Back from Cali!

We had a great time in California. I missed checking in w/y'all, so I must catch up soon! But I wanted to post a few pics & it's off to bed for me. Sorry these are a big huge mess. But here's the recap - My Birthday, Climbing, Hiking, Sickness & Vomiting, Dressing our Baby in PJs due to unexpected cool weather and 4 plane rides with a baby = Glad to sleep in my bed tonight!

Half Dome

Yesterday, We got a very early start (waking at 4 am) and hiked to the top of Half Dome (pictured left, not below), in Yosemite, California! Pretty cool, right? I hiked about 5,000 in elevation gain and about 16 miles or so of hiking. Sure, Lance climbed it, which is cooler, but it was an awesome hike as well. My quads are a little sore right now...

Traveling with Baby

laying out the clothes for a day of travel. e. hanging out with mason & hayes while we visited chris & layneehanging out with beth & tommy. more later!

BPA Use in Plastic

Did you know that when you consume canned soups, beans & soft drinks, you also may be swallowing a controversial chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) that can leak into your food? Did you know that BPA is common in baby bottles and sippy cups? Yikes! Amanda just sent me an article about the use of this controversial chemical & it's possible side effects. And Sarah posted some helpful info about how to limit your exposure. I'm not sure what to do with all this information, but I thought I'd share it with you guys.

8 Ways to Avoid Harmful Chemicals in Plastics and Cans
1. If you already own polycarbonate bottles, including the Nalgene bottles, labeled #7 on the bottom, wash them by hand with mild dishwashing soap, not in the dishwasher, to avoid degrading the plastic and increasing leaching of BPA.
2. Even plastic does not last forever. Look for cracks or cloudiness on your reusable clear plastic bottles.
3. Use glass baby bottles or plastic bag inserts or switch to bottles that are labeled #5 and come in colors or are milky rather than clear.
4. Choose soups, milk & soy milk packaged in cardboard "brick" cartons, which are made of safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene (#2) and also recyclable.
5. Choose canned foods from makers who don't use BPA, such as Eden Foods , which sells certified organic canned beans and other foods.
6. Eat fresh foods in season and save the canned foods for convenience or emergencies. The exception is some canned fruit such as that found in smaller fruit-cocktail cans, which do not require a liner, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.
7. Buy or can your own fruits and vegetables in safe glass jars.
8. Some wines have been found to contain up to six times the BPA of canned foods.

Here are a few more helpful sights: Purchase sippy cups/water bottles here or here. Solutions to reduce plastic and toxic exposures can be found here.

Food for Thought

Eating Fresh Veggies is Good for your Body. You know that, right? Did you know that it’s also SO much better for the planet? Better World Handbook states that cutting back on meat is the number one thing (even more than getting rid of your car!) you can do to improve our world. Here are 7 reasons that it's better to eat more local veggies:

1) In the United States, the average meal travels 1,500 miles before it reaches the dinner table. Much longer for foods imported from around the world. That’s a lot of fuel for transportation, and energy for refrigeration & packaging.
2) Nearly half the water consumed in this country is used for livestock.
3) 70 percent of the grain grown is used for livestock, mostly cattle. It takes almost 16 pounds of grass and grain to produce one pound of beef. If the land on which grain is grown were used to grow, say, black beans instead, it would generate 10-20 times as much protein.
4) As forests are cleared to create new pastures, it is a major driver of deforestation, especially in Latin America where, for example, some 70 percent of former forests in the Amazon have been turned over to grazing."
5) Livestock now use 30 percent of the earth’s entire land surface, mostly permanent pasture but also including 33 percent of the global arable land used to producing feed for livestock.
6) Frozen food requires 10 times more energy to produce than fresh.
7) Buying local produce helps your community’s farmers.

Bear & Cup

It's the little things about raising a child that make me smile. Like walking into our room & seeing our son's cup and his "bear" sitting in the drawer of our bedside table. Those things lighten my mood anyday.

Opt-Out of Junk Mail

A rare post from Lance...

This is an explanation on how to reduce unwanted mail as seen on the Today Show. It only took 10-15 minutes to do the whole thing and I was writing about it as I went so I could explain it to you. It should take 10 minutes tops for you and within 6-10 weeks your mail should be reduced by 70-80% if I remember correctly. It will save a tree, reduce waste and reduce the risk of stolen personal information.

Cheers, Lance

DMA (Direct Mail Association)
E-mail address opt-out - Does not apply to business addresses and you must reply to an e-mail they will send you or it doesn’t stick.
Mailing address opt-out - Lasts 5 years and you must do it for every new address. It also costs $1.
Pre-screened credit card offers opt-out - I opted out for 5 years. To opt out permanently, you have to print something and mail it in.
Really helpful overview

4 Credit Companies (Equifax, etc.)
Credit Reporting Companies Removal (firm offers of credit and insurance)- May be the same as the credit card removal above. Super creepy auto system but takes only 2 minutes. 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688)

ADVO - I opted out for 5 years.

Epsilon’s Abacus Cooperative Database - Send email to: optout@abacus-us.com
Text of e-mail: Please remove me from your list and do not sell my addresses (and then proceed with any applicable address).

Easy Meal Ideas

Let's face it. Sometimes we get in food ruts. Sometimes we just need a break from cooking. That's why I was so excited to get this string of emails last week about getting out of a recipe slump. I loved this so much I thought I’d share their words with you & ask…Got any good easy meal ideas? (Hope you ladies don’t mind my sharing. I’ve cleverly encrypted your names for anonymity! :) )

My Easy Meal? Bertolli's Italian Sausage & Rigatoni. Yummy. You'd never know it was frozen.

LJ’s Manicotti - 2 lbs ground beef, 1 (32) oz jar spaghetti sauce, 1 ½ cups water, 1 (12 oz) package frozen spinach soufflé, thawed, 12 oz shredded mozzarella, 8 oz uncooked manicotti noodles
Brown the ground beef. Drain. Heat the spaghetti sauce in large saucepan. Add the ground beef and water and mix well. Spoon some of the ground beef mixture into a 9X13 baking dish. Mix the spinach soufflé and cheese in a bowl. Stuff into the uncooked manicotti. Place the stuffed manicotti into the prepared dish. Cover with the remaining ground beef mixture. Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Let stand for 15 mins before serving.

LP’s Hamburger and Black-eyed Pea Casserole – This is the traditional New Year’s Day meal in our family, but because its so easy and inexpensive to make we have it monthly. I usually make it the night before we plan to eat it, so all I have to do is heat it up. Suggested side dishes: mashed potatoes and cornbread.
1 lb. hamburger, 1 green pepper, diced, 1 can of black-eyed peas, drained, 2 cans of Hunt’s diced tomatoes, Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté hamburger and green pepper until meat is fully cooked and the pepper is tender. Drain the grease. Put the meat mixture back in the pan and add peas, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Let simmer, covered, for approximately 1 hr.

JY’s Beans and Cornbread...for the beans, I heat up two cans of Hormel veggie-chili-with-beans (I know it probably sounds gross, but it ain't!). The cornbread recipe is 2 pkgs of cornbread muffin mix (I use Jiffy), 1 egg and 1 can creamstyle corn...combine ingredients in pan and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

AW’s swiss chicken: Add chicken breasts to baking dish, top each breast with a slice of swiss cheese, add cream of chicken soup to cover chicken. Mix up some stovetop (water and melted butter until moist), cover the chicken mixture, bake at 350 for 45 mins or so....however long it takes for the chicken to get done.

AW’s Easy beef and noodles: Cook thinly sliced sirloin steak in skillet. Once done, cover with water and add 3-4 beef bullion (sp?) cubes (the more water, the more cubes....just be careful, too many will make it really salty). Cook some egg noodles on the side. Add some starch to the beef mixture to thicken it, add egg noodles. At this point, you should have enough of the liquid/gravy mixture to kind of coat the noodles). This is also really good with a salad and some biscuits.

KM’s Baked Ziti - cook penne or tri-wheat-noodles, cook burger meat and spaghetti sauce, stir together, spray casserole, pour in, top with shred mozerella, and bake until cheese melts- long enough to cook bread, too

KM’s Paprika chicken- put chicken breasts/tenders in sprayed casserole, sprinkle paprika, smear sour cream over, then top with crushed cheese nips with melted butter and bake

Benefit Yard Sale – 9/21 & 9/22

We're hosting a Yard Sale to benefit Made in the Streets, FRIDAY SEPT. 21 & SATURDAY 22. Have time to help & stuff to donate? Awesome! I need…

1) Anything you would like to get rid of for the sale
2) Help on Sale Day and/or Before – Pricing, Organizing, Sign Making & Posting, etc.
3) Plastic grocery bags

More Decluttering – Undies: Have you ever wondered what to do with your no longer needed (gently used) underwear? Well I have. It’s a bit too personal for a yard sale & I don’t think thrift stores will sell them. So…I called my local mission & they accept them! You can send your undies to: Nashville Rescue Mission, Attn: Stacy, 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN 37203-4226

Even More - Toys: Here’s a good home for your discarded toys & stuffed animals. Click here to find out how to send them to children in Iraq.

Inside Our House

A while ago, someone asked me to post some pictures of the inside of our house. So, here are the front rooms of our house, which we've been in since late June.

We'll eventually paint these 2 rooms, but these were the existing wall colors. They match our furniture, but I prefer lighter & neutral colors. Since I rarely post more than 2 pics at a time, someday I'll post a few more rooms.

You MUST Watch Miss Teen SC!

You've SERIOUSLY got to watch this. I'll be starting a personal crusade to get maps to US Americans in South Africa.)

CONVERSATION PRECURSOR TO INTERVIEW
Miss Teen South Carolina: Mario Lopez is so hot, like I totally don't know what to do during the question part!
Totally Hot Teenage Friend: You're like totally hot. You'll totally do like awesome! Whatever they ask you, make sure you include The Iraq and South Africa. They love The Iraq. You'll totally win.
MTSC: Did you know that Mario Lopez was on Saved by the Bell? He's like totally hot.
THTF: Oh. And totally don't say "like." They hate that. They love "Such As." You're totally gonna win.

Some Favorites on the Web

Here are some of my favorite places on the web.

KID THINGS - Apartment Therapy - The Nursery and Cool Mom Picks
CRAFTS - Shim & Sons and Embroidery Ideas
BEAUTIFUL STUFF - Oh Happy Day, Oh Joy!, {frolic} and The Sartorialist
PERSONAL GROWTH - Lime, Ideal Bite and Change.org

Free Fingerprinting & DNA Id Kit

Free Fingerprinting and DNA Identification Kits, which are recommended by the FBI & Department of Justice, are available on Saturday, September 8th from 10-3 at Andrews Cadillac & Land Rover. There is no data basing & sponsor keeps no records on file. Call Nelson Andrews, 615-373-3800, with questions.

Ferraby Lionheart

Around here, you could throw a dead cat & hit a dozen waiters who want to make music. I’ve known so many people trying to “make it in the music biz" that it's hard to keep track. I even have a brother (pictured at r, from album cover) who released an album over 10 years ago. (Brother, this is payback not reading my blog or returning emails!) But I would never discourage someone for taking a go at it. You never know when someone actually will "make it", just like my old coffeehouse co-worker, Josh Rouse.

All that to say that I have an old friend, Ferraby Lionheart with an album coming out September 4. Check out this clip of him on the Late Late Show last week.

Also, check out the music of unsigned artists Newton Dominey and Paul Hadfield. And Zane Williams, who has a great album out. Best of luck to you fellas!

Open Letter to Unknown-Blog-Reader:

I often wonder about you. Do I know you? Are you are a friend-of-a-friend sitting at home nursing an infant or wasting a few minutes at work? Secret-Blog-Reader, I’m glad you find my musings entertaining. It's a pleasure to meet ladies like Kristy, Kyllie & Marissa, who have stumbled upon my little planet & said hello.

Now, to my friends who read this & then send emails saying they don't know how to comment. You do not have to have an account to make a comment. On my blog, you can click “Anonymous” and then just type in your name. No big deal either way, but just wanted to let you know that no new password is required. Feel free to chime in anytime!

Love,
>Carrie, The Modern Housewife.

What a Night!

Yesterday, my honey came home early (one of the perks of self-employment!) and let me go to the gym for a bit to work out. When I came home, I walked in & saw these cute little pair!! How cute is this?! Anyway, the fine china & crystal was all laid out in the dining room, and we enjoyed a wonderful meal of Broiled Tilapia with Parmesan, Risotto, and vegetables. SOO Good! What a nice treat. Love you honey.

Summer Soup & Crazy Veggies

This record-breaking heat is not good for my CSA. Just as well, I needed a break from the enormous amounts of fruits/veggies we've been eating.

Crazy veggies of the week are these cool looking Green Zebras, a White Eggplant and some purple okra.

So what's one the menu this week? I plan to try these Boiled Peanuts and Okra & Tomatoes. And I finally found a Cole Slaw recipe that my hubby really likes!

Even though it's so hot, recipes for Roasted Tomato Red Pepper Soup and Mexican Corn Chowder are super-tasty, since the ingredients are in peak season right now. And lastly, I plan to try out this Cucumber soup recipe, which a friend sent me. Bon Appetit!

COOL CUCUMBER & AVOCADO SOUP
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
2 avocados peeled, pitted and cut into chunks
2 1/2 c. buttermilk
3 T chopped red onion
1 t. lemon juice
2 or 3 fresh basil leaves, torn
Dash of salt and ground white pepper
1/2 tomato peeled, seeded, and chopped for topping
Fresh basil chiffonade & Crème Fraiche for topping

Combine all ingredients except toppings in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Serve in bowls topped with tomato, basil chiffonade and a dollop of creme fraiche. Serves 4.

Reusable Shopping Bags

I've told you before how I’ve been bringing my own grocery bags for a year now. I’ve been asked where to get them, and what type to buy so here are some thoughts.

I have 4 bags, which is plenty to start out with. Mine are just simple basic totes, found free from company picnics, joining a bank, etc. I’m sure these are abundant at your local thrift store or yard sale. My German friend Julia also just sent me this clever tote (pictured), the Reisenthel Easy Bag. It’s awesome, but unfortunately doesn’t fit most US shopping carts.

If you are looking for style, something like this $19.95 beauty this would be great. Or, the height of hipster conservation is Anya Hindmarch’s I’m not a Plastic Bag bag (pictured), which is sold out in the US, but can be found on ebay.

So Now - My recommendation? Simple grocery totes, which I've heard can be found at Kroger for $.99 and Publix for $1.49. If those options are not available, you can find plenty online. I would just recommend something simple, like this basic tote for $4.95.

Purity Delivery Update

So here’s the update I promised about the Purity Dairy Home Delivery. I have done some minimal price comparisons to that of the grocery store. It does seem similar to the prices at the store. However, Purity is a premium, quality product, so it is more expensive than a generic brand. Regardless, your minimum weekly order is just a ½ gallon of milk, so seems like a decent deal.

Unfortunately, my two free weeks never came to me, so I’ll probably pass on the home delivery for the time being. I’m the only one in our house that even drinks milk, so we don’t even have that great a need for milk at all.

I Never Knew How Silly Kids Could Be