intentional parenting

Recommendations for Beginners

2014-03-09T11:13:00.001-04:00

Yoga is something I've done off and on for many years. Especially during my pregnancies, I found it helpful when I was no longer comfortable to do more aggressive exercise. It's important for me to be able to get some stretching in at home and have 15-20 minutes morning and/or night to jumpstart my center. I have found that it not only relieves tension, but improves digestion and has eliminated my desire for so much coffee. Don't get me wrong, coffee is fantastic, but I like it with loads of sugar and creamer. That is not a good combination for optimal health.

I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite Yoga DVD's from Gaiam.

Quick Start Yoga is for mornings when I want a little bit of a workout. Energy Flow is a short segment that awakens you and stretches full body.

My favorite is Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners. I have yet to find a routine I like better than the Rejuvenating Yoga segment. It relaxes my mind and helps me to feel alert. It's my favorite morning routine by far - especially on days when I have long photography sessions or know I'm going to be climbing up and down and moving equipment. I'm on the hunt to add some variation.

Have any suggestions? Favorites? I'd love to hear them!

*This is not a sponsored post.

Get your Votes In!

2014-03-06T09:48:00.000-05:00

The Greenheart Project is an international non-profit organization with offices in Europe and Japan, preparing to build the world’s first fuel-free, container-ready commercial vessels. The small sail-solar ship is specially designed for those who need it most – communities in marginalized coastal areas – and can even serve as a mobile solar power station. The first ship will be built in Chittagong, Bangladesh and launched as early as this year.

It is this project which has propelled a small international team of naval architects, engineers, and laypersons closer to winning a major engineering prize in the Netherlands this month.

The Vernufteling Prize is awarded annually to the initiative that is developing an imaginative project that promises to have significant social and economic impact. Competitors were asked to respond to the challenge of creative ideas that embody the social importance of innovative technology.

But we need your help! Specifically we need your vote. To help us win this prize and gain much needed support to continue with this project please visit the following link and choose ‘AA Planadvies-Groen vrachtschip voor eilandengroep’ from the pull down menu…

www.dagvandeingenieur.nl/vernufteling/publieksverkiezing-2014/

To learn more about Greenheart Project visit: www.greenheartproject.org

The Greenheart Project

2014-02-27T21:14:00.001-05:00

Greenheart needs your votes!

What is Greenheart?

Greenheart is an entirely new concept that combines the modern technologies of solar power and satellite communications with the ancient science of sail to produce a cargo ship with no fuel costs and unlimited range that can serve as its own international office. The unique design of this ship enables her to connect the most remote coasts and rivers of the world with the centers of the world's most prosperous cities.

One third of Greenheart's staff/crew will be paid trainees from developing nations, learning the technical and administrative skills useful for launching similar sustainable enterprises in their home waters. By combining both charitable and profitable aspects while embracing the principles of environmental protection, sustainability and Fair Trade, Greenheart will offer a very public model of a self-funding, ethical institution. We hope to inspire people and organizations around the world to re-think the boundaries of business and of international aid.

How can you help?

Help the AA Planadvies earn its votes! We can do this!

1. Go to this site:
http://www.dagvandeingenieur.nl/vernufteling/publieksverkiezing-2014/
2. Choose "AA Planadvies-Groen vrachtschip voor eilandengroep" from the
pull down menu at the top of the page
3. Put in your name and email address
4. Click Stemmen (Vote).
*No need to check any of the boxes there (The page is in Dutch and
English)

Voting is open February 25th to March 15th and we need about 1000
votes.

The Vernufteling Prize is awarded annually to the initiative that is
developing an imaginative project that promises to have a significant
social and economic impact. If we win it will give us the wide public
exposure that will propel us to finishing the construction of the boat
and getting more people interested in joining us in changing the
paradigm of shipping and waterway transport.

Drawing upon, and endeavoring to be compatible with, the rich sailing
traditions of coastal communities, Greenheart is working to radically
amplify access to the oceanic commons and distant markets, while
interacting with the environment in a more equitable and just manner.
Greenheart is intentionally open source small-scaled, durable,
adaptable, affordable, energy-efficient, solar/sail cargo ship that is
easy to service and repair. It expects to rearrange the balance of
opportunities among rich and poor by making safe, long distance sea
travel accessible to marginalized and excluded sectors of the world
population.

___________________

Stay tuned for an upcoming guest post on the ship itself! I voted - have you?

Seeing Triangles

2014-02-04T22:17:00.001-05:00

I suppose I can admit that I've jumped on the geometric bandwagon. I can't help it that I'm surrounded by such unique and trendy items every day. Not to mention Pinterest bombards me with all the drool-worthy latest trends in home decor.

The simplest project started with this 80 cent roll of wrapping paper from Target. Ahhhh, Target. I have been avoiding it for many months. It's overpriced in grocery, but oh so tempting! The new Cartwheel app everyone is buzzing about (and a 20% off coupon for the $1 aisle) made it worth a glance. I'm so glad I trolled through the $1 spot and found this:

I needed something to line these drawers with that would protect them from crayons and markers, but at the rate that the liner could be destroyed, I wasn't about to invest. Total investment: 80 cents for 5 drawers and some wrapping to recycled container. The best part is that I have more than 1/2 a roll left to actually wrap gifts, do projects, or line some more drawers!

It's working well. I picked up several more rolls in fun patterns from Goodwill that I will use for dresser drawers in the kids' rooms.

My bigger, yet still easy, project was my Ikea desk. This simple white desk was an odd size purchased to custom fit what was my closet/office space about 3 years ago. It is no more but the table still remains and she shows definite signs of wear from many craft projects and sessions. The solution? An easy, but fun paint job:

How to: Carefully cut a kitchen sponge in the shape of a triangle using an exacto knife. Dip sponge in paint and apply the shape in the pattern you desire.

This is just a simple acrylic paint that I use on canvas to make paintings or the kids use for crafts. No odor and easily scratch-able. A good coat of poly seals it for longer wear. I have plans for those table legs too...

I saw this Ikea hack and I love it! The cheap design of these table dressed up with some simple gold spray paint. Just my sort of project! It'll get there one day.

I also have a very large crush on this Isleta duvet set from Anthropologie. I do not, however, love its $100+ price. I think this would make a very easy DIY with a solid duvet, some fabric paint, and a similar process to what I did with my desk. I may give it a try! I do have plans for curtains using that same method.

Bitty had a ball with tiny triangle sponges, painting brown paper from the dollar store. Valentine's Day is around the corner and we've been having a blast doing lots of Valentine-inspired activities.

I'm sure I will have more to show as I regain my creative spirit. What once was broken is slowly being restored.

Expression

2013-12-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

It's crazy to think that 2013 is almost over! 2014 is truly going to be a new beginning for my little family. It's been a wild ride, but it's time to rebuild, renew, and get back to the things we love. We have had some extraordinary experiences this year!

I saw this beautiful depiction on Pinterest and fell in love. So much so, that it was a Friday reminder.

It made me think back on the last [almost] 8 years of my life. I've fallen into that category that's 'almost 30.' When I passed 25, I found myself thinking more and more that I'm 'almost 30.' Wow, time flies!

I've made a commitment to myself to do more blogging for my own personal love of it, instead of just because it's what I do. I am so blessed to go to work to a job that I love to support my family, but then work for some really amazing people who "invested in me."

I spend my days working on formatting, compiling numbers for marketing purposes, photographing, creating spreadsheets, writing content, publishing posts and links ... In other words, it's a right-brain thinker's dream. Something I could dare to dream would become reality. It would've called myself a Social Media mogul years ago, but now it's the truth. It's a learning process - a growing process - and it's so much fun. But I want to carve out just a little time that truly is just for fun for me in the blogosphere. I place to boast on my littles, a place to share what I love to pin on Pinterest, and a place to walk us through transition.

So I challenge you to incorporate the above statement into 2014 resolutions. Do what makes your soul happy. Mine is craving hot chocolate. The best hot chocolate in the world, might I add. If you ask him the secret, he says, "milk & 3 scoops of cocoa," but somewhere swimming in all the marshmallows I think it boils down to unconditional love. Not the kind you get from your children because they are the center of the universe, the kind that implants on your soul. The kind that enters your life and chooses you. But true love is another story for another day. Happy Monday Eve, Y'all.

Holidays Homemade

2013-12-22T10:18:00.001-05:00

I spend a great deal of my time blogging, writing, and managing social media sites like this one when I am at work so I have found myself lacking in "what to say" when I get home. Wow, how this year has flown by! I love my job. I love blogging. And I love that I actually get to blog for money and with things that I am passionate about. But at the end of the day, I find myself sometimes feeling uninspired at home. So to catch up and get holiday spirit ready, I thought I'd share our Homemade Holiday decor.

We spend a lot of time crafting, fine tuning fine motor skills, encouraging imagination in this house, and getting 'messy.' The holidays were no exception! The kids are at really fun ages right now (almost 2 & 4) and Bitty, especially, loves to "color." Most of our Christmas decor this year was a combination of hand-me-downs from my mother (I've had since college) and homemade creations by the kids, like this free printable/wrapping paper combination B and I put together.

Then there's the display of Christmas we view in our dining room. Santa letters, our advent boxes, Christmas cards, and Bitty's pink tree. The advent calendar was a bit advanced for them this year. Tiny hands wouldn't stay out of the tine cubbies. There's always next year!

Dishes are always my least favorite thing to do. Though this time of year, B has created me lots of merry art to observe while I do so. Some ribbon and pins I picked up at some point for 80% off created a free little display of my little man's skills.

The tree? Primitive, homemade, simple balls, and tinsel B helped me wrap.

It's nothing like the picturesque photos I produce at work or advertise for home design magazines.

It's messy, quirky, and we love it.

I'm looking forward to the year ahead and sharing some more inspiration from home. I am privileged to view and work with so much eye candy. I plan to share much more from home as we prepare for our best year: 2014.

EcoMom 50% off

2012-10-24T11:10:00.001-04:00

Get 50% off your order at EcoMom with code: MAC15

Totally FREE Organic K-Cups!

2012-10-22T14:52:00.001-04:00

I'm really hoping I get this order! Use code: TENOFFONE to snag 16 organic k-cups shipped free from Green Mountain Coffee!!!! Here's a copy of my order:

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B Reads to Me

2012-10-19T20:23:00.000-04:00

This is a bit long, but B never ceases to shock me. He got this new book: 'I Was So Mad' and yesterday we read it about 6 times. He's never heard this story before yesterday.Today he tells ME the story. And he's pretty accurate too!

Shingles

2012-10-19T14:26:00.001-04:00

We've been dealing with a leaky roof/mold problem the last couple of weeks here. Yuck. We had a bad storm and what is presumed to be a tiny leak grew to a large leak we were unaware of until I looked up one morning, and there was a pretty large, damp, black spot on our bathroom ceiling. Talk about panic. Roof repairs? All I saw were dollar signs and health hazards. Oh my.

I'm happy to report that the insurance Adjuster came this morning and the homeowner's insurance is going to pay for an entire brand new roof. Yippee! So now my decision is: what shingle color do I want to put on?!? Hmmm...
I'm torn between "Weathered Wood" and "Aspen Gray".Repairs will begin in about a week & a half, so I'll have some house updates for you as they work on it and then a final result. I'm excited to see the end result. The new roof should update the look of the house, but most importantly, clear up any health hazard to our family!God is good.

Libby of High Hopes: A Review

2012-10-16T21:36:00.003-04:00

From Elise herself:

Working on LIBBY OF HIGH HOPES was a wonderful experience but my oldest friends keep saying, "What took you so long?" They know that I spent virtually everWorking on LIBBY OF HIGH HOPES was a wonderful experience but my oldest friends keep saying, "What took you so long?" They know that I spent virtually every waking moment of my childhood and well into my twenties riding horses.

Through Pony Club I became interested in three-day event competitions. Eventually I took a year off from college to train and compete in England. From there I went on to train for three years with Bruce Davidson -- he had just won the team gold in the Montreal Olympics and is still one of the most well known event riders in the world today.

Drawing had always been something I loved to do as well and when it came time for college I chose art school. There came a point where I had to decide whether I wanted to make a life with horses or pursue a career in art. It was a tough decision fraught with a lot of soul searching but in the end I chose art.

I left riding to become an artist -- and here I am today coming full circle finally writing this series about a girl who rides.

LIBBY OF HIGH HOPES came out of the gate in June to amazing reviews and is off and running. There will be another LIBBY -- and hopefully many more after that. It's wonderful to finally be able to combine my love for horses, with my love for drawing and writing books.y waking moment of my childhood and well into my twenties riding horses.

My Thoughts:

This story was inspiring and fun for me to read to B. The illustrations really made the story for him and as a visual learner, I enjoyed Elise's original drawings so that I could picture the story as she intended to tell it rather than as the story that I would've imagined in my own head. You could truly get a good sense of who Libby is as a little girl. The story had real truths - money concerns for instance. It talks about not affording lessons for Libby but affording them for her older sister. Now, as an only child, I can't relate to doing without in a siblings shadow, but I have 2 children now that will have interests and hobbies, etc. Since this is my personal review, I have to share a side story. My grandmother has a U-shaped kitchen with long counters. When she cooked or washed dishes, I ALWAYS sat on the counter as a child to watch her and talk! When I visited over the summer with my kids, I even hopped up on the counter out of habit. The illustration of Libby sitting on the counter took me back to memories of my childhood, made me think of my grandmother, and was very familiar. I love that. I love a story I can relate to. Something that can make me smile. And I love that my children can learn something from Libby about passion, hope, perseverance, and dedication.

If you'd like to read it, you can purchase through Amazon here. Read more on Elise and her other works here. I can't wait to read Auntie Claus soon!

*I received this book to review free of charge, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Pop & Swap

2012-10-16T21:16:00.000-04:00

I received the Pop & Swap from Infantino for my time in doing a review & I couldn't be more pleased with this toy. It's incredibly versatile - both Kylinn and B like it. It's a good value to have so many different uses and it's super cute.

In use...

Ky loves the bird best...

This is the cutest play gym! She had no toys like this and it is so fun! The toys come off to ride in the car, The toy face turns up for when she begins sitting up, the toy component can come off and attach to a crib, and it was so easy to put together!
If you know someone expecting or you have a little one, this is such a cute piece! I would recommend it most definitely. Not one complaint!

On a side note, we've had a home crisis over here so I've been MIA, I know. I'll post more on what's going on as things progress.

A Book Review

2012-10-04T21:47:00.000-04:00

B and I are starting a new book---

I'm honored, really, to have been chosen to review a book but such a wonderful author of children's books and before even reading a word, the amazing ILLUSTRATIONS of this book jumped out at me. You know B loves his horses!

Here's B and Daddy feeding the giraffes at Lazy 5. This type of story - one of encouragement and enrichment is perfect for sharing with busy little B. I can't wait to finish it up and share my thoughts with you all!

Wall Unit

2012-10-04T11:34:00.000-04:00

Oh boy.

This project was more than I anticipated! From the transport, to the wall damage during moving, to a friend having to take it apart and put it back together to get it into B's room, and then the painting.... LOTS & lots of painting.

I found this massive thing at the Restore, marked down from $77 to only $20. For the price, it packs a HUGE storage punch. In these tiny rooms, storage is key. And since B has virtually no closet, vertical storage works in our favor...

And I'm so tired of messing with it at this point.....

I need some manpower to get that last handle off & then I have to choose some lighter hardware!

I haven't chosen any hardware yet for the doors and I've determined that I will HAVE to line the shelving with contact paper! I should've thought of that before wasting paint there.....

But it's coming along!

Paint Color References

2012-10-01T14:13:00.001-04:00

When iHeartOrganizing did this post, I was thrilled. Instead of keeping up with popsicle sticks dipped in paint and lots of color swatches, I paired down my paint color references to just these sheets! I even cleaned out my paint drawers of the empty cans I was holding onto that said "favorite black"... yeah, I know....

If you want to keep track of your wall colors, furniture colors, samples you might need for a project... print yourself a bunch of these and take just the sheet with you the next time you need to visit Lowe's!
Click HERE to visit Jen's post and print away.
And THANK YOU for making my life not only easier, but less cluttered!

Peanut Butter Recall

2012-09-27T08:25:00.002-04:00

Please check the Peanut Butter recall if you haven't: http://www.sunlandinc.com/788/html/pdfs/SunlandRecall.pdf

Touch Ups

2012-09-26T20:50:00.000-04:00

I haven't abandoned painting! I know it seems like it's getting farther spread, but it honestly has! I have been so busy with our new schedules and activities here & some of my focus has moved more towards home projects and getting ready for a BIG change in the shop!

Some of my recent home touches - a "new" chair for B's table and chairs that has been moved to his room.

Personal touches on my Mommy Wall.

Tea Time

2012-09-22T16:43:00.001-04:00

This storage drawer was another freebie at the church sale & when I picked it up, the lady said, "you want THAT. what is that?!" I still don't know exactly what it was originally intended for, but I knew it had some potential & with the padded foam top and mesh form it was heavy duty. So I took it!

While looking up k-cups and k-cup storage on Amazon, I saw this:

And an idea was born! A place for my TEA & some sugar packets! Now all my favorite teas are in one easily accessible place near my hot water source! I have at least one cup each night of Rooibos. Occasionally my favorite Black Tea.It's working out really well, and I love it!
One other thing---

This amazing [almost] 3x5 shag rug was $2 at a yard sale picked up today. It's amazing!!! Sooooo comfortable & can be thrown in the washing machine. It's also heavy duty and doesn't move. I spend a LOT of time in front of my washer/dryer set and in the laundry room area in general. We enter/exit through here, I iron, fold, store pantry items, keep my paint in here, etc, etc. So a large comfy rug is something I've really wanted for quite some time and I am hoping that it will last a long time and the kids and the dog won't ruin it!

Free Crochet Flower Clips

2012-09-21T19:52:00.000-04:00

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I'm thinking these would be adorable on cardigans, hats, scarves, headbands, necklaces, shoes, etc.!

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Lion King Swing: PREVIEW

2012-09-19T09:20:00.000-04:00

Bitty recently got the opportunity to do a review for Kids II and I am very excited about what we received.

This is the Lion King swing (also a vibrating chair) from their Disney Baby collection.

So cute.

I wish I had captured her face when I first turned on the vibrate feature.

She was totally surprised.

Bitty's ALMOST 6 months old so she's getting a bit too wiggly for this, but we're enjoying in little intervals all the same.

I would recommend this swing to any mother. I would certainly recommend Kids II products. This is a high quality product with lots of features. It has a timer for the swing, music, a separate vibrate feature, and a toy that Bitty loves.

If you're expecting, I would recommend a swing! This one folds up for travel even! I wish I'd had this at birth.

__________________________________________

*I received the swing as compensation for a survey. All opinions are my own.

Twitter

2012-09-19T08:29:00.001-04:00

I am back on Twitter after a long time of not being able to log in and get connected. I will be running this ONE personal account - not any affiliated page accounts so follow me here for updates. ;-)

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/samanthapalacio

Garden Flag $2.98 Shipped

2012-09-18T08:38:00.002-04:00

Hearthsong is offering $10 off any order, no minimum and can be applied toward shipping!

My parents gave me a garden flag and it's a really special part of our landscaping (or lack thereof). I love to change out flags and B is really fascinated with what I find to put out there.This cute flag is perfect for Valentine's day and was only $2.98 shipped!

A Promotion Code : HSPLAY has been applied to this order — You saved 143% on your order of $10.00 or more.

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Vanity Bench

2012-09-16T21:15:00.001-04:00

My latest piece is this adorable Antique Vanity Bench. I really wrestled with myself

over parting with this. I REALLY wanted to make this the new "time out" chair and have it at the end of my hallway. It would be so cute to look at. But it's an awfully pricey time out chair so off it goes to the shop...

Genie Bra Love

2012-09-11T13:01:00.001-04:00

This is kind of a weird post for me, but I like to share good things, and, ladies, the Genie Bra is a good thing! I got a few of these (courtesy of clearance Target) from the church sale for free also. I had thought they look comfortable, but when I saw them up for grabs at the giveaway, I had my chance. I am totally IN LOVE. These days it's all about comfort & accessibility for Ky. These really do lift, support, and offer a seamless look. They do NOT look like a sports bra on although they do have the wide straps. They are sooooo comfortable & I think it's pretty flattering as well! If you've been wondering about those infomercials, this is one to go for! You will love this bra!

Jewelry Box DIY

2012-09-11T12:55:00.000-04:00

I found a discarded jewelry box at the sale (are you tired of the church sale yet???) that was missing

the glass, dinged, & apparently Bed, Bath, & Beyond thought it was no good.

I knew it had potential. What started as Cherry wood ended up as THIS:

This is Valspar's "Bungalow Gold" -- a lovely yellow.

When a added the clear enamel, the red popped up out of nowhere! Seriously, I added NO red to this on my own. But I really LOOOOOVE the effect! What a happy accident!

No glass? chicken wire + burlap. And I'm thinking this can be used as so much more than a jewelry box...