Mother Earth

In honor of Earth Day April 22nd, I wanted to share how we save some Green (money) by going Green.

#1: We no longer use paper towels, this is a huge money saver, think how many times you grab a paper towel, when it's just as easy to grab a shamwow, or cloth. We use cloth napkins, which are super cute and cheap.

#2: We unplug or turn off what we're not using. Our microwave is rarely plugged in and we turn off our computer, and dryer when not in use. You can get a power strip at any hardware store that you can hook your tv, radio, cd player and whatever else into and unplug that.

#3: Keep your thermostat just 1 degree cooler or hotter and turn it off when we're not at home.

#4: Hand wash our dishes. This started because our dishwasher broke, but we decided it's not that bad washing by hand, and we let the dishes dry in the washer.

#5: We combine our car trip errands and carpool.

#6: Use reuseable water bottles than buying plastic ones. REI has great ones.

#7: I use old church meeting agendas for note taking.

#8: Use Energy efficienct light bulbs.

For other GREEN savers check out these sites.

http://www.suzeorman.com/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=SP&SRCN=layout_gogreen&GnavID=84&SnavID=127

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/earth-day-money-savers

http://green.yahoo.com/living-green/saving-money.html

http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

I want to hear what things work for you.

Happy Earth Day Everyone. and Check out Disney's new movie coming out April 22nd: entitled EARTH, go opening week and they plant a tree for every ticket bought.

Room 4 Improvement?

Alexis de Tocqueville said: The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.

We just finished watching SiCKO a documentary by Michael Moore.

Now I know many of you are already groaning and about to browse another blog, but hear me out. I recognize that Michael Moore is very passionate about his ideals, but I like him, and even more I like the two documentaries of his I’ve seen, “Bowling for Columbine” and now ‘SiCKO’, If you haven’t heard about this film it is a look at America’s Healthcare System and compares our system to that of Cuba, Canada and Europe who all have Universal Healthcare; Healthcare for everyone. I have been interested in this subject for months as our President is pushing for Universal Healthcare in America. After watching this film I am also.

The reason I’m writing this blog is twofold, One: I want everyone to watch ‘SiCKO’ and hear the left wing argument, Second: I understand I have received a bias opinion from Mr. Moore, I’d love for someone to tell me where I can hear the right wing side of the story. I want to make fair judgments and be more educated on the subject.

I cannot agree with our idea of health system as it stands; Hospitals refusing care to the sick and dying, pharmacies charging whatever they want for drugs(most of which we don’t need), medical bills that leave people bankrupt and/or homeless. (The #1 reason this occurs) Last year over ½ of the people who filed bankruptcy did so after a major illness and couldn’t afford the medical bills, 75% of those people had health coverage. 18,000 people died in 2007 because of a lack of healthcare.

I want to live in a country of WE not ME. I want America to be judged by how we treat the least of us. I want more preventative care and fewer drugs. It’s far easier and less expensive to prevent a disease than to cure it. I want America’s healthcare to stop being a business and instead take care of her people.

Last interesting fact: When Dr Jonas Salk discovered the polio vaccine, he was asked why he wasn’t putting a patent on it, to make money, his response: "Can you patent the Sun? "No, because it (the sun) belongs to everyone, Everyone has the right to be healthy and free from sickness."

Watch the movie, give me your feedback and take your vitamins.

I do not like them Sam I Am

To celebrate Dr. Suess' birthday (March 2nd) and St. Patricks day, we combined the celebration last night and had Green Eggs and Ham. Sidedish of green beans, and green lime jello for dessert. Contrary to the book the kids loved it immediately and were really excited about making it.

Recipe: Buy ham precooked, warm throughout, let cool to room temp and rub with apple or mint jelly, then pat on cilantro and parsley. I just rubbed the ham with an italian herb paste, you could use any green herb, or green salsa.
Eggs: Fry eggs to your liking, top yellow yolk with an avacodo mixture (avacoda, lime or lemon juice, chopped onions and tomatillos.) We had ours with spicy salsa verde. It was really yummy.

St. Patty's Day we spent at the 99 cent store so Hendrix could pick out an award using his pennies he's yearned throughout the week by listening to Mommy the 1st time. He's learning to be obedient one penny drop at a time.


They finally share a room now, (we have our closet back!!) and it works great. So far they sleep through the night, don't wake up any earlier than before and Hendrix loves having a campout buddy.

Our Trip Down South

Mike had an out of town business trip, so the kids and I loaded up and headed south, Yuma, AZ that is to hang with my brother and sister in law. This is how much stuff we had to pack for two days. (7 bags and portable crib)

Man, do kids need a lot of things. Stop off at Gila Bend for gas and site seeing...

Careful he bites.

Pushing MilaBelle in the swing at the park .

MilaBelle is getting to be very independant at the park lately.

Climbing and sliding all by herself.
We didn't do anything different in Yuma then we'd do in Mesa, went to park, watched American Idol, but it was fun to visit family, have a change of scenery, and play music with my brother. Thanks guys for putting up with loud kids and early wake up calls. We love Uncle Jared's and Aunt Tamara's house. They've got big sticks in the yard and great giant balls and cardboard tubes to play with.

To feel like Leah again

To quote Tina Fey on Jimmy Fallon last night you know when you're a mom when someone hands you you a booger and you're willing to take it, and when you try to put underwear on someone who's dancing. I'd like to add a few more. Kim T.: "You know you're a mom when the only thing you had for lunch was the crust cut from your child's sandwhich." Sarah: "You know you're a mom when you steal your kids reward money when you're low on cash." Me: "You know you're a mom when you cherish going to the bathroom alone."

So, in order to feel like me again, my great friend, who's started up a photography business. http://www.maryjordanphotography.blogspot.com/ offered to take my photos for me. I totally felt like a supermodel. My hair dresser whom I LOVE did my hair for me, style and color by Nikki at Salon Karizma 480- 839-4568 (tell her I referred you) . She's great and she does eyebrow shaping, which I had never done up until 6 months ago. It really does make a difference.

Here are a few shots, check out Mary's site for more. The best part is if you didn't know I started weight watchers last month, and have already lost the first 5% of my body weight, so Mary will be doing my "after" shots later, much later like Oct., but this year and I'm excited to get there.

9 years later...

Mike and I just celebrated our 9 year anniversary!

I started looking around the house at what else has lasted that long.

This fish vase, that Mike loved, I hated, but have learned to love it because he does. We had registered for it at Pier 1, but didn't receive it as a wedding gift so I bought it for him soon after we were married.
These were flowers from our reception too.

This lamp was a wedding gift from my brother's girlfriend, who is now his wife, Tamara my brother doesn't think he got us a gift. The mirror, which we promptly broke and have yet to fix in 9 years was a wedding gift from one of Mike's best friends from high school, Easy Weez.

These are the last remaining glasses from a set of 8 that my mom bought us, the knife block and some of the knives are orginials from the Ainsworths, and the spice rack was a gift from the single gals from MCC 2nd ward.
This was my birthday gift from Mike 5 days after we were married. It's the best thing that's lasted in the house after 9 long years.
US!!!

When I grow up...

These are all cooky pictures of MilaBelle deciding what she wants to be when she grows up. Maybe a...

A Mohawk comedian?

A makeup arist? A Rock Star?

A Mommy?

A Singer?

A CEO?

Or Just Rely on her looks and go for a Super Model?

Your Vote?