Good News!

If you watch the evening news, or really any kind of news then you know that Good news just isn't in style as far as the media goes. Today I discovered a great website for some good news.
I could go on and on but... why not just let you go there yourself. Check THIS out!

My dead microwave

I have to say that I am glad it's dead. I had trouble with the loss at first and thought I would replace it after a couple of days. I knew warming things in pans would be healthier for keeping the nutrients in the food, but I have been surprised that it seems to be healthier too in other ways.
It's been interesting, the pace has changed in our house from the lack of micro waves dancing in the kitchen and zip zapping our food. It forces patience and a slower more relaxed rhythm to our day.
The kids can't just come in and say they are hungry and demand and expect something to be sitting in front of them in 30 seconds. Now they are learning that it will take some time and the requests seem to be filled with less haste and urgency by the day. (Unless Liam just woke from a nap, then LOOK OUT!)
Tonight we had leftover Jambalaya that Ted made yesterday. (Thank you honey, yum yum!) Instead of doing the normal ZAP, I put it in a pan and let it steam and warm and fill the house with all the delicious smells that come from a yummy Cajun dish. Dinner was more special, better than a nuked leftover. It had taken planning and time and yes, patience. I believe I heard "I'm hungry" three times while it was heating up. What a great way to teach patience to my kids, and to myself!
So the votes are in, the microwave will not be replaced by another. The toaster oven took it's spot and now I have more counter space for preparing those healthy slow cooked meals.
Any good recipe ideas?

Trash talk

It seems America is slowly becoming aware of how important recycling is. Our local trash company switched to one GIANT recycle bin that we can throw everything with the little arrow symbol into except glass, that goes in a little bin instead.
Anyway.... we have been averaging only 1 tall kitchen bag of trash a week. Everything else is either composted or recycled. I am pretty proud of that and think we are doing good for a family of our size.
Recycling and giving away things instead of tossing them work but I think for us composting has been a surprisingly significant reduction in our trash. We had lots of forgotten leftovers and food scraps going in the trash bag and now they are getting our garden ready.

So, how many bags of trash does your house produce? Any tips on reducing trash? I would love to see some helpful comments

Piano Concert

This is my bragging post. My daughter started piano lessons a couple months ago and had her first performance. I am very proud of her for getting up on stage without any hesitation. She was so excited and practiced the song all week long before the concert.
If you listen to the song she is playing the high notes. I think she plays a total of 18 notes.

Oh the places you will sleep...

When fussy children are about,
you will sleep strange places, there is no doubt,
On the floor beside the bed,
quietly, don't wake Ted.
On the couch half way sitting,
don't dare lay down, I'm not kidding!
If you do that child will wake,
Oh, the awful sounds that he will make.
Don't think at Two they will sleep all night,
If you do, you are in for a fright.
Maybe gas? A tooth? A bug?
All I know is he needs a Mommy hug.

Liam has began night/early morning waking again this week and while I'm not sure exactly what has been going on I have been sleeping in some odd places to keep him back in dreamland where he belongs. On weekends Ted always helps out but since I know he has long days at the office I try to give him a break during the week. Come Friday night though, I will not be leaving my cozy warm lovely bed. Can't guarantee that it won't have an extra 2 year old occupant though.

Meet Fry Guy

I am pleased to announce that I will no longer be buying gas!!!! We just got this handsome little car (1981 Datsun) and he runs on recycled veggie oil. He also came with about 600 gallons of veggie oil to get me started and a filter/pump and everything else I will need to go cruising down the road. If you smell Chinese food it might be me and Fry Guy driving by.
I'm so excited about this! I have wanted a grease car forever. It takes 60 bucks to fill up the tank of my mini-van and then I only get around 18mpg. Soon I will be driving Zionna to school everyday and the thought of that made me become very motivated to find an alternative solution to our transportation.
So, here he is folks....
Meet Fry Guy (I plan on a personalized plate soon)

The death of a microwave

My microwave died today and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my family isn't next in line. I have said often that we might starve without it. I could go get a new one, or maybe fix this one. I instead decided to see this as a challenge and try to live without a microwave. Heat things up in the toaster oven or *GASP* on the stove!
Anyone who knows me understands that I am not a cook. Microwaves kill nutrients though and we need those good things so I'm going to give it a try. This means planning ahead on my part.... like guessing when Liam might start screaming 'HUNGRY MAMA HUNGRY" and starting to cook before that point.
Goodbye to my super-fast-molecule-moving friend. You will be missed, and possibly replaced soon upon my imminent failure as a cook.