My Thorn Bushes Have Roses. Do Yours?

 

   I know I'm blessed. I am beyond thankful for my beautiful family, and there isn't a single thing i would change.

 Something that really bothers me though, is people who complain about their kids or spouse.

 I understand that we all have moments where we can be forgetful of how truly blessed we are, but there are some who seem oblivious to the fact that they are blessed.

 Life is a challenge. There is no doubt about that. But its also incredibly rewarding. Throw a family in the mix, and the rewards are unbelievable!

 There is never (and i say never honestly.) a time where i don't remember how blessed I am to have my family. Even during frustrating times, where i haven't slept, the house is a mess, and the dogs are barking, what keeps me calm and thankful is the fact that i have my family with me.

 I know there are families out there who would give ANYTHING to go through sleepless nights, cleaning up puke, being hit, picking up work clothes, etc, if it just meant that their child or spouse was with them.

 I have been fortunate enough to be deeply touched by one of these families. More so then i could ever explain. I will never forget what they have taught me. (even from so far away.) And in being touched with such an unexplainable force, i have learned (and continue to learn.) some great lessons about life. Great values. Great realizations. And I feel its the least i can do, to share the things i have learned with everyone I can.

 When you are having a moment when you are at your wits end, or you feel like pulling your hair out, really take that time to think about what you appreciate about that moment. Find the positives, in what seems to be a negative situation.

 I know people say things like this all the time, and sometimes it can be hard to relate to something so general. But imagine how lost you would be, if the person on the other end of your frustrations wasn't there anymore. I can guarantee you would give the world and more, to have the exact moment that was frustrating you back.

 Instead of taking these situations as negative experiences you think you could live with out, think of them as opportunity. Opportunity to reflect on why you couldn't live without times like these. Opportunity to turn the negative situation into a positive. Opportunity to grow as a person, become humble, and know that frustrating situations work both ways.


'We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.'
- Abraham Lincoln

Teething and Bum Rash Tips and Tricks

 I figured since we are going through some crazy teething, and a vicious bum rash, its a good time to share some of the advice i have received and the things I have done to help my sweet girl. Hopefully it will help others going through the same thing! Because really, why learn something new if your not willing to share it?

 Teething:

• Ice cube in a mesh bag. I don't have a mesh bag, so i use a baby cloth, and tie it with a hair elastic.
• Small cubes of frozen breast milk.
• Frozen Carrot.
• Chamomile tea. (soothes gums)
• Baltic amber teething necklace.

 Bum Rashes:

• Breast milk (works on everything. Cuts, scrapes, bum rash, acne, eye infections, ear infects, hives (really any rash)*Except yeast. Never put Breast milk on a yeast infection*)
• Air time/Naked time. There is nothing that beats off a rash better than airing it out. (you will probably have to clean a pee or two off the floor, but its just pee. Besides, pee is sterile ;) )
• Coconut Oil. (most moms swear by coconut oil-aside from breast milk.)
• Olive oil
• Baking soda bath. (followed by coconut/olive oil/breast milk/etc applied to bottom)
• lavender(apply to bottom)
• Wheat Germ.
• Chamomile tea rinse.
• Cool water rinse.
• Sleeping Naked on towels/pee pad. (we did a pee pad between two towels last night. Worked great)

 * Disposable diapers and wipes can definitely make a bum rash worse due to the chemicals in them. So if your not a cloth mama, naked time is key.*


 Please feel free to add what has worked for you, or other things you have used that are not already listed. The more the merrier! (I will add it to these lists!)

Note, that all these things are natural and 100% safe for babies. You can literally eat these things if you want. (actually, a cup of chamomile tea to relax through a stressful teething day is a fabulous idea!)
 * Cheeky balm is also great, though not 100% natural.*

  Thank you to all my dear Mama friends who gave me some of these wonderful tips and tricks! Your awesome <3

 I hope this helps make your rough days a little smoother- And rash free!-

Pop Tart Recipe

**This post is old- sorry for the removed photos***

Cody LOVES pop tarts. However I hate all the nasty preservatives and artificial sugars and dyes in them. So i found a happy medium; Homemade Pop tarts! I used google to make sure i could use some of the same recipes for other things, and what i already knew to come up with my own recipe.



 Get out a large mixing bowl, a piece of parchment paper, (or a clean lightly floured counter top), a cookie sheet, your favorite preserves/chocolate/Cinnamon and sugar/ whatever you like!,raw sugar if you don't like icing, a spoon(regular), a fork, a metal spatula/butter knife/anything along those lines,beaters (or a wooden spoon if you would like to do it by hand), 1/2 cup measure, and 1 cup measure, flour, sugar, butter(softened), salt, and milk.


Now your ready to go!

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour (don't level them out, let them be a little over 2 cups), a pinch of salt, about 1/2 cup of butter, 1/2 cup of milk, and a handful (or for those who like to measure, about half of your 1/4 measure) of sugar. You don't have to add sugar and you can add as little or as much as you like. This makes the dough slightly sweet. not too much, not too little. This recipe is very forgiving, so that's why i haven't given exact measurements. This is my recipe for pie crust.

 After you mix it, you get something like this.

 Wash your hands (if you haven't already!) and scoop your dough up and form it into a ball. Work with it for a minute or to to make sure it is together well.

 Break off pieces and form little balls approx. 2 1/2 inches. This gives you a chance to work the dough a little more thorough. You should get six balls.

Wrap each ball individually in Saran wrap an put in the fridge for an hour. Personally I make the dough/crust the day before and leave them in the fridge over night, so i can make them in the morning. You can even leave them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Once your dough has sat, warm it and work it with your hands. Form it into a rectangular shape like so. As you can see, it doesn't need to be perfect! Now would be a good time to pre-heat your oven. Pre-heat your oven too 400 F.

Roll out your dough and try to maintain your rectangular shape. I use my fingers and hands when I'm done rolling. Also i realised i don't have a rolling pin (what the heck?!) so i used a long container!

plop 2 table spoons approx. (again this is up to you) of your favorite jam/chocolate(chips work too)/ Cinnamon and sugar/ whatever you like on the middle, bottom half.

Fold top half over and match up sides. press them down around your pocket of jelly or whatever you used.

Use a fork to press along the edges to give it that 'pop tart' affect. Also poke holes in the top for vents.

Use a metal spatula, knife, or whatever else you have handy an cut off a *bit* of the edges to make them square.
Add raw sugar here, if you don't like icing.
Place on floured baking sheet and pop in the oven. (don't worry about the distance away from each other because they don't grow.)
set timer to about 17 Min's. my oven is hot so i go by 17. anywhere from 15-25 will be good. you want them to be golden around the edges and bottom. don't try to guess from the way the top looks or your bottom will burn!


 While those are baking, i make icing. you could also use raw sugar and put it on before you put the in the oven.

ICING:
 this is very rough as i don't measure this, but its pretty close!

melt 2 tbsp of butter. (stove or microwave) add about a tbsp of milk, and add icing sugar until thick (how thick is up to you i would say about 1/2 cup- 1 cup but just add slow) use food coloring to color your icing if you like.

Once done, add icing and sprinkles if you like (or if you used raw sugar then your done) its okay to add icing while still warm. i do! serve, and enjoy!

I store mine in an air tight container but not in the fridge. you can refrigerate if you want. i like them room temp. to snack on with milk.