The Craft Store has been updated with new designs!! Check it out here.
Please contact me for a quote on your own custom design.
Please contact me for a quote on your own custom design.
The Craft Store has been updated with new designs!! Check it out here.
Please contact me for a quote on your own custom design.
0 Comments
There's nothing quite like homemade ice cream in the summertime. Delicious, sweet, cold, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth awesomeness. Thinking about it immediately leads me to an image of myself rocking on a front porch overlooking a field of sunflowers on a warm summer evening with a dog at my feet, while savoring every last bite. I don't think I've ever actually participated in such an activity, but I think I will add it to my bucket list.
Everybody in my household loves ice cream. I always forget that I can actually get out the ice cream maker and make it ourselves - with our own real, mom-approved ingredients! After a recent summertime lunch at our neighbor's, at which she served the best fresh peach ice cream I've ever tasted, I knew I had to get out the machine and have a fun, tasty, sensory experience with the boys, before summer was over and it just wouldn't be the same. However, I've been avoiding dairy. I'm always looking for creative, real-food recipes, so I was up for the challenge of attempting our first homemade dairy-free ice cream. I called my sister, my go-to gal for all my kitchen crises. After a chat with her, this is what we came up with: 1 can coconut milk 1 can full of unsweetened almond milk 1/3 cup cocoa 1/2 cup organic cane sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla maple syrup to taste (around 2-3 tablespoons) The boys LOVE helping in the kitchen. When I say love, I mean it's pretty much their favorite activity ever right now. We have a tall, three-sided kitchen stool for them to use to help in the kitchen, which makes it easier on all of us and fun for them. They did a decent job with taking turns and helping measure and mix our ingredients. The hard part was waiting, of course. We may have had to do a few taste tests. ;) Result? Sweet, chocolate-y, creamy ice cream that fed our family of four plus left us with a couple of servings to freeze (bonus of being the mom - kids didn't know about the leftovers and I had it all to myself -oops!). The boys, husband included, gobbled it up with their taste buds having zero concern about missing the dairy. We'll definitely make this again - next time I'm thinking peanut butter. Mmmmm...... I've been using essential oils for a few years, typically purchasing inexpensive brands from health food stores or from websites. I wasn't taking them internally, so I wasn't too concerned with purity. And honestly, I had never even researched oil purity.
THEN, I was introduced to dōTERRA® essential oils by a neighbor. It didn't take long for me to recognize the difference in purity and quality, and I quickly saw how life-enhancing these oils are for me and my family. Even my husband could tell a big difference in the smells of the whatever-brand and the dōTERRA® lavender, my favorite oil. I was so excited about these oils that I became a dōTERRA® Wellness Advocate, spreading the word about the awesomeness of these oils! So what is an essential oil??? "If you have ever enjoyed the scent of a rose, you’ve experienced the aromatic qualities of essential oils. These naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. They can be both beautifully and powerfully fragrant. In addition to giving plants their distinctive smells, essential oils protect plants and play a role in plant pollination. In addition to their intrinsic benefits to plants and being beautifully fragrant to people, essential oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and health care practices." -http://www.doterra.com/#/en/ourProducts/what So why dōTERRA®? "When you choose dōTERRA®, you are choosing essential oils gently and carefully distilled from plants that have been patiently harvested at the perfect moment by experienced growers from around the world for ideal extract composition and efficacy. Each dōTERRA essential oil is also carefully and thoroughly tested using the strict CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® quality protocol. Experienced essential oil users will immediately recognize the superior quality standard for naturally safe, purely effective therapeutic-grade dōTERRA essential oils." -http://www.doterra.com/#/en/ourProducts/why How do I use essential oils? "Essential oils are used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used a single oil at a time or in complex blends in one of three methods: Aromatic: Essential oils, when diffused, can be very stimulating, while others can be calming and soothing. Diffusing essential oils can also cleanse and purify the air. Topical: Essential oils are easily absorbed by the skin and many can be safely applied topically when used in conjunction with a carrier oil, such as Fractionated Coconut Oil. Internal: Certain essential oils have a rich culinary history and can be used as dietary supplements supporting a variety of healthy conditions." -http://www.doterra.com/#/en/ourProducts/how As a believer in dōTERRA® , I am passing along this information in hopes that someone may be helped by the healing powers of these oils. It is easy to incorporate their use into your wellness plan. Though it would be nice to make money with this venture, that is not my intent. I just want to share! I'm still learning, but what I do know is that these oils enhance the lives of me and my family. I invite you to visit my dōTERRA® website http://www.mydoterra.com/karireeves1, but more than anything I invite you to ask me about dōTERRA®. Perhaps I can provide you with an oil sample, answer questions, and may even be able to order something for you at a discounted price. As I mentioned before, lavender is my favorite oil. It is so versatile with its wide range of uses including skin care and relaxation. I like to diffuse it, mix with peppermint for tension and headaches, rub on my skin before bed, rub on the boys' feet or along their spines to help with sleep and calmness, and I even use it as a perfume. I can 100% say without a doubt that this oil has helped me in areas of my life that have needed improvement. Lavender is also an ingredient in my favorite dōTERRA® oil blend (so far), Serenity®. If you are an essential oil beginner and believe that they might be a helpful addition to your wellness plan for you and your family (especially with the start of school right around the corner - there's an oil for that!), please contact me. Happy oiling, Kari
October is Down Syndrome awareness month!
I am SO excited to share these DS Awareness Wreaths!!! I can't wait to make one for you! First, a little tidbit about why I have made these: Those of us who have loved ones with Down Syndrome are proud of them!!! And we are usually more than happy to share our experiences in order to show others that our loved ones are more alike than they are different, are capable and often quite gifted with unique traits, and can live valuable, meaningful lives. In October we celebrate people with Down Syndrome! I have created three prototypes of DS awareness wreaths (pictured below) that are now available for purchase. Each design comes with one of three options. Choose your custom, personalized design to hang on your door during the month of October (and on March 21st - World Down Syndrome Day). A portion of each purchase will be donated to the Chattanooga Down Syndrome Society. At this time, I am only taking local orders (Chattanooga and Murfreesboro areas). To begin your custom order, click here. If you prefer, you can message me on Facebook. Be sure to describe your selection in detail including specification of letters and their color. You will receive a response within three business days that will explain details including when to expect your wreath and how to make payment. In all designs, letters can be natural, dark blue, or yellow. You may choose a letter which represents the name of your loved one with Down Syndrome or a letter which represents your last name. Design #1 Burlap wreath with yellow and blue chevron Design #2 Yellow floral wreath with felt, burlap, and blue chevron Design #3 Burlap wreath with blue and yellow chevron ribbons and DS ribbon accent Desire a different option? Have a better idea? Just let me know! This is YOUR wreath so let's make it all yours, and thank you for supporting individuals with Down Syndrome. Click here to begin your order.
The #1 thing that people say to me is...
"Why are you gluten free?" Actually, that's not true! The #1 thing that people say to me is... "You sure got your hands full!" To which I reply... "Yeah, I get that all the time, and the next time I hear that I'm going to SCREAM like nobody's business." Well, ok, I don't really say that. What I really say is... "Oh really? I had no idea! Are you referring to my extremely active, strong-willed one-year old who is screaming at the top of his lungs and trying to run in front of a moving vehicle, while my differently-abled, also strong-willed, 32 pound three-year old who just learned to walk is refusing to move at all and pitching a fit? Well in that case, I guess you hit the nail on the head. Congratulations." Ok, y'all know I'm not that cruel. What I really say is... "Yeah I know, just imagine how full my heart is." Well, while that is true, I don't say that either. What I actually do is smile, and say "yes," and leave it at that, since I know they are simply trying to have a conversation, be nice, and show that they understand and sympathize with the hard work that I must do every day by being the primary caretaker for my kids. And you know what, it IS hard work! I do tire of hearing people say this to me; I hear it at least once a week and actually just heard it a few hours ago. But I don't blame them; I'd probably say the same thing to myself. And really, I don't mind my hard work being recognized. So, the #2 thing people say to me, and the #1 question I get asked is... "Why are you gluten free?" It's not because it's the trendy thing to do. It's not because it makes me feel cool or because I'm trying to be different or difficult to please. It's not because I think I'm holier than thou or need royal treatment. There are just two reasons I choose to be gluten free: 1. I don't have to take medicine anymore. For years I took prescribed proton pump inhibitors to reduce acid reflux. I don't know the direct cause of all my issues, but ever since I developed a terrible case of appendicitis in 2004 which required surgery and lots of IV antibiotics, my gut has never been the same. I have had a range of issues, with the most prominent, ongoing issue being reflux and indigestion. My hiatal hernia doesn't help matters. I could write an entire post or perhaps even a book concerning my feelings about the often occurring ineffectiveness of modern medicine. (And I'm NOT implying that medicine is never appropriate or that good doctors do not exist! It saved my baby!) But to save time, I'll just say that after years of being medicated, I knew that there had to be a better way. I did not want to take medicine for the rest of my life, and I just knew that although the medicine eased some of my symptoms, and my body was "addicted" to it, the meds were making the root problem worse. So I began to play around with my diet - it just seemed like the logical thing to do. My attempts were classic trial and error and process of elimination. It didn't take long for me to discover, even though I had tested negative for celiac disease, that when I avoided wheat, my stomach felt better. What took longer to develop was my commitment to the gluten free diet. It was HARD to adjust my habits, and to NOT eat that cake at the bridal shower or the cookie at the birthday party, or just regular ol' pizza from any ol' place! I soon realized after some back and forth with my diet that being gluten free was TOTALLY worth it. After weaning myself from the medication, and aside from needing to take some reflux medicine during pregnancy, I have been medication free for almost three years. I attribute this completely to avoiding gluten. And in case not having to be on medicine for the rest of my life isn't enough... 2. I feel better. Guess what? I can eat stuff now that I wasn't able to eat when I was on medication without discomfort! Grapefruit, orange juice, salsa, red wine, and more. That right there is enough to make me feel better (yum!). Perhaps you are thinking, but what about all the good stuff? The pizza, burgers, cakes, sandwiches, and cookies. Finding gluten free food is easier than ever before. There are so many products, grocery store aisles, restaurant menus, blogs, pinterest recipes, etc... that cater to the gluten free individual. I actually enjoy a burger MORE in a lettuce wrap versus on a bun, and creating gluten free treats with real food ingredients at home is not a difficult process. Check outmy pinterest page for a ton of easy recipes. I honestly think that there is nothing in the world better than feeling GOOD physically, mentally, and spiritually. I enjoy my day and appreciate the important things in life so much more deeply if I feel good. I don't always act in the healthiest ways - I make mistakes just like everybody else, and I have plenty of weaknesses, I'll admit it. I'm still a work in process. But at least I've got this part of my pursuit toward optimal health knocked out! I will never go back! I think whenever there is something achievable that we can do to help us live a better life, we should jump on it! It's so much easier said than done. There's still a ton of stuff I could do that is within my means to feel better, and I just haven't yet been able to commit. And I have plenty of excuses that I kid myself with. We can be our own worst enemies. My stomach issues are not completely eliminated, but they are a ton better. Lately, I've actually been having a little more discomfort than usual, and my sister has convinced me to go dairy free for awhile. I start that tomorrow. I'm scared! I love cheese!!! Being gluten free isn't for everybody. Neither is being dairy free, or sugar free, or paleo, or running marathons, or anything else on the long list of things that people do for themselves and their own unique, individualized health needs. But for many of us, there is room for improvement in at least one aspect of our health, be it physical, mental, or spiritual. My question for you is... If you could make an achievable change in your lifestyle that would: 1) eliminate your need for taking a medication for the rest of your life, and/or 2) make you feel better, ...what would you do? **There is so much information out there, especially on the internet; it's hard to know what to believe or where to turn, especially when we feel like our doctors aren't meeting our needs. One of my favorite online resources is http://draxe.com/. Be sure to visitmy craft store! Here's a pic of the most recently added design. TOO CUTE!! This is my third blog. My first blog began pre-kids, when I had way more time on my hands, though at the time I had NO idea what that meant - time was an underappreciated and misunderstood concept. The blog titled "Holistic Sisters" was a way for my sister and I to gather and share info about living a healthy, holistic lifestyle; we shared original recipes, which was cool, but honestly, looking back, we probably got on a lot of people's nerves. Without trying to, I think we gave off the impression that we thought we wore haloes over our heads, when we were just trying to get people to think about how their individual actions can have a significant impact. All the while, we were real and anything but perfect. However, it was fun to research for our posts and attain more knowledge for our ever-evolving pursuit of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
Having kids sure puts one's perspectives in place. Yeah I recycle, lugging my family's plastics and such to the recycling center, but sometimes (oops!) that hard to wash peanut butter jar slips out of my hands and into the trash can. Being a mom is a balancing act; sometimes you have to compromise your beliefs and habits for your own sanity. Because if you take the time to scrub the peanut butter out of that one jar, Toddler A is flushing his "pappy" down the potty while Toddler B has emptied each and every clean, folded piece of laundry out of the basket and onto the floor, where last week's snack crumbs and who knows what else resides. So anyway, this Holistic Sister ain't so holistic. My second blog was post-kid #1. My kid #1 experience was...unusual. We knew prior to his birth that Davis would have Down Syndrome as well as a heart defect that would require open heart surgery as an infant. These circumstances made this first-time mama, already tending to having a sometimes overbearing and perfectionistic personality, be just a little cray-cray. I was obsessed with that boy. Every breath I breathed for the next few months I breathed for him, every thought I thought, every experience I experienced...it was all for him. Whenever I tried to step back and take a moment to myself, my anxiety brought me right back to his side where I felt in control. Those first six months of his life, prior to his surgery, and those next few months after surgery, were a perfect combination of heaven and hell. So I blogged about it. I blogged about my happiness and how wonderful this little boy was. And I blogged every day, sometimes several times a day, about how scary it was around the time of his heart surgery. The blog now serves as a resource for other parents who may have to endure similar experiences. You can view it at happyheartofdavis.blogspot.com. Since then, I have strayed from writing it all down, and when I had Kid #2, my world went from having a slice of extra time here and there to running a marathon every day. But after running a marathon day after day, I eventually adjusted to the lifestyle and am able to find little stretches of time to do things for me and for my community. It's important to do both! My personal sanity relies on being able to develop my own interests and take the time to actually pursue them. I've tried to find interests that I can tailor around my family and our busy schedule. Therefore, my interests that I have found to satisfy my needs and simultaneously meet the needs of the household are cooking real food, shopping (unfortunately, for my penny-pinching husband), exercising (hey, stretching and lifting toddlers count!), and crafting. Throw in a lazy night on the couch here and a night out with the girls there, and I'm good to go. Furthermore, I think that in this age of technology we have to get out from behind our screens and get out there to really try to make a difference. I want to raise my family to get along with others and to be contributing members of society. I want Davis AND Thomas to be included in their community in which they are active participants. Volunteering with organizations that directly affect my family (our local Down Syndrome society and Davis's school) is something that I can make time for now. I strive first to have a happy home and meet our personal needs, but the need for community is also vital. I am hoping you can now see how the title of my new blog "a little something extra" fits with my life. If you are thinking that it is a reference to the extra 21st chromosome that Davis possesses, well, you are right. His "little something extra" really is just that - little - for he is more like us than he is different. And I have a lot of appreciation for that little something extra! But it also refers to how I strive to live my life. I try to give a little extra bit of myself in everything that I do. A little extra patience here...a little extra attention to detail there..a little bit of giving with an open heart here...a little bit of thoughtfulness there...a little bit of perseverance here...a little bit of grace there. And the wreaths and crafts that I make? Definitely not a necessity, they're just a little something extra. I am nowhere near perfect. I can only try to keep a positive attitude and try to be the best that I can be. Some days will be rainy, some days it will storm, sometimes I will drown during those days...but sometimes I won't. And even if I do, the next day, the sun rises, and I begin again. Please check out my About page to read more about the intention of this blog. Please check out my Store page to view some of my crafts. Thanks for reading, Kari |
Hey y'all!Whether I am being a mama, making crafts, or eating real food, I am always celebrating life with a little something extra. Blogs I follow:
|