Fresh Herb Salad

My garden may or may not flourish, but one thing that I have no doubt that I will have in spades are plenty of fresh herbs. Last year, I made salads out of handfuls of basil, oregano, mint, and whatever lettuce I could grab. Truly, if you have 1/2 cup of herbs, you can create a delicious salad out of items you have on hand. The following quantities are per person. You can double or triple this recipe easily.

I totally stole this image from Flickr.

Salad
1/2 cup lettuce
1/2 cup herbs
sliced onions


Dressing

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
several leaves of lemon balm or lemon basil
pinch sea salt
freshly ground black pepper


The directions are incredibly simple. Place all salad ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, pour the olive oil over the lemon balm, adding sea salt and black pepper to taste. Pour over the lettuce ingredients and serve.

Road Trip Tips for Kids

The Boring Stuff: Trying to Prove I Know What I'm Talking About

I am a freelance writer, not that you can tell by this blog since it is mostly for my own amusement and not at all for income. When I am paid to write, the subjects can be extremely varied. I have supplied web content for a lawn maintenance company in Australia. I have written a detailed history on the Hollywood entertainment industry. I have provided product descriptions for some very well known companies, with items from hand creams to garden hose nozzles. I love different types of assignments because it gives me the opportunity to research subjects I might never have learned about otherwise. A few months ago, I wrote a complete guide to maintenance and safety concerns of garage doors and it was fascinating to me. However, despite my desire to explore a myriad of topics, my specialties lie in travel writing and finance.

Printable Maps are Necessary for Road Trips

Despite what many people believe, travel writing does not require travel. Mostly, it requires research. That is, very thorough research. Regurgitating a few sentences from Wikipedia simply doesn't cut it, but climbing Mt. Everest isn't necessary for a travel piece about Nepal either. What is necessary is knowing which web sites to visit, who to contact, and how to ask the right questions to get the answers needed as quickly and as accurately  as possible. Often, I have a one-day deadline for my writing assignments. More often than that, I have only a couple of hours to find everything I need to know before I move on to the next job.

On the other hand, traveling does help with writing, particularly when I am asked for advice pieces rather than informational ones. Last year, we planned a trip to Walt Disney World, and since I have written a number of articles, blog posts, and guides on how to save money at Disney, how to make the most out of a trip, what to pack, etc. This requires not only research, but also personal experience. The more experience I have and the more research I conduct, the better my articles are.

The Helpful Stuff: Tips for Traveling with Kids

Knowing that we were planning a road trip this summer, I spent several weeks researching and writing articles for road trips for various places around the country. I discovered quirky and exotic locations, great deals that can be found by those willing to put in a little extra time, and the best ways to entertain children who are stuck in the backseat for hours on end.

Duplicate the Packing List
I am a list maniac. I make lists for the lists that I need to make. I make a list of items that need to be accomplished before a trip, marking things off as I go. I also make a list of everything that needs to be packed, then I make a copy of that list. A copy of the list goes into my luggage, so that when we are packing everything back up at the hotel, I know for certain that we have left nothing behind.

Print a Map (or Two, or Three)
Do your kids ever ask where you are, when you'll get where you're going, where is the next restaurant, or what's the next town? This is the perfect time to tell them to look at their map and figure it out themselves. Despite the prevalence of GPS systems, it's a good idea for kids to know how to read maps. For younger children, it gives them something fun to follow along with. Parents who are a bit more ambitious can highlight their travel route and even add notes marking the sites they may see along the way.

Snacks
I have already covered my list of healthy (and not so healthy) travel snacks. What I failed to mention is where to keep these snacks. Rather than transporting the oversized cooler that sits in our garage and we have used exactly one time, we will be carrying the more easily accessible over-the-shoulder coolers that can be placed at our feet, and therefore opened and used during travel. I keep items cold using Fla-Vor-Ice instead of ice packs. I find they fit better in the coolers and can double as a snack, provided they don't melt first.

Road Trip Activities
The length of the road trip should determine the number of activities planned. The age of the children should determine the type. I'm not here to tell you that there is a one-size-fits-all approach to road trip activities, but I can tell you what I have planned and what (I hope) works for our family:

License Plate Game

The License Plate Game
Printable Paper has a printable map of the United States, complete with license plates for marking off those vehicles that you see from far off places. Print one off for each player in the family, or provide copies for trips to and from the destination.

Travel Tickets
Give kids Travel Tickets for every 30 minutes or every 30 miles of travel and let the games begin. I offered my son a Travel Ticket for every 30 miles of good behavior, and tickets can be cashed in at the end of the trip (or along the way!) for a whopping $1 each.

Scavenger Hunt
Mom's Minivan has great resources, including this scavenger hunt game that works for readers and pre-readers alike.

Of course, not all activities involve an Internet connection. Both kids have travel bags filled with story books, coloring books, crayons, and travel toys. Gus has recently discovered Legos, thus a trip to the hobby store, a couple of cans of spray paint, and a hot glue gun gave us a travel friendly Lego carrying kit that will work on  the road, at home, and on the plane when we visit Disney World again later this summer. The kids also have DVD players and an embarrassingly large collection of movies and television programs to keep them mindlessly entertained for hours.

Get Out and Stretch
One of the biggest problems with road trips is not factoring in the need for potty breaks, stretch breaks, and sanity breaks. For younger kids, plan on stopping every couple of hours at minimum. Older children can last longer, but why make them? Plan on enjoying the journey as well as the destination by finding places to stop along the way. One of my favorite sites is Roadside America, where you can find unusual and quirky places to see as you travel. Without Roadside America, I may have never seen this:

The Cherokee Trading Post, El Reno, OK

 Or this:

El Sanctuario de Chimayo Shrine, New Mexico

Or this:

The World's Largest Rose Bush, Tombstone, AZ

Clean Honey Apples

My family loves apples, and one of my favorite ways to make them is stewed on the stove top. Before I started clean eating, I had no problem chopping up some apples and throwing them in a pot with plenty of brown sugar and butter. Since I have mostly given up sugar and truly watch what I eat, I have had to find a new way to make the same dish. I truly believe that, made like this, it is much better than it was before.

4 medium apples, cored, peeled, and chopped
1/2 cup organic honey
1/4 cup skim milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp cardamom
pinch salt

Bring honey and milk to a slight boil on the stove top. Stirring constantly, adding the vanilla, cloves, cardamom, and salt. A trick I like to use is to spray a bit of olive oil or non-stick spray on a wooden spoon so that the honey doesn't stick during stirring.

Add the chopped apples and stir until coated. Leave the apples on the stove top until they reach the desired firmness. Our family likes them lightly softened, which takes about 10 minutes at medium-high heat. 

These apples are wonderful on their own, but also make a great addition to crepes or can be mashed and made into applesauce. For something really different, try using tomatoes instead of apples. 

Healthy Snacks for Road Trips

This week, my family is embarking on a lengthy road trip. We will be traveling a total 1,424 miles, which is more than we have ever driven as a family. My husband and I enjoy taking the children to new and exciting places, but we much prefer the convenience and expediency of flight. For this road trip, which, thank you rising cost of air travel, could be the first of many, I am planning a number of healthy snacks (along with a few that are less so).

Oatmeal-to-Go
My family is really fond of oatmeal. This sugar-free recipe is a handy take on the typical baked oatmeal cups, but includes pureed sweet potatoes. It is delicious, travels well, and is very filling.

Blueberry Granola
You know those little containers that once held the baby food used in the recipe above? Do not throw them away! Instead, fill them with blueberry granola, which makes a fantastic traveling snack. I left out the almonds because my son won't eat them.

Almonds and Dried Fruit
Like I said, my son won't eat almonds, but I will! I love almonds as a snack because they are high in protein, which means you don't have to eat many to realize the health benefits. As for dried fruit, each of us have our own favorites, thus I am packing dried cranberries, raisins, dates, and prunes. Yes, my weirdo kids love prunes. I can't even imagine making myself eat one, but they gobble them up. Good for them for being healthy, but yuck.

Low-fat Cheese Sticks
Healthy, easy to transport, and mess-free eating. Low-fat cheese sticks offer a clean alternative to the fried cheese puffs that are available at most drive through windows that you know you want. I don't care how healthy I eat - fried food is always going to be a temptation.

Fruitables
I am not a big fan of juice to begin with. I much rather our kids drink non-sweetened drinks, like milk and water, and get their nutrition from eating fruit and vegetables. However, traveling requires a different mindset, which is where Fruitables come in. This drink includes vegetables and fruit and has no added sugar or artificial colors/flavors. Furthermore, the size of the packages are kid-friendly (there won't be any leftover to spill inside the car), and the price is very reasonable. I bought this eight-pack for less than $3.

Travel-Size Milk
Our kids are milk drinkers, and that is not going to stop just because we are on the road. I have found that purchasing travel sizes of milk from convenience stores is expensive, and transporting pre-portioned cups of milk is difficult as they must remain refrigerated at all times. Even in insulated coolers, this can be difficult on particularly hot days. We usually end up sucking it up and buying milk as we need it, but I finally found an alternate solution. Horizon makes single servings of milk that do not need to be refrigerated. They are expensive, but not any more expensive than buying milk that turns bad from the heat and has to be thrown out.

Starbucks Frappuccinos
When my husband and I are traveling, we almost always stop for a convenience store coffee drink. In the not-so-healthy category comes the pre-packaged Starbucks Frappuccinos. Purchased at a gas station, these can be $2 or more each, which we will gladly pay when we need a caffeine fix. Why not purchase ahead of time and save a few dollars? I bought a four-pack of Reduced Calorie Mocha Frappuccinos for about $4 - roughly half the price I would pay in transit.

Yogurt Covered Pretzels
Again, not as healthy as some of the other options, yogurt covered pretzels offer a sweet alternative to the numerous candies and chocolates that proliferate the checkout counter. Organic versions are available in bulk bins at most health food stores, though I admit that for this trip, I bought a pre-portioned package. This is not what I normally do, but price was the determining factor.

Lunchables and Summer Sausage
As we jump right down the rabbit hole into the least healthy foods possible, I deliberated over purchasing processed lunch meat of the grossest variety. I could make my own version of lunchables with freshly sliced deli meat, low-fat cheeses, and whole grain crackers, or I could just buy the cheap pre-made packages that I could throw in the back seat when the kids are complaining about how hungry they are yet we are 100 miles from any signs of life in the midst of Oklahoma. My husband, who doesn't feel like he's eaten if an animal hasn't died, also needs some snacks to keep him going strong. I bought a hunk of summer sausage, sliced it up, and called it a day.

As you know, if you're following this blog, I am not a stickler for healthy eating. In my opinion, unhealthy options are fine as long as they are taken in moderation. Gus, the six-year-old, asked if he could still buy a Bug Juice when we stop at the convenience store. If you're not familiar with this beverage, it's basically sugary chemicals in various colors. There is no doubt that we will stop at the ice cream shop from my husband's youth and a trip to The Big Texan is already high on the agenda. A vacation doesn't mean that healthy living is forgotten, but it does mean that our good choices are balanced with a fun trip.

Oatmeal-to-Go

This idea was inspired by this recipe. My kids love oatmeal and I love oatmeal. My husband buys the pre-packaged oatmeal bars and has one almost every day, which is high in sugar and quite expensive. Using this method, you can recreate the benefits of oatmeal at a lower cost and with no sugar.

Combine:

2 eggs, mixed

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup agave nectar

8 oz organic sweet potato/apple baby food

mix well

Add:

4 cups quick-cooking oats

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch salt

mix well

Add:

1 cup skim milk (almond, rice, or soy milk is fine)

mix well

Add:

1/2 cup sugar-free, organic dark chocolate chips and then hide the rest of the bag so that you don't just eat chocolate chips for dinner

Line a cupcake tin with liners, and despite what some people might say, you can totally use leftover Christmas cupcake liners. No one will care. Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Or, use a mini-cupcake tin and reduce the time to 20 minutes.

Variation:

Change the sweet potato/apple babyfood for apples and blueberries, and exchange the dark chocolate chips for dried cranberries.

Coveting My Neighbor's Garden

My next door neighbor, Jennifer, is all thumbs - green thumbs, that is. Her garden is insane. Every time I walk past I turn green with envy - if only that green could translate into my own plants! Her garden is lush and leafy and looks as though it were grown by a true professional. How does she do it?

My Neighbor's Garden, the Happiest Place on Earth

I caught my neighbor last night as she was trying to enjoy a stroll around the block with her one-year old son. She was kind enough to give me some of her tips, tricks, and deepest, darkest secrets to having a garden that turns heads. Don't worry, there is no animal sacrifice or selling of souls involved.

Ignore the Calendar
I felt like a rebel this year when I set out most of my plants and seeds before Mother's Day. Jennifer shared with me that she follows no such stringent guidelines or old-wives-tales about waiting until that magical weekend to insure plants against frost. Using common sense and perhaps a bit of projection about our early spring, she set out the bulk of her garden in April. The sunflowers that are literally well-visible over the privacy fence were planted in March! I had long thought that only peas and lettuce were fair game that time of year, but the sunflowers alone prove me wrong.

Use Manure and Compost
Quite a revelation, huh? Any blog or gardening guide around the web is going to tell you to use manure and compost for your garden. However, those of us with small gardens or who just don't like the smell of manure may decide to go a different route. I purchased bags of Miracle Grow soil at Walmart. It certainly won't kill my plants, but I won't have the same kind of yield as the garden next door. Next year, I'm going to be knee deep in poo.

Fertilize with Wood Ash
My neighbor added wood ash to her garden as a fertilizer. I have read mixed advice about the pros and cons of wood ash and I have been scared to give it a try. A good idea might be to use some wood ash in a container to see how it positively or negatively affects a plant. Look at this link for some tips on using wood ash if you are interested in learning more.

Leafy and Green Does Not Equal High Yields
Jennifer reminded me last night that garden plants can grow significantly yet have little to no yield. She encouraged me not to gauge the success of her garden on the size of her plants but on the amount of fruits and vegetables produced. Basically, she was telling me to stop being so jealous of her gardening skills and to get over it, but what she was saying is true. Over-fertilization can actually cause plants to focus efforts on growing more leaves, but that usually draws from fruit production. I have faith that Jennifer's garden will produce more than enough to support her family and all of the family's on the block, but that does remain to be seen.

If you find yourself face-to-face with a successful gardener, my advice to you is to not belittle your own efforts. Try to learn from these people; often, they are not only willing but also eager to share their knowledge. Keep asking, keep learning, and eventually, people will start coming to you with gardening questions such as these.

Eating Local vs. The Environment

This week, one of my assignments was to research the environmental impact of eating foods that are raised locally. The argument is that food that has to travel has a greater negative impact on the world around us, thanks to greenhouse gas emissions, than food that is grown nearby. At the outset, it seems like a no-brainer, but upon deeper research, it turns out that it is not as simple as that.

It is true that food that travels has a larger carbon footprint when transportation is the only item considered. However, it is not true that simply by eating locally, you can have warm fuzzies about how you are personally saving the planet. The fact is, food that travels is only worse by a very small, some even say insignificant, percentage. The environmental impact of food comes not from transporting items, but from production.

Obviously, the next argument is that production of locally grown foods has a much smaller carbon footprint than those that come from miles away. This depends upon the type of food. Basically, meat and dairy are the worst offenders thanks to a number of factors including grazing, methane emissions, and the basic upkeep of live animals. Researchers and scientists from around the globe agree that if you truly want to save the environment, you should eat less meat. Many promote "meatless Monday," one day each week when families choose to eat meat-free. Researchers argue that reducing meat at this level, or even exchanging beef, pork, or chicken for seafood, can have a 10 percent greater environmental impact than purchasing all food from local sources.

Hold on to those, "I told you so's," vegetarians. While eating less meat is best for the environment, some argue that vegetarianism is actually worse. Us vegetarians need to supplement our diets with foods that are high in protein. Very few of us make our tofu from scratch, thus we rely on foods that are processed to a large degree. Also, the amount of land required to sustain vegetarianism is larger, though the emissions created from cultivation and production are far less harmful than those produced on land that is used for meat or dairy.

What does all of this mean? Never eat local? Don't become a vegetarian? Of course not. These studies focus on one small portion of a much larger issue. People who choose to buy their food from primarily local sources do so for a host of reasons. Sometimes it is related to the environment, but often it is due to health concerns or for the sake of promoting the local economy. People choose to become vegetarian for a number of reasons as well. In the end, buying locally or not is a personal choice. Even though it has been proven not to improve the environment, there are reasons to continue to do so.

Easy Sweet Potato Sticks

Original Recipe

My family loves sweet potatoes, so I thought this recipe would be a no-brainer. I decided this would be a more accepted recipe to my family, in light of the last fiasco that ended in virtual tears and literal plates still full of cauliflower.

Naturally, I changed things up a bit from the original recipe. First off, I found that one sweet potato was plenty for a family of four with two small children. Once I cut the sweet potato into sticks, I realized that two sweet potatoes, as the original recipe calls for, would provide a huge amount of sweet potato sticks.

I preheated the oven to 425, as the recipe stated, and seasoned with sea salt, paprika, cumin, and oregano. I felt that oregano didn't match with the rest of the herbs, but in the end it tasted okay. The one problem that I did find with this recipe is that the sticks didn't get crispy like my family likes. We still enjoyed them, but if I had used the convection feature on my oven, we would have had the preferred consistency.

Veggie burger, french cut green beans, sweet potato sticks

In the end, the recipe turned out great. It is a healthy alternative to chips or fries, and it is one that I will certainly repeat - maybe tonight!

How to Keep Your Dog Out of the Garden

I have covered how to get rid of spider mites and rabbits, and I am pleased to report that neither have been an issue for me since I started the organic methods of removal and prevention. The layer of chili pepper has kept rabbits out handily, thus I have only lost three okra plants in total to the vile creatures. Last year, I didn't have an issue with spider mites until later in the summer, but I am using preventative measures by regularly spraying the undersides of the most susceptible leaves with cold water.

Right now, there is a whole other issue at hand. That issue is named Geronimo.

Geronimo, destroyer of opossums,
neglected sandbox toys, and gardens.

Geronimo was a pound puppy when we first saw him over eight years ago. We were won over at first by his shy and retreating nature when we saw him in his cell at the Humane Society. As soon as we brought him home, however, the beast arose.

In all of these years, Geronimo has been our protector. He guards us against strangers, friends, neighbors, wildlife, sudden bursts of wind, and the gate next door that sometimes comes open if it hasn't been shut all the way. Yes, Geronimo is a true hero. Unfortunately, the garden is in his territory, and when Geronimo goes into protection mode, nothing gets in his way. Thus far, Geronimo has protected us against five green bean plants, one tomato plant, one jalapeno plant, a planter filled with basil, and countless marigolds - and it's only May. I'd be impressed if I weren't so angry.

The problem is, how do I protect this garden from the family pet? How do I keep my dog from destroying my garden? As always, it's the Internet to the rescue, and I have found a number of possible, laughable, and slightly dangerous options from which to choose.

Coat Hangers
One blog suggested placing untwisted coat hangers into the ground around the garden, jutting out in various angles because, "Dogs don't like to get poked." Neither do my children's corneas. My main question is, why draw the line at coat hangers? Why not suggest broken glass around the garden's perimeter? How about a nice, liberal sprinkling of hydrochloric acid? Maybe an army of angry bees?

Chili Pepper
Again with the chili pepper. It is an effective deterrent for rabbits, as I've found, so it would make sense that chili pepper would keep other animal at bay as well. If your issue is that your dog is eating items in your garden, chili pepper could work wonders. The same has been said of garlic, coffee grounds, and bitter orange. However, this may not be effective against the dog who is simply terrorizing the garden because he has nothing better to do.



Rose Bushes
Again, the purpose here is to deter the dog through pain. The theory is that you should plant rose bushes around your garden, forcing him through the brambles each time he enters. Eventually he will equate the garden with pain and will then leave it alone. It sounds reasonable, until I remember that I also have to get to the garden at some point. Can I trust myself to get through the rose bushes without a scratch? I have many gifts, but grace is not one of them. I can scarcely make it across the carpeted floor without losing a toenail. When I purposefully place hundreds of sharp objects in my own proximity, I am testing fate in a way that best be left untested.

The Fence Within a Fence
First, you have a fence to keep small children and pets hidden from those that lurk on the outside and may choose to cause us harm. Inside of this fence is yet another fence, meant to kept the small children and pets from the things upon which they may cause harm. Inside of this is another fence, meant to keep the vegetables and the flowers separated. Then there is another fence, this one's just for the beetles. Where does it end? The concept of fencing a fenced yard reminds me of an Escher painting, and that is never a good thing.



Water Torture
Remember what a big deal it was in the 2008 election that John McCain was so vehemently against waterboarding? We haven't heard much about it lately, and that is, perhaps, because the world has found how effective it is in keeping dogs out of the garden. I'm not here to debate enhanced interrogation, but I am here to tell you that dogs don't like getting sprayed with water. You can either try to catch your dog in the act and douse him or you can keep a sprinkler running on the garden when it and your dog are alone together.





Stop Having a Dog
The most effective way to keep a dog out of your garden is to not have a dog. Of course, for most of us, this is an impossibility. For now, I will try to catch Geronimo in the act and spray him down as many times as I can. Otherwise, I'll settle for being occasionally furious. I may hold a grudge against him, but he loves me anyway.

Update: I decided to try chili pepper on the perimeter of the garden and I have been shocked at its effectiveness. Geronimo is no longer a threat! Also, in case you thought I was exaggerating about my clumsiness, I lost a toenail tonight as I was walking across the garage with my son. I don't even know how it happened.

Clean Eating Choices at Denny's?

Yesterday was my son's kindergarten graduation. As a special treat, I told him he could pick what we were having for dinner. He opted for brinner, which called for a trip to Denny's.

The Peanut Butter Cup Pancake is not
necessarily a healthy choice

I chose the Grand Slam Breakfast, which I could share with the baby and thus avoid having to order another meal. I like the Grand Slam because you truly can make the best healthy choices that Denny's has to offer. Although, that's not saying a lot considering that at Denny's, they also have a Peanut Butter Cup Pancake, which can be ordered with a side of sausage, bacon, or both.

My choices were scrambled egg whites, harvest wheat pancakes, grits (hold the butter), and, the least healthy choice, hashbrowns. I ate roughly half of everything except the pancakes, of which I only had a total of about half of one. The toddler was well satisfied with her food, and the six-year-old and husband finished off most of the rest - except for the grits. For some reason, I'm the only one in my family that really enjoys them.

Something else I found about Denny's is that sugar free syrup is not advertised, but it is available. It is definitely not clean eating, though. I read through the ingredients list when the bottle was brought to me and found that the only pronounceable item was water. I used it anyway, because even half of a pancake without syrup is just wrong.

In the end, I found that it is probably not possible to eat totally whole foods at Denny's if you are there to order breakfast - and the kindergarten graduate told us all that we had no choice but to order breakfast last night - rules are rules! But I held as close to my plan as possible and managed to consume foods that were mostly healthy, pretty tasty, and reasonably priced.

As for the six-year-old, I'm proud to say that he made mostly healthy choices all on his own. He ordered the  Junior Slam, which allows you to mix and match three items, much like the adult's Grand Slam. Along with the so-not-healthy sausage, he chose scrambled egg whites and yogurt with fresh strawberries. That's quite an accomplishment when you consider that, at Denny's, chocolate syrup is available on everything.

The Healthy Tomato Plant Experiment, Part 1

If you have ever looked around the web for advice for the organic home gardener, you no doubt have seen more than one site that suggests the use of epsom salt.

Epsom salt is not really a salt at all. This mineral, whose origins trace to Epsom, England, contains sulfur and magnesium, two ingredients that are vital to the growth of healthy plants. Most experts are skeptical about the benefits of epsom salt on plants. They state that the effects have not been proven, and that most soil offers adequate sulfur naturally. Magnesium deficiencies, on the other hand, are fairly common. Not only that, but a lack of magnesium can lead to improper absorption of phosphorous, which we all know is a bad thing.

The application of epsom salt can be during the time of planting, diluted in water (at a rate of 1tbsp to 1gallon) and used as a spray, or applied directly to the plant's base. Most sources say that you will have greener leaves, tastier vegetables, and healthier plants if you spray with diluted epsom salt every couple of weeks.

I decided to give epsom salt a shot. I diluted one tablespoon of epsom salt in a gallon of water. I then put as much as I could in a spray bottle and sprayed the leaves of some of the plants. I then watered the tomato plants and some of the herbs with the rest of the water. After that, I decided to really experiment with additives to my tomato plants.

I have four roma tomato plants that I bought at the supermarket for 50 cents. None of them look amazing, and in fact, I expect them all to die. I have planted them throughout the garden, staked them, fussed over their yellowing leaves, and generally stressed about their well-being. They look pretty bad. However, their possibly short lives will not be in vain, as they are going to help me with my garden experiment.

I have named the four plants, because that's how I roll. Esther has a bit of an advantage over the rest of the tomato plants because she received epsom salts a day before the rest had their treatment. Esther has already been watered with an epsom salt mixture and will continue to receive epsom salts at her base and through water once every two weeks or until she dies, whichever comes first. The next application will be on June 6.

Esther Epsom

Cathy is not getting epsom salt, but coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are said by some to be an excellent addition to plants that like acidic soils. Coffee grounds add nitrogen to the soil once they decompose, and also can add calcium and are said to stop blight. This makes them ideal for tomato plants, and some blogs suggest watering with leftover, cold coffee once a week. Of course, there are naysayers who suggest that the acidic nature of coffee grounds can actually harm the soil. They should only be added when balanced as part of a compost pile. Still, an experiment is an experiment and Cathy will receive an inch of coffee grounds every two weeks and a small amount of cold coffee every other week as well. The first application will be today, May 20. The next will be June 6.

Cathy Coffee

Eddie gets eggshells. Eggshells are a popular choice for tomato fertilizer because they contain calcium carbonate, which balances the pH levels in the soil. Eggshells are cleaned, then crushed, and worked into the soil around the plants. This will be a little tricky for me, because I have already applied mulch around my tomato plants. However, I have read that they can be used as a side dressing every six weeks. I am currently working on readying some eggshells for depositing around the plant and should have enough by tomorrow. The next application will be July 2 or 3.

Eddie Eggshell

Tom is the control plant and gets none of the above. I did already water him with diluted epsom salt yesterday, but going forward I will just use water.

As you can see by this picture as well as the one above, I will never be accused of being a professional photographer. Trust me when I tell you that most of the leaves are wilting and either purple, grey, or yellow. They have improved somewhat from when they were originally purchased a week ago.

Tom Tomato

CrossFit: I Sort of Feel Like Dying

I went to my first CrossFit class this morning. Exercising in a warehouse with PVC pipes made me feel a bit underwhelmed at first. The truth is, I was probably the only person in the room who really had never done any research into CrossFit at all. I've never seen the YouTube videos that everyone was talking about. The CrossFit program or whatever it is on ESPN that the instructor alluded to? Never heard of it. I smiled and nodded and went along with whatever.

Monica and me, excited about our CrossFit  adventure.

All I really knew was what I briefly read on the company's web site:

CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide.

That was enough for me.

So, the instructor, Nate, started us with stretches with PVC pipes, as I said. No big deal, right? Not right. The stretches were mid-level intense and reminded me that I seriously need to visit a yoga class. Next came some squats and lunges, and a few deadlifts with the same pipe. Easy peasy mac and cheesy, as they say. Then came the WOD. For the uninitiated, that means "Workout of the Day." As he was showing these to us,  they looked pretty easy. Squats with a 14 pound medicine ball, some kind of chest exercises with rings, sit-ups, and kettle bell deadlifts. No problem. Except... there was a problem.

The problem is that when you're doing these exercises as quickly as possible in one minute rotations, your arms and legs fall off. By the last round of squats, I honestly could barely lift the medicine ball. I have been doing overhead presses with 15 pound weights, but this was a whole new ballgame for me. It was rough. I did them, but it wasn't pretty.

As we walked out, I felt shaky, but fine. Now, several hours later, I still feel fine, but my body is very tired. The instructor suggested we rest tomorrow. I think that is a pretty good idea.

In the end, my expectations of CrossFit were not well-formed, so it is hard to say if they were met or not. However, my hope of getting in an extreme workout were met and then some. I'll be returning to CrossFit. Will you?

Natural Ways to Rid Gardens of Rabbits

I went outside this afternoon to water my garden and found that half of my okra plants are gone. The only culprit I could imagine is the dreaded rabbit. The neighborhood is teeming with them, and they are evil.

It must be said that I am not a rabbit lover. I don't see what the appeal is in them. They are rodents. They are rats with fluffy tails and big ears. I understand that some people keep them as pets. Some people keep snakes as pets too. Whatever. People are weird. That said, I still don't want to kill a rabbit. What I want is to find a way to keep them out of my garden.

I would maybe kill this one.

Fencing the Garden
One option, possibly the easiest option, is to fence the garden. That option does not work for me. I want quick access to everything on a regular basis. If I so much as tried to put up chicken wire, I would get so frustrated after the first attempt at getting through it that I would probably tear down the whole thing. I've never stated that patience is my best quality.

Being a Freak
One blog post I read suggested that I leave human hair and/or dried blood around the garden. Suffice it to say, that is not going to happen. The day that I gain easy access to enough blood and human hair to encircle a garden, rabbits will not be my primary concern.

Making it Spicy
Apparently, rabbits are very sensitive to spicy foods. This is why you so seldom see rabbits eating at Thai restaurants. If you use chili pepper around your plants, according to people who may or may not know what they are talking about, rabbits will stay away.

Creating a Diversion
Whereas rabbits do not love spicy foods, they do love leafy greens. If you set up a rabbit diner far away from the garden, they will take to the food that is ready and waiting for them. Some suggested main dishes are cabbage and lettuce. Linen tablecloths are optional.

Leaving Your Dog Outside
This has been an effective move for us in the past, but picking up the pieces of bunny bodies is unpleasant. Fortunately, that is my husband's job.

Liquid Rabbit Deterrent
Home and garden stores sell sprays that keep the rabbits away. Some are said to be organic and biodegradable, usually because they're made with urine.

In a few moments, I am going to sprinkle chili powder around my plants. I'll be happy to report back to let you know if this was as effective as using chili powder to deter ants in my kitchen (which was not at all effective). If it doesn't work, at least I have an idea for the rabbits that stumbled through the chili powder.

Delicious!

Breaking Through a Plateau

I have been struggling with the same two pounds for about three weeks now. Today is my weigh in day and I can already tell you, I am remaining even keel. This is the moment that I need to figure out how to break through the plateau and start losing again.

Currently, I am eating super healthy. I get loads of fruits and vegetables all day long, none of them fried, cooked either in olive oil or a dry skillet. I don't eat lots of dairy or sugar and all grains are whole grains. When I do eat this food, I tend to not eat too much. I do sneak the occasional Hershey's Kiss because they're there and chocolate is so good.

Exercise-wise, I'm honestly working out probably as much as I'm going to for at least the next couple of weeks. I'm not sedentary at all. I walk about four miles each day, I lift weights and I am spending loads of time outside in my garden. About twice per week, I get in a really horrendous workout along with the rest. I want to amp that up, but it's not happening until after we get back from our vacation in a couple of weeks. Then we'll wait and see.

However, my goal for the next weigh in is to have broken past this plateau and how I am going to do it is going to be startling to all 10 of you who are reading this because, I'm guessing, you managed onto this page by accident and your computer froze. I am going to NOT CHEAT ON MY DIET OVER THE WEEEKEND. Amazing, right? It's the weekend that kills me and I'm determined to make it work this time. If we go out to eat, I'm ordering water and a dry salad, hold the cheese and croutons. No beer. No ice cream. No Hershey's Kisses.

Next weigh in is next Friday. If I'm not down by at least one pound, I'll go back to the drawing board.

How to Get Rid of Spider Mites

Spider mites are a big problem in my garden. I had no experience with them until last year, when they covered the underside of my squash. I didn't even know what they were until I spent an afternoon Googling the tiny creatures and learned that these mites are teeny tiny spiders that suck the life out of plants en masse. Think of that episode of The Walking Dead where the zombies go after that one guy. You know the one I'm talking about.

Extreme closeup of a spider mite.

I was adamant last year that I would not use a pesticide. I tried spraying the plants with water in the early morning, but they just seemed to thank me for the much needed break and went right back to chomping away on the garden. I finally bought some Sevin, which killed them all immediately. When they came back a few weeks later, I Sevined them again. It was too late for my squash plants, but at least the mites were dead. However, a part of me was very upset as I prefer to have a garden that is free from chemicals. I am not adamant about it, but I'll try anything before resorting to using a miticide.


As I was pulling weeds from the garden recently, I noticed the tell-tale sign of spider mites to come: the spider mite egg.

Not a pretty site.

Again, I turned to my good friend Google to learn of the various ways to get rid of spider mites. Go ahead and Google it yourself - there are pages upon pages, entire web sites even, devoted to this tiny bug. Apparently, I'm not the only one troubled by them. Some of the sources I consulted are tried and true, including advice from university resources. Some are clearly dummy web sites tied to organic pesticides. There are also those from some random dude who read something in a book somewhere one time. Following is a concise breakdown of all of the information I have found.

• Spider mites like plants that are too dry, so keep your plants well watered. Consider misting leaves with a spray bottle once each day.
• Spider mites like plants that are very wet, but they don't like the cold. Use ice water to spray them from leaves.
• Mix one part rubbing alcohol with two parts water and either spray on leaves or apply directly with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for one week.
• Mix two tbsp of dish detergent with one cup of water. Spray plants with mixture and allow to dry, then water as usual. Repeat daily for one week.
• Mix one part rubbing alcohol, one part water, and two drops of dishwashing soap together, then spray on the plants in the early morning, then repeat 20 minutes later.
• Quarantine plants with spider mite damage. Yeah, I don't know either. Maybe you put up a sign? Use police tape?
• Introduce insects that feed on spider mites, like lacewings and ladybugs.
• Soak cotton balls in essential orange oil. Apply to the underside of leaves, then bury the cotton balls next to the plant as a warning to other spider mites. It's much easier than putting their tiny little heads on skewers.
• Same things as above, except with rosemary oil.
• Shade plants on very hot days.
• Pick the most heavily infested leaves off of plants and dispose of them in plastic bags.
• Just kill them with Sevin and wash your food before you eat it.

I have to make note of a particular phrase that I found more than a little amusing. This comes from www.howtogetridofspidermites.net:

"Pesticides are safe to use but they can poison birds, bees, fish and humans."

So you're saying that pesticides are a safe way to poision people?

As you can tell, practically every expert has a method of getting rid of spider mites. The most commonly suggested ones I found are introducing ladybugs and spraying with isopropyl alcohol and water. If and when I find the bugs on my plants, I'll let you now which method works the best. Until then, I'll be stocking up on ladybugs and rubbing alcohol.

"

How to Prepare Brussels Sprouts So That (Almost) Everyone Will Love Them

Brussels sprouts are in season and I could not be happier. Brussels sprouts are my favorite vegetable. I could literally eat them every night and never grow tired of them. I have tried multiple ways of preparing them, but generally I stick to the tried and true method of either roasting or sauteing them in oil.

For years, I hated the dreaded brussels sprout. I looked on in wonder and horror as those around me consumed the vile weed. Then, one day, I decided to make the dish for a dear friend of mine who was coming to visit. She has long claimed brussels sprouts to be her favorite food and I always wondered why. Then, it hit me. My problem with brussels sprouts was not the food itself, but the way it was prepared.

I had always encountered brussels sprouts that were boiled. When they are boiled, they become slimy, the aroma becomes more pungent, and many of the nutrients are cooked out. Some people really like boiled brussels sprouts, but it doesn't work for me. Others like them steamed, and I truly can't stomach them that way. Thus, I give you the recipes that turned brussels sprouts from a nightmare dish into a dream come true.

Roasted Whole Brussels Sprouts

Heat oven to 450F. Remove the bitter, outer layer of each brussels sprout and make a sharp "X" with a paring knife in the bottom. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in the bottom of a roasting pan. Place the brussels sprouts on top (the amount doesn't matter as long as they are not stacked on top of each other) and sprinkle with paprika, freshly ground pepper, and sea salt. Roast for 20 to 40 minutes depending on how done you like your vegetables. I like them almost burned, but as I am told, I'm a giant weirdo. Don't forget to occasionally, and carefully, stir the vegetables. When they come out, sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan.

Roasted Halved Brussels Sprouts

These are prepared in a similar way as that above, except instead of marking the "X" in the bottom of the brussels sprouts, you simple cut all the way through. You can halve the amount of time spent roasting, but you also have to stir more frequently.

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

Halve enough brussels sprouts to fill a large sautee pan. Be sure to remove and discard the outer leaves. Heat a bit of olive oil in the sautee pan at medium-high and add the brussels sprouts so that the pan is filled, but not overly filled. If you need more, you may need to work in bunches. Sprinkle the sprouts with more olive oil, ground sea salt, and plenty of fresh or dried rosemary. Sautee until sprouts are lightly browned on all sides, unless you're like me and want to cook the heck out of them. I don't stop until they are blackened. I know they are done when my husband starts to complain about the smell. Either way, when you are satisfied, remove from heat, but keep warm until serving time.

Shredded Brussels Sprouts

Shredded brussels sprouts can be prepared in the same way as roasting or sauteing. The prep time takes longer, but the cooking time is much shorter. Shredded brussels sprouts can be served on their own, or make an excellent addition to other dishes. Try adding roasted or sauteed brussels sprouts to vegetable pancakes, strudels, warm salads, or baked pasta dishes. If your family is like mine, and balks at the idea of having to eat brussels sprouts, add them to casseroles and other one-dish entrees and they will likely never know the difference.

Additions and Accompaniments to Brussels Sprouts

I have friends who swear by adding chopped walnuts to their brussels sprouts dishes. Brussels sprouts already have a nutty flavor, and they say the chopped nuts enhance their essence. I don't care for walnuts, so it doesn't work for me. Another suggestion I've often heard is adding the juice of a fresh lemon to the finished product. I find that it works well with shredded brussels sprouts that have been sauteed. I often also add whole cloves of garlic to the sautee pan. This can add a big flavor punch, which is great if you like garlic and don't mind bad breath.

I often serve brussels sprouts on a bed of brown rice, couscous, or quinoa. Since a cup of brussels sprouts is very filling, only a small amount of sides are needed to have a full meal. I also try to add a small side of beans or cubed tofu to the dish so that I meet my protein requirements.

Nutritional Benefits of Brussels Sprouts

Like most vegetables, brussels sprouts are very low in calories and very high in nutrients. Brussels sprouts contain massive amounts of vitamins K and C, and are excellent sources of manganese, folate, fiber, potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B1, and B6. They are also a decent source of calcium and protein. Brussels sprouts are known to be detoxifying, and have been shown to fight/prevent certain types of cancer in over 50 dedicated studies. Studies have also shown that brussels sprouts have anti-inflammatory agents, which have been linked to improved cardiovascular health. It has been suggested that brussels sprouts are effective in the prevention of such diseases as Crohn's disease, IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes.

9 Tips for Supermarket Shopping with Kids

One of the struggles we busy moms face is shopping at the supermarket with kids in tow. They fight, they run, they yell, they whine, they beg for sugary treats, and they make the entire experience a pain. Even the best moms end up throwing their shopping lists to the side, grabbing whatever is closest, and throwing their debit card at the cashier while they try to keep Child A from murdering Child B right in front of the Slim Jims and Skittles.

Shopping without the children is a
glorious experience for these moms.

Of course, this worst case scenario is a scene that is much-dreaded yet seldom experienced. Most kids have their ups and downs, but are fairly well behaved in public. Perhaps the biggest issue with taking children supermarket shopping is keeping them from asking for, and receiving, pre-processed chips and sugary sweets.

9 Tips for Healthy Supermarket Trips with Kids


1. Make a List that Maps the Store
When you make your grocery list, list items in the order that they are found in the store. This will keep you from having to go back and forth in the aisles and from missing items altogether.

2. Feed the Kids Before They Shop
You know the old trick of never grocery shopping on an empty stomach? The same applies to your children. Give them a healthy snack that is high in fiber, like an apple or some cut up green veggies.

3. Make it a Game
My son and I like to play games as we run errands. We started doing this around age two, and of course it has evolved over the years. Take turns finding items of a specific color, shape, or that start with a certain letter. As they grow, ask them to find words that rhyme with the items in your cart or challenge each other to find the most nutritious items. For foods with labels, play "guess the calorie content."

4. Practice Child Labor
Not really labor, but giving your children a small job or task can occupy them and even get them excited about shopping. Readers can help with the grocery list, marking items off as they are placed in the cart. Younger children can be placed in charge of holding reusable shopping bags.

5. Bring Along Distractions
The purpose of the supermarket trip, ideally, should be to spend more time with your children and to teach them about health and nutrition. However, sometimes distractions are necessary. Toys, books, and educational smartphone apps are fine ways to calm the antsy child.

6. Allow for Treats, with an Exception
Before you leave for the market, tell each child that he or she can pick out one, and only one, treat. However, make sure those children know that the treat must be a type of fresh fruit or vegetable - not something out of a package.

7. Avoid the Snack Aisles
Supermarkets are savvy when it comes to shoppers. It is impossible to avoid snacks at all costs - one look at the checkout aisle can tell you that - but it is possible to stay completely away from aisles that contain chips and soda.

8. Talk About Budget
Too many parents do not prepare their children for the real world of finance. It's true that kids, for the most part, have a difficult time understanding the difference between a penny and a dollar. My six-year old genius of a son counted $12.99 in his piggy bank last weekend and told me that he was going to pay off our house. Still, if you explain to your children that you have a budget and only a certain amount of items will fit within that budget, they will understand eventually. It may take years.

9. Don't Give In
This can be the hardest of all. A crying baby, a screaming toddler, or a tantrum-throwing five year old may deter your best efforts at refusing to give in to a child's demands. However, over time, they will learn that their cries for junk food will not be met. Don't worry about those around you. Current and past parents will cut you some slack. The rest will likely eventually learn what it means to practice tough love in the grocery store.

Tomato Leaves Turning Yellow?

This is not a gardening blog, per se, but a blog about clean eating and healthy choices. One of the cleanest, healthiest things a person can do for his or her body is to eat locally grown foods. What's more local than your own backyard? Therefore, a lot of gardening information is present and a lot more is on the way.

Currently, I have about 14 tomato plants that are in various stages of health. Ten of these plants came from a local nursery for the whopping price tag of $2. That's not $2 each; that is $2 total. I asked, before I purchased, if the low price meant that the plants were about to die. Sidebar: I do not have a green thumb. I desperately want to, but I have to really work at it not to kill every plant that comes into contact with me. I once overwatered a cactus to the point that it exploded. No kidding. He assured me that the only reason the tomato plants were so cheap was that they were outgrowing their containers and needed some TLC. He said that as soon as I put them in the ground or in larger containers, they would be as good as new.

I immediately brought the plants home and planted them in the containers I had. Unfortunately, I failed to calculate just how much space I didn't have. I ended up planting four of the plants between rows of squash. We'll have to wait it out to see if that was as big of a mistake as I fear it could be. The plants seem to be doing okay, but they all have yellow leaves.

Why Do Tomato Plants Get Yellow Leaves?


There are a number of reasons tomato plants have yellow leaves:

• Lack of proper nutrition in the soil
• Inadequate sunlight
• Improper watering
• Bug infestation
• Fungus or Bacterial Problem

How to Improve Yellow Leaves on Tomato Plants

If you have yellow leaves on your tomato plants, first check the obvious culprits. Do you see a number of caterpillars on your plants? Are your tomatoes shaded for most of the day? Is the soil overly dry? If so, you know what the fix is, though it may not always be easy. You can choose an organic pesticide to rid your garden of caterpillars, though there are other suggested methods that may work well. This spring, I've decided to plant flowers that attract caterpillars - away from the tomatoes. I read it in a blog somewhere, so it must work, right? I'll let you know.

If you're underwatering, that truly is an easy fix. Make sure, when you add water to the soil, you do so at soil level rather than from above. If you water from above, you run the risk of your plants developing mildew and no one wants that. Overwatering can also cause yellow leaves. As long as the soil is still moist, you need not water tomato plants more than every other day. During the height of summer, especially if temperatures are extreme, you will need to water daily.

Plants that are in containers can easily be moved to a sunnier spot, but what happens if you planted your tomatoes in the ground. Do you uproot them and try to start over? Tomatoes must have at least seven hours of sunlight every day to grow well. Otherwise, leaves may grow, but tomatoes will not. Unless the tomato plants are still quite small, digging them out of the ground is a big no-no. Tomatoes have very delicate roots, and cutting into them could be a recipe for disaster. Instead, wait it out and see what happens, then remember to plant in a sunny spot next year.

An easy way to attempt to green up the tomato plant's leaves is to give the soil more nitrogen. This can be accomplished through adding manure or fertilizer. The University of Missouri's Division of Plant Sciences offers excellent guidelines on the proper amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous to add and when.

More Information on Tomato Plants

A Way to Garden: Tomato Growing FAQs

Ten Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Tomatoes

Tomato Casual - Loads of Advice for Tomato Growers

Why Do My Marigolds Have Purple Leaves?

At first, I didn't think much of it. Some plants have purple leaves. I thought, maybe marigolds get them too and I never noticed. No big, right? Wrong. Or, at least maybe wrong.

I did some digging and found that the reason marigolds, and other plants, develop purple leaves is due to a lack of phosphorous. This can mean that either the soil itself is not rich in phosphorous or the plant is unable to absorb phosphorous efficiently.

With marigolds, cold weather can keep them from absorbing phosphorous. Here in Missouri, it has been in the mid-70s to low 80s since I set out the plants, but at night it is dipping into the low 50s, which could at least partially explain the problem.

If it is warm and your marigold leaves are turning purple, the problem is very likely within the soil. It is possible to aid the flowers by using a fertilizer, but the best way to combat this problem is with prevention rather than cure. That means that next year, add phosphorous prior to planting. However, you should first test your soil so that you know how much phosphorous it needs. While too little will lead to poorly growing plants, too much can block the vital absorption of zinc, iron, and cobalt - all of which are needed for plant development.

Update: Since I first did research into purple leaved marigolds, I read a couple of more blog posts about how to "cure" the leaf color. One suggested that, with time, when the soil warms, it will correct itself. Another stated that epsom salts can raise the level of magnesium in the soil, which aids in the absorption of phosphorous. I am pleased to report that my marigolds are beginning to turn green again, though whether it's due to the warming weather or the epsom salt, I cannot say.

5 Tips for Gardening on the Cheap

Gardening is a fun pastime, a good form of exercise, and an excellent way to add fresh produce to the dinner table without a trip to the market. However, gardening can also require a steep investment from the outset, which can deter even the most devoted, yet budget-minded individual.


1. Share and Share Alike

If you are lucky enough to know others who also have a desire to garden, it is possible to share some of the expense. I missed the boat this year when I learned that a neighbor had soil delivered; we could have gotten a better deal had we ordered it together. Flats of plants are cheaper in bulk, why not purchase them with like-minded friends? You can also split the cost of rent for a community plot, buy bulk seeds together, or even split the price on renting a garden tiller.

2. Think Outside the Pot
When I was cleaning out the garage, I found a crate that would easily, and gorgeously, double as a plant container. Take a look around and you'll find all sorts of creative planters, from spare tires to wheelbarrows to old shoes. I later found out that crate was once my husband's nightstand in his bachelor days. That is truly recycling at work!

3. Don't Jump the Gun
Anxious to get your garden out? Don't be. Wait until mid-May and you will find many resellers have perfectly viable plants at bargain-basement prices. Yesterday, I purchased two flats of tomatoes and one flat of jalapenos for 50 cents each. I also bought an already producing tomato plant for the same price. They are priced down not because they are unhealthy but because they are outgrowing their containers. By waiting just a couple of weeks, you can pay up to $3 less per plant. If you're planting a dozen crops, like me, that adds up significantly. If you're planting even more, well, I don't even have to tell you how worthwhile it can be to wait.

4. To Seed or Not to Seed
Some garden plants do just as well, or even better, when started from seed. Watermelon, most squash, cucumbers, lettuce, and peas are well-known direct-sow plants. The cost of seeds is generally under $2 per packet, and each packet can produce several plants. If you have little space or light to start seeds indoors, like me, then try to be patient and wait for purchased plants or to direct sow in the garden. Otherwise, you could end up wasting a lot of time and money on seedlings that can't thrive, also like me.

5. Reap What You Sow
Of course, gardening doesn't end once the plants or seeds are in the ground. The garden requires constant care, which I hate to admit is something that I generally lack. I get very excited about my garden every spring, and when the newness wears off, I tend to focus in other directions. This is a huge mistake and one I hope that I, and you, will remedy this year. A well-tended garden is one that produces well and can provide nourishment for weeks or even months with very little expense from the outset.