One of the biggest questions I am asked from those thinking about blogging, those who are new to blogging or those who are new to this idea is — “Do you make money from your blog?”, which is then quickly followed up with “How do you make money from your blog?” You would think that information is easy to find out — given this is all on the internet and as bloggers we kind of love to talk about ourselves, but surprisingly it’s not easy to find.

Myself and 7 amazing bloggers have worked on a series called “Lifting the Veil on Making Money in Blogging” aimed at answering the most common questions and concerns when it comes to making money through your writing. My contribution is the why’s and how-to’s when it comes to monetizing your blog and hopefully I will be able to answer a majority of your questions and let you in on why and how I monetize Accustomed Chaos.

Monetizing Misconceptions:

There are two misconceptions when the discussion about monetizing a blog comes up. The first one being that you can make a lot of money off your blog. I know this isn’t the case for me and i’m certain it’s not the case for most bloggers. Unless you are racking in huge traffic numbers and (usually) are part of a well-established ad network then you won’t likely make enough to live off of. It is not unusual to bring in some income though your own blog when you begin to monetize.

The second misconception about a blog that is monetized is that once a blog decides to make money — the writer has sold out and the content will go down because of it. That’s not always the case for sure — my rule is if you transition it in slowly and creatively then it should not bother the reader.  If you were writing about food before you started monetizing then all the sudden sponsored posts started appearing about cleaning supplies or you have a banner ad for cat food on your sidebar, your reader might get confused.

I started Accustomed Chaos over 2 years ago and started to monetize about 14 months ago. The reason for me is I wanted to be able to create a blog that paid for itself — not my time because this space is for me — but to pay for the things that are required to blog. I monetized to pay for my domain url, hosting costs and help with my internet and phone bill.  I try to be as choosy and picky as I can when it comes to how and with who so it all still makes sense to my readers.

Ways to Monetize:

Advertising Buttons and Links:

There are 3 basic ways to sell advertising on your website and they include self sold image ads, self sold text ads and ads sold through a network.

Self-sold image ads — a variety of sizes but the most standard one is 125×125 buttons usually placed on the sidebar of your blog. The price really does vary from site to site depending on their traffic, blog genre and space (above or below fold). These would be obtained through pitching companies or if they inquire about advertising on your site. They will usually be a pay-per-month, pay-per-impression or pay-per-click method. My site hosts a few different self-sold ads on the sidebar and in my RSS feed. They are purchase-up-front ads and vary in price from $30/month to $75/month

Self-sold text ads — the difference in text ads is typically they are links on either the sidebar of a site or within a post. A company can pay for the sidebar ads the same way you would an image button, but the ones within a post are typically companies wishing to increase their page rank. I don’t accept text ads myself and if you do — make sure you use a nofollow rule so your own page rank doesn’t get dinged!

Ad network — joining an ad network is one of the more common ways to monetize your blog. The ad is responsible for finding advertisers for your site and you are responsible for having the code in place for them to rotate in and out the ads. You get paid according to the terms of which ever network you’ve joined. This is a no-think, no-hassle way for bloggers to earn some money and payout depends on the particular network. I am currently not part of an ad network, though I was for a few months.

Working with Companies:

There are other ways to make money off your blog through more of the content and not the space. Working with companies for hosting giveaways, reviews and sponsored posts are three main ways for bloggers.

Reviews — I am a strong believer that reviews should always remain unpaid posts. That said, I do also believe that a product must be supplied in order for the review to take place if the company requested the review.  There are many who feel comfortable accepting a product as ‘payment’ but I think for a review to remain unbiased then the compensation should not be monetary. For me, I do accept products for review however, I do not guarantee the company that I will write about them, since they are unpaid.

Giveaways — often accompanying a review, however giveaways are different then just a review. Giveaways are often pitched to bloggers as something that will help them but in reality it helps the company more. The company wants your audience to know about their product. I charge to host reviews – the price depends on how long the giveaway is open for and will range from $30-$45. This price compensates the time it takes to keep track of the entries, make sure they are promoted and added to giveaway lists and they often require some sidebar space to quickly let your readers find your giveaway. I would like to stress though that I will not accept any giveaway that breaks any terms of service rules — such as requiring a LIKE to a Facebook page for an entry.

Sponsored Posts — these are different then reviews in that there are certain points that the company will ask you to include and are more centered around the product then just your opinion.  The prices vary depending again on your audience reach, post length and who you are working with. I do the occasional sponsored post and I personally charge on how many links a company wants to include and the length of the post. Most recently the sponsored posts I do are more custom recipes — a company will contact me looking for me to create a gluten free (or also dairy free) recipe using their product. They are paid for and always disclosed that they are sponsored but their product is specifically listed in the ingredients list.

********

Have any questions? Leave me a comment, tweet me or send me an email and I will try to help you out. Let me know if there is something I have left out or that you would love for me to expand on.

There are as many ways to earn money blogging as to blog so check out the other bloggers participating in Lifting the Veil On Making Money In Blogging:

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Click on the image above for 19 more incredibly funny yet probably inappropriate cards for today.

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Regardless of being sick with a cold and pink eye in both eyes —  the joy and wonder of a toddler shines through.

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Click on the image above for MORE gorgeous, romantic men

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I remember when I was first told I can’t eat gluten — my head spun wondering what was left to eat. Over the years I have realized that there eating gluten free has no limitations and I certainly don’t feel like I am missing out on anything. When Princess Bean was born and I went on a casein (all dairy protein) free diet on top of my gfree diet I was worried. Just like with the gfree diet though, I again realized that there are so many amazing options available.

Since I have begun to chat more and more about the diet we are on I am often met with the sad eyes. The people (who like me years ago) had no idea what limitations (or lack there of) comes with eating a gfcf (gluten free, casein free) diet brings. One of the biggest questions I am asked is “What do you eat then” and so I decided to start showing what I eat — right off my plate.

I have been taking photos with my phone of my breakfasts, snacks, lunches and dinners. Just to show what I honestly eat every night. No planning ahead, no fancy lighting or cameras. Sharing the meals that I cook (usually under 30 minutes) and directly off my plate as I sit down to eat.

Breakfast for Dinner

I adult-ed up this breakfast for dinner -- always a great go-to for a busy day. Pancakes, scrambled eggs with spinach, sweet potato fries and fresh green pepper slices
I used Kinnikinnick Pancake Mix
Pin It

I share my meals all the time on Instagram — don’t want to miss them? — click  

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I can’t believe it has been over a week since I have posted here. You know, I think that might be an ‘absent’ record since I started this blog. Terrible! I have been in a transition of where my ‘office’ is and between that and all this other stuff going on — things slide.

Good news though — I now have my own office at home! I went from sitting on the couch to the bedroom to now my own room (with a lock on the door) over the past month. Wanting my own space has been something I have been dreaming about forever. A space to put my things down, a space for me to shut the door and a place that I can be creative and not step on kid toys. I am so thankful we have been able to make this work — for the time being anyway.

I am hoping that once all the dust settles and this space gets set up to ideal working conditions that everything will be back to regularly scheduled programming. I have been trying to find that perfect balance (or at least some sort of balance) between this motherhood & work-from-home thing — it can be a challenge sometimes but I think we are getting into the right groove.

Since I haven’t updated the blog in over a week I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss a few fun posts I’ve written elsewhere –

You Look Great in Your Sweatpants: 10 Things Any SAHM Would Love to Hear

Unconditional Love & 10 More Things Being a Mom Has Given Me

Body Art and Pregnant Bellies: Tattoos and Motherhood

Since I have been so out of the loop — tell me something new in your life — good, bad, weird, funny.

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There is little worse then hearing your child wake up in the middle of the night, crying. When you go to them and pick them up for comfort you realize they feel as hot as an oven and it’s obvious your little babe is sick. You take their temperature — and there it is, your child  has a fever.

Fevers are often feel like a big threat to parents, many rush for the Tylenol and the phone to make a call into their doctor or their first reaction is to take them to the emergency room. Understandably we get nervous and anxious when our child is not feeling well. What some parents don’t realize is not all fevers are bad. There are 4 key things to know about if your child spikes a fever (for a child over 3-years-old):

A fever is a natural body response used to fight infection

Many parents believe that a fever is something that we need to fight, that it’s important to get the temperature down and then babe will be better. That’s simply not true. The body will send out signals at sign of infection to raise body temperatures — it does this to fight the infection because there are many that can not survive at extreme body temperatures.  By quickly lowering the fever in a child, you rid their immune system from their fighting tool against the bacteria/virus.

A high fever is different depending on age and the way you took the temperature

What is considered to be a ‘fever’ in an adult and child varies as does the method of taking their temperature. A temperature is considered a fever if it reaches 100.4F (38 C) when taken orally or rectally; if taken in the underarm or mouth it’s considered a fever when it’s a bit under that.

Not all fevers need to be treated

The rule really is “treat the child, not the fever”. What this means is that if your child has a fever but is acting fine, then there is no need to give them medication. If your child is acting miserable, complaining of big aches or being sore that’s when it becomes beneficial to bring down the fever.  Temperatures of 102F and lower don’t typically need to be treated. Temperatures at 105+F for over an hour after being given fever-reducing medication (like tylenol or ibuprofen) should likely be seen by a doctor or warrants a call.

Signs are usually a better indicator of overall health and danger

If your child is not acting like themselves, that is a better indication of how they are actually feeling. If your child has chills, complains of being achy or has pain, giving medication to reduce their fever can help them rest. If your child is still interested in playing, eating and drinking okay, alert and smiling at you, and looks well when their temperature comes down, there is likely nothing to worry about. If your child has a fever for 3 days — it’s best to have them looked at by a doctor.

** Of course, if your “parent instinct” is telling you that something isn’t right — that feeling overrides anything anyone else tells you or you read. Always trust your gut and if you think your child needs to be seen, calling your doctor is likely the best idea. ** 

{disclaimer}

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I have a big love-on for cornbread. It is one of those things that just remind me of home, and happy and my mom. On days where the sun isn’t shining like it should or we are all sick with the flu I like to make a huge pot of chili and cornbread. Something easy to make that says good all day and we can all eat it.

I modified this recipe to be naturally gluten free and now casein free. If you don’t need to eat dairy free just sub out the soy cream for milk and vegan butter for regular butter.

Gluten and Casein (Dairy) Free Cornbread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cups vegan margarine
• 1 1/2 cups soy cream
• 1 1/2 cups medium grind cornmeal
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 435. Place 8-inch cast iron skillet into oven to preheat
2. In a small saucepan, combine margarine, soy cream, brown sugar and cornmeal. Bring to a slow simmer and whisk until thickened. Remove from heat.
3. In a separate bowl lightly mix together eggs, salt and baking powder and add to cornmeal mixture stirring until combined.
4. Remove cast iron skillet from oven and lightly oil. Pour batter in and place in oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden around the edges.

Enjoy!

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Accidently ingesting gluten when you have celiac disease is unfortunately likely bound to happen at one point or another. Whether through cross contamination, not reading the labels right or a well-meaning friend or family member ensuring you it’s safe, getting ‘glutene-ed’ [as we all call it] is no walk in the park.

What do you do now that you’ve been gluten-ed?

There really is no standard care of how to treat yourself. There are many who swear by using pre/pro-biotics or special vitamins that claim to flush out your system. There are others who claim special smoothies or mixtures will do the same. My opinion on all that is it’s just a money-grab {if it’s a product someone is touting} and there is no special mix that can really ‘flush your system’ quicker.

So, what do you do? Drink a lot of water — stay hydrated. Eat foods gentle on the stomach. Stay away from dairy products and highly processed foods. Try to figure out the source of your attack and rest as much as you can.

{disclaimer}

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Becoming a parent is one of the most exciting times in life.  A life change that rocks your world in the most amazing way. It’s certainly not easy and there will be challenges, but as I am sure I don’t need to tell you — it is totally worth every moment.  We all hear about those awesome moments that happen the moment your child is in your arms.

There are some things about new parenting that you might not read in a parenting book — you know, the sh*t people wont tell you before you have your child. I break the silence for you and let the ‘cat out of the bag’ on some insider parenting info:

1. You will have to wipe your kids butt even when they are out of diapers

2. There is a time in the toddler years where you child will not think twice about playing in their poop.

3. A quiet child usually means a disaster is being made — go look. NOW!

4. You can act honestly drunk from lack of sleep. You will feel really drunk too.

5. Everyone will have an opinion on everything you do — everything. Ignore most of them.

6. Right after giving birth — your stomach will feel like goo. Brace yourself. I was not prepared.

7. Kids don’t shut the door when they do learn to use the toilet — get used to it.

8. You will never poop alone — you won’t get used to that.

9. Catching vomit mid-air will not faze you and you will eventually do that.

10.  Showering can feel like winning the gold at the Olympics some days — celebrate it.

11. You will leave the house (once or twice) without knowing you have sh*t on you somewhere people can see — no one will tell you.

12. Cold coffee will become the new norm — make sure you have a microwave.

13. People will buy your kids glitter and noisy toys just to see you squirm – get back at them when their time comes.

14. You might not automatically fall in love with your child. Doesn’t happen for everyone & that is okay. Takes time to get to know each other.

15. When your kids are away from you — the lack of noise will feel deafening — awesome but deafening.

:: What would you add to the list for parents-to-be? ::

check out today’s post on Kid Scoop Blog:12 Questions Every Parent Dreads Being Asked

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At the start of the new year I promised myself that I would finally listen to my body – the signs were SO EVIDENT and it was time to listen. I have a casein intolerance. It sucks. It’s not just a small reaction. I get full body hives, rash, eyes so puffy I can’t see. With even a bit of casein. Combining that with the fact that when I was casein free when breastfeeding Princess Bean I never felt better.

I was in a morning period — for chip dip. How sad, right? I love chip and veggie dip — it’s seriously like my drug. I thought I was doomed to live without it for the rest of my life.

Then I started thinking… there is usually a good alternative to anything so I started to research, started to test things out and came up with the best dip recipe.

Gluten and Dairy (Casein) Free Dill Veggie Dip

Ingredients

• 1 package soft tofu
• 2 tablesoons dill
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablesoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a blender or food processor combine all ingredients until smooth. [adjust seasonings to your taste preference]
2. Refrigerate and serve when cold with veggies or chips.

Enjoy!

You can not get easier then that. Both my husband (who has a lactose intolerance) and myself (casein intolerance) agree that this dip is amazing. Simple with only a few ingredients and you don’t have to live feeling sad about chip dip any longer! (Up next, making even more flavors!)

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This week has been a busy one. Lots of ideas swirling in my brain on how to make this space even more me. Sharing photos of the kids for the first time and launching new names that they have picked out themselves. I finally re-wrote my ‘about me‘ page which is always hard to do — I am so not good at talking about myself. That and it’s kind of hard to pick out the things about you that won’t totally scare someone off if they are here for the first time.

I have also been doing a lot of ‘Babbling’ this week:

Kid Scoop:

Felt very old reminiscing over things our kids will never experience
I worried about my kids self-esteem & how to protect and grow it
Shared the phrases that parents say over and over — we’re not alone!
Rounded up YOUR list of irritating things parents do
Found a super awesome video of an 8-year-old rocking out

Being Pregnant:

Rounded up some fascinating breastfeeding campaigns
Found a video of 4 pregnant sisters dancing like nobody’s business
Laughed at the crazy things pregnancy brain made women do
Gathered up great advice from moms who have been there
Spotlighted a campaign that is working to raise awareness of stillbirth risks

[Coming up this week on Babble: questions, rooms, portraits and grief + more writing for Celiac-Disease.com]

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As a mother with young children you don’t receive a whole lot of feedback that what you are doing — this ever important ‘job’ — is going in the right direction. You go through many stages before your children are old enough to give you that positive reinforcement that reassures those little voices in the back of our minds that unlike everyone else — we have no idea what we’re doing.

The pregnancy stage where everyone comments on how much weight you’ve gained, if you will be finding out the gender and why you should or not. You shouldn’t eat this, you can’t do that. That phase moves onto the newborn stage where your ‘job’ is now external from you. You pull through the screaming for no reason, the wacky no-sleep schedules, the questions, the fears. Then onto the toddler years, the preschool years and then your kids start hitting the age where they can really speak — can have a conversation. It isn’t usually until your kids grow up and move on their own — perhaps starting families of their own that you may begin to hear from them — that even if you didn’t know exactly what you were doing all the time and you did make mistakes — that you are an amazing parent.

In the interim it can be hard to see those moments — the glimpses where they may not tell you that you are doing amazing but they show you. The fleeting moments that come and go between the noise and the chaos. Those moments — that if you catch — can tell you everything you want and need to hear.

This photo was one of those moments for me.

Un-staged, screen captured from a small video we took while at the zoo where Mister Speed walked up to his best friend Princess Raru and gave her a hug. The genuine, loving friendship they have with each other tells me that during those early years where I felt more then I care to admit that I had no idea what I was doing — I was getting it right all along.

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I mentioned this a while back on my Facebook page — that changes were on the way for Accustomed Chaos. I took some time off last week to give myself some breathing space and now I am en route to new things to come for 2012.  December is hard on everyone with all the holidays and for me I had the added 6 year old birthday, balancing a new freelance job on top of two I had started a few months earlier and I will admit — I got a little burnt out. My brain was drawing blank and this space didn’t really feel like ‘mine’ at that time.

I am happy to have found the rejuvenation — all it took was a week of giving myself a break. That showed me just how much I love it here and love all your feedback — that I missed it so bad so quickly. One thing I realized that was feeling a bit off — and I have chatted about this before — is that my writing leaves a big part of us out — my kids.

I began this blog just over 2 years ago and my kids were young — their personalities were not fully apparent and I have watched them grow into these adorable, funny things and realized — their names on here just were not fitting. I mean, how more boring can you get then just their initials?  Couple that with the uncomfortablness (yes, I know that’s not a word) I had with sharing their photos, I wasn’t putting a whole huge chunk of me into this site & then what’s the point, right?

I thought a LOT about it. I spoke with my husband, I chatted with my Fairy-Blog-Mother (Jill) and thought even more about it. I feel — not dishonest — but not fully engaged by not sharing more about my kids. You know all about the children I lost, the fact that we have celiac disease in the house and my parenting philosophies, but having nicknames that don’t fit my children’s personalities and not sharing photos of their personalities — it feels weird.

I have been speaking to my kids over the past few weeks & yes I get they are young and don’t totally get it — but I chatted with them anyway. They know I write about them — so I decided to let them pick out their own names. I still wont be publically sharing their real names but they have switched up their online names a bit. Names they chose and that actually fit their personalities better. Protecting their names online is not because I don’t trust YOU but this is the world wide web and everything stays online that’s put online — I feel this is the best way to protect anyone from googling their name later in life and coming across something I write or someone writes about us.

I will also begin sharing photos of them — I don’t want our life memories to be stock photographs. Don’t expect anything too embarrassing though but you can expect to see more of their personalities and how seriously amazing they are.

I would love to take the time now to introduce you to my children … again:

Previously known as BIG P -- now MISTER SPEED

Previously PRINCESS R -- now wants to be known as PRINCESS RARU

Previously Babe E -- she want you to know she's not a baby but PRINCESS BEAN

What else can you expect? More recipes –  sharing naturally gluten and casein free dinners we eat with less “professional photos” and more what’s actually for real on my plate, more basic 101 about celiac disease and gluten free lifestyle, some cross-over of perinatal grief through Unspoken Grief, more parenting struggles, funny stories, everyday life, wishes and insights

… basically a lot more ME infused into this again.

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/a-small-shift-a-few-changes-and-some-cute-faces-2/feed/ 13 http://accustomedchaos.com/a-small-shift-a-few-changes-and-some-cute-faces-2/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/1aG8WLrwkhY/ http://accustomedchaos.com/mixed-feelings-about-a-new-chapter/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:40:31 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5951 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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I could have talked about this sooner. It’s not like it’s some giant secret or anything. Part of me didn’t want to jinx it – the other part – well, this new ‘chapter’ means the end of previous chapter.  Sounding all dramatic – it’s not really. Most I think would be thrilled about this – I know I thought when our kids were all teeny tiny that when this day came we would throw a party. But I feel weird about it – kind of oddly… sad.

For over 5 weeks now there have been no diapers, no need for pull ups. My house is diaper free.

I should be :: throwing confetti :: and bragging to all of you who are still elbow deep in the diaper-zone but instead I find myself a bit jealous.  I know that sounds crazy right? I feel a little crazy typing that out. It really shouldn’t be a surprise to me. I have a very large case of baby fever. That is also not a secret. I don’t think it helps that everyone around me is either trying to get pregnant, pregnant or have fresh new babies. 

My kids are growing up. I am proud. I am grateful. I am shocked. I am not ready for the ‘baby phase’ to end. You can’t get much more ‘baby phase’ then diapers. It’s a weird change. I have had one child in diapers; I’ve had 2 kids in different sized diapers; I had three kids in diapers and then one by one they all stopped.

:: How did you / how do you think you will feel when your house is no longer using diapers? :: 

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/mixed-feelings-about-a-new-chapter/feed/ 21 http://accustomedchaos.com/mixed-feelings-about-a-new-chapter/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/i7iW8c-Cg5k/ http://accustomedchaos.com/is-finding-balance-in-life-a-myth-or-obtainable/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:56:25 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5938 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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I have never really been one to make resolutions. Every year it’s a big thing and then no more then 6 weeks later we start to hear how everyone hI have this big goal for 2012 – not being the ‘resolution’ type this is kind of a first for me. I want to find balance in life – a good groove between all the things I have to do as an individual, a mom, wife, employee and human.

Big goal right? When I shared this goal with others I got the resounding “me too” and “good luck” and “that’s what we all want” responses from people. I started wondering if this goal I have set for myself was even attainable or if I am kidding myself and setting up for ‘failure’ at the start of the year. Is there such a thing as ‘balance’ or do we all just spend too much time trying to do it all?

I could really use your input and advice on how you make things work for your family. What is your motto when it comes to balance? Any advice and tips would be very welcomed. Please click through the link to read more & leave me any advice.

[click to read more on Babble Kids]

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/is-finding-balance-in-life-a-myth-or-obtainable/feed/ 0 http://accustomedchaos.com/is-finding-balance-in-life-a-myth-or-obtainable/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/Q6FmKgB2sho/ http://accustomedchaos.com/new-years-resolutions-go-big-or-get-out/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:40:20 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5925 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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I have never really been one to make resolutions. Every year it’s a big thing and then no more then 6 weeks later we start to hear how everyone has ‘given up’ or ‘failed’ or just plain forgot what they were hoping to accomplish for the new year. The new year resolutions are sort of all seen as that thing you hope to do because it’s the new year and we’re supposed to … but then never follow through.

This year I am making a goal for myself. It’s huge. It might be unattainable. I might ‘fail’ but I have a feeling that it will be good for me. Not only to strive for it – but perhaps to realize that what my idea of the goal is actually different from reality. Resolution for this year is:

to get organized and find balance – health, marriage, motherhood, self, work, household

Did you roll your eyes and say ‘good luck’? Was your first thought ‘ yeah, me too’ ? Is this something that you struggle with hoping to attain also? When I share this goal with others that seems to be the reaction I get. I know that is a HUGE goal.

I know it is kind of the motherload of all goal. What is different though – well, what I am hoping will be different, is that I am not striving for a PERFECT balance. I am not striving to be PERFECT in all those areas. Basically I am striving for happiness. Happiness for me will come with finding it – even if it is accepting that it wont always be ‘perfect’.

I have a feeling I am not making much sense.  It is all kind of hard to explain but I hope to explore more of this through out the year. Maybe overtime I will start making more sense

:: Any goals for you this year? ::

check out today’s post on Babble Kids: 10 Ideas for a Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Party

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/new-years-resolutions-go-big-or-get-out/feed/ 7 http://accustomedchaos.com/new-years-resolutions-go-big-or-get-out/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/jjDMI6SQKWk/ http://accustomedchaos.com/7-signs-your-dealing-with-after-holiday-aftermath/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:26:08 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5905 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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The holidays are a tremendous amount of fun. All this excitement in a week with Christmas, boxing day, family, new years eve and new years all rolled into one. The kids home from school. Presents, singing, family … it’s a lot of hooplah to take in. Every year I get excited for it and then every year I go into the ‘after holiday aftermath’. Easy to pick out when I am so done with all the routine breaks and over sugared kids. Here are 7 signs that you might be dealing with the after holiday aftermath too:

Can't Wait to Put Up; Can't Wait to Take Down

December 1st rolls around and I am itching to put up the tree. Because of Big P's birthday - we like to wait to start getting into the spirit of Christmas until after his birthday. I count down the days. After the holiday's when I am done with the aftermath - I count the seconds to taking down that tree.

*****

 ::Do you hate dealing with the aftermath too?::

 

check out today’s post on Babble Kids: The Best Advice I Have for a Happy & Healthy Marriage is …

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/7-signs-your-dealing-with-after-holiday-aftermath/feed/ 7 http://accustomedchaos.com/7-signs-your-dealing-with-after-holiday-aftermath/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/WhEc6qtd9J4/ http://accustomedchaos.com/seasons-greetings-from-accustomed-chaos/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:00:27 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5894 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/seasons-greetings-from-accustomed-chaos/feed/ 0 http://accustomedchaos.com/seasons-greetings-from-accustomed-chaos/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/jo9CdY_GDg0/ http://accustomedchaos.com/basil-pesto-pasta/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:37 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5882 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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Gluten and Dairy Free Basil Pesto Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 package Gluten Free Pasta
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves (tightly packed)
• 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook pasta noodles according to package instructions
2. In a blender or food processor combine basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper and olive oil; blend until creamy smooth
3. Pour over pasta- mix and serve

Note:  To ‘beef’ up your pesto pasta dinner add cooked chicken breast and sauteed mushrooms. If you don’t need to eat gluten free use any noodle you like. If you don’t need to eat dairy free add 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Enjoy!

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/basil-pesto-pasta/feed/ 0 http://accustomedchaos.com/basil-pesto-pasta/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/zPIuDHwb2OA/ http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-myth-you-just-cant-touch-it/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:36:25 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5866 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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Myth: ”Gluten is only dangerous to you if you eat it”

Truth: Kind of, but not really.

Most people with celiac disease technically can touch gluten – it doesn’t absorb into the skin and to do it’s damage must get into the intestines. There are some who have a topical reaction which will cause a rash and of course anyone who has an anaphylactoid response needs to make sure they don’t come into any contact with gluten.

The main issue with touching gluten comes in with the huge risk of cross-contamination (well, really it’s just contamination) especially if you are highly sensitive to the protein. Touching gluten then wiping your lips, inhaling gluten flours through your mouth, having lotion on your hands that contain gluten all carry big risk for contaminating your body with gluten.

The rule of thumb should be:  If it contains gluten .. find a gluten-free alternative.

No reason to play the odds when your health is at stake – always better to be safe then sorry.

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-myth-you-just-cant-touch-it/feed/ 0 http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-myth-you-just-cant-touch-it/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/mtVVq7vzkA0/ http://accustomedchaos.com/i-am-furious-when-your-kid-gets-hurt-at-school/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:28:07 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5856 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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I know that kids and injuries go kind of hand in hand. Our kids are bound to hurt themselves once in a while and some kids more then others. If my kids are anything like me – if they have inherited the ‘clumsy’ gene from me then I really should just put them in bubble wrap now. Princess R is a bit on the clumsy side – she is not as coordinated as others because, well, she get’s that from me too. Kinda like having two left feet sometimes. I anticipate she will injure herself a bit – like falling when running and tripping on her own toes.

What I do not appreciate though is other people injuring her. Again, I know this happens and accidents happen and all that stuff – comes with childhood. What if though it seems to happen more then it should? Progressively getting worse?

Princess R was injured at school on Tuesday. A child ran into her while they were getting ready to go home. They smacked heads, she fell to the ground and tears started flowing. The boy – was fine. Princess R … well… look:

Few hours after it happened | Day after injury

The whole half of her forehead is bruised up. It really honestly looked like someone had implanted a giant chicken egg under her skin. She also has a bruise on her knee from falling after being hit.  We had to watch her for concussions over night and give her medicine for the killer headache that just didn’t seem to want to go away.

I felt terrible.  This was the third time the same child ran into her. First time she was fine and it wasn’t bad. Second time she had a small bruise on the same spot she’s hurt now. This time … well … yeah. I am left wondering if this is being done on purpose? Who is watching the kids when this happens? Is she the only one who keeps getting hurt? And HOW can a child be running so quickly/so hard to cause this type of injury?

Still chatting with the school – her teacher wasn’t the one in the classroom at the time but hopefully I will be getting some answers and a lot of reassurance that this wont happen again.

Oh and before I got the call that she got hurt – I had just gotten off the phone with her teacher because Big P told me that a week ago they were making ‘pasta crafts’ at school…. Princess R was too… you know, just casually making crafts with GLUTEN. & have now discovered why she’s been crying in pain from headaches and stomach aches and eating enough for three kids.

Edited to add (December 22 @ 4:30pm): So I was told by Princess R’s teacher(s) today when I asked for more info on what happened on Tuesday that there are a lot of kindergarten students getting ready at the same time who get “silly” because they are “excited to go home”. Also that “this was an accident and bumps and bruises happen” … You know, i would buy that if this wasn’t the THIRD time the SAME kid ran into her head. Sounds like there’s some sort of “control of the kids” issue going on… sounds like a call to the principal…

Edited to add (January 18): We had a meeting with the principal of the school. It’s been cleared up that the child who ran into Princess R was not targeting her [I didn't really feel he was] and they are taking this very seriously. I was reassured that dismissal policies have been changed, the student and my daughter’s coats and backpacks are now on opposite ends of the room and an educational assistant will be in the classroom to assist the other child during this time. We have taken Princess R to the doctor as her ‘bump and bruise’ is still visible 3+ weeks later. I am convinced her skull has a fracture in it but they are reluctant to x-ray to confirm given she is so young and course of treatment will not vary if it is cracked. I am waiting a few weeks & will have her seen again.

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I can still remember and it’s been six years. When I first brought Big P home from the hospital I began the whole motherhood thing – I had been waiting for it for a while. I had no idea what I was doing but trusted that I would learn just fine along the way. What I didn’t realize beforehand was how isolating the whole stay at home mom gig would be. I spent all day alone with this tiny thing that only cried and babbled noises that wasn’t anything I could understand.

I craved conversation. I wanted to talk to my kids – to understand what they were saying and to have them understand what I was saying. I was hoping for that moment when they would first say “Mama” and waited for it. . .

Then those moments came and it was worth it. ..  them time kept going and now I have a 6 year old, near 5 year old and near 3 year old. They are all talking cohierent sentences. I can hold full conversations with them.

But of course along with that I get conversations that i dont want to be having with them. Sentences I wish they would never say and that “mom” word that I was waiting for has been overused and abused now overstayed it’s welcome…

Click to read the 8 phrases. & then let me know that I am not alone!

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/phrases-out-of-my-kids-mouths-that-drive-me-crazy/feed/ 0 http://accustomedchaos.com/phrases-out-of-my-kids-mouths-that-drive-me-crazy/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/Ku2EzrhXiC8/ http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-101-what-is-gluten/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:47:34 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5826 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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Pretty much the first question anyone asks when either you are first put on the gluten free diet or explaining to someone that you are on the gluten free diet is “What is gluten“. A huge component in so many foods today, yet there is still a widespread confusion over what it is.

Gluten is a protein found in foods that have been processed from wheat, barley, rye (& oats though not considered so in the US) and is the composite of a gliadin and a glutelin. In laymen terms – gluten is what gives the products elasticity, helps bread rise and gives that doughy, chewy texture to foods.

Gluten is in a lot of commercially produced products – a short and sweet list can be found here – Celiac Disease 101: The Gluten Free Diet -

{side note: one time I called a restaurant to ask if they had a gluten free menu. I was told “no, we don’t put glue in our foods” ::head meet desk:: }

For more information on the gluten free diet and celiac disease – browse through Celiac Disease 101

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]]> http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-101-what-is-gluten/feed/ 0 http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-101-what-is-gluten/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AccustomedChaos/~3/JM5oE2wSCWw/ http://accustomedchaos.com/gluten-free-myth-its-just-a-stomach-ache/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:02:19 +0000 Devan McGuinness http://accustomedchaos.com/?p=5768 © Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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Myth: ”Eating gluten if you have celiac disease will just give you a stomach ache for a day. It’s just like lactose intolerance.”

Truth: So NOT true.

I hate this myth. I really do.  I have written before on the differences between Gluten Intolerance, Gluten Allergy & Celiac Disease but that was more in terms of what the processes are within the body and how that pertains to cross-contamination. There is still a lot of confusion about gluten intolerance, celiac disease and comparisons to lactose intolerance that need to be cleared up.

Symptoms of celiac disease and the reactions to gluten can vary quite drastically from person to person. It depends on your sensitivity, your current intestinal status and how the autoimmune disorder plays in your body. One thing for sure though is ingesting gluten when you have celiac disease is anything but a simple stomach ache.

Every time gluten comes into contact with the intestines of someone with celiac disease – damage is done. Not just bloating, not just gas or a queezy stomach – but intestinal damage. Research even shows that even when on a gluten free diet that damage done can be present for up to five years. This damage puts us at risk for developing intestinal cancer, potentially serious malabsortion issues, and it can even turn into a refractory disease due to consuming foods that are contaminated with gluten.

Personally when i inadvertently ingest gluten my reaction is quick and hard. Cross contamination will have me feeling effects and symptoms within a hour and can last for 2-4 weeks. That’s just from a small amount of gluten. I don’t even want to think about what would happen now when a larger amount of gluten is in my body. I imagine it would be fast, hard and very long lasting – possibly causing me to resume the liquid calorie diet I was on for 6 months after initial diagnosis.

That sounds a lot more serious then ‘just a stomach ache’ to me.

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Gluten Free / Dairy Free Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup margarine (gluten & dairy free)
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 1/2 cups gluten free flour blend (** NOTE: if you do not need to eat gluten free just substitute the gluten free flour blend with regular white flour)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon red food colouring
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint candy canes, crushed (for decoration)
• 1/4 cup white sugar (for decoration)
• 1/4 cup

Directions

1. In a large bowl, smooth together the margarine, white sugar and icing sugar. Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extracts.
2. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended.
3. Split mixture in half and colour one half with red food colouring
4. Cover or wrap dough separately and refrigerate for at least one hour.
5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.
6. Roll a small amount of each dough into a 2 inch long worm. Roll them together in a twisted rope and curve the end to resemble a cane. Place onto cookie sheets.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
8. In a small bowl, mix together the crushed candy cane and remaining white sugar. Roll hot cookies in the sugar mixture.

Enjoy!

for the story behind these cookies – click over to Maija’s Mommy Moments

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It’s time for another motherhood confession. While the last one was more about the things about Motherhood that I don’t particularly like – this one I do like. BUT it’s kinda embarrassing. Not really but I can see some of you laughing at me in your heads (or out loud if you’re like that). However I am pretty sure that you will have some confessions of your own similar… if not – lie and tell me you do so I don’t feel so weird.

I have a ‘thing’ for the blue Wiggle

You’re laughing now aren’t you. It’s weird – I can’t explain it but the guy makes me smile. I almost put him on my freebie five list. Even I laugh at myself about it.

:: your turn to confess something. it feels good & I wont laugh … too hard ::

check out today’s post on Kid Scoop Blog:10 Lies I Tell Myself to Cope With Parenting Kids

 

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	25 Beautiful Photographs of Women in Labor Today on Babble’s Being Pregnant I share a collection of 25 amazing and beautiful photographs of women in labor. Showing that there is no cookie cutter image of what labor should look like. Click here to view on Babble
	10Awesomely Ugly Christmas Sweaters for Kids Today on Babble’s Kid Scoop I rounded up 10 sweaters for Christmas that are so ugly they would be perfect for a tacky Christmas sweater party or photo opportunity. Click here to view on Babble
	Gluten and Dairy Free Candy Cane Cookies Happy to have a guest post over on Maija’s Mommy Moments where I share my favourite holiday recipe and a story to go along with it. My favourite cookies! Click here to view on Maija’s Mommy Moments

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We all have crazy busy lives. Running from one place to the next and often times needing to eat on the go – especially during the hectic morning times. Living on a gluten free diet can at times feel limiting as far as quick and easy snacks. We do a lot of apple slices, veggie slices and chips but sometimes you want something that will fill you up AND keep you going.

That’s where eggs come in. Naturally gluten free and full of protein hard boiled eggs have been a hunger beat down for my husband. Every Sunday I hard boil one dozen eggs – I ‘decorate’ them so I don’t get them mixed up with eggs that have not been cooked.  You can keep the eggs safely in the refrigerator for up to one week in the shell or already shelled for quicker access.

& they are crazy cute.

Hard Boiled Eggs

Ingredients

• 12 eggs

Directions

1. Place eggs in a pot; pour enough water over the eggs to cover; turn stove to high; bring to a boil;
2. Once boiling reduce heat to a small boil for 20 minutes
3. Remove eggs from heat and rinse with cold water

check out today’s post on Kid Scoop Blog:Why We Don’t Allow Gun-Play In Our House

 

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Things have been busy around here in the AC household. It’s been a mixture of new opportunities, seemingly never ending sickness and moments that will bring us closer together as a family. I feel all out of touch with you all and now that things have calmed a bit I hope to get into a swing of a new routine.

The kids have finally gone back to school today. After being off for a week with the stomach flu I can finally feel confident that the sickness (well, that sickness) is near out of our house. It was a nasty one that I might have nightmares about (heh).  Keep your fingers crossed for me today that I don’t get a call from the school asking to pick them up.

This past Monday was a difficult day for me- still a difficult time right now but I will be okay. I don’t really want to re-hash it all because it’s still a but too raw for me right now but you can read about it here:

Eleven:  http://unspokengrief.com/eleventh/

I do have some good news though that I am excited to be able to share today. I am now going to be much busier and while it’s not what it *should* have been I am thrilled that *this* busy is happening now in place.

I am now contributing to two blogs on Babble.com – you can continue to read my Baby fever journey on Being Pregnant - but I will also be writing now for:

On Kid Scoop I will be writing stories, sharing tips and interesting finds about my older two children Big P and Princess R.  I am thrilled to be sharing even more of our lives with you all and our parenting adventures. Like always I appreciate all your comments. feedback and any social shares – you all rock so much for supporting me.

You can read my first two posts there right now – the first is an introduction to our family and the second post up is a list of 12 Toys I Refuse To Buy For My Kids

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:10 Gender Cake-Reveals Gone Wrong

 

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We are a family of five and relatively on one income (though I am thankful to be able to contribute now through freelance work at home) and budgeting our holidays can be tricky. Not only do we celebrate Christmas, but within the span of mid-December to the end of February all three of the kids celebrate their birthday’s and we have Christmas in there too. That’s a lot of gift-giving and a lot of money for 3 month time.

I should also disclose that I am one of the worst procrastinators for shopping for the holidays. Every year I tell myself we are going to start our shopping in October. Avoid all the mad-rushes to the stores and deals. Every year the crowds drive me crazy but every year there I am starting my shopping with less then a week left – if that.

& I really, really hate the mad rush of people, the stress of trying to get it all done and to me that just takes away from what I really want to feel about the holidays. So, this year I am planning to do things a bit differently.  I am going to go for a holiday that is enjoyable, stress free. One of the ways I hope to do that is avoid the things that make me all crazy-stressed & the shopping does that. This year I am planning to do a bulk of my holiday (& birthday) shopping from the comfort of my own house. ONLINE!

& thanks to deal sites like WagJag’s Holiday Shoppe  not only can I do that but the deals you can find online can definitely rival those in stores – without the mad dash of people. Being able to buy things 50-85% off retail price AND WagJag the chance to win back in cash what you buy – can’t beat that.

If you are on the hunt for the best deals for your holiday shopping and want that stress free – check out WagJag’s Holiday Shoppe and visit them on Facebook.

:: Have you started shopping for the holidays? & Do you plan to do most of your shopping in stores or online? ::

Disclaimer: I am participating in an influencer program with EverytingMom to support WagJag for the holidays. Although I have been compensated for my time to write this post, the opinion expressed are purely my own.

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I wake up to the sound of my alarm clock.

6 o’clock. Up before the sun and before the quiet fades.

My favourite time of the day. Alone with my thoughts.

I hear the furnace rumble. Turning on at the programmed time.

There is no other sound in the house. As close to quiet as I will hear today.

The hour passes quickly. I hear the sounds upstairs.

6 feet pitter-patter on the floor. Three voices boom through the air.

Filling the space that had just been padded with quiet.

The laughter. The screaming.

It fills our house with life. With love and with joy.

With space-filling noise.

Looking in through our window there is nothing extraordinary about us.

Nothing that really makes us stand out.

But this life is extraordinary.

The doubts that this life would ever happen. The noise that used to fill my head.

11 lives lost. Children that could have been but never were.

The sounds of grief and pain. The noise that still fills my head.

Noise that no one on the outside can hear. Until I have strength to make noise.

So while we may look like an ordinary Canadian family, living an ordinary life.

Our extraordinary circumstances, the unique lessons we have learned

Allow us to hear the beauty in everyday noise. In everyday chaos.

The indescribable bliss that this extraordinarily ordinary life is mine.

*******

This is my application to Today’s Parent.com‘s call for new bloggers and new Canadian voices. Three posts that I am also very proud to share with them are:  My Eyes are Begging to Sleep, Breastfeeding Advocacy vs Formula Bashing & Top Ten Twitter Users You Don’t Want to Be

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Oh man has this been a week… First I guess if you noticed I have stopped posting daily. I was participating in the BlogHer NaBloPoMo and was doing pretty good making sure I posted something every day – even on the weekends. Then … life happened and the house (miraculously minus me) got struck down with the stomach flu. Mommy duties took over and I spent the time balancing my freelance work and cleaning puke.

I lead a glamorous life.

Something I realized while attempting the NaBloPoMo challenge is that I don’t do good with the ‘you have to write for the sake of it’ thing. It’s hard for me to come up with something to say just because I have to post to a schedule. I, apparently do not work in that way when it comes to Accustomed Chaos.

I wish I could say everyone is better today. Big P and Babe E are doing a lot better today. Slowly starting to eat again. Princess R is still refusing to eat anything – even her most favourite thing ever, peanut butter. I’m trying to make sure she is at least staying hydrated but I’m starting to get worried about her though. Husband is also still really sick – he hasn’t eaten much in a few days & I haven’t seen him sick in a long time.  I have yet to be sick – I don’t think I will be getting sick. Totally thankful for that because this flu – does NOT look fun. It’s gross enough taking care of everyone.

 :: Anyone have any parenting advice on how to encourage the kids to start eating again? Is it better to let them decide when they’re hungry enough to eat or should I be doing something more? :: 

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog: I Have Three Kids and Yes I Still Want More

 

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I have a connection to tattoos. The concept of having a part of your life always with you is something I find very powerful. As a mom of multiple miscarriages the feeling of representing those children I never got to see grow up – as art on my body has helped heal me in so many ways. It helps me feel them close and it opens up a lot of conversations with people who ask what they mean – which is a good thing.

I have this fun yearly tradition – that has been going on for almost 10 years now where I get something done every year {this year I went with a piercing … well, 3} . Either a new tattoo or a new piercing but if it’s a tattoo I always choose something that is meaningful – has some connection to me that is big enough for me to carry it with me forever.

I love hearing the story behind other’s decisions for their tattoos – they are often very personal and have some amazing stories behind them.

Click through to see more:

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I get something done every year – it’s been tattoos lately so this year I decided it was time for another piercing.  & if that wasn’t awesome enough of a day I went and saw Twilight Breaking Dawn (part 1) as well. It’s been a while since I’ve had a “spoil me” day & it was so needed.

Posts You Might Enjoy:
I’m A Tattoo-aholic
Accustomed Chaos Gets New Ink [video]

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I had another crazy and busy week. Parent/Teacher interviews for school for Big P & Princess R. I was all extra proud of them for doing so well at school – rock stars really. Oh and it’s starting to look a lot like winter – having to pull out the warm coats from the storage closet and had our first snow fall a few days ago (the snow didn’t stay but dang it was there).

Today I am off to get some new piercings – I will show you some pictures tomorrow. I have a date with my husband tonight as well and I am really looking forward to some alone-ish time with him tonight. Yah-hoo for brother’s who look after their nieces and nephew!

Now – writings you don’t want to miss out on:

If you missed the post yesterday – one of my bestest friends needed an outlet to vent. She shared her feeling about two phrases people keep saying to her now that she’s a mother & why people need to stop saying them to each other. Please read her post and offer her some words of support if you can — Being a Mom is Tough Enough So Why the Competition?

Celiac-Disease.com

• Product Review: Prairie Harvest San Zenone Organic Corn Pasta

Babble | Being Pregnant

• 13 More Frightening Pregnancy Celebration Cakes
• 10 Breathtaking Henna and Body Painted Bellies
• The Pros and Cons of Adding Another Child
• 7 Must-Have Products After Vaginal Delivery
• 7 Adorable Ways to Share Your Pregnancy News at Thanksgiving Dinner
• Twilight-Inspired Baby Gear For Pregnant ‘Twihards’

Hope you all have a great weekend!

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“Just Wait” a phrase that many of us have said but don’t always think about how that could make someone feel.

I am a Mommy to 1 yr old twin boys, my husband is away from the home for 12 hours a day and I have no family or friends close by to lend support or listen. My only outlet sometimes is Facebook. I will vent or put up little quotes that I have found to describe the frustration of the day.

Often I get the response: “Just Wait”.

Just wait for what? For things to get worse, that there is no hope, that tomorrow is going to be no better?

Everything seems like a competition between moms when really, we should be there to support one another. If someone wrote “Just wait, things will get better” then fine but it is never written that way.

I put the quote “Cleaning up with children around is like shovelling in a Blizzard” and what was the response from several people…”Just Wait”.  Yep, kids are messy, and the tornado will go through but why do people have to make themselves feel superior by making it seem like someone elses situation is not as bad as theirs or that the situation is only going to get worse.

I want you to picture this….

Mommy is 8 months pregnant and sleepless from not being able to get comfy and rest due to being HUGE, daddy leaves for work at 7 am and not due home until 6pm that night and their toddler wakes up 5 minutes later. The house is trashed, there is a ton to do (as always). The only thing that keeps the Mommy holding on is hope for a little support from her “friends” and family. She updates her status on Facebook or maybe vents to a friend about how exhausted she is and how much needs to be done and the response she gets is…”Just wait, if you think you’re tired now…”

How unsupported do you think she feels? Where does her hope lay? Does she really need to be reminded of how tough things are going to get? Probably not!

Another phrase I detest is “You’re Next”. Now if you are a single man/woman, dating or a newly married couple, I am sure you have heard this phrase too many times.

Do you know the background of the person(s) you are saying this to?

If you are talking about having children and you say to someone “You’re Next” do you know if they can have children? Maybe the have been trying for years to conceive and are beyond frustrated. Maybe they have just miscarried and are still feeling the fresh pain of loss. You just stuck your thumb into their gaping hole of pain, stuck a knife in someone’s heart by saying two simple words.

I am not saying that everyone says these things to be purposefully patronising/condescending or hurtful I am just saying that we should think about what we say before we say them, think about how we would feel or what the other person may be going through.

Being a Mom (or just living life) is tough enough, let’s not make everything a competition. Let’s not put our own expectations on others. Let’s just provide support and understanding, a shoulder to lean on, an open ear without judgement.  A second thought before we open our mouths.

Guest Post: From NorthernRose31 -one of my besties & mom to 1 year old twin boys

 

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Embarking on a new diet can be overwhelming at first. Whether you are using the gluten free diet because of celiac disease, gluten allergy, gluten intolerance or other medical/personal reasons the gluten free diet has been long understood as complicated and difficult. I have been on the diet for 5 years and 2 out of my 3 kids are also on a strict gluten free diet. I have learned that it’s really not as complicated as it’s made out to be.

So, what’s the secret to simple gluten free eating?

Eat natural, healthy and home cooked.

Truly it is that simple. Fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, fish and rice are all naturally gluten free. Creating your breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks with natural foods – and naturally gluten free is healthier for anyone in the long run and it doesn’t over complicate things.

If your family tends to eat out a lot or rely heavy on meals that are prepackaged then eating gluten free can feel like quite the challenge. There are a lot more packaged gluten free products available now and if you live in a relatively large town you can typically find them with little issue. They are more expensive though and if your entire household is gluten free it can become expensive quickly.

Learning to cook at home with just a few simple variations can help save money, increase food quality, quantity and even without the need/choice for a gluten free diet – eating as naturally as possible has huge heath benefits.

** Working on expanding my gluten free resources here – if you have ANY questions about the gluten free diet, celiac disease or anything in between I bet you’re not the only one wondering. Email me [accustomedchaos(@)gmail.com] with your question and I will write up a post answering **

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:7 Must-Have Products After Vaginal Delivery

 

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My baby fever is in overdrive this week. After a flurry of friends announcing that they are pregnant or having gorgeously round pregnant bellies I’m more convinced then ever that I want more children.

I am not sure if I am any closer to having more – but I think my husband and I are closer now then a few months ago.  At least we are closer to a decision – I think.

When my husband and I first started talking about the idea of adding another child into the mix we talked about what needed to happen for it all to come together. If there was anything specific holding us back from trying now. We came up with a list of things that, in an ideal world, would be what our life looked like before we decided to go for another child.

[ click through to keep reading ]

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This past year has brought on a lot of changes into my life. All for the better and I am so thankful I have the opportunities I do. Transitioning from a stay at home mom into a work from home mom has been the perfect thing for me. It allows me a creative space that I was craving and needing all while feeding the desire for me to be able to stay home with the kids.

Over the past little while I have noticed there are some items that make this new role much easier – outside of the obvious computer and wifi access. Things would not run as smoothly as they do if I didn’t have these:

Headphones

If I am under a deadline and I really need to focus - nothing will help me do that quicker then listening to music on my headphones.

*****

 :: What are your must have items that keep you sane? ::

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:10 Breathtaking Henna and Body Painted Bellies

 

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The hustle of everyday can wear me down. The same routine day after day.  The mundane every day-ness that is both the heart and the stress of every day life. With no breaks and not yet learning to put myself on any priority list there are times were I can feel very weighed down.

Changing up the routine to bring some ‘umph’ back into it can be challenging. With three kids who love and need routine and not a whole lot of play around time to get all we need to get accomplished it can be hard to find space to spruce things up.

This month I was caught off guard by a change in routine.  Fourteen days into the month and I am still not yet used to this change. It really doesn’t effect me – or the rest of the family except it causes massive giggles.

Like full-on snort-like-a-pig giggle fits.

My husband is participating in Movember – grow your mustache for prostate cancer awareness. This person who I have known for 12 years – yet have never known to be able to grow any facial hair – has not shaved in 14 days.

& every time I look at him – I laugh. He looks like one of those typical small town sheriffs or a small town chief of police.  He does not look like my husband and it’s funny how facial hair can do that (reminds me, must book myself an eyebrow wax) – change a whole face.

This small, simple change in my husband’s routine has brought a lot of laughter into this month. Yes, most of that is me laughing at him – but he is laughing with me. The sounds of giggles has been a very welcome routine change in our marriage.

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:13 More Frightening Pregnancy Celebration Cakes

 

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I hope you all had a good week & are gearing up for a week even better then the last. My week has been a combination of stressful, happy and relaxing. Some good news to share with you in a few weeks for a new opportunity I am thrilled to have – I will share when I can.

My week has been consumed with a confession about Twilight and now I am just starting to read the first book. I am still embarrassed to admit just how excited I am that the next movie is about to come out this week.  The book so far – awesome – addicted already.

I wasn’t totally consumed with Twilight this week – I did happen to get some writing done:

Celiac-Disease.com

• Childhood Risk of Gluten Contamination: Straw Rides
• Live Cooking Demonstration: Holiday Appetizers & Desserts

Babble | Being Pregnant

• 5 Things to Do After a Positive Pregnancy Test
• Fertility, Pregnancy & Labor Dieties 
• Should There Be A Cut Off Age to Motherhood?
• Taking Care of You After Miscarriage
• 11 Incredible Breastfeeding Images in Ancient Art
• Tips for Surviving Bed Rest Boredom
• Are You Pregnant & Depressed? New Study Shows Long Term Effects

:: Fingers Crossed For A Great Week Ahead! ::

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I never thought I would say this – to anyone. I never thought that this would happen to me to begin with but it has. I have fallen hard. It’s so embarrassing but I feel that I should talk about it.

It started with an innocent suggestion from the husband. One that I laughed at him for making. A lot. I rolled my eyes at the idea but figured there was no harm.

So I gave in.

& then it sucked me in. quickly too.

I stayed up all night taking it all in. I was hooked. The lame drama … the glitter. 6 hours of my life spent when I should have been sleeping soundly in bed was given to this silly suggestion from the husband.

But it was all too late. I am not hooked. Needing my fix – the next part of the story. Does Bella get turned? Does Edward let her? The pregnancy?! Oh the glittery drama.

I am a Twilight addict. Can’t wait for the next movie to come out (next week!) and I imagine I will be spending a lot of time reading the books soon too.

Oh and for the record – I am totally Team Edward.

*****

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:Tips For Surviving Bed Rest Boredom

* I would love to share your motherhood/baby loss tattoos on a Babble post. If you have a photo you’d like to share please email me accustomedchaos(@)gmail.com with your name, photos, meaning of tattoo and a link you would like back (twitter, blog etc). Thank you! *

 

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Gluten Free Tuna Salad Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

• 6 hard boiled eggs
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 can flaked tuna
• 1/2 sweet onion; finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1 clove garlic; finely minced
• paprika
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Slice eggs in half lengthwise
2. Remove yolks and set whites aside.
3. In a bowl, mash up the yolks with a fork.
4. Add the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, tuna, onion, salt and pepper; mix together well
5. Stuff or pipe mixture into egg whites.
6. Sprinkle with paprika.
7. Refrigerate until serving.

Enjoy!

© Accustomed Chaos - Embracing The Chaos Of Motherhood in a Gluten Free Household™

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I wish i had something profound to say today. Something that could help me feel better and help give others a glimpse into what is going on in my head and heart today. It’s a mix of what I am feeling, what I perceive other’s think I should be feeling and numbness all at the same time. I kind of have no words other then today kind of sucks.

In focusing on the happy today I am going to be kind to me. Something I should really do more often anyway.  I am going to try to take a nap today even with the three kids at home. I will coerce them into watching a movie with me in bed and I will guilt-free close my eyes and dream. I am going to eat chocolate for lunch and maybe again for dinner. I am going to neglect the laundry for one more day and just BE here with me and my feelings.

* I would love to share your motherhood/baby loss tattoos on a Babble post. If you have a photo you’d like to share please email me accustomedchaos(@)gmail.com with your name, photos, meaning of tattoo and a link you would like back (twitter, blog etc). Thank you! *

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:Should There Be a Cut Off Age to Motherhood?

 

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Kids really change your life. Mostly for the better and they are full of all kinds of awesome.  They are also all kinds of messy.  They seem to take over even in the best of intentions to keep them contained. With the three kids – combined they have a lot of stuff. I am out-numbered.  I find their stuff everywhere and with their birthdays and the holidays coming up I am kinda terrified about how much more they will accumulate.

Here are a few pictures of random places I’ve found their toys:

The Dining Room Table

They like to play in flour - they call it snow. So not only is their stuff everywhere - there is rice flour everywhere too.

*****

 :: Where is the weirdest spot you’ve found a toy? ::

check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog:Fertility, Pregnancy and Labor Deities

 

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If you have been reading Accustomed Chaos for a bit you might remember the post back in March where I shared my husband’s love affair with Lynda.  He was spending every waking moment with her and he couldn’t wait until the next time he could hang out with her.

They took a break for a bit. I will admit at the time it was nice to see my husband’s eyes again after the 3 months I gave him to be with Lynda – but I could see he wasn’t happy. He was missing her – it was obvious. The place he would turn to when he needed a question answered or if he just wanted to expand his knowledge was Lynda & he wanted her back.

I looked into it further and you know, I don’t blame him.

Lynda.com is an Online Training Library ® with over 1,160 courses –  68,214 tutorials organized by subject, software, and instructor - which you have access to 24/7. We already know my husband has fallen in love – he has access to information, tips and tricks to the professional software he needs for work and loves to learn on his own.

So, why did I fall in love too?  The subjects available pique my interest too – as a blogger. There are tutorials for WordPress, blogger, information on Google Analytics, GIMP and an extensive library for all things photography.  Lynda even tackles the social media aspect with tutorials on how to customize your business Facebook page, Google+, Twitter and more.

Things are happy in our house again as my husband has Lynda at his fingertips; literally now that we can watch it on our smart phones.  I am happy too now – finding something we have in common – that quest for learning something new & Lynda.com makes that so easy.

 

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check out today’s post on Being Pregnant Blog: 5 Things To Do After a Positive Pregnancy Test

 

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This is what I feel like my work life is like part of the time. If there was one for housework (and not critical thinking) it would look like this too. Having done this all my life I don’t think it will change. Though I think I work best ‘under the pressure of impending deadline’.

Procrastination – it’s what I do. 

{image credit: NBC}

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There has got to be someone else with the luck like mine. Honestly. I am near convinced I have the worst ‘luck’ or just doing way too much to focus and always end up doing something silly. Yesterday my hand met with the opening door. My hand then got jammed between the door and the wall and bent my thumb backwards.

Thankfully I have freakishly flexible joints and my thumb went with the flow – but still – I injured my thumb and wrist. I’m awesome like that….

I need to know I am not the only one who injures myself so often. Or the only one who does it so easily.  Tell me, what is the weirdest way you have injured yourself?

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