Green Momma

How to avoid buying GMO's

2012-01-19T12:57:00.002-07:00

There's been a lot of hype lately on GMO's short for genetically modified foods. The Huffington post recently had an article that stated GMO's caused organ failure in lab results, and this food is very quietly interlaced in our grocery stores. The World Health Organization (WHO) also has a very firm stance on genetically modified foods. Be sure to check it out.

It's an infuriating reality that our government allows this untested food into our stores, but the informed consumer can avoid them if they are careful. The first step is to make sure you buy certified organic foods. Organic foods cannot intentionally contain genetically modified foods. You may or may not be aware though that cross pollination happens, often times accidentally. Monsanto has taken many farmers to court because of this, trying to put his neighboring farmers out of business. Nice guy, huh.

There is an organization called the Non-GMO Project. Since the US does not require GMO labeling, some food makers are taking it upon themselves to enroll in this organization so they can then label their food as Non-GMO.

For more information please check out the Non-GMO Project's website for a list of brands enrolled in their program. You can also check out the Non-GMO shopping guide.

Want to take it another step further. Contact your local congressman or senator and tell them what you think about GMO's. I found a copy of this letter here. We stopped SOPA and PIPA by standing together as a nation against something. We can do the same with GMO's.

Dear Honorable (name here)

I believe that genetically engineered food poses a threat to the wellbeing of my family's health and the health of the world's population and environment. These foods, which have not been adequately tested, are increasingly difficult to avoid, both because of cross-pollination, and because of the FDA's refusal to approve labeling that allows us to know exactly what we're eating.

This is after all, the United States. We're allowed freedom of speech. What about freedom to choose the foods we eat with full knowledge of what they contain, and guarantees that they are safe?

I implore you to work on initiatives to ensure the safety of all food consumed by the American people and the world's population, by thorough testing of GMOs and GE food products, and by putting into place a "full-disclosure" labeling policy.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your name

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

This week was full of silliness, have a peak.

A fair maiden.

Her prince frog.

Fries in a hot tub.

And my budding artists.

Enjoy your week!!

Leafware Disposable dinnerware

2012-01-17T14:07:00.001-07:00

Last week I was asked to do a review for Leafware's disposable dinnerware plates. After checking out their green efforts, I was thrilled to give their products a review.

They sent me a sample package that contained a few different size plates and bowls. Disposable usually isn't in this green household's vocabulary, but this one is definitely worth a second look.

Their company's philosophy is one that has called to me for years, it's Ghandi's quote "Be the change you want to see in the world." They make their disposable dinner ware from fallen palm leaves.

They really did their homework with these. It doesn't get more natural then these bowls. When your done, toss them in the compost, and they break down. They are only leaves after all. On their website they sell them in large quantities, which would be perfect for a restaurant, or for someone hosting a green wedding or a party (I'm talking 400 plates here).

They give links though to other stores where you can purchase less quantities, perhaps more appropriate for families. They are a bit on the pricey side, for my budget but I believe you get what you pay for here. A chemical free, disposal, compostable, dinnerware. Well done Leafware, thanks for inviting me to experience your awesome product.

Menu Plan Monday

2012-01-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

This is week three for me and my primal diet, week 2 of my full on no cheating diet. So far, I've lost about 4 pounds, this was on top of the previous 20 that I lost last year. I'm pretty proud of this grand total, but sadly, I'm not done loosing.

This week, I've been very tired of cooking. I have to make meals that I like and that will keep so I can just have kitchen free days. There is a TON of cooking involved it seems, and there isn't any convenience food for me to go to. There's no primal microwave meals at the grocery store..ha!!

Anyway, here's a plan for this week and a few yummy treats thrown in.

Monday: Broiled Salmon with Terragon, Lemon, and butter
Tuesday: Tuna Salad
Wednesday: My best friend's Chili Recipe
Thursday: Leftover Chili! Yes...no cooking.
Friday: Enchiladas
Saturday: Potluck, and I'm supposed to bring bread?! How's this instead?
Sunday: I'm eating out...I'm tired of cooking!

Treats: Primal Almond Butter Pumpkin Brownies

For more menu plans, check it out here.

Video Friday -- The Solar System

2012-01-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

This week's lessons with my kids have been talking about the moon and it's rotation around the earth. And as homeschooling does, it landed to more questions about the bigger picture. I don't always use videos to teach my kids, but they really enjoyed this one. Plus, being a music teacher I love that it's being taught with a song. Enjoy, and share with your kids if they're interested in the solar system. :)

Get in free at National Parks

2012-01-12T08:59:00.001-07:00

This weekend is one of the few weekends a year that you can enter into the national parks free of charge.

Hopefully you don't live in a region as cold as mine, not so sure if we'll venture out this Saturday for a little picnic or a hike. It depends on the weather.

Here are the dates for the rest of the year in case this weekend is too cold for you too.

Free National Park Days in 2012

January 14-16
Martin Luther King Jr. weekend
April 21-29
National Park Week
June 9
Get Outdoors Day
September 29
National Public Lands Day
November 10-12
Veterans Day weekend

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T13:00:00.000-07:00

This week was another eventful week. My son turned 9 years old on Monday, and over the weekend we had a nice party surrounded by friends.

On my son's birthday, my daughter lost a tooth, right up top. I knew by the angle of the other top tooth it'd soon follow.

As a gift to my mother, Mickey got a haircut on his birthday. He was pretty pleased with himself.

And as predicted, during breakfast the next day the second tooth came right out with some pancakes. The tooth fairy will come two nights in a row.

Homeschool -- planning resources

2012-01-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful sunny afternoon (and cold!!), and I'm sitting at my kitchen table with books and time to plan the kids school work for the week. My son's birthday is Monday, and as a gift to him, we'll be enjoying most of the day with maybe only one or two lessons.The first resource I use is a free planner offered by Donna Young. Donna Young's website is one that I used a couple years ago when my son was doing first grade at home, and I'm happy to go back to her again for a resource.

I'm still waiting on my daughters Christopherus curriculum to arrive, so in the mean time I'm supplementing her work with free worksheets and other books that I had laying around the house. I didn't realize I had so much, but this isn't my first round of first grade done at home.

Here are some links to help supplement your kiddos:

Teachnology.com
Starfall
Kaboose has some winter crafts and other worksheets that we'll be adding to our mix this week.
The Math Worksheet Site is invaluable for creating personalized worksheets just for your kiddo. My son still seems to need at least one worksheet a day, and here's one of my resources.

I'm so excited to get into a groove with my kids and our own way of homeschooling. We now have the freedom to do as we see fit, and it's so incredibly liberating. Ahhh!!

This beautiful photograph was taken by Kevin McNeal. Please support the arts by checking out his photography.

My primal menu plan

2012-01-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

Today is my son's birthday, so I have to adjust a bit to my own primal diet because there have been requests made for pie and spaghetti dinners.

I will be making said pie and spaghetti dinners, so the week won't start so so strongly. However, after Monday it's primal very strongly. I'll be detoxing the carbs, and saying no to grains for good.

Here's my plan for the week:

Monday: Chicken Parmesan

Tuesday: Pork Chops with sweet potatoes and Apples
Wednesday: Leftovers!
Thursday: Shawarma Salad
Friday: Fish Friday! (what ever is on sale is what we'll make!)
Saturday:Coconut Crusted Chicken Fingers
Sunday: Crock Pot lemon chicken

For more menu plans be sure to click here

Cooking with the kiddos

2012-01-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

This week, one of our fun projects to do together was cook in the kitchen. Cooking is part of the Waldorf curriculum for third grade, and they even sent his own first cook book. Our first recipe up to bat was ants on a log.

I had my son do every step of preparing this snack, starting from washing his hands. Then washing the celery.

He then used a sharp knife to cut them into manageable pieces. I showed him which parts taste good, and what should be tossed in the compost.

Little sister got to join in the fun, and helped put the ants on the peanut butter logs, after big brother neatly spreader the peanut butter.

Success! The kids ate them, and actually liked them. Seems they'll eat their veggies if they make the snack themselves.

And the cook is pleased too. I even got them to clean up the mess too. Cooking apparently is fantastic fun. :)

Wordless Wednesday -- New Year's Edition

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

This week, was filled with some unexpected surprises and fun.

While out and about, I took a wrong turn in Boulder, CO and stumbled upon...Waldo. Yep, I found Waldo. ;)

Meet the doggies. The collie to the left is mine, his name is Riley. The sweet face to the right is Simba. He's my friend's dog and was a house guest over the holidays while is Momma was out of town. Here I told them to sit, my dog the overachiever laid completely down. Sweet boys enjoyed each other's company.

One of the highlights of my weekend though was being able to spend New Year's with my best friend. Here's a picture of her facebooking pictures of me, while I was taking a picture of her facebooking a picture of her. It was a nice, quiet subdued New Years with some of my favorite people. :)

My daughter holding my best friend's daughter.

New Year's Resolution

2012-01-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

I normally have New Year's resolutions, and mainly they are little goals. Like, one year I stopped drinking soda. Being a kinder person, and being detailed in my mind about what that meant. Last year, my goal was to be more outgoing. I did it. I met a lot of fantastic people. I realized that most people are uncomfortable being outgoing, and are generally warm and receptive when you take that burden away from them. Pretty neat, huh.

This year though I have made a big goal. Earlier last year I was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension and was put on medication to help control my condition. There isn't a lot known about my disease, it's rare so there hasn't been massive research put into it. Some science has shown that weight loss can help, while some science has shown it doesn't help. I always thought negatively of weightless goals, thinking that people shouldn't wait until the new year to better themselves in such a way. I don't think I'm falling into that though. Last year, I lost around 25lbs, and I started mid-year after my diagnosis. I still require medication...I've tried going off it, and it just made my brain hurt (literally). I don't have a number of pounds I want to shed. I have excess chub, and I want to be healthier. My body will work better, and perhaps my IH will go into remission. My goal isn't for vanity, so I can look better. It's so I can resume my holistic life with out medication...

I'm making this goal knowing that I can loose 50lbs this year, and still need to be on medication. I know there are thin people with my disease. What I also know is that there are many causes to this disease, and that perhaps different body types have different reasonings. If it doesn't work, and if I've done all I can by the end of the year and still require medication I will at least be in a better place then I am now. Perhaps diabetes won't be in my future, or heart issues or anything else on top of the issues I already have. So, I know it won't be a complete loss (except of fat!).

So what are your goals? Are they big, small...or do you think resolutions are bunk like Calvin does?

Menu Plan Monday -- New Year's edition

2012-01-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year to all my readers!! I hope you had a safe and enjoyable weekend. Mine was filled with lots of laughter, and children. My best friend visited, and we resumed our yearly tradition of spending New Year's together. It's been a couple years since we've been able to do that. It was so nice to have a low key..quiet, friendly new years with some of my favorite people.

This week's menu I will start implementing some primal meals that will go along with some of my goals for the year (which I will post about soon!).

I hope everyone has an enjoyable first week of 2012!

Monday: Roasted Herbed Chicken and Broccoli (with some cheese on top!)
Tuesday: Protein Salad Dip (you'll have to scroll down on your link to find the recipe).
Wednesday: Baked Salmon and Asparagus
Thursday: Egg Spinach Frittata (same link as Tuesday!) to reheat while I'm at work.
Friday: Home made Pizza, and yummy side salad
Saturday: My son's birthday party! Cake!
Sunday: Lemon Haddock on a pile of veggies!!

For more menu plans be sure to click here!

Free Homeschooling Resources

2011-12-29T10:31:00.001-07:00

Relinquishing the Connections Academy has me nervous sometimes in making sure my kids are getting what they need from the education I will now be providing for them. The internet is an amazing resource of free material to use for your kids so today's post will be about links.

I'm not about worksheets. I think they sucked the life out of my kid's education. But today, we did some school work. There were no tears. My son was so relieved he had time to be a kid. What a gift.

We'll do a science experiment after lunch, and then a social studies story at bedtime. Relief. Joy. These are many of the words the both of us are experiencing right now.

Anyway, off to free links.

Super Teacher Worksheets offer free worksheets. Print them out as they are, or just browse and be inspired to write your own for your kids.

Waldorf Curriculum offers a list of free resources. I have sifted through about half of these. Some of them are heavy reading, but read it anyway! It's worth it to your kids.

The Bearth Insititute has a list of free resources and how-to videos. I know I will be checking back here frequently. For more resources, check back. I plan on openly sharing our journey. Now that we're not piled under worksheets and deadlines I am free (and so are my kids) to follow our hearts.

Wordless Wednesday -- Our week in pictures

2011-12-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

Connections Academy -- A Homeschooler's Review

2011-12-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

This passed fall I enrolled my children into a free online school program at the Connections Academy. This financially was one of our best options for charter school because...well, it's offered in my state for free.

We were very excited to get our boxes of supplies in the mail. They shipped them quickly and neatly. We got textbooks, workbooks, art supplies, a jump rope, and even a yoga CD for the kids to do. I was optimistic and excited to have my kids home again. We had missed each other tremendously the few weeks they had gone to school at the local public school.

Before I say any more about this program, I need to say this. This is NOT a homeschool program. This is a public school program done at home. The work load my children had to complete each week was so much, we had a hard time keeping up each week. My son was in their gifted program for third grade, and there were days he worked 9 hours or more and still did not complete his day's work.

I had to take attendance every day, and their teachers had to touch base with them at least once every two weeks. If structure is what your child needs, and if they are independent workers, this program may work for you. My children though started to hate school, they complained when it was time to do school work. Piles of worksheets had taken the fun and enjoyment out of learning.

Just this passed week, I have sent in my notice of intent to the state. I'm pulling them out of their state funded program, and finishing the school year on my own with them. I've been eyeing the Oak Meadow curriculum for years, and purchased my son's curricula this passed week. He will finish out his third grade year with a slower pace. One that enables him to look deeper on his own, and hopefully will give him a love of learning.

For my daughter, I will be trying the Christopherus curricula. It's a heavy Waldorf inspired curricula. Hopefully her inner spirit will shine through with creativity and joy, instead of having to do hours of worksheets every day.

I'm relieved and happy with my choices of dropping them out of the Connections Academy. It wasn't an easy decision to come to. In the end, I didn't want them to hate learning. I want them to be lifelong learners. Before I was their mother, I was a teacher...and if something isn't working as it should, it needs to be fixed. I would love to hear if anyone has had any experiences like this, or if they've used these curricula before.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-12-26T10:05:00.001-07:00

After a troubling fall, I'm slowly returning to myself. I've been missing this blog and the regularity it brought to my life. The menu plans, the bettering of myself.... Being a solo parent has taken so much adjustment. Homeschooling as a solo parent took even more adjusting. We're getting there. I'll be talking more about our progress soon.

Today I'm talking about menu planning, because it's so good for your wallet and your kids. I'm not much of a planner, but I noticed when I took my hiatus from blogging the cost of feeding my family went up. I believe it's because I had stopped giving our menus so much thought. So onward to a new year, hopefully I will remember myself, and what this blog has meant to me over the years. Here's my menu plan. :)

For Christmas yesterday, I roasted a turkey. Some of our initial dinners will be leftovers based on that. :)

Monday: Turkey Pot Pie I'll be doing my own version of this based off this recipe. If it turns out lovely, I will post about what I have done.
Tuesday: Turkey Tetrazzini Something about this just sounds weird, but the picture they provided looks divine, so I'll be giving this a try.
Wednesday: Turkey Stew
Thursday: Leftover Buffet
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Company over...possibly eat out.
Sunday: New Year's Eve...will have to plan yummies!

For more menu plans check out Organizing Junkie!

23 Undeniable Truths of Adulthood

2011-10-15T10:16:00.009-07:00

I found this on facebook this week. I felt it was funny and accurate enough to be worth sharing. Have a great weekend!

1. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and stillnot know what time it is.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was
younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty
sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the
person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at
work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything
productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I
don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks
me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that
I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not
to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just
nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they
said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team
up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong,
brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get
dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car
keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on
the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button
from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every
time.

23. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874
and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100
years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Homeschooling -- why this time?

2011-10-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Over the summer, I had promised my kids that if I didn't get a teaching job that I would keep them home and home school them. Mostly because if I freelanced, my work schedule would begin at 3:00 in the afternoon and potentially go late into the evening.

With the economy being what it is, and music being cut in our schools, I didn't even land a phone call from the multitude of counties I applied for. I was actually pretty shocked. I'm pretty qualified, and by federal standards, I'm highly qualified to do what I applied for. Such is life, it wasn't meant to be. With the connections I had made in Colorado, I landed on my feet. I found a steady source of private violin and viola students. I even made a new website for my new growing business. It flourished. I'm booked up, and I'm relieved.

With my recent illness however, I decided that even though my work schedule wouldn't be ideal it would be better for the kids to attend school instead of stay home with a broken mom who needed to focus on getting healthy. I sent them, and I regretted it. Within weeks, I realized I missed them so much. There were days I wouldn't see them for over 12 hours. I'd drop them off at school at 8:15, leave so painfully close to when they'd be home at 3:15 to get to my 4:00 lesson, and teach until 7:30, drive home, and get home about 8:15 again. Grab them from the neighbors house just to tuck them in bed so they'd have enough sleep to go to school the next day. It was miserable. They missed me, and I missed them.

So, I had to think of a quick solution. In Colorado, they offer many virtual online schools. Still considered to be public schools I thought this would be an easy option. I checked out two. The Colorado Calvert Academy and The Colroado Connections Academy. I ended up going with the Connections Academy, and so far like I've seen other people mention it's intense. It's many assignments every day. We're getting the hang of things, and I've made a mental decision to not stress over their deadlines.

Next year, I will be pulling them out of the public school system entirely and homeschooling them myself. So this year, we'll be pulling through this curriculum, while checking out something else for next year. Lots of time to plan.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

House sitting my friends dog this week. Meet Simba, the sweetheart.

Another shot of my girl helping me plant garlic. It will be a continuous effort this week to get it all in the ground.

This is our current music curriculum. My kids I suppose have lucked out since teaching music is my profession. They get their lessons at home from mom.

What are you up to this week? Link up!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-10-10T10:37:00.002-07:00

I haven't done a Menu Plan is so very long. I love getting back into the swing of blogging.

Anyway, here's my week:

Monday:
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Breakfast

Tuesday:
Lunch: Butternut Squash Soup with Parmesan Crips (from Anni Daulter's new book, the Organic Family Cookbook).
Dinner: Spaghetti and Italian Sausage with Salads.

Wednesday:
Lunch: Super Crunch Apple Cranberry Tuna Wrap
Dinner: Slow Cooked Curried Chicken with Cauliflower

Thursday:
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Sandwiches, and leftovers

Friday:
Lunch: Ham n Cheese Panini with fresh grapes (Another Anni Daulter recipe!)
Dinner: Homemade Pizza

Saturday:
Lunch: Leftovers
Dinner: Chicken legs and corn on the cob

Sunday:
Lunch: Chicken Sandwiches (from yesterdays leftovers)
Dinner: Roasted Chicken

For more menu plans check out Organizing Junkie!

Why we don't acknowledge Columbus Day...

2011-10-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling argumentative today. It's been more then 10 years ago, sitting in an Africana Studies class at West Virginia University, and Columbus day came and went with out a pause in class. Some of my classmates were irritated that we didn't get to laze around in our college apartments. What I always found to be so interesting about this class was it's quest for truth, and my professors ability to point out our "miseducation." I loved it. I thrived in this class. I took no notes, and had over 100% at the end of the semester because I was pulled in to the truth. Finally a history class that was inspiring. That Columbus Day was no different.

Much of what we know about Columbus is true. He sailed to what he hoped would be Asia hoping to discover a safer trade route. No one knew there was a continent in the way. And yes, thanks to him the world was forever changed. This man was not all good though. When they landed, they were welcomed with hospitality by the indigenous people here. He said they were so kind and good, that they must be "en Dios" or "of God" and that they would make fantastic slaves. Anyone who knows the history of chattel slavery in the US knows that Portugal was the leader in this industry at the start. It was these people they tried to enslave first, but they knew the area too well and escaped easily. Lusting for slaves, they imported their own slaves from West Africa. Bringing foreign people, to a foreign land who had no hopes of escaping because they were unfamiliar territory.

It's hard for me to acknowledge this man for his discovery when his legacy is tainted with an entirely new kind of slavery that lasted for hundreds of years. It's a dark mark on history, and if this man is to be noted for discovery he made, his mistakes should not be covered up. How else do we learn to be better people?

Growing Garlic

2011-10-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

I could dwell on the problems in my life, and sometimes it's incredibly hard not to. So, my zen is usually out in the garden. It's the simple moments like this though that bring me joy and help me put everything aside. I stole a moment the other day when a shipment of garlic arrived.

There's so much garlic that I think if I planted it all I wouldn't have room for anything else, so I'm giving some to some gardener friends to see how they do with it as well. This is the first time I've grown garlic in Colorado, and I've done little bits in Virginia when I lived there. This is the biggest haul I've tried, so hopefully it will winter well, and I'll have garlic coming out of my ears next summer.

On a sunny Friday afternoon, I grabbed my girl, and we went planting. She loves getting out there in the dirt, she always has. I refreshed my memory on how to grow garlic on some links that I will provide. I'm no expert at all, just a hobby gardener.

I still have some summer clearing out to do to make more room for garlic. The garlic will stay in the garden until next July, so I have to choose my space carefully. The bed we were working in wasn't very successful with anything I planted this year, so I feel like anything is an improvement. Anyway, here are some links to some bloggers who know more about growing garlic than I do.

1. http://www.dharmarose.com/garden/growing_garlic.html

2. http://peakgardening.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/growing-garlic/ (Colorado specific!)

3. http://www.9news.com/life/garden/story.aspx?storyid=100955&catid=222

A slow return

2011-10-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy summer, and early fall. I'm missing blogging, and I plan on making a slow return. So much has happened over the last few months that I've wanted to share, but I haven't had the time or energy to put into it.

My condition is slowly improving. I have not been given the o.k. to fly yet, so Thanksgiving this year will definitely be done at my home, most likely with out my brother and parents.

I have been canning like mad, and cleaning out my garden for fall preparation. I'll have to go into the garlic that I"m planting this weekend. I've also pulled my kids out of school, and will home school them for the rest of the school year. I'm continuing parenting mostly on my own. My husband is still living in California, while I"m in Colorado. We don't know when that will end, there is no solution that either one of us can live with right now.

So that's the brief summary of what's been going on. I call this a slow return, because I"ll have to get back into the habit of posting as often as I can. Sharing recipes, crafts, canning and green homesteading tidbits.

Snapshot Sunday

2011-08-14T21:38:00.002-07:00

I miss blogging. I haven't blogged regularly since June, mostly because of a new chronic illness I"ve been diagnosed with. I'm getting better. Slowly. I realized that lately it's not that I can't sit in front of the computer and type, it's because I can't get out there and do interesting stuff to type about.

So, I'm going to get to it here and there when I feel good. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, you can find out more about it here. Enough about me, how about some snapshots. :)

Here are some pictures from my trip to California. I visited Muir Woods while I was there, I had never seen a redwood in my life. What an experience. If you ever get to San Francisco, you should go. Just get there super early in the morning, that place is a madhouse by 12:00 noon.

Never in my life had I seen an owl that was not in captivity, but just as I started walking in the park there he was. He was an endangered one too. I believe he was the Northern Spotted Owl, which is a protected species up there. Lucky day for me.

Then of course I tried to get artsy with the camera.

I found it difficult to really get a good picture to show how big these trees are. There were some that were really enormous, but I've also heard they are even bigger further up north.

Enjoy...have a great week!

Happy Birthday

2011-08-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today's subject is simple: My mother.

She always walks with grace and wisdom. Her compassionate heart leads her.

There's nothing that means more to her then her family. For many years, she was my pillar. My start in life was easier because I had her close to me.

She's an amazing grandmother, who gives her grandchildren all the love and spoiling they could hope for. My kids are better people because they have her in their lives. She is an amazing daughter to her own mother, even though she never hears it from her enough. Mom...hear it now. You are an amazing daughter.

She's always supportive, and has been a voice of reason and wisdom for me in this last year. She hates flying, but loves coming to visit because she misses us so much, as we miss her.

Her newest joy this year has been this little face. This is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met, and she is exactly what my mother needed. She keeps her company, is her companion, and loves her like only a dog can. This is Frannie. I can't talk about my mom, and not talk about this girl.

Happy Birthday Mom. You're amazing, and you deserve every bit of happiness.

Love you

My silence...

2011-07-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

I apologize to my readers about my recent silence. I left for vacation at the end of June feeling fantastic, and had posts lined up while I was gone. When I got back, my health took a turn. It started with the mother of all sinus infections, and when that cleared up the headaches remained. They were intense, and covered my entire head, not just my sinus areas. My vision started to change, and being in front of a computer became a challenge. I couldn't do it for more then a few minutes at a time until my eyes hurt.

On July 20th, I had had enough. My eyes hurt, my head hurt. My first thought was to go to an optometrist. to make sure my eyes were healthy. They went through their tests, making sure I could see properly, and took pictures of my retina so I didn't have to dilate my eyes. The doctor then saw me, and told me it really sounded like my symptoms were just leftover from my sinus infection I had the week prior. Then she opened my retina photos. She looked at them for a moment, and the color drained from her face. "Oh Kim," was all she could say. When she finally composed herself, (somewhat) she showed me the pictures of my eyes and compared them to normal eyes. My optic nerves were swollen. Optic nerves rarely swell for any other reason except if there is "surplus matter" in the brain pushing on them. Aka...a brain tumor. This lady cried on me, seriously. She connected me with her primary care physician, she said I needed to see another doctor right away. So, she called and made me the appointment, and I went over there to see him.

This doctor was more professional. He said it could be a number of things, a virus to a brain tumor. He scheduled the MRI immediately so we could cross off the deadly things off the list. This was when my girlfriends started showing up. Luckily I have two who are nurses. Bless them. One showed up at 2:30 with me at the PCP, and the other met us at the Digital Imaging place. After being shell shocked in an MRI thing (those things are LOUD!), and chatting with my girlfriends my doctor calls. Like, 20 minutes after I was done, which freaked me out. I said to my friends, this is too quick, I must be dying. But I wasn't. There was no tumor, no clot. Nothing.

In the end, I have been diagnosed with a chronic illness called Benign Intracranial Hypertension also known as Pseudotumor Cerebri. It's rare. I may never know anyone else with this condition in my life. You might not ever know anyone with this in your life. That's how rare it is. I had more of a chance of having a tumor, then I did having random pressure in my head.

I'm on some medication that's supposed to help, and it is. So hopefully I can get caught back up on sharing pictures of my vacations with you. For now it's day by day, some days I'm well enough to sit at the computer, some days I'm not.

Putting it all back together...part 3

2011-07-02T05:11:00.002-07:00

This is the third installment of my personal journey for the last year and a half. If you're just starting, I suggest you start from the beginning.

I was optimistic and excited to move to Colorado. Within a few days of getting here, I was googling churches to hopefully find a supportive social network. I knew for my own mental sanity, I needed that.

A few days after I moved out here though, my property manager called me and told me that the deposit check our tenants used to move in with bounced. She had made vital, basic mistake. Instead of insisting on a cashier's check, she took a regular check from them, and didn't wait for it to clear before allowing them to move in. This woman was the most well known property manager in my little town, and she made this basic mistake. Unbelievable. Virginia law says you must give them 30 days to make things right once they've established residency. In other words, once they move in you can't kick them out until you follow legal procedure. So had she waited for the check to at least clear, we could have told them to suck it.

I told her to start the eviction process immediately. I wasn't playing games with con artists. These people begged, pleaded, and lied. The woman said her dad had died, that she needed serious surgery, along with many other things. Turns out, the number for the previous apartment she had given was not the right number, her dad wasn't dead and actually helped her move out. Of the three months it took to get them out, I received one check for $1000, which didn't even cover one months rent. My property manager sued her for me and the woman now owes me around $4000 for the time she was in my house. I'll never see a penny of it, and for all I know this disgusting individual is still out there conning people who are trying to scrape by honestly and with integrity. Once the eviction was over and she was gone, I promptly fired my property manager.

All my hard work of getting that house together was a waste of time. She ruined carpets, and left the yard a mess. She even had a moving van in the driveway, and DESTROYED it. What a slap in the face. It's hard for me to believe that there are people out there that will kick someone while they're down. Her name is Ruth Baker, and she's in Virginia. Beware anyone who wants to rent a house out. She is a con artist, extraordinaire.

#8 Recycling your cellphone

2011-06-30T02:06:00.005-07:00

This is a repost, but well worth having the information out there. I'm slowly continuing my 101 project, this being the 8th installment.

I saw this image here which I included below. As confusing as a lot of this green stuff can be, I think the need to recycle things is simplified well here. The image speaks for itself.

Here are a few places to consider when you are getting rid of your old cell phone.

1. Cellphones for Soldiers.
2. Recycle my Phone
3. Call to recycle will take cell phones and batteries.
4. Recellular has a way that you can get paid to recycle.

Wordless Wednesday -- Southern Maryland

2011-06-29T04:39:00.000-07:00

This visit so far has not really gone as planned. My daughter came down with strep on Sunday, and the antibiotics so far have not cleared her up. My grandmother has also been very sick, and it has been scaring everyone thinking this may be it for her.

Over the weekend I traveled to Southern Maryland to visit my best friend and her new baby. What an awesome visit, I definitely don't see her enough. We had a yummy crab lunch, here's the shot of my first crab of the season. I've grown up on these, and you can't get them anywhere but here. If you haven't had a blue crab from the Chesapeake Bay, you are missing out.

And here is a picture of Jessica and her sweet beautiful Ava, the wild haired. She's got the cutest cowlick right on the top of her head. Makes for awesome crazy hair. She's a beautiful sweetheart who just started smiling. So glad I could see her.

Hopefully I'll be heading to California Thursday morning. It all depends on how my daughter is feeling, and how my grandmother is doing.

The Good Home Co. -- Dryer Sheets

2011-06-28T08:00:00.003-07:00

I was asked by Jennifer over at Blue Sky Communications to review one of The Good Home Co.'s product. I gladly accepted, and they sent me a package of lavender scented dryer sheets. The company was started by a woman (love!) whose specialty apparently is with fragrances. I loved this lavender. It didn't smell fake, or "purfumey." It was pleasant and relaxing, as it should be.

I've used the sheets in the dryer of course, but I've also tried them in my linen closet and even in my suitcase while traveling. The scent is strong enough to keep my clothes fresh while traveling, and it seems to last quite a long time this way. I like the strength of the scent when it comes to laundry. My sheets smell comforting when I put fresh linens on the bed. Yet the fragrance is light enough that my son doesn't have to complain of "smelling like a girl."

I have to admit though, the main downside of this product is the price. $14.00 for 40 dryer sheets. These are definitely a high end product that has no room in my budget. That's too bad. If the price doesn't deter you, I would recommend this product. It does what it says. Enjoy!

Popcorn - A healthier way

2011-06-27T06:38:00.003-07:00

My kids and I love popcorn. It can be a healthy cheap snack. We all know movie popcorn is super bad for you with all the salt and oils they put on the popcorn, but what lot's of people don't know is that microwave popcorn isn't a good alternative.

Popcorn bags have lots of chemicals in them, one being perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). When the bag is heated up in the microwave PFOA can leach into your popcorn. PFOA's are "part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA," says Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group.

As for the butter flavor, that is typically from a chemical called diacetyl. This chemical is thought to cause lung cancer in factory workers.

So what do you do instead? The stovetop is one option, another is an air popper. Mine is almost 10 years old now, and it recently died. With no budget, I looked to my microwave for answers. I'm green on a budget, remember? Whole Foods has these little paper bags right next to their check out. I grab a few on my way out just for popcorn.

I put about a half a cup of organic popcorn kernels in the bag and set it for 3 minutes and thirty seconds. I have enough popcorn for the kiddos and I to have a yummy afternoon snack.

Melt some pure organic butter, and some sea salt and you have a divine snack. Get creative, add some herbs like dill, or oregano to the mix. Sugar and cinnamon make a good mix too. The possibilities are endless. All with the healthful twist of knowing what your eating.

What's your favorite flavor?

Putting it all back together...part 2

2011-06-25T07:10:00.002-07:00

It's a complicated story as to why my life is the way it is right now. This is only the second installment, but if you'd like to start from the beginning you can find it here.

When I left Virginia, my husband had already gone to Colorado. He'd found us an apartment and had to start work the first of June. I didn't leave until almost two weeks later. I was annoyed. He left and I felt abandoned because I had to get the house fixed up on my own. He even took my tools (der der). I relied heavily on my church to help me get my house in order. How I love and miss those people. With money being so tight though, I had to do all the work myself. The cleaning, carpet steaming, painting. I managed to find a plumber and people who were handier then me. For two weeks I worked myself daily to the point of exhaustion. I cried, but I pushed on. When that was all done, I packed up my van, and made the first stretch of the drive alone. I went from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. to Dayton, Ohio to meet my husband at my in-laws.

We spent the night there, and then continued on our trip. The second day we made it to Kansas, and managed to find a hotel just on the other side of the Missouri/Kansas line. On the third day, it was the most boring drive ever. Kansas is a boring, flat state. I remarked repeatedly how weird it was to be where there was nothing. No trees, no mountains...just flat grassland. The goal was to make it to our new place today, and we had about a 9 hour drive in front of us. We made it though, and seeing the Rockies for the first time was breathtaking.

Getting to Colorado, I was optimistic. I was beginning a new chapter of my life, one that I hoped would be better then the previous ones before. That I'd find my comfortable rhythm of life again. The hubs and I had some work to do with that, our marriage had taken a hit with the last year of unemployment and now the move. I looked for a church, and I looked for a marriage counselor.

To be continued....

Garden Pool

2011-06-24T08:27:00.002-07:00

What a brilliant idea. This is what I'm talking about. Low budget, and thinking outside the box. Reusing and recycling at it's best.

The Great American Backyard Campout

2011-06-23T08:42:00.025-07:00

This Saturday evening marks the Great American Backyard Campout. I wish that the kids and I could make a bigger deal of this event, but sadly we'll be on the other side of the country visiting my parents that weekend. Perhaps if my parents are up to it, we may camp out in the backyard, but since we won't be in our home turf, we can't commit.

This worthy event is a fundraiser for the National Wildlife Federation. Definitely an organization I can stand behind. If you're going camping this coming up weekend, or any time soon here are a few tips from the experts at REI.

Before an Overnight Trip:

· Practice camping at home: If your kids are outdoor newbies, pitch a tent in the backyard or even inside your home. Let them hang out in it and sleep in it so they become comfortable with a new sleeping environment.

· Take a trial run: Before your overnighter, try a family day outing at a close-to-home park. Spend a half-day or so at a lakeshore or park and see how your kids react to extended outdoor excursions.

· Take notes: Write down reminders for future trips: "Pack more sunscreen." "Bring long pants." "Leave bongos home."

Preparing for a Trip:

· Be enthusiastic: Why should kids get fired-up about an outdoor adventure if you're not?

· Involve your kids: Make trip planning a family affair. Ask kids for ideas of possible things to do or see at your destination. Take their input seriously.

· Kids as packers: Give children the responsibility to pack their own gear at home (using a list you've created). A parent should double-check a child's packing job before leaving home.

· Keeping kids (somewhat) organized: Have your kids pack every personal item in a duffel bag and encourage them to always return those items to that duffel. ("Mom, where's my paddleball set?" "Look in your duffel, dear.") Each child's duffel should be a different color for easy identification.

· Favorite toys: Let kids bring some of their favorite playthings so the campsite doesn't feel entirely foreign to them. Need ideas for new toys? View our suggestions later in this article.

· Friends are valuable: It can be fun for kids to camp with another family that has kids. Your kids may get bored with adults after a while. With playmates, they could be happily occupied for days.

· Bring bikes: Bikes are handy in a campground, so consider bringing a few along. If it's a long way from your campsite to the beach or play area, it's faster (and more fun) to use a bike instead of walking or firing up your vehicle. Bikes keep kids entertained, too.

· Check fire restrictions: Planning on a campfire? Before you leave home, make some calls to determine if campfires are permitted at your chosen campground. If not, make sure everyone in the family knows in advance. There's no bigger disappointment to a kid who has packed all the s'more fixings than to discover that a burn ban is in effect.

At the Campground:

· Exude a positive vibe: Family-camping rule No. 1: Be prepared to cope with inconvenience. Everything is in a different place. The bathroom is no longer down the hall, it's 6 campsites down the path. As an adult, you must lead by example with an upbeat, can-do attitude.

· Organize: Establish fixed locations for important items. "The forks and spoons are in the blue tub." "Flashlights are in the green stuff sack."

· Then stay organized: Remind everyone to always return items to their established locations so others can find them. If you're especially industrious, create a reference list of where-to-find-it locations. Tape it some place obvious.

· Keep everyone oriented: Help kids memorize the number of your campsite or point out landmarks ("We're 4 sites from the amphitheater") to help them remember its location.

· Make kids feel important: Kids like to feel important and involved. Assign them some meaningful camp chores, such as gathering firewood or collecting water from the pump. Recognize their contributions with praise or a treat (or both).

· Be safe: Make sure your kids always carry a whistle (teach them to blow it if they become separated from you) and have easy access to a flashlight or headlamp. Attach a lanyard to both the whistle and light and tie them to one of the child's belt loops.

· Wildlife: Ask park rangers about wildlife activity in the area you are visiting. As the adult, you need to take the lead and understand any precautions necessary (such as proper food storage or how to react during an up-close encounter) for safely coexisting with wildlife. Educate your children about the importance of not feeding wild animals (it negatively alters their food-gathering patterns) and treating wildlife with respect and caution so everyone stays safe.

When Outdoors, Be Outdoors:

· Make the most of nature: Look for wildlife. Check out bugs. Examine rocks. Identify birds, flowers, clouds, constellations. Lead kids on a rock scramble. Show interest in things that interest them. Bring a field guide to help you identify and learn about the things they find.

· Be active, stay loose: Try to keep your kids active without following a regimented schedule. If they're entertained by skipping rocks on the water, give them time to perfect the multiple-skip fling.

· Attend ranger talks: If you're camping at a state or national park, attend the ranger's evening talk. Ask staff if the park offers a junior-naturalist program or other kid-focused activities.

· Geocaching: A GPS-guided treasure hunt engages kids physically and mentally. Check our link to geocaching to see if any caches are hidden in the area you'll be visiting.

· Share time together: "Hey, mom, remember when we saw that deer?" Great memories are one of the great payoffs of a camping trip. Come home with the sort of stories that can only be created outdoors. Shakespeare must have been camping when he wrote, "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

When Outdoors, Be Outdoors:

· Attend ranger talks: If you're camping at a state or national park, attend the ranger's evening talk. Ask staff if the park offers a junior-naturalist program or other kid-focused activities.

· Geocaching: A GPS-guided treasure hunt engages kids physically and mentally. Check our link to geocaching to see if any caches are hidden in the area you'll be visiting.

Fun Stuff You Can Bring:

· Paddleball set: At one of our photo shoots, the kids accompanying our crew couldn't put this game down.

· Marshallow launcher: Traditionally you toast them. Now you can shoot them at one other, too. Imagine: The common marshmallow, transformed into a summertime snowball.

· Animal-shaped flashlights: Leapin' lizards! Sharks, orcas and toucans, too.

· Kits, discs and flying toys: If it flies, it's probably a heap of fun. Our faves include lighted discs and Djubi balls.

· Make ice cream: Have some low-tech fun (with delicious results) with a boot-around plastic ball from Camper's Dream.

· Stream Machine: Camping in warm weather? If you can tolerate a little flying water, this is a kid's ultimate way to cool off.

· The glowing, multicolor flying disc: Whoa . . . it's psychedelic, man. Illuminated with LEDs, this disc changes colors while you play.

· Foot bags: So simple, so entertaining.

· Educational games: What? You haven't played "Pass the Pigs" or "Why Knot?" Well, why not?

Wordless Wednesday -- Bike Riding

2011-06-22T08:51:00.001-07:00

The kids and I did some bike riding on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon. They're getting pretty good on their bikes.

Here's my youngest little biker.

My boy I think has outgrown his bike. :(

Happy Wednesday!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-06-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

This week, I'm getting ready to go to Virginia. My parents graciously bought me plane tickets home for the kids and I, and they are even flying me to California to visit my husband. I have the best parents ever.

Foodwise, I'm trying to use what we have in the house so there isn't any rotting food in the house when I get back. So here's to using what you've got. :)

Monday: Speghetti and hot sausage meatballs.
Tuesday: Leftover Chicken and roasted mushrooms.
Wednesday: Beans and Rice
Thursday: Sandwhiches
Friday: Airplane food...yuck.

Have a great week everyone.

Putting it all back together...

2011-06-18T07:27:00.001-07:00

A year and a half ago, my life had been easy and simple. I freelanced as a musician, and my husband had a job that he had had for about eight years. We had two healthy kids, and we had a comfortable rhythm to life. November 13th, 2009 my husband called me on his way home from work. He had been laid off. I was sitting on my bed in our room when I received the phone call. My world as I knew it had been shattered. Dramatic, eh?

I cried. I cried hard. For the next few months, I managed his severance check with my measly earnings as a musician. I juggled, I cried, and I started selling things I didn't need anymore. He was depressed, and it took him a few months to pull himself back up and look for a job. In late May, after a few devastating "No's" he managed to land a good job in Colorado. Our financial situation though sucked. The house we lived in wasn't worth what we paid for it, or what we owed on it thanks to the housing bubble burst. I met with a property manager, and with her help we came up with a rent that was comparible with the market. Sadly, it didn't cover my mortgage. I fixed up the house the best I could and drove to Colorado. It was an adventure, starting over in a new place. I didn't know anyone. My property manager had found someone to move in, so it was looking like our brief stint with unemployment and serious money issues was coming to a close. But sadly, it wasn't....

To be continued....

Urban Homesteading

2011-06-17T08:58:00.001-07:00

First off, let me apologize for posting such a long video. If you're short on time, move the video to 2:30, and he finally stops walking backwards to his house and starts showing you his garden.

Some of the things I love about the video, is that he is actually using his space well. He's growing melons on a vine, which I have done with a lot of success. I will say though, he's dumped some serious money into his garden. Those kinds of trellises, and raised beds..I"m sure that costed a lot. Anyway, what do you think of the video?

Garden Update

2011-06-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

No drama in the garden. I think that's why I like gardening so much. It's not really a peaceful process I suppose, but it is to the onlooker. There is always the battle for balance, but it's a quiet one. No drama. Here are a few photos from the garden this week.

This is the only hybrid plant in the entire garden. It's a Husky Red Cherry, and it's the first of my tomatoes to bear fruit. I'm hoping to add these to salads within a week or two.

Speaking of salad, my lettuce bolted this week. I'm thinking it still gets cool enough at night that I may try to grow some more. It gets pretty hot in the day though, which is why I"m thinking it bolted. This was some seriously yummy lettuce, so I may try to harvest the seeds once the flowers wilt and dry.

The blueberries scream of possibilities. They've stopped flowering and are just now starting to grow blueberries. I'm hoping they will grow slowly, and not need any picking while I'm away traveling. I'm thinking by the looks of things they'll still be growing while we're gone.

Here's a shot of the entire garden. I'm not sure yet if this mid-afternoon shade you see is going to interfere with the growing. One thought is that my veggies will be shielded from the most brutal sunlight of the day. It's full sun from about 9:00am to 1:00pm, then again at around 3:30 until about 6:00 when the sun goes behind the house. My Romas in the back left are in cages, however the brandywines that I started from seed in April are still tiny little things. I worry that they'll never catch up at this point and be productive.

I think the seed cups I planted them in didn't have enough dirt, and their roots couldn't go down deep enough to make them strong. Lesson learned, don't skimp on the dirt.

On a side note, I"m so interested in seeing what people are doing with their gardens, I"m debating on doing a garden link up. What can I say, I"m a geek for plants.

Wordless Wednesday - Denver Zoo

2011-06-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

We took a family trip a few weeks ago to the Denver Zoo. Here are a few of the good shots I managed to get. First is the peacock. They were everywhere. Just roaming the zoo, and trying to impress the lady peahens. The kids loved it.

The one animal my daughter wanted to see while we were there was the giraffes. She was mesmerized by them.

Here are the two kids begrudgingly looking my way for a quick pic. Was a chilly day in Denver when we went, but it was good too.

Happy Wednesday!

Potatoes Au Gratin

2011-06-07T06:40:00.006-07:00

For dinner last night, I put cheap in action. I found this recipe and it was perfect. I already had some potatoes that I bought last week, so all I had to buy was some cheese. I picked some spring onions from the back garden to add for flavor, and added some sausage from last weekends leftovers for a yummy kid pleasing dinner. My son said it was potato cheese heaven, it was so delicious. I had to force them to save enough for lunch the next day. This recipe probably wouldn't have had any leftover though if hubs had been here with us.

When trying to tighten the belt loop, I've found it's best to skip the meat. Organic in my house is a must, I refuse to expose my children to toxins to save money. Having meat once or twice a week is healthy, good for the environment and good for your pocket book. No one's saying you have to have health food, because this is certainly not it. I will say, I'm glad I have a garden. I squeaked out one amazing salad to eat with this dinner.

What is some of your favorite cheap meals?

Cheap Eats

2011-06-06T07:54:00.001-07:00

I did the budget this morning. It was...depressing. We are $3000 short this month. Yes, you read that right...three grand. My husband has a good job, we live in a modest house. The problem is, he lives in a studio apartment in another state to do his good job. He supports two households, and even his respectable paycheck can't manage. My freelancing doesn't pull in the money to cover the rest. I can only hope that insurance companies and rent checks pull through. What a complicated mess...

If we stayed within budget, our budget allows for only $600 for food, gas and any other extras. Super tight...and it seems impossible. So, enough wallowing in my own misery. Here's my cheap eats for the week. I've been in tight situations before so let's see how I can stretch the buck this week.

Monday: Cheesy Potatoes with leftover sausage.
Tuesday: Rice and Bean Tortillas with home made salsa.
Wednesday: Baked Chicken and Macaroni Salad
Thursday: Leftover (beans, rice, and chicken tortillas with guac)
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Potluck Party
Sunday: Leftovers

With what I have in the house, I should be able to feed my family this week for under $50. Scary times.

School is out...now what?

2011-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last day of school for my kids, and a few weeks ago we had a discussion about how they thought the school year went. They both said they had a good time, and met lots of interesting people. On the flip side, I noticed how many bad words they both picked up, and the meaning of the middle finger, etc.

My son had spent a year at home with me during first grade. We tried homeschooling, and I felt that it was a very successful year. We stayed home for many reasons, but the biggest one was my dissatisfaction in the public schools in the county we lived in. I've taught in public schools, and I knew the blame wasn't with the teachers. It was higher up then that. It was a small county with a small budget, and it wasn't flexible enough to deal with children who didn't fit in the "main stream."

So back to this discussion I had with my kids. I asked them if they wanted to go back to the school next year, or if they wanted to study at home. They both instantly said, HOME! I reminded my son that it was hard at home, and it wouldn't be any easier then school, and that's when they both said the sweetest thing. They missed me...

So, I began looking for an easy course for penmanship. Both of them could work on their handwriting, and of course one of my biggest challenges is finding homeschooling material that isn't Christian based. I get and respect that many people keep their kids home to allow Christ to be in their child's education, but we're not Christian, so it's difficult finding material that is "Christ free."

So I stumbled across Donna Young's Penmanship Lessons. She even has a secular one that uses George Washington's Rules of Civility instead of bible verses. This I can handle. Best of all it's free. I love free. Free is made of win. I like winning.

In the end, if I don't get a job teaching, it's likely I'll keep them home. I will however need to substitute teach I think if I don't find a job. So I"m not really sure if keeping them home will ever be an option. The hubs doesn't make enough money to support us completely, so I have to earn money somehow. Until then though, I can keep them busy and learning all summer long.

Growing Herbs: Jaime Oliver

2011-05-27T05:06:00.001-07:00

I have been a long time fan of Jaime Oliver. He has huge dreams that I hope come to fruition. Have a fantastic weekend!!

Recycled seed container

2011-05-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

I have the gardening bug, like two fold because I really didn't get to garden last summer. Lots of my spring posts are going to be how to stretch your buck in the garden. I've been inspired by Gayla Trail the author of Grow Great Grub, and You Grow Girl. I bought her book Grow Great Grub last year just for the eye candy, and now I'm putting some of her ideas and practices to use.

One of my weaknesses is the veggie dumplings from Whole Foods. This is the container said dumplings come in. Perfect for lettuce because of it's shallow root system. It would also be good for some herbs, or sprouts. If you have one of those pop out herb windows in your kitchen, you could probably grow fresh spring lettuce all year long.

First things first, you need to cut holes in the bottom of your container for proper drainage. Simple enough, a sharp knife, or scissors will do. Next fill it with some potting mix, or a seed starting mix. I used a blend of mesclun for my spring lettuce. I love the variety, and to me variety means something will pop up, guaranteed. It's just yummy too.

Keep it moist for a few weeks in your spring weather. The seeds like chilled nights, and don't do too well when it gets super hot. The Colorado weather right now is perfect for them because it still dips into the 40's and 50's at night. Sometimes even the 30's.

In a few weeks you should have sprouts, and in about a month they should be ready for you to eat. I did this container two weeks ago, and the sprouts are what I'm looking at today. Two more weeks, and we should have our own home grown lettuce. I have plenty of these containers too, so if I wanted to do another round of them, I could. Then I could constantly have fresh lettuce to munch on.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-25T07:39:00.001-07:00

This picture is from a mystery tree in my garden. I have no idea what kind of tree this is. Any guesses?

And just for the "aww" factor. Here's my youngest after a fun morning at the zoo. Completely conked out on dad. Happy Wednesday!

Garden Update

2011-05-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

The garden is up and moving lately. It's been fun this month seeing what will pop up, especially since this is my first spring here at this house. Let me show you some of the things I've found and what I'm trying to identify.

This first lovely purple thing is a bush. It's directly next to the window that is next to my computer and I smell it ALL DAY. It's beautiful, and it makes my house smell lovely. I don't know what it is, but it has beautiful little purple trumpet shaped flowers all over it. I'm in love with this one, I hope it blooms all summer long.

This one I did recognize as bleeding hearts. I feel lucky to have one of these, I know in Virginia at least they are expensive and hard to get. I'm delighted to have it growing in my garden.

A few weeks ago I posted pictures of a beautiful blooming tree. Now said tree has fruits growing on it, and I'm not sure what they are. I'm thinking they are pears. I hope they are pears. How nice would it be to be able to can pears this summer and fall. This would be a real treat to us.

This is another flowering, fruiting tree. I'm guessing it's an apple tree, I should have tried to get a shot of the leaves too, but I"m pretty certain about this one. I'm thrilled that I"ll have two fruit trees at my disposal, even if they are a little young and small. Next week I"ll let you know how the veggies are coming along. I don't have anything to harvest yet, but I may be able to have some lettuce by next week. Let's hope so!

Snapshot Sunday -- Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T08:32:00.001-07:00

My daughter called me out this morning to show me these. She said "Mommy! Look at their sweet faces!!" She found them in the middle of the lawn, I guess a volunteer pansy from the previous owner. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys their mother's day. :)

300 Years of Fossil Fuels in 300 seconds

2011-05-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-04T17:24:00.001-07:00

Spring has sprung, but here in Colorado Mother Nature likes to remind us who's in charge. The tulips have been popping up in my new yard, and I'm delighted to see the previous owner had some better taste in the colors of tulips. One of my houses had the most hideous orange tulips, but these are a pretty purple.

However the other day it was snowing. Yes, snowing. In May. Snow.

Here's a close up of snow on my tomato plants. I love Colorado, really I do. I'm really ready for summer though. ;)

Happy Wednesday!

Garden Update

2011-05-03T06:19:00.000-07:00

It's a little sad honestly, to see this post from last year and how my garden exploded this week into full growth. My garden this week, is just barely getting started. Sunday I noticed I finally had some lettuce sprouts. I planted them almost three weeks ago, and I was beginning to wonder if they were going to come up at all. I had also planted some cauliflower, which may have also come up. They need to grow a bit more before I can figure out what is what. I forgot to label. ;)

The blueberries are doing well, however I was dissapointed to find spittle bugs on them already. I pulled off the very small infestation, and will probably make the repellent recipe that is linked here. For now they've been hosed down, and I"ll keep an eye out. Anymore spittle bugs, and they get garlic...and tons of it.

There are some peas that I planted mid-March on the equinox. I did it to bring in spring, and I finally transferred it out to the garden. In all honesty, I wasn't sure if pea transplants would do well. I've heard they don't, but this one seems to be doing alright. I may try this technique next year as well, especially since this growing season starts so late.

The tomatoes I planted a few weeks ago are doing fine. Maybe I"m just being impatient this year, I don't know. I usually put these puppies in the ground by May 15th. I may put the larger ones I bought at the store out and cover them when it dips too cold, but these guys I think are going to wait until labor day. I love Colorado, I really do. I think my garden here though is going to be quite a challenge.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-05-02T06:52:00.001-07:00

This passed week has been very strange. It's been busy, it's been emotional..just wow. Really. I think that I've been living under the misconception that I'm actually in control of my life. Sure, I make some decisions and I try to keep drama out, but..wow. Just wow. So, this week's menu plan will also be combined with a to-do list. Because no matter what happens..there are things that have to be done anyway.

This week, my goal is to apply as a teacher to every county that's local to my home. Getting a teaching job is going to be so incredibly difficult with how each county has had to lay off so many teachers. I won't be surprised if I don't get a job...but I definitely won't if I don't try. I also hope to put some time away to update my daughters dresser. Its old, cheap and ugly. However, this green momma has some leftover paint, and got some new drawer pullies from the local craft store. Hopefully this will end up being a cute little project for her. I'm also hoping to make some jelly...I've had the ingredients staring at me for weeks. We are out of jelly...must make jelly.

So..anyway, here's my menu plan for the week.

Monday: Five minute Gourmet Alfredo
Tuesday: Mini burgers and fries
Wednesday: Burger Mac with any left overs from yesterday.
Thursday: Quick Pizza (I'll be at work, friend is cooking for the kids) <3
Friday: Out to celebrate!
Saturday: Also out, playing a gig...
Sunday: Rosemary Chicken

Have a great week everyone!

GMO Food Dump

2011-04-29T05:49:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T02:14:00.002-07:00

So, I took this picture yesterday while on a walk with the kiddos. I had my iPhone with me and the sun had just tucked itself behind those clouds. Then I played around with an app called Instagram. Unexpectedly cool app that made my almost unique picture worthy of a Wednesday nod. Anyone else on Instagram, let me know, we can follow each other!! :) Happy Wednesday!

Here's the original

Nitrates in food...why you should care (or shouldn't?)

2011-04-26T07:05:00.005-07:00

Yesterday I was in the grocery store browsing the food to see what was on sale. More and more I'm getting frustrated with the local grocery store that I've been going to. I'll get on more of why later. However...I noticed something while there today. In their lunch meat sections they had lunch meat labeled, nitrate free. So I read the fine print of some of there meats, and I see Sodium Nitrate, and Sodium Nitrite (note the difference). I'm baffled. Why should I care about Nitrates?

I began my research on why I should care, what is it doing to my body?. Well, first warning I read was that babies metabolize nitrates differently then I do. You can read more about it in the link if you want, but in summary babies under six months of age shouldn't eat processed meats, or cheeses that could have added nitrates in them. Quite frankly though, babies under six months shouldn't have anything but breast milk. Just sayin.

Some researchers believe that too much nitrite in the system (your body turns nitrates into nitrites), can be cancerous. Although that research hasn't been completely supported by whatever government body needs to support it to be credible.

So why is it there? It's a preservative. It retains the color, wards off bad smell, and prevents the growth of botulism. There's a lovely thought. Now, is this on my list of things I won't eat. Not entirely. I won't go nutso with this one yet. I will for my kids, but for myself I"ll keep it on the every now and then it won't kill me list. They can make their own decisions about what they eat when they're older.

Here's another helpful link.

What are your thoughts?

Snapshot Sunday -- The money maker

2011-04-24T09:41:00.001-07:00

This is my money maker. I was bored one evening when a student didn't show up and played around with my iPhone camera. Here is one of the shots I got of my violin. No, I'm not a violinist, actually I"m a violist. Sadly, when it comes to teaching, most of my students are violinists, so I bring it to work instead. However....when I play, my money maker is my viola. More playing jobs on that then violin. ;)

Have a Happy Easter to my readers who celebrate. Those who don't, enjoy the day off.

Earth Day

2011-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

So...this is the third year my blog has been up and running on Earth Day. It's hard to imagine I've been writing so long. Today though isn't about me and my blog, it's about Earth Day and trying to maintain it's integrity.

So minus all the freebies people are giving out, and all the other crap that's going on. I'd like to get to the real deal. What changes are you going to make this year? How are you going to do even better? Eat less meat? Start a garden? Buy locally from a farmer if you're not good at growing food? Recycle? Be anal about your recycling??

What's the biggest change you've made in the last year?

Free Tree on Earth Day!

2011-04-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Lowes is giving away trees for Earth Day! Go to your local store on April 23rd to get your free tree. Yay Lowes!

Wordless Wednesday -- Spring is here

2011-04-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing says spring like violas. They have the sweetest faces.

And the trees...at least I don't live in Virginia anymore. My allergies aren't killing me just yet.

Happy Wednesday!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-04-18T05:36:00.001-07:00

Earth Day is this week...so in honor of that, we'll be vegetarians this week. Having been a vegetarian in the passed this is a refreshing twist on our lightly meated diet (yeah, I just made that word up...yep).

Vegetarian is easy, and healthy if you live a sedentary lifestyle. Current factory farming of meat is HORRIBLE for the environment, and generally I purchase only organic meat from small farmers. If you are clueless about the environmental impacts of factory meat farming, I suggest you read up on it. Make a change, this is one of the best, easiest ways you can make a change and become healthier for it.

If you must eat meat, choose wild caught, hunted (correctly hunted), or locally grown, organic meat. I'm off my soap box, and onward to my vegetarian week.

Monday: Spaghetti and Garlic Bread
Tuesday: Bean and Rice Tacos
Wednesday: Baked Tortellini
Thursday: Mac n Cheese Casserole
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Leftovers

Lunch ideas:
Fresh Salad
Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches (one of my girl's favorites)
Potato Salad (or egg)

Do you have any awesome vegetarian recipes you'd like to share, leave a comment below! :)

Snapshot Sunday

2011-04-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

It's been a mild weekend, and the kids and I were able to get outside and enjoy it. Here's a few shots of my girl having a picnic in the front yard with our next door neighbor.

Tomorrow!! Free Bag from Target

2011-04-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow April 17th, Target is giving away reusable bags (with purchase) for Earth Day. Go early if you can, they will likely run out in a few hours. Going to try to get one in the morning myself, so I'll be sure to post if they're worth going out to get one.

Free Starbucks!

2011-04-16T15:06:00.001-07:00

Starbucks is giving away free coffee in honor of Earth Day. Simply go to your local Starbucks with your travel mug on April 22nd, and fill up. Yay Starbucks!

Garden Update

2011-04-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't done this in a while. I'm in a new house, and I'm starting a new garden from scratch. I'm even in a new growing zone, and I've heard that gardening here will be more difficult than anything I've ever experienced. My previous homes have all had their challenges. My townhouse way back when was situated so close to a stream that my back yard was a marsh for weeks after it rained. My first single family home was in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Surrounded by trees, I had a difficult time finding a sunny spot that was far enough away from the Black Walnut trees.

Now I'm in the high desert of Colorado. The season begins later, and ends earlier. There's less natural water, and I may actually have to water my vegetables every day (gasp!). Virginia I could almost forget about it. I tended of course, and watered on a weekly basis. Picked for slugs, and kept things healthy. However now I"m in a territory I don't know, so I'll have to learn as I go I suppose.

Yesterday my daughter and I finally got around to planting some tomato seeds. I tend to stick to heirlooms whenever possible, and yesterday we planted Brandywines. I'll do a couple of varieties of tomatoes throughout the season, and I'll start canning them in either August, or September, depending on the season here. In Virginia, tomatoes grow like weeds. They're hard to mess up. I hear that in Colorado it's not the same, and depending on the year they can grow great, or they can fail miserably.

My friend Salix recommended this wonderful man to make these boxes for me over the passed few weeks. The previous owner of this house had rabbits, and had a little fenced in area for her rabbits. I thought this area was perfect to keep the kids and dog, and *ahem* rabbits out of my garden. This coming up weekend I should have a delivery of dirt, so I can actually start working the ground. I'm excited to see what this barren space will look like in a few months.

Anyone else starting something new this season?

Tuesday Hoppin

2011-04-12T06:32:00.002-07:00

I haven't done this in a while. Leave a comment below if you're a new follower. I will follow everyone back. :)

Have a fantastic day!

Sunday in My City - Butterflies

2011-04-10T09:51:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend I took my kids to the Butterfly Pavilion with my parents while we were visiting. Here are a few of the best snapshots I managed to get.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-04-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

My mom is in town this week, and I haven't been cooking very much. She loves to go out, and she loves to spoil us by taking us out for dinners. I've had lots of stuff going on in my personal life lately, if you're curious I encourage you to click the blue botton on the right to my more personal blog. Anyway, I have some things to throw together for quick meals if need be, this is very much a convenience food type of week. Here's some fall back plans for dinner if we decide to stay in.

1. I bought a few simmer sauces from Seeds of change Specifically their Korma is my absolute favorite. Make some rice, cook some chicken and simmer for a few minutes in a sauce pan and I have a very easy dinner. It's not the cheapest, the bottle costs about 4-5 dollars at the store, depending if it's on sale or not. But it's good, oh so good, and the kids like it too.
2. I still have a few jars of last summer's tomatoes in the cupboard, so it's likely that spaghetti may end up on the menu if necessary this week. I always have garlic on hand, so home made garlic bread could also be a fall back option. Throw some mushrooms and onions in those tomatoes along with oregano and a dash of red pepper seeds, and YUM. Love love love...
3. I still have some sausage leftover from the sampling of Applegate Farms I received a while back. So throwing together breakfast might be an option too.

Earth Hour this weekend

2011-03-25T11:05:00.002-07:00

It's that time of year again. Will you be participating? Share your pictures. :)

Say No to Artificial Food Dyes Now

2011-03-17T12:26:00.000-07:00

I received this e-mail today, and I have to say the issue with food coloring has long been a passion of mine. Read on and sign the petition friends. And if you haven't done your own research about food coloring and your kids...do it. Do it now!

Coloring in our food is linked to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. These artificial colorants are changing the neurochemistry of our brains. It's been proven by three decades of studies and Europe has already acted. So why is the FDA still sitting on its hands?

Dyes are everywhere, and it's impossible for even the most vigilant of us to avoid them. They are hidden in everything from cereals to cough medicines. That's why we're calling on all of you to protect American children.

After years of pressure by activists, the FDA is finally holding a meeting to review this issue on March 30. Sign now to tell the FDA: we don't need bright food, we need healthy food. Ban artificial food dyes now.

http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6068

Food safety officials in Europe have moved much more quickly to protect children from artificial dyes. As a consequence, Kellogg, Kraft, McDonald's, and other American companies that do business in Europe use safe, natural colorings there-but harmful, synthetic petrochemicals here.

We have until March 23rd to tell the FDA it's time to get rid of these toxic chemicals!

http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6068

Here's to (naturally) colorful lifestyles,

Say No to Artificial Food Dyes Now

Making your bedroom more eco-friendly

2011-03-11T08:46:00.003-07:00

Before you watch this, this is just ideas for if your in need of new things in the bedroom. It does no one any good if you toss out your old stuff into a landfill to buy more eco-friendly things.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

My cat lately has taken to sleeping on top of my son's bookshelf. It's like what a cat does...he looks down on us all.

Happy Wednesday everyone.

Applegate Farms Organic Meats

2011-03-08T08:45:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to have been chosen to test out some of the new products by Applegate Farms. They sent me their new roasted chicken deli meat, pepperoni, and their sausages (both pork and turkey).

My favorite out of the whole pack was the pork sausage links. They're already cooked, so you can just grab what you need and pop them in the microwave. Very convenient. The turkey ones are the same, but something is up with them. They always seem to have a crispy side. They're just not as good as the pork. I suppose that would be typical though with sausages.

The chicken and the pepperoni absolutely rocked though. My kids enjoyed their chicken sandwiches and their pepperoni pizza. Definitely something I'd buy from the store often.

Tuesday Hoppin

2011-03-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out my more personal newer blog:

Check out the following buttons for the blog hops.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-03-07T09:45:00.000-07:00

The rollercoaster continues this week. I should find out today if I got a job that I'm really putting a lot of energy into getting. I would be good at that job, it uses my degree and it's the first one out there that I felt like I could get that does use my education. Keep your fingers crossed. I should know today. Anyway, here's the menu for the week. Have a great week everyone.

Monday: Barbeque Chicken Thighs and Rice
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Meatballs and butter noodles
Wednesday: Spaghetti and Meatballs
Thursday: Kids eating with their dad
Friday: Homemade Pizza
Saturday: Out
Sunday: Leftovers

Late Winter Gardening

2011-03-04T07:31:00.001-07:00

I've been itching to get into my garden lately. Here is a way to use any compost you might have and get the garden going even earlier then you thought you might. Enjoy the video, and have a great weekend!!

Awesome Frito-Lay

2011-03-03T07:26:00.001-07:00

The Huffington Post reported the other day that they are working on yet another bio-degradable bag. If you remember, Sunchips for a while had been advertised that they were in a compostable bag, but that bag was embarrassingly loud.

The new bag should be getting in the stores right about now, but only in the original flavor. Go poke a bag and tell me what you think. Apparently they're supposed to be just as noisy now as regular bags. I have to admit, it's a good thing they are trying again. Change is hard, and their persistence gives me a lot of respect for their company. Good job Frito-Lay! Now let's get all your bags like this. :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Playing around with a different photo editor this week. Both pictures were taken with my iphone, and I used an app to play around with them. Other then that, my little one had a great time during a brief snowfall last week.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

So, I took a two week hiatus. Life decided to throw me through another emotional loop, and I needed some time to recover from it. I holed myself up, and just tried to heal through these few weeks. I know I'm being cryptic. It's pretty personal, so I'm just going to leave it at that. I have more healing to do, but I'm a strong tough chick and I'm getting there.

Here's the menu plan for the week:

Monday: Breakfast
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Meatball Soup
Wednesday: Spanish Tortillas
Thursday: Tacos!
Friday: Home made Pepperoni Pizza

Have a great week everyone.

Snapshot Sunday

2011-02-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do during the week is go for a walk in Open Space. This particular spot is located just behind the local library. It's frozen over this time of year, and lately has been covered in snow and ice. When the snow melts, the ice in the pond is still there. Not safe enough for ice skating, but still pretty to walk around and enjoy.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures. :)

Green Garmento Winner!

2011-02-12T19:18:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Multi-talented Mama! She won the Green Garmento Garment Bag!

An e-mail will be sent to you so be sure to check for it. :)

Have a great weekend everyone, and a Happy Valentine's Day!

Story of Electronics

2011-02-11T08:32:00.002-07:00

#7 Which car is greener, the new or used?

2011-02-10T05:51:00.002-07:00

I recently purchased a car because my old one didn't suite my needs anymore. I'm in snow country Colorado, and I drove a minivan. Really? I traded it in for a 2005 Subaru Outback. I'm already glad I did, but was it a green purchase?

One viewpoint is that it is. The Prius is thought to be one of the greenest affordable cars out there, but it isn't without it's flaws. Some research suggests that a Prius would have to go over 46k miles before it made up for the energy and resources used to make it, versus buying a used car. Not just any used car of course will do. Some say the greenest cars you can buy right now are mid-90's economy cars, like the Toyota Tercel, or the Geo Storm.

The other train of thought is my purchase wasn't green. That car manufacturers don't care so much about what people buy when it comes to used cars, and that I wasn't flexing my consumer muscle. Manufacturers are looking at what people buy to make choices as to what to make, and my purchase didn't contribute to that.

I will say this. My own thought is that I made the right purchase for myself. I don't have a carpayment, because I didn't over extend myself on a new car. I'm not exposing myself or my children to the new car smell, which really is toxic fumes. My car already has 100k miles on it, it's paid it's debt to the resources it's made, and will continue to do so because Subaru makes such long lasting reliable cars. It will probably give me another 100k miles or more before it dies. With it still getting about 28 city, 32 highway...it's not too bad on the mileage either.

So what do you think? Will your next car be used, or new?

Sources:

1. Wired
2. The Greater Greater Washignton

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T00:15:00.002-07:00

Dear Snow,
I love you, really I do. But see, I'm having garden withdrawal. I want to get outside and play in the dirt, so can you lay off...just a little?

Love,
Me

Tuesday Hoppin

2011-02-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Giveaway ending this Friday with such Low Entries it's silly not to enter. Be sure to take a look. Have a great Tuesday!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-07T07:33:00.002-07:00

So, I skipped the plan last Monday, and I regret it. I need that small amount of organization to make dinner one less hassle throughout the week. I also applied for a new job last week, so positive thoughts and prayers are welcome. It's not a new thing for me to apply for a job, and in this market it's not unusual to not even get a call back. This job though, is perfection. So, I'm hoping somehow I can land it. Oh, and my newest giveaway ends this week, so if you haven't had a chance to look, you should. Those bags are awesome.

Anyway, here is my plan for the week:

Monday: Spaghetti and Homemade Garlic Bread
Tuesday: Barbeque Chicken and Rice
Wednesday: Chicken Noodle Soup (leftover chicken!)
Thursday: Slow Cooker Butter Noodles and Meatballs
Friday: Pizza night!

Have a great week everyone!

Green Ideas Working...

2011-02-04T08:23:00.002-07:00

Now let's bring this to the US! :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-02T08:23:00.002-07:00

My little girl lost her first tooth last week. Has someone invented the not so fast button? Time flies and they grow so fast. Slow down...just a little?

(Shameless Plug)New Green Garmento Giveaway. Be sure to take a look.

Green Garmento Giveaway

2011-02-01T10:26:00.001-07:00

I have to admit, I feel pretty lucky that I was approached by Green Garmento to do a review and giveaway. I love this bag and all of it's many uses. I rarely do dry cleaning, but I still managed to find many uses for this bag around the house. This bag can be a laundry bag, perfect for if your washer isn't on the same floor as your bedrooms (like my house is), or if you have to go to the laundry mat. It can be a clothes hamper, a duffel bag, and a garment bag. Perfect for traveling, and the dry cleaners. These bags are only $9.99, but my readers have a chance to win one...free.

Green Garmento is giving away a bag to one of my readers in a color of their choice. Click here to take a look at which one you like, and then enter by leaving a comment for each entry below. Here's how to enter.

1. Leave a comment telling me how you'd use the bag, and which color you'd like.
2. Follow Green Momma on GFC (hit the follow button on your right).
3. Follow me on Facebook
4. Follow Green Garmento on Facebook
5. Follow Green Garmento on Twitter and tell us who you are in your comment below.
6. Follow Green Momma on Twitter and be sure to tell me who you are in your comment below.
7. For 5 entries, blog about this giveaway on your own blog. Be sure to put a link to your blog in your comment below.

Good luck everyone! These bags are so amazing, I know you'll love them. Be sure to make a comment for each entry. This giveaway ends February 11th, at 10:00pm EST. The winner will be announced shortly after. Have a great day!

Tuesday Hoppin

2011-02-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

New Giveaway starts later today. Be sure to check back. :)

A gentle nudging...

2011-01-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Maybe your new years resolution didn't involve improving your recycling habits. Don't worry, I don't judge. Here's some info that may inspire you.

An Apple Core: One to two months or longer. Try composting it and adding it back to the ground when it's time to fertilize.

Paper: Two weeks to Five months. Just recycle it. All paper, even magazine paper is recyclable. Receipts, junk mail, newspaper, everything. Nowadays recycling paper is easy, just do it.

Cigarette Butts: 1-5 Years (another website says 12 years!). Just another reason to quit. They are made of cellulose acetate, and take forever to break down.

Aluminum Cans: 80-200 years. There are can recycling receptacles everywhere. If you don't have this service with your trash pick up, call them and ask why. If you haven't ordered recycling with your service, stop reading this and do it now.

Plastic Bottles: Unknown?! These don't break down, they break up. Into tiny little pieces that end up in the bodies of the animals we eat, which ends up into our bodies and it stays with us...forever. I would go out on a limb here and just say avoid using them period. Sure, if you have them, recycle them. If you can get your own reuseable water bottle and stop buying soda bottles you'd be doing everyone a favor. Use your power as a consumer and stop purchasing them. If no one buys them, they'll stop making them.

Plastic Bags: Unknown again. If exposed to air, they seem to be able to break down in 20-50 years, however air is in high priority in a landfill. Because of their inability to break down in a typical landfill setting many countries have begun to outlaw them. They are also one of the largest contributing pollutors to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Glass: Unknown. It's estimated that a glass bottle could take upwards of a million years to decompose if it is not recycled. While it won't shred into tiny little pieces and end up in our food like plastic will, it's irresponsible to not recycle. Use glass, and use it again and again and again.

Sources:
1. Landfill Trash
2. How long will my junk sit in a landfill?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

I finally got the pictures from my son's birthday party a few weeks ago off the camera. We had a Star Wars themed party, and there are some really cute pictures in there. Enjoy. :)

Other then their costumes and light sabers, I love how above my sons head you can see the blur of a nerf bullet as it flies past him. They had such a good time.

I love this one too. This little guy sitting there sniping unsuspecting Jedi. We had such a great day.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

ThermaCare Winner!!

2011-01-24T20:58:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Sohamolina! They are the winner of the ThermaCare winter comfort pack!!

You will have an e-mail sent to you shortly and will have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be picked.

Be sure to stick around for another giveaway. Must be in the air or something, but I have something new lined up...again!!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

So, I bought a new to me car over the weekend. That's my newest adventure. I had my van for about two years but after moving out here, I knew I needed something better to get me through the winters. I have a Subaru Legacy back home in Virginia I was going to tow out here next June, but I'm not known for my patience. I bought a Subaru Outback because I just couldn't wait. Pathetic, I know. ;)

Pictures to come, I'm picking it up later today. ;)

Monday: Out to pick up the new (to me) car!
Tuesday: Barbeque Chicken and Rice
Wednesday: Shepherd's Pie
Thursday: Spaghetti and homemade Garlic Bread
Friday: Homemade Pizza!
Saturday: Out!!

Have a great week everyone!

Sustainable Changes in the Olympic Games -- A guest post

2011-01-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Looking Forward to Sustainable Changes in Olympic Games

The United States Olympic Committee USOC is not only looking to further the athletic accomplishments but make sustainable environmental changes to the Winter Games. And with the bid for the 2022 games being award in 2015, they must move fast with their efforts. This began with naming Andrew Liveris and Dow Chemical the worldwide partner in the Olympics for the next decade.

During the last Winter Olympic Games (the Vancouver 2010 games), the United States held the most medals, with 9 gold, 15 silver and 13 bronze. With dominance in the areas of snowboarding, Nordic combined and skiing, it only makes since that the United States is looking to capture the 2022 bid. With areas like Denver and Reno-Tahoe looking to host, the USOC is looking to make process with the International Olympic Committee in hopes of bring great changes to this world celebration.

Why are these changes such a big deal? As fantastic and unifying as the Olympics are, it's quite a carbon-rich event. It has been estimated that over 2/3 of the carbon emissions from the event is a result of some of the 1.5+ million attendees traveling (mostly via airplane) to and from the event.
The IOC made great efforts to showcase conservation practice and sustainable energy sources during the Beijing Summer Games, but for the future CEO Andrew Liveris and USOC members are looking to do more by basing off of the services used in Beijing. Exactly what environmentally friendly services did the Olympic facilities feature?

· Solar power - Used to light lawns, courtyards and streets at several venues, including the Olympic Village. A 130 KW photovoltaic system illuminated The National Stadium, where events such as athletics and football were held.
· Water Conservation - Waste water collected from the Qinghe sewage treatment plant was filtered and used for the various heating and cooling needs throughout the Olympics site, yielding a 60% savings in electricity. Rainwater was collected from around the grounds, collecting over 75,000 gallons by using water permeable bricks, pipes and wells installed on roofs, roads and green areas.

· Natural Light - Remember the famous 'Water Cube' where the aquatic events were held? The walls of the National Aquatics Centre provided natural light, and for the interior of the building, specially designed 'beam-pipes' funneled sunlight into corridors, toilets and car parks at venues, including the Olympic Green.

· Recycling - The 2008 Olympic hosts aimed for a 50 per cent recycling of waste including paper, metals and plastics at venues. A modest expectation, considering that a test run carried out during the 11th World Softball Championships held in 2007, achieved a nearly 90 per cent recycling rate.

Since the 2008 Olympics the vision of environmental progress has progress to include dozens of other products which will help reduce waste and promote conservation. You can expect these products to appear at the coming events over the next decade and be a part of the USOC recommendations.

Co-written by Nerissa Barry and Daniel Fielding

#6 Lowering the heating bill

2011-01-20T09:26:00.001-07:00

Being my first winter in Colorado, I'm redefining the meaning of cold. Winter here has just begun and I have at least three to four more months of snow and freezing temperatures. On my tight budget I have to figure out how to keep the house warm, and the kiddos comfortable. Fortunately for me, this is also green. Using less energy helps my own carbon footprint.

So here are a few tips I've found floating around cyberspace to help the wallet, and the environment.

1. First windows. Take advantage of southern facing windows, open them up and let the sun warm your space. At night, make sure your curtains are closed. If you have older windows, consider replacing them with double, or triple pain windows. If that's not in your budget, add an extra layer to your window by covering them with clear plastic. Drastic measures? Cover them with cardboard! You can fit the cardboard so you can put them in at night and take them out in the morning. Who needs expensive light filtering blinds if you have cardboard and measuring tape on hand. :)

2. Next fans. Ceiling fans turned in the reverse position can help circulate warm air back downward. You want the air to blow up to the ceiling, not down on you. Vent fans in the kitchen and bathrooms will only blow your warm air out, so don't leave them running. Shut them off as soon as their job is done if you must use them. Also, keep your fireplace damper closed. Having it open just allows the heat to rise out of your house. Keep the heat in!

3. Keep your heating vents clear. Make sure they're not covered by area rugs or furniture. Close them in rooms that are not used often and shut those doors. Vacuum out intake vents, and change filters regularly so your heating system doesn't have to work so hard.

4. Turn the heat down! "The rule of thumb is that you can save about 3% on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat" full time, says Bill Prindle, deputy director for the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Put on a sweater, and get out warmer blankets. Buy a programmable thermostat so you can set the house to be cooler when your not there and at night.

5. Use a candle or incense stick to find any leaks in door frames, electrical outlets, recessed lights, and windows. Hold the candle and see if it flickers. Just don't light your curtains on fire...hmm? Caulk up any leaks or by those long door doggie thingies to keep the cold air out.

Sources:
1. Real Estate
2. MSNBC

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

Just one picture of the breath of my soul this week. Happy Wednesday everyone!

Tuesday Hoppin

2011-01-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday! Take time to check out my Giveaway. Such a nice winter comforting pack. :)

Linking back to:
Tuesday Tag Bloghop
Totally Tuesday Bloghop
To the top Tuesdays

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Even though it's not frightful outside right now, I'm craving warm comfort foods. I'm loving my first Colorado winter so far, we've had a couple snowfalls, nothing to terrible here yet.

Have a great week everyone. :)

Monday: Party leftovers, Chicken Nuggets with Mac n' Cheese
Tuesday: Shepherd's Pie
Wednesday: Pot Roast
Thursday: (Vegan) Broccoli and Pasta
Friday: (vegetarian) Corn and Potato Chowder and home made bread for dipping!

I can't wait to curl up on the couch in front of the fireplace and watch movies with the kiddos on Friday with that yummy chowder. I love winter. :)

Sunday in My City

2011-01-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

My son last weekend wished for one thing on his birthday. Snow!! He has such a special relationship with mother nature. She obliged.

He had an absolute blast.