NaturalKids Etsy Street Team is a group of sellers dedicated to creating natural products for children. We are a diverse group of artisans who make natural toys, utensils, clothing and accessories for kids. Our sellers work with materials from the Earth, such as wool, cotton, silk and wood. Our goal is to support, promote and have fun together while building our businesses.
Wednesday is now dedicated to be my create day! So I thought we would have a little fun! I have been doing lots of painting for orders and stocking up. All thought it is always great to get to paint it can get a little dull. I decided to take one day a week to put the orders aside a just create. I have a HUGE list of ideas and things I want to make but don't get the time to do them.
Paint in rows for stock and orders
This decision has renewed my spirit and now I have this lovely day to look forward to right in the middle of my week. I also get a great satisfaction at getting to do giveaways and sharing my creations with others. I decided instead of doing it for someone else blog, I would do it on my facebook page and blog here.
Enter an idea for a playset/playbox and you get (one) entry at winning it.
If we get a few good ideas we will vote to narrow it down to just one, everyone will get to watch me create it on my blog and then the contest will happen her where you can enter more times to win!
These painted toys are part of my Educational Toys. These are great for learning pattern making, sorting, counting, and adding to other elements for preschool learning.
Education needs to be hands on for all ages but mostly for under 5 years old when the road map of the brain is being laid out. Early education in a book and on the computer is good but hands on learning makes a connection to what they are learning.
Where did the fight go? When did the people who stood up against the wrongs in this world get so "tired"? I am talking about this law, CPSIA. I am reading and hearing so much about people giving up. It makes me mad; it makes me cry. I think of our ancestors and how hard they fought for us to have the freedoms that we have. Where would we be if they didn't fight, if they gave up?
I know many are trying to stay "positive" and change...
....but this just made me cry. As I watched her give this speech, I envisioned our Great Women standing behind her in their sashes, standing strong for Women's Suffrage with tears in their eyes. What would they say to us? Would they be proud? They had the same fears and the same things they would lose ( kids, families, etc), yet they fought not just for their own rights, but mine and yours! Many went to jail to stand up for their rights; would you? They fought for every generation that followed them, as we must for the next generation. This CPSIA Law is wrong. It will destroy the handmade and small businesses that provide quality items to babies and children.
Let's not throw in the towel and give up until we fight. We have not even begun to fight. The day the call goes out I will be ready... ready to put down my paint brush, pack up the 4 kids, gather the organic snacks and meet you in DC to march and fight...I will even make the signs!
I have a few tricks for summer cooking. Fire up the grill or pull out the crock pot. I love crock pot cooking but the secret is all in the timing. If you do it right, plan what you will make, thaw any meat in the fridge over night, add ingredients in the morning, and you will eat a wonderful meal at dinner with little effort. This is great for the busy working parent and the stay at home mom who never really gets to stay home!!
So lets start of with something easy and fun!
Crock Pot Wings!!
This is a really flexible recipe and you can add to it as you see fit.
1-2 lbs. of Chicken Wings
1/3 Cup of Soy Sauce ( Wheat Free Brand for those that are on a gluten free diet)
2 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of ginger (fresh or ground)
1 Tablespoon of Honey
1/3 Cup of minced onions (I used green onions)
Put it all in the crock pot cook on low for 6 -8 hours
Crock Pot Chicken Wings with a Side of Pan Fried Potatoes
At noon today (E.S.T.), the team shop over at Hyena Cart will be newly stocked with fresh, beautiful handmade natural kids gear. Hyena Cart is an online shopping site focussed on handcrafted family-friendly and earth-friendly items.
Lots of items are one of a kind, and all are made by artisans from the NaturalKids team behind this blog.
Part of the shop update includes these beautiful pieces:
a mini pink Waldorf baby doll (by PolarBearCreations)
You may already be and not realizing it! A riddle: What is the largest organ we have? Answer: Your SKIN. Do you know that what you put on your skin is like putting it in your mouth. We are learning so much everyday about all the chemicals in our food, the things we have in our homes, and now our personal care products. Watch this video to learn more!
I'm not saying don't take care of yourself and how you look and smell but look for great products that are safe.
You can buy from Etsy seller who make great products that are safe.
Rosemary Lavender Basil Mint Sage - Shampoo Bar by BeautifulSoaps
These are not just examples that I pulled off Etsy cause the were pretty, they come from my own shopping cart and are in my bathroom. Using great products like these makes me feel good. There are lots of great finds all over Etsy of safe products that are good for you and the earth! One more thing, not ready to buy how about a how to! Check out this blog for how to make your own lip balm, http://imaginationkidstoys.com/blog/2010/07/beeswax-lipbalm/
The month is becoming a month of Art. I thought I would introduce you to someone just starting out. To show you that you don't need training just a good eye for beauty! Speaking of beauty not only is she talented but she herself is a beauty. This lovely lady is my niece, goddaughter, and godmother to my children. She is sweet, funny, and one of the loveliest humans I know!
And now for some Art....
It has been a struggle to find things to eat but I am determined that will find a way to make this work. There is a lot of hit and miss out there with the Gluten Free packaged foods. Mostly misses!!! I also don't want to miss out on foods that I love so I have been searching. I plan to take you all with me on my journey to find a happy and yummy Gluten Free Life.
My poor family has been suffering cause lately I have not felt like cooking, but now I am on a mission to find fabulous substitutes!
Today's find is Gluten Free Zucchini Lasagna.
About Zucchini Lasagna
This creative twist on the Italian classic had us thinking; who needs pasta? Christine and Carla Pallotta of nebo restaurant share a quick creative alternative to pasta that utilizes one of the gardens most bountiful Veggies. Gluten Free Note - Substitute corn starch for flour and serve this as a gluten free option to allergy sufferers, and you will see tears of joy in their eyes! Yes. It's that good!
Now if this is not a ringing endorsement I don't know what is...
I just opened the link and my little girl was right here, she put her little hand to her mouth and said," Oh my gosh, such pretty shoes, can you put them on my feet!"
How do you explain to a 2 year old that you can just take the things you see out of the computer, lol!
Lovely !!! Perfect wedding shoes by La La! Shoes I hate seeing those ugly flip flops the wedding party get for when their feet start to hurt, these would be perfect to slip into after a night of dancing! Heavenly!!!!
The description itself is heavenly,
The off-white shantung silk texture is perfectly matched with soft off-white pure linen on the inside, and makes a great contrast with the rough texture of the linen soles. Unique flower-like upper straps fasten with velcro, and soft light gray lambskin no-skid patches on the outsoles allow you to walk safely even on very slippery surfaces.
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