Happy Un-Birthday Princess

We were invited to a birthday party. I asked Princess if she wanted me to make a gluten free cake to bring with us. She's not much of a cake eater so I wasn't surprised when she said no. That was all fine and good until the cake came out. I messed up big time. I should have just made the cake...but I didn't and Princess cried and she cried.

I told her that we would make a cake when we got home. We baked it and frosted it and I was ready to cut it and eat it, but Princess had other plans. How can you make a cake and not decorate it?!

And of course if there's a candle it has to be lit. I sang a beautiful Happy Un-Birthday to Princess and she was ecstatic. You're probably wondering how she liked the cake. Uhm...yeah...she didn't. I'm still baking a cake for the next party we attend.

My Sister, My Friend

We have had lots of ups and lots of downs, but when it comes down to it my sister is always there for me. She is coming over every week to help me pack the house. Last week she even came over and packed while I had an evening out with friends. She does so much for me and I don't think she knows how much I appreciate her. I wish that I could do more for her.

She has asked me to be maid of honor in her wedding next March. We went dress shopping for my dress and to get some ideas for Princess' flower girl dress. I hope that I can do as good a job as she did when she was my maid of honor. She was amazing!

Helping My Child Heal

Some of you may remember an earlier post My Child's Pain from the end of last year. We tried so many things and nothing worked...until we tried something called NAET. There are many who think this is a scam, but the woman providing the treatment is a member of our Village Home community and I decided to trust her. She was certain she could help Princess to heal. Within weeks, Princess' skin began to improve. Within two months her skin was almost completely healed. She continues to have some minor skin issues and we haven't been able to eliminate the itching, but the difference is incredible.

The NAET practitioner also suspected that Princess had Celiac Disease. We had her tested and confirmed that this was true. Princess has been off gluten for a couple of months now. This may have helped further her improvement, but I do want to say that the gluten avoidance started after we witnessed improvement from the NAET. I am sold on NAET with our practitioner, Shelley Lowrie. Are you local? Contact her here! We are still working with Shelley to completely eliminate all of Princess' skin issues. I love when I find an alternative that really works!!

Wardrobe Wednesday

Back in September I showed you the rain boots that Princess and I were getting. I've worn mine on rainy days or to muddy locations. Princess, however, has worn her boots EVERYWHERE she goes. No matter what she wears, no matter what she does, you will find her in those boots.

Boxes

What do you do with a pile of boxes? Why you play of course! After all they are not just boxes...they can be a bounce house and a slide and a fort and anything you can imagine...

...even a stage.

It's a Jungle Out There

But it's no match for me! I took down a zebra and a lion. Check me out. I rock.
Happy Friday and have a beautiful weekend!!

Wardrobe Wednesday

It appears that this little pink princess ensemble is traditional knight-wear. Princess convinced me to let her wear this same outfit two days in a row because she needed it for the knight game she is creating. On day three I regretfully informed her that after living in this outfit day and night (yes she slept in it, too) she would have to wait for it to be washed to wear it again. Somehow she has survived.

Head on over to Heathen Family Revival to see what they're NOT wearing today.

On the Sweeter Side

Back in January, I posted the way I make real salad dressing. I told you that you can change up the spices and herbs for a variety of tastes. The other day I wanted something a bit sweeter. I took the base of olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and sour cream and added dijon mustard and honey. I tossed the dressing with lettuce, pumpkin seeds, raisins and feta. OMG it was yummy!!

Give it a try!

Finding Myself

Since this post I have been working very hard on being the mom I used to be and I am thrilled to share that things are improving. I am speaking kindly to Princess and we are playing together more. We are laughing more and having fun. I have to work hard to stay on this path. I am still not perfect, but I am not striving for perfection. I asked Princess how I was doing and she told me that I "get all check marks", that it's all good now. It still isn't easy and I must remember to fill my cup so that I can continue to be the best mom I can be. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Wardrobe Wednesday

Don't you just love a man in a toolbelt?

I do. :)

Head on over to Heathen Family Revival to see what they're wearing.

Jump Rope

Three years ago, Princess wanted to buy this jump rope.

I didn't hesitate, but I did wonder how things would go. Princess was perfectly happy to flip the rope over her head, let in land in front of her, and jump over it. She was jumping rope and she was ecstatic. Then the rope made its way into a drawer and there it sat for quite some time...until recently.

Princess is a determined little girl.

I love the determination. So is this unschooling phys. ed.? ;)

House Cleaning

I hate to clean. Whenever I am able to afford it, I hire a housekeeper to clean bi-weekly. Before I met the Lizard King and I was younger and single, I had a housekeeper. Whenever we have been able to afford it, I have hired a housekeeper. The thing about housekeepers, at least the ones I've hired, is that in time the quality diminishes. I become disappointed and disillusioned.

When we had our house in Georgia six years ago, I cleaned it myself. Somehow it wasn't so bad. I started thinking about why and realized that I had some good tools. It's all in the tools, especially when you don't use chemicals.

Since the build started I have been searching the internet looking for natural cleaning products that I can make myself. I started with stainless steel cleaner and polish because we're getting stainless steel appliances. I was amazed at how well a combination of Dr. Bronner's liquid soap and baking soda mixed to an icing consistency cleans stainless steel! And guess what I used to polish...olive oil! We have a stainless steel dishwasher in our rental and it looks amazing!

In my own nerdy way, I have begun to collect cleaning tool ideas on my Amazon wishlist. I've got myself a collection of lambswool dusters at a variety of lengths, a heavy duty steam cleaner, a ceiling fan duster, a microfiber blind cleaner, a handheld vacuum, and the thing I am most excited about...a new vacuum cleaner. Isn't it purty?! I'm actually getting excited about cleaning. Freaky!!

It's that time again!

Yes, it is April which means...it's time for my annual joke. You know the one, don't you? It's a guaranteed eye roll from the Lizard King. If you don't remember it, don't worry. I'm here to tell it today and you can be sure to catch it again next year. Okay...here goes!

If April showers

bring May flowers

What do May flowers bring?

Do you remember the punchline?

Have you figured it out yet?

I learned this joke in first grade and I tell it every April.

Yes, LK rolls his eyes every time I tell it.

PILGRIMS!!!

The Mayflower

Of course in first grade, I didn't get the joke.

See you all next year!!