Random Picture From Yesterday

The avocado plant I was boasting about way back in the summer. She has grown A LOT since the last picture I posted.

Here are five tips for going organic for less:

~My husband emailed me this about 2 weeks ago. I am not sure where he read it or I would link it.~

Set some priorities
You’ll get the most bang for your buck by buying organic apples, beef and spinach. That’s because the conventional counterparts to these foods are laden with pesticides and potentially harmful additives (see chart below). Produce like papayas, bananas and broccoli require less pesticide to grow, thereby retaining little to no residue after washing. (The peels on bananas and other tropical fruits further reduce your exposure). Also, read the label. Seafood, cosmetics and cleaning products can be labeled “organic” without having to face the same requirements that the USDA imposes on vegetables and meat. “There is no system, no real oversight,” warns Kimberly Stewart, the author of “Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket Shopper’s Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels.” You’ll pay premium prices with no guarantees.

Should You Buy Organic?

Worth It:
Fruits
Apples, cherries, grapes, pears, berries, peaches, nectarines, plums

Vegetables
Celery, potatoes, spinach, bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans

Meat/Dairy
Beef, pork, poultry, eggs and dairy

Other
Baby food

Not Worth It
Fruits
Bananas, kiwi, mangoes, papaya, pineapples, oranges

Vegetables
Asparagus, avocados, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, onions, sweet peas

Meat/Dairy
Seafood

Other
Processed food (chips, pasta, etc.), cleaning products, cosmetics

* Data from “Eating Between the Lines,” Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports.

Consider your alternatives
Prices on organic meats, eggs and dairy products can be some of the most exorbitant. The culprit: A lack of the organic feed for the animals, says Stewart. So if you can’t stomach prices for organics, consider antibiotic- or hormone-free foods. While the animals may have eaten regular feed, they meet the other half of organic requirements — no hormones or antibiotics. At online grocer FreshDirect, a half-gallon of Horizon organic milk is $3.99, while the same size Farmland antibiotic-free milk is $2.19.

Organic goes on sale, too
Conventional discount shopping wisdom also applies to organic goods. Grocery stores frequently put organic foods on sale, so keep an eye out for coupons or discounts advertised in their circulars. Shop Rite’s July 15-21 circular, for example, touts organic bananas for 69 cents per pound (the same price as conventional ones) and organic Stonyfield Yogurt at 10 for $6.99 (a break of 19 cents each off the usual price of 89 cents). Also, buy fruits and veggies that are in season. Pricing becomes much more competitive during those times. At Whole Foods, a six-ounce container of raspberries is currently $3.49 whether you go organic or not. Meanwhile, a 16-ounce container of conventional strawberries is $2.99; for organic, just 50 cents more.

Turn to local farmers
Your local farmers’ market can be a great place to buy organic food. That’s because a combination of seasonality and competition helps keep prices down, says Rangan. At New York’s famous Union Square Greenmarket, organic and conventional tomatoes were both recently $1.50 per pound. Another option: community-supported agriculture programs, or CSAs. For a fee, you’ll be supplied with fresh, organic produce on a weekly basis throughout the growing season. Quiet Creek Farm in Kutztown, Pa., for example, charges $600, or roughly $23 per week, for enough produce to feed three to four people. Depending on the week, you might get broccoli, peppers, zucchini, melons, strawberries, herbs or any of the other 40-plus organic items the farm produces.

Consider generics
Supermarket chain Meijer has Meijer Organics, Giant Eagle has Nature’s Basket and Publix has GreenWise Market. Many supermarkets are adding organic lines to their private labels, a move that allows shoppers to buy organic at significant discounts over big-name brands, says Teri Gault, founder of The Grocery Game, a program that helps consumers match manufacturers’ coupons with store sales. At Safeway, a 20-ounce bottle of store-brand O Organics ketchup is $2.45, a steal compared with the 15-ounce bottle of Heinz Organic at $3.79. Considering price per ounce, you’ll save 49%.

Lets Play Catch Up

Hello everyone that reads my blog. ~waving~

I have been busy to say the least. I posted a picture from the goodies from my little container garden on my back porch. It is just lovely. I am having so much fun with it. I am going to cook the zucchini and green beans tonight. And slice the juicy tomato. I am even going to use my salad greens and cucumber for a salad!

Saturday we took the kids bowling. H’s new BF came along too. He’s a nice young boy. I met his father and they are ‘good’ people. So I am okay with her talking to him and such. We sat around and bowled, played a few games and munched from the BA Menu. They had tator tots on the menu! I LOVE TATOR TOTS!! They should be on every menu! LOL

Then HB took H & B2 to see the new Harry Potter. Me and Lil O stayed at home and packed. They didn’t tell me anything about the movie because I want to see it myself. They did say it was GREAT! But so far they all have been. I wish I had the patience to read the books. Not only do I not have it I don’t have the time as well.

Sunday we got up and of course I was frantic closing the suitcase and making sure nothing was forgot about. Yanno like hats, O’s blanket, extra pacifiers, tennis shoes (TO WHICH B2 ONLY HAD ONE CHORE–PACK HIS TENNIS SHOES AND HE FORGOT!) sunscreen, snacks, toys, and bathroom things. I managed to get everything ready and in the car so when HB was done watching the tour we could leave. My sis and her family showed up and we hit the road. Well after filling up 2 cars with gas and stopping by Green Life we hit the open road. Until we had to stop and pee and then stop and get lunch. LOL

We were headed to the NC ZOO. The plan was to check in the hotel at 3. Let the 5 kids play in the pool all afternoon and order in. That was pretty much how it went except the heated outdoor pool wasn't heated at all. We played for a bit then went to our room. The men went out and found food and we ate in the room. Then we hung out talking and watching TV until bedtime.

We woke up to rain. Got everyone ready and packed up the cars. Had breakfast and then drove to the zoo. We had a wonderful time. I really love that Zoo!!! It was wonderful seeing all these great animals. I took 186 pictures. I will post only a few.

This is your first glimpse in the zoo. BEAUTIFUL!

I love Gorillas!



Nap Time already?



Me and H.



H2, B2 and H.



They had lots of Elephants.



See the baby?



Me & O.



Polar Bears.

That is only a small part of our day.

We came home after that and then the usual unpacking and baths and etc….

We got up Tuesday and the kids wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese again. We had a great time. Pizza and games!

H & B2 went to their dads when he got off work. So last night was the first quiet night I have had in some time. (I won’t mention the 2 hour nap I took when we got home from eating and playing.)

Today I am working on laundry. PILES OF LAUNDRY! I promised myself I am going to work on B2’s quilt when Lil O takes her nap.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week. I printed out school supply lists to hit Target this week while they are having their back to school sale!

Bye Bye

From My Garden

I’m Back…

Things have quietened down a bit so I am back to post. We were away for the weekend and if I say so myself, we had a lovely time. We were with my mamaw, great aunt, my daddy, his GF and of course all the kids and my husband. We sat by the pool. Shopped at a few places. Had a couple good meals. Visited the Dixie Stampede. And B & B2 rode go-carts. It was our yearly trip in Pigeon Forge. We’ve been doing it since I was a little girl. Now my husband gets to go too. LOL At first he was leary of my family routine but now I think looks forward to it like we do. I am sad though we didn’t get to play a good game of Scrabble by the pool this year. That is what we usually do while the kids play in the pool all day. But now that we have Lil O, she needs constant attention and she LOVED the pool and slide. No time for Scrabble this year.

I returned home to veggies that grew like CRAZY while I was gone. I have about 7 cucumbers on the vines and when we left I had 2. The bell pepper is huge as well. It was exciting to see the progress in a couple days! I was worried they wouldn’t be happy about missing a day with no water. Unless it rained. It didn’t. So I watered them first thing. Also, my avocado is sprouting on top now. The root is about 7-8 inches long, maybe longer! I’ll post a picture of it later to show the progress. I don’t know if the other pits are going to do anything. Maybe time to throw them out and make more guacomole. LOL

Well, I have a baby blanket to work on. I hope that everyone that reads this is well and they post soon. Good Night

A Car Wreck, Death in the Family and 2 Tomato Plants

You’d think after surviving a girl turning 13 and her pool party; we could have a lovely weekend. LOL We did until Sunday afternoon. My grandmother who turns 77 this Sunday and my great aunt who turns 79 this year were in a car accident. You always hear they happen close to home and they were right. They were about 30 seconds away from the driveway when they were hit from the side. The were on the main road and some kid was backing out from a driveway hitting the passenger side–blowing out the tire–which sent them on a wild ride through yards, knocking down a fence and finally stopping near a tree. My poor poor mamaw and aunt going on that crazy ride thinking they were going to die.

Then my MIL had her favorite brother die. To which the funeral is today. I have only met him a few times but he was a nice man. His family is going to miss him.

Yesterday my sister and 2 nieces were here all day. No major accidents thank goodness.

Both plants have them. AWESOME! It’s nice to see progress when growing a garden like I am. Everything is in bloom. The local chipmunks keep taking my spinach so unless I make a net for the boxes–they will have eaten it all before I can harvest it. Ehhh, you win and lose some. LOL

Our baby birds are growing like crazy and I am sure will be flying by the weekend. It was fun to watch them!

Well, things to do today. I hope everyone has a lovely Tuesday.

BTW, was anyone else way disappointed on how the Sopranos ended???? Hell’s Kitchen was on again last night. Lots of yelling and the girls kicked butt and took names for later. There is a series I loved last year on HBO–Big Love. It premiered last night and I have to find the first show so I can watch it today! Big Love is worth watching! Oh, and another interesting Doctor Who again over the weekend. We watched it last night. Too bad they are finally getting good when the season is almost over…..

Crunchy Lime Gum?

Happy Monday. Busy weekend for us with company. I have a few things to share.

First- CALLING ALL DOCTOR WHO FANS!!!!
If you can watch the past two Doctor Who’s from the BBC. DO IT! It was a two parter and the best so far out of the new season. Since you cannot watch it on american television. Find a way to watch it. I have been thinking about it for a week now. It was a touching one this time. About time!

Second- The Growing of a Container Garden
My garden is growing like crazy. My tomatoes are blooming. I have cute lil spinach leaves coming up with assorted salad greens. My green beans look amazing! The kids have sunflowers and watermelon up! I pulled up a couple watermelons plants to give the others a good chance to grow bigger.

Third- My Avocado Pits are Rooting
This time I am not going to sit them out for cute decorative effects and boil them, I have 4 and it looks like they all might root. AWESOME. I have a good link to share if anyone else wants to try.
Grow An Avocado Tree

Fourth-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ALL HAVE THEIR SPECIAL DAYS PAST AND COMING UP!!!!
My niece turned 2. My grandmother turned 71 Sunday. My husband turns a year older on Wednesday. My sister turns 18 AGAIN on Thursday. MY DAUGHTER TURNS 13 ON FRIDAY! ~THUD~ My mamaw turns 77 in the 17th. (MJ has a birthday in there too!)

And Finally-
NEVER EVER buy Lime chewing gum. My sister bought a pack today and conned me into trying a piece. I love lime. But lime and gum mixed is terrible. Just terrible. Lime should be kept for pies and drinks.

I went to the chiropractor so I am sore today. Took my sister out for a birthday lunch.

I have dinner in the crock pot cooking. My grandmothers homemade Sloppy Joe’s! They are really tasty. I’ll share the recipe if any one wants it. Let me know.

Well, I am going to enjoy what quiet time I have left before the kids get home. Have a lovely night.

OH OH I almost forgot. Gordon Ramsay fans! Hells Kitchen premiers tonight. Third Season. We love that show. And we all know about my SUPER HUGE CRUSH ON GORDON!!!!!

Today brought back lots of childhood memories.

We took O to see Sesame Street on stage. It was exciting even for me! Ernie sang the moon song and it has always been a favorite of mine. 112 pictures later~~we were home. LOL

I ordered pizza and even had it delivered. I just wasn’t in any mood to cook. I just gave O her bath. H is in the shower. B & B2 are working on the deck.

Anyone have a solution to keep the critters out of my garden pots??? I came home to find 3 spinach plants pulled up and half a green bean plant gone! I put a yard decoration on the table to scare them away. What else would work?

Well tonight is big TV night. Idol and Lost. I am really not interested in either one but will watch Lost with hubby. Since I found out there were going to be THREE more years of Lost I threw in the towel. ~shrug~ I have better things to do with my time….lol

I am still drafting a write up of the workbook I am reading. I have the whole thing finished. That’s a lot of underlined things!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful night with family and friends.

Sweet Dreams. Nighty Night.