Wow this thing is still on here =)

I have to say I thought for sure blogger had a time limit on these pages. Like a timeout if you don't blog for months but I am pleasantly surprised that it is still here! Well you all are probably not listening any more so I will blog to cyber space (does anyone say that anymore?). Anyway a lot and I mean a lot has changed since I stopped blogging. I went back to work full time, trying to manage mother, wive and work is crazy enough as it is. Of course I had to add my own bit of over the top craziness by being pregnant with number three. Very excited number three is well on her way and we can't wait for her to come. I have to say I have more to blog about now then ever trying to handle full time work, pregnancy, motherhood, wife and Christian all while eating healthy (don't count the preggy Chick-fil-a runs) and cloth diapering. Hope you enjoy!

Blessing Laur

Natures Garden Delivered

Wow it has been a long time since I posted. To be honest it has been crazy and today is the first morning I had a free moment. I am super excited to have found a new adventure, a company that delivers fresh organic/natural fruits and vegetables to your door!!!!! I have been getting the local food stop bags but some weeks just can't get to the drop. While checking a Bread Beckers post I found Nature's Garden Delivered. We got our first box yesterday and I am so happy. Organic fruits and veggies (some local) plus they even deliver local milk from Johnston Dairy in south Georgia. Here is the website, just pop on and check to see if they deliver to your zipcode. Then you can sign up for a weekly box (tiny, small, med, large) plus weekly add ons like milk. The best part is you set your preferences like if you hate kale and they will never put it in your box and you get to sub each week if you don't like something in your box. Last week they had a funky squash in my box and I substituted for more organic pears, yummy! http://ga.naturesgardendelivered.com/index.php

Blessings, Lauren

Dishwasher Soap

Ok I am super excited about this one, we made homemade dishwasher soap. The best part, it was so easy and it got me thinking why did we ever start buying dishwasher soap in the first place. Humm is it easier to just buy the brand name, well no it took me all of two minutes to make. Is it cheaper to buy the brand name well no it cost me about 6 dollars for the ingredients that will make enough dishwasher soap for what looks like 3 plus months. Here is all it took and I got the ingredients at Publix. 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of super washing soda, mix together in a resealable container (I used a small wheat bucket =) ). For every wash just use two tablespoons in your dispenser, for added shine fill your jet dry dispenser with distilled white vinegar. We ran our first load today and everything came out nice and clean. The best part it is all natural!!!!!!! Thanks to the hubby for doing all the research, gotta love him. Blessings Lauren

Sprouts

We have sprouts, well almost. We started sprouting this weekend and I am just amazed at how easy it is. A $5 Jar from Harry's and some sprouting seeds that's all it takes to start. Now the seeds from Harry's were 4.99 but I am told that the prices are much better online at places like sprouts people. They do variety packs which is very cool.  Well anyway after freaking out all weekend thinking I was going to screw it up I just went for it and it is so darn easy. A pack of seeds and three times the water in a sprouting jar, soak overnight. By the morning the seeds are already broken open now I just rinse and drain twice a day for 5-6 days. Oh and keep the jar in a darker area of your kitchen till day 4, then move it to a sunny area! I have to say so far sprouts super easy and a great project for you and the kids. A little side note if doing broccoli sprout  (yes they taste like little broccolis and are the only sprout my family will eat) know that on day 4 something interesting happens. This is where I panicked thinking I ruined $5 worth of sprout seeds. This seeds mold (not really) but they look like it, then I read this on sprout peoples website. Root Hairs- A thin hairlike outgrowth of an epidermal cell of a plant root that absorbs water and minerals from the soil. These microscopic roots are often mistaken for mold by new sprouters. If you take a magnifying glass you can see them for what they are. Root Hairs are usually only visible when the sprout is at it's driest - just before Rinsing. The Rinse will push them back against the main root. Root Hairs are generally only visible on certain sprouts; Brassicas (Broccoli, Radish, Mustard, etc.) and Grains (Oats, Barley, Rye, Wheat, etc.). New sprouters that would be me, but all in all super easy and fun, now lets just hope they taste good! Blessings Laur

Market & Harvest

We are so blessed to have been asked to be a part of Cumming Harvest. This is a wonderful opportunity for us and we are so happy to be involved. You can now visit the Cumming Harvest website to order our baked goods to be picked up on Saturday mornings. They have a wonderful group of local farmers and growers that also have goods available for purchase. Visit http://www.cumming.locallygrown.net/ for more information. We are also so excited to announce that Brookwood Market has been extended through the month of October and we will be there!  God just amazes me everyday and he reminds us of his blessing in the most incredible ways. As I drove home yesterday I was graced with the most beautiful rainbow I had every seen. Thank you lord for all that you do! Blessings Lauren

Batteries

I hate batteries, to be fare they are not exactly green and if you have kids you know you can't live without them. I need to apologize in advance to anyone who has ever given my child a toy that needs batteries but since the batteries that come with the toy if the manufacturer even includes them usually only last a day, as a result my child has a mountain of battery operated toys that do not currently work. Why because batteries are a fortune these days and it is an endless cycle. She came to me this morning with her camera (battery operated) that was not working so I started the battery hunt fully knowing there was none. The tantrum started and I end up playing the you got to wait till daddy comes home card. So feeling like a terrible mom I went and bought the Costco size battery box and had daddy change out all the toys. Blessings Lauren

No Impact Man & Organic Milk

So I finally got to watch it and I was amazed. No Impact Man is a writer and his family (Wife and baby daughter) that set out on a year with no impact on the world. This means no cars, electricity, no shopping and only local foods (with in 250 miles) and the list goes on. I was amazed because they were normal people like you and me and they did it for a whole year. Now I am not about to go without toilet paper but the movie did make a lot of interesting points and did make me think. The most interesting was a trip he and his family made to a local dairy farm. He questioned the farmer as to why he was not certified organic, the farmer replied by saying his cows were part of his family and he could not watch one of them die because if they got sick and could not be treated under organic regulations. Hmmmmm I am a huge animal lover and this made me wonder if I was making the best milk choice for my family. Not just because I want fair treatment of all animals especially ones producing food for my family (unhappy cows equals unhappy milk!)but because I don't want to be mislead in this crazy consumer world thinking just because it is organic it is good for you. I have just begun my research but I will keep you all posted on what my findings are. Yes most organic milk is better than regular milk but it is which organic milk you buy and some major milk companies treat there cows better than some organic farms. Also keep in mind that most local farms follow organic rules i.e. no mass antibiotics or growth hormones but they will remove a sick animal from the herd treat it and return it back when it is well. Sounds like the best option to me, only problem most local milk in GA is raw milk. I don't know why I can't wrap my head around raw milk but I am getting there. That's a story in it self! Blessing Laur

Diapers

SO I have to admit I have been off and on cloth diapers for a week now. A WEEK!!! I do have an excuse but no excuse is a good one right. I was visiting family in NJ and had trouble traveling with cloth. Then I got home only to discover that I was exhausted and did not want to do wash, lazy lazy girl. Well after only one week of disposables I discovered something. MY TRASH HAS TRIPLED!!! You read that right, I was shocked but for everyone that doesn't think disposables make an impact on our landfills come check out my trash, you are more than welcome =) So I washed everything and first thing this morning we went back to all cloth and it feels so good. For baby too!!! My trash has thanked me and I challenge you to at least try cloth every once. It is not only better for the environment, it is better for baby (no chemicals or plastic on their lil bottoms) and easier on your wallet. Oh p.s. if you are trying the "it costs more in utilities route" I want you to know that after we started cloth diapering my water bill went up a whopping, wait for it .40 cents. OMG and I only do two extra loads a week, oh plus you only use 1/4 the recommended detergent for each load. So every two weeks I use one extra scoop. Hmmmm got you thinking right. Well if you ever want to try I would love to help!!!! Seriously!!! Happy diapering Laur

Publix

So I have to say was super excited to go to Publix today and find that they have made there own version of lunchables. But wait a healthy version of them!!! With things like organic yogurt, apple slices, fresh wrap and pita sandwiches. So excited to see things like this happening so that us moms have healthy quick options for our little ones. The best part is at only $3.99 for sandwich, drink and side item it's cheaper than drive thru. Rock on Publixs, you get my praises this week!!!

Harvest Chicken Salad

I love this recipe in the fall but I have been craving it and wanted to share. Nice twist on plain old chicken salad, so having this tonight!!!!

1/2 cup olive oil Mayonnaise
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey
1/3 cup thinly sliced celery
1/3 cup cut-up apples or grapes
Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Serve topped with some lettuce on your favorite freshly milled bread =)

Blessings, Laur

Freshly Milled

As I sit here and drink my coffee (between bread batches) I can't help but think about the wonderful god we have. I was introduced to milling and baking and from the first moment fell in love with it. I just knew in my heart that this is something God wanted me to do. It wasn't long before I wanted to do it for others and had an idea that I would love to do this for a living. Come on, I am excited about getting up at 4am to bake =) I expressed this to a friend at bible study one night and from our conversation just felt it could never happen. I put it on the back burner and went back to real life. Well as amazing as God is and as we all know if he wants you to do something he will make it happen, I got an e-mail three weeks ago from that friend who happens to be on the committee of a local farmers market. One of the bread vendors was going to be out for two weeks and they wanted to know if I would fill in. Wow, I was in shock, excited, nervous and overwhelmed. I baked and baked and baked and we sold out of almost everything. Week two came and went to quickly and my friend had asked if I would like her to speak to the committee about staying on all season. Tired but knowing how amazing it was I was even there I gladly said yes, but knew there was a very small chance since the committee did not want three bread vendors. Well I pretty much wrote the chance off and had told my hubby that I would have felt bad staying because the other vendor had been there all season and I did not want to have to compete with her. Well God is so amazing and I truly know this is what I am supposed to be doing because on Wednesday I received an e-mail that said the other bread vendor had dropped out for the rest of the season and they wanted to know know if I would come on as a regular vendor. When God wants you to do something he will make it happen. So here we are Freshly Milled and I can't tell you just how amazing it is. God Bless, Lauren

Baby Laughs

Baby's have the most infections laugh, I could listen to it for hours. As I listen to my eight month old laugh to tears at her sister bouncing a ball (I know what you are thinking bouncing a ball how hysterical), but I had a thought if you could bottle baby laugh no one could ever be mad!!! Seriously thank god for beautiful babies. Blessing Laur

Farmers Market

We will be back at the Brookwood Farmers Market tomorrow!!! 4-8pm and we are so excited and tired =( But so worth it. I have created a "website", I use that term loosely because it is really just a blog with our info. Check it out http://freshlymilled.blogspot.com/

Blessings Laur

Strawberry honey

So if you are like me you grew up on Aunt Jemima aka liquid sugar, actually.... INGREDIENTS: CORN SYRUP, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WATER, CELLULOSE GUM, CARAMEL COLOR, SALT, SODIUM BENZOATE AND SORBIC ACID (PRESERVATIVES), ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FLAVORS, SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE.
I switched us to pure maple syrup at like 4 times the cost (ahhhh) and it turns out that the heating process to make maple syrup actually destroys much of the nutritional value. Ok so now what? Strawberry Honey!!!! Woo Hoo

Place 1 cup frozen organic strawberries in a microwave safe bowl
Pour 1/4 cup raw honey over top (we use Sage honey)
Place in microwave for 1 min and then stir to squish strawberries
Place back in the microwave for 1 more minute and stir, your done.

So yummy use this on pancakes or waffles. We even use this with PB to make PB and Jelly!

Blessings Laur

Farmers Market

We are so excited (a little terrified) to announce that we will be at the Brookwood farmers market. God has given us a wonderful opportunity to sell our breads as a guest vendor. We will be there for the next two Fridays, so come visit!!!!

http://www.brookwoodfarmersmarket.com

2lb Loaf

Woo hoo isn't she a beauty. Yes these are the things you get excited about when you are a stay at home mommy. This is my first 2 lb bread loaf I did by hand!! Super exciting for me and I know you are just dancing around the room right now!!! Blessings Laur

Basics list for bread baking

I love baking real bread and love sharing this love with everyone. I have been asked to put together a basics list of what you need. So below is a list of the basis you will need to make all your breads, rolls, muffins, pizza crust, pancakes, waffles and the list goes on.... If you have no idea what I am talking about feel free to contact me or visit www.breadbeckers.com. Happy baking!!! Blessing Laur

Equipment needed:

Bread Machine (I got mine at walmart or you can check craigslist for a used one)
Grain Mill (I have the wondermill and I got it at breadbeckers)
Bread Beckers Cookbook- has every recipe you could ever need

Ingredients needed:
For basic dough recipe (makes all variations of breads, rolls, and pizza crust) Can also use the following ingredients for bagels, pita bread, english muffins and so on....

BB is Bread Beckers
Wheat (Can use hard red or hard white wheat) I would start with a small bucket of each to see what your family likes (sold at BB)
Flax seed (buy whole seed and grind in a blender) buy at any health food store or at BB
Instant yeast (Most stores carry or they have at BB)
Gluten (BB)
Lecithin (BB)
Honey (BB is the best price I can find because you use a lot of honey) l gallon of wildflower is about $27
Olive oil
Salt (I use sea salt)
Eggs

For muffins/pancakes just grab these extra ingredients...

Baking soda
Baking powder
Buttermilk (can also make at home 1 cup of milk and Tbs of vinegar)
Vanilla
Cinnamon
Nutmeg

Then depending on the flavor you want (bananas, walnuts, blueberries, mixed berries, what ever you want)

Let me know if anyone needs anything!!! Once you get started it is super easy trust me =)

Raisins

This is a weird one but I never knew this and I think the average person wouldn't know this either. Did you know you are supposed to store rasins in the refridgerator? Shocking I know =) Let me read you the back of my rasins... "Rasins are best kept in the refridgerator in a sealed container or plastic bag. Stored this way, they can retain their full flavor, color and nutritional value for up to two years." Ok so now I am thinking about all the bad rasins I must have eaten over the years or shall I say nutritionless rasins =) Blessings Laur

I was wrong

Yes I admit it I was wrong and you better mark this date on your calendar because this doesn't happen very much. I am mortified to tell you that Altoids gum does in fact have aspartame in it. AHHHH I am not sure how we missed it but there it is 12th ingredient down. I am sorry to anyone that has purchased it because of my earlier blog and it looks like I am back to the drawing board when it comes to healthy gums. So far the only two I have found that are truly aspartame free and all natural are...

Spry Gum-
Soothing spearmint flavored sugar-free chewing gum sweetened with 100% xylitol. Great-tasting Spry Chewing Gum is the gum of choice for fresh breath and healthier teeth and gums! Studies have shown that when combined with normal dental hygiene, regular use of xylitol gums may reduce the risk of dental caries
Ingredients:
Xylitol, gum base, natural flavors (green tea), vegetable glycerin, gum Arabic, soy lecithin, beeswax
http://www.xlear.com/spry.aspx#1

Glee Gum-
All natural chewing gum made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle. It comes in SIX great flavors: cinnamon, peppermint, tangerine, bubblegum, spearmint, and triple berry. Glee Gum is the #1 healthy alternative to synthetic chewing gum and bubble gum! With no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners (no aspartame), or preservatives, it's easy to chew Glee-fully!(Just found out you can buy Glee in bulk 360 pieces for $10)
http://www.gleegum.com/order_now.htm

Let me know if you have found any others and if they are any good!!!
Blessings, Laur

Sunscreen

Ok so I achieved the impossible, well at least to the normal person it is. I got sunburned at the lake this weekend wearing 50 spf oh yes water babies 50 spf which I also reapplied at one point. What is it with red heads were we just born with the inability to be in the sun? I need to create a 250 spf sunscreen and market it made by red heads for red heads. Every red head would understand =) Interesting fact I learned our bodies were not created to get sunburn. Crazy? I think not Adam and Eve did not have sunscreen and they were naked!!!! God created foods that when consumed would protect our bodies from they sun (i.e. tomatoes), the problem now is our standard American diet, in short SAD does not contain the foods we need to protect us. So eat right and you will protect your skin and save on sunscreen! Just one more reason to eat healthy. Blessings Laur