The Adventures of Nina and her ‘Nana’

   “Nina Needs to Go” by DisneyJr

I love this little program by DisneyJr!  “Nina Needs to Go” is all about a little girl and her emergency trips to find the bathroom.  It is a concept that EVERY parent has to go through at some point; whether you are potty training or already using the restroom.  But…I really love it because it highlights fantastic Grandmas and Nanas everywhere who always come to their grandbabies’ rescue! The episodes always start out where Nina is with her mom and dad.  Of course her parents ask if she needs to use the bathroom, but Nina (like every toddler) says she doesn’t have to go.  Well you can guess what happens… Nina suddenly has to use the bathroom. Mom has to pull out her Bathroom App and Dad scrambles to find the nearest restroom.  Need I mention that the bathroom is usually clear across the United States.  Just at the moment where you are sure an accident is going to happen, Nina’s Grandma shows up. (She is usually hiding in plain sight.) Her Nana comes to the rescue.  I call her Agent Nana because she is equipped with all of these gadgets and even talks to animals.  Here is to DisneyJr for highlighting grandparents everywhere. And here is to all the Grandmas and Nanas in the world picking up where us parents are constantly falling short! The Youtube link is below. Take a peek and share this if you appreciate your child’s Grandma.

This Time I’ve Really Screwed It All Up

I have no words…except that my heart resonates with this simple truth.

Beautiful Life with Cancer

“Dear sweet baby, it is ok.  Everyone messes up.  EVERYONE.  What matters, is what you do after you mess up.”  I do not know how many times I have said this to my daughter.  I have begun to learn to say it to myself.

Remember Peter?  Peter of the Bible.  Peter, the disciple of Jesus.  Peter, the Rock.  The rock on which Jesus would build his church.  Jesus knew he was about to be crucified.  Peter swore to him, “I will not deny you.  Even if I have to die with you, I will not leave you.”

Just a couple of hours later, Peter was standing in the courtyard.

“Hey, You were with that Jesus,” said a stranger.

“No.  I don’t know who he is.”  How quickly the tune of Peter changed.

“You.  You are a follower of Jesus,” it came again.

Peter was getting really mad now, “I have…

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A Mixed Bag

Today my thoughts carry to one of my main roles; being a mother.  No one tells you this, but motherhood can be all-consuming if you are not extremely careful.  I used to think that I could still maintain my independent self and be a mom.  I thought that I would be able to continue all of the activities and have time to do for myself and for my family.  The reality knocked me square on my tush.  Don’t get me wrong. I love being a mom.  I love my family. I love seeing my toddler walk into my bedroom first thing in the morning.  It brings me such great joy especially since there was a very real time when doctors didn’t think it was going to be possible!  I also love hanging out with my family on the weekends.  When Friday comes, I smile because I know I get to spend time with them.  However, what I have realized is that motherhood means sacrifice.  I have to give up alot of me to make time for them.  Sometimes I long for the days when I can wake up and do what I want instead of immediately tending to the needs of my family, especially on vacation.  I miss this the most when I am sick, because often I have to sacrifice my rest (that I need to get well) to take care of my family.  I cherish the days when my toddler unexpectedly sleeps in.

So…what am I saying?

I love my family, but I also love me.  I am realizing that if I don’t take time for myself, I will lose the best parts of me.  The parts that will get lost are likely the parts that my family will need; my patience, my health, and my individuality.  Mothers and Fathers, lets remember to carve some time out to keep your individuality while still enjoying the mixed bag of being a parent. For all those who are trying, don’t give up.  I believe if it can happen for me, it can happen for you.  Keep Believing….

Easy does it

Most of you know that I am transitioning my household to natural living; using less commercial products and using more home-made products (eventually I will get to home grown).  The hard part is that I was raised on commercial products.  It’s easy to go to the supermarket and pick up what you need already packaged and smelling wonderful.  Plus 30+ years of advertising has done a pretty good job of brainwashing to make me think that only certain products could clean my home effectively.  I started out thinking that it was going to be difficult, expensive, and not as effective as commercial products. I soon found that it was not nearly as insurmountable, did not cost nearly as much, and was just as effective for my needs. Many of the supplies needed are purchased once every three to six months (in some cases a year) and can make virtually all of your household products. I am going to be sharing my journey with you in case this is something you are interested in as well.

I think one of the best places to start is laundry detergent.  I was tired of paying almost $10 or more for detergent every couple of weeks.  I like clean, fresh clothes plus I live in a hot State which means lots of sweat and lots of laundry. After doing some research I figured out a recipe that  I liked and purchased supplies – Castile bar soap, Borax, baking soda, washing soda (different from baking soda), oxyclean (TM), and scent crystals (can also use essential oils).  On the same subject of laundry, I swapped out fabric softener for plain distilled vinegar.  My clothes are soft without the chemicals and the vinegar keeps my HE washer clean.  If you have allergies and sensitivities, this is really the way to go. You can control what is in your detergent and save trips to the doctor.  In addition, many of these ingredients can be used for other household cleaners such as dish detergent, dishwasher detergent, bathroom cleaner, and more. Your return on your investment is great!

I am still working through my first set of supplies and have made dish detergent as well as laundry detergent twice!  It turned out that the batch of dish detergent also worked well in my shower!  Vinegar I run through quickly since I use it to clean fruits and vegetables as well as for window cleaner, fabric softener, and dishwasher rinse agent.  It also helps that my grocery bill has gone down and everything was at my local supermarket! (Essential oils will not likely be at your local grocer, but a health food store.)  Everything takes less time to make than a trip to the grocery store.

If you have a house full of commercial products and don’t want to throw them away, go natural gradually like I did.  As you finish commercial products, recycle/reuse the bottle and replace contents with your homemade version.  If you need a bottle/container, stores like Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx always have mason jars, and air-tight containers in the kitchen section; especially if you like a little designer flare.  Check out my Pinterest page for tons of recipes and more information. Next on my list to go natural…dishwasher tabs.

How do they do that?

 (www.sixoutoften.co.uk)

How often have you gone on vacation and seen a slender, lithe, European woman with four kids and wondered, “How do they do that?”  (I know I do!)  Well, years ago I read this book, “French Women Don’t Get Fat”.  It really provided insight into how its done.  And it doesn’t involve giving up the things that you love.  I have never been able to get into diet fads, calorie counting and quick solutions.  I loved Mireille Guiliano’s book because it offered a different way to view food and approach meals.  It offered a lifestyle.

The principles are common sense and serve as a good reminder.  The author promotes making food your ally and not your enemy.  One of the (many) things that I implemented from the book is not adding sugar to my coffee, but savoring the simple flavor of coffee. At first, it was difficult because my palate was so used to sweet.  After a time, I found that I could enjoy the simple flavor of coffee and its bitter, earthy texture.  Since then, I have stopped adding sugar to many more things opting for flavor instead. For example, I love almond milk.  You can buy it unsweetened with vanilla and it is great in coffee, cereal, pancakes and more!  I have also found that I am better able to manage my weight (along with good nutrition and exercise).

Since the first book, the author has developed a website with all kinds of information as well as additional resources.  I am not promising that you will love her book or her website, but knowledge is power.  Check it out….

http://www.frenchwomendontgetfat.com