down family appointments/reminders and due dates for bills. You can find monthly calenders all over the internet, most for free. Same holds true for to-do lists but I personally love the Daily Docket over at Simple Mom (again...free!).

2) Next section is for Bills & Budget. Here I keep the most current working budget Rodney and I have set up. I like printing it off so I can see it regularly and remember what our goals are. You may be able to see on the left, I have a list of current monthly expenses (from Bill Schedule at Listplanit.com). On the right I have a pocket divider that holds bills I need to pay. It's like an inbox for bills. Nothing falls out of my binder or gets lost when I put my papers in this divider. You could also put a folder here but I like being able to see the bills in the transparent holder.

3) Moving along I have 'Schedule/Planning'. Our Family Routine is not a dead set-in-stone schedule; just a little reminder what the general routine should look like if we're at home. I also keep dates to remember here as well as my weekly cleaning schedule.

4) I won't show you my 'Cleaning' section. The only thing there is a comprehensive list of spring cleaning suggestions from List Plan it. Again, I keep these papers in a see through divider. I simply open my binder and remove them when I'm ready for spring cleaning. I can mark on the divider with a dry erase marker, clean it off when I'm through and place back in my binder for future use.

5) Goals are next up. Family/Ministry Goals, Nutritional Goals, Personal Goals...all go here. Something new I started this year is keeping a reading list. I have a horrible habit of starting tons of books and never finishing them. Most I forget I even started! This list helps me keep track of what I'm currently reading but also what I want to read. Great tool for forgetful mothers like me!

6) This may be one of the most important sections of my binder. I cannot even begin to say how helpful menu planning has been with helping me stay in my monthly grocery budget. Since starting, I've gotten off track a couple times and sorely regretted it! My husband loves this as well since he now knows what I'm cooking for dinner (and what he can't eat in the pantry!).

The picture is my October menu. It wasn't hard doing a month in advance. Usually certain days of the week are already planned for certain 'types' of foods. Thursday is always Rice Wraps of some sort mixed up by adding different side items each week. Mondays are usually pasta night. Tuesday is chicken. By giving each day a theme, I can quickly go through and fill in a familiar recipe that fits the day's category. In this section, I also keep a list of meal ideas so I have something quick to chose from. After my menu planning is done, I flip over to my shopping list and mark down what foods I'll need to go with my menu. This system has been so efficient. My first try took a bit longer but it gets quicker each month.

7) In a nutshell my next categories are:
Hospitality: people I want to have over for dinner, menu ideas, cards to send out, etc

Homeschooling: learning ideas for Isaac, things he already mastered, books to read

Blog: Blog ideas, blog goals, blogs I love
Contacts: Frequently Used numbers and Important numbers list, again from List Plan it. This is super handy. I also keep my screen names/passwords here, so don't steal it! haha. Just teasing.

New Note: I also keep a folder in the very back of my binder to hold envelopes, stamps, paper clips, misc papers, etc.
Some other things you could place in your binder:

• List of gift ideas and/or list of people to buy for Christmas (a great reminder to not wait until the last minute!)
• Babysitter's Info plus emergency info to leave the babysitter
• Home inventory sheets (and an extra copy with a family member or in a safe)
• Car/Home Maintenance Schedule
• Magazine clippings you want to hang onto (to reduce magazine clutter!)
• Personal Journal
• Sentimental things your children make for you

Whew! That can take some work! But it can also be as simple and easy as you want it to be. The point is that your binder works for you. So don't stress. Have fun. Start a Homemaking Binder today! Mine has proved to be invaluable! I bet yours will too!
I would love to hear about your binder ideas in the comments or in an email (especially pictures). Happy Notebooking!

I'm sorry...You what?

My family is unusual. Not weird, like some people think. Just unusual.

And we like being different. I like questioning systems and bucking stereotypes. I hate following the crowd and I loathe doing something "just because everyone else does".

I don't really notice on most days that my family is different. When we're with each other, we just think we're normal. It's only when we're around other people that we realize something isn't quite right. And I don't want to imply that other people are bad or wrong because they aren't like us. I'm all for other people being different, if it's intentional. Just like I hate following the crowd for no reason, I can't hardly stand it when other people do. I mean, if you're going to believe in something...know why you believe in it!

Reason's NOT to have an opinion:
1) Your momma/daddy told you to (although parental advice is important, it shouldn't be our only basis, as adults, to follow something)
2) Your grandmomma/granddaddy told you to.
3) Society tells you too
4) The Government tells you too - that should be a no-brainer.
5) You read this book one time...
6) Your mailman, neighbor, politician, hairstylist, yoga instructor, etc....told you to.

Let me clarify that I'm not saying you shouldn't believe anything anyone tells you, especially if that person is trustworthy. I am saying we shouldn't only believe something because everyone says it's ok!

Reason's TO have a passion:
1) Reading the Bible...it should always be our main passion
2) Aside from the Bible, research from, get this...lots of different sources so you can make a logical conclusion. But again, this decision should be weighed against God's Word.
3) Personal experience. But since we're fallible, that should be weighed against God's Word. I've had lots of people tell me something must be so because they saw it, or felt it. Our feelings and senses aren't perfect...God's Word is.

For clarity - I'm not talking about something strictly spiritual...I'm actually expressing feelings over my family's differences in the way we eat and parent our children. At home, we fit in. In public, we stick out like a sore thumb. But truthfully, I like it. I'd rather do what I feel is right and people think I'm nuts than fit in and do things that go against my convictions. Generally, though, the only people that think I'm crazy, are those so ingrained in their go-with-the-flow societal views they've never thought to question anything they believe or been told. Red means stop, green means go and Big Macs are good for you. So when I say, "No, we really don't feed our two year old sugar." They think I'm loopy.

Well so be it. I'm sticking to my guns and a promise to myself and my family to question EVERYTHING this world tells me. The only source I have for never letting me down truth is the Bible. So, therefore, I have the right to question the system and I have the right to do things differently. I'd challenge you to do the same. Because if you think I'm crazy for any of the reasons below...you probably aren't questioning society enough...just a thought.

The Top Ten Reasons I've been labeled "Unusual"
1) Being a Christian
2) Co-sleeping
3) Being a Vegetarian
4) Staying at Home with my children...and not longing to have a job
5) Eating Organic foods
6) Speaking out against our food industry.
7) Cloth Diapering
8) Homeschooling
9) Questioning the safety of vaccines...shocker! Most of you probably didn't know this about me.
10) Being married to Rodney...haha. I love you for supporting my craziness and deciding to be crazy with me!

Disclaimer: Intellectually disagreeing with someone is different than blindly arguing with a person because you don't want to understand them. This post is not aimed to bash anyone just vent my own musings...since that's what blogs are for. If you disagree with me, that's ok! Just know why you are going to disagree with me...or anyone else for that matter. And either way...always try to be nice :-)