a {snippet}

Morning, Noon, Night

{this moment}

…

…

If you’re inspired to do the same,

I was hoping we’d get some more beets this week, because my friend was kind enough to share a recipe for Chocolate Beet Cake with Beet Cream Cheese Frosting on my facebook page.  Finally!  A recipe for beets I can get excited about!  ;0

So, as I walked up to my cooler, I was actually thinking “beets, beets, please let there be beets!”  Ha!  The irony of it all!  If you know me, you know I’ve been trying to enjoy beets for years, unsuccessfully, but trying because beets are nutritionally outstanding.  Recipe after recipe I say “um, no.  still yuck”.  But that recipe?  That recipe made me think “hell yeah!”.  And so I find it ironic that I would actually be hoping for beets.

But no, no beets this week.  Darn.

In our “share” this week ::

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Broccoli

• Japanese Eggplants

• Baby Pac Choi (Bok Choy)

• Tatsoi Japanese Spinach

• Baby Chard Mix

• Red Bibb Lettuce

• Oakleaf Lettuce

{CSA 2012} Share 5 :: Recipes

• Cherry Tomatoes  :: Mini Caprese Bites (thanks for the idea, Sarah!)

• Broccoli :: Broccoli Raisin Salad Done the Raw Food Way

• Japanese Eggplants :: Nobu 57 Japanese Eggplant

• Baby Pac Choi (Bok Choy) :: Baby Bok Choy with Cashews

• Tatsoi Japanese Spinach :: Gingery Sauteed Tat-Soi with Tofu Steaks

• Baby Chard :: Pan Fried Noodles with Ground Pork and Baby Chard

• Red Bibb Lettuce :: Thai Lettuce Wraps

• Oakleaf Lettuce :: Balsamic Chicken with Avocado and Radish Salad

Well, that’s the plan anyway.  Stay tuned and see how it all turns out!  I love this feeling of accomplishment… my menus are planned, my grocery lists are made, and my coupons are clipped.  Meal planning around our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share, and homeschooling around teachable moments both definitely fit Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

Alright.  Now look at this closely.  You see those spots?  Those spots are actually aphids!  Lots of aphids.  So, what do I do?  Attempt to wash them all off?  Just throw them out?  I’ve had bunches with an aphid here or there but never this many.  What do you think?  Advice?

Maybe we’ll just do a lesson plan around aphids?  How about we start with…

{CSA 2012} Share 4 :: Meals

It wasn’t a perfect week, but we stayed pretty true to our meal plan.  I was craving Indonesian food, but I never made it over to the Oriental Market.  (How does the week just get away from me that way?)  So, we did what we could, with what we had on hand.

Tomatoes :: Margherita Pizza

This is all Arcane.  Friday is pizza night and he just does his thing in there.  He says his secret ingredient is “love”.  This week, he used fresh mozzarella and fresh basil leaves with the farm tomatoes.  Yum.

String Beans :: String Bean Stir-Fry

Papa slightly stir fried the string beans with some onions, garlic, steak (as a garnish), and cashews with his own blend of Asian sauces (meaning, a splash of any & everything we had on hand, cuz that’s how he cooks!).  The string beans were still mostly raw, retaining their nutrition & keeping the focus on the their flavor rather than the sauce.  Perfect.

Asian Lettuce Mix :: Asian Greens Salad with Peanuts and Chicken

This is a go-to recipe for me.  Everyone loves this salad, including Mia now!  When it comes to dressing, I always make my own (because I’ve attended lectures where they were referred to as “death in a bottle”) and stick to simple ones that have a maximum of 5 ingredients.  This time, I left out the celery, only because I forgot to buy some.  Still delish, but was lacking that “crunch”.

Broccoli Greens :: Cantonese Kai Lan

The trick to these is not to put too much in your mouth all at once.  A few of us nearly choked.  Lesson learned.  I used the recipe as an idea, but I basically just did my own thing with them.  I couldn’t tell you what I did exactly, but I do remember thinking “next time, maybe some baby corn, carrots, and cashews with these”.  Tasty.

Birthday Breakfast :: Strawberry Nutella Crepes

One of Papa’s favorite childhood memories is of the special breakfast his mom would make on the weekends… crepes and croissants from scratch.  Every time she comes for a visit, he brings it up at least once, and we all chime in, begging her to make us some, and teach us her secrets.  Since it was Arcane’s birthday last weekend, she happily obliged!  And now?  The crepes torch has been passed, not to me, but to Aslan…  “I’m a crepe maker!  I make crepes!  Watch me make crepes!”  And she does, she makes the crap out of those crepes!  ;0

Like I’ve said a gazillion times, I am so not a natural in the kitchen, but I do love providing my family with Yummy Delicious Goodness.  I still plan my meals, but I try to be more flexible on the execution, and choose simple recipes rather than intricate 5 course meals.  Centering our meals around the vegetables we get in our weekly CSA shares is how we dine with Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

How do you approach your meal planning?  What is your starting point – coupons? cravings?

Sofia’s {Ideas}

A Sunday series.  A single idea.  One of way too many.

I’ve had a handful of requests for more information about our control journals so I figured another post would be helpful.

I have my day split up into 6 segments ::  Hour of Power, Morning Routine, Homeschool, Afternoon Routine, Evening Routine, and Bedtime Routine.  The kids have Morning, Afternoon, and Evening Routines.  Let’s focus on one segment at a time…

Control Journals :: Morning Routines

What is a morning routine?

1.  It is a short list of the things we want to accomplish as soon as we open our eyes in the morning.

2.  It consists of tasks we all need to carry out before we can leave the house, do an activity, and/or homeschool.

Why have a morning routine?

I’m an early bird and my body rises on its own at 5am every morning.  My best thinking hours are sometime before my eyes open until about 9am; its during these hours that I’m the most productive.  I maximize this time by doing my Hour of Power immediately.

1.  It helps us all be prepared for the day ahead.  It doesn’t matter if we have anything planned or not – we are all ready for whatever we have scheduled (a field trip) or any surprises (a neighbor needs help) that come our way.

2.  Our family consists of some early birds & some nocturnal ones.  Nevertheless, I believe that an established Morning Routine habit will serve our children well throughout their lives.  My hope is that they will apply this principle in higher education, in business, and in family life.  It is also the foundation on which we build our other routines.

How do we execute a Morning Routine?

We had an open discussion during a family meeting; decided that the whole family would have the same basic morning routine, but with different assigned morning chores.  Everyone has their individualized morning routine in their own control journal.

1.  I reclaim my awesome while the kids are still asleep.  If they wake up, they get to have their sunshine baskets until its time to get our day started.  Once I have done my Hour of Power and am dressed to the shoes, I open up my computer and check my calendars (more on that later).

2.  While I make breakfast, the kids pull out their control journals and get their days started.  We sit down to eat together, discuss the agenda for the day, but then excuse ourselves when we are done so we can continue to independently move through our routines.

Aslan’s Morning Routine:

⃞ Make bed
⃞ Breakfast jursidiction
⃞ 8am Healthy breakfast, Juice Plus+
⃞ Clean up area, dishes in dishwasher
⃞ Brush teeth ⃞ Wash eyeglasses
⃞ Get dressed to the shoes
⃞ Brush & style hair
⃞ Hot Spots (2 min.)
⃞ Room Patrol (5 min.)
⃞ Morning Chores (15 min.)

Note :: Aslan is 10 years old now.  She has essentially grown up with a control journal, but still needs gentle (ahem) nudging because she is a night owl.

You can download our toddler and preschool routines HERE.

While they finish up, I facilitate the boys and tend to the baby.  We meet again at 9:30am for “table time”.  If they finish before then, they are allowed to have quiet free time.  Sometimes, I ask them to keep an eye on the baby so I can finish up.

Our mornings are now, for the most part, quite peaceful.  What about yours?  Confess – chaotic or calm?

Stay tuned as I continue to share more on the other segments of our day!

a {snippet}

latte, laughter, lists, library, lovely

{this moment}

…

…

If you’re inspired to do the same,

Wow, we didn’t stick to our plan at all.  Not even a little bit.  Things were a lot “looser”, not so much structure.  I was feeling under the weather for a few days, and of course, my lil’ lovie suffered along with me for a day or two, so we kinda just threw some meals together at the last minute.

We had a lot of salad, roasted veggies, and stir fry.  All things that come together in a pinch with whatever is around.  No Fuss or Fancy, just Food.

But I do have to say one thing… that last picture?  There is an amazing story behind that salad.  It was a 100% local lunch… the veggies were grown at our CSA farm, in the next town over.  But you will never guess what is sitting on top of those greens!

Go ahead – guess!

I’ve been talking up our morning shakes on Nutrition Fruition, my other blog.  Our family calls it a Brainy Breakfast, and we have been drinking this almost daily for the last several years.  We noticed from early on that when we begin our day with it, we just feel “better”.   And when we go without, for whatever reason, we sorta feel “off”.  I can’t explain it but anyone who has incorporated this shake into their diet can attest to the same.

Intrigued?  Get the recipe and read the rest here.

When I took this photo, I realized that this is what Sunday mornings typically look like in our house.  I realized just how far we’ve come on this journey towards Simplicity, Frugality and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality.  And I felt kinda proud of us.  I know, I’m an eco-dork!  ;0

Do you periodically look back and see how many positive changes you’ve made in your life?

The {Sofia’s Ideas} Frugality Series ::

{Beauty} Hygiene

Now that I’ve introduced you to the Stages, I’m going to begin with Beauty since that is where I (re)started.  Last time, we talked about Skin Care.  This week, its all about personal Hygiene.  In particular, I want to share my journey with deodorant.

© Daniel Gilbey

Papa had been warning me about deodorant for years, but I thought he was just being an alarmist.  Whenever we had family visiting from abroad, he would show me their deodorant labels to educate me on the differences of what we get here, in the U.S., and what they get abroad, by the same manufacturer.  Popular brands of deodorants and antiperspirants contain harmful ingredients.  Yes, they work.  They do their job.  Congratulations, you don’t stink.  But at what cost? {Stage 1}

I tried to make the switch to natural brands during that period of awakening.  I avoided aluminium, parabens, fragrance, triclosan, etc.  I purchased the most expensive, in hopes of finding something that actually worked – to no avail.  I lived in South Florida.  It’s hot.  And I just couldn’t take stinkin’ all the time.  So I switched back.  (Gasp!)  Intellectually, I understood the dangers of deodorant, but I rationalized it by saying that my new & improved immune system would take care of any naughty cells.  {Stage 2}

And of course, I stockpiled tons of this garbage during {Stage 3}.

However, like I’ve said… We have a choice.  We can pay now or pay later.  We can either choose to invest in our health or choose to subsidize our illness.

So I made a commitment.  I was going to figure this out.  I didn’t want my sons and daughters putting these toxins on their chemically-sensitive and developing bodies.  Alzheimer’s, cancer, autoimmune disease?  Um, no thank you.  So, the first thing I did was make my own.  {Stage 4}

Sofia’s Ideas Homemade Deodorant Recipe ::

• some baking soda

• some cornstarch

Directions :: Place random amounts into a sealed container, shake like heck.  Apply 50 times a day with a large poofy powder brush.

Brilliant, right?  Well, the truth is, it was astounding!  Papa and I were amazed at how well it worked.  It was a revelation!  We gushed about it everyday!  And that lasted for about 2 weeks.

Something went severely awry at that point and we were just rancid!  I mean, we knew we were going to experience some detox, so we tried to push through it for a couple of weeks, but like I said, we live in Florida.  It’s hot.  And we were stinkin’.

So again, we started purchasing every natural brand we could find at Whole Foods, drugstore.com, and Etsy.  Nothing worked for very long.  Eight weeks in, we switched back to the chemicals.  (Gasp!)

And that’s where we still are today.  Honestly.  I wish I could say that I found the perfect solution, but this is a work in progress for us.  I have a few homemade recipes that I think I can pull off, but I feel kinda “meh” about it.  Know what I mean?  I just want someone to tell me “Buy this.  This works.  And its safe.”  The end.

Seriously, my poor kids – are they really destined to have the mom that makes homemade deodorant and toothpaste?  Aren’t we weird enough as it is?  ;0

This recipe seems simple enough, though, and I already have all the ingredients.  We shall see.

What about you?  Have you tried to make the switch?  Have you found the magic potion?

• The Story of Cosmetics is a great introduction.  If you have not watched this video, I urge you to take a few moments of your time.  If you see value in it, share it with others.

• Skin Deep  is an essential tool to use.  The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database is THE resource.  Grab something out of your cabinet now and look it up – I bet you’ll be surprised!

• The Dirty Thirty by Glamology is a quick list for reference.  Print this out or bookmark it on your phone so you can refer to it while out shopping for products.

photo via icanread.tumblr.com

When one of my children has an “attitude of a turd” rather than an “attitude of gratitude”, I point them in this direction.  I want them to understand that they are Fortunate.

When I feel the urge to complain about something inane or inconsequential, I try to remember that I am Fortunate.

When someone I love is taking their life and love for granted, I want to shake them and remind them that they are Fortunate.

What are your thoughts?

Sofia’s {Ideas}

A Sunday series.  A single idea.  One of way too many.

For years, I would wake up at 5am and hit the ground running.  Literally.  I’d throw my sneakers on and go for a walk, jog, or run.  It was part of my daily Hour of Power.  And now that I am reclaiming my awesome, I’m trying to do this consistently again, despite the fact that my 3 youngest lovies (ages 5, 3, and 9 months) are usually awake before dawn.  How?  Sunshine Baskets.

Simply, quiet activities they can do in their rooms if they wake up before the sun shines.  Hence, Sunshine Basket.

“If you wake up before the sun shines, you can have your Sunshine Basket.”  Because, the goal is to have them remain in their rooms until its time for us to get our day started.

I’m keeping the novelty intact by not allowing them to have their baskets at any other time, and by changing the contents every Sunday.

Sunshine Baskets are a good way to rotate the toys, books, and puzzles they already have, and to also use up some stuff from the recycling bin.  Some weeks, I’ll put a bunch of random junk in there with some tape for more open-ended play.  Simple, Frugal, and Green.

It’s going to take some time for the kids to adjust to this (and Papa, if Mia wakes up while I’m out), but I think it is a worthy investment of time and effort.  No more waking me up, on the rare occasion that I’m actually asleep.  No more waking up the rest of the family with sounds blasting from the tv or wii.  No more begging me to stay, or to come with me on my morning walk.  No more disruptions while I’m trying to read my daily dose of inspiration or write in my journal.

I’ve been meaning to put these together for years, but felt like the kids weren’t ready for me to “leave” them for the sake of my health and sanity.  (Ok, you got me – that was just an excuse not to get off my rear.  ;0 Hee! Hee!)  I think we all benefit from a mama that feels happy, healthy, and energetic.  Don’t you agree?

Sunshine Baskets are one way to keep the children quietly entertained while I go refuel.  And of course, in a way that fits Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

How do you get your “me” time in?  What works for you?  What doesn’t?  How do you handle it when the kids wake up before you are ready for them? 

a {snippet}

First Love, Flirt, Family, Forever

{this moment}

…

…

If you’re inspired to do the same,

If you follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter, then you already know that I’ve been refocusing on nutrition since the start of the year.  (No, really.  I’m really doing it this time.  I’m reclaiming my awesome in 2012, remember?)  In fact, I’m finally writing over at Nutrition Fruition on a more consistent basis.

We have been as excited as ever to be a part of our CSA (community supported agriculture) this year.  All of us have been cooking up a healthy storm over here, I just haven’t been taking any pictures.  (I was in a funk, and therefore a creative drought.)

Its a little ridiculous, really, how much we love our CSA vegetables.  You’d think by now we’d lose some of that anticipation for our weekly shares.  I mean, it really is just vegetables, right?

Oh, but it’s not just vegetables!  These vegetables come from Swank Specialty Produce, “purveyors of the finest HydroNatural greens, herbs, and specialty produce to South Florida’s best restaurants and gourmet markets”.  If you are local to me and want to see for yourselves, you can find them every Saturday at the West Palm Beach Green Market.

I know I’ve said all of this before, but it really is worth repeating… It is a HydroNatural farm, meaning it “combines hydroponics with natural, sustainable agriculture”…

That is only part of what I love abut our CSA – everything (possible) comes with its roots!  Why is that good?  Because “The plants are harvested live with the roots attached, enabling them to stay fresher longer. Properly stored, the plants last up to three weeks.”… as if they’d last that long in this house! ;0

Beautiful, isn’t it?  And what you can’t get from these pictures is how good everything smells!!!  That baby fennel smells of black licorice!  That fresh fragrance is definitely lacking in the produce we buy at the grocery store, organic or not.

In our “share” this week:

• butter lettuce mix

• baby lettuce mix

• Asian lettuce mix

• baby broccoli greens

• baby fennel

• beets and beet greens

• baby eggplant mix

• tomatoes

{CSA 2012} Share 3 :: Recipes

• butter lettuce mix ::  Lettuce Wraps with Chile Peanut Noodles

• baby lettuce mix :: Ciabatta BLAT

• Asian lettuce mix :: Asian Greens Salad with Ginger Miso Dressing

• baby broccoli greens :: Cantonese Kai Lan

• baby fennel :: Roasted (Baby) Fennel and Baby Carrots

• beets and beet greens :: Tangy Buttered Beets and Beet Greens with Dijon or this

• baby eggplant mix :: Caponata Linguine

• tomatoes :: in one of the salads, if Papa doesn’t eat them all first!

Well, that’s the plan anyway.  Stay tuned and see how it all turns out!  I love this feeling of accomplishment… my menus are planned, my grocery lists are made, and my coupons are clipped.  Meal planning around our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share definitely fits into Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and an Eco-Mentality!

What about you?  What did you pick up at your farmer’s market or csa this week?  Any recipes you’d like to share?  Leave your links in the comments below…

I’ve learned that journaling is instrumental for my mental health.  I’m not always able to work through my initial reactions and emotions by the process of thought alone.  There are times when I say “I can’t physically calm down!” and it certainly resembles an anxiety attack.

But what I’ve learned is that the writing process, the physical movement of hand, pen, paper, pauses…

is therapeutic in itself…

let alone the unfolding of thoughts in a natural, steady pace

that always eventually brings me to a better place…

even if it isn’t until fifteen pages deep.

Typing, blogging, talking… its just not the same, its not enough, not for me. 

I’m a writer, I write.

photo via photobucket :: 2farjensen

Writing brings me from chaos to calm, from panic to persistence, from angry to apathetic to anxious to anticipating whats to come. 

Writing takes me from frustration to formulation, from confusion to compassion, from hate to heal.

Writing takes me from from ocd to optimistic, from sad to strong, from defeat to defiance.

And its because of writing that I went from giving up, to not giving a shit, to giving it my all.  It reminded me of the fundamental truth that I can not control or change anyone or anything but myself.  It all begins with me, then us, then our family.  And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it would alleviate so much stress if I would stop skipping over the “me” part.

I made a decision that I am reclaiming my “awesome” in 2012.  This year is all about waking up every single day feeling full of awesome!  I have to begin with me.  I have to invest in Sofia.  Nothing is more important than cultivating the “self”.  I have to fill up my own tank, before I can give of myself, otherwise all my husband and children will have is me – on empty.  I have to put on my own oxygen mask; how can I save them if I’m gasping for air myself?

And that’s where I’ve been – running on empty and trying to just have enough to make it to the next destination, the next day.  I’ve been suffocating, yet wondering why I can’t breathe life into my marriage.  I’ve been lost, trying to map out the way for my children.

So, for the last two weeks, I’ve been writing again.  Just me and my cup of black tea.  No intention, no premeditation, no forethought… just my pure, unadulterated truth.   And when I’ve said all I needed to say, written all that I’ve felt moved to write, I end it with “Today is a new day filled with infinite possibilities…”

It centers me, it steadies me, it readies me for the day ahead.  Its how I fill myself up.  Its how I’ve been reclaiming my “awesome”.

Typing, blogging, talking… its just not the same, its not enough, not for me. 

I’m a writer, I write.

Sofia’s {Ideas}

A Sunday series.  A single idea.  One of way too many.

Let me begin by saying that Green Hour is not one of Sofia’s Ideas.  I picked up this idea while I was cruising through Little eco footprints.  I loved the thought of “time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world.”  So I immediately committed to making this a part of our daily routine, rain or shine.

But, when I posted my lil’ lovies control journal pages last week, a few of you asked why I had two Green Hours incorporated into their routines.  Great question!  The answer is simple.  One Green Hour is for me, one is for them.

In the morning, the kids go out for Green Hour while I get stuff done around the house and chat with Papa while he prepares lunch.  They just do whatever, they do what kids do.  Ride their bikes, climb some trees, dig some holes and bury stuff.  Sometimes, they put Mia in a stroller and take her for a walk around the lake.  This Green Hour is for me and my sanity.  An hour to myself, sort of.  I open the front door and in my Finding Nemo kind of way, I say “Now go have an adventure!”

In the afternoon, we all go out for Green Hour together, in theory.  I won’t lie, sometimes I just don’t wanna.  What my mind wants to do is “catch up”; I want to get stuff done while they are outside.  But the kids nudge, I go, and I’m always glad I did.  Always.  Every. single. time.

Being outside, in nature, no matter the weather, is good for us, in so many ways.  Yes, we all know that physical activity and fresh air is good for our health, but there is so much more to it.  There is something intagible there, that happens, when we take a break from the distractions of our responsibilities, obligations, to-do lists, goals, gadgets, and screens… and allow ourselves to JUST BE.

For an hour a day, I try to forget about time, forget about schedules, agendas, activities.  Let go of what I should be doing, and tune into the world around me…

breathe in deeply the fresh air, take note of what I smell…

close my eyes, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, or the raindrops falling on my head

look up at the sky and find shapes in the clouds… then, as if by magic, I find myself entering and connecting to my children in their worlds!

Take off your shoes, feel the ground under your feet – grass, snow, soil, or sand…

then run, hop, skip, jump, chase, hoola hoop, or roll down a hill…

sing, dance, pretend, play chinese jumprope, climb, swing, or splash!

Follow a bug, see what lives under that rock, witness something peculiar, find the best hiding place in the history of all hiding places!

See what you normally fail to notice, hear what you normally turn a deaf ear to, feel what you normally are numb to…

Soak it all in, let it fill you up in that mental, emotional, and spiritual way.  Even if for just one (Green) hour.

Hhhmmm… I guess I was mistaken.  Both Green Hours are for me afterall!  ;0

a {snippet}

Water, Wander, Wonder

{this moment}

…

…

If you’re inspired to do the same,

photo via designmom.com

I loved this short post on how to… Use Storytelling to Inspire Kids to Go Green by Simple Mom.

You can also click on the image above to learn how to make your own colored pencil necklace!  So neat!

Sometimes the desire to teach our children about being a good steward of the Earth pushes us to be more creative.  We never want the message to be of the doom and gloom type; we don’t want them to live in fear of a toxic and dying planet.  What we want is to educate and empower the next generations, so we come up with ideas on how to ensure that they “learn what they live” in positive and optimistic ways.

Having an open and ongoing discussion about the choices we make as a family is the predominant way we “teach” our kids about going “green”, and about Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality.  In other words, we weave it into our daily conversations, and its naturally intertwined with the rhythm of our day, rather than a “subject” we teach during homeschool.

What about your family?  How do you approach this subject with them?

The January/February edition of Whole Foods Market :: The Whole Deal is out!

“Keep your healthy resolutions, gear up for game day and discover Valentine’s Day values all with the latest issue of the The Whole Deal value guide. It’s packed with more than $46 in coupons, 17 Sure Deals, 9 new budget-friendly recipes at less than $4 per serving, a handy meal planner for 4 and 10 money-saving shopping tips.”

Click on the image below.  You’ll be able to download your copy & print out extra coupons from there.

What I like to do is skim through the available coupons and just make a mental note.  I wait to see what’s on sale & what specials they run, which usually come in my “Whole Foods Market Local Store News and Sales” email (sign up below).  I cross-reference the two, match them up, see if I have additional manufacturer coupons I can stack, then print out only what I need for that week.  I used to print, cut, & file them all at once, but found that it creates paper & time waste.

Utilizing The Whole Deal’s coupons & money saving information is just another way we provide our family with nutritious foods.  And as always, in a way that fits Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

Sign up for your Whole Foods Market Local Store News and Sales here.

What’s your coupon “system”?  Any tips you’d like to share?

We all have stories about a weird family in the neighborhood where we grew up, right?  Everyone remembers that family from their childhood.  Think about it.  Remember that family?  Yea, so it turns out, we are that family!

In the beginning, I thought of us as “non-traditional old-school” folks (whatever that means).  Then I moved towards the thought of us as “non-conformists”.  But the weird family?  Us?  It never dawned on me until the night of our second Thanksgiving…

Um, ok, point taken.

First Thanksgiving was a debacle, for me anyway, so I wanted a do-over.  We decided to have a spontaneous random Thanksgiving dinner with our neighbors.  Everyone contributed something to the meal, and it was lovely.  We had a 26 lb. turkey and all the fixins.  It was when we started sharing our gratitudes (which we do every night) and asked the neighbors to share theirs, that I realized just how odd we are.  As the conversation unfolded, and evolved, and went off on other tangents, I listened to how our neighbors see us as being “different”.

We’ve been together longer than most couples our age have known each other

have way more children than the average family

are strange, unsocialized homeschoolers

with an affinity for alternative medicine

shopped at “granola head” markets before it was trendy to do so

and it all began because our children had a diagnosis that most people knew nothing about

so they became the kids that had “food intolerances” and were “chemically sensitive”

which made us the parents that talked about “gluten & caseine free diets”, “NAET treatments”, and the importance of getting as much raw fruits & vegetables into our bodies as possible

we watch documentaries, discuss conspiracy theories, debate religion & politics

no longer do we celebrate Christmas or any other winter religious or cultural holiday.

Instead, we’re making up our own holiday, it’s still in the works… the neighbors may knock on the door one day in the Spring to ask why we have lights up.  When we answer the door, we may or may not be wearing costumes.  It’s possible the house will be filled to the brim with all sorts of paper flowers.

You’d think that fighting in front of them on Thanksgiving day would change things, but they just shrugged their shoulders and said “we’re like family”.

Because we’re also the family that hosts random spontaneous second Thanksgiving

we pick up trash from around the neighborhood because we care about stuff like that

Papa even resorts to curbing other people’s dogs because “kids play in that grass”

I bake treats for new neighbors moving in because “I always wanted to live in that kind of community”, and much to my dismay, no one ever brought us jello molds or pies

our kids are sincerely adored because they are polite and thoughtful

they go above and beyond to help lost animals be reunited with their owners, help neighbors carry their groceries to their door, and constantly think to bring a plate of dinner or piece of dessert over for them

grandma from down the block relies on us to get to her doctors appointments

there are knocks on the door to borrow a ladder, a roll of toilet paper, or “a couple of bucks until I get paid”

I guess despite all our oddities, we are that family too.

So I guess, whatever, we’ll be weird.  We’ll be that family.

Sofia’s {Ideas}

A Sunday series.  A single idea.  One of way too many.

One of the best things I ever did as a mom was make my children their own Control Journals.  I have had a control journal (home management notebook) for about a decade now.  But for the kids, I always had all kinds of schedules and charts and checklists.  None of them lasted for very long before I just had to come up with a new version.

photo via greenroomeco.com

Then several years ago, Aysia asked “Well how come we don’t have control journals like you?”

I paused and said “Well I don’t know, but that’s a great idea!  Do you want one?” *doh*

They have had a gazillion versions over the years.  As our lives go through phases, our control journals reflect our needs at the time, but the basic core of the routines remain the same.

Their actual journals are just binders, each in their own color.  (More about that here, in case you missed it.)  These Green Room binders are my favorite to date.  They last a really long time, are eco-friendly, and available at our local Target.  I fill each with a few paper condoms (sheet protectors).  And they each get a dry-erase marker in their color.

Personally, I just make the routines up on my computer and print them up.  In the past, I’ve had the kids make their own on construction paper, with stickers and glitter and stamps – the whole shabang!  So you can certainly do it however you want to.  I just find it easier to have them in my documents so I can update them easily.

I can not even begin to tell you how much simpler life is with these doodads!  Really, can’t stress it enough!

photo via greenroomeco.com

Feel free to download these copies of our current control journal pages to use as a framework to create your own.  Have fun with it.  The more you involve your family members in the creation of their control journals, the more likely they are to actually use them.

This is Brixton’s, with pictures ::

Sofias Ideas Toddler Routine

This is Dhimas’, without pictures ::

Sofias Ideas PreK Control Journal

The older kids now have complete control over creating their control journals, but their routines have to fit our family framework.  I hope that makes sense?

What tools do you use in your family to stay on top of things?

a {snippet}

Okeeheelee Park

{this moment}

…

…

If you’re inspired to do the same,

The {Sofia’s Ideas} Frugality Series ::

{Beauty} Skin Care

Now that I’ve introduced you to the Stages, I’m going to begin with Beauty since that is where I (re)started.  Last week, we talked about Hair Care.  This week, its all about Skin Care.

So, skin, it seems, is another touchy subject.  Some people have been blatantly condescending towards me.  Really?  Just because I don’t personally have ashy skin means I don’t have the capacity or the wherewithal to understand it?  Its skin, not rocket science.  Believe me, I don’t want my kids to suffer, which is precisely why I refuse to slather Vaseline on them.

But, I will admit that I am a girlie girl (when it comes to this, anyway) and I REALLY love my lotions and potions.  I was the kind of girl that couldn’t walk out of the store without a little something – new lotion, body scrub, something.  I love to pamper myself.  My soft skin used to be part of my identity.  {Stage 1}

But again, that was before I educated myself about the products I was so willingly slathering onto our bodies on a daily basis.  (The Story of Cosmetics is a great introduction.)  So I threw out all that crap, began using organic products, and eventually found companies that were compatible with our needs.  My concern was the totality of our health, which included what we were absorbing into our bodies through our skin.  Believe me when I say, I spared no expense!  {Stage 2}

But all of that went out the window when I had to pinch pennies.  I started buying ANYthing.  I refused to pay more than a dollar out of pocket.  I ended up with tons of body washes, lotions, and sunscreens from all the drugstore brands we are familiar with.  And not only did our skin change (for the worse), but I developed allergies, and eventually that rash.  {Stage 3}

I got fed up.  What I wanted was an easy and affordable way to maintain our health & hygiene & budget simultaneously.  That’s when I got smart and read the “made with…” parts of the bottles.  And instead of purchasing things that were “made with…”, I just purchased the things they were made with.  In other words, why buy lotion made with coconut oil if you can use pure coconut oil?  Why buy body scrub made with olive oil if you can just make your own with the oil in your pantry?  Why pay for fragrance and fillers?  Or poison and preservatives?  {Stage 4}

So now, we have these four things.  And we all use them.  I think we have reached a happy medium.  Simple. Frugal. Natural. Healthful.  And please notice, 2 of these items, we also use for hair care.

1. {Wash}  Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Castille Soap ::

We use this for EVERYthing!  And I mean everything; it’s in every room in the house.  I buy the biggest size I can get, for the lowest sale price available (Amazon.com or Whole Foods Market).  Just a little squirt onto a loofah will do it.

Note:: It will NOT make a ton of suds.  You will be tempted to use more because that’s what we’re used to.  Don’t.  You’ll just be wasting it.  I assure you, you’ll be clean.

2. {Moisturize} Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil ::

Again, we use coconut oil for EVERYthing and it smells like macaroons.  A little bit goes a really long way.  Once you’ve used coconut oil on your skin, it is very unlikely that you’ll want to use anything else.  Aside from knowing it is healthier, it also feels healthier.  Rather than wasting money testing chemical laden products that simply strip our skin of its natural health, I opt for this.  I feel good knowing that I’m not slathering chemicals onto our skin for vanity’s sake.

3. {Baby Wash}  Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Castille Soap ::

I usually use this with the lil’ lovies until they are able to close their eyes when I’m washing their hair.  Every baby is different, but I would say that close to age 2 is when I ween them off and move onto the peppermint.

4. {Baby Moisturize} Burt’s Bees Apricot Oil ::

For no other reason other than I love the way it smells on babies, I use this.  Not after every bath, but when necessary.  (I have learned, the hard way, that babies do not need to be bathed as often as Johnson & Johnson would like us to think!  ;0 )  And when I can manage to create a quiet moment, apricot oil is wonderful for an infant massage.

Simple.  Frugal.  Natural.  Healthful.

I can’t give you an exact on how much I spend on skin care, but I can tell you that those items do last a long time around here, and we are a family of 8.  For all of its uses, not just skin care (cleaning the house, cooking, etc.) I spend about $50 every 2 months for those 4 products.  $25/month ÷ 8 people = $3.12/month/person for beauty, cleaning, nutrition, etc.  Pretty darn good.

Other benefits I didn’t cover include, but are not limited to, less plastic waste, less chemicals down the drain, and less bathroom shelf space.

So there you have it – that’s how our family approaches skin care with Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

What about you?  What are your thoughts and/or experiences?

5 Homemade Organic Beauty Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less

Beauty Brands Sued Over Use of the Term “Organic” on Labels

Study Finds Popular Cosmetics Contain Lead, Arsenic and Other Toxic Heavy Metals

This hiatus did not unfold the way that I had envisioned.  Not even close.  I knew we needed to hit the reset button.  This was my expectation, based on history, … we go through withdrawal, some aches & pains, then we eventually find our way back to each other… as a family, as a couple.  That was my intention, for us to find our way… and we did.  But this time, it took a lot longer than usual, with a lot more fighting.  Not fighting as in ‘someone is grumpy or catches an attitude’ fighting, but more like ‘all out, in the street, yelling in front of the neighbors, on Thanksgiving Day’, fighting.  I spent Thanksgiving alone, with only my thoughts and Coltrane to keep me company.

Don’t feel bad for me.  It didn’t feel like it at the time, but in hindsight, it was necessary.  It was a reset button.  Not the one I wanted, but a reset nonetheless.

Apparently, I was becoming angry all the time.  And I didn’t even know it.  But I listened, and I made a change.  OK, that’s a lie.  The truth is, I threw a tantrum and said “I give up!  I wash my hands of everything!”

And I totally did.  (Well, as much as I could.)  I left Papa in charge of all things.  My intention was to teach them all a lesson.  My expectation was that they’d all be falling to their knees, apologizing for taking me for granted, realizing just how much I do around here, begging me to give a crap because they so desperately needed me.  But that’s not what happened.

What happened was that they not only survived without me, they thrived.

Ya know, it kinda pisses me off that Papa manages to do more homeschooling in a day, off the cuff, than I am able to do in a week with all the planning I do!  Grrrr!  But that’s neither here nor there; the point was that they didn’t need me at all.  Things weren’t done how or when I normally liked, but they were done.  At the end of the day, no one was injured, and the house didn’t burn to the ground.  So what am I here for?

I guess that’s the beauty of it.  If I were to go tomorrow, I know that I have done my best to ensure that my family could go on without me.  They can take care of each other just fine.  Better than fine, actually.  And that makes me feel secure.

© Monika Wisniewska

A lot of good things came out of the last several weeks – a second Thanksgiving, with our neighbors.  A decision to let go of Christmas once and for all, with our own family holiday, of sorts, in the works.  A deeper understanding, communication, compromises, connections, and kindness.  A steady pace, a rhythm, the music of our family… unique, intangible music only heard when we are all playing our individual melodies that contribute to the harmony of our home and family.  My intention was for our family to find that music, our song.  My expectation was that it would be simple.  But it wasn’t.

Despite all my honorable intentions and expectations, things didn’t unfold, they unraveled again.  Life is crazy at times, heck, I’m crazy at times… but no matter how chaotic it gets, or how far from my intentions and expectations we travel, if I can still hear that music, our music in the background, I know we’ll find our way.

photo via kingdomofstyle.typepad.co.uk

… better yet, I’m going to “meet” my husband and children all over again …

So while I’m still feeling this urge to purge, I’m also going to reset our internal clocks and rhythms by doing another “no technology/no electricity after sunset” week.  This family NEEDS this right now.  So I’m taking it upon myself to hit The Reset Button.

If you’ve ever been around our family for more than a few minutes, you’ve probably heard one of us talk about “hitting the reset button”.  Papa will ask a cranky child “do you need me to hit your reset button?”.  When “Angry Mom” is present, you’ll eventually hear “I need to hit my own reset button” as I take a moment to center myself.  The kids even press an invisible button on their body when they feel chaotic or unfocused.

For our family, a technology fast is the ultimate reset button.  Its how we reboot.

Without the presence of unnecessary distraction, we are able to realign ourselves with our family’s values, our mission statement.

With the absence of that superfluous mental noise, we are each able to hear whatever it is that is calling us… and listen… and follow that call.

We become resourceful.  Our creativity comes to the forefront.  We exude the best parts of ourselves.

We become attentive.  We get reacquainted with ourselves… and each other.  We fall in love all over again.

Memories are actively created with intention rather than passively dictated by neglect.  And let’s be honest – our children’s childhood memories are happening with or without our influence, and its the perception of their childhood that becomes the reference point for their lives.

Deleting the inconsequential creates a stillness that eventually becomes the foundation for our growth as individuals, and as a family.  Withdrawing from the virtual world creates tranquility, which ultimately becomes the predominant vibe and way of being here.  And our family NEEDS this right now.  What about yours?

a {snippet}

These Little Piggies…

{this moment}

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If you’re inspired to do the same,

photo via joyfulabode.com (via pinterest)

I love this quote on marriage!  I read in a book once, a beautiful reminder, to be as passionate about staying married as you were about getting married.  I think it was referring to the pomp and circumstance sometimes involved in courtship and the wedding itself.  It is human nature to, at times, take each other for granted in a long-term relationship.  So…how do you make that above quote true about yours?  What do you think about the idea that your spouse should çome before your children?  What’s your interpretation? 

we can not pick it up, there is no way at all!

"Have no fear of this mess," Said the Cat in the Hat.

What I wouldn’t do for the Cat In The Hat to bust through my front door and say that!  ;0

Yup, still purging… why does the mess always get exponentially worse before it gets better?  Am I the only one that makes the house look condemned while attempting to declutter it?

Seriously.

I don’t think I have ever done it any other way.

The house always ends up looking like this while in the process.

And this is just a small corner.

Multiply that by every corner in the house,

and every flat surface available,

including the floors.

And I am always amazed.

Every. Single. Time.

And then I say “Where did all this crap come from?”

And then they all shrug their shoulders.

And then I say “Out with the crap.”

And then we offer it up on Freecycle or drop it at Goodwill.

And then the house looks Ah-Ma-Zing!

And then we all make empty promises to clean up after ourselves, help maintain mom’s sanity, and never let it get that bad again.

And then I light candles every night with dinner, because the house feels so good to be in, like its hugging me.

And then, at some point, no matter how diligent we are with everything, I inevitably find myself overwhelmed again and saying “But this mess is so big and so deep and so tall, we can not pick it up, there is no way at all!”.  ;0

How do I get my hands on a thingamajigger?

something I’ve been doing while taking a break from purging…

Yummy Delicious Raw Goodness {Desserts} :: Pinterest Board

Exactly!

As you may know, Sofia’s Ideas was sick for a few days last week.  Luckily, my blog paramedic (my brother) was able to cure it of its infection, and Google quickly cleared it from its quarantine.  Phew!

I wanted to first say “thank you” to those who reached out to me to let me know something was wrong.  I actually had no idea.  I want you to know that I truly appreciated you taking the time.

I also wanted to say “thank you” to those who encouraged me to continue when I expressed my doubts about this space.  The task of rebuilding this blog felt daunting and I was wondering if it was even worth it.  Honestly, I am still wondering… and I am pensive, to say the least.

The truth is, I’ve been feeling chaotic lately; easily overstimulated, to the point where I feel kinda crazy.  I even mandated another technology and electricity fast (more on that later…) which I quickly regretted.  Cuz its not just Sofia’s Ideas, its the life I live offline, with its many trials and tribulations.  I feel tested… I feel “uncomfortable” and I’ve been humbled by it.  Now I’m ready to get my head on straight.

In order to do that, I know I need to be gracious to myself.  So, I’m giving myself permission to focus on one thing at a time, to embrace my extremist personality, harness my tunnel vision and put it to good use.  I think a bit of housekeeping is in order, in every sense of the word…

Housekeeping (noun)

1.  the maintenance of a house or domestic establishment.

2.  the management of household affairs.

3.  the management, care, and servicing of property and equipment of an industrial or commercial building or organization.

4.  the ongoing routine, procedures, operations, and management of a commercial enterprise, government, organization, or the like.

5.  Computers. system tasks, as initialization and managing peripheral devices, that must be done to permit a computer program to execute properly but that do not directly contribute to program output.

Yes, all. of. that!  I feel the urge to purge!  I feel overwhelmed and find myself saying “we have too much stuff” and “you’re sucked into the vortex” and “Mommy needs a time out!”.  So, yes to all of that.  Yes, to getting this house clear of everything that we absolutely do not need or use.  Yes, to getting “the abyss” (my desk) tackled.  Yes, to organizing my unkempt computer files.  Yes, to lovingly nudging Papa to clear out his side of the garage.  Yes, to augmenting the back end of this blog… just yes.

I know that by saying yes to this, I’m also saying yes to some much needed tranquility…

What about you? What’s your “housekeeping” style?  Do you ever feel the “urge to purge”?

a {snippet}

just a {snippet} …

{this moment}

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If you’re inspired to do the same,

a {snippet}

Read to me, Papa… again, and again, and again

{this moment}

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If you’re inspired to do the same,

A few days ago, I shared our meal plan and have been posting pictures of the yummy delicious goodnesses along the way (on facebook and twitter).  My goal was to go for simplicity and to use up all of the leafy greens first.

{CSA 2011} Share 1 :: Meals

 Click on the pictures to go to the original recipe…

{CSA 2011} Share 1 :: Meals (part 2)

with the Green Oakleaf Lettuce…

some other goodies we cooked up this week…

such a simple family style dessert…

A few days ago, I shared our meal plan and have been posting pictures of the yummy delicious goodnesses along the way (on facebook and twitter).  My goal was to go for simplicity and to use up all of the leafy greens first.

Click on the pictures to go to the original recipe…

{CSA 2011} Share 1 :: Meals

with the Spring Mix Lettuce…

with the Italian Romano Pole Beans…

with the Chinese Spinach and Mustard Greens…

with the Heirloom Zucchini…

When you click on the zucchini bread picture above, the link will take you to the recipe I used as a base.  I chose this one because it was the one I found that called for the most shredded zucchini.

My adjustments:

• sucanat instead of sugar (same amount)
• whole wheat pastry flour instead of all-purpose (same amount)
• omit nutmeg and cinnamon
• add handful of chocolate chips and walnuts (to your liking)

And because we were in the Halloween spirit…

Pumpkin Pancakes

Wet ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups plant milk (we used vanilla soymilk)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar

Dry ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 3 tablespoons sucanat
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer (or whisk) to whip up wet ingredients until smooth.  Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.  Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

NOTE: It will be thick, but do not dilute with more milk.  Once the batter hits the griddle, it will thin out.

Yes, we do use as much organic ingredients as possible.  The majority of our staples are organic.  If you have a Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, or Publix in your area, take a look at their private label as a frugal organic option.  We no longer live near a Trader Joe’s, but in NY, that is where we did most of our shopping.  Now, much of our baking supplies are from the Whole Foods 365 Organic Everyday Value line and we rely on Publix’s GreenWise Market for many of our pantry goods.  Both of our stores allow us to use their store coupons with a manufacturer’s coupon.

Also, the bulk bins at Whole Foods Market carry a great variety of baking supplies from flours to grains to nuts and dried fruits.  Just remember to bring your jars with you, have them weighed at customer service, and then go fill them up.  Not only will you reduce your plastic use, but you will also save yourself the trouble of transferring the food into a container once you get home.  That’s just another way we grocery shop in alignment with Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and an Eco-Mentality!

a {snippet}

{lightsabers, landscape, learning}

Clematis By Night

{this moment}

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If you’re inspired to do the same,

If you follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter, then you already know that I was giddy on Monday, all day long.  Four o’clock couldn’t come fast enough; I just could not wait to pick up our first CSA (community supported agriculture) share of this season!  I wasn’t the only one either; the kids were just as excited as I was, and decided that they wanted to come along for the ride.

As we headed towards the farm, we talked about all of the recipes we really loved from last year.  Arcane even suggested a few new ones he’d been thinking up.  The conversation was full of “Ooh, you know what we could do?” and “Oh yeah, or how about if we…?”  The closer we got, the more intense our anticipation…  Is this normal?  I mean, it really is just vegetables, right?

Oh, but it’s not just vegetables!  These vegetables come from Swank Specialty Produce, “purveyors of the finest HydroNatural greens, herbs, and specialty produce to South Florida’s best restaurants and gourmet markets”.  If you are local to me and want to see for yourselves, you can find them every Saturday at the West Palm Beach Green Market.

I know I’ve said all of this before, but it really is worth repeating… It is a HydroNatural farm, meaning it “combines hydroponics with natural, sustainable agriculture”…

That is only part of what I love abut our CSA – everything (possible) comes with its roots!  Why is that good?  Because “The plants are harvested live with the roots attached, enabling them to stay fresher longer. Properly stored, the plants last up to three weeks.”…

Beautiful, isn’t it?  And what you can’t get from these pictures is how good everything smells!!!  That fresh fragrance is definitely lacking in the produce we buy at the grocery store, organic or not.

In our “share” this week:

• Green Oakleaf Lettuce

• Red Bibb Lettuce

• Spring Mix Lettuce

• Chinese Spinach

• Mustard Greens

• Heirloom Zucchini

• Baley Cucumbers

• Italian Romano Pole Beans

{CSA 2011} Share 1 :: Recipes

• Green Oakleaf Lettuce :: Coconut Curry Chicken Wraps

• Red Bibb Lettuce :: Ciabatta BLAT (blt with avocado)

• Spring Mix Lettuce :: Winter Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing (family favorite)

• Chinese Spinach :: stir fried as a side

• Mustard Greens :: sauteed with garlic as a side

• Heirloom Zucchini :: Zucchini Bread (adapted), roasted as a side

• Baley Cucumbers :: simply sliced as a side or in salads

• Italian Romano Pole Beans :: sauteed with a bit of garlic & onions

Well, that’s the plan anyway.  Stay tuned and see how it all turns out!  I love this feeling of accomplishment… my menus are planned, my grocery lists are made, and my coupons are clipped.  Meal planning around our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share definitely fits into Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and an Eco-Mentality!

What about you?  What did you pick up at your farmer’s market or csa this week?  Any recipes you’d like to share?  Leave your links in the comments below…

The {Sofia’s Ideas} Frugality Series ::

{Beauty} Hair Care

Now that I’ve introduced you to the Stages, I’m going to begin with Beauty since that is where I (re)started.  Let’s talk about Hair Care.

Before I begin, let me just say that I get it.  Not only is there a spectrum of hair types & needs, but also a spectrum of emotions when it comes to one’s hair.  On one end, there’s “its just hair” and on the other, there’s “its my hair!“.  I personally lean towards “its just hair”.  I also have to preface this with the fact that my children have “multicultural hair”.  People love to advise me on what I should be doing with my daughters’ hair.  I used to take that advice, I even used to seek it, because my concern was how good their hair looked, at any cost.  {Stage 1}

That was before I educated myself about the products I was so willingly slathering onto our scalps on a daily basis.  (The Story of Cosmetics is a great introduction.)  So I threw out all that goo, began using organic products, and eventually found companies that were compatible with our needs.  My concern was the totality of our health, which included what we were absorbing into our bodies through our skin.  {Stage 2}

But all of that went out the window when I had to pinch pennies.  I started buying ANYthing.  I refused to pay more than a dollar out of pocket.  I ended up with tons of shampoos & conditioners & goops from Herbal Essences, Garnier Fructis, etc.  And not only did our hair change (for the worse), but I developed allergies, and eventually that rash.  {Stage 3}

When I got fed up, I researched even more than I did the first time.  What I wanted was an easy and affordable way to maintain our health & hygiene & budget simultaneously.  That’s when I stumbled on the No Poo Method, which I eagerly tried on all of us, despite my well-known disdain for all things vinegar.  It was super cheap, super healthy, and worth a shot. {Stage 4}

Well, it turned out that their hair didn’t take to it that well.  No matter how many times I tried to adjust it, it was just not working.  And honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking – even the faintest vinegary smell induces my gag reflex.  Adding the vanilla bean or the cinnamon stick did NOT help.  You can certainly try the No Poo Method, people swear by it.  Baking soda and apple cider vinegar… who knew?  But for us, it just didn’t work.  So this is what we do…

We used to buy shampoo, conditioner, anti-frizz, deep conditioner, gel, putty, grease, and leave-in detangling spray.  A different brand/line for each person in the house. (I wish I was kidding.)  Now we have these four things.  And we all use them.  I think we have reached a happy medium.  Simple. Frugal. Natural. Healthful.

1. {Shampoo}  Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Castille Soap ::

We use this for EVERYthing!  And I mean everything; it’s in every room in the house.  I buy the biggest size I can get, for the lowest sale price available (Amazon.com or Whole Foods Market).  For shampoo, I put about 3 tablespoons (although I just eyeball it) into a plastic squeezie bottle (16oz.) and fill the rest with water.  Every so often, (instead of a residue shampoo) I add a tablespoon of baking soda and shake like heck.

Note:: It will NOT make a ton of suds.  Your hair will feel dry and stringy.  It will be weird at first.  You will question whether your hair is truly clean.  You will be tempted to rescue your shampoo out of the recycling.  Don’t.  Do not be alarmed; this is perfectly normal.  I assure you.

2. {Conditioner} Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Conditioning Hair Rinse ::

I suggest first trying the apple cider vinegar rinse if the smell is not bothersome to you.  It’s healthy, super inexpensive, and effective for most hair.  But if you’re like me, then this is a great alternative.  I put about a dallop of the conditioning rinse in a squeezie bottle and fill the rest with water.  I tilt my head back, squeeze some onto my hair line, let gravity pull it through my hair, then rinse with cool water.

3. {Anti-Frizz, Detangling, Styling} Desert Essence Jojoba Oil ::

My first choice is the jojoba oil, but like the peppermint castille soap, we use coconut oil for EVERYthing and it smells like macaroons.  Either one, a little bit goes a really long way.  All I need to do is run my fingers through with whatever is left from doing the girls’ hair.  Their hair requires more moisture than mine, but it’s still more cost effective this way.  Rather than wasting money testing chemical laden products that simply strip their hair of its natural health, I opt for this.  I feel good knowing that I’m not slathering chemicals onto their scalps for vanity’s sake.

Simple.  Frugal.  Natural.  Healthful.

I can’t give you an exact on how much I spend on hair care, but I can tell you that those items do last a long time around here, and we are a family of 8 (well, 7 because Mia is still a lil’ lovie).  For all of its uses, not just hair care (cleaning the house, cooking, etc.) I spend about $50 every 2 months for those 4 products.  $25/month ÷ 7 people = $3.57/month/person for beauty, cleaning, nutrition, etc.  Pretty darn good.

Other benefits I didn’t cover include, but are not limited to, less plastic waste, less chemicals down the drain, and less bathroom shelf space.

So there you have it – that’s how our family approaches hair care with Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

What about you?  Are you willing to try the No Poo Method or have you already?  What are your thoughts and/or experiences?

{Written July 2, 2011}

I watch as the excitement grows.  All over the world, bloggers are writing about

what experiences they are yearning,

what they look forward to learning.

What they know they will be buying,

what foods they think they may be trying.

The air is alive with anticipation.

Their season has just begun.

But for us, here in Palm Beach, Florida, the temperature rises.

The sidewalks sizzle,

the mosquitoes menace,

and the rains replenish.

Thus, the contemplative consumers can no longer congregate at our Farmer’s Markets…

for it is the end of our season.

I don’t understand it myself, but it seems as though I get a bit sad towards the end of our CSA season.  Even though there are weeks where it is actually stressful to get to the farm, time consuming to plan what meals we’ll be making with our bounty, and I end the week feeling guilt-ridden that I didn’t use up all the veggies before they withered… I still get sad when its over.

And then I tell myself that next year will be different.  We’ll somehow, for some reason, be in a different season in our life.  I won’t be pregnant, we won’t be working out the kinks in our attempt to educate our own children, we wont be harried with too many things on our calendar.  I always think that the end of one season will somehow make more room for the next.

I imagine that next year, we’ll be volunteering at the CSA once a week, learning the whos & whats & wheres & whys & hows of it all, preparing all that produce together as a family… slowly, mindfully, and present all the while.  I imagine that next season, will be THE season… the season where it all just sort of comes together and falls into place.

I crave a slow and simple life for myself and my children… the life that blogs like Soule Mama and Simple Mom dangle in front of me, taunting me with how easily and naturally it seems to comes to them… the life that I create in my mind, in those quiet moments that seem so few and far between… the life that I’ll be living, I tell myself, when I’m no longer Struggling for Simplicity.

But that ideal eludes me.  Its like I can almost touch it, its within reach, but there’s just one more thing I have to do before I can slow down.  There’s just one more goal I need to achieve.  There’s just one more task I need to check off my list.  There’s just one more duck to be put in its perfect little place in that perfect little row.

So while we were at Swank Farms today, indulging in their annual “Pick Your Own” to mark the close of season, I tried to let go of those attached sentiments.  I tried to let go of that guilt of allowing yet another year to pass with so many imperfections, unfulfilled expectations, and unachieved goals.  Instead, I tried to hold on to that optimism, that hope, that daydream that I continue to aspire to regardless of how many seasons (of life) have passed.  Instead, I tried to reassure myself that life unfolds exactly as it should.

And when we had harvested as much as we could realistically consume, we shook hands with Darren and Jodi Swank, said our good-byes and wished each other well “until next time”.  We loaded up our van with more varieties of lettuce and basil than I even knew existed.  And when we drove away, I chuckled to myself, because secretly, I was telling myself that next season will be different.

Sofia’s {Ideas}

A Sunday series.  A single idea.  One of way too many.

Last week, I shared how we set out water bottles for trick-or-treaters on Halloween, instead of candy.  But I also shared my awareness that plastic water bottles are so not in alignment with Sofia’s Ideas on an Eco-Mentality.  Today, I’m sharing how to Upcycle those Plastic Water Bottles & Candy Wrappers inevitably strewn about.

This is what I meant when I said “But that is not all, oh no, that is not all!“

All we need are empty water bottles, candy wrappers, glue + water mixture, and scissors.  By simply decopauging the water bottles, we have the foundation for several different crafts that children can make with no (or minimal) help.

Your classic birdfeeder and planter, but with a cool new look…

organizational containers… for the little things boys tend to collect…

and for girls with their hair accessories & trinkets & “tiny adorable preciousnesses”…

Remember that sneak peak? where I showed you the scale of these itty bitty cuties?

How about turning those rosettes into a mini topiary?

Use one of those decopauged bottles as a vase for either the mini topiary…

or the classic paper flower, this time made with candy wrappers instead…

But my favorite, of course, is more educational.  For us, an addition to our simple, frugal, and green homeschooling arsenal, but great for any home with lil’ lovies… color matching containers to use with whatever you have around.  We have all sorts of stuff to color sort – rainbow pasta, plastic bottle caps (of course), and colored craft sticks…

The possibilities, really, are quite endless…

Pom poms are always fun to sort!  As you can see here, sometimes its irresistible…

to put all those little “puffles” in their place…

But that is not all, oh no, that is not all!

Stay tuned for even more on celebrating Halloween with Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

a {snippet}

{Pull, Push, Play, Papa}

{Perfect}

{Pull}

{Push}

{Play}

{Papa}

{Perfect}

{this moment}

…

If you’re inspired to do the same,

The {Sofia’s Ideas} Frugality Series

The Stages

There was a Hidden Cost to my Frugality; the cost was the deterioration of my health.  That rash was the last straw for me.  I was sick & tired of being sick & tired, especially after having had the experience of optimal health.  That gave me the impetus to investigate how we could go back to living in alignment with our philosophy – that investing in quality is synonymous with investing in our health, and our futures.

I’ve had to find a balance between being frugal and still living in alignment with that philosophy.  Its been a journey.  I look at my journey, thus far, as having four stages…

Stage 1 :: I Know Nothing

(or the “I’m a closet huffer so I buy whatever smells good” phase)

This stage began from the time I left home, until Aysia’s ASD diagnosis.  During this stage, I didn’t even know enough to question quality or safety.  I figured, “if they make it and sell it, it must be safe to consume, right?”  I also didn’t think in terms of a budget.  If we had it, I could spend it.  There was no focus during this phase.

Stage 2 :: I Know Everything

(or the know-it-all “Organic without Abandon” phase)

This stage began with our commitment to only non-invasive treatments (including dietary intervention, chemical & metal detoxification) until Papa was downsized from his job.  During this stage, I purchased Organic without Abandon.  Whatever our family needed, I bought the organic or natural version.  Money was of absolutely no object.  I didn’t look at prices.  Ever.  The focus during this phase was solely on quality.

Stage 3 :: Scarcity Mentality

(or the “if we become homeless at least we’ll have 2 years worth of toothpaste” phase)

This stage began from the time of our sudden & dramatic financial change, until that rash.  During this stage, I completely abandoned the mindset I had developed in Stage 2.  I was in survival mode; learning how to use coupons to create a stockpile.  If I couldn’t get it for free or for cheap, I made it myself or did without.  The focus during this phase was solely on quantity and price.

Stage 4 :: Abundance Mentality

(or the current phase I’m in)

This stage began the day of that rash, and is still currently running.  I’m becoming an increasingly mindful and intentional consumer.  I’ve learned that there is very little that we actually need.  I’ve learned that if we are willing to revisit our ideas on what is necessity, and what is superfluous, we will be surprised at the quality & quantity we can actually afford.  The focus now is on quality, quantity, and price. 

We have a choice.  We can pay now or pay later.  We can either choose to invest in our health or choose to subsidize our illness.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing what we actually purchase and use in our home today – from food to clothes to sundries… all in alignment with Sofia’s Ideas on Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality!

What about you? Do any of the stages resonate with you?  What are you most looking forward to reading about?  and why?