What you’ll need:

• 1 bar of whatever bar soap you prefer
• 1 Cup Borax
• 1 Cup washing soda (This will be near the Borax.  The brand I use is Arm & Hammer.)
• large pot, at least 2 gallons
• grater
• funnel
• long spoon
• 2 empty gallon jugs

It’s a good idea to use the pot and utensils only for detergent making.

What to do:

1. Grate soap into the pot
2. Add one gallon of water to the pot and cook until the soap is completely dissolved
3. Add Borax and washing soda
4. Bring to a boil until mixture is thick
5. turn off the heat and stir in one gallon on cold water
6. using the funnel, divide into your gallon jugs

Use ½ cup per load of laundry.  Depending on the brand of soap you use, supplies for this homemade laundry detergent will cost you about $6.00, and the Borax and washing soda will make multiple batches of soap.  That comes to less than 10 cents per load of laundry!

Have you ever made your own cleaning supplies?

Choose a color palette and don’t be too “matchy”

The below palettes and clothing combinations may inspire you.  Or, look at family portraits on Pinterest.  Instead of choosing matching polo shirts, choose two, three, or even four colors.  You’ll notice most of the palettes below include at least 2 neutral colors and at least one “accent” color.

Don’t be afraid of bold colors

Bold colors add so much to a portrait.  Whether you choose to use an accent color in someone’s shirt or jacket, or in a smaller detail like a pair of shoes or a headband, pops of color look great in a family portrait.

Think Accessories, Layers, Details

A brightly colored scarf, a pair of earrings in your accent color, a cool hat, a jacket.  All these things add depth and texture to your photograph.  Don’t dismiss the importance of small details.

Build Around One Standout Piece

Once you’ve chosen your color palette, choose one item of clothing to be the foundation for everyone’s ensemble.  It’s usually easier to do this with the girls since their clothing tends to be more unique and it’s easy to find simple boy’s clothes that fit in with the overall design.  Think about bold prints, patterns, and bright colors for this standout piece.

Look at the ensemble together

Lay everyone’s outfits out and see what you think about them together.  Remember, they don’t have to match perfectly.  The idea is to have them within the same palette of colors.

Involve your photographer

Make sure you choose a photographer whose style fits with your family’s style, and then talk to them about your vision for your family portrait.  They’ll probably have a lot of great ideas for you.

If all else fails, don’t underestimate the timeless combination of denim and mullets.  Classic.

mullet family

Give those busy little hands something to do!  Sensory play is a wonderful way to teach toddlers math (sorting, measuring), creativity, gross and fine motor skills, cognitive skills, and social skills.  Plus, it’s a good way to create boundaries for some inherently messy activities, and it’s one great way to keep kids entertained during a long day around the house.  Set aside a specific area for sensory play and rotate out a few of these ideas at a time.

What do you need?

• A child-sized table and chairs (not necessary but hugely helpful)
• Old sheets to spread underneath the sensory area
• Several big bins or dishpans- available at Walmart, Savers, Big Lots, Target, etc.
• Individual servings trays
• Plastic measuring cups
• Sand buckets and shovels (check seasonal clearance after summer time- lots of great toys for sensory play can be found at reduced prices!)
• Stirring spoons
• Durable toys in good condition (check out your local Goodwill)
• Funnels
• Egg beaters or whisks
• Strainers, sieves, or aquarium nets
• Slotted spoons
• Cookie cutters, sand molds, of muffin tins
• Sponges
• Eye droppers

Once you have your materials, think about what sensory materials you might want.  It’s a good idea to have a half dozen options or more so that you can rotate them out periodically to maintain interest.  As a general rule of thumb, anything squishy, gooey, or messy will probably be big hits.

Sensory Material Ideas

• Water
• Sand
• Rice (try coloring with paint or natural food coloring by shaking in an oatmeal container and letting dry)
• Playdough
• Dry beans
• Bubbles
• Beads
• Clay
• Ice cubs
• Aquarium gravel
• Pasta
• Potting soil
• Autumn leaves
• Shaving cream

Get creative!  Just remember to consider allergies, and always make sure toddlers are closely supervised while engaging in sensory play.  Small objects are easy to swallow or fit inside your nostril  or ear (which many toddlers might consider a neat idea).

What would you add to these lists?

Unfortunately the foods we eat in order to satisfy these cravings are often not healthy for us.  And while I think a handful of chocolate chips or some tortilla chips (two of my favorites) are perfectly fine to eat from time to time, there are more nutritious options that will satisfy those cravings.  Check out this chart of food cravings and what they really mean, put together by naturopathic doctor Colleen Huber.

It really makes all those crazy pregnancy cravings seems a lot more reasonable!

What cravings do you have?

So how do you give your kids their recommended daily dose of veggie goodness without fighting at every mealtime?  Here are some tricks I’ve picked up over the years.

Blend them up. Some dishes lend themselves perfectly to this, like spaghetti.  I like to make our favorite spaghetti sauce, loaded with summer squash, onions, pepper, or mushrooms.  Then, I blend it up so that there aren’t easily discernable pieces of the offending veggies.  Smoothies are another great option.  Try a banana-berry smoothie with a handful of spinach added.

Cheese always helps. The first time I cooked for my young nephews, I made macaroni and cheese.  I figured, what kid doesn’t like mac-and-cheese?  I added tons of broccoli and tomatoes to the mix, and they gobbled it up and asked for seconds and raved about the dish for weeks, calling it their “new favorite.”  My sister-in-law was amazed that they were willing to eat it because of the vegetables.  A little cheese can turn any vegetable-laden dish into a new favorite!

Make veggies fun. I’ve written before about cooking as a family.  I think it’s a blast, and it goes a long way toward convincing a child to eat a food they were previously suspicious of.  Let them throw things in the blender, stir the pot, or tear lettuce leaves.  Do your kids turn their noses up at celery and carrot sticks?  Our “Fish in a Pond” recipe (you can find it here) is a great way to turn snacking on vegetables into a game.

Make them available. Keep a bowl in the fridge full of cherry tomatoes or a basket full of fresh fruit on the dining room table.  Here’s a cute idea- drop a spoonful of hummus or ranch dressing in the bottom of a plastic cup, and fill it with sliced veggies, and keep them ready in the refrigerator.

Start early and be persistent. Kids who are exposed earlier (even during pregnancy) to a variety of foods will be more likely to accept and enjoy a variety of foods as they grow.  Multiple studies have shown that persistence is key.  In general it’s better for your child to have a smaller amount of healthy, nutrient-packed food than a larger amount of something they’ll eat (white bread and chicken nuggets, anyone?).  Eventually, they’ll come around.

Set an example. Do you turn your nose up at vegetables?  Would you rather snack on potato chips than an apple?  Your kids notice those kinds of things and are likely to follow suit.  Enough can’t be said for setting an example for healthy eating and healthy habits in the home.

How do you get your picky eaters to try new veggies?  We’d love to hear about your tried and tested tricks!

Chore Board

It can be tough to keep track of which chores your kids (and you) have done or still need to do, especially when you’ve got a lot of other things going on.  A Chore Board is an easy way to keep track of everyone’s weekly responsibilities, and there are lots of ways to make your board cute and practical.

Here’s one great tutorial- the family has a “command center” in the kitchen featuring a weekly menu, note board, magnet board, and several chore boards.  The chore charts are made on magnetic boards.  This blogger, Jaime, bought these handmade on Etsy, but I think they’d be pretty easy to make yourself.  The chore magnets would be easy to make by hand as well- here you can download a free printout of chores.  I may print these, laminate them, and glue them to plain old magnets.  You just move them from the “To Do” side to the “Done” side.

Here’s another idea:

This frame is 12 bucks at Walmart.  Wouldn’t it be cute to put pretty paper in each frame and write daily chores in each section?  You could use a permanent marker to write “Our Chores” in one frame and label each day of the week in the other 7 frames.  Then you just use a dry erase marker to write on each day!  If I ever get around to doing this one, I’ll post pictures!

Do you have a system for keeping track of chores in your home?

Mac and Cheese

I have a folder of mac-and-cheese recipes on my computer.  That’s how much I love it.  Most of them use less cheese and add more goodies to bring up the flavor.  One of my favorites even substitutes yogurt for heavier sour cream and milk, and adds a little bit of crumbled bacon.  But my favorite variation is this recipe for Butternut Squash Risotto. I know, I know, it’s not exactly mac-and-cheese.  But it has all the same elements while being a LOT more nutritious.  It uses quinoa which is very high in protein and fiber, butternut squash to make it creamy, and just the right amount of swiss cheese.

Shepard’s Pie

I remember eating this as a kid on cold days.  The traditional version is laden with fat and high in calories, but this version from Cooking Light Magazine is ridiculously easy (only 8 simple ingredients) and way lighter in calories.  It calls for a can of kidney beans but I would replace that with fresh green beans because I like them better.

Meatloaf

We never ate meatloaf much in my house, but my cousins loved it and we had it every so often when we would go to visit them.  I don’t think meatloaf is inherently unhealthy, but this recipe from Eating Well Magazine packs a nutritious punch.  The addition of bulgur brings whole grains to the recipe, and dried mushrooms add a lot of flavor.  Those of you with gluten sensitivities could try adding millet instead of bulgur since it’s similar in texture.

Roasted Root Vegetables

I think a big tray of roasted potatoes goes along with just about anything, but potatoes are very high in carbs, and I can go through a that tray all by myself.  I love roasted root veggies but I always feel bad making them because they’re a huge vice for me.  Then, I discovered the vegetable tian.  It’s a French dish and it’s one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten.  It’s very simple- place sautéed onions in the bottom of a round pie dish, top with layered potato, zucchini, and roma tomatoes, and bake.  It gets a layer of cheese on top before it comes out of the onion.  My favorite version from Ina Garten uses fresh thyme and gruyere.

Here are the top ten germiest places you go on a regular basis.

Your Bathtub

For many people, the first place they go in the morning.  Unfortunately, it can be one the dirtiest.  A recent study found that the average bathtub has more than 100,000 bacteria in a square inch!  The idea of bathing my baby in that makes me cringe.  So make sure you disinfect your tub regularly.

Kitchen Sink

The kitchen sink (and faucet handle, sponges, and dish scrubbers) tends to harbor a large number of bacteria, especially if you frequently cook with animal products like meat and eggs.  Or, if you work in the garden and then wash your hands in the kitchen.

The Playground

Samples taken from playgrounds have contained everything from blood, mucus, saliva, and urine.  This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but it’s still disgusting.  I think about my kids climbing on the playground and then putting their hands in their mouths, or eating a sandwich… yuck!  Keep antibacterial wipes or gel in your purse or diaper bag and make sure to use it on the kids after they’re done playing.
The Gym

This one doesn’t surprise me too much either, but it sure made me shudder.  Everything from yoga mats to cardio equipment to door handles are coated with bacteria.  Always wipe down equipment before and after use, bring your own yoga mat, and wash your hands on your way out.  If your child goes to childcare at the gym, wash their hands too!

Airplane Bathrooms

If you travel a lot, make sure you take a travel size antibacterial hand gel with you, because aiplane bathrooms are one of the very worst offenders.  In fact, airports and airplanes in general tend to be very germy places- just think of how many people cycle through an airport in one day!  Wash hands frequently, and take some kind of immune system support (like Airborne or Emergen-C) while flying.

Hotel Rooms

Many hotels don’t disinfect the surfaces in their hotel rooms, like sinks, countertops, telephones, or remote controls.  You might not think about these items being particularly germy, but hotel rooms phones have been shown to contain more than 25,000 bacteria in a square inch.

ATMs

Next time you grab cash, wash your hands afterward.  The buttons on ATM machines are hardly ever cleaned and are used by hundreds on people every day.  Just think of where else their fingers may have been!

Your Purse

How often do you walk in the door and plop your purse down on the kitchen table?  That’s a habit you need to break, because purses tend to carry as many or more germs than the bottom of your shoes.  Many women place their purses down on the floor in restaurants and bathrooms.  Hang your purse on a hook when you can and remember that vinyl and leather handbags pick up fewer germs than cloth ones.

Grocery Store Carts

Studies have shown grocery cart handles to contain obscene amounts of fecal matter as well as a host of other germs.  Most grocery stores have disinfectant wipes near the entrance so you can wipe down the handle of your shopping cart before you shop.  But don’t stop there- wipe down the baby seat as well, especially if your baby sits there while shopping or if you use the space for groceries.

The Doctor’s Office

It’s ironic, but one of the dirtiest places you can visit is a doctor’s office.  Even though your doctor wants to keep you healthy, most people only go to the doctor when they’re sick.  Bring your own toys for your kids and don’t let them play with the waiting room toys.  Doctors are legally required to wash their hands when they enter a room, so remind your doctor if he or she doesn’t do so.  After all, they work for you!

In my last post I talked about the top 10 germiest places that you go on a regular basis.  So I thought it would be good to counter that post with some recipes for homemade antibacterial cleaning solutions.  Check out the recipes below- they’re affordable, easy to make, safe, and effective!

Tea Tree Disinfectant

Mix well and pour into spray bottle:

• 2 cups warm water
• 3 tbsp liquid soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s)
• 20 to 30 drops tea tree oil

Although tea tree oil is a little pricey, you can make this recipe at least 15 times with a 2-oz bottle.  Tea tree oil has natural disinfectant properties and is used in many organic cleaning solutions.  Dr. Bronner’s is a great brand of liquid soap and comes in lots of different scents- my favorites are lavender and almond.

Lavender Disinfectant

• Mix well and pour into spray bottle:
• 2 cups warm water
• 2 tsp Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap (lavender scent)
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 2 tsp rubbing alcohol
• 8-10 drops lavender essential oil

Lavender has natural antibacterial properties, and the liquid soap has other essential oils with similar properties.  The vinegar kills bacteria without adding a strong scent, and the addition of rubbing alcohol causes this to evaporate quickly, so you can spray it on a surface and allow it to air-dry.

Peppermint Bathroom Scrub

Combine in a container with a tight-fitting lid:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 2 tbsp liquid soap
• 2 tsp tea tree essential oil
• 1 tsp peppermint essential oil
• 1 tbsp white vinegar

Again, the vinegar in this recipe disinfects without adding a strong scent, and the tea tree oil adds natural disinfectant properties as well.  But the real star of this recipe is the baking soda- it can do almost anything.  It deodorizes, polishes, and cuts through tough stains, grease, and soap scum.  The peppermint adds a fresh scent and antibacterial properties.

Other natural cleaning ideas

• Hydrogen Peroxide- it’s fume-free, odorless, antibacterial, and non-toxic.  This is great on blood stains as well.  Just pour a little onto the stain, let it oxidize for a few minutes, and rinse in cold water.
• Baking soda and white vinegar- takes care of just about any kitchen mess you could think of, and even handles oil stains in clothing.  Pour a little baking soda on the stain to let it absorb the oil, then scrub in some vinegar with an old toothbrush.  Let stand a few minutes and rinse.
• Baking soda and grapefruit- this is a great bathtub cleaner.  Simply cut a grapefruit in half, sprinkle the surface of your tub or counter top with baking soda, and scrub.
• Lavender in the laundry- I like to add a few drops to every load, particularly when I wash my cloth diapers.  They come out smelling fresh and the antibacterial properties of the lavender help kill germs.
• Witch hazel wipes- with hazel is a natural disinfectant.  Witch hazel wipes are an easy thing to carry with you in a diaper bag to clean the little one’s hands when you’re out and about.

Do you have a favorite homemade disinfectant?  We’d love to hear your ideas!