Mama Manifesto

The Water Habit: Moving Way from Sugary Drinks

noreply@blogger.com (The Mama's) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Last week, I wrote a post over at Babble where I talked about the fact that my kids exclusively drink water. A lot of people replied, saying that they had difficulty getting their kids interested in drinking water. I thought I would share what has worked for us.

It's probably too late for the first tip for parents with school-aged kids, but I think what helped the most with this is that I’ve never offered anything but water as a drink at home. When they were small I had some concerns about getting into the juice-drinking habit. A part of this was based on the fact that I was raised drinking sugary drinks as my only form of hydration. I grew up in Florida, and my parents served sweet tea with every meal. Sweet tea was also constantly available in the pitcher in the refrigerator. Drinking tea full of sugar was what I was raised on. I reached for this drink anytime I was thirsty, INCLUDING BREAKFAST. It seriously makes me shudder to think how much sugar and caffeine I consumed in a typical day when I was a child.

I know that natural fruit juice is not in the same category as caffeine-and-sugar-laden tea, but I still didn't want my children to get in the habit of thinking that a drink needs to be sweet. Once each of my kids weaned off of the bottle, I started offering water in their sippy cups exclusively. In addition to not wanting to get them in the sweet drink habit, I also didn't want to be shelling out cash for fruit juice. I have a high value for kids eating fruit, and the problem with juice is that while it provides a lot of the vitamins of fruit, it strips it of the fiber, which is just as important. I decided I would hold off on buying juice, and to this day we rarely have it in the house. Fruit? Yes. But not fruit juice.

(I did not mean to have that wine glass in the picture, but yes. Technically there is some occasional “fruit juice” in the house, but only for me.)

I do the same thing at restaurants, only offering the kids water as a drink. I know some people might think this sounds stingy, and that's because IT IS. I don't want to be paying an extra dollar when we go out to eat for all six of us to have a drink. But also, we go out to eat pretty regularly, and I want to stay with our water habit. There are a few occasions when we offer our kids sugary drinks like soda or lemonade: at birthday parties, when we are in other countries, or when we’re in an extreme weather situation where they need to stay hydrated. They know that it's a special occasion, and so they never got in the habit of begging for something other than water when they are thirsty.

I also send them with water in their lunches. Again, the juicebox habit gets expensive. Sending them to school with a reusable water container is better for the environment, and better for their help. I send these to school at them, and we also have them available in the fridge at home. Each kid has a cut in a specific color, and they can refill it themselves and store in the fridge so that their water is always cold.

How do you deal with keeping your kids hydrated? Do your kids turn their noses at that water? Have you found any good solutions forgetting kids to choose water over other drinks? And what is your policy on sugary drinks? I'm curious to hear how other families handle this one.

Negotiating Screen-Time with Kids

noreply@blogger.com (The Mama's) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:15:00 +0000

It seems like I’ve been writing about screen time all over the web this month, and probably for good reason: many parents are figuring out how to maintain some balance with our tech-obsessed kids. This has been an issue in my house ever since the kids have been old enough to operate the computer. My kids are huge technology fans, which is no big surprise given the fact that they have two parents whose phones are tethered to their hands 24/7. I think technology can provide some great educational opportunities for kids . . . after all, I credit the website Starfall.com with teaching my daughter to read. At the same time, screen time that goes unchecked is concerning to me. I think that kids need a good balance, and boundaries have to be put into place to make sure that kids don't end up staring at a screen all day long when they could be playing or interacting with family.

I thought I would share one of the tools we use for screen time. We call them “screen time sticks”, but it’s really just a token system to try to tangibly help the kids understand their limits in regards to the t.v. and computer. In our house, screen time is a privilege, not a right. Each of my kids have the chance to earn screen time for the following day by being respectful and following the rules. If they aren't towing the line with their behavior, the screen time privilege is lost.

Each day, the kids have the opportunity to earn 2 screen-time sticks for the following day. One is good for 30 minutes of tv time, and one is good for 30 minutes of computer/phone time. At the end of each day, we have a quick family meeting where we discuss whether or not these were earned based on the obedience and respect each child exhibited. If they earned it, the stick goes into the jar for the following day. (There is a video of me explaining the system in action over at Babble).

The next day, the kids can redeem the stick with screen time. I set the timer to 30 minutes, and what's that rings, their time is up. It is simple but it works. When they decide that they wants to redeem their screen time, they turn their stick in to me.

Kids can choose to use their screen time together. For example, my kids might decide to watch a Jake and the Neverland Pirates episode together. But if they watch together, then all of the tokens must be relinquished. If they don't want to spend their token and another child is watching a show, they have to do an activity in another room.

Any symbol can work for this kind of token system: a marble, a star sticker, a laminated paper certificate . . . but the key is something that represents a child's screen time, and that they must relinquish once they have decided to use it. This is a concrete way for parents to keep things in check, and also for kids to understand limits.

Over at Huffington Post, I’ve got a few more ideas on screen time management, including using timers and the “clean before screen” rule. You can read those here.

(And in this video, you can see me admit that I’m not always perfect at this because, HELLO. I get some benefit from the glowing screen of distraction as well).

How to do negotiate screen time with your kids? Are you comfortable with the amount of scree time your kids watch, or would you like to implement more controls?

TALK BACK: How Did You “Do” Christmas?

noreply@blogger.com (The Mama's) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:12:00 +0000

I’m curious to hear how other people celebrate Christmas. When do you open gifts? Do your kids believe in Santa? Do you have Christmas at your own home, or do you visit parents or in-laws?

Growing up, we did the same thing every Christmas . . . we drove from Missouri to Florida to visit my grandparents, and we opened our gifts on Christmas morning. I remember having friends who attended midnight mass and opened their gifts on Christmas Eve. That blew my mind – how did Santa come if the gifts weren’t opened in the morning?

I didn’t believe in Santa very long. I remember asking my mom at a young age if he was really, and she did the classic, “What do you think?” I’ve followed the same routine with my kids. In fact, I’ve never told them about Santa – anything they know they learned from school. We “play Santa” but my kids know it isn’t real. Though I’ve given them stern warnings not to share that info with other kids.

Since we weren’t a big Santa house growing up, my mom always signed the tags on our gifts from random people. At first, she pretended the gifts were from whatever teen heartthrob we were crushing on. I had many a gift under the tree from Kirk Cameron and Ralph Macchio in the 80’s. As we got older she also started signing them from boys at school that we thought were cute. It was equally mortifying and hilarious. To this day, she still signs some of the gifts from my ex-boyfriends. Or Brad Pitt. That was fun to explain to my husband the first time he visited for Christmas.

Mark and I habitually procrastinate the wrapping so that we are up until the wee hours. We usually leave the big gifts unwrapped so that there are a few visible toys as they run out in the morning.

Christmas morning, we typically do stockings, then make pancakes, then open gifts. We usually go to Mark’ parent’s if we are in town, though we often travel on Christmas Day. Fares are cheaper and it’s less hectic than other days.

Of course, much of the day seems to be consumed by taking toys out of the packaging. I got the traditional Christmas packaging flesh wound this afternoon.

How about you . . . how do you celebrate? Do you do Santa? Or do you do Hanukkah or Kwanzaa? Do you host or do you go to your parents? Does your family have any unique traditions for the holidays?

A Tangible Way to Bless Sandy Hook Elementary

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:07:00 +0000

We all wish there was something we could do. More importantly, we want a way for our families to process this together.

The National PTA has shared news that while the students are away on Christmas break, a team of volunteers will be decorating the school and turning it into a Winter Wonderland so that when they return it feels fresh, new and different.

Isn't that what God does in our lives - His mercies are new every morning.

I am thankful for fresh starts.
New mornings.
The clear skies after the rain.
The start of a New Year.
Fresh beginnings.

We can help.

If you are a teacher, you and your class can make snowflakes to send to Sandy Hook to decorate their school.

As a family, create snow flakes as a family activity.

You can go old school and fold the paper and make the cuts. Or, you can go new school and use coffee filters or popsicle sticks, or whatever else you want to create.

Each snow flake will be unique, just like each precious student who has ever graced those halls is unique, and uniquely loved by God. When you are done - hold those snow flakes in your hand and say a prayer for hope and peace and comfort. Here is a tutorial for making paper snowflakes, which I found on pinterest.

Please send all snowflakes and donations to:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

Turn this MERRY into MIGHTY Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:35:00 +0000

It is difficult to escape the heaviness that lingers in the air right now. The tragedy in Connecticut stands in heavy contrast to the "Christmas spirit" that 'tis the season.

I have a 6 year old son.

It's hard not to see his face when I hear the news and contemplate how this could have happened. It's difficult for me to shut off the questions that come as I think of him ever being in a situation like that. I cannot even begin to process the pain of searing loss if I were dealing with the aftermath as these parents are.

I am a teacher.

I am entrusted these beautiful children, these souls, to instruct and shepherd as they are in my care. It is unfathomable to ponder a moment like that in my classroom. Innocence shattered. Fear unbridled. Ugliness and evil screaming out.

I have prayed many prayers over the past few days. Small prayers whispered under my breath as my brain tries to wrap itself around this news. Prayers of gratitude for messy craft tables and sticky fingerprints. Prayers of gratitude for "one more hug" at bedtime. Prayers of comfort for the families experiencing this searing loss and unfathomable pain right now. Prayers of protection for my own children and the children I teach. Prayers for peace that transcend our understanding. For, truly, this is something no one can understand.

The one thing that I continue to come back to is my favorite line from one of my favorite Christmas carols ("O Little Town of Bethlehem"):

"The hopes and fears of all the years

are met in Thee tonight."

For the past two weeks I have been sharing this line with my students as we work on our Christmas art projects. It is awe inspiring to me. I think about all the hopes and all the fears from the beginning of time to the end of time, and I try to stack them on top of each other in the tallest tower that stretches higher than the heavens. I then see Jesus, and he knocks it over and they crumble. He came to be Emmanuel and to know and share in our highest hopes and the deepest fears. He came to live with us the mess that is this life, and ultimately defeat those ugly fears. He knew longing like we know longing. He knew pain and loss and brokeness and ugliness.

The fears in that classroom in Connecticut alone are too much for my heart and mind to comprehend. And yet, this Jesus, my Jesus, takes those, and the fears of the mothers through the ages, the whispers from the darkest moments of the Holocaust, and all the other crazy painful moments in history, and he carries them on his shoulders. It makes the gift of the cross bigger today. I cannot even sit in the reality of what that classroom must have felt like for longer than a few seconds - it is just too much. Jesus doesn't walk away. He doesn't say, "It is too much." No - he walks towards it. And more. And he carries it and he defeats it.

The celebration of the angels and the stars blazing in the sky at His birth make more sense now. Light in contrast to darkness. The hope that arrives in contrast to the darkness that has lingered is just so beautiful. I believe heaven shudders at these ugly moments in history. It aches to see pain and darkness and evil. That moment in time when the plan for redemption was put into motion - that moment when Jesus was born - that was the moment that heaven celebrates that an end to the darkness is near.

So, today, I pause to reflect on that beautiful thought. That He came to cover the fears, and to know the hopes. We still see the ugly because we are stuck in the now and not yet. It is not yet perfect, but in the now, we can still see that HE CAME. He entered this yuck, for the purpose of carrying the pain.

My dear friend, Tim Timmons, has written two songs that have become my soundtrack for the last few days. They are Christmas songs and they are timely.

The first is his version of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem" with his own flair added in.
To listen, go here.

The chorus says,
"Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, God is here.
Rejoice! Rejoice! If God is for us, we won't fear.
Take joy in the comfort of the Prince of Peace,
And joy in the power of the King of Kings,
Rejoice! And, again we say Rejoice!"

The second in on the album "A Christmas Together", vol 3 and it is called "Mighty Christmas". The phrase "Merry Christmas" is viewed in our present days as happy, jolly, twinkly. But, "merry" in the old school language was more along the lines of "mighty". Robinhood and his MERRY men were not happy men giggling through the forest. They were MIGHTY men. A force to be reckoned with.

This song is all about the need for this year to be different. For Jesus to turn the merry into a Mighty Christmas. For the hopes and fears and doubts to be broken by the power that is in Him. If ever we needed a mighty Christmas, I would say it is now. That is one of the prayers I continue to whisper. That God, in the way that only He can, would show up for these families. That He would bring mighty peace and mighty hope into a very dark and broken place.

To play "Mighty Christmas", click on the play icon and it will take you to Tim's myspace radio page: Mighty Christmas
Here are the lyrics to "Mighty Christmas". If you are someone who is at a loss for what to pray right now, pray these lyrics. God is listening...

What if all of this were true?
Emmanuel, how God came through
Is this more than Christmas cheer?
Is this just a story, what if it's real?
Would I still be lonely,
Would I know fear,
Would my worry hold me
Could I be healed?

Crying out loud,
This year Like never before
Jesus reveal a little more to my soul
Would you show me just how powerful
You are more than a manger
Jesus the mighty Savior
in my soul, turn this Merry into Mighty Christmas
Turn this Merry into Mighty Christmas

What if in my silent nights
You were enough
You were the light
Angels saying do not fear
Is this still the promise?
You still come near

Meet me in my lonely
Tear down my fear
Hold me through my worry
And, Lord would you heal

Crying out Loud -
This year like never before,
Jesus reveal a little more

Would you show me just how powerful
You are more than a manger
Jesus the mighty Savior
in my soul, turn this Merry into Mighty Christmas
Turn this Merry into Mighty Christmas

Stronger than the weight of gravity
That whisper in my bones reminding me
Everything I'm not, and I try to be
You are

Meet me in my lonely
Tear down my fear
Hold me through my worry
And, Lord would you heal

Crying out Loud -
This year like never before,
Jesus reveal a little more

Would you show me just how powerful

You are more than a manger
Jesus the mighty Savior
in my soul, turn this Merry into Mighty Christmas
Turn this Merry into Mighty Christmas

I am wishing you a mighty Christmas.

Raising Awareness About a Rare Childhood Disease

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 31 May 2012 22:17:00 +0000

Allow me to introduce you to Jacob Maren, a 13-year-old boy who's working hard to raise awareness about a rare but often catastrophic disease called Infantile Spasms. In Jacob's own words:

When I was six months old, my mom noticed that I was making these small, jerky movements that didn’t look right. She took me to my regular doctor, who didn’t think anything was the matter. But my parents continued to be concerned, and they brought me to a pediatric neurologist. On that day, I was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms (also known as IS, or West’s Syndrome). It was a terrible and very scary day for our family.

Infantile Spasms is a rare disease that affects only infants, usually striking at about six months. Left untreated, the seizures become steadily worse, causing severe damage. Seven out of a million infants are diagnosed with IS and only 15% of them emerge unscathed. I was very lucky. I responded to the medication and the seizures went away. Most kids aren’t so lucky. Many doctors don’t recognize the symptoms of IS until it’s too late. And even today, because of how rare the disease is, there isn’t a lot of money available for research.

For my Bar Mitzvah project, as well as my Hero’s Journey project for 7th grade at The Washington Montessori School, I am trying to raise money through NORD (The National Organization for Rare Disorders) to fund research into Infantile Spasms. NORD has set up a page for The Jacob Maren Fund for Rare Disease Awareness. Today I am a musician. I play the piano, guitar, and ukulele. And I sing. I play basketball and tennis on my school’s teams. I am grateful that I can do all these things. I hope that other kids who will be diagnosed with IS will also be able to say these things some day.

I met Jacob last March in Italy at the Sirenland Writers Conference, founded by his parents, writer Dani Shapiro and journalist/filmmaker Michael Maren. (In fact, Jacob was so polite to me in the elevator that he gave me hope that my own kids will eventually grow into some manners.) He's put together a music video full of information about IS, plus some gorgeous Italian scenery. I hope you'll take a look, and consider donating to his charitable fund. Jacob hopes to use the proceeds to get more information about this scary but treatable syndrome into the hands of pediatricians.

Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas -- Think Fair Trade

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:02:00 +0000

It's almost Mother's Day, and if you're still shopping (or suspect that your spouse or kids haven't quite wrapped up your gift yet) take a look at the socially responsible Mother's Day Gift Guide over at Fair Trade USA. This nonprofit certifies and promotes products that support fair wages and better lives for millions of farmers and workers in more than 70 countries worldwide. Whether you pamper mom with breakfast in bed or a bouquet of roses, you can show that you believe that "Every Mother Matters" by buying Fair Trade food and products.

Women who work on Fair Trade Certified farms and in Fair Trade factories are guaranteed access to healthcare and maternity leave. They are given opportunities to earn a decent living, work in safe conditions, invest in their own homes, and take on leadership roles in their cooperatives and communities. When you choose a chocolate bar, bouquet of roses, bottle of wine, or yummy-smelling lotion bearing the Fair Trade logo, you can feel confident that you're helping women and families.

If you live near a Whole Foods Market, you can find plenty of Fair Trade Certified flowers, chocolates and beauty products for mom there, along with Fair Trade coffee, tea and more for a Mother's Day brunch. If Target is more your speed, consider grabbing a bottle of Wandering Grape wine -- not only is this winemaker Fair Trade, their 2008 Malbec Merlot received 88 points from the Beverage Testing Institute!

For more great gift ideas and online shopping resources, jump over to Fair Trade USA's gift guide.

If you're interested in seeing how Fair Trade helps women and families around the world, take a couple of minutes to watch this video. Maybe even watch it with Mom.

Eliminate & Concentrate

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:44:00 +0000

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I recently got to hear an amazing woman, Anne Ortlund, share her thoughts on navigating life well with a group of women. Anne is definitely in her "golden years", and I don't know about you, but when I have the opportunity to listen to someone share about living life well who has lived a lot of life, I lean forward and really listen. She had so many morsels of wisdom to give us. But one thing she talked about has really stuck with me.

She was talking about managing time and she said her two favorite words to implement in time management are "eliminate" and "concentrate".

These two words are gnarly. They are weighty. I feel like they belong in a board room. They sound strong and definitive and driven, don't they? They are not wishy washy or touchy feely.

And, I am trying to apply them to my life and love the direction they give me.

I know that there are things in my life that need to be eliminated.

Straight up.

There are a few places that I see this word doing surgery on my life.

In how I spend my time, and how our family spends our time. There is a whole vortex around me sucking me and my time towards it. I am a people-pleaser and a do-er, which means that I want to say yes to everything because number one, I don't want to hurt your feelings or upset you, and number two, I like doing things. But, when I say yes to everything, I end up doing nothing well. And, I end up frazzled, frustrated, bitter and ill. Yes, ill. My body has been pushed to the breaking point far too many times for me not to own that I do damage to my physical body when I take on too much.

I need to eliminate.

I also see this in my kids' lives. They have countless involvement opportunities as well. They are in school and have homework. They are invited to play dates and birthday parties. They can do brownies, cub scouts, be in school plays, play soccer, football, baseball, swim team, water polo, tennis, golf, dance, gymnastics, music lessons, choir... The list could go on and on. And, hear me when I say this - they are 6 and 8.

I want my children to be active.

I want my children to try hobbies and sports and find what they are good at.

But, more importantly, I want them to be peaceful, humble and to live in a family environment that is not frenzied and frazzled and out of control. These are all "good things" - who doesn't want their kids to play the sports that the kids are around them are playing? I have heard the saying "good is the enemy of best" so many times recently and my soul knows this well. When my children and involved in too many "good" things, the BEST for our family is sacrificed over and over and over. It is easy to say that we will be a "one or two sport" family but more difficult to stick to those guns when all the kids around you are playing multiple sports and you feel like your children will be left behind and made fun of for being the only ones who cannot throw a basketball right. But, I have to step back, focus and remember what my long-term values are for these little humans.

I need to eliminate.

I also see the need to eliminate in where I let my heart go. This may sound really, really crazy to a lot of people, but I have learned that Facebook is not for me. I have no judgement for those who love this corner of social networking, but FOR ME, I have learned that Facebook does wacky things to my emotions. Aside from the general "time vacuum" that it always ended up being, I found that Facebook pretty much left me in a very melancholy place.

I would log on to catch up with the happenings in my friends lives and I would log off feeling like I was out of the loop on far too many happenings (excluded from events that I really did not expect to be invited to, but seeing all the people tagged in the photos and the list of comments that praised how epic it was left me feeling lonely), not funny enough (other people have so many likes and comments on their status updates), like my family doesn't have as much fun as everyone else (everyone else is posting photos of their AMAZING moments from their day), and just generally discontent.

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My purpose in going onto Facebook was to feel connected and I would always leave feeling more disconnected and just a bit angsty (totally a word). I had to learn that Facebook is not for me. I still have an account that I can use to message people, but I rarely, rarely go on there. This little life shift has served me well. It was truly the best for me.

Am I completely anti social networking in general? No. I would buy stock in pinterest tomorrow if I could. And, I have even seen that Facebook and other social networking sites have been used for a ton of good in a lot of ways. I do have some pretty big concerns for what all of this means for our kids and our society. I feel like people are losing an important part of human interaction, which is face to face connection. I feel like there is something to looking in a friend's eyes and just knowing that they are having a tough day and digging a little deeper to make sure they are ok. I feel like Facebook and Twitter can make us a little too ego driven sometimes. I mean, should all of our followers really care about where we had lunch? Should we even take the time to post that? Why are we posting that? Would that time be better spent in another way? How are my kids honored by how often I reach for my phone or laptop to update the world? These are all questions I continue to ask myself with regard to technology and how we choose to engage it as a family. At a bare minimum - I have seen the fruit of my decision to eliminate Facebook as part of my daily connection with the world.

I also need to learn to eliminate certain thoughts before they start to spin in my head. A wise counselor I know says this: "The birds will land on your head, just don't let them nest." I cannot stop my brain from thinking, but I have the choice in whether they nest or I shoo them away when they are not life giving or helpful.

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I need to eliminate.

This "elimination" concept has all sorts of practical applications with regard to living in simplicity (getting rid of excess stuff that clutters and could be used elsewhere), and even with regard to a healthy diet. I need to eliminate a few more chocolate covered almonds from my daily eating patterns if you know what I mean.

And, I need to concentrate.

I need to concentrate on what I know to be important so that I can make wise choices in what to eliminate. I need to concentrate so that I prevent needing to eliminate. How wonderful it would be if I just knew my limits and really was thoughtful as I walked life and did not get to the place where I have to make those surgical cuts.

I need to concentrate on my children. This time is so fleeting. They will not always be here, and I know that but I still live as though they will. I live as though there will be tomorrows for the life lessons that need to be taught today. I have these moments with them and I want to "mine" these moments well, as it says in the very definition of the word. To sift these moments and separate the metal from the ore. To purify them and make them stronger.

There are countless reasons why it is important to concentrate in this time that feels like a breeze blowing through my home ...

Because there are these moments that will build their foundation of love for each other as brother and sister for the rest of their lives. We are crafting our family's legacy in the moments of everyday life...

Because he only turns 6 this one time (and soon, he will no longer pronounce "Actually" as "ackshly") ...

Because I am going to wish that she would sit and hug me and want to talk to me about all the details of her world in 7 years ...

Because I am only going to be able to carry him like this for a wee bit longer, and she will only dance and twirl and sing in the background without being self-conscious for a wee bit longer ...

I have this moment that replays in my head that causes me to feel such remorse. A few weeks ago we were getting ready to go on a trip to Lake Arrowhead for a family getaway. My to do list was a mile long and I was frantically trying to get all the games and activities packed up before I had some children arriving at my house for tutoring. My daughter came over and started to hug me as I was sorting card games and packing. I literally brushed her off gently and said, "Honey, I don't have time to cuddle right now. I have got to get this stuff packed up." The look on her face still hurts my heart quite a bit when I recall it. She recoiled and looked as though I had slapped her. "You don't want to hug me?" she said. And, her eyes filled up with tears.

I immediately stopped and apologized and told her mommy made a bad choice and tried to make it right. And, she was gracious and received my hug but I could tell I hurt her and it wasn't all totally perfect. There was still that hurt place where she realized that I made a choice and it was not to love her first. It was my stupid to do list.

Oh man, how I want to concentrate.

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I need to concentrate on my marriage and my husband.

He so often gets the left overs of me. He gets the wiped out, emotionally shut down, exhausted version of his wife at the end of the day. I need to evaluate what in the world is going on here if I value us staying a connected, vibrant and in love couple well into our golden years. I need to concentrate on showing him that I am present and still listening. I need to concentrate on affirming him and speaking words of love to him, especially in times where he needs that bolstering. I need to concentrate on being his love who is there for better or worse, richer and poorer, in sickness and in health - that pretty much means BEING there our whole life. All of life pretty much fits in those descriptions and I said I would.

I need to concentrate.

So, these are two words that I carry with me in my days. I use them to make decisions and process how we are doing as a family. There will be an ebbing and flowing of activities and time. There are seasons for hibernation and seasons for a flurry of activity.

But, I will endeavor to learn to live these words out well.

How about you - what do these words evoke in you?

mama love: pinterest edition

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:52:00 +0000

There is no doubt that one of my favorite things to do is to check my daily Pinterest feed. It is eye candy and provides inspiration for crafts, recipes, decorating and a little daydreaming (especially my dream kitchen on the home that I will probably never have but like to think about).

Here are a few of the things I have pinned lately that make my heart swoon ...

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I am excited to do some sort of version of this craft with my kids today. We have so many things that make us lucky. Another way to practice gratitude as we count the blessings in our life!

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I made this Rosemary Garlic Chicken in my cast iron skillet this week. I would use a little less lemon next time, but it was really good. I love cooking with my cast iron skillet. It makes me feel all little house on the prairie. And, it makes me think of my Grandma since she gave it to me. She's good people.

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I wish pinterest had been around when I still had napping babies in the house. This idea is brilliant! It never failed that the moment I cracked the door to check on my sleeping wee ones, that they would wake from the sound of the door being opened.

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I will be trying this out today - simmer lemon, vanilla and rosemary with a little water as a natural home deodorizer. One pinned said it smells like Williams Sonoma stores.

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I cannot wait for this kitchen trolley to arrive at IKEA in April! It will be such a great art cart, or drink station for parties, or kitchen cart ... It's about time IKEA added a little turquoise to their rainbow of colors.

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Who wouldn't want to start their day with Breakfast Enchiladas? My kids. But, just ignore them because these looks amazing for me!

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I want a big bowl of this Quick Chicken Enchilada Soup (by real mom kitchen) right now! I guess I will have to settle with making it this week. It looks so good.

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I dig this St. Patrick's day surprise. My kids would love the rainbow licorice!

[source]

Umm, cutest cake ever. Who wouldn't love to have a rainbow cake with lollipops on top? Especially if it is served on an adorable turquoise table.

[source]

I am loving this brilliant housewarming gift idea - a lime tree along with some mexican beers. It would go well with the Quick Chicken Enchilada Soup!

Thank you, Pinterest, for all the lovely ideas and tips. You are something this mama loves.

What are your favorite pins from this week?

Lent in Everyday Language

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:06:00 +0000

I have never really practiced Lent. I have engaged it on the level where I have given something up like sugar or chocolate or sweets. But, I have never really taken the time to explore what this tradition means on a deep level and taken the time to practice it.

As a nearly life-long Christian, I find myself in a season where I am trying to see aspects of my faith through new eyes. Perhaps it is the season of life that is stretching me beyond myself so I look for new tools that the disciples of Christ have utilized for years in their soul formation.

What I love about my learnings about this tradition called Lent is that it meets me right where I am. In need of a Savior every single day, in every single moment.

My friend Amy is embarking on a journey over on her blog called Soul Simple to explore "Lent in Everyday Language" and has a new post each day where she offers two questions to process and she beautifully shares her own processing. I love that lent is this opportunity to pause and lean a little closer to being formed in Christ's image. I have been exploring a lot of Genesis and love hearing about God creating man and woman in His image. I feel like the rest of the bible centers around God pursuing us in order to make us into His image again. Sending Jesus so that we can be reconciled and made into His image (holy and blameless). I am leaning into this aspect of formation. If you are interested in taking this journey, you can start today - on Day 6. No need to panic and try to catch up. Just start right where you are. I am.

My very simple understanding of Lent is that it is the act of preparing the heart for Easter. Historically, this has taken shape in a form of sacrificing. You hear people saying what they are "giving up for Lent" and it is about sacrificing something so that we can become more like Christ and how He sacrificed His life for us. But for me there is another layer - I am viewing it not solely about forfeiting, but also about formation. It feels like an invitation to step further into being formed in Christ's image. Ann Voskamp wrote that "it is to be dispossessed of the possessions that possess - in order to be possessed by God." To empty the soul in order to know the filling of God.

So, maybe it is not about possessions like stuff (although it could be). Maybe it is more about our way of being and the thoughts, actions, emotions and routines that fill us with the opposite of WHO God is (His image).

If I know that the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control) are the fruit of being connected to God and are reflections of who He is, then I think I should be able to look at my life and see what the opposites of those attributes are that are on display in my life. That would be the area where I need more image forming.

If lent is about my emptying my soul of my own stuff in order to know the filling of God - well, then, "To the brim!" is what my soul cries out. I want to be filled to overflowing with His love and joy and peace. I can see where I need to make room for Him. Do some soul house keeping.

But, it is so hard. So hard to empty myself of my love of me and the habits that shape me into me. Hard to wake up early to find quiet time. Hard to give up that "down time" of senseless media that makes it so easy to check out in the times when I need to check in. Even those twisted sisters: fear and worry - they beckon my soul to snuggle up with a blanket of self-pity.

Isn't it true that Lent and our quest to sacrifice and "work out our salvation" will reveal how truly broken and useless we are. It is like asking for a flashlight to shine on our failures and flailing, because I will fail in this attempt! How incapable I am of walking a road of sacrifice like Jesus. Maybe one of the gifts of Lent is realizing, yet again, how in need of a Savior I am. I could work with every fiber of my being to do this perfectly, and I would fail. I need a Savior. I can see clearly that even my best attempts will result in failure. I see Jesus with a new found awe in His perfection and the gift of grace that He extends to me.

These were Ann Voskamp's words that say it so well: "Lent gives me this gift: the deeper I know the pit of my sin, the deeper I'll drink the draughts of Joy."

Doesn't Jesus say that with different words when He says, "He who is forgiven much loves much."

I found this quote on Ann Voskamp's blog. It is by Walter Wangerin, on the subject of why we celebrate Lent when it may not fall into our denominational traditions:

"But in the economy of God, what seems the end is but a preparation... The disciles approached the resurrection from their bereavement. For them the death was first, and the death was all. Easter, then was an explosion of newness, a marvelous slitting of heaven indeed.

But for us, who return backward into the past, the Resurrection comes first, and through it we view a death with is, therefore, less consuming, less horrible, even less readl.

We miss the disciples terrible, wonderful preparation.

Unless, as now we attend to the suffering first, to the cross with sincerest pity and vigilant love, to the dying with most faithful care - and thus prepare for joy."

Yes, Jesus rose and defeated death and that is central to my faith. I am risen with Christ and there is no part of my salvation that I can boast in because it is all gift. That is made clearer to me even as I attempt to hone areas of my life and fall short time and again. I don't deserve salvation based on anything I have done. I fall short. It's all grace.

I do not want to miss the gravity of His death, or my need for His death, as I walk in a "Christ is risen" joy parade. Even the elements of communion, the bread and wine, symbolize this sacrifice and Jesus encouraged us to do it in remembrance of Him. I feel like my kids get this a little better than I do. It never fails that as we read the story of Jesus' death in their Jesus Storybook Bible that they will be moved to tears. They feel that moment of Jesus dying and the pain and sorrow that live in that moment. And I often find myself very quickly saying, "Don't be sad, guys! Jesus rises again! He doesn't stay dead!" But, they get it right. He died. He endured a lot of pain. For me. And, that should be felt deeply because if I don't feel that deeply, then I don't really get the sacrifice of it.

So - this season of practicing Lent, for me, is about walking toward Easter with a heart that is bent toward knowing how very much I need this Savior. It is about slowing down so I can see where God is forming me in His image. It's about having eyes to see where I am full of me and doing the work to empty that out to clear space for Him. It is about seeing every day that I need a Savior!

I loved how timely my reading from Jesus Calling was the other day.

"... Your awareness of your constant need of Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness, properly handles, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must beon guard against: Self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice - deep dependence on Me, or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete."

I hope that you will join me and Amy in this journey. Here is to living with an awareness of how much He loves us and how much we need Him.

My Daily Allowance

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000

[photo: Andrea Luna Reece]

One of my morsels of daily encouragement is the "Morning & Evening" writings from Charles Spurgeon. I get them in my daily reading plan through my Bible app on my iPhone. Today's was particularly fitting.

"And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life." -2 Kings 25:30

Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king's palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin's case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness.

Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.

These words penetrate deep.

"A daily portion is all that a man (woman) really wants. We do not need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet"

How many of my moments of worry are connected to my thoughts of tomorrow and the worries that tomorrow stirs in me. How often have I worried over the thirst that I would have in June while living in the month of February? For it is right now literally February, and I can feel my heart beating quickly if I start to think of June. But, it is February. This may be the secret that our children live - they are living today. This moment. And the reality is that the older we get the more we know of storms that lurk and that the winds can change and this causes worry because we know that there are variables that could change things. But, we have no control over those variables, so why give thought to them?

June may indeed be a scorching month with sun beating down heavily and we may indeed be quite thirsty, but I will face that heat when it is directly over head. Today - today is the day that I am walking in and I want to be all in on THIS DAY.

"...if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief..."

I think of that moment with Jesus and the crowd of people gathered around him (in Matthew). He can see the worry etched on their faces. My face is there in the crowd too. What if we don't have enough food? What if we don't have enough money? What if his company fails? What if...

And Jesus, this Jesus, looks at them and His heart is filled with love for them. For me. He sees them as sheep that do not have a shepherd to take care of them. The job of the sheep is just to follow the shepherd to the good pasture, and the safe places and the water. These people looked like lost sheep. So, Jesus shepherds them by painting a picture with words. The people sat on the mountainside and looked out at the glittering lake and took in the surroundings.

He points to the birds. Everyone looks to see the birds pecking the ground and eating the seeds that lay in bounty for them. Jesus points out that the birds do not worry or store up seed for tomorrow. They know that there will be seed tomorrow because God takes care of them.

"God knows what they need and He feeds them."

Then He points to the wildflowers. Picture the wildflowers growing around you on a grassy hill. Where do these flowers buy their lovely clothes? Do they make them? Do they work every day so that they can buy them? I can hear that laughter in Jesus' voice as He points out the absurdity of this concept. No - these flowers are clothed by God and not even a king could dress as well as these little gems.

Jesus declares it loud and clear - YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAT BIRDS! MORE IMPORTANT THAN FLOWERS! They don't sit and worry about things. And God doesn't want His children to worry either. Your Father in heaven knows what you need.

Sufficient for the day is all we can enjoy.

What has God given me today. For that I am grateful. I am expectant for what He will give me tomorrow. To so many, even to myself as I write this, this is naive. Right? Aren't we supposed to work to prepare for tomorrow. Store up? Retirement, college fund, vacation fund, rainy day fund? Don't get me wrong - there is wisdom in stewarding our resources. But, where the worries begin and the furrowed brow and the anxiety over the what if's begin - it goes against everything God is teaching us through all of scripture. He says He provides. He says one of His names is "Jehovah jireh" - the Lord will provide. He has even provided His son that we would be free from the debt of our sin. How can I trust God for this massive gift of redemption and not trust for little details like food or money? What if the simplicity of enjoying what is before us today - today's bread, today's clothes, today's children, today's husband - what if we could be sheep today and just follow the path that the Shepherd is leading us on. The sheep do not worry about whether they are on the right path, or whether this grass will be there tomorrow. For the shepherd will scoop them up and place them in the right spot if they get off the path. He has that shepherd's staff that he will gently use to push them back into the right place.

What this season is teaching me is that at the end of me, I can only rely on God. I tell Him all day long. "God, you say you will provide. I trust You to provide. You say you will give wisdom. I trust You for wisdom. You say that You leave Your peace. Bring Your peace. You say You are the GOOD SHEPHERD. Be my Shepherd. Lead me to the still waters and good pasture. You say you will."

How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden from you no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." - Isaiah 30:19-21

More than anything, my soul wants to hear the voice of my Shepherd, gently whispering, "This is the way; walk in it."

Easy Crockpot Chicken Curry and Coconut Rice

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:01:00 +0000

My kids are total spice wimps so I have to preface this recipe with the truth that when I make this recipe, I only serve the curry to my hubby and I (or my guests!). But, this curry is amazing! And, the coconut rice is so, so good. My kids dream about it. They go crazy for coconut rice and black beans with a little chicken mixed in, or just the black beans and rice. My cute son asks me to marry him every time I serve coconut rice.

You are going to want to double batch the curry because the leftovers are heaven. If your kids are not spice wimps, then they may love the curry too!

I like to start the curry in the late morning or just before lunch, but you could absolutely start it in the morning. Just cook on low no matter what so that your chicken is nice and tender.

Easy Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

Trader Joes Thai Yellow Curry Sauce

1 can Coconut milk

1 white onion, sliced into chunky pieces

2-3 sweet potatoes (scrubbed clean), sliced into rounds that are about 1/2 inch thick

1 package organic boneless & skinless chicken thighs (the cost of thighs is much less than breasts)

1/2 package frozen mixed vegetables

1 lime

cilantro (for garnish)

1. In a large crock pot, mix the coconut milk with the curry sauce. Place the onions and sweet potatoes in the bottom of the crock pot.

2. Add the thighs, and spread them out and mix into the curry sauce. Leave to cook for a few hours.

3. About 2 hours before serving, mix in the frozen veggies and let cook on low for a couple more hours.

3. Just before serving, use a wooden spoon to break up the thighs (the meat should fall apart it is so tender), and add the juice of 1 lime to the crock pot. Mix well.

Serve the curry over steaming Coconut Rice (see recipe below). We serve it with some black beans and a sprinkling of cilantro on top (I go crazy with the cilantro on mine, but my hubby just gets a sprinkle). Definitely eat with a spoon because you will be in love with the sauce!

[photo source: Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen Blog]

Coconut Rice

This rice is amazing, but is especially good served alongside spicy food (think curries and mexican food)! I like to add a few spoonfuls of left over rice to my salads. It is oh so good! You could also serve it as dessert if you add fresh diced mango on top and drizzle with a little coconut milk. I originally discovered this coconut rice recipe on the Pioneer Woman's tasty kitchen blog. I swapped the white rice for brown jasmine rice to give it a bit of a healthy punch.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon coconut oil

2 cups brown jasmine rice (brown rice has more nutritional value and the brown jasmine rice has way more flavor than regular old brown rice - trust me!)

1 can coconut milk (it is about 2 cups of liquid

2 cups water (or more to make 4 cups total liquid once you combine with the coconut milk)

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

sprinkle of sea salt (optional)

1. Heat up the coconut oil in pot. Add rice and sauté for a couple minutes until rice is slightly browned. Don't burn!

2. Add 4 cups of liquid (approximately 1/2 coconut milk and 1/2 water). Stir well.

3. Add your maple syrup and salt (if desired).

4. Bring to a slight boil and then put on low to simmer covered with the lid, but letting a small bit of steam escape.

5. I find that it takes about 30 minutes to cook so check after 30 minutes and make sure all liquid is absorbed, but you may need longer. Once all liquid is absorbed, let stand for 5 minutes and serve warm!

Enjoy!

Fair Trade Chocolate Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to the winners of our
chocolate giveway!

Sarah

Manda

Monica

Inkkinlala

Debra Lee

and

Meg

You've all won a delicious Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bar!

Originally we had just 5 candy bars to share with readers, but when I told the nice people at Fair Trade USA that 6 readers had entered the contest, they generously offered to share the love with all (including our Canadian fans!)

Winners, shoot us an email with your full name and address by February 21 to mamagiveaways(at)gmail(dot)com with your prize in the subject line, and we will hook you up!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Fair Trade Treats for Valentine's Day -- plus a CHOCOLATE GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, you probably have giving and/or receiving chocolates, roses and other goodies on your mind! But if you haven't actually started your shopping yet (like me!) you're in luck, because the folks at Fair Trade USA have put together a helpful and socially responsible gift guide.

When you shop Fair Trade, you're supporting products that come from farmers and workers who've been justly compensated. This is REALLY important when it comes to chocolate, since the bulk of the world's cocoa is harvested in West Africa by child and slave labor. Hershey's and most of the big candy conglomerates use slave labor to fill their heart-shaped boxes, but thankfully, there are sweeter alternatives.

Fair Trade certification ensures that cocoa farmers receive a fair price for their harvest, and also strictly prohibits the use of slave and child labor. This Valentine’s Day, you can support a better life for cocoa farmers by sharing your favorite Fair Trade Certified confection with your friends and family. There are plenty of delicious options out there, including Sweet Earth Chocolates Classic Red Velvet Box, Sjaak’s dark chocolate with raspberry bar, ChocoDream Spreads, Kopali Chocolate Covered Cacao Nibs, TCHO "My Heart's Desire" Adigard 12-Bar Sampler, Alter Eco Dark Velvet Chocolate and sweetriot riotous riotBar gift set.

Fair Trade also matters when it comes to flowers. Americans will buy more than 189 million stems of roses this Valentine's Day, the majority of which will travel all the way from Ecuador and Colombia. You can make sure that your long-stemmed symbols of love positively impact the lives of farm workers (many of whom are women) by looking for bouquets bearing the Fair Trade Certified logo.

If your local flower shop doesn't offer Fair Trade blooms, Fair Trade Certified roses can be found at Whole Foods Market. Just look for the big, beautiful blossoms and vivid colors with the green Whole Trade Guarantee sticker in the floral department. Before you hand over these special roses, make sure to read up on the farm they came from to add a sweet story to the gift.

You can also find guilt-free Fair Trade flowers online. One World Flowers will deliver beautiful Ecuadorian roses direct from the farm to your loved one. In addition to traditional red and pink roses, you can select themed bouquets like “Helping Haiti” and “Honoring Japan” that support much-needed relief efforts in those countries.

More information and gift ideas for coffee, wine, baked goods and apparel are available at the Fair Trade USA website. The organization has also provided us with a couple of great offers:

Mama Manifesto readers who order from

One World Flowers can use the coupon code

FairTrade5 to get $5 off their

Valentine's Day order.

We'll also give 5 readers a delicious taste of

Fair Trade goodness with an

Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bar

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment answering the following question:

Have you ever tried any Fair Trade products?

If so, what's your favorite?

To earn additional entries in this giveaway:

1. Follow our blog (publicly) and leave another comment (or if you already follow, let us know).
2. Subscribe to the Mama Memo and leave another comment (or let us know if you already subscribe).
3. Blog about the giveaway, and link back here. Post your blog entry before you comment.
4. Add the Mama Manifesto button to your sidebar.
5. Follow us on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway: "Giveaway! Check out #FairTrade goodies for Valentine's Day & Win Fair Trade Chocolate from @MamaManifesto. Enter at mamamanifesto.com"
6. Become a fan of Mama Manifesto on Facebook by clicking the button on the left.

This giveaway will close Sunday, February 12, at 11 p.m.
We'll announce the winners on Tuesday, February 14. Happy Valentine's Day!

Prizes courtesy of Fair Trade USA

My 2012 Manifesto

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:41:00 +0000

[source: In My Bucket]

A few years ago, a dear friend of mine and I endeavored to launch a new blog called "Mama Manifesto". Our hope was that it would be a place for moms to feel connected and not alone in their motherhood journeys. Motherhood had not come easily to either of us, and it had also not been the easiest transition for either of us. We recognized how encouraging it was to say that out loud. So, we dreamt up this space that would hopefully create a safe place for mamas to gather and draw inspiration in a nap-sized moment. That is still our hope.

But, one of the things that we wanted to do for ourselves and others, was encourage a "proactive" way of parenting. That we would not just get caught up in the frustrating cycle of reactive parenting. You know the drill ... the kids are addicted to sugar so they whine for sugar and we cave by giving them sugar, but we truly, truly, truly desire to raise healthy kids who eat well and are nurtured in their bodies. Or, we have a huge desire for our kids to be creative and to live a childhood that is inspired and full of imagination and adventures, but we cannot break the cycle of screen time obsession as we rotate from tv to iPhone to computer to DS to wii to XBox...

That is a very tangible example of reactive parenting. The deeper one is that we have these deep desires of who we want to be as women. To our husbands, to our families and maybe even to our neighbors. We know who we WANT to be, and maybe even WHO WE WERE CREATED TO BE. We just are not living that out. I remember working before I had kids and having to sit down in multiple jobs and create a "vision statement" for myself or for the company. We kind of need something like this to keep our actions in line with our desires.

So, what is your manifesto for 2012? Who do you want to be to your husband, to your kids, to God, to your neighbors, to your co-workers, to the blogging community? I sat down tonight and in a very stream of consciousness way wrote out my manifesto for 2012. My hope is that as I check back in, that I can identify how my actions need to shift in order to reach these goals.

I will share it with you. It comes from my heart. And, I would love to read yours. Would you share it with me?

My Manifesto | 2012

I am passionate about knowing my Father.

Hearing His voice and walking in tune with His Spirit are the desires of my heart.

I endeavor to learn to be still and know that He is God.

I endeavor to learn the way of listening and “being” and to share my journey and learnings with as many other “twitchy” souls that I can.

To walk in a posture of gratitude, receiving each moment as grace and savoring the gifts that are in front of me every single day.

That I would walk the wilderness seasons with hope and expectation of a Father who provides for His children, though His provision may not look the way we want it to.

I am passionate about loving my husband with a true love.

A God-breathed and blessed love that serves and honors and puts him first.

To be the kind of partner God dreamt of when He smiled to Himself and said, “It is very good.”

To speak words that are life-giving and to hold him up and build him up, not drain him.

To pray for him with a steadfast endurance that holds him up to the Father who is shaping him daily.

To trust that He is at work on this man, and I need not meddle in His development of this man He first loved and dreamt up.

To treat him the way I hope my precious son will be treated by my future daughter in law.

To praise him in front of our children and never speak ill of him in their presence.

I am passionate about loving my children with a true love that reflects God in all His unconditional and steadfast loving ways.

That I would model the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self-control) in my moment to moment interactions with them.

That I would look at them with love in my eyes and show them through my words and deeds that I am proud to be their mama and they are lovely.

That I would teach them how to hear truth and lies and how to fight the lies that they hear with truth.

That I would model gratitude, even in times of scarcity.

That I would teach them to run this race well - and that does not mean never bearing my aching soul to God. - That they would see a Psalmist’s heart in me and know that while I feel hurt and have questions, that I will forever praise the God who has saved me.

That I would lean into worshipping God in the midst of highs and lows. That we would be able to say, as a family,

Though the fig tree does not bud  and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails  and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen  and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,  I will be joyful in God my Savior.

That they would learn that He is our God in times of plenty and times of scarcity. He is worthy of praise and worship in all of these moments, and we would lead them down a hopeful highway of praise.

That they would remember us singing out praises even with empty barns, unyielding trees, and broken hearts that are being mended by the Creator’s nail pierced hands.

That I would cheer them on as they praise in the midst of pain.

That I would nurture their creativity, health, souls and minds.

That I would never stop telling them the miraculous story of their creation and that they are my “Red Sea” moment.

That they would know that even if God told me I could pick any children in the whole entire world to be mine, that I would choose them.

I am passionate about loving my community and neighbors with a shepherding love.

That I would walk through my neighborhood a little bit slower and really “see” my neighbors.

That I would not be so busy in my to do lists that I miss the moments to share God’s love with those around me in an authentic and tangible way. ...Sitting with them as they confess the anxiety over their autistic son's future. ...Praying with them for hope and joy and fighting for a perspective of God that is bigger than the now. ...Coloring with the littles and opening my home for messy play dates. ...Being willing to have the home where they can come with questions and sit on my barstools and talk for hours (my mom did this well). ...Rallying alongside of the single mothers who are stretched and tired.

That we would be a “House of Prayer”. -God lead the hurting and broken hearts to our door and anoint this home as a haven for the broken. Teach us to pray so that You hear and You come and You heal (souls and bodies).

That I would not be afraid to be “this person” in my community.

That I would love the many children in this neighborhood and see them with God’s eyes. -That I would hope daily in prayer for them to be set free from entitlement and brokenness that plagues our generation and the generations to come.

That I would indeed share the good news with the poor in spirit, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61)

That I would help women battling anxiety, despair, depression and feeling so alone walk in freedom and joy. (He gives beauty for ashes, oil of gladness for mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. Isaiah 61)

That there would be an entire generation that are called “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isaiah 61:3) that begin as seedlings at our KWAV’s meetings.

That we would stand in solidarity with the poor, the widows and orphans and people fighting injustice in our local community and be peacemakers (physical and spiritual).

I envision nights of prayer and worship. I envision community meals. I envision multiple discipleship groups for men and women. I envision home groups that are the highlight of everyone’s weeks because they cannot wait to love and be loved. I envision mentoring for teens. I envision families on mission trips together. I envision retreats for soul care and discovery. I envision Jesus changing lives.

[source: etsy]

Do I feel equipped to live this out?

Me?

No. I am a mess. I am a gal who has to breathe out the words, "I trust You" over and over as I endeavor to walk in a path of peace. I am a wife who has to bite her tongue not to criticize. I am a mom who loses patience over and over. I am a selfish neighbor who often just wants to stay inside in my cozies and paint and sew and not talk to anyone. But, I am taking God at His word these days. That He shows up in our weakest moments and I am going to rely on that power to be what I need to take ground this year.

my name is hope

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:55:00 +0000

In yesterday's post, I shared a bit about the "wilderness" season I am in. There have been some amazing resources that have served me really, really well in this time. I have to give the disclaimer that while I have always been a bit of a melancholy soul, the last couple years of our life have been a pressure cooker for that melancholy. I have struggled with anxiety amidst the petri dish that is my life. These resources have been so, so eye opening and helpful for me.

I'd love to share them with you. If you are walking in your own wilderness season, I think these could be resourceful for you:

One Thousand Gifts - by Ann Voskamp. It seems like the entire world knows about this book, and yet, I continue to give copies to people who have never heard of it. It is amazing. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Like re-read 5 times in a row amazing (I have!). Read out loud passages to anyone in the room amazing (my husband has fallen in love with it too!). It has changed my life and, next to the Bible, has been the most impactful book I have read in my Christian journey.
Jesus Calling, by Sara Young. As I shared yesterday, this is one of the ways I start every day. I read the day's passage and journal about it and the verses that go with it. It is a true gift to me. Each day feels as though it was written just for me. The funny thing is, nearly every other person I know who also reads this book feels the same way. We also read the Jesus Calling for kids with our kids before we hit the road for school. Love it too.
My name is Hope, by John Mark Comer. My husband and I were able to get away for a few days last weekend and visit Portland, OR. It was a gift of a weekend on so many levels. One of the huge gifts in it was that we got to attend an amazing church called Solid Rock Church. John Mark Comer is the lead pastor there and we were blessed to get to hear him teach Part 3 of a series titled "my name is Hope". His book was written as his way of sharing all he has learned about walking with anxiety and depression, and more importantly, walking victoriously along side of anxiety and depression. This message series and book will indeed bless many people. If you are in a season that is stretching you in this regard, I would pull up a seat and watch the videos. Order the book. My favorite quote was, "Anxiety is momentary atheism." Ouch. So true. If my worries are eclipsing my trust in God, I am not really trusting God, right? Get ready to do battle - you have a fight ahead of you. But, you will have the tools to wage a Bourne Identity level fight. Or maybe a Sidney Bristow level fight. You choose. Just kick some booty.
"At the end of my rope", by Mike Erre. This is a message taught by Mike Erre, a pastor at Mariner's church. I listened to this message via podcast the other day (you can download it in iTunes if you search Mariner's Church in the store. Look for "at the end of my rope" for the Irvine Campus). God has clearly gifted this friend of mine to teach His word! It is courage for the weary soul and hope for anyone who feels like they have more than they can handle on their plate. You just might have more than you can handle. And, what Mike asserts is that God is actually in the business of giving us more than we can handle so that we have to rely on Him. Pull up a seat and watch the video if you have the time today. You will be glad you did.

My hope is that these will encourage you wherever you are. Encourage means to pour courage into, so may courage be poured into your heart, mind and soul.

the wilderness

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:55:00 +0000

[the proud smile of a boy who lost his first tooth]

It has been a while since I have written my heart out here. I have always been a "writer". As a child my days would be spent writing lists, stories, letters, love notes to my mom and dad, apology notes that I would slip under my brother's door when we were in time outs (he would often tear them up and slip them back under mine, prompting tears and lament), and journaling. In my college years, journaling became my peaceful place. The place where I could process life and ponder all of those deep parts of life that I was diving into. I still journal daily. It is a huge part of my daily quiet time.

My latest "quiet time" routine is waking up before my kids, which if you know my daughter, you know that this is EARLY. It is a discipline because I love my cozy bed, but this time has become honey for my soul. And, this is a season where my soul needs every drop of honey it can get.

I sit down with my journal, my Bible, and a copy of the book Jesus Calling. I start by reading a couple Psalms. They settle me in a way that I cannot explain. I often feel like a tortured soul - I feel everything pretty deeply and I process everything (if not out loud, then in my head). And, these fellas who wrote the Psalms make me feel like I am in good company. Any scriptures that stand out get copied into my journal, and then beneath them I begin to list what is truth in that passage. Then, I list how those truths impact me now - in the moment and in this season.

Next, I go to the day's Jesus Calling passage and I look up the scriptures connected to that days passage. I copy those into my journal and do the same thing - write what I know to be truth and what it says about God/Jesus. Then, I write what this means to ME.

At this point, I try to sit for a few minutes and just listen. I recently heard an amazing woman speak on prayer who gave the analogy of sitting down to lunch with a dear friend and having so much to share, but saying, "You go first." I try to say to God, "You go first. I know you have something to say to me and I want to listen." This is a super hard discipline for me. Super. HARD. I am such a do-er. I am twitchy. It is hard for me to sit still. Really, really hard to quiet my mind. It takes a lot of prayer and discipline to sit still and listen. But, I am at a place in my life where I feel a bit like a toddler who has this amazing mother who is going to hold me still until I stop flailing. My soul feels a bit like a flailing toddler sometimes and God comes near and holds me still. It is painful but I am committed to learning to be still.

Lastly, I pray. I write my prayers. I write my thanks and my fears and my questions and my ponderings. Sometimes it feels like I write my guts out. Lately, I have felt like that is the only writing I can do. When it came to sitting down to blog, I was just so uninspired. I treated it as a sabbatical and felt that I would know when I was supposed to sit back down and blog. Today was that day. I was so inspired by another woman's story and willingness to share her journey that it hit me that this journey of mine just may resonate with others. There is courage found when we feel that we are not alone. Isn't it comforting to commiserate with other mamas about sleep deprivation? You walk away feeling normal. Because in the darkness of that room, with the crying baby and the heavy eyes, you do feel so alone, don't you. You feel like you must be the only mom who cannot get her baby to sleep and you wonder what is wrong with you or this baby. But, in the light of day - in that moment where you hear the TRUTH that you are not alone - there is a special kind of freedom. That has always been my favorite thing about blogging. I love the tips and recipes and ideas, but it is this moment of soulful humanity connection that I love more than anything.

So - I am committed to writing a bit more. My hope is that out of this story of mine, other souls will take courage. More importantly, as God's hope shines out of this story of mine, others will take courage in leaning into this same God.

Where I am right now is "stretched". I am stretched to the place that feels like the end of my rope. And, I am learning that the end of my rope is where God lives. We are in a place of transition, and it feels a bit like we are the Israelites wandering through the desert. I read this passage from Psalm 105 the other day:

"...He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night.
They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
He opened the rock and water gushed out;
like a river it flowed in the desert.
For He remembered His holy promise given to his servant Abraham.
He brought out His people with rejoicing,
His chosen ones with shouts of joy;
He gave them the lands of the nations,
and they fell heir to what others had toiled for -
that they might keep His precepts and observe His laws." - vs 39-45

This passage has God's faithfulness all over it. He led His people through the wilderness with this cloud by day and fire by night. He provided food and water for them. He eventually leads them to the promised land - land that they did not toil over.

But, they were wandering in the desert for a long time. If you know the story of the Israelites you know that they live this sort of schizophrenic posture of gratitude and angst. Hmmm, sounds familiar. For in my own life, I live these moments of gratitude and recognition that God is here and is providing for our daily needs. But, the angst is lurking there too - when I look ahead of the cloud covering today or the fire lighting up this moment - it's darkness ahead. In that darkness fear and uncertainty lurk. I see that faith journey that the Israelites were taken on, and how they were walking behind God's very presence as a guide both day and night. I am sure that they had to fight to keep their eyes in the moment or they would freak out. The view of the wilderness stretching before them was staggering, I am sure. I love how this passage says, "They asked and He brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven."

Wow. It is my prayer that my heart and mind would have an aching bent towards God's precepts and laws and desires. That I would see when my eyes wander from the cloud and fire. God is leading us in our own "wilderness" and we are seeing His hand in our lives daily in radical ways. He is the same God who leads, protects, and provides for His peoples' needs.

That is the truth. I have to wash my mind daily in that truth.

My sweet son recently lost his first tooth. It was so loose that when he would eat it would wreak all sorts of havoc on him and he was in pain. It was time for that baby to come out. He attempted pulling it out himself, but then in tears announced that he really wanted his Papa to help him pull it out.

They sat on the couch - Callen straddling my husband as he wiggled that tooth and gently worked on getting it out. Man, that tooth was stubborn. It did not want to come out. I could tell my husband was a bit flabbergasted at how long it was taking. My son sat there with tears streaming down his face, breathing through the pain, watching his Papa stare into his mouth with fingers twisting and pulling.

In the midst of it, Callen reaches up and grabs Drew's face and with his two hands cupping his daddy's face, says:

"Papa, thank you for helping me.
I am brave, but I need your help.
And, this is exciting."

All of this is said with tears streaming down his face. We choked back our own tears and affirmed him for his bravery and told him it was our privilege to help him. (This boy is such a gift and precious sweet spot in our days!)

Eventually, the tooth came out and there was a pretty huge celebration because it was quite the labor of love.

The next morning, I was in the kitchen finishing up my quiet time and I had this feeling of frustration at the wilderness journey that we are in. I feel ready to be to the end of it. God very gently nudged my mind back to the moment on the couch and spoke these words to my heart:

"Ali, you are on my lap. Your tooth is loose but it is not an easy one to pull out. I am holding you and I am helping you. You ARE brave, and it will come out. Just rest on my lap and let me help you. Thank me for helping you. And, this is exciting."

Humbly, I look to His face with tears streaming down mine. Thankful for His lap. Thankful for His hands. Thankful for His help. And, thankful for this journey that is exciting and teaching me so much.

Ask Meleesa Ponytail Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:50:00 +0000

Today we have another fabulous video tutorial from Meleesa, our resident hair and beauty expert and advocate. This tutorial is brilliant! Meleesa instructs on how to create a low ponytail, a side ponytail (that can be varied into a great side-swept bun), the ponytail with volume (that can be accessorized with head bands, or converted into a great bun for evenings out or a break from the every day "mom hair").

Not only will this tutorial help us out with our own hair, but it is really helpful for doing your daughters' hair. I am so excited to set up shop in my bathroom with my iPhone and practice along with Meleesa.

Meleesa is not just our resident expert here at Mama Manifesto, but she is also the local expert at her beauty salon in Huntington Beach, CA.

Continue to submit your questions for Meleesa here at Mama Manifesto (leave a comment), or by emailing askmeleesa@meleesathesalon.com

Wishing you all a GREAT hair day today.

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:08:00 +0000

We have another video tutorial for you today from Meleesa, our resident beauty expert. She is not just our resident expert here at Mama Manifesto, but she is also the local expert at her beauty salon in Huntington Beach, CA.

This video tutorial arrives with perfect timing for the Holiday season. She takes us step by step through how to get that beautiful, sassy, soft-tousled look for all the parties and holiday events on your calendar from now through New Year's Eve.

Go ahead and take your phone or computer in the bathroom with you so you can follow along. Your husband will only mock you until he sees how gorgeous you look - then, he will be speechless!

Products used in the video:

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray

Ginalli curling wand

Continue to submit your questions for Meleesa here at Mama Manifesto (leave a comment), or by emailing askmeleesa@meleesathesalon.com

Happy Holidays, mamas!

Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:14:00 +0000

When I was growing up, Thanksgiving was a mostly elegant occasion. My grandmother would spend two manic days preparing the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread dressing, pumpkin pie and more, and proudly serve it to a pack of unruly grandkids on her finest china.

Of course, no Thanksgiving spread would be complete without the cranberry sauce, and so it appeared on Grandmother's table every year, a little crimson cylinder shaped like a tin can dumped onto a small silver tray. I have no memory of ever eating a bite from the cranberry can, nor do I recall ever seeing anybody else eat it. Maybe Grandmother thought of the cranberry can as a decoration, but it never seemed like it quite belonged alongside the other freshly-prepared offerings.

Years later, when I assumed the role of Thanksgiving hostess, I used to skip the cranberry sauce altogether because I didn't see the point of opening a can only to throw the sauce away two hours later-- until a friend showed me how easy it is to make your own cranberry sauce from scratch. My Thanksgiving table has never been the same.

Now I know that a lot of folks are loyal to classic cranberry sauce from a can, and if that's your position, I say rock on! But if you're looking to try a fresh and ridiculously easy recipe that will amaze your holiday guests, this is it. Homemade cranberry sauce takes about 15 minutes to prepare, but you need to make it the day before so that it has time to chill. This is also a great recipe to get kids cooking; my daughter made a batch last night for her classroom's Thanksgiving feast. This recipe comes from the second edition of The Joy of Cooking.

Ingredients

1 pound fresh cranberries, rinsed
2 cups sugar (yes, it's a lot of sugar, but keep in mind, cranberries are tart)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange zest ( but you can skip this if you want)

Cook, uncovered, over medium heat until most of the cranberries pop open and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 7 to 10 minutes. Cool and refrigerate over night.

The berries require little attention while they're cooking, just a stir now and then, but if you have a child old enough to work at the stove, like my daughter, you can let her have the fun of stirring as much as she wants -- it won't hurt the sauce a bit. Enjoy!

“E” for Everyone – @OKtoPlay

noreply@blogger.com (Michele Spring Fajeau) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:46:00 +0000

We are a family of four and home to an Xbox 360, Microsoft Kinect, Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintedo DSi XL, and of course, two smart phones. There are currently 22 apps on my phone – 10 of which are games (9 the kids chose).

At 10 and 6, my kids love to play video games. And, for the most part, it’s a non-issue in our house. They are busy with school and activities, which means little time for games during the week. However, if they want to play for a couple hours with their friends on the weekend, I’m totally okay with that. It’s all about choices and balance.

For all my coolness, I do get a bit twitchy this time of year. With the holidays around the corner, I can see the avalanche of stuff coming our way – expensive gadgets and games that are often given before the kids are old enough to enjoy them, and even worse, riddled with unexpected questionable content.

In my haste last December, I suggested the game Dance Central to accompany our new Kinect. Great game, indeed. It gets your heart moving and my kids love seeing their dance moves replayed on the screen during the “free dance” sequence. Plus, you can compete with one another. It’s pure fun.

But, there’s still that twinge of “oh no – what will we see next” when we play. The virtual dancers are clad in gangster wear (guys) or short-shorts (girls). Plus, there’s a few moves that let’s say, should be saved for the college party scene. If only I had taken 5 minutes to check the game rating, I would have seen that it had earned a “T” for “Teen” before suggesting it as a family gift.
Ah-hem.

ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) is a non-profit, self-regulatory body that rates video games based on age, as well as provides content descriptors to indicate what triggered the rating (e.g., suggestive content, language, violence). ESRB's mobile app (free) is a gem. Instead of standing there gape-mouthed and paralyzed, trying to assess the "appropriateness" of a game, I can instantly "call up" the ESRB app for a rating and content summary. Voila! ESRB takes the surprise factor out of an expensive purchase.

Additionally, ESRB is an invaluable resource for protecting my kids online. The website includes step-by-step instructions for how to set parental controls on all the major gaming consoles, plus handhelds. ESRB is also actively involved in COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act) – key legislation that dictates the rules relating to kids and the Internet.

The ESRB app is an invaluable addition to my mobile toolkit. No doubt – I’ll be one of “those moms” at the holiday parties, whipping out my iPhone to demo the ESRB app. I’ll call it “Guess the Rating” and it will be a hit among the mothers of suburbia.

(Note: Michele recently helped to coordinate blogger outreach with Patricia Vance, president of ESRB, on behalf of Zebra Partners. The above post reflects her uncensored and passionate views of ESRB’s mission to educate & empower parents.)

Hair Color & Styling Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Today we get to share the first of our video tutorials from Meleesa.

We have the video broken into 2 parts due to its size. The first video focuses on color tips and suggestions with regard to coloring your hair. Melessa specializes in a color technique called "Bayalage", which ends up looking like very natural and sun-kissed highlights.

Towards the end of the first video, and in the second video, Meleesa gives a step-by-step tutorial on blowing your hair out. This tutorial was at my request, because as I shared with you all yesterday, I truly need to watch a step by step tutorial as I blow dry my hair.

I must preface these videos by saying that I was not drunk or in pain during the filming of these videos, although it does look like I am. Meleesa, on the other hand, is all gorgeous and stylish and cute in her Costa Rican way.

Please share your questions for Meleesa in the comments on this post.

An Introduction to Meleesa

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:12:00 +0000

I am beyond excited to introduce a new contributor to Mama Manifesto. I met Meleesa the day I walked into her beauty salon in Huntington Beach to get my hair cut. I quickly learned that Meleesa is far more than a hair stylist and is more like a hair advocate (and just generally an amazingly beautiful and generous person). She is really good at what she does, and takes the time to interview each client about their hair before she begins to style it. In our interview time we quickly connected and saw that we had an opportunity to partner.

Here is where I have to explain something - I am the most challenged gal I know when it comes to hair and make up. For reals. I have never in my life really been able to blow dry my own hair well. I feel like my arms get tangled up and I just simply do not know what I am doing. So, what do I do? Well, I kind of don't do anything. I tend to wear my hair in a lot of ponytails. I tend to be frustrated by it all the time. My hair feels like it has a mind of its own - it's not quite sure if it is curly or straight and the frizz factor makes me crazy. Good hair days for me are few and far between and I never know how to communicate what I want in a hair style to a stylist.

One of the things I have learned in the past few years of having a blog is that if I am feeling something, it is pretty safe to assume that there are many other women out there who feel the same way.

This was our "aha" moment! After Meleesa spent time talking through my questions and teaching me how to do my hair, I told Meleesa that I wished I could help other women out there get their beauty and hair questions answered. I don't think you should only get to have good hair days when you can afford to get blow outs once a week, or when you are one of those gals who just knows how to do her own hair. (You are the ones who make it look so easy!) I think that we should all be able to ask questions and learn how to deal with the pet peeves that drive us crazy. The Lord knows I have a list a mile long.

So, here is the deal, mamas - Meleesa is now YOUR hair and beauty advocate! You can ask away with your questions. Have a favorite style you found on pinterest that you don't know how to implement? Ask Meleesa! Have a question about color? Ask Meleesa! Want to know what cut would suit your face? Ask Meleesa! No question is too silly to ask because if she doesn't know the answer, she can lean into her amazing community of stylists to try and find it.

We are going to be tackling questions on a weekly basis (hair, makeup, beauty product, etc.), and we are also going to share a tutorial video once a month that will hopefully give a truly visual education. Meleesa also pursues healthier, greener beauty products so she will be sharing her recommendations here as well.

Please do share your questions here in the comments, or send your questions via email to askmeleesa@meleesathesalon.com.

This obviously goes without saying, but, if you live in the Southern California area and you do not absolutely LOVE your hair stylist, you have got to give this gal a call. Her salon feels like an anthropologie styled living room and you will feel so cared for by her incredible staff. She has a spa upstairs too. Her beauty salon is located in down town Huntington Beach, and you will love her!

We (and by "we", I totally mean her, so don't worry!) are looking forward to tackling those questions so start thinking and asking.

Tune in on Thursday for our first video tutorial!

Here's a little more information about Meleesa ...

Halloween Math

noreply@blogger.com (Ali ) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 06:02:00 +0000

I stumbled on this fabulous creation today on pinterest and had to share it with you all.

Over at Lasso the Moon, you can print your own "Track Your Loot" sheet so that you can do some post trick-or-treating math.

Here is what Zina wrote:

Trick-or-treating doesn’t have to be all about eating candy for dinner. It is also a fun opportunity to practice math skills. This year we’ll be sorting and charting some of the top brand candy bars. We’ll play simple adding and subtraction games, like “If Mom eats three of your twelve Kitty Kat bars how many will you have left?”

If you have an older child you can ask more advanced math questions like, “What percentage of your loot has chocolate in it?” Halloween is a great chance to make playing with numbers fun. Don’t miss the opportunity.

Going Green for Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Through the magic of Twitter, I recently learned about Green Halloween, a non-profit, grassroots initiative striving to create healthier, eco-friendlier holidays-- starting with Halloween. Launched in Seattle in 2007 by a mother of two, the nationwide movement, now a program of EcoMom Alliance, is all about educating and inspiring communities by showing how easy, affordable, and fun it can be to factor the earth and our health into our daily choices.

The Green Halloween website is full of information and tips. Here's their list of ten simple steps to make Halloween more people-healthy, animal-friendly and earth-conscious.

1. Choose no-waste pumpkins. Instead of purchasing one big pumpkin, select several smaller ones, then, instead of carving, paint on faces with non-toxic paints or decorate with yarn, ribbon, bottle caps and other found items. Smaller pumpkins can be put in the fridge when not on display to keep them fresher and once Halloween is over, you should be able to cook 'em up instead of tossing.

2. Use beeswax candles. If you do carve and put a candle in your pumpkin, choose 100% beeswax. Most candles are made from paraffin, a petroleum by-product. Beeswax burns cleanly, lasts longer and releases a wonderful, all natural aroma.

3. Use LED lights. By now everyone knows that incandescent lights don't last very long, cost pretty pennies to use and burn HOT. LEDs now come in every size from mini-flashlight to outdoor spotlight. They are the safer, more sustainable option.

4. Seek out alternatives to conventional candy.

5. Set up or participate in a costume swap. According to Robert Lilienfeld of the Use Less Stuff Report, roughly 25 million children in the United States celebrate Halloween. Swapping just half of those costumes would reduce annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons.

6. Make decorations instead of buying. In 2009, Halloween spending totaled $4.75 billion. This figure includes décor, candy, costumes and other items. Since Halloween is the second biggest holiday after Christmas for décor, a huge chunk of change goes toward glowing lawn art, orange and black table decorations and millions of sets of Halloween-themed light strings. If you're aiming for a Green Halloween, try cutting your décor budget by 25%. Then fill in the difference with handmade items.

7. Hand out less. Everyone acknowledges we have a childhood obesity problem in this country. Nonetheless, people say, "Why not give out bunches of candy? It‘s only once a year." The fact is that kids are exposed to candy and other sweets daily. Sugar is in everything from cereal to the lollipop they get at the bank. Halloween can be just as much fun even if a child brings home significantly less than the average of 10 pounds of candy.

8. Walk in your neighborhood, don't drive.

9. Bag it, green style. Instead of buying a single-use, disposable candy-carrier, make your child's goodie bag. Use a pillow case or something you already own that goes with the theme of the costume. A purse for a princess? A backpack for a mountain climber? A helmet for a football player?

10. "Recycle" candy & natural décor. Food rotting in landfills leads to the release of methane gas, which contributes to climate change. So don‘t toss leftover candy and rotting pumpkins -- recycle them! Composting turns food waste and natural décor (such as hay from your scarecrow) into nutrient-rich food for your plants, shrubs and trees.