How to afford to "Go Organic"

We live on a fixed budget.

Not as tight as it was the last 2 years, but still not as free flowing as before the move.

And yet, we buy organic.

And local, if we can get it.

And fair trade certified.

And non-GMO.

(More on all of that later!)

If you look in our pantry you will find organic pasta (mostly non-wheat varieties), organic snacks, and organic grains.

In the fridge you will find organic veggies from our CSA (I'll tell y'all all about it later!).

GO COX FAMILY FARM!

You'll find organic fruits, ketchup (sans any corn product), milk, eggs (once again CSA), cheese, yogurt, and juice.  Jelly, sunbutter...the list goes on!

In the freezer is organic meat.  Free range, grass fed, and always tasty.  Fish is wild caught.

If we can find it organic (and local and free trade!) we buy it.

How do we afford it?

Sounds expensive.

And it can be.

But here is the trick:

We eat mostly whole foods.

Yep, you won't find lots of pre-packaged chips, cookies, crackers, etc in our house.

If we want a snack we eat the organic fruits and veggies.

Not having the other things in our home opens up a part of the budget.

It truly does!

When we eat meat, we use a small amount and bulk it up with other things.

Beans, grains, and veggies do wonders!

When we use cheese, it is a small addition to the meal to add flavor.

NOT a staple.

We eat a lot of vegetarian meals.

We eat a LOT of eggs.

We buy in season.

We buy what is on sale, or the least expensive type we can, unless it is something we don't like.

(Example: we do NOT eat Red Delicious apples. Yuck.  Even if it is the least expensive variety we get some other type of apple.)

And we are healthy.  And can tell a difference in how we feel!

And I feel good that JMonster is growing up with as few unnecessary chemicals and preservatives in his body as possible.

And if any of us get cancer, we can honestly say we tried.

And that (as the Doc says!) we must just have #$%@ poor protoplasm.

Questions about how YOU can afford to go organic?  

Or where to buy?  

I'll help in whatever way I can!

Things I want to learn

It's funny, I have so much going on inside my head that it swirls around making it impossible for me to choose what to write about.

Making it impossible for me to "put on paper" my thoughts, ideas, and feelings.

I had an English teacher once who said just start writing and it will come.

SO I'm starting.

With a list, cuz I'm good at lists.  

In fact I live my life by list!

(does that make me OCD or just incredibly organized?)

THINGS I WANT TO LEARN:

To sing.

I sound like a frog.  Always thought it was allergies but now know it is reflux.  

On meds to fix it.  

When we get it under control I want to sound like a princess.

Too much to ask?

To play piano (again!).

I took for years but it didn't stick.

To speak French.

Once again I took classes for years, but they didn't stick either!

To play guitar.

The Rev tried to teach me once, but I didn't want to cut my nails.

I'd cut my nails this time!

To make tile mosaics.

They're beautiful!  I'd love to have them in my home...art I've done!

To take photographs properly.

I'm a hack at it.  I love it, but know absolutely nothing.

To whistle.

You know, the put your fingers in your mouth to call the kids from 2 miles away whistle?

Yeah, I want to be THAT girl!

To have a green thumb.

I love eating fresh, organic foods.

I've tried to keep plants alive.

I really have!

It's just not my gift.

To live life like JMonster does...without caring about what others think.

He has such a zest for life!

He'll dance when and where he feels like it.

He'll bust out in song if the mood strikes.

He lives with gusto!

I wanna be just. like. him.

WHAT WOULD BE ON YOUR LIST?

A Couple More Funny Things JMonster said...

Thought I'd get down these 2 before I forget them!

"Mommy, if I make you a robot that does laundry will you pay me a few cents every month.  Because you won't have to do laundry anymore.  Because the robot will do it for you!"

"I sure will buddy!  But not until I get the robot.  When will you build this robot?"

"Hmmm...I don't know.  Maybe tomorrow?"

I sure wish I had one of those robots right now!

(And what a deal!  Reminds me a little of Austin Powers...one meeelllleeeeuuun dollars!)

You might not know that JMonster is a very gifted musician.

(okay...maybe he's just a child who loves music, but who's keeping score?)

He takes piano lessons.

He takes guitar lessons.

And he makes up his own songs.

GOOD songs!

This morning I heard him singing a wonderful song he was making up...he was singing to God about how he doesn't know where he is going, that he needs His help, and that he loves Him.

In mid sentence the song switches, "Oh God, I need your help!  Oh God, I don't know where I'm going, Oh God...Beyblade, Beyblade let it rip!  Let's fight.  In an epic battle!"

Tee hee!

Meet the Navy!

You know those days when you just ache for your child?

When they've wanted something, saved for it, and it just didn't work out?

Today was one of those days.

So we decided to go to Freebirds for dinner.

(mmmm...if you've never been to a Freebirds and had a monster, you're missing out!)

We went to the Freebirds on Northgate...for all of you non-Aggies Northgate is right across the street from Texas A&M University and about a mile from the airport.

At the next table were a couple of men in navy jumpsuits eating their burritos.

After much deliberation at our table about who would ask them if they flew Navy planes, The Rev asked for JMonster (okay, okay...for ME!).

One of the gentlemen said they did fly planes for the Navy, 

and then asked if we were about through with our dinner.

"Um, sure?"

"Would you like to see an airplane?"

"Um, SURE!!!!"

So we met him at the airport and he gave us a "tour" of his plane.

Not much of a "tour" since it was a two seater and a prop engine!

He let JMonster sit in the cockpit and pretend to fly.

He let JMonster try on his helmet.

He gave JMonster a patch from his flight suit!

(Oh how I wish we had brought our camera!  Neither of our phones got a good pic of JMonster in the plane, dagnabit!)

A great big thank you 

to a special Navy flight instructor 

for making our day!

JMonster loses his first tooth!

I'm thinking maybe I should switch the name of this blog to

JMonster's Not So Daily Updates.

It's gotten away from being about me.

(Isn't it ALL about me!?!)

And it definitely isn't daily.

Oh well. 

(sigh)

Today is exciting, though!

JMonster LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH!

Before tooth extraction!

And we got it on video for you:

AFTER tooth extraction.  Not sure why his eyes are closed!

I love this face!  Blood and all. :o)

Skylanders!

JMonster has a new addiction to add to his list of obsessions...

SKYLANDERS!

It's a video game on the Wii...something about saving the world, maybe?  

Or maybe not?

He finished his kindergarten math book today, and as a reward we told him we'd get him Sonic Boom (he's one of the Skylander characters).

Sonic Boom!

After 4 stops we ended up with 3 Skylander characters, none of which were Sonic Boom.

Come to find out Skylanders are THE item right now.

You can't find them anywhere!

So if you see a Sonic Boom, please send it to our little monkey.

He finished TWENTY pages in his math book just today.

He was M-O-T-I-V-A-T-E-D!

Self Discipline

At first I was going to title this DISCIPLINE.

But then I thought better of it...too many people searching for articles on disciplining children would end up here!

Yesterday I was hanging out with one of my neighbors.

And you can't prove I was avoiding packing up the Christmas stuff!

We were talking and she mentioned the word "discipline".

And it hit me.

And made me think.

I have not been self disciplined.

I can't say that across the board, but in most areas.

So I am willing to work at it.

And become more disciplined.

Now I just need to figure out which areas to begin with!

(I've been better about reading my Bible every day.  I've been better about what we eat and where it comes from.  I have not been so great about what time I go to bed.  Or get up.  Or exercise.  Or keeping my house in order.  Or keeping my LIFE in order.  Or blogging.  Or teaching JMonster the way he deserves to be taught.  Or playing with JMonster the way he deserves to be played with.)

I have a lot to think about!