This blog has shown up in a few fun places lately. Look for me in February's issue of Women's World magazine.
Top 50 Saving Money Blogs
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
This blog has shown up in a few fun places lately. Look for me in February's issue of Women's World magazine.
Thinking about Wool - a Review of Rambler's Way
This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.
I've been thinking so much about animals lately....how we care for them and what we take from them. Animals offer us so much, and now that it's colder (honestly, it is so cold here right now!) I've been thinking about warm socks and sweaters.
When I think of wool, I instantly think of mittens even though I've never had wool mittens. I have owned two wool items in my life - a sweater and a pair of socks. I like wool because it is amazing at keeping in heat. I wore my wool sweater all through college. It's probably one of the main reasons I could walk for miles each day in weather well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, I wore it almost every day. Nobody takes there coats off around here, so it was my little secret. But the socks...I had to ditch those for itchiness.
My sweater wasn't itchy, which means...like everything...there is most likely a difference in quality among wools. I recently had the opportunity to review the line of worsted wool garments from Ramblers Way. Okay, seriously, when I saw their clothes, they never screamed "wool" to me. They have camisoles! They have short sleeved shirts, exercise clothing, and undies! Yes...all of that is made of wool!
I was completely shocked by the possibilities. I know what you're thinking...wool undies have got to be so itchy! If you read a bit on their site, you will see that their clothes are all lined with an itch-free base layer and made of super-fine wool so they can be warm, comfy, and thin. This is not your grandmother's wool! Imagine the options and the lack of bulk in the winter! As someone that keeps their house a toasty 64 degrees, I'm really liking the idea of superfine wool. I could imagine layering will these comfy items, but they are also designed to be cool and breathable during the summer.
Whats even better is the fact that Ramblers Way runs their farms in a sustainable, humane way. I spent a great deal reading about their animal husbandry practices and sustainable farm methods. And some time staring at the sheep pictures. All of their items are American made, chemical-free, and completely renewable. Gotta love it!
When I think of wool, I instantly think of mittens even though I've never had wool mittens. I have owned two wool items in my life - a sweater and a pair of socks. I like wool because it is amazing at keeping in heat. I wore my wool sweater all through college. It's probably one of the main reasons I could walk for miles each day in weather well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, I wore it almost every day. Nobody takes there coats off around here, so it was my little secret. But the socks...I had to ditch those for itchiness.
My sweater wasn't itchy, which means...like everything...there is most likely a difference in quality among wools. I recently had the opportunity to review the line of worsted wool garments from Ramblers Way. Okay, seriously, when I saw their clothes, they never screamed "wool" to me. They have camisoles! They have short sleeved shirts, exercise clothing, and undies! Yes...all of that is made of wool!
I was completely shocked by the possibilities. I know what you're thinking...wool undies have got to be so itchy! If you read a bit on their site, you will see that their clothes are all lined with an itch-free base layer and made of super-fine wool so they can be warm, comfy, and thin. This is not your grandmother's wool! Imagine the options and the lack of bulk in the winter! As someone that keeps their house a toasty 64 degrees, I'm really liking the idea of superfine wool. I could imagine layering will these comfy items, but they are also designed to be cool and breathable during the summer.
Whats even better is the fact that Ramblers Way runs their farms in a sustainable, humane way. I spent a great deal reading about their animal husbandry practices and sustainable farm methods. And some time staring at the sheep pictures. All of their items are American made, chemical-free, and completely renewable. Gotta love it!
TrendyBrandyKids.com Giveaway!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Now that all of your holiday shopping is done, it's time to shop just for fun. And what's more fun that trendy kids clothes? TrendyBrandyKids.com is offering The Suburban Jungle readers a chance to win something fun from their Tatiri line. Take a look at some of the fun stuff you can find at Trendy Brandy Kids.
Cute girly stuff for fall and winter!
For the boys
Cute trendy layers
Tatiri Accessories
TrendyBrandyKids.com is offering one Suburban Jungle reader (2) items from their Italian Tatiri Line.
To Enter:
Check out the Tatiri Line and leave a comment on this post letting me know which 2 items you'd like to win!
Extra Entries:
-Subscribe to the TrendyBrandyKids newsletter (http://trendybrandykids.com/
-Follow the TrendyBrandyKids blog (http://trendybrandykids-
-Follow TrendyBrandKids on twitter and tweet about the giveaway (http://twitter.com/
-Add the TrendyBrandyKids button to your blog (found on the blog) (http://trendybrandykids-
-Follow the TrendyBrandyKids blog (http://trendybrandykids-
-Follow TrendyBrandKids on twitter and tweet about the giveaway (http://twitter.com/
-Add the TrendyBrandyKids button to your blog (found on the blog) (http://trendybrandykids-
Leave a comment for each extra entry you complete. This giveaway will end on January 8, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST and the winner will be posted here and contacted via email. This giveaway is open to US residents and the winner will be decided by random.org. Be sure your email address either in your comment or in your blogger profile.
*No compensation or product was received to host this giveaway.
My Whole Foods Shopping Trip!
With the holidays over and things back to normal, I decided today was the perfect day to try out Whole Foods. I could tell by my husband's face that he was not excited for me to embark on this organic journey, but I was happily surprised when he willingly stayed home with the kids.
I packed up all the organic coupons I had and headed for the city. As I neared the Whole Foods parking lot, I noticed all sorts of organic, consignment, and earth friendly stores. I was intrigued, and that's when I realized....OMG, I am a hippy!
My husband had been saying it for years, but not until I saw all those stores in one place and recognized my attachment to them was I finally willing to admit it. I finally saw what other people must see when they see me running out of our garden with mud on my face and hands excitedly rambling on about some new bug or plant I discovered. I really am one of those bearded wilderness guys that eats mushrooms right out of the ground..... I started wondering how many people I had told about my plans to seed shitake mushrooms near my oak trees this year...and tap our maples....and......
As hippy as my spirit may be, I bet I was the only thirty something mom pulling into Whole Foods with the Beastie Boys blaring through the speakers. There...I'm an original. :)
That being said, I was extremely impressed with Whole Foods. It was everything I wanted a grocery store to be, almost. As soon as I walked in, I grabbed the Whole Deal (Thanks Susan) and looked through the deals and coupons. And then I stepped in to the best produce department ever! There was so much of it and so many varieties. It was all super expensive too. But it was organic and it all looked like high quality merchandise. On it's own, this would be enough to bring me to Whole Foods. Then there were endless cases of fresh meat and seafood. Loved it, though the site of all that animal flesh did make me feel a little woozy. All of the fresh items said where they came from. Such and such farm in Missouri, such and such farm in Illinois.... I liked that, but it didn't tell me a lot about "how" they were farmed and so I passed up many things just for lack of information.
I went to Whole Foods hoping to find a supplier of organic, humanely raised meat, dairy and eggs. Today I really wanted to find dairy and milk. I had researched a few brands and I'm currently reading Real Food: What to Eat and Why,
so I felt I had a good idea of what I was looking for in eggs and milk. But Whole Foods had an enormous variety of eggs and milk. I don't know why but I expected to find milk as close to Raw as legally allowed and only found one brand that fit the bill. It was new to me and I hadn't had a chance to read up on it, so for $6+ per gallon, I decided to read a little more before I jumped in.
As a gourmet grocery store, Whole Foods was really cool. There were so many varieties of cheeses, olives, spreads, seafood, a whole vegan section, and pretty much everything else. It was awesome. But I became increasingly annoyed when I saw things I normally see at Target or our local grocery store that Whole Foods priced for 40-60% more. All of the Kashi, Annie's, Morningstar, Applegate, Organic Valley, Santa Cruz, Blue Horizon, and other organic brands I see regularly were consistently priced higher at Whole Foods. Even cat foods! I've been scoping out cat foods (ingredients and prices) for the last month and Whole Foods charged more for the same foods. My main mission was to buy humanely raised animal products, but since I couldn't find much specific farm or label information, I didn't buy a lot there.
Here's what I did buy:
1 package of whole wheat tortillas and a Steaz Iced tea. I had a free coupon for the tea, so my total was $1.69.
I had sincerely hoped Whole Foods could be my savior for all things organic or at least my transition to all local farm goods. But the distance and overall pricing means I probably won't go back. Well...maybe I'll go back in March when it's so dreary and I'm dreaming of gardening. I'll go back just to wander through the produce section. ;)
So far, my goal of eating humanely and organically has been extremely difficult with a very steep learning curve, but I'm not one to give up just because things get tough. I've called every local butcher, researched local CSAs, found a few local organic farmers, and have been checking out new stores and sections of old stores. Every one has a little piece of the answer, but there isn't one easy solution yet. I don't want to run all over town to get different parts from different farms, so I'm still on the lookout. It looks like our transition is going to come in bits and pieces. Hopefully this will also ease my husband into our new food spending.
For groceries this week, I am going to pick up some grass fed beef at Target ($5.99/lb) and wing it from our pantry until I get a better idea. :)
I packed up all the organic coupons I had and headed for the city. As I neared the Whole Foods parking lot, I noticed all sorts of organic, consignment, and earth friendly stores. I was intrigued, and that's when I realized....OMG, I am a hippy!
My husband had been saying it for years, but not until I saw all those stores in one place and recognized my attachment to them was I finally willing to admit it. I finally saw what other people must see when they see me running out of our garden with mud on my face and hands excitedly rambling on about some new bug or plant I discovered. I really am one of those bearded wilderness guys that eats mushrooms right out of the ground..... I started wondering how many people I had told about my plans to seed shitake mushrooms near my oak trees this year...and tap our maples....and......As hippy as my spirit may be, I bet I was the only thirty something mom pulling into Whole Foods with the Beastie Boys blaring through the speakers. There...I'm an original. :)
That being said, I was extremely impressed with Whole Foods. It was everything I wanted a grocery store to be, almost. As soon as I walked in, I grabbed the Whole Deal (Thanks Susan) and looked through the deals and coupons. And then I stepped in to the best produce department ever! There was so much of it and so many varieties. It was all super expensive too. But it was organic and it all looked like high quality merchandise. On it's own, this would be enough to bring me to Whole Foods. Then there were endless cases of fresh meat and seafood. Loved it, though the site of all that animal flesh did make me feel a little woozy. All of the fresh items said where they came from. Such and such farm in Missouri, such and such farm in Illinois.... I liked that, but it didn't tell me a lot about "how" they were farmed and so I passed up many things just for lack of information.
I went to Whole Foods hoping to find a supplier of organic, humanely raised meat, dairy and eggs. Today I really wanted to find dairy and milk. I had researched a few brands and I'm currently reading Real Food: What to Eat and Why,
so I felt I had a good idea of what I was looking for in eggs and milk. But Whole Foods had an enormous variety of eggs and milk. I don't know why but I expected to find milk as close to Raw as legally allowed and only found one brand that fit the bill. It was new to me and I hadn't had a chance to read up on it, so for $6+ per gallon, I decided to read a little more before I jumped in.As a gourmet grocery store, Whole Foods was really cool. There were so many varieties of cheeses, olives, spreads, seafood, a whole vegan section, and pretty much everything else. It was awesome. But I became increasingly annoyed when I saw things I normally see at Target or our local grocery store that Whole Foods priced for 40-60% more. All of the Kashi, Annie's, Morningstar, Applegate, Organic Valley, Santa Cruz, Blue Horizon, and other organic brands I see regularly were consistently priced higher at Whole Foods. Even cat foods! I've been scoping out cat foods (ingredients and prices) for the last month and Whole Foods charged more for the same foods. My main mission was to buy humanely raised animal products, but since I couldn't find much specific farm or label information, I didn't buy a lot there.
Here's what I did buy:
1 package of whole wheat tortillas and a Steaz Iced tea. I had a free coupon for the tea, so my total was $1.69.
I had sincerely hoped Whole Foods could be my savior for all things organic or at least my transition to all local farm goods. But the distance and overall pricing means I probably won't go back. Well...maybe I'll go back in March when it's so dreary and I'm dreaming of gardening. I'll go back just to wander through the produce section. ;)
So far, my goal of eating humanely and organically has been extremely difficult with a very steep learning curve, but I'm not one to give up just because things get tough. I've called every local butcher, researched local CSAs, found a few local organic farmers, and have been checking out new stores and sections of old stores. Every one has a little piece of the answer, but there isn't one easy solution yet. I don't want to run all over town to get different parts from different farms, so I'm still on the lookout. It looks like our transition is going to come in bits and pieces. Hopefully this will also ease my husband into our new food spending.
For groceries this week, I am going to pick up some grass fed beef at Target ($5.99/lb) and wing it from our pantry until I get a better idea. :)
5 Tips to getting (staying) in shape this winter!
1. Get active now! Don't wait for New Year's or any other reason. Today is the day - now move! Find an activity you enjoy and throw yourself out there. If you're already active, mix it up and try something new.
2. Don't get sick! Getting sick ruins all of your best health goals and plans. Eat plenty of fresh veggies and fruits, aim for whole/real foods, and drink plenty of water. Wash your hands, avoid sick people, and hope for the best.
3. Get outside! Even though it's cold outside (and will be for quite some time) get out there and get some fresh air. Sled with your kids, walk out to feed the birds, shovel the driveway, try out your new snowshoes. Just be sure to get a few minutes of real sunlight every day. It can make a world of difference!
4. Try new, healthier, recipes! Tis the season for chocolates and cookies, but now is the perfect time to try out healthier versions of your old favorites. Or just sample smaller portions of your yummy faves. Box up the rest to share with friends.
5. Stress Less! This is by far the hardest one, but if you can let go of some of the stress in your life, your health will most likely improve.
Living with a cat in the face of allergies: Our plan of Attack!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
This photo is of our potential cat's father.
I had given up all hope and resolved to live cat-free, but my husband has been adamant that we need a cat, and he thinks we can do it. Why is he so sure we need a cat? In case I haven't mentioned before, my kids fight. I mean they FIGHT. Why am I telling you this? Because my husband thinks having an animal will make our children get along better. To me it sounds a lot like people in a troubled marriage thinking, "Let's have a baby!" Somehow, the real problem never gets solved.
But I still think having a pet would be a wonderful thing. Who doesn't want something to care for and love? After coming up with an action plan for living with a pet (see below), I've come to think that perhaps my husband's fervent insistance that we "can do it" has more to do with his desire for me to become the house cleaner of his dreams.
Here is our Cat Plan of Attack:
1. Vacuum the house daily. So far I have this down to 1 1/2 hours a day. Like most moms, all of my activities are done with constant "help" and interruptions, so I'm currently working on a beating that time.
2. Wash the cat weekly. This will be no fun, but will hopefully keep allergen levels down.
3. Brush the cat daily and wipe him down with either allergen wipes or warm washcloths.
4. Wash all hard floor surfaces at least every other day (perhaps daily.)
5. Amp up our consumption of flaxseed, wild salmon & tuna, and citrus fruits. I'm also in the process of figuring out how to easily convert our family to grass fed and pasture raised beef, dairy, eggs, pork and chicken. All of these changes should lower our overall inflammation levels and make my son's airways less reactive.
6. Dust the house at least twice a week - I'm talking baseboards, fans, vents, furniture, everything.
7. Wash all bedding and blankets weekly. Wash cat items more often.
8. Wash all toilets weekly, and check/spot-clean the cat's preferred toilet frequently.
9. Empty the cat's litter box after each use and start toilet training within 2 weeks of the cat coming home.
10. Re-train the boys to put the toilet seats DOWN after every use and to keep the lids up.
11. Weekly nail clipping for the cat. The cat and I are going to share many unpleasant experiences, but it's either this or declawing which I am against.
12. Cat will not be allowed outside.
13. The furnace and air exchange filters will be changed and cleaned regularly and inspected monthly.
14. All bedroom doors will remained closed during the day and night.
15. Possible vacuum upgrade! Wahoo!
16. Looking into UV allergen buster for furnace.
17. Wash my son's pillow and mattress protectors on a weekly basis.
18. Feed the cat a natural diet and attempt to minimize his stress, so he sheds less and produces fewer allergens. It will also help him live a longer, healthier, happier life. :)
19. Wash hands and face after snuggling with cat.
20. Visiting homes with cats to assess real world reaction in a one cat home. We have friends with cats and I've been setting up playdates so my son can play in homes where cats live with the hope that he can play in a home where cats live and do so without reactions or medicine. *Fingers Crossed*
Phew! I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Actually, I've already been living it (minus any cat specific activities.) If I can keep it up, this is most likely our best bet at having a low allergy cat experience. My goal is to limit discomfort for my son, husband, and cat. And to limit any medical intervention (allergy meds) and not to trigger any asthmatic episodes. I'm excited and scared.....
Looking for a last minute gift? Expo Review
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Are you one of the last minute holiday shoppers looking for a great idea? Surveys are suggesting that more people will be buying practical gifts this season. So if you're looking for more practical gifts, you may want to consider Expo's line of dry erase products. We were given the chance to review this products and I was surprised by the variety and quality.
We tried out the Low-Odor Dry Erase Starter Set
. I love these markers and have actually used these for years. In my experience, they write well and last a super long time. These would be an excellent gift for any teacher.
. I love these markers and have actually used these for years. In my experience, they write well and last a super long time. These would be an excellent gift for any teacher.
I had never heard of the EXPO Dry Erase Board Cleaning Wet Wipes
, but what an awesome idea! I have been reluctant to let our children use our white boards because the smears eventually stick around. I'm excited to let our kids use their homework station knowing I have a good way to remove the marks.
Is it crazy that I've never tried fluorescent dry erase markers? I honestly never thought about them before, but what a great way to make your dry erase board a lot more fun. I could even imagine teens using these to decorate windows and cars for sporting events and proms. The possibilities are endless.
You can buy all of these great Expo products at office supply stores, discount stores, and Amazon.
* In addition, for every package of EXPO markers sold in the U.S. this November and December, EXPO will donate one marker to the Kids In Need Foundation up to a maximum of 100,000 EXPO markers.*
I wish we had reviewed these sooner, so I would have thought to buy some as gifts for my son's teacher. These are nice gifts at an affordable price. I see these going into a teacher's gift basket next year.
*No compensation was given for this review, but I did receive the products highlighted for review purposes. All opinions are my own.Where to babies come from ~ Tell me Now!
As we get nearer to Christmas, I'm reminded of what happened last year. Right in the middle of church service. Our children were sitting next to us, so
I leaned over and whispered "I told you, from a mom's tummy." He replied (a little louder this time) "NO, I mean how do they get out?" "I'll tell you later," I respond.
To this he belts out: "NO! Tell me NOW! I want to know how babies get out NOW!" Think, think, think....I answer, "they just pop out!" "Okay" he says and the drama ended.
Holy buckets! Are you serious? That's all it took? I thought we'd be the star of Christmas as we relayed all the events leading up to delivery. But thankfully it ended there.
My husband once tried to tell him that the doctor just pulls the baby right through the mom's tummy. "Oh he said, that's how mom's tummy got all wrecked." Thanks!
He seems to think that these made up stories are better and I prefer the truth. The question is: which answer is the crazier one? Both stories seem pretty unbelievable and weird.
I can hardly wait until we have to explain how they got into mom's tummy....they'll never look at us the same way again.
Service Projects for Christmas - Paying it forward
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
A few years ago, I decided we needed a Christmas project to "pay it forward" and show our children how to give to someone else. A lot of people volunteer at shelters, soup kitchens, or nursing homes, make shoeboxes, or donate to specific charities. My husband's family even runs out to donate blood. All of those are great, but I wanted to do something different (or in addition.)
So we made cat blankets for the humane society. I go through crafty stages and end up with all sorts of leftover fabrics. The blankets pictured are the prototypes we made to experiment with different styles. Our humane society was happy to have the blankets we made. And it made us feel so good to think our scraps were keeping some kitties warm and snug. When I get a chance to get back into my sewing stuff (in the guest room....grrrr) I see more cat blankets in our future.
So we made cat blankets for the humane society. I go through crafty stages and end up with all sorts of leftover fabrics. The blankets pictured are the prototypes we made to experiment with different styles. Our humane society was happy to have the blankets we made. And it made us feel so good to think our scraps were keeping some kitties warm and snug. When I get a chance to get back into my sewing stuff (in the guest room....grrrr) I see more cat blankets in our future.
The Mole Surgery....
once again, but it just wasn't in my cards. Today I had the final surgery to remove all the skin bordering the moderately dysplastic mole on my back. They removed a section about the size of a piece of gum. Not a Trident piece but an Extra piece. Needless to say, there will be no exercise for awhile. :(
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