Category — moms

If you have read the about me page, you have been warned.  If not, consider yourself warned (go and read to see why)

I recently read a post over at the Natural Family Living Blog  that got me to thinking…I consider myself to be a republican… after all, I believe in God – that Jesus was born to a virgin girl and died to take away every sin that was ever committed – provided that the sinner accepts Him as their Savior. I also do not believe in big government handouts – I think that the welfare system is a huge joke.  Just because someone has a different color of skin than the “majority” is no reason for them to get free money.  However, I am also an environmentalist.

I believe that our society (and that of other “developed” countries) is destroying our earth.

I believe that humanity was given stewardship of this planet – the authority to oversee everything in the absence of the owner (that would be God, in case you are wondering) and the responsibility for what happens while under our control.

People, we are failing miserably.

We are spewing out noxious gasses at every turn.We are filling our bodies with garbage (gee, I wonder why we are ALWAYS SICK!!!)

We are filling our oceans with plastics that will NEVER go away

Our government is more concerned with the almighty dollar than with the people it is supposed to protect.  If this was not true, then we would not have frankenfoods being hidden in the ingredients lists of 95% of the products available at your local grocery store.  If this was not true, then we would have alternative fuels available to power cars – bio-fuels, electricity, etc. The USA has become a giant test lab.  

Imagine with me for a momnet…”Let’s see, if we change the bioligical make up of corn to make it resistant to bugs, we can sell more & make more money!” “But do we know yet what effects that will have on the people that are eating it?”  ”Who cares? What they don’t know won’t hurt them!  Besides, we will make 3 times the money!” “But what if they find out?”  ”No one listens to those environmental freaks anyway – we’ll just spread an ad campaign that everything is OK.”

Did this conversation ever actually occur?  No, but it does help to point out what is certainly LOOKS like from the consumer’s prospective.

Why does our government throw money at genetically modified foods and ignore the small farms that are trying to grow a healthy, natural, poison free, BETTER alternative?  

Actually, our gov’t takes it a step further… they are trying to keep the small organic farmers OUT of the market.  They are trying to turn them into the large industrial farms that are KILLING US & OUR CHILDREN.

The farm bill was up for a vote again this year.  Did you know?  Do you care?  Guess what… corn got more money thrown at it, organic farmers got ignored.  Why do big farmers in Iowa get to have $250,000 per ear paychecks for growing crap while small family-run farms are being run out of business?
There is a new movie out called “King Corn” It’s about 2 east coast guys who decided to see what it would be like to grow corn… and it was life-changing for them.  They got some GM corn seed and an acre of prime Iowa land… and them followed their corn through the production line to see where it goes.  Our diet truly consists of corn, corn & more corn.  Find out where it is showing & go see it!

While I am on a rant, what about Maryland trying to force us to vaccinate our kids?  Do you really think it is good for an infant to have metal injected into their blood stream?  Poisonous metals?  Guess what is in vaccines… and flu shots.  The government should not have the right to tell me that I have to fill my kids full of garbage just because it keeps the hospitals open and fills the pockets of big pharmaceutical companies.

I’m not saying that we all have to go live in a cave & walk everywhere & live on nuts that we can grow.   What I AM saying is that we need to take a look at our own families and see if there is anything that we can do to be a better steward of what has been entrusted to us.Here are some ideas: My daughters school recycles plastic bags.  If there isn’t a school near you, I’d be glad to take in your clean, used plastic bags and get them recycled into other products rather than see them fly around in the air & end up inside the belly of a sea turtle. I personally use a fabric bag when I go to the grocery store.  It is re-usable, and if it gets dirty, I can just toss it into the washing machine and it’s as good as new.  Another benefit to bring your own bag – if I know that I only have 1 or 2 bags with me, I don’t buy as much at the store because I have a pretty good idea how much will fit into my bags & I don’t want to use plastic.  And my grocer gives a 5 cent credit for each non-plastic bag used.  And if you buy your bag through Mimsi Bags, you will be helping to support a Work At Home Mom who is trying to be at home with her kids.

Does your power company offer wind power?  Can you purchase carbon credits?  These are small ways that your family can help offset the fuel used to power your home.

Do you carpool to work?  Can you?  I understand that this in not an option for many – we can’t.  My husband works far enough from our home that he has to drive, and his hours are odd enough that no one wants to wait around for him.  But if you can, you should.  Many large corporations offer free vanpools for their employees, and others offer free or reduced cost bus passes.

Letting your kids ride the school bus is another way to cut down on the amount of driving that you do.  If you have to drive your kids to school & pick them up, keep in mind that 10 seconds of letting your car idle takes more gas than turning it off & re-starting it when you are ready to move.

If you are in the market for a new car, look into cars that are more environmentally friendly.  Most diesel engines can be converted to run on vegetable oil, which you can get used from many restaurants & filter.  Yes, this is a larger investment up front, but it’s cheaper than paying $3.50 per gallon!

If you are close enough, walk or ride a bike.  It not only helps the earth, but it will get your body in better shape too!

Avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup & hydrogenated oils like the plague – they really are! And you will be surprised what they show up in…

Turn off the lights when you aren’t in the room, unplug your cell phone charger when you aren’t using it, and the TV for that matter.

Pack a lunch for your kids – the Laptop Lunchbox is a great tool for that!  We have 2, and the girls LOVE them.  AND, I know that they are getting a healthy lunch instead of the microwaved crap that the school dishes up. Pack a lunch for you too… you will save money and eat better food than McD’s offers.  gag.

Join a CSA farm – Comunity Supported Agriculture.  I’m currently looking for a new one, so when I find a nationwide directory, I will post a link! 

These are just a couple of ideas.  I’m sure if you stop a moment and think about it, you will come up with MANY more ways!  

Well, having spent Monday at the hospital with me eldest, I am glad to report that she was only recommended to take 1 medication – daily. I think the Dr. got the general impression that she would NOT be going back on some of the useless/dangerous meds that she had been put on – and made her sick.

Then today I was emailed the following cartoon – and I just had to share! (just click on it to read)

www.artmargin.com © Emma Holister 2005

There are lots of other great ones that seem so fitting – and quite true…

If you want to take a look, head over to http://www.artmargin.com/doctoringcolversion.htm

All in all I have to say that I am generally very pleased with our Dr – I ust be if I’m willing to drive 35 miles each way when there are others just around the corner. She is very good about looking at alternatives to “drugs” and using diet to help solve issues.

So now we just wait to see if allergies are the cause of all of this coughing after all… meaning that the nasty steriods were pointless (as formerly suspected..)

This is so spot on in so many ways… I simply HAD to share it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxT5NwQUtVM

Head over and take a look…

and if you don’t get it, you don’t have kids in school, teenagers, OR you just have perfect children!

I recieved this from my beutiful Sister-in-law today… and it was too cute not to share with everyone!

Prettiest Moms on my Friends list! Once you have been hit, you have to hit 15 pretty Moms. If you get hit again, You will know you are REALLY pretty!

So hit 15 pretty moms on your friends list to let them know they are pretty

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom – I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put them down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom – I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom – I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Send this to someone who you think is a special Mom. I just did!

While some places may still be feeling the heat, it seems that fall is officially taken up residence in the Pacific Northwest – FINALLY!

This was the frosty dandelion that greeted me last week when I returned from taking the girls to school – the delicate seeds were clumped with little ice crystals – it was so beautiful (I know, the pic doesn’t do it justice).

Then there were the apples by the bushel – granny smith, gala, honey crisp, you name them, they are finally HERE. When one can get Honey Crisp apples for 74 CENTS a pound, you buy the box… and make applesauce of course!

Pumpkins will be about soon too… time for pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cake roll, pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup… hey, I warned you that this blog would have food in it!

We will be making banana bread today too – I promised the little one that we would bake today. Might even get to pumpkin cookies… but that might be too much goodness for one day (I still need to work too!).

We turned the fireplace on this morning too – we have gray skies and a chilly breeze to keep the air cooled down and crisp. The cheering that I received for the fire was a bit frightening – they have been wanting to use it since early May when we moved.

In other news, I officially look like a married woman again! I picked up my newly-shined ring yesterday, and I’m terrified that I’m going to lose it! I had them re-size it when they repaired it (only a 1/2 size up) and it feels so loose! It’s slipping & sliding around my finger & all wibbly-wobbly. but the sparkle! I haven’t seen it sparkle like this for 10 years! Even the little ones are sparkly! I will miss the men in stores being so helpful, but I’m so glad to have it back and be able to wear it!

Kid Update!
I’m still waiting to hear what the Dr’s think is going on with M’s lungs – the inhaler was making her worse (tasting blood can’t be good, right?) so they moved to the next test – she had a CT scan yesterday, so we are waiting for the results on that, then possibly off to the allergist, pulmonary specialist, etc. I just want my baby to be well! Oh well, I guess I need to have patience. I don’t have much patience…

The other one is doing better most of the time. Then her sister says something mean & it’s off to throw a tantrum – which brings about the tummy aches. We are trying the NO DAIRY thing, and the good news is that she loves the chocolate almond milk… the bad news is the cost of milk replacements! This could be a problem for pumpkin cookies too (1 lb. of butter anyone?) I really need to find a replacement for butter!

Any thoughts on foods or ways to treat tummy issues or lung issues are appreciated!

Well, it’s off to the sewing maching for me… I have bags to finish!
oh yeah, and bread to bake…

I recently commented on a post over at activist mommy, and realized that the comment was a pretty good post on its own, so I thought I’d share.

Here are some of my tips on living a “greener life”

Green tips…

bring your own bag when you go shopping! A good one will carry more than the icky plastic bags and you are helping our everyone.

If you must get plastic bags, be sure to recycle them. My kids school is doing a plastic bag recycling fundraiser through Wal-mart – they raised almost $5,000 for the school last year from kids bringing in plastic bags. Not too shabby.

Join a CSA farm. The produce is picked within the past 36 hours, it tastes great, they farm sustainably, and the prices beat out the grocer & the farmer’s market. And you help the local farmers make a living.

I used to sell Tupperware, and I got into the habit of taking a small container with me when we go out to eat to bring home leftovers. Do I get odd looks, sometimes, but I’m not using more styrophom.

However, we ony eat out once or twice a month – cook at home! You’ll save money, feed your family better food, and you might be healthier.

Grow your own food -whenever possible. You would be amazed what you can grow in a container on the back porch. I had a great container garden when we lived in Phoenix – peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, beans… where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I recently joined paperbackswap.com to get rid of some of the books overflowing from our library shelves, and to save money on getting the books that we want to read next. I had been donating them to the library, but they don’t always take in books (I guess they ran out of room too).

I have our milk delivered. With 2 kids that are growing like crazy, we go through a gallon every 2 days – or less. Now the milk is delivered and I don’t have to run to the store every other day. They also bring eggs, butter, ice cream…

Tell others, tell others, tell others! When others see you doing something to help the environment, they can be curious. Talk to them about why you are doing it, and you might be suprised at the changes you can help bring about!

These are the tips that I have off the top of my head! I hope they help someone…

I have recently joined this group, and I must say that it is a great idea! I found my husband a book that he was getting ready to buy, and we were able to pass on a few well-loved books of our own – the bookshelf downstairs is big, but we still have too many books!

If you love to read – or know someone who does – you should take a look! Go quickly – if you join before October 5th you get 3 free book credits for the 1st 9 books you post – after that you will get 2 cedits for the 1st 10 books.

Each credit allows you to get a free book from another member – you get a credit for each book that you send out.

Check it out!

Today is my birthday, na na na na na, happy birthday to me, na na na na na…

The day started with a call from dad-in-law telling me that there was no way I’m as old as I am (although his guess would put Eric 10 years older than me – tee hee)

Then we had green eggs & ham… and toast… and cocoa (made with the leftover ganache from the cake – yum!)

We got Alex to school (she has decided to change her name this year), and Eric off to work, and Ari & I are getting ready to head out to the fabric store – she just doesn’t know it yet ;~) Then it’s back to school by 1 for “Kindergarden Placement & Parent Orientation” such fun!

At some point I need to make some bags… and figure out the special treats that everyone gets this month when they place an order – it is my birthday after all! Sounds like a good time to give gifts!

Here’s to a great birthday!