Adventures In Frugal Land

Simply Frugal. Simply Natural.

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Love Centered Parenting Review

I was expecting an entirely different book but this is the one I needed to read. When I read the description, I figured it was going to be a typical parenting book. I’ve read Crystal’s other books and knew it was going to be good but I was expecting it to be more of a book about her family with a nice little to-do list packaged together to tell me exactly what steps to take to be a good parent. While she does share a lot about her own family in Love Centered Parenting, she wraps it around in a thought provocating way. Each chapter is a lovely mix of stories and actionable steps you can take to change your mindset about parenting, thus changing your relationship with your children.


My personality type is pretty type A and motivated by to-do lists, not about feelings and emotions. I was going through the motions of parenting, checking off what I thought I needed to in order to be “successful” at it. This book has helped me shift my mindset about my relationship with my child and what my ultimate goal is.
Love Centered Parenting is on the very short list of books I’ve already bought multiple copies and versions of to give to friends and to keep to re-read myself. I know I will be referring to it in the years to come.


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Why We’ve Changed Our Eating Habits

I am not one to get behind many “food trends”. I don’t believe that it’s necessary to eliminate any major food groups unless there is an allergy or sensitivity to them. I’ve been a big believer in everything moderation when it comes to food. Ok, that’s a lie when it comes to chocolate. With that, it’s more is better! And cheese. Oh my, I adore cheese. Obviously, I’m a little hungry while writing this but my point is that I love pretty much all food groups. But….my family has gone (for the most part) crazy healthy; eating primarily fruits, veggies and meat. Did we go Paleo? Nope, my daughter was diagnosed with a yeast allergy.

 

If I’m being honest, she was diagnosed months before we made any major diet changes. We were always pretty healthy eaters. At least when it came to dinner. We occasionally had our junk food nights because, well, I’m a grown up now and I can do that if I want.

 

Let me back up a little bit to the events leading up to her diagnose. For months, I noticed she was suffering from allergies. I assumed that they were seasonal related and first gave her Benadryl and hoped for the best. It didn’t get better. She was also very crabby most of the time. Which, if you knew her, you’d realize how abnormal that was. She is typically a very happy little girl. We also noticed that she was waking up several times through the night, coughing badly I took her to her doctor, who gave the first clue that we might be dealing with something more than just seasonal allergies. My daughter was put on allergy medicine and referred for allergy testing. She was also being suspected of having asthma, but we weren’t sure at that point.

Looking back, I’m not sure how I didn’t put two and two together earlier. She suffered from really frequent (4+ a month!) ear infections before she had surgery to place tubes in her ears. After talking with the doctors, I learned how common it is for allergies, ear problems, eczema (which she’s had she was an infant) and asthma to coexist.

 

It just so happened that her Ear’s, Nose and Throat Specialist also does allergy testing, so I set up an appointment with the office. I wasn’t surprised by some of the allergies that popped up like mold and fungus. I knew she couldn’t handle being around mold (one of the main reasons we moved!). I was, however, shocked by the yeast allergy. We were given the advice to make what changes we could, give the medicine time to kick in and to start thinking about eliminating yeast from her diet.

 

We didn’t go straight for the elimination diet. Instead, we tried to cut back on the amount of junk she was consuming. I also began tracking her symptoms vs. what she ate. My attention towards her diet shifted a bit once she suffered her first true asthma attack. We also found noticed mold in and around where we were living. My focus at that point was getting her away from any mold. That was the priority. We found a new house and began the moving process.

 

I did notice a huge difference in her once we moved. Many of her symptoms decreased. But, several were still there. It became apparent that just cutting back yeast wasn’t going to help. So, we’re now in the middle of a total elimination diet. After a month, she’s able to try certain things (some cheeses for example) and wait a week to see if there’s any interaction. And repeat. Yes, it’s going to take several months before we have a good handle on what she can and cannot eat.

 

Before I did a lot of research, I figured yeast was only in breads and baked goods. It’s not. It’s in practically everything. Things that I wouldn’t expect it to be, has yeast in it. Like cheese. She also has to avoid sugar during this process. It’s a bit of a challenge figuring out what to feed her. I have to meal plan every single meal, snack and drink she consumes. Brandon and I are mostly following the same diet as she is. Not because we have to but because it’s easier to eat the same thing(s). I do have to admit to hiding a bag of Hershey Kisses in my nightstand because sometimes, I NEED chocolate. It’s dark chocolate though. So, it’s practically a carrot, right?

 

A few weeks into this, I must say that it is helping her a lot. Her digestive issues are pretty much gone, she’s sleeping great all night long, she’s happy, her “allergic shiners” diminished a ton, and her eczema is decreased a lot as well (which also has to do with switching laundry soap!). I’m hoping that not having her exposed to yeast helps her asthma too. So far, it’s been under control.

 

You will notice me sharing some things about our journey with this particular food allergy. I will occasionally share my menu plans because I want to help any people I can dealing with this. Most of the meal plans will be yeast-free, sugar-free, gluten-free (because it just comes naturally with this), and largely dairy-free (she is still able to have yogurt and such).

 

 

 

Have you ever had to deal with a yeast allergy before? Share your favorite recipes and tips! I need all the help I can get.

 

 

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40 Frugal Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer

Summer is here! What is on your summertime bucket list this year? We have quite a few things on our list this year. Luckily, most of these options are pretty frugal!

40 Frugal Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer

 

1. Catch fireflies in a jar.
2. Learn to play a new board game.
3. Go on a scavenger hunt
4. Camp out (even in the back yard!).
5. Eat ice cream before dinner.
6. Go on a bike ride with the entire family.
7. Climb a tree.
8. Make a sidewalk chalk masterpiece.
9. Go on a nature walk.
10. Build a pillow and blanket fort.
11. Learn how to make grass a whistle.
12. Go to a county fair.
13. Make homemade ice cream.
14. Take photos to document the summer.
15. Spend a whole day fishing.
16. Play a game of volleyball.
17. Pick blackberries or strawberries. Either make a pie or eat them as is.
18. Go swimming.
19. Wake up early to go to yard sales.
20. Paint rocks.
21. Play night time hide and go seek.
22. Stay up late watching movies.
23. Have a picnic.
24. Eat a new vegetable.
25. Fly a kite.
26. Go on a boat ride.
27. Pose for pictures with sparklers.
28. Start (or continue!) a garden.
29. Interview an elderly family member or neighbor.
30. Make a volcano out of vinegar and baking soda.
31. Have a water balloon fight.
32. Build a sandcastle.
33. Go to an amusement park.
34. Write a letter to an out of town relative.
35. Start a nature collection of rocks and leaves.
36. Read a classic book.
37. Go to a museum.
38. Have a yard sale or lemonade stand.
39. Write a short story.
40. Wash a car.

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The Day My Baby Had Surgery

I’ve been meaning to blog about this topic for a while now but haven’t because it’s difficult for me. The day my baby had surgery has terrifying to me as a mother.
The Day My Baby Had Surgery
On February 20, 2012, my daughter very suddenly developed a large red lump on the side of her neck along her jaw line. We were eating strawberry ice cream and I thought maybe food allergy. It happened very quickly, maybe an hour or so. We rushed her to the nearest ER only to be told it was a cold and swollen lymph nodes. She developed a high fever as well. They sent us home with instructions to give her motrin and fluids. I’m still a little upset that they didn’t run any other tests on her at this point.
Feb 25 2012
She didn’t get any better as the days progressed. We had several appointments with her pediatrician, who ran all sorts of tests and had no idea what was wrong. He knew there was some sort of infection going on but antibiotics did nothing for it. Her lump kept getting bigger and fever kept creeping higher. After a 5 days of this, I took her back in the ER (at a different hospital).
feb 2012
I remember clearly sitting in a tiny ER room with her alone and having the doctor tell me her blood cell count was really off and he suspected lymphoma but needed to do more tests.
I didn’t know what to do. All night, I sat up praying that she would be alright. That I would be happy as long as she was ok. At one point, her fever got to 105.
In the morning, she was seen by an ENT who determined that she needed immediate surgery to drain the infection. He also assured me that it was definitely not lymphoma but he didn’t know exactly what it was either.
Feb 2012
It broke my heart when I had to hand her to the nurses as they rolled her bed down the hall to the operating room as she was crying and reaching for me.
2012
She was only in surgery for about an hour but it seemed like much longer than that. They were able to determine that she had some weird version of staph infection. After a few days of her fever staying consistently high, I was very unimpressed with the care from the pediatrician at the hospital (not hers). I spoke with her pediatrician on the phone and her surgeon and the both agreed she needed to be seen at a Children’s Hospital. The staff pediatrician at the hospital refused to sign off on it. At this point, I had her discharged.
feb 2012
I took her home on February 28, 2012. And the next morning, she in at her pediatrician’s office. From there, her care got so much better. He immediately arranged for her to be seen the following day at the Children’s Hospital. I went home and packed our bags. I knew it was going to be another lengthy hospital stay. It was a two hour drive from where we were living at the time. Usually, I HATE driving in Pittsburgh, I avoid it at all costs. But, on March 1, 2012, I did it without panic. It’s hard to be that concerned about traffic when your child is sick. She was admitted to the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital immediately after being seen by a team of doctors.
march 2012
I could not have been any more impressed by the level of care she received by the staff. She had a type of antibiotic resistant staph infection but it wasn’t MRSA. She was given basically an antibiotic cocktail that eventually worked on her tiny body. Her mood improved, she began feeling better, I was so happy.
march 2012
Finally, a week later, she was discharged. A month after that, there were no signs that she was ever ill aside from the healing scar on her neck.
april 2012
To this day, years later, we have no idea what caused the staph infection. The way it happened, did not make any medial sense. I am still amazed at the whole situation.
Now, she is a happy, healthy 5 year old.
2016
I am so thankful to the dedicated team at Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, her ENT surgeon and her pediatrician for fighting for health. I hope none of you ever have to face your child being sick but if you do, please know that it is ok to disagree with doctors and stand up for your child. I don’t know if she would have gotten better under the care of the pediatrician at the one hospital. I am just grateful that she had other doctors who were fighting for her care as well as me.

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50 Children’s Gifts That Never Go Out of Style

Do you struggle with finding a suitable gift for a child? Luckily, the gems of our childhood are still a great choice today. I’ve included gift ideas in different price brackets. I’d love to hear any other ideas you have in the comments!
50 Children's Gifts That Never Go Out Of Style
  1. Blocks
  2. Legos
  3. Coloring Books
  4. Water Guns
  5. Sidewalk Chalk
  6. Dress Up Stuff
  7. Doll Babies
  8. Pretend Food
  9. Musical Instruments
  10. Nerf Guns
  11. Matchbox Cars
  12. Sport Balls
  13. String
  14. Bubbles
  15. Sewing Kit
  16. Army Men
  17. Pretend Cleaning Supplies
  18. Makeup
  19. Stickers
  20. Etch-A-Sketch
  21. Rubber Ducks
  22. Paint
  23. Board Games
  24. Play Dough
  25. Lincoln Logs
  26. Mr. Potato Head
  27. Easy Bake Oven
  28. Little People
  29. Magnetic Letters
  30. Paper Dolls
  31. Magnetic Dolls
  32. Gardening Tools
  33. Dump Trucks
  34. Remote Control Cars
  35. Construction Paper
  36. Card Games
  37. Barbies
  38. Velvet Posters
  39. Bounce Balls
  40. Stuffed Animals
  41. Silly Putty
  42. Sand
  43. Small Furniture
  44. Pretend Tattoos
  45. Cd Player
  46. Yak Back
  47. Cardboard Box
  48. Science Kits
  49. Easel
  50. Shopping Cart
What games or toys did you love as a child?

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When Lice Strikes

Does the word “Lice” strike fear in you? I bet your head is already itching just thinking about it. Most parents will come across lice at some point. It seems that a few times each year, the dreaded “lice outbreak” letter makes the rounds around schools.

Do you know what to do?

Do you know what to do when lice strikes?

Lice Prevention:

It’s impossible to fully prevent lice unless you keep your child in a bubble. However, there are steps you can take to lessen the likelihood of your child coming down with a case.

Don’t Share

This is one time you should teach your children not to share. Teach your kids that hats, hair brushes and hair accessories shouldn’t be shared.

Put Up Hair

Especially when there’s an active outbreak, try to put your child’s hair in a braid to minimize exposure.

Sprays and Shampoos

There are several over the counter sprays and shampoos that are designed to deter lice.

Natural Remedies

Making a spray with tea tree oil or rosemary oil can prevent an outbreak. You can also put a few drops into the shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Wipes

Using disinfectant wipes, wipe down backpacks or toys that could have come into contact with lice.

Lice Inspection:

When there is an active outbreak (or anytime if you’re paranoid like me!), begin frequent inspections. You can inspect as often as you like. I suggest doing a quick inspection daily and a full one at least once per week. Inspect by looking through the hair for eggs or nits. For a full inspection, run a lice comb through every strand of hair.

 

Lice Treatment:

So, you found the dreaded louse. Don’t panic! You can do this. Below, I’ve listed the common treatments for lice. You will have to pick more than one to fully get rid of an infestation. I suggest starting with the more gentler remedies and working your way up to the harsher ones. Some remedies work better for adult louses and others work better for nits. Choosing a combination approach is the best.

Over The Counter

This is the most common treatment. Most over the counter treatments work but they are full of chemicals that are very harsh on hair and can cause scalp irritation.

Professional Pickers

Did you know there are professional lice pickers? This is a great option if you have the money. The success rate is high with professional pickers. This is really only an option if you live in a large area. However, I considered driving to one 6 hours away when my daughter got lice!

Electric Comb

The electric comb works great. It electrocutes the louses, killing them on contact or stunning them long enough to be able to pick them out. I personally love the electric comb. I am a bit paranoid, so I run it through my family’s hair once every few days as part of my inspection routine.

Picking

Using a picking comb, you pick out each and every egg and louse you can see. This is a time consuming but effective option.

Heat

Using a hair dryer or a straightener on the high setting may kill lice. However, this is also bad for the hair.

Mayonnaise

Slather the hair with mayonnaise and cover it with a shower cap overnight. This reportedly kills lice by smothering them. This will only work for adult louses.

Home:

You do not have to go crazy and throw away everything in your home to get rid of an infestation. Lice can only survive a short time without a human head! You should, however, take a few precautions to ensure your hard work treating lice is not in vain.

  • Wash all bedding, clothes or stuffed animals that were exposed in hot water. Dry with high heat.
  • Soak all hair accessories in hot water with a few drops of tea tree oil overnight.
  • Spray mattresses with vinegar and few drops of tea tree oil.
  • It’s not really necessary but I also suggest spraying down the carpet with the tea tree oil and vinegar mixture as well. It gives me peace of mind.
  • Take everything that cannot be washed (stuffed animals) and seal up in a plastic bag for at least two weeks.

 

Lice is a scary word to many parents. I hope you never have to suffer through an infestation. But, if you do, I hope this information helps you!

Have you ever had to deal with an infestation? How long did it take you to get rid of it?

 

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How To Keep A Child Busy While In A Waiting Room

How To Keep A Child Busy While Waiting

Waiting. What child likes that word? For that matter, what adult likes to wait? While I don’t particularly like waiting, I can entertain myself thanks to my Kindle. Small children are a little bit harder to please than that. After spending over 8 hours in a waiting room with my 5 year old waiting for her step father to be done with surgery, I’ve learned a thing or two about entertaining a child.

Card Games

Keeping a deck of cards or a game of UNO in your purse is a great idea to keep your child busy. They don’t take up a lot of space but provides tons of entertainment.

Scavenger Hunts

You can have your child go on a “Scavenger Hunt” by hunting for different letters in the waiting room magazines. This works out for when you have to fill out paperwork! You can also do this in grocery stores by looking for the letters on different products. As kids get a little older, try having them find their initials or other small words!

I Spy

What kid doesn’t like I Spy? It requires no planning ahead of time or any supplies. It’s the perfect game to play while passing the time while waiting anywhere.

Make Up Silly Stories

Sometimes, adults just need to let loose and remember how to be a kid. Make up a silly story with your child while waiting.

Coloring

Keep a small notebook in your bag with a pen to entertain your little one while waiting. Most of us carry a small notebook anyways. If you don’t allow your children to use pens often, this is a special treat!

Talking

Take the time while waiting and simply talk to your child. Ask them about their day or what they want to be when they want to grow up. I am often amazed at the stuff I learn about my daughter when I simply talk to her.

Hand/Finger Games

Do you remember playing hand games with your friends at recess? Do you still remember them? Have fun teaching your child the classics. Miss. Mary Mack, Patty Cake, Rock Paper Scissors and secret handshakes are all hand games that are a fun way to pass the time.

Your Phone

When all else fail, your phone always works for entertainment. Download one or two kid friendly educational apps to entertain your child while you are busy talking to the doctor or updating relatives.

To a child, every day is an adventure. Us adults should learn to have that same mindset. It’s hard to wait when there’s so much you want to do. Once you learn how to turn waiting into an adventure for your child, it will turn from an annoyance into something fun. Stop wasting the time you spend waiting in doctor’s offices, in traffic or in line at the grocery store!

Untitledwaiting

 

What were the things that entertained you while waiting as a child? Do you find that your children like the same things or not?

 

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Teaching Christ’s Children About Feeling Angry

There was yelling, screaming, doors slamming and objects whirling by. Was it a tornado? A hurricane? Surely, there must have been a natural disaster to account for the reasons why my home was a disastor zone.

There wasn’t. The cause for the yelling and screaming was no other than my sweet four year old daughter.

I told her to clean her room and her angry switch got turned on. In the midst of her anger, she took her (month old) glasses off of her face and snapped them in half!!!!

IMG_20151122_141237

Now, it wasn’t just her who was really angry. I was there myself.

It was great timing that I received a book in the mail for children about feeling angry just days before that. So, I picked up the book and read it with her.
 

IMG_20151122_141314

 
In Teaching Christ’s Children About Feeling Angry, we are introduced to a little girl named Tayniesha (Tay).
 
We meet her family and learn what makes her angry. I really enjoyed that Tay got angry about real stuff. The book described that sometimes when she’s mad, she wants to hit someone or throw a toy.
 
Then, we learn what the Bible says about anger. There are several versus that are listed that describe what God has to say about feeling angry and what to do about it.
 
Tay explains different examples about how to respond when feeling angry.
 
One of the things I liked the most about this book is how the emotion of anger isn’t dismissed as something bad.  Rather, it explains how anger is a normal human emotion to certain events. All too often, I find children’s books about anger to gloss over the reasons of WHY and focus on what to do. I really like that Teaching Christ’s Children About Feeling Angry covers both.
 
By the end of the book, we both were much calmer. Eventually, her room got cleaned and I was able to order new glasses and we both learned something about anger. We’ve read this book multiple times since then, and I’m sure that will continue for quite a while into the future.
 

If you are looking for a Christ centered book for children about anger, this is it.

 

Teaching Christ’s Children About Feeling Angry is authored by Corine Hyman and illustrated by Almar Denso. You can find Teaching Christ’s Children About Feeling Angry on Amazon in paperback and kindle versions.

 
 
I was presented with the opportunity to review this book at no cost. I was not required to leave a good review, only an honest one. The review is my personal opinion. I was not compensated in any other way by the author or publisher.
 
There may be affliate links included in this post. Please view my disclosure policy for additional details.

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Dear Past Pregnant Self

A letter to my past pregnant self

Dear Self,

I’ve seen the future and I know what’s in store for you. I’m sure you are familiar with the phrase “the days are long but the years are short”. That is a great phrase isn’t it. But, it’s not that helpful when you are floundering in the little years. I am you, only years later. That baby inside your pregnant belly is now almost five years old. A lot has changed in the past few years.

I know that you’ve read all of the pregnancy and parenting books. It’s great to be prepared. Truthfully, you have no idea what is in store for you.

Once you give birth, your entire life is going to change. (So is your body, stop hanging onto those size zero jeans…never going to happen again). Being pregnant has already changed you. Being a mother is going to change you in ways you couldn’t begin to understand. It’s a magical process but it’s a hard one.

You need to prepare yourself: You can’t be prepared for everything. If you learn this while pregnant, you’ll have a much easier time.

Being a mom is hard work. There are the good days that make you want to have ten more kids. And then, there are the days where you wonder what business you ever had having children. Yes, I’ll admit it. I’ve sometimes wondered why I had a child when I know nothing about parenting. There isn’t a book, movie, podcast or blog that can adequately prepare you for the trials that you’ll face as a mom.

Sometimes, it sucks to be a mom. Yes, I can’t pretend cleaning up vomit or macaroni and cheese off the ceiling is fun. It’s not. Waking up early is not fun. Going to bed late is not fun.

You may have given birth to an alien. Or a hormonal gremlin. There’s really no difference between them or your child throwing a tantrum.

You will worry about everything. You’ll worry about being pregnant. You’ll worry about giving birth. You’ll worry about your baby. It’s normal.

It’s hard to imagine that the child growing inside could ever be anything but sweet. However, your child WILL be a jerk. Hopefully, it won’t happen too often. But it will happen. The first time your child says “I hate you” or “You’re a bad mom” will break your heart. Don’t worry though, by the 1,000,000,000 time it’s said, it’ll only hurt a little bit. Like a knife in your back. This is when you know you’re doing the parenting thing right.

It’s ok to buy earphones in bulk and tune out your kid sometimes. Bonus points if you hide in your closet with a candy bar.

Becoming a mom will be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.

You don’t have to pretend to like everything about your kid. Like if they eat their boogers. That’s just not cool no matter cute they are.

Comparison doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t matter if Mrs. Perfect feeds her kids organic food, sews their clothes and reads them a bedtime story every night. If you’ve managed to make a PBJ and put on an audiobook, you’re doing this mom thing all right.

You will be amazed at how much you can love one single person.

You will also be amazed at how frustrated you can get at one single person.

Take lots of pictures. Go ahead and label them before you forget why you took them. Mommy brain is a real problem.

Don’t start co-sleeping. Just don’t do it. It’s impossible to stop.

No matter what the trials you face with your child, there are brighter days to come. You will not look back and miss the tantrums though. It’s the good times you will miss but you’ll also celebrate your child getting older. It’s a little bittersweet to realize you won’t change her diaper again. But…NO MORE DIAPERS!!!!!

Oh, and that whole thing about your kid never watching TV…forget it. It’s going to be the only way you’re going to accomplish cleaning the house. A little TV is ok.

Love,

Your Future Self

P.S. Don’t be in such a hurry to give birth. It hurts. A lot.

What advice would you give to past pregnant self if you could?

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20 Chores A 4 Year Old Can Do

20 Chores For A 4 Year OldDo your children do chores?

All too often, I hear parents complain about how hard it is to keep their house clean with children running around.

The common theme I’ve found is the parents were trying to do everything themselves.

Let me tell you a secret:

Kid’s can (and want) to help you!

Think about it, they make the mess, they can help you clean it up. Leaving you with more time to play or pursue other interests.

There are many great, helpful lists I’ve found (Mostly on Pinterest!) about children and chores.

Chore Ideas By Age

25 Chores Your 2-4 Year Old Should Be Doing

7 Chores Your Kids Should Be Doing

The Importance Of Chores For Children

 

I began compiling a list of what my 4 year old daughter does to help me around the house.

20 Chores A 4 Year Old Can Do:

  1. Gathering laundry
  2. Folding and putting away clean clothes
  3. Dusting
  4. Feed and water animals
  5. Clean sinks  (With a vinegar solution so there’s no harsh chemicals)
  6. Wipe down cabinets
  7. Clean shower (Once again, a vinegar solution)
  8. Remove trash from car
  9. Wipe down baseboards
  10. Sort laundry
  11. Clean Windows
  12. Watering Flowers
  13. Sweep
  14. Clean own room (This one is a bit of a fight!)
  15. Make bed
  16. Put away silverware/dishes
  17. Mop (Steam mops are awesome!)
  18. Wiping off tables/counters
  19. Clearing off tables/counters
  20. Removing the junk that collects under furniture

And yes, sometimes I have to fight the urge not to re-do it when it’s not perfect.

Being the list maker I am, I’m intrigued by this chore chart idea:

 

How To Get Your Kids To Do Their Chores Well

Do you have any other ideas?