Friday

A Perfect Fit




Have you ever tried on a pair of shoes before that you really liked but they just. didn't. quite. fit?

You try to make them work but in the end the blisters and the pain just aren't worth the hassle of trying to fit into those shoes. You finally realize you'd be better off finding something that you did fit into...Ones that you didn't have to force on and that really were made for you.


Well, sometimes I feel like I'm trying to figure out where I fit in in this world. When I'm struggling to make it work but finally realize the blisters and pain aren't worth it, I remember I am always accepted in Christ.

I always fit in with Him.

I don't need to cry that the "shoes" I thought I wanted don't fit. I can rejoice that I've found the perfect fit because my identity is not found by fitting in with those around me, but fitting in with Christ.

May I encourage you today that no matter who you are or what you have done, you will always fit in with Christ. He won't leave you as you are though. He'll redeem you and fill you with peace that you can't find anywhere else in this world.

So rather than cry about the shoes that don't fit, I'm going to get on my knees and thank the One in whom I will always fit in with.

All I Have is Christ
Credits: Music and words by Jordan Kauflin
© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Chorus
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You


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Wednesday

Choosing Safer Sleep Options for Your Family: A White Lotus Organic Bedding Company Review


Why Choose Organic Bedding?

Switching to organic sleep products for our family is something we are in the process of doing. After learning about all of the chemicals that are in mattresses, pillows and even sheets it became apparent to me that this would be an area of our home that should be switched over to organic.

Our family has taken a slow, calm, non-reactive approach to making healthier changes in our home. Whether it be the food we eat, the deodorant we wear, the toothpaste we use or the sheets we sleep on, we do the best we can to make changes when possible, but not stress about the changes we are not able to make.

An area of our home that I am looking to improve upon is our bedrooms. Specifically the pillows, mattresses and sheets we use. I know that realistically I will not be able to replace all of these products at one time, if ever, but the more changes that I can make, the better.

Did you know that many cotton sheets are treated with formaldehyde to produce less wrinkles? Ick. Really? I'll take the chemical free wrinkles over formaldehyde any day thank you very much.

"Formaldehyde is a cancer-causing chemical that, unfortunately, is found in many common household items like furniture, particle board (which is actually used in the construction of your house), paints, and carpet. It would be hard to completely avoid exposure to formaldehyde, but about 1/3 of your life is spent sleeping, so by avoiding breathing formaldehyde fumes while you sleep...[you] could greatly reduce your overall exposure." source  
 
Thankfully there are resources such as White Lotus Home, an organic bedding company based out of New Jersey for chemical free options for you and your family.

White Lotus Home carries products for children such as 100% Organic Wool Hand Made Puddle Pads, toddler mattresses and even cribs. They also carry items for adults whether it be bedding, pillows, mattresses and more. All of their softgoods are handcrafted in the USA. Check out this great video:


If you know you need to make some changes, I think a realistic place to start is with the type of pillows your family sleeps on. When you stop and think about how many hours a day your face is nestled in your pillow, you might want to make sure that what your cuddling up with is beneficial to your health or at least not detrimental.

Pillows are something that need to be replaced every so often anyways and up until now I have been purchasing the $5 pillows from Walmart (which my husband really didn't care for anyways because they weren't thick enough for him.)

I hate to think about all those chemicals we've been breathing in over all these years. What's done is done, but there's no time like the present to start making changes!

We reviewed the Standard Kapok Medium organic pillow from White Lotus. It is filled with 100% percent organic kapok and is handmade. "Kapok is a natural alternative to conventional pillow stuffing. Harvested in the rain forest, kapok is soft to the touch like down, yet provides support in a way not even synthetic materials can match." source  

Originally I was the one using the pillow, however, I'm a smaller build and it was a little too thick for me. Because of it's thickness I couldn't get comfortable on it because my head and neck were raised up a bit too much. I passed the pillow on to my husband and it works great for him! He especially likes how firm it is.

That being said, because everyone is different, White Lotus will custom make a pillow for you. Email them at sales@whitelotus.net to get one that's just right for you.

White Lotus also offers free Shipping in the U.S. Feel free to contact them by phone at 732.828.2111 or by email at sales@whitelotus.net.

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!


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**Disclaimer: I received a pillow from White Lotus Home in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and I received no further compensation.
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Monday

Welcome to Our Classroom! (A Little Video Tour)


Today is our first day of school for the 2012-2013 School Year. It's hard to believe that summer break has already come to a close for us, but the kids are super excited about starting school.
 
It's understandable that Carlee is excited because this is her first year, but it really blesses me to know that Carter is excited too...because he's done this before and yet he still loves it. (Thank you God for blessing in this way!)
 
My biggest prayer as we face this new school year is that I would lead our children in the procession towards worship and adoration of God. I will consider it to be a successful year come May 2013 if we have all drawn closer to Him as a result of spending time in His Word and adoring Him through song. I'm prone to distraction so it's easy to lose sight of this goal or to become enamored with things that seem more important than God at the time. By God's grace we will give Him the honor He deserves in our school time.
 
In honor of the new school year, I thought I'd give you an overview of our curriculum, what I have for our preschooler (how can this be that he is turning 3 in just a couple weeks??), and what our "classroom" looks like.

To start with, here's a look at where we homeschool. You'll have to forgive me for the video quality because it's not the greatest!

 
Curriculum
 
We are continuing with our Sonlight curriculum this year and are still thrilled with how well it works for our family, the results we are seeing and how much the kids and I enjoy it.
  • We will use Sonlight Core A with both our Kindergartner and our Second Grader. It covers History, Reading, Science and Language Arts.  
Sonlight requires very low prep time on my part which is perfect for a busy, blogging Momma like myself.  If you'd like to check Sonlight out, click here for a 3 Week Sample or request a catalog. If you decide to place an order and you use my Rewards ID (BZ 20321238), you'll receive $5 off your first order of $50 or more. (Thanks a bunch if you do!)
  
Sonlight Curriculum
 
  
  • For Math we are continuing with Rightstart Math. Our son is starting Level C and our daughter is half way through Level A. It is a very thorough, hands-on approach to math and we love it!
  • Although our Sonlight Core comes with Bible, I absolutely love the Apologetics Curriculum from Apologia so we will be using that here and there as well. I have reviews of two books in their Apologetics series if you'd like to read them here and here. 
  • Both of our older children will use BJU Press Handwriting this year.
 
This year I made a personal school schedule to help me stay on track better (hopefully!) as well as a "schedule" for the two older children to help them develop some independent skills. Click on the titles below to download your own.
 
My Personal Schedule:
 
2012-2013 School Year Schedule

Monday

Check each child’s schedule to see what has been completed

Circle Time: Calendar, Number of Days of School, Pledges

Bible

Rightstart Math

History/Geography

Read-Alouds/Language Arts

Science

Music Class 1-1:35 pm

 
Tuesday

Check each child’s schedule to see what has been completed

Circle Time: Calendar, Number of Days of School, Pledges

Bible

Rightstart Math

History/Geography

Read-Alouds/Language Arts

Science

Preschool with Caleb

TOS Crew Review Items

 
Wednesday

Check each child’s schedule to see what has been completed

Circle Time: Calendar, Number of Days of School, Pledges

Bible

Rightstart Math


History/Geography

Read-Alouds/Language Arts

Science

Music Class 11:25-12:00

 
Thursday

Check each child’s schedule to see what has been completed

Circle Time: Calendar, Number of Days of School, Pledges

Bible

Rightstart Math

History/Geography

Read-Alouds/Language Arts

Science

Preschool with Caleb

Create a Web about something we learned this week

TOS Crew Review Items

Piano lessons in evening

 
Friday

No Formal School
 
Who Am I? And Why Am I Here? Apologetics Curriculum

TOS Crew Review Items Past and Present: Vintage Remedies for Kids, Artistic Pursuits, Write Shop

 
Carlee and Carter's Schedules:
 
Carlee’s School Day Schedule

Colossians 3:23 “ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

**If it is in RED it needs to be completed before you watch any TV.
P.s. I love you. xoxo

Handwriting
Spelling Words
 
Read your AWANA verses

Read your current poem
Weather (flannel graph): only on Tuesday and Thursday
 
Make the Date with Money: only on Tuesday and Thursday

Chores

Practice Piano (Carter)

Keyboarding (Carter)
 
For our Preschooler I will be utilizing the Preschool Basket I put together for when our daughter was that age. I will also do some Letter Themes with him that incorporate Science topics as well.

So, those are our plans in a nutshell for the upcoming school year. I hope you enjoyed the little tour.

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Friday

Ecostore USA Review

All of the items I am reviewing for ecostore USA

I am still in the process of switching our family over to more natural products that are not chemically laden, but thanks to ecostore USA I was able to switch over even my bath products to more natural options and I am loving them! 

I recently went on a tour of one of the ecostore USA facilities with my mom and my three children. It happens to be not too far from me and I was very excited about the opportunity to go.

We had a great time learning more about ecostore USA and I am happy to report back to you all that I learned about many of their products. I'm so thankful Connie took the time to give us such a great tour (and sent me home with so many great products to report back to you about!)
 

We started our tour off by admiring the artwork you see here which was done by children and in the picture below, Carter is standing next to some of the winning pieces from the annual "My Green School Art Contest" (click here for the 2012 flyer so you can get an idea of what it's all about.)


Connie showed the kids some of the products and let them each choose one of their very own to take home which they were very excited about!  
 
 
The kids love using their new bath products every time they take a bath. Two of them chose the Baby Sleep Time Bath and one chose the Baby Shampoo. They love using their very own bath goodies and I love that they can use them and I don't need to be concerned about yucky chemicals being lathered on their sweet little bodies. 



ecostore USA has had numerous article reviews which were neat to see here. These are also some gift basket ideas of items you can put together for someone special.



We even got to check out the science lab where a chemist works on the products and even tests competitor's products to see if they are truly natural. (This lovely lady filled in for a photo op for me because the picture I took of the actual chemist didn't turn out.) Boo!



And last, but not least, ecostore USA has the sweetest receptionist ever and we enjoyed getting to know her as well. She's expecting her first little bundle in November and we're very happy for her.



Safety of Ingredients

I'd like to share some information about ecostore USA and their product ratings, approvals and safety.

First, ecostore USA has the Healthy Child Healthy World seal of approval which is wonderful and they also have received the Champion Status from Skin Deep because of their baby products so both of these make me feel confident about the products I am reviewing.


Skin Deep is an online site that is very helpful by giving you an overall rating of a specific product (it is always my go-to for sunscreen options). But it allows you to type in specific ingredients that might be of concern to you and they will tell you if they rate high or low on their safety scale and if they contribute to cancer, reproductive issues, etc.

For example, when I typed in the ingredients for the Pear Conditioner on Skin Deep's site they all came up safe with a rating of 2 or less with the exception of Phenoxyethanol (scored 3-4; Fair rating) and Tocopheryl Acetate (scored a 4; Fair rating). However, in asking someone that knows more about ingredients and takes an even stricter approach to chemicals than I do, Chrystal from Happy Mothering said she didn't have a problem with Phenoxyethanol being used if it's for the right reasons. In this case, it is most likely used as a preservative to keep bacterial growth from occurring since the water content in this product is high.

Skin Deep has specifically reviewed only the following products from ecostore USA: Baby Nappy Balm, Baby Body Wash, Baby Moisturizer and Baby Sleepytime Bath and as a result has awarded them Champion status by meeting the following standards by November 2011 when the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' Compact program closed:
  • Complied with the European Union's Cosmetics Directive, widely considered the current global gold standard of cosmetics safety regulation.
  • Disclosed all ingredients, including chemicals in "fragrance," an ingredient in 40 percent of all personal care products which in the United States can be claimed as a trade secret, even when it contains hormone disruptors, carcinogens and other harmful chemicals.
  • Published and regularly updated product information in Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep cosmetics database so that consumers had ready, online access to a listing of all product ingredients.
  • Complied with any additional ingredient prohibitions and restrictions under the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and substitute ingredients of concern with safer alternatives.
  • Participated in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. source
What I Reviewed

The pear shampoo and conditioner are some of my absolute favorite products. They are moisturizing, volumizing, color safe and on par with salon products in terms of quality and performance yet without sulfates, parabens, synthetic parfumes, dyes or petrochemicals.

But can I tell you a secret?

The reason I love this product the most is because it cleared up my acne. Yep. Within three days of using it my acne was gone. Here's the scoop...I had been struggling with it for about six months and chalked it up to good ol' hormones, except this kind of acne itched and hurt terribly and it was only on certain sections of my face.

We had been on vacation with my family when I was bemoaning my facial plight to my brother and sister-in-law. My brother wondered if it might be my shampoo and conditioner and suggested I switch to a specific brand. I wasn't too excited about switching to that particular brand because I'd never cared for the smell of it (I know, I'm so picky, right?) but at the same time I was tired of dealing with this painful, itchy and embarrassing plight on my face.

I figured I'd pick up the new shampoo as soon as we got home except, guess what was waiting for me on my front porch when I got home?

My ecostore USA shampoo and conditioner that I was supposed to review.

I figured I'd start with that and I'm glad I did. I'll be sticking with this one for years to come. In fact, I love this product so much that I stocked up on it a few weeks back when ecostore USA had their 50% off sale (I hope those of you on my Facebook page took advantage of that great deal!) Retails for $6.50 each for conditioner and shampoo.


I also reviewed this plant based Toilet Bowl Cleaner and I am very happy with it. The one we were using previously smelled horrible and you knew you shouldn't be breathing it in so I switched to a brand from Whole Foods...and wasn't happy with the results.

We have well water and with the natural brand I was using before the yucky grimy gray look would return to the bowl after just a day or so. With this brand it made it about a week. I have now found my solution to cleaning the toilet bowl without using harmful chemicals! This product does not contain bleach, Hydrochloric Acid, or phosphates and retails for $3.00. It's a winner in my book.


Next I reviewed the Glass Cleaner which is made from water, Glucosides (from simple glucose) and Vinegar and it does not have Glycols, Ammonia, Alcohol or Dyes. Retails for $3.00. Obviously when I make my own out of vinegar and water it is cheaper, but I will say, ecostore's was more effective because I had to do less rubbing to get rid of the streaks. Their product came out on top of mine.

I also reviewed the All Purpose Cleaner which I've been using in my kitchen for the countertops, table, and black stovetop. It seems to work well and I haven't had any issues with it and it was nice to have a break from making my own. At $3.95 it's really your call but I think that even with using Essential Oils I can make mine for cheaper. Again, it just depends on if your prefer to buy or make your own. The scent in this is not overwhelming versus another natural, storebought brand that I couldn't stand the smell of.

This cleaner is made from D-Limonene (made from citrus rinds and from what I have read is safe and more effective than typical cleaning solutions), Palm and coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants, Fatty acid derivative, Ethanol and Filtered water.
For tougher scrubbing jobs in the kitchen (like on my stove top) I use the Cream Cleanser and it is definitely something I will purchase in the future. It's a fabulous alternative to bleach based cleansers that I've never been comfortable breathing, not to mention they can ruin your clothes. This cleanser worked fairly well on my stove top, although I still had to put some muscle into it. :) My favorite place to use it is in the bathtub. It worked wonderfully at getting that yucky dingy look off the inside of my tub and I wasn't breathing in any chemicals while I worked. Of course I would have finished cleaning the whole tub, but I had to get back to blogging, you know! But, with this great cleanser, now even the kids can do it. I know they'll be "thrilled"! :) Retails for $3.95.


Super Concentrate Dishwash Liquid: Good stuff here! When they say a little goes a long way, they mean it. For example, when I put just a dab of it in my Vitamix to clean it, it will start frothing like crazy if I let it go too long (which the kids think is funny!). I thought it worked great on my pots and pans that I hand wash and it made the job go by quickly because I didn't have to spend a lot of time scrubbing. The only thing I would suggest is that they make it a little thicker so that it's easier to get just the right amount. Retails for $5.50 for a 32 oz bottle, but remember it is very concentrated.



Choosing safe laundry options is high on my list of priorities in our home.  (You can read more about why you should choose healthier options here.)

ecostore offers you a great alternative to chemically laden laundry soap in their very concentrated Liquid Laundry Soap. This soap can be used in HE washers and is safe for delicates and woolens in addition to your regular washing. The fragrance is pleasing and as far as I can tell, it is cleaning our clothes well. A 32-oz. bottle retails for $6.75.
Now this stuff I am excited about and I absolutely love it! The Pure Oxygen Whitener is one of my top favorite items from ecostore. I had the opportunity to use it within an hour of receiving it because no sooner did we get done with our tour that my youngest son get his brand new white polo shirt filthy! Seriously, he had dirt all over it. I wasn't at home, but did have access to a sink so I stripped it off him, got it wet and scrubbed it with some whitener and it came out beautifully!

This is a great alternative to chlorine-based bleaches and will whiten whites and help to brighten colors.  Once it is dissolved in water, it releases pure oxygen which helps remove stains while preserving the integrity of your clothing.

I use this in every load of whites and I also spot treat stains with it. My next goal is to figure out if I can replace either the Borax or Super Washing Soda with this Pure Oxygen Whitener in my homemade laundry detergent.  This product is definitely something I will continue to purchase. Retails for $7.85

As I mentioned, our kids love their new Sleepytime Bath ($2.75), Baby Shampoo ($4.40) and Baby Moisturizer ($4.75) and I do too! These all have a great approval rating from Skin Deep.

A couple suggestions for these products is to make them a little thicker (with the exception of the lotion) and to also give them pump style tops to help ensure I get only the necessary amount. A pump style would also help if you happen to be bathing an infant because it would make it easier to keep one hand on the baby and the other hand free to get the body wash. 

I reviewed one of the hand wash soaps ($3.40 each) from ecostore, as well as purchased one of my own, but really was only happy with the Manuka Honey and Kelp Bar Soap ($1.80).

The hand wash soaps were too runny, didn't lather and left kind of an odd feeling on my hands. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the scent of them either. The Manuka Honey soap on the other hand lathers up well and smells nice too. Manuka Honey is actually a very good thing to have in your house! I have never purchased it but would love to have some. You can read more about it here.

I had given up all body washes for myself because I didn't feel it was worth it to lather those chemicals all over my body, but when I came across this one, it was a real treat. I love the smell of the Coconut and Vanilla Body Wash and the price isn't too bad either at $4.75 (especially since I purchased some for 1/2 off!). My one recommendation would be to thicken it up. It's a little hard to work with since it's pretty runny, but still something I plan to continue to use.

All in all, I am extremely happy with my ecostore USA products. They are plant based and are very reasonably priced for those Mamas like me who are trying to choose healthier options for our family.

Swing by their site and check out their stuff when you get a chance. Oh, and they even have pet stuff too!

Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Please take a moment to "Like" me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or stay connected with Google Friend Connect so you don't miss a thing!

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Although these are not sponsors of this post, they are sponsors of Purposeful Homemaking and I am blessed to have them join me. Please take a minute to check out their links.

*Disclaimer: I received products from Ecostore USA in exchange for a candid review.
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