Fighting The Flu; Holistic Remedy

I hate saying this, but it finally it our home. The dreadful flu. Not just one strand of the flu but the two different strands. The cold flue like symptom's and the evil stomach virus. What are the odds right? That's exactly what I thought at 6:00 AM Thursday morning. It also crossed my mind that one of my two biggest fears had come true, all three kids were sick all at once. Since becoming a mother I wondered if this were even possible. Well, yes it was.

At that moment I realized I had not yet stocked up on or made elderberry syrup for the cold and flu season. How could I let this happen?! It was my husbands day to work super late. Therefore I am so thankful to have my Mother-in-law and Mom live not to far from us. After all I was trapped in a house playing nurse with three sick daughters, so my Mother-in-law made the trip to the health food store for me to pick up the elderberry syrup. I couldn't be more thankful. Later in the afternoon my Mom stopped by with the chicken noodle soup, bananas and ginger root.  Thank you again! As the day progressed my biggest fear number two came true. Getting sick while all three sick are sick. Once again, is that really possible? Yes, yes it is. Let's just say, I had to end up calling my husband in defeat. He ended up coming home late in the evening from his work. 

So your probably wondering why am I writing about my family getting slammed with the flu. Well some friends wanted me to share my holistic side of taking this nasty, gross and not so fun illness head on. So here I am and wanted to give a little insight where it started to give you an idea how bad we were feeling. Elderberry syrup made myself and my kids feel better within hours. Ever since last year we have start taking Elderberry syrup. Now I prefer to make it myself but as I stated previously I did not have time yet this season. I will though and show you in a later post. So stay tuned. 

FIGHTING THE FLU

Elderberry syrup; a holistic remedy

*Please note I am not a Doctor nor am I Holistic Certified. *

Benefits of taking Elderberry Syrup!

*Treats cold and flu, coughs

*It can reduce flu like symptoms if taken within 24 hours when feeling them coming on.

*It may help relieve nasal congestion.

*reduce swelling in mucous membranes.

*Improves vision, lowers cholesterol and  benefits heart health

*People who took elderberry syrup have reported feel lesser symptoms and recover quicker than those who do not. 

*It is high in Vitamin A and C

*It is great for you to even take daily to boost your immune system, and build those walls. 

Where you can buy Elderberry Syrup!

You can purchase elderberry syrup at your local health food stores. Check ahead if you don't feel like making an extra trip like me. Here are a couple health food stores that carry Elderberry Syrup.

APPLE VALLEY NATURAL FOODS

6070 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast

Kentwood, MI 49508

(616) 554-3205

HARVEST HEALTH FOODS

I know they sell the actual Elderberries but not sure about the syrup! 

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Trick-Or_Treat!

This post is a little later than I anticipated but that's okay. The Halloween costume reveal is finally here. That is if you don't follow by instagram. If you don't...make sure you do.

This year our youngest was a clown. A good clown of course. It was her daddy's Halloween costume many years ago that my Mother-in-law had sewn. Our oldest daughter was the Wicked Witch of the West. I was pretty apprehensive about the costume being a little evil. Oh well we had fun with it! We borrowed the awesome costume from our neighbor whos friend had also sewn in the past. lastly, Viv was a cowgirl. Our theme this year was your traditional themed Halloween costumes.

We are ready for next year....

Happy Halloween!! Pictures

Happy Halloween from the Hoffman's! Sunday we had our own little pumpkin party. Ev carved her pumpkin with help of course. The two young ones painted their pumpkins. It wasn't a pumpkin party without our Halloween treats. The girls had so much fun.

 The calm before the storm.

 And it begins...

 Busy painting their pumpkins.

 A few breaks for snacks.

 I refused to gut the pumpkin this year since I was stuck doing all three pumpkins last year. Hence the two younger girls painting. 

 Busy!

Helping daddy dry the painted pumpkin in the end. 

Now we wait for the evening to prepare for our costumes! Stay tuned to see what they are!

Yes I Am A Stay At Home Mom...

Hi there. I am a stay at home mom and proud!

Let me state before I became a stay at home mom I did work part time as a server and attended college for about a year part time in the evenings. As time went on my husband and I knew the best decision was for me to leave my job and maybe attend college another time, so I could stay home with our daughters. Yes a college degree is important to me but not at this time. If God has blessed us with me being able to stay home and watch our daughters grow and not miss a mile stone, then why not?

Since my husband and I had made the major decision and wise choice for me to stay home full time with our three daughters, I couldn't believe the not so positive remarks I have received. I believe today's society looks down at stay at home mothers. These days it's almost expected for both parents to work, or is expected.  

One of the questions I am most asked is, "are you going to get a job someday when your daughters are all in school full time?"

I usually stand there for a second maybe staring awkwardly at the other person once they asked me such a stupid question. Yes I said a "naughty" word. Seriously though, don't ever ask a stay at home mom if she ever plans on getting a job because being a stay at home mom is her job. Therefore my answer always is, no I have a job that God blessed me with why would I change that? Never once yet have they had an answer to my response. 

Being a stay at home mom is like a job in many ways. But I feel calling it a job kind of sounds bad? To me its my dream job of all jobs. I get to work at home and be surrounded my my kids at the same time. Although that is lovely most of the time, there are times where I do need a break. 

But whats a break? My breaks are at nap times, that's if I can even get the two younger girls to take a nap. My breaks don't consist of me sitting on my couch eating bon bons while watching soap operas. My breaks consist me going back and forth between rooms trying to get the littlest to lay down while she is screaming, quickly folding laundry so they don't knock it over, cleaning the house, all while trying to eat lunch by myself so I don't have to share half of it. I'm not sitting in a quiet coffee shop sipping on Starbucks nor am I out to lunch with my co-workers having an adult conversation. 

 It is not always easy being a stay at home mom, in fact most the time its not easy. My days start before the sun rises and doesn't end till the sun sets. By the time I tuck our girls in bed I most always pass out on the couch. It took a while for my husband to finally understand why. Because being a stat at home mom can be exhausting just like any other job out there. I am a taxi driver during the day, a chef for three meals a day, I run laundry mat inside my home, I am a tutor for three kids all year round, I make sure my house is clean and in tip top shape every day. 

I had one a lady tell me, "I wish I could be a stay at home mom and do what I want."

First off we don't get to do what we want. I am not out there having shopping trips to the mall by any means. In all reality my shopping trips are to target for guess what?! Diapers and wipes. He he he. I don't get to sit around all day in my pj's and sip on tea while reading a book. Although that sounds lovely, instead I have 2 out of our 3 kids competing for my attention, playing the question game or just keeping me on my toes. I have a list of chores that I have to complete for the day. Maybe by the weekend I can finally do a craft which would fall under, doing what I want.

Deep down inside I know my job is beyond important to me and my daughters. I wouldn't change it any other way. 

Are you a stay at home mom? If so what crazy question have you been asked or told??

Apple Picking!

This weekend we finally went apple picking. I have been waiting so impatiently myself, ha ha. By far apple picking is one of my most favorite fall activities to do as a family. This was the girls first time. All three of them thought it was neat and did a swell job filling the bag right up. Red delicious are the girld favorites. 

 We were blessed with a sunny wand warm october day. To our surprise we started to sweat picking the apples. Only in Michigan can it be either 80 degrees or snowing in one month. 

 They were quit the pros at picking apples. Vivian had learned the correct way of picking an apple off the tree at her recent field trip.

 Of course the hubby has to scout out where the best apples were. 

 Sisters helping sisters or what we call, team work in our house. 

There were even some apples low enough for our littlest to pick on her own. She was so proud!

 She wouldn't take a picture with me. She was too busy eating an apple. In fact I lost count how many apples they snacked on while picking, ha ha ha.

 Sisterly love totally melts my heart.

 This is our typical picture of the three girls. Viv is usually in la la land. Ev most always has an attitude from not wanting her picture taken. helen on the other hand likes to pout about who knows what. For myself, I always get a good chuckle from the pictures. 

After the hard work from picking apples we were off to play. next we're off to the pumpkin patch...

Chocolate Butterscotch Popcorn

Yesterday our three girls started to have mini meltdowns once the evening started to approach. As for any parent when your children starts to have meltdowns it can be stressful and exhausting. With that being said, I decided it was an easy diner for the evening followed by family movie night. And when your a house full of girls involving meltdowns, you have to add in the sweets. Our daughter's do not get the specialty of sweets in our house daily. I feel they get enough sugar from fresh natural fruit and their Grandma's and Grandpa's. So don't worry my daughters are not completely deprived from all sweets. Ha ha ha. 

Since it is almost October we decided on a Halloween Movie. As a mom I am already thinking in my head what snack can I prepare that's follows our family movie night theme? Popcorn! But popcorn can be boring so he sweetened it up. We came up with our own ingredients and called it Chocolate Butterscotch Popcorn. Plus It fits in perfectly with the season; fall. 

Ingredients

Popcorn: 2 bags. 

Chocolate Chips: 1/2 cup. But it really depends how much chocolate you like sprinkled onto your popcorn and chex mix.

Butterscotch Chips: 1/2 a cup as well. Same follows as above.

Chex cereal: 3 cups

Candy Corn: I'll leave it up to you how many you want to add.

Steps

*Pop the popcorn and lay out on wax paper. 

*Melt your chocolate and butterscotch chips and drizzle it it over the popcorn. Then add your chex mix an drizzle the chocolate and butterscotch again.

*Let it cool down. Takes about 5-10 minutes. I put mine in the freezer to speed up the process. 

*Once the chocolate is hardened put add it into a serving bowl and mix in the candy corn. 

Is your family a pop corn loving family like mine?!

Photo Friday: V's 1ST Field Trip!

Monday Viv had her first ever school field trip. Their trip was to Well's Apple Orchard. Perfect for the season here in Michigan. The class were taught how apples grow on a farm and of course all the other little facts that go along with growing apples. 

 The class listening so nicely. 

 Off we go to see how you pick an apple. Even though it was not a U-pick farm.

 I don't think we have ever seen so many apples at once.

 The big crate where the apples are stores.

 My little Viv in the pink coat and blonde hair. :)

 Viv's preschool class.

At the end of the field trip they snacked on cider and donuts. Fits the theme right? After they let go of their butterfly they raised in their class. It was such a beautiful morning for a beautiful field trip.

Have you been to an apple orchard yet this fall?

Photo Friday!

Wow, what a busy week we had. This is the last week of summer break for our two oldest girls. Our week consisted of pre-school orientation along with first grade orientation. We have been playing as much as possible outdoors, with neighbor friends and just having a blast. Along with spending some important family time. In the midst of all that I have been trying my hardest to catch up on my mountain of laundry. The goal is before school starts.

 My Mini photographer, enough said. 

 Vivian and her neighborhood friend.

 Tire swings are fun at the neighbors house. 

 Our girls and one of their neighborhood friends.

 We even snuck in a fun photo session in mommy's high heels.

Wednesday we went to the Critter Barn. Great farm with many animals to pet, feed and hold. The girls were in heaven.

The girls adored the baby chicks and didn't want to leave them. 

Have a great weekend.