Help?

So Miss Mira will be 7 months on May 13.  She’ll gnaw on crusts and veggies and fruits, but she is generally uninterested in actually eating. We tried banana puree and rice cereal (Her eyes filled with scorn as she spit, sputtered and gagged!). I’ve also attempted introducing a bottle and sippy cup. She was unimpressed with both.  Frankly, I’m exhausted and I’m not sure how to dazzle her with feeding options outside myself. I never had this problem with Ophelia. After we introduced the bottle at 2 weeks (Ben and I went out for Valentines day!) she was hooked and never looked back.  I need suggestions for weaning or at the very least, getting her to take a bottle.

Organicsizeation

It’s been awhile. Mira is teething and Ophelia has been going through this weird clingy stage.  Finally, at long last, both my daughters are asleep and my husband is at some theological debate (held at a local pub which explains the draw.)  I decided to address the million dollar question:
To Organic-size or Not to Organic-size.
(I’m a geek, what can I say?)

I’ve sat on both sides of the fence and the opinion I am about to express is very simply that. I am hesitant to address this particular subject because it tends to be rather inflammatory and since it is a non-salvation issue, I see no reason to blow it out of proportion. We are talking about food (a passion of mine) and how we choose to buy it. I realize I have mentioned my love of organic produce before and thought I should explain my inclination. Personally, I like the idea of growing my own food for the exceedingly superior taste, the discipline involved and the altogether Glory-to-God-ness of it.   However, I live in a lovely apartment on the second floor in Condoville with no sustained direct sunlight and the next best thing to growing my own  is to buy it from the guy down the street. I’m all for supporting the locals. Firstly, because I can appreciate the work they do and secondly, I believe that “Love thy neighbor” encompasses where we put our money. My husband could give you some good resources on that rabbit trail, but you’ll have to talk to him about that as I am trying to keep this from being too long.  In addition, my children have inherited their father’s rather sensitive stomach. While I can easily munch down a large fries, Ben gets very sick at the slightest whiff of McWendy’s Queen Fil-a.  In the spirit of loving my family, I have begun to do the best I can to protect them from the foods we cannot identify at first glance.  When it comes to lotions, cosmetics, and toiletries, I still feel the draw to natural products. They smell better (to me), and don’t irritate my sensitive skin. There is, of course, the question of finance whenever this topic is brought up. I agree, that in our current economy, to buy all natural and organic would easily cost 3 times more then shopping  should. As a teacher’s wife, I’m not burdened with too much extra cash lying around either. In our home, I try to buy natural/organic for only the things that really matter. Fruits and vegetables go without saying (once you’ve had a sunripened tomato from your neighbor, you’ll know what i mean). I try to keep whatever I put on our skin pretty simple (that is no more then 10 or so ingredients and ones I can pronounce and recognize). Mira and I have very easily irritated skin. Ben and Ophelia are mildly intolerant to the homogenization process so I try to buy non-homogenized or soy milk when the budget allows. However, other items, like flour, rice, sugars, coffeebeans etc, I buy wherever it is the cheapest. There are always affordable ways to make your everyday habits a bit healthier on a budget, too. Like eating oatmeal for breakfast and using brown, raw sugar, honey or molasses as sweetener. Throwing together your own salad dressing instead of buying premade is an easy and economical way to improve your dinner. In making over our diets, I have found great liberty from needing to diet. Natural foods (when done right) taste better, have less bad fats, and are more filling. I also feel not a small amount of excitement when I buy that really good cheese we all love and bring it home to have with some really good french bread. I enjoy surprising my family with delectable delights like cocoa covered almonds and wasabi peas (sounds gross but OH SO GOOD!). I’m really not saying you should go one way or the other, I’m just trying to explain why I get so excited about shopping from the farmer’s market or why I get such a thrill from making bread that actually turns out well. We have found some good books and cookbooks on the subject if anyone is interested, let me know. I’m interested in how everyone else manages their food budget and how they make it work. It is, I believe, one of the major challenges of a housewife.

Appetizers

I need suggestions for a delicious and easily made appetizer to make for a Christmas party on Saturday. Help?

bag in progress

Here’s my ‘design station’. A computer displaying what it is I’m trying to copy, plenty of fabric, and plenty of trash paper to trace out my pattern modifications on. It’s all cut out and ironed, now all I have to do is make the leap to actually piecing it together. By the way, has anyone ever used the sew-in interfacing? I’ve always used the iron on kind, but the little chart of uses at the store suggested using a heavy “sewn-in” interfacing for bags, so that’s what I bought. Do I just piece it in like another layer to the fabric, or is there some sort of trick to it?

Making Chicken Broth

Okay, so I made roast chicken a couple days ago. Picked the carcass clean, and now I’m simmering the remains in a pot of water to make broth. Am I doing this right?

diaper bag patterns?

Well, it’s been almost a year since I made my last diaper bag, so I’m about due for a new one now. I’ve been mulling it over in my mind for a while, and I know that I want to make something like the Petunia Pickle Bottom Touring Totes.

I’m also pretty sure that I want to make it out of one of Anna Maria Horner’s Drawing Room fabrics (with a contrasting liner), although I’m now finding myself attracted to Denyse Schmidt’s County Fair fabrics.

The thing that I need your help on is the pattern. I can probably swing one myself, but in the interests of sanity, I’m wondering if anyone knows of any existing patterns out there similar to the touring tote pictured above? Some of those curves look kinda tight, and I’m not known for my patience when it comes to sewing (if it doesn’t make the first cut, it doesn’t make it). If you have any ideas or resources, I’d love to hear them!!

cinco de mayo desserts?

I have been charged with the task of making a dessert for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Does anyone have any great ideas on this front? Any great Mexican dessert recipes?

First Time Mom Question

So Ophelia (age 2) is still sleeping in this crib. She hasn’t figured out how to get out yet (she’s petite, it makes it a bit trickier). Her bedroom is toddler-safe. Should I convert her crib into her toddler bed (it comes with rails to keep her from rolling out)  now or wait until we can’t use the crib anymore? I understand it will be more work putting her down for naps when she is able to get up and play, but aside from that, what are the pros and cons?

cleaning products

Lately I’ve been re-examining my house cleaning methods, or more particularly my house cleaning products. I’ve known for a while that I’ve probably been going a little overboard with my ‘bleach everything’ policy, and so I’ve slowly been warming up the ‘vinegar and baking soda method’ of cleaning. After doing some reading this morning, I’ve decided to launch into it and do away with my many bottles of specialized cleaning products and try to simplify it down to a few products that are easier to store and safer to use. One thing I’m wondering about though is a good all purpose cleaner. I’ve looked at that new line of Clorox Green Works products, and I’m considering their all purpose cleaner. I’m wondering, has anyone used that? Do you have any other suggestions for ’safer’ cleaning products?

Morning Sickness

Sorry, I can’t do any posts about food right now. The very thought turns my tummy! However, I’ve reached that point in my pregnancy where nothing stays down. I’ve tried all the basics (saltines, little meals, ginger, lemon mints, mint tea, minty mints, even Premesis RX) does anyone have unusual suggestions for helping morning sickness? With O, I had to get a prescription, but my doctor’s appointment isn’t until March 3rd, so…..help? anyone?

Also, for anyone else in this situation, I got a great tip from a very wise friend of mine. She dealt with morning sickness while nursing a newborn (long story/short version: breast feeding and condoms don’t always work as birth control). She said to make a list of the chores you need to get done, grab your puke bucket and run around the house to get them done as quickly as possible. It works! True, it doesn’t feel fabulous, but your husbter will have a nice clean house to come home to and you won’t feel like such a dead weight! Yay!