Homemade Sunscreen

While we are on the topic of sharing good things, I wanted to pass this along.  I have made a few adjustments, and would love to hear what works for you! My only complaint is the whining children that I am rubbing the sunscreen on! 

Going Back to the Basics

Three summers ago I was inspired to go back to the basics. I spent the summer with watching less tv, reading more books and living like it was 1976. It was good and it was great and then I saw something bright it the distance and got distracted. Wasn't the first time I've been distracted from something good and it won't be the last.

This summer I am finding myself being called back to the basics.  While I will always be an advocate for disposable diapers, oreos, and half and half I found this recipe for bug and tick spray and thought it looked pretty painless and could possibly earn me my jr. "natural" mom badge.

And because it was so easy and the easiest point of reference for me in my blog, I thought I'd share the goodness here.

You too could earn your jr. "natural" mom badge.

Back To The Basics: Laughter

Just over a year ago, I started a Back to the Basics series.  It began as a way to simplify our lives, to slow down and take in the life that was happening around us.

Recently, I have felt the nudge to take a closer look at what it means to truly get Back to the Basics.

One year later, I have found myself asking the question all over again... What are the Basics?

This time, I seem to be stumbling upon answers that are unseen.  All of the qualities of life that cannot be touched, cannot be measured, and cannot be taken away.  Those things that truly make our house a home and our lives a story worth telling.

The first of the unseen is Laughter....

A quote from my favorite book, The Shack, rocked my world as I read it a few years ago...

"... Suddenly, a terrible crash broke into his reverie. It came from the direction of the kitchen, and Mack froze.  For a moment there was dead silence, and then, unexpectedly, he heard uproarious laughter.  Curious, he exited the bathroom and poked his head through the doorway of the kitchen.
      Mack was shocked at the scene in front of him.  It appeared that Jesus had dropped a large bowl of some sort of batter or sauce on the floor, and it was everywhere.  It must have landed close to Papa because the lower portion of her skirt and bare feet were covered in the gooey mess.  They were laughing so hard that Mack didn't think they were breathing.  Sarayu said something about humans being clumsy, and all three started roaring again. Finally, Jesus brushed past Mack and returned a minute later with a large basin of water and towels. ....
     ....Mack was so full of thoughts.  So this was God in relationship? It was beautiful and so appealing.  He knew that it didn't matter whose fault it was -.... Obviously, what was truly important here was the love they had for one another and the fullness it brought them..."

For so long, my patience was so thin. A cup of milk would get knocked off the table... again... and I would view it as an inconvenience. I then read this and was humbled.  How I longed for my home to be filled with uncontrollable laughter.

Now, we laugh.....

Why? Because WHY NOT? 

Laughter is free, it is pure, it is what God intended, and it should be CELEBRATED!

Year 32 {Clean Cooking #2: Quinoa Burgers}

Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest?  I just can't seem to get enough and find new ideas each hour day, including the first two recipes for my clean cooking challenge.

For clean meal #1, we enjoyed fried rice,  and now that it is time to take another swing at a clean cooking I decided to try my hand at quinoa burgers.


The best part about this meal was that I already had most of the ingredients in the house and decided to be adventurous and substitute for the ingredients I didn't have, take that perfectionism!


 Here is the recipe I came up with: 


Quinoa Burgers

1/2 cup quinoa, well-rinsed under cold water
1 cup cooked corn
1 dash of minced onion
1 15-ounce can white beans {great northern beans},  drained and rinsed
1 slice of bread torn to bits
1 large egg
1 tablespoon red cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Toppings

Hummus
Roasted red peppers
Lettuce
Tomatoes

Directions:

Rinse quinoa. {Essential step for removing bitter taste}

Add rinsed quinoa with 1 cup water to rice cooker. {boiling is an option too}

While the rice is cooking, chop all veggies.

In a food processor, combine corn,

 

cooked quinoa,

egg,

bread crumbs,

red cayenne pepper,

and beans + olive oil

until they are mixed well.

Next, make into patties {note: I put mine in the freezer for 15 minutes to make
for less sticky patty making}

 

and cook approximately 10 minutes on each side until they are golden brown.

Finally, serve on a warm toasted, whole wheat bun, topped with hummus, 
roasted red pepper, tomato and a side of sweet potato chips

 
 and enjoy a delicious burger with a perfect blend of crunchy, sweet, and spice.

Mmmmm...so yummy that even our pickiest eater gave it two thumbs up. 



I linked to a bowl full of lemons.

Medicine Cabinet Overhaul

It all started with a pot roast.  I was searching for oregano and kept finding myself stumbling upon random medicines in our spice cabinet.  Frustrated with our organizational mess, I opened our medicine cabinet to return the culprits to their rightful home, only to find myself taken aback by the mess before my eyes.  I open this cupboard daily, but today it's messyness moved me to action, it was time to do something about the chaos. 

I pulled out the Cricut {thanks Aunt Kris!}, some extra rubbermaid bins from the basement, and the black vinyl I bought from Hobby Lobby {totalling 4.80 with a 40% off coupon} and got to work.

Medicine Cabinet {Before}

I used the Cricut to type in the lables I wanted for each bin,

lined up the vinyl,

and watched as beautiful letters were magically cut out.

After cleaning up my very-used bins, I applied the letters directly to the surface.

When everything was said and done,

 we had a bin for each person in our Party of Four,

an ever important asthma bin,

a jar for drops,  a bin to catch everthing remaining that was without a home,

and a medicine cabinet that was organized and a joy to look at.

Medicine Cabinet {After}

Three cheers for tackling our house,one project at a time.

 I linked to...

For the first time....

For the first time, Gibson was the only member of this party of four

to get ready for school.

For the first time, I walked my son to the bus stop and proudly

watched him get on the bus.

 

For the first time, hand-in-hand, Elliott and I walked back home to spend the

first of many days alone together.

 

For the first time, the only student I had on my mind at dinner was 

my excited first grader.

For the first time, the first day of school was peaceful, free of anxiety

and filled with joy.

For the first time, I knew without lingering doubt or questioning, that at this time, I am exactly where I need to be.

Back to the Basics:{Canning Peaches}

As if canning tomatoes wasn't a big enough leap for this non-culinary girl, my mom and I decided to can not one, but two 1/2 bushels of peaches.  It seemed as if it would be a lot of work, but in reality, canning peaches was much more enjoyable than canning tomatoes.  If I can do it, you can do it!

Steps for canning Red Haven Peaches.

Step 1: Start with several {at least 1/2 bushel} of ripe peaches.  *I have found that 1/2 bushel will yield 10 wide mouth jars of canned peaches.

Step 2: Heat peaches in a warm bath.  I recommend trying one or two at first to gauge how long the peaches need to soak.  If peaches are soaked for too long they will be too mushy to effectively pit.

Step 3: While the peaches are bathing, fill another pot with an inch or so of water and begin heating jars by placing them upside down into the pot

Step 4: Transfer warm peaches to cold water.

Step 5: When peaches are cool, cut around the center, gently twist into halves and, if done perfectly, the skin will peel right off. {Note: I had several that were not done perfectly, in that case just salvage what you can because a peach is a peach}

Step 6: Place peach halves in a bowl.

Meanwhile: {because, I am not quite sure of the perfect time} in yet another pan, begin to heat the mixture you will be pouring over the peaches.  We chose a mixture that was 3:1 water to sugar and simply used the mason jar to measure.  Mix well and heat until sugar water is warm.

Step 7: Place halved peaches into jar, pit side down.

Step 8: Pour warm sugar water over peaches.

Step 9: As passed down to my mother from her mother, this step may be the most important, unknown step to caners around the world...  After the sugar water is poured over the peaches, take a butter knife and slide it down the sides of the jar to release any bubbles in the jar. 

Step 10: Wipe around the mouth of the jar, clearing it of any residue.

Step 11: Top the jar with lids, tighten with rings and place into a pressure cooker or canning pot.

Step 12: Line up handles of pressure cooker.

Step 13: Line up knobby thing {anyone know the technical name? mom? grandma?} so that the 5 is on the bottom.  The arrow is pointing to what remains of the 5 on this gem of a 1979 pressure cooker. Why you do this? I am not quite sure, but I do know that it is crucial, so go with it.

Step 14: Once the all important 5 is lined up turn the burner on high until you hear a vigorous rattle.  Once you hear the rattle, turn the burner down a bit, resulting in a less constant rattle, but one that is intermittent separated by 10 seconds or so. After turning it down set the timer for 10 minutes and let the pressure cooker work it's magic.

Step 15: When the 10 minutes is done, turn off the burner and wait for the handles to release. Once the handles are released you may take the lid off of the pressure cooker and take hot jars out.  *be sure to line your counter tops with towels to protect the surface. 

Step 16: Stock your cupboards and enjoy.


And there you have it....word has it that today may be the last day to enjoy fresh Red Haven peaches. Be sure to grab yourself one of the last batches, some mason jars,and a canning companion and give it a try...why not?