Sandbucket
The
Fall 2012
gathering lovely ideas for lovely families
The Sandbucket Fall 2012
Welcome to our Fall edition of The Sandbucket The Sandbucket Magazine is a collection of writings, recipes, photographs and more, all created by contributors from all over the country. We hope you enjoy and find yourself inspired. The Sandbucket is a quarterly publication, but to see what we are up to in between magazines you can check out our blog: www.TheSandBucket.com
Enjoy!
Contents
Seeking Peace 6
Balancing the Rocks of Motherhood 8
Contributors Sandi Gentry Creator/Editor
Kelli Baker
My See-Saw Life 10
Photographer
Creating a Family time Capsule 20
Shalonda Chaddock
Writer and Photographer
Elliot 32
jami Davis Writer and Photographer
Becoming Stargirl 36
Ally Drake
Back to School 42
DIY Specialist
The ABC’s of School Lunches 50 8 Fun Family Activities 50
Heather Ann Johnson Writer
Brianna Kelly Writer
Blazin’ Shrimp 60
Cat Myer
Character Corner 68
Writer and Photographer
Dana Ohlsen
Acorn Squash Soup 72
Writer
April Perry
Photo Love 76
Writer
Motherly Mottos 78 Pumpkin Love 80
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Kenna Pritchett Shumway Writer
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10
20
60
76
42
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36
50
56
68
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78
80
The Sandbucket 6
Seeking Peace by Sandi Gentry
I received the Potterybarn Kids catalog recently. I remember when I was a young mother with toddlers, I use to fawn over the Potterybarn Kids Catalog, oohing and ahhing about all the perfectly decorated rooms. If only I had a playroom packed with a darling craft table with oodles of art supplies sorted perfectly into coordinating baskets. Surely, if I had that my children would be as peaceful and tranquil as the children in the catalogs. Oh, and of course the rest of my house would be perfectly decorated and organized with all dirty laundry banished. I wanted that perfectly decorated, organized house of my dreams. I figured I could find peace there. What I found was that life is not meant to be like the quiet pages of the Potterybarn Catalog. Life is suppose to be messy. It should be filled with noise and a tad bit of chaos, smells, tickles, giggles and pillowfights. What I mean to say is, life has to get messy in order for you to get to enjoy the good stuff. You cannot sit down to a homecooked meal with your family without first messing up the kitchen. In this era, where we view countless images of what seems to be the perfect scenario, we are tricking ourselves into believing that the life shown in those pictures is what we want. In reality, what is shown in those pictures is not life at all. Sure photos evoke emotion. I am a photographer for goodness sakes. I believe in photographs speaking to us. But it is the perfectly staged images of blogs, magazines and catalogs that tricks us. We only see the perfect. What we do not see are the messes that it took to create that little image of perfection. As my children grow up and I look at the time I have had to spend with them I can remember the bad with the good. It is because I have been with sick children at home and at the hospital to know how truly miraculous it is that they are healthy. I have felt their pains of losing a game or an election to know how joyous a time it is when they win. To get a bad grade stinks, to study and work so hard to score higher on the next test is an empowering feeling. Put all of it together the good, the bad, the messy and that is living. I find my peace at night, as I go to bed exhausted from whatever craziness that came along that day, knowing for that day, I really lived. My house may not always be ready for a photoshoot, but I have made peace with that.
Balancing The “Rocks” of Motherhood
by April Perry April is the Co-Director of The Power of Moms, a group that is all about moms helping other moms become the mothers and people they want to be. To find out more about April and The Power of Mom’s go to www.PowerofMoms.com
The Sandbucket 8
This is a picture of rocks — but not just any rocks. They’re balanced rocks.
A couple of years ago, my family and I stood among dozens of spectators for 20 minutes and watched a quiet, unassuming gentleman slowly and carefully transform heavy, odd-shaped rocks from the San Diego shore line into perfectly-balanced works of art. It was breathtaking. No one in the crowd thought he could do it--I could tell by the murmurs and slight shakes of head. But we were all wrong. It happened before our very eyes. Sometimes I feel like my life is one balancing act after another. Just when I’m finally feeling on top of permission slips, laundry piles, and a consistent exercise routine, my son will develop croup at 1:30 a.m., the dryer will break, or my eyes will be opened to suffering children in the world--and I’ll realize that my “dishwasher woes” are completely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. As I’m deciding how to best balance my time and energy, I often feel like I’m staring at a big pile of rocks that simply don’t fit together. Here’s what I’ve learned about balance from some of our authors at The Power of Moms: “My 4-year-old is trying to learn to balance on his bike. He tilts to one side and the other. He screams, ‘Mom, did you see that?’ He is my last. I will only see this feat accomplished by my own child one last time. The dishes can wait, the clothes washer can be balanced later, the computer time can be put on hold, e-mails returned later and The Schedule delayed. I don’t want to miss the Best for Good. I want a more balanced life!” (Janette Wright) “One secret to finding balance involves something we call serendipity. Serendipity usually happens because of a crisis or when you are least expecting it! It might be just getting a great idea because of something that one of your kids said or did. It might be just taking a minute to enjoy a gorgeous sunset. It might be getting a call from a long lost friend, just when you thought it was so important to accomplish something else. An annoying interruption by a child becomes an opportunity!” (Linda Eyre) “The biggest challenge is finding the right balance. The amount of time we have to ‘spare’ changes with the different stages of our lives. There is no perfect day where we squeeze everything in. Something usually has to fall to the background while we focus on something else. It would be tragic to tip the scale so much that we forget to enjoy the stage we are in now. Find joy and learning in the simple things everyday.” (Suzanne Christensen) I love those reminders. And as I watched that man balance rocks on the beach, I learned a few other things: (1) Balance requires practice. This man was a professional, but it still took a considerable amount of time for him to find the exact balancing point for each rock. There’s no need to get down on ourselves when we’re stuffing juice boxes into lunch sacks, having a phone consult with the pediatrician, and simultaneously mopping the floor with wet rags under our feet. Getting our lives under control simply takes practice. (2) Balance is a temporary state. I didn’t stay around to see the rock towers come down, but one large gust of wind or a powerful rainstorm, and we’re back at square one. Our family responsibilities will never be “settled” once and for all. One day you’re cooing at your newborn between bites of your dinner. The next, you’re discussing puberty with your 11-year-old while you fold laundry together. I don’t know why I feel like a failure when my life gets out of balance. It’s usually not because I did something “wrong,” but because the balance point has simply shifted. (3) Balance is possible. I heard a dad in the audience whisper to his daughter when the last rock tower was completed, “See, Honey. You can do anything you set your mind to do.” It might seem impossible to have “Hallmark” family moments, balance our budgets, get enough rest, and pursue our missions in life, but it’s not. It won’t happen all at once, it won’t be easy, but balance (for rocks and for mothers) is definitely possible.
My SeeSaw Life by Shalonda Chaddock of Chubby Cheek Photography
The day has arrived…a day, that five and a half years ago when I sat in the dark with a screaming newborn I could never have imagined would get here. My oldest daughter has started kindergarten. Need I say more? February of 2013, another day I never could have imagined would even exist, will arrive and I will celebrate the start of my 5th year in business. My life before my daughters and my life before running a photography business, seems like a movie I faintly recall through a haze of sleepless nights up with babies and more sleepless nights up editing. How did we get to this point?! How did we make it here, all in one piece? How on Earth did I not only start and run a successful business but also start and run a pretty happy home? The answer is simple…We CREATED a balance between the two. Oh no, it was not easy and over the years there have been times where one, would sacrifice for the other. Yes, it’s still a struggle and some days are more difficult than others. And no, I do not have a magic wand to wave to make it all perfect. But what I can say, is that sitting here, at this moment, on this emotional rollercoaster, I can admit, through the good the bad and the ugly we are all happy…and isn’t that all that matters anyways?
The Sandbucket 11
Structure. We all survived the early years on some strict schedules.
And when I say strict I mean STRICT. In fact we still go to the grocery store every Tuesday at 10:30 am- its become habit after so long, ha! All of our meals, naps, baths, art time were scheduled. I, just like my girls, seem to thrive in a structured environment, so this applied to me as well. I had set days that I would schedule shoots, set days for returning emails, and even a particular day I delivered prints. Stick to a schedule when you feel the chaos is taking over.
Comparison stifles productivity. At some point around the two-year mark and
raising two girls nineteen months apart I realized I had to stop comparing myself. Stop comparing myself as a mother to all of the moms around me and stop comparing myself as a photographer to the incredible talent that had recently bombarded the internet, forums and blogs. You see no matter how hard you try there will always be a better mom out there and no matter how much you shoot there will always be a better photographer out there. Why waste time caring?! As long as you are giving the best you can give to your babies then I can honestly say that is all they need and the same for your business. As a libra, I tend to make excuses for those struggling around me but continue to beat myself up for my imperfections and shortcomings. Well that had to stop! I attended the last of my daughter’s preschool parties this year and realized that I was one of the 3 other parents who had attended every party, every field trip and every event, every year. I had never stepped back and taken the time to, as my dad would say “ break your arm trying to pat yourself on the back” and why not?! Each time I showed up to one of those parties I had stepped away from my “free editing” time and each time I was in the classroom when my daughter wasn’t expecting it, the way her eyes lit up with pride and she would say “hey that’s my mommy” melted my heart. You see, we all have days that we are the picture perfect image of supermom, when in reality we don’t see the mess that sits just outside the frame of the shot. Perfection is unattainable, so forget about it.
See the beauty around you. I had another low April 2011, I had lost my passion for what I had loved. I was burned out and had begun to not only hate my business but my camera. I had spent so much time capturing fleeting moment for those around me and just wasn’t giving myself or my family the same. I had spent way too much time taking my own moments for granted. 365 projects were too overwhelming to me and all things considered it was April, after all, who starts a 365 in the middle of April, ha?! But I needed something. Something that would be for me, for my family and for that creative fire that burned inside me…And so began the “everyday project”. I credit the everyday project for saving my business and for reminding me to see the beauty that surrounded me everyday. Capturing my own moments was at the heart of why I had ever picked up a camera in the first place. There were no rules, no pressure to post or even edit the images but I had them now. I HAD THEM. I have grown as a photographer more from our everyday pictures than I have from 4 years of shooting clients because I allow myself to just shoot, and to be creative, I try new processing techniques and even play with lighting situations that scare me, like the whole shooting in the shadows series. Embrace the piles of laundry and pouty faces, enjoy the giggles running through the sprinkler and messy chalky toes, enjoy the beauty in YOUR everyday life.
Ultimately, the everyday project seemed to merge the business and personal sides of my life together, and I was reminded to be inspired by my life and my love rather than constantly trying to separate the two. These days I am content with where my business is and “shoot as much as I want to,� to quote a proud daddy cheeks, even though I live in Texas and have the ability to shoot all year I don’t. I have set limits for my business and take breaks during the times my family needs me the most. Summers are spent going to the pool, making homemade ice cream and doing projects, with a shoot or two sprinkled in. I hit the ground hard during the fall but again give my family the time they need and take a break during the holidays. Like I said earlier, there are times I still struggle to manage it all but remember no.one.is.perfect. and with every day we have a fresh start to make right what went wrong yesterday.
Creating a Family Time capsule Written by Heather Ann Johnson M.S. Heather is a homemaker, wife and mother of 4. Heather writes FamilyVolley, an online advice column for families. She also teaches students at Brigham Young University the principles behind successful families. She used to speak french, wishes she could dance, and will almost always choose fruity over chocolate.
Photographs by Kenna Pritchett Shumway Kenna is a natural light photographer who loves writing, playing trucks with her son, and naps when she isn’t behind a camera. She currently resides in Ohio where her husband is pursuing his degree in pharmacy.
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The idea is to document the small things about your child that will change over the next school year. Things like height, weight, likes and dislikes, even handwriting. Don’t leave your little ones out. Even if you have children not in school, you will want to document their growth also. Here’s what you need: A container Rope or string or ribbon Paper Pens/Pencils Camera First...decide what you want each child to keep their capsule in. Anything will work. Mason Jar Shoe Box #10 Can Envelope Then, let the fun begin. HEIGHT Have your child stand up against a wall and lightly mark how tall they are. THEN...take your rope/string/ribbon and stretch it the length of your measurement. Cut the string to the right height length, and put it in your time capsule. Your kids will love getting it out at the end of the school year and holding up to see how tall they have grown. So much more fun than just writing down a number.
WEIGHT Write down how much your child weighs. If you don’t know, don’t worry, skip this one.
LIKES/DISLIKES On a piece of paper, have your children write down the following...you don’t have to do all of them. Feel free to add your own to the list. To make it even more fun, you could compile some of their favorite things (like food, toy, outfit) and take a picture to include in the capsule. Pictures are always wonderful to have. favorite color favorite meal favorite fruit favorite vegetable favorite activity least favorite food favorite tv show favorite movie favorite book favorite subject in school favorite friend favorite snack favorite shirt/pants/shoes
GOALS Have your child write down 3 goals they have for this school year. At the end of the year you can see if they accomplished those goals. HANDWRITING Have your child write their name. If you have really small children, they could draw a picture. For even more fun, have them write it on a piece of paper/chalkboard/whiteboard and then take of picture of them holding the piece of paper up. This way you will have a picture of them and see what their writing was like. It will be fun to see how their writing has changed at the end of the school year.
TRACE HANDS/FEET Trace your children’s hands. Include the tracing in the capsule. Your kids will love to see how their hands have grown. We like to include feet also. PICTURE If you took a picture of your child holding up their name, then you can use that as your picture. If not, you could take a picture or wait until they get their school pictures and add one to the capsule. Once you have everything filled out and gathered, put it in your container of choice and seal it up. Tuck them away, bury them in the backyard, put them on a high shelf. Then…Have a “Start of Summer Party” next year and open the capsules to see how the kids have grown and changed. Pull out the strings to measure, match up hands and feet to see how they have grown, and go through to see how many goals were met.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL One of the exciting things about the time capsules is that nothing takes up a lot of space. In fact, once you have your “Start of Summer Party” and open the capsules, put the contents in envelopes. Write the year on each envelope, hole punch them and put them in a binder for each of your children. All you have to store is the binder. Do this every year until they graduate from high school. What fun it will be to look back and recall all the memories. Your own way of keeping a journal. What a great way to start the new school year. Simple, fun, and memorable. It doesn’t get better than that.
Elliot By Cat Mayer Cat Mayer is a mother of Elliot (6), Chloe (5) and Oliver (3). She and her husband Drew live in Grand Junction and Ouray, Colorado. She is a professional photographer. www.catmayerstudio.com
Each of my three children has their own little pocket tucked safely in my heart. Elliot’s, however, is very special. There are many reasons for that. Those gigantic blue eyes, for one. Also, he was my first baby, my first experience with true unconditional love. And because some things come incredibly easy to him, while others do not. Like most boys at age six, Elliot loves to be outside, jump into pools, go for ice cream, and ride his bike. I love that he still likes to snuggle in our laps with his blanket when he’s sad. And he loves plants—watering them, touching them. This morning he overwatered the ivy in the bathroom and created a small flood. Elliot is surprising. He usually covers his ears when Chloe and Oliver, his little sister and brother, cry because the noise really bothers him. But last night when Chloe was upset, he brought her lovey from her room and placed it sweetly in her hand. There are times when we think he doesn’t understand, but then he does something that reminds us not to set his bar too low. Like when, after reading him a bedtime story at age three, he began reading it to us. Or, how last week I swore he wasn’t listening to a word I said, but then later he repeated it all back to me, word-for-word, in a song. My favorite thing about Elliot is when we come together in a moment. He looks me in the eyes and gives me a smile so big, I think my heart might burst. He has the kind of smile that beams from his eyes, and I have never felt anything so genuine. When these moments come along, I stop whatever I’m doing and soak them up. I think in some way, Drew and I knew that Elliot had autism the night he was born. In the first hours of his life, he was inexplicably aware of the light and sound and movement going on around him. As he lay on Drew’s lap, he seemed unable to ignore it, unsure what to make of it. I instinctively shielded his eyes with my hands. It seemed to calm him. I couldn’t explain it at the time. Since that magical night, parenting Elliot has been the single rarest opportunity Drew and I will ever have. He hasn’t had a typical childhood so far. He has had a one-on-one teacher, Amanda, for at least 20 hours every week since he was two. Amanda teaches him, tracks his progress, addresses his challenges and celebrates
his victories. She loves him. Best of all, she believes in him. We all need someone to believe in us, challenge us, push us to the next level. Amanda is that person for Elliot. Elliot is often that person for me. He has challenged me in ways nobody else could, and in ways I never dreamed possible. I am a better person because of all he has taught me about acceptance, kindness, respect, understanding. And above all, love. Of course just like parenting any child, there are challenges. There have been difficult moments and tears. But never regret. Never sorrow. And never, ever wishing he was someone else. There are times when I wish I could take his challenges away— -take away the challenges that autism causes. It’s not because I want him to be different. It’s because I don’t want him to feel pain, or to be hurt by others who might not understand his heart. I suppose that is the elusive wish of all parents for their children, and we all know it can’t possibly be granted. The truth is, there are many, many more high notes in parenting Elliot—the kind that send my heart soaring. When I hear him sing, or when he asks me to kiss him, I honestly think my heart might burst. Each day I thank God for trusting Drew and me to raise this child, to help him realize his special gifts. I honestly can’t think of a better way to spend my life.
Becoming Stargirl
36 Sandbucket 36 The
by Ally Drake
In a time of text messages and emails, a handmade card is sure to warm one’s heart.
“Be the nice guy.” To this day I still hear my mom recite our family motto. When we had a problem with our friends, “Be the nice guy!” When we were fighting with our siblings, “Be the nice guy!” When we were leaving to go anywhere, “Be the nice guy!” As I grow up I learn to appreciate the far reaching effects of being the nice guy. I believe we have all somehow saved special memories of when we were recognized, appreciated, celebrated, or loved by someone else. Maybe yours are tucked away in your head. Maybe they are written in your old yearbooks. Mine are in a shoebox of old greeting cards in my closet. I pull them out every once in a while, especially when I’m feeling down. But the most recent reminiscing happened after I finished reading the book Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli. It’s about an eccentric, confident, and loving high school girl who I have adopted as a new favorite “nice guy.” Throughout the day, Stargirl had been dropping money. She was the Johnny Appleseed of loose change: a penny here, a nickel there. Tossed to the sidewalk, laid on a shelf or bench. Even quarters. “I hate change,” she said. “It’s so . . . jangly.” “Do you realize how much you must throw away in a year?” I said. “Did you ever see a little kid’s face when he spots a penny on a sidewalk?” Pg 117 It’s true what they say. Most times it really is better to give than receive. While some lucky kid gets a quarter, she gets the joy that comes with making someone else happy. It isn’t a grand gesture, a big heroic act, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money, but to that kid it’s the greatest thing in the world. And to someone you know, or to a perfect stranger, a simple card or phone call or note from you might just be the greatest thing in the world. “On weekends and after dinner, we delivered many potted violets. And CONGRATULATIONS! balloons. And cards of many sentiments. She made her own cards. She wasn’t a great artist. Her people were stick figures. The girls all had triangle skirts and pigtails. You would never mistake one of her cards for a Hallmark, but I have never seen cards more heartfelt. They were meaningful in the way that a school child’s homemade Christmas card is meaningful. She never left her name.” Pg 112 My first step to becoming like Stargirl is with these cards. Some will probably be anonymous, but whether or not they know who I am, I want to be the person who fills people’s shoeboxes with special memories.
The How To’s...... (hot air balloon) Draw the outline of an object, then use Q-tips to dip in paint and “color” inside the lines with dots. The basket was colored with gold leaf pen. (Toast) Print the words “a toast!” on white paper using a printer. Then using a die-cut machine or scissors and an Exacto knife, cut out a piece of bread and a toaster, and glue into place. Use watercolor to draw a thin border, but make sure it’s dry before you or your two year old picks it up. (Bicycle) Stamp a bicycle, or picture of your choice, onto patterned cardstock. The trick to stamping is using a paintbrush. I brush my paint onto my stamp then place it firmly down on the paper. Don’t rock it or you’ll get unwanted spots of paint, just press down and pick up. For the glitter I used white Elmer’s glue and made 5 tiny dots spaced apart then sprinkled pink glitter and shook the rest off. Then repeat with additional colors. (Ostrich) Print the words with a printer then use a die-cut machine to cut out out the ostrich. Tear the bottom for some texture and put a coordinating paper behind it. (Hello) Using the same tips from the Bicycle Card, stamp a word on a plain sheet of cardstock. This one turned out really light so I went over it with a fine-tip Sharpie. Then I drew a gold border with the gold leaf pen, added a thin line of blue paint, and mounted it on patterned cardstock. (Gold dots) It doesn’t get much simpler than coloring circles on a plain piece of paper! (Gold and pink) Paint a white rectangle on 1/3 of the front of the card. Make a scalloped stencil out of cardstock and use it to paint the edge pink and draw the gold with the gold leaf pen. Print out the letters for “FRIEND” or any other word, use a small circle punch to punch them out. Glue them to a string and tie the string together on the inside of the card (you’ll end up with a bow on the inside). (Merci) Using watercolors and a paint brush, paint thin colored stripes. Cut out triangles and stamp letters on them to spell out a word. Use Glue Dots to secure the string to the paper and the triangles to the string.
Back to School by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography
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I love kid fashion and love the editorial look when doing photo shoots...I always tell clients to bring lots of clothes and I will help them choose what would look best...Bold colors, layering, adding accessories, ruffles and when shooting multiple kids, trying not to match but pick out colors that coordinate well with each other... some favorite places I like to shop for my kids: J.Crew (Crewcuts) Gap local and online boutiques Zara H&M Next (nextdirect.com) When looking for my kids clothing...I pick out key pieces that I can use to mix and match to make multiple outfits and love adding layers and accessories to them.
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The ABC’s of School Lunches by Tammy Mitchell of Tammy Mitchell Photography
Ah, back to school. I have to admit...theLunchables aisle at the grocery store often calls my name, especially when they are on sale for $1. But alas, the guilt kicks in and I resist the urge to buy them even though my kids are begging for them. I struggle with school lunches. I start each year with the resolve to be cute and creative and healthy all rolled into one, but after a few weeks I lose steam. One of my struggles with school lunches is knowing that so much food is going to waste. I don’t know about your kids, but mine come home from school starving. When I ask them if they ate their lunch the response is often “I didn’t have time.” They have forfeited eating in lieu of play time, which means that my 30 minutes of prep time the night before and cash spent on groceries literally went down the drain. Ugh! This year I have decided to make some changes in hopes that I can encourage more eating and less wasting. Sandwiches in shapes are fun and rarely get eaten. So, I thought I’d try and take it one step further. I need to come to grips with the fact that lunch doesn’t always have to take the shape of a sandwich. Now that I am changing my outlook on the contents of a lunchbox, I’m hoping it will change my kids’ outlook on eating what’s in it.
Activate: Involve your kids in the process and end up with healthier meals. Store bought snacks are colorful and taste good, but they also aren’t that good for you. Decide on some fun foods that your kids would like to eat and make them together. Homemade granola is a snap. Trail mix is a fun and healthy alternative to other packaged snacks. Go shopping together and let them pick out the dried fruits, nuts etc. that they would like to include in their granola or trail mix. Then, when it comes time to pack a lunch, let them get out the ingredients and mix up their own bag for their lunch. Let them eat dip! Dipping ranks high on the list of kid favorites. It allows them to be a little more creative with their lunch. There are many healthy and fun ways to include dips in your lunches which will encourage them to eat. Hummus with homemade baked tortilla chips, homemade ranch dressing using plain yogurt in place of the mayonnaise paired with some baby carrots, and yogurt dips with fruit are just a few of my kids favorites.
Homemade fruit leathers are an easy and delicious lunch treat. You can mix up the ingredients together and watch them cook in the oven until they are ready to package up for a week of lunches. The best part is they are all natural and contain a ton of fruit in each one. No more arguing to try and get your kids to eat their five a day! Here is one of my favorite recipes for homemade fruit leathers:
Homemade Fruit Roll-ups Ingredients 2 1/2 – 3 cups ripe or slightly over-ripe diced fruit sweetener to taste: honey, sugar, agave, etc. 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Instructions Preheat oven to lowest temperature. (Usually 140 to 170 degrees) Puree all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Pour onto a baking sheet lined a silicone baking mat (don’t use foil, parchment, or waxed paper the fruit will stick), and spread to 1/8″ thick. Place in the oven and bake for 6-8 hours, until the center is not tacky anymore. Remove from oven and peel off of baking sheet. Cut into strips and roll in parchment or plastic. Store in airtight container or freeze.
All fruits will produce slightly different results. Strawberries and Raspberries are two of my favorites, that consistently produce good flavor and texture. You might have to experiment to find what works well. If you’re going to make a giant batch, you may want to test one first to make sure it works well. You can come up with your own combinations. Try peaches with raspberries, strawberries and blueberries…the combinations are endless.
Bento over Brown Bag: The brown bag is out and bento is in. What is a bento you ask? A bento lunch is a compact, balanced, visually appealing meal packed in a box. Packed in reusable containers, they reduce lunch waste such as plastic baggies and disposable containers, and allow you to pack a wider variety of food for lunch. With so many schools requiring no waste lunches these days, the bento is definitely growing in popularity. Because they are neatly packed containers full of colorful compartmentalized foods they often appeal to picky eaters too. There are loads of fun boxes in all different shapes, sizes and colors available at retail stores like Pottery Barn Kids and HomeGoods. You can find many online too.
Cute and Creative: Presentation is everything. Yep. It’s true. Think about why you are often drawn to buy or eat something-because it looks good, right? Well, our kids are no different. The latest trends in party foods are good indicators of what our kids would like to see in their lunches. Not so much what is being served, but HOW it is being served. We are drawn to all those little bite sized items on sticks...well, so are they. In place of a sandwich try a kabob. If they don’t care for sandwich items, make it a fruit or vegetable kabob or mix cheese and fruits. You can find swizzle sticks in fun colors from places like World Market instead of wooden kabob sticks. They are disposable, not as sharp, and look extra fun because of their colors. Love notes are the last ingredient to a healthy lunch. A little pick me up from mom or dad during the middle of the day reminds your child that you are thinking about them even when you’re apart. There are lots of cute free printable lunchbox love notes available on the internet. Hopefully these ideas will help you in your quest to make something cute and healthy, and get your kids to actually eat it.
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8 Different KidFriendly, Fun, Family Weekend Activities Put the gameboys down, get outdoors and have some fun together.
Written by Brianna Kelly Photographs by Sandi Gentry Brianna Kelly, has over 5 years experience publishing articles on childcare education and parenting. She writes on a regular basis for www.giraffe.ie/
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eekends don’t have to be two long, dull days full of chores and families longing to get back to their weekday routines. Weekends can be special family times that are fun for kids and adults alike, and warmer weather gives parents a great excuse to get outside on the weekends and play with their kids. These activities aren’t limited to those with unlimited funds. Budget-minded families can have a good time together without spending a lot of money.
Take the kids for a picnic. Enlist older kids’ help in planning the meal and ask everyone to help pack the picnic basket. Even little ones can pack their favorite fruit and feel that they had a hand in planning a family activity. After a fun outdoor meal together, Mom and Dad can kick back on the blanket and relax while the kids play on the grass. If you’re short on time, have a backyard picnic. Enjoy your backyard at night, too. Bring flashlights outside after the sun goes down and go on a creature hunt. Or think of your backyard as your own personal planetarium and teach kids about the stars. Have a movie night. Let the kids take turns choosing a movie from a parent-approved list. Turn the lights low and cuddle on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn. Get some exercise and explore your neighborhood with a neighborhood scavenger hunt. Give the kids a list of things to find on your walk and award a small prize to the first one to find everything on the list. Turn your driveway into a mini amusement park. Bring bubbles and sidewalk chalk outside, turn on the sprinkler, make water balloons, and enjoy the fresh air.
Keep an eye out for community events. Libraries often host story hours that are free to the public. Some communities show outdoor movies during the summer. Others have local shops or community organizations that host outdoor projects or other types of events. Sometimes a community’s local zoo or museum will host a monthly community day during which they waive entrance fees. Visit your local farmers’ market. Choose the most beautiful fruits and vegetables you can find and cook a meal as a family. A farmers’ market is a great place to find a new food to try. If you live near the farms, ask farmers if they allow people to pick their own fruits and vegetables. Kids are almost universally fascinated by fire engines. If your little ones fall into this category, call your local fire station. Most fire stations will arrange tours for local families and kids delight in climbing a real fire truck, meeting fire fighters, and trying on fire fighters’ helmets. Not only will you get some great pictures, your kids will learn something, too. With a little bit of imagination and creativity, there is no limit to outdoor things you can do with your kids on the weekend. Kids and parents don’t have to go their separate ways and wish for the routines that come with Mondays. Instead, they will get outside, get some exercise, and enjoy creating precious memories together.
It’s your family time. Enjoy it!
Blazin’ Shrimp Recipe and Photographs by Jami Davis
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e try to make it happen at least once a month. You know, that elusive date night? Complete with handholding, eye gazing and well, let’s be honest: nonstop talk about our children. While we do our best, we’ve resigned ourselves to the fact that during these busy times of child rearing, the most “heat” our weekends are going to score is from this fabulous little dish I’m about to share with YOU! Now, it’s a wee bit kicky so do beware. This dish comes from one of our favorite little eateries and I will tell you that THE best part of the entire recipe is hands down, finally having the perfect “sticky rice!” Who hasn’t asked how Chinese restaurants get their rice so perfect?? Well, look no further. This is a little knock off recipe I like to call Blazin’ Shrimp.
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For the Rice: (Let me warn that directions for this rice must be followed to a T). 1.5 Cups Rice (Calrose, Botan, Nishiki) 2 Cups Water Combine in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand covered, 10 minutes. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of sugar and 1 ½ Tablespoons rice vinegar. Fluff with a fork and serve. For the Shrimp: 1 lb. of large shrimp 1C. Flour 1C. Cornmeal (I season mine with cayenne and pepper) 2 eggs 2T. water Combine the flour, cornmeal and seasonings in a large Ziploc baggie. Whisk the eggs and water together and pour over the shrimp combining well. Next, toss the shrimp into the dry mixture and shake to ensure all shrimp are battered well. In a pan over med./high heat add some vegetable oil and start frying those babies. (I have grilled them, baked them and fried them. Fried always tastes best, but some days I’m a bit more health conscious) ;-)
For the sauce: ½ C. Sriracha Chili Sauce Ÿ C. Kewpie (This can be found in Asian specialty stores)
Combine and voilà ! Enjoy this kicky little number on a sushi night or all on it’s own.
Character Corner with Dana Ohlsen Photographs by Kelli Baker of Simply Unique Photography
JUGGLING LIFE WHILE improving the CONTENT OF our CHARACTER‌
a balanced character shines!
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Transparency is a lovely thing, where the content of one’s character shines out loud. Unfortunately, we don’t come across it as often as we’d like. We are being tested everyday to see how the content of our own character Transparency is ayou lovely thing, content of one’s shinesaffect out loud. Unfortunately weactions don’t shines. How do “show up”where in thisthe world? How does character your character your daily life in your come across it as often as we’ d like. We are being tested everyday to see how the content of our own character and reactions? We are all running around juggling life, seeking for some sort of balance, but are we seeking shines. How do you “show up” in this world? How doesright yourthings? character affect your daily life in your actions and for the reactions? We are all running around juggling life, seeking for some sort of balance, but are we seeking for the right riches things?take wing, and only character endures.” “Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, is ainvapor, popularity accident, take wing, only character There’s “Fame one thing life I would love foran myself and forriches my children… notand for people to know usendures.” just by name, but to know us by heart. It seems of late that many of my close friends have been suffering from tragic experiences that There’s one character. thing in life I would love for myself and forthe mysame children… not for people to know just by they test their I know many of you are witnessing with your friends and loved ones. us One thing name, all have but in to common know usisbytheir heart. strong It seems depth of of character late that many that emerged of my close from the friends flames have when been times suffering got tough; from when tragic they felt they had more than they could handle. They’ve showed their heart. Sometimes we get more than we experiences that test their character. I know many of you are witnessing the same with your friends andthink we can handle, through these dear see strong that wedepth are capable of way more we give ourselves loved ones. One but thing they all have in examples, commonIiscan their of character that than emerged from the credit for. I have watched them and reflected upon my own character. What would people say at my funeral if I flames when times got tough; when they felt they had more than they could handle. They’ve showed their were gone tomorrow? Would they remember the frazzled lady who frantically juggled non-essentials on a daily heart. Sometimes we get more than we think we can handle, but through these dear examples, I can see that basis? Or would they have gleaned a lot more from observation of my heart? Did my character shine above all? we are capable of way more than we give ourselves credit for. I have watched them and reflected upon my own character. What would people say at my funeral if I were gone tomorrow? Would they remember the frazzled lady who frantically juggled inessentials on a daily basis? Or would they have gleaned a lot more from observation of my heart? Did my character shine above all? Now I ask myself the question, “Am I striving to have my character in alignment with all that is good and right and do I keep it in check when days are rough? Helen Keller said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” To me, success means never giving up... on others, or myself, and striving to live a value filled life.
We all know when “we’re off ”, but do we stop and think how it is directly related to a piece or pieces that are off balance in our character, our value base? Most of us are at least a little, maybe a lot, imbalanced in character in some way at different times. But character is changed or bettered from the inside out. We all can benefit from having a character paradigm shift from what we are to what we want to become and are becoming. It is up to us to reflect and go deep to find why we are tipping the scale in one way or another. On days you feel “off ”, be aware and wise enough to stop and figure out what side of your character is in need of a little attention and then fix it. But how do you fix it? Let’s talk a bit about “balance”. Our society has given us buzzwords like “prioritize” and “balance” to make us feel like we’re striving for something, but that something might just be impossible causing us to never quite feel accomplished in our efforts. Especially if we’re striving for the wrong thing! Brad Wilcox, a Professor of Education and an author, said, “The image of balance makes it seem like it’s possible [to balance our lives]...” Rather than balance, Wilcox looks at it as juggling. Sometimes we drop a ball and that is okay. A more balanced character will come from focusing on the right things in our balancing act. Just the word “balance” is daunting in itself. Are we ever fully balanced? The good news and the bad news is that it takes a lifetime to balance our character. That’s what we’re here for… to learn, change, grow and develop our character. You need to take what you know in your mind and move it to your heart to gain understanding and wisdom regarding your character. This enables you to share it with others and open your heart to give and receive more love.
These are a few proven and sure-fire ways to keep your character in check and make life sweeter:
Service Gratitude Meditation/Yoga Hugs Good Music Exercise Research shows that all these things will release long lasting, feel good chemicals in our brains that will help us be able to have the positivity and endurance to keep bettering and/or changing those parts of our character that need tweaking.
I think one of the most vital pieces of our character is patience. With patience, not only are we able to be patient with ourselves, but also we will be able to get a feel for what is off in others and give them the same TLC and patience that we would want in return. If we can recognize that we are all working to keep our character in balance, we will be less judgmental and more tolerant and compassionate of one another. Also, by simplifying our lives, we can open up to give more. If you don’t have time to keep your character steady, than you must definitely need to cut out non-essentials in your life that are keeping you from letting your character shine!
“If you will think about what you ought to do for other people, your character will take care of itself. Character is a by-product, and any man who devotes himself to its cultivation in his own case will become a selfish prig.” – Theodore Roosevelt Focusing on your self completely will not bring your soul to satisfaction, but make us more selfish. So, where are the “balance” and “success” in this me centered and self-improvement focused world and how is it defined? The more you focus on blessing others lives, the more in “balance” your character will become. If you focus on the greater good, you can feel more at peace. You might be surprised at how the weaknesses of your character can be strengthened by doing so on a regular basis. If we stop looking for the flaws in other people’s character, we might realize it is our character that is off. Confucius said, “When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” When our own character is in check we are able to stop judging and focusing on the not so good in others and concentrate on what makes them uniquely wonderful. We’re here to heal not to judge. We all have something in our character that’s crying; we all have “character leprosy”, if you will, in one way or another. Remember, if you leave people better than you found them and give away happiness, you in turn are better and more filled with joy because of it… your character is directly affected. For most, the characteristics or values that need harmonizing will change often. For some, it is a specific thing that is tipping the scale. It can be as simple as starting your day by saying, “I will be delightful today!” Then when you start to slip out of character if you will, say it over and try again! Let’s help build up each other’s character by being willing to give and receive help in the care and growth of our character.
“If you will think about what you ought to do for other people, your character will take care of itself.” -Woodrow Wilson And if someone is a bit “off ” one day, be big enough in your own character to ask yourself what must be going on inside their heart and minds to have tipped their scale. Take to heart those who have helped mold your character, by example in molding their own under tough circumstances. Take your eyes, heart, and hands and keep them WIDE OPEN. In turn you will find that a balanced character will shine for the world to see… And they will know you by heart.
Trying Something New Acorn Squash Soup
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have a produce guy who delivers fresh veggies and fruit that are locally grown. We call him Farmer Bill. I absolutely love what he brings. However, I have to admit, I don’t always know what to do with everything he delivers. These acorn squash look so great. I put them in my basket on my counter along with oranges and apples. I figure they make me look like a healthy cook. But there they stay, taunting me. I can almost hear them whispering, “You don’t know what to do with us.” Well no more, mocking acorn squash! I will conquer you! My new goal is to use everything Farmer Bill delivers. What did I do with these acorn squash? I made soup. Here is the recipe I came up with. It makes for a wonderful Fall Meal.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Now it is time for you to break into them. Get yourself a sharp knife and cut off the top and then the bottom. Slice into half and then half again. Use a spoon to clean out seeds and stringy mess. Line cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper. Brush the flesh of the acorn squash with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Ingredients: 3 Acorn Squash 32 FL OZ Chicken Broth 1/2 cups brown sugar 4 carrots, peeled and chopped 1 yellow onion, chopped 1/3 cup heavy cream 3 Tablespoons of maple syrup (optional) pine nuts.
For Garnish: heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in pan. Add 1/2 cup of pine nuts. Stir. Turn heat to low. Add 1/4 cup brown sugar. Stir constantly until brown sugar melts. Remove from heat instantly and pour nuts onto plate. You do not want the sugar to burn. Garnish soup with cream, dash of brown sugar and pine nuts.
Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven. Carefully peel the skin away from the flesh. Discard the skin and save the flesh in a bowl. In large pot, warm olive oil and swirl pan to coat bottom of pan. Add onion and carrots and saute, stirring occasionally. Keep on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the veggies are softened. Add 1/4 cup brown sugar and stir just until the sugar is dissolved. You don’t want to burn the sugar. Add Chicken Broth and squash. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and puree soup, either with a wand immersion blender or pour into a blender. Pour pureed soup back into pot and then add cream and syrup and stir to combine. Garnish and enjoy!
Photo Love
Three ideas to display photos you love in your own home or to give as gifts. In our family room, on the coffee table sits this large bowl bought from Restoration Hardware. The bowl is filled with images that tug at my heart. I hated that I had so many images stored on my computer that I never really looked at again. I wanted them out where I could see on a daily basis, but I was out of wall space. So I printed them off on mat board. They are strong enough to take on all the hands that touch and sort through them. When ordering images from online companies such as www.mpix.com, simply order your images in desired size and then click on the matboard option. They come with a sturdy matboard backing, ready for little hands to touch.
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Idea #2 Metal Prints Forget the frame. Have your images printed out on metal. Pro Digital Photos have all kinds of interesting shapes. You can even add holes for ribbon or have them add the mounting block onto the back. I just noticed they have metal dry eraser boards you can have printed up as well. Consider the possibilities! You can find them at www.prodigitalphotos.com
Idea #3 A Deck of Cards How fun would it be to have a deck of cards with your favorite little face on it. What a great gift for anyone from kids to grandparents. These cards were printed up by www.mpix.com
My Motherly Mottos -Not so much what I say out loud, but rather, what I feel in my heart. by Sandi Gentry
I believe most of us have been taught to stand for something. The old saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for everything,” comes to mind. There has always been a push to stand for your country and faith with conviction. Well, how about standing for what you believe as a Mother? I have been thinking a lot lately about what I believe I am doing in my own home that makes a difference. I am not talking about saving the world. I don’t care to get that intense or deep in this article. What I am talking about are the little things in my daily life that I hope are making an impact on my kids. Determining what is worth doing and what is just fluff. So I decided to write some of my beliefs, or mantras or mottos, whatever you would like to call them, down. I have made a list. I am sure this list will be an ever changing one. But for now, here are 10 things I believe make a difference. 10 things that I am trying to work on and achieve. Perhaps you agree with some and perhaps you think some are silly. It doesn’t matter. I do, however, encourage you to take some time and make your own list, whether you write it down or keep it in your head. While I know the actions on my list do make a difference in my home, it doesn’t mean they come automatic. Making a list has been a good reminder to me to put them into my daily actions.
I Believe that......... 1. ...my greatest responsibility as a mother is to raise my children to be responsible, thriving, faithful and happy individuals, and to make sure they feel loved. My children are my top priority. 2. ...it is important to be consistent and unified with my husband when parenting. 3. ...staying up late at night until my teenagers get home from their weekend activities is important. It is the best time to talk to them and to find out what they are up to. If I wait until morning they will not be as talkative. No matter how hard it is to stay awake, it is worth it. It is a valuable time to get to spend with them. 4. ...all kids really do appreciate a home-cooked meal. 5. ...I hold the superpower of setting the mood of the house. If I am stressed and grumpy then my children are too. If I seem patient and positive, they will follow suit. (for the most part) 6. ...sometimes it is better to break my diet and eat a bowl of chocolate ice cream than it is to be a grumpy Mother.
7. ...reading to my kids is always worth the time. 8. ...no one is too old to sit and color with crayons. It is quite relaxing, actually. So I will sit and color with my five year old becuase I know she won’t always be asking me to. 9. ...it is important to look my children in the eye when speaking to them. So put down my iphone and close my computer and make eye contact. 10. ...a sense of humor is the best thing to have when raising children. 11. ...it is my duty to teach my children to have respect for sacred subjects. 12. ...children and adults need down time. It is OK to say “no” in order to not over schedule our lives. Having time to simply ponder is wonderful.
Pumpkin Love
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Perfect Pumpkin Muffins Ingredients: 12 tablespoons softened butter 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup sour cream 15 oz can organic pumpkin or pumpkin puree 1/4 cup milk 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 paper liners in muffin pans. In bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, vanilla, sour cream and milk. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. With mixer on low speed add the flour mixture to the batter and beat until just mixed. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula. Be sure the batter is completely mixed. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each cup just over the top. Bake for 25 minutes. Enjoy!
And Thank you for joining us for
this edition of
The Sandbucket Magazine