Decluttering today...

Decluttering today... my sister dropped off baby stuff for the Women's Help center... I have a stack of old Catholic Digest magazines for the RCIA class, and a stack of old catholic catalogs, (mostly Autom) that will go to the CCD kids to cut up and use.  Hopefully I can find someone to take my stack of Woman's Day & Prevention magazines too.  I took a load over to the Rescue Mission yesterday... and have a basket going for them today too.  I know a lot of people just toss it all out... but my conscience won't let me. There is always someone who can use things.  If I can't use it, I'd rather someone have it who wants it and will use it. 

We got the laundry room cleaned out, and our homeschool bookshelf.  Now I am working on the living room, dining room, and the front room...  

The girls & I *will* get it all done! :)

Greener Than Thou?

A facebook friend of mine mentioned today that she buys almost everything at Wally World.  "Really?" I asked, feeling that instantaneous queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I so much as hear the name of that over-rated box store.  Not that I blame my friend.  They have the corner on everything that anyone could want, and for cheaper.  I cannot deny that you save money there.  Well, usually.

I have noticed that they have organic items there.  That pleases me.  If I am in a pinch, I can pick up something there if need be.  Gone are the days, (almost) of mom & pop stores.  So I do shop at the ones that I know of... I'd rather give my money to the little guy than the controlling giant.

I took stock of what I buy, and where.  I am the first to admit I cannot afford grass fed beef, so I have to suck it up and go where I get the best bang for my buck and that, my dears, is Sams... Walmart's Daddy.  Or... something.  Trust me, it gives me no pleasure to admit that.  But lets face facts.  When you are a one-income family raising kids, you have to do what you can and where to stretch your dollars.

Since I am a thrifty mom, and I do save on our meat, I don't mind one iota buying our Organic Valley milk from the Native Sun, as well as any other organic produce not provided to us by the weekly organic co-op that I have the pleasure of helping with.  But... I have a vice.  And it's name is Publix. "Where Shopping Is Always A Pleasure."  And indeed it is.

Publix is clean.  I mean, CLEAN.  The employees are so polite and helpful.  No long lines.  Lots of organics to choose from... but who am I kidding?  The pull from that store lies in their exceeding cleanliness, politeness, and their amazing Buy One Get One Free sales.  Something inside of me forgets that we eat (mostly) organic, and I find myself buying the grease-laden, genetically modified poison (that tastes oh-so good!) labeled, (innocently enough), "microwave popcorn".  Gah!!  It jumps into my buggy and next thing I know I am the (not so) proud owner of four boxes of that garbage. I got such a great deal for a product I am too grossed out to eat.  I 'used' to love the stuff... then when I found out... well... old habits die hard. Publix sales is my 'crack'.  I admit it.

I have friends who think I am really "out there" with the organic stuff and the "hippie" mentality (yet still conservative)... but no... trust me.  I have other friends who have fully 'absorbed' (not sure if that's the way to put it, but that's all I can think of at the moment)..  they are THIN and HEALTHY and eat ONLY organic and some even vegan.  Or at least vegetarian.  I admire them. I do.  I don't want to be 'all the way' vegetarian... but I would like to be to the point that I say that I am having grass-fed beef "with" dinner and not "for" dinner.  I want to be one of the skinny, healthy glowing friends who know exactly what they are putting into their mouths and don't regret a bite or wonder what the heck they just ate.  

No, I am not wearing the organic cotton.  I'm eating from a pound of beef that came from 60 different cows. Eating chocolate and tea that is not organic and not fair trade.  (I sometimes do though, if that counts).  I drink my weight in sugary drinks, and white, processed flour.  :(  No... I am not proud.

When I first started my organic journey, a wise forum-friend told me that "even one small change" makes a difference.  I tell others that.  It's true, and I believe it.  But for some reason I do not apply it to myself.  I buy the "hippie" milk, I get the organic co-op produce, the farm eggs from a farmer.. heck I even buy organic dog food... but still buying "conventional" cheese, meat, etc. Rome wasn't built in a day I guess.  

Being organic is like going on a diet.  You cheat.  You have good days and bad days.  You have days that make other people go, "WOW", and other days when you look like the biggest failure ever.  At least that's how I sometimes feel when I am eating Oreos with my hippie milk.  

Every day is another day in our own journey.  Life, Faith, and our striving to do the best we can with what God has blessed us with... being good stewards of His bounty.. His gifts to us all.. our own bodies, the earth... natural resources.  If you can do one small thing each day to make things better for yourself, for our world, for mankind...   what can it be?  Recycle your newspaper?  Love your neighbor?  Buy from a mom & pop store instead of a "box store"?

We all have choices to make... even the 'easiest' ones sometimes make you think. 

Time Marches On....

Time marches on.  


I was thinking today of Amy's (my eldest child) first Christmas.  I got her blocks, snap beads, and other 4 month old appropriate toys.  Now Amy is 18, working, taking classes at the local community college, and her life revolves around her boyfriend and her Android phone.

Robyn is 11 now.  Too old for the little kid games and toys.. she in is that wonderful nerdy phase that I adore.  The world is her laboratory.. to be studied, experimented, and pondered.  My Robyn, like her sister and her mom, loves stars, shells, and rocks.  Santa knows this of course, and will accommodate her tastes quite well this year. :)   

Mark, my husband, has all the Christmas lights up.  Finally.  We have Santa and his reindeer taking off on our roof, the front reindeer are airborne as the team prepares to go to the next house.  The entire front garden is filled from one boundary line to the other with blow ups, the Nativity scene, soldiers, gingerbread men, and assorted blown plastic, light-up figurines.  It is truly Mark's pride, our front yard.  He delights in all the drive-bys we get, all the admiring faces... we get a lot of traffic... I admit it pleases me to know that people make the effort to make sure they drive by our home each year, as our display continues to grow and change each year.  I always laugh and say our display is "Mark's stuff".  Like, if we were to divorce, (no way! but just sayin'), all the Christmas stuff would be 'his'. :)  He would get his work clothes, his golf clubs, and his Christmas stuff.  LOL  That's it. ;)  LOL  If it were up to me, we'd have one single strand of multi-colored lights up in a window, and a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. LOL  Mark has spoiled me over these year with Christmas lights. :)  Our daughters love it, and are always excited to show their friends. :)  These two Daddy's girls just love it. :)

Christmas is next week... gosh already?!  So we've gotten all the kids in the family and none of the adults.  Aaack.  Will take care of them this coming up week.  I made out a box of Christmas cards, and used a book of stamps... and ran out.  So tomorrow I'll be stopping for another box of stamps and another box of cards and HOPEFULLY I can find some cards I actually like.  Finding 'Catholic' Christmas cards in a Protestant part of the country is not easy.  Trust me.  If I find some with the Holy Family I will count myself fortunate.

So it's almost 9PM.  My silly gooses are watching Hetalia.  Again. :)  I am stewing chicken for tomorrows soup.  Robyn starts CCD tomorrow.  I can't believe her Confirmation is in just 2 years.  Where does the time go?   It kills me to know I have one 'baby bird' (Amy) standing on the edge of the 'nest' with her little wings just a-flappin'.  She is ready to fly.  She has a job and drives and votes and is GROWN.  I am happy but sad at the same time.  My little precious angel grew up.  My bald baby with big brown eyes and dimples is going to leave eventually.  I am going to be broken hearted when that happens.  She has a boyfriend we actually LIKE, and so I would not be unhappy if that 'progressed'.  But I hope like anything that they take their time and go nice and slow.  I am happy to know that Amy has insisted that she will marry (whether it's this boy or some other boy) in the Church. :)  She wants to homeschool, and raise her children as Catholics.   I am relieved and pleased and happy and proud of that fact.  She makes me proud.

Robyn is such a funny girl.  She has a crush on a boy now, her second crush actually.  I hate to tell her that she is only 11, and will have crushes on many boys. :)   I know, in my heart of hearts, that Robyn is going to continue to grow, and change, and in a few years will be more 'actively' liking boys... and honestly.. she's already half grown.  

Time marches on. I have one grown and one half grown.  I can feel sorry for myself that I didn't have more children, (I do this, I'm afraid), or I can look forward to my future grandchildren.  (I do!) :)  

I look in the mirror and my hair isn't dark brown anymore... it's whatever I've currently colored it, or it's more salt than pepper.  How can we look one way on the outside, (old) when we still feel so young on the inside?  Someone, please stop the roller coaster.  I want the ride to go slower.  

Cookies & Recipes

I've been doing a lot of baking... as I mentioned a few days ago.   Here is the platter of my oatmeal varieties.  I took one basic recipe, and made it a few different ways... adding different things to make each batch different.  The darker ones are where I added cocoa powder.  I also added pecans, cinnamon, dried cranberries, peanut butter, and chocolate chips to different batches.  You can click on the pictures for a better view. :)

These below are the oatmeal with cranberries.  They are the "Craisins" and are blueberry flavored.  Yum!

And the dough was pretty delish too. :)  We could barely stay out of it. LOL  

SOUTHERN OATMEAL COOKIES

1 c. Wesson oil
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white granulated sugar
2 well beaten eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
3 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Thoroughly cream shortening (Wesson oil) and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Sift dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture. Add oats and nuts; mix well. Chill and slice from rolls or drop by teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes 4-5 dozen.  Add different yummies as desired to change it up. ;)

Lastly, but certainly not least, are the coveted peanut butter cookies. 

Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups peanut butter 2 cups white sugar 2 eggs

2 teaspoons baking soda 1 pinch salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2.	In a medium bowl, stir peanut butter and sugar together until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the baking soda, salt, and vanilla. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Press a criss-cross into the top using the back of a fork.
3.	Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Baking Batches of Love..

This week I've done some Christmas baking... and am STILL baking.  I made (so far) a grand total of 205 cookies.  Pass the milk! ;)

I've made 89 Peanut Butter cookies. (Don't ask me how I always come up with odd numbers of cookies!  It just works out that way!)  And these are not just 'any' peanut butter cookies... half of these have chopped honey roasted peanuts in them.  116 oatmeal cookies.  6 with pecans.  6 just plain oatmeal, 43 were oatmeal double chocolate.. 34 big oatmeal & cinnamon cookies.. (Mmmm)... aaaand 27 nice big oatmeal cookies with chopped honey roasted peanuts and blueberry flavored cranberries. My hubby loves cranberries, so he will especially enjoy those. :)

I like to send cookies in with my husband to his workplace, and I have a few others I like to fix a plate of cookies for.  And of course, my family eats a lot of them too!  Cookies are such a fun thing to bake.  Easy to mix the dough, and spoon onto the waiting baking sheet... and these amazing cookies come out, golden and warm.  

Baking is one of my most favorite things to do. I love putting on my frilly pink apron, and the kids and pets are all immediately interested, and my girls wanting to help make the dough... wanting their turn to stir... I love the way our home smells when I'm baking... the kids trying to eat the raw dough, and the dogs begging and pleading, (especially for the peanut butter ones!).  Hubby calling me from work, wanting to know what kind I'm making, and asking for his favorites.  

Baking is pure joy.  It's homeyness.  And, as Robyn tells me, "Mom, that's because you put in a secret ingredient. Love."

Field Trip to the Hippie Store :)

So this morning we got up a little earlier and headed out to the Native Sun for a homeschool fieldtrip/tour.  We met the owner, Aaron, who is a super nice guy and very friendly, outgoing, and very, VERY informative.  


Anyone who knows me, knows that I've had my 'weird' little health/veg 'tendencies' for lo these many moons.  Okay, years.  But eating the garbage out there, blinding listening to the governments oh-so-humble opinions on what 'they' 'think' is 'best'.. and reading and talking to knowledeged folks..  okay I admit I am a slow learner.  I make mistakes... big ones sometimes.  But we all have to keep learning and try and keep moving forward as we learn more all the time what is better, healthier, more effective, yadda yadda.  


I have quite the stack of healthy-type books.  Prescription for Nutritional Healing, and a few others I can't think of.  I have vegetarian books and macrobiotic books.  I love them... they are interesting and oddly comforting.. it's nice to know that simple foods, Gods own bounty from the earth... then lovingly and simply prepared, are the best way to heal our bodies without some funky 'cooked up in some lab' pills/shakes/whatever.  Yes, I DO find that very, very comforting.  God knows better than we do, and He gave us everything we needed..  Leave it to us dorky humans to find ways to louse it up and make it very unhealthy.  Prime example.  God gave us potatoes.. and we turned it into mass produced, genetically modified french fries.  Gag!!


Even a salad... we dump meat, cheese, and dressing all over it to eat it.   I want to break this habit.  But this habit is the 'norm', and is what 'I' am used to and what my family is used to.. and lets face it... change is not easy.  Even today after we got home, I headed for ramen noodles.  *sighs*  I am such a hypocrite. :(

I have noticed a few of my healthier friends are big smoothie drinkers.. using spinach and frozen organic fruits... so... I've been thinking of getting a Jack Lalaine juicer for a long time now.  But.. my fear is this... most of my weight issues is because I have a nasty habit of 'drinking' my calories.  If I would switch to water and non-sweetened herbal teas, I would lose a ton of weight, and I know it.  I am not proud of that.  It's an addiction, truly.   As much as I would love a juicer, I don't want another reason/excuse to drink more calories.  And I'm not going to cough up $100 on a juicer to help me gain more weight.  Ha, NO.  You can forget that silliness. :)  Unless it's actually going to HELP, then I am not saving a single dime for it.  But, the jury is still out on that one.  I've already wasted (Lord I do NOT want to know HOW MUCH) I've wasted on gadgets over the years... and I don't want to add another to the list.  Especially an expensive one.

In the past month (or two) my family has had to get used to getting a bag of organic produce every week which has on occasion given us a 'strange' food we've never had before, (example: kale.  Mmm.  A new favorite of mine now! )  ...and I've been incorporating more veg into our meals.  I cooked the last box of hamburger helper, (without meat) to get rid of it since we don't buy that junk anymore.  It tasted REALLY gross. (we've almost finished weeding out all the box meals now, thank goodness)  We have already gotten the taste for the fresher, more wholesome foods but unfortunately not lost the taste for the junk and not to mention the ease and convenience and even the comfort of what we grew up eating.  I have no choice but to go slowly.... mostly because of hubby.  He is such a meat and potatoes guy.  And we are dyed in the wool Southerners... and in the South, food=love.  How sad is that?!?!

Well, Rome wasn't built in a day.  I know we will 'get' there. :)

Changes and Cheat Sheets

Today is Gaudete Sunday, and we are still trying to get used to the New Translation in the mass.  Initially when I heard about the changes about a year ago, I was a tad nervous, but psyched.  Australia  is such lucky-ducks!  I have read that they've been getting used to it since this past Pentecost!!  Our parish did try and warm us up a little a few weeks before Advent started.  I was feeling quite confident responding with, "and with your spirit".  But then Advent started, and I found myself reading with my eyes one thing, but hearing the 'old' responses coming out of my mouth out of sheer habit.  

"Consubstantial" is an intimidating word that has never before come out of this Southern mouth before in my life.   Even my spell check didn't have it listed.  I had to 'add' it!

Con = with     Substance = being // essence.    I like that. 


Oooooh and new Missalettes too.  Me likey. :)    

I love the fact that these changes will deepen our understanding of the Sacred Liturgy.  It's exciting. :)  Yes, we are still tripping over our tongues and grabbing for our laminated 'cheat sheets' in every pew, (old responses are VERY ingrained!) but nevertheless, it IS 'exciting!  I want to print out the 'new' Creed, and tape it up in our house in a few places, so we can read it as we see it and hopefully learn it faster. :)  Actually, I'll probably laminate it.  We're slobs.  LOL

I've heard that this "new" translation isn't really a 'new', but in fact, closer to what the translation originally was.  That's pretty cool stuff! :)   I know a lot of people are displeased with the changes... I cannot fathom why.  Why would you NOT want something that will be deeper... holier... closer to what it ought to be?   My goodness, the mass itself has not changed.  

Apparently, masses used to all be said in Latin, until Rome gave permission for the mass to be said in other languages.  I have no problem with the Latin mass...except... I don''t speak Latin.   I have actually considered getting the Rosetta Stone for Latin, but not sure I should.  That's an awful lot of money... on something I might be too thick-headed to learn anyway.  

I love the thought of the Latin mass, and enjoy it when I do attend, even if I am completely lost.   I love the solemness of beauty of the Latin.   I just wish I could follow along better.  Maybe our diocese can have a class... "Latin Mass for Dummies" or something like that.  I'd be there!!  

I love our traditional parish.  We now attend an earlier mass with only alter boys... no girls on the alter.  Funny.  Both my girls have alter served in the past, but neither ever felt comfortable with it.  It didn't feel right with them.   Now we've changed to this earlier mass, with just the boys on the alter, and maybe this sounds crazy but it just FEELS right.  More veiled heads.  We love it.  My girls both want to join the choir.  Robyn starts CCD next week since she has Confirmation in two years. 

Just had a thought.  *snicker*  When the two times a year attendance Catholics come on Christmas, I wonder how they're going to like the changes.  LOL  And.... if they don't make it, and don't come til Easter Sunday, they'll really be up the creek when there will be MUCH less of the "cheat sheets" floating around the church.

Old habits die hard, my friends.  And there are always going to be naysayers.  But I have to remind myself that those naysayers are the ones who have to face themselves in the mirror.  Instead, they ought to tape some of the new changes to their mirror, and each time they peer into that mirror, smile at themselves as they learn the changes... and realize how rich and beautiful it really is. :)   "Lord, I am not worthy..."

+JMJ+

Christmas Candy Favorites

What is it about Christmas that we just "have" to have what we grew up loving?  Things that take us back to our childhood.   The strawberry candies out of the Hickory Farms box.  The old fashioned hard candy, (I bought 2 cans), the bowls of mixed nuts sitting on a coffee table, (our dog will steal them), and of course, candy canes. Ahh... feeding the sugar habit!!  LOL!!


Mom always made the Fantasy Fudge recipe off the back of the jar of Kraft Marshmallow Creme. (You can find the REAL, Original recipe HERE.  She also made sugar cookies cut out into shapes.  Gingerbread men.  She bought us eggnog, and served it with nutmeg sprinkled on top..   And we had boxes of ribbon candy.  Yum!


Mark and I were out today, looking at candy canes. WHY do they have these weird flavors?  Can't we just get the old fashioned candy canes?  I know they had more flavors than just peppermint.  We have, in the past, seen buttered rum candy canes, and pina colada candy canes.  But darned if we can find them now.  I do NOT want "bubble gum" or "watermelon" flavored candy canes.  That's just.... wrong sounding.  Ewww.   I see that Cinnabon has candy canes out.  Mmmm.  I will be on the lookout for those. :)


So today I end up going to literally six different stores for candy canes.  I did not want "Spree" or "NowRLater" candy canes.  Or "Sour Heads" or any other (in my humble opinion), abomination of candy cane flavors.   My shopping goal?  To find "decent" candy canes, and a couple boxes of Ribbon Candy.  


At Dollar General, we found the Ribbon Candy.   If you've never had it, you are missing out. :)


We did manage to find candy canes.  Traditional, and then a few neat flavors that did NOT include watermelon or bubblegum or (gag) sour heads.  Bleh.


The Disney ones have cherry, strawberry, orange and grape.  So those sounded safe enough. :)   Bob's Original peppermint candy canes are a MUST.    Also got Bob's Cherry Rainbow.  C'mon.  Cherry Rainbow?!?!  How can THAT be bad?  Mark got me the blueberry candy canes.  I love those darn things. :)  And lastly, I got the Shrek candy canes.  Okay, I know.  It's Shrek.   But here's the thing... they used Dum Dum lollipop flavors.  Enchanted Cherry, Royal Grape, and "Sour Slime".  I am fairly sure I won't like the Sour Slime.  LOL  I've checked out the canes in that box, and they appear to be each of those flavors sort of swirled into each cane... I figure we'd give them a shot.  Enchanted Cherry has a lovely sound to it. LOL   It's a good thing they don't make Hobbit Candy Canes... I would be "all over that".  :)  (I am a HUGE hobbit fan)  :)  Now shhhh don't tell anyone... I'll deny it. ;)  LOL

The Wisdom of Childhood & Pooh Bear

I met Melissa when we were both 2 years old.  I was a month from turning three, and she was three months from turning three.  She lived across the street, and we lined our toes up with the edge of the curb, and talked back and forth.  Melissa was soon my first and best friend... and remained so for the duration of my childhood.  We are still friends to this day. :)

In 1970 the world was different.  In my mind, girls had long hair and wore dresses and "girl shoes" (Mary Janes).  Melissa had a pixie haircut. Being as that I was only two, and she didn't have pigtails like I did,   I didn't know if she was a little boy or a little girl.  So I asked her which she was.  She wasn't offended.  It was all very matter of fact. "I'm a girl", she said in her singy-songy voice as we climbed on my mothers porch chairs.  And we continued to play happily.

We talked, and shared.  Both of us deeply believed in our hearts that all the cats were girls, and all the dogs were boys.  We knew that friends always shared, even if it was just a single banana.  And we sectioned bananas apart with sticky fingers, taking turns getting bites.  Toads would turn to princes if we kissed them, (but who wants to kiss a toad?!)  And if we could just swing high enough, we could touch the clouds.

No matter how silly our notion, if one friend said it, the other believed it as if it were etched in stone.  Never once did I doubt my dear friend, nor she doubt me.  

When Daddy mowed the grass, we made 'houses' from the clippings, outlining the 'walls' of our dream houses.  Never did it dawn on us to not include the other.  We were best friends.

We watched movies, including Winnie the Pooh.  Looking back we learned wisdom from Pooh, even if we didn't realize it then.  The innocence of childhood, and the true-ness of friendship.  Pooh loved his boy, Christopher Robin more than anyone in the world.  If Christopher Robin lived 100 years, then Pooh wanted to live 100 hundred years minus one day, so that he  would never have to live one day without him. Melissa and I believed we would be best friends forever.

When we went to church, (protestant then, as we were both raised), we learned that we were to love our neighbor.  To treat others as we ourselves wanted to be treated.  Wasn't that what friends were supposed to do?  Play nice.  Share.  Take turns.  And if we can't say something nice, to just not say anything at all.  Gossiping makes you a gossip.  Lying makes you a liar and no one trusts you... and besides, why would you lie to your friend?  Best friends don't lie to each other.

Have things really changed over the last forty years?  I'd say yes.. the moral decline of the world... but those old truths are still... true.  What our mothers told us, and what we learned in Sunday School, and what we knew true in our hearts... it's all the same.  It all still applies even though we're not kids anymore.  But I think it matters more now... now that 'we' are the grown-ups.  Fairness, honesty, integrity, and being a good friend.  Do we still follow what we were raised with?  I like to think that I do... but I know there are times when I don't.  I know that if I was able to meet the 8 year old version of myself, would I want to be my own friend?  Or would I think I was a big jerk?  How much different am I than I was then?  Not in the child/adult way... that's a gimme.  But in the knowing of what is RIGHT and what is WRONG... and how we react to things.

All the Pooh Bear quotes that breezed over our heads as kids are rather profound now...  People we love come and go from our lives.  We all experience life, love, loss,  heartache... and loss of friendships be it by death or friends that have just moved out of our lives...But that "if there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever."   How true.  And I do.   I've also learned that "You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes."... even when it's difficult.   Pooh Bear taught us that "A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.", and then honestly and truly, we are ALL bears of "very little brain".  Pooh taught us that "Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask Someone (God), what you are looking for before you begin looking for it."

Pretty smart for a 'silly ol' Bear'.  

And in the story, Pooh Bear and Christopher Robin will always be best friends, playing.  And in my memories, there will always be two little girls, holding hands and swinging as high as they can.. one with a pixie hair-do and one with long pigtails.  And singing the song of friendship and summertime and innocence.

The Neighborhood Garden

Tree huggin' Momma chiming in again. :)  Okay, not really.  I mean, I *am* chiming in, but it's probably been about three years since I've literally hugged a tree. ;)

After watching the movie "Food, Inc." a few months ago, (checked out at my local library but you can watch the trailer here: http://www.foodincmovie.com/  )  I will tell you ALL that we have not been the same since.  

We have started buying organic.  Okay, not meats... can't afford them.  But we are looking into buying maybe 1/2 a grass fed cow or pig in the future.   There is an older couple down the road that sells fresh organic brown eggs and I've been buying them.  And, best of all, I've joined us up with a local organic co-op... The Neighborhood Garden... and so each week our family is now getting a nice green bag of lovely produce for a 25% savings.  And it's different each week.   We love it!!  http://www.jaxorganic.com

So why are we eating organic?  Because NOW I know that the conventional produce is literally poisonous.   I have unknowingly poisoned my own children all this time.  What a horrible shock to find out that when I was feeling like such a good mom getting them in-season apples, I was no different than the wicked stepmother in Snow White.  The quintessential poisoned apple.  Think I'm exaggerating?  I wish I were.  Apples tops the list of the most pesticide ridden produce out there.  Other culprits?  Strawberries and celery.  There's a whole list, but those are the top ones.  

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/

I get teased some.... but that's okay.  Lots of people I know, family included, have taken steps and are doing little things, like buying the hormone free milk.   Woo Hoo!  What a great start!  I am really proud, and hope that they continue to make changes... for the sake of their own health and for their families.

Yes, I am fat.  Overweight.  Unhealthy.  But I am making changes.  Trying to get myself healthier.  My family healthier.   I know it's all the rage for the "magic pill" or the "magic drink" or whatever.  Something that someone cooked up in a lab... pffft.  What about what God Himself gave us to nourish our bodies?    I don't think anybody here is going to get a leg up on God.