Eco-Decor

It's no secret that I enjoy home decor stuff. While I love simplifying, parenting, eco-tip, and humorous personal blogs (I'm talking about you, Roo and Christine), the DIY and home decor ones clog my daily feed.

Ha. That sounds like a personal problem. Pshaaaahaaaa! Ha! Ha.

Ahem. Anyhoo. I'm pretty sure I got the bug from my mom. While we don't really match in taste (she's more country traditional, although she's veering into the simple transitional realm lately -- love it), I'm more into straight, modern lines and eclectic mixes of old and new (and, yes, transitional, too). But, her general enjoyment of freshening up her spaces and buying a few new pieces here and there (not to mention a great fondness for antiques), I totally get.

Being on a budget and being of the opinion that the Earth needs looking after, I've had issues here and there considering my purchases and their environmental impact. We can't all afford to look for a sustainably harvested chair with organic linen upholstery when shopping. It's a big enough purchase as it is, right?

But, there are plenty of small ways to surround ourselves with beauty inside our dwellings with friendly consideration for the beauty outside. See if you're already doing any of these...

- Thrift and claw your way. Okay, I honestly use a lot of excuses when it comes to thrifting. We don't have the room to buy a lot of furniture (which would need to be stored until I could refinish or upholster, then use it). We only have two thrift shops that mostly stock broken Target furniture (which is what we use for our TV console) and too-traditional stuff. I also don't find a lot of time to visit them. 

But, when I need an emotional lift or creative boost, I stop by on a whim. The Goodwill store is literally a minute drive (I drive 'cuz ya never know when you need to haul a big piece), and the Sally Ann's (or Salvation Army for those not in the know) is two towns over. I find the best accessories and frames (keep an open mind; the art or filler pictures usually suck, but a frame for 50 cents? Get out!) at Goodwill. Sometimes you can even find a brand new blanket, curtains, or pillows here. Yes, seriously, unused. I used a mix of frames from Goodwill for our nursery's wall collage.

Our Sally Ann's is best for furniture. I don't find the mod pieces I wish I could get, but there are super cheap, rehab-able stuff, like this bench (which I'm thinking of rehabbing again) and this chair I love for a bit of the unexpected.

Side note: I also shop these stores for my theater costumes. Our theater has a huge attic of clothes but somehow I hardly seem to find what I need. There are only so many ballgown roles, y'know? So, this is the best costume selection for the price. Same goes for DIY Halloween costumes!

- Craigslist is a great alternative. Again, since our area is stuck in the land of country traditional, there aren't always great finds to be had. But, it's nice to check and see what's out there. I'm not giving up hope that I'll find some awesome pieces one of these days. And, in case you don't notice a trend here, one of the eco-friendliest ways to furnish and decorate your space is to reuse items that might otherwise end up in the landfill.

- Don't scoff at hand-me-downs. If they're in your style realm, or you think you could transform the piece into something you might love, go ahead and kindly accept the offers from friends or relatives. I know my stepfather has offered us many items (he has worked for tons of sweet elderly folks who don't need their stuff anymore) for F-R-E-E! It's how we got Hadman's awesome dresser, which we painted a cheery yellow and changed out the hardware for something more modern...and, come to think of it, all of our dressers are current hand-me-downs. Not only is this cheaper, it keeps these pieces from ending up in a junk pile.

Oh, and if you're not a fan of the piece, itself, don't write it off. Dave brought his old bachelor-ish blue couch, which I'm still not in love with, but adding an inexpensive white slipcover gave me the look I craved without having to drop a buttload of money into a brand new piece of furniture.

- Find a piece of history. What's better than giving new life to an antique? Some of our favorite items were picked up at antique shops. Rustic tables, awesome accessories, cool kitschy kitchen stuff -- you never know what surprise you'll stumble over.

Our all-time favorite antique is our dining room sideboard (you can see it on display in this post). We found it while antiquing on our honeymoon in Vermont. Not only was it cheaper than any new versions we had found, it was full of art deco character and history. Oh, and that $#&! is solid. Way better than press board. Blech.

The best thing about antiques is that they fit so many tastes. If you're into mission-style stuff, there's an antique for that. If you're into mod, there's an antique for that. If you're into quirky, there's definitely an antique for that. If you're into romantic...well, you get the point. Antiques got your back.

- Know whatchya like. Take quizzes and visit Pinterest, Houzz, and blogs to determine what your style is. I take outdated magazines that would otherwise end up in the trash (and that teachers or art classes overlooked) home from school; my faves are Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and Real Simple (which I, admittedly, buy), and my mom passes us This Old House from time to time.

I love that the mags get a second life, sometimes even living IN my decor, as well as helping me find what I love. The inspiration helps me think outside of my comfort zone as well as determine what fads are for me, might be a long-term thing I can get lots of mileage from, and what would just make me buy new crap which would end up being discarded sooner than later. I'm still 50/50 on chevron.

Knowing your style definitely helps you but less crap and only what you know can find a home with you for the long haul.

- When buying new, try to be cognizant. Sure, not every item you fall for will be eco-friendly, and that's okay, but the sustainable seal of approval is becoming more and more mainstream. After coming to know my style, I've stumbled upon some stores (mostly online) that accompany my tastes. And, what do ya know? Some of my faves happen to have some sustainable options!

I sign up to find out when sales are popping up and always keep in mind what my needs are. Just because something awesome is for sale doesn't mean I jump at it. Ain't nobody got time money for that.

For example, lately I'm on a hunt for rugs. Yes, plural. I know what I'm willing to spend, so when I get an email that, say, West Elm (which has a good mix of eco-friendly products), I check out the site. I also keep an eye on discount stores and remember to look at eco-friendly materials (generally wool/cotton/hemp/jute vs. poly-something-or-other).

- What matters most to you? A big purchase like a fridge or bed might be more important for you to find to be Energy Star approved or organic; or not. Maybe you'd rather have all-organic sheets instead. Or eco-friendly pots and pans.

Since none of us is a Rockefeller (right? You're not a Rockefeller?), it's unrealistic to buy all eco products all the time. Just figure out what matters most to you, and you'll be doing just fine. It's not a competition, after all. Don't stress.

- Bring the outside in. Not only is it beautiful, but bringing nature into your surroundings is super zen. Rocks around candles on a plate, geodes as paperweights, plants to clean the air, flowers to add some color and texture, water features to provide a calming white noise; nothing's off limits. Just think about what makes you happy and hook yourself up. I know I'm into the succulent trend right now, actually (although who else but moi can kill frickin' succulents? Seriously).

If you have pets, just check into what greenery is safe for animals. Because...y'know...they like to nibble. Mine do.

- If all else fails, DIY it. I haven't got a lot of experience in building things from scratch, but I dipped my toe in with this desk. It's not perfect, but it works for us, and was way cheaper (and more creative) than a real parsons table. 

My best suggestion for you is to check online for plans if you want to undertake this type of endeavor. Start with something simple but that you truly want around your house. My favorite site to search is Ana White, in case you've lived under an Internet rock. Apparently she has a new gig on HGTV, too (speaking of living under a no-cable-induced rock). Can't wait to catch some eppies online.

And keep an eye out for sustainably farmed or reclaimed lumber, and low- or no-VOC paints and stains to keep the off-gassing to a minimum. 'Cuz off-gassing sounds gross enough as it is without actually dealing with a gas bomb in your living room.

There are also a bunch of tutorials out there for inexpensive ways to decorate your house. If you totally adore a how-to craft project or a pillow tutorial, go for it! Use whatever materials speak to you, and add your own pride into a job well done that you love seeing everyday.

Do you think about what you fill your house with and where it comes from? What's your decor style? Any tips you'd like to add? 

Oh, and that graphic? Not my house. Just an awesome royalty-free pic of a space I admire, just so ya know. ;-)

Green Guy

Hey, guys. Today's post was inspired by my super sweet brother-in-law, Dan, who asked me my opinion on some green brands and products he was considering. Of course, I immediately thought, "Oh, cool! Maybe someone in blogland could use my thoughts, too." So, here we are!

I'm not an expert at any of this stuff. I'm clearly not a dude. (Um. Hopefully you knew that.) But, after reading reviews and doing some research, I'm pretty confident that these are some kickass products. Of course, it should be stated that not all products work the exact same way for everybody. Like, our current shampoo works great for Dave and "eh" for me, but I still think my poo-free days changed my hair's pH and I've lived with straw-like conditions ever since. But I digress.

Today's post is all about the guys. And, because I'm me, it's particularly about the eco-guys. You know who you are. The ones who are looking for ways to eliminate the earth-hurting crud from your daily grooming routine. Who still want to look good (and, ahem, smell yummy) without the tingling chemicals, drying foaming agents, and general nastiness that goes down the drain.

I've got your back. Since I'm unable to try these myself -- do you really have to ask why? -- I've decided to pick a couple of extra products (like two shampoos, etc). Check out the reviews for yourself and consider what will work for your needs. And, ladies, the next time you need a sweet little gift for your sweet, don't do the Axe. Seriously. Just put down the Axe.

1 -  Maple Holistics Sage Shampoo (for Heavy Dandruff), 100% Natural and Sulfate-Free - I selected two shampoos because everyone's head is different, and I thought it would be cool to give you guys some options. I know the bottle is purple and it may look a little feminine, but that's actually because this is a shampoo that could work for both men and women. It's so awesome that there are natural options out there for folks who have dry skin, dandruff, and dermatitis. (Are those all the same things? I don't know. Maybe.) Oh, and it's cool for color-treated hair. That's pretty cool.
2 - Every Man Jack's 2-in-1 Thickening Shampoo - Like I said, everyone's head is different, and some guys are fighting an issue with thinning. I know how much thinning can affect a guy's self esteem, so the fact that this phthalate-free option exists (and with a conditioning option) is awesome. Let's just say that I may ask Santa to bring this to our house this year.
3 - Baxter of California Chrome-Plated Safety Razor - The Dorky Daddy loves his safety razor, although he admits that it does take a time or two to get used to a newer, short-fast strokes method. Seriously, this thing is awesome, and you'll only need to buy the individual razor blades once in awhile. (Hint: If you dry off your razor well every time you use it, you'll hardly need to buy new ones.) Plus, if you buy one package of blades, they'll last FUH-RE-VER. Just try it. Oh, and this (along with a kit of the proper brush, a holder, and some soap in a cute bowl or mug) was his all-time favorite Christmas present. I kid you not.
4 - ManCave Natural Face Moisturizer - No parabens. No sulfates. No synthetic fragrances or dyes. No petrochemicals. No GMOs. No cruelty. No problem! Plus, it comes in super manly packaging. These companies are really catching on to what people want. Oh, and it helps firm your skin (thanks, caffeine), clear it up if you've got a bit of acne (thanks, borage oil), and has several anti-aging agents. Wonder if I could get away with using this...
5 - Kiss My Face Creamy Cleanser Clean for a Day - I wouldn't usually support a face cleanser, mostly because everyone's face is very much unique. As a teen, I had battles with moderate acne (wasn't that bad, but it tore my self esteem to shreds enough to matter), so I know something that works for one person won't work for another. However, the reviews were good enough for this one that I feel confident saying that maybe 8 out of 10 people will have success with this one. It's great for sensitive skin, has a light citrus scent that could work for ladies or gents, and full of everything we like and has NOTHING we don't like (vegan-friendly, not animal tested, etc etc)...yeah, I think I WILL be ordering this one myself.
6 - Moon Dance Soaps Refreshing Mint Lathering Shave Soap - This will work perfectly with #3 above! The reason I picked a mint soap is because it's such a refreshing scent that leaves your skin feeling tight and gives you a morning aromatherapy session that will rival your cup o' joe. I also hit up Etsy every year to put a different scent in the bottom of someone's stocking. It's always great to support a small business owner who supports the philosophies we live by. 
7 - Herban Cowboy Dusk Cologne - (How cute is that name?!) Here's some more super sexy packaging containing an even better product. It's another vegan product, produced completely in the US, and the Herban Cowboy series of products seem worth checking out. (Especially their deodorant, which people are saying "actually works for a truly stinky man." Good to know.) ***Please make sure that you purchase the true brand of this since, apparently, there are knock-offs going around. Since this made the below list, which means a lot to me, I'm still supporting it, but some of the online reviews are warning against some sellers.***
8 - Burt's Bees Cologne - If PETA thinks these colognes are great, I've gotta get behind that. We're a Burt's Bees family, so I decided to include this cologne because a) it's a natural, animal-friendly option and b) it seems to be a completely different scent from #7. It is TOUGH to buy a cologne online, so I should mention that most reviewers love it, although there are one or two that find it a bit too...shall we say...hippie-ish. But, if your guy's into that, awesome. That said, plenty of reviewers mention citrusy, Bergamot, Cyprus and Fir notes (which sounds pretty woodsy and manly to me).  


Do you have any earth-friendly products that you or your guy enjoy? Are you fans of a particular brand? Tell us all about it in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy something (even if it's not on my list), you'll make my day AND help us pay some bills. Seriously. So much appreciation.

...And We're Just Monkeyin' Around

Couldn't help but make a Monkees reference. It KILLS me that I can't make it to any of their concerts for this tour, but I'll just be content in my secret Monkee fandom. Er, not so secret.

Anyhoo, we took our first zoo trip of the season! Yay!! We dragged Hadley along last year, but there's a huge difference between a one-year-old baby and a two-year-old toddler. He knows most of the animal sounds and lit UP when we came upon the gibbons (and their screeching calls). We could hear them from the car, and at first he thought they were in trouble -- "Uh oh!! Uh oh!!"

Besides the awesome monkeys, we witnessed the lions (the guys were lazing about while the female was full-on stalking a rabbit who had wandered into the wrong area -- spoiler alert: the bunny got away, thank goodness), a red panda, arctic foxes who just happened to be having a game of tag, an ostrich, zebras (Hadley's favorite last year), a camel, DUCKS (he only focused on one mallard, so while there were a bunch of them, he kept pointing his finger - "one duck!"), and some reptiles.

Oh, and when we hit the children's zoo area, we met the stars -- their famous sea lions. Seriously, we could've stood watching them ALL DAY. Then, there were some farm and petting zoo-type animals...along with a skinned knee. Yep. First skinned knee ever (and a pretty deep cut, actually). All boy, that one.

Since it was kind of a last-minute decision to go, I only packed a lunch for the Hadman. I'm super glad I did since Dave stood in line for over 30 minutes to get our lunch (before they even waited on him). The place is a branch of a local institution, Voss', but their service lacked sorely. The food was okay, but given the price and PITA factor, we'll just pack a cooler next time. Bam, done. (And cheaper.)

{He didn't seem to mind the fact that he got healthy stuff and we got pulled pork BBQ.
Give the kid fruit and he'll eat all day long.}

The Utica Zoo, itself, is neat for a few reasons. Firstly, it's the zoo that Dave and I frequented as kids (along with practically every other kid in a 30 mile radius). Secondly, we recently found out that most of the animals in captivity have actually been rescued or are housed here because they wouldn't survive in the wild. They're about environmental stewardship and conservation, which makes me feel far better about attending. Not to mention, it has a pretty rad theme song that's definitely an earworm. You've been warned.

We decided to purchase a family pass for the season, so I'm sure there will be lots of trips this summer. It's kind of cool to think that we can pack a lunch and just hit up the zoo for a random afternoon, or meet up with Dave for a half day on a work day, without thinking "it's not worth $7.75 per person to hit up the zoo for just a few hours." It also means that I can hook up with my sister and her little one to have a field trip. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic that we have such an open invitation to our very own hang-out place.

Fresh air + wild animals = perfect day for our own little monkey.

Garden Drawing

It was a casual Saturday afternoon while the baby slept and it rained depressingly cold outside. I was sick of the immobility of winter, the constant laziness, so I picked up a pad and pen and insisted, "What do you want to eat this summer?"

Pulling poor Dave from his own restful thoughts, he gave me a list. "Well, tomatoes. We don't really eat cucumbers. Maybe peppers?" Before too long, I jotted down the items we'd be growing. On the top of the page, I drew two rectangles -- the main event (raised garden beds) -- and a few smaller circles -- potted plants to be located at a later date. Maybe near our garage, maybe one our deck.

This is what we came up with...

Hard to look at a bit, I know. Sorry! The asterisks are for marigolds or oregano (funny, we don't each much oregano)...or maybe thyme, which are all good for keeping pests at bay and adding nutrients for the other plants. Oh, and pretty. They're pretty. The jalapenos are for eatin' but also to keep pests (namely, the neighborhood kitties) away. The numbers of the other plants are up for debate, but they're a good starting point. The bell peppers are so "plentiful" because I'm hoping to have a few kinds.

Oh, and I'm also thinking of putting up some sort of short fencing to keep things looking orderly (and, yes, keep pests at bay).  

Last year, we tried to grow all of our raised bed plants and herbs from seed with middling success. (We also had a couple of hand-me-down tomato plants that took over our front porch.) If I had the space/capability of starting my seeds indoor without risk of cat interference, I'd be all over it. But, a few years ago (we're talking pre-Jasper), Winston took matters into his own hands...and we remain a "let's just buy the plants" family. Maybe some day.

I think half the battle when gardening (whether your gardens are massive fields of food or a tiny container set-up) is admitting your boundaries. Don't over-buy, but don't underestimate how much you can grow in a small area. Bringing this sketch along will help me to remember approximately what will fit where. It's all in the planning.

While sketching, I also brought up a chart similar to this one on my phone to determine what plants work well together. This way, I knew that carrots and tomatoes could be in the same bed without fighting each other off. I also took into consideration that the tomatoes like to take things over, and since they're a high-growing plant I put them in the back so that the carrots will *hopefully* still get enough sun. I'm also going to try to be obsessive about caging them this year. Good stuff to think about.

So, as I write this, I'm anxious to get my hands dirty. In Upstate NY, it's wise to wait until the end of May to plant anything (frost abound), and I'm jealous of folks I know who have already been out working. We've had some crazy arse weekends that have left us with minimal time and/or energy to get much done. I mean, dude, I haven't even weeded yet. It's jungle city over here.

I'll keep you posted on our garden journeys (anyone ever hear that phrase before? Our local news station has a segment called "garden journeys" and I always wonder if that's a "thing" or if they pulled it out of their you-know-whats), and do tell -- what are you growing this year? Anything?  

Summer Plans

Howdy! Now that the snow has sufficiently melted and we're experiencing an honest-to-goodness springtime, I feel it's safe to let my mind wander to the wonder that is S-U-M-M-E-R! Last year, I laid out a whole plan of what I hoped to accomplish and a few little "first timer" milestones I hoped to have fun with Hadley with. This year is really no different, although a lot of the stuff we'll do isn't a milestone; just "for fun."

The biggest difference this year is Hadley. He's so different, guys, it's crazy. Last year, he was afraid of grass, wasn't walking (hardly mobile at all, comparatively speaking), and couldn't communicate. This year, he's got a couple dozen (probably more) words and several gestures he uses to get his point across, walks/runs/trips/falls down/gets up/runs again, and enjoys dirt and grass and picking flowers (ie picking the heads of flowers off) and generally discovering the world around him with zeal. It's exhaustingly fun.

So, you'll notice some repeats from last year's list. However, I think the actual experiences will be insanely different -- for us AND for Hadman. Should be fun!

A touch more streamlined than last year, but still with a bit of an explanation (I'll try to keep it concise):

1. We've all (adults, that is) got a lil' family winter pudge going on. I need to be less vampirey/anti-social. Hadley loves bugs and dogs and dirt and saying "hi!!!" to big kids and attempting to run into the road. All ideal reasons to walk. A hike or two would be awesome, too.

2. T-2 1/2 months and counting until the monkey turns 2 years old (sniff, sniff). It looks like we've landed on a theme, which I'll share soon. Our ultimate goal is to keep it low-key yet fun (I can't NOT decorate, and I can't NOT have a theme...it's just not me. And he's just too darn special.) It's important for me to remember that we'll have varied ages, and only a couple of little ones, so it's not like we need much entertainment or giveaways or games. If you're interested in seeing what I'm thinking, check out my Pinterest board for what I'm thinking. (Some are from last year, too. Speaking of which, here's a link to how last year's turned out!)

3. We went last year, and it was a blast. This year, Hadley recognizes animals, can point them out, makes tons of cool noises, and is generally a funner version of Hadley 1.0, so unless a crazy meltdown occurs, this should be awesomesauce.

4. Vague, no? We're nailing it down, but Mama gets the itch to move every now and again. This could be one place far away. It could be several close-to-home trips. Who knows?

5. I've started bringing home some books for Hadley from my school library lately, but I thought it'd be fun to see if there are some family-related library events at our local book haven. If not, it's cool. I'd just like to get there with him more often so he realizes there's more than the overstuffed bookshelf in his bedroom. Plus, Mama can do a little more reading, too.

6. The sooner, the better! Maybe two!!

7. To simplify things, we're not growing from seed this year. I've already made a garden plan, so at least I know what we need to go and buy. The Easter Bunny DID get the munchkin a little kit to grow one's own basil plant, along with a cool little metal watering can and a mini trowel and cultivator, so he'll hopefully be digging around, too. Yay, wormies! Oh, and I live in upstate NY, so it's not really advisable to plant much pre-Memorial Day.

8. I'm not making any grandiose "I'm going to finish this monstrous project!!!" statements. Instead, I'm going to take a few of Hadley's naptimes a week to get outside (or in the basement) to work on some organizing...and cleaning...and maybe painting...and stuff. My grandpa was a putterer, so it's important to me to try to connect with that and have a hand in the care of the house.

9. Grilling, yes. Setting up and USING the outside table to eat, yes. Getting away from the TV set (regardless of how awesome Dick Van Dyke reruns may be), yes. I'm also hoping that our gate will fit at the top of our deck, so munchkin can eat up there with us and it'll be a low-stress environment for all involved. Oh, and I'd also love to have a picnic. With pickles. 'Cuz monkey loves a good pickle.

10. Don't care where, this just must happen. We may have a picnicking day at a state park with my sis and her little one, so that may be our chance.

11. Last year, I mentioned writing a children's book. I've got the ideas behind several simmering (and even outlined), but getting any of it on paper has remained elusive. This summer, I hope to change that. All I need is the focus...um, and an incredible artist to illustrate it. (I'm also mulling over chapter book. Loves me a good historical fiction.)

What're you looking forward to most about summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime, summertime? Am I jumping the gun thinking about summer when it's not even June yet? I think this school year has blown by so quickly (and Hadley has grown so much, so fast) that I'd rather take all the time that we can to hold on!

Embracing Self Care - Health & Spirituality

Last week, I did a self-analysis for the blog project hosted by The Humbled Homemaker called...

Is it weird that I feel a touch of guilt to turn the focus on myself vs. taking care of everyone else? Ack. That's what this whole thing is about, though; recognizing that it's imperative to take care of OURSELVES in order to properly care for our families and loved ones.

Anyhoo, back to the task at hand. One of the issues that I mentioned last week is that, thanks to the crazy scheduled, toddler-centric, over-tired aspects of our life, we seem to be out of touch with our spirituality.

*record scratch*

Okay. This would probably be a good time to state publicly: We're part of that growing percentage of folks who don't really identify with a religion. Read: We're non-religious. Not atheist. Not nontheist, even. Just...don't identify. I like to say that we're both recovering Catholics, and I think Dave is a mix of atheist with a good dose of Buddhist. And I'm essentially "undecided" on the checklist.

It feels terribly taboo to even make such an announcement, but since this week is all about spirituality, it seemed a good time to mention it. See, I'm not sure the last time I read a blog from someone who wasn't a known Christian. Not kidding. Most of the homestead-y blogs I follow are run by uber Christians. Even a lot of the shelter blogs I enjoy are run by super religious folks.

And I enjoy them, even when I think to myself, "Huh. I'm a tad uncomfortable that I'm not 'part of the club.'" Read: I never write about religion because I don't want to alienate anyone... So hopefully no one's offended by our current religious decisions. It's where we are, and I'd rather be honest than mute.

I'm actually quite well versed in the religions (I was very close to majoring in philosophy in college, and as I see it, religion is all about a person's life philosophy) and have a plethora of priests/ministers on both sides of my family. I've been "converted" once [clearly didn't stick...and my mom flipped, understandably so; I was, like, 10 years old]. I've had a love-hate relationship with traditional organized religion and experimented with Eastern religions in high school. (Thanks, Beatles and Peter Tork, for your influence.)

The most "in touch" I ever was with my spiritual side was definitely when I was in about 9th grade and had read A LOT about transcendental meditation. I've gotta tell ya...that $%&# is real. Meditation helped me to find myself during a normally confusing, crazy hormonal time. It helped me to recognize the "truth" of life. It helped me learn how to cope with stress and center myself in ANY situation. It helped me to connect with my surroundings and nature in deeper consciousness levels. Heck, I used to be so in-touch with my inner being that I still remember my first out-of-body meditation experience -- in a very busy cafeteria during study hall the day of Mr. Hefner's funeral. How's that for specific? LOL.

So, let's just say, I don't judge folks for their religion if they don't judge me. Can't we all just get along? :-D

SPIRITUAL CARE

Needless to say, I'm not centered anymore. The life of a teenager is worlds away from that of a grown up mama. I can still analyze the stress level of a situation and calm myself mentally, but there's zero meditation. Zero spiritual connection. Zero gravitational pull.

Dave has mentioned an interest in meditation before, but nothing has ever come of it. I'm going to bring it up to him and see if he'd be interested in a) learning how to do it (I'm rusty, but I've got a pretty good foundation) and b) actually putting it into our schedule rotation.

Even if he's not interested, I'd like to be able to add PEACE into each day. Even a minimum of ten minutes spent with zero TV, zero phone, zero internet will hopefully help me start to center. A little at a time. :-) And I think that I'll be able to find some patience to deal with an almost-terrible-twos munchkin and an ability to focus better on Dave and his needs.

HEALTH CARE

On a health note, we also need to analyze our sleep situation. We've been going to sleep earlier and earlier, to no avail. We still wake up relatively exhausted. Whuh??

According to this British article (love those!), there are a couple of things I'm doing wrong. Firstly, I hit snooze. Heck, I actually set two alarms on my phone -- an initial one, then the "bonus!" one that makes me feel like I hit the ten minute jackpot. Silly girl. No more of that.

Secondly, the thing that makes the most sense AND helps us get in touch with our spirituality (hello, 2 birds + 1 stone) is GETTING OUTSIDE. It's been one heck of a winter for, um, everyone everywhere, so we've definitely gotten in a "sit on our arses" rut. It's time for us all (as a family) to get a-walkin'.

Remember when we were kids and the first nice day hit? We'd run outside and play with anything that wasn't covered in cobwebs, or just walk around the block -- LOVING that we just had to wear our brother's hand-me-down light jacket (since we'd only needed it for, like, a week). Didn't we sleep like babies that night? Of course.

Well, that's the idea here. I wish we could do it daily, but with P/T two nights and dinner-making, I just don't think it's plausible. However, if I make a concerted effort to plan SIMPLE meals and get outside a few times each week, it might help recharge us enough to try it even more. Baby steps. :-)

How are you doing with your spiritual and health journey? Are you in need of any fine tuning in any areas? Do you ever feel uncomfortable when your religious views don't align with someone else who wears it on their sleeve? Or is that just me? ;-)

Oddball

This past week, I schlepped the baby "up north" to the awe-inspiring Adirondacks for some quality time with my family and some ducks...and a deer head named Lois (although "she" was clearly a 7-point buck) which my son was sadly enamored with. I'm telling you, people, it was a good time.

Dave was only able to make it up for one dinner, so we missed our third musketeer horribly, but it was altogether a fun-filled, generally relaxing chance to get away from my daily summer routine of non-funness (boring ol' everyday) and spend time with all three of my siblings (it's rare to have us all together at once) and their respective families. We took walks, played some games, fed some duckies, illegally fished off the dock (oops...karma's a bitch, I only caught seaweed), toasted a few marshmallows, mercilessly made fun of each other, and I even kidnapped my can't-believe-she's-a-teenager niece into canoeing across the entire lake. And, for the most part, I ate "normally."

I had prepped myself mentally (if not physically, ugh) for this last piece. My mother, who is the ultimate planner/worrier, brought all the food (although my sister-in-law's family brought a ton of goodies, too, since they were bringing up five people vs. two; I thought it was nice of them). It's not that my mom eats crap; she buys the good cold cuts, the name brand yummy peanut butter, soda, bread, etc. Considering how much she has done for us over the years with an insanely low budget (HUGE Sunday meals, always healthy in the meat-and-potatoes sort of way; technically lots of "real food"), she still makes it a point to buy less but save for the best, even though we're not under her roof anymore. It kind of brings a tear to the eye, really. Heck, maybe she thinks we're not doing a good enough job of feeding ourselves. Could be.

But, I know that she and the rest of my family are, for all their strangeness, normal. I'm the oddball. Which is why I prepped, mentally, for the food, but more so for the comments.

I wasn't about to drag out a week's worth of my own natural food options. Didn't want to disrespect the cruise director, plus she had brought more than enough food for everyone. I figured that, for a week, I could put my massive amounts of research and reading about the benefits of an organic, "real food" diet (or, at the very least, HFCS-free eating) aside and just be "one of the group." No weekday vegetarianism, no looking at the label for naughty things. The one place that I differed was when it came to the baby. It's relatively easy to keep that under the radar with his jars and pouches of baby food, but the organic cheese sticks, applesauce, apple juice and yogurt I tried to conceal in the fridge gave me away...and the bunch of bananas sitting strangely next to the ones Mom had brought.

The second I put a chip in my mouth, Mom made mention, sarcastically, of her "organic girl." It actually didn't hurt my feelings since I knew what she meant by it and it was one of the first times she had really ever made mention that she knew how I ate. She has eyed my grocery store cart when we bumped into each other at Hannaford, and she may or may not read the blog. She knows. The snide-yet-harmless comments (from a sibling or two, as well) continued in drips and drabs for a few days, but mostly they were about the stuff Hadley was eating. Whew. Bearable. For the most part, folks didn't say anything at all; the chiding I did get was just a continuation of what I've heard since I was a little girl.

See, I'm used to the comments, for the most part. Our family is a group of teasers; always has been, always will be. I fall victim to the "Let's gang up on Bill" mentality at times, myself, too. (Always remembering that I'll probably be at the center of the next bout.) There was a time that my too-sensitive (not to mention dramatic) nature took them to heart. But, not seeing much of these close family members helps most of the comments bounce off one's back and remember childhood fondly.

And it's not like I'm not used to being the oddball, anyway. We're each pretty weird in our own ways, but apparently I was a tad more "off" than the rest of them. It was the same way in school, so by the time I had weirded my way through high school, I had grown into my skin. Monkees-lovin', tennis-and-oboe-playin', non-drug-doin' hippie as I was.

And, y'know what? In a weird way, this trip helped to remind me of who I am. I've become such a worrier of what others think of me that I had forgotten how comfortable it was to just be myself. Sure, I'll probably always be a tad self-conscious around others (especially when in volatile situations...well, doesn't THAT sound mysterious?), but the occasional reminder that it's okay to be an oddball is refreshing, isn't it?

At least, it's what I hope to teach Hadley. After all, who's more in touch with who they are than babies? Don't lose that, son! Don't you let it go.

What about you? Are you proud of your weirdness? What makes you especially crazy? Go ahead, let yo' freak flag fly!

Mini Revolutions

I was fully intending to celebrate Food Revolution Day last Friday in a small way -- dragging the baby to a local farmers' market, since Dave was out of town for an awesome workshop. The illnesses floating around school put a stop to that.

So, while I did do a quick grocery shopping visit (one of my Aldi/Hannaford runs), I felt like the day was a dud. I ate locally for a meeting I attended in Utica, but the food was far from healthy. At Hannaford, most of my purchases were organic, though, so I told myself that would have to be good enough, as I tried to get my nose to stop running. (Side note: I bought fiddleheads (I was ECSTATIC to find them at the store...and I think people thought I was nuts) and kale for the first time!!! Can't wait to try it.)

However, Saturday afternoon as the baby napped in my arms, I decided to hit up our Wii for some Netflix streaming. I can't even guess the last time I did this. My hope was that "Gilmore Girls" would finally be available (what else can a girl wish for with her husband out of town??), but since it wasn't, I typed "food" in the search area in hopes of finding a cooking show. Instead, I found my re-education and a way to celebrate Food Revolution Day, delayed though it may be.

A French documentary named "Food Beward: The French Organic Revolution", yes in 95% sub-titles, showed me that the organic craze isn't just a fad, and isn't just an American trend. The rise of cancers, particularly among French children, were the origins of major concerns of the state of food production in France. To take a progressive, proactive approach, a rural mayor decided to change the school menu to organic and mostly local foods.

Here's the IMDB movie description: "Food Beware begins with a visit to a small village in France, where the town's mayor has decided to make the school lunch menu organic and locally grown. It then talks to a wide variety of people with differing perspectives to find common ground - children, parents, teachers, health care workers, farmers, elected officials, scientists, researchers and the victims of illnesses themselves. Revealed in these moving and often surprising conversations are the abuses of the food industry, the competing interests of agribusiness and public health, the challenges and rewards of safe food production, and the practical, sustainable solutions that we can all take part in. Food Beware is food for thought - and a blueprint for a growing revolution."

We get to sit in on school lunches ("Organic bread tastes better." And, Philippe! Eat your damn carrots!! Sheesh.) and follow students to a garden, which their teacher uses as a learning tool, from teaching science and the enjoyment of nature to math ("use your rulers to measure the lettuces' growth" "that's impossible!") and cooperation ("Hugo gave me his parsley. Here, you can have some." Awww.), as well as the evolution of adult thinking on organic.

At one point, the mayor meets with local farmers, calling it something of an occurrence (rather than something more aggressive...a fight?) and a chance for organic farmers and more traditional farmers to discuss methods and reasons for doing what they're doing. I found this to be an interesting example of the fact that adults are able to debate an issue in a respectful manner, in addition to the fact that the information they were sharing can be directly linked to similar views in the U.S.

Overall, I was dismayed, informed, entertained, and finally uplifted by this flick. Often, the American-made docs tend to be downers (or so aggressive that it does nothing but inform and upset...and enrage...and then come the tears....), so this was an awesome reminder of our renewed reason to work on eating organically and locally -- Hadley.

Next year, I'd like to have a bigger Food Revolution Day, with the hubby in town and the baby old enough to eat, like, EVERYTHING (he's already a little foodie, I can't get him to stop trying to devour my food; don't get me wrong, I love that he loves food and I don't mind that he wants to eat off of mine (after all, I'm a mom!), but his diet is still relatively restricted at this age). So, whether it's a foodie get-together with friends or just a family visit to a farmers' market followed by a special meal, I'm looking forward to it!

No matter what it is, it's all about the mini revolutions, isn't it? The small attempts at better things on a boring ol' normal day?

Bird is the Word

Raise your hand if that song is now officially in your hand. Raise both hands if you think of the obnoxious "Family Guy" episode that featured it. Consider me guilty.

(Side note: I guess I could've labeled this post "Put a Bird On It", which is relatively on-trend...but kinda irrelevant to what I'm talkin' 'bout, Willis.)

(Side note #2: I started writing this post the last week of March. Shame on me for waiting. I sit within view of a veritable blizzard. Blerg. Oh, well, if I didn't continue on and finish this post, you would've gotten a pretty bleak one. So, you're welcome! ;-))

Do birds know how ecstatic they can make humans? Or, at least the non-desensitized, finds-joy-in-simplicity types? Because they do. Truly.

I saw my first robin today. I'm pretty sure it was a lady bird ('twasn't as pretty as a male, wop wop), but it was jumping around on the side of the road and suddenly my Monday became MOOONNNDDDAAAAAYYYY sung from the mountaintop with Maria. I literally sat up straight and grinned. Oncoming traffic didn't know what to think of me. A robin! Amidst a colder-than-usual "spring"! It means SOMETHING!!

Sure, I saw some crocuses sprouting green this morning (below freezing here, folks), but the bird had me spastic.

Then, as I inched my way into my school's parking lot, what soared proudly overhead? A frickin' bald eagle. You can't make this crap up. I became glass-half-full and ready to attack the day.

And, at the end of the "I can DO this!" day, I arrived home again to see several more robins and sundry other birds feasting on goodness knows what. The cats were having a field day observing, chirping, and generally gettin' their feline on.

Bird. Ya heard? Word.