...randomness on a Sunday

my last blog post was about self care and how we ALL need it. These the last two weeks have been a true testament to that statement. My home is filled with ill people. My two children have been sick on and off for almost 2 weeks. Colds that have turned to stomach bugs, or stomach bugs that have turned to colds, then fevers happening at random. I have changed vomited covered bed linens about 4 times in the last week (my poor boy). It is always so awful when the kids are sick, they don't understand what is going on. It's a heart breaker. Not only are they sick, but my husband who just flew back from NC informs me on his ride home that he too is sick. Sure enough all day today he has been in bed. In between he is slugging Gatorade and sipping on Lipton Noodle Soup. At night he is downing the Alkaseltzer. This mama is the only one who has not caught the bug. I am trying with all that I have to  not catch it. I opened the windows today and let the air in....it was a balmy 60 degrees here, perfect for such a thing. I am drinking tea, eating citrus, washing my hands a bazillion times and diffusing oils. I do have a small tickle in my throat and I am hoping that it disappears before turning into something nasty. If I am sick than this house is screwed.

All of this brings me back to my main point of self care and taking care of me. I have made a decision in this and have already informed my husband. He probably thinks I'm kidding...but I certainly am not. I have decided that once a month I am taking a ME day. I will choose the day based around what is happening that month, he will be taking the kids (or one of them and my mother can take the other) and I am going out alone. It wont be all day b/c of course I am still nursing so that makes my time short (I have no saved milk). I may go get a pedicure, I may go to Target, maybe Ill go out to the bookstore, maybe to visit a friend...who knows. All I know is that I deserve a day...at least part of a day to do what I want. I don't feel bad about it either. I may not bring in a paycheck, but I do my fair share around here and taking care of two kids under 2 . 5 is a job itself. You mamas know what I mean! If you don't yet, you will. 

So I think that any other mamas out there who are SAH moms or working moms should get in on this if you don't already. Pick a day, put a big bold circle around it. Tell your significant other it's YOUR day. Tell em way in advance so they know not to make plans. My husband is a hard worker and he busts his butt to bring in money to support us financially, but he gets to have his fun after work. He golfs in the nice weather, he ice fishes during the winter, skis when he can, he hangs at his local watering hole a couple times a week with his buds...you know what I do? Nothing. MAYBE I get to go grocery shopping alone! (Don't get me wrong, I actually love it hahah) But it's pretty sad when a solo trip to the grocery store seems like a vacation. Puttin my foot down on this one. It's mama's time. Boom.

xo

 ps. check out a recipe for Thieves tea on the EO Recipe tab....good for anyone who wants a natural way to fight off the germies!

self care saturday

...you know that old saying, "if mama aint happy no ones happy"? Well I have realized just how true that is, especially after having my second baby. I have always been a happy and bubbly person. Always the one to make people laugh and put people in good moods. I still am that person, but I have never experienced true stress until having kids. Oh my gosh. I have worked with kids all my working life but it sure is a whole new ball game when you can't clock out at three. I am home all day every day with my littles and I am so blessed to be, but it is a rare occasion when I get a break during the busy day. My toddler naps the same time every day but the baby is not on a set schedule yet, so dual naps hardly happen. Truthfully even if I could get some time alone I would spend it cleaning. I do...spend it cleaning. When my kids are crazy, and the house is a mess, or finances are real tight or god forbid we are OUT of coffee, a mama can start to lose her shit. I have a lot of patience dealing with my kids because I worked with children for so long, but I will be honest...sometime I flip. I give my toddler more chances than my parents ever gave me and still he can be defiant. I eventually end up yelling at him because it is the only way he will listen. Not every time...there are times when he gives me no problems at all. But he is two and a half and this is completely normal. It is mostly when he is bored too...he is a boy that likes to be on the move (ever since in the womb lol) so when it's a day where we are stuck inside or the baby is being very needy, my toddler will act up. I do my best to keep him busy and do activities other than TV, but sometimes nothing helps. Thank goodness for my Stress Away roller bottle. It helps ease the tension (most of the time lol)  Since there is only so much I can do for my children, I decided that perhaps I need to do more for me. I mean, in order to be able to take care of my family, I really need to take care of myself. So....

I came across this list on Pinterest and I thought that it couldn't be more perfect for my dilemma. 

These are great. And simple !! I can do all of these things I just have to make time. The best part is that these are not all physical things you need to do in order to relieve stresses...they are little things that will just brighten a day. Number 3 is buy yourself flowers. I mean come on! I never think to do that, and I love flowers in the home. Peonies are my favorite and last Spring I had some in the middle of the kitchen table and they were gorgeous. How can you have a bad day when a vase of your favorite flowers are there to greet you when you walk in the room? 

Number 12: cook a new dish. I do love to cook but with two kiddos under foot most the time, I try and do the quick and easy dinner routine. Still making healthy meals, just with the usual ingredients. I have not cooked "outside the box" in forever. Guess I can take out my cook books again and find something I have never made and give it a whirl, the hubs would love it. 

Anyways, just seeing this list brightened my spirits a bit. I think parents (not just mamas) forget that they need to take time for themselves. I know many parents are working parents and there is probably less of a chance when you work. But honestly...if it can be fit in somewhere on a weekend or during the week we really should try. I know, easier said than done. But I wish I had thought about this more when I was pregnant. I had more time then than I do now. But I am determined to give it a try...if I am not stressed than my family as well as myself will benefit. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with having a third iced coffee at 430 in the afternoon...absolutely nothing! ;)

xo

5 things friday!

I always liked blogs that offered quick information about things that interested me. I followed one that did a "3 things Thursday" and I decided it would be fun to do one at the end of the week. I think the last time I did one it was actually about the blogs that I loved. This time, I am going to share 5 Instagram profiles that I follow and that I adore. Part of this is because I don't have any topic on my mind today to post about, &  it has been a few days since last I did (I am trying hard to not get stale!) So, without further ado....

1. BookWorm Boutique is an adorable account for anyone who loves sit down (or stand up) with a good book! It is a merch account with everything from clothing to pillows, bags and mugs (which is great if you are a book lover AND a coffee drinker!!) They sometimes spotlight a book in their posts, but mostly its about book lovin and showing it off. It's wonderfully delightful and you should check it out!

2. CT Food Lovers is a mouthwatering account that shows us many different culinary hot spots in our state. I have a list going on now of places the hubs and I need to get to at some point this year. From baked goods (Tastease in Hartford with the dang donuts!!!) to gourmet pizza, seafood, burgers, fries and much more...this account will open your eyes to places you may not have known existed in our state, which will in turn make you open your mouths and your wallets lol. I am always up for trying something new. Perhaps our anniversary will have us venturing out a little further this year! If you like food and live in CT I suggest checking them out. 

3. Drops of Joy Jewelry is an account for those of us who dabble in Essential Oils. She makes wonderful diffuser jewelry including necklaces and bracelets of all styles. Her prices are very reasonable and she offers discounts and giveaways all the time. I love my necklace. My favorite oil to wear and diffuse is Stress Away by Young Living. Honestly to catch a wiff every now and then really helps a mama who is chasing a toddler all day while the infant hangs off her boob lol. I like DOJ because it is a small business. And of course there is this:
"The mission of Drops of Joy Jewelry is to spread joy & to give back. When you purchase a piece of our jewelry, $2 from each item sold is donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It costs $2 million each DAY to operate St. Jude, yet families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. They can focus fully on their children. The work they do at this hospital is amazing, and you are helping to contribute with your purchase."
 If you sign up for her newsletter you will recieve 5$ off your first purchase. So if you are oily and want to try something like this, please visit her account/website. It's great for you and its a great cause.

4. Mental Floss  is one of my favorite magazines. It is full of random facts. It is one of those mags that when you open it, you read it until you finish. Its page after page of randomness. Some funny, some general knowledge, but ALL interesting. Every day I get a little does of information that I usually knew nothing about prior. For example...the latest post on their Insta account was this: "During the Coolidge presidency, the First Family had a pet racoon named Rebecca who liked to play in the White House bathtub." I mean, I am pumped to know that now hahaha. Or there was this a day ago, "According to recent research, estrogen protects against the flu, making men more susceptible to the virus." Hey! so our hormones can be good for something! Anyways, for a good chuckle or general, "no shit!?!" add Mental Floss to your instagram and you'll be that much smarter;)

5. Friends Favs I actually stumbled upon this the other day and now I am hooked. I flippen loved and still love this show. I like to laugh and this account gets it done on the daily. I can't get enough of my man Chandler and his sarcastic and witty humor. Then of course, there isn't really anything that Joey says or does that is not funny. If you were a Friends fan or still are, then add this to your account. Seeing pictures of everyone kids and foods and vacations are always great (trust me...I am one of those that puts up the kids at least once a day...but no selfies!!!) but not knowing which clip from one of the funniest shows on TV is comin at ya is pretty exciting lol. Havin a bad day? Check out Joey in his "Thanksgiving Pants" :) hahaha.

There you have it! I made it quick and painless for ya. I follow way more accounts and it was tough to pick just five, but there will be more Fridays for sharing!!! 

xo

(all photos credited to the instagram accounts listed...used solely to promote the wonderful accounts they go with:)

saturday share: "Generation Good"

good afternoon! I thought that today I would share something that I have been a part of for a while. Now for the last year or so I have gotten more into making my own products using essential oils. I absolutely love doing it in fact. But I still also love my Seventh Generation products. I like to use both my own concoctions as well as products they have to offer. We use everything from paper towels, to toilet paper, dish soap, sprays, hand soap and diapers in our house. I have been a faithful consumer for the last 8 years or so. There are somethings you just can't say good bye too. Eventually I will buy less b/c we will save money in the long run making our own products, not to mention everything in my own products are 100% organic.

HOWEVER....back to the point of post: if you are a fan of SG like me you should check out their website and sign up for Generation Good. I have gotten to do so many things by doing this. I get coupons mailed to me every now and then which is always great, and there are "missions" and surveys you can do to gain points which qualify you for all sorts of neat things. I was picked to review SG laundry detergents for example, they sent me a free container of detergent and all i had to do was try it and write an honest review on it. Which I did here on my blog. I've gotten samples among samples in the mail to try...I have been sent reusable shopping bags just for being a part of GG. It's really great! They have great articles on natural living, healthy recipes, and things we can do to help take care of our planet. It's a wonderful resource.

this was sent to me a few weeks ago...free & clear detergent samples

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/generationgood

Check out the link above to learn more!!

Xo

meal plan pt.1

good morning! what a surprise to look outside the window as I woke up and see SNOW ! This time last year we were still cleaning up from winter storm Benedict. (I only know the name b/c it was on the news the other day lol) Seriously though, we were slammed with snow last winter. My husband was gone all of the time to plow. It looks beautiful and is exactly what I was hoping to see this past Christmas morning. Not that it wasn't great to be able to stick my toddler son outside in the 55 degree weather when it started getting a little crazy indoors that day haha. 

Looks like the chicken area is deserted as our ladies do not enjoy the cold snow under their feet. They will most likely stay inside today which is fine by us because after a long 3 months of molting and no egg production, they can spend some time indoors and get to laying. The ladies usually do very well for us in the winter. I took this photo (very quickly b/c it is freezing out and windy) and the sun looked so pretty in the farm field behind our house. I just went back to look and it is all gray with the snow blowing everywhere. Today wont be a day to bring the kiddos outside, no way. 

So, back to the topic of the morning. Yesterday afternoon while the kids napped, I grabbed a few of my favorite cook books and sat down with a pen and paper and picked out our meals for next week. If you read my post about my goals for this year, one was to use my cook books more often and stop pulling recipes off line. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I have all these great books just sitting on shelves and in cabinets being under utilized. I buy cook books and then never use them! Well that is ending. These cook books here are wonderful and have a wide variety of foods in them. We are meat eaters in this home. My husband is a "steak and potatoes" kind of guy. I tried to do Meatless Mondays for a month just for something different, and he couldn't do it lol....even one night a week! Typically I do 2 chicken meals, a red meat meal, a pasta, and maybe a fish...then Fridays I usually leave open for leftovers or take out or whatever. I make my own homemade Italian red sauce every 2 weeks and freeze some. We will usually eat it once a week on something. With Fall and Winter seasons we will do more soups. What I need to get better at is using my crock pot. I have the great Food Network crock pot I got for my wedding shower 5 years ago and I barely use it. I dont know why...laziness perhaps? Except all you do is throw food in and turn it on...so I must be REAL lazy lol. Anyways, these are the books I used for next week:

1. Simply In Season
2. Paleo
3. New England Open House Cookbook
4. Rachael Ray Week In A Day
5. The Pioneer Woman Food From My Frontier

All these books offer such a wide variety of options. It can get a little overwhelming because there is so much, but I just decided to take one recipe from each book if I could, but no more than two. Once I found 1-2 recipes I shut the book and picked up another. Simply In Season is just what you would think it is. Recipes based on ingredients that you find in each season. So if you chose a soup under the Winter category you can bet the ingredients you are using are mostly fresh since they are being grown and picked during the colder months. The Paleo cook book is something I just got last month because I had a few bucks left over on a gift card and it fit the amount. I will be honest and say that I believe the diet itself is a fad. A lot of recipes in here seemed to be normal every day recipes with maybe one or two tweaks to it. One breakfast item for example was an omelet consisting of just eggs and vegetables...I am not sure what makes it Paleo, perhaps just that everything in it is fresh? Either way there were some really good looking recipes in there and I did write one down for us. The New England cook book is awesome. It is beautifully put together and all the recipes are from places up and down the east coast which of course warms my heart because it's where I live. The pictures are great and there are little stories behind each place and recipe. It's like a storybook cook book. It has a lot of great seafood recipes (for my husband lol) and also some with other meats and things. I took one from here also. Rachael Ray is great because her recipes are usually pretty simple and always delicious. This cook book is awesome because if you follow her plan, she gives you one to two main ingredients and you can make 5 meals out of them. Talk about planning and saving money! Lastly the Pioneer Women is just someone I love. I love her show and her recipes. And I would totally steal her home if I could too. She makes a lot of comfort foods and using every day ingredients. She makes healthy foods also but is not afraid to use butter or flour or other ingredients that certain diets say no to. If a recipe calls for a stick of butter, she will use a stick of butter. BOOM Ree! 

And so here is my list for the following week...obviously it depends on what is happening here at home but these recipes were pretty simple and a lot of the ingredients needed to make them, I already have here which will save me money at the store. Once I have all that I need and get to cookin, I'll try to remember to share a couple. It all looks so good seriously I can't wait to eat next week lol. 

One step at a time and so far I have stuck to at least two goals that I wanted to for 2016. Hopefully I can keep with it. I have to work around my offspring so...I'm sure you can guess what that's like haha:)

Time to refill my glass! 

xo

switching things up a bit

 after I put the littles down for their naps yesterday and I had a chance to sit myself, I was looking over my space here and I realized it needed some sprucing up. I still want to keep it a simple space, but things in my life have changed a bit since I began writing and my topics of choice are proof. After becoming a mom, my attention has been solely on my kiddos. They are still very young so I am still learning and growing in parenthood. I used to sit on pinterest and browse craft boards and DIY pins, now I am looking for healthy recipes for picky kids and how to make yummy baby food, alternative methods for bringing down fevers, and photos to match the rash my kid got at random. This stuff takes over. I still have my same passions... being a chemical free household, making my own products using natural ingredients like essential oils, raising chickens for eggs and growing gardens for veggies, etc...its just that now I have other important things to worry about. Once I thought about this, I realized I needed to re name my space so that it was more "me". While "A Natural Approach" was exactly what I was taking the last two years, "the caffeinated mama" is way more appropriate now lol. It gives a little humor to the life I'm living, and I'm sure a lot of other mamas (and dads) are on the same page. The new name shows my love of the beverage, which I am always talking about...and that its a "mom"  who is ranting here. 

So, my topics will continue to vary...but at least now it will make more sense. I'm just here to have fun, to have a place where I can think out loud, share some things with those who care to read, and follow other bloggers who have the same interests as myself. I love to write and so I will. One of my goals for this year was to focus more on this space...I'm holding myself to it. I have only been at this for two years but am looking forward to growing it more and more. 

xo

picky little kids are picky!

seriously...my son is 2.5, when he was starting foods he ate everything. I suppose it was because his taste buds were developing at that point, but I mean...he ate any veggie I gave him, he ate chicken and turkey, eggs, you name it! I was pretty pumped because my husband is an excellent eater. There is not much he wont eat, with the exception of mushrooms. I thought my son was going to take after his daddy. BOY was I wrong. I have the hardest time feeding this boy. If he had his choice he would live solely on yogurt and "cackahs." I will give him credit, he loves his mamas homemade pasta sauce! Probably the only proof that there is some of me in him somewhere. He looks and acts like his daddy, at least we know he has the Italian in him. Other than that, I can try all I want to make the healthiest meal for him, he will push it away and ask for crackers. It is not like I make him a gourmet meal of like salmon and asparagus or something. I will do something simple like grilled chicken (seasoned) with a side of sauteed broccoli and some cut up strawberries or something. He wont touch it. I know broccoli is a long shot, but the way I make it is so freaking good. I just offer it at random hoping once he will try it. I dont even bother asking him to try a "tree" because honestly, he is too smart for that. The struggle is real mamas. Toddlers SUCK to feed. HOWEVER once in a while you find something that works and you want to praise the all mighty that your child ate it and had no idea it was good for them! I wanted to share a recipe I tried (thank you pinterest). My son ate these for breakfast 4 days in a row and you know what? I dont care! I highly recommend these to any other parents that have a picky eater on their hands. The best part is you can tweak the ingredients to your liking which is what I did for some of it.  So, here goes:

photocred:superhealthykids

Ingredients I Used:

*1.5 medium organic carrots shredded
*1 whole semi ripe medium organic banana
*1/4 c homemade applesauce
*1/4 c organic strawberry yogurt
*1/2 organic zucchini shredded
*2 large organic eggs (thank you my dear chickens!)
*1tsp 100% pure vanilla (none of that artificial stuff)
*1/2 c sugar
*1/4tsp cinnamon
*1/2tsp salt
*3/4tsp baking soda
*1 cup all purpose unbleached white flour
*1 cup 100% whole wheat flour

(By the way....using organic products is my choice, you certainly do not need to use those. This recipe works with any type of fruit or veggie:)


1. preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 2. Mix your flours, baking soda, salt and cinnamon together and put to the side. 3. Soften your butter. 4. Mix together sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla. 5. If you have a food processor this part can go quickly...combine your fruits and vegetables with the applesauce until mixed through. 6. Now combine the puree with the yogurt and your wet ingredients, beating until mixed. 7. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined and wet. 8. Add your muffin papers to your pan OR spray your muffin pan with a cooking spray. (I prefer the muffin paper b/c I dont like the taste of the sprays). 9. Fill each paper about 3/4 full. Bake 20-25 minutes. Tops should be a bit springy and lightly browned. 

It seems like a lot of work, and yes I always make a mess when I cook. But it was worth it to me b/c my child ate these up. You can also freeze these!! 

The original recipe is on the Super Healthy Kids website if you want to find it. And like I said, you can use different veggies and fruits or just omit what you dont want. I was going to attempt broccoli but decided against it assuming once he saw it in there he wouldnt touch the dang things haha. We have to take our wins as they come! 

Enjoy!
xo

are you...a coffee lover too?

So, it is cold here! Which by all accounts it should be seeing as it is winter. But we have not had any snow, unless you count the dusting we had the other day. It is January 5th and we have not had one snow storm yet. I will admit that I am not a fan of the cold weather and not much of a fan of winter in general, but when you have kids you have to forget all that and go play. If it is going to be 2 degrees in the morning, there should be snow. 

Anyways, I don't in fact have a real post today. (Like I said, I am working on organizing my topics...and it will come soon!) I just wanted to share a new link on my blog. You will see it at the top next to my "about me" and "EO recipes I love"...its called, COFFEE LOVE of course! I decided to post recipes for coffee drinks I am loving on at the moment. I will include photos when I think to do so. The first one is up, so be sure to check it out and try it if you can! 

Take care and be sure to check back for more! 

xo