My Suburban Utopia

my big announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Confession: I cringe when "inspirational" or "life lesson" quotes pop up in my social media feeds. Sometimes they're true. Sometimes they're not. Most of the time I feel like I'm being preached to by an invisible self-help guru. Sure, when I think of it I try to be the change I want to see or keep calm and carry/blog/drink/pin on, but I don't need a steady stream reminding me the "triumph" is just "umph" added to "try". After all, when you point the finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing at you. See? Isn't that annoying?!

That said, a quote from Bill Cosby was the first thing I saw when I logged onto Facebook two nights ago:

"Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."

There's this thing that I want. No, it's not another baby. Right now I have more fear about another pregnancy than I do desire to endure one. Nope, this thing that I want is something from my Bucket List that has to be well-timed and well-trained. Other people can help me, but ultimately, I have to do it all on my own. Per this Lindsay and this Lindsey, I also need to say it on the internet for the whole world to see so I don't wuss out. Have I mentioned how awesome Twitter can be when you need instant validation?

Is it possible for me to take ANY LONGER getting to the point? It's like I know that once I get there, I have to do it - which brings me back to the afore-mentioned quote. When I read it, I had been e-mailing back & forth with the owner of a cool, fully-restored historic hotel near my husband's hometown. Where I was considering reserving a room. For the evening before...

...my first Half Marathon.

My new running shoes. The clerk told me not to look down until I had chosen a pair based on fit alone.
SURPRISE! Lime green!

It took a while for me to find a race that gives me adequate time to train and doesn't fall on a Sunday. I'd actually written it off entirely until I stumbled upon a tiny little half-marathon sponsored by a MOPS group in this cute little town about an hour away.

- What if I can't finish?
- What if I get sick the week of the race?
- What if I get injured this summer?
- What if I'm pregnant by then?
- What if I never get to the point where I like running?
- What if I'm allergic to that gel stuff that gives you energy?

These are only a few of the ridiculous thoughts I've had when working up the nerve to commit to this race. However, in the last few months I've been using Couch to 5k and 10k apps and am now up to 5 miles...surely 13.1 isn't an unrealistic goal for 6 months into the future (this Lindsey is aiming for the full 26.2 this spring!).

Since registration isn't open yet, I can't use that as my "Oops! Well, now you HAVE to do it!" psychological trick. But a hotel reservation? That's a step in the right direction. Even more so? Hitting "publish" on this post. Because I think I finally want this more than I'm afraid of it. And the only thing to fear is fear itself.

Not really. I think there are a LOT of things more frightening than fear.

You get the point, though, right?

cold weather skincare

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

Since having my first baby, my body chemistry has changed noticeably. Pre-Katherine, I rarely needed lotion after a shower. But now? My skin has to be moisturized! My arms, legs, and face feel so much drier - especially in winter with the heater on full blast.

Of course, since having my first baby, I've also become a crazy Label Reader. Whether it's food, household cleaners, or skin care products, I'm becoming less and less comfortable bringing excess chemicals into my house. This means I've found some yummy, inexpensive, and natural ways to cut out the yucky stuff we don't need without compromising comfort and effectiveness.

As you know, Katherine has ultra-sensitive skin. In order to keep us both comfy in the cold and dry Kansas climate, I rely on these three simple steps to keep the itchies away:

1. Drink Enough Water. Hydration from the inside out is often overlooked when caring for skin. If our bodies aren't getting enough water, lots of nasty side effects pop up: headaches, dry mouth, dry skin, even blemishes from toxins that aren't being removed from the body. Water not only hydrates our skin, it flushes impurities and refreshes us at the cellular level. Keep a large glass (Kitty and I both have Camelbaks) nearby so you can drink throughout the day - and have some orange or lemon slices or a pitcher of iced green tea on hand so you don't get bored. I even keep bottled water in the back of my car so I'm not as tempted to swing through Sonic for a Cherry Dr. Pepper when we're out and about. Mmmmmm. Cherry Dr. Pepper.

2. Control Your Climate. The higher your heat is set, the drier your skin will be. Consider turning it down a degree or two and wearing warm layers. I also keep the tea kettle on low, returning some lost moisture back into to the air, as well as having a humidifier running in Katherine's room 24/7. In my experience, a $10 humidifier works as well as a $50 one, so you don't have to spend a lot...though I do love my "cool mist" humidifier. Katherine inherited my clumsiness, and we've both appreciated NOT being burned when accidentally knocking it over.

3. Skip the Lotion. Perhaps the most surprising thing I've discovered is how much better a high quality oil (coconut, jojoba, almond) or butter (cocoa, shea) feels on my skin than expensive, chemical-laden creams and lotions. In the summer, they add a glow to your tan while extending its life - and in winter, they keep the itchies at bay while keeping your skin's moisture locked in. They last longer and you typically use less - so they're more economical, too! And? I really don't think there's anything more fun than smelling like chocolate every day (ahem, cocoa butter). Stay tuned for my experiments in DIY oil-based facial cleansers and homemade lip balm!

How does your beauty routine change in the cold winter months?

easy sausage skillet meal {gluten-free, dairy-free}

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:13:00 +0000

The next best thing to a dinner your Crock Pot (Spell Check is insisting that I mean "crackpot") cooks for you is a one-skillet meal. Bright, colorful and oh!so!fast! Even gluten and dairy-free, if you need it to be. From start to finish, it takes less than 20 minutes to prepare, and clean-up? A cinch!

- 1 package of your favorite sausage

- 1 red onion (or 2 leeks)
- 1 eggplant

- 2 bell peppers
- Optional: 1 cup of sliced mushrooms or fresh spinach

This is one of my faves. You can use any veggies that will brown easily in a non-stick skillet and your family's favorite link sausage (I typically use beef, turkey, or chicken only because pork is so greasy it makes my tummy hurt).

First, slice the sausage and (no this probably isn't technically the best way to cook it, but it's yummy!) heat the pan just past medium-high. Sizzle it up until it starts to brown. Then remove the sausage from the pan but leave the grease. Using what I had on hand, I sliced bell peppers, an eggplant, and some leeks - but just about any veggies should work. Throw them into the hot pan and brown them until they are slightly soft but still a bit crunchy (5-7 minutes).

Add your meat back to the pan, toss, and season with pepper (this is also where I throw in a couple handfuls of spinach to wilt). You can serve with rice, pasta, or quinoa on the side - or nothing at all. It's pretty filling all by itself!

why i skipped the new year's resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:58:00 +0000

I had them, BELIEVE me. Boy, did I have them. A whole list of cool ways to use my own strengths and weaknesses to make my own self look super awesome on paper.

The problem is that no one actually looks at your life on paper...except for God and sometimes you when December 31st rolls around. And while there was nothing wrong with any of my resolutions in and of themselves, they all had a common theme:

Make my body, my house, and my life look better to those who take an occasional peek at them.

What an exhausting and shallow way to live! There wasn't much in the way of spiritual growth or self-discipline...of dying to myself to give more to others...of preparing myself by God's grace for eternal things instead of knocking myself out to preserve things I know are only temporary.

It was this sermon by Joel Beeke that really convicted me about how I was planning to use 2012 for my own glory. Chapter 11 of Jerry Bridges' The Pursuit of Holiness (the book my Friday morning ladies group is reading) was also particularly convicting concerning self-discipline and doing things that aren't wrong (necessarily) but aren't beneficial for the body. While they probably didn't intend for their audience to ditch New Year's Resolution-Making, that's what I decided to do.

In its place are these general guidelines for the New Year:

1. Strive harder for the kingdom of heaven & obedience here on earth

2. Try new things

My hope is that #2 will keep me from feeling stuck in a rut and that many of those "new" things I try will fit under the larger umbrella of #1.

For instance:

In January, I formally began following the Paleo Diet (about 80% of them time). I want to lose a bit more weight before beginning negotiations on a sibling for Kitty, and I've also discovered some food allergies and a thyroid problem (yay!). So, my NEW diet (#2) means a lot of creativity in the kitchen and NEW recipes. It also means disciplining myself to stop eating foods I know for a fact make me sick (#1). You'd think it would be simple, right? Well, anyone who's ever traded momentary pleasure now for the miserable outcome later (which is ALL OF YOU) knows that it takes will power! And will power is no stinking fun! But the more you exercise self-discipline, the easier it gets, whether it's about food, money, work, etc.

In January, Katherine and I officially began our "schoool" and "Bible" time at lunch (NEW!). We pray, read a psalm and sing part of that psalm (depending how long it is). We also do flashcards (A-E, 1-5, and blue, red, green, yellow, and black). Most days, it would be easier to feed her & then put her down immediately for her nap. But. She loves her cards. And at 19 months, she now walks around the house saying, "Wuuuuun, tooooooo, fweeeeeee, YAY!" or "Eyeeeee, Beeeeeeeee, Sheeeeeeeee, YAY!" While she doesn't really know what it means? She doesn't have to. Hello, grammar stage :) What she is learning is that the Bible, numbers, and letters are important to mommy - hopefully, they will become more and more important to HER.

In January, my husband and I spent a Saturday getting CPR/First Aid certified (NEW!). Peace of mind, finally! It was fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't feel like they could live with the guilt of watching a human being die due to their own lack of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skillz. Did we want to give up an entire Saturday and $200 to share intimate moments with a rubber dummy? No. But we did it, and now we look better on paper.

In January, I got over my pride (because that's what insecurity really is) and went to a real running store (NEW!) and had a real running professional determine what kind of shoes I needed. My feet feel amazing now when I run. I'm using a Couch to 5k App & Bridge to 10k app (NEW!) to train for a 5k and 10k I've signed up for this spring (NEW!). It takes self discipline to hit the treadmill at 6:30 a.m. instead of taking a cup of coffee to my Reader and trolling through blogs, but now that I'm seeing and feeling progress? It's almost...kind of...fun?

I'll try to post at the end of each month with a few of the new things I tried and why (i.e., I've also recently stumbled upon the idea of washing your hair with baking soda and washing your face with oil of all things!). If you have any ideas, send them my way! I'm looking forward to adding a photography class, some races, and some traveling to my list this spring and summer but haven't really thought about much else.

How are YOUR goals for the New Year looking now that it's February?

gluten-free, egg-free ice cream sandwiches & fruit water

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Sounds like a party for your mouth, right?

We had my stepmom's birthday dinner last week and I was determined to serve a gluten, egg, and (almost) dairy free dinner for eight. Mostly because Kate, my sister-in-law and I all have dietary restrictions and it royally sucks trying to celebrate an occasion when everyone else is eating food you can't eat. It also sucks to be the hostess trying to accommodate everyone's different needs. Hello, my name is Erin and I will NEVER be invited to someone's house for dinner EVER AGAIN.

Anyhow, I chose to go with the least common denominator: Kitty. This meant a family meal with no wheat, eggs, milk products, potatoes, tomatoes or peppers. Surprisingly, this does leave you with a TON of options! No, really!

We had honey-seared ginger salmon, roasted asparagus, leeks & mushrooms, with brown & wild rice. There was also red wine and one of our favorites - fruit water! Throw ANY kind of fruit in water and chill for a minimum of 2 hours. Overnight is best. The result is a fresh and slightly sweet water flavored naturally by the fruits of your choice (pictured: oranges & strawberries).

For dessert I used Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix...and an extra cup of chocolate chips :) Substituting an arrowroot/water mixture for the Eggs of Toddler Death made them Kitty-Safe. I did use the butter, because that's the one dairy item that doesn't give her a rash - but you could probably use another oil.

Feeling very excited, I offered one to Katherine, hoping she would just LOVE these cookies that her mommy so painstakingly prepared. She took a nibble.

"Uh-oh."

She took another nibble.

"UH-OH!" with a frown.

"Honey, just try a real bite. They're yummy!"

Third nibble.

"No, no, no. Mommy?" she handed it back to me, "PEESE NO."

That's correct. My child actually begged me NOT to make her eat a cookie.

Truly, they were not bad! I think her issue was one of texture, not flavor...though they were better with ice cream. I froze the baked cookies to firm them up, then added a scoop of Vanilla Coconut Milk Ice Cream and smooshed them into sandwiches.

The verdict? Very successful. Even Kate appreciated them once it became apparent that the cookies were a perfect handle to use as she licked the ice cream out of the middle. File this one back in your gluten-free file. You never know when you'll need an easy gluten & egg free dessert!

4/52 :: unexpected perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I was trying to get a clear shot of her eyes but ended up with an almost painful reminder of how much she has changed in 8 short months :)

because the life you save could be...wait. does it really matter? because you just saved a LIFE.

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:02:00 +0000

When I was pregnant, I suddenly felt the urge to nurture and preserve the life of ALL LIVING THINGS. This included learning CPR, for some reason. Then I had my baby and didn't have time to take a CPR class. I didn't have time to do anything. The logistics of a sitter (not to mention pumping) and the cost of the class ($110) were enough to make me put it in the Someday I'd Like To pile in the back of my overcrowded mind.

Once in a while, I'd see it there and say to a friend, "We should learn CPR! Don't you think?" The friend would agree (because to disagree makes you look like a bad mommy) and then we'd forget about it. Because of the cost and the babysitter, and the giving up of an entire Saturday.

All the while, though, I had this nagging thought...partly fear, partly practicality, and entirely maternal:

What if Katherine needs help and I don't know what to do?
What if I have to watch my baby die because I don't know how to save her?

I'd likely lose my ever-lovin' mind, land in an institution, and sit staring at the wall whilst turning my nose up at their Jell-O squares. I guarantee that $110 and a Saturday would not seem like such a steep price then.

When my husband mentioned last month that there was an Adult/Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED certification class coming up at the Red Cross, I was super excited. Not so much because I thought it would be fun, but because I could finally just get it over with.

I loved it. Our instructor was knowledgeable, patient, and had used every technique we learned in real-life situations. I was with my husband (a whole day! just us!) so I didn't have to partner with a stranger (awkward) or worry if my mouth guard was protecting me from Stranger Diseases on our shared mannequins. As we drilled over and over and over again, I thought "This could be my husband. This could be my daughter." And on the tiny baby doll? "This could be my niece. This could be my next child." I'd be lying if I said I didn't get teary and choked up a few times. Even when it was my husband's turn, I was practicing in my head. Because ANY life saved is amazing. I may never use it (obviously I'm hoping I never have to), but if I do? Everyone is someone's husband, daughter, sister, parent, niece, nephew, etc. Things like learning CPR or giving blood seem like nice things for nice people to do in their spare time, but in reality those things make a difference to REAL PEOPLE every day. I'm truly thankful that my husband was proactive in enrolling us in the class, because clearly I was able to come up with a myriad of excuses as to why it was too much trouble.

It would be crazy awesome to save the life of a friend or loved one. But it would be equally awesome to save the life of a stranger (just like I did in a dream two nights ago - obsessed much?). I urge ALL OF YOU to take the time (or make the time, as the case may be) to learn basic CPR and First Aid - especially mommies of little wildebeests. There are bumps, bruises, cuts, scrapes and chokings in your future, that I can promise you that. Most of them will be minimal. Most of them won't require any kind of training. But just in case they do? You will be so glad you were prepared.

Here's a brief rundown of what we reviewed:

- How to approach and injured person and when to/when not to move them
- How to move them
- How to perform CPR on adults, children, and infants
- How to clear an obstructed airway of an adult, child, or infant (did you know you have to perform CPR if they have passed out from choking and the object is still in the airway? I sure didn't)
- How to use an Automated External Defibrillator (sounds scary, but is truly SO EASY)
- Basic First Aid

I'm one of those mamas who, in addition to the emergency bag in my purse, now carries a little kit with plastic gloves, gauze, and bandages. You never know what will happen at the park, zoo, or even your home. I've already used my purse kit twice on my nephew and once on my daughter - both times we were out in public with no resources other than what was in my bag! I'm excited to build First Aid kits for our cars, and to make our own kit for the house which is much more comprehensive than the dinky little one we currently have in the entryway coat closet.

What do you think? Is this just one more area where I'm going all First Time Mom crazycakes?

Head over to Growing Up Geeky for more mothering advice on this beautiful Toddle Along Tuesday!

guest posting

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Today I've been invited to Vanessa's "Porch" to chat. Head on over for the most fabulous carrot napkin tutorial available on the internet! Vanessa is a sweet little mama, dance teacher, and seamstress - if you're into crafting blogs, be sure to add hers to your reader!

do you "no poo"?

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Day 1: Can you kinda see my new highlights?

Since Katherine was born, I've only skipped washing my hair two days. TWO DAYS, people. Once was my first day home after giving birth, and the other was when I had my first fever as a SAHM. I've never been one of those girls who could go several days without washing my hair, because after 24 hours it's just too oily. In the summertime, I'd often wash my hair twice!

On Monday during my bi-annual hangout at the salon, my stylist and I got around to talking about oil, skin and hair. She's always got something new and interesting for me to learn, and she's my age with babies - so she knows how your body can change overnight and confuse the crap out of you. Anyhow, after a few minutes of chatting about my oily hair and how I'm still losing TONS of it in the shower drain at 18 months postpartum, she suggested an experiment. The No 'Poo Experiment.

For a long time I've known that harsh soaps and shampoos that strip your hair and skin of their natural oils only make you feel better temporarily...after those first few hours, the sebaceous glands start working overtime and produce more oil to make up for what you're lacking. So you wash again. And they overproduce again. It's a nasty cycle, and I've never known what to do about it! She suggested cutting my shampoo use in half - at the very least.

She explained how in The Old Days when fancy ladies would brush their hair hundreds of times each day, it wasn't because it got all tangled after a wild afternoon of needlepoint and letter-writing. They were actually pulling the oil from the top of their hair down through the tresses, removing excess oil from the top while naturally "conditioning" the ends. This made sense, so I kept listening - I mean, I was in foil, so I wasn't going anywhere. She told me that dry shampoo could be a problem with my dark hair, but that simply brushing my hair more intentionally (with a boar bristle brush) and using warm water without shampoo would retrain my scalp to produce less oil and keep my hair from drying out so quickly. "You can still use shampoo", she said, "just not as often. See how long you can go comfortably without."

So I did.

Day 1: I went through the motions of washing my hair in the shower without shampooing. I conditioned as usual. After blow-drying, I was SHOCKED to see that my hair LOOKED NO DIFFERENT than when I use shampoo!

Day 2: An added challenge - running day. I run three times a week, so not only was my hair a little oily, it was also sweaty. Once again, I used warm water in the shower and conditioned. I dried & styled my hair as usual. And this is what it looks like:

Day 2: In better light

I'm pretty much stunned. Now, on Day 2 after running, I will admit that it wasn't as easy to get my hair to do what I wanted it to do...but it still looks and feels clean. I'm going to try going one more day without, just so I know what happens, but for now I'm thinking maybe I'll just use shampoo on days that I run.

You lucky gals who don't have this problem must think I'm crazy to believe not washing my hair daily is earth shattering news - but what about those of you in my boat? Have you tried doing the most counter-intuitive thing possible and NOT washing your hair? Obviously, the hardcore No Poo-ers don't ever use shampoo. They use things like baking soda, vinegar & water, (great article on the why & how can be found here) which I'm sure you're all thinking sounds like it's right up my alley. I assure you it's not. Probably. I'm not opposed to trying it...but I think I'm a little too attached to my Biolage to give it up entirely. Every other day? No problem. Maybe sneak in some soda and vinegar slowly over time? Who knows.

And just like that (I snapped my fingers there) I cut my shampoo cost in half :)

dress up your toddler...and your camera...and your tea pot

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:22:00 +0000

You've asked about them, so here are some fabulous Etsy finds I'm loving lately!

XOXO Handmade - Twitter pal Ashley's camera strap cover shop is a must-see if there is a shutterbug in your life. Her covers are frilly, fun and feminine! I adore my teal and white damask strap, which not only gets compliments everywhere it goes, but insures that my camera is hardly ever in my husband's hands :)

Zebra pettiskirt from The Hair Bow Co.

A Perfect Treasure - So many of you want to know where I got Kitty's funky rosette hoodie - here's the answer! She also has a pair of rosette pants she's yet to grow into, and a killer hot pink cupcake onesie with rosette frosting. I die. We picked up our pieces at a local craft fair, but A Perfect Treasure does have some online listings as well. Oh! And she makes cool stuff for boys, too, we just don't have a need for those right now :)

Cozy Leaf - Of course, I'd be remiss not to mention one of our fabulous sponsors! Cozy Leaf is my one-stop shop for all things TEA. Winter? Summer? Every season is tea season! Pop on over to visit Abby, one of my very best friends in this world and check out her loose-leaf artisan teas in tins, wholesale, or bulk!

my house, clean. my hair, did.

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:03:00 +0000

It's so cliche to say that "parenthood changes everything"...but, a friend recently told me in an e-mail that cliches are cliches for a reason ;) Even at pre-pregnancy weight a mother's body (usually) doesn't look the way it did pre-pregnancy. Even if you have a baby who sleeps through the night at an early age, your nights of full, uninterrupted, completely care-free nights of slumber are over. Even if I were lying on a beach in Maui right now, I wouldn't be able to fully relax the way I did the last time I was there. I couldn't if Kate was there with me (is she eating sand? is she in the water? does she need more sunscreen? did that little boy just offer her a cookie?), and I couldn't if she was at home in Kansas with my mom (is she eating sand? is she in the water? does she need more sunscreen? did a little boy just offer her a cookie?).

So, too, does my house have a new standard of cleanliness. There are always stray pieces of popcorn under the couch and fingerprints on the windows, doors, and television. A few other reminders that our family now includes a toddler can always be found...if you know where to look :)

Now that our internet is back I'll try to finish up all these drafts that accumulated last week. During my hiatus SEVEN people found their way to My Suburban Utopia by searching "Monica Geller Friends Bad Hair". You'll be happy to know that I got my Monica 'do chopped and highlighted - yes, HIGHLIGHTED - yesterday. I could not be more happy with it, and it was all the result of a {slight!}misunderstanding. Mine, not my awesome stylist's. I wanted a trim to even up my layers and some color to make my grays go bye-bye. We were looking at the same picture. Talking about the same picture. Agreeing on what was too much and too little...except that I was talking about layering and she was talking about coloring. After a slight heart attack when I saw a pre-honey-brown slice of hair that was BLONDE, I ended up with a dark copper tint & some golden peek-a-boo highlights...and I feel like I have cool hair for he first time in forever! I'll try to take a pic in all that free time I have as the mother of a miniature Katniss Everdeen.

Speaking of which, I'm about 2/3 of the way through The Hunger Games (just add it to the growing list I call Twitter Made Me Do It), and while I've certainly not felt as though I couldn't put it down, I'm actually curious as to what will happen now. And mostly I just want to see the movie because I still have a hard time picturing her fire dress.

Lastly, Kitten attended her first non-family birthday party last weekend! Here's a sneak peek from the royal ball (her tut and matching zebra print boots came from this fabulous tutu wholesaler - yes, that's what I said. Fluffy tutus and pettiskirts at COST!).

let's do 52 :: open

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Last week's theme was "open"...like...how her eyes and mouth are open. Do you know how difficult it is to take a picture of a child who is fully mobile and doesn't even sit still in her sleep?

She snores, too.

3 inexpensive {but thoughtful!} baby shower gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

There are several seasons in our young adult lives. They all sort of blend into one another, and you often don't recognize a new season until it has passed. First, all your friends are graduating. Then, one-by-one, they succumb to a matrimonial fate. There was a solid 2 years of my life where I felt like all I did was attend bridal showers, weddings, and dress fittings! The cost? A lot for new college grads with student loans and car payments. Then, suddenly, all those married friends start popping out babies! And there are more showers! And more presents!

I'm a firm believer in purchasing from a bride or mama's registry, unless it's already full. If you really, really, REALLY feel the desire to give them a picture frame? Go ahead. But for a lot of married couples and parents starting out, I think it's more thoughtful to give them something you know they can use - something they probably researched, reviewed, and price checked.

However, if you don't have the money for a larger gift, aren't crafty enough to make your own, or if you want to throw in a few extras on top of an existing gift, here are 3 fun ideas for useful baby shower gifts that won't send you to the poorhouse.

1. Baby Laundry Soap. Infants' clothing needs to be washed in super gentle detergent, and there are several kinds on the market. This is something every new mama has to buy at some point! For a recent gift basket I assembled, I made a quick batch of our family's homemade laundry detergent. Then I dumped it in a jar with a tightly sealed lid ($2.99 at WalMart), made a cute personalized label, and tied some twine & a bow around it.
Total cost: $6

2. Itty Bitty Gift Basket. Tiny things go over well at baby showers. Assemble a gift basket of travel-sized baby shampoo, lotion, diaper cream, sunscreen, etc. Include some little socks and pacifiers to plump it up, and use a cute small basket with paper Easter grass for filler. Again, it's full of items the mommy will need to use eventually - whether she travels a lot or not. I don't have a pic of the Burt's Bee's gift basket I made, but it was a great way for my husband's cousin to sample some new products and a nice "individual" gift to bring even though I had also contributed to the large group gift. I love any kind of themed basket - from "Feeding" to "Teething", it's a great way to get creative!
Total cost: $15

3. Baby's First Library. Assemble a big stack of small children's books, and tie it up with a bow! You can hand-pick from a variety of new or gently used books and give the mama a good start on her little one's collection. I love the fact that my husband's aunt is always sending Katherine new books. It keeps us both from getting bored and has helped me not only to foster her interest in reading and learning but introduce a "Let's Be Quiet and Sit Still on Our Bottoms" time each day as well ;)

end piracy, not liberty

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:18:00 +0000

If you use the internet, this effects you - blogger or not. You know how {Communist!} China restricts its citizens' internet use, blocking them from accessing anything it doesn't want them to see? Congress is currently considering legislation (SOPA and PIPA) which could allow our government to do the same thing - even forcing internet search engines to erase entire websites from their search results.

Please consider signing the petition here.

grain-free cookies! and they're edible!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:34:00 +0000

You know how sometimes so much is going on that the last thing you ~~want to~~ have time to do is sit down and write about it? That's where I am.

Katherine's desire to learn has skyrocketed in recent weeks - as in, we're starting to work on letters, numbers, and colors at lunch time before we read and sing our psalm for the day. Since I plan to be her primary educator for at least the next 10 years, I realized I'm only making MY job easier if I start now. So I did. She loves it, and asked for "more" when I put the cards away today...you can't argue with that! The girl loves to learn!

I'm also running regularly, which AGAIN takes up a nice chunk of time in a day that already needs to be strategically executed in order to keep the house form imploding and still have dinner ready at 6:00.

This new way of eating while on the cleanse? Takes research, planning, and time in the kitchen if you don't want to be eating bland, boring food everyday - and I don't. I've lost 7.5 pounds and have 4 days remaining. Afterward, I plan to reintroduce grains (but not wheat) and dairy (minimally) but not change much else. I'm aiming for about an 80-90% Paleo diet.

So, all of that in addition to family get-togethers, laundry, Book Club, dishes, etc. has left me feeling a bit out of the loop here and on Twitter. The problem? Is that I'm liking it :) And until my new lifestyle and responsibilities become second nature, I really need to spend what tiny slivers of free time I can find working on them. Not to mention that I just don't blog about my friends and family (because I don't think it's fair), so there's not much I can share with you all right now. Except for what I'm eating!

Last weekend I made The Paleo Effect's Coconut Macaroons. Let me tell you - after being grain, sugar, and dairy free for nearly three weeks? These things might as well have been a 5 pound Death By Chocolate cake. SO GOOD.

My sister-in-law (also doing the cleanse) found an awesome roasted beet recipe. I was too lazy to look it up, so I just roasted them whole with some garlic, salt, and olive oil at 350 for an our. They were GREAT! I'm about to have leftovers over a warm spinach salad. I know you're not jealous? But you should be.

This morning I made an Asian Paleo Chicken Salad to be served in romaine wraps tonight at Book Club. And? I made my own MAYONNAISE. From stuff you can eat on the CLEANSE. I haven't tried it yet, but it all smells really yummy.

I feel fantastic and am just loving my little family right now. Please forgive me if I'm in and out for a little while. I won't get these years back, and 2 decades from now (when I'm FIFTY!!!) I know I won't be heartbroken because I should have blogged more :)

recipe :: stuffed zucchini (gluten free, dairy free)

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:10:00 +0000

It takes some creativity to keep from getting completely bored on a grain-free (except for wild & brown rice), dairy-free, sugar-free diet :) I made these stuffed zucchini yesterday and they were a welcome change. Lots of flavor served up on a bed of brown rice shell pasta - YUM! My husband didn't offer any positive feedback, but he also offered no complaints - so we'll call this one a win, since that means I didn't have to take the time to cook separate meals for us.

This serves two and can easily be doubled or tripled for more people. It's also a great dish to prepare ahead of time & refrigerate until dinner!

- 2 zucchini (the fatter the better!)
- 1/4 pound lean turkey
- 2 Roma tomatoes (diced)
- 2 green onions (sliced)
- A handful of spinach leaves (sliced)
- Italian herbs
- Garlic
- Salt & Pepper

Half the zucchini and hollow them out. As you can see, it doesn't have to be pretty! You're just going to fill them back up anyway :) As you're carving, brown the turkey.

When the sausage is nearly ready, throw in all the other vegetables (including some of the zucchini you just cut out) and seasonings and let them saute for a few minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Fill the zucchini and bake at 350 covered for 20 minutes - then uncovered for another 10. I sprinkled mozzarella on my husband's zucchinis for a little extra flavor. I also hadn't timed them very well with my pasta and ended up browning them in a skillet to hurry the cooking process along. It worked fine and added a nice flavor, as well.

cleanse update :: week one complete!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Week one of my cleanse is finished and I lost FIVE pounds! I lost it while eating a ton of food and hardly ever getting hungry. I walked...three times, maybe? Now that my family is over that nasty tummy bug, I'm hoping to backtrack a few weeks in my Couch to 5k program (I had finished it already) and start running a few times a week for the remaining 2 weeks of the cleanse.

Last time I did the Standard Process Purification, I lost the majority of the weight (water, toxic & otherwise) in the first week and then averaged a 2 pound loss the remaining 2 weeks. I doubt I'll lose 10 pounds this time, but any loss is progress, right? I'm feeling great and have tons of energy. I've already done all of my chores for the day (except running and showering) and it's not even nine!

For those of you curious as to what I've been eating, I'll start by saying that the smoothies are REALLY filling. I have one for breakfast and then actually have to make myself eat lunch so I can take more of the cleanse capsules. When you're not starving it's SO MUCH EASIER to make healthy choices! I'll usually roast some kale or broccoli or eat leftovers from the previous evening's dinner.

One night I roasted several vegetables in the oven, then pureed them in the blender with some chicken broth to make soup (garnished with avocado and cilantro). I added some lentils for protein and seasoned it with garlic, Himalayan sea salt, chili powder and garlic.

Another night, my husband wanted Chinese takeout, so I ordered brown rice and stir fried vegetables. Last week I also used all these veggies to make a rich ratatouille.

Last night we had my family over for our usual Sunday night dinner, so I served baked chicken with sundried tomatoes and artichokes (admittedly, this meal was a slight cheat, as you're not supposed to use canned or dried fruits/vegetables - only fresh and frozen) seasoned with basil, garlic, pepper and salt along with roasted Brussels sprouts and a brown/wild rice combo (with some chopped spinach hiding in there for extra color).

On the menu this week? Grilled salmon and asparagus, stuffed zucchinis, homemade spaghetti sauce with Italian turkey sausage served over brown rice pasta, and Cajun shrimp tossed salads. Smoothies for breakfast. Snackable veggies and leftovers for lunch.

I don't know why, but it feels so much easier this time around. Probably because I had already stopped eating dairy and wheat, so I haven't had to battle such huge cravings! I'm using the dairy-free version this time, as well, for those of you who have allergies or intolerance to dairy.

If you're considering doing a cleanse and have the guts to try a 21-Day detox diet, I highly recommend the Standard Process Purification and Weight Loss Kit. Granted, I haven't tried any others, but I've had awesome success with this one so far. Hopefully, this will push me through my weight loss plateau and give my poor ~~lazy~~ little thyroid a boost as well.

let's do 52 :: all natural

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Tons of bloggers are participating in photo challenges this year! In an effort to get myself more acquainted with my Rebel and Photoshop, I've chosen Paint the Moon's "Let's Do 52" challenge. The 365 day challenges are WAY too much of a commitment for me, and I absolutely LOVE Annie Manning's work. She is creative, generous, and her girls are beautiful (oh my word, their EYES - you simply will not believe them!). She also designs a lot of FREE actions (for PS, PSE, and CS) and storyboards I have used, and I would definitely says she's my favorite photography blogger.

Anyhow, consider this your warning - and join us if you're looking for some photo fun! Like PTM on Facebook for tons of freebies and inspiration!

Here's my photo for this week's theme, "All Natural". My nature girl and her grandpa found a feather while on their nature walk. They played with it FOREVER. Since the theme is "natural", I didn't process the coloring at all.

eighteen

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:05:00 +0000

Today Katherine Faith turns 18 months old. As I write this at 4:00 a.m., we have just (hopefully?) completed her first sad encounter with The Vommies. In the beginning, I thought she had coughed so much it caused her to throw up, but 3 hours and 4 more instances later, I'm pretty sure it's a tummy bug of some kind. I smell disgusting, but taking a shower would wake my husband. I want to sleep in my bed, but that would only expose him to the germs, and he really needs to go to work in the morning...ugh. He actually has to get up in about an hour and 20 minutes. So, here I sit, all told four hours, two loads of laundry, 4 episodes of The Backyardigans and three changes of clothes later. She's quiet, and I pray she's sleeping. And she's a year and a half old. Almost two, which is halfway to four, so kindergarten is JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!

Ok, maybe not. But it certainly feels that way! Before I gave birth to her, I imagined myself as that mom who kept track of every milestone's date, and every word learned along with a little story of the first time she aid it (because, really, you should have seen my nursing/diaper changing chart the first week she was home). In reality, I'm that mom who starts using her made-up words in every day conversation instead of the real ones I'm trying to teach her. "Kitty, do you want 'kwee'? Get 'na-na' in your chair and I'll give you some 'quo-quee' and 'cado'." Translation: "Kitty, do you want some food? Get up in your chair and I'll give you some turkey and avocado."

She has learned more real words, I promise. They include "hello", "more", "shoe", "eye", "poop","down", "toes" and she can also sign for "help". She can but she doesn't, because that would defeat the purpose of DOING IT BY MYSELF THANKYOUVERYMUCH, GET AWAY MOMMY! But as far as her total number of words? I stopped counting quite some time ago. Girlfriend is verbose, so it just doesn't feel like something I need to monitor. Otherwise, my competitive/comparative side comes out and that's just not good for either of us.

She loves to sing and dance. She loves to swing, slide, merry-go-round...basically anything with speed will bring a smile and a "Wheeeeee!" to her lips. She even gives her babies rides on daddy's office chair. She now tells us when her diaper needs to be changed, pointing to it and saying, "Poo?" Twice now she has taken my hand, led me to the changing table, and reached into the basket for a diaper.

Her favorite foods remain turkey, avocados, blueberries, grapes, and oatmeal with peach applesauce. She'll try anything you give her, but just can't seem to choke down sweet potatoes (even fries!) or squash. Any time I open the freezer she begs to snack on a bag of frozen peas. In fact, once I was icing a bonk on her head with some frozen corn, only to realize she had gnawed a hole in the bottom of the bag and was chowing down as fast as she could!

She's been a trooper with her teeth (all on the left side of her mouth - she looks like an awkward jack-o-lantern) and loves her family more than anything in the world. She sings "La, la, laaaa!" at the top of her lungs at church and has a serious crush on our pastor's dad. She makes her babies take naps every day, and always offers them food and drink. Her desire to fill her toy shopping cart with all her possessions and then push it through every room in the house has prompted her daddy to call her the Cutest Little Bag Lady in the Suburbs.

We are excited to begin prepping for her 2nd birthday party (yeah, ok, I am THAT mom) and will use the next 6 months to find the least disgusting egg, wheat, and dairy free cookie and cupcake recipes possible. Oh, and MUSTARD. We discovered that one is a big no-no this month, too.

I also promise you that I will start learning how to use my camera instead of just treating it like a very expensive point-and-shoot. Thankfully, Kitten's cuteness really makes up for my abundance of zeal and lack of knowledge.

standard process cleanse :: days 1-3

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:50:00 +0000

I surprised myself by kicking off the cleanse 2 days early. We had a fabulous NYE-Eve date on Friday night, and I figured all I was losing by waiting until Monday was 2 days of freshness on all my produce. So why not?

It's hard to tell which side effects I've had this time around, because I've been feeling sickly for several days. I began the cleanse on Saturday morning and by Saturday evening I had a little achiness, nausea, and a dull headache. The headache continued into Sunday morning, but by noon I felt fine again. Today? I feel good and already weigh half a pound less! I pee like a pregnant woman, but (for those of you who asked) nothing "else" has changed.

I drink two smoothies per day containing a nutrient-rich powder that comes in the cleanse kit. I use juice form an orange, a couple handfuls of spinach, and some frozen strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, and water. It took some tweaking for flavor, but now the shakes pretty much taste like what you'd get at Smoothie King or Jamba Juice or whatever kind of smoothie joint you have near you. I take 7 cleanse capsules and 3 gastro-fiber capsules three times each day, and on the 8th day will switch over to greens capsules.

You can eat a small amount of wild or brown rice and/ or lentils every day, along with fruits, veggies, and lean meats - which REALLY isn't as bad as it sounds if you're willing to put some work into getting creative and finding recipes. This time it's already easier for me, since Kitty and I avoid wheat and dairy...and I haven't missed my coffee yet, either :) A lot of paleo recipes work on this cleanse, too. The most challenging part is cooking for people who aren't' on the cleanse, so I'm making as many "common" meals as I can and just adding pasta or red meat to The Husband's food. Last night we had crock pot chicken & vegetables (I added lentils to make mine more of a soup), and tonight we're having ratatouille.

That's my quick update for now, complete with camera phone pics. I'm hoping to share more recipes as well as a few goals for 2012...but for now I have a toddler to chase!

Happy New Year!

standard process cleanse :: it's back!

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Starting Monday, January 2nd, I'm going to do the SP Cleanse again. Though my goals are not the same this time around, I know I have a lot of junk to unload from my system - plus, I've hit a plateau in my weight loss, and I know this will do the trick in jump-starting me. Last time I lost almost 10 pounds, but really, anything that gets me over this hump will be appreciated.

I'm going to blog about it a little, but not every day. A lot of people end up here looking for recipes they can eat on the cleanse or before/after pictures (um, yeah...how 'bout NO) so I do want to give a few mini-updates just to share my progress. Last time I did the 3 week purification (eating only lean meats, fruits & veggies, taking capsules & drinking special smoothies) I remember feeling like I was living in a Disney movie for the final 2 weeks. The sun was shining! The birds were singing! I had energy and an amazing mood that NO ONE could take from me!

That is more than enough motivation for me to give it another go. My midwife says that everyone should do a liver cleanse once every five years or so - it's like changing the oil in your car :) I'd love to be able to do this one yearly, but since you can't do it during pregnancy or while nursing, this really isn't the right season for yearly cleansing. I was only able to carry a pregnancy to term after completing the cleanse, so I'm a huge believer in it's effectiveness. I'm also hoping it will help curb the hypothyroidism I ended up with post-pregnancy. Yesterday I spent some time pinning Paleo recipes, and got even MORE pumped to cleanse...then I made a chocolate pie.

The cleanse uses only whole foods and food components organically grown by Standard Process and formulated by their doctors and chemists. No chemicals whatsoever, because that's what they're trying to remove from your body. It's safe, effective, and WOW, I'm just getting more and more excited the more I type! If I can keep up my running (I'm in Week 1 of the Bridge to 10k program and haaaaate the idea of losing momentum! But you're not supposed to do "strenuous" exercise while cleansing.), maybe you will get some before/after shots ;) Who knows?!

Tonight, we've got our annual NYE (one night early) date with my brother and sister-in-law, so I'll be eating and drinking with great gusto, knowing that 3 weeks of whole, unprocessed foods and WATER are in my future. Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve and I'll see you in 2012!

insomnia

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:47:00 +0000

Oh, you guys. This is the third night in a row I've had trouble sleeping! No illness. No anxiety. No caffeine. Just the desire but inability to sleep - and a little nugget in the next room who seems to be having the same problem. She whimpers and whines every 15-20 minutes. Sometimes she's awake (I give her a drink and rock her, not because she wants or needs me to but because, HELLO, I'm awake and I can) sometimes she's not. I gave up trying to sleep, because she just awakens me, anyway, and there were some pictures from our trip to the children's museum ~~today~~ yesterday burning a hole in my hard drive.

Wanna see 'em? They really don't do the place justice - but I was playing around with my 50mm lens which I bought for one reason and one reason only:

I love my baby's face!

This was Kate's first trip as a free range toddler, and she gobbled up every moment of touching, climbing, and running through this absolutely gigantic-yet-educational Petri dish of bacteria and Other Kid Germs. While I personally prefer the zoo, this was a nice indoor destination for us as we enjoy the rest of daddy's time off.

I hope YOU are enjoying these last few days of 2011 - this has been a fantastic year for us and I can't wait to see what next year brings!

make your own HE safe laundry detergent in less than 10 minutes

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Say what?

Yup, it's true. I've been waiting for Katherine's skin to be clear enough for me to start making a laundry detergent that would be effective on the entire family's clothing. Safe for her, but strong enough to get our clothes clean.

From her infancy, Kate was too sensitive even for Dreft, Method, Seventh Generation, etc. Going dye & fragrance free wasn't enough to keep her skin from breaking out, so I washed her clothes in a tablespoon of baking soda with some apple cider vinegar as fabric softener. Stains were gone, smells were gone, and her skin was fine.

However, I was still purchasing laundry detergent for our big people clothing. Even at Sam's, buying a mammoth free and clear laundry soap cost about 11 cents per load. And don't get me wrong - that's good! But I wanted to see if I could do it better.

Lower cost. Fewer chemicals. Safe for my front-loaders, and safe for my baby.

My first attempt is this powdered laundry detergent which costs roughly 4 cents per load (1 tbs per load) and is safe for any HE machine. Note: HE safe detergents only need to be low-sudsing. It's really not necessary to purchase a "special" laundry soap if you can make your own OR use half the regular amount of laundry soap with a tablespoon of baking or washing soda thrown in.

Anyhow, so far this soap works really well for regular washing...just not for stains. I've only had one (green chile sauce on husband's white shirt) and it took 3 attempts at stain removal before budging. However, all our regular toddler dining spills and messes disappear without any trouble, so this recipe for homemade laundry detergent gets 2 thumbs up from me. It is SO EASY TO MAKE, you'll wonder why you haven't tried it before!

- 1 cup baking or washing soda (I've used both and find that baking soda works just as well if you can't find washing soda)
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 bar of Fels Naptha, grated

Measure out the two cups of powder, grate the soap (this took me about 10 minutes but I was also chasing Kate and taking pictures - my sister-in-law just throws it in the food processor), and mix them all together. I keep mine in a pitcher w/ a tight lid so I can just dump it in without messing around with a measuring scoop. It's easily stored on the shelf in my laundry room, along with the extra baking soda and Borax that I'll use in the next batch.

That's it! I use one tablespoon per load (with a dash more Borax or vinegar if the load is on the stankier side) and have been really pleased so far with the results! Next time I'm going to use my friend Nicole's recipe for a gel detergent, because it lasts a lot longer (using the same ingredients, plus water, it lasts around 6 months and costs roughly $2. Yes, TWO DOLLARS). It also takes a little longer to make, which is why I tried the powder first :)

Have you made your own laundry soap? Baby wipes? Swiffer "juice"? What are your favorite ways to cut cleaning costs?

socially awkward

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I don't "check-in" - mostly because I don't like how it announces to people that my house is vacant or that I'm out in public with my 1-year-old at such-and-such a place, so please come find me, even though you weren't invited - or rob my house, if you'd rather. The two times I have used it, I was hiking with Katherine and thought it might be wise to leave some sort of cyber-trail of breadcrumbs, should we go missing. At least then the police would know where to start looking. And really? I'm not one of those paranoid types! I'm just one of those A-types.

So, you can imagine I was a little excited for my first "real" check-in when we were at the Huzbizzle's work party a couple of weekends ago. My new Mad Men dress, fake lashes, and Urban Decay gave me a false sense of security, I'm afraid. By the time we got there (maybe 45 minutes into the cocktail hour?), two things were evident:

1. The interns had been taking full advantage of the open bar.

2. Engineers will find a reason at ANY occasion to ship out their smartphones.

At one point, my husband and two co-workers were showing off different apps, and my friend, Bre, and I turned to each other and simultaneously asked, "Have you seen that commercial?" This one:

Anyhow, after dinner when the president was giving his "Go Team" speech, I thought, Hey! What a perfect time to hop on Facebook and check in! I'm finally doing something COOL, for once! So, I did. I checked myself in, along with my husband and my work-wife girlfriend, Bre...but not Bre's husband, because he has decided he's too good for Facebook and that Google+ is far superior. Whatever.

A few seconds later, a notification popped up on my husband's phone. "Erin B. just tagged you in a post," he read. Beep-beep! Now Bre's phone delivered the same message.

"Erin B. is at the Hyatt with (Husband's Name) B. and Breanna M."

Pause.

Another pause.

We all did that thing where you raise one eyebrow as you try to figure out why what you heard doesn't sound quite right. As soon as Bre's husband burst out laughing, I grabbed my phone and erased my check-in as quickly as my little fingers could tap-tap-tap it off my profile. Awkward? Yeah. Especially since Bre is seven months pregnant, and I had made no previous mention on my profile that the hubs and I were headed to a PARTY at the Hyatt. Too bad "create a socially awkward moment in two places simultaneously" isn't on my Bucket List.

From there, the night got even better. Engineers boogied their booties off as the DJ played a narrow variety of tunes - stuff that's on the radio now (Gaga, Usher) and stuff that was on the radio 30 years ago. The engineers were undaunted. They partied like it was 1999 whether it was Katie Perry or the Bee Jees, because that's what engineers do. They take a problem, and they MAKE IT WORK.

PS - Had the best chocolate torte EVER but didn't make it to the correct bar (there were three) in time for a Green Grinch. Sadder but wiser and ready for next year!

grampatrick's train {music video}

noreply@blogger.com (Erin) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:59:00 +0000

The last several years, Thanksgiving with my dad has fallen in mid-December. It's nice because the kids aren't exhausted and we're not leaving one meal early and arriving at another late, making everyone irritated at the lack of face time we offer...ok...we still do that. It just happens in November :)

One of the other benefits is that his electric train babysits the children. Please forgive some of the blurries that I included. The lights were so low I really thought they were in focus & the moments were to cute to leave out!

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