A Little Less Patriotic

*Stepping onto soapbox*

I saw this title on another blog, and I thought, "What a perfect way to describe how I'm feeling!".

This is usually the season on the year where I am loud and proud about this great country that we live in, but lately I feel myself becoming more and more cynical. If you haven't picked up from earlier posts, eating cleanly is something that is VERY important to me. However, with the current political climate, this is something that is nearly impossible to do in our "free" country. So free, we are not allowed to know what all is in the food that we eat. So free, the very organizations that are supposed to monitoring the safety of our food have financial ties to the companies who are making our food less and less safe. So free, laws are being passed that exempt said companies from due process and the court systems. 

It just makes me so sad and angry all at the same time.

Did you know that in just about EVERY other industrialized country, the majority of the conventional food in American grocery stores is illegal? There's something to ponder.

It really doesn't even have to do with one particular political party or another because the current state of things was set in motion several administrations ago, and it has yet to be stopped. 

I'm tired of living in a country where big business controls the food supply.

*Stepping off soapbox*

Taking the Leap Update

So earlier, I posted about how we were going to be transitioning Iris out of the bed, and slowly make our way to her sleeping full time in her crib.

We are two nights in, and I think things are going great! The first night, she woke up twice, and I easily nursed her back to sleep. Last night, I pushed back her second nursing. So even though I got up with her three times (I'm a little more tired today), there was a longer stretch between feedings. Hopefully, that will lead to longer stretches of sleep!

She is being such a big girl about everything!

Happy 4th of July!

Taking the Leap

Tonight is the night. Tonight is the night where we are going to start transitioning Iris back into her bassinet, with the goal of her sleeping in her crib soon. I am having to write in down so I don't lose my nerve, because I am seeing a few long nights ahead of me. 

For the past several months, Iris has been sleeping in our bed next to me. It has worked beautifully up until now. However, for the past several weeks, she is waking more and more, and neither of us is getting much sleep. Making this transition now will work for us both in the long run. Pretty soon, she is going to be able to pull up. Once that happens, her bassinet will no longer be a "safe place" for her to sleep, so she will then need to be in her crib.

Like I said in an earlier post, CIO is not going to be happening in this house, so it's ok if these changes take a while to set. I have already enlisted the help of Grammy coming over in the afternoons, if I need to take a little nap. 

Sweet Dreams!

Making Time for Me

After a rough night last night, I decided that I was going to hit the gym and sauna today and have some much needed me time. I went to a Pilates class for the first time and had so much fun! I think it's definitely what my post baby body needs. The time to myself was wonderful. As moms, it's so important to purposefully carve out some space here and there away from our children to recharge physically and mentally. I am guilty of not doing this enough and then hitting a wall of exhaustion. 

So, here's to a new personal goal. Twice a week, I hope to attend some sort of exercise class or workout on my own. I will then reward myself with some quiet time in the sauna or steam room.

That sounds nice, doesn't it? I think so!

Cloth Napkins Everyday

I am always looking for easy ways to trim down our monthly spending, live a little more simply, and a little greener. So, we have started using cloth napkins everyday, with every meal - not just the fancy ones :). I ordered a set of 20 off Amazon for like $15. I keep a reusable grocery bag on the doorknob of our laundry room, and we just toss them in there with bibs and other dish towels. Then, we just throw them in with our whites when doing laundry. Easy peasy! It's so much cheaper than buying paper towels every other week!

The Simplest Way to Cook Veggies

Ok. I have found the best way to cook almost all vegetables, and it's sure (in my experience) to please a crowd. Plus, it's so so easy!!

Ready?

2TB of melted butter (the real thing - grassfed if you can)

salt

pepper

vegetable of choice

Preheat your oven to 350*. While its heating up, put your butter in the roasting pan and place it in the oven, so it melts. Once it's melted, add your veggies and  stir around so everything is coated in the yummy butter. Add salt/pepper to taste. Roast until fork tender (we like ours a little al dente)

That's it! (I told you it was easy)

I'm not kidding; every time I cook vegetables like this, I get tons of compliments and requests for recipes. The butter really bring out the richness in the flavors. See cooking doesn't have to be complicated at all! Enjoy!

Checking Back In

So sorry for lack of posts in the last month. Things can easily feel crazed with a now mobile (!) baby around the house. Iris is now 7 months old, and she sure is keeping us busy. She is so curious and into everything that we have been in a rush to baby-proof. I'm wanting our living room and her room to be completely safe spaces for her to roam free. I absolutely am loving this stage, where everything in her little world is new and exciting. 

I thought that choosing to be a stay at home mom would mean I would be constantly having to ward off monotony and/or boredom. That is so not the case! I find that I am busier now than I ever have been, and I, of course, am loving every minute of it. We spend our weekdays going to nursing group, church small group, mommy & me swim lessons (really it's just playing in the pool), grocery shopping (one of my favorite things to do), and lots and lots of playing and exploring. On the weekends, we usually catch up on chores and hit up the farmers' market, and focus on quality family time. 

I'm planning on setting aside some time during Iris's afternoon nap for blogging. So keep checking in to keep me on top of things :)!

Happy Monday!