Amber, Author at Rays of Bliss

Natural Living Blog Carnival: How We are Keeping it “Green” in the Classroom

Welcome to the September 2013 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Extending Natural Living to the Classroom.

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. This month, our members are talking about how they extend their family’s natural lifestyle to their child’s school. Hop around to each post to get some tips and share your own!

My son started 1st grade this year and I feel like we are off to a pretty good start when he comes to extending our natural living to his classroom. There is room for improvement but I’m proud of the steps we have taken so far and plan on taking in the future.

How we extended our natural living to the Classroom this year:

All reusable lunch gear: lunchbox, snack bags, food containers, bottles, even a reusable napkin!
Packing healthy lunches using Non-GMO and organic foods.
Using a reusable water bottle for his daily classroom water.
Bought clothes from a resale/consignment store.
Reused shoes from last year instead of buying new ones.
Reused some of his supplies from last year.
When possible I purchased recycled products and products with minimal packaging.

Goals for this year & next year:

Once my baby is a little older I plan on walking with a stroller the 1.1 mile to my son’s school on all the good weather days.
Be involved in his schools recycling, compost, and energy saving programs.

Outside the classroom we are also teaching our boys how to recycle and to conserve energy by turning off lights, TVs, and computers.

How are you keeping or plan on keeping it “Green” in your child’s classroom?

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Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival!

Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:

Angel Food Cupcakes ~ Gluten Free Recipe

Blog, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes

OK, I have to give myself a pat on the back for this one! I am an easy-peasy baker so when I found out to make this angel food recipe I would have to sift, separate egg whites, carefully combine, and sift some more I had serious doubts if I could pull this off! It was a lot more work than I am accustomed to but well worth it. My angel food cupcakes came out light and airy and of course delicious! Also, I made these cupcakes because I don’t own a tube pan and I only had 8 eggs so I cut the original recipe I have in half. This recipe will make 12 regular sized cupcakes.

Angel Food Cupcakes

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Ingredients

6 egg whites
1/2 TBSP vanilla extract orange extract would work too
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cake/pastry flour GF I used Sun Flour Mills Pastry Flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Put your egg whites in a bowl and let stand at room temp for at least 30 minutes. (Fresher eggs work best b/c they separate easier.)
Preheat oven to 325.
Sift powdered sugar, xanthan gum and cake/pastry flour together and set aside.
Combine egg whites, vanilla extract, and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a whisk on high speed.
Gradually add sugar to egg white mixture, beating continuously at medium speed. Beat until all sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form.
Sift about 1/4 cup of flour mix to cover top of the foam and fold gently using a spatula. Continue adding about 1/4 cup at a time until all mixed in. *if you add flour all at once the cake will be flat and not airy & fluffy.
Carefully spoon 1/4 cup of mixture into a paper lined muffin cup.
Cut through each cupcake batter with a knife to help remove air pockets.
Bake for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.
Cool completely before adding icing and toppings. I used store bought white whipped icing (gluten free) and strawberries to top my cupcakes.

This recipe was shared on the following: Gluten Free Tuesday, All Gluten Free Desserts, Gluten Free Recipe Round-Up, Gluten Free Fridays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Gluten-free Wednesdays

Gluten Free Tuesday Linky 09/17/13

Blog, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Linky

Week 2 of being a SAHM! I am still adjusting to it but I am totally loving it! I need to make a schedule of when to do certain things because I feel like I am randomly cleaning and organizing areas of my house. I’m sure I’ll come up with something! Also, I was able to make all our meals this week and make a couple of desserts too! This weeks menu includes several recipes from last weeks linky, so thank you ladies! I’m sure y’all will give me some new ideas for this week too!

Here are my Top 3 from last Week in no particular order:

Flourless, Doughless, Gluten-Free Pizza from Gluten-Free Easily.

Paleo Sweet Potato Fries from Tessa the Domestic Diva.

Easy All-Natural, Homemade Pizza Sauce from The Little Aussie Bakery & Cafe.

Link Up and Share your Gluten Free Recipes!

I will PIN all entries to my “Gluten Free Tuesday” Pinterest board for more exposure!

Rules:
~New or Old Gluten Free Recipe Post, Gluten free product reviews or menu plans.
~Family friendly Post.
~Link directly to your Recipe post (not your homepage).
~I have permission to use your submitted photo, if chosen as my favorite, in next week’s post. I will give credit and link backs to you.

Not required but would be nice:
~Please be courteous to your host and link back to Gluten Free Tuesday at rays of bliss.
~Please visit some other links and show some comment love! Let’s support one another.
~Follow your host, rays of bliss,on:
Bloglovin, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram or Google+

~Grab my button add it to your post, sidebar or your link party page!
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Wordless Wednesday with Linky ~ 9/18/13

Blog, Wordless Wednesday

Here are some pictures of my boys from my phone this week! I was really impressed with my oldest son’s play-doh watch creation! I also love the silly picture of middle son and the picture of my smiling clean baby!

Please share your favorite family-friendly post. Wordless or Not So Wordless!

Only 2 Rules:
Family friendly Photos Only
Link directly to your Wordless Wednesday post

Not required but would be nice:
Leave me some comment Love! ♥
Be courteous and link back to your host
Visit 1 or 2 other WW post
Follow your host, rays of bliss,on
Bloglovin, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram or Google+.

Grab My Button!
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Extreme Brownie ~ Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Swirl with Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crisp Topping

Blog, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Recipes

I went extreme with this brownie creation this week and boy was it good! Now this is a delicious brownie but it is rich so I suggest eating it with a cup of milk or some vanilla ice cream! My parents had visited and tested it and loved it, and my boys loved it too! Everyone really enjoyed the crisp chocolate & peanut butter topping. I used all Gluten Free ingredients but this recipe will work with non Gluten Free ingredients too. I also used a brownie mix and used the ingredients the box called for. When you make this for yourself make the brownie mix according to your brownie box directions and then add my extreme ingredients!

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter & Marshmallow Brownies with Crisp Topping

Very Rich and Tasty Brownies with a delicious crispy chocolate topping!

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Ingredients

Brownie Mix I used Bob Red Mill's Gluten Free Mix
3/4 cup of warm water or amount your mix calls for
1 egg or amount your mix calls for
1 1/2 sticks of softened butter or amount your mix calls for
2 tsp vanilla or amount your mix calls for
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff

Toppings ingredients

1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
1 Tbls butter
1 1/2 cup crispy rice cereal I used GF Rice Krispies

Instructions

Preheat Oven to 350°.
Grease pan.
Combine brownie ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Pour batter into pan.
Heat Peanut butter in microwave safe bowl for 10-15 seconds in microwave.
Spoon onto top of brownies.
Heat marshmallow fluff for 10-15 seconds in microwave.
Spoon onto top of brownies.
Use butter knife to swirl peanut butter and marshmallow fluff into brownie batter.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Toppings Directions.
In microwave safe bowl combine ingredients.
Microwave for 1 - 2 minutes. Stop and Stir every 10-15 seconds.
Spoon on top of baked brownies and spread out evenly.
Place in refrigerator for 90 minutes or overnight.

This recipe was shared on the following: Gluten Free Tuesday, All Gluten Free Desserts, Gluten Free Fridays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays,

Gluten Free Tuesday Linky 09/10/13

Blog, Gluten Free, Gluten Free Linky

Well it has been a very eventful week for my family! I officially am a stay at home mom! My husband and I agreed it would be best for us and we are at a financial position that we can! I quit my Store Manager position (48 hours a week) to stay home with my boys! It’s been bitter sweet because I do love the company and people I work with but I am super excited to stay home. Also, now I will have more time to work on new Gluten Free Recipes, hooray!

Here are my Top 3 from last Week in no particular order: