08 September, 2013

FIRSTS.

Sunday being the first day of a new week. This week is off to a set of firsts in our little wolf den. Today, I checked an item off my "23 before 23" list, I made my very first dress. Two if you count the one that was 90% complete before an accidental cut ruined it. And tomorrow starts her first day of Waldorf-inspired, nature preschool at our local nature center. Then Tuesday she has her very first play date, which is also Porter's very first play date with another child his age. These may seem like just little things, but they are things I am looking forward to and loving. I put pictures of the completed first dress/tunic below. It started as a dress pattern that I freehanded but I shortened the length so it could be a "tunic" and Mara would be allowed to wear it school with pants. Pretty proud of my first creation!


 


28 August, 2013

23 before 23

I thought it would be fun to make a list of things to do before I turn twenty three on September 28th. Do you have a bucket list before your birthday? I know typically people do this over the entire year from birthday to birthday, but I got a little bit negligent on myself and mama time and thought this would help.

1. Go fully raw for the remaining 22 days leading up to my birthday.
2. Do more yoga.
3. Walk everyday.
4. Paint a picture and frame it.
5. Read 22 books.
6. Crochet a blanket for our bedroom.
7. Sew a dress.
8. Open my Etsy shop.
9. Donate my excess.
10. Go an entire day without complaining.
11. Go to a museum.
12. Donate to a food bank.
13. Fill my plant shelf.
14. Plant my garden.
15. Build a compost bin.
16. Build a doll house.
17. Turn our bedroom into a love nest.
18. Help someone less fortunate than myself.
19. Go to the U-Pick Farm.
20. Go to the beach.
21. Go to a local event.
22. Complete 21 Days in the Woods.
23. Get rid of the T.V.

Wish me luck on my list, and please feel free to link up to your birthday countdown below in the comments if you would like.
Light + Love,
Corrine

21 August, 2013

WANDERLUST: Get Going Already...

I've been feeling a bit stir crazy lately (complete utter understatement). Papa Wolf and I have moved many, many times since we got together and started this wolf pack and we've always just been chasing a place to call home.

Neither one of us really care for the city that we are in right now. There aren't a lot of options as far as activities go besides eating out or shopping at a chain store. Chicago is too expensive for how we want to live, so we have been talking, and talking, and planning. How the heck do we get out of here and where do we go? Before having kids we would have hit the road by now, but as much as I want to be wild and free, I do not want to compromise stability for my children. Not just financially, because believe me, I know, money isn't everything. But I think a home is very important to a child's sense of security.

We enrolled Mara in a nature program/preschool enrichment program that runs from September to May so we are here for now, but I am hoping we can come to an agreement on our list of places and get to planning and saving, and purging.

It's really hard waiting that long though, my anxiety gets the best of me. On a good day I am not feeling rushed, but now I feel hurried and restless. Talk about a great time to practice my patience!

Do you ever crave a new beginning? A new place to settle? Have you ever picked up and started your life somewhere completely unfamiliar as far as not knowing anyone? Would love to hear what you all have to say.

Light + Love,
Corrine

17 August, 2013

SUPPORT: Sunburst Beings Shop.

Hello! I am so excited to tell you about my dear, dear soul sister, Leah and her shop, Sunburst Beings. Leah is a goddess so dear and precious to my heart, words cannot begin to explain how much I cherish my friendship with her.
Leah is a beautiful mother of FIVE.Three big kids and two twins, whom we refer to as the twinkies. They are much, much better than the horrific hostess delight. I could just eat them up. Ha, like that little joke I just made? Anyway, Leah is gifted with a talent for making gorgeously dreamy, hippie, boho-esque jewelery for mamas and babies. She also has the maddest green thumb I have ever seen. She grew a bountiful garden complete with every veggie under the sun and like eight foot tall sunflowers in the middle of the blazing hot, super dry desert! And she has chickens, swoon! Are you in love yet? Because I totally am with her and her little family.
(see! twinkie alert! don't you want to gobble her up!?)

Leah has big dreams for her little, big family, and one of them is to move to Utah where Leah can grow her business from the current scale it is on (which is amazing to me---and HELL YEA! for Mama Entrepreneurs, right?) and offer her children a more diverse community and environment to grow up in, which is limited in her tiny town of Arizona.

So, to help this beautiful mama's dreams come true and raise some more moving money, and to show my love to my readers, Leah and I partnered up and she is offering you guys, The Tiny Wild readers a 15% off coupon code for the next month! How awesome is that! Her jewelry is such great quality and really affordable. I have a nursing necklace from her, Porter wears an amber teething necklace, Eisley has an adorable necklace that she looks so cute in...but when her chin rolls aren't hiding it, and Mara has a beautiful hazelwood turquoise necklace from Sunburst Beings. As a Mama Wolf it is so important for me to show my children that supporting the little guy is so much better than a big cooperation and I love knowing that each piece of jewelry is made by one lovely lady with so much love put into her work! So please, check out Leah's shop Sunburst Beings and give her shop page on Facebook a like to show the love and enjoy our coupon code and treat yourself and the babies in your life to something precious!
Use coupon code: TINYWILD15 at check out!

Here are some items currently available in the Sunburst Being shop:
Natural Wooden Teething Ring Nursing Necklace with Blue Glass Flower Pendant
Gorgeous and Unique 26 inch RAW Baltic Multi-Colored Amber Necklace with  Matching Stretch Bracelet

So much beautiful stuff in her shop, she even has some matching mommy and baby jewelry. Go shop, have fun, and show her some much deserved love!

Light + Love,
Corrine

10 August, 2013

NATURAL: TEETH BRUSHING.

A few months ago Bekah shared on her blog a new toothpaste that her and her husband had started using. A tooth powder from Eco-dent that is baking soda based. This intrigued Papa Wolf and myself and we decided to order us some and try it out. We have never gone back. Not only is it much cheaper than conventional toothpaste, but we also prefer it taste wise. Colgate, Crest, Aquafresh now all have a very sugary, thick taste, personally making my teeth feel coated with a gross film.

I didn't switch Mara and Porter's toothpaste right away. I was worried since we still have the occasional brushing where Mara forgets to spit, or Porter doesn't want to spit. I had purchased Tom's of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste for Mara, sheepishly believe this was a truly natural childrens toothpaste option for her. However one of the inactive ingredients is a carcinogen called: carrageenan.

"Carrageenan has undergone many long-term dietary studies under defined regulatory conditions en route to its current global regulatory status. While some indicate that carrageenan safely passes through rat GI tracts without adverse effect when it is a dietary ingredient,[2] other animal dietary studies have observed colitis-like disease and tumor promotion.[3] Recently, some scientists have raised concerns about whether the amount of "degraded carrageenan" (poligeenan) in food-grade carrageenan may lead to health problems, leading to a debate in the research literature.[4] It is yet to be determined whether such observations are pertinent to dietary safety considerations. Europe prohibits the use of carrageenan in infant formula, organic or otherwise, for precautionary reasons,[5] but allows it otherwise. In the U.S., it’s allowed in organic foods, including juices, chocolate milk and organic infant formula, as well as other types of foods."
(source)

As a Mama Wolf, that just does not sit right with me. So I began searching for an alternative and then the little light bulb in my mind flickered on, baking soda. For decades people have used baking soda to brush their teeth, why not my kids? I mean shoot, that's what Papa Wolf and I are using essentially with a few more ingredients. I searched online and was surprised that there were a lot of forums where people said that it was not worth the struggle trying to get your kids to try and use the baking soda, that it was awful, that they would hate it, etc. I didn't buy into it. We have raised our children to the best of our ability to make healthy decisions and positive decisions. When I approached Mara about brushing her teeth with the baking soda, she was a bit against it, she said she didn't like it. I encouraged her to try it, that it is what makes Papa Wolf's teeth and my teeth sparkly white and keeps our mouth clean, and she gave it a go, and we haven't looked back since. Porter didn't hop on board right away, but this is the little wolf that wanted to EAT the toothpaste out of the bottle because of the "Natural Mixed Berry Flavor" it possessed. But after about a week of getting him used to it (with just a small amount on his brush at a time and then using the finger brush) he is back to enjoying his toothbrush.

Several forums I read also stated that it is not safe to swallow, now, I do not encourage letting your children swallow it after they brush, because well, you want to swallow all the yucky particles that you are brushing off of your teeth, but it will not harm them if they accidentally swallow it. Baking soda has several uses, this site lists fifty uses for baking soda. I encourage you to check it out!

05 August, 2013

PINEAPPLE//FIG SMOOTHIE.


Portie and I awoke this morning before the girls. Dan had gone off to work before the sun came up and we woke just as the sun was coming up. I went through my first of the morning routine of: starting the coffee maker, taking Ari outside to relieve herself, coming back inside, washing up, dressing, and preparing for the day. Normally I do this before Portie or the girls are awake, but this morning Portie was up with a strong gusto for life and joined me in my routine. We found ourselves finished with the above to-do list and as I fixed myself an iced coffee and situated Portie with his morning drink, I decided to pull out the blender and make us a smoothie.

I had to stretch our food budget this past month so this week is our final week before we can go grocery shopping on Friday so we are getting creative with what is left over in the pantry and refridgerator! I grabbed a container of pineapple chunks, vanilla soymilk (We typically have almond, but this was free, and it was organic), two bananas, eight dried black mission figs, and eight deglet dates. 

Portie is at the age of endless wonder and awe and loves to discover and get his hands in on anything he can. What could be more fun for him then letting him get his hands wet and sticky with pineapple to fill up our blender? Not much! I first had him throw the dates and figs into the blender and I added some soy milk and we let the blender blend away for a minute or so. When the mixture was as smooth as I knew we would like I began to unpeel the bananas, letting Portie finish and throw them in. His eyes were filled with such delight and concentration as he was getting to help with such an important task. Next onto the pineapple chunks; he was in Heaven, I even let him splash in the pineapple juice ;) One more whirl of the blender until our desired smoothness, a spoonful of maca, a spoonful of hemp, we were good to go.

I poured us a tall jar of smoothie and of course Portie got the first sip. Or half, I should say. It was delicious and it really hit the spot.

Then this happened:
Yep, it's Monday.

Still a wonderful morning with Portie though and I enjoyed the alone time with him before the girls woke up. With three, sometimes it's hard to get that individual time with each, or as much time as we would like, but when we do get the time together, it is so precious.

Also, sometimes the best meals/smoothies/juices/snacks, come from cleaning out the pantry, don't you think? 

Light + Love,
Corrine

04 August, 2013

31 July, 2013

Momma Wolf Snack Blend (DIY Trail Mix)

Sometimes when I shop, I tend to buy things that I want to try new recipes with, completely forget, or Dan stores them in the higher cabinets and I find them weeks sometimes months later and decide to make a new snack. Things have been busy around here (total understatement) and I am learning to adjust my expectations. Actually more like abandon expectations, otherwise we aren't really living. We are just going in a cycle, repeating comfortable motions. Looking back, if something did not meet my expectations (not talking quality, necessarily) my day could easily be ruined. If I didn't get to lay on the couch before work to "relax" and unwind, (no idea why I thought that was ever realistic) then I was in a pissy mood. Let's just say I have evolved, I have overcome, I am still growing, but taking positive steps forward. And in that growing and evolving...I made a snack blend with some things that I had purchased for other recipes, things that were left in the cabinets and so on. This is getting a bit deep for Trail Mix, but you get what I am saying, right? Go with the moment, be present, and you will be happy! And with this snack blend, you won't be hungry either!

Momma Wolf Snack Blend
(DIY Trail Mix)
-if there is anything you don't have just substitute to your liking-

2 cups of raw pepitas
2 cups of deglet dates
2 cups dried black mission figs
2 cups of raw sunflower seeds
2 cups of raisins
1/4 cup of raw cashews
 
Mix together, enjoy!
Not much of a recipe, but try out this combo to mix together and you will enjoy it, the baby wolfs have been eating it for snacks and Dan has been taking it to work. It's great for cleaning out the pantry for more space ;)




30 July, 2013

Wild Blueberry Pie.

 
 
Today was my first day off of the week and it was pretty awesome. Overcast, no warmer than 73 degrees, and a bit breezy with some on and off drizzles. Mara had been asking me if we could bake a pie the past week or so. We were overdue for a visit to Grammy's house so she can see how much Eisley has grown, laugh at Porter constantly trying to make phone calls, and so on. Today was pie day. I had some organic wild blueberries in the freezer, and so it was decided, blueberry pie it was! I got this recipe from here and tweaked it a bit. It was delicious.

Wild Blueberry Pie:
For the pie crust:
2 & 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
16 tablespoons of really cold Earth Balance
1/4 tsp of sea salt
+
For the filling:
6 cups of wild blueberries
4 tablespoons of cornstarch (this brand is NONGMO.)
1/4 fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup raw sugar (next time I want to try maple syrup)
dash of cinnamon
a cap full of real vanilla extract

Directions:
Make your pie crust by combining the flour, Earth Balance, salt and 6-8 TBS of very cold water. Combine in a food processor, or do what I did, and let your littles squish the dough (make sure to wash hands!) until it is a nice smooth pie crusty dough. Chill in refrigerator while your oven is preheating to 425F. When your oven is preheated, flour your countertop or cutting board, separate your dough into two equal pieces (one for the bottom crust and one for the top crust) and roll out your chilled dough. Fit your first half to your pie pan. Combine your filling ingredients and fill your pie pan up, roll out your second half and place on top. Pinch down the ends with a fork, cut some slits to allow venting, even decorate with some dough trimmings. Our dough "mountain" design was fun. Bake for 15 minutes at 425, and then turn it down to 350 and bake for another 30-40 minutes. Let cool, and enjoy!

Do you have a favorite pie recipe or blueberry recipe you like to indulge in? Share it with me in the comments!




16 July, 2013

Mango Dressing.


Last night, we got home from a busy afternoon. I had a job interview, we had to make a run to Petco to purchase some dog food for our new den member (more on that soon), and by the time we got home, we were all hot, tired, and hungry. I guess you could say it was a pretty typical mood for a Monday after a pretty laid back weekend. I fixed Papa Wolf and the little wolfs some whole wheat pasta shells tossed with nutritional yeast, roasted red peppers, some sauteed leeks, and a bit of daiya cheddar "cheese". I've been trying to eat as high raw as possible so I fixed myself a salad while they enjoyed their pasta dish. I made a pretty delicious dressing and I thought I would share it with you. I don't have a creative title, so it's just, mango dressing. Let me know if you try it!

Mango Dressing:
Ingredients:
-one large, juicy mango
-two raw cloves of garlic
-sea salt
-ground black pepper
-two roasted red peppers
-half of an avocado
-lemon juice (as needed to thin the mixture)

Directions:
Throw in blender, and enjoy over your next salad!

This made about 3/4 of a standard mason jar for me, and I keep it covered in the fridge and it should last you 2-3 days. I had this over a salad of romaine lettuce, tomato steaks, diced pineapple (fresh, always, canned is horrible), and black beans.

09 July, 2013

Banana Horchata.


Banana Horchata:
10 ripe organic bananas
2 cap fulls of REAL, organic vanilla
3-4 big shakes of ground, organic cinnamon (I like it spicy and the babes don't seem to mind, if you are making this to share with your littles, maybe go easy on the cinnamon and add more to yours separately if yours aren't big on bold spices.)
16.9oz/500ml of chilled water

Throw in the blender, blend until smooth.
Banana Horchata. We love it. I have been having this for breakfast, and let Mara try some, and now these two attack me for it every morning. I've never had actual horchata, but from what I've been told about it, I would imagine the flavors are pretty similar. Porter doesn't want to share it ever, in the bottom picture you can see Mara eagerly waiting her turn to have more. Thankfully this recipe yields two large jars. Enjoy!

03 July, 2013

Update from a Momma Wolf of Three.

Eisley is three months old today. I took a long break from blogging, I needed to be present. I needed to set aside any distraction that wasn't dire to our immediate well being and be with my family. The routine we had started establishing with two children quickly vanished into thin air when Eisley was born. I don't say this bitterly at all, it has just been a process of finding out what works for us as a clan of five now and not four.

We are still figuring at bedtime, as tandem nursing has been interesting, but so awesome and I am proud at my achievement. Our days are slowly coming together.

Every morning we get up, play a bit, have breakfast, and play a bit more. D comes home from work for his lunch, we drive him back, drop him off and head out to do something until it is time to head home for our lunch, nap, and go pick D back up from work. Then home for snack and play and then prepping supper.

A big change in the past three months has been with what we are purchasing for groceries, what we are keeping in the house, and what we are gravitating towards for our family food philosophy. Before Eisley was born we started getting into a raw diet. We had a pretty cheap juicer, and I kind of went crazy juicing everything I could, blowing our entire months food budget within ten days because I was so excited to be juicing. I've gotten much better at the budgeting, and I am looking forward to sharing those tips/tricks here with you.

I am very passionate about the benefits of eating a high raw, vegan diet. When I say the word diet, I do not mean calorie restriction, I mean what food we consume on a day to day basis. Right now what is working for us is plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for breakfast and lunch and eating a lightly cooked vegan meal for supper (mainly for the kids) and a big salad of some sort.

I thought that once I switched to a high raw, vegan diet I would be instantly healthy. This is true and false, for me. It may be different for others, but I wasn't listening to my body. I've lost thirty four pounds in three months, but I was/am really out of shape and in need of building up my physical and mental stamina, I'm overweight and need to drop about sixty pounds, and I am deficient in a lot of things that the body needs to function beautifully; iron, calcium, and all sorts of other vitamins. (I quit taking my prenatal vitamin because it is corn based, and the company could not verify if it was NON-GMO. Another thing we have changed in the past two months or so, strictly organic. Screw Monsanato. Anyway, I will save that for another post, on another day, but right now I needed to get this blog off my chest.)

This blog started off as a family journal, and it still is, but right now I want to use this space to share with others, and hopefully motivate, inspire, and nurture others interests and goals, as well as hold myself accountable for what I need to do to holistically heal my body and be the very best me that I can be. I mean, after all, a momma wolf, needs to be in tip top shape to keep the positive den vibes flowing.

I will be sharing my budgeting tips/tricks, juice recipes, and weight loss journey through a high raw, vegan diet soon. So be sure to come back soon!

Dear Mara,


Mara Eden, you are my first. My first child, my first breath drawn from my lungs, the first sight I ever saw when my eyes opened, and you are every beat that my heart creates. I love your face that is constantly decorated in fruit conserve, and the way you tell me your tales. I love how concerned you get when you see an ambulance rush by and ask for the angels to come; I love all your eagerness to learn, and how you check the mail every afternoon.

You are endless, magnificent, beautiful energy in a tiny, growing shell. Thank you for picking me to be your momma, after three years (almost three and a half), I still am amazed by you, every. single. day, being your momma, is the best thing that ever, ever happened to me.

I love you,
Maman

19 June, 2013

Oh. Hello.

Hello. Haven't been here in a while...since Eisley was born! Almost three months, woops. Let's just saying being a mama wolf to three little is a little more time consuming then I anticipated, I thought two were pretty easy, how much more work could a third be? A lot more work, but absolute bliss all at the same time. So with my hands being full, and life being oh so sweet, blogging slipped into the background without too much difficulty, but needless to say, I missed this spot. A lot has changed around these parts and I look forward to bringing my small group of you sweets up to speed in the next few posts. So, hello, again. I am back.

18 April, 2013

15/52



"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013"

Mara Eden: so much style.
Porter: in love with birds, but this sent him over the moon happy, when he woke up to a birdhouse we had been gifted.
Eisley: gassy smiles for days with this one.

08 April, 2013

14/52



"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013"

Mara Eden: wearing the best outfits these days. I love that she picks out the brightest, happiest clothes. Such a perfect representation of her.
Porter: working hard at becoming the safest, best chalk artist out there. I can't believe he's moving onto such "big boy" activities like playing with chalk and coloring!
Eisley: born just four hours after labor began, so surreal how quickly she came and that she is finally here..

04 April, 2013

April Blossoms.

Yesterday, at 6:12pm, Eisley Mayla Baker entered the world. Weighing 7 lbs. 14oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long, she's here. She's here! We get to bring her home from the hospital tonight, and I can't help but sit in awe at what my life is now and the woman I am growing into and all the beauty that surrounds my life.

01 April, 2013

13/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013"

Mara Eden: so caring. Warning me with "OOP! MOM! Be careful! Don't fall in the water!!" while she was trying to feed the geese over the weekend.
Porter:  coming out of his shell and getting into everything he can; this was taken at the arboretum, getting up close and personal with all the plants.