I just got done reading a great book called Saving Money Anyway You Can......Becoming a Frugal Family. This book was such a great read and although most of the things in there I already do, it did bring some new insight into a few things. For instance, to help save the environment along with saving lots of money is to always buy used. Go to garage sales, consignment shops, and best of all use freecycle. Most of this I already put into play and almost all of my kids clothes I buy used outside of the nice things that their grandparents will buy them. But this can go further than clothing, which is what I have never done. For instance we are really wanting to get new furniture someday......new leather furniture.......big ouch on our budget. I never really considered buying it used which is probably where it will eventually have to come from. Now all my kids furniture is used outside of our baby set which my parents bought us. Adriana's bedroom set came from my cousin's daughter. Andrew's bed is a Thomas the Train toddler bed which my mom bought him for his birthday off of Craigslist and his dresser is my sister's old baby dresser from her kids room. I think the hardest part of buying used would have to be a mattress. I'm not sure I can use someone else's used mattress.
It also had a lot of other good ideas on saving money but these had to do with being green and recycling all your old items and using recycled items. It is an older book so some things are really outdated but otherwise a good, easy read.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
O'Fallon farmers market!
Yesterday my mom and I went to check out the O'Fallon farmers market and I fell in love! This is 100 times better than the St. Charles farmers market. I was able to pick up all kids of fresh veggies that had been used with no pesticides or fertilizers (but not called organic because it costs a lot of money to be called that by the gov.). Its great because you can talk to the farmers themselves and they will tell you anything you want to know about their farms. I was also able to pick up some bacon and hotdogs from another farmer. They have pictures of all their farm animals sitting out and welcome anyone to come out and have a tour of their farms. This made me feel at ease because its hard to be cruel to animals when you have an open door. Also, the hotdogs were the best I have ever had and they were made of all beef, not the ears, nose, tongue or whatever else they use. We haven't tried the bacon yet. I also picked up some homemade cinnamon rolls from an amish group. Yummy.....is all I can say. The kids gobbled them up so fast! Would definitely recommend and if you go, you will probably see me there since I think I will become a regular!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Club sandwich kabobs!
The kids love these and the great thing is you can make it how you want to. We have to adjust it a little to my kids liking but its something fun they can help make.
Serves 4
This fun lunch is ideal for kids to help make since they can roll up the meat and cut ingredients with a table knife. Serve these with mustard, mayonnaise or ranch dressing on the side for dipping and be sure to break any sharp ends off of the skewers when serving these kabobs to small kiddos.
Ingredients
4 thick slices whole grain bread, toasted and cut into (1-inch) cubes
4 slices deli ham
4 slices deli turkey
16 cherry tomatoes
4 leaves butter or romaine lettuce
1/4 pound cheddar, cut into cubes
1/4 pound provolone or mozzarella, cut into cubes
2 kosher dill or sweet pickles, thickly sliced
Method
Alternating ingredients, thread bread, ham, turkey, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and pickles onto skewers and serve.
Serves 4
This fun lunch is ideal for kids to help make since they can roll up the meat and cut ingredients with a table knife. Serve these with mustard, mayonnaise or ranch dressing on the side for dipping and be sure to break any sharp ends off of the skewers when serving these kabobs to small kiddos.
Ingredients
4 thick slices whole grain bread, toasted and cut into (1-inch) cubes
4 slices deli ham
4 slices deli turkey
16 cherry tomatoes
4 leaves butter or romaine lettuce
1/4 pound cheddar, cut into cubes
1/4 pound provolone or mozzarella, cut into cubes
2 kosher dill or sweet pickles, thickly sliced
Method
Alternating ingredients, thread bread, ham, turkey, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and pickles onto skewers and serve.
Turkey and cucumber wraps!
I've made this several times. They are so yummy and a great summer time lunch!
Serves 1
Pack the ingredients separately in a lunch box to roll up at lunchtime or serve the dressing on the side to avoid having a soggy wrap at meal time. Instead of a tortilla, use a piece of lavash bread, if desired.
Ingredients
1 (8-inch) whole wheat tortilla
1 leaf green leaf lettuce
1 ounce thinly sliced smoked turkey
1 slice cheddar cheese
6 thin slices cucumber
4 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 to 2 tablespoons ranch or blue cheese dressing
Method
Arrange tortilla on a large plate. Top with lettuce, turkey, cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes, then drizzle with dressing. Roll up and serve.
Nutrition
Per serving (about 9oz/263g-wt.): 400 calories (210 from fat), 24g total fat, 8g saturated fat, 55mg cholesterol, 990mg sodium, 29g total carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 4g sugar), 21g protein
Serves 1
Pack the ingredients separately in a lunch box to roll up at lunchtime or serve the dressing on the side to avoid having a soggy wrap at meal time. Instead of a tortilla, use a piece of lavash bread, if desired.
Ingredients
1 (8-inch) whole wheat tortilla
1 leaf green leaf lettuce
1 ounce thinly sliced smoked turkey
1 slice cheddar cheese
6 thin slices cucumber
4 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 to 2 tablespoons ranch or blue cheese dressing
Method
Arrange tortilla on a large plate. Top with lettuce, turkey, cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes, then drizzle with dressing. Roll up and serve.
Nutrition
Per serving (about 9oz/263g-wt.): 400 calories (210 from fat), 24g total fat, 8g saturated fat, 55mg cholesterol, 990mg sodium, 29g total carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 4g sugar), 21g protein
Peach and mango popsicles!
These are sooooo yummy and the kids loved helping me make them!
Makes 6 to 8
It doesn’t matter if you’re 2 or 102, the sweet-tooth appeal of homemade fruit popsicles is universal.
Ingredients
1 cup puréed mango (from peeled fruit)
1 cup puréed ripe peaches (from peeled fruit)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
Lime or lemon juice to taste
6 to 8 popsicle sticks
Method
Combine fruit purées in a medium bowl. Heat water and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add to purées with lime or lemon juice to taste. If you have popsicle molds, fill them, leaving some room at the top to allow for expansion, set the lids in place and insert the sticks through the holes. If you don’t have popsicle molds, fill small cups or empty yogurt tubs about 3/4 full, stretch plastic or foil across the top and make a small slit to insert sticks. Freeze until firmly set, 3 to 4 hours. To remove the pops, first remove the lids or wrap, then squeeze the sides of the molds, twisting them slightly, to dislodge the pop. If necessary, rinse the outside of the molds under hot water first.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 popsicle/62g-wt.): 40 calories (0 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, 10g total carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 9g sugar), 0g protein
Makes 6 to 8
It doesn’t matter if you’re 2 or 102, the sweet-tooth appeal of homemade fruit popsicles is universal.
Ingredients
1 cup puréed mango (from peeled fruit)
1 cup puréed ripe peaches (from peeled fruit)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
Lime or lemon juice to taste
6 to 8 popsicle sticks
Method
Combine fruit purées in a medium bowl. Heat water and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add to purées with lime or lemon juice to taste. If you have popsicle molds, fill them, leaving some room at the top to allow for expansion, set the lids in place and insert the sticks through the holes. If you don’t have popsicle molds, fill small cups or empty yogurt tubs about 3/4 full, stretch plastic or foil across the top and make a small slit to insert sticks. Freeze until firmly set, 3 to 4 hours. To remove the pops, first remove the lids or wrap, then squeeze the sides of the molds, twisting them slightly, to dislodge the pop. If necessary, rinse the outside of the molds under hot water first.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 popsicle/62g-wt.): 40 calories (0 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, 10g total carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 9g sugar), 0g protein
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Animal cruelty!
This link will show why I will not support farmers like this! This made me so upset and mad! I couldn't even get past the first few seconds of the video so I don't even know what else is on it. Here is the post with the video. Help stop farmers like this!
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/shut_down_conklin_dairy_farms_and_arrest_and_charge_gary_conklin_and_his_crew_with_animal_cruelty
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/shut_down_conklin_dairy_farms_and_arrest_and_charge_gary_conklin_and_his_crew_with_animal_cruelty
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