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In life the unforeseen and unfortunate happen to us all. With the U.S economy taking a hit the last few years, many people have experienced unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy and families have had to tighten their budget and relinquish luxuries for necessities. Even aside from the economy, it’s inevitable that in life less than ideal situations will present themselves. Obstacles will arise.
In my experience if you approach obstacles and challenges with creativity, you will have a happier life. Being creative means being able to survive and to adapt to ever changing scenarios and environments. If you get laid off from your job you could become bitter and frustrated that life isn’t as good as it used to be. Or you can look at it as an opportunity; an opportunity to plan better for the future and have more money in savings. Or an opportunity to learn a new skill or go back to school. Perhaps it could be an opportunity to finally pursue a dream or goal of yours. Look at so-called negatives as blessings in disguise.
When bad things happen in life view them as a challenge and an opportunity to learn something, to adapt and to simply make it work. It truly makes for less stress and more happiness. It’s a matter of perspective and the willingness to choose to make any situation positive even if at the time it seems impossible. Creativity means finding ways to survive that you never considered before. For example when I became a stay at home mom I personally took responsibility for making the dollar go further. I only order online if I get free shipping or have a coupon (sign up for emails from your favorite stores to get the best deals/coupons), I create meal plans using up the same ingredients so nothing goes to waste and I found ways to reduce our monthly bills by $500/month…just to name a few things. The point is I have been creative and have found ways to save money that just last year I didn’t consider.
Most of the time negative situations are temporary. Be grateful for the things you do have. Be mindful of all the blessings in your life because it could always be worse. For me as long as my family is healthy, we have a roof over our heads and food on the table I will be happy. Those 3 things are minimal, but very important. Take note of what truly matters most and focus on it and you will find happiness.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
20 things that change when you become a parent
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Some of these I got from babycenter.com and some I added myself. Just feeling a little sentimental given the fact I'm due in 6 days!
1. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
2. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
3. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.
4. Your heart breaks much more easily.
5. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.
6. Every day is a surprise.
7. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
8. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.
9. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.
10. You discover how much there is to say about one tooth.
11. You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one.
12. You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late.
13. You learn that taking a shower is a luxury.
14. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place
15. You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution.
16. You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart.
17. You want to take better care of yourself for your child.
18. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.
19. You find new passions that cater to your family such as cooking or photography.
20. Your goals and future become so much more important.
1. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
2. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
3. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.
4. Your heart breaks much more easily.
5. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.
6. Every day is a surprise.
7. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
8. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.
9. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.
10. You discover how much there is to say about one tooth.
11. You give parents with a screaming child an 'I-know-the-feeling' look instead of a 'Can't-they-shut-him-up?' one.
12. You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late.
13. You learn that taking a shower is a luxury.
14. You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place
15. You start to appreciate Sesame Street for its intellectual contribution.
16. You have to quit watching the news because you see every story from a mother's perspective and it breaks your heart.
17. You want to take better care of yourself for your child.
18. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.
19. You find new passions that cater to your family such as cooking or photography.
20. Your goals and future become so much more important.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
5 Essential Zen Habits for Balanced Living
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Below is an article I absolutely love. I truely believe life is a constant balance between positive and negative. To me, a happy life is one that is balanced. When you do something negative (like eat 10 cookies), workout a little harder or go for a walk right after. I also believe that daily reflection and/or meditation is essential to help balance your life. I have started to be mindful and conscience of the things I do each day and reflect upon it so I know what areas I can focus on and what areas need more balance.
This article has some great ideas for balanced living.
5 Essential Zen Habits for Balanced Living
“Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” – Robert Fulghum
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Anastasiya Goers of Balance In Me.
Do you sometimes wonder whether your life is in balance? It is easy to know if you lead a balanced life because if you do then:
- you enjoy every moment and every second,
- you can cope with any difficulties,
- you can be happy without any reason to be happy,
- you can be yourself and love the person you are.
Today the world constantly tries to throw you out of balance and sometimes no matter what you do you still feel like your life is going in the wrong direction (I know I feel this way sometimes.) Balanced living might seem like one of those theoretical terms that nobody can put into practice but in fact there is nothing simpler than living a balanced life.
It might take some work at first but once you get in the flow and discover the simple ways to steer your life in your desired direction you will feel empowered. You will be inspired and energized by every day of your life. Your life will be full of amazing adventures and events that will make every day memorable. You won’t be wasting your life anymore or spending gloomy hours contemplating about the misfortunes that might have happened on your way.
Does balanced living mean that your life will be full of only positive people and events that will bring you happiness every moment of your life? Not at all.
Balanced living is when you can always offset any negative events in your life with positive ones. It is also when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Balanced living is when you are happy working and playing equally. If you picture happiness and everything great in your life as a diamond, then any negative things that may happen are just the setting that makes this diamond shine only brighter.
If you want to live a balanced life then there are 5 essential habits that you need to develop.
These habits have been my lifeline for many years and I cannot imagine a balanced (and happy) life without them.
Living in balance is easy and very rewarding because your life becomes the one of joy, happiness and serenity. If you put some time and effort into turning your life into a balanced direction then you too will live a truly Zen life.
This article has some great ideas for balanced living.
5 Essential Zen Habits for Balanced Living
“Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.” – Robert Fulghum
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Anastasiya Goers of Balance In Me.
Do you sometimes wonder whether your life is in balance? It is easy to know if you lead a balanced life because if you do then:
- you enjoy every moment and every second,
- you can cope with any difficulties,
- you can be happy without any reason to be happy,
- you can be yourself and love the person you are.
Today the world constantly tries to throw you out of balance and sometimes no matter what you do you still feel like your life is going in the wrong direction (I know I feel this way sometimes.) Balanced living might seem like one of those theoretical terms that nobody can put into practice but in fact there is nothing simpler than living a balanced life.
It might take some work at first but once you get in the flow and discover the simple ways to steer your life in your desired direction you will feel empowered. You will be inspired and energized by every day of your life. Your life will be full of amazing adventures and events that will make every day memorable. You won’t be wasting your life anymore or spending gloomy hours contemplating about the misfortunes that might have happened on your way.
Does balanced living mean that your life will be full of only positive people and events that will bring you happiness every moment of your life? Not at all.
Balanced living is when you can always offset any negative events in your life with positive ones. It is also when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Balanced living is when you are happy working and playing equally. If you picture happiness and everything great in your life as a diamond, then any negative things that may happen are just the setting that makes this diamond shine only brighter.
If you want to live a balanced life then there are 5 essential habits that you need to develop.
- Awareness and mindfulness. Awareness is the key to balanced living because it lets you see every moment of your life and appreciate it. A mindful person lives in the present and does not get obsessed with the future or the past. It’s important to plan for the future and learn from your mistakes in the past, but it is even more important to appreciate who you are right now and find joy in this state.
When you are aware of this moment you are calm and you do not make any decisions that you might regret later.
When you are mindful you are in balance with the universe. - Appreciation of your body. By “appreciation” I mean taking care of your body. If you are grateful for the very first gift that you received in your life (your body) then you must take care of it. It means making healthy choices in life, exercising and being generally active, eating a balanced and healthy diet, letting your body rest when it’s tired and pampering it every once in a while.
Your body is the tool that lets you experience so many wonderful moments in life and you need to do your best when taking care of it.
Clearly, balanced living is not possible without a balanced body. - Creativity. Every day we face a lot of challenges and choices in life. Some of these challenges might be easy while others will be more difficult. If you approach each of your challenges with creativity then your life will be filled with adventures. Conversely, if you turn off your creativity, then your life will turn into torture.
Creativity is a wonderful tool that lets us turn our dreams into reality, turn play into work and work into play, and enjoy life even when it seems empty.
Creative people are the ones who can make the exquisite setting for the diamond of their life. - Patience. With patience we can overcome almost anything whilst without it we can ruin almost anything.
Patience can help us turn our dreams into reality (losing weight, starting a business or blog). It can help us be better parents, spouses, friends and even strangers (sometimes a smile from an understanding stranger can make the biggest difference when you are having a bad day). If you are patient you do not have to worry about the minutes spent in traffic or in the line at the grocery store. With patience you can see results in all your endeavors and you do not have to spend the precious time of your life getting mad or infuriated.
Patience leads to mindfulness and mindfulness brings you in balance. - Simplicity. Simplicity is probably the most important part of life balance. When you build your life around simplicity you reduce the number of out-of-balance things that can disrupt your happy living.
In balance everything is simple. There are two opposites (like black and white) and you just have to pick something in the middle:- Simplify you work schedule so that you do not have to think about a hundred things at the same time.
- Simplify your relationships by connecting with people you truly care about and getting rid of the ones you don’t.
- Simplify your diet by choosing simple healthy ingredients that are part of balanced nutrition.
- Simplify your social media exposure and enjoy living life and getting things done rather than wasting time online.
Simplicity makes life balance simple.
These habits have been my lifeline for many years and I cannot imagine a balanced (and happy) life without them.
Living in balance is easy and very rewarding because your life becomes the one of joy, happiness and serenity. If you put some time and effort into turning your life into a balanced direction then you too will live a truly Zen life.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Grilled Chicken with Roasted Garlic-Basil Vinaigrette and Grilled Potatoes
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I've been so lazy and unmotivated the last few weeks. I haven't cooked much of anything. Mr. Wright has been grilling and we've been living off oatmeal, yogurt and other quickie foods. It's gotta be because I'm 20lbs heavier than normal, sluggish and totally exhausted all the time. Only 7 more weeks and then I really won't have time to do anything!
At least the weather has been amazing in Germany. I love that the seasons are so distinct and normal. I come from Colorado where spring is just a tease as mother nature shows her ugly face with frequent snow storms and you can't expect regular warm weather until end of May. Just yesterday in Denver they had snow, but it is supposed to be 60 by tomorrow. Pshhh. Crazy weather. But here in Germany its a gradual warm up and each week gets a little nicer. The trees are blossoming with buds and flowers and there are various shades of green everywhere you look. The temperature is inching to the upper 60's and its just beautiful and perfect here.
The nice weather has contributed to my extra boost of happiness and motivation. I decided we should start eating good meals again and spring is such a fun time to cook! I love the fresh and colorful ingredients that are in season right now. I found this recipe from Bobby Flay on foodnetwork.com.
I changed a few things though. First instead of using fresh oregano, I used fresh basil because its what I had on hand. I love basil and wouldn't make it with oregano anyway. Second I didn't have fingerling potatoes like Flay's recipe calls for. Regular old baking potatoes worked just fine. Third the recipe calls for white wine vinegar. I have white wine and I have white vinegar but didn't have white wine vinegar, so instead used red wine vinegar. And lastly Flay says to use bone in, skin on chicken breasts. I did have these on hand, but there was a slight problem. I purchased organic chicken, but I didn't want it so natural that the hairs were still on the dang thing! Black, wirey hairs. I'll spare anymore details and will not post a picture because it is just gross. So I used some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and it was still delicious.
The combination of roasted garlic, honey, basil and vinegar is divine. The flavors blend so well together. This can easily be made into a quick weeknight meal because the viniagrette can be made ahead of time. I actually suggest making it at least a few hours before grilling so the ingredients can sit and meld together. Grill a few extra breats and you have a gourmet lunch for the next day. This is a definite favorite and I want to make it once a week. I highly recommend this!
Combine garlic, vinegar, oregano, parsley, honey and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and process until emulsified. Stir in the red chile flakes. For better flavor let sit covered in fridge for a few hours or overnight.
Place potatoes in a medium saucepan, cover with cold water and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until a paring knife inserted comes out with some resistance. Do not cook the potatoes all the way through because they will continue cooking on the grill. Drain well and when cool enough to handle, slice in half lengthwise.
Heat the grill to medium.
Brush the chicken and potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill, skin-side down and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 6 to 7 minutes. Turn the chicken over and continue grilling until just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. A few minutes before the chicken has finished cooking, place the potatoes on the grill, cut-side down and cook until lightly golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn over and continue grilling about a minute longer. Remove the chicken and potatoes to a platter and immediately drizzle with the roasted garlic-basil vinaigrette. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with basil and parsley sprigs.
I've been so lazy and unmotivated the last few weeks. I haven't cooked much of anything. Mr. Wright has been grilling and we've been living off oatmeal, yogurt and other quickie foods. It's gotta be because I'm 20lbs heavier than normal, sluggish and totally exhausted all the time. Only 7 more weeks and then I really won't have time to do anything!At least the weather has been amazing in Germany. I love that the seasons are so distinct and normal. I come from Colorado where spring is just a tease as mother nature shows her ugly face with frequent snow storms and you can't expect regular warm weather until end of May. Just yesterday in Denver they had snow, but it is supposed to be 60 by tomorrow. Pshhh. Crazy weather. But here in Germany its a gradual warm up and each week gets a little nicer. The trees are blossoming with buds and flowers and there are various shades of green everywhere you look. The temperature is inching to the upper 60's and its just beautiful and perfect here.
The nice weather has contributed to my extra boost of happiness and motivation. I decided we should start eating good meals again and spring is such a fun time to cook! I love the fresh and colorful ingredients that are in season right now. I found this recipe from Bobby Flay on foodnetwork.com.
I changed a few things though. First instead of using fresh oregano, I used fresh basil because its what I had on hand. I love basil and wouldn't make it with oregano anyway. Second I didn't have fingerling potatoes like Flay's recipe calls for. Regular old baking potatoes worked just fine. Third the recipe calls for white wine vinegar. I have white wine and I have white vinegar but didn't have white wine vinegar, so instead used red wine vinegar. And lastly Flay says to use bone in, skin on chicken breasts. I did have these on hand, but there was a slight problem. I purchased organic chicken, but I didn't want it so natural that the hairs were still on the dang thing! Black, wirey hairs. I'll spare anymore details and will not post a picture because it is just gross. So I used some boneless, skinless chicken breasts and it was still delicious.
The combination of roasted garlic, honey, basil and vinegar is divine. The flavors blend so well together. This can easily be made into a quick weeknight meal because the viniagrette can be made ahead of time. I actually suggest making it at least a few hours before grilling so the ingredients can sit and meld together. Grill a few extra breats and you have a gourmet lunch for the next day. This is a definite favorite and I want to make it once a week. I highly recommend this!
Ingredients
For the roasted garlic-basil vinaigrette:
- 8 cloves roasted garlic
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
For the grilled chicken and potatoes:
- 12 fingerling potatoes or 2-4 baking potatoes, scrubbed
- Kosher salt
- Olive oil
- 4 (8-ounce) bone-in chicken breasts (skinless, boneless breasts work fine too)
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
For the roasted garlic-basil vinaigrette:
Combine garlic, vinegar, oregano, parsley, honey and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and process until emulsified. Stir in the red chile flakes. For better flavor let sit covered in fridge for a few hours or overnight.
For the grilled chicken and potatoes:
Place potatoes in a medium saucepan, cover with cold water and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until a paring knife inserted comes out with some resistance. Do not cook the potatoes all the way through because they will continue cooking on the grill. Drain well and when cool enough to handle, slice in half lengthwise.
Heat the grill to medium.
Brush the chicken and potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on the grill, skin-side down and grill until golden brown and slightly charred, 6 to 7 minutes. Turn the chicken over and continue grilling until just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. A few minutes before the chicken has finished cooking, place the potatoes on the grill, cut-side down and cook until lightly golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn over and continue grilling about a minute longer. Remove the chicken and potatoes to a platter and immediately drizzle with the roasted garlic-basil vinaigrette. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with basil and parsley sprigs.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Another year older
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It’s amazing what can happen in 12 months. This time last year I was panicked I’d have to reschedule my birthday night because of the bipolar Colorado snowstorm that hit. Luckily just as suddenly as the storm came it went, and my birthday was a total blast. All because of these girls:
And these guys:
And this guy:
There was cake, booty shakin' and martinis galore. Most everyone survived. Except poor Louis who got tricked into too many shots. Not sure his stomach ever forgave him.
It was my favorite and best brithday ever. This year is different for many obvious reasons. No booze for one, boohoo. But for two I'm in Europe! Which in and of itself is an incredible experience. Just yesterday I was in Strasbourg, France with a girlfriend of mine and had a total awe inspiring, "pinch me now because I think I'm dreaming" moment. It was simple. Here we were, on a random Wednesday afteroon eating lunch outside at a gourmet French cafe. Our table nestled on the cobblestone streets, was right in front of the Cathedral De Notre Dame of Strasbourg.
We were surrounded by history, culture and absolute beauty. I have been to Strasbourg twice before, but this visit was different. The winter months in Germany are dark, dreary, cold and just plain depressing. This was first warm day of the year and the entire vibe of the town was happy to finally welcome spring. Several times throughout the day I just thought...wow. How lucky am I to be able to drive an hour to France whenever I want and soak up one of Europe's quaint little towns?
It is a dream come true to live in a place like this.
And to have Little Wright with me makes it even more special because even if she can't remember it, she will have pictures of her cute little butt exploring European towns.
I used to have a desktop background of Capri, Italy and would daydream about what it would be like to live there. Or even just visit. Living in another country and being able to experience a different culture and way of life is such an incredible experience. Life is short. And getting older makes you realize it. I don't have any issues with getting older (yet) because as the months pass and a new birthday comes I like the person I am becoming even more. Wiser. Smarter. Happier.
This time last year we had no intentions or knowledge of living in Europe. It's so neat to know how much can be changed and how much better life can get in less than a year. I wonder where we will be for next year's birthday....
And these guys:
And this guy:
There was cake, booty shakin' and martinis galore. Most everyone survived. Except poor Louis who got tricked into too many shots. Not sure his stomach ever forgave him.
It was my favorite and best brithday ever. This year is different for many obvious reasons. No booze for one, boohoo. But for two I'm in Europe! Which in and of itself is an incredible experience. Just yesterday I was in Strasbourg, France with a girlfriend of mine and had a total awe inspiring, "pinch me now because I think I'm dreaming" moment. It was simple. Here we were, on a random Wednesday afteroon eating lunch outside at a gourmet French cafe. Our table nestled on the cobblestone streets, was right in front of the Cathedral De Notre Dame of Strasbourg.
We were surrounded by history, culture and absolute beauty. I have been to Strasbourg twice before, but this visit was different. The winter months in Germany are dark, dreary, cold and just plain depressing. This was first warm day of the year and the entire vibe of the town was happy to finally welcome spring. Several times throughout the day I just thought...wow. How lucky am I to be able to drive an hour to France whenever I want and soak up one of Europe's quaint little towns?
It is a dream come true to live in a place like this.
And to have Little Wright with me makes it even more special because even if she can't remember it, she will have pictures of her cute little butt exploring European towns.
I used to have a desktop background of Capri, Italy and would daydream about what it would be like to live there. Or even just visit. Living in another country and being able to experience a different culture and way of life is such an incredible experience. Life is short. And getting older makes you realize it. I don't have any issues with getting older (yet) because as the months pass and a new birthday comes I like the person I am becoming even more. Wiser. Smarter. Happier.
This time last year we had no intentions or knowledge of living in Europe. It's so neat to know how much can be changed and how much better life can get in less than a year. I wonder where we will be for next year's birthday....
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Preschool theme: Flowers and Plants
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Recently I've been browsing homeschooling websites. These families are incredible. Like Jolanthe at Home School Creations. This lady is supermom. Seriously! I don't know how she does it. It takes so much planning and work to create a structured learning environment at home. I never really thought about homeschooling our kids because it seems like they'd miss out on making friends and creating memories. However from what I've been learning many homeschooling families have meetup groups and do co-learning groups a few times a week. That and they have their kids involved in sports or other extra curricular activities. I still don't know that homeschooling will be the route we take, but I do love learning and making it a part of our daily life. I have totally slacked in teaching Little Wright anything structured. She can count and spell her name and knows shapes, colors..blah blah blah. I guess that's good. I don't know. I have nothing to compare it to. But what I do know is there is so much I could be doing with her.
And so, on top of my mounting pile of supermom tasks I've decided to try monthly preschool themes. There reallyare some wonderful sites out there and a wealth of ideas and information. I didn't really think about teaching Little Wright math at 2 1/2, yet there are simple things to teach toddlers to build a foundation for an interest in math. For example teaching her about volume and weight (heavy versus light) and length (short versus long) as well as counting.
Science is another subject that can easily be taught to toddlers. Especially with the theme of plants and flowers. We can learn that plants and flowers need water and sunlight to grow.
Math
I found this really cute printable of a potted flower and petals. You cut out the petals and the flower pot. Then laminate the pieces so they last longer. Your toddler can practice counting the dots on the petals and matching the petal to the correct number. Keep all the pieces in an envelope and this is a fun game you can bring along on the go.
There is a second flower pot that goes up to number 10
For math we will also practice counting seeds, weighing water when we water our plants and maybe Ill get some more ideas this month to incorporate math.
Science
I printed and laminated these sequence cards which allows toddlers to learn the process of growing a plant. We will keep these in an envelope too.
For science I have a few more ideas we will do this month:
-Go outside and find some leaves and flower petals and laminate them
-Plant some seeds in pots
-Go to a park and identify different types of flowers
-Learn about what plants need to grow (sunlight, soil, water, etc)
-This parts of the flower printable maybe a little advanced, but I'll print it out and try it
Language Development/Reading/Writing
-Find some books about flowers/plants
-Practicing tracing the letters of the alphabet with these cards (I printed and laminated so we can use a dry erase marker to trace)
-Practice learning the days of the week with these printable flower pots (also laminated)
I'm sure I'll come up with a few more ideas and be sure to update.
Arts/Crafts
-Family Hand flower
-And more ideas TBD Ill post more ideas/links as I come up with them
So at the end of the month the plan is to compile all this into what is known in the homeschool world as a "lapbook". This concept is still new to me, but basically you create a file folder and put everything from that month's theme into the lapbook. Not only is it a portable learning folder with fun activities, but its a neat way to keep and save all the crafts.
So once the lapbook is done I'll post all links and ideas I ended up doing and hopefully someone else will find this stuff useful :) Id love to hear ideas, tips or links if anyone else does this type of thing.
Recently I've been browsing homeschooling websites. These families are incredible. Like Jolanthe at Home School Creations. This lady is supermom. Seriously! I don't know how she does it. It takes so much planning and work to create a structured learning environment at home. I never really thought about homeschooling our kids because it seems like they'd miss out on making friends and creating memories. However from what I've been learning many homeschooling families have meetup groups and do co-learning groups a few times a week. That and they have their kids involved in sports or other extra curricular activities. I still don't know that homeschooling will be the route we take, but I do love learning and making it a part of our daily life. I have totally slacked in teaching Little Wright anything structured. She can count and spell her name and knows shapes, colors..blah blah blah. I guess that's good. I don't know. I have nothing to compare it to. But what I do know is there is so much I could be doing with her.
And so, on top of my mounting pile of supermom tasks I've decided to try monthly preschool themes. There reallyare some wonderful sites out there and a wealth of ideas and information. I didn't really think about teaching Little Wright math at 2 1/2, yet there are simple things to teach toddlers to build a foundation for an interest in math. For example teaching her about volume and weight (heavy versus light) and length (short versus long) as well as counting.
Science is another subject that can easily be taught to toddlers. Especially with the theme of plants and flowers. We can learn that plants and flowers need water and sunlight to grow.
Math
I found this really cute printable of a potted flower and petals. You cut out the petals and the flower pot. Then laminate the pieces so they last longer. Your toddler can practice counting the dots on the petals and matching the petal to the correct number. Keep all the pieces in an envelope and this is a fun game you can bring along on the go.
There is a second flower pot that goes up to number 10
For math we will also practice counting seeds, weighing water when we water our plants and maybe Ill get some more ideas this month to incorporate math.
Science
I printed and laminated these sequence cards which allows toddlers to learn the process of growing a plant. We will keep these in an envelope too.
For science I have a few more ideas we will do this month:
-Go outside and find some leaves and flower petals and laminate them
-Plant some seeds in pots
-Go to a park and identify different types of flowers
-Learn about what plants need to grow (sunlight, soil, water, etc)
-This parts of the flower printable maybe a little advanced, but I'll print it out and try it
Language Development/Reading/Writing
-Find some books about flowers/plants
-Practicing tracing the letters of the alphabet with these cards (I printed and laminated so we can use a dry erase marker to trace)
-Practice learning the days of the week with these printable flower pots (also laminated)
I'm sure I'll come up with a few more ideas and be sure to update.
Arts/Crafts
-Family Hand flower
-And more ideas TBD Ill post more ideas/links as I come up with them
So at the end of the month the plan is to compile all this into what is known in the homeschool world as a "lapbook". This concept is still new to me, but basically you create a file folder and put everything from that month's theme into the lapbook. Not only is it a portable learning folder with fun activities, but its a neat way to keep and save all the crafts.
So once the lapbook is done I'll post all links and ideas I ended up doing and hopefully someone else will find this stuff useful :) Id love to hear ideas, tips or links if anyone else does this type of thing.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Avoid "dirty" produce
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Research from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day.
Cost seems to be the biggest issue with consumers when it comes to organic. And rightfully so. It is expensive, but like most things in life you get what you pay for. I personally look at it as an investment in my health. I’d rather give up eating out for example to afford organic food. The thought of pesticides in my body, especially with a fetus growing in me, is just repulsive. You don’t have to buy everything organic though to notice a difference in your food. Start out with what is known as the “dirty dozen”, 12 different fruits and vegetables that carry the most pesticide residue. Definitely splurge on organic for these:
Peach
Apple
Bell Pepper
Celery
Nectarine
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)
Carrot
Pear
Foods that are considered more clean and are lowest in pesticides include:
Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato
Below is some information from the EWG that may further influence your decision to choose organic.
Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides.
What’s the Difference?
EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily. The Guide helps consumers make informed choices to lower their dietary pesticide load.
Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all the studies used to create these lists assume that people rinse or peel fresh produce. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate pesticides. Peeling helps, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the skin. The best approach: eat a varied diet, rinse all produce and buy organic when possible.
How Was This Guide Developed?
EWG analysts have developed the Guide based on data from nearly 87,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce conducted between 2000 and 2007 and collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You can find a detailed description of the criteria EWG used to develop these rankings and the complete list of fruits and vegetables tested at, www.foodnews.org. Reference: Pesticides in Produce. Retrieved March 4, 2010 from http://www.foodnews.org/EWG-shoppers-guide-download-final.pdf
Cost seems to be the biggest issue with consumers when it comes to organic. And rightfully so. It is expensive, but like most things in life you get what you pay for. I personally look at it as an investment in my health. I’d rather give up eating out for example to afford organic food. The thought of pesticides in my body, especially with a fetus growing in me, is just repulsive. You don’t have to buy everything organic though to notice a difference in your food. Start out with what is known as the “dirty dozen”, 12 different fruits and vegetables that carry the most pesticide residue. Definitely splurge on organic for these:
Peach
Apple
Bell Pepper
Celery
Nectarine
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)
Carrot
Pear
Foods that are considered more clean and are lowest in pesticides include:
Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato
Below is some information from the EWG that may further influence your decision to choose organic.
Why Should You Care About Pesticides?
The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides.
What’s the Difference?
EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily. The Guide helps consumers make informed choices to lower their dietary pesticide load.
Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all the studies used to create these lists assume that people rinse or peel fresh produce. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate pesticides. Peeling helps, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the skin. The best approach: eat a varied diet, rinse all produce and buy organic when possible.
How Was This Guide Developed?
EWG analysts have developed the Guide based on data from nearly 87,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce conducted between 2000 and 2007 and collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You can find a detailed description of the criteria EWG used to develop these rankings and the complete list of fruits and vegetables tested at, www.foodnews.org. Reference: Pesticides in Produce. Retrieved March 4, 2010 from http://www.foodnews.org/EWG-shoppers-guide-download-final.pdf
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