Celebrate Earth Everyday

Happy (belated) Earth Day!

To be honest, I think this day is silly. If everyday is not Earth Day then we've really lost touch with reality. I mean, without this place, we are sort of up the proverbial crick, ya know? Yes, I said crick. Creek just doesn't sound right to my Pittsburgh born and raised ears. I guess you can take a girl out of the Burgh but you can't take all the Pittburghese outta the girl!

Yes, I digressed.

Back to my point. Right... this obsessed with not being wasteful momma thinks Earth Day is silly. I know, oxymoron. I find it silly in the same way I find Valentine's Day to be silly. Of course it's wonderful to have a day where we are reminded to say "I love you" but if we aren't saying that to those we love each day, well, we are really missing the bigger picture here. Not to mention all the consumer waste that comes from that day. Maybe that's just me.

At least Earth Day has practical applications. It's an opportunity many wouldn't otherwise take to teach their kids or students about recycling and all the cool crafts you can make without spending unnecessary money or creating extra waste. It's a great day to plant your garden. We did the Sunday before. Maybe do a math experiment with water, showing your kids how much they (or you) waste of this invaluable natural resource when it's left running to brush their teeth. It's a great day to go to the zoo and see all the magnificent animals that bless this planet of ours and how they all contribute to the circle of life. The opportunities are endless but here's a list from a wonderful, inspirational and tear jerker of a post I read on Earth Day by Kissing the Frog.

In case you didn't realize, Earth Day is not today! It was Monday. But I'm just getting my mommy free time now. Which I'm spending writing this on my phone, as I sit at the mall Starbucks waiting for the stores to open. As if the i Pad wasn't annoying enough for typing up a post. All I need is my Clinique foundation. It's the only make up I wear and my acne is out if control so this is do or die for me. Yes, another digression. Perhaps I better drink this chai quicker and get my head on for the day!

Okay, back to my story that made me decide to write about Earth Day. It involves Starbucks. Now, I typically would never have anything negative to say about this place. Not just because they help keep me sane and awake but because it was the best company I ever worked for. However, I had an experience on Sunday that I must share. Mainly because was so ridiculous to me that it takes me back to my, "effin West Virgina" post and how I shake my head almost daily at the fact this PA girl now lives in the one state we all grow up making fun of! But also because it's a prime example of how people don't pay attention to how they can help our planet daily rather than crate unnecessary waste and harm.

So, I ran into the new Starbucks at target last Sunday. They had these awesome reusable cups for only a buck! A BUCK! Hot or cold reusable cups. Amazing. One can never have enough reusable coffee cups so I grabbed one, thinking, hey tomorrow is Earth Day so at least I did my one good deed for Mother Earth in case I forget. Not likely, but you never know. I order my iced soy chai, light ice. And THEN I watch the barista take a plastic cup and mark my order on it, set it down for the other barista to make and then set my new reusable cup next to it for them to use. She makes my drink and then tosses the unused plastic cup in the TRASH. The same cup that I spent an extra dollar to avoid doing just that when finished. No one thought twice. No one looked like that was the silliest thing ever. Well, maybe not EVER, but close. I left with my jaw a bit dropped unable to speak because I really couldn't believe that just happened.

In all fairness to my beloved Starbucks, a Target store Starbucks isn't a "real" Starbucks AND in all fairness to my current state, there are people everywhere that don't stop and think before they act. Like how I avoided saying stupid people? I wanted to but hey, everyone does stupid things from time to time. I sure do. Daily. So, I'm trying to give them the benefit of the doubt and think it was just a momentary lapse in using their brain cells to their full potential. Yet, two people were involved so it makes me question that theory. Either way. Another shake my head moment to chalk up for the books. Or blog inthis case.

Anyway, that's my story. A very long version of a silly little story about how we as humans continue to waste and not think twice a out how it is impacting this miraculous planet of ours. This may seem insignificant to many but if everyone does this each day, imagine the unnecessary waste! Compare that to every one who enters a Starbucks and grabs one of these $1 reusable cups.

 

We really can make a big difference doing the little things. Every. Day. 

Betty Crocker Madness

This is by far the longest I have gone without writing since I started this blog a little over a year ago. Which reminds me, I missed my bloggeversary! Oops. Oh well. These last three weeks have been a bit out of control.

If you follow me on Facebook then you have a good idea of all the hoopla that's been running me around these past 3 weeks like an even more insane mom than I already was! Rota Virus hit the kids while away for the week. Or a stomach bug that resembled it but not as bad as some horror stories I've heard or as bad as my step dad got it after we left. Two pipe breaks at the house. The sound of jet engines is still raging in our basement as the professionals continue their drying process and making their best efforts to not pull drywall out. To be honest, I wouldn't mind it getting redone!

On the plus side of things, our new fur baby has finally arrived! Nellie is as sweet as they come and also quite scared/skidish. She still won't eat much, 10 days later, and hides in our bedroom most of the time. She's afraid of Craig, really she's afraid of anyone but me! I guess the crazy kids running and yelling and mom running and yelling after them and our crazy boxer barking at anything or anyone that comes within 100 feet of our home and all these contractors in and out like a revolving door this past week... she's not quite sure what to make of this mad house! Hopefully she gets more comfortable soon. She's quite precious.

Getting used to her big brother Apollo!

Smelling good after her first grooming!



Bonding with Rylie. She sleeps with Caleb :)

Probably the most impacting part of our lives though has been some new diets! We saw the holistic doctor everyone kept recommending to me. He did muscle testing on the kids and I. Yes, I'm aware that modern medicine thinks this is nonsense and many would call him a "quack". That's another post for another day! Anyway, I've been on an antifungal and no nightshades diet while the kids are enjoying dairy and gluten free foods for two weeks.

My son also had his allergist appointment and it turns out that "quack" was right with at least part of it.... the boy is in fact allergic to dairy... and eggs, tomato, some outside mold spore and possibly cats and ragweed. Everything was mild to moderate (eggs being the moderate) so nothing to really worry about. He can probably get him off his prilosec and get his eczema cleared up if we avoid these things when possible, which was my goal.

So basically I've been like Betty Crocker on speed these past couple weeks and THAT is worth posting about. I would not call myself a cook by any stretch of the word. As a matter of fact I avoid it when possible. But, in my quest for us all to eat and live "cleaner" I'm doing my best. I also have been quite proud of myself with some of the things I've made, via recipe and even my own ideas, so I thought I'd share with you all! Or more pat my own back, but who's to say you won't enjoy some of this delicious foods too?!

I jumped right in with gluten free blueberry pancakes hoping to start these diets off with a bang. Technically I shouldn't have eaten them since the flour had potato starch in it (potatoes are nightshades) but I haven't been perfect on this adventure, that's for sure! This one was simple. I bought some gluten and dairy free pancake mix at the store and made it to recipe. Just added some frozen organic blueberries in there and cooked them using coconut oil. Kids gobbled them right up! Actually, Rylie has been eating much better these past two weeks and Caleb finally drinks milk since we swtiched to vanilla almond milk. Which means he needs to potty train A-sap because this boy is going through diapers like a newborn now that he finally drinks! I'm not complaining though. I'm just happy I finally found things that don't hurt their little bellies.

Tonight was make your own pizza night. Always a fun one for the kiddos! I got gluten and dairy free pizza crust and we made our own dough because all the store bought ones had egg. We substituted flax seed meal for egg so Caleb could enjoy it too. We mixed it all together with the electric mixer, a favorite part for Rylie! It was a bit more sticky than pizza dough should be but we just sprinkled some of our gluten/dairy free all purpose flour on the pizza pan and my hands and it turned out pretty good. Even with the veggie mozzarella cheese. The boy ate two pieces! He must miss his tomatoes. I'm hoping that allowing some of the foods he's allergic to in moderation will keep the reflux and eczema at bay as they've been notably better over the past week. I mean, every kid deserve to eat pizza, even if it isn't the tasty clog your arteries kind :) Anyway, here was the final product! Sadly, again, I can't enjoy because we put yeast in the crust but I did steal a taste.

Since I can't eat vinegar it's made eating salad's challenging. I was thinking of how sick I was of simply using lemon juice and olive oil so while I cut some strawberries for the kids lunch I had a brilliant idea! I pureed what was left of the strawberries, added some lemon juice and used that as my dressing. So good. Then I added some raw honey to what was left, blended it again and poured that onto our new popsicle molds... since we were down to one strawberry pop left. Mmmm Mmmmmm. Too bad I can't eat any sugar on my antifungal diet so I can't have them either, but I snuck a bite in. Have to make sure what the kids eat is good, right? The perks of being the mom :) If your kids are like mine and love treats, these will make you feel good about what you're giving them. (these ones are not mine but from the recipe linked below)

Give them a try!

 

I also made a yummy dairy, gluten and egg free meatloaf just in case the kids decided to give it a try. Caleb had a few bites but of course they didn't eat it. It doesn't specify gluten free in the recipe but oats are okay on this gluten free diet or you can buy the gluten free oats. It was quite tasty, even Craig agreed, so it will be added to our mix of meals from now on.

I've been the muffin momma, moreso than usual I should say. I make 3 batches in 10 days! It's my salvation when I'm craving bread products (obviously no yeast is part of antifungal!) Sadly, the last batch turned out nasty as I only had 3 instead of 4 bananas but since they were pretty big I thought it might work. Not so much. But, these recipes are good, when made right and not overcooked! AND, you can make them gluten free! I used oat flour for each of them and the gluten/dairy free all purpose flour for the ones I was down a banana. Maybe they didn't turn out well because of the different flour?

This morning I made walnut kale pesto. Only 5 ingredients and it passed the husband taste test effortlessly, despite him being quite skeptical. I asked if I should freeze some and he said "nah, it won't lat long." I think I'll try it on pasta for dinner tomorrow, maybe with some crackers or carrots for snack. The possibilities are endless! The best part is this is one you can make extra and freeze so you don't have to be Better Crocker every single day. I'm determined to eat this not so tasty on its own superfood as much as possible and this article gives many yummy looking ways to achieve that goal! Here's my first one...

Last but certainly not least are these insanely delicious treats. They taste like dessert but can be eaten for breakfast or snack or whenever your heart desires! I've made them three times now in less than 2 weeks. The last time (last night) I doubled up the recipe. The kids aren't interested in the way they look so they won't even try them which was fine by me because I ate them all myself with no problem! I used walnuts the first two times before I realized it said substitute almonds or pecans if you can't find hazelnuts (which I couldn't). These are to die for, in my opinion. I didn't drizzle with the coconut milk because as some of you may know, I despise coconut. Which sucks given it is so good for so many things. I'd imagine if you like coconut, adding that little touch would be truly heavenly though.

Here's the easy recipe, try them yourself!

Mine!

 

 

And this is the reason for my long absence! I promise not to leave you all hanging for such an extended time again but I think all this deserves a free pass for this one time, right?! Well, I'm off to find a chocolate zuchini bread recipe we all can enjoy! Back to our "quack" doc that has helped ease my chronic pain when no one else could, relieve Caleb's eczema and we are just about fully off of prilosec in this house...all in two weeks. If we don't test sensitive to any of these things anymore we should be able to just focus on the dairy and egg free for Caleb but I think I may stick with the gluten free as much as we can afford to since something about all this clearly is helping.

 

Let me know if you try any of these recipes. I'd be interested to hear if everyone else likes them too! If you have any to share please post in the comments for all to enjoy. And feel free to share this with your friends. 

 

Namaste.