MAM March 6, 2013 - Simple Ways to Play at Home

By Malissa McClintock, Contributing Writer

I can hardly believe that when I look at the calendar the word March stares back at me. March means spring is coming, and with it even crazier weather than the winter brought. With two very active little girls and the impending birth of a little boy, I am compiling a list of ways to entertain my girls in the house. I am trying to create simple ideas that we can enjoy without buying anything extra or expensive. I'm also trying to prevent creating any extra work for myself -- I'll have plenty with the kids.  So here's a small list of what we are planning on doing as I grow bigger, the spring rains fall, and a little boy is born.

Read the rest of the article HERE!

MAM March 1, 2013 - Women's History Month: Homeschool Edition

Women’s History Month: Homeschool Edition

Reading together during school time.

By Malissa McClintock, Contributing Writer

I’m a Women’s Studies junkie. It was one of my three minors as an undergraduate and the emphasis of my Master’s. I love learning about women from the past and the fabulous women around the world who strive daily to make the lives of their mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, and future generations better. I love to see women who are from completely different backgrounds pull together to support one another in the face of adversity and struggle together to overcome obstacles.  I love women who are strong in their careers. I love women who fight for political rights. I love women who stay home to raise their children. Women are amazing.

To continue reading, visit MAM HERE!!

Modern Alternative Mama: February 2013

Little Things For Little Ones: Making Your Preschoolers Feel Loved

February 5, 2013 By   Malissa   |   Blog  |   Comments: 0

Image by Mairi Stephen.

February is already here and love is in the air! Whether you enjoy the hearts, candy, and greeting cards or you prefer to see the 14th come and go quietly, love is an unavoidable topic this month. As we prepare to meet our newest family member in the next month of two, the topic of love has been recurring in our house. Drew and I are trying our best to make our girls feel special in these last few weeks before their brother is born. Here are a few of the things we do to make our girls feel loved now and as our family grows.

To read the rest, head on over to Modern Alternative Mama!! 

Fun Friday: Two of My Contributions Around the Web

Contribution to a Project at Abundant Life Children

A few months ago, I wrote a little bit about our family feeding habits when the girls were little. It's part of a series called the Global Voices Project started by Emily Plank at Abundant Life Children. Here's the link to see a little about how we've handling the learning curve from breast to table (and so great pictures of the girls, too!) I'm looking forward to participating in the future if Emily will have me!

Modern Alternative Mama  - January 2013

Taming The Toy Tornado — Let’s Plan The Playroom

By Malissa McClintock, Contributing Writer

The playroom. Out of all the rooms in my house, I am fairly certain it is the room I like least. I wish that weren’t the case. I have always dreamed of having an amazing playroom for my children that we would spend countless hours in making memories I would always cherish. Instead, it’s a room they go to when I’m trying to get something accomplished and a room that I don’t enjoy being in because it’s always a mess.

To top it off, the playroom is in the space that should be the formal living room to our house — the room that you walk into through the front door.  We keep moving the playroom back and forth from the sun room to the living room, but nothing helps.  This year I’ve decided things are going to change and this plan is how I’m going to attack it.

Holiday Homeschooling Backpack - When We School on the GO!- MAM December 2012

It is completely unsurprising that the Holiday Season can really throw a wrench in the schedule and routine of most children. There are parties to attend, trips to take, photographs to shoot, and general schedule changes caused by longer and longer to-do lists. As a preschool homeschooling family, our school schedule has been off since the week of Thanksgiving. Travel, cooking, cleaning, and seasonal errands have made our daily safety net almost nonexistent.  I’ve come up with a plan on how to keep schooling during the holidays and it all fits nicely into Miss Moo’s backpack.

The Pack

Moo has a backpack from her preschool days and she’s still proud to put it on and wear it about town. She has become aware of our altered school schedule and now tends to ask for school when we are trying to get things done during time she’s used to doing an activity. Drawing on the idea of what I packed for our Thanksgiving journey, I’ve set up a traveling “school” on her back. She loves the notion of something to be responsible for as well as taking pride in her autonomy . We packed it together with items we both chose to include to incorporate her interests as well as the skills and concepts that we have been building and those that we need to work on.

To read what she chose, what I chose, and how we use it, head on over to Modern Alternative Mama!!

Festive Traditions: A book review, AMAZING food and a GIVEAWAY!!!

I love the sounds and smells of Christmas time. I also love the food. Really LOVE the food. But as we are becoming more and more aware of what we eat and promote real food living in our lives, holiday festivities and food become stressful. Now there's Festive Traditions.

 Jill Marks, an incredible blogger and the editor of Modern Alternative Kitchen, forged the effort to create a Real Food holiday ebook this year.There are some great contributors from MAM and MAK.  My mouth waters just as I look through the table of contents. Nuts, soups, salads, desserts! I can't wait to try them all! Here's a look to get your taste buds excited:

Appetizers and Drinks

• Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Spicy Nuts
• Pumpkin Pie Nuts
• Marinated Goat Cheese
• Parmesan Stuffed Mushrooms
• Bacon Wrapped Figs
• Coconut Hot Chocolate
• Pastured Eggnog
• Christmas Punch

Main Dishes

• Roasted Turkey
• Salmon with Probiotic Dill Sauce
• Chicken and Rice Soup
• Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger Cream
• Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

Side Dishes

• Sweet Potato Casserole
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
• Green Bean Casserole
• Cheesy Potatoes
• Autumn Stuffed Squash
• Cranberry Sauce
• Christmas Salad

Desserts

• Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
• Crock Pot Stuffed Apples
• Chocolate Creme Pie
• Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce
• Traditional Buckeyes

Breakfast

• Gingerbread Muffins
• Potato-Crusted Quiche
• Soaked Oatmeal Pecan Waffles
• Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
• Lemon-Poppy Seed Biscuits

Yesterday, Miss Moo and I took a stab at making Chicken and Rice Soup. I got us started by dicing and slicing up the carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, and chicken to get things going. ( I love having Moo's assistance but knives for things that easily roll we haven't graduated to yet ;) ) Moo helped me place all the fresh ingredients in the dutch oven and stir it to cook. Who doesn't love the smell of fresh goodness cooking up in some REAL butter?? Then we measured out all of the dry spices - thyme, tarragon, salt, pepper -and added those with some chicken broth.  Mmmnnn -  it started to smell like Christmas! I whipped up the milk and arrowroot  to create a little cream concoction to slightly thicken the base and add just the right about of creaminess. All these flavors blended with the wild rice to make a soup fit for a King. We all enjoyed it for lunch - Miss Roo had 3, that's right 3, bowls!!

I can't wait to try the other recipes in this book for our holiday. This book isn't one I've bought, downloaded, and glanced at once. I keep coming back for ideas, meal, planning and holiday preparation. I am so thankful this year especially as I manage the girls, a pregnancy, and daily life to have this book as a reliable and genuine way to cook festive, real food for my family.The recipes are all well written and simple to follow. Ingredient lists are concise and clear, processes are uncomplicated for those of us still on a learning curve, and all the recipes are clearly marked to indicate what allergens are not present. For our Gluten Free household, that feature is a lifesaver! I know before I read the recipe if I am going to have to adapt anything. I can't say enough good things about this book.

I have good news for you! From now until Thursday, December 18th, you can get you very own copy of Festive Traditions at a special rate! My readers can save 25% by using the code EVOLVE25 at checkout!

Now I have GREAT news for you - we're having a giveaway! That's right - you can win your own copy of Festive Traditions! Through Thursday, December 14th, you have the opportunity to win your own copy! Simply do one (or more) of the following!

• Leave a comment on this post saying what recipe you'd like to try and why.
• Like Tryin' to Evolve on Facebook.
• Share the giveaway on Facebook ad post on my wall letting me know!

I will select a winner with random.org after midnight on the 15th and post the winner on Thursday's post.

Enter away, like some pages I've mentioned, and enjoy some REAL food this holiday!

A New Recipe!

I've been secretly hoping for weeks that Kate, the wonderful Modern Alternative Mama, would post her Soaked Apple Crisp recipe.  Yesterday, she DID!

Today I made some apple pie filling in the crock pot. I just set up the apple crisp crust and it's soaking on the stove top.

I can't wait to see how breakfast turns out!! I'll let you know tomorrow!

A Great Giveaway!

Lindsey of Road to 31 and a fellow contributing writer at Modern Alternative Mama has written a great post  on Hodge Podge Homeschool and it features a giveaway!! If you have any intentions of homeschooling, it's worth a look. The article works for anyone interested in homeschooling, not JUST those who want to integrate their faith into their educational goals. The giveaway features Christian curriculum for girls, The ABC's for Godly Girls. I'm learning about this curriculum for the first time, but it focuses on character training rather than discipline.

If you're interested, hop on over to Road to 31 or MAM and take a look, then enter the giveaway!!

**Mamas of boys, never fear! The ABC's for Godly Boys launches this fall!! **

Modern Alternative Mama Contributing Writer - The September Edition

Muddy Feet and Tree Hugs - A Nature Adventure

The girls running around on a journey of discovery.

Summer is slowly drawing to a close. Days are gradually getting shorter, temperatures aren’t soaring quite as high, and most families are preparing for their version of a new school year.

We are going to begin homeschooling with Miss Moo and Miss Roo this fall.  There are several factors in our lives that have lead us to this path and we are embracing it as an opportunity to discover many blessings. I have been doing a great deal of research to dust the cobwebs off the knowledge of my preschool teacher days. One thing that Drew and I have discussed is the need for more nature and earth in our girls lives and in their education. Recesses and play are important, but exploration is key.

This past week the girls and I visited Tuckahoe Plantation, the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. Our morning outing started as a quest to see the cows that our local farmers had grazing in the fields lining the Plantation’s driveway and maybe sneak in a little history of the area and the man. It resulting in a nature outing where sensory and discovery reigned.

** To read the rest of my article and check out Modern Alternative Mama, click HERE.***

August Post - Modern Alternative Mama

Adapt that snack!!

Need some ideas for snacking on the go?

Real Food Confession

Further details on how our house isn't perfect ;)

Real Food Confessions: Malissa

July Post - Modern Alternative Mama

Real Food Confessions

What can't I give up???

June Post - Modern Alternative Mama

Simple Summer Suppers

Take a look and let me know what you think!

A little behind....

The girls have been napping at opposite times this week, so I'm way behind on everything. But, we got some housework done today, we bought a new dishwasher after almost 2 months without one, AND my second article was published over at Modern Alternative Mama!

Ever been curious about how to handle your kids at the Farmer's Market? Here's a few pointers from yours truly! Enjoy and I hope to finish at least one of the 6 1/2 written posts I have this week ;)

I'm a Contributing Writer!!

I'm very excited to announce that I have joined a fantastic group of women and am now serving as a contributing writer at Modern Alternative Mama!  If you haven't checked out her page, you should! Here's a little teaser of what I wrote. Head on over and check her out!!  (If you wanted to know about my beeswax wood polish, you'll find out there ;) )



 Rainbows and Reuse: DIY Birthday Ideas


In less than a month, my youngest daughter turns one. While my mind is spinning with the thought of my baby leaving babyhood, I am slowing charging into full party planning mode. As with every party or holiday, there will be gifts for the birthday girl. Frankly, I'm terrified of more plastic junk entering our house. We are trying to move towards having less (which in itself is a chore with two under 3), natural and green living, and using up before getting new.
This concept paired with Miss Roo's love of color has driven the direction of the birthday theme -- Rainbows! How simple and natural is a rainbow?  She will play with anything wooden or airy for hours at a time which has been an immense help in trying to plan a party for a wee girl that won't cost a ton and will help us be earth friendly.  We are planning to celebrate Miss Roo's party at a local park. It is our hope that our location will encourage outdoor play in all our guests, provide a connection to nature that a lot of us simply are not enjoying, and will support our locality rather than some big business and all their waste.  While I will be purchasing invitations due to my severely lacking Graphic Design skills, there are plenty of things that we can make at home to make the day color and bright.  So here are some DIY idea for decorations, gifts, and the favors to create a great party while reducing, reusing, and buying less!