Stay at Home Saturday: A Tip and a Recipe!

TNT Tip:

If you have dry, cracked heels from barefoot summer days, try this tip that I got from my friend, Elizabeth (who got it from Dr. Oz. If you don’t know who Dr. Oz is, don’t worry. My sinus doctor didn’t know who he is either.). Buy a container of Stridex pads (yes, the acne medication) and rub your heels nightly. Follow with a slather of rich cream or Vaseline and wear socks to bed. The salicylic acid goes to work on the dry skin and the cream rehydrates. You should have new feet in a week!

Recipe:

Recently I bought a box of Cascadian Farms granola and fell in love with it. I love the sweet, crunchy oats with cold milk! However, it cost $4.55 a box at my local store – ouch! (Super Wal-Mart carries it for $3.00 a box, but they don’t have my favorite flavor.) I wanted to recreate it at home, using an old granola recipe from my mom. I thought about it and realized one thing that made it different from many granola recipes: the Cascadian Farms brand has crispy rice cereal in it! Brilliant! Here is a basic granola recipe that you can tweak a million ways. Let me know what you like to add in!

- 4 cups old fashioned oats

- 2 cups rice cereal

- 1/2 cup slivered almonds

- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (optional nutritional boost)

Mix together in a large bowl and set aside.

In a pot over medium heat combine:

- 3/4 c. vegetable oil

- 1/4 c. honey

- 1/4 c. brown sugar

After brown sugar has melted, whisk together and pour over oats mixture. Combine carefully and spread out into a greased roasting pan (I line mine with parchment paper for easy clean up). Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes (more or less), stirring every few minutes. Watch carefully at the end because can burn in a minute! You’re looking for a golden brown color.

Cool and store at room temperature.

Stir-in in ideas:

- chocolate chips, yogurt chips or carob chips

- dried fruit such as blueberries, cranberries, raisins, etc.

- dried coconut (this is actually very nice cooked into the granola, not just added at the end)

Love,

Amy

Train Up Tuesday: Food Novelties

I love summer time food. It’s often so lite (meaning you can eat lots) and much of it requires little prep. Raw veggies and fruit and voila - instant snacks and meal sides ready!

However....I have to confess, that even as inspiring the summer foods are, I still get stuck in rut when it comes to fixing meals. Even the same different foods (does that even make sense) can still create such a rut.

Fortunately my boys (the little ones and my hubby) don’t seem to complain or mind it. But, still, something different (and EASY) is always great. Novelty is a great source of inspiration for me from time to time.

A couple of years ago, I became fond of using muffin tins as ways to present food to my toddler. I came across the idea after stumbling on a blog that mentioned “Muffin Tin Mondays” (sorry, I can’t remember the original one I stumbled across - it may have been Sycamore Stirrings or Michelle’s Journal Corner aka “Muffin Tin Mom”). You can Google that phrase ("Muffin Tin Mondays") and see several blogs for inspiration!

The idea behind using a muffin tin is much like using a bento box. The thing that is so nice in using these tools is that it gives you a good sense of portion control (not serving too much for small bellies). Also, filling up the different compartments helps you visualize a little more clearly how much of each food group you are giving. Besides all of that important stuff...it’s just a fun and different way to introduce food (or presenting the same stuff in a new way). Also, since there is a whole little world of “Muffin Tin” fanatics, there are also a wealth of ideas on foods that are great for toddlers. SOoooo many that I haven’t explored. I’d also like to get my hands on some of those bento tools that make ordinary foods into unique shapes (I’ve yet to find a store in my area that carries this type of thing).

If you like this idea you should really check out Laptop Lunches. I learned about them through an article a couple of years ago in “Parents” magazine. It has the bento idea as well. I bought one when my oldest was 2 years old for his 2 day preschool experience. It was nice to be able to send him with something that he could take care of himself. You simply open the box and the food is there unwrapped and sitting where it should be. It also makes it easier for the teachers, not having to unwrap each item and clean up trash afterwards (I've been asked several times by teachers or other parents where I bought them because of this). They are a little pricier than your traditional lunchbox, but ours has been worth the investment due to the simplicity, durability, and longevity (not a character lunchbox, so it grows with your child). Be sure to check out their website, too for some great lunchbox ideas with pictures!

I wish I had my own pics to show you of these ideas...but alas, my camera is still out of the picture (I know *groan* at my little pun).

One last favorite: “Deceptively Delicious,” by Jessica Seinfeld. I pulled that one back out for more creative ways to add extra veggies to our diets. You can read more on that great book in a few of our archived articles. Also, fyi, I saw in the Sunday circulars this week that you can now purchase this book for only $5 at Kohl’s right now (part of their Kohl’s Cares Causes Merchandise).

Please, please, PLEASE, share your ideas of easy lunches and snacking ideas that your kids love!!!! I have 2 boys (and another on the way), so I think “food” will always be a big deal at our house ;-D ...plus, don’t forget that if you comment you are automatically entered into our most recent giveaway.

What’s for lunch?
-Ashlie

Train Up Tuesday: Your Reading is Good for the Kids

Hey sisters! Nothing "deep" today ;-) Too hot these days to be thinking of anything profound, I suppose.

Weeks ago, I had asked your suggestions on reading material for women during the summer. Though I did receive quite a few responses, I have hesitated on posting them. Not because the books aren't worthy of mention, but mainly because of my concern of recommending things I haven't actually read myself.

That being said, please feel free to leave a comment to this post (wake up "lurkers"!) ;-D What are you reading this summer. Has it met your expectations or left you disappointed? Would you truly recommend it to a friend...or stranger if it meant that they may assume things about you or your convictions upon reading it? What books have entertained you?

I am currently reading "For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School", by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, a book explaining Charlotte Mason methods and discussing what it means to have a Christian world view and the impact it has on life and education. So far, I'm loving it....especially since we are using the Charlotte Mason approach for my almost kindergarten boy.

I'm also reading "Little House on the Freeway: Help for the Hurried Home", by Tim Kimmel. This book speaks of the balance needed in our daily lives and the importance of real rest in our homes and families. Again, thus far, it seems to be a great, helpful read.



I've also read or am reading a couple of books that remind me of my childhood - "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery (I LOVED the miniseries from the 80's!) and "Pollyanna" by Eleanor H. Porter (again, love that classic Disney movie). I never actually read either of those growing up, though I adored the lead characters. "Anne of Green Gables" was even more delightful than the miniseries! I am just beginning "Pollyanna" with my kids. They actually ask me to read it to them every night, which surprises me, because the Disney movie version is quite different (at least in the early chapters) from the book. But we are enjoying it together.

I'm learning (thanks to exposure to Charlotte Mason) that it is important to let children see adults reading...and enjoying what they are reading. It has that trickle down effect. And in sharing my reading experience with my children, they learn to think about what they are hearing (no pictures!) and appreciate someone else's work, all the while allowing their little minds to imagine things for themselves.

So, that's what we're up to these days.

Again, please share what you are reading (appropriate content only, please) ;-)

Hope you are staying cool,
Ashlie

RWAV Revived?

Good morning to the ladies on the Roof!!!! As I'm sipping my cup-a-joe, typing on these rusty keys and blowing the cobwebs off my screen, I'm thinking of YOU. How I've missed you. I think I might even be feeling my engine revving. It is time to get this motor running full speed again!

Where have we been everyday?

Goooood question and we have lots of excuses-errrr, I mean reasons. Just to name a few...

a couple of moves, pregnancies, twins born, another baby born, adoption, big family wedding, sickness, husband's job demands, yaddi yaddi yadda...

HOWEVER, Ashlie and Amy (who we need to formally introduce--long overdue) have done a wonderful job of keeping the ball rolling despite the rest of our sabbatical. We hope you've enjoyed their posts on Tuesdays and Saturdays and I'm so thankful for their heart for RWAV and reliability! We look forward to hearing more from them.

When can you expect to see something everyday?

Another great question. You will! We promise. First, we need to hear from YOU! Please comment and let us know as much of the following as you feel led.

-what you have missed most?
-what has RWAV lacked that you would like to see in relation to other blogs?
-what topics have been most helpful since RWAV began?
-what would you like to see covered?
-what ideas do you have to make RWAV more interactive and would help you personally promote from "lurker" status to "commenter" status? :)

We want to know so let your voice be heard. Don't be shy!
As special incentive and in honor of RWAV Revived, we will be hosting a Cup A Joe giveaway for three lucky winners. On August 4, we will randomly select 3 commenters to receive a special treat from Starbucks. One more thing...the commenters don't necessarily need to be on this post. We will randomly select commenters from this post and any post from here on out so ya'll quit lurkin and get to commentin'! The more you comment, the better your chance. You have to be in it to win it so don't miss out!

In the meantime, keep visiting and know we are putting our heads together and gearing up to make RWAV even better for YOU!!!!!

Love ya'll!
Hannah

Train Up Tuesday: 100% Where You Are

I hope you had a wonderful last couple of weeks! I needed a mental break from the blogging world. :) We had a fabulous 4th! I took pictures, as always. I love taking pics (as you may have noticed) for almost every day. I think that most parents have a camera with them at all times now, thanks to digital technology. It’s fun capturing moments of your little ones and preserves memories for a lifetime (or so it would seem).

However, over the holiday weekend I misplaced my camera! UGGHHHH!!!! Now you have to know, I’m not the type who lives with my phone stuck on my hip, I barely use my texting minutes, and I rarely even use the camera on my phone. BUT, my camera (a simple Canon PowerShot)...I always know where to find it and have it close by to capture anything in an instant. I want my boys to have something to hold to help them remember childhood.

One of the problems with recording these moments, though, is that often....you (as parent) are missing from the action...and life that is happening. You begin to notice it when your spouse and your children are in plenty of pictures together, but when it comes to finding one of yourself enjoying the occasion, none can be found.

I remember my husband sharing an article that spoke of millennial generation going to great efforts to record moments for youtube, Facebook, and the like, but being absent from “the moment”. It’s an easy trap to fall into.

When I graduated high school (don’t even ask how long ago), among the many cards of congrats, the money, and other gifts, I received a devotional, no doubt well known to you - “My Utmost for His Highest.” But it wasn’t one of the daily inspirations that became seared in my memory. It was what the giver wrote. Inside, the inscription read “Wherever you are, be there.” My very cynical, sarcastic mind didn’t quite grasp the quote. “Where else would I be?!” I’m sure is the mild version of my immature thoughts.

In the last few years, I’ve finally “gotten it”. How often do we live for tomorrow, our dreams, or the things that someone has forecast over our lives only to neglect being ever present right where we are at the time? I’ve been SUPER guilty....not just in the way of wanting to capture precious memories via camera. But also in the way of neglecting “small” ministry moments by focusing on what I thought I’m “destined” to do. (So embarrassing even admitting that, you know?)

In Genesis, we get such a great example of living fully in the moment through the young man, Joseph. Now, Joseph, as we know, had dreams, God given ones. Sharing them with others got him into a little trouble with his brothers. Fortunately, Joseph didn’t so dwell on these dreams that he forgot to be where he was. Remember how he made the most of every environment he was placed (forced) into? After being sold into slavery and lied about by his brothers (was that part of his “dreams”?), he worked diligently and whole-heartedly for Potiphar. After being lied about again and thrown into prison, again, he showed steadfastness to God’s plans by doing what he could for those around him while in prison. Eventually, he was divinely placed into a position that resembles his dreams. But notice, that going after that wasn’t his pursuit in life. Pleasing God and being conscious and present wherever he was at the moment was his focus.

We could learn much and teach much from this lesson.

What gets in your way, your family’s way, your children’s way of being completely where you are?

I’m grateful for the reminder of needing to just be there (even in small things), though it has meant misplacing my camera. I hope I truly “get” the lesson soon....because I’m ready to find my camera ;-)

Trying to be here,
Ashlie