Christmas in... almost August?

Well it's not really July much longer and every month it is getting closer to the holiday season. I have been wanting to blog about this for awhile so I finally decided to JUST DO IT! :)

What is one thing millions, maybe billions of people spend money on every year? Well yes gifts, presents, whatever you call them. But how about what those gifts go in?

The Diaper Blues.... And Yellows!

Even though I have been cloth diapering for over a year now I feel as though I find myself back at the beginning a bit. The reason being is the diapers that have been my absolute favorite are unfortunately not working as well for us these days. That would be the Bummis Tots Bots Easy Fits. These diapers have been amazing. So much so I stopped buying other diapers all together. But the times they are a changin'...

Moon Cycles

So I guess I am going to do what every other blogger does and tell the men to skip this post now if they can't handle or don't want to talk about a woman's monthly cycle. There said!

WARNING LONG POST! XD


Before I begin I would just like to say this is all pretty new to me. As of this year actually. For a long time I always told myself no way I would do cloth pads, menstrual cups or anything of the sort. The words that came to mind were ewww, gross, I don't want to, too much work, etc. But I changed my mind. Quickly. It was like cloth diapers. Just all of a sudden I had to try it. NOW. And I tried to make it happen.

Magic is in the air!

Or at least in our fingertips!

I decided to make a short post to show all the people who were asking what I meant by making magical dragon eggs!

Big L and I made some magical dragon eggs last night.

Zucchini Brownies!!

Ahhhh so yummy!! OK I know it is not the healthiest recipe ever and I still really want to get us grain free, BUT we are not there yet so might as well enjoy right?


Recipe:

1-1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. coconut oil
2 t. vanilla extract
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. baking cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 c. zucchini, shredded
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Mix sugar, oil and vanilla; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Blend in sugar mixture, zucchini and nuts.

WARNING
The mix will be so dry you will think there is no way it will make brownies like I did! So I did some researching and figured out it was fine. But I didn't get it into the oven till an hour after I mixed it and I could see how much it was getting moist.

WARNING 2
The batter is so yummy you may have a hard time not eating it right then and there and actually cooking it! ;P

Pour into a lightly oiled 13"x9" baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares. Makes about 1-1/2 dozen.

If any of you have a healthier version I would love to try it! Maybe replace the sugar with honey and a different kind of flour like almond or coconut? I'd love to make a successful version like that too!

Thoughtful Thursday a little late?

Well it is still Thursday somewhere! :)

So I have been in my kitchen quite a bit today and there is something that is kinda sorta bothering me.... The compost pile on the counter. There really isn't much of an issue with it. In fact this year has been better then last year with fruit flies and there is definitely more food laying around (picture below).

But um yeah. Look at it. You don't see that in any nice kitchen. I am not really sure what else I would do with it. People have suggested in the past putting it in the fridge but I DO NOT have any extra room in my fridge. Ever. So not happening. In order to put it under the counter I would need a bucket, which I don't have yet but may be what I will do once I get one. Although having to clean out a big bucket all the time doesn't thrill me either. Those pretty counter compost crocks don't hold very much and are usually pretty expensive... Decisions, decisions...

What do you do with your compost before you take it outside?

Growing

Life is all about growing. Growing up, growing old, growing is a wonderful thing. And growing a garden is awesome too! I know last year I was talking about getting a garden going but it took a little longer then expected. This year I am happy to announce I DID get my garden started.

This is my first year having a good size garden outdoors and it has been so fun and exciting. It is certainly a learning process though, there have been amazing surprises and failures. And I hope to have an even better and BIGGER garden next year.

Looking at pictures from when I started and where my garden is now makes me so happy. It has come so far and even for the plants that didn't make it or the things I didn't do right I am so happy to have had the chance to do it.

My goal is to grow enough to feed my family and then some. To really get into canning and fermenting and help support us from the dirt in our yard.

 The beginning of our food! :D

Very beginning raised beds!

 Bed 1

Acorn squash, pickling cucumbers, zucchini, lavender, thyme, broccoli, cabbage and marigolds.

Bed 1

Growing.

Bed 1

Growing more.

Bed 1 

Latest pic but a week or two old.

Bed 2 

Started out with rosemary, radishes and carrots.

 Bed 2 

Made room for some lettuce.

 

Bed 2

Harvesting our radishes which honestly didn't do that well... but we had fun anyway! :)

Bed 2

Put in some sage, basil and watermelon.

Bed 2

Growing! Tomatoes added and some little critter killed almost all of the basil.. :(

Bed 3

Started out with a lonely but amazing lemon balm plant I found growing wild on the side of our road!

Bed 3

Lots of potted tomatoes and peppers. I don't think any of our peppers are going to make it. 

But look at that lemon balm!

Bed 2 & 3

Lots of tomatoes now! And a strange plant/weed I was hoping is mugwort but I am not sure yet.

Special herb garden

Special herb garden present day..

So we weren't able to work anymore on the herb garden yet. And unless we find some free decent quality fill dirt it is going to have to be finished next year. Can you see it? It is to the right of the logs and COMPLETELY over grown..

Some garden yummies :)

And more :)

Lots of lemon balm this year, yay!

I am hopeful next year I will do even better! I plan on adding a few more beds and finishing the herbal garden as well. I am happy about that for another reason too. Yards except for kids to play in are a waste of space and resources. So we will be able to cut down more on mowing. Good for the earth and my husbands back!

♥

The yummiest of yummies!!!

Ohhhh mamas and papas and everyone in between! I had to blog this new recipe I tried today! Avocado pudding! And it is divine!

Recipe HERE!

Thanks so much to Guggie for sharing it !!
Seriously I am lost in a chocolatey avocado world right now!

Even Little L had some of his very first chocolatey goodness today. :) And typical me hanging around with my bra hanging out... I know you nursing mamas do it too! Right? lol

And no we are not eating pudding in the living room, on the furniture.. O.o

Hope you enjoy! We sure did! ♥

This mama GETS it!

I loved this post so much I had to share. Just 2 posts ago I was talking about baby wearing. Athough this post takes the cake on the subject! Seriously one of the best blog posts. Ever.

Aura joon Why I choose to wear my baby

I have been a follower of Aura joon for awhile now and her blog is beautiful. Check it out :D

OhEmGee mamas! Free stuff today only!

First off happy 4th everyone! Hope you are having a marvelous day! And 2nd if you are a part of the Mothering.com Community check your emails!! DO it! Now! lol. Free baby carriers and nursing covers minus the price of shipping! GO look! I have never tried either of those products but for that price I am now!

These are the baby slings:

SevenSlings

And the nursing covers:

UdderCovers

The nursing covers all say on backorder but I was able to buy one with the discount anyway so we will see what happens but the slings seem to be in stock still!

♥

Do you GET it?

*Waves out to the masses in cyberspace* So tonight I sit here tired and bored. I really should be going to sleep. But my sleep schedule is off because everyone in the house has been sick this week :(. The boys are asleep behind me on the bed and my "thinker" won't stop thinking (what's new?!)!

The longer I go being a "crunchy" mama the more alone I feel. Even though I know you mama's are out there I just never come across you.... And if I did how would that change anything? I am not super social usually, at least with strangers.

It saddens and frustrates me to go out in public most of the time. There is always so much disrespect to children from their own mothers and fathers. So much yelling, so many hurtful words. So many missed opportunities.  Where are my peaceful mamas? Not saying I have never raised my voice but I certainly do regret it! And maybe those mothers do too.

We took the boys out to see "Day Out with Thomas" the other week. They enjoyed it although we were more rushed then we would have liked. Everywhere I looked were strollers though. I know strollers aren't evil but I just want to see some baby wearing mama's! I mean I have chronic pain issues and I still try to wear Little L as much as I can (most certainly during outings). I understand everyone has their own set of circumstances too but I just want to see all those babies lovingly attached to their parents.

After we had visited the petting zoo and were cleaning up hands, there in front of me was another mama with her baby in a soft structured carrier! We both gave each other big smiles and the dads smiled too. She made a comment about her sleeping baby (of course he was comfy and happy!) then we went our separate ways. As we were walking away I said to my hubby "She GETS it!"

         I just have to interrupt this post to say how much I want chickens! We all do really! It is just something we have to work on.. Maybe next year!?

I am just having a hard time being away from everything I know I guess and never even SEEING anyone remotely like me in my parenting. It would be truly awesome to find some mama's like me. Non judgemental (I really try anyway!), crunchy, hippie types who wear their children, breastfeed, who are respectful and nurturing to their kids. Some real life mama support from moms who GET it really makes days easier.

I had found a spot I "fit in" on Facebook but that spot was another mamas personal page and she needed a break from FB so now I just feel lost. It is funny how you can feel a connection with someone or something and how it just brightens your days a little more. Even through the Internet.

I ended up creating a community page for anyone who might be interested, I know it will never be as full as the place I was a part of before but I was hoping it might help fill the void a bit. If any of you who read this are interested I JUST made it and could use some like minded mama's to get it going a little more :)

The Healing Earth Village

Little L on the train :)

Big L on the train :)

It really would be so much easier to clean with Clorox (spell?), eat pre-packaged prepared foods, do exactly what the doctors say and generally just not care nearly as much. But I do and I AM thankful for what I have learned and am learning still to try to give my children the best life I can and that they deserve.

Hugs to all the mama's who have strayed from the mainstream norm. And hugs for everyone else too because the world needs more hugs.. ♥