You can expect a raw view of my adventures in: canning, chickens, recipes, my musings, essential oils and natural remedies, meal prepping, maybe some goats, gardening, fun fails, humor and sarcasm; I speak both fluently – because if you can’t laugh at life, what’s the point?
There
is only so much anyone can take... and then you hit the wall. Like REALLY hit it. I mean I get why animals eat their young... or is that spiders...?
A lot
of what we do as special needs parents (SNPs going forward) involves racking
our brains as to how to help our child be successful at anything/everything,
and beating ourselves up “did I do enough or did I miss something” going
through the mental checklist:
What doctor do I need to call?
What prescription needs to be ordered?
What form needs to be mailed and completed for
the state or county?
What assessment needs to be sent to a
therapists or other provider?
What appeal do I need to complete for
insurance?
Who do I need to contact about the educational
issues he is facing?
Can an attorney help me get the resources I
need?
How much will that cost?
So this is most
days for me, and then I come home…
YES I will
look at your art please give me 10 min to get in the door first.
5 seconds
later.
NO I didn’t
see that cartoon…
YES I did
talk to your teacher; we will talk about it in a minute.
YES I do like
the color red. Kido, Mom needs a minute. Go find something to do for like 10
minutes please.
10 seconds
later.
NO you can’t bring
your tablet to school, what is that smell?... (his feet)
YES you do
have change your socks every day, go wash your feet.
YES I will
watch your magic trick in 10 min. Please give mom a chance to settle in and
unpack.
NO you can’t
wear that shirt to school AGAIN. I told you that this morning.
Dude... Really?! (this was actually really fun/funny
if not really weird)
NO turning
your underwear inside out does not make it clean (I kid you not)
YES you have
to wear deodorant and brush your teeth EVERY DAY, AND change your socks and underwear.
Girr! NO I don’t
want to watch Harry Potter again (every day for the last 12 years) OMG … And there it is; I lost it. (Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE
Harry Potter, but not in that moment and not every day)
He stomps up
to his room, muttering angry semi-intelligible insults and slams the door to
pout
Sigh…
I have been
home for less than 10 minutes. There times when I spend the entire day dealing
with the case management for my child and come home mentally drained by it/him
and I haven’t even seen him all day and all he wants to do is interact with me
on 50 different levels… Then I lie in bed beating myself up for losing my cool
with him because I am just mentally spent by it all.
I think
sometimes we as SNPs feel like we have to over compensate for our kids
deficits. Like we have to be perfect for them, for society, to prove that we
are good enough? I don’t know why.
Here is the
thing. We aren’t perfect. AND we don’t have to be perfect. We are not ever
going to be perfect. We have limits and needs too. Our best is going to look
different on different days. Our kids don’t need us to be perfect. They need us
to be present in all of our imperfect glory.
Ok given the hype lately around CBD Oil I thought I’d talk about Copaiba Essential Oil.
No, they are not the same however like CBD oil, Copaiba has some pretty impressive effects. (click HERE to learn more about CBD vs Copaiba). Copaiba Essential oil is one of those oils that
can be used in SO many ways which I love because its like a buy one & get
five kind of deal I love to find!
Copaiba essential oil is derived from
the resin of the copaiba tree which can grow upwards of more than 100 feet and
can be found in tropical South America. Copaiba oil is widely used in cosmetic
products including soaps, creams, lotions, and perfumes. Since the 16th
century, copaiba essential oil has been utilized in traditional health
practices by the natives of north and northeastern Brazil.
Similar to Black Pepper essential oil,
Copaiba can help soothe anxious feelings and it can be applied to the skin to
promote a clear, smooth complexion. Taken internally, Copaiba essential oil
supports the health of the cardiovascular, immune, digestive, nervous, and
respiratory systems.* Although Copaiba does not contain psychoactive
cannabinoids, the main component caryophyllene may be neuroprotective and have
cardiovascular and immune benefits.* It’s also a powerful antioxidant that
promotes immune health.*
REDUCES
PAIN - Copaiba essential oil is a wonderful analgesic and has been used in this
capacity for generations. It has been known to help reduce pain, loosen
muscles, and ease the discomfort of headaches and migraines, muscular cramping,
back pain, gout, and arthritis.It is
one of my go to oils for when I get a headache. I add it to fractionated
coconut oil and apply it to my temples, neck, and forehead. I use it the same
way for sore muscles & joints and rub it into the affected area. I have a
friend that swears by this for her Lupus; because of its incredibly high
concentration of beta-caryophyllene, copaiba essential oil can be a remarkable
anti-inflammatory remedy for some people.
SKIN
CARE - One of the most notable and popular health benefits of copaiba essential
oil is derived from its astringent property. Copaiba’s active components
tighten the skin, which can help the skin look younger, reduce the appearance
of wrinkles, and even strengthen the skin to prevent lesions or wounds as the
body ages. It can help moisturize, tone and rejuvenate sagging and tired
looking skin. It does this by boosting the skin’s production of collagen which
helps make it firmer and more elastic. I add a few drops to my daily facial
moisturizer and use after I wash my face each night. Or you can just add a few
drops of copaiba to a damp cotton ball and apply it to your face daily as part
of your daily skincare routine.
REDUCING
SCARS - Ok Mommas... this is one I use on those post baby stretchmarks. To get
rid of my scaring and stretch marks, I dilute my copaiba essential oil with a
skin-friendly healing oil like coconut or olive oil and apply the mixture to my
stretch marks and scars each day for as long as it takes to speed their healing
and reduce their visibility. This includes acne scars, blisters, marks, and
pimples.
IMMUNE
BOOSTING - The strong antibacterial nature of copaiba essential oil can act as
a major booster for your immune system. It can act as a shield for your skin,
protecting wounds from developing an infection.It can also protect you internally by eliminating harmful bacteria and
microorganisms that may be negatively affecting you internally. (see disclaimer
below) This is one those oils I use in my all-purpose healing ointments, sprays
and balms, which we go through a lot of (#boyswillbeboys)
MOOD
- In aromatherapy, copaiba essential oil has often been used to lighten the
spirit and improve mood. There aren’t many essential oils that have such a
sweet, pleasant smell of rich honey, and the combination of the scent and its
gentle effects on hormonal balance can significantly improve my day.
ANTI-FUNGAL
- When it comes to fungal infections (yuck), there aren’t too many essential
oils that can do the trick, but the unique terpene structures found in copaiba
essential oil are effective as antifungal agents.My teenage boy has got some nasty feet (like
oh muh gawd gross) due to his orthotics and this is one that really helps with
athlete’s foot or any sort of nail fungus. I make him a foot spray that has
copaiba in it and it helps a great deal.He also sprays his orthotics each night which seems to help a great
deal.
ANTI-MICROBIAL
- A 2016 study published in The Open Dentistry Journal revealed that copaiba
essential oil gel proved to be effective against all strains of Streptococcus.
Researchers suggested that it can be used as a natural, alternative dental
biofilm control. Other studies suggest exploring the therapeutic potential of
the essential oil for oral care due to its potent antimicrobial properties. All
that means is copaiba kills bacteria including Strep. Cool!
BUG
BITES - Because of its wonderful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial actions,
copaiba essential oil is a great antidote to minor wounds, scrapes, burns, and
bites. It can soothe the pain, reduce any swelling and most importantly it can
prevent the spread of infection. All I do is apply a dab or two of essential
oil to the affected area on my skin (because Michigan has bugs folks).
INTERESTING
- Another interesting fact about copaiba essential oil is that it is a
magnifier, which means that copaiba oil enhances the effects of other essential
oils. In particular; it pairs well ylang-ylang, vanilla, citrus oils,
sandalwood, jasmine, rose, and frankincense (good ol’ Frankie!).
Drip
a few copaiba oil drops into the palms of your hands. Breathing it in deeply
will absorb it into your bloodstream quickly and possibly benefit the lungs and
sinuses.
Have
a good soak in a bath with a few drops of copaiba essential oil. The oil will
absorb into the skin, and also from inhaling the bath water steam.
Applying
a few drops of copaiba oil to the soles of your feet is apparently especially
good for a restful sleep.
Directions:
Combine all ingredients together in a two-ounce bottle, transfer to a
sterilized 15ml dark-glass bottle, and seal with a dropper or cap. Apply two
drops to a cotton ball and apply directly to your affected area on the skin.
Directions:
Combine all ingredients together in a two-ounce bottle, transfer to a
sterilized 5ml dark-glass bottle, and seal with a dropper or cap. Add a few
drops to bath water for optimal relaxation and muscle pain relief.
Directions:
Combine all ingredients together in a two-ounce bottle, transfer to a
sterilized 5ml dark-glass bottle, and seal with a dropper or cap. Place your
head over a bowl of steamy water and cover your head with a towel to keep the
steam inside. With your eyes closed, have someone add two drops of the
essential oil mixture to the bowl. Inhale through the nose, and breathe deeply
for five minutes, or until the oils evaporate and you achieve relief.
Possible skin
sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, or
under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes, inner
ears, and sensitive areas.
Disclaimer:
I
am not a doctor, so please always check with your doctor for health concerns or
before starting anything new (like using an Essential Oil Internally). I have
done my homework for myself. I know the medicinal value of doTERRA’s oils and that
I can trust them. Please do not take anything you read here as medical advice.
I am simply sharing my experiences and what I have learned.
* These statements
have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is
not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Local Apple Tree from late summer
heavy with fruit.
I live in
the BEAUTIFUL state of Michigan... and this time of year the trees put on their
finest colors. The mornings are crisp and the air smells of earth as the sun
warms the day. Which also means that around this time of year we have apples in
abundance, and I LOVE apple cider. Some of my most favorite fall treats are freshly
made doughnuts from Robinette's, Baked Pumpkin Seeds and Apple Cider (hot or
cold).
FRESH
Apple Cider is sooooo good! That said I thought why not share some of the tasty
things I do with Apple Cider...
MULLED APPLE CIDER CONCENTRATE
This
cider concentrate makes your kitchen smell divine. Its good drizzled over
pancakes, added to homemade vinaigrette or used as a ham glaze.
This is
also nice to have on hand for a quick hot spiced cider on a cold day or
sitting around a fire pit. Spoon three tablespoons into a large mug and
fill with just-boiled water.
Bring
cider, cinnamon, cloves and allspice to a boil in an 8-qt. pot over high heat;
Reduce
heat to medium and cook until cider is reduced by half, about 1 ½ hours.
Add sugar
and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to 4 cups, about 1 ½ hours
(You want
to cook it no higher than 218°F. If you cook it beyond that temperature, it
will set into jelly).
Let cool
in saucepan, strain, discarding spices and store in the refrigerator up to a
month
OR
Alternately,
divide among prepared half pint jars, (and this is where I add On-Guard
Essential Oil to each jar – see below) apply clean lids and rings and
process jars in a boiling waterbath canner for 10 minutes. When time is up,
remove jars from canner and let them cool completely before handling.
I do a
bit of a spin on this canning recipe for a touch of extra flavor and immunity
boost. Before I put the lids and rims on each jar, I add 1 drop of doTerra’s
On-Guard Essential Oil per 8oz cup. (which is a ½ pint jar, so 2 drops
per pint) and then I follow the canning instructions on the National Preserving Website.
I find this particularly soothing in the winter and who doesn’t need a bit of a
boost during the cold and flu season?!
MULLED / SPICED APPLE CIDER
Perfect weather for a backyard
fire, hot cider and s'mores.
Hot apple
cider on its own is already a treat in colder temps but adding a few spices and
letting them simmer for a while really turns up the volume and gives it a true
seasonal taste. (PLUS, your home will smell AMAZING!)
Add all
items to large pot. Bring to a simmer stirring occasionally for about 20min.
Optional:
Up to
¼-cup brown sugar, whole cardamom pods, Pomegranate, Pear, 3-4 Whole Star
Anise
ADULT OPTIONS:
Spiced Rum, Cinnamon Schnapps (add to individual’s cups not the pot because the
alcohol will evaporate quite a bit if added to a hot pot)
COCKTAIL APPLE CIDER
Ingredients:
1 Bottle of Pinot Grigio
2 1/2 Cups of Spiced Apple Cider
1 Cup Club Soda
1/2 Cup Brandy
3 Crisp Apples, chopped
3 Pears, chopped (it is okay if they are not ripe as they will soften as they
set in the fridge)
Directions:
Combine
all ingredients together in a large pitcher and stir.
Refrigerate
for at least an hour before serving.
Modifications:
If the mixture is too sweet for your taste, add an additional cup(s) of brandy.
If the
mixture is too strong in alcohol, add an additional cup(s) of cider.
If the
mixture is too concentrated for you, add an additional cup(s) of club soda.
Jars all ready for Holiday Enjoyment!
VANILLA APPLE PIE LIQUOR
I must
thank last year's Secret Santa (Mary) for this one. This little gem is divine.
It goes down WAY too easy and smooth and has quickly become a house hold
favorite. I have added my own spin to it as to not completely steal her recipe.
Ingredients
1 gallon
apple cider 1/2
gallon apple juice
10
cinnamon sticks
1 whole
clove
2-3 whole
vanilla beans
1 cup
white sugar
3 cups
brown sugar
3 cups
190 proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear)
1 cup of
Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
2 cups
vanilla vodka
You will
need a large pot big enough to mix all these ingredients together and at least
6 quart sized canning jars. However, any resealable jars will work.
Directions
1 Cinnamon Stick &
1/3 Vanilla Bean, Check.
Pour the
Apple Cider and Juice into your pot with the Cinnamon sticks and clove and bring
to a simmer.
Once your
juice is simmering, pour in the brown and white sugar and stir the pot till the
sugars dissolve.
Simmer
for about 20 minutes.
Remove
from heat and let cool to room temperature.
After
juice is cooled, pour in the bottle of 90 proof, Spiced Rum and Vanilla Vodka
and stir for a minute. *Warning:
if you don’t let it cool completely first, you will lose much of your alcohol
to evaporation. Do not pour in alcohol until cool.
Cut the
vanilla bean into 3rds. Put 1 cinnamon stick and 1 piece of vanilla bean into
each of your canning jars and pour your Apple Pie Moonshine filling each jar. (I usually do a sprinkle of Vietnamese Cinnamon too)
Finally,
it’s time to enjoy.
If you
let them sit in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks and shake it every day or so the
flavor becomes quite smooth (in my opinion.)
Caution: You will become very popular with your friends.
Happy Fall Ya'll
Looking for a fun Fall or Halloween activity?
Here are two seasonal Scavenger Hunts that are great for kids and families.
Pumpkin Spice Season is here... Well really pumpkin season is here. So here are 3 of my favorite pumpkins recipes (including pumpkin seeds)
Pumpkin
White Chocolate Streusel Coffee Cake
I made this
basically from whatever I could find in my baking cupboard and brought it to a
potluck at work. I had at least 5 people ask for the recipe so I knew it was a winner.
It is great for a brunch, a potluck or just with friends over coffee. The other
bonus is my house smelled amazing! Personally I love this while it is still warm with a little dab of butter melted over it and a hot cup of coffee on the side.
Preheat oven to
375. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan (I use a glass one).
In a mixing
bowl combine ingredients of Streusel topping and mix butter in until it is
crumbly, set aside.
In another
large mixing bowl combine all of coffee cake ingredients, mix well until
blended. Let sit 1-2 minutes and then pour batter into pan and spread evenly.
Sprinkle evenly with streusel mix.
Bake 20-30
minutes or until a knife comes out clean in center. I usually start checking
every 5 min at about 20 min.
Pumpkin Crumble
This is one of
those crowd pleasers that everyone loves. It is simple and tasty.
Ingredients 1 can (30 oz.) LIBBY'S® Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix 2/3 cup (5 fl.-oz. can) NESTLÉ®
CARNATION® Evaporated Milk 2 large eggs, slightly beaten 1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) yellow or spice
cake mix 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or
margarine, melted 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts Whipped topping (optional)
Directions
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease 13 x 9-inch
baking pan.
COMBINE pumpkin pie mix, evaporated milk and eggs in large bowl. Pour
into prepared pan.
COMBINE cake mix, melted butter and nuts in large bowl until crumbly
(clean hands may be used). Sprinkle over filling.
BAKE for 50 to 55 minutes or until golden brown on top. Cool completely
in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Top each serving with whipped topping, if
desired.
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe
So one of my earliest memories is from preschool when my teacher Mrs. Dean gave us baked pumpkin seeds for our snack... OMG I have been hooked ever since.
I have been
told on many occasions that my pumpkin seed recipe is one of the best. My
co-workers have even been known to bring me huge bags of seeds to bake up for them. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrients too (and fiber). They are great on
salads, in party mixes, and as quick snack; but watch out, you may find you
can’t stop eating them.
Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter for every 1.5 cups of seeds
Pumpkin seeds (Most
medium (basketball sized) pumpkins will give about ¾ - 1 cup of seeds each)
1/8 cup of salt
(Seasoning if
you wish – 1 tablespoon) (the sky is the limit here - but personally I don't use seasoning)
Water
Directions:
(Separate your
pumpkin seeds from the pulp) Preheat
oven to 350 degrees. Place seeds in 3 quart sauce pan and fill 2/3 full of
water. Pour 1/8 cup of salt into water and bring to a boil. Boil seeds until
they have all evenly changed to a grey color. Using a strainer, pour off water
and let drain (do not rinse). Pour seeds into a large bowl and cube up butter
and mix in until melted. (If you wish to
season your seeds this is the time you would add your seasoning and stir in
evenly with the butter). Pour contents of bowl onto a large baking sheet. Place sheet in center oven rack. You will need to stir the seeds every 15
minutes. Keep an eye on them around the 30 min mark as they will be nearly
done. Take them out of the oven when they are golden brown and let cool.
NOTE: if you
wish to do sweet seeds. Boil them in plain hot water (no salt). Follow the rest of the
steps adding the sugar in with the butter.
You can use
this same recipe to cook squash seeds too (acorn, butternut etc) but you will
need to watch them more closely because they cook faster.
Looking for a fun Fall or Halloween activity?
Here are two seasonal Scavenger Hunts that are great for kids and families.
Gooey flavor bursting Mac'N'Cheese I made the other day
Baked
Mac’N’Cheese is one of those dishes that seems to have two camps. Either you
see it as a main dish or as a side. I personally could eat a large bowl of this
and call it dinner, but my husband prefers it as a side… So on this, we are a
house divided… meh whatev.
That
said, this is a hearty, flavorful dish that puts leftover ham or canned ham (see my post on Why I Can Meat) to
excellent use! I usually have a few jars of ham in the house. This is nice when I am getting
close to needing to make a grocery run, I usually have these ingredients in the
house and it makes a delicious meal and doesn’t require too much work.
Ingredients:
2 jars of canned Sunday ham ready to go
2
cups milk
2
tablespoons butter
2
tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2
teaspoon salt
1/4
teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½
teaspoon of ground mustard
½
teaspoon powdered onion
1
(10-oz.) block extra sharp Cheddar cheese (preferably white), shredded or
grated.
1/4
teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
1/2
(16-oz.) package spiral macaroni, cooked
1
jar of your canned ham (or 1-2 cups left over ham)
Crumb
Topping:
1
cup of plain or seasoned breadcrumbs
½
cup shredded parmesan cheese
1
teaspoon of parsley
½
cup bacon crumbles (or bacon bits if you prefer)
How
to Make It:
Preheat
oven to 350°.
Prepare
pasta according to box directions, drain and set aside.
small bowl of flour on hand
Melt
butter in a large sauce pan over medium-low heat; whisk in flour until smooth.
Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. (it will be thick or pasty)
Gradually
whisk in milk, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened.
I shred my own cheese adding a dash of
flour to prevent it from sticking together
Whisk
in salt, black pepper, red pepper, onion powder and ground mustard, ham and
shredded cheese until smooth.
Fold
in pasta.
Pour
pasta mixture into a lightly greased 2-qt. baking dish.
Topping:
Mix
shredded parmesan cheese, parsley, bread crumbs and bacon crumbles and sprinkle
over top of pasta.
Bake
at 350° for 20 minutes or until golden and I sbubbly.
Variations
I have tried:
Elbow
macaroni works just as well.
Substitute
ham for smoked sausage or bacon.
Green
onions or chives mixed in the topping are delicious.
I
have also meal prepped this for the freezer in the past with great success. You
follow the directions just the same but use a foil casserole pan, don’t cook
it, cover it in foil and place in the freezer. Then you can just pull it out in
the morning and pop it into the oven to bake in the evening. Easy peezy. It
make a great dish to give to a new mom who just had a baby too… because those first
4 weeks can be ROUGH.
