DIY Finger Paint

Like most of the midwest, the weather here in NE Ohio has been frigid and not for the littles to be able to play in. So, we've been resorting to lots of messy indoor play to break up the monotony  of the day! 

I have had this recipe for homemade finger paint for a couple of years now, since Aldon was an itty bitty. What I love about it- it comes together in minutes, is super cheap to make, completely safe if he eats some of it (because let's face it, that always happens!), and clean up is a breeze- even dried on to the table, walls, and floor, warm water is all that I've ever needed to wipe it up. It's also gluten free- while we don't suffer gluten sensitivity in this house, I know some children cannot even handle touching gluten so this recipe is perfect for those in that boat! 

Weekly Meal Ideas + A Free Menu Planner Download!

  I've been asked a lot by friends how I feed my kids, what we eat in a typical week, etc. So, I figured I would write a post about it!

My family doesn't follow any kind of special or fad "diet." We aren't Paleo, GAPS, and the like. I consider our diet to be "whole foods based" or "clean", and to me that means:

Life Lately: hello 2014!

Happy {belated} New Year!

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I never have. Probably because let's face it, they never stick. I could make a resolution to actually make a resolution, and still probably fail.

However, something I am challenging myself with this month is The Orange Rhino Challenge. You can get the details here, but in a nutshell it is all about being aware of the voice we use with our children and in particular, to never yell. While I don't consider myself a "yeller," I am human, I get irritated and snap. I'm doing this with a local Natural Parenting group I am a part of, and so far it's been refreshing. Kind of starts the year off on a positive note.

Now, let's recap how the past few months have been for the Hartman's: