Laundry: it's a vicious cycle! As soon as I think I've got it all done and under control, there's another load to do. The only thing I can get excited about regarding laundry is if it can somehow be made easier or cheaper. I haven't been able to figure out how to get it done any quicker or easier, but I have been able to make it cheaper! I've been making my own laundry soap for about three years now. I originally saw people making laundry soap on a TV program, and when I saw what went into making it I knew there was no way I was going to be standing over a stove stirring a big pot of muck. The only way I was going to ...Read More
Weight Loss and Other Benefits of Coconut Oil
Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) are a type of fatty acid found abundantly in coconut oil, as well as palm kernel oil, and to a lesser extent butter (and human breast milk, but most of you don't keep that on tap). The thing that is unique about MCTs is that they are not digested and used by the body in the same way as other fatty acids. But aren't fatty acids bad? I mean, they're... fatty? MCTs are highly water soluble, so they can be absorbed through the small intestine wall where they're transported to the liver, skipping the lyphatic system, which is where most fatty acids are processed. MCTs are broken down and ...Read More
Ridiculously Addictive Cocoa Crack (aka Healthy Chocolate Candy)
I could extol the many virtues of coconut oil, but alas I shall leave that for another blog post. One of our new favorite uses of coconut oil is making this ridiculously addictive cocoa crack. Trust me, this healthy chocolate candy will not last long in your freezer if you have a family! What makes this cocoa crack recipe different? There are many recipes for cocoa crack floating around online, but I haven't seen any quite like this one. The thing I don't like about the many, many cocoa crack recipes I found online was they just seemed too oily. I felt like I was eating a blob of flavored coconut oil. While that ...Read More
Planning the School Year: Choosing Curriculum for My 7-Year-Old
With the arrival of my twins in May of 2011, I knew the 2011-2012 school year was going to be a challenge to say the least. Not only would two babies keep me hopping, but I also have a somewhat challenging 3-year-old. I knew choosing curriculum would be important to help us keep up with school throughout the year. I also determined that I'd lighten my 7-year-old son's load if either he or I needed it. He's been working beyond his grade level, so slowing things down certainly wouldn't hurt him. Up until this school year we had been following Veritas Press curriculum recommendations. I've been very impressed with quality ...Read More