Too busy to blog-

My two little amigos have been keeping me far too busy to blog.

One of my favorite blogs, Raising Five, (I don't know how to add links yet...haven't had the time to figure that out) talks about living first, then blogging. I don't know, maybe blogging should come first because otherwise it's like all the other things that I love to do that get sidelined. Besides, this is easy!

Scrapbooking, genealogy, organizing, yardwork (yes, I LOVE yardwork), sewing, quilting, even reading, take up such huge amounts of time that I always fall behind.

All I have to do with blogging is log on for a few minutes, type up a few thoughts, add a pic to share and there you go.....mission accomplished and I can go on with my day-feeling so efficient and pleased with myself.

Something to think about.

On another note, I've got something to share that has changed our family's life!!

We have started grinding wheat and baking our own bread. After months of trying to find healthy bread (no trans fats or high fructose corn syrup) and tired of spending $4/loaf just to have it gone the next day.....I discovered a blogger, Noise Overload, who shared her experience of grinding her own wheat and baking bread for her family. She also homeschools, which eliminated my previous excuse of not having enough time. I visited Bread Beckers website and discovered 2 facts impossible to ignore-that 90% of wheats nutrients are gone within 72 hours of being ground into flour and it takes only a few minutes to grind wheat to add to any recipe.

So I placed my order for one grain grinder and 45 lb. bucket of wheat. We were on our way!!

The results are amazing!! Really Amazing!! My children LOVE it, my sweet cravings are mostly gone, and quite possibly my gluten intolerant husband might be able to eat bread again. He's going to try a roll this weekend. I've read quite a few stories of others who were diagnosed celiacs who could eat bread from freshly milled wheat without problem. We're all eating less because this bread is so filling. I feel good about the kids eating it as almost all of the nutrients we need are contained in wheat. I think it's only missing 4. It's also less than $1/ loaf and easy, easy, easy to make! A few hours in the morning and we've got rolls and loaves to last a few days.

And I've lost 2 lbs. in as many days effortlessly. I must emphasize the effortlessly part because I've stopped walking-I had shingles for awhile and needed to slow down. A side note-if you ever think you might have shingles, see your doctor immediately-I did and because I started the medicine in time, the pain and duration were minimal, it was almost like I didn't have shingles at all! But I think you have to start the meds within 72 hours so get in there pronto!

Kicking my chocolate addiction and losing weight without even trying?

Something else to think about.

However, since J(2) is running around half dressed, J(7mos) is crying, and I'm late....perhaps living should come first afterall.

Last minute surprise masterpiece....

A(8) is having a friend over after school today. However, I didn’t realize they had noon dismissal until late last night. So I came up with this last minute lunch idea…courtesy of the internet, coming to my rescue yet again! It never fails, whenever I’m at a loss for a meal idea, I can google some ingredients and add ‘recipe’ to it and viola….a plethora of recipes at hand!

Putting barbeque sauce, salmon, and pasta together had never occurred to me….but what an awesome salad!! I used recipe measurements as a guide because I usually change it or add in additional ingredients….so I gave the sauce and mayo measurements as an idea to the ratio of sauce to salad. I think the best salads are the ones you make up as you go along anyway! I have a feeling that toasted almonds sprinkled on top would make this salad absolutely incredible, as toasted almonds improves just about anything......

Barbeque Pasta Salad

Cooked pasta, cooled (I used elbow macaroni but I think spirals would be pretty)
Chopped veggies (peppers, cucumbers, grated carrots, chives, etc.)
¼ cup barbeque sauce
2 tsp. mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped meat (I like chicken or salmon)

Mix barbeque sauce and mayo together, add meat and veggies. Then toss with pasta. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top and lightly mix together. Refrigerate at least an hour, however the longer you can chill it, the better. It gives the salad time for the flavors to meld.
Enjoy!!

For your next potluck, instead of plastic...try CORN!!

I was racing through Costco late this morning, made possible only by the food vendors offering J(2) an array of yummy samples of food she’d never get at home. I mean really, that is what makes the trip so much fun. Other than the satisfying feeling I enjoy, when I see my cart loaded up with food that I know will last longer than 2 days….there’s just something frustrating about how quickly an ordinary box of anything goes in our house. When I buy milk, eggs, cereal, or lettuce at Costco however…it can last a whole week.

Once, a nice, elderly man, while waiting for one of these delectable samples, said, “you know, you could practically have lunch here.” I thought, you know, you’re right! Not that I would actually try doing that, but he was being witty and it was a funny thought. The rest of that particular shopping trip, the kids and I kept running into him at the different sampling areas. He’d just wink and say, “See?” It got pretty funny, to the point where I’d begin laughing right away whenever I saw him. I felt, actually, a little sad when it was time to leave. We talked a bit in the parking lot and that was that. I am more and more thankful these days for those random, friendly moments ….

Anyway, I realized at the end of the trip that I needed to get plastic cups for A’s(8) girl scout meeting. Well, I was not buying 1000 plastic cups…I already felt guilty enough for all the diapers we send to the landfill. I decided to stop at our local health food store hoping to find some recyclable paper cups. They're not very sturdy but definitely eased my conscious and made me feel I was still doing my part for the environment, even though I do still leave my van running at times and even drive while talking on my cell phone!!!

Imagine my surprise when the sales clerk informed me they didn’t carry paper, only plastic cups. “Really!!” I said with humor. I thought it was with humor, she just looked annoyed and defensive, saying they were tight on shelf space.

So I pick up the package of 16 oz. cups and what do you think they were made of?? Not plastic but CORN!! They looked like ordinary, sturdy, clear plastic cups. Plus, get this…100% compostable! I had never heard of such a thing, how can that be? Actually, I have found lately, that you can find recycled or sustainably produced almost anything!

Evidently, according to my highly dependable internet search, these cups break down completely in commercial compost in about 45 days!! (Is a landfill kind of like a commercial compost bin…seems like it would be, but I’m far from an expert.) It takes about a year for them to degrade completely in a homemade compost bin. Now, I don’t really know where my old compost pile is, it’s been that long since I’ve worked on my garden, but I think I’m going to start one back up.

And the first thing that’s going in, is the cup I’m drinking out of right now! Next year, this time…it’ll be compost! Now, how cool is that???!!!

She's a dancing queen!

J (5 months) is figuring it all out!

Brothers.......

J(4 months) and Z (11)

I can't wait to watch their relationship grow.

How many days until Christmas?

Actually, I don't know...but I know it's not going to be enough time....again. Every year I think I'll start planning earlier and earlier, but I have yet to actually follow through. I know I should be more stressed out about school starting next week but somehow that sounds do-able. I've started doubling batches of dinner and freezing them so we'll (theoretically) have many ready-to-pop-in-the-oven suppers for the next 6 weeks, which so far even though I've completely way over-scheduled us, still excites me with its....newness. The new clothes, school supplies, books, schedules....the possibilities!

And Christmas....well, I just found an old wall quilt (can you find it in my sewing corner pic?) that I started 7 years ago that I think I may actually finish this year. Discovering it led me to thinking about snowy mornings, hot cocoa, the relatively relaxed pace of winter. Every year I promise myself that I will not rush around, I will plan my time so wisely that the holidays will finally be a time of contemplation, rest, and enjoyment with my family and friends. Then reality hits and I'm rushing around town or staying up late shopping online and just trying to keep my head above water, let alone contemplate anything. Maybe I shouldn't be so pessimistic...it is still only August after all. I am thinking of giving each child one special item that I know they will love and the rest of their gifts will be little trips and experiences here and there. They have so much, it's almost ridiculous. It makes me crazy and little sick to see how much they don't even use. They love to go places though, it might be money better spent if we take them on day trips and outings instead.