Category: Thrive

diy felt board and (spastic) musings on motherhood

May 17th, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

A few months back I made this felt board for my son. Nothing too fancy, just framed white felt and lots of cut colorful felt shapes. The frame is some cheapo one I picked up from Ikea. I didn’t tack the felt to the cardboard backing but I highly recommend doing so (either glue of your choice or staples being careful not to go all the way through the cardboard) or your child might have more fun continually pulling out the felt backing than playing with the shapes (as my son did).

This is a simple, fun and fast project that is perfect for pulling out on rainy days or for use during those transitions where you need your child occupied (dinner prep anyone?).

Lately the weather here has been uncharacteristically gorgeous for the NW and we’ve spent oodles of time outdoors either at the park, on walks, bike rides and pulling up buckets and buckets of weeds. I’ve done no planting (yet) this season, but our planter boxes look dang good. Now to tackle our yard strip, a particularly sore spot for the neighborhood. I’m somewhat positive that our 800 year-old neighbors who still manage to keep their lawn meticulous will throw a party once we tackle that beast.

I’ve been taking lots of “indoor” activities outside like painting for one (sorry about the porch Hon) and we’ve spent many afternoons soaking wet thanks to our “water table” which is just a hand-me-down tempered glass patio table that I top with bowls and miscellaneous kitchen utensils, rocks and the like. I’ll pretend it hasn’t affected our water bill. These photos are from last year (he’s so little!), but the idea is the same.

We’ve also been really into bug collecting, which reminds me that this slug

currently sitting on my kitchen windowsill is in desperate need of fresh air.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Speaking of things sluggish, I haven’t been blogging much lately, clearly, and I can’t say why exactly. But the novel I’m about to explode upon you might be able to shed some light on that. I don’t think I’ve wanted to post about the above stuff, without acknowledging the stuff that lies below.

I love being a stay-at-home mama. Adore it. A-d-o-r-e i-t. But…

sometimes it’s lonely. Okay, often times it’s lonely. And the repetition of ordinary household tasks: laundry, dish washing (have I ever mentioned that we don’t own a dishwasher?), grocery shopping and the like can become tedious, bordering on depressing at times. Lately I’ve been feeling incredibly antsy, flitting from feeling content in the ordinary, to just plain bored.

Then I look at how lucky I am to have the luxury to be able to choose between work and full-time mothering that I feel racked with guilt at the brattiness of it. Some days I have the patience of a saint and allow my son to bag every piece of produce and other days, well, I just want to buy the fucking lettuce. And then there are those glorious, pure-happiness moments, which I experience many times per day of being able to just “be” with my son, and move about our day at his pace. And in truth, when I can stop to enjoy the moment and not judge myself, it’s bliss. I feel blessed.

That said, the past month I’ve spent my evenings re-watching the Sex in the City series/movies (as evidenced by my obsessive interest in designer accessories c/o of my Pinterest boards); watching those four self-sufficient working women awakened something in me…a desire for something…more. And I’m not just referring to Jimmy Choos.

Every now and again I have the thought that I could go back to work part-time (pretending that finding a super flexible, super part-time job in this economy would be cake), but I don’t want to give up time with my son, for a variety of reasons, one being the fear that when looking back, I’d regret that choice. Or perhaps when the time comes where I’d like to seriously re-kindle my career, I’d regret not keeping one foot in the door. This cycle of thoughts keeps plaguing me these days. I’m not even sure a job is the answer. Re-reading my words here, it all seems…whiny. I acknowledge my life is not wrought with seriousness. Thankfully.

No wait. I don’t want to be apologetic about my feelings. It is hard work serving others 24/7 and finding enough balance to care for yourself. Everyone deserves to feel well-rounded, in whatever capacity that means for the individual, myself included.

So there you have it. The tangled mess that is my mind these days. The modern day Betty Draper Syndrome. I won’t mention the ringing (banging, clanging, pounding) biological clock either. Oh wait I just did. Oh, and I won’t pay much attention to the food bender I’ve been on as well (and the many pounds that I’ve packed on), because I’d like to caulk it up to boredom and indecision, move on from that and concentrate on not using food as therapy from here on out. I’ll use you instead. Smirk.

So my question for the fellow SAHM’s out there, or scratch that, working mothers included,

how do you balance your life as a mother without losing sight of your goals, desires and aspirations as a woman? Or for those as clueless to those pesky goals and aspirations as I am, how do you balance your time? What roles or nourishing activities do you partake in, or you’d like to partake in, that keeps you feeling like the witty, sociable, intelligent, in-the-know and sexy woman that you are?

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sweet and sour

March 23rd, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

So, it’s been quite awhile since I last posted about my journey towards weight loss and ideally, vibrant health. Oh you guys. I’ve been struggling. Yawn.

As I type this I’m chowing down on this epic chicken/green bean/carrot/turmeric Crock Pot concoction that I made last night, and it is so freaking good, but the only reason why I’m eating it and not the gluten-free/vegan cheese pizza that I’m craving, is because I’m too lazy to drive the four blocks to our local pizza shop.

In this instance, laziness is a good thing.

And that my friends, pretty much sums up what has been going on with me, health-wise, over the past few months. Cravings, and giving in to those cravings a bit too frequently, makes me crave not-so-great food even more. And that not-so-great food (namely sugary, processed, and gluten-free baked goods), has left me feeling less than energetic, a bit depressed and even moody. Duh.

Last week I got a wake up call when I clocked in at 158 pounds, a seven-pound increase from my lowest fall/winter weight of 151. Not a huge increase in my book, but that kind of slip tells me that I need to get back on track, fast, before there’s a zero added to the end of that seven. A potentially very real scenario for me.

So what to do? What to do? Own up, forgive myself, make changes and move forward. Perhaps easier said than done, no, definitely easier said than done, but a few key behavior modifications are all that’s needed:

  • Very limited, if any, processed foods
  • No sugar (except for a bit of honey now and then)
  • More green vegetables
  • More healthy fats (mainly coconut and animal) to keep me full
  • More sleep and exercise

And once again, I have to recognize that this is a journey. A marathon, not a sprint. And damn it all, I have to give myself major credit for coming as far as I have. Focusing on my slip-ups and should-haves instead of recognizing my everyday victories simply triggers a nasty case of emotional over-eating.

I cannot expect perfection from myself. No one should.

So for now I’m going to forgive myself for my near-nightly ritual I’ve had as of late: eating Kettle Chips and pastries while watching back-to-back(to-back-to-back) episodes of Hoarders. Honestly? The rebellious streak I was on has lost its appeal.

Right now I’m trying to move through the cravings and really focus on all the kick-ass progress I’ve made since last June. And hello, while my weight-loss has been stagnant for nearly two seasons, this is perhaps the longest I’ve “maintained” my weight as an adult. I kid you not.

This image of me is from December, standing in the rain, enjoying Stumptown, while waiting in line at Voodoo Donuts with a friend.

I did not eat a donut.

PAT.ON.THE.BACK.

(never mind that I have serious issues with gluten. It’s still a choice.)

And lastly, I’ll leave you these photos. The first from last April. The second from January.

The last thing I want to do right now is beat myself up for having a few too many pizzas, by eating more pizza.

Victory will be mine!

Or perhaps, victory already is mine.

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r & r

February 8th, 2012 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

Life moves so fast. It’s like once you start to get a handle on the new normal, life throws you a curve ball (or like, 17), and you’re just trying to figure out which direction is up. Um. I could really use a compass. Needless to say, I will be taking a break from this space until March 1, trying to find balance within chaos, and carving out time for a little rest and relaxation whenever humanly possible.

Until then!

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i am the biggest loser

November 4th, 2011 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

Since early July I have been participating in an online Biggest Loser-esque competition that my mom’s friend puts on several times per year. Well…I won. First place. A cash prize. Me. I am the biggest loser.

I don’t remember my winning weight, but the number below reflects my last weigh-in.

And while I gave you an unannounced sneak peek earlier this week, here’s a few full body shots.

I have so many new thoughts about my weight-loss and instead of diving into a 1,000 word monologue, yet again I’ll try to make my random thoughts appear more organized.

  • Holy shit I am in the 150’s.
  • That seems small.
  • That still seems huge.
  • I am fully aware of the term “skinny fat.” Let me say that I don’t think I’m skinny. I know I’m still quite chubby. But if I keep losing weight at the rate that I am, before long, I’ll be skinny.
  • But if I don’t start exercising, I’ll still be fat.
  • Fat. Fat. Fat.
  • Wait, didn’t I start this journey to be healthy? To focus on health and not appearance? To squelch the inner dialogue of thinking skinny vs. fat and feel, nay, be…healthy?
  • Oh right. Crap.
  • My motivation seems off.
  • And come to realize it, I actually appear thinner and healthier in my last weight-loss post, even though I was 10 pounds heavier. What gives?
  • Perhaps it’s from inflammation.
  • Perhaps from all the cheating I’ve been doing the past few weeks by way of corn tortilla chips, gluten-free pizza, dairy on said pizza and Halloween candy that has my priorities all askew and my gut inflamed.
  • And is mainly why I feel like a big pile of poo these days.

It’s time to get real again. Time to turn over a new leaf and re-motivate. Time to focus on healing my gut and not my pant size. I acknowledge that adhering to my own damn “secrets,” will help everything else fall into place. I’ll want to feel healthy, want to allow myself adequate rest and want to *gasp* exercise. But how does one re-motivate once they’ve spiraled? When one goes on a bit of a bender, it can seem so difficult to get back on track. Especially a recovering food-aholic, and especially one with food intolerances. My solution is to focus on hitting my goals at least 60% of the time. Because before long I’ll start to feel better and that 70, 80, 90, 99% will become easier to achieve. And when I’m hitting my mark, I feel on top of the world. Weight-loss is a journey. What I’ve learned thus far is that:

  • Simply knowing what needs to be done without taking action is simply wishing and hoping for change, which is an old “unhealthy-me” habit that ultimately leads nowhere. In other words,
  • one has to stop wishing and hoping and act in order to bring change.
  • So…

Here’s the part where I commit to honoring my body by staying away from my food intolerances, eating healthy, getting to bed early and starting an exercise regime. Here’s the part where I build up a bunch of positivity and perhaps, motivate someone else to make a change. But I’m just not quite there yet. I’d be a big phony if I attempted to craft some epic monologue like that. Honestly guys, I need a bit more time to detox from sugar and lack of sleep before I’m capable of that right now. But I’m slowly heading in the right direction. The key is to continue with that momentum, no matter how small. Follow that kernel of desire to change. Refuse to spiral. So now that you’re all semi-pumped up from this post, I’ll leave you with these parting photos.

I might not be this yet, but over the past five months, I’ve come a long way.

Right now I really need to reflect on that, relish in my progress, celebrate it, like truly celebrate, in order to continue making positive steps towards change. I deserve to focus on how far I’ve come, and not how far I have yet to go. Bambino steps.

How are you doing in your quest for health?

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natural cold remedies: teas, salves and syrups

October 20th, 2011 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

I am a total wimp. Approximately 2.5 seconds after KCWC was over (um, your comments were amazing, thank you), I came down with a cold. I am still fighting it and am trying so hard to honor my body right now, slow down and give it the rest that it needs. Easier said than done. Over the past year or so I’ve been photographing our natural cold remedies, and it feels relevant to share a few with you now. Rather than bombard you with all our remedies at once, today I will focus on teas, salves and syrups. These are all so simple and satisfying to make, inexpensive, completely natural and best of all, gentle. Make them ahead of time and save your hide when illness strikes.

The last time we were at the coast, my son developed an extremely high fever. Being away from home, and quite ill, is always a bit scary. Without my books at hand, I turned to the Internet and found this recipe for fever-reducing tea, originally from Mothering. I quickly drove to the nearest herb shop* and gathered the supplies, minus boneset flowers and leaves, which they were out of. But within minutes of administering the tea, his fever started to drop, I kid you not.

Fever-Reducing Tea

2 tsp. dried peppermint leaves

2 tsp. dried yarrow

2 tsp. dried elderflowers

In a small bowl, gently mix the herbs. Measure out 1-2 teaspoons of the mixture and pack into a mesh tea ball. Boil a kettle of water. In a mug, pour boiling water over the herbs, place a saucer over the mug and allow to steep for five minutes before sipping. If your child will not take the tea, try adding a bit of honey, or allow it to cool, pour into popsicle molds and freeze. Add remaining tea to a bath. Store excess loose tea in a glass jar with a screw-top lid, in a cool dark place.

The elderberry is a powerhouse, used to support the immune system, treat colds and flus, and contains loads of antioxidants. I have made this elderberry cough syrup countless times over the past year or so and it has become a family favorite.

I do not just use it for colds with coughs, but whenever a cold strikes and intermittently throughout the heavy cold season due to its immune-boosting effects. My husband and I take 2 tsp. off the spoon every few hours; my son receives 1 tsp. We also like this added to bubbly water. I use the simple recipe found in Amy’s emailorder #11; there is similar recipe found in my favorite herbal recipes book.

One of the simplest and fastest ways to heal from a cold is to keep your feet covered at all times. Rubbing a simple, healing mixture onto your achy feet adds another layer of cold-fighting to the mix. This economical and easy recipe can be whipped up in less than a minute and is seriously soothing.

Healing Coconut Foot Oil

  • 2 Tablespoons organic cold-pressed coconut oil
  • 2-5 drops essential oils** – try lavender, eucalyptus, sage, clove, an immunity blend, or peppermint, or use a combination

Gently mix the coconut oil and essential oils in a tin or small glass jar. To use, rub a small amount of oil onto the sickie’s feet and cover with warm socks. Repeat often. I make a fresh batch each time illness strikes and have also used olive oil, tripling the amount, and keeping in a small squeeze bottle. It is also excellent to apply all over the body after a hot bath.


I adore the vapor rub recipe featured in Amy’s emailorder #11, and it is a favorite for rubbing onto backs and chests if there is any congestion present. So soothing, pleasant smelling but not too strong, and best of all, healing. Just like the healing coconut foot oil, my son takes great pleasure in smearing a bit on his chest, under his nose, and then repeating on me.

Be well!

What are your favorite natural remedies for healing and soothing illness?

* Locally I purchase herbs from The Herb Shoppe, New Seasons and this bizarre little shop inside an Old Victorian house on Hawthorne Street just west of The Herb Shoppe. While at the coast in the Lincoln City/Gleneden area, I purchase herbs at the The Herb Store and Trillium Natural Foods. I have also purchased herbs online via Mountain Rose Herbs, which just so happens to be an Oregon-based company as well. There are a lot of hippies in these parts.

** It is important to note that these concoctions work well for me and my family. If you are sensitive to any of these herbs, please do not use. When I prepare natural medicines for my son, I often halve the amount of herbs and oils, or dilute. Tea tree and lavender should never be used on baby boys as it is a hormone disruptor. Sage and clove should not be used while pregnant.

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