Simple Life

My life is so busy!  I drive all of my family around since Steve broke his right ankle back in May.  I am ready to slow down and have a simplier life.  There are so many things I want to do to make life simplier that it actually makes it more hectic to make it simplier!  What is up with that.
I am going to try to build an enclosed garden this fall.  The weather is still too warm to take on this project and I wonder if I was to hold a garden raising who would come.  Is there still a community out there that would come and volunteer for such a thing?  How about a barn raising?  I am not talking about a huge Amish barn but a smaller barn.  I live on one acre and would like to try to achieve sustainability.  Garden, cow, chickens, etc.  I am sure all of this will take a few years.  Until then I will be dreaming of a simplier life!

PANCAKE SYRUP

     I have tried to get my children to eat real maple syrup when I make french toast or pancakes.  My husband had to have Aunt Jemima.  He then got the kids used to it.  I never did eat it or like it.  I would use plan sugar before I used that syrup.  I have been looking for a syrup to replace it with.  I wanted one with no partially hydrogynated oils, no high fructose corn syrup or plain corn syrup.
     I have wanted to make my own but with so many other chores to do there has not been anytime.  So I came accross a new product in the store the other day.  Log Cabin now maks an all natural syrup.  The two questionable ingredients are natural flavors and xanthan gum.  These are at the bottom of the list so I do believe they are better to have than any corn syrup filler. 
    I served this to Bre this morning!  There were not any complaints or any I won't eat it!  Yea!  She like it!  Hey, if Bre likes everyone will so give it a try! 
 - Cheryl, the mom

Uggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh Organic!

Everything is sooooo organic I hate it. I don't even get cherrios! Well then again I don't try any of it. Oh well!
-Bre, Daughter

STARTING A BLOG

I started this blog for fun!  I am not sure how it will go or how often I will be able to post. I am also not a great writer and I hope this will help me get better at writing.  Or maybe I will fail miserably.  Either way it will be an experience.  
-Cheryl, Mom

Cleaning Out the Cupboards

The other day I cleaned out most anything that was not organic.  You would think this would be an easy task but it is not.  I took the time to read the labels.  If it was not organic but did not have the laundry list of "bad" ingredients it was saved.  I threw out/donated items that had corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated anything, MSG, etc.  It took me about 3 hours and two grocery bags.  In the end there was not much left in the cabinet.   I went to the store and purchased Back to Nature, Annie's crackers, Late July, O Organics, and Cascadian Farms.  This change left my pocket book empty.  I have learned to know my prices and shop the ads.  Purchases larger quantities when the sales hit.  My favorite places in the Phoenix metropolitan area to shop is Sprout's, Sunflower, Safeway and any farmer's market.  I have one picky child who is constantly asking for me to purchase other items.  She has not tried any of the other products because she is afraid they will taste horrible.  On the other hand my son will eat anything.  My daughter has come to like Cheddar Bunnies but still would rather have Cheez-Its.  I often wonder if those old cravings will ever go away!
-Cheryl