Routine

“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it's beauty.” 

― Albert Einstein

Family Traditions- Easter Egg Hunt

One of my favorite family traditions is having an Easter Egg Hunt at our house on Easter morning. Some years we've had it within the house, other years we moved it outside. For the last two years we have been blessed with having visitors on Easter to help us celebrate this favorite tradition. I might actually like doing the Easter egg hunt more than I do Christmas….possibly.
I think as long as some of the eggs have money in them, my boys will continue to play along.
What do you do for Easter?
Does your family have any traditions that you hold dear? Share in the comments on the blog.

Routine

“That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable.” 

― Deb Caletti, author

Crochet Dog Bowl Mat

My dogs needed a mat under their water bowl and instead of buying an overpriced mat at the pet store I  pulled out the crochet hook and got to work. Using cotton yarn I single crocheted a large rectangle, super easy.
Easy to clean I simply throw it in the washer and dryer and the cotton is absorbent for spilled water from my dogs tongues. Do your dogs or cats need a fashionable mat under their food bowls?

Routine

Our minds have a way of controlling us, try leading with your heart.

Bowie Baysox- Fun, Family Activity

Our family is ready for another baseball season, Bowie Baysox is our local minor league team in Maryland. Minor league games are perfect for families and for kids on the Autism Spectrum. As you can see from this picture the crowds are less, which means being able to ask to change seats to a quieter section if your child has sensory processing issues. 

For Maryland families- check out the Bowie Baysox's Kids Club. Every Sunday during a home game kid's club members eat FREE! 

See you at the ballpark!

      

Routine

“When pain brings you down, don't be silly, don't close your eyes and cry, you just might be in the best position to see the sun shine.” 

― Alanis Morissette, Singer

L.L Bean Backpack Review

I don't often write reviews of products but when I was going through some old photos I can across this sweet gem from 2 years ago and was drawn to write about the boys backpacks. They have used these L.L Bean backpacks for 2 school years and they are still in great shape. We haven't had any issues with zippers or the wheels. I highly recommend investing in a L. L Bean backpack. It seems like a lot of money to spend on a child's book bag but it is made to last through elementary, middle and even high school. Buy once and buy well.

Routine

"A good laugh heals a lot of hurts." 

-Madeleine L’Engle, author

Listen to the Voice Within

How do you practice spirituality?
In a church, on a yoga mat, sitting in nature?
Church, for me, use to be sitting in a church on a sunday morning but recently I've found my connection to God on my yoga mat. As I breath through the poses, my heart opens and I connect to something greater than myself. The poses move through me like a dance. And I feel that the Divine is shining a light down on me.
Wherever you practice spiritually….be present in the moment. Listen to the still soft voice within. Breathe deep and connect with your heart open.

Routine

Let go of your ego and explore the world around you. Don't be scared to fail or make mistakes. 

This is how we learn.

Alternative Storage Spaces

We live in a small house, we have a tiny kitchen and each square inch is held sacred. Recently we decided to think of alternative ways to store our spices. An Ikea shelf and recycled mason jars makes our storage problems a thing of the past. Have you thought of placing a shelf over a window? It could work in a bedroom to store books or a bathroom to store additional linens. Share your alternative storage ideas in the comments.

Berry Smoothie

• 1 cup of blueberries
• 2 cups of strawberries
• 1 banana
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cups of milk of your choice

Mix in a blender and enjoy! 

Makes 2 servings.

Routine

Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all. 

Adopting a New Dog from WARL

We didn't think we were ready to open our hearts to another dog so soon after the death of our beloved Elgin. But Dharma was depressed. After two months of non-stop whining and crying we realized that Dharma needed a companion. We went to the local pounds, but never found a dog that met all of our requirements.

• Not a puppy
• smaller than 40 pounds
• good with kids
• goos with other dogs
• female

We cyber stalked several of the local rescue organizations. Lost Dog Rescue Foundation, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, Best DAWG Rescue, Operation PAWS for Homes . Lauren adopted Elgin from Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) ten years ago and it seemed appropriate to go back there and visit some dogs. We saw several that we liked but they didn't meet all of our requirements. We waited a bit longer and decided to take another trip to WARL and then we found Chloe. She was in the puppy room, which we didn't plan on going into because we didn't want a puppy but the boys begged to "just look".
Once we met Chloe, I knew she'd be a perfect fit for our family. She is actually four years old, not sure why she was in the puppy room. We all adore her and she's fit in so nicely into our family. I highly recommend going to WARL the next time you are looking for a dog or cat to add to your family.