Archives for August 2013

No More Boring Lunches!

August 26, 2013 By

This post here is just as much for me as it is for you. School for me and The Boys is about to start in another week, and that means lunchboxes for every member of the family every day of the week. (OK, every weekday, anyway.) That, in turn, means forethought and planning, things I’m not super good at. It also means I need some creative ideas at the ready because I hate - HATE - doing the same ol’ thing day in and day out. Hate it, I say.

So I’m doing a little browsing on Pinterest - where all good ideas roam - and am sharing my findings with you. (You can thank me later.)

Here’s to happy lunches! And a happy school year!

(Oh yeah - it doesn’t really matter if you pack the lunches or not. These ideas will still come in handy! Because, you know, no matter what - you still eat lunch.)

1. Chicken Cream Cheese Taquitos

This one was pinned by my friend Christy, The Simple Homemaker. You can make this recipe as healthy as you want… or not. Generally speaking, the more ingredients that are made-from-scratch-at-home, the healthier it will be. (Homemade tortillas, shredded chicken from a crock pot chicken, homemade cream cheese, etc. etc.)

2. Nut-Buttery Fruit Dip

This delicious-sounding dip was pinned by Adrienne, from her site, Whole New Mom. You can use any nut or seed butter that you want to comply with classroom rules and/or potential allergies. Kids love to dip their food, and this is a deliciously healthy way to encourage them to eat their fruits and veggies while they’re at it! (I really think celery sticks would be yummy with this.)

3. Breakfast for Lunch (Waffles, Anyone?)

Since we don’t get to eat a leisurely breakfast during the school year, why not fix it for lunch? Make a big batch on the weekend, and freeze the extras to pop into school lunches. You can also easily turn them into sandwiches by stuffing whatever normal sandwich filling you usually use in between two waffles. (I like almond or sunflower seed butter myself.) This particular waffle recipe is for Sourdough Pumpkin Waffles, pinned by Paula of Whole Intentions from her guest post at Intentional by Grace.

4. Bacon Guacamole Grilled Cheese

Take your grilled cheese sandwich up a notch (or two or three) by adding some bacon and guacamole to it. This was pinned by Diana of My Humble Kitchen from Closet Cooking.

5. Chili

If you have a Thermos, chili is a cinch to pack into a lunchbox! And so yummy, too. This version is pinned by Beth from her blog, Red and Honey.

6. Pizza Pizza!

Won’t the other kids be jealous of your kid’s lunchbox when he pulls a pizza out of it! Hilary from Accidentally Green posted this delicious version, made with BBQ chicken and bacon.

7. Individual 7-Layer Dip

My friend Jami of The Young Wife’s Guide pinned this gem from The Girl Who Ate Everything. Put these in a sealed container and you’re good to go!

8. Mini Lasagnas

Mini is just cuter. Every time. Crystal, The Money Saving Mom, pinned this idea from Catching Fireflies, and also blogged about it here.

Sadly, that’s all I have time to share for now, but you can check out my No More Boring Lunches Pinterest board for lots more ideas as we go through the school year.

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A Healthy LunchBox Snack: Whole Grain Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

August 18, 2013 By

Those hungry little munchers are gonna want a sweet treat in their lunch box come the first day of school…. And I have just the thing for you! Packed full of whole grain goodness, honey sweetness, and just a little bit of deliciousness from chocolate chips, these Whole Grain Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies will fill their tummies and their hearts.

You can find the recipe at Baking Whole Grains, where I am visiting for the day.

 

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5 Vegan Breakfast Ideas

August 15, 2013 By

For the average person, breakfast typically consists of something along the lines of eggs & bacon, cereal and milk, or maybe a donut/muffin from the bakery on a really hectic day. But for someone who is trying to stick to the VB6 plan of eating, all 3 of those options are totally out of the question. VB6, after all, means no animal products, no processed food, no sugar and only whole grains from wake-up time to dinner time.

Since launching my own experimentation with VB6 (which, by the way, has been rather successful: I’ve gotten closer to my goal weight than I have in a year!), I quickly found that it was easy to get into a vegetarian groove for breakfast. I had worried that it might not be filling enough to last me until lunch time, but most days, I don’t even have a faint hunger pang until after the clock informs me it’s lunch time. (I also should note that I do consume some probiotic grass-fed dairy products during the day because I believe their nutritional benefits are worth it.)

My favorite vegan (or vegetarian) breakfast options are:

1. Smoothie & Toast

Vegan smoothie options galore exist! If you’re really wanting to avoid the animal products completely, almost all smoothie recipes can be made vegan with a simple swap of non-dairy products for any dairy.

Some of my favorite smoothies are:

  • Choco-Cado Smoothie
  • The Shamrock Shake
  • Coconut Smoothie
  • Orange Cream Smoothie: 1 banana, 1 orange or 2 clementines (peeled and seeded), 1/2 cup or so of any dairy or non-dairy probiotic product (yogurt, kefir), a splash of vanilla
  • Raspberry-Almond Smoothie (I just use my homemade yogurt or kefir.)

Now, I’m of the opinion that toast is mostly a vehicle for butter. I love me a slice of toast dripping with melted butter… mmmm! Delicious! However, I don’t currently have cultured butter, so that’s not part of my VB6 plan. Instead, I spread some coconut oil on my toast (made with my Super Simple Sourdough Bread), and surprisingly, it gives me the same satisfaction as butter. I also love to spread a little homemade almond butter on my toast.

2. Oatmeal

Once again, the options are endless: there is no reason to be bored when you have such versatile menu items available! Here’s some fresh new oatmeal inspiration for you:

the easiest breakfast you'll ever make

3. Muesli

I *love* muesli, and so do The Boys. The base is the same every time: oats and yogurt. But I just top it with whatever fruits (dried or fresh, doesn’t matter!) and nuts or seeds I have on hand. For a special treat, The Boys like a few chocolate chips sprinkled on top…. and I admit… so do I! Here’s my Better-Than-Oatmeal Muesli recipe to get you started in the right direction.

oat muffins in the tin 4. Vegan Oat Muffins

These Vegan Oat Muffins, which happen to be one of the most popular recipes on the blog, whip up quickly and can be transformed into just about anything you want with some simple ingredient swaps or additions. I like to make a batch whenever I have the time, and freeze the extras for a super-fast breakfast on the go.

5. Pancakes

Since I allow myself to eat the occasional egg during the day even on VB6 (once again, I feel it’s nutritionally worth it), I don’t bother to veganize my favorite pancake recipes unless I’m low on eggs or some other reason. But since I made vegan pancakes for quite a few years, due to My Certain Little Someone’s egg and dairy allergies, I am no stranger to the concept! In fact, there are a few recipes I got used to during his allergic days that I still make pretty regularly, and one of them is the oatmeal pancake recipe I used in this recipe for Pancake Apples. With or without the apples, it’s a delicious pancake everyone will love, no matter the diet! But I have to admit my most favorite pancake recipe is this one: The Best Pancakes.

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Thieves Oil: The Super-Oil

August 11, 2013 By

This post contains affiliate links or something of the sort.

Why I Love Thieves OilIt’s not an exaggeration to say that Thieves Oil was the deciding factor in helping me determine which essential oil company I wanted to use and recommend. There are a lot of good companies out there, and I’m not really interested in debating the merits of one over the other, but for me personally, Thieves Oil was the “straw that broke the camel’s back”.

What is Thieves Oil?

Young Living’s Thieves Oil is a blend of several different essential oils:

  • cinnamon bark
  • clove
  • rosemary
  • lemon, and
  • eucalyptus.

One thing I love about Thieves Oil is its curious history: it was developed based on the story of four thieves who formulated this blend of herbs to protect them in their grave-robbing pursuits during the time of the Black Plague. The details are a little shady, but the story - and variations of the formula - has survived for several centuries. Cookbooks in the 1800s included recipes for “thieves vinegar“, and offered instructions for its use in sick or damp conditions.

When I was first learning and reading about essential oils, by far the most frequently mentioned - and praised - oil was Thieves Oil. Although I’m sure every oil company has their own variation of this formula, over and over again I saw testimonials specifically recommending Young Living’s version, and in the end that was what persuaded me to try Young Living essential oils for myself.

You can read more about Thieves Oil here.

Thieves Line of Products

Try these awesome products that incorporate Thieves oil: household cleaner, toothpaste, hand sanitizer and more!

What’s so Good About Thieves Oil?

The primary benefit of Thieves Oil lies in its capability to assist and strengthen your immune system.

Of course, there is nothing in this world that will guarantee you will never get sick! But of course, you still do what you can to prevent illness from occurring: washing hands with soap and water and dressing appropriately for the weather, for example. Thieves Oil will add an extra layer of protection, especially during occasions when you know you have encountered germs of one kind or another.

When Should You Use Thieves Oil?

There are some people who don’t walk outside their door without Thieves Oil religiously applied. I’m not that religious about anything except my religion! However, I do always make sure I have plenty of Thieves Oil on hand because I never know when I will need it:

  • When someone in my house gets sick, I apply Thieves Oil to them and everybody else. It seems to help them heal faster, and it helps the rest of us either avoid illness or experience a lighter version.
  • I keep a spray bottle with diluted Thieves Oil in it, and spray down all the often-handled surfaces in our home (light switches, door knobs, etc.) whenever sickness is going around or after we have a lot of guests over.
  • I like to apply Thieves Oil when we go somewhere like public transportation, for example, or to the doctors’ office.

How Can You Use Thieves Oil?

There are so many different ways to enjoy the benefits of Thieves Oil:

  • diffused in the air either through a diffuser or simply simmered on the stove top in some water
  • diluted in water and sprayed on surfaces
  • diluted in oil and applied to the skin (usually on the feet, as that helps it get to the bloodstream rather quickly)
  • internally via a capsule

I should point out that Thieves Oil is a very “hot” oil, meaning it must be diluted! This is not something to use lightly, but with a certain amount of respect. Adults should dilute at a ratio of at least 1 drop of Thieves Oil to 4 drops of oil, and for children, I would double the amount of oil.

What I Love About Thieves Oil

My favorite part about Thieves Oil? The fragrance! It’s heady and spicy and delicious. I don’t really like light, flowery smells so much, but neither do I like the really deep smells like sandalwood or patchouli. Thieves Oil is somewhere in between, and the fragrance evokes feelings of home and comfort to me, with a hit of energizing spice to finish it off!

You can try Young Living’s Thieves Oil for yourself! Distributors get 25% off Young Living oils, plus you can earn free products (woot! Gotta love free!), so that’s a significantly better deal than simply registering as a customer. (Plus, you only commit to a $50 purchase every year to maintain distributor status. No selling involved!)

I should mention that I’m not a doctor or a nurse or certified to be a medical expert in any way. Plus also, the FDA hasn’t approved Thieves Oil or any essential oil for medicinal use… as if we needed their approval. Just know that you need to be responsible and do your own research and don’t use any oil just cuz I said you should. Seriously. Because it’s not my fault if you don’t use it right and/or it doesn’t work for you. K?

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How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Laundry

August 4, 2013 By

image by raymortim

Please tell me I’m not the only one who (far too often, I might add) leaves laundry - clean laundry - in the washing machine a li-i-i-ttle bit too long (you know, like, never more than 12 hours or so… or a day or two… or… I’ll stop there) in the washing machine so that the once-clean laundry is now a rather smelly mess. In fact (should I even admit this?) I am at this moment washing a load of laundry for the third time. Yes, the third time. And, no, it hasn’t gone through the dryer yet.

Whew! SO happy I’m not the only one! Thanks for ‘fessin’ up. When I first had the idea to write this post, I felt a little bit like that dream everybody always talks about - you know, the one where you’re going about happy-as-a-lark in public with only your you-know-whats on? Or less? (Although I confess I’ve never actually had that dream - thank goodness. My only recurring dream is the one where I lose all my teeth. I really hate that one because I am afraid it’s prophetic. But I digress…)

So anyway… since I’m not the only one who absent-mindedly leaves her laundry in the washing machine for so long that it gets dirty again, I figure somebody out there is going to find this post useful, because here in this post I will reveal my secret for overcoming the nasty smell. And the people rejoice! (Notice I did not say my secret for overcoming the absent-mindedness because I haven’t figured that one out. Not yet.)

photo by Alvimann

The Vinegar Trick

Now I’m thinking you all probably have already heard about the vinegar trick, am I right? The “Vinegar Trick” is really pretty simple. All you do is throw in some vinegar (1/2 a cup-ish) to your load of laundry and run it through the cycle again. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

The Vinegar Trick is all I ever needed when I had a top-loading washing machine, and it worked every single time. Now that I have an HE front-loading washer, though, things are different. For one thing, the musty smell collects a LOT faster. I can’t leave laundry in there for any length of time, it seems, without sniffing that faint but disgusting odor when I go to switch out the clothes into the dryer. For another, the smell is awfully persistent! And stronger! I don’t know what it is about HE machines (I thought they used less water?!) but I’ve read online that my experience is not uncommon.

So I’ve had to up my game a little, and now I have a whole routine going to help me kick that mildew smell where it hurts.

Side note: Some people say that using vinegar in an HE machine will ruin it, but I’ve heard from countless HE users that they’ve added vinegar to their laundry on a regular basis and haven’t had any trouble whatsoever with their machines. That’s good enough for me, but you may want to consider carefully before you try it yourself.

Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Your Laundry

This is the procedure I follow whenever I’ve let the laundry sit in the washer just a little bit too long.

  1. Set your washer to use Hot water. Most clothes can handle it, at least on occasion.
  2. Pour vinegar into the fabric softener/bleach receptacle. (Mine is on the upper right hand corner.)
  3. Add a few drops of Purification essential oil. (This is what kicks this process up a notch and really knocks out the mildew smell.)
  4. For really bad stink, I also throw in a cap-ful of the Extreme 18X laundry detergent sample that comes with my soap nuts.
  5. Run your washer on the Heavy cycle.
  6. Repeat as necessary. (Hopefully, one time’ll do it!)

Stink be-gone!!

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5 Tips for a Perfect Picnic

August 1, 2013 By

We’ve been enjoying a lot of picnics as part of our day-at-a-time staycation, and I’ve learned a few tricks along the way.

Henceforth and therefore, without further ado, I share said tricks with you.

1. Bring along a basic first aid kit.

Eating outdoors just introduces a whole host of potential issues: bug bites, sunburns, scrapes, bruises, etc. Here’s what I always make sure to pack along with the food (Note to the FTC and whoever else cares - many of the links below are affiliate links.):

2. Pack a blanket or tarp.

If there’s a picnic table at your destination, this might not be necessary. Then again, it might be. You never know! We have a very basic picnic tarp-like blanket that is designed to be outdoors and has weights on the corners to keep it from blowing in the wind. You could also use an old sheet or blanket that you have lying around, of course.

3. Don’t forget the utensils!

I can’t tell you how many times I arrived at our picnic spot only to realize I forgot either the spoons, the forks, or a knife. So now it’s the first thing I think about! Even if you pack an entire spread of finger foods, just be on the safe side and pack a complete set (fork, spoon, knife) just in case.

4. No more boring picnic food!

Not being a huge fan of sandwiches, I’m always trying to think outside the box for creative picnic food ideas. I’ve compiled a list of picnic food options for you to consider, or you can check out the following articles:

  • Whole Foods has a whole bunch of ideas for you in every category… including dessert!
  • This compilation by Eating Well is more geared toward BBQ’s, but has some great ideas for picnicking as well.
  • And Woman’s Day brings us “Perfect Picnic Foods“.

5. Bring your picnic on wheels.

I probably wouldn’t even know such a thing as this existed - and I certainly wouldn’t put it on my top 5 picnic tips must-haves list! - if it weren’t for the fact that I picked one up at a yard sale for a ridiculously low price… and now find that I can’t live without our rolling cooler! This Rolling Cooler on Amazon is very much like the one we have, including the mesh pockets on the side that are perfect for the aforementioned first aid items. Ours also has a zippered pocket in front that’s perfect for paper plates, napkins, and utensils. There’s even enough space in the cooler to shove our picnic tarp, so our entire collection of picnic supplies fits into one convenient rolling case, which, incidentally, can even be pulled by our Certain Little Someone (who feels very proud of himself whenever he’s put in charge of it). I call that a total win-win!

What’s your perfect picnic tip?

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