Our Story

Growing up I had the same perspective as all teenagers.  Things were made to be used, wasted, and thrown out.  No chemical was strong enough to hurt me; if they were on the shelves of stores for us to purchase and use, of COURSE they had been tested and deemed safe.  

Little did I know that the Earth was in crisis, our bodies were science projects for chemical companies, and we would be lucky if 50 years from now the ozone layer was still in tact.  

It started with my oldest son turning 9 months old and the search for formula to supplement breast milk.  I had been vegetarian for 17 years at that point (since I was 8!) I looked at soy... and learned that a high diet of soy in Americans has been questioned as being harmful.  I was a bit shocked as I had been eating soy at least 5 days a week at that time.  The research was conflicted and I couldn't find anything concrete at that time, but I wasn't about to risk my baby's health.  So I kept looking.  That was the first time I had questioned anything on a store shelf and it was quite eye opening.  

I started questioning everything we ate.  We switched to all organic for our son and as much as we could afford for us.  It has taken about 4 years, but we have gradually replaced EVERY food item we purchase with organics.  We now buy as little processed food as possible.  We make all of our meals and the only thing we buy in a can is tomato sauce.  We do not store our food in plastic, we do not eat out of plastic containers or dishes.  We do not even use plastic spatulas.  

Then I found cosmeticdatabase.org and was SHOCKED to find out how many carcinogenic chemicals were in our everyday products.  My son's Johnson and Johnson tear free baby was was the most toxic thing we had in our bathroom.  I couldn't believe it.  I was soaping him up with chemicals without even knowing it.  I was outraged.  I switched every product we owned for a product rated 3 or lower on cosmeticdatabase.org.  

I started reading everything I could find (blogs, books, articles, etc) on toxic chemicals in our everyday lives and was furious at what I found.  Flame retardants, plastics, pesticides, etc and how they relate to our health.  Very scary.  

We try to stick with as natural and local as possible.  We started with changing one thing at a time so it wasn't overwhelming.  We are now at the stage of high ticket items such as mattresses and furniture... any knowledge any of you can share regarding those things, please add your comments!  I purchased a toddler mattress for my youngest son when he was born and still uses.  It is a wool mattress from www.organicgrace.com that we just love.  I think the couch is going to be our biggest obstacle.  We are considering trying to find nontoxic foam and building our own couch/ having a local upholsterer upholster it for us.  

I think it is very important to take care of our planet AND our bodies.  Have you seen www.storyofstuff.org?  Eye opening.  I want my great-great-great grandchildren to live on an un-polluted Earth.  I don't want to ruin it for them.  It is up to you and I to make the changes that we can.  When enough individual make the change, we will be able to see the difference.

That is our story.  The saga continues and new efforts are made each day to live a healthier, more chemical free life.     

Every moment spent with you

The most important part of my life is my 3 boys.  My husband, and my two baby boys.  They make up my world.  I never really lived until they entered my life... they make me see every sunset, every flower, and view my world in a new and brighter way.  Every thing is more fun when I am with them.  Words cannot convey how loved I feel when two little arms wrap around my neck to give me a hug or they way the words "Mama, I love you" can make me feel.  My third boy makes me constantly feel young and vibrant.  He supports me in everything I do and is my best friend.  He plays with my hair when I have a headache, goes to the store just to get me chocolate, and can make my day with a simple text.  I am, and will always be, the luckiest woman.
   

I couldn't do it.

I couldn't look into those eyes and lie to him.

Let me start at the beginning.  When I was little I believed in Santa Claus.  My parents did elaborate 'Santa visits' complete with showing us the reindeer leaving our house when we returned from Christmas Eve at my grandparents.  When I was 7 years old my parents had friends over and we were sitting around the dinner table.  They mentioned something about their kids finding out or knowing that Santa Claus wasn't real.  I immediately felt vulnerable.  I remember that panicked feeling that something was wrong, the clear thought process of connecting the dots and suddenly understanding.  I excused myself and went to the bathroom.  My mom followed.  She asked if I was okay.  I responded affirmatively and held back my tears and disbelief.  From that moment on I was never really sure if I could believe what they told me.

I knew from the time my son was born that I would not be upholding the 'Santa Claus' tradition.  He would have an exquisitely planned Christmas full of traditions, surprises, and wonders.  But he would fully know who was responsible for these things (Mama and Dad); and that Saint Nicholas did exist a long time ago and gave gifts to poor children- which is where the character of Santa Claus came from.  He knows who hides the Easter eggs and baskets and that there is no Easter Bunny.

So, last night after I finished brushing his teeth when he sat in my lap and looked up at me with those big innocent eyes full of hope and asked me with a timid voice; knowing very well he was about to be disappointed but yet still hoping there was a possibility; "Mama, is there a tooth fairy?".  I just couldn't.  I couldn't look into those trusting eyes and lie to him.  I knew that my answer would crush him, but I just couldn't lie to those eyes. I explained to him that I was the tooth fairy.  That when the day came in which he lost a tooth, he would place it under his pillow at bed time and that I would take it out after he fell to sleep and place money in its stead.  He looked so disappointed.  He choked back the tears.  I tentatively asked if that was okay; if it is okay that I am the tooth fairy.  He answered "I wish there was a tooth fairy."  I didn't know what to say.  I said I would find out if there really is.

I want my babies to know that they can come to me and ask me any question they could possibly come up with and that I will answer them truthfully.  I want them to trust me and want to ask me the difficult questions.    I don't want to ever give them the impression that I would not answer them honestly even if it is not what they want to hear.  And so, if he asks again I will have to tell them what I know to be true.  I am sorry baby, but I am the tooth fairy.  However, my darling; I will never lie to you.  I will always tell you the truth and you can always come to me with any question knowing you will have whatever answer I can give to you.

Diet : Day 2

Rainy days aren't very good to me.  They make me want to bake.... here was our healthy food of the day (ha.ha.)

Buying a house is like having a baby

No joke!  Not only are they both expensive, but I am seeing a pattern similarity! ;)  Here it goes:

You have that 'fun' leisurely part of just looking at what is available (seeing cute babies), then the stressful part of finding the perfect one, out bidding other buyers, and getting approved for a mortgage (morning sickness, getting fat).  Next comes the signing of paperwork and renovations (no sleep, lots of work), and finally the forgetting of all the awfulness and wanting to do it all over again because you like the end result.

Call me crazy but today I started looking at real estate and our renovations aren't even complete.  I need an intervention.  Someone please intervene!

Diet : Day 1

Now, the question is whether or not posting that title will make me more apt to stick with it.  Summer weather is officially here, and my shorts do not fit!  The same thing happens every spring/early summer.  I go through this cycle of losing 8-10 lbs every summer only to gain it all back through the winter.  Well, not THIS summer!  I am going to lose it and keep it off.  Yep, I will be wearing (or at least trying on) those shorts ALL winter to make sure I am still on track.  I am 28 and my body isn't what it once was (I wonder if that is due to age or babies?).  I can no longer eat dessert for every meal and work out when the whim strikes me.... it is time to form lifestyle habits.  (Why am I suddenly sad when this is actually a good thing?).  Here we go.... out with the laziness in with the daily workouts!  Wish me luck ;)

Nightmares

of painting... endless walls.  Seriously, how can there be so MANY walls in a 2 bd/2bath duplex??  I am pretty sure it might take me a year to finish painting this place.  Of course, it would help if I would choose one color for each room instead of changing my mind after the first coat.

Spring

I had forgotten how lovely it feels to go barefoot.  To open up the patio door, sip an espresso and feel as though you are productive solely because you have been outdoors.  I love the sounds of lawnmowers in the distance, children playing outside, and backyard picnics.  I love open windows and watching the birds dance in the trees.  I love new floppy hats, sunscreen white faces, and the glamour of sunglasses.  The simplicity of just slipping on sandals and stepping outside.  The decadence of sipping a cold drink while sitting on your back porch watching the clouds drift by.  Oh the joys of lazy spring days!

....and.... we're back!

Whew!  It has been a crazy 1 1/2 months!  Every single spare moment was spent getting the rental side of the duplex up and ready.  We now have tenants!  So... the work on our side begins.  But this is the fun part.  I am so excited to decorate and get it ready for us.  Pinterest has been my best friend lately and has helped my planning tremendously!  So many great and creative ideas for small spaces on there.  Can't wait to show you all before and after photos!

Life, Love, and Laughter

We closed on the duplex yesterday!  Although we had a busy weekend and hadn't planned on getting started working on the repairs quite yet, we were too excited to wait.  So while Andrew got busy tearing out the bath surround I started taping the trim so we are ready to go for painting.  Our boys (ages 2 and 4) were so excited to have a new place to play that they were running around playing tag and 'step on the dot' (their version of 'don't step on the crack'). It was adorable.  My son suggested we dance so we turned the radio up and enjoyed the moment.  It's the little things that make life fun :)

Cabin Fever

It is February, and although it isn't as cold as years past I am still sick of winter.  I long for days spent outside in the sunshine, long walks, picnics, bike rides, and lazy afternoons spent on the porch.  Somehow, a lazy afternoon on the couch just isn't the same ;).

Dear Summer:
If you are reading this, I want you back.  I never should have let you leave.
Love,
Me

Baked Cauliflower

Adapted from Delighted Momma

This is a simple, easy way to make a delicious veggie side dish.  Our main dishes are usually time consuming so I like to find quick healthy side dish options :)

Cut and wash a head of cauliflower, then slice into bite size pieces.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper, then place cauliflower on parchment paper.  Drizzle Sunflower or Safflower oil; not too much, just enough to lightly coat the cauliflower (make sure you don't use Olive oil as it is toxic to cook with due to it's smoke point).  Sprinkle with salt and pepper then cook at 400* for approx 40 minutes or until lightly browned, turning/flipping with spatula every 10 minutes.

Before Cooking

After Cooking

Dip in Ketchup and ENJOY!

House #1? House #2? House #3!

My husband and I felt like we should have been on an episode of House Hunters.  We have been looking at so many types of properties and in so many locations that it kind of felt like a toss of a dice where we would land.  We didn't pick the cute house with a yard near the foothills that was completely finished, we didn't pick the fixer upper with the shop near the university, but we DID pick the small semi fixer upper duplex with the great location!  We are now the proud owners of an investment property.  For the next 3 years we will be working on and living in one unit while we rent out the other.  At that time we will purchase a house for ourselves and continue to rent out both units in the duplex for the income potential.  Has anyone done this before?  Any recommendations?  We were urged to read Landlording which looks like an interesting read.  I will keep you posted on our experiences as it goes.

Project: Couch

:Before

:After

My husband is awesome.  We bought a sewing machine so we could sew duvet covers for our boys.... fast forward 6 months, I still don't know how to turn the thing on yet he has already sewn a soft top for his bronco and re-hemmed pants.  This is how our relationship works: I pick out the project and get the materials and he completes them for me.  It is great!  Anyway, several months ago I decided it was time to sew a slip cover for our sad looking leather couch.  Last week I still hadn't done anything so he took it a step further and made new cushions for the couch.

Here is what he did:

The cushions on the couch were not removable, they were seamed in with the seams of the couch.  His first step was to cut the leather (cutting about 3" above the seam so he did not ruin the look of the front of the couch) then use an upholstery staple gun to secure the leather back onto the frame.

After preshrinking our material (corduroy) he cut out the sizes he needed for the top, bottom, and sides then pinned it together over the foam/cushion (we used what was already there; it was covered in leather previously so nothing had penetrated into the foam) to make sure he was pinning it to size.  Make sure you lay the fabric down so the inside of the fabric is facing you as you will turn it 'inside out' after you sew it so your seam is on the inside.

Then, sew.

 We used a waterproof material around the foam (just wrapped it around, no sewing necessary) so the cushion wouldn't be ruined if our boys spilled anything on the couch (although as you can imagine, food is outlawed on the couch now ;) ).

 Then he stuffed the foam into the cover similar to the way you put a pillow into a pillowcase.

 We used iron on fabric velcro to secure the back so we can wash the fabric as needed.

Final product!  It took 4 hours, but looks SO MUCH BETTER!  Next step is to make throw pillows that incorporate both colors :)

Shortbread Gingerbread Cookies

After having an AMAZING cookie at a coffee shop (and of course being unable to find anything like it online) I set out to make my own recipe.  It turned out delicious.... however I learned that shortbread recipes are anything BUT healthy, so proceed at your own risk:

Shortbread Gingerbread Cookies

Cream together:

2 sticks unsalted butter 

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/3 cup (white) sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract

then add:

2 tbs + 2 tsp molasses

shift together in separate bowl:

2 cups flour

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

Add molasses to creamed mixture then add in sifted ingredients.  Roll out on lightly floured surface, cut shapes, then put them on baking pan and chill in fridge for 15 minutes.  Bake at 350 until edges start to turn brown (approx 13-15 min).  Let cool then brush with icing (recipe below).

Icing:

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tbs milk

1tsp vanilla extract

Mix together, and add milk or powdered sugar as needed for desired consistency.

Babies

 With a sister and a sister in law both expecting babies soon, I started thinking about all of the things I wish I would have known before I had children.  There are so many people who don't care and don't want to hear about eco-friendly or chemical alternatives, but if you are that type you probably won't like this blog.  So, I am listing my top ten here in hopes to help other mothers who are interested in learning healthier ways to raise their children.  If you are offended by this post, please skip over it.  As always, I am not a scientist.  All I know for sure is that I have done my due diligence and research on all of the things I listed.  Something that is a cause of concern for me may not be for others.  Do not use this post as your 'be all end all'.  Do your own reading and research to determine if it is an issue for you.

Top 10 things I wish I had known when I had babies:
1.    Plastic is not good.  Plastic contains more than BPA (although BPA is pretty major in and of itself) it also contains phthalates and sometimes even lead.  Try to stay away from it at as much as possible- especially when purchasing food in plastic containers, teethers and objects that go in mouths, bottles, etc.
2.    It is SO easy to make baby food!  Just think not only of the money saved, but also the relief of knowing exactly what you are putting into your precious baby’s mouth and body.  All you need is a food processor or blender and some fresh veggies.
3.    Flame Retardants.  Stay away from them at all cost.  Since when is it a good idea to sleep in chemical-doused clothing?  Breathe in air and dust that has harmful chemicals from curtains, mattresses, and electronics?  I am not suggesting you throw away your television, but when making future purchases keep in mind that there ARE some companies that do not add flame retardants when manufacturing their products.  I AM suggesting you do NOT purchase any clothing, blankets, or curtains that contain flame retardants.  Install good fire detectors, minimize all fire hazards, and do not expose your babies to these chemicals.  
4.    Crib mattresses.  Please, please, please consider a wool crib mattress.  There are flame retardants in other mattresses, which I just discussed above but also other factors to consider.  Here is a great post that I read when weighing the cost/ possible benefits of purchasing a wool mattress.  I am the worrying/ guilt laden type and I knew that if something were to happen to my child and there was something that MAY have prevented it from happening I would have carried the guilt around with me for the rest of my life.  To me the extra cost was worth it.
5.    Soy.  This is a debate that I am not going to get into, however it poses a question to consider.  I would prefer to be aware of a possible issue than to be oblivious which is why I am listing it here.  Personally when I found out about the soy debate I switched to organic milk for my boys.  As stated above, it just wasn’t worth the guilt later on.  I think like everything else it is probably fine in moderation; however toddlers drink a LOT of milk so I chose to stay away from it.
6.     Cosmeticdatabase.org  LOVE LOVE LOVE this site.  4 years ago I looked up Johnson and Johnson tear free baby wash.  4 years ago I switched to a safer alternative.  A few months ago it was FINALLY pulled off store shelves due to toxicity.  I was thankful I was proactive and did my own research before washing my child with it.  I search EVERY thing on this site before I purchase it.  Every shampoo, soap, lotion, and cosmetic we own is rated less than a 3.
7.    Get a female pediatrician.  As a first time mom I went to the doctor every time my son sneezed wrong.  My first two peds were males.  The first one told me to give my infant cough syrup and aspirin.  The pharmacist almost died when I asked him if they were okay for a baby to take.  Needless to say it was on to ped #2.  Pediatrician #2 actually told me he hoped he didn’t see me again until my next well baby check (after I went in worried about a deep cough).  On to Ped #3.  A female who understands what it is like to be a mom.  She knows not to give a baby aspirin because she HAS a baby.  She doesn’t mind when I page her in the middle of the night if my infant has a 104 degree fever.  A good doctor is a must.
8.    Stock up on EVERYTHING before your little one arrives.  It is not fun to have to run to the store for a pack of diapers every 3 days.  With my second son I had enough diapers to last 3 MONTHS when he was born.
9.    A Baby Bjorn and an exercise ball were my saving graces for the first 6 months.  When rocking and pacing resulted in louder wails, holding them and gently bouncing up and down while sitting on an exercise ball never failed to calm them down.
10.   Dr. Sears’ vaccine book.  So many people are questioning vaccines these days.  This book goes into pretty good detail about what the side effects of each vaccine are, and the purposes of the vaccine.  It is a great way to be informed about what you are having injected into your child.

If you have anything to add, please do so in the comment section.  Hoping for happy, healthy futures for our little ones!

Soap Nuts

Have you ever heard of soap nuts?  If you haven't, you are now enlightened.  They are AWESOME!  They are eco friendly, completely natural, chemical free.  I have been using them instead of liquid laundry detergent for about a month now, and I have NOTHING bad to say about them.  I have noticed no difference in how my clothes are cleaned.  This is where I get mine.  I am not getting paid to say this (except, perhaps by paying it forward to my grandchildren), it is my honest to god opinion.  LOVE these things.  TRY them!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Maybe in other parts of the country (like 1/4" in Wisconsin).... but up here in the mountains there is NO SNOW.  Seriously, none.  Is that crazy or what?  I am really hoping this doesn't go on for much longer.  Not that I love snow or anything (quite the contrary); but I love water.  I do not like droughts.  So, there you have it.  I'm dreaming of a white January.