My name is Katie. I am three! I would really like to see a tree...

A few months ago, I started asking Katie what theme she might like for her third birthday party.  I love to get all crafty and plan ahead.  She had become obsessed with the Lorax movie around that time and decided she wanted a "Lorlax birthday."
 
The main premise behind the Dr. Seuss book and movie is that the Lorax character is the guardian of the trees.  When the Onceler starts chopping down the Truffula trees to makes Thneeds (a fine thing that all people need), the Lorax sets out to warn him about the dangers of cutting down the forest.  Can I just stop here and say how warm it makes my heart that my daughter is a tree hugger at her core? No brain washing needed. :)

Keeping with the environmental awareness theme of the story, we used no disposable kitchen products other than the flexible straws that we decorated with Lorax mustaches for the kiddos to use.  I really appreciate our family and friends going along with keeping up with their plates, napkins, cups, forks.  Next year I'll try to remember that it would be nice to have separate plates for dessert.  To me, the clean up was really not much more work since we just put everything in the dishwasher.

Here are some shots from the festivities:

Truffula tree light fixture

Katie's artwork for the party.  The Lorax on the left and the Onceler on the right.  I am extremely biased, but I see a little bit of a future Picasso in her collages here. ;)

 

Trina and Levi playing pin the mustache on the Lorax.  He was a little dizzy from spinning in circles before making his move. ;)

Cake! Made with almost all natural or organic ingredients.  Used spinach for the green icing color.  Truffula tree tooth picks from Target and Barbaloots made out of Teddy Graham crackers.

Happy Birthday to you!

A few of Katie's friends enjoying cake.

I am the Boo.  I speak for the trees.

Since her birthday actually falls on Easter this year, we thought a "small" party with her little church buddies and a couple of cousins would be easier than planning a big shindig right before Easter.  By the time we added in parents and siblings, we had a house full.  And the kids partied hardy!

A huge thank you to all our friends and family that helped us get ready for the party and celebrate!  We are so blessed to be surrounded with love!

~Carla

Honey Granola Recipe

The term "crunchy" in "crunchy mama" is a wink and a nudge to the use of the word "granola" to mean hippy.  So I guess every good crunchy mama needs a tasty granola recipe.  Here's how I found my favorite.

Steve and I came across a show on the local NBC station called, "The Kentucky Proud Kitchen."  This show was made for us as it combines our love of cooking, Kentucky, and local products.  A recent episode featured various recipes with local honey as an ingredient.  One of the recipes was for a simple and nutritious granola sweetened with honey.

I've been on the search for an easy granola recipe for several years.  I've focused on attempting bar types because I thought they would be the most appealing to Steve for his lunch.  He had been taking various brands of processed store bought bars as a workday snack.  However every recipe I tried either ended up stuck to the pan or too sticky to be enjoyable.

I was intrigued by the basic ingredients of the KY Proud recipe and thought I would give it a try even though the end result would be a crumbly, traditional granola rather than a bar.  I was also excited that the granola would feature local honey which is a great way to cut down on seasonal allergies and is a healthier alternative to other sweeteners.

Honey Granola:

• 6 cups old-fashioned, rolled oats (I use a combo of Bob's Red Mill 5 Grain Cereal and store brand)
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 ½  cups honey
• ½ cup oil (I use coconut)
• 1 ½ cups sweetened dried cranberries (or less)
• Other suggested add-ons: 1/2 cup chopped almonds, chopped all-fruit leather, shredded coconut, flax seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, and cinnamon.  Add honey and oil, mixing well to combine.  (Honey can be gently heated in the microwave to make it more fluid.)  Spread oat mixture onto a baking sheet which has been greased (I brush with coconut oil).  Bake oats for 20-25 minutes, turning mixture over with a spatula every 5-10 minutes to ensure even browning.  Remove from oven, mix in dried fruit, and return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes.  Remove from oven, allow to cool, and transfer to an airtight container.

After letting the granola cool, I store in several different recycled containers.  I put smaller portions in old baby food jars for Steve's lunch each day.

We have all enjoyed eating this granola, or as Katie says, "granole."  Steve says that he doesn't mind that it's not a bar and thoroughly enjoys the little bit of something sweet/protein boost for his school day. 

Here's a picture of my little granola making helper sneaking a bite:

 

And here's a picture of her drying out black walnuts to hopefully be included in future granola.

 

~Carla

De-Odor-Ain't Gone

I've been on a quest for the perfect deodorant for a while.  I want a deodorant that does it all: keeps you dry, free of odor, and is eco-friendly and non-toxic.  Why is it important to choose a non-toxic deodorant?

Your underarms are a rather sensitive place to slather on harsh chemicals such as-

• Parabens-preservatives used in the cosmetic industry that have actually been found in breast cancer tissue 
• Aluminum-yep, most antiperspirants contain aluminum.  Aluminum has been established as a neurotoxin.  Scary stuff- it can cross the blood-brain barrier and is capable of DNA damage.
  
• Triclosan- an antibacterial and antifungal agent that is currently under review by the FDA.

Needless to say, I don't want to put any of that in my body, so I have been experimenting with the following deodorants:

1. Tom's natural deodorant
2. Crystal deodorant
3. Suave 24 hr (powder scent)
4. coconut oil
5. **nothing**  :)

Originally, I thought I would do a legit, controlled scientific experiment to determine which deodorant worked best.  However, my busy schedule (including caring for a 5 month old) got in the way of that.  I will merely list pros and cons of each type I tried.

1.  Tom's-  I like that this still has a scent.  The apricot scent is nice.  However, the deodorant is almost a gel-like form.  It is a little sticky as it goes on.  I felt like it was good at hiding odor for the first few hours.  After a while though, especially if I was in extra hot conditions, it just did not hold up well.
2. Crystal deodorant- This is a roll-on and doesn't smell like anything.  Considering my underarms stunk when I got out of the shower (more on that in a second), as SOON as a I applied this, my pits smelled like, well, nothing.  As I sit here at 9:30 in the evening, though, I do smell "au naturel."  I got this at Kroger in the natural/organic section.  It was inexpensive.  
3. Suave 24 hr.- Ugh.  I got this for $1 at a Dollar Store on my out-of-town work day because I was DESPERATE.  It was over 100 degrees, I was in and out of the car (with little to no air conditioning), using the breast pump while driving, and forgot my deodorant.  Nuf said.  This is actually terrible.  First, the smell is awful.  I literally feel like it's 1993 when the baby powder scent was in (remember Love's Baby Soft perfume??).  Second, I seriously feel it does something to change the chemistry of my underarm area.  I swear to you I can't SCRUB this stuff off in the shower.  It's like there is a film under my arms that won't go away.  I get out of the shower with my underarms smelling like stronger BO than when I got in.  Gross. 
4. Coconut oil- Is there anything this little miracle can't do?  From using it as a diaper cream to putting it in your cookies, it is amazing!  It did a good job at keeping me stink-free, for a while.  I would say it would not be a good option if you'll be outside sweating for any period of time.  I also wonder about it leaving oil stains on my clothes.  
5. **Nothing**- When I say nothing, I mean nothing.  I have found this to be the same concept as shaving, you know, the more you shave, the less your hair grows.  Well, the less I wear deodorant, the less I perspire and stink.  However, I still feel it's necessary at times when I know I will sweat. 

And there you have it.  You have to find what works best for you, but for me, I think it would be a combination of wearing nothing and using the Crystal deodorant.  Bottom line is de-odor-ain't gone no matter what I've tried, so why risk it using chemical-laden deodorants?

~Trina