Green Moms Meet/Picked to Sample!

Good afternoon! This weekend was pretty busy at our house. We actually had a day of nice weather so the hubs and I spent a lot of time outside cleaning things up a bit. Cleaned out and vacuumed the car, raked a little, potted some flowers, etc...Just hope Mother Nature decides to make it a regular thing soon. I must sound like I complain a lot about the weather, but I feel like Spring and Summer fly by where the Winter lasts so long. Yes technically this is Spring...but It doesn't feel like it when every other day is cloudy and rainy.

Anyways, I wanted to share something I am excited about, that I got picked to do via Green Moms Meet. First of all, if you do not know what GMM is, I suggest heading over to their website and looking around. If you are into the "all natural/organic" lifestyle like I am, or are just interested in that kind of thing, this is a great website. It is basically a community of moms coming together online and discussing all sorts of topics from healthy eating, to DIY, gardening, parenting etc. One of the neat things (that I'm about to talk about) is that you can apply to become a "Mom Ambassador" When you become a mom ambassador, you can be invited to sample a variety of healthy products. The folks at GMM send out invitations via email when a new product is up for sampling. Not every one gets picked for each product, and you do not have to do it if you do not want to. I recently got picked to try Beech Nuts new whole fruit and vegetable baby foods!

(photo used from greenmomsmeet site)

It is sort of similar to the Happy Baby party that I held through Seventh Generation. It will come with a variety of foods, and I along with a few mom friends will try it with our little ones and give feedback to Green Moms Meet. This is my first time doing this through this website but I am excited. I saw that on their Facebook page they hold "meetings" about products. You sign into Facebook at a specific time and moms who sampled the same things can post questions and feedback and have conversations about it. You also take a couple photos and send them over so that the people running the groups can see what your taste testing looked like. The ingredients in these new foods sound wonderful. Nothing but 100% whole fruits and vegetables. That is what we want to feed our children! It does not say its Organic...which I prefer, but if it is indeed made up of what they say, then I'm sure it is perfectly fine. I cannot wait to try.

So once my kit arrives, I will share more details about what was included and how we did our tasting. Like I said, I am new to this one, so please...go to their website and browse if you have time. Then check out their Facebook page.

I hear a my baby waking up from nap, so I have to cute this short. Go take a peek!!!

xo

Fresh Eggs Soon!

Well, I finally did it! I posted about a month ago that the hubs and I were going to be getting chickens again this Spring, and after a 2 yr hiatus we have them! It was more me than the hubs however. Now that he is back to full time construction his motivation to do anything around the house is slim. I basically have to make things happen or they wont. We kept talking about the darling birds, we need fencing, to clean out the coop, etc... all excuses as to why we couldn't actually GET the chickens yet. Well I decided that if maybe I got the chickens first then we would HAVE to take care of the other stuff! Luckily we had everything from our last flock of hens. The only thing I had to purchase was the food. Here are our new baby girls!

There are six, and three are Americana and three are some type of Red. ( I missed what the guy who sold them said) Americana will lay colored eggs...so cool I cant wait to see. The Reds will lay nice brown eggs. This makes so much sense because the amount of eggs that my husband alone eats, is amazing. I buy a dozen Organic eggs (roughly 4-5$ a doz.) and they will be gone in a week! I love eggs also, but I tend not to eat as much because I want there to be enough for the hubs! Once these ladies start laying...we should see six eggs a day. It will be so nice not having to buy them anymore.

Anyone else have chickens? What types of things other than grains do you feed them? Fruit/Veg scraps? Any information on these little ones, Id love to hear it!

Have a great weekend!!

xo

Let's hear it for Sprout once again!

I realize I already did a product review for this awesome organic baby food brand, but the sweet people over at Sprout sent me another box of goodies to try with my son.

This time the flavors we were sent were : Cherry Berry Carrot, Pear Kiwi Spinach, Garden Vegetable with Turkey, Pasta and Lentil Bolognese, Creamy Vegetables and Chicken, and Apricot Peach and Pumpkin. I was not sure how baby boy would do with the textured medleys (chicken/pasta/turkey) but he enjoyed them! His favorite must have been the Pasta and Lentil because he ate it all very quickly. I even tried a taste and it tasted just like what I imagine pureed pasta and sauce would. He also really liked the chicken and vegetables. My husband fed him that one for dinner and joked that it smelled really good. Reminded us of how chicken noodle soup smells. He ate the turkey, but took his time with that particular dinner.

As for the fruit and vegetables, so far he loves them all:) Pictured here with his new favorite...Cherry Berry Carrot.

Thank you so much for letting us try some free samples Sprout!! I will be heading to the grocery store this week to stock up!!!

If you havnt already tried this with your little ones, you really should! Not only are they tastey, but they are one of the most affordable brands on the market!

xo

Happy Earth Day! / Tuesday Ten

Hey all! If your a Zulily user (or if youre not you might want to be!) Head over for some really great Earth Day savings!! From natural cleaning products, to DIY cleaning materials and natural baby care...its all there! I myself am taking advantage of Seventh Generations deals. A pack of 54 diapers comes with 350 wipes for only 28.99! They are also offering a set of four 25oz containers of dish washing liquid for only 12.99. Such a steal!! There is much more, so please check it out! 

Once it warms up today, my little one and I will be headed up and down our road to pick up any trash we see on the side of it. Honestly this should be done more often, maybe now that Spring has finally "sprung" we can make it a point to get out there and keep up with it. We need to show Mother Nature she is appreciated. I hope everyone takes time today to do even one small thing for her:) 

Tuesday Ten

Ten ways you can show Mother Nature you love her!

1. RECYCLE!!! This is a given...though when out and about I still see people throwing things in their garbage that can easily be recycled and reused. At my house I have a bin for Glass, Plastic, Cardboard/paper and cans. Inexpensive to do, and helps our planet. If you do this already, thank you!!

2. UNPLUG. You may not realize it, but things like phone chargers, appliances, etc...still generate electricity even when not in use. Give them a break and unplug them, even just a few hours will make a difference. If you do this weekly, it will make a difference in your electricity bill over the year. Turn your computer off when you're not home, unplug the coffee maker, etc. Let your home have a break from frequency:)

3. COMPOST. All those food scraps take up way too much space in your trashcan. Composting is the best way to get rid of all of that, as well as a way of recycling. If you grow a garden, like my husband and I do, this is the absolute BEST thing for the soil. We compost year round. There are all sorts of gadgets out there to make this convenient to do. In our house, we simply have a large glass bowl we toss vegetable and fruit scraps in, coffee grounds, the coffee filter (yes that can be composted!) etc.. Once its full we toss it out back in the pile and every weekend my husband goes out and mixes it with dirt and hay. The breakdown of organic material creates a wonderful fertilized soil, perfect for growing our garden. For a list of things you can compost click here!

4. PLANT SOMETHING. Plant a tree! Plant something that comes back every year:) Not only is this a GREAT way of giving back to Mama N what we take from her each year, but it can be pleasing to the eye! (We planted a flowering crab apple tree a few years ago when we got married.) 

5. USE NATURAL/ECO FRIENDLY CLEANERS. Everyone knows that harsh chemicals are, well..HARSH! By using plant based cleaners or even making your own using essential oils and simple ingredients you are reducing the amount of chemicals in the air around us. Not only is it healthier for people but its healthier for the planet. There are a lot of DIY recipes for house hold cleaners, but if you don't have the time to make your own...there are a lot really good brands on the market.

6. WALK OR RIDE YOUR BIKE. If you are not traveling too far a distance, consider taking a nice walk or riding your bike instead. This reduces carbon emissions being polluted in the air. If you have to travel far, try carpooling! This saves on gas money as well when everyone takes a turn driving:)

7. GO ORGANIC. The amount of pesticides/insecticides that are used every year in the production of things we eat is outrageous! The best way to combat this is to buy as much 100% organic items as you can. Most importantly  vegetables, fruit, dairy and meat. Yes, the cost to purchase these items is typically a little more costly than conventional, but in my opinion for health reasons it is worth it. These days however it seems that stores are lowering the costs on their organic brands in competition with each other. Do your research though, because not all who claim to be organic truly are.

8. GROW YOUR OWN. If cost is an issue, what better way to eat healthy than to grow your very own foods! Utilize that compost! By growing your own vegetables or fruit you are aware of exactly what is going on and into the foods you eat. No guessing games. As well as the health benefit, there is a sense of accomplishment knowing you are eating a salad with the very vegetables you cared for and grew yourself! This really benefits you more than Mother Nature, but I'm sure she would rather her soil be used for things like this rather than ripping out her trees and building more shopping plazas!

9. BE MINDFUL OF LIVING THINGS. We are not the only beings who rely on Mother Nature to live. Small things like putting up a bird feeder are little ways we can help other critters live happily. I love seeing what new birds show up in our feeder! Sometimes on a weekend my husband and I will sip coffee and just watch them come for breakfast and then go on with their day. It is fun for us. Along with birds, bees are important to take care of as well. You may be thinking...WHY?! Well, for example...my in-laws own an Apple Orchard here in town. They have to bring in bees every year, because every blossom on the apple trees has to be pollinated by multiple bees or they will not fruit. No bees = no fruit = no money for anyone living off Orchard pay. You can do things to bring bees around. (Does not mean you have to go near them haha) But you can buy or make bee houses and that keeps them local, which helps anyone growing fruits! Here is an example of a bee house I found on Pinterest...BEE HOUSE

10. LIGHTS OUT. Along with unplugging, If it is day time and the sun is shining, there is no need to have lights on in your home! Open those shades and let the sun shine in! Not only is the sun a mood enhancer, but this will keep that electric bill down too!

There you have it, My Tuesday Ten. Mind you, these are all my own opinions. Please form your own when reading any topics I write about.

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

xo

Tuesday Ten

April showers are happening here in East Connecticut! It has been pouring all day. Mother Nature has sure been a tease this spring. My husband just came though the house with arms full of wood for the wood stove. I was hoping we would be finished burning wood by now. Oh well, maybe next week :)

Today I decided I wanted to write a "Tuesday Ten" for you all. I must have seen that idea elsewhere online, though I can't pinpoint. I think it's a good way to break up the blog during the week.

Today's TEN are 10 of my favorite websites/apps to kill time

1. Pinterest. Of course, who doesn't love this site:) I have many boards that I utilize, like recipes, helpful things, health related pins, and DIY fun. Some boards are just randoms I love and my fantasy closet lol. Pinterest is perfect for rainy days at home, or if you just need a time kill! Free for download.

2. All Women Stalk. This is a new site that I love and has quickly become a favorite.  There are different topics that are posted in every day by free lance authors. Topics range from health, to finances, to celebrity and even teens. My favorite topics are Cooking, Gardening, Inspiration, and. Health. They are quick little write ups, usually giving you 7-10 tips in each topic. You can save them as favorites so you can refer to them any time you want. The last topic I saved was, " 7 Ways To Attract Birds To Your Yard." Another good site when you have nothing to do. Check it out! Free for download.

3. Etsy. When I got married Pinterest did not exist yet. So I was forced to be creative all on my own haha. I had a style in mind and found a good amount of items for my wedding off this site. A couple things like my card box and my cake knife/server were hand made to match my theme. They were so beautifully done. I have also ordered handmade, all natural soaps of this site, as well as many Christmas gifts.  You can find all sorts of items for sale on Etsy, vintage, handmade, bulk items ( like the antique blue mason jars for my center pieces) etc...even when I can't afford to shop I will still browse this site when I have the time . Free for download.

4. Instagram. This one is an app too which I'm sure most people know. It was actually the very first app I downloaded like 6 years ago when I got my first iPhone. It was fun at first because it was all your friends photos you saw, but now companies and celebrities are getting on board and making their own accounts. I love to follow Seveth Generation, Lauren Conrad, Sprout Organics, etc...( I have two Instagram accounts. My personal and one strictly for blog) Find me on Instagram at ANATURALAPPCT

5. Lauren Conrad. If I were to have a woman crush for WCW it would be her. I love everything about her style. Her website is simple and elegant with all sorts of different and fun things to look at. From her recipes to her latest fashion collections, even a book club you can be a part of, I thoroughly enjoy looking through her website. She also has a Pinterest page where a lot of her posts end up as well. I will be honest, I never watched her on MTV because I am not a fan of those shows, and I figured the girls on there were probably a little fake for the sake of TV, however Lauren is anything but. I adore her and her website.

6. Groupon. I get constant emails from this site with deals on everything you can imagine. Once the warmer weather starts sticking around I plan on using as many as I can. If you sign up and add your location ( I live in Eastern CT but am close to Hartford, Worcester, Boston and Providence) you can receive deals to your inbox around any of your local areas. From things like zip lining, to golfing, baby food, to mineral makeup...there are a ton of really great discounts waiting to be used. If you don't have an account, it's one to definitely check out!

7. Seventh Generation. This is something I am very passionate about as I'm sure you know by now, and I love reading new information that this company puts out. They talk a lot about toxins in our every day products. They are part of a big movement in using safer chemicals for our health and the health of our children. I absolutely love their products. They always have coupons available too which makes spending money a bit easier. If you are into natural and organic like I am, check out their site. Good articles, cute videos, and a lot of products to choose from:)

8. YOS Forever. This is also an app that I love,  that focuses on Organic and Natural Health, DIY, and Beauty. Every day there are new postings and by clicking on them they take you to the link where the post originated. You can favorite things like on AWS. Example: I have found a few work outs through this app that I love. They are quick but you really feel them when you're through. Topics range from fitness, health, remedies, recipes, and what's hot. One of my favorites is a DIY Natural Coffee Under Eye Cream Recipe for puffy eyes. Yet another reason for coffee to be in my life lol. Download the app and start scrolling!

9. Zulily. Yes it's an app too! They make it easy for us don't they! This is a shopping site and it's great. Every day there are new items added to look through. Categories include women, girls, boys, baby/maternity, toys/play and home. I bought a few Christmas gifts off this site last year. How it works is you add to your cart and pay for the items you want. There is a closing date, once the date is reached they take all the orders placed for those items and ship them out at once. The closing dates are fairly quick, it's not like you pay and then wait months for your item ( unless it's back ordered) but once you pay it will tell you when the order will ship. I believe mine shipped a week or two after placed. It's basically a bulk order they do instead of shipping every time the item is bought. If they receive 12 orders of the the same shirt, it all ships the same time. Make sense? I won't confuse you further lol. Great deals and great products. I love their home decor the most. Give it a try if you haven't yet!

10. Organic Deals. This is actually a site that serves a bigger purpose for me other than playtime. As you know I do not work and have to budget with one paycheck. However as I've stated before when it comes to healthy living we don't mind allowing a little extra cash to be spent in order to do so.  If you buy organic you know the Sunday paper rarely if ever has coupons for those items. Which makes it tough to try and save while shopping. Every week I pull my local flyers and write down sale items, then clip the coupons that I will use from the paper. For products that I do want Organic or All Natural, I will visit this site to look for deals and coupons. You have to search, but they do exist! There are printable coupons, links to other coupon sites, links to organic brands with their own deals, etc... For dairy I can usually find a lot of coupons, for household products I find a lot as well. Sometimes there will be coupons for brands of meat I buy also. There's something new every day, you just have to remember to check.

There you have it. My top 10. Please feel free to share if you have any other interesting sites or apps we should know about!

Enjoy! ( I do realize this is posting today..(wed)..I wasn't able to finish last night due to an over tired baby)

Xo

Product Review Friday

A recent experience prompted this idea for a weekly post. As you know, I am a stay at home mom to my first baby.In the beginning I was convinced I was going to be making all his baby food at home, using nothing but organic/good for you fruits and vegetables. I did do this for the first few months when he started solids, and once in a while I will still whip up something from scratch. However, now that he is older and can eat more than just one fruit or one vegetable at a time, it is much easier to buy mixed foods for him. Some of these brands on the market have such yummy looking mixtures! I honestly know that I will never puree an apricot to mix with pureed plums and rice haha. My son is getting more active and the time allowance for making baby food on the regular is limited. There are a few brands of baby food that I purchase, but the one I want to mention today is one of my favorites.

Sprout Organics is one of the more affordable brands of Organic baby food in stores and online right now. Their ingredients are simple, with no added preservatives or anything artificial. My son loves their fruit and veggie blends. Pear Kiwi and Spinach along with Carrot Mango and Apple are two of his favorites. I always taste test everything he eats and I have to say...its delicious!

 Along with a great taste, comes affordability. With only one income, I have to budget as best I can. We eat mostly Organic in our home and we feel that spending a little extra for something that is good for you is well worth it. Sprout makes this a bit easier on our wallet. There are constant sales at my local grocery store as well. So I am a frequent buyer.

The other day I had a question about something pertaining to a meal I had tried with my son. I sent a message via Sprouts facebook page. and I had a response that very day! They were incredibly kind, helpful and informational. I had tried to contact another company a while back with a question and it took about a week for a response and when I did get one, all it said was to "please direct questions to this phone number." I did not bother. I don't purchase their product anymore.

Today I contacted Sprout over facebook again to mention that I wanted to add a blurb about them in my blog. They were happy to be a part of it, even though I did warn that I am new to this. They even asked about

sending out some different types of meals for my little one to try. Which I gladly said yes to, and will review when they come in! I will post some photos of my baby boy testing it out.

So in my opinion, if you are looking for a healthy alternative to making your own baby food, or just looking for something extra on the side or on the go, I highly recommend this brand. Not just because its affordable, or because the ingredients are simple and Organic, but because the people behind Sprout seem just as pleasant as the taste of their yummy baby foods!

xo

Signs of Spring in CT

Good Morning! My computer died for a bout a week and I hate posting from my ipad. I cant type as fast haha. So I am a little behind. Anyways, These little darlings are popping up every where and its about time! Of course a I write that, its pouring rain here. April showers right? I believe these are Daffodils coming up. They are pretty much everywhere but they are also the first signs that the season is changing so we love to see them pop.

Something exciting that I want to share is that I think we may be getting chickens again! We used to have chickens a few years ago, and they laid the best big brown and white eggs. So many eggs that we were over loaded and had to give some away. It was great though because my husband eats at least 2 eggs a day by himself. Chickens are really fun to watch, our Border Collie used to run circles around their coop. They do poop...A LOT. so you have to really maintain the coop or it can become seriously gross. I always left that job to the hubs. However, we didn't just get rid of the stuff...into the compost it went! Sounds yuk I know...but it is great for composting.  One of the best things about having your own little egg layers is that you know exactly what they are being fed and how they are being treated. We chose to free range our girls, however this year we will have to fence them in b/c of neighbors. That's ok though, we have a big yard...so it can be a big area. We feed them organic chicken feed as well as whatever they pick off the grass. No chemicals in our birds!!! Another great thing is cost. Sure paying for food can be pricey, but the amount of eggs you get each month is worth it. I pay 4.99 for a dozen Organic eggs at the grocery store and they are gone in a week. I dont even want to do the math to see what I spend in a month/year. Having our own birds will be great. Plus the baby (9 months old this month) will really get a kick out of watching them.

If you have the time and space and enjoy a good egg like we do...this is something you may benefit from also!

Have to cut this post short, I hear my whining kid looking for his breakfast :)

xo