The List

I made some progress on my list last....er...two weekends ago (holy cow, what did I do last weekend?).  And we finally made our summer list.  Drumroll, please......



It was assembled with input from all four family members, and we actually had a good time putting it together.  And you'll see I had to add at least one item toward the bottom, just so I could check it off (please tell me you do that, too!)

And did I ever mention that I finally did the chalkboard door?  In like January.  And it still needs touch ups around the trim.  Add it to the list! (looking at this picture reminds me I also should have put potty training on the list....and hanging those pictures properly!).

{Inspriation for this list: here.}

Organics

I've had my fair share of paranoia about the foods we eat, how they affect our health, and finding the "right" diet for my family and myself.  It can be a little overwhelming.  I read somewhere that up to 30% of cancers are caused by diet.  Anyway, I'm starting to digress, but this article on CNN yesterday caught my eye. 

It summarizes the findings of the Environmental Working Group (they have some interesting fact on sunscreens as well) where they determined which types of produce contain the highest level of pesticides, mostly due to their soft outer skins.  According to the article, ""You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by up to 80 percent by buying the organic version of the Dirty Dozen,"":

The Dirty Dozen

Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Domestic blueberries
Nectarines
Sweet bell peppers
Spinach, kale and collard greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Imported grapes
Lettuce

On the flip side, there are other types of produce that don't have the high levels of pesticides because they have thicker skins:
 
The Clean 15

Onions
Avocados
Sweet corn
Pineapples
Mango
Sweet peas
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet potatoes
Sweet onions

As much as I wish I could buy only organic produce all the time, it's not always possible (or affordable), so I think I'll try to consider the lists above and buy organic where there is a significant advantage to do so.
 
Do any of you worry about these things or have certain philosophies on the way you buy your produce?
 
I recently found out that an organic farm in Wisconsin (Harvest Moon Farms) will be doing weekly produce drops at my office building from June to October.  I decided to split a full share with my co-worker, so I'm really excited to be able to have a variety farm-fresh fruits and veggies each week from a farm that is all organic (and supports genetic diversity in their plants....that's a whole separate topic!).  After splitting the cost two ways and dividing it by 20 weeks, it was really only about $17 / week.  Plus, it saves me some shopping!  :-)
 
I know this post was not that exciting, but just thought I'd share.  I'd love to hear your thoughts as well!
 
P.S.  Can you tell I've watched Food Inc.recently?  :-)

List

I am SOOO looking forward to this long weekend.  I fully intend to relax and enjoy the absolutely perfect weather we have in Chicago right now.  But, as always, I'm already creating a list in my mind of things I'd like to accomplish as well.  

The first item on my list is....well, as list.  I am inspired by the ever-creative Meg at Whatever.  She recently posted their summer list and I am motivated to do the same this year.  I think it will be fun to try and come up with some creative ideas and tackle them this summer.  We live in Chicago and have seriously underutilized some of the things available to us in the beautiful city.  So, this weekend I'm going to start putting my "list" together.

Other things on the long-weekend list:

• Finish putting my plants / flowers in the yard.
• Walk to the farmer's market for fresh donuts (and maybe some fresh veggies, too).  Done!
• Work on a play area for the boys in the backyard (that is really on my hubby's list).
• Clean my room and put ALL the clothes away.
• Some self-pampering, perhaps?  Hair color, bangs trimmed and mani/pedi (all DIY, of course).
• Maybe switch out the boys clothes and find some shorts (poor children...Gabe went to school in jeans on this beautiful day).
• Get through a giant pile of mail.
• Work on thank-you's from my 5-year-old's birthday party (that was TWO months ago...I WILL get them done!).
• Dinner / cookout with friend(s).
• Work on an embroidery project my grandma started me on, oh.....7 years ago? MUST finish for her birthday in two weeks (been trying for every Christmas and birthday since she started me on it....shameful!).
• RELAX.
• Last, but definitely not least, fill the house with some fresh flowers...particularly a bunch of these:

Hope you all have a perfect long weekend, and good luck with your lists, if you have one.  :-)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

We had a spur of the moment Cinco de Mayo celebration tonight.  I stopped by the store on my way home and picked up all the essentials for our little fiesta, including the "margaritas" pictured above (non-alcoholic, as the children were drinking as well :-)).  These were sooooo good.  We haven't made them in a while, but it's just limeade concentrate, a can of water and lots of ice.  Wet the rims of the glasses with a lime (or water) and dip them in bowl of kosher salt before you fill them.

Gotta have chips and guac (avocados were on sale in honor of the day!):

All the fixin's for some chicken tacos....onions, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese:

I caught this guy licking the leftover salt from this glass.  He is his mama's boy.  I love me some salt!  :-)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Help!

I was browsing at Hancock Fabrics this mornng and came across this fabric in the home decor / upholstery section for $3 / yard!  I LOVE it, so I bought two yards (and want to go back for more), but I'm not sure what to do with it!  It's currently spread out on my dining room table, and I actually like it there as a tablecloth, but was also thinking maybe curtains either in the dining room or foyer.  Or maybe my bedroom.  Or maybe the duvet I've been wanting to make....help!

Any ideas?

I feel like I am drawn to patterns and color, but might have a few too many going on around here.  But I'm determined to find a place for this.  :-)



I also picked this vinyl up for half-price for the kitchen table.  I had been using regular fabric with a clear cover, but this is heavier weight and easier to wipe.



I think I could easily become a fabric addict.  :-)

{Super} Simple Muffins

These muffins are so easy it's ridiculous.  I started making them last fall when I had some fresh cranberries on hand and didn't know what else to do with them.  The variety above are blueberry (the last of the ones we picked in Maine a couple years ago....is that gross?), but you can add any variety of fruit or mix-in you'd like.

The recipe comes from my all-time-favorite "red and white" cookbook - aka the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book.  This is the cookbook I always saw (and still see) my mom cooking from.  It has all the basics.  Shameful confession:  I even use this cookbook for things like scrambled or hard-boiled eggs.  :-)



So, just thought I'd share the recipe.  They are easy to whip up for a nice, warm breakfast.   Our boys love them - the batch never lasts a whole day.  You could also maybe try a healthier version with whole wheat flour?

I also add about a teaspoon of turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw) to the tops of the uncooked muffins.  It's gives them a sweet, crunchy glaze.  I've done it with regular sugar, too.


Muffins
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teasoon salt
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil

Set oven to 400 degrees and grease a 12-muffin tin or line with paper baking cups.  Combine dry ingredients and set aside.  In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in.  Mix just until moistened (batter will be lumpy).

Mix in a cup of fresh cranberries (chopped) or blueberries (or just about anything else....they give variations for cheese, oatmeal, etc.).  Fill muffin cups 2/3 full (sprinkle unbaked batter with turbinado sugar if you want) and bake for 20 minutes or until golden.  The muffins are pretty small if you make 12.  I think next time I make them I might either double the batch or just make 6.

Enjoy!

Tissue Paper Pom-Poms

Remember Martha's pom-poms from this post and the Encyclopedia of Crafts?  I tried the mini-version for my mom's birthday last week.  I just layered 4 sheets of tissue, and kept cutting sections in half until I ended up with 12 squares.  Then I accordian folded each one, trimmed the ends to a point, tied a piece of embroidery floss around the center (with enough length to hang them) and then separated the sections.  They took some time, but I love how they look and now I don't want to take them down.  :-) (...though I have lost several to light sabers...hmmmmm....)

Did I mention I love spring?

Couldn't resist posting one more of my favorite pictures from this spring.  Anyone know what type of tree this is?  I really wanted to do a little photo shoot with a magnolia tree this spring (that sounds wierd, I know), but it seems they are all past their prime.  I dream of having a big magnolia in my yard; I love the huge, beautiful blooms.  But then again, I love blooms of all kinds. 

What is your favorite spring bloom?

{photo: me}

Focus

I am really enjoying spring, but I feel like I'm lacking a little bit of direction and I apologize for the absence.  I think I'm just trying to figure out where I need to focus my efforts at the moment.  As always, I have so many ideas rolling around in my head, and so little time to decide what to do with them!  I love blogging; it's a hobby and a great creative outlet.  I have to be careful not to let it become a stressful thing, you know?  I have a habit of doing that - making thing that should be fun stressful.  :-)

So, I will get back to posting at some point soon, once I can find my focus.

{photo: me}

Happy Easter

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Lots going on, but we are having a great, low-key Easter weekend so far.  It's my favorite holiday, and I'm looking forward to celebrating with my boys and family tomorrow.

May you have a joyful Easter as you celebrate the resurrection of Christ!