PUMPKIN TURKEY STEW 

If you are feeling the cold  creeping in more than ever this winter....give this hearty stew a try. Mix up your ingredients, pour  into your slow cooker and you will have a delicious, hot dinner for these long, cold, snowy evenings.

1 Tbsp vegetable or canola oil                             16 oz can pumpkin puree

1 cup chopped red onion                                     1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder

1 red bell pepper, chopped                                  1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped                              Dash of salt

2 cloves garlic, minced                                       1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 lb ground turkey (I use organic of course)          1/2 cup sour cream

1 can (14.5) diced tomatoes  

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat, saute onion, bell peppers and garlic until tender.  Stir in turkey and cook until evenly browned.  Pour meat mixture into slow cooker.  Mix in tomatoes and pumpkin.  Season with chili powder, pepper and salt.  Cover and set on low.  Cook for 3-4 hours.  Do not over cook. Serve topped with Cheddar cheese and sour cream.  Refrigerate leftovers.

Serves 4-6

*Aren't those veggie colors fabulous!  Makes me think of spring!                                   

Kitchen Therapy: Carrot Spice Cupcakes with Vanilla-Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

  

image courtesy of: http://www.cafepress.com/+keep_calm_cupcakes_large_poster,575093495

Somewhere in between two sick children (one really, really sick -more then the run-of-the-mill cold), a garage that flooded (yes, we had some of our things damaged) due to several main pipes bursting and creating what looked like a mini Niagara Falls from the ceiling of the garage, a migraine that lasted almost two days,  a husband who had a massive exam and meeting all day Saturday, no groceries in the house, the poor baby not being able to nap and/or sleep for the past three days, and the general chaos that accompanies all these events, I decided there was nothing left to do but bake some cupcakes -because you see, I have many forms of "hobby therapy" and "kitchen therapy" is one of them -especially when it involves cupcakes. So, during a fleeting baby nap (which didn't even last the duration of the cupcake assembly) I ignored the teetering pile of dishes that really did look as if it had been carefully constructed in a sort of daring Jenga-like fashion, and set to work on these Carrot and Spice Cupcakes with Almond-Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting. Again, in keeping with seasonal foods -carrots are a nice winter veggie and rich in vitamins A,K, and C -all beneficial especially during gunk-fest (aka flu) season. Were these fluffy delights the answer to the blunders of the weekend, no -but they certainly put a frosting-smeared smile on all our grouchy faces.

(Discalimer -I usually adapt my recipes from ones I have seen or memorized elsewhere at some point in time and then I add my own twists to them. I usually (basically never) write down the recipes so when I type them I am largely doing it out of memory and a lot of  'eye balling' on amounts and measurements. I hope these turn out for you -if not, my lack of dedication in documenting these recipes is entirely to blame. Sorry!)

Carrot Spice Cupcakes with Almond-Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

-1 cup all purpose flour, spooned and leveled 

-1 tsp baking soda

-1/4 tsp ground cardamom

-1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (or you can use 1/2 tsp cinnamon if you have no cardamom)

-1/4 tsp salt

-2 large eggs

-1/2 cup granulated sugar

-1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

-1/3 cup full fat vanilla or plain yogurt 

-1 cup packed and finely shredded carrots (about 2 medium size carrots)

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray.

In a medium bowl whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt. Set aside. 

In a small bowl whisk eggs, sugars, and yogurt until smooth. Gently mix egg mixture into dry ingredients -just until moistened. Be careful not to over mix. Gently fold in carrots. Spoon batter into muffin tins. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean -about 16-18 minutes. Cool and the frost.

Vanilla-Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

-one package of cream cheese, softened to room temperature

-1 cup of powdered sugar -sifted

-1 tbsp heavy cream

-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (avoid imitation as it really hasn't half the flavor of real)

-1/2 tsp almond extract (again, use the real stuff)

Directions:

In a medium-large bowl, mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and heavy cream with an electric mixer on medium-high. Add the vanilla and almond extract and mix on high until incorporated. Frost cupcakes and keep the finished cupcakes in the fridge for up to four days for freshness (if they last that long...)

In the spirit of crazy days and the adventures of motherhood, busy lives, and family, I thought I would include this post from a facebook 'rant' a while ago that really was more of a blog-esque thing than a status update thing. This is not particularly relevant to this season, instead it is relevant to every season of  out fast paved lives. Enjoy~

As a mother of three kids (and I assume mothers of any number or even every day busy people can relate to this topic) I have more spider jar days than not. What is a spider jar day you ask? It is a day where the tea I made goes cold on the kitchen table because motherly duties are so many that I am not able to sit down for a moment and take a sip, and the tea is reheated three times subsequently but still sits next to the open magazine article that I intended to read that will most likely be moved to accommodate coloring books before I can glance at one line. It is a day when so many toys have amassed on the floors that I consider two things: First -the movie Ghost Dad in which he dies from tripping on a toy at the top of the stairs, and Second- that my kids have become first-world spoiled brats and should only be allowed to play with yarn and boxes hereafter (which they would actually love and actually do sometimes). It is a day when I yell at the cake crumbs sticking to the bottom of my feet so I get the broom out but the baby has a dirty diaper and then I realize the water for the intended early start to dinner is boiling over and burning over the crusted-on pizza sauce from last night. When I go back to get the broom it is instead being used as a make-shift light saber and then makes contact with a little face resulting in consoling for that little face and a time out for the other little face. It is a day in which two unsuspecting spiders get lost inside trying to escape the cold (and who can blame them because it is damn cold out there) and because of some unaccounted for Buddhist streak in me I refuse to kill them because I have a fascination and obsessive reverence for even the smallest, ugliest living thing. I want so desperately to teach my runts that same empathy and so I do things like pray that they are never the kids smashing ants on the sidewalk for fun, and I 'save' spiders in jars with the intent of setting them free "in just a minute when I go get a paper to slide under the jar and move it outside." However, on days like today, considering that today is a fairly common day and not some outlandishly busy day, my saint-like intent outweighs reality and by the time I get around to freeing the creature my kids are fast asleep and unable to observe the act of kindness or, on more than one occasion, the poor arachnid is dead by the time I get to it from any variety of causes -starvation, fright, or being jostled too may times by passers by. Shame on IT! Shame on the reality of hardened sweet potato on the chair and the wet Pull-Up from this morning that never quite made it into the garbage can (and for the record, my kids do chores and clean up after themselves at the end of every day, but come on folks -you have to understand children make messes much faster than they clean them up and that is just how it is). So, my point is that I try. I try, try, try to teach my children something worthwhile, to set some worthwhile example amidst the every day chaos in the hopes that on those days where my kids think I am the meanest, grouchiest person on the planet (and I very well may be on some days), they can say, "Well, she can't be too evil because she doesn't even kill spiders." Today there are two spiders in jars -waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the lady who rushes from item a to item b. Waiting to be liberated even if it is to the cold winter air because that is where spiders belong -not trapped inside a lemon curd jar. So, I am going to post this, ask my kids to grab a paper, cross my fingers that both spiders have survived the chasing, spilling, and yelling, and set them free. Today just may be a successful spider jar day.

Another Seasonal Recipe: Let's Not Forget Cauliflower -Especially When Cooked in Curry and The Health Benefits of Citrus

Another Seasonal Recipe: Let's Not Forget Cauliflower -Especially When Cooked in Curry

Simple Cauliflower, Tomato, and Chickpea Curry

Ingredients: 

-1 cup long grain white rice

-4tsp extra virgin olive oil

-1 large yellow onion diced medium

-3 garlic cloves, smashed and minced

-1-2 TBSP peeled and minced fresh ginger 

-4 1/2 tsp curry powder 

-2 15oz cans of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

-1 pint cherry tomatoes 

-1 head of *roasted cauliflower, chopped in to one inch pieces 

-2 1/2 -3 oz chopped, fresh baby spinach, or cooked Kale

-fresh cilantro

-salt and fresh ground pepper

-plain Greek yogurt 

-naan (optional) 

Directions: 

Begin to cook your rice according to package directions. 

Heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add tomatoes, season with salt and pepper. Saute until tomatoes have started to burst and shrivel a bit -about 5-7 minutes. Once the tomatoes have been cooked through, remove from skillet and set aside in a bowl. Add remaining 2tsp olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant -about 30 seconds. Add curry powder and stir around bottom of the pan until fragrant -about 30 seconds. Add onion, and ginger and saute until translucent and cooked through -about 5-7 minutes. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover for about 8-10 minutes. Add cauliflower and spinach and season once more with pepper only. Simmer again for about 5 minutes and remove from heat. Serve over rice with a dollop of Greek yogurt and naan bread. Serves 4.

Adapted from a version of Easy Vegetable Curry from Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine

Citrus Season: I Love When Life Gives Me Lemons...and Oranges, and Limes, and Tangelo's, and Kumquats, etc.

Even baby is excited that citrus season is here!

To fully embrace the seasonal gift of citrus, I use these bright, happy fruits to add a touch of color to a base pallet of white, neutrals, and silver.

I love the way the oranges and lemons stand out against the "ice plate" display on the kitchen wall. Try adding a few here and there around your home in vases, baskets, etc. You could also use more exotic citrus such as Minneolas  and kumquats to add a variety of sizes, hues, and color combinations.

Eating in Season: The Health Benefits of Citrus:

Eating in season is not only healthy and "green", it is so much fun! When you eat in season, you are forced to change up your menu each month to highlight what is 'in' at that time. By embracing the food of the moment you will be less likely to fall into the oft-lamented meal rut or get bored with certain dishes or ingredients. Right now it is still the winter veggie season  featuring the likes of kale and cauliflower, but mother nature knows we all need a little pick me up in body and soul so we are presented with an array of brightly colored, bright tasting little gems aka citrus. The phrase "when life gives you lemons" conjures up my hankering for a good ole LEMON BAR *cough cough* (cue your recipe, mom) or a nice lemon sorbet, or a savory lemon cream-pasta, or lemon curd, or...okay, I will stop.

 In this particularly bad flu season here in the US, our immune systems are rather shot this far in to the game of winter. Most of us are aware of the beneficial levels of immune-boosting vitamin C to bolster our immunity and kick viruses to the curb, but you may not be aware of the phytochemicals found in these round treasures. Phytochemicals protect against chronic illness, cancer, and heart disease and act as anti-inflammatories! So next time you are making a menu or deciphering what to eat -why not add a few citrus-requiring recipes (check previous post to find a few that I shared last night). And the next time you are at the store, look for and pick up a bag or two of the many available varieties of citrus and reap the benefits of getting that seasonal and friendly little 'zip' in the mouth. For a reference, here is a site with a comprehensive list of common citrus: http://thecitrusfruits.blogspot.com/2011/08/list-of-citrus-fruits.html 

*Here are a few links to learn about the health benefits of citrus.: 

--http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=2975&catId=2

http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/-Health_Benefits_of_Citrus_Fruits__Oranges__Grapefruits__Lemons_and_Limes_a1141.html

http://www.mealsmatter.org/EatingForHealth/FunctionalFoods/Health-Benefits-of-Citrus-Fruit/

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/03/the-incredible-power-of-citrus-fruits-to-reduce-risk-of-stroke/254031/ 

*If you are looking for a natural way to add that citrus smell to your home, try using the scraps of your eaten citrus peels. Get peels and place in boiling water with a pinch of dry cinnamon and cloves. Turn heat down to simmer and soon your will have an aromatic smell in your kitchen. Another great way to get that citrus smell in your home is to buy some citrus essential oil, fill up a medium spray bottle with water, and drop 8-10 drops of citrus oil in water. Use as you would any other air freshener. Spray with caution as some oils can stain fabrics.

*Other things to do with citrus: make a wreath (or as I made, a door arc -will get a picture of that soon)/ make a topiary/ stud the rind of unpeeled citrus fruit with cloves/place in jars, vases, bowls, baskets, on mantles. 

*Looking for a more drastic and permanent way to celebrate the citrus family? Decorating with citrus hues is in right now. Here are some sites with great ideas for incorporating bright citrus into your home decor via things like paint and furniture.:

http://gracie-senseandsimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/09/10-ways-to-decorate-with-orange.html

http://www.marthastewart.com/275468/orange-rooms/@center/276997/decorating-color

http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/showhouses/decorating-orange-palette_ss1.html

A Seasonal Recipe or Two, or Three...

A Seasonal Recipe -Or Two, or Three...

I can assure you this posting twice in one day business will not be a common, if ever again, thing. Today is an exception because two of my three leprechauns (aka children) are sick so rather than clean (which I so adamantly posted about in my previous entry today) I figure I will share a few recipes while they are napping. This food and recipe part is what people have been asking me to blog about for years now so I had better give it a shot! I am just a food enthusiast and aspiring foodie -not a chef, so please be patient with me! As I said before in the first post on the blog, we eat organically and seasonally as much as possible so I try my best to keep the recipes in harmony with those principles. I hope you embark on your own culinary adventure and as my Irish family says, "Ádh mór sa chistin!" (Good luck in the kitchen!)

Seasonal Vegetable Enchiladas Verde

Ingredients: 

-*Roasted acorn squash, skin removed, cut into one inch cubes, and cooled (to prevent over-cooking)

-*Roasted butternut squash, skin removed, cut into one inch cubes, and cooled

-Scallions, whites and greens separated and reserved, whites cut on the angle into 1/2 inch pieces, greens chopped to preferred serving size

-One medium yellow onion, finely chopped 

-One 15oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

-1-2 jalapenos depending on your taste, seeded and finely chopped

-three cloves of garlic, minced

-one 10oz bag frozen corn (optional)

-Fresh cilantro, leaves torn and roughly chopped

-1 TBSP cumin

-Prepared or homemade Verde sauce (you will need about 2 Cups)

-Tortillas (use wheat or white -whichever you prefer)

-2 limes

-1 1/2 cups Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded

-1 TBSP canola or vegetable oil

-Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prep all vegetables and ingredients and set aside. 

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant -about 30 seconds. Add scallion whites, and jalapeno. Saute until softened -about two minutes. Clear a little space in your skillet where no vegetables are and add cumin there. Saute cumin on its own for about 30 seconds until fragrant (sauteing the spice alone further releases its flavor). Stir cumin and moved vegetables together. Add yellow onion and saute until translucent and softened -about five minutes -stirring occasionally to keep ingredients from burning. Season ingredients generously with salt and pepper. Add squashes, black beans, and frozen corn. Saute until ingredients are combined and fragrant throughout -about six to eight minutes. Pour in one cup of the salsa verde and stir gently to avoid mushing the squash too much. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Bring back down to a simmer over low heat for about two minutes and then remove from heat. 

Divide mixture into tortillas. Place tortillas in glass baking dish and make sure not to over or under-stuff the tortillas. Pour remaining cup of verde sauce on enchiladas and then sprinkle cheese over the top. Bake covered in parchment-lined tinfoil for about 20 minutes. Remove tinfoil and let continue to bake until cheese has browned a bit. remove and top with cilantro and squeeze lime juice over the top. Makes about 6-7 enchiladas. Serve with sour cream, tortillas chips with lime juice squeezed on them, avocados, and cilantro.

*Roast squashes by cutting in half, rubbing with olive oil, seasoning with salt and freshly ground pepper, and baking in a 400 degree oven on a baking sheet for about an hour to an hour and a half depending on thickness of your squash and power of your oven (or until flesh is easily pierced with a fork).

*Also, don't be afraid to swap out and play with other seasonal vegetables. Example -you could use sweet potatoes and parsnips instead of squashes. 

 Sweet Potato Grilled Cheese

~This is a great quick week-night meal and a welcome variation to the classic grilled cheese. 

Ingredients:

-Sourdough bread (or any bread you think sounds good or that you have on hand)

-olive oil

-Your cheese of choice (I like Havarti, Sharp Cheddar, Muenster, or Dubliner with this sandwich)

-Two large, cooked sweet potatoes

-1TBSP brown sugar

-salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

-Heat grill to medium high

-pour olive oil into a bowl and with a pastry brush, brush bread slices, on one side, with olive oil

*(If you prefer butter, you can simply spread butter on one side of the slices -either way is delicious)

-Scoop out cooked flesh from sweet potatoes into a bowl. Add brown sugar and season with a bit of salt and pepper. Stir with a fork until well mixed and smooth

-Spread sweet potato mixture onto bread and top with cheese. Cover with remaining slice of bread and grill until cheese is melted and gooey. 

Serve with your choice of soup or crispy kale. 

Avocado and Orange Salad with Lime and Honey

Ingredients:

-Two navel oranges (although clementines and tangerines work well, too), peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

-Two avocados, scooped from skin and cut into 1/2 inch pieces

-2 Limes

-Honey

-Pink salt

-Fresh ground pepper

Directions:

Place oranges and avocados into a bowl. Squeeze juice from both limes onto oranges and avocados. Toss gently and then divide salad onto plates. Drizzle lightly with honey and season with pink salt and freshly ground pepper. Serves two. 

"Nature poets can't walk across the backyard without tripping over an epiphany." ~Christian Wiman

Checking out the nesting box in the backyard during the snow storm yesterday.

Big, old trees in our yard.

More beautiful trees. Trees -it is what upper state NY does best!

Snowy branches. They look spastic and elegant at the same time.

Warming up with a cup of hot gingerbread tea. It is National Hot Tea month so brew some comfort in a cup and take five (or ten) by the fireplace with a good book!

January Cleaning-Part One: The Natural and Healthy Way to Clean Your Home

 Hello there! I hope you are all having a fabulous Friday! For today's post I want to expand a bit on something I mentioned in my previous post: January Cleaning! What perfect timing, too because many of of clean on Saturday and the end of the month is near! For the usual "spring cleaning" enthusiast, may I suggest a deviation in routine? Try doing your over-haul, re-organizing, spiff-up-the-place fest in January and February instead. Why? Because when it is finally warm enough to venture outside (which is a very exciting thing to someone in upper state NY -like me), who even wants the temptation to spend hours cleaning indoors! Of course, if you live in a year-round warm climate, or if you don't have a yard to prep or a strong desire to go outside until the temps are safely in the 70's, then I suppose the only draw to spring clean early is that it will be done and over with and it is also a great thing to do to accompany the "I will start over fresh" and "I am motivated to clean body and soul" feeling that seems January's right. 

For those of you who know me, I am an absolute neat freak -to the point where I seriously need to chill out a bit -and actually, I am improving significantly since having three children. I will even take a picture of the supply of crumbs on my kitchen floor substantial enough to sustain a nest of field mice through the winter if you want the proof. (I need to blog a separate post on my journey in over-coming neat-freak-itis and actually loving the mess because I love who made it, while also not abandoning my firm belief that a clean house is important and reduces stress and that children MUST be taught to do chores -but perhaps another day when I am not trying to beat the napping baby clock) . 

 Another tidbit about my mom and I is that we are a couple of tree-huggin', granola lovin', environmental advocating, organic and natural promoting, whole living, holistic hippies (and I mean that in the very nicest way). Ask me later how dynamic and interesting (in a very GOOD way) my life is being an natural, holistic gal and also being married to a doctor. :-) Wait! Don't leave! Let me try to explain our cause and perhaps shed some light on the subject. Just stick with me here because this may be a bit lengthy -but I am a writer so if you are ever expecting a quick blurb from me you will be sorely disappointed and you may find me quite annoying. That said, I will continue on for the sake of those enduring enough to stick around. Being the 'strange' way we are and being advocates of these things, my mother and I occasionally encounter skeptics and nay-sayers in terms of how we live, the products we use, and the food we buy. One of the points of this blog is to further explain why we chose the things we do and live the way we live -to demystify the process of embracing a natural lifestyle, and to invite you to really do your research in terms of the conventional main-stream way of health and wellness, versus the natural path aka take-on the taboo. 

My mom and I have done over a decade of research and personal experimentation and we feel fully confident in the things we suggest, promote, or condone on this blog. (Be aware that nothing we post, of course, is meant to override or trump what your personal physician says or to diagnose or take over physician prescribed treatments). I used to use the main-stream, popular cleaning products out there years ago, but when I researched the facts about these products and made the switch to natural, our families health (and my now obsolete asthma) improved beyond measure. One trick to realize is that some bacteria is GOOD! If you are disinfecting your house with awful things like bleach, even after an illness, you are setting yourself up for further health problems and hazards down the road. There is wisdom to the old adage, "a little dirt won't kill you". It is actually vital to you. And by a little dirt, I don't mean willingly playing host to staph and flu virus, there are natural ways that are just as effective as the usual strong chemicals in ridding your home of these dangerous bugs. I literally cringe when I see the Clorox wipes abounding in my sons classroom at school. :-( In terms of environmental impact, well -natural cleaning companies are FAR more environmentally responsible in production and manufacturing than conventional or large corporations which pump out countless harmful products with abandon and little to no concern over their environmental footprint. Statistics in this area are disturbing to say the least, but there are things we can do as individuals that DO make a difference -contrary to what some may say. 

Some of you may be asking: "Doesn't this cost more?" and "How can I afford natural cleaning products on my budget?" Let me assure you, my family subsists on a medical residents income -not the greatest. We also used natural cleaners in medical school and there was almost no income at all. In other words, we know ALL about tight budgets. The fact is that many cleaners can be made using household ingredients such as baking soda, thyme, and lemons.Here are some websites with recipes for homemade cleaning solutions: http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/organizing-cleaning/homemade-cleaning-products-00411000074397/ and http://organizedhome.com/clean-house/pantry-recipes-homemade-cleaning-products. Many natural cleaning companies make their products concentrated in form and provide you with a refill bottle of their product so all you do is pour the concentrated solution into the bottle you use to spray and dilute the solution with water. I had one of these refill cleaners last me over a year.That is right, I didn't have to buy glass cleaner for over a YEAR! That said, sure, the bottle of Seventh Generation disinfectant is a few dollars more than Clorox, but this is an investment in the health of my family. I am more than willing to cut back on some other things in life to make room for their well-being. Also, it is pretty nice not having to fork it over for my inhaler prescription each month (mind you that my asthma is better under control from increased cardio and eating right in addition to lessening my exposure to household chemicals). Another benefit of natural cleaning is my peace of mind concerning the immediate risk to my children being reduced. If my child accidentally ingests (still, keep ALL products out of chidlren's reach -even natural ones) my natural toilet cleaner made mainly from Fir, Cyprus, and Thyme, the advice is to give them a full glass of water and report it to a physician -not call poison control right away because my kids insides are melting.

I know, to many of you I sound nuts, but as I said before, my mom and I would not suggest or promote anything to others that I have not extensively researched and tried for myself and my family. I hope that you will do your own research and learn more about protecting your families health and well-being. Here are some wonderful websites, scientifically based or accredited ones at that, to further or begin your own research into household cleaning products.:

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/seventh-generation-mission/environmental-footprint

http://www.melaleuca.com/

http://planet-hugger.com/articles/green-cleaning-vs-conventional/

http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/go-green/cleaning/green-household-cleaning/

http://www.ehow.com/list_7200219_pros-cons-green-cleaning-products.html

http://www.motherearthliving.com/natural-cleaning/eight-natural-homemade-cleaners.aspx

Phew! Now that is out in the open I feel like I can freely post topics and photos concerning this subject without having to explain myself every time! Aaaaand, there is the baby buzzer. I will post a few pictures while she plays in her crib before she starts screeching for lunch (and her screech is adorable, by the way.:-) The pictures included are some cleaners I have in my home that I adore. I make my own cleaners as well, but I buy pre made, too just depending on what I have, what I am out of, and what errands I can run the day that I am out. I hope that you at least skim through the websites provided and get to know the benefits of using natural home cleaning products for yourself! Have a great day! 

My current array of store-bought natural cleaners. I also refrain from using paper towels and instead use cleaning cloths with I simply throw in the wash when I am done.

These are my go-to laundry products.

This is a bit off subject, but in case you are looking for a hand-cleaner when you can't wash your hands, this is the best product I have found sans alcohol or harmful anti-bacterial ingredients.

I can't believe I am posting a picture of a throne, but I want to show you how squeaky clean the Seventh Generation toilet cleaner gets this pot. Did I mention that this is in the boys bathroom -the two boys inclined to make sport and games of doing their business? It get's messy in here, but the Emerald Cyprus and Fir (sans hydrochloric acid and nasty petroleum) makes it look like this throne has never seen a bum.

Welcome to our blog!  Stephani and I hope to inspire you to dig deep and find your creative gifts (yes, we ALL have them).  We hope to give you fun, fresh ideas for making your life simple, peaceful and colorful.  She is Rory to my Lorelei...and if you don't know what I am talking about...I am afraid you will have a difficult time understanding the two of us!  Here is hoping that your January is happy, healthy and full of the things that make you smile.

January is great! Who knew?

Trendy Chevron print looks great in cool winter blue.

This fabric that I found reminds me of an icy blue frozen lake.

Our backyard frequently plays host to deer. This one is snuggled into the snow trying to keep warm.

My seven month old daughter is a red-headed snow princess. Here, she is peeking out at the surrounding snowfall at brother's bus stop.

Snowfall.

Seasons Greetings -Whatever Season it may be!

Hello everyone! I hope the new year is treating you well! As a brief introduction to this blog and its purpose, I quote William Butler Yeats: "Where beauty has no ebb, decay no flood, But joy is wisdom, Time an endless song". And of course the basis for the title of our blog is from the scripture in Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to keep". This blog was started by my mother and I to showcase the celebration of each month and season. We believe that memories and hope to sustain through hard times can be made in traditions or celebrations -big or small. Life is a journey with different themes, experiences, and meaning for each of us but we can attest to the importance of finding some reason to celebrate -no matter how simple or strange - as a means of making it through this journey with something to smile about in times of hardship. We also strongly believe in living seasonally wherever you are. By living seasonally we mean in tradition, food, habit, and thought. Nature and human nature are complimentary to each other. For example, in January citrus is in season. It is not only healthy to consume citrus this month to boost immunity and decrease inflammation, but even the essential oils in the fragrant rind are shown to have psychologically stimulating effects in tired, depressed people. Also, bringing them into your home for display brightens your mood on cloudy, cold days. We try to bring out the best that each month has to offer and explain why you and your family will benefit in spirit and health by celebrating life seasonally. As for the set-up and imagery of this blog, we are not, in any way, 'techies' and have yet to grasp putting the pictures right and making things 'pretty'. We are decorators in the physical world, but not so much in the digital. Nonetheless, we will keep working on making this blog beautiful to look at because our mantra is ambiance. So, hang in there while these two computer-challenged women attempt to create a digital sphere that makes you forget you are looking at a computer and instead, makes you feel as if you have walked into a seasonal haven of beauty and celebration. Another warning (personally speaking), as a mother of three kids -one being a particularly demanding baby, and my mother working full time, we may not always be perfect in consistent entries, but we have committed to give it our best efforts. Just be aware on my part that if my entries are at times rushed, sloppy, or skipping about, it may be due to the fact that instead of the usual co-workers many of you may have, my "co-workers" may need their diapers changed stat, intervention to keep from punching each other in a friendly wrestling match gone awry, an immediate fix from the near-death experience of being hungry for a snack, and the occasional literal life-saving actions that oft accompany fearless, energetic, and determined children. Thank you for taking a look at our blog. We hope you learn with us and celebrate with us!  ~Sincerely, Stephani

"January brings the snow, Makes our feet and fingers glow." ~Mother Goose

I love January. I really do. I love it as much as I love all the other months despite its wrongful reputation for being the most depressing month of the year. I suppose it is given such a title for various reasons -reasons such as the fact that many see it as a stark month devoid of fanfare in comparison to the pageantry of Decembers' Christmas, the obligation to return to work and routine, the end of "the most wonderful time of the year" attitude that resonates in the celebrating portions humanity, the end of eating like gluttonous medieval kings, and goodness knows there are no presents exchanged. Poor, disdained January! So why on earth look forward to a month like the one I described? Why should anyone find a welcoming attitude or even excitement for dull, cold, endless January? Read on and I will give you a few reasons why.

First: The True Twelve Days of Christmas:

January is technically NOT the end of Christmas! No! Historically, Christmas is celebrated until January sixth aka Twelfth Night or the Feast of Epiphany- which marks the true end of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Only in our modern commercial-determined society do we celebrate backwards and start the Twelve Days of Christmas twelve days before Christmas (perhaps this has something to do with the erroneous 'Day after Christmas' sales and dominantly secular celebration of the like). Here is an interesting article concerning the modern-day tendency to rush Christmas out as quickly as we rush it in (even infringing upon the true spirit of Thanksgiving here in America).   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/9778402/Why-have-we-cut-short-the-12-Days-of-Christmas.html This hurry of holidays is entirely a new age practice -one which I refuse to take up. I prefer the old fashioned savoring of the holiday season and enjoying the tidbits of Christmas traditions as many days as I can. The next time you are tempted to toss the tree the "day after Christmas" in modern day terms and move ahead with gloom and resentment into January (with the momentary exception of New Years celebrations), do not despair! Why not enjoy a few more Christmas stories, a few more glances at the tree, and a few more Christmas carols to truly get the most of the Christmas spirit. Besides, having an excuse to begin wrestling with those strands of lights is always welcome in my book. Some ideas for Twelfth Night:

-Have a medieval-style dinner. go to the library and look up traditional foods served on this day and although you may have to make a few modifications, you could experiment in the kitchen to come up with your own versions. 

-Have a Christmas Carol sing-along or party. After all, you won't really be singing or hearing these songs again for another year.

-Make and/or deliver evergreen wreaths adorned with or accompanied with seasonal fruit to family or friends (a medieval tradition).

- Enjoy a genuine Plum Pudding or Wassail (or cider) as was the traditional foods of the day long ago.

-Celebrate advent by putting on a liturgical play with family or friends

-Bake a "King Cake" -also a traditional food made on Epiphany. Here is a recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/king-cake-recipe2/index.html and here is a site explaining this traditional cake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake

-And if you are truly itching to start un-decking your halls, you could start to take your decorations down, as it is also (historically) considered bad luck to have them up past Epiphany.

Second -Celebration of New Years Eve and Day:

Most of us celebrate New Years and New Years Day. Most of us also have our own traditions and agendas concerning this day based on our lifestyles, proximity to relations, and work demands post modern day Christmas break (meaning my plans as a mother of three little children and a resident doctor husband who isn't home a great deal will be different on New Years Eve from someone who can stay out at parties until the early hours of the morning -that said I have braved a few family-friendly parties with the kiddies and stayed past midnight). Here are some ideas for New Years Eve celebrations:

New Year's Eve:

-Appetizers (and cocktails if you drink) for dinner

-Hosting a New Years Eve party with beautiful decorations of gold, silver, and white.

-Sticking to the historical tradition, make a meal of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and apple pie with ice cream and cheddar cheese for dessert.

-Light a bonfire outdoors and host a night cookout in the snow complete an ample hot chocolate bar, tinfoil dinners, songs and dancing, and whatever else can keep you warm and entertained around the fire in the cold. 

-(If you are eager to get a start on those New Years health resolutions) Host a party asking everyone to bring a dish featuring a healthy meal or food they intend on implementing into their repertoire. (aka a new smoothie recipe served in little shot glasses, or a new salad in little baked phyllo cups, etc). For an activity you could do a funny aerobics video or play on the Wii fit. You cold even ask your friends to dress up in their work out garb or wear hideous work out garb (think shiny tight pants and striped velvet track suits).

-If you have kids, make resolution charts, chalk boards (with the new chalk board paper that I can't stop buying), and help each child pick a goal or two and discuss or write down the steps necessary to reach the goal. Make sure the goal is realistic for them (and you).

-Play charades as a family or at a party. This is also a historical practice from medieval times. 

-If it is legal where you live, light a few fireworks, or hand-craft some noisemakers with the kids or friends. Be loud and celebrate! 

-Put together a slideshow of pictures from the past year and watch it as a family.

New Year's Day:

-relax in your pajamas ALL day!

-work on a puzzle with the family

-Have a sledding party, snowman building contest, or if you live somewhere warm -go to the beach and have a sand sculpting day with your family or friends

-If you live somewhere warm, plant a citrus tree in your yard or in a pot on your deck.

-(Our family tradition) Host a dinner party that is all citrus themed in decoration and food. Citrus season starts this month and, in my opinion, is the perfect food to reflect an attitude of starting a year with energy and, forgive me -a 'zest' for life. 

-Have a movie marathon at home with your family complete with popcorn (or as we like to do -a popcorn bar with different add-ins to make different flavors of popcorn such as Parmigiano and pesto, or cinnamon-sugar, or dark chocolate and cayenne pepper, or a dash of barbeque sauce and cheddar) and treats, even trivia rounds prior to the viewing of each movie with a small prize for the most correct answers. If you really want to go all out and involve kiddies, you can have them draw movie posters to display or if you are making this a party, you can design invitations reminiscent of old movie posters. 

Well, this is where I leave off today for singing the praises of January. I have plenty more to offer in terms of ideas and celebrations for this month, but a crying baby and hungry five-year old make an end to blogging for the time being. I will (hopefully)continue this post perhaps tonight or tomorrow. Take a peek for ideas about ditching the idea of "spring cleaning" in favor for January cleaning, celebrating the season of citrus in food, decor, and health benefits, ideas to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day, and the reality and love-hate psychology associated with New Year's resolutions. I hope you peek at our blog again for more! Have a great day!

For additional winteresque images that inspire us to embrace the cool, clean, airy tones of winter, and also to celebrate the winter season, click on these links:

http://www.marthastewart.com/865650/icy-glass
http://austenonly.com/2010/01/05/jane-austen-and-christmas-celebrating-twelfth-night/
http://www.blog.birdsparty.com/2012/11/white-winter-wonderland-christmas-party.html
http://www.occasionsonline.com/winter-wonderland-party-2-different-ways/
http://www.occasionsonline.com/winter-wonderland-party-2-different-ways/
-http://catchmyparty.com/blog/tag/winter
http://www.ehow.com/list_6520063_winter-games-kids-parties.html