sunburn

Today it was confirmed that Nate definitely inherited my skin type and will indeed burn in the spots where sunblock has not been applied. Let's just say that I obviously didn't apply his sunblock evenly.
Poor guy. He looks like someone socked him in the eye! Kyle and Ian, on the other hand, have beautiful brown skin at this time of year. It's so funny how God can create such different kids from the same parents! Caden, in case you're wondering, is like Nate and me and doesn't tan well.
(Nate, Kyle, Caden and I had a wonderful time swimming at a friend's house with a whole bunch of church friends! Ian has been at my parents' house since Sunday, and he says he doesn't miss us! I'm not sure when he's coming back, the little stinker!! Kyle sure misses him, though, which is so funny since they fight so much normally!)

Making some changes

I want to write a little about how I am making the changes that I wrote about in my last post. First, I have to tell you that this next month is actually the first month that I am taking such drastic measures to change the way we eat. I seriously thought that we ate so well before reading the "Nourishing Traditions" book, which in comparison to a lot of people, we do eat well! Then, I started reading the labels on the food in my kitchen. In my last post I wrote about finding MSG everywhere, like in my cream soups, enchilada sauce, blackened seasoning, taco seasoning...crazy. Then, you cannot even understand the complete disappointment I had when I found that my "healthy 100% whole wheat" bread that I have been buying for the last year has HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP as the SECOND ingredient. I searched and searched at the grocery store and finally found ONE brand that didn't have it in the bread. Now, my husband found some organic bread at Sam's Club that we love and is very reasonably priced! Although, as soon as I can fork over the dough to buy a Bosch Universal Mixer and a Nutrimill, I am going to mill my own grain and make my own bread! It really, really will save my family of 6 some money in the long run. These boys already eat so much!! I also found that high fructose corn syrup is in most spaghetti sauces, so now I buy a 3-pack of organic sauce at Sam's Club that is really yummy and very affordable. It's also in ketchup and salad dressings.

The raw milk that I started buying a couple of months ago is from a dairy nearby and is only$3.75 a gallon (Braum's is $3.89). I also buy cream (for my coffee and to make butter) and cheese from there. The cheese is so good! It is about $12 for 2 pounds. From the milk, I have made my yogurt, cream cheese, and whey!

Right now, we really just eat a lot of chicken and fish with rice or pasta (whole grain) and a veggie. Last night, for example, we had baked chicken (cooked right from frozen) and instant mashed potatoes and carrot sticks with ranch dressing. Well, the chicken wasn’t organic; it was “natural”. I don’t even know about the instant potatoes, and the carrot sticks are organic but definitely not the ranch. I have just decided to use up what we already have in the pantry and refrigerator, and then as I have to buy more, I’ll buy the better-for-you stuff. With some exceptions though, I am getting rid of the msg-ridden things in my pantry!

Anyway, I am planning my menu this week for next month, so I’ll see how it goes! I'll post my menu and then let you know how I did budget-wise! One thing that has been cool is finding so many blogs that are written by ladies like me who are definitely on a budget and striving to be healthy! I have made a new link list on the right side to these sites.

Oh, and the making-my-own cleaners is WAY cheaper than already made stuff!

Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Possible meal ideas

In my pursuit for my family to eat healthier and to eliminate all high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (msg), hydrogenated oils, refined sugars & grains, artificial food coloring, and other chemicals and ingredients that I can't pronounce, I am on a mission to find new recipes and meal plans. I can't believe how many products still have msg in them, including cream soups (used to make many casseroles), canned enchilada sauce, taco seasoning, and Doritos. For more information, you can go to msgtruth.com. It's really alarming. Anyway, as I find recipes, I am going to post the recipes here.

These are all from thefamilyhomestead.com, a great website! The only modifications to these recipes is that I will use my own seasonings when the recipe calls for taco seasoning.
Black Bean Burrito Casserole
Bean Burritos
Black Bean Spaghetti
Lentils and Brown Rice for tacos
Nachos for a crowd
Chicken Lasagna
Oven-baked French Toast
Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken
Okay, so pretty much any of the recipes, not just the ones I've listed above, sound fantastic!

Another awesome blog that I have found is Passionate Homemaking. Here are a few possible recipes from her site:
Chicken Divan

Baked Oatmeal
Quinoa and Black Beans

Flashback Friday

Easter 1983?
Margo, Keith, Bill

Oh the frustration

I have 2 cordless phones and 1 cell phone in my house at the present moment. I, however, cannot make any phone calls because ALL THREE of them are dead and need to be charged. Brilliant.