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