Mandi Ehman's Blog, page 15
November 12, 2015
Homemade elderberry syrup to fight cold & flu viruses
NOTE: As we welcome Lucas Isaiah to our family and adjust to life as a family of eight, I’ll be sharing some of my very favorite posts from the thousands of posts in our archives. I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed reading back through them once again!
Last week, I started coughing on Tuesday night and woke up with what I think was bronchitis on Wednesday morning. I haven’t had bronchitis since I was little, and I turned into a bit of a whiny baby, I’m afraid.
I knew I didn’t want to endure it for any longer than necessary, so I immediately upped my dosage of Vitamin D3 and whipped up some elderberry syrup for the whole family.
In the world of natural medicine, elderberry syrup has to be among the easiest remedies to make. It uses just a few ingredients, is easy to prepare and the sweetness from the honey makes it a favorite among our girls as well.
Elderberries have been used medicinally for thousands of years, and elderberry syrup has been shown to be effective in reducing the duration of cold and flu viruses both through experience and anecdotal evidence and through small scale scientific studies.
If you’re pregnant or taking diuretics, diabetes medications, chemotherapy, laxatives, theophylline (TheoDur) or immunosuppressants, please talk to your doctor before using elderberry syrup, as there may be drug interactions with these medications, and some sources report that pregnant women should not use elderberry.
Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Original recipe from Herbal Nurturing by Michele Augur
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/4 cup dried elderberries
2 tablespoon dried rose hips
3/4 teaspoon dried ginger root
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 cup raw honey
2 tablespoon dried echinacea, optional
*echinacea should only be used when you’re sick and need it, not as a preventative, to prevent becoming immune to its benefits
Directions:
Combine water, elderberries, rose hips, ginger root, cinnamon stick and echinacea (if using) in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
In the meantime, add honey to a jar or bowl. I like to use a jar because I can give it a good shake each day without worrying about drips or spills.
Using a mesh strainer over your jar or bowl (I love this funnel from Bulk Herb Store), strain your herb mixture until it stops dripping. Discard the herbs.
Put the top on tightly and give the mixture a good shake to mix the honey in. Store in the refrigerator.
Dosage:
adults: 2-4 teaspoons/day
children: 1-2 teaspoons/ day
infants: honey should not be given to infants under 1 years old
Sources:
Herbal Nurturing by Michele Augur
Bulk Herb Store
Wikipedia
HerbWisdom.com
University of Maryland Medical Center
Please note that I’m not a doctor. This is what’s worked for our family, but you should do your own research and contact your physician with any questions!
Have you ever purchased or made elderberry syrup?
**originally posted in January 2012
Related posts:
This healthy living library is available again…but only for 48 hours!
November 11, 2015
The danger of snap judgements
NOTE: As we welcome Lucas Isaiah to our family and adjust to life as a family of eight, I’ll be sharing some of my very favorite posts from the thousands of posts in our archives. I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed reading back through them once again!
A few weeks ago, we stopped for dinner on our way to Florida for a family vacation, and after we ate, I ushered the three big girls to the bathroom for one more potty break before we hit the road again.
On the way, the woman at the table next to ours stopped us and complimented me on the girls’ behavior. She complimented me as their mom, rather than them, even though it was their good behavior she noticed.
Yes, I initially felt momma pride, because our girls are really well behaved (most of the time) in restaurants. But then, as I thought about it more, I wondered what she would have thought of us if the baby had been teething or the six-year-old had been sulking or the three-year-old had thrown a fit?
Would she have decided that we were bad parents? Would she have judged us as being too young or too lenient? Would she have concluded that we simply had too many kids?
A few days later, as we walked toward a mall entrance in Florida, the overtired and teething baby had a complete meltdown because I picked her up in the parking lot. She was screaming, thrashing and kicking, completely inconsolable.
There were dozens of people around, watching this scene unfold, and I couldn’t help but wonder what they thought.
Did they decide that we were bad parents? Did they judge us as being too young or too lenient? Did they conclude that we simply had too many kids?
So often, parents are judged by a snapshot of their children’s behavior, even without knowing the whole story. And whether the behavior in that moment is good or bad, it’s really not an accurate picture of the whole child.
Instead of judging…
…share an understanding smile.
…remember the times your children have done the same.
…think about how you would feel if someone judged you based on your child’s worst behavior.
…whisper encouragement as you pass by.
…offer to help if appropriate.
Your encouragement and understanding may just be what they need to get through a tough and embarrassing situation.
Have you been judged by your children’s behavior, good or bad? Do you try to encourage other parents in these situations?
**originally posted in April 2011
Related posts:
Why I’m buying my 8-year-old her first bra
A day in the life of a work-at-home, homeschooling, introverted mom
How self-care makes me {and you} a better mom
On toddlers and the terrific twos
November 9, 2015
Hot cocoa in a jar, candy cane reindeer + more {101 Days of Christmas}
Each week this holiday season I’m sharing seven of my very favorite 101 Days of Christmas projects from the archives.
We never make it until Thanksgiving before turning on Christmas music (which probably isn’t surprising given our track record for putting our tree up on Halloween), and these days I often turn on the peaceful Christmas playlist I made on Spotify last year with some of my very favorite Christmas carols!
{56} Hot Cocoa in a Jar
I love these sweet little hot cocoa jars so much, especially with mini “marshmallows” on top and a tiny little whisk to go with it!
Click here for instructions {and the cutest mini marshmallow substitutes ever!}.
{57} Meringue Angel Kisses
I only discovered meringues a year or so ago, but they’ve become (another) one of my favorites—so light and perfectly melt-y! I’d love to get some of these made and frozen for adding to hot chocolate throughout the Christmas season.
{58} Candy Cane Reindeer
My mom used to make these when I was little, and my kids love them just as much as I did. They’re a fun little treat to hang on your tree or hand out to a class, friends or neighbors.
Click here for step-by-step directions.
{59} Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
These chocolate chip cookies are my definition of perfect, crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, with lots and lots o’ chocolate throughout!
{60} Printable Subway Art
These are just a few of the words I hope characterize the holiday season for our family—rather than words like stress, chaos, obligation—and this subway art can easily be printed and added to a frame as part of your holiday decor!
Click here for the free printable.
{61} Traditional Advent Kit
We do not attend an especially liturgical church, but adding the advent wreath and candles to our holiday celebration has been a wonderful way to help us all slow down and focus on what we’re celebrating. I can’t wait to pull our kit out again in a few weeks!
Click here for instructions, examples and a printable advent guide.
{62} Winter Potpourri
A jar full of rustic and delicious-smelling potpourri is a wonderful gift for a teacher or neighbor.
Click here for ideas for your potpourri.
What is your favorite Christmas carol?
Related posts:
Handprint calendars, biscotti + more {101 Days of Christmas}
Chocolate-covered espresso beans, printable bows + more {101 Days of Christmas}
Peanut butter blossoms, Christmas wassail + more {101 Days of Christmas}
November 7, 2015
Weekend reading: November 7, 2015
From Instagram: Chasing the sunset through the mountains.
I’m scheduling this post on Thursday, so—God willing—we should be holding our brand new baby boy by the time you read this! {For the latest baby news, be sure to check Facebook or Instagram.}
This little one threw us for a loop, and we spent this past week simply waiting for his arrival, surprised that he wasn’t here yet and unsure if he was ever coming. We attended a few more doctor’s appointments, finished decorating for Christmas, and went for lots of walks. My mom also helped me finish the gifts I made for my Essentials class and bake cookies for the freezer. All in all, the extra week of preparation has left me feeling pretty relaxed about the next few weeks, even with the holidays upon us, so I won’t complain (although I complained plenty at the time!).
What I’m reading: The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure and Coming Clean by Seth Haines {still!}
What I cooked: apple-pear-cranberry fruit salsa with cinnamon tortilla chips
What I’m thinking about:
{Follow my personal Facebook feed for the things I’m thinking about and talking about all week!}
On raising teens and tweens
16 Tips for Drama-Free Parenting | Care2 {these are really good!}
Seven Ways Parents Can Help 13-Year-Olds Start Their Social Media Lives Right | NYTimes
Teen Instagram Star Reveals Why She Is Quitting Social Media | Time
3 Things to Keep You Steady When You Stand on the Edge of Something New | Chasing Blue Skies
Embrace the doodle
Here’s Why, How, And What You Should Doodle To Boost Your Memory And Creativity | Fast Company
Doodles on Index Cards Are the Super Hero of Memorization | Bright Ideas Press
Why Doodling Is Good for Students | The Homeschool Scientist
Encouragement for your motherhood journey
5 Things That Make Mothering a Little Easier | Carrots for Michaelmas
Tell other parents they are awesome, please | The Art of Simple
A letter to the mama who is freaking out that she isn’t doing enough. | The Finer Things in Life
Have a great weekend!
P.S. This month’s LIVE course theme is create. Whether you feel creative but can’t find the time to embrace that side of your soul or you’re not sure there’s a creative bone in your body, I’d love to have you join us to find out why it’s such an important part of creating a life you love…and how you can make room for it in an already full life!
Related posts:
Weekend reading: December 27, 2014
Weekend reading: January 10, 2015
Weekend reading: February 21, 2015
Weekend reading: February 28, 2015
November 5, 2015
On regaining control of our home
Six months ago I wrote a post about the chaos in our home. I was coming out of months of morning sickness, a sinus infection that just wouldn’t quit, and headaches that had left me unproductive and miserable, and as a family we’d developed a lot of bad habits and dropped the good ones we did have in place.
Our house was always a mess. We were just barely getting school done every day. I felt like Sean and I were constantly trying to pick up or clean up after the girls. We were barely staying on top of household chores. And the house hadn’t been decluttered in ages (or at least a full year, one or the other).
Although I read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and continued to glean tips from other organizing and family blogs, the most important part of the process for me was simply paying attention to the habits, routines, and clutter in our home and looking for ways to improve them one at a time.
These days, our family is still fairly chaotic, but there are soon-to-be-8 of us, and not one of us has a quiet, meek personality, so that’s probably to be expected.
Our home, on the other hand runs—well, not exactly like a well-oiled machine, but a whole lot better than before…
1. We’ve established some really great routines—like our daily morning time and straightening the house at transition times during the day. These help our days to feel peaceful even though our actual schedule varies from day to day.
2. Everyone has chores and pitches in. Not just everyday chores, but big chores, like cleaning the bathroom and completing a load of laundry from start to finish. And we’ve trained the girls on more everyday chores as well, so I can now ask any of them to grab a rag and wipe down the table or wash a few dishes in the sink and know that it will get done properly.
3. Spiral notebooks and daily checklists have been a sanity saver. The two big girls use theirs religiously, while I have to remind the middles a bit more, but either way, I am better able to communicate expectations, make sure the important things are getting done, and stay on top of what the girls need to do each day, which means they better understand those expectations as well and can move through them more quickly.
4. The clothes have been organized, decluttered and put away neatly. It’s been almost three months since I KonMari’d our clothes, and I find it so much easier to stay on top of the laundry simply because I want to keep our drawers looking fresh and neat and organized.
It’s been about a month since I finished rotating the girls’ clothes, and the extra work I put into it paid off just as I hoped—their clothes are no longer overflowing out of their drawers while they complain that they have nothing to wear. Our oldest does a couple loads of laundry a week, folding and separating them into piles which each of the girls puts away.
5. Lunch has officially become a do-it-yourself affair. All of the girls can make various sandwiches, quesadillas, leftovers, noodles, eggs, etc. for themselves and their little brother, which means I’m getting healthy breakfasts and dinners on the table more often because I don’t have to worry about the middle meal. (And the big girls have mastered a few meals, like this 10-minute lasagna, for dinner as well. )
6. I’ve decluttered everything from top to bottom. Less clutter we’re now better able to stay on top of the cleaning and straightening on a regular basis. The house never feels too far from clean (although it’s still amazing to me how quickly we can trash it on any given day!), and it feels much more manageable overall. When things are decluttered, it’s also easier for me to see the things that need to be thrown or given away just as we go about our daily lives, so it’s easier to maintain as well.
Of course, we’re about to enter the newborn “daze” and I know we’ll need to make many adjustments as we go. But regardless of what the next weeks and months hold, we’re in a better place than we were six months ago, which makes it all feel a little more manageable!
Related posts:
The most important tool in my homemaking toolbox
Confessions of an online shopper {what I *really* buy online}
The 2016 printable calendars are finally here!
Rotating seasonal wardrobes with older kids
November 4, 2015
Why we don’t stress the sciences in elementary school {even though we think they’re important}
I recently shared my thoughts on a variety of language arts curricula and what has or does work for us as well as the importance of just reading good books.
Several people asked if I’d be doing the same thing for other topics like math and science, but we really don’t have a lot of experience with different curricula in other subject areas, so I don’t have the same type of posts planned for those.
And truthfully, while I love language arts curriculum, I’m not a huge fan of formal science curriculum at the lower grade levels.
I know that’s almost sacrilege in today’s STEM-focused culture (especially as the mother of girls), but it’s not that we don’t value the sciences or want to give our girls a love for them; it’s that we think there are better ways to accomplish that than a box curriculum.
For us, that means lots and lots of living books about the sciences. We have books about the human body and outer space, about famous inventors and physics, about animals and plants and the life cycle of each.
And more than that, we consider the world our science curriculum. We observe things in nature, the pattern of the stars (and the Milky Way, which we’re lucky enough to be able to see on any given clear night), the plants that grow in our yard and in the places we visit, the habits of local animals, and so on.
When I was young, my dad and I used to play a game in the car where we’d come up with a science question (for example, “How far does the light from a flash light travel?”) and talk through it as we drove. I don’t even think we always came up with an answer, but I loved those discussions and the things I learned about the world just through conversation, and I want to create the same type of environment for my kids.
While I don’t think standardized tests are the be-all and end-all by any stretch, I also think it’s telling that our girls have scored almost 100% on the science portion of those tests every single year without ever cracking open a textbook.
This summer, we did end up adding two Apologia elementary programs—Chemistry for our oldest and Land Animals for our 2nd and 4th graders—because they were asking to “do more science.” They’re working through them slowly and steadily without any real rush or end goal in mind, and I love that each one includes tons of hands-on activities and experiments.
(Actually, in full disclosure, we attempted the same program once before, when they were little and before I had fully figured out how I felt about formal science curriculum, and it was just too parent-intensive for my style of homeschooling. Now, however, they work independently 99% of the time.)
In addition, the two big girls like to poke around the science topics on Khan Academy, TedEd and BrainPop. We also have several of the Planet Earth and Life DVD series plus the classic set of Magic School Bus episodes. And while we’re not getting them monthly right now, every few months someone will pull out an Groovy Lab in a Box and work through a couple science experiments as well.
I do think formal sciences are important in the later years, if only to give them a chance to discover their own talents and interests (I had no idea how much I loved chemistry until college and occasionally regret not pursuing that more), but my most important goal for now is to develop a natural and organic love for the sciences through our every day interactions with the world. And that we can do without a box curriculum.
How do you approach science in your homeschool?
Related posts:
Why we homeschool year round (yes, even in the summer!)
Scaling back our 2014-2015 curriculum {again}
Remember, Classical Conversations is just ONE option
What do kids really need to learn?
November 2, 2015
Peanut butter blossoms, Christmas wassail + more {101 Days of Christmas}
Each week this holiday season I’m sharing seven of my very favorite 101 Days of Christmas projects from the archives.
We’re officially halfway to Christmas with just 52 days to go!
If you haven’t started planning yet, it’s not too late to print our free Christmas planner and organize your thoughts on paper so that you’ll have more time and energy for the fun stuff.
{49} Peanut Butter Blossoms
These classic cookies are among my all-time favorites, and while there’s nothing especially Christmas-y about them, I never can resist making at least one batch at the holidays.
{50} Candy Cane Muddy Buddies
Muddy buddies are one of those addictive, just-can’t-stop snacks, and this candy cane version is perfect for the peppermint lovers among us.
{51} Christmas Wassail
More than a decade ago, we lived in St. George, Utah for two years, and we were by ourselves for Christmas. Our next door neighbors invited us over for the afternoon and served wassail, and it’s been one of my favorite Christmas traditions ever since!
{52} Dutch Speculaas
These spicy cookies are a fun and tasty alternative to the more common sugar cookies and shortbread we Americans often bake at Christmas.
{53} Etched Glass Gifts
Every time I etch glass, I’m amazed that it actually works, and the end results are always beautiful. I’m secretly waiting for my sister to get her own home so that I can make her a full set of personalized Pyrex!
Click here for instructions and ideas.
{54} Hot Cocoa Stand for Charity
We’re all sad not to be repeating this activity this year (with a newborn in the house, I’m trying to simplify!) because it was such a great experience all around.
Click here for free printables!
{55} Pony Bead Candy Canes
Our girls loved this craft so much and we ended up with dozens of these candy canes around our home last year.
What are you most looking forward to during advent?
Related posts:
Handprint calendars, biscotti + more {101 Days of Christmas}
Chocolate-covered espresso beans, printable bows + more {101 Days of Christmas}
October 31, 2015
Weekend reading: October 31, 2015
My mom shared this photo yesterday—she carved a pumpkin with the kids while Sean started working on the Christmas tree. Because we’re us!
Since our first Christmas as a married couple, we’ve put the Christmas tree up on Halloween—a tradition I love and look forward to ever year so that we can enjoy the twinkling lights and Christmas decorations throughout the holiday season. A couple years ago Sean started putting the tree itself up a day early so we could just focus on decorating as a family on Halloween itself. This year that turned out to be a really good decision since there were hundreds of bulbs out on the tree that were shorting entire circuits, and he spent entirely too long trying to get those to work!
We actually thought Lucas was coming yesterday, with a combination of regular, strong contractions and cramps with lots of pressure. Frustratingly, those contractions stopped every single time we considered going to the hospital, and have now stopped altogether, so I’m just trying to convince myself that I really won’t be pregnant forever. (I am also preparing myself for a repeat c-section, just in case, because I know my doctor’s office won’t induce and his head is too high to even break my water at this point.)
What I’m reading: The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure and Coming Clean by Seth Haines
What I’m thinking about:
{Follow my personal Facebook feed for the things I’m thinking about and talking about all week!}
The difference between success and failure
Overcoming the 10 Biggest Obstacles to Creating | zen habits
Do you think you’re special when it comes to failure? | A Life Less Frantic
To My Friends Who Are Not Famous | Shawn Smucker
Finding peace in your homeschool
The biggest problem in our homeschool is me | Simple Homeschool
Kicking Curriculum to the Curb with Living Learning Lists | Ed Snapshots
Why you need to plan a Teacher Institute Day | Quill & Camera
Have a great weekend!
Related posts:
Weekend reading: December 20, 2014
Weekend reading: May 30, 2015
Weekend reading: September 26, 2015
Weekend reading: October 10, 2015
October 29, 2015
What I really need you to say
This is the closest I could get to showing you my emotional-like-a-crazy-person face!
Last Friday was quite the emotional day for us. As we continue working through a whole litany of doctor, dentist and vision appointments (mostly standard well visits times eight), we got some “not so great” news…
First, we learned that our oldest daughter has a 6 to 7-degree curvature of her spine. I know that’s well within normal limits and not necessarily an indication of anything at all…but with a visible curve when she bends over and puberty plus several inches of growth in her future, I still worry about the possibility that it could increase and require intervention.
At my OB appointment, the news felt a bit like my body has forgotten how to do this whole pregnancy thing: My cervix is not dilating, even though I’ve always been 3-4cms at this point of my pregnancy. The baby’s head is floating high, even though it’s been at least closer to engaged at this point. They’re estimating him to be a “big baby” even though I’ve always had small babies. I know none of that really matters or means anything at all, but it’s still nerve wracking.
You know what I need most when I tell you these things?
I need you to understand why I burst into tears after my OB appointment.
I need you to tell me how nerve wracking some news during your pregnancy was or how you were a big emotional mess when pregnant too.
I need you to share how you also hate not being in control or knowing what the future holds.
I need you to empathize even if it’s clear that I’m being dramatic and emotional.
Thankfully, I was surrounded by women who did just that for me on Friday:
My mom said, “That was pretty much everything you didn’t want to hear, huh?” and my sister texted back, “Oh. No. To all those things!”
Several friends at our homeschool group that afternoon listened to me babble through my tears and feelings as I tried to process them out loud.
And I happened to talk to our pediatrician after my OB appointment (when she gave me the results of the scoliosis scan) and although I was out of tears by then, when I told her about the lack of progress, she asked, “Did you cry? I would have cried!”
On the other hand, there’s a few things I don’t need:
I don’t need to be reminded that I’m being silly and dramatic and that none of us are really ever in control of our pregnancies.
I don’t need my fears over my daughter’s future minimized in the name of reassurance.
I don’t need medical explanations or an unemotional evaluation of the problem (at least not when my emotions are running high), although I do like hearing about your experiences.
***
It’s often said that men are fixers, and that when we share our problems with them, their gut reaction is to find a way to fix it. That might be true, but I think women are just as likely to be minimizers, wanting to reassure each other that the problem isn’t as bad as it seems.
Sometimes, though, you just want to not feel alone, to know that someone understands how you’re feeling, and to have a chance to get all the feelings (and tears) out so you can process the information rationally once you’ve done that.
By Friday night, I was overwhelmed by gratitude for the women in my life—women who listen, who promise to pray, who make me feel normal rather than crazy for overreacting.
As a fixer/minimizer/reassurer myself, it was a good reminder that sometimes what matters most is just being there!
Related posts:
Have you bought new underwear this year?
How self-care makes me {and you} a better mom
Today is your day to start over
The friends we all need
CommentsWhen my oldest daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis, we were ... by Melissa @ teammadefamily.com
October 28, 2015
Have you printed your 2015 Thanksgiving planner?
Get organized for Thanksgiving with the 2015 Thanksgiving Planner, available in both full- and half-sheet sizes!
Both versions includes the following printables:
2015 Binder Cover
2015 Calendar (blank)
Baking Planner
Budget Worksheet
Decor Inventory
Family Traditions
Guest List
Master To-Do List
Menu Planner
Recipes List
Shopping List
Black Friday Shopping List
Plus download the Thanksgiving Your Way ebook and Gratitude Journal.
Head here to download the individual printables, or visit the Life Your Way shop to buy your complete planner in a single download.
Related posts:
Updated 2014 Thanksgiving planner now available!
The 2016 printable calendars are finally here!
Easy apple cheese danish squares
Let’s talk about planners and to-do lists
