Monster Cookies

If I have made you a cookie in the last 4 years it was probably a Monster Cookie.  They are delicious!  I named them Monster Cookies after my wonderful step monster who gave me the recipe.  Don't let the name fool you, she is an awesome person, definitely one of my favorites in my world.  Although when I was kid I may have called her a step monster a few times and meant it.  But we all do that as young people right?  Say things we don't mean to our parents.  I know I did.  Fortunately I now have great relationships with all 4 of my parents.  I'm a lucky gal indeed!

Anyway, on to the yummy stuff!  The recipe was not originally gluten free nor did it have chocolate chips but I can't imagine a cookie without chocolate chips, it just seems wrong.  So the chocolate has been permanently added to the recipe.  I always make a double batch and freeze what does not fit in the cookie jar.  They thaw quickly if you need them in a pinch and are actually quite tasty straight from the freezer.

Here are the specifics.

2 C oats

½ C WW flour

½ C white flour

(If gluten free use 1 cup gluten free flour and 1/2 tsp xanthan gum)

1 tsp. baking soda

6 Tbsp. oil ( I use coconut oil, make sure it is warm enough to be a liquid)

1 C brown sugar

1 egg (3 if you double the recipe)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 C dried cranberries

1/2 -3/4 C chocolate chips

1/2 C chopped nuts

Mix all dry ingredients in a big bowl including the chips, cranberries and nuts.  In a separate bowl mix wet stuff.  Add wet to dry and mix well.

Use a ice cream scooper or something small and rounded to scoop out dough and drop onto cookie sheet. 

Bake at 375 (or 350 convect) for 8-12 min and they are golden brown.

With coconut oil, cranberries, nuts, dark chocolate chips and not too much sugar these are practically a heath food so you can eat lots and not feel guilty.  That is what I tell myself anyway.

Enjoy!

A full treat jar makes for a happy house, I think so anyway.

My New Cleaning Schedule

It has been several months since my last post (sorry if you felt I abandoned you, I promise I didn't).  Boy how time does fly!  Here is a quick run down of some stuff that has happened in the last few months.
-Mallory got 6 teeth, is nearly walking and can say Mama while chasing me down.
-Maddox started kindergarten and soccer and LOVES both!
-The kids and I spent the whole month of July in Oklahoma and had a great time with friends and family.
-The kids and I got in a small fender bender and the person that hit us did not have insurance (really??)
-The next day (and coincidentally Julie's birthday) our basement massively flooded and it was NASTY.  It was so bad we had to hire a crew to clean it, we had no clue how to handle that one.
-I got an 18in tattoo of a skeleton riding a Harley on my back.
OK, that last one is not true, I was just feeling a little wild just now.

I recently realized recently that since I had baby numero dos I have been in a bit of a rut.  It has taken a while for me to get back in the swing of things with two kids, much longer than I had anticipated.  Mallory is a really easy baby and Maddox is a pretty easy kid but taking care of two kids is a lot more difficult than one. For me 1+1 > 2.  I have pretty high expectations of myself and I was getting a little frustrated that I was struggling to keep up with all of my duties.  I mean come on, when I was a working gal I was very organized and extremely on top of my game, surely I can handle a couple of kids, feeding us all and some chores???  Think again sister.

 So in attempt to get a little bit of my organized self back I started cleaning stuff out and making lists.  Oh how I love to do those things.  I know, I'm weird, I actually like to clean out closets.   In the last two weeks I think I have dropped off 4 or 5 trunks full of stuff at the thrift store.  It feels so good to clear things out of my house.  I have a very strong connection to the spaces I inhabit and if they are cluttered and messy then so is my head and the opposite is true.  Clean and organized house = clutter free mind for me!  One thing I have always struggled with is cleaning, like scrubbing things, you know dusting, mopping, scrubbing toilets.  It is NOT on my list of things I enjoy.  I know I'm not the first person in the world to love a clean house but hate actually cleaning it.  Until now I had no system for keeping everything clean.  Why no system?  As someone who wants to be a professional organizer when I grow up I have always said you have to have systems set up to make your life easier.  The solution?  A cleaning schedule.  Why, why, why did I not implement a cleaning schedule before?  I didn't invent this, there are many much smarter people than I already using this idea, but I am jumping on to that train now.  So far my schedule is very simple.  Maddox and I talked about all the things we need to clean during the week and based on what other activities we have during the week we came up with this.  He did a decent job of helping me too and I suspect as time goes on he will get better and better.
So here are our duties.

Monday - Clean car and change all bed linens
Tuesday -  Dust, including fans
Wednesday - Detail kitchen (move everything and clean behind, stove, cabinets. all stainless steel, vacuum crumbs from drawers, etc)
Thursday - Bathrooms
Friday -  Clean floors (for me this is on my hands and knees with a baby on my back - yup it was tough!)

Usually the weekends are for bigger projects and yard work that the whole family does so those stayed off the weekly list.  Laundry did not make it to the list either because I have been working very hard at not letting more than 2 loads pile up at a time so basically it is ongoing.  I detest laundry so I could not bear to do load after load on one day, it would just make me hate that day and so far I kind of like all the days in the week.
This is not a thorough list but I felt like I needed to start small.  I have a tendency to "go big, or go home" and I start out very gung-ho about something then burn myself out quickly (just ask Julie, I'm bad at it).  I really want this new approach to work so I am doing small workable chunks to start.  This past week after I finished my chore for the day I would find myself wanting to move on to the next day's task.  I would make myself stop and find something else to do because I don't want burn out.  It worked pretty well and I felt like I had a little time for myself and to just play with Mallory one on one while Maddox was in school.  It was nice!

Did you struggle getting back to normal after having kids?  How do you manage your house?  How do you keep your house organized and functioning for your family?  Please share any tips and tricks.  Moms gotta be helping other moms!

Something a Little Different for This Sunday

Normally Sundays are pretty lazy around our house.  We sleep in, read the paper, work on the house and maybe, just maybe, change out of our pj's.  Today was a different kind of Sunday.  Today I put on the ole' fancy pants and I worked at an event for Ergobaby downtown as a Brand Ambassador at the Best of Bump Club . I got to talk to lots of moms and dads about why Ergobaby is such a great product.  As most of you know I don't normally "bring home the bacon" around here but it sounded like a fun opportunity so I jumped on it. Although I'm pretty sure Julie and Maddox spent all my

my handsome guy on a boat 

"bacon" galavanting the city today.  They went to Navy Pier, the Lego Store, H&M, took a boat tour, played in a fountain and of course got a few treats. They both had an awesome day and Maddox chattered about it the whole way home.  I love it when they get to spend quality time together without me, I think it is so sweet and such good bonding time!

I really enjoyed talking to grown ups all day, even if it was about babies! I felt a little like my former, working girl self.  Mallory went with me and OH MY GOODNESS she was PERFECT!  She was in the Ergo from 9am to 3pm and got out a little to eat, be changed and play, but she slept and just chilled about 90% of the time.  She was the best-est baby model ever!

It was fun to talk to other moms, and I actually found a few similarly minded people who were into cloth diapers, essential oils and all around green living.  I love running into fellow crunchies!  Ha, ha.  And go figure, I forgot to take pictures of us working hard today.  Oops.

I struck up a great conversation with a few moms about cloth diapering and they wanted to see some pictures.  I promised I would share some of my home made creations.
When we are out and about we usually use pocket diapers but when we are home I like to use fitted diapers with wool covers.  I use pockets when we are out because they have PUL on the outside and they are waterproof and faster to change.  At home I like fitted diapers because they are much more breathable and I think more fun but not waterproof unless you put a cover on them.  I like wool, again because it is more breathable and a natural fiber, but also because I like making covers and I think they are adorable.  The white fitted diapers are from Green Mountain Diapers and are called Worhorse fitteds.  They are awesome!  They are absorbent, soft, fit very well and not too expensive.  Plus I like the simplicity of a classic looking diaper.   So here you go ladies that I met today, my latest creations made from my scraps and thrift store finds.

Fitted Woof, Woof

Fitted Birdies

Fitted flowers and owls

Brown flower was from leftover PUL, green flower was a  pillowcase and pink plaid was a table cloth

Mallory in upcycled wool

More upcycled wool on the cute baby model

Workhorse fitted - such a cute bum!

Oh how I am having fun with fluff!  It is becoming an addiction.  A bad one.

Jen

Diapers Out of Pillowcases

Sorry I have not posted much in the last few days.  Back in mid April our basement flooded, along with the rest of Chicago so I have been dealing with that. I have also been working out almost everyday (with the help of some accountabilit-buddies), planning for Maddox's 5th birthday and making diapers for our chubby girl who keeps growing out of everything I have previously made.  This time I got smart, I am making one size diapers that should last for the long haul.  I am using scraps that I had here and a few upcycled things I found at the thrift store.  So a diaper that would normally cost $15-$25 is costing me practically nothing, just my time.  The first diaper took me nearly half a day to figure out but I think I have it down and I made these three so far.

This one was a vintage pillowcase.

I'm pretty excited about how they turned out and I have enough fabric cut for about 6 more so I have some work ahead of me in the next few days.

This on was an old tablecloth - I think she likes it!

Ergo Love

In preparation for the month of July, when my kids and I will be away from home for 33 days, I have been looking for things that are travel friendly and will make my life easier with a baby and 5 year old.  I am an avid Ergo Baby Carrier lover. I have 2 already, but I stumbled across this bad boy and I could not pass it up.  It is a packable Ergo they call  the Stowaway.  It folds up into that tiny little rectangle that you can toss or hook anywhere.

My first pack job, so easy!

The material is different that my other Ergos. The shell is made of 100% recycled materials and it is kinda of slicky.  It reminds me of the outside of a sleeping bag.  The shoulders have less padding than the other ones, which is expected because it is much lighter and packs inside itself.  It still has a hood that hides inside a little pocket (which I love because I don't use it much) and it still has my favorite Ergo feature - a pocket!  This has been one of the reasons I have not even tried any other carriers because I need a place for my phone and keys.  Thank you Ergo!

Eeewww, baby slobber.

Since little Mrs. Drools-a- lot has been doing this  ---------------->        
 to my straps I decided to jazz them up with some cute sucker pads to combat her slobber.  I think they turned out pretty cute and they were easy.  I made 3 sets in about an hour.  Organic, reversible, adorable.  Go me!

I think she likes our new travel arrangement!

Here is a little demo.

Buckwheat

So what do you know about buckwheat?  2 weeks ago I would have said nothing, but a fellow mom and I were talking about food and gluten free alternatives and she brought up buckwheat.  She is from Russia and she said they eat lots of it there and I should give it a try. Always down for something new, I picked some up at the grocery store and here is what I have learned.

Buckwheat although looks and acts much like a grain it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb.  
It is - 

• Gluten free
• Linked to lower LDL(bad cholesterol), serum cholesterol and higher HDL (good cholesterol)
• Rich in flavanoids which are phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and act as antioxidants
• Helps regulate blood sugar
• Helps prevent gallstones
• Surpasses rice, wheat and corn in almost every measure of healthfulness
• High in the amino acids lysine and arginine
• Buckwheat proteins reduce the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), thereby reducing hypertension
• High in minerals, especially magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese

Buckwheat is sold in 3 forms. Groats, grits and flour.  Groats are the hulled seeds.  If you roast the groats they are called kasha and they are tastier roasted.  Very fine unroasted groats are grits and are

often used as breakfast cereals.  Flour can be light and dark.  The darker it is the more hull is ground into it and the more nutritious.  You should store your buckwheat in a sealed container in a cool place like the fridge or freezer because they are seeds and they can go rancid.

The buckwheat I got was unroasted groats (because I didn't know at the time it came any other way) so dry roasted it which is a fancy way of saying I put it in a skillet with nothing else and cooked it till it got darker.  Then I cooked it like I would rice.  In my house that means I threw it in the rice cooker.  I used the same proportions as I would with rice, so 1 part buckwheat 2 parts liquid.  I used some leftover chicken broth from a soup I made last week and threw in some mushrooms and garlic and flipped the switch.  If you don't have one you are missing out...the rice cooker rocks!  We use it for all kids of stuff, rice, quinoa, now buckwheat.  I love it!  I'm pretty sure I could not make rice on the stove, it would burn, ah, but not in the rice cooker!  Anyway, back to buckwheat...it turned out great!  

Then the next morning we had a recipe for some gluten free griddle cakes that happen to call for what? Yup, buckwheat flour.  So I ground some up in the Vitamix and and we made breakfast.  They were tasty too.

So here is a new food to try that is super healthy, easy and tasty.  After you try it let me know how it turned out.  Maybe we can all share some yummy new recipes.

Be healthy!

Jen

Do You Neti?

It was almost 70 here in beautiful Chicago yesterday, oh it was glorious!  After a long, cold and rainy winter there is nothing better than a warm spring day.  With all that great sunshine comes, of course, allergies!  So besides hitting the lemon, lavender and peppermint a few extra times my other go to is the neti pot.  I have been using a neti pot for probably seven years or so now and Maddox uses it as well.  I started him on it when he was around two I believe, and it has been great, especially when he has a snotty nose from a cold.  It really cleans him out.  It is totally disgusting...the things that come out of a snot nose boy...but well worth it.  I would rather the snot come out in the shower than all day and it be crusted up on his face.  Eww, I just can't handle crusty faced kids.

Neti pots have been around for centuries and they are used for nasal irrigation which is a fancier term for rinsing out your sinuses. Why use a neti pot?  By rinsing the sinus cavity you can help with environmental allergies, sinus issues, alleviate congestion, facial pain and pressure.  It is a very simple, yet effective process.  

Here is what you need:

Neti pot - you can get at most pharmacies now a days.  Of course mine came from Amazon.

1/4 t salt

8 oz warm distilled, sterile or previously boiled water (I keep a tea pot on the stove that always has water in it)

Optional : essential oils - my favorites are frankincense and eucalyptus

Make sure the water is body temperature and the salt is dissolved.  I also like to add 1-2 drops of frankincense and eucalyptus when I need a little extra umph.  It really helps open you up and breathe

much clearer.  Even Maddox does it with the oils, at first he said he didn't like it but after he realized that it helped he would ask for it that way.  When you are ready just tip your head to the side and pour it in one nostril and let it drain out the other side.  Switch sides halfway through and use up all the water.  If you are congested then blow your nose first otherwise the water will not come out.  Also, after you are done make sure you blow out any excess water in your nose.  This is most effective by holding one nostril closed and blowing, then switch.  I personally think this whole process works better in the shower, especially if you are helping a kid.  Over the sink, at our house anyway, just turns into a mess.  In the shower it is no biggie!  Remember, as with most things, consistency is key.  This is safe to do everyday and there have been times I have done it 2 times a day when I was really battling the sinus demons.

Here are some more technical instructions on how to use the neti pot.

http://yoga108.org/pages/show/106-how-to-use-a-neti-pot-without-danger

Here are a few neti pot pictures.

I used to have this red one but it had an untimely death.  It was my favorite but I could not find it again.  Sniff, sniff.

This one I got free for liking their FB page.  I  works fine.  I like that you can  close the lid and not spill.

This is the one I use most although you have to be careful not to spill.  Somehow I feel a little fancier with this one.

So there you go, a simple yet very effective way to naturally combat sinus and allergy problems this spring.

Be healthy, 

Jen