Bloggers that make you think

Gnightgirl over at This Just In has been so nice and awarded me a thinking blogger award. I think (ha ha) that along with this award I am to pass on the award to 5 more bloggers.

According to my research this award all started over at The Thinking Blogger. So that you could set out to award other bloggers that you felt have or still do make you think.

I am going to pretend that Gnightgirl gave me this award because she really likes my blog and that I have interesting things to say! Not just because she loves me and she has to. Either way I come out ahead, right!

So, here goes.

OMSH--- She talks about life. Everyday life and how it impacts her and her kids. She talks about how in raising her kids she has learned many things. Most importantly, she talks about honoring your kids and how to teach them things that will take them so far in life.

The Cleaner Plate Club--- She has great whole food recipes, info on how she got the food and where it came from and step by step instructions on how to get your meal to look just like her fabulous pics do!

The Expatriate's Kitchen--- Great articles on food and the influences it has become in our lives. Great articles on how to change that. And the best in my opinion, how to bring families back to the table.

Much More Than A Mom--- Ideas on how to raise your family living an organic lifestyle. As well as other great ideas.

Shaping Youth--- Bringing out the truths as to how media and marketing affects our children and great ways to counteract that.

Sick Babies

My head: Wake up. The baby is crying.

Me: Yes, I know. I'm getting up now. What time is it exactly?

My head: It's really early in the morning. Really early. So early that it is still dark out.

Me: Well, it really wouldn't matter if it was light or dark outside. I am a walking zombie at this point.

My head: Then why did you ask me?

Me: I dunno, just to say something I guess to make sure that I am really up and not just talking in my head.

My head: Thanks.

Me: Sure, no problem. Any time.

Going Bagless

Well, not really "bagless".

Here are my reusable bags I purchased so that I could avoid adding to the plastic bag consumption in this country.

I have found that these bags are quite large. So, what I used to get in about 3 or 4 of the plastic bags fits very nicely into one of my tan bags. They stand upright on their own so they are very easy to fill. And when unloaded they fold down very nicely so you can store them. They do have handles on them. I see now that it is hard to see that in this picture.

I want to add, too, that I have found that using a plastic milk crate on your trips to the store really helps. I use the milk crate to load all my canned goods into. It is very sturdy and just the right size. Also, it has handles on both sides so it is a lot easier to carry.

And this is what happens every time I go to the grocery store and use my own bags.


I have had no trouble from the cashiers as I once worried that I would. However, I have gone to the same cashier every time! And she remembers me now. Probably because of the bags and the bright purple milk crate.

Link Loveage

or Passing on of the posts. Whichever you prefer.

I am going to be passing out the compliments, so, if you are not a good compliment taker...shape up!

OMSH---You have got to go by her blog and check it out. It is amazing. The latest posts about honoring the children and so forth have been just fabulous. Between the actual posts and the bajillion comments...head on over there, you'll see what I mean. It is real life. Everyday stuff. Fantastic.

Expat---Need a reason to eat better? This blog gives you several and let's you know how it can affect your kids. Good and Bad. Sharing the ideas of how coming back to the dinner table can improve your health and your life overall. Can I just say, thanks. And keep it going. I'm passing it on in the hopes that it will put the idea in one more person's head that eating as a family has a huge impact.


The Cleaner Plate Club---More good food ideas. And informative articles, to boot. And tons of step by step great recipes. That are tried and true. Let me start by saying, "Kale Chips"? Never, in a million, trillion years would I have ever thought of this or tried this until I saw it on your blog. The whole time I am fixing it I am saying to myself...the kids are never gonna eat this..they are gonna take one look at it and well, you get the picture! Low and behold, and yes, I can admit when I am wrong, they loved them. My littlest one couldn't get enuf of them. His face was green when he was done. Little kale chip crumbs...
Go ahead, check it out. You know you want to. Oh, and when you go, make sure you tell her I said "Hi."

He's not so sure about these...

Egg enlightenment Episode 2

So, I have finally found it. The egg I have been looking for all my life. Okay, so I haven't actually eaten one yet, but I will. Soon. This Wednesday, in fact.

I hunted and hunted and found this farm. Which happens to be about 50 miles from home. And they come to my town every Wednesday to make fresh egg deliveries. So, this week will be my first batch! I am so excited. I had heard of the farm before because they are at our market every year and they have the hugest tables filled with totally delicious stuff. I just never dug deep enuf to know that they sold eggs, too.

I will let you know more after I taste one. Many people have said to me that they are going to taste a lot different then what I think an egg tastes like. Do you think so? Are real farm fresh eggs that much different in taste? Tell me what you think.

One box is all you need...

I am gonna figure this out, he thinks.

Okay, it may take a little longer than I thought.

If I could just get my...


Ah hah...I am outta here, baby.

Soft pretzel recipe

I got this recipe from one of my good friends. I have made some of my own changes that I will add as well.

1 1/4 C very warm water
1 T plus 1/4 t yeast
3 3/4 C all purpose flour (I use 2 C white and 1 3/4 C whole wheat.)
3/4 C plus 2 T powdered sugar
1 1/2 t salt
2 t veg. oil (I used 6 t flax seed meal)
1/4 C melted butter
kosher salt

Bath: 4 C warm water and 1/2 C baking soda

Cinnamon sugar topping: 1/2 C sugar and 2 t cinnamon

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix flour, sugar, and salt. Add oil to yeast and water...blend into dry ingredients. Knead 5 minutes until smooth. Let rise for 45 min. in warm place. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Roll out to 3 feet long. Shape pretzels. Dip in baking soda bath. Blot on paper towel to remove excess water. Place on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Bake 4-5 min. then rotate baking sheet and bake another 4-5 minutes. Cool 2 min. Brush with melted butter and then dip in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Note: Substituting with the flax seed meal can cause the product to brown faster. With my oven I ended up baking for 4 min, rotate , then 4 more minutes. Also, the flax seed meal can be a substitution for oil, butter, or margarine in your future recipes. It does have to be used in a 3 to 1 ratio tho. So, in the above recipe you can see that I used 6 t flax seed meal instead of the 2 t oil.

I also do not shape into pretzels because that serving is too large for my kids. I just rolled the dough into the snakes and then cut it into little sticks The serving size is smaller and they are easier to manage for the kids.

This last time I made them I actually froze some of the chunks of dough. The idea being that I can just pull out a couple pieces when we want to make them. I will let you know how that goes!

Happy eating!

Update: The frozen chunks of dough thawed out really nicely. It took about 3 hrs for them to thaw to a nice pliable state. For each chunk I seem to be getting appx. 10 pretzel stick.

Update on the earlier post about going bagless

Meijer, you rock!

I had sent this email to my local Meijer several days ago in regards to bringing in my own bags to use.

Hi.

I have been shopping your store for quite some time and I really would like to get your suggestions on how I could avoid using plastic or paper bags when purchasing my groceries. Neither of them are good for the environment. I would prefer to bring my own reusable bags or containers. I need to know how to approach this with the cashiers...do I just ask them to put everything back in the cart once its rung up?

I have to say that even to ask for paper bags in your store is no easy task. The store has been set up to utilize plastic on the little carousel and when you ask for paper the cashiers do not take too kindly to it. Its harder for them to bag in paper.

Please help me figure out a way to make this happen. Thanks, Marcee

Many days went by and I had heard nothing , so I sent them another email. Then today I received this. Along with a note apologizing for the delay. He had sent the same email previously, but to the wrong address.

Hi Marcee,

Just to be sure . . . I checked with my service team leader. He told me that if you just lay the bags on the belt before your first item, the cashier will use them. In addition, you will receive a 5 cent per bag credit. I know 5 cents doesn’t sound like a lot . . . but it’s something! We don’t have a lot of customers who do this, but if you just mention to the cashier that you brought your own bags they should be able to help.

Thanks for the note, and for your business! If you ever have a question, comment, or concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the store.

Way cool, right?!! I sent this in return.

Hi Greg.

Thank you for taking the time to research this. I wish more people would consider doing this. Have you considered posting some information about it letting people know that it is an option and that you can receive a credit per bag? It may motivate more people to take part. As a customer, especially one that tries to be environmentally aware, that would draw me to your store even more.

Again, thanks for getting back to me. Communication like this makes shopping at your store an even better experience.

So, asking questions does pay off! (Even if it is only 5 cents a bag!) Whenever I turn down a bag at the store now, I feel so good and empowered. Every time I do it I know that I am making a difference for my kids as they grow older. They will be around a lot longer than me. The least I can do is try to make the world a little cleaner and safer. One person and one bag at a time.

Polenta

Otherwise known as corn grits. I recommend that everyone give them a try.

They are a big hit in the house and are even better when you eat them with a touch of butter and some honey. The general directions call for 3 c water to 1 c grits. I use 2 c water and 1 cup organic chicken broth. Gives it a little more flavor.

If you were to ask my 11 month old, he would say they are even better when I rub them all through my hair and in my ears...

It's a girl!

My SIL had a baby girl! I am so happy for her. Everyone is resting peacefully. Her birth was a doula's nightmare. Long story short...had a doula been there it could have been so different.

I am a doula. A doula is a person who supports women during labor and delivery. That support can be physical, emotional, or, spiritual. Not medical. It is a personalized support that is based upon individual needs and wants.

Hearing of women that have a hard time during labor and delivery makes me sad. It is supposed to be a very special time in your life and unfortunately, it isn't always that way. Obviously labor is hard. It is hard work. Hence the word, labor. What I mean is that if you have the right support it can be a wonderful experience. It can be an intimate and empowering experience, in spite of the pain. It can be a time where you bask in the pain because you know what the pain will bring to you. A healthy baby. The goal of everyone involved. However, everyone's idea of how to get there happens to be very different.

Thrifty Thursdays

Has been cancelled this week. Sorry for the inconvenience!

I have been a doula via the telephone for my SIL in Florida and I am pretty tired. She is currently at 5 cm and is not very happy!

Being a doula over the phone is much different than being there in all the action. After our last call last nite (at about midnight) I found it quite hard to get back to sleep...too exciting! When I am there in the room sleep really isn't an option. So, I was kicking myself when I had the choice to go back to sleep and couldn't take my mind off the labor and what else I could have done or said.

More later...