First (Real) Haircut

Last week, Ethan got his first professional haircut. He did great & sat still the whole time! Good job, little man.

Safe Plates & Bottles

I've been looking for these! I'm so excited to find these plates and these bottles on Ohdeedoh.com. Is there anyone else nervous about all this talk about harmful plastics? Anyway, I'm going to be looking into these options!

Bathroom - Before & After

Finally got the bathroom finished up. Last week, we painted, put in a new light fixture & I made a little cafe curtain. The cafe curtain is thanks to some free Cotwan & Tout fabric that my sis-in-law found on ebay, which was originally been priced at $200/yard. Pricey! Please excuse the non-color-coordinated soaps in the picture...

Calzones - Recipe

I've enjoyed making calzones lately. Tasty & easy. Although I have to make sure E doesn't stick his little fingers in any of the cheeses! Here's the recipe.

Ham Calzones

4 c. fresh spinach w/stems removed
1 16-oz loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed
1 ½ tsp bottled minced garlic (or fresh minced)
1 tsp Italian seasoning, crushed
1 c. ricotta or cottage cheese, drained
4 oz. thinly sliced cooked ham, chopped (1 c.)
4 oz. thinly sliced Swiss cheese
1 c. tomato & herb pasta sauce, heated

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, pour enough boiling water over spinach to cover. Let stand for 5 minutes. Drain well, squeezing out the excess liquid. Set aside.

Divide bread dough into 4 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 7 inch circle. Sprinkle circles with garlic & Italian seasoning. Divide ricotta evenly among circles, spreading only on one half of each circle and to within ½ inch of edges. Layer spinach, ham & Swiss cheese over ricotta.

Moisten edges of dough with water. Fold dough in half over filling. Seal edges with fork. Prick tops 3 or 4 times. Place calzones on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven about 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. Cover & chill overnight. To serve, place calzones on a baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until heated through. Serve with pasta sauce.

To serve immediately: Prepare as directed through step 3 (where you bake & cool overnight) Bake in a preheated oven about 20 minutes or until golden. Serve with warm pasta sauce.

(Note: I’ve always eaten these right away, so I’ve never followed the step where you cool it overnight.)

Rainy Days

E. loves puddles!

Please Vote for Martha Mag!

Martha Stewart is considering a magazine for those with food allergies and special dietary needs (YEAH!). I would be so excited if Martha Stewart put food allergies and special dietary needs into a mainstream publication.

She's taking votes to decide which publication to consider. PLEASE VOTE! Click here and click on "The Big Idea" in the righthand column. Then scroll down and find the poll in the middle. Thanks!

Never Buy Again

According to Co-op America, here are the top 5 things you should never buy again...

1. Styrofoam cups
 - Styrofoam is forever. It's not biodegradable.
 Alternative: Buy recyclable and compostable paper cups. 
Best option: Invest in some reusable mugs that you can take with you.

2. Paper towels - 
Paper towels waste forest resources, landfill space, and your money.
 Alternative: When you do buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached products. Search for recycled paper products. Best option: Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.

3. Bleached coffee filters
 - Dioxins, chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process, contaminate groundwater and air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals.
 Alternative: Look for unbleached paper filters.
Best Option: Use reusable filters such as washable cloth filters.

4. Overpackaged foods and other products
 - Excess packaging wastes resources and costs you much more. Around thirty three percent of trash in the average American household comes from packaging.
Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable packaging.
Best Option: Buy in bulk and use your own containers when shopping.

5. Teak and mahogany
 - Every year, 27 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area the size of Ohio) are destroyed. Rainforests cover 6% of Earth’s surface and are home to over half of the world’s wild plant, animal, and insect species. The Amazon rainforest produces 40 percent of the world’s oxygen. 
Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.
Best Option: Reuse wood, and buy furniture and other products made from used or salvaged wood.

Here are some other things you should never buy again. Click here for reasons why & their alternatives.

-Chemical pesticides and herbicides

-Conventional household cleaners 

-Higher octane gas than you need

-Toys made with PVC plastic

-Plastic forks and spoons
-Farm raised salmon.
-Rayon.
-Beauty/Body Care with Phthalates and Parabens.
-Cling Wrap.
-High VOC Paints and Finishes.

Traveling with Baby

Anyone out there been on an overseas vacation with a small child? We might be crazy, but we're considering a vacation, but wonder how the flight would be. I would love to hear from anyone who has gone to Europe, or taken an equally long flight with a baby/toddler.

Handmade Gifts

I made some Clutch/Toiletry Bags for a couple of Christmas gifts. I hand embroidered Renee's name on hers. I hope they get to use their bags. I love using the one I made for myself!

More Ways to Recycle

The good folks at Co-op America, a non-profit organization working to harness economic power for social change, has found some great ways to give some of your household throwaways a second life. So if you are already doing some good by recycling your glass, paper, plastic & aluminum, here's even more ways to keep your garbage out of the landfill....

Recycleplace.com pays 10 cents to $10 each for used up ink & toner cartridges.
Collectivegood.com recycles old cell phones and PDAs. Some are refurbished for use in the developing world.
Ikea recycles compact florescent bulbs.
Oneworldrunning.com distributes gently used running shoes to athletes in Africa & Latin America. Shoes that are beyond salvaging can be turned into athletic flooring at nikereuseashoe.com.

Love Him

There are times when I'm going bonkers, and I just take a look at a photo like this one. How can I stay mad for too long?

Bye-Bye Curcios!

I guess I only bring a camera around friends when someone is moving away. Anyway, our Life Group said goodbye to the Curcios, who are moving away to Colorado. We'll miss you guys!

Hallway - Before & After

Whew! Finally finished with the painting of our hallway. We've painted most of the rooms in the house, but put this one off. This was a big project, because the wall color extends to the hallway on the 2nd floor. The walls were a very, very dark purple, which looked almost black, due to the lack of lighting in the hallway. It was just too dark for our tastes, so I'm so thrilled with how the lighter color (Porter Paints, Umber Cloud) makes the hallway feel. Next project? Nursery!

New Curtains

I finally made some new window valances for the playroom. I found this drapery fabric for $4 a yard at a store that was closing. Matches my rug & "B" painting well!

Teen Style

We all know that trends are always changing. You know you're getting old when you don't connect with current trends anymore.

We own a rock climbing gym. While we have patrons of all ages, male and female, we have a large concentration of teenage males. Anyway, this brings me to my point...I'm feeling so out of touch as I see these teenage male trends that I know my peers won't be wearing anytime soon.

Like sweatbands. I don't understand this teen trend. And skinny skinny jeans (on boys). I'm baffled by that one too. We have so many teenage males walking around looking like the Jonas Brothers.

Is it just me? Do any of you see kids (oops, i went and called them "kids") wearing some trends that you just don't understand?

Toddler Feeding Tricks

With the help of my mom & Lance, I have some new tricks for feeding my little boy. They revolve around three things he loves...

Idea #1 - Noodles: The kid LOVES noodles. So now that he’s refusing to eat steamed broccoli, lentil soup, etc., I just put these things on top of a few noodles. So far, he’s gobbling them up!

Idea #2 - Toothpicks: My mom made him some little treats beautifully presented with a little toothpick. Again, he didn’t have a second thought! These had carrots, papaya, blueberry & peas. He won’t touch peas or carrots, but has no problem with them on a toothpick!

Idea #3 - Juices: Okay, I’ve mentioned this one already, but it’s just so easy to throw in some spinach, carrots, etc. for a delicious little juice!

YEAH! I feel like just these three things is really getting us back on track with some good food in my kiddo’s tummy.

Recipe - Vegan Cookies & Royal Icing

I found a good sugar cookie & icing recipe to make some little car cookies for E's birthday. I'm new at the fancy-cookie thing, but it was fun to do. (I'm not quite patient enough to do this again for a LONG time though. It took quite a while!)

VEGAN SUGAR COOKIES
2 cups butter substitute (like Earth Balance), softened
2 cups granulated sugar
3 portions egg-replacer
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cut four 14X12-inch pieces of waxed paper or plastic wrap; set aside. · In a large bowl, cream margarine & sugar. · Beat in egg replacer, vanilla and lemon extract until light & fluffy. · In a large bowl, combine flour and baking soda. · Gradually stir flour mixture into liquid mixture until blended. · Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. · Shape each piece into an 8-to10-inch roll. · Wrap each roll in 1 piece of waxed paper or wrap. · Place wrapped rolls in a plastic freezer container w/a tight fitting lid, or wrap air-tight in a 14x12 piece of heavy duty foil; label. · Place in freezer for at least 1 hour. Use within 6 months.

BAKING: · Preheat oven to 350F. · Lightly grease 2 large baking sheets. · Cut frozen dough into 1/4-in slices. · Place on baking sheets 1/2-in apart. · Sprinkle sugar on each cookie, if desired. · Bake 8 to 10 min. or until edges get slightly brown.

VEGAN ROYAL ICING
7 Tbsp water
4 Tbsp Ener-G egg replacer
7 cups of powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Playgroup Celebration

This year we decided against a birthday party for Ethan, opting to simply have a little cake at Playgroup at our house. We had some lunch together, topped off with a tasty egg/dairy-free cake from Whole Foods. The kids are entertaining, becoming more independent. There were two times when they were all too quiet - one time they found the lunch spread & were helping themselves, and the other time they had all gone upstairs to jump on a mattress that was on the floor!One kid can make a really good mess by themselves, but four kids can make a playroom look like this in minutes!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Child

Happy Birthday, little one. I can't believe it's been two years! You have been such a joy & blessing in my life. No one could have prepared me for how many smiles you'd bring me throughout a day. Although our first few months together were a challenge, we got through it and I'm so proud of you. You are such much fun to be around. I know you will be a great big brother next year. Thanks for joining our little family! Love, Mama.

Overview of a Year

This was an interesting year for sure. It's been a fun one, and I'm glad to get to know many of you folks out there! Let's see, In 2007, I...
..Started a blog
..Joined a Playgroup
..Moved 3 Times
..Joined a CSA
..Started Composting
..Witnessed a fatal car wreck
..Ran a Half Marathon
..Went from blonde to brown to blonde again
..Had some Fundraisers
..Learned to sew
..Had my 5-year anniversary
..Traveled to the beach
..and the mountains
..Got some stitches
..Took my boy in for 4 stitches
..Had a Miscarriage
..Got pregnant with a baby due in July!

Chickin Feed

Addie sent me a link to a great product, called Chickin Feed. The main product is this Tracking Board, which tells you how much protein, veggies, calcium, etc. your "little chickins" need every day. They also have a book coming out with meal ideas, along with some other cool products in their future. I'll take one!

Disappointing News

I am very discouraged. We just got back from Ethan's 2-year allergy checkup, and he is still allergic to dairy & eggs. I'm just so upset. Call me naive, but I just KNEW that I was going to be so great at feeding him for the past year, and we would be rewarded with the full disappearance of his allergies. Never for a moment did I doubt that they would be gone by now. So today is the first day that I've felt emotional about it. Previously, I was just so certain it would be just 1 challenging year.

To make things more frustrating, my once-awesome-eater has become terribly picky, even refusing to eat some of his most favorite foods. It's becoming a real challenge to get him the nutrients he needs.

And to further add to my anxiety, I've been told that I also cannot eat dairy/eggs/nuts when I'm nursing OR even in my third trimester of this pregnancy, so that the next child would (hopefully) not develop allergies.

I know, however, that things could be worse. We still have our overall good health, and a rich, full life. I'm also reminding myself that my upcoming restricted diet will just help me lose baby weight! If anyone has any advice/encouragement, or if you are a parent of a child with a restricted diet, I would love to hear from you. Thanks & Have a good weekend.

8 Things about Ethan

Sophie tagged us to share 8 things about Ethan. He's a funny kid, so this was easy! Here they are...

1. I love things that move, and can correctly identify a Jeep (“Yeep”), convertible (“Tah-bul”), Taxi, Fire Truck, Bus, Car, Train, Hummer, Tractor, Lawnmower, Mailman, Rally Car, Race Car & Plane.
2. I’m no good at playing by myself.
3. Even though I’ve been doing it every day for 2 years, I can’t stand to have my diaper changed. “No Diapey! No Diapey!!”
4. Every morning I eat “Oh-Meal” with “Ah ah Sauce” (oatmeal & applesauce)
5. My favorite hide-and-seek location is the dark closet, but I’m terribly unsneaky. This is how mom & I play…”I can’t find Ethan. Is Ethan in the Bathroom?!”….”No! (giggles follow).”
6. I love to peel all the paper off of crayons. I also like peeling onions.
7. I try to make my mom & dad get under the dining room table with me.
8. “Cars” is the only thing I’ll watch on TV or DVD.

So I'm supposed to tag 8 more. So your turn: The Stokes, Alys, Conleys, Blankenships, Avery T, Brooks, McHaney, and Will A. But I want all my BBFs to join in!

How are You Feeling?

Since this is the question of the hour, I'll answer by saying..."Medium." I never really got this morning sickness thing with E, and it's really a drag. Plus a whole month of colds/sinus infection/cough/strep did not ease the situation. My sleep quality is already declining. I'm very finicky about my food right now, which didn't happen to me before. Makes figuring out meals a bit difficult. But other than that, I'm having a baby & it doesn't get much better than that! Another thing I love about my first trimester...Appetite for Sweets? Totally Gone! And to answer another question, the due date is July 19 (I think. It's baby #2, so all the details are a bit foggier.)

I'm curious to see what pregnancy is like for this baby. It's so odd how they are all different. My first was pretty good, except for bad sleep, heartburn & middle of the night leg cramps.

Christmas Family Pics

This Christmas, we got to spend some great quality time with our families. Here we are with Lance's side of the family... and then mine...This is the most together my family has been since our wedding 5 years ago! We missed my brother David, though.

Juicing in '08

So one of my goals for 2008 is to actually use my Juicer. In 5 years of marriage, I've used the wedding gift once. It's a shame because it's such an awesome way to get in some good nutrients. So now that my hunger has kicked it up a notch, and Ethan is becoming pickier, I thought I'd give it another go...Ethan LOVED his Carrot/Apple/Cabbage/Kale Juice!! His nose was stuck in that cup for like 5 minutes. Victory! I'm very encouraged by all the possibilities & new ways to get some fruits & veggies in our tummies. Any of you have any good juicing recipes?

Engrish Train

Ethan had a great Christmas with lots of fun toys to play with. He loved this little train, but Lance & I found the box to be even more entertaining. Notice text that reads: "Let tear away in you fancy driveway the fond driveway doing yourself!" Hmm...Anyone know what that means? Anyway, it reminded me of a website that Genah sent me, full of "Engrish" translations. How yummy does this meal sound? And Beware the nuts here. Umm...Maybe I'll skip these tasty treats. Ahh...Engrish humor.

Kenyan Violence

Many of you have heard, but recent fraudulent elections in Nairobi, Kenya have fueled violence throughout the city. Anywhere from 150-300 people have been killed in recent days in a city that is near to our hearts. (You may remember that our cookbook is benefiting children who lived in the slums there. We also visited Nairobi in 2005.) Our friends there report that there is wide-spread rioting, and is at risk of becoming a large-scale tribal conflict if peace is not restored. 75,000 have already been forced to leave their homes. Please pray for peace & for our beloved friends in this country. You may read more at cnn.com, or other news outlets. (tony karubu photo)

Bridesmaid Dresses

Ever ordered a bridesmaid dress for what size you'll be at 7 months pregnant? Well, now I have and I'm worried! I'm so excited about being in Laura's wedding, and wearing this gorgeous Melissa Sweet number (in Sangria, minus the flower). But have NO idea what non-maternity size I'd wear at that point! Here's to hoping that I don't gain more weight than I did last time! And to hoping I can stand up there in heels! (And yes, I said it...I'm 12 Weeks!)

PS. Karina sent me this helpful article on pregnant bridesmaids. Be SURE to check it out, you won't want to miss this dress. Thank you, Laura, for not making me wear the same.

"Carrie"

For the last three days, this little guy has been calling me "Carrie." Pretty funny.

Holiday Tipping

If you, like me, have been wondering who to tip this Christmas season, I found this helpful guide. Here are the big two service folks: The trash guy, with a recommended $15-$30 each. And the mailman, a non-cash gift, value of up to $20 is recommended.

Cookbooks Finally Here!!!

Finally, the Climb Nashville cookbooks for Made in the Streets, in Nairobi, Kenya, are here! These 250 Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes are sure to please the tastebuds! Please stop by the gym if you would like to buy one. Or, there are several people who have mentioned on my blog that they would like one. If so, please leave some contact info and your desired quantity in the post.

Here are the Details:
Cost is $15
Checks & Cash accepted.
Checks can be made out to: Made in the Streets
Additional shipping charges based on the quantity. Due to holiday travel/etc., no guarantee can be made on shipping/delivery date.

Some highlights include:
Beth Rodden’s Veggie & Grain Soup
Summit GORP from Lightning 100’s Team Green
Italian Eggplant & Mozzarella Stacked Salad from Plumgood Food
Smoked Gouda Quesadillas, Oriental Baked Tofu, Newton's "No Meata" Fajitas, Jambalaya, Quinoa Salads, Chilis, Lasagnas, and so much more!
Plus other tasty meals suitable for camping & climbing trips!

Eric Volz to be Released!

A Nicaraguan court overturned Eric Volz's guilty verdict. He will hopefully be released very soon!!!

Click here for the clip from this morning's Today Show. Or check out last night's briefing on on CNN.com.

Sinus Infection

First Strep Throat, Then the WORST, Longest-Lasting cold ever on record, Now a Sinus Infection! I'm SO tired of being sick! I've gotten like 2 good nights of sleep in all of December.

Choc Chip Cookies – Egg/Dairy/Wheat-Free Recipe

Can these seriously be vegan cookies? They were very good! I was completely expecting them to be only half-good. Lance said they were about the best cookies he’s ever eaten. How 'bout that? Here's the recipe:

1¾ c. wheat-free flour mix (i used regular flour)
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. nutmeg
1 c. butter substitute, like Earth Balance
2 tbsp. vinegar
2 tbsp. water
2 tsp. baking powder
1½ c. brown sugar
¼ c. granulated sugar
2½ tsp. vanilla
1 c. chocolate chips (dairy-free)
3½ c. quick cooking oats

Preheat oven to 350° and grease baking pans. Sift flour, baking soda and powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, mix together 2 tbsp. water, the vinegar and 2 tsp. baking powder. On medium speed, beat butter substitute, brown sugar, vanilla and sugar until well blended. Stir the flour mixture into the “butter” mixture until smooth. Mix in chocolate chips and oats. Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the sheets. With lightly greased hands, lightly press the cookies down to form ½-inch thick rounds. Bake 6 to 9 min., until cookies are lightly browned all over and almost firm when lightly pressed in the centre of the top. Remove cookies from oven & let stand about 2 min., until the cookies firm slightly. Transfer cookies to racks to cool. These cookies freeze well.

NOTES: I used regular flour, and a little less oats (about 3 c.) I think I also baked them a bit longer too. Also, the batter was a bit crumbly. I had to pat them out like hamburger patties. In the oven, however, they came together and were not crumbly.

Heirloom Children's Furniture

This wooden children's furniture from Heirloom beats the pants off my plastic hand-me-downs. I haven't seen the price tag, but I bet it's pricier than my living room furniture. Gorgeous to look at, though.

Birthday Cake

How amazing is this cake that my sister-in-law made for my dad's birthday? What a talent.

Bento Boxes

I'm very excited about my new Bento Box for E. These make it easy to take out certain sections and microwave them, or keep dips separate from other foods. I got mine from Laptop Lunches.

Mixed Tapes - A Tribute to '94

Yesterday marked an emotional turning point in my life. I retired the tape deck in my car & for a new cd player. I spent all weekend listening to mixed tapes that I’ve been enjoying for the past decade+. My high school years were full of mixed tapes shared with very cool friends. Many of the tapes I still like very much. As a tribute to this landmark moment, I've recounted the playlist from Joe's tape, from Christmas 1994. *Sniff Sniff.* Goodbye tape deck.

Side A
Panic – The Smiths
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
Photograph – Natalie Merchant & REM
Bittersweet – Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Circle – Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Calling All Angels – Jane Siberry & KD Lang
Waiting for Somebody – Paul Westerberg
Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
Without a Trace – Soul Asylum
Soulflower - Pharcyde

Side B
Sweet Potato – Cracker
Mr. Wrong – Cracker
Packin’ .25 – Jane’s Addiction
Black Girlfriend - Jane’s Addiction
I Heard Ramona Sing – Frank Black
We are in Love – Harry Connick Jr.
Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet
Jane’s Says – Jane’s Addiction
Rosemary – Lenny Kravitz
San Francisco Days – Chris Isaak

Thanks, Ladies.

Do you ever get down on yourself and think “I have no friends, no one likes me. Woe is me!” Okay, maybe it’s just me. But that’s what I was going through this time last year. I was sad that certain relationships weren’t maturing the way I wanted, and I was missing depth in friendships that I really longed for.

Well, lately, I’ve been feeling truly blessed by friendships. I’m now surrounded by some great women who I know really care about me, and value my friendship. But what I do a terrible job of is telling people that I appreciate them. SO, to my friends…I’m going to take a turn towards the sappy and say that I love you & appreciate you so much!

Yes, I should say this in person. But I’m no good at being sappy, so it’s baby steps, y’all.

Fast Food & Allergies

Finally, I've done some homework on the ingredients of Fast Food restaurants. Not that I'm crazy about feeding my boy that stuff, but it's sometimes difficult to always have food on hand when I'm out. The plane ride home from California was tough, because I didn't know about the ingredients of the fast food restaurants. That day, E ate 2 bananas, 2 bags of corn chips, and 2 (e-safe, fake) pop tarts. Poor thing.

So, if you are egg/dairy/nut-free, you can eat a McDonald's hamburger on a regular bun!!! Exciting news! Anway, here are links to Ingredient Lists for some popular fast food chains, for your convenience.

Kentucky Fried Chicken
McDonald's
Wendy's
Burger King
Jack in the Box
Subway
Taco Bell
Hardee's
Arby's
Captain D's – Website says all foods may contain allergens.

A Crafty Childhood

Were you crafty growing up? Here's a journey down craft memory lane. Remember any of these? Did you make bracelets out of embroidery floss in 5th grade? What about safety pin bracelets in 6th grade? (I actually still wear mine.) Or Fimo Beads in 10th grade?

Snowflake Ornaments

Amanda C. posted a little how to on these cute little ornaments. Too cute not to share with you...

The Stockings are Hung

Between sickness, emergencies, regular holiday activities, & a wreck of a house, blogging has been on the backburner. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing soon. Anyway, we got our tree last week & it's looking like Christmas in our house! Here is Ethan helping to decorate the tree.