Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice

It is officially fall. The weather is slightly turning with a present chill during some evenings. Not as evident when you live in sunny south Florida--but- if you close your eyes and open your spirit to the new season it will come. 

Fall reminds me of family, the desire to be together and share memories. I want to smell pumpkin spice and wrap my fingers around a warm cup of tea. I hear the leaves whistle a new song outside my window---a gentle and calming lullaby that begs to come in my home. It is easy to forget the beauty of life while running the race that keeps up moving forward. Although, I too am caught breathless--today is different-- I chose to stop and with arms wide open I welcome this familiar orange into my life...

Brew the scent of Autumn: 

In a medium size saucepan add the following ingredients and let it simmer:

• The peel of 1 orange
• Cut up 1 apple (leave skin on)
• 2 Cinnamon sticks
• 1 Tablespoon of  cloves
• 1 Tablespoon of Almond essential oil ( or extract)
• 1.5 Cup of water 

Let the mixer simmer while letter the aroma fill the air. You may also save the mixer in the fridge and re-use.  

Happy Fall!! 






Read on : http://diana212m.blogspot.com

Rice Science Project - Toddler

Thank you Lord for the calming rain- for the sound of life coming to a stop before is all begins over. The heavenly drops wash away the urgency we call life. As the skies clap with a dance of lights..reminding me that beauty can be found even in the midst of the storm. I bow down- slowly...while it pours, pours over my heart and what was once old has just made new. 
New as the beam of sunlight shyly hiding behind the darkness- yet it still peaks through the soul of this world to bring hope...hope for a new dawn- a new beginning.

DIY: Science with your Toddler

My 4 year old son is constitantely in motion and that requires a lot of imagination. Since he is enjoying the freedom of summer, I try to engage him in different activities.









For this fun science project you will need:

• Rice 
• Food coloring (or make your own with; cumin (yellow), beet (purple), blueberries (blue), cranberries (red) )

STEP 1:

Seperate the rice in to 4 containers.

STEP 2:

Add tap water to each container of rice

STEP 3:

Add a few drops of food dye  to each container ( if you want to show your child how mixing colors will give you a new color, you can add 2 colors to a container)

STEP 4:

Let the rice water sit for about 30 minutes

STEP 5:

Rinse each rice water and place on a plate (saving the water into a cup)

You will have a fun time talking about the new colors of each rice container and the water drained from each container.
Have fun!!

Renata 

No Guilt Cleaning!!

When life gives you lemons...we tend to make a sour face! forget making lemonade- who has the time? It is easier to turn sour, to give in and maybe let go. However, letting go at times takes courage. A brave heart is always bleeding..with the unknown...with the ink of fear stamped red. I wake up and feel distant with eyes locked to the fog of tomorrow-the salty strings run down my cheeks letting me taste life and loss. Although the body wants to hide, the soul seeks beauty- beauty that bathes the dawn and glistens at dusk.
One step after the next- life is messy, complicated, beautiful, painful, hopeful & so much more...


Clean without Guilt:


Make your own All- Purpose, everyday cleaning product!! I love this...non-toxic, safe for kiddies and adults.

You will need:
1- 1/4 Cup of White distilled Vinegar
2- 1 TBSP of Corn Starch ( preferably without talc)
3- One plastic squirt bottle ( look around and you will find an empty one under your sink)
4- Warm water
5- 8/10 drops of lemon essential oil (optional)

How to make:
In a small bowl combine the corn starch & vinegar until dissolved. Pour mixture into the plastic bottle, top it off with warm tap water and you are done!! If you want to add a little extra scent, you can add about 8-10 drops of lemon essential oil to the bottle and shake well.

This All-purpose cleaner can be used on counters, glass, mirrors & surfaces around your house.

Enjoy the Green life...

Gratitude of June

The year is half way through and enjoying every moment has been a task difficult to uphold. We seem to want to soak up every bit of sunlight and breathe in every afternoon rain. As I glance out the window and realize the fullness of this life- the greens, blues, purpels and silvers brushed across the canvas of my life- I want more- I want life. 
Perfection might never be attained- but laughter through failed attempts will continue to push us forward to the next chapter- with eyes wide open.

A LITTLE BERRY TIP:

Before storing those delicious fresh berries, be sure to soak them into equal parts water and vinegar in order to make them last longer. The vinegar washes way all the impurities from the berries, allowing them to stay fresh longer. I have tried this myself with absolute success! 

Ingredients:

1 Pint of Strawberries (raspberries, blueberries)
1 Cup of Water
1 Cup of white distilled vinegar 

How to: 
In a bowl, gently place the berries and cover them with the water/vinegar mixture. Let is sit for 8 min and rinse well. Let the berries dry before storing. A good tip is to place a sheet of paper towel on the bottom of the storage container to soak up any extra moisture. Place the berries in the storage container and enjoy fresh & clean berries!

Thank you for reading & blessings.

How much do we actually care?

I CARE 

I can now say that I am a vegetarian! It has been almost 2 years that my husband and I have given up #meat! 

BUT WHY?

After seeing the way that animals are treated around the world to become our food- it disturbed be to the point of action. 

ACTION?

Yes, action! On the principal of not becoming the reason for more animal killing, I created a meat free zone in mi casa...:)

WHAT NOW?

Continue on the path laid out before me, to care for Gods creatures and to make a difference- even if in my own life. 

TRUTH!

The truth is, that this journey has been a lot more then just giving up meat. It has meant sticking with something that truly matters to me, even when the going gets tough. This idea is much easier said than lived! I struggle with this in my life- the fear of failing, of making of fool of myself- for what? 

Well, so you can say that you tried. 

So - please consider what these godly creatures suffer for our pleasure...make a difference ...take control. 

Thank you for reading.

A New Year & A New You,Possible?

Another year has gone by and life continues to shift in a new direction. It seems that we spend our lives trying to achieve greatness and miss the truth that is before our very eyes. This year, I vow to pay more attention to the blur that is my life and to greet each morning with childish expectation. 

Food has become a great part of my life. Learning how to eat and what to eat have truly changed the way I view my life. 

New Year resolution for 2013- Eat better & feed your body the right types of food, avoiding processed foods.

Here are the top 5 foods I can live without & each healthy replacement in 2013:

1. Processed Potato Chips vs. Homemade Sweet Potato Fries
2. Soda [any kind] vs. Water, water, water
3. Refined Sugar vs. Honey or Agave
4. Canned food vs. the real thing!
5. Non-Organic vs. Organic food

True: Although this is a small step for mankind it will be a leap in your life!

It is time to pay attention to what we eat. Spend more time preparing your food and enjoy the practice of eating well. 

We can live a longer and healthier life by going back to our roots-literally...

So, open a bottle of your favorite wine, gather around the kitchen and breathe in the- la joie de vivre!

Good night,

Renata Jernigan

Krave This!!!

At 3:00 o'clock I begin craving chocolate, candy, and everything that is not healthy for my body. 

So, I have adopted and modified a delicious recipe found on the, Martha Stewart website,for a healthy and easy to make cereal bar.

This cereal bar is truly a treat and will leave your tummy full and your conscience clean:). 

So here we go...

KRAVE BAR (my name for it)

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1/3 Cup of Honey  

• 1/3 Cup of Organic Coconut oil (you can also use canola oil)

• 1/3 Cup of Organic Raw Brown Sugar

• 2 Cups Organic Brown Rice Crisps

• 2 Cups Oatmeal (I use Redsmille brand)

• 1/4 Cup of Raisins ( or any other dried fruit- cut into small pieces)

• 1 Tablespoon Cup of Cacao Morsels or chocolate chips morsels

You will need: 

• Medium size sauce pan

• Wooden Spoon

• Square glass baking dish

• Parchment Paper

 



LETS BEGIN

 

 DIRECTIONS:

• In a medium size sauce pan, place honey, brown sugar and coconut oil and let it simmer on medium heat.
• In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients- oatmeal, rice crisps, dried fruit
• Pour wet ingredients onto dry ingredients and fold until well Incorporated

• Place parchment paper over the glass dish
• Pour ingredient onto parchment paper 
• Sprinkle chocolate chip onto top of cereal bar
• Use your hands or a rubber spatula to pack the cereal bar down
• Place it in fridge
• Cut into square or rectangles and enjoy!!

PS: Picture above shows wax paper and not parchment paper. I ran out of parchment paper!! DO NOT USE WAX PAPER OR FOIL IT WILL STICK TO THE BAR AFTER COOLED.