Productivity and Reality

We woke up the other morning to rain in the forecast. We have had dribbles here and there this September, but not a whole lot. The kids and I bundled up to bring in some of the harvest. I set the kids to picking any ripe tomato they could find. This lasted about 2 minutes before they went to snack on grapes.  

This is about half of what I brought in- in all their cracked and split glory. I brought in a bunch of grapes too, as I wasn't sure they would fare well in the rain. It was a long afternoon of canning... By around 2 I was extremely exhausted. I'm about 16 weeks pregnant now and I haven't gained all my energy back. In fact the last few days I have felt terrible. I laid down and sure enough the rains began.

Happy wet everything.

 I feel totally at a loss as to how I am going to get everything practical done, while feeling like a zombie. This is such a busy time of year, more apples are waiting to be canned, more veggies to be brought in and froze. The reality is, it just isn't going to get done. So, here's to making the most of this season of not being able to make the most of the season. Instead I'll be here, curled up by the fire.

Four Fool-Proof Gluten-Free/Sugar-Free Treats

Learning to bake without sugar and flour has been a serious challenge for me. I love to bake, I always have. We are not entirely sugar or gluten-free. However, at home I try to keep our treats that way. There really are a plethora of recipes out there that follow those regulations. I have found, for the most part, that these are hit and miss. Either the recipe is a total bust, or I try to substitute for the flour and sugar with disastrous results. These are four of my favorite, fool-proof desserts. Each one has turned out perfect for me. They either have an alternative flour or sugar source or are easily adaptable. They are all the creations of other talented bloggers, whose links can be found in the descriptions.

 Mrs. Criddles Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

There is just something about a chocolate chip cookie... Something that I have found impossible to recreate without flour and sugar. I love my cookies soft and a little gooey. This recipe from Mrs. Criddles Kitchen hits two big notes for me-

1. The cookies taste amazing. They really do taste a lot like your typical chocolate chip cookie. Fresh out of the oven, these are out of this world.

2. They use exclusively coconut flour. Coconut flour is so much more affordable than almond. Unfortunately it is also really dry. I haven't found a single recipe that uses exclusively coconut flour that is not nasty. I think the cream cheese really helps the moisture content.

My final tip when making these cookies-- leave them in a ball as she suggests. I think the shape helps lock in the moisture of the dough.

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No-Bake Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake 

 I feel like there is really no explanation needed as to why this is delicious. Just look at the picture. This beauty comes from All Day I Dream About Food. This is a perfect recipe to bake for finicky family and friends; you know, the ones who think you eat cardboard. This dessert is so decadent, all without the sugar or flour.

She uses Swerve as a sweetener here. I have used truvia with great success too. I have all used the crust recipe as a base for other treatshttp://mrscriddleskitchen.com/coconut-chocolate-chip-cookies-s/.

The recipe on a whole is a little involved. However, the results are totally worth it. This dessert is pretty much impossible to resist.

One last note, this cheesecake does not stand up well to heat. I made it for 4th of July and it got soupy fast. Keep it chilled until you're ready to serve. 

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 One Bowl Gluten-Free Banana Bread 

Banana Bread is a family favorite around here. I was so pleased when I found this recipe by Minimalist Baker. Best of all, all you need is one bowl. I love baking a loaf of this on a cloudy afternoon. It is pretty much perfection with a hot cup of coffee.

In this recipe she sweetens with cane and brown sugar. I always sub those out with truvia. Everything still comes together great. I have also made it with coconut sugar, which adds a great flavor. 

This recipe does have you use almond meal, gluten free flour and oats. I generally have all those on hand. I keep a few things of Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour around. I have been really happy with the results. 

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Vegan and Gluten Free Gingerbread

This recipe is from the talented Minimalist Baker as well. Gingerbread is a holiday classic that I start craving in the winter months. Generally, gingerbread is hard and crispy. In this recipe these cookies are clouds; soft, pillowy gingerbread clouds.

I probably made these too many times last year. I went a little gingerbread overboard. These are perfect with coffee too.

The recipe calls for a flax egg and vegan butter. We are not vegan so I use a regular egg and regular butter. I replace the brown sugar with coconut sugar. Even with the substitutions these turn out amazing.

My tip, after these have cooled, place them in a sealed ziplock bag. They keep their soft crumb much longer that way.   

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

 I have another great kids book review for you today! Thankful, by Eileen Spinelli is a book that celebrates the big and little blessing in our lives.

I am always looking for ways to encourage my kids to appreciate the gifts that God had given us. Having a thankful heart can make hard situations a lot easier. Besides that, a thankful heart is pleasing to God! I always think of this verse,

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thankful is a lovely, poetic book that is an easy read with little ones. The book is really quite simple, but some of it is very beautiful. My favorite page was,

"The dancer is thankful for the beat, that stirs her heart and hips and feet."

 My kids enjoyed reading through it with me. The rhyming and illustrations kept their interest. The pictures are all in lovely, muted colors. Each of the illustrations revolves around a family portraying the text.

With Thanksgiving on the way, I am sure this is a book we will be reading again and again. It got our family talking about all the things we are thankful for. I love when a book can spark a discussion with my kids!

I received a copy of Thankful in exchange for my honest review.

Q&A for creatives

 When I saw this book, it was instantly appealing to me. I have seen a few other Q&A books from Potter Style, but never this one. This book is a four-year year journal, specifically for creative people (or people looking to get creative).

I would, in general, consider myself a pretty creative person. In fact, it's a big part of who I am. I find all creative endeavors very fulfilling.

But here is the thing-- I'm a mom. Which I love. It can, however, be
very draining in the creativity department. Sometimes the duties, diapers and dramatics don't leave me with a lot of time or energy to get creative.

I love the structure and freedom that this book provides. Every day has a jumping off point. The inspiration can be as silly as "What would you put inside a jell-o mold" or as contemplative as "What would best symbolize your life's biggest challenge right now?".

 Each day has a grid with four boxes- one for each year. I love that they are placed side-by-side in that way. You can compare not only how your life has changed, but your artistic skill has well.

Besides the question and the space-- the rest is up to you. You are free to use whatever medium you see fit. The pages are pretty sturdy and seem like they would stand up well to abuse.

I can't wait to fill this book up and then look back on it in a couple of years! I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my review.

Mamaway Ring Sling

The next addition to my baby gear collection-- this sling by Mamaway.

I have a few baby carrying devices. My go-to is my Ergo pack. That thing has been a major life saver. It really works best for older babies though. For newborns I love using a sling.

I sewed a sling to use with my daughter. I loved it, but it wasn't adjustable. I really needed a ring sling like this one.

There are a lot of cute patterns to choose from, but I am a sucker for gingham. The material is 100% Pima cotton, it's light-weight and very breathable. I feel like I could use this in the summer and not roast. Because it is cotton, I know it will wash well.  There is plenty of fabric to adjust and provide adequate coverage if you breastfeed.

Since my baby won't be here until March, I tried it on with a friends. The rings felt super secure. I was worried it might feel like they were slipping. However, because of the double rings it
locks" in place. It felt comfortable around my shoulder and back.

I know that when my baby gets here, this will be a life saver. With three kids I am going to need my hands free! Thanks to Mamaway for sending me the product in exchange for my review!

Grey and White Muslin Swaddling Blankets

 I am now almost fifteen weeks into this pregnancy. It still hasn't totally sunk in yet. We are going to be a family of five. I will have three children.

While I have lots of baby gear from my previous two littles, I enjoy picking up a few new things; just for this babe. Things have gotten worn out and gross a lot faster than I thought they would. One thing I knew I would be needing for this baby was some new swaddling blankets.

In recent years I have seen more and more muslin swaddlers. I love the idea of a breathable, light-weight material. Generally my go-to is a knit blanket. You can really swaddle that baby tight! I thought it would be great to give these a try though.

This three pack of blankets came from SavvyBaby. I love that they are gender-neutral in print and design. We don't know if we are having a girl or boy yet, so neutral was a must. I usually don't like gender-neutral baby stuff. A lot of times it just isn't cute. A lot of yellow, ducks and frogs etc. Not really my style.

These blankets are very cute and modern. They feature three different designs; chevron, arrows and +.

The pictures I took are after the blankets are after they have been washed and dried. The material felt a little scratchy right out of the package. For some reason, the chevron blanket especially. After washing the are much softer. I'm sure over time and washes it will only improve!

I can't wait to swaddle the new baby up in these blankets! I folded them neatly and put them away for the time being. I will be so pleased to see them again when I pack them into my hospital bag!

I was sent these from SavvyBaby to try in exchange for my review.

Fall Feelings

So it's fall. I know not technically. The weather may not be in agreement with me. However, I am happily pretending.

Yup, that's me. It may be 85 at my house right now, but a sweater and boots feels totally appropriate. The apples are ripe and quarts of applesauce are slowly being added to my shelves. Yesterday was the first day of the Bible study for moms' that I attend. Soon AWANA will be in full swing. I might have got out all my fall decorations already. My husband killed his elk the opening day of bow elk season (hallelujah).

AND school has begun! My sweet little pre-k boy started homeschool on Tuesday. Ahh homeschool, where the lunches are always good and the principal is my cute husband.      

When does it start to feel like fall to you?