Phew, we've had a busy, but fun, weekend. Yesterday was our usual sat. morning, but the Mom and Pop Place was crazy busy! Killian likes it with so many kids there, I get a little worried about him sharing and so forth. After lunch at the cafe, we went to my mom's house where Killian took a nap, while I went off to a friend's baby shower. :) It was really nice to see all my old friends from work. After I picked up Killian, it was grocery shopping and home for a relaxing evening. Today, someone got up at 5 am, but we spent the morning cleaning the house. Killian is officially no longer afraid of the vacuum :) In stead, he chases it all over the place. We then went swimming with my friend Megan, and her daughter Maddie for 1.5 hours, and it was time for nap. He was so exhausted and really acting out to prove it to me. After he wakes up from nap, and I regain some energy, we're off to Monkey Joes with Brandi and Keira. I'm hoping that he likes it this time. When we went in the summer, he was just learning the ropes of walking. But now that he climbs, and (trys to) jump and so forth, I'm hoping he'll have fun. I'm also hoping I remember to bring my camera to take some photos :)
Next week is a pretty quiet week as I have off of school. Monday I'm taking off to spend with Killian, and in the afternoon, I'm being trained as a Bookworm volunteer. That's pretty exciting :) Tuesday is off the work and getting my hair cut. Wednesday I have to go to court for a class about the procedures of child support. I'm having alot of stress about this, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to talk about it yet. On thursday, I'm spending the day in Freedom volunteering in a cross-categorical special education room, to finish up my 20 hours that I need for school. Friday, I'm taking off again to spend with bean. Then it's another weekend! Busy, busy, busy. Seems like life just goes past in a blur.
Showing posts with label Daily Tasks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daily Tasks. Show all posts
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Whole Food Eating
So I want to take some time to talk about something a little different, though still very much something that is in my life every day. Eating and cooking.
Last summer, I decided that I not only wanted to start cooking and eating with whole, natural, organic foods, but to also try to each seasonally and locally. At first, I never thought I'd be able to make the switch, but by doing it one meal at a time, and only one meal a week, then two, etc., I now find myself cooking and eating this way without much more work.
I'm going to start including recipes, tips, and everything else that I find helpful on here, so that anyone who has been thinking about making this switch will have a little help.
When Killian and I made this switch, I felt the difference within a few weeks. Getting away from processed foods as much as possible has made me feel healthier. And, as it turns out, cooking has become a beloved hobby. :)
So.. what do I do? Well, for starters, in the spring/summer, I purchase a CSA, a Community Sponsored Agriculture, in which I pay the farmer in the spring, and in the summer and fall, I get a share of the crops. From this, I learned how to cook using the whole fruit/veggie, how to prepare veggies in many different, delicious ways, and how to store these fruits and veggies so that we could enjoy them year-round.
In addition, I started to look at the everyday food items we eat, such as cheese and yogurt, and find ways of making it at home. This not only cuts down on the processing and preservatives, but on the impact on the environment as well. Have you ever looked at where your food is grown, shipped, packaged, and then shipped again? The amount of energy used just for you to get your food is outrageous. Anyways, I've found many easy ways of making food items at home.
1. I make my own mozzarella. It only takes 30 min., and is a delicious treat. You can buy the cultures here.
2. I bought a yogurt maker, and with only a tablespoon (or two) of plain yogurt and a few cups of milk, you can have wonderful homemade yogurt in 8-10 hours.
3. I bought a bread machine (off of craigslist for 5$!!! Look for deals people), and it only takes about 10 min. to set up, pour all my ingredients in, and I let the machine do the rest!
I have many, many other toys for the kitchen that help make my quest for whole, nutritious, homemade food easier, but I'll discuss those as the time goes by.
If you're interested in reading some WONDERFUL books about eating seasonally and locally, I suggest these (in order)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
The Ominvore's Dilemma by Michael Pollon
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollon
I always suggest books on CD if you, like me, spend time in the car during a commute. I find that I 'read' more books this way. :) All are available at your local library as well.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Last summer, I decided that I not only wanted to start cooking and eating with whole, natural, organic foods, but to also try to each seasonally and locally. At first, I never thought I'd be able to make the switch, but by doing it one meal at a time, and only one meal a week, then two, etc., I now find myself cooking and eating this way without much more work.
I'm going to start including recipes, tips, and everything else that I find helpful on here, so that anyone who has been thinking about making this switch will have a little help.
When Killian and I made this switch, I felt the difference within a few weeks. Getting away from processed foods as much as possible has made me feel healthier. And, as it turns out, cooking has become a beloved hobby. :)
So.. what do I do? Well, for starters, in the spring/summer, I purchase a CSA, a Community Sponsored Agriculture, in which I pay the farmer in the spring, and in the summer and fall, I get a share of the crops. From this, I learned how to cook using the whole fruit/veggie, how to prepare veggies in many different, delicious ways, and how to store these fruits and veggies so that we could enjoy them year-round.
In addition, I started to look at the everyday food items we eat, such as cheese and yogurt, and find ways of making it at home. This not only cuts down on the processing and preservatives, but on the impact on the environment as well. Have you ever looked at where your food is grown, shipped, packaged, and then shipped again? The amount of energy used just for you to get your food is outrageous. Anyways, I've found many easy ways of making food items at home.
1. I make my own mozzarella. It only takes 30 min., and is a delicious treat. You can buy the cultures here.
2. I bought a yogurt maker, and with only a tablespoon (or two) of plain yogurt and a few cups of milk, you can have wonderful homemade yogurt in 8-10 hours.
3. I bought a bread machine (off of craigslist for 5$!!! Look for deals people), and it only takes about 10 min. to set up, pour all my ingredients in, and I let the machine do the rest!
I have many, many other toys for the kitchen that help make my quest for whole, nutritious, homemade food easier, but I'll discuss those as the time goes by.
If you're interested in reading some WONDERFUL books about eating seasonally and locally, I suggest these (in order)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
The Ominvore's Dilemma by Michael Pollon
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollon
I always suggest books on CD if you, like me, spend time in the car during a commute. I find that I 'read' more books this way. :) All are available at your local library as well.
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
This weekend
Well... we had an AWESOME, but exhausting weekend. Friday night Amanda came over for dinner of grilled cheese on my george foreman :) It was wonderful to catch up with her, even if Killian was crabby. She brought a laser pointer, and Killian and Stubby played with it for at least 20 min. Killian was zonked out from the chasing, running, and spinning :)
Yesterday, we had our usual Sat. morning fun at the mom and pop place, then after nap, we went to the animal shelter to donate some food and bones. The cats were sick :(, but we did get to pet the dogs.. oh how it makes my heart ache to see them all. One in particular warmed my heart. If I had the money, I would take one home.. Even though it was a VERY small room, and at least 8 dogs were barking at the top of their lungs, Killian was in heaven. He has such empathy and compassion for animals. He went from kennel to kennel smiling, talking to them, and letting them lick his fingers. He was very sad to go.
After the shelter, we went shopping with Amanda (two days in a row with her :)) for our mutual friend's baby shower :) I spent a little more than I wanted to, like always at Target, but I know how grateful I was for my baby shower gifts, that I wanted to help another low-income mother out. :)
Today, we went grocery shopping in the morning, and in the afternoon made puppy chow (Killian had never made or eaten this before).. he loved to help dump everything into the bowl, and got upset when I had to scrap the peanut butter out of the cup.. and then went to the Building For Kids (children's museum) for two hours. Killian had a wonderful time, as always.. and discovered the birds today. That boy sat and watched tiny finches eating, drinking and flying for 20 min. And should I say QUIETLY watched them... I couldn't even get him to say a work, because he was so absorbed by the little creatures. <3
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I found 4 more scholarships to apply for.. which I also did this weekend, as well as file my FAFSA, do extra credit, organize my office, and .. oh the many little chores around the house. I just HOPE that I win at least 4 of the scholarships (I've now applied to over 20, and I found another that isn't due until May, so I'll work on that over Spring Break).
We made lots of wonderful memories this weekend :) Another week begins tomorrow.. oh.
Good things: I'm volunteering in Freedom with Lindsy on Monday, Wednesday and Friday :) The end of this week will mean only one more week of class :)
Bad things: I have an exam on Tuesday, which I just couldn't find the time/energy to start preparing for this weekend. It's another week of reading for 2.5 hours EVERY night. My house and body feel as though they're falling apart, and I need a week to put them back together.
Oh well.. such is a life of a working, going to school, single mother.
Yesterday, we had our usual Sat. morning fun at the mom and pop place, then after nap, we went to the animal shelter to donate some food and bones. The cats were sick :(, but we did get to pet the dogs.. oh how it makes my heart ache to see them all. One in particular warmed my heart. If I had the money, I would take one home.. Even though it was a VERY small room, and at least 8 dogs were barking at the top of their lungs, Killian was in heaven. He has such empathy and compassion for animals. He went from kennel to kennel smiling, talking to them, and letting them lick his fingers. He was very sad to go.
After the shelter, we went shopping with Amanda (two days in a row with her :)) for our mutual friend's baby shower :) I spent a little more than I wanted to, like always at Target, but I know how grateful I was for my baby shower gifts, that I wanted to help another low-income mother out. :)
Today, we went grocery shopping in the morning, and in the afternoon made puppy chow (Killian had never made or eaten this before).. he loved to help dump everything into the bowl, and got upset when I had to scrap the peanut butter out of the cup.. and then went to the Building For Kids (children's museum) for two hours. Killian had a wonderful time, as always.. and discovered the birds today. That boy sat and watched tiny finches eating, drinking and flying for 20 min. And should I say QUIETLY watched them... I couldn't even get him to say a work, because he was so absorbed by the little creatures. <3
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I found 4 more scholarships to apply for.. which I also did this weekend, as well as file my FAFSA, do extra credit, organize my office, and .. oh the many little chores around the house. I just HOPE that I win at least 4 of the scholarships (I've now applied to over 20, and I found another that isn't due until May, so I'll work on that over Spring Break).
We made lots of wonderful memories this weekend :) Another week begins tomorrow.. oh.
Good things: I'm volunteering in Freedom with Lindsy on Monday, Wednesday and Friday :) The end of this week will mean only one more week of class :)
Bad things: I have an exam on Tuesday, which I just couldn't find the time/energy to start preparing for this weekend. It's another week of reading for 2.5 hours EVERY night. My house and body feel as though they're falling apart, and I need a week to put them back together.
Oh well.. such is a life of a working, going to school, single mother.
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