I've come a long ways from my Top Ramen Days!

I have a confession to make...I am a former Top Ramen, Cheese Whiz & Chicken in a Bisket, Taco Bell, frozen burrito, Oreo cookie, and Rice-A-Roni consumer.    

I can tell you I am now a changed woman who over the past 5 years has been on a mission of health for my family!  And one of the greatest ways to accomplish health is through the foods we put in our bodies. 

I honestly didn't think too much about the foods I was eating and feeding my family until my oldest daughter began to battle severe coughing issues at the age of 2.  She endured weeks and weeks of coughing that would escalate to the point of affecting her breathing.  By age 4, doctors diagnosed her with cough induced asthma as well as dust mite & outdoor allergies.  The recommendation?  Allergy shots, 2 daily inhalers, and allergy medications. 

We live in a day in age where it's all about convenience, fast, quick-fix, and easy.   I didn't just want to address the surface issues.   I didn't want the quick remedy.  I wanted answers.  I wanted to get to the root cause.   Thankfully a wonderful naturopathic doctor, Dr. O'Leary, made that possible.  She wanted to do food allergy testing on my daughter but I couldn't make the connection between food allergies and her coughing issues.  So Dr. O'Leary explained to me that 70% of our immunity comes from our GI tract (the gut).  If your gut isn't healthy you won't be healthy.  After running some tests, her recommendations?  Gluten free diet, probiotics, fish oil, and a multivitamin to name a few things.  This wasn't going to provide a quick fix but a slow improvement to my daughters overall health. 

Fast forward to present day and my almost 10 year old girl is a very healthy kid.  She isn't reliant on pills, shots, or inhalers either.  She still gets colds/coughs here and there but those severe coughing fits are a thing of the past.  I use to battle regular headaches and those are a thing of the past too!   

What you will find in my kitchen is vastly different than years past and I know that has made the difference for all of my families health.  I also will insert here there are more changes I'd love to make but it's a process....baby steps, small changes, one step at a time!  I have begun to make more things from scratch rather than in a pre-boxed package (though I do have on hand some pre-mixes).  I wanted to give you a sneak peek into my kitchen, with the goal to help encourage anyone reading this that wants to make changes, that it is possible.  So come along as I give you the tour....

Let's start with my fridge, I just went shopping so it's full!

 

 



 

My fridge is full of fruits and vegetables.  I just invested in a Vitamix so we have been making lots of delicious smoothies!  Our eggs come from our own chickens.  The Green Pasture Butter Oil/Fermented Cod Liver Oil is something I highly recommend for all it's health benefits!

 

What you will find in my freezer/deep freezer:

 

 

During the summer months pick or buy fresh, local organic fruit in bulk.  You can freeze them for smoothies and baking!  I paid $1.50 per pound for Organic blueberries....and 35 pounds total came to $52.50.  The grocery store was selling organic blueberries for $4.99 for less than a pound.  My mom and a friend gave me several zucchini so I shredded them up and froze for zucchini bread and soups!  That didn't cost me a thing! 

My pantry: 

 

 

If there is one item for your pantry I highly recommend it's organic Quinoa!  This is a very versatile item that can be made into a breakfast porridge, a side dish, salad, or main entrée.   Quinoa is a seed not a grain and has all 9 essential amino acids.  Want to know all the health benefits? Read here and here.  Know someone with apple trees and the apples are going to waste? Ask if you can pick them and spend a day or two making applesauce.  Canning is a very new thing to me but I chose applesauce to start with as it is pretty simple! 

 

 

Spices/Baking staples:

 

You will notice my salt up above is Real Salt.  I've always thought salt was bad for us and have avoided it, however, Real Salt is full of natural trace minerals and is actually very important for health.  I also recommend Safflower oil for cooking and heating at high temperatures.  You do NOT want to heat olive oil (I just recently realized this!)

Beverages:

 

 

 Coconut Water is another thing I recommend to have on hand.  It's a great drink when you are sick as it is high in electrolytes and potassium!!   Yes I do treat myself to soda sometimes but ones without high fructose corn syrup or other artificial sweeteners, food dyes, or other harmful ingredients!

 

I do believe in the saying, "Pay now or pay later."  Changing the way you eat may mean increasing your food budget....but it's a worthy investment and it doesn't have to break the bank.  For a family of 5 I have budgeted $185/week for food and household supplies.  That is $26.43 per day.  Per person that is $5.29 a day.  I think this is the first time that I have ever broken down what I am spending...I am quite impressed!!  $5.29 per person for whole foods, healthy, organic snacks & meals!! 

 

Here are a few suggestions to help you budget :

• A lot of the photos you saw above are things I purchased in bulk at Costco.  The savings is huge compared to going to the local grocery store and making the same purchases.  So although you may be paying out more at once, you are paying less per ounce, box, can, package, etc...
• Get some chickens!!  We live in the city with no property at all.  My husband built a chicken coop and we have more eggs then I can keep up with!  We also did raise some chickens for meat but really don't have the space for that where we live.  Buying whole organic chickens at the store is not cheap.  Hoping we can raise our own again in the future! 
• If you eat beef, find a local rancher and fill your freezer for the year.  You can buy 1/4, 1/2 or a whole cow.  If you have never purchased beef this way, it is a big upfront expense but overall a huge savings...especially if you want organic, grass fed!  Beef is typically sold based on hanging weight, but your actual bring home amount that you put in your freezer is going to be less than the hanging weight.  So for example if you pay $3.50 per pound (including butcher fees) for 1/4 a cow and the hanging weight is 250 pounds.  Your cost will be $875 but you will probably end up with 150 pounds in your freezer.  $875/150=$5.83 per pound.   If you were to go to the store and individually purchase organic, grass fed steaks, ground beef, roasts that equaled 150 pounds you'd be spending a tremendous amount more!!!
• Buy fruits and vegetables from local farmers markets, CSA programs, or produce stands.  Most are going to have local organic or minimally sprayed produce at great prices!
• When things are marked down that is your time to stock up and purchase several at once!
• It's amazing how much you save when you stop buying pre-packaged, processed, and junk food.
• Limit those spendy Starbucks/specialty drinks and eating out!  Our family could go out to dinner and easily it would cost $25-$50 for one meal, depending on the kind of restaurant. 
• Use cloth dinner napkins instead of paper napkins.  Hey every little savings matters!
• You will also discover that you stay fuller longer when you are eating whole foods!!

 

The best advice I can give when it comes to what to eat and not eat....stick to whole foods as much as possible.  A whole food has only one ingredient - itself!  If the ingredients list is a mile long and most things you can't even pronounce and have no idea what is means....set it back down on the shelf and then turn and run! 

 

Cheers to your health!

 

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Thoughts on our first day of school

 

Today was our first day of school for the new year!  I try to make the first day extra special.  We started out our morning eating a delicious breakfast. 

 

 

 

Then we headed outside for the annual tradition of first day of school photos by the tree out front!!  I just love this sweet picture of my older two. 

 

 

 

Although they do have a good relationship and can be found most of the time playing and having fun together, they have many moments of being at odds.  They were being silly posing in the photo below...but I just had to share this as it goes so nicely with what is on my heart for this post.

 

 

 

Today, on this first day of school, which should be so wonderful and blissful in every way (ok in a perfect world) there have been many moments of fighting, disagreements, and unkind words/actions towards each other.  At one point I sat my girls down and shared with them how important relationship with each other is, more important than academics or extracurricular activities.  This year I have chosen to focus more inwardly on our family relationships and say no to all the extra outside the home stuff that so easily fill the calendar and consume our time.  I pointed out to my girls how the Lord is wanting to do a work in all of our hearts during this season (and always)! 

 

This morning the girls did their reading, language lessons, copywork, and math.  This part of the day seemed to go very well!  Yay!!! 

 

 

After lunch we sat down on the couch and read the first chapter from our history curriculum (A Living History of Our World, volume 2 by Angela O'Dell).  Afterwards I opened the notebooking journal that my oldest is going to be doing alongside her history.  At the very beginning of the book was a "kindness book" to be cut out.  Every week the child is suppose to write one kind thing they did that week and who they showed kindness too.   As I began to read the information and instructions regarding the book, I found myself getting all choked up.  I wasn't sure how this fit in with history, but the timing couldn't have been more perfect and the idea more necessary than right now!!  (Thank you Angela O'Dell for your amazing heart and for adding this into the history journal!)

 

Even as I am typing these words my oldest remains on the couch and has so for the last 20 minutes.  I told her we are going to dedicate this book to her relationship with her younger sister and every week she is going to fill it in with something kind she has done for her.  She has sat there and is unable to think of anything from this past week...so I told her just think of one thing from your whole entire life of knowing your sister...she continues sitting there thinking long and hard.  It really isn't that hard to come up with something kind she has done for her sister, she has done many kind things, more things than I could even list.  But there is an issue of the heart happening right now and....God is in the business of changing hearts and getting the junk out...even in a young child's life. 

 

I learned very quickly on, that with the decision to homeschool, it meant our days were going to be messy, our ugly sides would be seen, sin & pride would creep up often, and chaos would happen regularly.  This is the reality when you have imperfect big and little people all under one roof for a good portion of your day.  The thing we have on our side with homeschooling is time...we are given lots of minutes and hours of time in our day to stop and address the ugliness head on (including our own ugliness at times) and to see imperfect progress!

 

Perhaps you can relate.  You had all these ideals in your head of what you thought homeschooling would look like and the reality is a far cry from what you had imagined.  Maybe you have asked yourself, "Am I really cut out to homeschool my children?" or "Did I really volunteer myself to take homeschooling and all that it entails on?"  

 

You can do this!!  As you draw near to God and call out to Him for strength, joy, trust, guidance, and direction, He will NOT fail you.  Trust your kids and your year of homeschooling to the Lord!!   Just watch out because some amazing things are going to come out of the hard moments, the rough days, the overwhelming situations!  You will see breakthrough, you will see growth, walls come down, attitudes change, and relationships made stronger!  We desperately need God's peace, patience, strength and wisdom every moment of every day!  (I'm speaking these words to myself right now and believing God to move in a mighty way!!) 

 

Blessings on each one of you amazing homeschool moms!!  Praying for an amazing year for you and your kiddos!!

 

 

 

 

 

 P.S. - My oldest finally brought me her "kindness book" and I opened it and read for week 1, "I gave my grandma a glass painted turtle."  I sent her back to the couch to redo and list something kind she has done for her sister, to which she finally wrote, "I gave my sister a toy hamster for Christmas."  She did it but not with a happy heart in the least.  I finally requested that she go to her room and talk to Jesus about her heart and attitude.  Jesus is the only one who can fix our sin and set us free!  She came out of her room a few minutes ago with a huge smile on her face and is happily playing with both her sisters right now.  Time for me to go make dinner.  Tomorrow is a new day!

 

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So thankful I said "Yes"!

Just over a week ago I hugged and kissed my husband and two older girls goodbye as they headed off on a trip east to Virginia. It was a very hard and emotional day to say the least.  My husband had been planning to go alone for our nephews wedding but at the last minute decided he wanted to bring the girls along.  Originally he thought it would be a quick trip there and back due to work commitments, but plans changed, which allowed him to go for a longer stay.  Since I do childcare and didn't feel right putting this family in a last minute situation of having to find alternative care, I decided to stay behind with our youngest. 

Allow me to back up for a minute though and share that when my husband brought up the idea of taking the girls, there was no hesitation to my answer...."No, No, No!"  The idea of my girls traveling on an airplane across the United States without me....no way!!  Thought after thought, fear after fear, came to my mind and filled it to the brim.  Every time my husband brought up the idea it was a loud and clear, "NO!"  I threw every excuse I could at him..."what about this?" Or "what about that?".  Yet he continued to pursue the idea, and not in a demanding way but a sincere, "I have been working a lot and I really want to take them and have some time with my girls" kind of way. 

Slowly, and I mean very slowly, the walls started coming down.  I was gently reminded by the Lord of the word He put on my heart at the start of this year..."TRUST".   I began to realize how much I was NOT trusting in the situation and how wrong I was to deny my husband, my children's father, something he had every right to do.  He could have so easily gone by himself on this trip and enjoyed a carefree week without the added stresses or responsibilities that come along with having children in your care.  Yet he pursued and pursued this chance to take his girls and spend time with them.  I couldn't ignore it anymore, I couldn't run, or pretend it wasn't something I had to face.  I was 100% in the wrong.  My girls could not be in more better care than with their dad!!  And time with him was exactly what they needed!

So I finally went to him and shared how wrong I was and that I was open to them going BUT the mommy in me still had to give one major stipulation.  One of the excuses I used for them not going had to do with my concern regarding food.  It's very important to me (as I am sure it is to many of you reading this) to make sure my kids eat an overall healthy diet (and gluten free in our case!).  My husband does not necessarily have those same convictions...deep fried twinkie, beer battered corn dog, greasy french fries and a large soda just might be something he would order at a 4th of July event!!!  (Yuck!!)  Of course there are a few of you probably drooling over this photo right now (you know who you are!!)

This is a deep fried twinkie...doesn't it look so delicious!  NOT!!!

Thankfully he promised to go grocery shopping when he got there and to do his very best to feed them within the guidelines I set (though I am sure he snuck in a few unhealthy, sugary, bad for you treats a time or two...I'm ok with that!).

So I bet you are all wondering how I have possibly survived 1 1 /2 weeks without my precious kids all here in my care???  Can I just share that this has been such a huge blessing in disguise!!  I really needed this more than I realized.  I think the day in and day out of motherhood and all that comes along with that role had really worn on me.  The house has been so much more quiet (though remember I still have a 3 year old here with me so it's not completely quiet!).  The laundry pile has been so much smaller.  The messes have been so much less.   And having this special time with my youngest has been so wonderful!  It has been such a refreshing time for my spirit!

I have also been able to get a lot of things accomplished and check so much off my to-do list:  spend quality time with my youngest, find a violin for my middle daughter who is starting violin lessons this year, get new car keys made (the expensive battery operated ones that are programmed to your car), buy apples and can applesauce, run 16 miles, create a schedule for the fall, finish ordering last minute things for school, buy art supplies, meet with co-teacher and plan out our running class for homeschool co-op, order 1/2 cow, get my oldest running shoes, schedule dentist appointments, hair appointments, and back to school photo session, spend time with good friends, plan and organize all the field trips for our homeschool co-op for the fall, shred and freeze zucchini, buy and can peaches...and last but not least....get me a MASSAGE!!!  My massage takes place tomorrow and peaches have been bought and I plan to can in the next few days...everything else I can check off my list!!



Shredded 20 cups of zucchini!



Bought 2 - 25lb boxes of peaches!

Created a "flexible" schedule!  Remember the joy of homeschooling is you are
not bound to a piece of paper/schedule...you have freedom!!

Ran 16 miles for my marathon training!

My family returns in a few days and I can not wait to see them, hug them, hold them, and love on them!!!  However, I believe this time away has been so good for me and also for my girls!!  This will be a special trip with their daddy that they will never forget!

In closing I wanted to share a few letters my oldest wrote to me before she left on this trip.  She heard my "No's" and all my concerns for why I didn't want them to go and these are notes she left behind for me.  In the first note when she says, "I missed you before you lift (left) home." The night they were headed out I left before them as I had plans already to go have dinner with friends, so that is what that refers to.  In the second letter take notice of her last sentence, "and don't worry about us we'll make good choices for our food."  Those little letters just blessed my mommy heart tremendously!!

I'm so thankful I said "Yes"!!  I'm thankful I had the Lord to lean on when I was struggling and feeling so overwhelmed by the thought of my girls going on this trip.  What situation or circumstance in your life are you holding onto tightly that you need to let go of?  It's time to hold onto the Lord instead and put all your TRUST in Him!

 



 

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Canning Applesauce

I've never canned on my own until today.  A year ago I helped my mom can some salsa, but other than that, I've never canned before.  It's something that I have been interested in doing but it  has always felt like this overwhelming, time consuming and such hard work project.  Why do canning when the grocery store has what you need all ready to go?  Well for many reasons I am learning....1) most canned foods at the grocery store are lined on the inside with a chemical called BPA, which has been linked to many health issues.  2) when you can food yourself you know exactly what is and IS NOT going into the food you are consuming.  3) you can buy things in bulk and/or from your own garden and save yourself some money.  4) You have a nice stock pile for a rainy day!

I decided it's time I get over whatever has stopped me from canning in the past and give it a try.  So today was the big day for me to can applesauce. I have been working on gathering up all my needed supplies over the past few days, including: borrowing my mom's water bath pot, jar grabber device, and funnel.  Also purchasing jars/lids and a 22 pound box of organic Dayton apples.  I didn't just purchase the apples, I helped the gentleman who owns the orchard pick them off his trees...talk about fresh! 

If you are reading this and you can relate and are wanting to give canning a try...applesauce is a simple and great thing to start with!  Here is a blog that I followed closely: The Prairie Homestead.

It's best to get all your supplies laid out and ready to go before you start!  Here you can see a ladle, funnel, jar gripper, and the rings.  There is also a magnetic device you use to pick up the lids out of the hot water but I didn't have that handy little device.

 

Get your jars starting to heat up in the water bath.  They must be sterilized first and hot when you add the applesauce into them.  Let boil for 10 minutes or longer with lid on.  I had mine sitting in water on medium heat and turned up to high when it was time.

 

You can also add the lids to a small pot and have simmering.

 

 

I soaked my apples in water to help wash them off.  The organic farm sprays with Kaolin Clay as a natural method of protecting the apples, so they had a white film on them. 

 

If you have cute little people in your home I'm sure they'd be happy to help you rinse them off!

 

 

 

After washing, cut apples into 1/4 sections.



 

 

Then lay each section on it's side and cut off the middle part with the seeds. Then cut each section into 2-4 slices depending on your preference.  I did not peel my apples.

 

 

 

After slicing each apple I added them to a pot of cold water with 1 tsp vitamin C powder to keep them from browning.

 

 

 

 

Save all the scraps for your chickens or farm animals if you have them!

 

 

 

 

 

Put only a slight amount of water in bottom of pan to keep it from scorching.  Turn on medium high heat and let apples soften.  Then use a hand blender, food processor, or Vitamix (that is what I used) and blend it up to the consistency you want.

 

 

(Forgot to take a picture of this step) Now it's time to boil the applesauce for 20 minutes!  Don't start the timer until there is a consistent boil (it won't boil like water of course but it will be splattering).  Be careful as it's easy to get burned with hot applesauce.  This is also perfect time to turn up the heat on the jars so they can get sanitized!

 

Pull out your hot jars with the gripper device and set on a towel, use the funnel and ladle to add applesauce to each jar.  Take a wet towel and wipe the edges of the jar top.  Follow this by adding the lids from the simmering pot and then hand tighten the rings on.  Use the gripper to put hot jars back in the water.  Make sure they are fully submerged in water, add the lid, bring to a boil and let boil for 20 minutes.

 

 

 

After timer goes off, turn off the heat, take off the lid and let the jars sit in the water for another 5 minutes.  Then pull out with the jar gripper and set on a towel.  22 pounds of apples made 8 quarts of applesauce.  

 

 

Lastly, tidy up the kitchen as it will look like a bomb went off afterwards!  LOL and feed those scraps to your animals!

 

 

 

You most likely will make a few mistakes your first time around...just try to follow each step and do your very best.   Hmmm what shall I can next?

 

 

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