5 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat More Fruits and Veggies

Parenting is hard, right?

Oh. It's not for you? Maybe it's just me. 

Whatever.

My point is that parenting is hard enough without worrying about whether or not your kid's getting the right nutrition. Now, I'm aware that we all have our "things". You know. Those things that are important to you that your kids get. Top of the priority list. 

Each family has different "things". 

Maybe you're super particular about your kid saying "Mam" and "Sir". Or, you're funny about having them read a certain amount of books every day. Or you can let a lot slide but your kids better look cute. Or maybe you just consider it a win if your child makes it through the day without rubbing poop all over the walls.

Whatever.

To each his own.

Whatever it is, I imagine most parents wouldn't be upset if their kid ate more vegetables. So, I've come up with a list of 5 (((easy))) ways to help encourage your kid to eat better. 

Maybe (if your kid isn't a complete turd) one or more of these could work for you.

1. Make sure YOU'RE eating your fruits and veggies.

This one maaaaay seem like a bit of a no brainer but really step back and look at what you eat in the day. Dad, are you strictly a meat and potatoes kind of guy? Mom, are you surviving on Oreos and ice cream but insisting your child eat their broccoli? Prooooobably not going to work. Put your big kid pants on and eat your own broccoli. 

*Free parenting tip*

Don't throw those Oreos and ice cream away! Hide them in the freezer and trade off with your partner distracting the kids while the other hides in the pantry and eats all the good stuff. If you dump the Oreos out of their bag into an empty vegan burger patty box, the kids will never catch on.

Or so I've heard...

2. Make them taste like something else.

I'm not above trickery. 

Muwahahahaha...

This green smoothie my child is drinking? Tastes like a peanut butter milkshake. Not even lying. Frozen banana, peanut butter, little bit of maple syrup, and a crap ton of spinach. If your kid is turned off by the green color, throw in some dates or blueberries to give it a nice brown color. Or head to Pinterest and search for "Zucchini Bread" or "Zucchini Brownies" or something to that effect. Pinterest is the jackpot for finding recipes that hide vegetables.

3. Get the kids involved in the process.

If your child is old enough, let them chop the veggies, wash the potatoes, etc. The more they can help and be involved, the more likely they are to want to eat it. If they're smaller, let them feed themselves. Yes, it makes more of a mess. Yes, it'll be a (MUCH) slower process. But the trade off is worth it.

Most of the time.

4. Chop them small.

If you're putting Spinach on pizza or bell peppers in the pasta, chop them really small. This almost falls under the "hide them" category but not quite. They're just less likely to notice them if they aren't having to pull entire leaves of spinach out of their teeth.

5. Put them in fun containers.

I'm a big fan of the muffin tin meals. Again, if you've never seen them, Pinterest.

Cali loves to eat out of a muffin tin. I'm not sure what it is but she thinks it's hilarious. I could put anything in a muffin tin and she'll eat it.

Lastly (another free tip) don't stress over it. I know that's easier said than done but if you're trying, then you're already ahead of the game. They're kids. Popcorn, Pop-Tarts, ice cream, and even Oreos every now and then aren't going to hurt them. 

Actually, I'd venture as far as to say it's GOOD for them. I mean, ice cream is good for the soul and emotional health is just as important as physical. 

In my book anyways. 

5 Words (((I Think))) You Should Say to Your Kids Everyday

I get it. 

You didn't technically ask for my advice on parenting. And I know. 

Unsolicited parenting advice is super annoying. Like, up there with smacking and fingernails on the chalkboard kind of annoying.  

So, I'm forewarning you that this is unsolicited parenting advice and if you don't want to hear it, I'm giving you full permission to click away and go do whatever else it is that you do on the internet. 

Like, Pinterest. Or something.

BUT.

I happen to think this is great advice (duh) and I think you should read it so if you're still here, you're welcome. 

:)

Cali is at the age where the when, where, and how, of discipline comes up on a daily basis.

(Honestly, with that child, it comes up on an hourly basis but who's keeping track?)

And I'll be the first to tell you that this shish is hard and I'm not even close to figuring it out. But there are 5 words that I've come to realize she needs to hear and I try to say them to her at least once a day.

You ready for them?

Ok. Here they are...

"YOU. CAN. DO. HARD. THINGS."

That's it. Earth shattering stuff, right?

*eye roll*

No. It's not. I understand that. But I do think that it's become necessary to voice these words. We've become conditioned to have everything easy. 

Fast food, problems resolved in 30 minute sitcoms, downloadable music at our fingertips instead of having to *gasp* drive to a store for a CD.

We are spoiled and catered to and we want everything easy. That's not a bad thing. Convenience. But it has primed us to be lazy. So when Cali faces something that's a little tough and she looks and says something like "You do it, Mommy" I'm making an effort to say "No, Cali. You do it. You can do hard things."

She'll face things in life a lot harder than putting on her shoes or finishing a puzzle but if she doesn't learn how to push through the frustrating work on these little things, it will be a lot harder for her to learn later in life on the big things. My hope is that in teaching her this it not only teaches her how to work hard and not give up but that it builds her confidence. There are few things in life that are more rewarding than working hard for something then seeing the fruits of your efforts. I hope it gives her confidence in her choices and the satisfaction of knowing that she's capable.

So, the words aren't new and they sound kind of obvious but I thought I'd share. God only knows how beat up kids' confidence will get throughout life. Maaaaaaybe teaching them that they're strong and capable will help them bounce back from disappointments. 

Also, these pictures have absolutely nothing to do with this post but they're cute and I wanted to show off my cute kids.

(And that handsome husband of mine)
*allthehearteyes*

Midnight Ramblings & Sanctification

 

 

Oh. Hi there.

 

Yes. It's 3:30 in the a.m. and I'm blogging. But sometimes, when I've been woken up 5 times in 6 hours, my body says "You know what? It's easier to just stay awake". And so it does.

 

And so I am blogging.

 

(((Also, DISCLAIMER. Yes, I'm aware that I have more than one child and No, I haven't forgotten about Nash. Mainly because he won't let me. He's the reason I'm awake at this ungodly hour, blogging. But this post is mostly about Cali. Though my thoughts and feelings will probably be the same when Nash is a wild and crazy toddler.)))

 

 

 

I've been thinking a lot these past few days about how sanctifying parenting is. From the very first second that the doctor put Cali in my hands I've said that God created newborns to drive us to our knees to him on a consistent basis.

 

For realz, y'all.

 

Newborns are terrifying.

 

And as Cali grew, the sanctification process only got harder. And scarier. When God created Cali - my sweet, loving, determined, independent, wild, smart, beautiful, Cali - he gave me a task too monumental for me to do well on my own.

 

Seriously. She's too much for me to handle by myself.

 

 

 

I am constantly in prayer over her. Her well being, how to raise her, how to discipline her, how to love her. When I feel like being honest I can admit she is so much like me.

 

Quick story.

 

I distinctly remember in elementary school forming a cheerleading club at recess. I charged the girls a certain amount of money so that I could "buy us matching bloomers and skirts". These kids gave me their lunch money for an entire week, guys. And what did I do with it? I bought candy. And didn't even share.

 

And so I pray. A lot. Because I'm terrified Cali is too much like me.

 

But when I look at her? God, my heart aches from loving her so much. A literally, physical, ache. I have so many hopes and dreams for her. And not the Harvard - Doctor - Straight A Student - All Star Athlete kind of dreams. My dreams involve more of her heart and her spirit. I want so badly for her to remain strong and independent. I hope to God she never loses her desire to push boundaries and explore things for herself. Some may disagree but I love that she questions "Why?" when I tell her to do or not to do something. I admire that she wants to check things out for herself and not just take my word for it. I hope she stays determined and persistent. That she never loses the ability to set her sights on what she wants and to go after it.

 

 

 

 I don't view these as a bad things. I don't see these qualities as ones that need to be "fixed" or corrected. I just hope that they're paired with a love for people, an open mind to those that are different from her, empathy for the hurting, an ability to see her flaws and then do something about them, the ability to recognize when she's wrong and offer a swift apology, a desire to step in and stand up for those that can't/won't stand up for themselves when being wronged, and a love for Christ so fierce and deep that she reeks of it wherever she goes.

 

But therein lies the problem...

 

I have no idea how to teach her these things.

 

Thus, the sanctification process of relying minute by minute on God's grace.

 

One of my favorite authors on parenting, L.R. Knost, writes that "It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless". LOVE.

 

 

 

Also, Jen Hatmaker writes in her Book For the Love, "If they don't love Jesus and people, it matters zero if they remain virgins and don't say the F-word. We must shepherd their hearts, not just their hemlines."

 

YES. YES. YES. AND AMEN.

 

amiright?

 

I'll be the first to admit to you that I do a lot of things as a parent that other parents look at and don't agree with. I'm OK with that. I've been blessed (cursed?) with the ability to not care what other people think. For instance. I let Cali sleep in our bed.

 

*Gasp!*

 

I know. But I'm here to say we love it. She is not cuddly by nature and one of the only times we get to cuddle on her is at night. When she's sleeping. And so she's in our bed.

 

Another thing? We encourage her to question our rules and the way things are done. If she wants to negotiate? We're up for that.

 

Yeeessss. I know. I'm aware. I can just hear you all now. "But you're the paaareeeents." But don't worry those pretty little heads of yours. We are firm believers in discipline and boundaries. When we put our foot (feet?) down, it (they?) stay down. But until then? We want to foster an environment where she learns to actually have a relationship with Christ and get to know him and not just follow rules because we say so. We want to teach her that no one (even YOU, Judgy McJudgerson) is right all the time and that we're open to compromise and change. We want her to know that she has a voice and be confident in using that voice.

 

(Though, trust me, I am fairly certain that will NOT be an issue. She LOVES to use that voice.)

 

We want her to see that perfection in any human is not attainable. If it were, the cross would've been unnecessary. We want our parent/child relationship with her to reflect the Father/child relationship we have with Christ.

 

 

 

Are we doing things 100% right? I can guarantee you we are NOT. That's just my guess. But I can also guarantee you that every. single. thing. we do for her is very intentional and is grown from a love so big for her and a desire to help grow her into a woman that loves God as fiercely as she can.

 

That's all I want, really. For her to love God. Deeply, truly, fiercely, love him. Because if that happens, everything else that blossoms from that love will be beautiful.

 

And the parts that aren't so beautiful? Well I just pray that God gives her a child just. like. her. one day so that she can be sanctified too. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Poor Man's Guide to Baby

If you're a regular reader here, you know that T plays minor league baseball and we move around. 

A lot.

We've lived in 11 different cities in 4 years and we've moved AT LEAST twice that amount. Without spending time to count, I'd guess that we've packed up our car and moved 30 times in 4 years. If I'm not exactly right, I'm really darn close.

So when we found out that we were having a baby, I knew that we needed to stick to the essentials for two reasons: A) We only travel with the things we can fit in our car and B) I knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom for now and so we'd need to clamp down on our budget.

I thought I'd share with you some of the (affordable) baby items that I deemed absolutely necessary. To pass this test, it had to meet 4 requirements:

1) It had to fit within a smaller budget

2) It had to be something I used on a daily basis

3) It had to make my life a lot easier OR

4) Benefit Cali - in either development or health

What I've learned through this experience is that there is a huge difference between needs and wants. There are a lot of baby items that people will tell you that you "need" when really, you don't. Trust me. The fact that I didn't have a rocking chair drove some people crazy (I'm looking at you, Mom). Sure, if your budget (and space) allows it, go all out. You only have your first baby once so if you are able to get everything you could ever possibly want, by all means do it.

I'm just here to help those of you who are looking for the bare necessities. I've put the average price in parenthesis next to the name so you can get a quick idea of how much it'll cost you. So whether you have a small budget, a small space, or both, hopefully this list will help. 

One thing I would suggest if you're on a tight budget is to ask around to people you know that might have baby items they're willing to give away or sell for cheap. Just make sure if it's a crib or car seat that it meets the current safety standards and hasn't expired. Also, for things like baby carriers and clothes, check out Ebay or Craigslist. You'd be surprised how much money can be saved by buying things gently used!

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap Baby-Mild ($15)

You can use this stuff for anything. Dilute it with water for baby body wash, shampoo, clothes detergent, or to wash your bottles. The initial price is a bit of a shock but the bottle is huge and it lasts forever. I'm only half way through the bottle I bought when Cali was born and like I said, I use it for everything.

Gerber 5 pack Onesies ($10)

No joke, Cali wears these almost every day. They come in different designs but I just bought the plain white and let my cousin tie-dye them. They match everything and I happen to love tie-dye.

Baby K'Tan ($35)

I have sung the praises of the K'Tan before but it never hurts to do it again. WE. LOVE THIS. I could've never gone grocery shopping, cooked, or gotten much of anything done had it not been for this carrier. I knew I didn't want to lug an awkward carseat around everywhere and this freed up my hands. Plus, you can use it up into todderhood (is that a word?). Cali still loves this.

Bouncy Seat ($40+)

These can actually range from $25-$200 but Cali managed perfectly fine in her basic one. I probably would've never showered had we not had this, especially with T being gone on road trips all of the time. I also took it outside so we could enjoy some picnics together and this gave her a non-grassy place to sit.

Car Seat ($40+)

This and a crib mattress were the two things that T and I decided we didn't want to skimp on. I consider myself a carseat freak so it was something that I deemed worthy of spending money on but if your budget is super tight, you can get a carseat for as low as $45. All carseats that are sold in stores have passed inspection and are safe for your baby to ride in. However if you have some wiggle room in this area, I'd suggest the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio (pictured). We absolutely love this carseat and it got the highest safety rating possible by Consumer Report.

Crib ($150+)

I would suggest getting a convertible crib so that you can use it for years to come. This Graco convertible crib is super cute and only $150. 

Crib Mattress ($30+)

Again, this is something that T and I didn't want to go cheap on but this Dream on Me mattress is only $30! And you can use it once the crib transitions to a toddler bed as well. We have the Colgate Classica and have really been impressed with it.

Diapers ($15+)

I chose to go the cloth diaper route. For an initial investment of about $200 (I used gift cards I got at my baby shower) these can last you until you potty train your child. My favorite are FuzziBunz. They have adjustable legs so they fit tiny newborns well. But if you're not the cloth diapering kind, a cheap disposable are Luvs. When we're traveling we use these and we've never had any problems. 

Touch Thermometer ($20)

You'll probably want a good thermometer. You can get them for much cheaper than $20 but a touch thermometer will make your life easier.

Activity Mat ($20+)

You can really spend as much or as little on this as you want. I (personally) wouldn't suggest spending too much because they outgrow it very quickly but I wanted Cali to have something to look at during tummy time. She enjoyed looking at the toys hanging over her head or the colors on the mat. If you're crafty, you can even make one like the one pictured that I'm slightly obsessed with. Here's the tutorial.

Total: $375

So there you have it. These are the things that I would consider the bare minimum basics. Sure you can have a changing table, rocking chair, etc. but I managed just fine without them. To be fair, I didn't have a nursery because, well, we didn't really have a home but it just proves that it is possible to have a baby and not spend a ton of money if you don't have it. 

Also, this doesn't include things like bottles and formula if you can't or don't want to breastfeed. You can get bottles for cheap (like this 12 pack for $10) and formula will be a monthly expense but I would think you'd want at least a month's worth stored up, so that will run you more. I really don't know anything about formula like how much it is or how long it lasts but if you do, leave your tip in the comments!

Also, if you're expecting a baby, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Keep up with our family by following us on Twitter & Instagram!

Life Lessons from Children's Stories

I recently came across this infographic called 30 Quotes by Dr. Seuss. That Will Change Your Life. While I think that is quite a bold statement, it got me thinking about how many "life lessons" are woven into children's stories. Now, there are definitely those books and movies that have no life lesson, much less, a point at all. 

For example, my sweet friend, Laura, gave me a book called Good Night, Gorilla as part of my shower gift. Her son loves this book and it has a 4 star review rating on Amazon. I can't figure it out. If you can tell me the life lesson in here (aside from "Don't marry a zoo keeper") then I'll stand corrected.

Anyways, there are a lot of kid's books that have valuable lessons in them. Being a parent is tough and we all need a little encouragement sometimes. Seeing as how it looks like the only books I'll be reading for the next few years will be pulled from the children's section, I figured I might as well take what I can from them.

So I've compiled a list of 15 uplifting quotes taken straight from our kids' stories.

1. “... and she loved a boy very, very much-- even more than she loved herself.” 

      ― Shel Silverstein The Giving Tree

2. “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I know I can.”

       ― Little Engine That Could

3. "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

     -A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

4. "It has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But my mom says some days are just like that."
     - Judith Viorst Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

5. "...because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.” 
     - Margery Williams The Velveteen Rabbit

6. “The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it."
      - J.M. Barrie Peter Pan

7. “But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the
      chance might be of striking lucky, the chance is there."
     - Roald Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

8. “And Max, the king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.” 
     - Maurice Sendak Where the Wild Things Are

9. “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
     - Rudyard Kipling The Jungle Book

10. "Safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you!"
      - C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

11. “Never hurry and never worry!” 
       ― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

12. “'Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you' 'You
        have been my friend' replied Charlotte. 'That, in itself, is a tremendous thing'."
        ― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

13. “I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” 
       ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

14.“Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” 
      ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

15. "I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war"
      - Shel Silverstein Where the Sidewalk Ends

So, there ya have it. These are some of mine and T's favorite quotes that we've found. 

And now to completely change direction on you guys, Cali pulled up to standing by herself today and I almost cried tears of joy and sadness at the same time. 

Too big. 

Too fast.

Until next time.

Dear Dads - A Letter to the Loving Fathers

Before I start this, I want to preface it with the fact that I understand mothers have a huge role in a child's life as well. I also understand that there are plenty of well rounded individuals who have grown up without a father in their lives and managed to have perfectly happy existences. I applaud the moms who have taken on both parental roles for one reason or another. This is not meant to speak ill of any of these situations. It's simply me, observing the men in my life who have played large roles, noting what an effect they have. With that being said...

T and Cali

Dear Dads,

Do you realize what an impact you have on your child's life? Do you understand that when you're "flying" your baby around the front yard that you're teaching her/him trust and faith? Do you see that every time you stop what you're doing to look your child in the eye and interact with them that you're showing him/her that they're important and wanted? Do you comprehend the fact that each time you step in to take care of their needs that you're telling them they'll always have someone there for them? Do you recognize that every time you find the energy to play after a long day's work that you're telling your kids through your actions that you enjoy their company?

I hope you know.

I hope you can see what a large part you play in their development. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have conducted studies that show that fathers who are involved and nurturing with their children have higher IQs and better cognitive capacities. The larger the role that the dad plays in a child's life, the more likely it is that the child will be "emotionally secure, confident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections with their peers".

Dads. Do you understand what an amazing responsibility that you have been handed? "To whom much is given, much is expected". I admire those of you who take the time and effort to be an active part of your families' lives. Every time I see one of you outside playing and running around with your child, I think how lucky they are to have a dad like you. Each time I watch my own husband (who is a first time dad) step into an unfamiliar situation head first, determined to take part despite his discomfort, I think about how he's showing our daughter how to conquer her fears and take leaps of faith. Every time I think of my own father taking time out of his schedule to take my siblings and I on daddy/daughter-son dates I remember how I always knew that no matter how far I roamed, he'd be there for me when I returned. 

 Me and my dad

Dads, you're so very important. I know that the mother/child relationship is a daunting one to reside beside but good for you! To those that find their own place in their children's lives without shrinking back and allowing the mom to take full responsibility. Kids need a leader, decision maker, head of the household, and rescuer. That's you, dads.

It takes energy when you're all out. It takes motivation when yours is gone. It takes time that you're already pressed for. It takes patience when yours is thin. It takes laughter when the world has drained yours. It takes focus when your mind would rather be somewhere else. It takes a lot. And I'm proud of those of you who have chosen to give it all. You're making a difference.

I Hope My Daughter Never Knows Who Miley Cyrus Is

Did you watch the VMA's last night????

Well I didn't because our TV is packed up already but nonetheless, I have seen this performance.

Unfortunately.

Look, I'm a very "live and let live" kinda girl. I have my beliefs and my boundaries but I don't expect everyone else's to match mine. I'm also typically a judge free zone because, hey, we've all screwed up.

But come on.

Where is her mother? Or father? Or aunt? Heck. Even her 2nd cousin twice removed on her granddad's side. Anybody.

Miley Cyrus was once this small. Oh, but not anymore. No.

This 20 year old girl dry humped a foam finger in her underwear. I feel like that's crossing all sorts of lines here.

Let's get serious for half a minute. 

Somebody should've stopped her from doing this. Not only for millions of viewers' sakes but for her sake. I'd like to think she'll regret this one day so I feel as though somebody should've put their foot down and said, "NO". Her parents would be the obvious choice but (by all appearances) her mother loved it. Maybe her manager or even the 36 year old man she was grinding on (I wonder how Mr. Seaver feels about this??).

It not only reeks of desperation (WE GET IT MILEY. You are not your Disney character) but it's replacing music and talent with sex. She has an amazing voice but that was - clearly - not what everyone was focused on last night.

Remember when parent's thought this girl was a bad influence?
GIVE HER BACK.

I get it. She doesn't want to be my daughter's role model. Well trust me, I don't want her to be either. She's trying to be "unique" but really, that's NOT unique. We have enough modern artists that are selling their bodies and sex in order to sell more records. What we need are more artists that are bold enough to be different. Who have the confidence to stand up fully dressed and sell their talents, not their private parts.

Anyways, that's my soap box for the day.

I will now not allow Cali to watch cable TV until she's 30.
That is all.

50 Things I Want to Teach My Daughter

1. Dumbing yourself down isn't cute. Embrace knowledge.
2. Respect your body. You can't ask someone else to if you don't.
3. Modest is hottest. 
4. Be brave. Try new things and don't be afraid to fail.
5. No matter what you do or where you go, your dad and I will always be here.
6. Despite what the world tells you, a kiss is special. Save it for someone who believes that too.
7. Don't tell someone that you love them until you're 100% sure you know what that means. Love is forever.
8. Always admit when you're wrong. We learn from our mistakes.
9. It's OK to have regrets. We learn from those too. 
10. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
11. Be quick to give a smile. It could brighten someone's day.
12. Always forgive. Nothing is unforgivable.
13. Read lots and lots of books. Both for learning and for pleasure.
14. Take school seriously. There will come a day when you'll wish you'd worked harder.
15. Don't do things just because others are doing them. Be bold enough to go against the flow.
16. Figure out why you believe what you say you believe in. Be ready to defend it to anyone that asks.
17. Feelings are OK but they're also not a solid foundation for our choices. Use both your knowledge of right and wrong and your gut to determine your course of action.
18. Never speak out of anger. Once something is said, it can't be unsaid.
19. You have no idea what others are going through. Be kind.
20. If your friends make fun of you for standing for what you believe is right, they're not your friends.
21. Don't ever make a life decision based on a boy. 
22. Also, don't let your emotions be determined by the relationship you're in. Find your joy in the fact that you're a child of God.
23. We can't control what others do or say but we can control our own actions. 
24. Love everyone without expecting anything in return.
25. Always say thank you to those that extend help.
26. Work hard and do everything to the best of your ability. As long as you give it your all, I'll be proud no matter what the outcome.
27. Material things will come and go but happiness in life is your decision.
28. No one is beneath you. Be humble.
29. You're going to make mistakes; that's expected. Forgive yourself and move on.
30. Find things that you enjoy doing and spend a lot of time doing them.
31. When you are greeting someone, look them in the eye and give a firm handshake.
32. Don't use your body and/or your looks to get attention. If someone doesn't like you without those things, they're not worth your time.
33. It's OK if we don't see eye to eye. You don't have to be just like me.
34. If someone points out a personality flaw in you, take a moment to step back and see if they're right. If they are, work hard to change it. If they're not, move on.
35. Sometimes we have to do things in life that we don't want to do. Get over it.
36. Be independent but don't be afraid to show your weaknesses. There is power and freedom in being honest and real.
37. Good friends are hard to come by. When you find them, make time to keep them in your life.
38. Don't live life out of fear. Make bold decisions and be confident enough to go higher. If you fall, it's OK. You'll always have a place to come back to.
39. Think about the consequences of your actions before you make them. Don't make dumb decisions for instant gratification.
40. "A wise man learns from his mistakes. An even wiser man learns from the mistakes of others."
41. You are capable of doing hard things. The reward is worth the effort.
42. You are beautiful. 
43. Find pleasure in the little things.
44. Develop the ability to laugh at yourself.
45. Everyone in life has different abilities and talents. "Don't compare your outtakes to someone else's highlight reel"
46. Don't stress. God will come through for you.
47. Enjoy the outdoors. Nothing is more beautiful than God's handiwork.
48. Guard your heart. There will come a day when a worthy man (that has been pre-approved by your father and me!) will ask for your hand in marriage. You'll want to be able to give him all of your heart and not just what's left of it.
49. God has been gracious enough to give you an earthly body. Take care of it with discipline and self-control. Be respectful of the gift He's given you.
50. Accept God's grace. We'll never earn it, live up to it, deserve it, or be able to repay it. That's OK. Love Him with your entire being and accept the gift of Jesus.

Clean It Up Wednesday - BabyGanics Smooth Moves Lotion

We're going to start a new series here at Framing Cali called "Clean It Up Wednesday". It'll be a post where I take one item I'm currently using in our household and research all of the ingredients to ensure it's safety for my family. If I deem it not worthy, I'll find an alternative.

I'm a big advocate for policing what goes into our bodies. We are given one chance at this life and I think it's a sacrifice we are called to make as Christians to take care of this gift God has given us. He has blessed us with life and bodies and to treat them like trash is a sin, I believe. That's why the Bible continuously talks about self-control, gluttony, and our bodies being a temple.

And if you're not a Christian, I still believe that what goes into our bodies has a HUGE effect on our health and well-being. How we feel, our actions, our hormones, our longevity, our stress levels, our memory, our ability to avoid certain diseases - I believe all of this can be effected by outside variables that enter our systems through food, chemicals, and day to day contact.

Ok. I'm off my soapbox for the day. Let's get down to business.

Today's Clean It Up item is something I use daily - multiple times a day - on both Cali and myself:

BabyGanics Smooth Moves Lotion

Did you know that our skin is the largest organ of our body? I've read a lot of studies on skin absorption and experts tend to disagree on how much of what touches the skin is actually absorbed - they range from 23% - 72%. I happen to think that our skin was designed very smartly and made to protect us from harmful things. That being said, I do think that certain products can penetrate our skin and how it effects us is largely unknown. It's a whole complicated mumbo jumbo of scientific terms (which I've never been good with) that explains how the chemical makeup of products changes once it passes through the epidermis. Basically, no one is 100% sure of how exactly these things effect us but it's not something that I, personally, am willing to test on myself or my family. So I try to keep it as clean as possible.

At my baby showers I naturally received a ton of Johnson & Johnson products. If you haven't heard the hoopla surrounding these items, here is a good Q&A to give you some answers. Basically, in 2011 it was discovered that certain ingredients in Johnson & Johnson products were being linked to cancer. The company committed to phasing out these ingredients by the end of 2013 for their baby products and 2015 for their adult products. I obviously don't want to use them now so I originally chose BabyGanics thinking that it was the better choice. 

Let's look at the ingredients as listen on BabyGanics website:

Water, Propanediol, Sorbitan Stearate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Corn Starch Modified, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Canola Oil, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance*

*Cucumber Aloe Scent Only

A quick search of these ingredients turned up mostly OK. There were only a couple that worried me. The first being Propanediol. This is apparently a controversial chemical and no one can seem to agree on whether or not it's ok. According to the testing done on rats, it's OK to inhale. 

Not that that actually alleviates my fears.

The next red flag was Sodium Hydroxide. This one is kind of a doozy. It's used in tissue digestion and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says this about the chemical:

Exposure to sodium hydroxide solid or solution can cause skin and eye irritation. Direct contact with the solid or with concentrated solutions causes thermal and chemical burns leading to deep-tissue injuries. Very strong solutions of sodium hydroxide can hydrolyze proteins in the eyes, leading to severe burns and eye damage or, in extreme cases, blindness.

Children are more vulnerable to toxicants affecting the skin because of their relatively larger surface area: body weight ratio.

Geez.

You can go to their website here to read more about the substance. Obviously the levels of this used in the lotion aren't great enough to cause immediate damage but do I really want something that has the ability to cause harm touching my child's skin? 

Probably not.

The next worrisome ingredient is Sorbic Acid. The National Library of Medicine deems this substance a primary irritant and can cause severe allergic reactions.

Finally, my biggest concern of all, is Phenoxyethanol.

There is a huge debate in the organic world over this chemical right now but the NCBI says that it is considered "toxic by all routes (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact)". ECOCERT - which certifies products as organic or not - no longer allows this product to be used in products that want to be considered organic. If you want to know more, do a quick Google search but this one is definitely a little scary.

So my overall opinion?

I'll find a new lotion for Cali pronto.

For now I'll go back to using coconut oil and I'll update when I've found a safer alternative! 

Until then.