Yes I was an addict. A bleach addict that is! I still have setbacks and moments where I start to reach for the bleach and have to stop myself. I think this started when I was very young because I remember the smell of Lysol that my mom religiously cleaned with. I am not talking about a little here or a little there I am talking everything was cleaned with it. Back then though my mom did not think anything about it. Cleaner the better and it got passed down to me.
Any cleaning supplies I would buy had to have bleach in them and I even used Ammonia and Lysol to clean with. On cleaning day my house would smell like I had cleaned with a bottle of bleach. If you have ever seen the bleach commercials on tv where the guy was jumping into the bed and all you see was this nasty bacteria that they told you was in your sheets. Yeah I shudder whenever I think of that commercial because I would dump cups of bleach in my sheets to wash them.
This all changed though after I had the boys I think they were around six months when I had one of them in the Bumbo chair on the counter in the kitchen. Gasp yes I had my son in a Bumbo chair on the counter. Before I get the riot act about having it on the counter please let me assure you it was in a corner so he would not fall backwards and I never ever left the room. My other son was safely in his bouncy seat hanging from the laundry room door. Now back to my intended blog......I was cleaning the counters and went to spray cleaner and realized he was sitting right there. That started me thinking about all the chemicals I was using on and around us. I was ready for a change.
Besides the fact that bleach a skin irritant it can be bad for your lungs. My mom can't use bleach much anymore because the fumes will make her sick for days, almost as if she has bronchitis. I started looking for greener and health friendly alternatives. It has taken me over six months to make a gradual change which started with laundry soap and softener, then to kitchen cleaners, and etc. The most basic was baking soda and vinegar. By the way is was fun to mix the two and watch them foam. (I know I am easy to entertain) I learned during this time to that it is actually bad to remove all bacteria. Overly cleaning can actually make us sick because when we do come in contact with bacteria our bodies don't know how to fight it off. For more on the dangers of bleach in itself please check out the link below. I found it interesting that Chlorine was first made not for cleaning but for use in chemical warfare.
When I first started making the swtich I was worried more about the price more then anything. So I started looking up natural cleaners. Duh...Baking soda, vinagar, lemon and grapefruit oil/extract. Though I have yet to use grapefruit oil I have heard it is amazing stuff. Baking soda in itself proves over and over to be a great product and relitvitly cheap to. I like to buy it in bulk and use it to clean my stove top, the bathtubs (takes the ring right out with just a bit of elbow grease), toilets, in the laundry and diaper pail. With vinegar you can make window wash, wash your floors with it, and also use it in the laundry. There are so many uses for all these easy to get products and they are safe.
I have also tried Seventh Generation, Method and Green Works. I like Seventh Generation the best though at times it can be pricey and I am always looking for the lowest prices. Green Works is ok but to me anything made by the same company that makes Clorox Bleach seems untrustworthy to me. I even have clorine free bleach in the house now and that has been the biggest change for me. The night I washed the tub with bleach and thought I had it all rinsed good enough when I gave the boys a bath made that an easy switch for me. Their legs and bottom half of their body was covered in red rash and I have never looked back.
Removing chemicals from our houses is not only good for our body's but for the environment as well. For example when I replaced the laundry detegant for a green alternive I was getting rid of the petrolim in my previous product. I now use products that are non toxic, renewable, and biodegradable. Which is way better for the environment. I am including another link to information on how to clean green, how to do it cheap if you want, and where to start.
Link on the Dangers of Bleach: (worth the short read)
http://www.educatingwellness.com/prevention/dangers-of-bleach
How to go Green: (with cleaning)
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how-to-go-green-cleaning.php
131 ways to use Vinegar:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html
72 Ways to use Baking Soda:
http://lifehackery.com/2008/07/22/home-4/
Things about lemons you never knew you could do:
http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-green-clean-with-lemon-a110908
The last three links are just the tip of what you can do. The most amazing to me is using a cut lemon to disinfect and deodorize it! Please check them out it will amaze you!
The recipe I am including in this blog is slowly becoming a favorite around here thanks to a good friend that showed me Turkey is more then for Thanksgiving. Again I never measure my own recipes all measurements are approximate.
Turkey Meatloaf
2lbs ground turkey
Half a sleeve of soda crackers (crushed)
2 eggs
Tablespoon milk
dash salt/pepper
1 medium onion chopped
Worcester sauce (a splash here or there)
Italian Seasoning
Garlic (4 cloves chopped and mashed)
Ketchup
Take the ground turkey and put it in big bowl add all ingredients for the Italian Seasoning I always eyeball it never measure I don't think I would put more then a couple teaspoons though. If you have no soda crackers in the house a little secret of mine is cheerios crushed. (Bread crumbs would also work for this.) After all ingredients have been added use hands to mix together and then transfer to baking dish. Forming a little oval of the meatloaf. Add ketchup to the top spreading evenly over whole loaf. Then add a bit of water to bottom of pan. I usually put the oven on 375 and leave it in for an hour or so. I really need to be better at setting the timer. I never know how long. As long as it is not pink on the inside it is done. My favorite addition to this is homemade mac and cheese or mashed potatoes and cream corn.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
You do What?
I don't get up go to work and punch in and out. I don't have thirty minute lunches or fifthteen minute breaks, but that is ok. I can live with that, and in fact I love what I do. I eat when I can, I may or may not get a shower everyday, but again that is ok.
I remember going to an appointment when I was pregnant. There was this nice older lady that started a conversation with me. She asked me what I did. I said well I am a Stay at home wife and will be a stay at home mother. Concern flashed immediately a crossed her face. "You mean you stay home all day? Don't you want to work?" Then she got down to business and explained to me that I needed independence. I needed to have my own money and that I needed to save my own money. I nodded my head politely, and silently inside I sighed.
I tend to get this reaction often and by many women. Who seem to think I am messing feminism up for her and every other woman out there. Wait a second! Hold on! Just because I chose to stay home and take care of my home, and my family I am suddenly ruining it for every other women in the world? If anything am I not making a choice to do what I do? Am I not doing what other women generations before me did not have. A choice. It seems funny to me that we as women attack each other instead of congratulate ourselfs on what we have accomplished in this world.
I made a choice to stay home and raise my children, to take care of the household, to make my family dinner. Does that mean I think it is the only way? No. Does it mean that I hate all women that work and think they should all quit and stay at home. Of course not. I think to each their own, we should embrace each other in the fact we have choices. I may not have a 9-5 job but I still work. There is not many a day that goes by that I do not go to bed tired and still have to get up at night to take care of a child. Honestly I don't know how mothers that do work, do it. Go to work and then come home to take care of things there. I could not, and I give credit to them.
Wanted to point out here to that my husband did not force me to stay home. Nor did he tell me I have to work. Would I work if I had to oh yes in a heartbeat. If it came down to being on the street or putting food on the table I would be working as hard as I could to make sure we had what we needed. As for the reasons the lady gave me, about money. I am lucky enough my husband considers it our money. I never have to worry if it is his or mine. If you think that my independence is in jeopardy, just ask my husband I am very independent and make sure I am heard.
If anyone thinks that being a stay a home mom is eating bonbons like Peggy Bundy, they have no idea what I do on a daily basis. Oh that would be so nice, Bonbons and TV! Fact is as I said above I love what I do. I love taking care of the house, and cooking dinner for my husband and family. I love being able to do what I want on my time and not someone else's. I hope someday women can stop belittling and stop judging other women for a choice. A choice that women before us fought for us to have.
I am including a recipe for bread (I think this one is pretty simple/fast) and for my homemade chicken soup. Enjoy.
Betty Crocker: White Bread
(This can be made easy into wheat bread)
2 packages active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 2/3 cup warm water
1/4 cup of sugar
1tablespoon of salt
3 tablespoons of shortening
9 to 10 cups flour (I use unbleached)
Soft Butter or Margarine
Dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. (If unsure just use a meat thermometer) Stir in 2 2/3 cup warm water, the sugar, salt, shortening and 5 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about one hour. (Dough is ready if impression remains.)
Punch down dough; divide in half. shape into loaf. Let rise until double 1 hour. Preheat oven to 425. Place the loaves on low rack so that the tops of the pans are in the center of the oven. Pans should not touch each other or the sides of the oven. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove from pans and brush with butter; cool on wire rack. (2 loaves)
To make this wheat bread instead of white just use half whole wheat flour and half reg. That's it.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
I usually cook a full bird in the crock pot and then skim off all the juice and seasonings from that in a jar. You can either freeze it or put it in the fridge for use. I never measure for my own recipes so make it your own if you think more carrots is what it needs go for it. Don't like celery don't use it.
1 med. onion chopped
1-2 stalks of celery chopped
2 carrots peeled/chopped
olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic (I use the one in the jar)
Broth homemade and chicken broth cubes
Half pk. of Whole Wheat egg noodles
Aprox. one pd. chicken breast
Salt/Pepper
Water
Cut up and cook the chicken breast in a little olive oil. Set aside. Take onion, carrots, celery, and the garlic and satuee in a large pot. As the onions start to soften add a little of the broth to help keep it cooking but not burning. Keep adding broth until it is all in the pot with the veggies. I then take 2-3 broth cubes and throw them in with then chicken and to start 6 cups water. Again I guess on a lot of things please add water and broth cubes to your taste. Add salt and pepper to taste and let simmer until the veggies are all soft. Add noodles the last ten minutes of cooking. Enjoy.
Sorry if the above recipe is a little all over it is the first time I have really wrote that recipe down. I usually just eyeball it and never measure.
I remember going to an appointment when I was pregnant. There was this nice older lady that started a conversation with me. She asked me what I did. I said well I am a Stay at home wife and will be a stay at home mother. Concern flashed immediately a crossed her face. "You mean you stay home all day? Don't you want to work?" Then she got down to business and explained to me that I needed independence. I needed to have my own money and that I needed to save my own money. I nodded my head politely, and silently inside I sighed.
I tend to get this reaction often and by many women. Who seem to think I am messing feminism up for her and every other woman out there. Wait a second! Hold on! Just because I chose to stay home and take care of my home, and my family I am suddenly ruining it for every other women in the world? If anything am I not making a choice to do what I do? Am I not doing what other women generations before me did not have. A choice. It seems funny to me that we as women attack each other instead of congratulate ourselfs on what we have accomplished in this world.
I made a choice to stay home and raise my children, to take care of the household, to make my family dinner. Does that mean I think it is the only way? No. Does it mean that I hate all women that work and think they should all quit and stay at home. Of course not. I think to each their own, we should embrace each other in the fact we have choices. I may not have a 9-5 job but I still work. There is not many a day that goes by that I do not go to bed tired and still have to get up at night to take care of a child. Honestly I don't know how mothers that do work, do it. Go to work and then come home to take care of things there. I could not, and I give credit to them.
Wanted to point out here to that my husband did not force me to stay home. Nor did he tell me I have to work. Would I work if I had to oh yes in a heartbeat. If it came down to being on the street or putting food on the table I would be working as hard as I could to make sure we had what we needed. As for the reasons the lady gave me, about money. I am lucky enough my husband considers it our money. I never have to worry if it is his or mine. If you think that my independence is in jeopardy, just ask my husband I am very independent and make sure I am heard.
If anyone thinks that being a stay a home mom is eating bonbons like Peggy Bundy, they have no idea what I do on a daily basis. Oh that would be so nice, Bonbons and TV! Fact is as I said above I love what I do. I love taking care of the house, and cooking dinner for my husband and family. I love being able to do what I want on my time and not someone else's. I hope someday women can stop belittling and stop judging other women for a choice. A choice that women before us fought for us to have.
I am including a recipe for bread (I think this one is pretty simple/fast) and for my homemade chicken soup. Enjoy.
Betty Crocker: White Bread
(This can be made easy into wheat bread)
2 packages active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
2 2/3 cup warm water
1/4 cup of sugar
1tablespoon of salt
3 tablespoons of shortening
9 to 10 cups flour (I use unbleached)
Soft Butter or Margarine
Dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. (If unsure just use a meat thermometer) Stir in 2 2/3 cup warm water, the sugar, salt, shortening and 5 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
Turn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about one hour. (Dough is ready if impression remains.)
Punch down dough; divide in half. shape into loaf. Let rise until double 1 hour. Preheat oven to 425. Place the loaves on low rack so that the tops of the pans are in the center of the oven. Pans should not touch each other or the sides of the oven. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until deep golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Remove from pans and brush with butter; cool on wire rack. (2 loaves)
To make this wheat bread instead of white just use half whole wheat flour and half reg. That's it.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
I usually cook a full bird in the crock pot and then skim off all the juice and seasonings from that in a jar. You can either freeze it or put it in the fridge for use. I never measure for my own recipes so make it your own if you think more carrots is what it needs go for it. Don't like celery don't use it.
1 med. onion chopped
1-2 stalks of celery chopped
2 carrots peeled/chopped
olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic (I use the one in the jar)
Broth homemade and chicken broth cubes
Half pk. of Whole Wheat egg noodles
Aprox. one pd. chicken breast
Salt/Pepper
Water
Cut up and cook the chicken breast in a little olive oil. Set aside. Take onion, carrots, celery, and the garlic and satuee in a large pot. As the onions start to soften add a little of the broth to help keep it cooking but not burning. Keep adding broth until it is all in the pot with the veggies. I then take 2-3 broth cubes and throw them in with then chicken and to start 6 cups water. Again I guess on a lot of things please add water and broth cubes to your taste. Add salt and pepper to taste and let simmer until the veggies are all soft. Add noodles the last ten minutes of cooking. Enjoy.
Sorry if the above recipe is a little all over it is the first time I have really wrote that recipe down. I usually just eyeball it and never measure.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Up and Running
It has been awhile and perhaps to long maybe since I have had a chance to sit and write, but I feel the need to get back to normal as much as I can. In doing this I am going to start writing hopefully a blog a week. There have been many changes the last almost three months. I had stopped baking bread, stopped cooking homemade meals and kinda just stopped being me.
I thought it would be easier on me that way. Easier on the boys and make it less stressful. I found out though it was more stressful not being me. About two weeks ago I made homemade bread for the first time in about two or more months. It was the most amazing feeling. I was finally able to relax and it made me feel good. It was then that I realized this is who I am, this is what I do and if I enjoy it I am going to do it. Never ever underestimate what kneading a ball of dough will do.
So I have also decided that along with my writing about going green. I will frequently also do an recipe along with each blog. I have had so many requests for things that I make I thought this was a great way to share them. To kick it off I will include a recipe for a quick simple meal I have recently discovered. Good, healthy and fast. I would take a picture, but it seems it was eaten very quickly before I got a chance to.
I thought it would be easier on me that way. Easier on the boys and make it less stressful. I found out though it was more stressful not being me. About two weeks ago I made homemade bread for the first time in about two or more months. It was the most amazing feeling. I was finally able to relax and it made me feel good. It was then that I realized this is who I am, this is what I do and if I enjoy it I am going to do it. Never ever underestimate what kneading a ball of dough will do.
So I have also decided that along with my writing about going green. I will frequently also do an recipe along with each blog. I have had so many requests for things that I make I thought this was a great way to share them. To kick it off I will include a recipe for a quick simple meal I have recently discovered. Good, healthy and fast. I would take a picture, but it seems it was eaten very quickly before I got a chance to.
Quick and Fast Mexican Pizza
- 1 Whole Wheat Pizza Crust (Premade)
- Salsa (As hot or mild as you want it)
- 1/2 pd or less of ground beef
- 1/2 cup of Black Beans drained
- 1/2 cup of frozen corn
- Mozzarella Cheese Grated
Preheat the oven to what the package of Pizza Crust says to. Cook the ground beef. I like to cook a pound at a time and then use what I need and store the rest to spice up tomato soup or add to other things. Drain and let the ground beef sit on paper towel on a plate. This helps get any extra grease off. Take the Salsa and spread it as sauce on the crust. Use your judgment this is your pizza we are talking about. Add the ground beef, Black beans and corn to the top of crust. Top with Mozzerella cheese. I usually use enough cheese to cover the toppings. Cook as package of Pizza Crust says to.
*Please note I usually guess on some measurements and if 1/2 cup seems like to much for you eyeball it to your needs and wants. :) Also be creative if you think a peppers would go good on this add them. Or change up the meat a little maybe try turkey instead of ground beef. Have fun.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Yes I Used To Hate It
I really used to hate recycling. Plus as the only one that would do it, it got real tiring.
We seem to finally be all on the same page. It took a lot of pushing and griping but we are
now a family that recycles.
To me I used to feel like it was more work to wash out sort, and then drag something else out
to the curb. Really though with the way it works here on Belvoir all you have to do is rinse
out and put all the recycling in one bin. I have a bag for trash and then another for recycling.
Then when the trash goes out, so does the recyclables.
I have also found out that you can be green and recycle more then just plastics, paper, glass
and aluminum. By buying used toys, clothes or other used items you are being green and helping
the planet. I am one that likes things new, and their are definitely a few things I would not buy
used. Mattresses would be one of them and personal items. To me that just grosses me out, but I have learned that it is ok to have things that are not new.
Here is a big number that did not surprise me at all. The average American produces 1,600 pounds of trash a year. This does not include industrial waste from fast food restaurants and such. For a family of five for a year that is 8,000 pounds and then over a fifteen year span that makes it 120,000 pounds of trash. That is a lot of trash! We can change this though be recycling, and reusing.
For kids an easy way to recycle is to buy used toys. Living on a military post I have been lucky to find a lot things that were ment for the landfill when families move. I have found toys that would cost us upwards of thirty dollars for free. I just washed them up really well with vinegar and they were like brand new. Also if you want to help out the planet and go a little bit more greener, buywooden toys. At least if it gets thrown out it will deteriorate faster and be better then plastic. Granted it still uses trees but nothing in my eyes is perfect.
Getting the family on board for recycling took some determination. Ok. Reallyit was more like some demanding and threatening,and repeating of the pharse "This is not trash, this goes in the recycling." (Imagine my hands on my hips) I had to make it easy and accessible for the man of the house. So I have two diffrent bags, one for trash and one just for recycling out in the open. He told me he will do it but he won't go out of his way to hunt down the recycling bag.That is progress in my book.
I am working on getting two trash cans and then labeling each so I will not have to worry no more about
bags sitting in my kitchen. I tend to be OCD which how things look, and everything has to have a place. I wanted to talk about something that is new to me called upcycling. Basically it is taking something and making something else out of it. Or otherwise meaning making it better then what it was. Similar to recycling yes, but when you recycle it actually changes say plastic to a lesser quality product. I am interested in this especialy since I found a purse that you can make out of old pop cans. I will include the link below, it is quite interesting.
Truth is recycling does take some effort and want. Once you understand though and see how much waste you really make though it can be enlightening. My focus for recycling was that I wanted my children to have a clean and safe planet to live on. It became more then that though because after I did the research I wanted to understand their impact on the world. Hopefully they will be able to learn and understand this at an earlier age then I did.
Recycling has been something new to this family. It has been a fight, but a good one. I have even noticed that
we use less trash bags. It has also opened up discussions about reducing and reuseing. Tony actually came homeone day from the store with recycled aluminum foil. I was quite proud. I no longer look at recycling as something time consuming at all.
Link to upcycled purse:
http://thegogreenblog.com/diy-soda-can-purse/
Link to upcycling ideas: (Somethings seem werid, but at least it can give you an idea of what upcycling is and
can be)
http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=116
For those who are interested in how they affect the planet you can actually track your carbon footprint.
A carbon footprint in layman terms is the everyday things we do and the affect it has on the planet. Here
is a link that can actually show you how you affect the planet.
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/?gclid=CJ_V5MSH3qQCFd9n5QodIC87KA
Recycling is now more then throwing some stuff in a bin. Have fun with it and get the family involved.
We seem to finally be all on the same page. It took a lot of pushing and griping but we are
now a family that recycles.
To me I used to feel like it was more work to wash out sort, and then drag something else out
to the curb. Really though with the way it works here on Belvoir all you have to do is rinse
out and put all the recycling in one bin. I have a bag for trash and then another for recycling.
Then when the trash goes out, so does the recyclables.
I have also found out that you can be green and recycle more then just plastics, paper, glass
and aluminum. By buying used toys, clothes or other used items you are being green and helping
the planet. I am one that likes things new, and their are definitely a few things I would not buy
used. Mattresses would be one of them and personal items. To me that just grosses me out, but I have learned that it is ok to have things that are not new.
Here is a big number that did not surprise me at all. The average American produces 1,600 pounds of trash a year. This does not include industrial waste from fast food restaurants and such. For a family of five for a year that is 8,000 pounds and then over a fifteen year span that makes it 120,000 pounds of trash. That is a lot of trash! We can change this though be recycling, and reusing.
For kids an easy way to recycle is to buy used toys. Living on a military post I have been lucky to find a lot things that were ment for the landfill when families move. I have found toys that would cost us upwards of thirty dollars for free. I just washed them up really well with vinegar and they were like brand new. Also if you want to help out the planet and go a little bit more greener, buywooden toys. At least if it gets thrown out it will deteriorate faster and be better then plastic. Granted it still uses trees but nothing in my eyes is perfect.
Getting the family on board for recycling took some determination. Ok. Reallyit was more like some demanding and threatening,and repeating of the pharse "This is not trash, this goes in the recycling." (Imagine my hands on my hips) I had to make it easy and accessible for the man of the house. So I have two diffrent bags, one for trash and one just for recycling out in the open. He told me he will do it but he won't go out of his way to hunt down the recycling bag.That is progress in my book.
I am working on getting two trash cans and then labeling each so I will not have to worry no more about
bags sitting in my kitchen. I tend to be OCD which how things look, and everything has to have a place. I wanted to talk about something that is new to me called upcycling. Basically it is taking something and making something else out of it. Or otherwise meaning making it better then what it was. Similar to recycling yes, but when you recycle it actually changes say plastic to a lesser quality product. I am interested in this especialy since I found a purse that you can make out of old pop cans. I will include the link below, it is quite interesting.
Truth is recycling does take some effort and want. Once you understand though and see how much waste you really make though it can be enlightening. My focus for recycling was that I wanted my children to have a clean and safe planet to live on. It became more then that though because after I did the research I wanted to understand their impact on the world. Hopefully they will be able to learn and understand this at an earlier age then I did.
Recycling has been something new to this family. It has been a fight, but a good one. I have even noticed that
we use less trash bags. It has also opened up discussions about reducing and reuseing. Tony actually came homeone day from the store with recycled aluminum foil. I was quite proud. I no longer look at recycling as something time consuming at all.
Link to upcycled purse:
http://thegogreenblog.com/diy-soda-can-purse/
Link to upcycling ideas: (Somethings seem werid, but at least it can give you an idea of what upcycling is and
can be)
http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=116
For those who are interested in how they affect the planet you can actually track your carbon footprint.
A carbon footprint in layman terms is the everyday things we do and the affect it has on the planet. Here
is a link that can actually show you how you affect the planet.
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/?gclid=CJ_V5MSH3qQCFd9n5QodIC87KA
Recycling is now more then throwing some stuff in a bin. Have fun with it and get the family involved.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Green with Fluffy
I love fluff! I love talking about it, getting it in the mail, and of course buying it. I am of course talking about cloth diapers. I always knew I would use cloth diapers. My mom used them on all of us. I helped her with my brother many times and felt important carrying that dirty diaper to the bathroom.
My mom though did not really do it out of the idea that she needed to save the planet but out of necessity. I realized though as it got closer and closer to the boys coming my reasoning was twofold. I love being eco-friendly but, if you ever have had children you know what I am about to talk about, the expense. On average we probley would have spent a minimum of $2000 for 2yrs period for one child. Add another baby in diapers and it would have been a whooping minimum of $4000 in two years! Yikes.
That’s a lot of money when you think about it. With the cloth when finally finish getting what we need probably have spent about $500 for both boys for approximately two years. Now that is a deal! So I know there are some out there that will argue how it is saving money when you have to use energy to wash them, and dry them. We have dealt with this by taking steps to reduce our energy usage elsewhere. We turn off lights when we leave a room, hang the diapers to dry instead of running the dryer, (this is actually better for cloth diapers anyways), turning off the air when it is nice out and much more.
When I first looked at cloth diapers I was just going to get the old-fashioned plastic pants and pins. That’s what my mom and grandma used so I felt it was good enough for me. I decided to look online and see what was available. Wow. Cloth diapers are definitely not the same as they used to be. I started with prefolds, flats, and yes those noisy plastic pants. Then switched to prefolds and covers, but now I finally have found what works for us. Ok really that means what is the easiest for Tony to figure out. Besides that he was afraid of sticking the kids with the safety pin.
What we use now is mostly pocket diapers. They have snaps on them and a liner that you stuff into the diaper for absorbency. Some of mine are one size so they will fit from around 7pds to 35pds. Then when you change the diaper you knock any solids into the toilet (you can get a diaper sprayer to) and pull out the insert and throw them into a pail. Then every few days I wash. I ended up switching to cloth wipes to because it was just easier to throw them in the wash with the diapers.
I am glad we are cloth diapering not only because of the high cost of disposables but because of the impact on the environment. I am including a few links below. Some of the links will show what kind of cloth diapers are available to. I have also included a link to a friend’s Facebook page where we talk and discuss cloth diapering and much more. If you have questions please let me know.
ClothDiaper MommaFriends Facebook Page:
All about Cloth diapers: (Including the dangers to humans and the enviroment)
These last two will give you an idea of what is out there how to wash them etc.:
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
My Arch Enemy
I really should be folding clothes right now. LOL Oops. Oh well they are not going anywhere, and I need a break! So what is my arch enemy? I'll give you a hint. It is a micro-organism, you can kill it and as of the moment it is one of about 1,500 species. Give up? Or maybe you have guessed it.
I am taking about Saccharomyces cerevisiae or in laymen terms yeast. The stuff that makes bread rise, and also is used to ferment alcohol. There was a time when I was quite efficient at killing it. Just ask Tony because he has been the tester for many a loaf of bread that just....well lets just say was not good. I have always wanted to make bread, and who does not want a slice of warm fresh bread with real butter on it.
So I got excited one day a few years ago, and decided without any knowledge of what I was getting myself into that I was going to make bread. I thought my ancestors did it! Why can't I? How hard can it be? I convinced myself that it would be a piece of cake. For those of you that do make bread you more then likely know it is not always as easy as throwing everything into a bowl. My ADD brain though did not care and as usual got way ahead of myself. The first time I tried the water was not warm enough to activate the yeast. The second time I killed it by having to hot of water.
I gave up after about the fifth try. Then after the boys were born and my mom was here I begged her to make bread. Pleaded is more like it. Instead of just making it she showed me how. I kind of was not paying attention at first because I had given up along time ago on making bread. Then she pulled out the meat thermometer. I was intrigued by this, and decided maybe I should pay attention. You see yeast only will thrive and grow at a certain temperature. Picky stuff!
After she left I decided to try for myself. I did some research. Pulled out my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook and decided this time I had the upper hand. I started with white bread first. I could not believe it when I pulled it from the oven. It looked like bread, and it definitely smelled like bread. After it cooled down some I cut into it and realized that I had done it. It was not as hard as I had thought.
I have moved on now to wheat bread, rolls, crescent rolls, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, pizza dough and french bread. We don't buy bread anymore at the store. I now know exactly what is in our bread and can pronounce everything on the ingredient list. Mastering yeast has definitely been a great way to expand my baking skills. I am looking forward to making Cinnamon Rolls next time the kids come.
So what are the benefits of making bread at home? I think at least for me it was knowing I did it. I created something and it gave me a sense of accomplishment. Of course there is the benefits of knowing the ingredients that go into it. I have also noticed that we don't eat as much bread now. I am wondering if that is because it is not processed, or because you know if you want more you have to make it.
Here are some sites that can help you if you are interested in making your own bread. Better go get the laundry folded now!
- http://www.kingarthurflour.com/ (they also have a phone number you can call to get help)
- http://www.baking911.com/pantry/leaveners_yeast.htm
- http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/213/Bakers-Yeast (explains different yeasts with pictures)
Also in closing here is the recipe that I use the most from King Arthur's recipes:
- http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/classic-sandwich-bread-recipe
(I double everything in the recipe except for the yeast for two loafs. To make this wheat bread do 3 cups of All-purpose flour and 3 cups Whole Wheat,)
I am taking about Saccharomyces cerevisiae or in laymen terms yeast. The stuff that makes bread rise, and also is used to ferment alcohol. There was a time when I was quite efficient at killing it. Just ask Tony because he has been the tester for many a loaf of bread that just....well lets just say was not good. I have always wanted to make bread, and who does not want a slice of warm fresh bread with real butter on it.
So I got excited one day a few years ago, and decided without any knowledge of what I was getting myself into that I was going to make bread. I thought my ancestors did it! Why can't I? How hard can it be? I convinced myself that it would be a piece of cake. For those of you that do make bread you more then likely know it is not always as easy as throwing everything into a bowl. My ADD brain though did not care and as usual got way ahead of myself. The first time I tried the water was not warm enough to activate the yeast. The second time I killed it by having to hot of water.
I gave up after about the fifth try. Then after the boys were born and my mom was here I begged her to make bread. Pleaded is more like it. Instead of just making it she showed me how. I kind of was not paying attention at first because I had given up along time ago on making bread. Then she pulled out the meat thermometer. I was intrigued by this, and decided maybe I should pay attention. You see yeast only will thrive and grow at a certain temperature. Picky stuff!
After she left I decided to try for myself. I did some research. Pulled out my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook and decided this time I had the upper hand. I started with white bread first. I could not believe it when I pulled it from the oven. It looked like bread, and it definitely smelled like bread. After it cooled down some I cut into it and realized that I had done it. It was not as hard as I had thought.
I have moved on now to wheat bread, rolls, crescent rolls, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, pizza dough and french bread. We don't buy bread anymore at the store. I now know exactly what is in our bread and can pronounce everything on the ingredient list. Mastering yeast has definitely been a great way to expand my baking skills. I am looking forward to making Cinnamon Rolls next time the kids come.
So what are the benefits of making bread at home? I think at least for me it was knowing I did it. I created something and it gave me a sense of accomplishment. Of course there is the benefits of knowing the ingredients that go into it. I have also noticed that we don't eat as much bread now. I am wondering if that is because it is not processed, or because you know if you want more you have to make it.
Here are some sites that can help you if you are interested in making your own bread. Better go get the laundry folded now!
- http://www.kingarthurflour.com/ (they also have a phone number you can call to get help)
- http://www.baking911.com/pantry/leaveners_yeast.htm
- http://www.cookingforengineers.com/article/213/Bakers-Yeast (explains different yeasts with pictures)
Also in closing here is the recipe that I use the most from King Arthur's recipes:
- http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/classic-sandwich-bread-recipe
(I double everything in the recipe except for the yeast for two loafs. To make this wheat bread do 3 cups of All-purpose flour and 3 cups Whole Wheat,)
Friday, August 6, 2010
Turning the Cable Off
Yes you read that right, and the world did not end either. We turned our cable off over six months ago. I will never forget the day Tony told me we were going to turn it off either. We were driving home from a friends and Tony was just like you know I like the idea of no cable. Huh?? What? My husband a sports fanatic and wrestling follower just said he wanted to turn the cable off!
After breathing again and checking to make sure the man in the front seat was really my husband. I said I never am gonna have time to watch it anyways with the boys coming. So we thought about it, mulled it over, and looked at the options. First of all cable can be expensive esp., then there is the fact that I really personally don't have the time to watch 300 channels. I don't even think I knew every channel we had!
So the day came to turn it off you should have heard the cable company try to keep us as customers. Hehehe they offered us free months to! We were prepared though and Tony stuck to his guns about turning it off. Now if any of you know my wonderful husband you know how he has little patentice for things that don't work right for him.
We knew we need a antenna so we got that, and hooked it up. Of course that was fun. Can't just sit the antenna on top of the TV. Not on an Air Force Base at least. Planes mess up signals and I was slowly regreating agreeing to this crazy idea. I mean I can handle no cable but no tv! That I refused to let happen. This is when the man with the great I idea started to get mad. Mumbling....well we won't go there with what he exactly said as he stompped around the living room holding the antenna in his hands.
After about an hour we found a good spot that was ok as long as you moved it every time you changed the channel. This was fine with me as long as I had some TV I was ok, but this was unacceptable for the man of the house who continued this process 4 more times with diffrent antennas. I even got to laughing as he snaked the cord outside to find just the right spot. This by the way was better then watching TV as he was holding the thing and going around the yard saying "Can you see it now? How about now? Anything yet?" Until he got mad enough to make his own. Here is the link to a video on how to do it:
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-get-free-hdtv-with-a-coat-hanger-antenna-158597/
Finally we had an antenna that worked. It took awhile to get used to no Food Network, no WWE three times a week, and no DVR. I think that was the biggest adjustment I made at least. We get quite a few channels on it, which is funny cause we worked so hard on getting the antenna worked out and now I hardly ever watch TV. I leave it off all day, and we only watch it ever so often. Tony gets his Wrestling fix on Friday nights, a few games and Nascar on the weekends.
The best thing about not having cable or just turning the TV off is time. I always complained about no time. Now I have lots of time. I have time to make bread, we go for walks as a family, I sew, and we spend more quality time together. So all in all I think it has been not only money saving, great for our health, but has also given us a chance to spend time with each other.
After breathing again and checking to make sure the man in the front seat was really my husband. I said I never am gonna have time to watch it anyways with the boys coming. So we thought about it, mulled it over, and looked at the options. First of all cable can be expensive esp., then there is the fact that I really personally don't have the time to watch 300 channels. I don't even think I knew every channel we had!
So the day came to turn it off you should have heard the cable company try to keep us as customers. Hehehe they offered us free months to! We were prepared though and Tony stuck to his guns about turning it off. Now if any of you know my wonderful husband you know how he has little patentice for things that don't work right for him.
We knew we need a antenna so we got that, and hooked it up. Of course that was fun. Can't just sit the antenna on top of the TV. Not on an Air Force Base at least. Planes mess up signals and I was slowly regreating agreeing to this crazy idea. I mean I can handle no cable but no tv! That I refused to let happen. This is when the man with the great I idea started to get mad. Mumbling....well we won't go there with what he exactly said as he stompped around the living room holding the antenna in his hands.
After about an hour we found a good spot that was ok as long as you moved it every time you changed the channel. This was fine with me as long as I had some TV I was ok, but this was unacceptable for the man of the house who continued this process 4 more times with diffrent antennas. I even got to laughing as he snaked the cord outside to find just the right spot. This by the way was better then watching TV as he was holding the thing and going around the yard saying "Can you see it now? How about now? Anything yet?" Until he got mad enough to make his own. Here is the link to a video on how to do it:
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-get-free-hdtv-with-a-coat-hanger-antenna-158597/
Finally we had an antenna that worked. It took awhile to get used to no Food Network, no WWE three times a week, and no DVR. I think that was the biggest adjustment I made at least. We get quite a few channels on it, which is funny cause we worked so hard on getting the antenna worked out and now I hardly ever watch TV. I leave it off all day, and we only watch it ever so often. Tony gets his Wrestling fix on Friday nights, a few games and Nascar on the weekends.
The best thing about not having cable or just turning the TV off is time. I always complained about no time. Now I have lots of time. I have time to make bread, we go for walks as a family, I sew, and we spend more quality time together. So all in all I think it has been not only money saving, great for our health, but has also given us a chance to spend time with each other.
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