I just spent 20 minutes writing, but somehow was not logged in or something and it didn’t save!  ugh.  Here are some of the stories/comments I was writing.

• I bet I’m the only person with 2 giant Christmas trees standing in their garage.  I got a deal on trees this summer, but then realized they were too tall for my house.  Now I am attempting to sell them, but in order to do so, I needed to get a picture.  So, it’s August and I have 2 Christmas trees up in my garage.
• Lipstick question: Does your husband know how a lipstick tube works?  I didn’t know mine didn’t.  I was driving and after applying the lipstick, handed the lipstick in the up position back to him with the cap.  He didn’t realize that you have to turn it down  before putting on the cap and, well, we have a short lipstick now.    I just didn’t know some men didn’t know how that worked.
• Yeah for the internet.  I still find myself excited by the capabilities of a the internet that have changed so many things in our lives.  Years ago, not THAT long ago, we needed realtors to help us view houses for sale… now we can see so much without their help.  Same is true for car buying.  You can do so much research now without stepping foot inside a dealership.
• Have you been to the county fair?  We went earlier this week and my sister went last night.  I chuckled when she texted me, “Fair = Gross.”  I haven’t talked to her yet about it, but she is soooo right.  The question is, which part of the fair was she referencing?  The creepy dudes who run the rides that I’m sending my kids on to ride?  The stinky animals (that’s not their fault) that live in the dusty stalls?  The picnic tables where we are enjoying our “once a year fair food menu?”  I’m not sure, but my money is on the variety of people who are walking around the fairgrounds.  You see everything!  Makes for great people watching!  Even though it is a little gross, I still love going once a year.  I love exposing my kids to the animals and my son loves the rides.  Though I could do without the creepy dudes, the variety of people and their wardrobe choices are real entertainment.  I’ll see you next year, county fair!

Here are a few pictures from the NKOTB concert at Assembly Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign, IL. 

Paula Deen is awesome.  Heard her say this quote today and I’m really going to try and think about it and see how I can apply it to my life.  “There is no sin in failing.  The sin is in never trying.”

This is one of my favorite times of the year.  The sun has been shining almost every day, the birds are active in our yard and we’re prepping the grounds for a summer full of green grass, colorful flowers, and satisfying herbs and veggies from the garden.  The windows are open and the sounds and scents of nature breeze in.  I’m so lucky that I am at home with the kids to enjoy this!

Today, my daughter and I were working in the veg garden and we were listening to the birds.  We heard an unusual knocking up in one of the pine trees.  We got closer and actually laid down in the grass at the base of the tree, looked up and watched a woodpecker do his work on our tree.  Fascinating and so enjoyable to share with my daughter.  I really hope that she enjoys exploring and appreciating nature as much as I do!

This year is flying by.  Here are just a few thoughts…

• Wrong word of the night: tonight at dinner, my son asked for more “Papa Johnna Cheese” for his pasta.  Close, but not quite right.
• Green living: We are trying to learn more about living greener and cleaner.  I’m really enjoying finding out more ways to do this and love finding books and internet sites that help me be a better consumer.  I’m waiting anxiously for the book “Do One Green Thing” from Mindy Pennybacker… on hold at the library.  I’m trying new cleaning products (including a really old one, Borax), trying to shop more organic, and researching buying local foods.  I guess this could be considered my new hobby???  I am certainly having fun with it!
• A little color: We decided our house needed a little more color, so off to Lowe’s we went and we came home with Gum Drop Red paint and we painted the door RED!  I love it.  If you have ever noticed a lot of red front doors, here is link to why some people have chosen red for their color choice: http://www.homecurbappeal.com/what-does-a-red-door-mean-the-history-origin-and-meaning-of-having-a-red-front-door/

We were eating scrambled eggs today.  As part of our “always learning” lifestyle, I asked my almost 3 year old “Where do eggs come from?”  I was expecting “chickens.”  My daughter’s response: “Nests.”  They keep me laughing!!!

I watched Food, Inc. tonight.  It is a food documentary about the agricultural system in America.  It explains some of the behind-the-scenes of food before it comes to our tables.  The good news is that it wasn’t an hour and half of animals being slaughtered, though it happens, and it wasn’t just about the maltreatment of animals, though that happens in there too.  It shows how farmers are being bullied into new farming practices that they have no control over.  It also shows how TONS of our political leaders whose role it is to govern food production and safety are products themselves of the large companies that seem to be making some really poor choices for our people and environment.

The good news of the film is that consumers really are in charge and we vote by how we buy.  If we buy more organic, less processed food, then farmers and manufacturers will provide that for us.  In the meantime, we have to accept the fact that we have to pay more for healthy, environment friendly foods than we do the processed, treated, genetically altered food that we find so easily in our grocery stores.  I guess the idea is that maybe if we pay that little extra now, we not only will affect they system by which food comes to our stores, it may also provide us with better health and thus fewer health expenses down the road.

Support your local, organic growers.  Read labels.  Find out more information.

Here is a place to start: http://www.foodincmovie.com/index.php

But you can’t make her poop!

My poor little girl has been walking around on tip-toes trying to clinch her butt.  I feel so bad, but I keep explaining that only she can make herself feel better and that requires pushing out some poo.  She goes a few days and then eventually it has to come out.  Today was a lucky day… we had 3 POOPS!  I guess she was playing catch up.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/35685464#35685464

This is so gross!  I will be getting rid of any toys with holes.  Too nasty for me to think about.  I’ll keep to solid toys and cups that can be washed.

I have a new crusade: fighting dust mites and the nasty “waste” they leave in my house and cause me so many respiratory issues.  Hey, don’t judge me, you have these things in your house, too!  They’re in our mattresses, our pillows, our carpets, our curtains???  I’m tired of my sniffly-nose and my wheezing (long time asthmatic and allergy sufferer who probably should be treating my symptoms more aggressively).  I can’t get rid of the cat (he’s been around way too long now), but I did buy a new super-sucker vacuum which I’m using everyday.  I’m also washing everything I can all the time.  I’m looking into a new mattress cover because we don’t have a new mattress in the budget right now.  I’m getting rid of our feather duvet and featherbed (I’m just going to say it, yes, it was stupid for someone with my allergies to even buy a feather duvet and bed in the first place).  Thinking about an air purifier for our bedroom, but I’m afraid it may be too noisy and not as effective as I am wanting.

If my efforts don’t make a marked improvement in my health, perhaps I will seek more medical help, but for now, it’s me vs. the Mite!!!

http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/dustmites.php