Made in the USA

It was the night before Easter (no bunnies were stirring) and I realized that I had nothing to put in the kid's baskets (which have been the same baskets for the past 3 years) . I was totally willing to forgo the basket thing- I know bad Mom! My husband would not let that happen. This is one thing we do not agree on, this whole make believe thing. I don't want to lie to my kids, but he seems to think it would ruin their childhood if they knew the truth. So I pick my battles, and I play along. Although I never actually come out and say "the Easter Bunny is coming", or "Santa Clause is watching, you better be good!" I admit that I do lie about the tooth fairy...I think a fairy flying into you're room like Tinkerbell is much more believable than a huge bunny with a basket full of goodies, or a fat guy in a red suit with a sac of toys. Besides the tooth fairy stops coming after you lose all of your baby teeth.
So my husband says, just go get them a few little things...nothing big. And maybe a piece of chocolate. And oh, make sure it's stuff MADE IN THE USA. Yeah, okay. So I mosey over to Target- nothing. I waited too last minute! I refuse to go to Walmart, so I head over to Michaels, and then to Stop n Shop. So how many things do you think I got that were "MADE IN THE USA"?






TWO!!!!! I searched high and low, and the only things that I found MADE IN THE USA were the fake plastic grass (proudly displaying that fact on it's package), and silly putty!!!! The chocolate was made in Germany! I ended up getting each of them a movie, and some stickers to go along with their silly putty, and a chocolate bunny- which I should've made myself, but it was too late, and the girls would know it was from me because they know the molds I had for Easter. Which is fine because they got so much from their Grammy and Memere to more than make up for what the Easter Bunny didn't bring.
This searching high and low for the good ole' Made in the USA "stuff" has got me thinking that maybe we need a store that sells only things Made in the USA so that I don't have to go searching for hours on end. If that is not possible maybe stores could at least keep everything they sell that is Made in the USA in one aisle, and advertise MADE IN THE USA this aisle only! It would make my life much easier. Although come to think of it, I wouldn't want it to be plastic because that can't be good for the environment. Plastic factories are a big polluter, maybe they SHOULD stay in China.
A funny thing though to add. My seven year-old was asked by someone if the Easter Bunny came to visit, and she shrugged her shoulders, and got quiet looking at me for confirmation. Then she went on to explain that her Mom bought her the BOLT movie. oops

It's a new day, a new year!

Resolutions?
I have stopped making New Year's Resolutions a long time ago. I know it seems like a good idea, but I think it sets you up for failure. Instead I make a decision every morning to put my best foot forward, be mindful, and do everything in kind for myself and others. It's not easy because there are those days when the girls fight, and I just want to put them both in their room and be done with it. It's hard not to react in anger sometimes...that's where being mindful comes in handy. I can take a deep breath, and speak words that will be helpful.... not to just rant whatever comes to mind in the midst of my anger. Besides I will forever resolve to lose weight, and be healthy.... and a lifestyle change is a process not something that is going magically give me motivation, will power, or resolve simply because it is now a new calendar year. There is no time, but the present. Live in this moment. :)

Greener Goals and General Goals

Things that I hope to accomplish in the near future-

To Be Greener, I hope to:

• Collect rain water to reuse in the garden


• Expand the garden


• Use renewable energy, either through solar, geothermal units, or simply changing my electric company to one that uses renewable sources. You can choose!


• Use biodiesel in my car (it's a VW Golf TDI, but I really want a VW Passat Wagon TDI).


• Drive less, and don't be too afraid to put my girls on a bus for school. That's hard. :(


• Eat totally organic


• Raise our own hens for eggs, manure, and goats because they are so cute.


• Plant more trees.... and flowers.

In general, I hope to:

• Certify as a childbirth educator, and teach classes regularly


• Lose weight, and be healthy


• Have downstairs a completed Family Room...wait that should be my husband's goal!


• Build a solid stonewall in our backyard


• Learn how to knit, and sew (Home Ec didn't cut it)


• Have no debt (this goal should really be first).


• Be granted land for an animal sanctuary


• Follow my dreams

It's all easy enough...

Blessed Lammas

It is a Lammas, the traditional first harvest and a New Moon in Leo. Let's not forget the total solar eclipse. A perfect day to pick that big zucchini in my garden! I think I'll shread it and put it in my meatless balls for dinner tonight. My garden is doing pretty good. We have gotten cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers. The corn, eggplants, and squash are growing. My little pumpkin patch is not little anymore. They weren't kidding when they said pumpkins take up a lot of real estate! The vines are on my deck, under my deck, and in the pathway (where the dogs trample them). Live and learn right? Next year I'll plant them on the hill, so the vines can come down, I think that would look so cool. My girls love seeing things grow, it would be neat if we could pick a pumpkin from the backyard, then carve it.

My latest hobby.... making chocolate!

So my cousin Alison started making chocolate awhile back, and using the proceeds for Relay for Life. Well this year I starting helping her, and now I'm hooked! She sells the stuff at work, and I can't believe how much money we made already! It is messy, time consuming, but very fun and amazingly I don't even want to eat it. Thankfully, I'm not making potato chips though LOL!
She is starting to get special orders, and now I'm thinking business opportunity. I made a basket for a drawing held at the Relay this year, and many people bought tickets, and the winners were ecstatic to win it. We have received many compliments too. I feel so creative :)
It is so simple too, well unless we get intricate, which we sometimes do, and we end up with aching backs. I started a website, and I'll make little business cards. www.freewebs.com/aliandstacie