Family Archives < From Under a Palm Tree

How to Teach a Toddler the Alphabet

June 18, 2018 by Meagan 4 Comments

When I first started thinking about teaching my 2 and-half-year-old son the alphabet, I thought the easiest approach would be to just sing the ABC song over and over and he’d eventually catch on. Wrong. He couldn’t even stand to hear me sing the ABC song let alone sing it over and over again. I’d get about 5 letters in and I’d hear my sweet boy say, “Mommy stop, stop singing!” Ugh! After being thoroughly offended for about 2 minutes, I had to think of a different approach. I decided to try using the Letter of the Week strategy and after about 4 weeks he was hooked on letters and singing his ABC’s anywhere and everywhere! My favorite is when he sings at the top of his lungs while we’re in the stall of a public restroom…it makes my heart smile every time! [Read more…]

22 Ways to Avoid Plastic Shopping Bags

June 8, 2018 by Lisa 5 Comments

Plastic shopping bags are a huge threat to our environment. Their impact is widespread- from the energy it takes to produce the plastic to the pollution they cause on land and sea. Yet they’re still one of the most used single-use convenience plastics. If these are items you’d like to eliminate (or cut back on), here are 22 Ways to Avoid Plastic Shopping Bags. [Read more…]

17 Best Cloth Diapering Accessories

June 4, 2018 by Meagan 5 Comments

If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know I’m pro-cloth diapers. They’re eco-friendly and healthier for your baby’s delicate skin. I love all the adorable patterns and prints and I feel good about doing something to reduce my footprint. Cloth diapering can be quite a commitment but doable if you’ve got all the right information. Much like using standard disposable diapers, you still need all the accessories like wipes, diaper rash creams, and changing pads. But, besides the obvious, here’s a list of the Best Cloth Diapering Accessories you may not have thought of. [Read more…]

DIY Lemon Dishwasher Pods

May 25, 2018 by Lisa 6 Comments

Since I love my DIY laundry pods, I decided it was time to make my own DIY Dishwasher Pods. They’re super simple to make and just as cost effective. Of course, I love them too! If you want to cut back on or eliminate toxic household cleaners from your life, give these DIY Lemon Dishwasher Pods a try!

DIY Dishwasher Pods Ingredients:

1 C. Baking Soda
1 C. Washing Soda
1 C. Salt
¼ C. Citric Acid
1 C. Water
20 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
½ C. Vinegar (for each load)
Silicone mold tray or ice cube tray

Related: 10 Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips

DIY Lemon Dishwasher Pods Directions:

Stir all dry ingredients (baking soda, washing soda, salt, and citric acid) in mixing bowl.
Add water to dry ingredients. The mixture will start fizzing. Wait until fizzing subsides (about a minute or so) before stirring.
Add essential oil and stir thoroughly.
Scoop 1 Tbsp. of mixture into tray compartments. Tap lightly to even out the mixture. If you do not have a silicone or ice cube tray, you can scoop 1 Tbsp. of mixture onto a foil or parchment paper covered cookie sheet.
Let pods harden for several hours or overnight before removing them from the tray and/or using them.
Pour ¼ C. vinegar into the rinse compartment of your dishwasher with each load. This helps prevent streaking.

*Store in an airtight container. Makes 36 pods.
Related: 10 Uses for White Vinegar

All of these ingredients are easy to buy at your local grocery store except citric acid. In the past, I looked all over for it and never did find it locally. Finally, I had to buy it online from Amazon. The citric acid helps keep hard water stains at bay so I wouldn’t leave it out. Citric acid is also a must-have ingredient if you’re going to make homemade bath bombs—so there’s something fun to do with the leftovers!

Are you a fan of cleaning pods and homemade cleaning products? What’s your favorite?

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11 Must Have Potty Training Tools To Make the Process Easier

May 21, 2018 by Meagan 6 Comments

Potty training can be a dreadful time for toddlers and parents. I’ve heard horror stories from friends and family about the awful process. Some parents warned me it could take months or years to get my son out of pull-ups and into underwear full time.

So, before I started the potty training process with my son, I did a lot of research on what to expect and how to prepare myself (and him). After endless reading and stressing, I came to the conclusion that no matter how many blogs I read, my process and my experience would be different because no child or family situation is the same. I just had to dive in, expect the worst, and hope for the best. [Read more…]

10 Eco-Friendly Laundry Tips

May 11, 2018 by Lisa 4 Comments

If you’re trying to adopt natural and more eco-friendly cleaning habits, one of the easiest places to start is with laundry practices. There are many different alternatives to harsh detergents if you want to go green in the laundry department.

Natural laundry practices are especially important because clothing actually touches our bodies, as opposed to the surfaces in our homes. Of course, we’d only want non-toxic substances touching our skin. [Read more…]

How to Use a Prefold Diaper on Your Baby

May 7, 2018 by Meagan 6 Comments

Depending on how familiar you are with cloth diapering, you might be thinking, “What exactly is a prefold diaper?” Simply put, it’s a 3 panel, rectangular piece of fabric that contains multiple layers of either cotton, bamboo, hemp, or flannel— traditionally with an extra layer in the middle for extra absorbency. They’re folded and fastened to baby inside of a waterproof diaper cover.

Before I even got pregnant with my son I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers. My mom used them with me and my sisters, and because there are significant age gaps between us, I still remember diaper laundry, safety pins, and plastic pants all around the house. Let me assure you that this sometimes referred to as “old fashion” way of diapering has come along way in recent years. [Read more…]

DIY Perspiration Stain Remover

May 4, 2018 by Lisa 5 Comments

Lately, I’ve taken my DIY laundry techniques up a notch. After all, if I’m giving up harsh chemicals that touch the surfaces in my home, it seems only natural to give up harsh chemicals for clothing—items that actually touch my body.

One of the last remaining DIY laundry methods I’ve put into action is stain removal solutions. Removing perspiration stains can be especially daunting. As with any clothing stain, the best chance of removal occurs when [Read more…]

The Vanlife Adventure Begins!

May 2, 2018 by Christina 7 Comments

After many months of planning, things are finally happening! A little less than a year ago, before we were married, my significant other, Nate and I decided that we were going to travel the country.

We’ve always been travelers, from the very first year of dating. So it kind of feels like everything we’ve done together has been in preparation for this trip. It started out as a small idea inspired in part by our first trip to Colorado. Another bit of inspiration came from when two of our best friends went to New Zealand for a year.

[Read more…]

DIY Colored Beans for Sensory Play

April 23, 2018 by Meagan 4 Comments

I first learned about sensory development when my son turned about 14 months old. This was right around the time when he started walking and getting into everything he wasn’t supposed to. His curiosity to touch, feel, and taste everything in sight prompted me to do a little research on this particular stage of his development. This is when I noticed the phrase “sensory play” became a common idea among mom bloggers, educators, and psychology blogs. It’s a phrase I think I’ve always heard but never really bothered to understand.

[Read more…]