Mission: Simplifying Toys

If you had asked me what I thought about toys before my quest to learn more about the "whys" behind them, I would have said that the more the better. But that is natural right?
Kids = Piles 'o Toys.


But now after really thinking about the toys that I own and the toys that benefit my kids. I understand that Kids - Piles 'o Toys= Freedom. Sounds so cliche, I know. But it's true. I found that my toy piles had been skipped over in simplifying my home, but why? The book Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne answers the questions that I think everyone needs to hear. Here are a few points paraphrased that he makes in the chapter on a child's 'environment'.

• Toys are marketed now adays so that if the child doesn't have them, their imagination is gone. The toy is responsible for play, not the child.


• Kids feel entitled with more. They are not able to take care of what they have, because they know there will always be something else.


• Having lots of toys mean that none of them will truly have the child's full attention. The full potential of that toy won't be reached, because they're already on to the next thing.


• Boredom is a gift. Children don't need piles or a certain educational toy to develop who they are. They need unstructured time for play.

• Most children have 150 toys. If your child can't pick them up in 5 minutes they probably have too many.

• Books also are included in the simplifying. Too many books do not equal a well educated child. When not regulated they can become a form of clutter & excess. With too many to choose from they become disposable, commercialized, and overexposed just like toys.

He also says that many parents feel surprised by this assessment of their children's things. "It's as though parents realize they're on a runaway train, but they can't believe they never noticed it speeding up. Even in the span of one or two generation, there has been a sea change, a flood of items marketed to parents for their children."

My hopes for my kids future things are this....

Play Wooden food.

A miniature tea set.

A how-to book about simple wood projects for kids.

Different size play silks.

Nature. Rocks. Big. Little. Huge.

Piano.

Hula hoops.

Set of small real tools hammer, saw, etc.

Small rolling pin.

Little wheelbarrow.

Experiences.

I don't want to take away the joy of them experiencing life. I want to take away the outside pressure of more, and give them the joy of living with less & finding contentment with the things they do have.

"When you act to limit what you don't want for your family, you clarify what you really do need, what is important to you. Your values clarify. Simplification is a path of self-definition for the family."- Dr. Kim Payne

What's Cooking: Parmesan Zucchini

I recently tried a recipe for Parmesan Zucchini. It was simple to make and a great addition to a light dinner. I thinly sliced a zucchini and tossed it into a skillet with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. After cooking the slices for about 10 minutes (until soft) I drizzled freshly grated parmesan on top.

I let the cheese melt and the whole thing brown just a tiny bit and then served it with salmon. I wouldn't have guessed that parmesan and zucchini would be such a great combination, but it was delicious!

(Salmon, parmesan zucchini and orange slices)

Photos by moi.

Practicing Independence

"We must support as much as possible the child's desire for activity; not wait on him, but educate him to be independent." - Maria Montessori

Having the plates and food already prepped, ready for my helpers.

It was the two year olds task to take crackers and transfer them to red plates. Next came the meat that was already pulled into pieces & she put it on top of the crackers. Some for her, & some for her brother's plate.




Meanwhile it was my four year olds job to slice the cheese. Take the pieces and place them on the crackers. Make drinks. Carry plates outside where the picnic awaits.



"A child is an eager observer and is particularly attracted by the actions of adults and wants to imitate them. In this regard an adult can have a kind of mission. He can be an inspiration for the child's actions, a kind of open book wherein a child can learn to direct his own movements."
- Maria Montessori

Kitchen Cabinet Organization

(The horrible before shot)

For some reason I could never organize my rubbermaid containers in any sort of way that made sense. So finally I saved up my swagbucks and bought two metal shelves to give me some semblance of order in my kitchen cabinets.

(After I reorganized with my new shelves)

Having all of the containers organized means I'll actually use them more. When I don't have to search for the lids I'm more likely to grab a container instead of a ziplock bag. It also gave me more room for a little lazy susan which holds my coffee grinder and French press. I love having the things I use the most within reach. It saves me time and headaches.

Photos by moi.

How Do Moms Get Their Super Powers?

By eating a nutritious breakfast of course! Want to score major baking points with a woman in your life this weekend? Be sure to try these.....

Super Power Muffins:

-1 Cup Brown Sugar

- 1/4 to 1/2 cup Peanut Butter

- 1 Banana

- 1/2 cup Apple Sauce or Carrot Puree

- 1 Egg

- 1 Cup of Whole Wheat Flour

-1 Tsp Baking Soda

-1 Tsp Baking Powder

-1/2 Tsp of Salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients, set aside. Blend everything else, sift in dry ingredients. Spray muffin tray or add liners. Bake for 15-18 minutes. (Makes 12, double for 24).

Here's an old Seinfeld episode to enjoy while you chow down your super muffins...........Top of the Muffin to You!

Garden Markers

I first saw these vintage spoon garden markers about a year ago, but at the time I lived in a little apartment with no garden. Now that I finally have a garden I purchased four custom spoons with the names of the herbs I've planted.

I got them from etsy seller Monkeysalwayslook last night and I love them! Each spoon is different. She flattens them and then puts the name of the herb on them. They are already at home in my little herb garden.

Photos by moi.

Picture Your Memories

Most everyone has a memory box/closet/garage. Special memento's from days gone by, ticket stubs, or misc. school papers. These can be the hardest items to pare down, because of the emotional attachment. But keeping everything that has meaning to you wouldn't be the best use of your space. Try an easier way to have a visual reminder of your things without taking up any space.... with a camera. 1.) Ask yourself if your children would think this was special when they are older? If not, take a picture.

2.) Is it something that would lose pieces or fall apart if you kept it for a long period of time? If so, take a picture.

3.) If something happened to me, would someone even know why it was important to me? If not, take a picture, then with a photo program write the date & memory that goes along with the item.

4.) Is there documentation of this item? Have you done a complete home inventory of your house lately? If there was a fire or flood would you have the necessary proof/memory to recall all of your special items? If not, take a picture.

5.) Want to remember your child's reaction to their favorite artwork? How they were proud & glowing when it was finished? If so, take a picture with them and the finished masterpiece. Also, if they are in the stage where they produce a craft everyday at school, try taking your camera to school. Line them up against the wall and snap their photo with all of their goodies. A wonderful before/after memorabilia as to how they've grown through the school year.



6.) Did you go on vacation and bring back every brochure from your destination? Take a picture of the important pages, maps, and ticket stubs. That way they will be tucked in right beside your photos on your computer album, not lying around collecting dust. Same goes for sporting events & theater performances.

7.) No doubt it would be difficult to put every memory item in a scrapbook, but with digital photos it can be easy to create a photo book online through sites like Snapfish or Scrapblog. What a fun gift idea for Christmas, or any other holiday to create a book of your vacation/preschool year/or special events you attended. This way you can customize, organize, and actually enjoy your memories instead of them sitting stagnant taking up space.

Now, once you have some of your memorabilia on the computer it is important that you always remember to back up your files, or have an online service like Carbonite do this for you. That way you can rest assure that your photos will be kept safe throughout the years to come!