Take It Slow....

...change does not happen overnight.  I could be talking about anything, right?

Recently as I was getting ready for work (I waitress a couple nights at a great Morrocan restaurant in Madison called Marrakesh) I noticed the various beauty products in our bathroom. It has taken me years to slowly replace the various things we use (and eat) in our house that are chemically harmful. In fact, I am still working on it.

For us it started out with food. That was an easy change, but then I had to start reading labels on our beauty and cleaning products. Once I was pregnant, that is when we got really serious. All the baby, and now toddler, products we use are non-toxic and as safe as they can be. I also replaced our cleaning products so that they were non-toxic. The last thing I am still working on (I am pretty close!) is my own beauty products.

Beauty products are probably the most expensive area to change out. If you already buy expensive make up, hair products, lotion, etc... financially it should be easy. If you live on a Target budget as we do, trading out the store brand for something new can be kind of a sticker shock.

What I have come to realize is, I can only do the best I can. It has taken me years to finally get to the point where I am changing out the things mentioned above. We can not afford to throw everything out in our bathroom (just like we couldn't in our kitchen) and start over. So I buy one new thing at a time. I buy it in the smallest quantity/amount possible in case we don't like it. Then I really pay attention to how long it lasts.

I am always amazed at how long we have certain things! Soap- I buy whatever bar is on sale at our Co-op. Guess what? That $3-$4 bar of soap lasts a whole lot longer then a bar of Dove, and leaves my skin feeling way better. Shampoo and conditioner? I don't know about you, but I find ours lasts for months, and I do shower every day. Same with lotion.  If you are a member of a Co-op, chances are good you can buy these products in bulk, along with your laundry detergent, dish soap and many pantry items.

I am still working on some things, there are a few products I need to switch out yet. But, I am not going to stress out over it, nor am I going to drain our savings to do it quickly. I think it makes more sense to take your time, do a little research and budgeting, and find what works for you (unless you have unlimited income, then get on it! I am not kidding!). Below are just a few ideas, but do your own research. Decide what YOU are comfortable with and what financially works for YOU. You would be surprised at how if you do it gradually, you won't even notice the change in your budget ( if there even is one).

For cleaning supplies:
-You would be amazed what you can do with water and vinegar for general cleaning and baking soda for scrubbing.
-If you would rather buy something, I find the Method brand or Seventh Generation both make some good products. Depending on where you shop, they can be the same price or not that much more then brand name chemical cleaners. I also know people who swear by Shaklee and Norwex products.
-Detergent? I love the Ecos brand! It is about $10 at our Co-op for a 100 wash bottle. Seriously, how much does Tide cost?

Beauty Products: 

This is such a personal area. I found it the most helpful to go to my local Co-op and ask questions. The people in the beauty and health department were so helpful! Going to a store by yourself, say Target, and trying to read labels on all the "natural" products can be so overwhelming. Personally, as I have gotten older, I have started to wear less make-up and use less body lotion. My skin and eyes seem to reject most products. The most recent thing I have given up is mascara. There was a time I wouldn't leave the house without it. Now, if I wear it my eyes burn, itch, turn red. The funny thing is, after not wearing it for months, my eyelashes look longer and darker! Hum......

Food:

You know where I stand by now if you have read my previous posts. Local and organic, local, organic, then conventional. Animal products are the most important things to buy organic (this can also mean buying local meat, dairy and eggs that are raised organically but not certified). Some fruits and vegetables are fine to buy conventionally, especially if they have a thick skin.

Gardening With Kid(s)....

...is hard and fun at the same time.  On one hand I want our daughter to not be afraid of dirt, to love vegetables, and to feel proud to be helping out.

On the other hand, I like to do pretty much everything by myself. I mean everything. I am a multi-tasker who likes to get things done. Our daughter is four, and I HAVE to let her help me. Be it putting away dishes, putting away clothes or gardening, she wants to help. She is also at an age where she needs to have some chores. Gardening can be an area where she can help out and I don't get too impatient (usually). 

Gardening is a great way to involve kids, to teach them responsibility and let them see where their food comes from.  Our daughter helped plant the carrots seen below, she helped pick them (actually, I had to dig them out, then handed them to her, but she felt like she picked them), she helped clean them off and bag them up for our refridgerator. The best part of all is that she was so excited for me to clean off a carrot so she could eat it! I let her pick which one she wanted, we cleaned it off, and she loved it. We also made sure to leave some of the baby carrots for our local bunny (who is not very afraid of us anymore, probably because we have been leaving him treats since he was a baby). I know, I know, why am I feeding the animals I am trying to keep out of the garden? He is just so cute! 

Ok, enough about the bunny. 

If you have kids and plan to garden next year, get them involved from the start! Let them help pick out a vegetable or two as you are planning your garden this winter. Give them a section in the garden that is theirs. Our daughter wanted to grow strawberries in her section this last summer. Though I wanted her to pick something that would produce more, I also wanted her to be excited about what she picked. So strawberries it was!

I know it is the end of the growing season if you live in the midwest, but I wanted to share these thoughts and the picture below of my very happy daughter after our last carrot harvest. I hope it inspires you to think about growing a garden with your little one next year! 

"Dirty Hands!"

Sample Living With Less

Below is a link to an article an old friend posted on Facebook recently. It talks about 7 different ways to sample living with less for a few weeks. There are some great ideas to really reexamine the "things" you have in your life.

Living in a small house has made it a requirement that we really limit what we allow through the doors , otherwise our house would quickly look like an episode of Hoarders (which I have never watched but can only imagine, yuk!).  This article is a good reminder to our family of the things we do well, and the areas that could use improvement (like less toys for our daughter, or getting rid of some of the old toys when new ones come into our house). 

Sample Living with Less

Sick Soup

If you have read my last two posts, you will see this weeks theme. I am not a good sick person. I have never been able to say, "I am sick, but I am not going to let it ruin my day". I want to hide from the world and be in my bed. Like most people while they are sick, I don't have much of an appetite but know I need to eat. That is where my 'Sick Soup' comes in handy.

Back when I was a vegetarian (which feels like forever now, not 6 months ago) I used to make this soup whenever I was feeling sick. I missed the chicken noodle soup of my childhood. At that time I used vegetable stock, but now use homemade chicken stock. This soup is like egg drop soup, with some added carbs. If you are grain free (or doing a Whole30 like me), you can eliminate the rice noodles.

This is the soup I made for breakfast the last two mornings. I used 2 cups of broth and 2 eggs each morning.

Sick Soup

Makes 2 Servings

Ingredients:

4 Cups chicken (or vegetable) broth, preferably homemade

2 Large eggs (or up to 4)

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: 2 ounces rice vermicelli noodles (found in the Asian section of your grocery store)

Directions:

-Heat up the broth to boiling and add in the rice noodles. 

-Turn the heat down to medium and cook the noodles per package instructions. This should only take 3-5 minutes.

-While the noodles are cooking, whisk the eggs in a separate bowl until completely mixed.

-Once the noodles are soft, slowly pour the eggs into the broth, making sure to slowly stir the eggs into the broth (this will make the eggs stringy instead of big chunks).

-Once all the eggs have been stirred in, turn off the heat, stir a few more times, then serve.

This should make enough for 2 servings. It is super simple, you can make it in a matter of minutes, and it is easy to digest if your tummy is upset!

Below is a link on how to make actual egg drop soup. It contains soy sauce and cornstarch, which I do not use. However, I thought there were some great add in ideas, and also detailed instructions.

http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-egg-drop-soup-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-159379

Catching a Virus (or Allergies?) But Still Starting My Whole30

Yesterday, on what was going to be my first day of my Whole30, I woke up feeling sick.  I sat in our livingroom for about 5 minutes contemplating not starting. The problem was, I had purposely picked this time frame so I could do it before the holidays started. I knew that if I put it off, I would probably be looking at the new year as the next time I would try.

Then I thought, why would I put it off? I have done a Whole30 before. How would me being sick affect how I ate while sick? Wouldn't eliminating all allergens and stressors to my body actually be better? I don't eat and drink your common "sick" food anyway. There are no saltines (though my husband just asked for some for himself), 7-Up or chicken noodle soup in my house.  Why would I feel the need to buy them? 

I just stocked up on healthy meats, eggs and vegetables for my Whole30. Not to mention the bushel of apples we just picked up at the orchard last weekend. I realized I could make some nice, simple meals that will nourish me while feeling sick. I also already had a stock of frozen chicken and vegetable soup in the freezer. I was set!

My simple lunch of chicken and vegetable soup, turkey roll-ups with spinach and olives, an apple and plenty of water!

Tonight we will be having chicken that I threw in the crockpot along with vegetables, then off to bed! Overnight in the crockpot I will make bone broth to replenish what I am using, it sure comes in handy while sick!

Below is a link to a post on the Whole9 website about how to feed a cold. I found it helpful.

Feeding a Cold

Meat Hoarding or Whole30 Part Two

Life has been crazy lately ( like it is for most people). My stress levels have been skyrocketing. About two weeks ago I realized I have not been taking as good of care of myself as I should be.

Starting today I will be starting another Whole30.  I need to kick the couple of bad habits that have been creeping back into my life ( coffee in the afternoon, chocolate while Marie is "napping", ciders on a bad OR good day, etc...). The nice thing is that this time around it will be easy. I know what to buy and not to buy, I have most things I need in my pantry or freezer already, and withdrawal symptoms should not be too bad as I have been eating pretty healthy 90% of the time. 

This morning I am starting the day with my favorite Sweet Potato Hash with Pecans and some fried eggs. I have some homemade chicken soup defrosting as I feel a cold coming on, and we will eat leftover brats with vegetables for dinner. I will be defrosting a chicken to throw into the crockpot tomorrow, and viola!, I have protein for a couple meals and more soup broth. Wednesday I will be receiving our vegetable share from our CSA and we will be set for vegetables. Easy peasy!

While preparing for my next Whole30, I made a list of all the protein we had in our house. I was amazed at how much meat I found in our two freezers! There are even 2 pounds of hamburger in our chest freezer, but I didn't count that because I don't eat it. Hi, my name is Kari, and I am a meat hoarder.

No one stole our food, I am just preparing the refrigerator for fresh vegetables, fruit and meat defrosting!

Feel Confident Buying Fish and Seafood

Before I started eating meat again, I did eat fish and seafood occasionally. So, technically I was a pescatarian, not a vegetarian. I did not eat fish and seafood often however because I was never great at cooking it ( who wants to ruin $20+ of expensive fish) and I also was confused about what kind and where to but it. Below is a great link to Seafood Watch. It is easy to use, you just put in the fish or seafood you want to use and it tells you your best options. You can easily go to their website while shopping and feel confident about what you are buying.

http://www.seafoodwatch.org