So, I've added both Ad-sense ads from Google and will be linking to Amazon ads in some of my posts. I added the Google ads because, while I can't say I'm worried about making money from a blog, I figured, "What could it hurt?" right? Also, when I link to things from Amazon, it's because I am a visual person, I like pictures! I want people to see what I'm talking about, and don't want to "steal" pictures from around the web.
So, hopefully the ads don't detract too much and no one gets offended. If, however, you happen to see something that you like, by all means, click away! Just come back and read some more.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tree-Free Home: #2 Cloth Napkins
I like to use cloth napkins instead of paper. I like the way they feel so much better, they don't leave a papery mess on little sticky faces and hands, and they're reusable. Besides, they add a nice edge of class to that special mac and cheese you're making for your kids.
Check out these ones at Amazon:
They're even made from recycled cotton.
But heck, at $15 for 4, I bet you could hire someone with a sewing machine to make some for you. Amazon, among other stores, does have cheaper ones. I've even found them at a number of the discount stores for about $1 or $2 per napkin.
I have a number of cloth napkins, but don't seem to use them for fear of staining them. (I know, I know, that's kinda what they're there for!) I want to make some simple ones that I can use with the kids and not worry about spaghetti sauce on them, or whatever the flavor of the day is.
If you're looking at making your own, just about any scraps of cotton or cotton/poly material that you have on hand would probably work, though linen ones are de rigueur. The traditional dinner napkin is 20 inches square, but other regular sizes include 12, 14 and 16 inch squares. For family dinners I'd probably make them even smaller, maybe even as little as 8 to 10 inches square since I'm cleaning small, messy faces. This way it would be less strain on Dear Mother when washing a set each day.
You should be able to make about 12 napkins per yard, more if it's 60 inches wide. And then you can pick and chose colors that match your decor, or hide stains. You know, whichever... :) Here's a website that tells how to make your corners pretty when sewing your napkins.
I might just start out with some flannel material that I already have and just serge the edges and call it good so I can start with something. Pretty much anything you can get your square from, that would other wise go to waste, could be utilized. What about all those old flannel receiving blankets that your kids grew out of in about 2 weeks? Or those old t-shirts would make some soft napkins. I bet cutting some squares from old dress shirts would work well, and you could end up with some interesting, eclectic table settings that way.
The other benefit of cloth napkins is the eventual need I will feel to make a lot of super-cute napkin rings. These will make cute craft projects for the kids or good ways to use some material around the house that was otherwise going to get thrown away.
Still need more benefits? You can teach your children the "correct" way of setting a table. Or, you could teach your kids napkin origami. Who doesn't like to fold stuff up to make swans?
Check out these ones at Amazon:
They're even made from recycled cotton.
But heck, at $15 for 4, I bet you could hire someone with a sewing machine to make some for you. Amazon, among other stores, does have cheaper ones. I've even found them at a number of the discount stores for about $1 or $2 per napkin.
I have a number of cloth napkins, but don't seem to use them for fear of staining them. (I know, I know, that's kinda what they're there for!) I want to make some simple ones that I can use with the kids and not worry about spaghetti sauce on them, or whatever the flavor of the day is.
If you're looking at making your own, just about any scraps of cotton or cotton/poly material that you have on hand would probably work, though linen ones are de rigueur. The traditional dinner napkin is 20 inches square, but other regular sizes include 12, 14 and 16 inch squares. For family dinners I'd probably make them even smaller, maybe even as little as 8 to 10 inches square since I'm cleaning small, messy faces. This way it would be less strain on Dear Mother when washing a set each day.
You should be able to make about 12 napkins per yard, more if it's 60 inches wide. And then you can pick and chose colors that match your decor, or hide stains. You know, whichever... :) Here's a website that tells how to make your corners pretty when sewing your napkins.
I might just start out with some flannel material that I already have and just serge the edges and call it good so I can start with something. Pretty much anything you can get your square from, that would other wise go to waste, could be utilized. What about all those old flannel receiving blankets that your kids grew out of in about 2 weeks? Or those old t-shirts would make some soft napkins. I bet cutting some squares from old dress shirts would work well, and you could end up with some interesting, eclectic table settings that way.
The other benefit of cloth napkins is the eventual need I will feel to make a lot of super-cute napkin rings. These will make cute craft projects for the kids or good ways to use some material around the house that was otherwise going to get thrown away.
Still need more benefits? You can teach your children the "correct" way of setting a table. Or, you could teach your kids napkin origami. Who doesn't like to fold stuff up to make swans?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tree-Free Home: #1 Cloth Diapers
Another idea I came across that I've been trying to do in my home (with better success before the pregnancy) was a "tree-free home".
I used cloth diapers with Autie for about the first 6 months. Then we moved and were sharing a washer, so the practice kind of died. We didn't do so well with Izzy either. My excuse is that we moved 15 times the year he was born. I plan to go back to it for the twins since we are (hopefully) a little more settled and not living with room-mates. (Sorry, Heather doesn't count as a room-mate. As Big D says, "She's your little slave girl." Good thing she has a sense of humor!)
Not only does it greatly reduce the waste from a home, it saves LOTS of money. The average baby uses about 6,000 (!!) diapers in the first two years of their life. At about $0.25 per diaper, that would be $1,500 each year for two babies. And many moms who cloth diaper say that their children potty train sooner. So less time dealing with poop! Who would complain about that?
I personally prefer the prefolds rather than the all-in-ones (AIO) or pocket diapers. Besides the fact that they're cheaper (About $1.00 per prefold vs. about $15.00 each for the either of the other two), they were just easier for me to use. Even Big D could change a cloth diaper in the same time and with the same yuck factor as a disposable one. Besides, the flat diapers come in handy after the baby is older. They can be used for cleaning rags and they last forever. I still remember my mom having and using them when I was a teenager - as cleaning rags, I swear!! All totalled (I bought preemie prefolds, infant and regular sizes) I invested about $200 in prefolds and probably another $50 between snappies (the bestest thing EVER if you use prefolds) and diaper covers.
So, in just a monetary way, I saved about $500 with Austin, and if I consistently use them with the twins, I'll save about $4,500 (if they potty train at about 3 years old). So, $5,000 savings for maybe $250 invested (plus the soap and water for the washing). And I can still sell the used diapers on ebay for at least some of the money that I've paid for them once the girls are done. I'd say it's a big win. Not even mentioning the 20,000 diapers that DON'T end up filling our land fills.
Not only is there the money issue (seriously, do you need a better reason?? If so, just send me the extra money and give it a try anyways!) there is the fact that it's just way better for little butts and the earth.
We'll start with the "Save the Earth" crowd. Disposable diapers are just that, disposable, thrown away, disposed of. Check out the all-mighty Wiki and look at the debate section [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaper ]. It states: "An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year." That's a lotta poop!
Now, honestly, depending on how they are washed and dried, cloth diapers can still cause a strain on Mother Earth. But I have a HE washer, and live in the driest place in the world (maybe not, but it feels like it) so can hang dry the diapers. I use homemade laundry detergent, vinegar as a fabric softener and don't ever bleach my diapers. I'd say I'm being reasonably kind to Mother.
Disposable diapers have all sort of chemicals. Depending on which anti-disposables website you look at, some of the loverly things in diapers will include: polyethylene and polypropylene plastic with bleached paper pulp, AGM (a gelling substance), petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, cellulose tissue, elastic, and perfume.
[ http://www.diaperjungle.com/disposable-diapers-exposed.html ]
These things aren't great for the environment, but they're worse for the delicate skin of our babies tushes. When I was cloth diapering, we almost never had a problem with diaper rash. Yet there are several types of disposable diapers neither of my boys could wear because they would end up with a rash within a couple diaper changes. The best way to cure diaper rash for my kids? Put them in cloth diapers for a couple days. We never had to use the extra diaper creams and butt pastes when we were using cloth. (Again, saving the earth and some $green$)
Besides, there ain't nothing cuter than a baby butt in a cloth diaper!
Even better would be the idea of Elimination Communication. Check out http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/ for more info on that!
Now, before you get the idea that cloth diapering is getting to be pretty common and therefore I'm not too far off main stream, I have to add that I not only use cloth for the kids, but I use it for myself. Instead of the store-bought maxi-pads, I use cloth when I'm menstruating too. Honestly, that hasn't happened too much in the last couple years, but when I'm on the rag, I use rags. Well, not really rags, but mama pads. I've found that they are way more comfortable than the plasticy pads available at the store, I change them about as frequently and some people say they even reduce the cramping and other DMS (during menstrual syndrome) effects that they normally feel using "normal" pads or tampons. I personally can't use tampons, but for those who prefer the not-lining-your-panties type of protection, there are Diva cups
[ www.divacup.com ] Again, better for the earth and better for our bodies.
I used cloth diapers with Autie for about the first 6 months. Then we moved and were sharing a washer, so the practice kind of died. We didn't do so well with Izzy either. My excuse is that we moved 15 times the year he was born. I plan to go back to it for the twins since we are (hopefully) a little more settled and not living with room-mates. (Sorry, Heather doesn't count as a room-mate. As Big D says, "She's your little slave girl." Good thing she has a sense of humor!)
Not only does it greatly reduce the waste from a home, it saves LOTS of money. The average baby uses about 6,000 (!!) diapers in the first two years of their life. At about $0.25 per diaper, that would be $1,500 each year for two babies. And many moms who cloth diaper say that their children potty train sooner. So less time dealing with poop! Who would complain about that?
I personally prefer the prefolds rather than the all-in-ones (AIO) or pocket diapers. Besides the fact that they're cheaper (About $1.00 per prefold vs. about $15.00 each for the either of the other two), they were just easier for me to use. Even Big D could change a cloth diaper in the same time and with the same yuck factor as a disposable one. Besides, the flat diapers come in handy after the baby is older. They can be used for cleaning rags and they last forever. I still remember my mom having and using them when I was a teenager - as cleaning rags, I swear!! All totalled (I bought preemie prefolds, infant and regular sizes) I invested about $200 in prefolds and probably another $50 between snappies (the bestest thing EVER if you use prefolds) and diaper covers.
So, in just a monetary way, I saved about $500 with Austin, and if I consistently use them with the twins, I'll save about $4,500 (if they potty train at about 3 years old). So, $5,000 savings for maybe $250 invested (plus the soap and water for the washing). And I can still sell the used diapers on ebay for at least some of the money that I've paid for them once the girls are done. I'd say it's a big win. Not even mentioning the 20,000 diapers that DON'T end up filling our land fills.
Not only is there the money issue (seriously, do you need a better reason?? If so, just send me the extra money and give it a try anyways!) there is the fact that it's just way better for little butts and the earth.
We'll start with the "Save the Earth" crowd. Disposable diapers are just that, disposable, thrown away, disposed of. Check out the all-mighty Wiki and look at the debate section [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaper ]. It states: "An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year." That's a lotta poop!
Now, honestly, depending on how they are washed and dried, cloth diapers can still cause a strain on Mother Earth. But I have a HE washer, and live in the driest place in the world (maybe not, but it feels like it) so can hang dry the diapers. I use homemade laundry detergent, vinegar as a fabric softener and don't ever bleach my diapers. I'd say I'm being reasonably kind to Mother.
Disposable diapers have all sort of chemicals. Depending on which anti-disposables website you look at, some of the loverly things in diapers will include: polyethylene and polypropylene plastic with bleached paper pulp, AGM (a gelling substance), petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, cellulose tissue, elastic, and perfume.
[ http://www.diaperjungle.com/disposable-diapers-exposed.html ]
These things aren't great for the environment, but they're worse for the delicate skin of our babies tushes. When I was cloth diapering, we almost never had a problem with diaper rash. Yet there are several types of disposable diapers neither of my boys could wear because they would end up with a rash within a couple diaper changes. The best way to cure diaper rash for my kids? Put them in cloth diapers for a couple days. We never had to use the extra diaper creams and butt pastes when we were using cloth. (Again, saving the earth and some $green$)
Besides, there ain't nothing cuter than a baby butt in a cloth diaper!
Even better would be the idea of Elimination Communication. Check out http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/ for more info on that!
Now, before you get the idea that cloth diapering is getting to be pretty common and therefore I'm not too far off main stream, I have to add that I not only use cloth for the kids, but I use it for myself. Instead of the store-bought maxi-pads, I use cloth when I'm menstruating too. Honestly, that hasn't happened too much in the last couple years, but when I'm on the rag, I use rags. Well, not really rags, but mama pads. I've found that they are way more comfortable than the plasticy pads available at the store, I change them about as frequently and some people say they even reduce the cramping and other DMS (during menstrual syndrome) effects that they normally feel using "normal" pads or tampons. I personally can't use tampons, but for those who prefer the not-lining-your-panties type of protection, there are Diva cups
[ www.divacup.com ] Again, better for the earth and better for our bodies.
Simplicty
I was looking up carbon footprints and stuff and came across an idea that I've looked at a lot before (and even blogged about before), but hadn't necessarily connected with the whole "reduce/reuse/recycle" idea. It's voluntary simplicity. There's ton's of sites and information online about it and different versions, but I'll give my take on it.
To me, living simply, in part, means to go back to a simpler time. The grass may always be greener, but I see the "Leave it to Beaver" era/ideal as one I'd like to get a little closer to. Mom stays home with the children and cooks home cooked meals that the whole family sits down to, Dad goes to work, come homes and plays with the kids. The kids can play outside safely and have neighborhood friends. Things are more likely to be made at home than bought in a store (except he crazy stuff that the boys buy mail order, like alligators). Now, living at that time was probably very different than what I envision, but I like my little fantasy.
More so, though, the whole idea is really simple. Live simply. You only bring things into your life that you need and love. You get rid of anything in your life currently that doesn't fit that. I've looked at this as ways of getting rid of clutter and lessening what I buy (though I still have and buy too much). As you clear space in your life you clear space in your mind as well.
There are groups that promise not to buy anything for a month. There is even a yahoo group [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact/ ] about "The Compact" [ http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/ ] where people commit, among other things, not to buy anything for a YEAR! Pretty impressive in a consumerist drive society. I have to say, I don't know that I could do that at this point, but it would be awesome, and is a goal that I would like to work towards. Right after I get that new laptop I've been wanting... oh, wait! Don't forget the new toys for the kids.... and the girls will need some cute clothes, right?
Hmmm... Apparently, I have a ways to go, even in my mind...
To me, living simply, in part, means to go back to a simpler time. The grass may always be greener, but I see the "Leave it to Beaver" era/ideal as one I'd like to get a little closer to. Mom stays home with the children and cooks home cooked meals that the whole family sits down to, Dad goes to work, come homes and plays with the kids. The kids can play outside safely and have neighborhood friends. Things are more likely to be made at home than bought in a store (except he crazy stuff that the boys buy mail order, like alligators). Now, living at that time was probably very different than what I envision, but I like my little fantasy.
More so, though, the whole idea is really simple. Live simply. You only bring things into your life that you need and love. You get rid of anything in your life currently that doesn't fit that. I've looked at this as ways of getting rid of clutter and lessening what I buy (though I still have and buy too much). As you clear space in your life you clear space in your mind as well.
There are groups that promise not to buy anything for a month. There is even a yahoo group [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thecompact/ ] about "The Compact" [ http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/ ] where people commit, among other things, not to buy anything for a YEAR! Pretty impressive in a consumerist drive society. I have to say, I don't know that I could do that at this point, but it would be awesome, and is a goal that I would like to work towards. Right after I get that new laptop I've been wanting... oh, wait! Don't forget the new toys for the kids.... and the girls will need some cute clothes, right?
Hmmm... Apparently, I have a ways to go, even in my mind...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
In the Kitchen: Part 2
EATING:
This is one area where I'm not as good as I want to be and I REALLY want to change.
There are a LARGE number of theories on the ~right~ way to eat. We personally have tried veganism and vegetarianism. I find both difficult to do as I was raised eating meat and it's hard for me to think of meals that ~don't~ include meats. I don't mind eating it, I just have a hard time planning it. We have, however, greatly reduced the amount of meat that we eat.
I've looked into a number of diets and the ideas that appeal to me most are the ideas of Wesley A Price. Basically he proposes that we eat foods as unprocessed and as close to nature as possible. Animals should be raised as free-range as possible. Grass-fed and with access to roam and lack of hormones and vaccinations. Natural game like bison and deer is better for you than cows. Free-range chickens who haven't been pumped full of antibiotics lay better quality eggs and are better to eat.
I get my eggs from a lady who allows her chickens free range of her organic garden. When I have at get store bought eggs, there is a huge difference in the color and the taste in the eggs. (The farm fresh ones being better, obviously)
Big D doesn't think we should eat dairy, I think we should, so we compromised. I currently get my milk from a cow share program. Basically, we pay an initial fee to buy a "share" of a cow, and then pay weekly for a supply of fresh, raw cows milk. Because it's truly whole milk, I get cream and have made butter and a basic cheese from it with pretty good success. I'm going to be changing soon to get fresh, raw goats milk from the same lady that I get my eggs from. Goat milk is more easily digestible than cows milk and less likely to cause allergies.
Because we eat less meat, we are trying to be able to afford better quality meat. Next year, what I'd like to do is purchase a portion of a grass-fed cow and possibly a pig and chickens. We will need a large freezer to store the meat, but it's the most cost effective way to get high quality meats.
We were part of a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) program. Each week we received a box of local, organically grown produce. It was a challenge because a lot of the time there was something in there that we'd never had before so we had to figure out how to eat it. But it exposed us to a lot of new stuff. It got us to eat more vegetables and fruits.
I would LOVE to be able to grow more of my own food. Raising anything is a challenge here in the desert. There are a number of ways to do it that I just haven't tried here, including container gardening. Next year, that's one of my biggest goals even if I have to start small. I'd even like to have my own goat and chickens, but my HOA has rules against them. (We won't buy a house in an HOA again!)
The other area that we're working on is eating less processed foods. I buy wheat in the grain form and have a wheat grinder. I make my own pancakes and waffles and things rather than buying them pre-made or in the mixes. I love to bake my own bread, though I do have a bread maker when I just don't have the time. We eat 100% whole grain whenever possible, including pastas, breads and rices. There are a number of grains out there that I'd like to explore when I have a little more energy, including quitoa which is supposed to be a "super-grain". I stock a lot of basics in my cupboards and try to make things from scratch (though I did better on this before I got pregnant). We also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
We try to avoid processed or artificial sugars whenever possible. We don't allow the kids candy or ice-cream or things like that. When they want something sweet, we give them fruit and they love it. Occasionally we will make cookies, but I make them from scratch and use whole grains and things to make them a little more healthy than store-bought cookies. I also have a couple of sugar-free cookbooks that use fruit purees and juices rather than any type of sugar or artificial sweetener. Sugar is a BIG issue to my husband as a large number of his relatives have diabetes and he and I are both addicted to sugar.
We also try to avoid fast food as much as possible, though I've broken down more often now that I am pregnant. Almost everything on fast food menus contains high-fructose corn syrup. Even at sit-down restaurants, anything on the kids menu is likely to have added sweeteners so the kids like it better. And we won't even start on portions and calories per serving, etc.
This is one area where I'm not as good as I want to be and I REALLY want to change.
There are a LARGE number of theories on the ~right~ way to eat. We personally have tried veganism and vegetarianism. I find both difficult to do as I was raised eating meat and it's hard for me to think of meals that ~don't~ include meats. I don't mind eating it, I just have a hard time planning it. We have, however, greatly reduced the amount of meat that we eat.
I've looked into a number of diets and the ideas that appeal to me most are the ideas of Wesley A Price. Basically he proposes that we eat foods as unprocessed and as close to nature as possible. Animals should be raised as free-range as possible. Grass-fed and with access to roam and lack of hormones and vaccinations. Natural game like bison and deer is better for you than cows. Free-range chickens who haven't been pumped full of antibiotics lay better quality eggs and are better to eat.
I get my eggs from a lady who allows her chickens free range of her organic garden. When I have at get store bought eggs, there is a huge difference in the color and the taste in the eggs. (The farm fresh ones being better, obviously)
Big D doesn't think we should eat dairy, I think we should, so we compromised. I currently get my milk from a cow share program. Basically, we pay an initial fee to buy a "share" of a cow, and then pay weekly for a supply of fresh, raw cows milk. Because it's truly whole milk, I get cream and have made butter and a basic cheese from it with pretty good success. I'm going to be changing soon to get fresh, raw goats milk from the same lady that I get my eggs from. Goat milk is more easily digestible than cows milk and less likely to cause allergies.
Because we eat less meat, we are trying to be able to afford better quality meat. Next year, what I'd like to do is purchase a portion of a grass-fed cow and possibly a pig and chickens. We will need a large freezer to store the meat, but it's the most cost effective way to get high quality meats.
We were part of a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) program. Each week we received a box of local, organically grown produce. It was a challenge because a lot of the time there was something in there that we'd never had before so we had to figure out how to eat it. But it exposed us to a lot of new stuff. It got us to eat more vegetables and fruits.
I would LOVE to be able to grow more of my own food. Raising anything is a challenge here in the desert. There are a number of ways to do it that I just haven't tried here, including container gardening. Next year, that's one of my biggest goals even if I have to start small. I'd even like to have my own goat and chickens, but my HOA has rules against them. (We won't buy a house in an HOA again!)
The other area that we're working on is eating less processed foods. I buy wheat in the grain form and have a wheat grinder. I make my own pancakes and waffles and things rather than buying them pre-made or in the mixes. I love to bake my own bread, though I do have a bread maker when I just don't have the time. We eat 100% whole grain whenever possible, including pastas, breads and rices. There are a number of grains out there that I'd like to explore when I have a little more energy, including quitoa which is supposed to be a "super-grain". I stock a lot of basics in my cupboards and try to make things from scratch (though I did better on this before I got pregnant). We also eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
We try to avoid processed or artificial sugars whenever possible. We don't allow the kids candy or ice-cream or things like that. When they want something sweet, we give them fruit and they love it. Occasionally we will make cookies, but I make them from scratch and use whole grains and things to make them a little more healthy than store-bought cookies. I also have a couple of sugar-free cookbooks that use fruit purees and juices rather than any type of sugar or artificial sweetener. Sugar is a BIG issue to my husband as a large number of his relatives have diabetes and he and I are both addicted to sugar.
We also try to avoid fast food as much as possible, though I've broken down more often now that I am pregnant. Almost everything on fast food menus contains high-fructose corn syrup. Even at sit-down restaurants, anything on the kids menu is likely to have added sweeteners so the kids like it better. And we won't even start on portions and calories per serving, etc.
Monday, April 26, 2010
In the Kitchen: Part 1
STORING:
I'm a big proponent of using plastic as little as possible. It's not natural, it lasts forever in landfills and it leaches bad chemicals into your food when used around it. So, especially in my kitchen, I try to avoid it. I do have some plastic containers and use plastic bags, but I prefer to store food in glass, and try to avoid micro-waving anything in plastic or styrofoam. (Of course, microwaves aren't the best anyway and should be used as little as possible. More on that later.) I use glass to freeze in, but that's where a lot of my plastic containers and bags end up - in the freezer. I'm still looking for a good replacement. Waxed paper can be used for a number of things, and it is compostable. But some waxed papers are actually coated with petroleum products. Ones coated with paraffin (wax like used in some canning applications and candle making) are a better option.
For a replacement for some of the snack bags, I recently saw a "wrap-n-mat" which can be used instead of some plastic bags. Check it out at: [ http://www.wrap-n-mat.com/fabrics.php ] They are made using a cotton/polyester blend on one side and a non-chlorinated, BPA free LDPE (low-density polyelthylene) material on the other. LDPE is recyclable and is unreactive at room temperatures. It is used regularly in food grade applications, including plastic bags. A similar option is the snack taxi at: [ http://www.snacktaxi.com/ ] though I couldn't find what they're lining theirs with. These might save a lot of plastic baggies from going to the landfill, but still expose your food to plastics. At least these are BPA free, but I just keep wondering what else will come out that is toxic in all these plastics we surround ourselves with. Another blogger, who mentions the waxed paper ideas in her blog, also suggested just wrapping lunch items in cloth napkins. [ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/01/05/acting-green-by-acting-retro-–-food-storage-the-old-fashioned-way/ ] This works for short term storage, but not longer term like freezing. So the best alternative I have, still, is glass.
COOKING:
I cook with pyrex, stainless steel, or cast iron - my favorite being enamel coated cast iron. I try to avoid all the "non-stick" pans. The cheap ones chip and the coatings end up in our food. And even the ones that haven't chipped yet have issues of their own. Teflon is known chemically as polytrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and is a fluorocarbon. According to wikipedia: "Man-made fluorocarbon based compounds are implicated in a variety of environmental and health related issued." At high temperatures (400+ degrees) PTFE begins to deteriorated and can cause flu-like symptoms and even kill birds which are more sensitive to the fumes. [ http://www.wisegeek.com/is-teflon-dangerous.htm ]
I avoid aluminum pans for pretty much any cooking. Aluminum is reactive, meaning that the metal can react with the foods cooked in it to form aluminum salts. These are associated with impaired visual motor coordination and Alzheimer's disease. (Most deodorants have aluminum in them as well... I'll get to that later too.) Calphalon makes a line of anodized aluminum pans and claims that the final stage in this process seals the aluminum. I have one of these pans, which I use almost exclusively for eggs, just because I HATE cleaning eggs off pans. It has been getting less and less non-stick, which makes me think it's about time to get rid of it.
Pyrex is awesome for baking in. Glass is the most inert of all cookware and doesn't leak anything into food. I have a loaf pan, a 8" by 8" pan, a 9" by 13" and two big ones, even bigger than the 9" by 13". I have used these a number of time and they are great as there in no leaching of strange chemicals into the food. There have been some complaints of the glass breaking, though I've never had a problem with it. This is more likely to happen if the pans are exposed to sudden or extreme temperature changes, I also have a number of pyrex bowls that I have both stored and served food in. Pyrex is my friend (for now).
Stainless Steel is one of the most common types of cookware available. So far, there have been no reports of them contaminating food. The best type to get has a label of 18/10 (chromium steel/nickel steel) and is 3-ply, with stainless steel, then either aluminum or copper (my choice), and another layer of stainless steel throughout (not just on the bottom). These distribute the heat more evenly. Also, pots and pans should have stainless steel handles, riveted to the pan itself. Then they can go into the oven and you don't have to worry about plastic handles melting and releasing fun fumes into the kitchen. Check out [ http://missvickie.com/howto/cooking101/secret.htm#Cookware ] which gives great advice on picking and cooking with stainless steel.
Cast iron has excellent heat retention properties and diffuses it well so you don't end up with hot spots. It can be used over a fire, on the stove or in the oven. Regular cast iron pans can actually add iron to the food. The higher the acidity of the food, the higher the water content and the newer the pan, the more iron is released into the food. This is great for us pregnant ladies who need the extra iron, but should be watched carefully with children, especially those under 3 years old. Also, acidic foods like tomatoes should not be cooked in cast-iron for extended cooking times.
Enamel coatings on cast iron are fabulous. The pots are covered with a layer of porcelain enamel which is similar to glass. The enamel coating can, however, chip and stain. They are expensive, though there are several new brands coming out that are much more economical than when I bought my uber-expensive Le Crueset. They have all the great properties of cast iron, but are more non-stick, and don't leach iron. Non-scratch utensils should be used with these and more care should be taken in cleaning them, so the coating doesn't scratch. But I LOVE my Le Crueset.
You've probably noticed that pretty much all of my cooking gear is aimed at the stove and oven. I try to avoid using the microwave as much as possible. Here is an incredibly biased article on how "Microwave Cooking is Killing People" [ http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html ] or this one titled "The Proven Dangers of Microwave Ovens" at : [ http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers.html ] Did you know that the Soviet Union banned the used of microwave ovens in 1976? Now, even if I don't take this extreme of a view on microwaves, I don't think that they are the best, most natural way of defrosting, heating or cooking food. So, I avoid it.
To get really "out there", there are those who say that cooking food at all is wrong. my mother-in-law encouraged us to try a raw foods diet. While we didn't go completely raw, there is a LOT to be said for eating more and more of our food in the raw. Cooking of any sort diminishes the nutrients of the food. Many of the foods are "processed" and some are dehydrated, but the idea is to not let the food get over about 110 degrees, which is where the nutrients start degrading. Check out these sites for more info :[ http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/ ] [ http://www.alissacohen.com/ ] or [ http://www.living-foods.com/faq.html ]
SERVING:
We serve on corelle ware dishes. Corelle is a laminated, tempered glass product or so says the magic wikipedia. Corelle is actually made by the same parent company as Pyrex. Again, glass is non-reactive and therefore doesn't leach anything into your food. I love the different sizes that these come in. I have three or four sizes of both plates and bowls, which means I have the right size for the little boys as well as Big D. However, whatever their claims may be, they are in fact, quite breakable. Our second son, Izzy LOVES the sound of breaking glass and has found the precise angle at which these need to be dropped on our tile floor to make them explode into tiny shards that scatter all over the downstairs. It's really quite impressive.
What I'd like, especially for the kids, is some stainless steel plates like we use when we're camping. The enamel coated ones would be cool, but I recently saw some that were simply stainless steel, which means I wouldn't have to be concerned with chipping the enamel. I can also toss them in the dishwasher (on the rare occasions that I use it), though they couldn't go in the microwave - probably a plus - and would likely conduct heat more than the corelle that we currently have. That last might be an issue with Autie as he is rather temperature sensitive.
We used to have glass drinking glasses, but I think I mentioned Izzy's love of breaking glass. Only about 3 survived and I finally had mercy on the final three and gave them away before they too were shattered on the tile. I changed to stainless steel drinking mugs instead. These are more expensive, one costing about as much as a set of glasses, but I don't fear taking them anywhere. There are a number of different brands out there. We got a couple of the Foogo sippy cups and thermoses for the boys, but I didn't like that the sippy and straw parts were still plastic (though BPA free). I'm still looking for something that I like for the little ones that doesn't spill. For us big kids, I got a couple of Senja stainless steel mugs, which I really like. I usually leave the (plastic) lids off and they're still comfortable to drink from. I think I probably should have just gotten the plain ones, as the color is chipping off the colored ones i bought. Hmm... wonder how bad that is for us?
For the babies, I switched to glass bottles for Izzy, and will (be buying more to be able to) use them with Thing 1 and Thing 2 when they arrive. (Did I mention Izzy and glass??) I have since found some plastic wraps that go around the base of the bottle to give them a little cushion when the babies start tossing them around. These wraps don't go near the nipple, so I'm compromising between them and more broken bottles, at least until the babies start chewing on the bottoms of their bottles. I'm trying to find nipples that I like, but again with that whole plastic thing.... Though, honestly, bottles aren't used that much around here and I breast feed as much as possible. Though we have used formula occasionally, I'd really like to avoid it with the girls, which could be a real challenge. We'll see!
I'm a big proponent of using plastic as little as possible. It's not natural, it lasts forever in landfills and it leaches bad chemicals into your food when used around it. So, especially in my kitchen, I try to avoid it. I do have some plastic containers and use plastic bags, but I prefer to store food in glass, and try to avoid micro-waving anything in plastic or styrofoam. (Of course, microwaves aren't the best anyway and should be used as little as possible. More on that later.) I use glass to freeze in, but that's where a lot of my plastic containers and bags end up - in the freezer. I'm still looking for a good replacement. Waxed paper can be used for a number of things, and it is compostable. But some waxed papers are actually coated with petroleum products. Ones coated with paraffin (wax like used in some canning applications and candle making) are a better option.
For a replacement for some of the snack bags, I recently saw a "wrap-n-mat" which can be used instead of some plastic bags. Check it out at: [ http://www.wrap-n-mat.com/fabrics.php ] They are made using a cotton/polyester blend on one side and a non-chlorinated, BPA free LDPE (low-density polyelthylene) material on the other. LDPE is recyclable and is unreactive at room temperatures. It is used regularly in food grade applications, including plastic bags. A similar option is the snack taxi at: [ http://www.snacktaxi.com/ ] though I couldn't find what they're lining theirs with. These might save a lot of plastic baggies from going to the landfill, but still expose your food to plastics. At least these are BPA free, but I just keep wondering what else will come out that is toxic in all these plastics we surround ourselves with. Another blogger, who mentions the waxed paper ideas in her blog, also suggested just wrapping lunch items in cloth napkins. [ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/01/05/acting-green-by-acting-retro-–-food-storage-the-old-fashioned-way/ ] This works for short term storage, but not longer term like freezing. So the best alternative I have, still, is glass.
COOKING:
I cook with pyrex, stainless steel, or cast iron - my favorite being enamel coated cast iron. I try to avoid all the "non-stick" pans. The cheap ones chip and the coatings end up in our food. And even the ones that haven't chipped yet have issues of their own. Teflon is known chemically as polytrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and is a fluorocarbon. According to wikipedia: "Man-made fluorocarbon based compounds are implicated in a variety of environmental and health related issued." At high temperatures (400+ degrees) PTFE begins to deteriorated and can cause flu-like symptoms and even kill birds which are more sensitive to the fumes. [ http://www.wisegeek.com/is-teflon-dangerous.htm ]
I avoid aluminum pans for pretty much any cooking. Aluminum is reactive, meaning that the metal can react with the foods cooked in it to form aluminum salts. These are associated with impaired visual motor coordination and Alzheimer's disease. (Most deodorants have aluminum in them as well... I'll get to that later too.) Calphalon makes a line of anodized aluminum pans and claims that the final stage in this process seals the aluminum. I have one of these pans, which I use almost exclusively for eggs, just because I HATE cleaning eggs off pans. It has been getting less and less non-stick, which makes me think it's about time to get rid of it.
Pyrex is awesome for baking in. Glass is the most inert of all cookware and doesn't leak anything into food. I have a loaf pan, a 8" by 8" pan, a 9" by 13" and two big ones, even bigger than the 9" by 13". I have used these a number of time and they are great as there in no leaching of strange chemicals into the food. There have been some complaints of the glass breaking, though I've never had a problem with it. This is more likely to happen if the pans are exposed to sudden or extreme temperature changes, I also have a number of pyrex bowls that I have both stored and served food in. Pyrex is my friend (for now).
Stainless Steel is one of the most common types of cookware available. So far, there have been no reports of them contaminating food. The best type to get has a label of 18/10 (chromium steel/nickel steel) and is 3-ply, with stainless steel, then either aluminum or copper (my choice), and another layer of stainless steel throughout (not just on the bottom). These distribute the heat more evenly. Also, pots and pans should have stainless steel handles, riveted to the pan itself. Then they can go into the oven and you don't have to worry about plastic handles melting and releasing fun fumes into the kitchen. Check out [ http://missvickie.com/howto/cooking101/secret.htm#Cookware ] which gives great advice on picking and cooking with stainless steel.
Cast iron has excellent heat retention properties and diffuses it well so you don't end up with hot spots. It can be used over a fire, on the stove or in the oven. Regular cast iron pans can actually add iron to the food. The higher the acidity of the food, the higher the water content and the newer the pan, the more iron is released into the food. This is great for us pregnant ladies who need the extra iron, but should be watched carefully with children, especially those under 3 years old. Also, acidic foods like tomatoes should not be cooked in cast-iron for extended cooking times.
Enamel coatings on cast iron are fabulous. The pots are covered with a layer of porcelain enamel which is similar to glass. The enamel coating can, however, chip and stain. They are expensive, though there are several new brands coming out that are much more economical than when I bought my uber-expensive Le Crueset. They have all the great properties of cast iron, but are more non-stick, and don't leach iron. Non-scratch utensils should be used with these and more care should be taken in cleaning them, so the coating doesn't scratch. But I LOVE my Le Crueset.
You've probably noticed that pretty much all of my cooking gear is aimed at the stove and oven. I try to avoid using the microwave as much as possible. Here is an incredibly biased article on how "Microwave Cooking is Killing People" [ http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html ] or this one titled "The Proven Dangers of Microwave Ovens" at : [ http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/microwave-ovens-the-proven-dangers.html ] Did you know that the Soviet Union banned the used of microwave ovens in 1976? Now, even if I don't take this extreme of a view on microwaves, I don't think that they are the best, most natural way of defrosting, heating or cooking food. So, I avoid it.
To get really "out there", there are those who say that cooking food at all is wrong. my mother-in-law encouraged us to try a raw foods diet. While we didn't go completely raw, there is a LOT to be said for eating more and more of our food in the raw. Cooking of any sort diminishes the nutrients of the food. Many of the foods are "processed" and some are dehydrated, but the idea is to not let the food get over about 110 degrees, which is where the nutrients start degrading. Check out these sites for more info :[ http://www.thebestofrawfood.com/ ] [ http://www.alissacohen.com/ ] or [ http://www.living-foods.com/faq.html ]
SERVING:
We serve on corelle ware dishes. Corelle is a laminated, tempered glass product or so says the magic wikipedia. Corelle is actually made by the same parent company as Pyrex. Again, glass is non-reactive and therefore doesn't leach anything into your food. I love the different sizes that these come in. I have three or four sizes of both plates and bowls, which means I have the right size for the little boys as well as Big D. However, whatever their claims may be, they are in fact, quite breakable. Our second son, Izzy LOVES the sound of breaking glass and has found the precise angle at which these need to be dropped on our tile floor to make them explode into tiny shards that scatter all over the downstairs. It's really quite impressive.
What I'd like, especially for the kids, is some stainless steel plates like we use when we're camping. The enamel coated ones would be cool, but I recently saw some that were simply stainless steel, which means I wouldn't have to be concerned with chipping the enamel. I can also toss them in the dishwasher (on the rare occasions that I use it), though they couldn't go in the microwave - probably a plus - and would likely conduct heat more than the corelle that we currently have. That last might be an issue with Autie as he is rather temperature sensitive.
We used to have glass drinking glasses, but I think I mentioned Izzy's love of breaking glass. Only about 3 survived and I finally had mercy on the final three and gave them away before they too were shattered on the tile. I changed to stainless steel drinking mugs instead. These are more expensive, one costing about as much as a set of glasses, but I don't fear taking them anywhere. There are a number of different brands out there. We got a couple of the Foogo sippy cups and thermoses for the boys, but I didn't like that the sippy and straw parts were still plastic (though BPA free). I'm still looking for something that I like for the little ones that doesn't spill. For us big kids, I got a couple of Senja stainless steel mugs, which I really like. I usually leave the (plastic) lids off and they're still comfortable to drink from. I think I probably should have just gotten the plain ones, as the color is chipping off the colored ones i bought. Hmm... wonder how bad that is for us?
For the babies, I switched to glass bottles for Izzy, and will (be buying more to be able to) use them with Thing 1 and Thing 2 when they arrive. (Did I mention Izzy and glass??) I have since found some plastic wraps that go around the base of the bottle to give them a little cushion when the babies start tossing them around. These wraps don't go near the nipple, so I'm compromising between them and more broken bottles, at least until the babies start chewing on the bottoms of their bottles. I'm trying to find nipples that I like, but again with that whole plastic thing.... Though, honestly, bottles aren't used that much around here and I breast feed as much as possible. Though we have used formula occasionally, I'd really like to avoid it with the girls, which could be a real challenge. We'll see!
Disclaimer!
Okay, let me start by saying that I've done a lot of research but some of it was a couple years ago. I could find sources for most of the info I will be posting, but I don't necessarily have it on hand. I will try to add some resources as I go along.
Also, some of the ideas that I espouse are a little controversial, so others can take what fits their lives and leave what doesn't. Hopefully this will encourage people to research it themselves and find out what really matters to them and then share it. I try to listen to others but make up my mind for myself.
And, just because I've researched it and have a strong opinion about something, doesn't mean that I'm practicing it in my life the way I'd like too. I would like to do a lot more than I do, which is why I research it, but I do what I can at this point and add things as I go. I start small and do well for a while. Sometimes I find that something just doesn't work for me, or sometimes I just get lazy and I backslide. But hopefully, in the long run, I'm doing better at the things that come to really matter to me.
Also, some of the ideas that I espouse are a little controversial, so others can take what fits their lives and leave what doesn't. Hopefully this will encourage people to research it themselves and find out what really matters to them and then share it. I try to listen to others but make up my mind for myself.
And, just because I've researched it and have a strong opinion about something, doesn't mean that I'm practicing it in my life the way I'd like too. I would like to do a lot more than I do, which is why I research it, but I do what I can at this point and add things as I go. I start small and do well for a while. Sometimes I find that something just doesn't work for me, or sometimes I just get lazy and I backslide. But hopefully, in the long run, I'm doing better at the things that come to really matter to me.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A NEW POST!
Okay, so I haven't posted since December 5th. I kept thinking about it, but plans have changed a bit since then and I was considering if I should continue on this blog, or start a while new one, and if so, what am I gonna write about?? Well, I recently had a small epiphany (wow, I spelled that right even!). But first I'll start with some of my thought processes over the last few months and how I got to from where I was, to where I am:
So last I wrote, we had been planning on getting a 5th wheel trailer and moving into it full time, until I found out that I was pregnant with twins.
We sold the red beast of a F550 4 door truck, and bought a white LIFTED beast of a Ford Excursion. So a 5th wheel is really out of any thought processes for at least a couple years. But we can still tow a decent sized trailer with the Excursion. It's about equivalent to an F250. However, because of the twins, we don't think we'll be doing that as soon as we would previously have liked.
I am due the 4th of July with twin girls, Thing 1 and Thing 2 as they are currently being called. From pretty much everything I've read, the first year is rather difficult and then it gets a bit more "normal". So I have decided that moving around during that first year is more than I want to deal with. Also, making the boys deal with a new space (the trailer), little play area, and the possibility of leaving pretty much everything that they're currently comfortable with so close to two new siblings seems like a recipe for not fun times and some serious upset-ness. I would like the boys to have as much support as the can during what will be an interesting transition.
Since Dallas is still going to be getting deployed, likely not long after the babies are born, we knew I was going to need some additional support for myself and the boys. While member of the Church are awesome about helping when there is a need, I knew that my need was going to be long lasting and extensive. I started looking for someone who would be willing to move in with us and help out with the kids and household duties when I couldn't do them. I wanted some consistency for myself and my kids, especially for the kids.
After a while of no luck (we can't pay almost anything), I talked with one of my young women from our old Nebraska City ward (one of the best wards, EVER!). She was nanny-ing in Casa Grande, about an hour and a half from here. She said that another of the girls was looking into being a nanny. I talked to her, and she suggested I talk to Heather. And Heather agreed to come out!! Woo-hoo!! She is ideal in so many ways. Her father was in the Air Force, so she has a pretty good handle on the whole military thing, plus she can get on base. She was home-schooled for a number of years, which is something I'd like to work at starting with Austin. Her mom had fraternal twins when she was 6 years old, so she has some exposure to the fun of twin infants. AND she's just plain awesome!
So, getting on the road full time was really ruled out for the present. This, and the fact that I can barely move as my belly gets bigger and bigger, have made me think more about making this house into the type of home I want to live in. A large part of the reason we were looking at moving into a trailer was to simplify our lives and our home. Well, twins kinda threw an adorable wrench in the trailer plan, but I can still make my home more simple and more in tune with the lifestyle that I want to live. Which is really the epiphany that I wrote about at the beginning. I may not be able to make the major changes like getting on the road (right now, though it is still in the plans for later), I can make some of the minor changes that will end up making the major changes easier.
This was exacerbated when I posted on Facebook about how I love giving advice (shocking, I know) on natural living. I had a couple people ask me about it and what it means to me. I've sent a couple messages to a friend who wants to do more, and started thinking that that's what my blog should be about. About all the little aspect that make up the life I want to live. Natural living, crafts that matter to me, my home and most of all my family. So, there will be a change of focus in what I blog, but hopefully that will mean that I actually blog. Though it still might seem a bit random to the casual reader, hopefully it will become a place where I can put all the stray threads of my life and weave something beautiful from it.
I will be posting some of the information that I messaged my friend as a start. I hope you enjoy the new emphasis.
So last I wrote, we had been planning on getting a 5th wheel trailer and moving into it full time, until I found out that I was pregnant with twins.
We sold the red beast of a F550 4 door truck, and bought a white LIFTED beast of a Ford Excursion. So a 5th wheel is really out of any thought processes for at least a couple years. But we can still tow a decent sized trailer with the Excursion. It's about equivalent to an F250. However, because of the twins, we don't think we'll be doing that as soon as we would previously have liked.
I am due the 4th of July with twin girls, Thing 1 and Thing 2 as they are currently being called. From pretty much everything I've read, the first year is rather difficult and then it gets a bit more "normal". So I have decided that moving around during that first year is more than I want to deal with. Also, making the boys deal with a new space (the trailer), little play area, and the possibility of leaving pretty much everything that they're currently comfortable with so close to two new siblings seems like a recipe for not fun times and some serious upset-ness. I would like the boys to have as much support as the can during what will be an interesting transition.
Since Dallas is still going to be getting deployed, likely not long after the babies are born, we knew I was going to need some additional support for myself and the boys. While member of the Church are awesome about helping when there is a need, I knew that my need was going to be long lasting and extensive. I started looking for someone who would be willing to move in with us and help out with the kids and household duties when I couldn't do them. I wanted some consistency for myself and my kids, especially for the kids.
After a while of no luck (we can't pay almost anything), I talked with one of my young women from our old Nebraska City ward (one of the best wards, EVER!). She was nanny-ing in Casa Grande, about an hour and a half from here. She said that another of the girls was looking into being a nanny. I talked to her, and she suggested I talk to Heather. And Heather agreed to come out!! Woo-hoo!! She is ideal in so many ways. Her father was in the Air Force, so she has a pretty good handle on the whole military thing, plus she can get on base. She was home-schooled for a number of years, which is something I'd like to work at starting with Austin. Her mom had fraternal twins when she was 6 years old, so she has some exposure to the fun of twin infants. AND she's just plain awesome!
So, getting on the road full time was really ruled out for the present. This, and the fact that I can barely move as my belly gets bigger and bigger, have made me think more about making this house into the type of home I want to live in. A large part of the reason we were looking at moving into a trailer was to simplify our lives and our home. Well, twins kinda threw an adorable wrench in the trailer plan, but I can still make my home more simple and more in tune with the lifestyle that I want to live. Which is really the epiphany that I wrote about at the beginning. I may not be able to make the major changes like getting on the road (right now, though it is still in the plans for later), I can make some of the minor changes that will end up making the major changes easier.
This was exacerbated when I posted on Facebook about how I love giving advice (shocking, I know) on natural living. I had a couple people ask me about it and what it means to me. I've sent a couple messages to a friend who wants to do more, and started thinking that that's what my blog should be about. About all the little aspect that make up the life I want to live. Natural living, crafts that matter to me, my home and most of all my family. So, there will be a change of focus in what I blog, but hopefully that will mean that I actually blog. Though it still might seem a bit random to the casual reader, hopefully it will become a place where I can put all the stray threads of my life and weave something beautiful from it.
I will be posting some of the information that I messaged my friend as a start. I hope you enjoy the new emphasis.
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