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February 27, 2009

8 Months

Filed under: General - Foosh @ 4:23 pm

I had to throw up a couple of pics of my beautiful wifey…



February 26, 2009

Baby prep

Filed under: The Kid, General, Recipes, Home - Jess @ 1:51 pm

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One of the to-do’s on my list before Baby comes is to make a bunch of easy to heat meals in the freezer. So far I’ve made 2 lasagna’s, 3 meal size portions of Teriyaki Chicken, 2 portions of seasoned browned taco meat, and still have a bunch of summer fruit cut and frozen for smoothies. I plan on making a portion of Maple Dijon Chicken, a bunch of lunch size chicken pockets, a big batch of black beans for tacos and casseroles, and a few batches of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies frozen in balls and ready to pop in the oven whenever. The fresh stuff to go with the meals is the easy part- a quick salad or side veggie and rice, etc. but the big prep for these meals is done and ready to go.
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February 23, 2009

Right around the corner

Filed under: General, Home - Jess @ 8:44 pm

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Did you know that the first day of Spring is coming? Just a few weeks away on the calendar in March. Although, I’m not sure the weather around here will feel like Spring by then. Still I can’t help but admit I hope it’s right around the corner. I’m ready for some warm sunny days! In my excitement for this next season to come I’ve been thinking more about my summer veggie garden, and with the cost of organic produce it just makes sense for me to use the space I have outside to plant a bunch of yummy things. I was pleasantly surprised to find organic seed packets at Target yesterday- for about the same price as any other seeds you’d find. I picked out a variety of veggies and a few flower seed packets as well and look forward to seeing them grow this summer.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?
With silver bells, & cockle shells, & pretty maids all in a row.

February 21, 2009

Cabin Fever

Filed under: The Kid, General, Creative Pursuits, Home - Jess @ 11:28 am
Photobucket It’s been almost a full week now that we’ve had this yucky flu bug, and cabin fever is definately starting to set in. But fight it we will- with lots of yummy soup, tea, and toys that Mama had tucked away for a ‘rainy day’.
I also found a website with all kinds of free printable coloring pages with trains, cars, and other images for kids. It’s called Free Coloring Pages. There’s some other activities for cutting and pasting, etc. as well. Kid’s Craft Weekly also has loads of fun arts and craft ideas for kids.

February 18, 2009

Sick/Nursing Basket

Filed under: The Kid, General - Jess @ 5:48 pm
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When Jude was newborn and I spent much of my day on the couch nursing and cuddling him, I gathered all my necessities into a basket so that they would all be there when I sat down, instead of all over the table or in different places.

I remember having magazines (Jude would nurse for about 45 minutes at a time sometimes!) burp cloths, a diaper, water, and snack for me in it. This week I’ve used that same idea only called it our ’sick basket’. I put in a water bottle for me, a snack and water for Jude, tissues, books for us both, thermometer, lotion, chap stick, etc. That way wherever we were hanging out I’d just grab the basket and have everything I needed handy. This could also make a nice gift for a sick friend- a small basket with a jar of soup, tissues, tea, a magazine or book, and card.

February 16, 2009

Tissue please

Filed under: The Kid, General, Home - Jess @ 7:55 pm

Judo came down with a nasty little bug yesterday afternoon and has wanted nothing but to be held and cuddled today. He has a fever and runny nose and a light cough, poor baby. I’ve been giving him some medicine but also wanted to share some natural remedies that I like as well that can be used safely on children or adults. The best things for any illness is to drink plenty of water and keep hydrated and rest.

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Lemon & honey- honey coats and soothes the throat and can be used alone in children over 1 or combined with lemon in a tea. Lemon fights congestion.

*Lukewarm baths- help take down a fever
*Eat easily digested foods- soups, yogurt, fruit, etc.
*Cool compresses to the forehead are soothing and help bring down a fever.
*An herbal spray made with 4 oz. water and 2 drops of either lavender, chamomile, or thyme combined in a spritz bottle can be sprayed onto the back or limbs for a soothing and cooling effect.

February 13, 2009

This & That

Filed under: General, Creative Pursuits - Jess @ 1:33 pm
Photobucket Goals for these last weeks of pregnancy: Savor my time with just Jude, get outside as much as possible, take lots of naps!

A quick little lovey day project~ hearts cut out of cotton fabric and filled with stuffing and lavender dried from summer time. Hung from a window, stashed in a drawer… simple and sweet. Photobucket

February 12, 2009

A little sugar

Filed under: General, Recipes - Jess @ 12:50 pm
Photobucket We had our sweet friends Erika and Audrey here this week and had fun making sugar cookies together. Jude especially loved the extra large chunk of dough he bit off and ate before I could stop him!:) For the recipe, click on the jump below.
Happy Valentine’s!

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February 6, 2009

Natural air fresheners

Filed under: General, Home - Jess @ 12:55 pm
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Most air fresheners sold in the store contain harsh chemicals that can stir up allergies, irritate our lungs, trigger asthma attacks, or damage the nerve system… and just mask the odor instead of neutralizing it to take it away. There are several safe-for-our-lungs alternatives that I use around our house that I thought I’d share. Any that you use not mentioned here?

Good old fashioned baking soda - can be sprinkled into a load of laundry that is particularly smelly, in the garbage can to neutralize strong odors, down the garbage disposal to get rid of a yucky smell like onions, or sprinkled lightly onto the carpet before vacuuming to freshen up the house.

Home made air freshener- Combine in a spray bottle and use on linens and in the air: 1 cup water, 15 or so drops of your favorite scented oil, and about 3 Tbs. vinegar (which will dissipate and you won’t smell after a minute or 2).

Store bought natural air freshener- My favorite store bought air freshener is made of citrus oils and is so yummy that you might be tempted to use it as perfume:). It’s called Citrus Magic and they have a whole line of air fresheners, soaps, etc. (They also make Clearly Natural soaps which I love.) Method also makes some fairly good priced natural products.

Boiling a few cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peel, etc. gives off a nice scent in the winter. A few drops of essential oils can be added as well, or dropped onto a cotton ball and put in a little bowl.

Beeswax and soy candles- I love candles- the atmosphere they create and the smell they give off. Most candles aren’t the best for our lungs except for beeswax and soy candles which can be a little more expensive but give off a really nice, natural scent. My favorite are the beeswax candles that I can get at my local farmer’s market in the summer time.

In warmer weather I love opening as many windows as possible to air out the house as well. There’s nothing like line drying your clothes in the sun for a yummy scent as well. (Plus it saves you money!) I shouldn’t leave out my most favorite scent- something yummy and sweet baking in the oven!

Off to get some things done around the house and enjoy some time off with Hubby this weekend. Happy Friday!

February 5, 2009

2 year old randomness

Filed under: The Kid - Jess @ 6:08 pm

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As Jude was looking at himself in the mirror yesterday he exclaimed, “There’s a fishy in my eye!” I laughed and said, “Oh really?” to which he replied, “There’s fishies in your eyes too Mama!”