New Years Resolutions

It is approaching the new year and I haven't blogged in 6 months. So, I have some resolutions....the first being to try and blog at least once a week. If only to update on how boring/insane my life is. The second is to try and fit into pants again. More on this later. The third is...well, I don't know what the third is because the first two seem pretty daunting so lets not get crazy here with the promises only to be spiraling into the depths of shame in February for having publicly resolved to do stuff and failed.

Finding Real Food

I last went on a rant about hidden ingredients in food last June - remember the sugar in salt? Since then I have found a few more foods that I just assumed contained what was in their name.

Peanut Butter - contains sugar and hydogenated vegetable oil (This list is for Kraft. Jiffy and Skippy contain more ridiculous ingredients like malodextrin, mono and diglycerides and about 6 things other than peanuts).

You say tomato...

The harvest has begun! 

The September harvest I mean. Some things we have been harvesting all summer like Mixed Greens, New Zealand Spinach, Mint, Sage, Basil and Oregano. For some reason the oregano bush began attracting very large black flying bugs. I have no idea what they are or if they bite but they are HUGE and will let you know in no uncertain terms that you are too close to their oregano bush flowers. As a result, I am currently afraid to pick oregano.

Are you there, Food? It's me, Carrie.

I started really thinking about what I ate and put on my body four years ago when I became pregnant with Liam. Suddenly I was acutely aware that whatever I ate or absorbed not only affected me, but another person, my tiny baby. Not wanting to expose him to unnecessary chemicals, I converted our cleaning products, makeup/hair products and all creams/lotions/potions over to a safer version. There has been no reason to stop this practice since. We are getting along quite well with our 'different' products, organic food and healthy eating habits.  But sometimes, I'm still surprised.

What's new

So spring is here! We've got quite a few little projects going on around here.

The Garden - Part 1: Picking Seeds

Andrew looooves to garden and since we are trying to be as self-sustaining as we can, he has turned much of our front yard and side yard into garden space for fruits and veggies. (Plus we read this book: Second Nature A Gardeners Education, by Michael Pollan. You will not look at your front yard the same after that!) The front and side yards get much more sun than the back which is shaded by the forest and trees. But, we have gardens down there too!

Evolution of Our Lifestyle

Andrew and I try to be as environmentally conscious as possible without being crazy hippies. People may say we've ventured into hippie-dom (minus the pot), and I believe that some people who visit us may just think we're nuts. "You're out of plastic wrap. What do you mean you don't buy that? What will we do with these leftovers? Re-usable containers? Well, that just seems like a lot of work."