Simple Essentials

2010-10-13T08:08:00.001-07:00

I am no longer updating this blog. Please join me at my new blog: http://simplymara.blogspot.com

Quick Fall Craft

2009-11-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

I was trying to decide what I wanted to do for a centerpiece for my table this fall (I know it's a little late in the year). You know me, I like things simple and clean looking.This is what I came up with. I apologize for the not-so-great lighting in the pictures. It was late at night so I couldn't use natural lighting. I grabbed an inexpensive cylinder glass vase at Michaels, a 99 cent piece of paper and my trusty ole Mod Podge. I glued the paper to the vase and then threw in some flower-type leaves I got from Pier 1 last year. Done! I got the green bowl from Anthropologie a couple of months back and haven't found a use for it yet, until now. I don't have it pictured yet but I will be putting some pine cones in there. Easy peasy!

Everything pumpkin day!

2009-11-10T16:49:00.000-08:00

Today I was very much in a "pumpkin" mood. I get like that this time of year. I crave pumpkin. So, for M's school today I wanted to incorporate things that related to pumpkins. First, we made pumpkin smoothies. They were delicious and quite simple. I used 1-2 cups of homemade almond milk (you can use whatever milk base you prefer), 3/4 tsp. of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. of cloves, dash of nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. of ginger, 1 tsp. of vanilla, frozen banana and a big dollop of pumpkin (from the can). Tomorrow we will try using fresh cut up pumpkin. I threw it all in the blender and blended it up. It was so good. I then made pumpkin muffins to go along with the smoothie. As we enjoyed our delicious smoothie and muffin we read a book that was all about pumpkins. Simply delightful! And to think this was all part of our homeschooling day. I love it!

My first attemp with Mod Podge

2009-10-09T16:58:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't know, Mod Podge is a type of glue that is used for many things in the craft world. It is extremely versatile in that it bonds well and dries clear. I have spent hours and hours browsing different internet sites that show crafty projects using this wonderful bonding agent. I thought it was time I tried my hand at it. I also had a little help from "M".

First, we took an artist's canvas that we purchased from the craft store. I think I paid about $4. We then painted the canvas a light pink color. You have to make sure you let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.

We then cut a bird shape out of wrapping paper and put Mod Podge on the back of it and placed it onto the canvas. It's really important that you smooth out the paper with a ruler, or something of that nature, to get out any air bubbles. I was really disappointed because I ended up having air pockets and wrinkling that I couldn't get out. I won't be too hard on myself, though, given this was my first attempt. After the bird dries, you take the Mod Podge and brush it over the whole piece to give a polished, solid look. It's actually pretty simple.

We hung it up in "M's" room above her bookcase. I really like how it looks in her room and you can't really see the wrinkling now that it's up on the wall.

I have TONS of other ideas swirling in my head now that I have found a new love for this wonderful glue called Mod Podge. I will be sure to post my future projects!

Salad People

2009-07-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

Want a fun and easy way to get the kiddos to eat fruits and vegetables? Make salad people. We found a great book called Salad People by Mollie Katzen. It has lots of simple and tasty recipes that your kids can make and it's vegetarian. Here is one of our salad people:

We used an apple for the body, yogurt for the head, carrots for the ears and arms and hair, parsley for the hands, grapes for the legs, halved bing cherry for the mouth and cranberries for the eyes and nose. We got a little creative and made a border out of pumpkin seeds. Maleah ate every bit of it and it was a lot of fun making it. You can use any variation of fruit and vegetables you want. Just have fun with it!

Patty Pan Squash

2009-07-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my CSA, I learned about a new squash, Patty Pans. Let me tell you, they are delicious. I wasn't sure how to cook them so I jumped on youtube and found a recipe. I have made this recipe three times in the last week. It is so good. Here is the recipe:

You slice off each end of the patty pan (top and bottom, just slightly) and then cut the squash in half so that it forms two uniform disc shapes. Spray the bottom of a pan with olive oil spray (or use regular olive oil to coat) and then place the squash in pan face up. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Then you carve out a shallow well in the middle of the squash. I use a melon baller. Fill the well with crumbled goat cheese. On top of the cheese put either bruschetta, which is what I used, or you can use salsa or some type of sweet pepper relish. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top of that and then lightly drizzle everything with olive oil. Place in oven (I used my toaster oven) on 400 degrees and bake until tender but not mushy, around 15 minutes or so. That's it. Easy peasy.

Oh so tasty and good for you too. And remember, buy organic and local when you can!

Sunday morning breakfast

2009-07-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

I normally don't eat a big breakfast but we have been getting in the habit of going out for breakfast after church on Sunday mornings. Today we decided to sleep in and not go to church. When I woke up I was craving a big breakfast. So I made one. I have been loving getting my CSA every week. I have been getting some pretty exotic (well, exotic to me) vegetables that I haven't seen before. One of them was purple potatoes. I didn't know they even existed. So, I was eager to use them. The good thing about joining a CSA is that it makes you eat healthier because you are getting lots of vegetables that you don't want to go to waste. I decided to make a skillet. You know, the like the ones you get in a restaurant. I fried up my purple potatoes, and then put scrambles eggs on top of them. I then sprinkled fresh basil (from my garen) on top along with cut up homegrown tomatoes (from my CSA) and some feta. It was delish!

CONTAINER GARDENING

2009-06-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember last year I did a square foot garden, which is basically planting in a raised bed. It ended up not doing so well. I put my box on my front patio which is a cement ground and is enclosed by a brick wall. I think that fried my plants. So, this year I am trying container gardening. I am finding it to be super easy. I have decided to put my plants on my screened-in sun porch. It doesn't get full sun all day so I am very curious as to how my plants will do. We will see. So far so good. I am already getting flowers on my tomato plants. Woo hoo!

I also put one of my tomato plants and a box of basil out behind my house to see how they do there. I'm just kind of experimenting this year.

I didn't plant a whole lot this year because I signed up with a CSA. What is a CSA you ask? Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share ("membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. My friend who has been doing organic gardening for many, many years decided to do a CSA so I joined hers. I have been getting loads of yummy produce each week, so I didn't need to plant a lot myself. I just planted tomatoes and herbs (parsley, rosemary, dill, mint, basil and oregano). I love using fresh herbs in my cooking. There is nothing like it. Oh, and there are two plants that I have no idea what they are. I started them by seed and didn't label it, thinking I would remember what they were. But I don't. We'll just have to wait and see!

Finally made a decision...

2009-06-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

I have been going back and forth on whether to homeschool Maleah for kindergarten or not. There are so many positives to homeschooling, but it definitely comes with some challenges. We looked at a private school that we were very impressed with and thought very seriously about sending her there. I was going crazy trying to make a decision. One day I felt like I wanted to homeschool, and the next day I wanted her to have the education and experience of going to the private school. I FINALLY made a decision that I think is the right one. We are going to homeschool. I'm actually pretty excited about it. I was remembering when she was a baby and I couldn't wait to homeschool her and how much fun I thought it would be. I also started thinking about how much bonding time Maleah and I will get. I get to choose the curriculum that I want to use to teach her, according to her learning style. I get to choose who she is influenced by and who she spends her day with. We won't have to get up super early to get ready for school. We can actually sleep in if need be. I plan on doing lots of "field trips", not only for fun but for great learning opportunities. Another great benefit will be of homeschooling is that Maleah won't be limited to daily interaction and socializing with just kids her own age, but with many different people including adults and even younger children.

So, this is what we are doing for kindergarten. Who knows what next year will bring. Five is such a tender age. I want to nurture and protect her for as long as I can. I want to make sure a solid foundation is established before sending her out into the world. Our children stay little for such a short period of time and I want to hold on to these younger years for as long as I can.

JIGGLE JAM

2009-05-23T18:16:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. We went to Jiggle Jam at Crown Center with another couple and their two kids. It was well worth the money we spent on the tickets. Thumbs up to Crown Center for putting this event on. Maleah had a blast playing in the water fountains. We also enjoyed watching Funky Mama and Mr. Stinky Feet perform. They were very entertaining and fun to watch. It's events like these that make me glad I live in Kansas City. They really do have a lot of fun, kid things to do here. I'm looking forward to doing lots of cool things this summer.

Crazy Kristin and Donald. We love em'

Maleah doing her own face painting

Maleah painting

Maleah and Lainee painting. They are too cute!

Maleah and Lainee in the water fountains

Memorial Day Ceremony...

2009-05-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Maleah and I attended a Memorial Day Ceremony downtown at Police Headquarters today. It was in honor of not only the war veterans but for the fallen officers in Kansas City. Mike was in the ceremony. I felt so "patriotic" watching this ceremony take place. I also felt very proud of my husband all suited up and wearing such an honorable badge. Too many times we take for granted our police officers out there protecting us and putting their lives on the line for us daily. Today I was reminded of how important police officers are to our society. I'm so thankful for them!

My little Christmas princess

2008-12-18T19:33:00.001-08:00

Christmas time...

2008-12-18T16:54:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas time. It's by far my favorite time of year. I love the colder weather, the snow, the Christmas lights around town, the way my house looks and feels with the Christmas tree up, Christmas music, and making my house fill up with the aroma of baked goodies. I also enjoy decorating my house. Even though it's on a very small scale, I like putting little Christmas tidbits around the house, enough to make me smile and feel all warm and "Christmasy" when I look at them. I thought I'd share with you a few pictures of things around my house.

Things that bring me joy (besides my family)...

2008-12-03T21:18:00.000-08:00

reading a good book
listening to music
decorating my home
cooking
drinking wine
dancing
tree lined streets
houseplants in pretty pots
creating things with my hands
getting new all natural skincare
learning about healthy living and eating
new books and DVD's from the library
watching romantic comedies
eating Haagen Dazs chocolate ice cream
connecting with a friend
my bed
shopping at Target
a clean, organized home
good coffee
eating at a favorite restaurant
looking at decorating blogs and magazines
shopping at Whole Foods
Christmas time (baking, listening to Christmas music, decorating, snow)
hot bubble baths
Autumn
research/intellectual stimulation
browsing Barnes & Noble with a cup of coffee

Ahhhhhhhh...

Ridiculously simple, yet the best sugar cookies you'll ever eat, sugar cookie recipe...

2008-11-29T16:11:00.001-08:00

3 sticks of softened butter
2 cups of sugar
(cream together)

add 4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
(beat with creamed butter and sugar)

2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
5 cups flour (I did 3 cups organic, unbleached white and 2 cups whole wheat pastry)
(mix in separate bowl first, and then beat together with creamed mixture to make dough)

Put dough in fridge for about 15 minutes to harden it a little. Roll out the dough to desired thickness and make shapes with cookie cutters.

I make these every Christmas and my family goes nuts over them. I know they are LOADED with fattening, ingredients, but, hey--it's Christmas. You gotta splurge sometimes!

New York, New York

2008-11-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

I just got back not too long ago from a trip to New York. What an amazing experience. I have a cousin that I am very close to and grew up with that lives there. My friend from Las Vegas who is close to my cousin as well flew in to New York also. We all got to hang out like old times. I actually went by myself. No kids, no hubbies. It was great. I even flew by myself, which I was nervous about, but ended up loving it. I was only there for three days which was just enough. Any longer and I would have missed my kids too much.

I have to say, I absolutely love New York but I couldn't live there. I little too fast paced for me. Everybody is always movin' and a groovin'! Riding the subway was definitely an experience in itself. My cousin lives in Brooklyn so we spent quite a bit of time there. We also took the train into Manhattan and walked around (ALOT!) and did some shopping and eating. We went to China Town and Soho. I got to shop at the Whole Foods in Manhattan which was amazing. That place was huge with two levels and a huge restaurant area. I loved it!

One of my favorite places to eat was a place called Paloma's in Brooklyn. One of the contestants on "The Next Food Network Star" opened this place up. It had great food, amazing atmosphere and yummy drinks. This place was probably one of the highlights of the trip for me. My friend, Sheila, was freaking out because she didn't know that the owner was a contestant from "The Next Food Network Star" and she LOVES that show. She ended up talking to Camille Beccera and getting an autograph and picture with her.

I definitely want to visit New York again. I actually would like to bring my family with me next time and stay longer. It's one of those places that you at least have to visit once in your lifetime!

Free to wear Sunscreen!

2008-09-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this video with you. The words were written by a lady named Mary Schmich in 1997. She wrote it as an essay assignment. It was later published in the Chicago Tribune. This was also used in the movie The Big Kahuna. I hope it touches you like it has me!

First day of preschool!

2008-09-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Today was a monumental day in the Grigsby household. Maleah went to preschool. After 4 years of being at home with mom she is spreading her little wings and venturing out to make new friends and learn new things. She was soooo excited about going. She woke up bright and early and ready to go. I, on the other hand, was a wreck. Well, not really, but I felt really weird. I felt anxious and unsteady. We rarely get a babysitter for her let alone hand her over to complete strangers for five hours a day, twice a week. But, this preschool is awesome and I feel very comfortable leaving her there. They were very loving and nurturing towards her. I actually think it's going to be very good for her. And Lord knows I need the "me" time. I drove around today after I dropped her off and I didn't know what to do. It felt so foreign to not have her. Thursday will be different. I will get into a routine of cleaning the house, going to the gym, shopping, having coffee with girlfriends and whatever else may come my way. Lovely! I think I'm going to enjoy this season of my life.

First football game...

2008-09-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Jarod in his football uniform at his first game this year. Doesn't he look good?! Unfortunately, they lost their first game. But I assured him it was okay because they had many more games to play and win. Go Jarod!!!

Hot Peas N Butter!

2008-08-27T05:22:00.000-07:00

I bet you think I'm talking about food. Nope! Hot Peas N Butter is a children's musical group. They have been featured on Nickelodeon and Noggin. They are awesome! They were in town and we took Maleah to go see them. We had a great time. Their music is very appealing to adults as well. It's a little bit of jazz, funk, latino and some other really cool sounding music. We bought their cd and had each of the members sign their name on it. Malaeah even got to take a picture with them (sorry, it's a little blurry). She was pretty proud of that. Check them out at www.hotpeasnbutter.com

A new green smoothie concoction...

2008-08-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

Let me first start off by saying that I'm sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. We haven't done the "Around the World" meal in a couple of weeks because Jarod has been gone. He was staying with his football coach while they had two practices a day; one at 6am and one at 6pm. It's a long drive to his practice, so to alleviate some of the pressure for me to get him there he just stayed with his coach for these past two weeks and came home on the weekends.

Now, to the subject at hand, green smoothies. As most of you know, I LOVE green smoothies. I have one pretty much every morning. Some people use coffee to get them going in the morning. I use green smoothies. I wanted to share with you a concoction that I came up with the other day that I'm really diggin' right now. It's pretty calorie loaded, but I don't eat anything else until lunch time.

1-2 frozen bananas
1 avocado (yes, avocado...it tastes good)
2 mandarin oranges
handful of spinach
1 cup or so of water

Throw in your spinach and water and then blend together. Throw in your bananas, your peeled avocado and your peeled and seeded mandarin oranges and blend. It's really creamy and yummy. If you can't find mandarin oranges (they look like oranges only smaller and darker orange) then you could use oranges. I really like the mandarin oranges because they are super juicy and they are sweeter than oranges; but they are also hard to find.
If you come up with your own yummy concoction let me know! I love trying new things!

Thailand...

2008-07-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

Well, it was off to Thailand tonight. The dinner was actually pretty easy to make. After browsing the internet trying to find Thai recipes, I quickly found out that coconut milk and fish sauce were two main staples in Thai cooking. On the menu tonight was: 1) Corn soup. This was just onion, corn, coconut milk, fish sauce, rice vinegar and water. It was pretty good, but a little heavy on the onions. To my surprise, Mike really liked it. This was his favorite. 2) Chicken Satay with Satay sauce. This was very good. It was cut up chicken breast marinated in oil, onion, garlic, sugar, water and fish sauce. The Satay sauce consisted of coconut milk, peanut butter and a little fish sauce. It was delicious. I love peanut butter.3) Vegetarian Fried Rice. This was fried rice with peas, carrots, pineapple and onion mixed with a curry-based sauce. It was very yummy! Al in all, everything was tasty, except I wasn't a huge fan of the fish sauce. We were all very full and satisfied after eating our Thai dinner.
In trying to decide where we want to venture to next week, we spun the globe and Maleah's finger landed on Poland. Our preliminary search for Polish recipes revealed that they are big on sausage and other meat laden dishes. This should be interesting considering I don't eat pork!?

My Big Fat Greek Dinner...

2008-07-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

We started a new tradition in our household tonight. One night a week (right now it is Tuesdays) we choose a country we want to learn about and we cook a meal together that mirrors what that particular country would eat. Tonight was Greek. It was so much fun. Mike printed out a couple of sentences in Greek that we had to say out loud. In English, it said, "Today our foods emanate from Greece. We thank the Lord for our food." I don't know if we pronounced any of the words right, but it was fun trying. Mike even stopped by the library and picked up a Greek music cd that we listened to while we cooked and ate our meal. On the menu was: 1) Greek salad. This was mainly cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and feta in a olive oil and lemon juice base. 2) Tilapia fish. We put a piece of tilapia on a piece of tinfoil topped with tomotoes, oregano, garlic and olives. We folded it up and threw it on the grill. 3) Fassolakia ladera. I have no idea what this means, let alone how to pronounce it, but it was good. It was green beans, onions, potatoes, tomatoes and garlic. 4) Baklava. (not pictured) This is a very sweet Greek dessert. Everything tasted amazingly good, especially the dessert. I was very proud of Mike for trying (and liking) EVERYTHING. Things he thought he wouldn't like he ended up really enjoying. This was a fun experience and actually very educational. Next week we head to Thailand. As they say in Greece, "Opa!"

Blueberry Patch...

2008-07-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

Maleah and I got up early this morning (6:30am to be exact) and headed out to the Blueberry Patch. It's one of my favorite things to do in the summer. The patch sits on a couple of acres of land and it's absolutely beautiful. I love going early in the morning when the sun is just coming up and it's still fairly cool outside. Sometimes there is even a little dew on the ground. I love being surrounded by nature with all of its lush green foliage and the sound of birds singing their morning songs. It just makes me feel so serene, so peaceful. As if I'm closer to God; as if that's the way it's supposed to be. Maleah enjoys it too, but she usually ends up eating 95% of what she picks. I'm totally okay with that, though, because blueberries are extremely good for you and these are organic. No pesticides used whatsoever. I usually get around 3-4 lbs. We use the fresh blueberries on cereal, in muffins or just eat them plain, and we freeze a bunch for smoothies. It's one of my favorite fruits. Maybe one day I'll have blueberry plants of my own.

Garden Blues

2008-07-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

I am quite frustrated with my garden. I don't know what's going on with it, but it's not looking so good. The leaves on a lot of the plants are a yellowish color, not lush and green. My two tomato plants are not producing tomatoes (it had one tomato on there that has been on there for weeks and is not turning red) and the leaves are withering and turning a yellowish color. The cherry tomato plant's leaves look the same but it's producing tomatoes. I have two pepper plants. One has done absolutely nothing and looks like bugs have been chompin' on it. My other pepper plant has one pepper, but it's small, not growing and has been on there FOREVER. Basil is doing pretty good but growing very slowly. Beans look terrible. The leaves on it are very yellow. Cucumbers are growing somewhat. I have a couple of cucumbers but there are flowers on there that look brown and dead and the leaves are also a yellowish color. SO, this is what I did. I pulled up some of the plants, including the two tomato plants. I added some store bought, composted cow manure and also some old homemade compost I had that, actually, is not completely broken down. I added these two things to the whole garden. I planted a few more basil plants today and tomorrow I will plant more beans and tomatoes. We will see what happens. I am praying that the added nutrients will turn things around. I will keep you posted and add more pics in a week or two so you can see the progress. Say a prayer for me that this will work!

All Natural Skincare

2008-07-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I am passionate about using all natural and organic products and food. The other day I was trying to find local companies in Kansas City that sell organic skincare. I normally order mine online, but I wanted to find a local company that sells it. I think it's so important to support our local small businesses whenever you can; especially the ones that are making a difference in our health and our environment. I also like supporting the small local businesses that are trying to grow and make it instead of always giving my money to the big dogs. You know, the BIG NAME health food stores. I won't name any names. Anyway, while doing an internet search I found an awesome company called Caren. I looked at the products and all of the ingredients. I was extremely pleased. The products they carry are truly natural and organic. The owners are very picky about what they will sell. I have tried a few of their products and love them. I ended up calling the owners to talk to them about their company. It's two stay-at-home-moms, Carol and Ellen (thus, the name Caren), and they are wonderful. We met up for coffee the other day. They are truly passionate about what they do. I enjoyed talking to them so much and liked the products so much that I am actually going to start doing some work with them for the business. Their website is www.carenonline.com. They have a referral program where you can get $5 off just for referring a friend. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Lemon Vinegar Cleaner

2008-06-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

I have been using all natural cleaners for a few years now. They are inexpensive, work well and are better for the environment and for you. The one that I use most often is my vinegar and water cleaner. I mainly use it for the kitchen counter tops and windows. I put half vinegar and half water into a squirt bottle and then add essential oils of lemon and eucalyptus. Well, I just learned a new trick. You fill up a jar of straight vinegar and add fresh lemon slices and let it sit on the counter for a couple of days. You take half of this mixture and half water and pour it into a squirt bottle. That's it! It has a nice lemony smell and the lemon cuts the vinegar smell way down. It works awesome. Both vinegar and lemon are effective in killing bacteria and germs and are natural deodorizers. I bet you could even add orange slices instead of the lemon to get a nice citrus smell. I might have to try that next.

Table redo

2008-06-20T17:31:00.001-07:00

I have had this table for years. It's just your basic farm table with a light oak top and white legs. The chairs (which are not pictured) are the same. I was tired of it and was wanting a new look.
This is the picture that inspired me...

I redid the top of the table to make it look old and aged. I sanded the top like crazy. There was a ton of varnish on it. I then took a hammer and a screwdriver to it and beat it up a little. I took some Minwax stain and wiped it on and then wiped it off. I am very pleased with how it turned out. I just need to paint my chairs white. I will post more pics when the chairs are finished.

Dresses, dresses...too stinkin' cute!

2008-06-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant with Maleah, I remember thinking, "There is no way I am putting my little girl in pink." I hated pink. It was too "girly" for my taste; and since I rarely wore dresses, I figured I would not put my daughter in them either. And then she was born. I immediately started dressing her in pink because she looked so cute in it. I also started decorating her room in a few pink accessories. I never did do the dress thing, tough, until recently. I don't know why, but lately everywhere I go I am seeing these adorable dresses that I just can't resist buying her (she's now 4 yrs old). They aren't the frilly-type dresses. They are very simple, yet oh so cute. I just had to share a couple of pics. I have also noticed that a lot of women are wearing these simple-type dresses that look really comfortable and have beautiful colors in them. Who knows, I may just have to venture out and buy one as well. Though, I wouldn't expect any pictures of that.

Growing, growing, growing!

2008-06-09T14:41:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how much our garden has grown after planting it only two weeks ago. My husband put up the trellis for the tomatoes and cucumbers. Maleah and I actually got to eat a salad with things from the garden today. Yummmm! We harvested some leaf lettuce, basil and green onions. To the salad I added some walnuts and feta cheese and poppy seed dressing. It was delicious. I can't wait until we can eat some ripe, juicy tomatoes. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Square Foot Gardening

2008-05-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got my garden planted. This square foot gardening is the slickest thing. I can't imagine gardening any other way. Maleah is having a lot of fun helping with it too. My husband is even helping. Hallelujah! We planted tomatoes, peppers, marigolds, carrots, beans, basil, onions and cucumbers. I ran out of room in the square foot box, so I started some container planting of lettuce and spinach. I need to get more soil and containers to plant even more spinach and lettuce since I am using those two things almost daily for my green smoothies. I can save a ton of money by growing them myself.

Green Smoothies

2008-05-20T04:21:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you a perfect and easy way for you to get your fruits and veggies in on a daily basis. Green Smoothies. I started making these a couple of days ago and I'm hooked. I am already feeling the difference physically. More energy and less hunger. All you need is a good blender. Add 1-2 cups of water, depending on how thick you want it, and then add your greens. The darker in color the better. I like using kale and spinach. Romain lettuce is good too. Use a couple of good handfuls of the greens. Blend this up into liquid. Then add your fruit. I like any combination of cut up apples, kiwi, frozen blueberries, fresh bananas, and pineapple. If you really want to make it healthy add flax oil. It is one of those must haves foods/supplements. Flax oil (which I get at my local health food store) promotes cardiovascular health, colon health and healthy skin. It contains high quality protein, lots of fiber, and lots of vitamins and minerals. I highly recommend it.

If you want to see smoothies being made or just want to get inspired, go to youtube.com and type in green smoothies in the search engine. There are lots of good videos on there. I challenge you to drink just one smoothie a day (preferably in the morning) and see if you don't feel different! Here's to your health!

A wonderful Mother's Day!

2008-05-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

I had such a wonderful Mother's Day. My husband got up with our 4 year old daughter and let me sleep in until 7:30. Woo hoo! My daughter came in to wake me up because she was so excited. She said I had a surprise in the kitchen. Jarod (my 16 year old son), who is so sweet and so generous, had put this "display" together on the kitchen table. He went all out. I could hardly believe it. He got me (on his own with his own money) a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, a real white gold and diamond necklace, a huge bouquet of flowers and a bunch of my favorite organic skincare, which I know was not inexpensive. He got 7 bars of soap, lotion, room spray and a jar of salve. He even went that morning and got me a cup of coffee from one of my favorite coffee shops. I almost cried I was so overwhelmed. Oh, and my daughter (and daddy) made me a card, which is the one in the picture that is standing up.

After church we went and ate at Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza (an upscale shopping area in Kansas City) and then walked around. Oh, I also got to get a new pair of shoes the day before, so I told my husband that was my Mother's Day present from him. It's the practical things that count, you know. I had such a lovely day. My hubby and kids made me feel very special. It's days like this when you truly feel appreciated.

Another bulletin board...

2008-05-02T14:17:00.001-07:00

I got this picture about 4 years ago from an antique store in Texas and it has been sitting in my basement collecting dust ever since. I got it because I liked the frame. I finally figured out what to do with it.

I painted it an antique white color and distressed it (sanded it). I then glued a cork board over the picture and then screwed in four hooks at the bottom. I'm going to hang it on the wall right above my computer desk and put some of the papers on there that are taking over my desk.

Bulletin Board

2008-04-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

Here is my first bulletin board that I made. I think this will be one of many. It was fun to do. I took an old picture frame and painted it. I then wrapped batting and fabric around a cork board and stapled it with a staple gun. I used tacks to hold the ribbon in place and then used a glue gun to put a button on the top of the tacks. It was a lot of fun and I'm very happy with the results.

Zucchini-Avocado Salsa

2008-04-24T11:15:00.001-07:00

I just had the most amazing salsa ever! A couple of years ago I started making my own pico de gallo (chunky salsa) with homegrown tomatoes. We lived off of that stuff because it was so good. Well, I just tried this new salsa recipe that is just as good, if not better, and I had to share it. This tastes best when made with fresh, organic ingredients.

2 small zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1 cup of fresh or frozen corn
2 green onions, sliced
2 medium avocados, diced
2 Tbs. of fresh lime juice
1/4 cup of olive oil
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tbs. chopped up fresh cilantro
dash of hot sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Steam zucchini and corn together for just 2 or 3 minutes until colors are bright. Place in a bowl with remaining ingredients and stir together and chill for at least one hour. And that's it! You can also add 1-2 tomatoes chopped up, which I did. I think that gives it more flavor.

I had some left over grilled chicken breast that I chopped up and put on the side to make it a complete meal. I also ate the salsa with those Tostitos that have a hint of lime. YUM!!!

It's been way too long...

2008-01-21T14:23:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged. I have been soooo busy. Lots of changes. Let's see, there was Christmas, in which my parents came and stayed with us for a week; and then there was the big move. Yes, we finally moved to a bigger house that accommodates our family better. I have been busy trying to get everything put away and making the house look nice. There are so many things I would like to do and buy for the house, but financially, we just can't do it all right now. Little by little it will get there. I have included pictures. Everything is in it's place, but I haven't hung very many pictures. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do in each room; although, Maleah's room is done, except she is still sleeping in her toddler bed because we need to get mattresses for the bunkbeds. If you have any suggestions let me know. I always welcome new ideas! I will add more pics later.

A Quiet Thanksgiving.

2007-11-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

This year was a different Thanksgiving for our family. We were not able to travel because Mike had to work and my parents could not make it this year like they normally do. I decided to cook anyway since my kids and hubby were looking forward to it. We thought about going out to dinner, but it's just not the same. Besides, we wanted the left overs. So, it was just me and the kids. Jarod watched football most of the day while I was in the kitchen playing my favorite Christmas music with Maleah keeping me company. I was feeling sad because I was missing my family. It means so much to me to be around family this time of year. I kept feeling sorry for myself because I felt all alone, but then I reminded myself of how truly blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband and two beautiful children. It really is all about perspective.

My day started out making homemade bread. Once that was done (around 10am) the kids and I sat down to the table and had bread, pumpkin butter and coffee. Maleah, of course, did not partake in the coffee. The kids really enjoyed it, although, the minute I pulled out the camera to take a picture Jarod quickly got up from the table. He does not like getting his picture taken. At this point, everything was good. I was feeling quite content. I put my bird in around 11am and started putting together my side dishes. The turkey was only a 10 lb. bird, so it said to cook it 2.5-3 hours. No problem. I took the bird out after 2 hours and it barely looked like it was cooking. I was a little worried. I put it back in and ended up having to cook it 4-5 hours total, way too long. I cut into it and it was not good; very dry and almost stringy, yet bloody and not cooked when I cut the legs. I could not figure out why because I had made a turkey last year and it came out perfect. I thought maybe it was my new stainless steel roasting pan I used. It didn't have a lid like my one from last year, but I used tin foil, which is what lot of people do. I was so discouraged. I was tired from being in the kitchen all day making the whole dinner, and then my turkey did not turn out. I called Wild Oats, where I got it from, and they told me to come in and get a refund or a new bird. I was determined to figure out what happened and give it another shot, so I opted for another bird; not to mention that I really wanted to sink my teeth into a nice, juicy, tender turkey. So, I brought the new bird home the next day (Friday), but before I cooked it, I called the company that makes/raises these birds. I talked to a lady about my turkey mishap in great detail and she said she had no problems with her bird and basically did everything I did. I tried it again, only this time I put the tin foil over it for the last hour instead of the first. I told Mike I had a good feeling about this one and that it looked perfect. The thermometer we stuck in it even read the right temperature. I took it out of the oven and asked Mike to carve it. I stood there in great anticipation to see how my bird turned out this time. I just knew it was right this time. He cut into the leg and bloody juice came oozing out. I could not believe it! I could not figure out the problem. Mike told me to just let it go and chalk it up to a bad turkey year. I told him, "Honey, you know me better than that. I CAN'T! I have to figure this thing out. I gotta know how to cook this thing right for next year. I GOTTA KNOW!" I asked Mike to run over to Target and get an oven thermometer to see if it was our oven. I put the thermometer in the oven and it read the right temp, 325 degrees. I was convinced it was the bird, the bird I paid $2 a pound for because it was all natural. So, Saturday morning, I made another trip to Wild Oats. But, this time, I asked for my money back. I took that money and went and bought me a cheap bird from Hy-Vee. I got it home, prepared it the same way as the other two birds. But, this time, I decided to put the oven thermometer in with the bird while it cooked so I could watch the temperature. Interestingly enough, it was 25 degrees lower than what I set it at. Hmmm...so having the bird in their with a big tinfoil tent over it must some how "soak up" the heat, so to speak. I turned the oven up to 350 degrees and the thermometer read 325. Okay, we are getting somewhere now. I took the foil off about an hour before it was done. Three hours later I took it out of the oven and, once again, asked Mike to carve it. I said a prayer, "Oh, dear God, let this one turn out. I'm tired of cooking turkeys." Low and behold, it was PERFECT! It was tender, juicey and DONE! Thank you, Jesus! Now my question is, "Was it because I turned up the oven or because it was the cheap bird from Hy-Vee?" I guess I'll never know. I'm just glad it turned out.

Healthy Toddler Snacks.

2007-10-31T19:13:00.001-07:00

I have a lot of people ask me what are some healthy snacks they can give to their kids. I think it so important that we give our children foods that are nourishing to their bodies without all of the garbage, such as sugar, pesticides and artificial ingredients. It's a proven fact that taking your child off (or at least limiting their intake) of sugar will drastically improve their behavior. I have made a list of some healthy snacks to give to your toddler. Keep in mind that the fruits and vegetables should be organic whenever possible. I know that organic is more expensive, but like I always say, it's either invest now in healthy eating or pay later for the doctor bills. I have learned which fruits and vegetables are higher in pesticides. The ones lower in pesticides I usually don't buy organic. And when there is a sale on organic produce I stock up. Check out www.foodnew.org for more info on buying organic produce.

Here are some ideas:

Smoothies - In a blender, mix 1-2 cups of liquid, such as milk or juice, then add frozen fruit. You can also add yogurt.

Homemade popsicles - Use your mixture from the smoothies and pour into popsicle molds. Mixing apple juice and yogurt make really yummy popsicles.

Mozzarella sticks - Organic is best.

Apple slices dipped in peanut butter (without added sugar).

Celery with peanut butter spread on it and raisins on top.

Yogurt. Watch the sugar grams in yogurt. It is usually high. BUT, do not give sugar-free because of the added artificial sugars.

Pretzels

Cheese and crackers. Make sure the crackers do not have hydrogenated oils.

Frozen grapes make a wonderful snack/treat.

For more information and ideas on feeding babies and toddlers healthy, homemade food, I highly recommend the book, "Mommy Made and Daddy Too" by David and Martha Kimmel. I couldn't have lived without this book when my daughter started eating solids. It has great tasting and easy recipes that are good for your child.

I hope this helps in giving you ideas for healthy snacks. The more you stay away from the prepackaged, processed stuff the better! Remember, you are setting the stage for how your kids will eat when they are older. If you start at a very early age giving them lots of fruits and veggies and healthy, whole foods, you won't have a battle on your hands trying to get them to eat like this later on.

Jarod's photography work!

2007-10-28T19:29:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share with you a few pictures from my 16 year old son's photography work. He just recently had his work featured in a local coffee shop, in which he sold some of his pictures. I am very proud of him and will work diligently to nurture and support this God-given talent. I can't wait to plaster his work all over our new house!

I did it! I did it!

2007-10-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

I took my mother-in-law's advice and I did not give up. I tried making butter again! I had lots of cream left over from my two gallons of fresh farm milk and I did not want it to go to waste. I found a recipe online that showed how you can make butter using a food processor, and since I just got a new food processor, I thought I would give it a shot. I figured this way had to be much easier than the way I did it before, which was shaking it in a jar for a very long time. By the way, my food processor is a Cuisinart 11-cup processor that cost $199 brand new. I found it on craigslist (in excellent condition) for $50. It was a total blessing because I have been wanting this machine for a long time. Anyway, I put about 2 cups of cream in the processor, turned it on, and in about 15 minutes I had butter. I was so excited! I ran and got Mike (my hubby) and told him to come look at the butter! I was so happy and so proud! He was quite impressed. He even suggested that I mix honey in it. I think I will make homemade bread and honey butter tomorrow. Yummy!

My first attempt at making butter.......not so good!

2007-10-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

I recently started getting farm fresh, raw milk from a local farmer. I am not really a milk drinker, but this stuff is awesome. I have never had milk that tasted so good. I was so excited about making homemade butter from the luscious cream that I scraped off the top of the milk. After much research on how to do this, I placed the cream in a jar and shook it.....and shook it......and shook it. After 20 minutes of shaking, it was still cream. So I decided to put it in a blender. I also read that you can do this. After 15 minutes of "whirling" in the blender, nothing. Discouraged, I set it on my counter and figured I would just throw it out. After 10 minutes of sitting there, I opened it and got very excited. I saw butter forming. So I shook for another 15 minutes, but nothing more happened. So I just scraped about a tablespoon of "butter" off the top of the cream and threw the remaining cream out. I warned everyone in my family not to touch this tablespoon of butter because it was mine! I worked hard for this butter.

I have decided to stick to purchasing my organic butter from my local health food store. Oh well. I tried.