Weather & Watermelon

Well hello. So this is what Lovebug and I have been eating lately around our nest...yummy watermelon from our garden! I know, it's strange eating watermelon in November, especially with days like today. We woke up to dark and cloudy, then it was sunny, then rainy, then back to sunny, then cool, then cold! It was a weird weird day and a ton of leaves fell today which always mesmerizes me. Earlier, Lovebug and I were sitting down watching the rain and eating watermelon when I looked up and it was like all of a sudden I could really see a difference in the leaves. The colors are finally changing and it's such a beautiful thing. But yeah, watermelon in November feels very weird. :)

We're gearing up for a busy weekend of parties, get togethers, and my soccer team's final game of the season where we play for 1st place - I'm pumped! Have a good one.

Fall-ish

We had absolutely amazing weather the last couple of days! It almost felt a bit fall-ish out compared to our 100+ degee days as of late. It made me feel like baking some bread and making some cider, but we've probably still got plenty of hot weather to come so I'll tap the breaks on that :). Much of our day was spent outside yesterday even when it was raining. It was incredible. I didn't want to leave my soccer practice the other night either because it felt so heavenly out. Of course we opened our windows to bring all the lovely fresh air inside and I can't tell you how much I missed our open window living. Oh my word, I LOVE it! Lovebug and I were just squealing in delight as we vacuumed out the window things (gross!) and opened them all up yesterday. We ended up closing them tonight (bummer!) because we kept seeing LOTS of bugs and a red wasp and knew they were getting in through our old windows and screens (aarrggh!). We might not be able to leave them open for long periods of time until we get some new windows :(. Gosh darn it!

Anyway, I know it isn't too far away and although we're actually leaving for the beach next week, I'm ready for some fall! OH and that pic was taken on a walk at a local park a few weeks ago. It looked so interesting and fall-ish to me! :)

UPDATE: Our windows are open again...I can't stand to have them closed when it's this decent out. They'll be closed later if it gets hotter than 84 in here (which it will:). We really need to replace those darn windows though.

Relax

This week was a busy one for Lovebug and I! We were gone much of every day except Friday, which was so nice to stay at home, recover, get some much-needed housework done, relax a bit, and just play. Above is a little bouquet of flowers I gathered from our herb garden. It smelled divine! I kept it in our kitchen for awhile and loved getting a whiff of it every time I walked by. It was so very relaxing.

Our vegetable garden is looking quite sad right now. The 100+ weather we've been having is definitely taking a toll on it and its complete end is near. :( Oh well. It provided us with some yummy veggies for many months and I think overall it did pretty good. I took some pictures last month when it was still doing well that I want to share with you soon. We have some big plans for it and our herb garden for the spring! I cannot wait!

How was your week? I'm so excited it's the weekend. I have three half soccer games today before the season starts which I'm pumped`about! Have a great one.

This week's meals

I hope everyone's week is going well! The weather has been really lovely for us and the time we have been able to spend outdoors has been most enjoyable. It's been an incredible food week too! My Love really outdid himself with a delicious lunch and dinner menu and I am SO in love with my lunch shown above. It's raw pecan "meat" with pico on romaine tacos served with carrots on the side. YUM!!! It's so so so good and all raw, which is a big goal for us in 2010. FYI, the tacos are inspired by Sara's walnut taco salad.

Lately, we've been eating raw throughout the day and then doing a cooked dinner, and it's been great so far. I gave up caffeine too so it's been different, but I feel really good and know it was something I definitely needed to do for the continual improvement of my health. Anyway, our cooked dinner this week has been roasted eggplant paninis on sprouted bread with basil, red onion, and mustard, with a side of roasted potato fries. See, I told you he outdid himself! It's so very delicious and I look forward to dinners every single day. My breakfasts have been sprouted raw buchwheat groats with homemade raw almond or pecan butter and a banana - YUM! I've been learning about and doing more soaking, sprouting, and other raw techniques which maybe someday soon I'll go more into. I'm really excited about this new mostly-raw road for 2010 and the good that will come of it...

SO, what have you been eating this week? Please do share!

Happy New Year!

Well, HELLO! I hope your holidays were wonderful and not too stressful! MUCH has happened since I've been away...let's see, Lovebug turned two (wow!) and her party was successful and fun (details to come soon). After that, there was much crafting and creating for Christmas! Then we had what this area would definitely call a WHITE Christmas. The Eve was especially white so we played out in it for a short bit which was delightful albeit very cold (the shots are from that and x-mas morning)! Of course, just lots and lots of fun with family and friends all thrown in there. It was truly enjoyable, although it was a bit busy, and admittedly, there were too many late nights leading up to the big day(s). I really tried to plan and make whatever possible for Lovebug's b-day and Christmas early on but I didn't start early enough unfortunately :). Anyway, there are areas to improve upon for 2010 that's for sure...


Speaking of, WOW, it's almost that time. Crazy, crazy, crazy. I love new years so much though! I love the feeling of a clean slate and just all the ideas, plans, and goals for the upcoming year that we talk about and write down. So fun! We're going to have a simple celebration tonight with Lovebug, who is getting a treat of organic raspberries which she loves. Once she's asleep, my sweet Love and I plan on enjoying a treat of our own in the form of veggie sushi and catching up on Harry Potter. Wow, crazy sounding night, huh? :) Much to our dismay over the holidays, we realized that somehow we missed seeing "The Goblet of Fire"! Don't know how that happened but I'm excited to see it finally!


Down will come all of our Christmas decorations this weekend too which is sad but I'm really ready for a blank canvas around our nest, you know?! I'm ready to clean, organize, simplify, purge, and LOTS and LOTS of other wonderful things this coming year. It's going to be a wonderful one, I just know it! I wish you all a blessed 2010! Have a great night and Happy New Year!

Summer in Texas

It's been just ridiculously hot as of late here...and yes, we live in Texas and yes, we should expect that, but still. I am a summer gal and love the season, even with the scorching sun and often uncomfortably hot temperatures. But still...it's SO hot...even in the shade!

Our goal was to make it to July without turning on the A/C. Well, we didn't quite make it and turned it on 2 weeks ago for my birthday. So we missed our goal by 3 weeks unfortunately! I was diappointed, but our dinners were becoming a bit unpleasant since our dining room is the hottest room in the house for whatever reason :(. My Love and I can handle it, but seeing Lovebug with a little sweat mustache at dinner was too much and my birthday served as a good excuse too :).

It hasn't been that bad though with what we typically do, which is open the windows at night to let the "cool" fresh air in and close them once we wake up to keep it in. Of course, minimal clothing is helpful too, as is little to no oven and stove use. I didn't feel bad the first week because the A/C didn't flip on until around 5 PM (we have it set at 84 during the day and 83 during the really hot late afternoon/evening time). Then the second week it started to come on around 4ish, which was OK. But yesterday it flipped on at NOON, because it was our first official 100-degree day! Wow...so it's definitely summer in Texas now!

I have so many things on my list for this season and cannot wait to get more of them started and done with. The thing I am MOST excited about though is our upcoming trip to the beach. It will be our first vacation with just the three of us and it could not come soon enough! Do you have any summer trips or projects planned?

Well, have a great Wednesday! I guess we'll see what time our A/C flips on today...

Crazy

Hope your weekend was enjoyable! Ours really was as we had incredible weather for much of it, and then a cold front came through and I'm staring at icicles in my trees right now. Crazy Texas weather. Glad we got out and enjoyed ourselves though while we could! Wow, our girl loves to be outside. She gets so excited and can't wait to get down and explore. It makes our hearts happy that she loves it as much as we do!


Today, I wanted to bring your attention back to CPSIA that I blogged about here and here before the holidays. I know pretty much everyone is aware of this by now, but just wanted to try to get the word out a bit more. It's devastating if it remains as is and we need to do ALL we can to save handmade things for our children to enjoy! I don't even want to think about the future of things if I cannot have my Etsy with all of its amazing handmade toys and clothes! Seriously, my life wouldn't be the same. Well, that's a little crazy...but seriously, it would be very upsetting to me. Here is ALOT of info with the different ways to get involved and act, and here is the Handmade Toy Alliance page again as well.


PLEASE do what you can to make the CPSIA less crazy!!!

The light

I took that picture last week when it was sunny and beautiful out...this week has been cold though! I don't mind the cold normally (because we don't have it very long) but it's been very dreary and grey here, partly because I received very sad news Monday that a cousin of mine suddenly died. It is quite a shock to everyone and so very hard to believe.

His name was Kevin and he wasn't much younger than me...he was wise beyond his years though and always has been! He was very intelligent, witty, sweet, fun, and handsome. He worked with little kids and loved it (and them). It really hit me yesterday when I saw pictures of him - that he's no longer here. My Love and I stayed up late in bed talking about him and life/death as little precious Lovebug slept between us. It just all happened so quickly and our hearts are so very sad. I just keep thinking back to memories of him growing up - going to the beach, holidays at Gramma and Grandpa's, and specifically one time we got together before an A&M game with my other cousins, uncles, and beloved Grandpa.

Unfortunately, we don't live in the same state and haven't seen each other on a regular basis for quite some time though. We did get to see him a couple months ago for my Gramma's birthday and he got to meet Lovebug and make her smile. I'm so glad for that because it had been awhile since we saw him last. You really do have to treasure every moment don't you (?), because you just never know when it's the last time you might see someone. I just feel sad and the weather isn't helping, but that photo is a bit...that light shining through helps me remember that there will be brighter, happier days!

Please keep our family, especially Kevin's immediate ones, in your thoughts and prayers. Sorry for the downer post...I'll be back later this week with something more upbeat like Lovebug's birthday stuff.

More CPSIA...

Brrrr...it's cold outside! My lunch warmed me up though...it was Dal Soup that my beautiful Love made this last weekend and a warm piece of sprouted grain toast. Quite yummy! We've been on kind of an Indian kick here with our meals and this soup is my favorite thus far. It has soaked red lentils in it and just the right amount of everything else.


I've been doing a little more reading and researching into all of this with the CPSIA that I talked about here. I'm so concerned for the many many many Etsy sellers whom sell baby/children's products and small toy companies who this is going to affect negatively. Yesterday I was just at a loss for what needs to be done, but I found this sample letter from the Handmade Toy Alliance that has these suggested alterations:

I urge you to quickly rewrite the CPSIA so that toys made in batches of less than 5,000 units per year or manufactured within the USA and trusted countries with established toy safety regimes such as Canada and the European Union be held exempt from third party testing requirements. Such toys could still be subject to random auditing by the CPSC.

If you feel that testing should still be required, then the CPSC should be made to offer free testing services for USA toymakers and importers from Europe or Canada with revenues less than one million dollars.

These changes could save SO many small businesses and artisans! So many of us within the blog world constantly pledge to buy handmade and support small companies...well, HERE's a time that really needs to happen! We need to show our support for the artisans and small toy makers, both for them and the sake of our little ones. Just go to this page and find your Senator/Congresspeople and then copy/paste the sample letter adding anything you so desire to customize it (or not)! You can also sign the petition here. Let's all do what we can! Alright, please let me know if anyone hears anything else and stay warm...

Homemade bread and cider

Well HELLO! It's been downright incredible feeling here this week thus far and we are thoroughly enjoying it. It's been in the mid 50's when we wake up which means our house is blissfully cool and requires socks and a light sweater for a couple hours in the morning, which is a very welcome change! We've been gathering leaves and acorns on walks setting them aside for some fall decor, which will go up once I can bear to take down all our summer remnants. The weather makes me want to bake more for whatever reason, so today I made some whole wheat Italian herb bread especially for my Love, whose been craving it ever since my amazing Mom made it a couple months ago. The bread with a little bit of fall apple cider is perfect! I truly do feel fall in the air and I hope it's here to stay (but this is Texas so it might be 100 degrees next week - who knows!). Hope everyone is enjoying some cooler fall weather though!

Enjoying it while we can!

Yesterday, we were blessed with some somewhat cooler weather (it was in the 70's!) and it was highly enjoyable. When it came time to go on our almost daily walk, it felt so strange actually putting clothes on my girl! Found some pants and a hoodie that fit her and off we went.


All the beautiful trees swayed in the wind, leaves blew across us on the street, a cool breeze went across our faces, and it was WONDERFUL. We got home and even baked some pumpkin cranberry bread (thanks for the recipe Emily!) to help fulfill our fall cravings. Lovebug wasn't in a baking mood however so it was done by mama as quickly as possible, and thankfully, it's an easy recipe. The house was delightfully naturally cool all day and we had to wear socks - craziness! We even went on a second walk in the evening to further enjoy the fall-like weather. Last night was one of those nights we actually needed our duvet pulled up over the three of us :)...and this morning I was yearning for a long sleeve shirt when I first started out on my run. So hopefully today will be more of the same!!!


HOWEVER...it may feel like fall, it kind of looks like fall, and our pumpkin cranberry bread makes it taste like fall...but us Texans know it's only a tease as it's not quite fall YET! But we'll enjoy it while we can and be mindful that it's a reminder of things to come in the near future...Alright, off to enjoy the weather with my babe - Have a beautiful one!

Making soaps during the storm

Yesterday while the storms rolled in Lovebug and I made liquid soaps and lotions to refill the bottles we have throughout the house. Hand soaps for the bathrooms, dishwashing liquid for the kitchen, bum cleaner and an oil for the babe, shampoo/body wash for all of us, and two lotions for me...it's been on our list for quite awhile but finally got around to it.

The hand soaps, dishwashing liquid, and shampoo/body wash are all basically castile soap and whatever essential oils I want to throw in...usually lemon, lavender, and tea tree...but sometimes we'll throw something else in to fit that particular season. Since we CD (cloth diaper) we cloth wipe too, so the bum cleaner is put into a spray bottle and used during diaper changing time...then whenever needed or ever so often, the bum oil is used on her sweet behind :). I got the bum cleaner recipe from here...We use the castile solution one but the others sound good too.

The bum oil is just about 4 ounces jojoba oil, some lavender (just started this - wait until 6 months to use essential oils on babies) and a couple drops of wheatgerm oil as a natural preservative. We also use it as a massage oil for baby which she loves!


One of the "lotions" we made is from this awesome book my friend Emily turned me on to awhile back but it really ends up more as an oil, but it works great on extra dry spots. For a true lotion, I LOVE this recipe from ehow.com...it smells yummy with the coconut oil! Our little immersion blender works perfectly for this...

Coconut Oil/Cocoa Butter Lotion:

Put (3/4) cup Coconut Oil, (1/4) cup Cocoa Butter, and (1) T of a liquid Lecithin (used rice bran oil) into an immersion or regular blender...Add 15 (or more if want) drops of essential oil (lavender is my fave) into mixture. Then squeeze a 2,400 IU Vitamin E capsule into mixture and blend (used drops of wheatgerm oil instead b/c that's what had...Either will extend shelf life of your lotion). Pour mixture into a bottle with tight-fitting lid. Shake before using and best if stored in a cool dark place...or in refrigerator if so desired.


All the bottles we use were either antiqued, thrifted, or bought from Specialty Bottle and all the ingredients are from Mountain Rose Herbs (which is THE greatest thing out there for organic bulk ingredients - LOVE them!). It really is best to use organic ingredients and 100% pure essential oils when making your homemade products!

There are SO many nasty ingredients in all of the products out there and by making your own natural ones you're greatly lessening the amount of chemicals and toxins that your body absorbs...PLUS when you buy in bulk, you're saving money as well as lessening the amount of packaging you consume, and you can find some beautiful bottles/containers to store your homemade products in (or re-use some that you already have)...make some labels for them and they're you go! They also make great presents. There are so many great recipes out there, organic bulk ingredients readily available, and it's super easy. As an added bonus, I find it to be a very relaxing and fun process - the whole mixing and making...especially when it's raining outside as it was yesterday :)!

Rain, Rain Go Away!

It's a dreary and rainy day here in North Texas so I thought I would post a photo of this beautiful colorful fabric I recently got while vintage fabric shopping. It was bought at a really cool vintage clothing store called Circa 77 that my good friend Emily turned me on to. The owners are mother, Janie, and daughter, Christina (here's her blog), and they are so wonderful and helpful. I, with Janie's help, was able to rummage around and find some beautiful embroidered table runners with birds on them and some other fabric for the shower we're throwing J and G this weekend. Plus some other fabrics for future projects...Also got a cool book of Shakespeare's collected poems and sonnets at Recycled Books on the square (which is an awesome store by the way!) that I'm using for the shower too. Liked what Circa had so much I went back again and got some vintage sweaters that I'm using as project materials for the shower as well. Anyway, wanted to mention Circa and maybe bring some color to your day!

So fresh and so clean clean...

Yesterday's weather was glorious...just beautiful, and I was able to put the laundry outside to air dry which is one of my favorite things (see Lovebug's adorable rainbow of diapers air-drying above). To me, there is nothing better than line-dried laundry...especially sleeping on crisp air-dried sheets that smell so fresh and clean. To me, there is something so beautiful and nostalgic about seeing laundry blowing in the breeze. When we lived in Italy, it was something we saw all the time (as you can see in the pic below in San Gigmiano) and I loved it. I started line-drying in college on indoor racks but am so happy now to have an actual line outside. Not only does air-dried clothing have its beautiful look and scent, it is also better for your laundry and the environment!

Switching to air-drying can decrease your household power use significantly, thus helping the earth and saving you money...It will also keep your clothes longer-lasting (as well as cold water washes only) as dryers are tough on laundry. Do you know what the lent is that builds up in the lent drawer? It's tiny pieces/fibers of your laundry that are being stripped away...and dryers can shrink and stain your clothing!

Air-drying can also make your whites whiter as the sun is the oldest and best natural "bleach", as well as a disinfectant and wrinkle releaser...Plus for me, it's something fun to do and it's a bit of exercise too! Some people say the sun fades their clothing, but we have never noticed that with ours.



Not everyone can do a clothesline due to lack of space or HOA rules (which is ridiculous!), but you can still do drying racks which we also use and they work just as well. They can easily be found at discount and hardware stores or online at places like Abundant Earth and Gaiam.

When it's too cold to put our laundry outside, we dry most of it on racks inside, which acts as a great humidifier to the dry air.

So, consider giving air-drying your laundry a try...and I hope everyone was able to enjoy yesterday, even if it was for only for five minutes, before the weather changes here in Texas and is cold yet again...

Eagerly awaiting spring & more laughs...

Gosh it's cold outside...I am tired of winter already which is unusal for me, but I think it's mainly because of our little Lovebug...I want to be able to take her outside every day for a walk, run, or hike which I obviously can't do right now. When we have been able to take her outside, she has loved it so I can't wait until warmer spring weather arrives! Speaking of Lovebug, she was beautifully and peacefully napping in my arms today and she got a big smile on her face and laughed for the first time - it was SO precious!! Who knows what her little head was dreaming about but whatever it was, it made her very happy! I just wish her Daddy had been home to hear it, but there will be many more of those soon I'm sure! Have a great weekend...

Oh and here is a little slideshow I put together of pics from our 1st month with Lovebug...Gosh , she has changed so much already!...Enjoy!