Our First Trade
Here is our first trade, a ton of books from our good, gracious friend Beth. Carter was so excited as he stacked the books up one by one (where does he get that from??) and yelled SCORE when he saw this one. We looked through the books, played with them, smelled them and some of us laid on top of them…I let the kids pick out a few of their favorites and I picked out the more educational one’s and they went up to our future school room.
The rest of the books will be donated to Newborns in Need to be passed out to families with pre-school aged kiddos.
We are so excited to add these fun books to our collection and even more excited to officially begin homeschooling. We took our letter of intent to the school board today, so we are official!
I have to share one more thing about our trip to visit Beth at TC Cherry. Carter and I have been talking for a while about Broadway’s partnership with TC Cherry school. We are praying about partnering up with another kiddo Carter’s age so that we can read, play and study together. He has had tons of questions about this partnership and we have answered all of them from the heart.
So as we were entering the school Carter asked me, “mommy, is this where grown up’s come to learn about God from kids like me?“.
And I answered, “yes buddy, you are very right about that”.
The Green Smoothie
I share this with you because it has changed my life. I started drinking a quart of green smoothie a day about 2 months ago after seeing it here and here. My interest came from an effort to eat healthier and be regular (sorry if that is too much info). The smoothies taste great, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, and they are unbelieveably healthy for you. Like Sarah says here, you don’t have to make any other changes to feel better, just drink the smoothie. Some of the benefits I have experienced so far include decreased cravings, regularity, cleaner skin, more energy and weight loss. There are so many variations of the green smoothie and the best part is that you can put any fruit and veggie that you want in there, but here is my favorite:
All Fresh Ingredients: Banana, Peach or Pear, Pineapple Spear, 2 Cups Spinach, Fresh Carrot Juice and Flax Seed. Yummy!
We drink them in Nathan’s recycled gatorade bottles so that we can take them on the run. Elizabeth loves them and snatched this one up a few times while I was trying to get this photo. Carter thinks they are alright, but prefers his yogurt-fruit smoothie. I’ll share that one soon.
Dinner
Squash and New Potatoes cooked in olive oil
Fresh Spinach
Fresh Peaches
Fresh Plums
Whole Wheat Pasta covered in baked tomatoes, peppers, corn and tomato sauce topped with hemp seeds
Yummy!
Lunch
As part of the eat local challenge in 2008 I blogged every day about the foods we were eating. Rather than repeating that every day this year (because it did get very repetitious) I thought I would share with you what we eat pretty much every day this time of year. I’ll start with our lunch which is Elizabeth’s favorite meal!
Lunch-It is some sort of combination of the following:
Salad with cucumber, tomato, pepper, squash, hemp seeds
Eggs with Red Pepper Hummus or Tomatoes
Strawberry or Turkey Sandwich
Fresh Fruit
Pita or Tortilla Chips with Salsa
Cider, Carrot Juice or Milk
You can just see the look of enjoyment on her face!
The Harvest Begins
It’s official. Tomorrow will be our first day at the SKY Farmers Market. We will have squash, white cucumber, green cucumber, eggplant, green’s, onions, peppers and tomatoes!
If you live in the south you probably know that squash comes in by the bushel this time of year. And you probably know pretty of cooks that fry their squash along with every other vegetable in the garden.
Let me share with you my favorite, healthy way of cooking squash, eggplant, onions, peppers and zucchini.
Slice vegetables very thin.
Place in a frying pan with a think layer of olive oil.
Season with salt and pepper.
Cook until slightly crispy.
Yummy!
10
The photo shoot forKBM was taken at the beautiful Olde Stone in Alvaton, Kentucky. The facilities are amazing and require very little dressing to create a memorable wedding. This centerpiece was one of my favorite because of it’s simplicty in combination with the elegant table settings, furniture and decor of the facility.
This traditional silver julep cup is filled with an untraditional blue Hydrangea. This is a ‘Popcorn’ variety that has slightly curled blooms. The leaves were removed from the stems and wired seperately so they could be placed in the container at just the right angle. When these hydrangeas arrived they were a very light shade of blue. Design Master was used to mist a slightly darker shade of blue for a more dramatic look.
Photography by
9
Finally! I get to show off the blumebox arrangement for the Ten Trendy Table Toppers article for KBM. When I contacted Whitney from blumebox about the magazine she was so gracious to send me a box of fun stuff to play with. After trying a few different color combinations I finally settled on this trendy pink, black and white combo. This is a short pretty n’ pink blumebox embelished with black and white cardstock and stamped with a traditional monogram. And my favorite part is the white feather boa!
French White tulips were surrounded by antique green hydrangea in a simple style. I love how a few of the tulips are gently falling.
I also displayed this centerpiece on Mid Day Live on WBKO 13. You can view a clip from my interview with Whitney here.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
8
I love the element of surprise. And even more than that I enjoy watching someone taking a second look at one of my pieces of fresh art because they just aren’t quite sure what it is. And this is one of these pieces. This pretty package was created by placing a moist fresh foam brick on a piece of glass. Green spray mums were individually placed into the foam. It was wrapped in a white and pink bow and finished with accent mums and a corsage pin.
After the photo shoot I delivered this arrangement to one of my best friend’s Mary. She has been one of my biggest supporters and chearleaders. Mary and her mom came over and spent most of a Saturday with me to help me get ready for the shoot. She also helped me come up with exciting names for each of the arrangements. We have a friendship that was definately assigned by God. What would we do without good friends! Thank you Mary!
Photography by Clinton Lewis
7
Of the ten centerpieces I created for this KBM project this design represents my own personal style the most. I love the color combination and variety of flowers. The candlelight adds that special touch. But most of all I am drawn to the clean, neat lines that the organization of flowers creates in this piece. As I made my top 10 list I quickly filled 8 slots with must have flowers, containers and designs. This was one of the two I couldn’t make a final decision on. I ordered two of the plastic based wreath rings knowing that I would use one for my raised white piece and the other one in some way.
The sage green candle became my inspiration for a soft, tropical color combination. The pale yellow roses, green cymbidium orchids and pink lisianthus were a perfect compliment. Green hypericum berries were added to create some texture and interest.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
6
Fresh fruit has become a trend in itself. Lemons, limes, oranges, kumquats, and several other exotic forms of these fruits have become widely used to fill containers and as part of the arrangemnet itself. I think that it is the look of freshness it creates that makes it so popular. This photograph demonstrates how accents can change the entire look of your reception tables. These (candlestick) napkin folds were used to mimick the height of the citrus arrangement. Learn how to make this fold here.
The cylinder glass container is filled with halved lemons and limes. Kumquats are used to fill in the spaces so that there are no holes in the container. A fresh foam ball was used to create the floral top and could be removed for easier transit. Green Cymbidium Orchids, Pale Yellow Roses, Green Hypericum Berries, and Italian Ruscus were used to complete the arrangement.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
5
I ordered these amazing containers fromDecorative Traditions, Inc. Their service, shipping and prices are great. In keeping with our Tiffany Blue/Espresso color scheme we painted the containers a darker brown with a slight sheen. The flower selection includes Cream Lisianthus, Fresh Blue Hydrangea, Cream Lilies, Chocolate Geranium Leaves, Green Hypericum Berries and my all time favorite Fern Curls. With the popularity of brown’sFern Curls are the perfect accent for centerpieces, bouquets and especially boutonniere’s.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
4
What else is more beautiful than an arrangement that reflects the elements of nature. There is nothing more inspiring than a branch loaded with fruit dangling softly or a vine that has wandered from one plant to another. As a landscaper I learned that when plants are in close proximity they tend to entertwine and grow together, eventually becoming one plant with a variety of flowers, fruit and foliage.
Ariella Chezar’s is one of my favorite designers that has mastered the art of nature and style. This natural combination of Kumquats, Antique Green Hydrangea, Peach Lisianthus, and Green Viburnum is nature at it’s finest.
A special thanks to Kathi Milam who let me borrow this beautiful white dish. She was the inspiration on several of my pieces.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
3
There are two things I am loving right now. Orchids & Coffee. Orchids are the new rose~just pick up any floral design magazine or book and you will see what I mean. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. The are easy to use in bouquets, centerpieces, boutonierres and of course the traditional leis. And they stay fresh even in harsh circumstances, such as sweating men in black tuxedos standing on the pavement in 90 degrees smoking a cigar! If you are a wedding florist you know exactly what I am talking about. This particular variety is a large burgandy cymbidium. I also love green, light pink,gold/bronze, and white.
The second thing I am really loving now is coffee. When the kids get settled down for their nap I make me a cup of coffee~really good coffee. It’s my time during the day when I can relax and read or work on the computer. And the caffeine helps me get through the rest of the afternoon. Coffee beans were used as inspiration for this centerpiece. A thin slice of floral foam was put in the middle of therectangle glass vase. Coffee beans were poured in around the foam and I must say that they smelled heavenly! The orchids were placed one by one into the foam. Another element that really worked in this photo is the napkins in the glasses. Here is an excellent napkin folding source complete with videos. This is a centerpiece the groom will love too.
Photography by Clinton Lewis
2
This chandelier inspired candlestick holder was inspiration in itself. Wanting to incorporate a “ball of flowers” I used a 4.5″ round floral foam ball surrounded in red carnations. Carnations were the perfect choice for this centerpiece because they are very easy to work with and hold up well. The bottom three flower arrangements were made with a bouquet holder that I cut the handle from. Then I cut the center section out and they slipped right over the chandlesticks. They were decorated with Miniature Red Carnations, Red Hypericum Berries, and Italian Ruscus. I can’t wait to work with the bride that requests this style for her wedding!
Photography by Clinton Lewis
1
This is the first of ten centerpieces I created for Kentucky Bridal Magazine. The title was appropriately titled 10 Trendy Centerpieces. I purchased the Base, Pillar, and Container from Afloral. The flowers include White Lisianthus and Lilies. The foliage include Belle of Ireland, Green Antique Hydrangea, Green Viburnum, Green Hypericum Berries and Italian Ruscus. I think it’s interesting that even thought this arrangement has more green than white it is still considered a whitearrangement. I love how the pillars raise the centerpiece above eye level allowing guests to have eye contact with one another. These arrangements could also be alternated with lower centerpieces to save on cost.
Check back tomorrow for another centerpiece!
Living Light
The Three Most Important Steps Towards Living Financially Light
Housing-Renting can sometimes be a good option for living light (especially if you choose a small space that will lower your other bills). But in our situation we decided to make an investment with our home. We bought a great home with 13 acres at a great deal. We knew that we would be able to sell the land at a great price if we needed to. When we started praying about me becoming a stay at home mom we were lead to sell the land and pay of a huge chunk of our mortgage. We also made extra payments with tax returns and larger payments whenever possible so that we could be freed from home debt.
Vehicles-When Nathan and I were married we both owned our own vehicles which was a great way to keep us on track. We did purchase a brand new vehicle at 0% interest and used savings to pay it off (since it was a 0% loan we kept our money in our account to draw interest and made payments each month from that account until it was paid off). Future vehicles will be paid for in full and we will probably never buy new again. Food & Eating Out
I believe that food (especially eating out) can be the number one contributor to debt. Since it’s food, something we need, we can easily convince ourselves that it is a reasonable purchase. And the little things add up fast (not just on our wallets but on our backsides too).
Meal Planning-The single best thing we do to save money on food is to purchase only what we will eat. And my strategy is to purchase a little less than what I think we will need. Here is my reasoning on that: we almost always have some sort of interuption from our dinner plans during the week (meeting, working outside until late, being invited to eat with someone else) and then that food is wasted. So by limiting what I buy at the store we always have enough, but not too much. There are few things I love more than a near empty fridge or pantry.
Eating Out-We like to eat out so we do. But very rarely and just the two of us most of the time. When we have gone out to eat in the past at a sit down restaurant as a family we normally find ourselves wondering what we were thinking. The kids don’t appreciate it and we do not get to talk When we do take the kids out to eat we focus on what they really want. They are more than happy to have a healthy snack at home and just french fries or ice cream when we go out.
Feeding Baby
Several times in the last couple of weeks I have been asked two questions.
The first, when are you going to start Lilah on solids?
I think that people are genuinely concerned when they hear that I didn’t start Lilah on baby food at 4 months (or before). There is a misconception that breast milk is not adequate enough for babies, partnered with an urgency to “buy” baby it’s first foods. My answer is no, but I will begin around the seventh month.
The second question, are you going to make your own baby food, makes me giggle because I assume that they do not ask this question to every mother they know.
So I wonder what gave it away? The fact that I chose to birth naturally, cloth diaper, exclusively breast feed, homeschool? Maybe I need to stop wearing that jumper dress with the apple applique’ (just joking, and not meant to offend anyone wearing one right now).
So here’s our feeding plan, plain and simple.
Newborn-6 Months
Come to visit us anytime in the first two months and you will notice that I pretty much have a baby attached to me all the time. And Nathan will be calling us the Booby Buffet, Mama’s Milk Machine-you get the idea. I nurse only and often to make sure I have a good milk supply and that baby gets the hang of it. We choose not to use bottles or pacifiers and are blessed to be able to. But if you need to supplement there are great tips and ideas on pumping and bottle feeding out there.
After 6 Months
~We start with infant cereal. Just a few tablespoons a day until baby “figures it out”. I use breastmilk in my cereal, but you can also use warm water. A friend of mine recently asked how I get the breastmilk in there when I don’t pump. I’ll leave that for you to figure out, wink-wink.
~Next we will slowly incorporate fresh carrot juice to the infant cereal to add a new flavor.
~This is how we make our own baby food from fruits and veggies (it may appear too simple, but that’s because it is).
1. Pick your own squash, carrots, green beans, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, peas, apples, peaches, pears, or any other available fruit or veggie from your garden (if you don’t have it fresh in your garden grab a bag of frozen fruit or veggie from the freezer), (if you don’t have any in the freezer go to your local farmers market), (if winter is here you can go to the grocery store and purchase fresh, frozen or canned (no salt added) fruits and veggies).
2. If they are soft foods like peaches and pumpkin you will not have to heat them. Other foods will have to be heated either on the stove or in the microwave.
3. Put them in the blender and add water slowly until you get the desired consistency. When you first start baby on foods you will want them to be super fine adding more texture as they get older.
4. Most often baby will eat the the same fruits and veggies we are eating that day. But if I make too much or have a bushel of squash from the garden I will make and freeze. Just pour the food into ice cube trays and freeze. Once they are done you can dump them into a freezer bag and you are ready for food on the go.
9 Months and Beyond
Around the 9 month mark I start feeding baby mashed up foods that we are eating as a family. This helps me to prepare healthy fruits and veggies for us and also allows baby to become part of the family sharing in meals with us.
Babies milk source will continue to come from me until at least 18 months and then we will add soy or cow milk.
My goal is that baby will have eaten as many foods as possible by the time she is 18 months old (except cow milk, butter, salt, sugar, peanuts or any other food that is labeled inappropriate for infants-it’s an ever changing list).
There is also the cost factor. If you ever purchased jarred baby food you know how expensive it is. And if you haven’t you will probably be in shock when you see the price. Not to mention that baby food has got to have the highest food/packaging ratio on the market!
This method was not recommended by a Doctor and is my own preference for feeding our children.
Why We Homeschool
1. God told us to. Not once, but many, many times until we finally said yes.
2. I like my kids. And I love being with them.
3. Not to shelter them from the world.
To show them the world.
4. Not to protect them from those in need, those who sin or the unsaved.
To teach them to help those in need, realize they are sinners and how to reach out to the unsaved.
5. Time is valuable. And I NEED more time with my children than public school’s will allow me.
6. I believe there is much more important things to learn than the 3 R’s (although we will be teaching the 3 R’s too!).
7. If my children can learn to love and respect each other (not to mention their parents) they will do the same with others.
8. We can focus on socialization rather than simply socializing.
9. Education is important, and the holy spirit will provide us with the energy, encouragement and ability to provide our children with the best education for them.
10. Homeschooling will allow us to slow down, rest in him and see his purpose for each of us.
An Introduction
I would like to make an introduction today on my blog. Papertrey Ink. meetBlumebox, Blumebox meet Papertrey Ink. In an effort to simplify my life I have decided to sell all of my wood block stamps and pigment ink pads. They were just taking up way too much space. Of course, I can’t give up stamping which leads me to my introduction of Papertrey Ink co-founded by my friend Nichole Heady. Her stamps, inks and accessories are amazing and very versatile. And because they are acryllic and stored in CD cases her entire line fits into one small container.
This is my first project combining the blumebox with Nichole’s stamps. This background paper is made using her Faux Ribbon stamps. And the large and small strawberry is included in the Green Thumb set. The inks are Palette L’Amour Red, Noir Black and Chartreuse Green.
Check back to see more floral art featuring Blumebox, Papertrey Ink. and other great finds. I’m off to eat some fresh strawberries!
Not your Mama’s Cloth Diapers
I have always been drawn to things of the past. Antique’s, old books, shows on TV about history (especially the early 1900’s). And so as I started to right this post about cloth diapering I started to wonder about this new surge in cloth diapering that is considered a “new” practice. Which in fact is a very old, traditional way of doing things. Cloth diapers have come a long way-even the past couple of years. The main reason we have choosen cloth diapering is to prevent the thousands of pounds of extra waste in our landfills from diapering three kids. But an added benefit is how cute they are.
And for the frugal shoppers out there you can even make money with cloth diapers. I buy low and sell high (as may of you know from my kids clothing purchases) so I have actually made money from cloth diapering.
Here is a short tutorial for anyone interested in getting started.
The first step is to decide what type of diaper you are wanting to use. I actually use a combination of a few differen types.
All in One’s-these are the easiest most “disposeable like” diapers. They either velcro or snap on just like a sposie. You wash the entire diaper after each use and then re-use.
Pocket Diapers-these are very similar to all-in-one’s except they have a pocket so you can stuff it at nap or bedtime for more absorbancy.
Fitted Diapers and Wraps-the fitted part of the diaper goes on similar to the all-in-one but requires a wrap or cover. The benefit is great absorbancy from the fitted and the wrap can be used over and over again without washing.
Pre-folds or flats–these are your grandma’s diapers. There are dozens of different fold techniques and you use a pin or snappi to hold it on. These diapers require a wrap or cover also. They are also the most econimical.
Wool-this is a great option for the winter months. Wool is very absorbable and is used just like a wrap over a fitted diaper, prefold or flat. Watch out because it can become very addicting!
My Diaper Stash
Elizabeth is now potty trained so she is only using fitteds and wraps or pocket diapers at nighttime. But until recently we also used lots of flats with wraps just because they are so economical. And the wraps are so cute!!!
For the newborn joining our family soon I have already started to stock up on fitteds, wraps, flats and all-in-one’s.
Where to get the deals
Washing Instructions
For newborns and pee only diapers I just rinse them in a cold water cycle. For older babies I will plop the poop (gross sorry) into the potty and then do a rince cycle. Then I wash the diapers with washing soda, a few sprays of simple green and a capful of bleach. This has always worked for me but there are lots of washing methods available on the net.
Storing between loads
Wetbags are a great way to store soiled diapers. Once the wetbag is filled you just put the entire thing including the bab into the washing machine.
Going out
I started out using sposies when we went places. But small wetbags make it very possible for you to store soiled diapers in your diaper bag until you get home. Just make sure that anyone who might be changing your child know’s they are cloth diapered. I always use my easiest diapers when going to church or play dates to that no one has to “figure it out the hard way”.
Other tips and advice
Introducing Lilah
Lilah Faith Noelle
December 16th
7:00 pm
8 lbs 11 oz
21 inches
You can read her natural birth story HERE.
be Fresh be Simple 