Busy Family Tips

It is no secret that the more people you add into a house, the busier things become - the activity, the amount of chores around the house, the transporting, it all picks up! While I don't have all the answers on making a home run smoothly when little ones enter the picture, there are some tips that I have found that have saved us time, money, and our sanity!

A Calendar - make it as fancy or simple as you please, but, being able to make note of who needs to be where and do what, when is a must. I personally like color coding for each member of the family (and setting alarms on my phone...even with the best of intentions, I will forget to be somewhere!) 

I found this adorable idea {to the left} on Pinterest the other day via Take Two They're Small of using Washi Tape in a regular day planner type calendar... Organization + color = love. 

Meals - Three big tips:

1. Pack lunches ahead of time whenever possible {as needed}. Earlier this summer, my oldest son had swim lessons and we wouldn't get home until after lunch time - making for 3 hungry kiddos (no matter how much snack they had). I finally (at the last lesson) had the brilliant idea to pack their lunch in the morning before we left and that way it was already made and ready to go when we got home. (I would have taken lunch with me to eat on the way home, but the lessons were only about 7 mins from home).
   
   Now that my oldest is in school, I've quickly learned that packing lunch for the younger two when I am packing lunch for my oldest in the morning helps the morning run a lot smoother. I probably won't do this everyday, but most days, definitely!
   
2. Meal Planning - this is such a pain {to me} but is such a huge help in the long run in terms of saving money and time in our days. And, it helps not to waste food as well. 
   
3. Freezer Meals - This has become a staple in our home. I try to make extra of a meal at least once a week (extra lasagna, cheese shells, taco meat, etc...) so on those nights when something crazy happens (sick kiddo, sick mama!, hubby has to work late...) I've got a meal on hand that is already made and can be fixed quickly without a lot of fuss.

Another meal tip - try to have a family meal once a day, where everyone is present - no tv, no phones, no distractions, just family. I realize this could be nearly impossible in many homes, but even aiming for once a week. We love this time, without any distractions (except 3 crazy kids!) and the chance to just sit and catch up from our days. Some nights are quicker than others thanks to praise band practice, or small group, or meetings, or what not, but having 20-30 minutes a day to just sit - love it.

Having a cleaning schedule has not worked for me at all, but I have many friends who have found great success {I laugh, because, as I sit here thinking about it, all these friends have girls...not 3 boys, lol} But in talking with them, having just a handful of chores to do each day helps them to 1) not feel so overwhelmed with all that needs to be done and 2) allows them to feel that their house stays cleaner.

I prefer to do my "deep cleaning" on the weekends when my husband is home to distract the boys. Daily cleaning is unavoidable (sweeping, wiping down the bathrooms, laundry) in our home!

How do you add some calm to the storm in the midst of a busy family?

Fragrance oils vs. Essential Oils

This post on Fragrance oils vs. Essential Oils was originally published in June of 2011. The Moody Sisters feel it is worth repeating!

Fragrance oils are ANYTHING but natural or organic. They are man-made sometimes with an ingredient list of over 100 different components. When you purchase a bottle of lotion at the store and the last ingredient is "Fragrance"- put the bottle down and step away! The FDA allows manufacturers to list a single word, "Fragrance" instead of listing their, possible, 100+ ingredients to make it smell nice. **Many of these ingredients in "Fragrance" are KNOWN skin irritants. This is why so many people are sensitive to fragrance.

Essential oils are scents extracted from the world around us! Sweet orange, rose, lavender, lemon, cinnamon, peppermint, juniper berry, neroli are just some of my favorite and most common scents. Essential oils are the only way to naturally and organically scent products... and with the right combination you can make some glorious smells! (When Moody Sisters first started we almost named our Lift Me Up Lemon- Lemon Poppyseed because it smelled delicious like something right out the oven!)

Be aware of what you're buying. Check ALL the ingredients from the homemade or grocery skincare shops and steer clear of fragrance!!

PLUS: Did you know that there a a TON of benefits in each essential oil? They range from healing to anti-aging to acne fighting.

**Common FRAGRANCE oils that you might think are natural, but are not: Cucumber, Strawberry, Chocolate cake, Chocolate mint, Pineapple and Sugar cookie

Visit the Moody Sisters etsy shop to check out our essential oil combos in our products.

What I'm reading...

I used to be an avid reader, but lately {as in the last few years}, I don't have much time to just sit and read, and if I do, I don't make it very far in a book, before I have to stop, attend to the family, and then it is months before I pick it back up...

What this leads to is a lot of half-finished {if I'm lucky!} books ;-) 

Right now, I'm re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-reading Ginger Plowman's "Don't Make Me Count to Three: A Mom's Looks At Heart-Oriented Discipline." I first read it about 6 years ago in a Biblical Counseling class I was taking and, while I don't agree/subscribe to every thing in the book, I do enjoy most of it. I feel like I'm constantly picking it back up as a refresher as my boys hit new stages in life, and learn new ways to test us, as well as their limits.

Two books I am "part way through" are alternative health care books. The first is Randall Neustaedter, OMD's "The Holistic Baby Guide: Alternative Care for Common Health Problems." This book is jam packed with good information if you're looking for more holistic care for your little one - most of the pages have more of my blue pen ink than black printer ink from my "!"'s, underlining, and personal notes. 

The second is "Naturally Healthy Babies and Children: A Commonsense Guide to Herbal Remedies, Nutrition, and Health" by Aviva Jill Romm. Another great book on holistic care, and not just for little ones either, I feel like there is good stuff in there for all ages. 

While both are easy reads, both contain a LOT of information. It's taken me much longer than I expected to get through them. But, as I read, I put in sticky notes marking where things I feel we might need are located (ex: My oldest son deals with asthma and frequent coughing fits. While I know the things that can help him, sometimes in the heat of the moment I forget natural ways to help him. Having these tips marked for quick reference ensures that I'll be able locate these sections as needed.

So, what are you reading? Any good books? Blogs? Magazines? Share away!

Fan Review of Moody Sisters Hydrating Sugar Scrub

The following is a guest review by Danielle Page:

I have to disclaim this review as I received this product FREE! I won one of the Moody Sisters' giveaway contests via Facebook. I was SOOO excited 'cause winning free stuff is just a rarity for me especially in ratio to all the stuff I have "entered" over the years. 

I was excited to try a product from a fellow "Etsian", Washingtonian, and a fellow "working" mom. Supporting others like me is something I try to do especially if they have a great product or service.

It took me a while to review this product because it is not a product I use everyday.
Here is a little about the scrub if you click this link you will be taken to the product page on Etsy.


I used this to soothe my worn out hands after gardening, working with construction, landscaping or working with the chickens. Night-time was the time used most. I did not apply according to directions  (sorry). I had to moisten my hands a bit as the scrub I had would just ball up on my really dry hands. I think my skin sucked up all the moisture out of the stuff ;-). If my skin was moistened with a bit of water, it would scrub up nicely and evenly. Then I rinsed with luke warm or cool water as to not "melt" any of the oils off my skin. Then I would air dry or lightly pat with a towel.
Sometimes it seemed the sugar granules were too rough after a really tough day on the hands. If you have some sore or worn spots, I don't suggest using it.

Otherwise...

The scrub smells good enough to eat - but don't eat it!

It does great exfoliating and leaves a wonderful moist, smooth, non-greasy feeling on the skin. Like a nice drink of cool water on a warm day. Ahhh...

I tried it on my feet foot one night to do a comparison/contrast.

Oh the difference! The foot that got the scrub was so much smoother, and not all dry and crackly like the other foot. Poor other foot.


Oh yeah...

The scrub had separated a bit during shipment so I had to mix it up. No problem, just a bit confused when I opened my scrub and there was no scrub (it was all at the bottom).


The steel tin they used was a little rusted on the edges. I just gave them a good wiping down and it stayed rust free for quite sometime (till I put it on the edge of the tub - oops). Storing it away from excessive moisture seems to work great! Duh - it is steel after-all :-p.  I think they are also trying to get feedback from their customers and trying to find a better, safe and green alternative to the steel canisters.


Would I recommend? Yes. Great exfoliating body scrub that leaves the skin feeling fresh and moisturized. And - you are supporting a micro business. And - it is all organic and small batch made with love and care.

Here is the link again for the sugar scrub.



I can't wait to review more of their products.

What To Do When You Can't Afford To Buy Organic Produce

For all of you that don't know, I am a full-time college student with a very limited monthly budget that's dictated by my GI Bill earnings. My main responsibility in the house I live in is to buy the groceries, pay what I owe on my bills, and that's it. Between me and my sugar/junk food obsessed boyfriend, it can be tough job to accomplish. Since I am also losing weight on a LCHF diet, I am also concerned about eating the best quality food. That's why I am aiming to shop for my fruits and vegetables organic whenever possible, and my meat local and grass fed. But with a limited income, and organic produce being so expensive, sometimes it's hard to justify paying the extra money. So what do I do when I want to be able to eat the best foods for me, and not sacrifice my income? I try and budget.


Eating To Live - Not Live To Eat


The way I see it is that eating the right quality foods is a good investment on your health. Most diseases can be prevented and even reversed by nutrition. Take for instance Chris of Chris Beat Cancer. He was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer in 2003, and he opted to not have chemo and to treat his cancer with nutrition and alternative therapy. Within one year of his diagnosis, he was cancer free.


Eating Organic On A Budget


Here are some tips for you if you are thinking about buying organic, and need to find the way in your budget.


1) Cut out excess spending

If you've been shopping a lot lately, or just don't track how much you are spending, then this should be the first area that you look at. When I was in the army, I was making enough financially that I didn't need to budget so I had no idea how much I was actually spending a month on food or leisure. Once I left the army, it was a bit of a shock to know how much I was spending considering I was making less than half of my monthly income when I was on unemployment. Once I sat down and took a look at my finances, I realized a good amount I can budget for groceries. My goal was $200 a month, or $50 a week for my boyfriend and I.


2) Plan your meals a head of time

Instead of impulse buying, why not create a list of meals you want to make for breakfast, lunch and dinner and see what you need to buy. This way, you know off the bat that what you will need for each recipe. There are a lot of FREE websites on meal planning, and one of my faves is Say Mmm. If you'd rather write down a list of meals, you can print off some meal/menu planners. Want to see an example of a meal planned week? Money Saving Mom usually posts her meal planning weekly, and sometimes recipes! Though not all her recipes include organic produce, she does include a lot of budget friendly recipes which can be used for ideas.

TIP: While planning your menu, also take a look at that weeks sales on produce. You could save money buying shopping around what's on sale that week, or even find a stock up price on meat, fruit, or vegetables. Meat lasts for up to a year in the freezer, and you can always freeze fruit and vegetables!

3) Look for bulk discounts and coupons

One website I love to use when looking for coupons is Organic Deals & Coupons. The website is updated daily, and includes a lot of awesome coupons. Not all of them are for produce, but could include baby items, snacks, drinks, teas and more. If you have a Whole Foods or Trader Joes near by, the blogger also does coupon match ups to ensure you get the best deal! Also, one other way to stock up when possible is to buy items in bulk.

4) Join a CSA or find a local farmer

Recently I've been using Local Harvest to try and find local organic produce, because it's so hard to find. I was lucky enough to find a farmer only 15 minutes a way who offers weekly grocery bags full of vegetables and fruits that are in season. For the cost of a yearly membership of $300, I get enough vegetables weekly to feed a family of four. But like us, there's just me and my boyfriend. What you can do is split the cost with a friend or family member, and share the bag of fruits and vegetables. That way, nothing spoils and you can still save money by splitting the costs with another family. I've also been lucky enough to find a farmer locally who raises grass fed cattle. His prices are reasonable, and he also delivers to my door. I pay $6.89 a pound for grass fed beef, and typically buy two pounds. Trust me, I know that's a lot but I've looked around online and offline and that's pretty much how much grass fed beef costs. If you have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, you could wait until they are on sale or on reduced price. If you're not sure why it's better to eat grass fed beef over the regular beef you find in the store, here's a good article to read on the health benefits of eating grass fed.

5) What to do if you still can't afford organic produce

I am actually one of the many who will reside in this category. What I do is take a look at the "Clean 15" and "Dirty Dozen" list to see what lists have the least and most pesticides. The list is always up to date! For instance, did you know the #1 dirty item on the Dirty Dozen list are apples? So to me, that says that if I ate apples daily that I might want to find them organic if I can. You'll notice that a lot of berries are on the dirty dozen list, but surprisingly sweet corn and cabbage are on the clean 15. I like strawberries, but the only organic I can find cost almost $5 and only have two cups of strawberries vs. buying a huge bag of Great Value Strawberries that might cost a fraction of what the organic might cost. For instances like this, judgement is best used. If I have the money, I will buy the organic over the cheaper kind. The reason why is simple; quality is better than quantity, and I take my health importantly. If you can't afford it, and don't eat strawberries a lot, then I don't see a problem in buying the Great Value brand. Just try to find that happy medium to budget in more organic produce. If you can, invest in creating your own garden! My friend loves her garden and makes anything you can think of.

Featuring Moody Sisters Baby Products

We all know Moody Sisters has so many amazing products for mom (and you learned last month about some products that men can use too!) But, the Moody Sisters haven't forgotten the littlest ones. Many moms are growing more and more leery of the contents of mass produced baby care products and are turning to more natural and organic options.

And the Moody Sisters are here to serve...

The Baby Wash is not only free of harmful chemicals, but works and smells great too! (Please avoid baby's eyes when using, as it is not tear free). A soft lavender scent is used, and I was worried about this, as I am not a fan of lavender, but you barely notice it - they aren't lying when they say "soft"! It has left our boys' skin feeling so smooth and they smell so yummy after bath time!

As an alternative to name brand diaper creams, the Moody Sister have created a Baby Balm that is ideal for rashes and skin irritations. With very few ingredients, and you can pronounce them all, this Baby Balm for Diaper Rash is perfect for those minor irritations and chaffing. The Baby Balm can also be used as a nursing balm for any .. nursing injuries!

The Intense Moisturizing Diaper Rash Cream actually serves a double purpose. While pregnant, mom can use this on her growing belly to help prevent stretch marks, and to relieve itching! Once baby is earth side, if any pesky diaper rashes occur, the Intense Moisturizing Diaper Rash Cream is safe enough for newborn baby skin and can be used to quickly heal any rashes that may appear.

For the mom who prefers to use reusable wipes on her little one, the Baby Wipe Cleansing Spray is perfect! Not only are ingredients, such as Aloe and Sunflower Juice, totally safe for baby, when broken down, each spray only costs .02 - so much cheaper than organic baby wipes!

Finally, if you're wanting more than one of these products, the Baby Bundle is your best bet - featuring the Baby Wipe Cleansing Spray, Baby Wash, and Baby Balm. You can't go wrong with these gentle, yet effective, organic skincare products for a new mom, or mom-to-be!

Have you tried any of the Moody Sisters Baby Care line? 
What are your thoughts? 
Feel free to chime in here, or on the Moody Sisters Facebook Page!