Top 10 Posts of 2011

It's hard to believe today ends 2011! I thought today might be fun to reflect back on my top 10 most-read posts for 2011!

10. Keeping Gift-Giving Simple

9. Allergen-Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes

Image by Glenn Gutierrez

8. Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Image by diamondjoy

7. 5 Deceptively Delicious Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy

Image by La.blasco

6. Gallo Pinto: A Traditional Costa Rican Breakfast

Image by clshearin 

5. Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

4. Probiotic Pumpkin Dip

3. Homemade Lactation Cookies

2. Crock Pot Applesauce

And....

Thanks to Money Saving Mom and Pinterest....with nearly 10,000 pageviews alone....

1. Homemade Peppermint Foaming Handsoap!

If you're a blogger, what were some of your top posts of 2011? If you're not a blogger, what were some of your favorite posts to read?

Give Yourself a New Year's Planning Retreat

Image by MEDIALAB

Working on New Year's resolutions? Last week I posted on giving yourself a New Year's planning retreat over at Keeper of the Home. Here's an excerpt:

I have found that when I make the time to sit down and spend a few hours on New Year's Day (or very close to it) to plan out goals for the new year, my year goes much more smoothly than if I just take each day as it comes and fly by the seat of my pants. 

Now, we can never totally predict what  a new year will bring (like little did I know during my 2010 retreat that I would spend the majority of that year pregnant and my goals would change to reflect preparing for a natural birth!), but having a flexible, workable list of goals to keep me accountable and on track helps me immensely--especially when the unexpected happens. 

Read the rest of this post here. 

Making New Year's Eve Celebrations Meaningful

After a week off to celebrate Christmas with our family, I'm so excited to have contributing writer, Christy, of The Simple Homemaker, posting today! Christy is a homeschooling mom of 7--and offers much wisdom from her years of motherhood! Be sure to stop by her blog--The Simple Homemaker!

Image by sc2k5

The Christian walk is all about new beginnings. Each day we are given a fresh chance, forgiveness, a clean slate wiped clear of the myriad of blunders and missed opportunities from the day before. The upcoming new year provides 366 new days to live for Christ, to draw our little ones toward His love, and to cherish the all-too-short time we have with our families.


Family New Year's Eve celebrations present the ideal opportunity to focus on family, God's faithfulness, and our walk with Christ.


At the Simple Home we schedule a myriad of New Year's Eve activities (and snack breaks) to keep all ages occupied and awake until the final hour...or at least the final hour in some other time zone for the littles. Some of my favorites are those which involve food, naturally, but also those which hold the most meaning.

Activities for Meaningful New Year's Eve Celebrations

Preserving Family Memories

Memories of my childhood are invaluable to me...well, except for the time I...never mind. I want my children to value memories of their childhood as well. I want them to laugh as they recall the good times, such as family trips or bringing home a new baby or puppy. I want them to see God's arms holding them close through the tough times that molded us as a family, such as my father-in-law's death and my daughter's recent hospitalization and illness. Too often, however, life crowds out the memories.


To help us hold onto things our fickle brains might otherwise toss aside, we fill out memory pages about the previous year. The pages contains typical information, like age, height, favorite food, and favorite book, as well as not-so-typical, such as naming a favorite or least favorite event, something worth remembering forever, goals, and accomplishments.


To see or print an example of a memory page we have used and which you are welcome to use with your own family, click here. For instructions on a far more elaborate version, check out this "Best Of" book from Kojo Designs.

Family Predictions

We have a great time recording our predictions for the new year. How many books will the bookworms complete? How many times will we say, "Shut the door! Were you raised in a barn?" How many batches of cookies will absent-minded Mommy burn...and probably eat anyway? (I have a thing for cookies lately.) What will the youngest be doing a year from now? (Walking, talking, reading, copying Picasso on the walls?) What trips will we take? How many concerts will Daddy perform? The options are endless. 


These questions help everyone focus on the personalities, likes and dislikes, and character of each individual family member, as well as focus on personal goals and dreams for the upcoming year.


We always make it a point to read the predictions from the previous year and see how accurate we were. Some of the predictions are spot on!


To see an example of a prediction form you may wish to use with your family, click here.

Family Photo

No matter what we're wearing, no matter how messy the hair, whether shaven or unkempt, made-up or real, glasses or contacts...whatever we look like, we take a very real, very "us" family photo each year. It's fun to see individual personalities revealed in this "real" snapshot. This visual representation of how we've changed over the year(s) is a bitter-sweet reminder that time passes too quickly, so we must cherish the moments we have together and prioritize over the new year.

Time Capsule

In our garage we keep a time capsule. (Not the time traveling sort, mind you. I know, bummer.) Our time capsule is nothing fancy. For a few dollars we bought a five gallon pail and lid from the paint section of a local store and decorated it with permanent markers. This is where we keep our predictions, photos, and memory pages. We also scramble around at some point during our New Year's Eve celebrations looking for memorabilia to include. It's nothing fancy, but is oh-so-fun to look through once a year.

Putting Off the Old Self

This is, perhaps, my favorite part of our New Year's Eve celebrations...even better than the food if you can believe that. Each person writes (or draws) on a slip of paper what habit or character trait he or she would like to eliminate over the coming year. Examples include whining, procrastinating, eye rolling, eating all the cookies after everyone else goes to bed, worrying, and being impatient. Sharing what each person wrote (or drew, in the case of the littles) is optional.

When done, each person tosses the old habits into the fireplace and prays for strength and guidance for the new year while watching the old ways burn. I'm not saying it works miracles (someone still eats all the cookies after everyone else is in bed), but it does get everyone thinking, praying, and focusing. Some of the children (and their mother) take this personal assessment very seriously.

By focusing on the value of family, the lessons we've learned, and our walk with Christ, we turn a day of potential gut rot and lack of sleep into a meaningful New Year's Eve celebration year after year.

How do you make your New Year's Eve celebrations meaningful?

Christy writes about simplifying life at The Simple Homemaker. Once weighed down by unrealistic expectations and life's overwhelming demands, Christy has learned to throw off the complications of life and find joy in the little things.  Christy and her contemporary Christian musician husband, Stephen Bautista, homeschool their 7 children, ages brand new to 15.  The family tours the country for the music mission and works together on a home business.  

How To Avoid Christmas Blood Sugar Blues

I'm so excited to have contributing writer, Brandy, of Living Water Health and Wellness, posting today! Brandy's mission is to share the message of health and wellness according to the Word of God! Be sure to stop by her blog--Living Water Health and Wellness!

With Christmas only a few days away, many of us are wondering what we can do to make sure our bodies receive the nourishment they need during the holiday season.  

For those with diabetes, this is especially important, and many times, incredibly difficult.  

When surrounded by sweet treats, sugary drinks, and simple carbs of all kinds, what can we do to avoid the dreaded blood sugar spikes that so often come with holiday meals? It certainly shouldn't have to consume your every thought and take away from the true joy of the season.

After all, Christmas means time with family and friends, Christmas lights, favorite songs, snuggling by the fire, giving gifts, and celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Yet, while the holidays are full of wonderful traditions and memory making, they can also quickly become a hazard to your health, especially if you are watching your blood sugars. 

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was two years old.  To read more about my story and how I use real food to stay in control of diabetes, please click here.  Each Christmas brought the same seemingly insurmountable challenge.  How can I enjoy the ample smorgasbord of holiday food without feeling terrible later?  

It's been a long journey for me, but I have learned over the years that it is possible to take part in family gatherings without totally compromising your blood sugar control.

Here are a few tips and tricks that will allow you to enjoy your Christmas dinner, while still maintaining a healthy blood sugar range:

Coconut Oil

1.  EAT YOUR FATS

Yes, you read that right.  And no, I'm not talking about the fat in Grandma's banana pudding or Aunt Suzie's margarine-laden casserole. 

Healthy, whole food fats help to keep your appetite in check, and some even lower blood sugar and speed up metabolism!  My absolute favorite fat for anyone, but especially diabetics, is Virgin or Extra Virgin Coconut Oil! 

Coconut oil is a saturated fat, but it is different from other types of saturated fat.  It is a medium chain fatty acid, which means that it is absorbed quickly and used by the body more like a carbohydrate.  

Most fats have to go to the liver to be converted to a lipoprotein, and then require insulin to get into the cell. MCFO's like coconut oil do not have to go through this process.  They can pass freely into the cell walls and provide almost immediate energy.  

They also are used by the body more quickly, and actually speed up metabolism. (A nice perk when you are probably going to eat at least a little too much.) :-)

When taken before a meal, coconut oil can actually lower blood sugar all by itself! We use this amazing oil in many ways: eaten right off the spoon, in coffee or hot tea, in smoothies, as a spread on toast, waffles, pancakes, etc., in cooking and baking, and the list goes on. I also use it as my whole body moisturizer!  It's really not hard to get the recommended daily dose of 3-4 tablespoons in.  

Coconut oil is also naturally anti-bacterial and anti-viral, which offers seasonal protection from common germs that tend to be passed around this time of year.

For a more detailed description of why I believe coconut oil is such a super food and for more ideas on how to incorporate it into your diet, you can read my post The Food You Should NEVER Go Without!

Other good fat choices include whole, organic or raw butter (learn how to make your own), organic extra virgin olive oil (best when consumed raw), whole milk yogurt or kefir (learn how to make your own), and free-range eggs.

2.  MAKE A DECEPTIVELY-HEALTHY DESSERT

There are so many recipes for healthy desserts and other holiday favorites. It's really all about making substitutions.  For instance, use coconut oil in place of other oils when baking, use whole wheat pastry flour instead of refined, white flour, or use raw honey and other natural sweeteners in place of corn syrup or highly-refined white sugar. 

For Thanksgiving this year, I made a beautiful Coconut Flour Cake with Homemade Butter Cream Icing.  My husband said it was the best cake he had EVER eaten and the whole family loved it.  

The best thing about this cake is that it is made with coconut flour, which is naturally low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fiber. And because the recipe calls for a large amount of eggs, that increases the protein and healthy fat content.  It is truly an amazing dessert. You can find the recipe here.

Other healthier dessert options include Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, Soft Cinnamon Sugar Cookies, Coconut Oatmeal Cookies, and my favorite Fudgy Whole Wheat Brownies!  Erin, from here at The Humbled Homemaker, has a fantastic, free Healthy Holidays eBook with MANY amazing recipes!

Now, this is not me giving you permission to eat a whole pan of brownies or plate of cookies because, of course, these desserts still have carbohydrates.  They are made with more natural ingredients, and are absorbed more slowly into the blood stream, therefore, do not cause the same kind of sugar spikes that their alternatives do.  

However, you should still eat only small amounts of even natural sugars/carbs in order to maintain good glucose readings, and check your blood sugar often to make sure you are staying in control. 

Now, we all know that too much sugar isn't a good thing, but there is something that can be FAR worse for you...and that brings us to number 3.

Image by amp2 

3.  AVOID ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS LIKE THE PLAGUE

We talked about making substitutions above, but one substitution I would NEVER recommend is artificial sweeteners. While they may not raise your blood sugar (which is actually not entirely true), they can cause a host of other health problems including nerve damage, brain tumors, seizure disorders, migraines, anxiety, and many more. 

The worst of these impostors is called Aspartame, Equal, or Nutrasweet, although I read recently that it is being renamed AminoSweet. This "sweetener" is a chemical concoction that has no place in the human body, but is the most widely used sugar substitute.  It is actually classified as a neurotoxin.  That means it causes your nerves to fire over and over again, eventually wearing them out, which can lead to many health problems, including neuropathy and retinopathy. 

Isn't it interesting that those are two of the most common complications associated with diabetics, who are usually the heaviest artificial sweetener consumers?  Coincidence?

Splenda and Sweet'N'Low are not much better.  I do not use ANY artificial sweeteners.  For more about why, you can read my post Stop Poisoning Yourself!! - Aspartame & MSG.  If you want something sugar free, I recommend Stevia.  It is an all natural calorie free sweetener derived from a plant. It can be used to sweeten beverages and even in place of sugar when baking. 

4.  AIM FOR BALANCED MEALS & SNACKS

While that may seem like an impossible feat, it's really not that hard to do. Try to make sure you incorporate protein and good fats into each meal or snack. Much of the traditional holiday fare majors on carbohydrates and sugars, which make it to the blood stream with alarming speed. When you add protein and healthy fat along with it, you slow the absorption and can also help avoid the blood sugar crash that comes when the sugar has been used up. 

Try taking a tablespoon of coconut oil before a meal and eat some raw cheese, yogurt, or a hand full of almonds before you dive into the rest of your food. Or, eat the low-carb options first, such as a salad, turkey, or a deviled egg, before moving on to the higher carbohydrate dishes.

Image by getwired

5.  DRINK LOTS OF WATER 

You've heard it said a million times, but drinking water truly is one of the best things you can do for your body.  Not only does it curb your appetite (many perceived hunger pangs are actually thirst signals), but it also helps rid your body of toxins that are introduced from the not so healthy foods you may be indulging in. 

I have given you 5 tips on how to help manage the all too common blood sugar spikes that come with Christmas time meals.  And whether you are diabetic or not, these tricks can help you stay on track this Christmas and have a little less eater's remorse after the holiday.  :-) 

Merry Christmas everyone!  May it be your most blessed one yet!

 Brandy is a full-time homemaker, has been married to the love of her life for 7 years, and is the mommy of two amazing little boys. The two most important things in her life are her relationships with God and her family.  She is living the abundant life with her wonderful husband and sons and is constantly learning how to walk in the fullness of the promises of God.Her mission is to share the message of health and wellness according to the Word of God and traditional wisdom! She blogs at Living Water Health and Wellness. 

If you're an e-mail/RSS subscriber, have you received a copy of my Christmas gift to you yet? If not, please send me an e-mail to erinodom at pobox dot com, so I can get you a copy of Healthy Holidays: Slightly-Indulgent Sweet Treats!

I'm linking up with: Homestead Barn Hop, Monday Mania, Real Food 101, Traditional Tuesday,Fat Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Live Renewed, Fight Back Friday, Living Well Blog Hop, Sunday School , Works for Me Wednesday, Women Living Well, Frugally Sustainable






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