the BEST silicone popsicle molds... just like a gogurt. Happy Earth day!

I am always looking for good ways to make the boys healthier snacks.  They can clear out a box of gogurts in a day if I let them.  Recently on amazon I came across these perfect silicone molds shaped like a gogurt.  These looked a lot easier and more convenient than regular popsicle molds I have used.  I ordered them here.  They were only $12.99 for 10 of them!  I just tested them out with strawberry, banana, and plain greek yogurt, and another set with greek yogurt, banana and chocolate.  They were delicious, tasted like frozen yogurt of course!  The best part is silicone is safe, and it washes up so easily compared to plastic!  They also take up little space in the fridge/freezer.   I can't wait to try new recipes,  I may just refrigerate some filled with applesauce also, as the applesauce's to go are quite spendy!
Summer is coming, that means snack, snack, snack.... so I am preparing!  

Another great silicone container for applesauce, smoothies or yogurt is the silisqueeze.  We have three, but they are quite a bit more costly, as you will only get one for the price of 10 of these.

p.s these don't have to be for kids, these make awesome adult snacks... I love nutella and banana, I love a good treat too!

Happy Earth day!

Updated head shots for my website

Hello!  Most who read my blog know I am a photographer, I don't want this blog to be about that, so I separate it as much as I can.  However my love for photography is ME!  I live and breathe how I can capture my children better,  shoot clients of my dreams and how I can put a styled shoot together ( working on a bird release for our families next photos) FUN!  I absolutely love everything about creating, capturing, and making people look lovely.  Who doesn't want a new, updated good photograph.  Most women don't feel beautiful  all the time, I would say 80% of my life, I wake up get ready and don't feel very pretty, which is fine, I am not sad about it, I just don't have the time to make myself look very cute, that's all!  On Easter, I threw on a dress that's been hanging in my closet unworn for 3+ years.  ( I was finally brave enough to wear it, as it's kind of an old fashion dress)  which twirls amazingly!  I am sure I was the only one who liked it as my own husband stuttered when I asked his opinion, then he said, it's ok!? lol  But that is OKAY!  I had time to curl my hair too!  Anyway, I took some photos of my boys, then my oldest son took one of Jeff and I, and I asked him to take a few of me as I thought I was having a good hair day... :/  Here are some updated head shots from my 10 year old, and I am even using them on my photography website, as I really like how he captured me, it is a rare occasion, as I don't photograph the best.  So thankful to have boys who love using my camera too!  Let me or LOGAN know if you want updated head shots.  :-)  www.crystalsphotographymn.com

Easter baskets!

This year for Easter I wanted to create baskets for my boys that were unique and had some special keepsakes in them.  I didn't want anything extravagant, or all about candy, but something that was perfect for them.  I found the best bibles and devotionals for them on amazon.  Logan has been wanting the Action Bible as he says it tells the truth. The little boys love devotionals and bible stories. 
 These are also available at Scout and Morgan in Cambridge, but cost a little more.  
Here are the baskets.

I found the three matching baskets at goodwill.  The SUPER balls at walgreens, Minecraft T-shirts at Target, books on amazon, here is a link to these sweet little folkmanis mini puppets. ( which are also at scout and morgan).  The name tags were found on etsy.  They were super cheap and in my mailbox with in 3 days of ordering.  I love having little kids in my home, it will forever be my favorite thing to make them feel special and teach them about the Lord, I love reminding them of the true meaning of Easter, and Christmas, it especially melts my heart when I see them act on the true meaning with out being reminded.  Yesterday we were coloring eggs, and writing on them with crayon first, little Landon asked me to write "he is risen" on one and "jesus loves me" on another.  It melted my heart.

Happy Easter.

Make your own body butter- beeswax lip balm- coconut oil deodorant

***UPDATE*** after the lotion is liquid, put in fridge until its soft butter consistency, then whip with hand mixer for 4 minutes, it makes is soft and fluffy.  The original way made it hard.  :)
Today my sister and I made lotion, lip balm, and deodorant.  If you ever look at your mile long list of ingredients on your bottles of body care, you will see it's not pretty.  The aluminum, and preservatives, and tiny traces of really bad stuff that builds up in our bodies.  A ladies skin especially is absorbent and sensitive as after we shave our glands are open, and can let those chemicals and metals in our lotion absorb more easily.  
The body butter turned out great, it is more of a butter than a lotion,  and is so nourishing.
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 shea butter
1/4 cup bees wax
1/4 cup almond oil or olive oil
add these ingredients to a large jar, and put in a saucepan half full of water ( double boiler) on medium heat until melted, once melted add essential oil of your choice and add to a glass jar.  It will turn solid very fast.  I added carrot seed essential oil and lavender, both are great for your skin.  

All ingredients were purchased at my local natural foods store, but also can be found online, or at whole foods, etc...

The body butter can also be used as a great diaper cream for babies, and is great when cloth diapering as most store bought creams stain them and also are NOT good for babies skin.

The lip balm was similar to the body butter,

Ingredients

1 tbls beeswax

2 tbls coconut oil

2 tbls shea butter

melt in double boiler, 

add essential oils, lemon and peppermint were good,

add to small containers or empty chapstick container.

I LOVE how this turned out, it is perfection!

Finally is the deodorant...

It turned out great, but needs to be kept in the fridge!  (not very handy, I know)  I am going to make a different kind, as I didn't like to it got soft when left out, but I DO love how it felt!

It was a combination of baking soda, corn starch, coconut oil, and essential oil, (cypress).

This turned out awesome and I will use it when I am in the kitchen! ;)  However I did see other more solid recipes, I believe the beeswax helps make them more solid.  To order great essential oils, check out edens garden.  Here is a funny picture my sister took of my trying my new deodorant!  Every thing is more fun when you act a little crazy...

 

I would love to fill my cupboards with all of this goodness!  It makes me so happy whenever I switch anything to something natural and organic.  Our bodies deserve to be cared for, I for one am suffering from unexplained numbness, tingling of hands, face and neck at times, MRIs say I am fine, but I don't think I am, I am not being dramatic, I think my body has inflammation that also causes these symptoms.  I need to make a drastic change to my health.  I juice and do other healthy things, but still have so much that I can eliminate.  If you have any great things that you make, take or love let me know!  My next venture is going to be making my own tooth paste.

a few internet favorites.

Here are a few of my favorite internet finds lately….

Edens Garden essential oils.  The four thieves synergy blend is a blend of cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, rosemary and lemon.  It fights of virus's, coughs, and I even used it for cramps, and the were gone immediately.  ( I rubbed it on my abdomen)  This oil only costs $7.75 the are 100% pure therapudic grade oils.  edens garden   

Next is artifact uprising new signature prints.  These are just to die for!  Check out this company, I adore there work.

I love these tissue paper poms that pom love from easy

have.  They are inspired by Kelli Murray's nursery.  I would love to purchase these or learn how to make them for my studio.

I am loving putting together the boys' easter baskets this year, I got them each a bible storybook, or devotional, so they remember the real reason for Easter, and not just the jelly beans.  I found these two great books on Amazon.  The first is Jesus calling children's devotional, this was only $9, it was at the local bookstore and was selling for $16.99.

The next is the  jesus calling bible storybook  

This one was only $9.85.  The three boys and I love to read from a children's bible each night before bed, it relaxes them, and they hold me VERY accountable for reading it.  We keep getting a new one when the old is done, each one has different pictures, and different stories, or at least the stories are written differently.  I love this routine we are in, and hope to hang on to all of them so they can pass them down to their children.  

Bird feeders and garden markers

It is so beautiful outside, we are finally able to get fresh air in our lungs!  Yesterday, Landon and I made these adorable bird feeders out of twine and oranges.  I found the idea on pinterest, and thought it was too cute to pass up.  Check them out!

After feeding the birds, Landon wanted to clean up the garbage on the road so the birds wouldn't get sick, we collected a whole garbage bag full.  He felt so good, and I think it was such a great lesson for him, as I can't imagine he will EVER litter.  Now when we drive down other roads, he says, oh NO, we need to clean this one too!  Little angel.

We also painted some adorable little garden marker rocks.  We started many seedlings early this year, as we plan to have a huge garden.  I am hoping my hubby gets inspired to build me raised garden beds.  We shall wait and see… 

We are on our way outside to rake up a ton of leaves around the house.  There is still snow on the ground, but it will be 72 this afternoon.