Making a better life...

We always thought we had a pretty good diet as far as nutrition goes. Well, that was until we took a serious look at what was being consumed as "special treats". I am by no mean giving up my ice cream for rice dream but we started with planting a garden and trying to make as much as possible from scratch. Our other goal is to clean up our diets in a manner that works for us.

I adore salads, grilled veggies and well made meats. We started investigating our diet and food while taking a Human Ecology class. It turns out that Jamie Oliver also released the "Food Revolution" at the same time. I decided that we had gotten away from what we really stood for. I am by no means the poster child of health. I am over weight, do not exercise and recently quit smoking. It is my turn to give back to myself and my family.

Our garden has: onions, tomatoes, chives, basil, lettuce and green bean seeds (we will see if they come up!). We used a plot of land that is not really good for anything else. Maybe a flower bed.

I would rather have veg. We will see how it goes and I will post pictures to show our progress or demise.

It is my way of calming the inner chaos. What calms your chaos?

Walking on Sunshine

I have waited a very long time it seems to be able to work outside with my children. They are finally at an age where I can trust them to stay in the yard. I have always wanted to be a gardener; alas I have a brown thumb. My husband and I made a raised box garden in a "wasted space" in our side yard. It now holds about 25 bags of topsoil, manure, and peat. I also has 3 tomato plants, 30 sweet onions, 1 large chive plant and 4 lettuce plants. I am hoping to add some okra and maybe some more tomato plants. I will post pictures as we go. If I can do this ~ anyone can!

It was spurred on by the need for healthier food. We watched Food, Inc. We are not in the position to buy all organic food and this makes it easier to splurge on the things I can not grow. I am considering buying a 1/4 of a cow. This will allow us to have hormone free beef year around.

I have a friend who wants to raise chickens for the eggs. I think I will leave that to her. I only think I could be that kind of a girl. I am by no means a fanatic about this situation, however I am growing great concern for the things that are placed in our home. Maybe it is parenting, maybe it is age, maybe it is knowledge. I am not sure but I do think it is a swing for the better.

Join us in our quest to have healthier and more productive lives. The Chaos is only fun when it benefits you!

A New Birth

It is Spring, Easter, the Resurrection of Christ and the warm air. All things good. It seems to bring new opprotunites as well. I am continuing on my journey to finish my degree, G-man will be starting Pre-K in the fall and Fifi will start going three days a week to Mother's day out. Greg is working like a mad man at getting the yard and garage cleaned up. I think we are so ready for the simpler things in life. We are planning to install a french drain in our backyard. This will catch the runoff from the yards up the street from us and allow our yard to stay in place. Hopefully this year we will also have a garden and grass in our backyard. What are you doing to calm the Chaos at your home?