by christina on May 18, 2012
We’re getting ready for our first camping trip of the summer, and one of my biggest jobs is keeping the bugs (mosquitos and ticks especially!) at bay. I mixed up a batch of deet free bug spray earlier in the spring, and today my focus was making up some citronella candles to burn while we’re hanging out at the campsite. It’s a bit time consuming (all that grating!) but they are easy to make, and very effective. The following recipe is for one large candle. I like to make camping candles in a tin can so they are not breakable (I saved my can from chickpea brownies for this one!).
First, grate about 4 cups beeswax. Yes, it’s a lot of grating- think happy thoughts as you grate like how awesome you triceps will look from all of this candle making. 
Take a bit of wax and use it to stick the base of your wick into the can.
Next, melt your wax in a double boiler.
Remove the melted wax from heat and add about 60 drops of citronella essential oil (not fragrance oil).
Pour into your tin can and let cool.
That’s all there is to it! All that’s left to do is light it, and enjoy a bug free game of uno at the campsite.
by christina on May 15, 2012
It appears that all of the northeast is in for a seriously rainy couple of days. What better to do with your time than bake some awesomeness that the kiddos can devour without (too much) concern?
I’ve adapted this recipe from one given to me by an old friend who taught me much about healthy whole foods. There are 4 simple ingredients: chocolate, chickpeas, maple syrup, and eggs. Seriously.
Melt one bag of chocolate chips.
I like these (especially when they’re on sale for $3.79) but really any will do.
Pour your melted chocolate into the blender and add 4 eggs, one can (or about a cup and a half of soaked and cooked if you use dried) drained chickpeas, and about 1/4- 1/2 cup maple syrup (I adjust this based on the type of chocolate I am using).
Blend it up.
Pour into an 8×8 pan greased with coconut oil.
Bake on 350 until you can insert a knife/toothpick/etc and it comes out clean.
Yum.
by christina on May 14, 2012
Joining again with Lisa to remember all I am grateful for on this soon to be rainy Monday…
a husband who can still surprise me after all these years with a beautiful handmade garden dibble tool and sweet words spoken from the heart.
handmade cards and gifts, hugs, and I love yous from three boys that I am so grateful to be mothering.
a picnic lunch in the park, followed by stomping and throwing rocks in a very chilly river (i forgot my camera of course, but you can imagine they looked about like this).
dinner from one of my favorite local restaurants (thanks mom!) eaten outside of course.
planning our first camping trip of the summer.
warm(ish) nights, open windows, and waking up to the wonderful smell of the outside air.
planning for the upcoming second birthday of my mischievous gnome.
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and a beautiful start to this new rainy week!
I’m going to temporarily interrupt the usual posts by my wife Christina and talk for a few minutes. She has no idea, so I hope she doesn’t mind =)
I’m fortunate to have an amazing woman for a wife. This holds true for many reasons, but I’m going to focus on her role as Mother to our Children. I’ve always said that if I could pick any woman in the world to raise my kids, she would be the one. Beyond the typical qualities of being nurturing, involved, selfless, and compassionate (just to name a few), Christina has the amazing drive to question everything when it comes to caring for our kids. She cares enough to not just take that status quo as fact, but to research then soul search (and then force me to weigh in) on every aspect or raising our three wonderful little boys.
Sometimes I feel like we’re always going against the current, that every day is more challenging for us adults because of the way things are done in this house. Often I feel like it exemplifies the adage that parenting isn’t easy. Those moments are outweighed by the times when I sit down with one of my kids, and as they chat with me I tune out the normal bustle of the day and listen to their thoughts. I watch how they interact with the world and see the world from their point of view. At these times I see the wisdom of my wife, and I am reassured that the way we raise our kids is indeed wonderful, and allows our children to be wonderful by being themselves.
In closing, thank you Tina, for being an amazing Mother, and for helping me to be a better Father. You are a sweet,wonderful, and cherished Wife and Mother. We love you dearly. Happy Mother’s Day!
