Okay, mommies, I’m baring my underbelly, and showing you what the spaces under my sinks look like today - no preparation!(gnawing on finger nails). 

Here is our kitchen under-the-sink cupboard.  (and the picture doesn’t even show all the grime that has deposited itself under the garbage).  Hmmm, not a great example of using the “top” space.  So, do as I preach, not as I do:

- all 3 floors have windex and paper towel (kids like to touch the windows, don’t they?), the big containers in the back there are the bulk containers for windex, and handsoap.  There are a couple extras of cleaners in there too.  Now, I hate having to bend down in the kitchen on my hands and knees, rubbing shoulders with the garbage to reach back there.  So I put all the little things (like scrubbies, rags, foil burner thingy covers, kitty grooming stuff) in that green tub, and just pull it out with my toes when I need something. 

- another thing to note is that the back of this cupboard, for our place, has the hot water pipe (usually a copper looking thingy) so you don’t want to put grandma’s tablecloth next to it.  They have those fabulous shelves now that you can modify to fit around the plumbing features so that you can make use of the top space under the sink, but there’s no way I’m paying $20 for it!

Ah - here’s the bathroom on the main level - this is used by one of my girls, hubby, guests, and sister (who lives with us).  This is a better (sort of) example of using the top space under the sink.  See the blue bin under hubby’s shaving kit?  That houses all those barrets that we use only at Christmas, the extra shaving creams, razors, deo’s, etc.  My hubby uses mouthwash which I can’t get him to keep clean.  So my solution is to have that pump there attached to the top of it - sticking up behind the shaving kit - and he uses that black shot glass.  I place a paper towel underneath his shaving kit, because it gets gross.  and then I only have to replace the paper towel, and I hardly even have to touch the kit!  I’m proud of that one. 

• a bucket houses those tall hair sprays, and goop, and brushes, and the blue bag houses more girly hair thingies.
• Black kit - all of hubbies prettying things.
• Another jug of bulk handsoap.  And some extra decorations that I’m not using right now.

This is above the main toilet - any storage that you can keep in view is a great idea, and keeps stuff out of the very tiny storage spaces available.  Here I put our soaps - all white, all stacked up,  and extra toilet paper.  And hmmm, looks like the toilet paper needs to be replaced (the middle cubby).

This is also the organizing bin that we keep all the hair stuff in.  With three girls I have no idea whose is whose.  But I do know that I need fluffy ties for baby hair, strong for Haley’s hair, etc.  So that is how they are organized.  one brush fits in the side of this box, and that is where it lives.  And the box is at kid level - on the back of the toilet, so that they can go put their ties away themselves at the end of the day.  It is also in the bathroom, because I’m tired of picking up hundreds of hair ties around the house that the baby has gotten into! 

 Well, those are the tips that I use - oh yeah - and I use Lysol wipes.  Lots of them.  A simple wipe and the toilet seat/ sink is disinfected without getting out the whole rubber cleaning-the-bathroom-attire. 

I’d love to hear your ideas of how you’ve made your storage work for you, Ladies! 

Love,

Cathy

Salad Dressings:  Kraft says they are very particular about listing all ingredients, and in Canada they are sure to list the top 7 allergens in the allergen warning - if the allergen is used in the processing plant at all.  I’ve used the Kraft Caesar dressing, Sweet Onion, and Raspberry Vinaigrette without any celiac symptoms. 

Make your own vinaigrette:

• 2 parts oils (sesame, olive, peanut)
• 1 part vinegar (apple cider, (NOT malted), red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar)
• 1 tsp sugar / sweetener to a cup of vinaigrette 
• assorted seasonings - oregano, Club House Italian combined seasoning, garlic - yum!

Creamy dressing:

• 1 part mayo
• 1 part sour cream
• lots of seasoning, or just a little garlic salt!

And of course - your imagination is your limit!  My favorite coleslaw is:

Cathy’s Coleslaw

• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 1/3 cup raisins
• Kraft coleslaw dressing
• 1 tsp salt
• all mixed together. 

BAKING TIPs for your own recipes:

Cook longer, at lower temperatures (at sealevel)

Use double the leavening agent (dbl yeast or dbl baking pwd)

Use a binding agent (to replicate the natural binding properties of wheat) like guar gum or xantham gum (for anything with yeast in it).

When making bread dough, use a dough enhancer, like a tsp of vinegar (for 3 cups of flour blend)

Use less than 1/3 of the strong tasting flours - like bean flours.

Use twice the vanilla, or other flavoring. If the flours are unfamiliar to your family, use more rice & corn flours, instead of the bean & healthier flours. (you can always add the healthier grains later, when they have adjusted to the gluten free diet)

Lean towards recipes that don’t rely on the flour for flavor (instead of chocolate chip cookies, make the fudge chocolate chip cookies, etc. Instead of scones, try banana bread.) The recipes on this site are tested on my family, and we’ve only been gluten free for a year. And outside the house, the kids and I love to eat wheat-baked goods. So we KNOW the difference, but at home we still love to eat the rice bread, and other treats that I’ve listed here.

Hi ladies,

I am just back from a “Mom’s & Tots” group at a local church.  They provide babysitting, and it is just awesome to sit around with other Moms and drink coffee.  There are ladies whose children are already grown who volunteer to sit for our toddlers, and infants.  That is something that I have a bug up my rear about - Why, at church, would you put a worn out Mom in the Nursery, when there are grandmothers galore just waiting to be asked for such an opportunity?  Ok, crawling off my soapbox… wonderful volunteers there today.  I felt/feel a little withdrawn and quiet, but it was still good to have the kids away for a few minutes, and to think. 

I had a wise woman once tell me to write out the things that I do that are good for me, whether I like doing them or not.

For me, a few minutes to be Cathy instead of Mommy are essential.  And sometimes, I quite frankly don’t feel like I have the energy to arrange it.  So twice a month, I look forward to this Moms and Tots group where it is looked after for me! 

We are currently reading and discussing, “Breaking the Good Mom Myth” by Alyson Schafer.   What an interesting book - it hits directly to the heart of the matter.  This chapter was spent addressing the myth that the marriage can wait.  Which, I have to admit is exactly what goes through my mind, when Mike wants to spend time with me, and a baby is sick.  There are those times when my heart just wants to be with my babies.  And yes, of course a sick baby needs attention.  And yes, they need to be wiped up, cleaned up, fed, etc but when do you get time for the marriage?  I think it is a very interesting question, and not one that I have an easy answer for.  The author goes on to tell of the benefits of a great marriage that can weather the young family years, stick through the teen years, make it through trials and sickness together.  I think we all know that yes, we would like the storybook marriage, but man alive!  Finding time with young children is… well… just yucky. 

So, two things to think about today, as you plan your week:

1. What were the things you loved to do as a couple before the kids?
2. What are the things that are good for you to do? 

Number 2, I read a book about, I think.  You know those bits of information that you have in your head, but haven’t the foggiest idea where it came from?  They’re the bits that we reference by “I heard that…” or “They say….”.  Well, this is one of those bits - haven’t the foggiest! :)  They said to write two lists, each with 10 things.  10 things that you love to do, that are good for you.  And 10 things that you feel good about when you’re finished.  For example, my list begins this way:

10 things that are good for me, and I enjoy doing them:

1. Writing on my blog.
2. working in my flower garden alone
3. Using my water colour pencils
4. Being alone for some time each day
5. ….

10 things that are good for me (and not necessarily enjoyable):

1. exercise
2. healthy eating
3. making up the weekly menu
4. arranging to be by myself each day
5. ….

I think you get the idea?

On the printables page is a cute fall stationary paper you can print out to use, if you like.

Have a great week, Mommies,

Love,

Cathy

Edited Jan. 15, 2008

Mix wet ingredients in large bowl:

• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (just add vinegar or lemon juice to the milk (1 tsp per cup)
• 2 Tbsp oil
• 1 Tbsp vanilla

Add in this order (simply because I don’t like dirtying 2 bowls):

• 2 cups flour blend
• .5 tsp guar gum
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 3 tsp baking pwd
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt

1. Then, stir until well blended.
2. Then cook at 300-350F on the griddle.  (with this recipe, the batter consistency and the cooking times are the same as glutenized pancakes)
3. Then turn and cook until lightly browned.

BONUS: when you are done, they taste just like the real thing! I top with natural yogurt, and frozen or fresh berries, sometimes I can even sneak in some flax seeds.FAMILY FUN: Top the kids first pancake with a happy face, heart, or initials made out of chocolate chips.