Finer Things Friday: Report Card and Conference Time

It's that time again...report cards and parent teacher conferences. Oh, how I remember the excitement, and sometimes the anxiety (oh, yes!), of my parents getting ready the night of parent-teacher conferences at my school. I still recall the way they would come through the door whether the report was going to be good, or, "you have some things to work on..." (You see, I was the little "social butterfly"). Well, fortunately for me, I turned out okay. And my children, they're even better!

Our first grader received yet another picture-perfect report card, and we had another enjoyable conference with her teacher. She is right on target, and is thriving with the challenging enrichment work she is given. Yes, she too is a little "social butterfly" per se, but "continues to be a great example for others". Oh, we're so proud!

And our four year old...he too has made great strides this year in his first year at preschool! What a great conference we had for him as well! He is a "leader" in his classroom, and "will make one super athlete", according to his teachers. (Well, did he have a chance otherwise??!! Coach was thrilled to hear that!!) He counts up to 29... a record!

With two teachers as parents, our children don't have a chance when it comes to "goofing off" in school. They know the importance of education, studying, respecting their teachers and helping others. We couldn't be more proud of our little students!!

Linked to: Finer Things Friday

Thriving as a Family

In our home we strive to make the following our motto. It Works for Us! We always knew it made our family thrive, but Focus On the Family (love this website!!) just made it their focus in their daily email, striving to help others grow as a family. Guess we were already doing something right!!

A Thriving Family Makes Time to ...

1.
Eat Together
2.
Play Together
3.
Attend Church & Pray Together
4.
Invest in Your Kids
5.
Know Where Your Kids Are & Know Their Friends

(Might I just say how embarassing this last one was growing up (#5)...my mother always went to the door when dropping me off at someones home to speak to the parents and to make sure they were home, or called them on the phone before I was allowed to go (even, and especially, when I was in High School). It's just the way it was...I wasn't going to ever get her to stop. Well my friends, I am now my mother. I do the same thing...and my sister with her teens and pre-teens. It works!! Lord help my children when they are teens!!)

Celebrate your family!!

With Love, On Our Anniversary...

A marriage anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.

Together we've worked hard to get where we are today...Together we've grown in so many ways- and most of all, in love. It doesn't matter where you go in life, what you do...it's who you have beside you. Side by side- year by year.

On Wednesday, November 4th, we celebrated our 8th Wedding Anniversary! Nowadays, that's no easy feat! Since our marriage, we've buried a father, two grandmothers, many friends, and our best man. We've endured three pregnancies and given birth to two healthy, beautiful children. Everything we've shared has only made us stronger, together. I know the future holds even more happiness for us.

My mother offered to babysit for us on our Anniversary and my parents gave us a gift to a wonderful Italian restaurant. We both asked eachother...would you do it all again? Our answer: Absolutely!! We wouldn't change a thing!!
“I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person, love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.”

My husband, and my marriage...two Finer Things I am so proud of! Here's to many more!!

Gratituesday...St. Patrick's Day Edition

There are so many Irish blessings...I could probably post a different one each day for many years to come. I am grateful for my heritage and the ability to share with my children the blessings passed down through our family for generations. My grandparents knew these by heart, and I can still see my 6 foot 6 inch Irish grandfather in his green shirt and St. Patricks Day tie singing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and "Danny Boy", then reciting these blessings for us children. For this St. Patrick's Gratituesday I wanted to share with you some Irish Blessings that are dear to my family, but are universal.

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Another Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

And one I still say with my children daily:
A Morning Blessing
Christ be with me,
be after me,
be before me,
and be at my right and left hand.
May everything I do be for Christ.

For more Gratituesday gratefulness go here ...

Organic and Healthy Foods...A Primer (Updated)

I wasn't always the healthiest of eaters. But after seeing a family member suffering from cancer, I became proactive and studied everything I possibly could about healthy living and possibly preventing certain diseases in my children, my husband, and myself. I'm not a dietician, or have any medical education, etc... just a Mom that wants to see her family live a long, healthy life. After attending the "University of the Internet", checking out countless books, and reading a number of articles in various medical journals, I would share what I learned with anyone who would listen. (and, literally overnight, I cleared all of our cabinets of each and every piece of food, mix, etc, that contained anything on this list! What a surprise my family had when they woke the next morning. I had to mix up french toast with homemade bread for breakfast...good thing I have a 60min. bake on my machine!! Okay...I went a little overboard, but with good intention!) I'm still learning to this day! My husband and I are trying to live healthy lifestyles, modeling a healthier life for our children. I hope to share with you whatever I can!

Start here:
Confused about what foods to buy organic? Go here to read about the organic "dirty dozen" list... a list of 12 foods that you should most always buy organic.

Another reminder...you should always do your best to buy organic dairy products. If you're unable to buy organic, seek out dairy products that are stamped "rBGH free" (bovine growth hormone).

Here is some other info to take note of... harmful additives and ingredients that are in many of our foods, many that cause a number of health problems and cancer! Please steer free of foods that contain these ingredients! (I'm not saying never have them, just keep foods with these types of ingredients to a bare minimum. (that's what we do) Life happens...parties, playdates, and special occasions...you can't always be there with your children to be the "food police", but when you are, you're in control and can see to it that your family follows a healthy diet) I will be sure to post certain foods/snacks that we use regularly to substitute for "the real things" (ie: Oreos, fruit snacks )

Partially Hydrogenated Oil:

• Semi-solid shortening made from liquid oils (such as canola and soybean) by reacting them with hydrogen


• Hydrogenated oils contain high levels of trans fats


• Gives baked goods and snacks a longer shelf life


• Used in more than 40,000 food products in the U.S. according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)


• Trans fats increase harmful LDL cholesterol and decrease good cholesterol, both of which contribute to heart disease


• 
  For more information, visit:
  bantransfats.com
  sanstrans.com
  transfreeamerica.com
  cspinet.org
  americanheart.org
  pubmed.gov

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO):

• BVO is an additive created by mixing vegetable oil with the element bromine
  
• Gives the flavoring oils in soda the same density as water
  
• The emulsified flavor oils stay suspended in the drink, boosting flavor in many citric-based fruit and soft drinks
• Causes a significant increase of triglyceride and cholesterol content in both heart and liver
  
• Residues in rats accumulated in body fat, damaging organs including heart, liver, thyroid, testicles, and kidneys
• 
  For more information, visit:
  pubmed.gov
  cspinet.org

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS):

• HFCS was developed in the 1970s because it was cheaper than cane and beet sugar


• Easier to blend in beverages; maintains sweetness better; prevents freezer burn; reduces crystallization; keeps baked goods soft and helps them brown


• With a high glycemic index, it converts to fat more than any other sugar


• It alters the metabolic rate in a way that favors fat storage


• Research suggests that it is a major factor of obesity


• HFCS increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, strokes, and cancer


• HFCS is not easily metabolized by the liver


• 
  For more information, visit:
  mercola.com
  newstarget.com
  pubmed.gov

Artificial Colors & Flavorings :

• Artificial colors are chemical compounds made mainly from coal-tar derivatives



• Food coloring is used to give color, lost during processing, back to food to make it more attractive



• Artificial colors have been linked to allergic reactions, asthma, skin rashes, hyperactivity, headaches and fatigue



• Artificial flavors are cheaply produced chemical mixtures that mimic a natural flavor



• Artificial flavors also linked to numerous sensitivities


• 
  For more information, visit:
  consumerhealthreviews.com
  feingold.org
  pubmed.gov

Benzoate Preservatives: BHT, BHA, TBHQ :

• Benzoates are antioxidants normally used as sodium, potassium, or calcium salts and their derivatives



• Benzoate preservatives are phenolic compounds often added to foods to preserve fats and prevent the fats from becoming rancid; also used as a de-foaming agent



• Benzoates are often used in cereals, butter, meats, baked goods, snack foods, dehydrated potatoes, and beer



• Can result in hyperactivity, asthma, urticaria, rhinitis, dermatitis and angiodema



• Believed to cause tumors in lab rats


• 
  For more information, visit:
  ncbi.nih.gov
  pubmed.gov
  feingold.org

Caffeine : (I am so guilty of this one!!!)

• Caffeine is a mildly additive stimulant



• Caffeine increases heartbeat, respiration, basil metabolic rate, gastro enteric reflexes and production of stomach acid and urine



• Caffeine affects the kidneys, increasing urination which can lead to dehydration



• Caffeine is metabolized by the liver



• Caffeine can lead to osteoporosis, infertility, heart disease, jitteriness, headaches, irritability, sleeplessness, possible birth defects, and depression


• 
  For more information, visit:
  cspinet.org
  kidshealth.org
  pubmed.gov

Artificial Sweeteners :

Acesulfame-K: commonly used in sugar-free baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts and soft drinks. May be cancerous
Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet): can cause sensitivities resulting in headaches, dizziness, and hallucinations
Saccharin: has resulted in cancer of the uterus, ovaries, skins, blood vessels and other organs in lab rats; may cause bladder cancer
Sucralose (Splenda): artificial sweetener used mainly in diet foods; made by chemically reacting sugar with chlorine
Sorbitol: a sweetener used as a thickening agent; maintains moisture in dietetic drinks, foods, candy, shredded coconut and chewing gum; commonly has a laxative effect

For more information, visit:
cspinet.org
cancer.gov

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate):

• MSG is an amino acid flavor enhancer



• Flavor enhancers are believed to stimulate appetites contributing to obesity



• MSG is used mainly in restaurant food, salad dressing, chips, frozen entrees, soup and chips



• Sensitivities to MSG include headaches, nausea, weakness, wheezing, edema, change in heart rate, burning sensation, and difficulty breathing



• Flavor enhancers in infant mice destroyed nerve cells


• 
  For more information, visit:
  cspinet.org
  msgtruth.org
  mercola.com

Olestra:

• Olestra is an indigestible fat substitute used mainly in foods that are fried and baked


• It is a non-absorbable lipid-like substance that inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients


• Linked to gastrointestinal disease, diarrhea, gas, cramps, bleeding, and incontinence.


• Olestra can collect and assimilate fat-soluble vitamins present in other foods, reducing their ability to be absorbed. Long-term use of Olestra can reduce fat-soluble vitamin (including E, A, D and K) absorption.


• 
  For more information, visit:
  hsph.harvard.edu
  ifst.org
  americanheart.org

Sodium Nitrite and Nitrate:

• Preservatives used in preserving, coloring and flavoring cured meats and fish


• They prevent botulism and are a color fixative


• Nitrites/Nitrates can combine with chemicals in the stomach to form nitrosamine, a highly carcinogenic substance


• 
  For more information, visit:
  cspinet.org
  cnn.com/HEALTH/indepth.food/additives/table.html

Other Useful Websites/Sources
thewaytoeat.net
theportionplate.com
cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm

Updated/Edited to say you can also go here for another post on "healthy living resources"

New England Saturday Night- Cozy Family Fun!

.

What a wonderful Family Fun Night we had tonight!! Extended family visiting from out of town made it so special! I am so thankful to the Lord that we are all healthy (aside from my children having colds) and that we were able to be together! Living simply and having the love and support of your family is all that matters...the most important things in life aren't things.

A tradition in our family growing up was a traditional Saturday Night Supper (pronounced "suppah"...hence, the accent!). And tonight, with my sisters all together, our family got back to tradition, relishing the stories of our older relatives who have passed on, and making our own, new memories I hope our children will remember.

A super weekend started out last night, when my sister flew in from "down south" to see my husband coach against my father in a high school basketball rivalry. Turns out that experience does prevail, and Dad won...again. I'm happy for my fathers victory, but of course would've loved to see my husband win! (gotta support the paycheck!!) It can only happen in a "tiny town", as one of my "blog buddies" puts it!

Dinner is served:
Hotdogs (boiled of course!!) New England style hotdogs: boiled or steamed...never fried!

My rendition of The Maine Diner's Mac & Cheese:

B&M Baked Beans...and only B&M!! (BTW...do you know that B&M makes a Boston Brown Bread in a can??!! What a devoted Boston based company...offering all the faves in a can!) Of course I "doctored" them up a bit with some nice crisp bacon, a touch of molasses and some brown sugar. Mmmm.......

Boston Brown Bread: (not from a can!)

To make this day even more special and keeping with the "Family Fun" goal, earlier in the day the kids helped me prepare the apple pie for dessert. (I will post the recipe soon!)

The night was filled with love and laughter. Just the way we planned it!
And, it wouldn't be a real, traditional New England Saturday Night without a visit from the local tow trucker to help us out of a snow bank! What an authentic way to end the night... these "New England" winters are brutal!!

priceless!

Values in our home...An Update

Parenting is too important to leave to chance and too important to be approached defensively or by reaction...

Since starting our reward system last week things have gone a bit smoother and our children are quite enthusiastic about the changes! I'm proud to say our three year old son has 5 gold coins and our six year old daughter has 7 gold coins! (our son succumbed to a few meltdowns, and consequently lost a few coins in the process) He'll get the hang of it!!

I also wanted to share some great resources out there on how to help with teaching values and responsibilities in your home ...one I like to check out is valuesparenting.com. This month's discussion is teaching loyalty and dependability, with tips for preschoolers, school age, and adolescents! They also have monthly parenting tips. I'm not a member, but they offer several free activites and resources, so check them out!

Values in our home

For awhile now my husband and I have been thinking of and trying to develop a behavioral and responsibility system that works. Our six year old is ready for, or actually needs, responsibility. We want to teach our three year old early on how to be responsible, and he is actually better at following through with chores than his older sister. He likes helping. Kids need a purpose.

Which brings us to the Spiritual Treasure Reward System. This is very much like the Marble Reward system I used while teaching, and it's still used in many classrooms because it works. Each child will have a chart with a list of certain responsibilities. If those responsibilites are met, they will earn a "coin" in their jar. (which I printed on cardstock) The same for behavior. If they fail to fulfill their chores or don't behave or follow the family/house rules, they will lose a coin. As a motivation there will be a list of rewards to choose from at the end of the week, along with a little "store" by using their earned coins. Included is: a movie of choice with popcorn and hot chocolate, a Mc. D's happy meal, a night at the movie theater, bowling, etc., and from the "store": stickers, crayons, Barbie doll, superheroes, etc...

The kids are excited and so are we! Ready to start in the morning!

Two lonely jars awaiting golden coins...

What works for your family?

Healthy Living Resources to take note of...

We have a "snow day" here, well, actually a terrible ice storm, and so daughter and husband are home from school today! So, I'm getting a chance to go through some of my recipes, menus, and resources of value without getting pulled in different directions!!

Menus4Mom: sign up for their weekly email with a menu for the week with recipes, tips for organization and clutter control, frugal living, stocking your pantry, and many other great tips!

WholeFoods has a great page for a Nutrition packed day with breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner ideas.

KraftFoods has a great page on Lunchbox Solutions, The Lunchbox builder (which my daughter just loves to look at!) Kids Nutrition, Kids in the Kitchen, as well as recipes. I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for new ideas for lunches...they're my challenge with my crew!

The O'Mama Report's Just for Kids Section is a great organic resource for families and has a very informative article on Detoxifying Your Chilren's Diet.