Natural Parenting Blog Party: Get to Know Me

I am glad to have found this blog party thru one of my favorite mom bloggers! I love linking up with new blogs! If this is your first visit, thanks for coming and hope you'll keep reading...giveaways are coming soon! If you are a regular, thank you for your support!
Jenny, at The Peaceful Housewife gave us some great questions to get to know one another so here it goes:

1. How many children do you have and how old are they?
    Two little sprouts...a daughter, 2.5 years old and a son, 7 months old

2. Do you have a partner, or are you a single parent?
    Happily married to my husband of almost 6 years

3. What are your "hot button" parenting issues?
    Don't get me started on what we feed our children and farming processes; also, over medicating our kids

4. Have you made any parenting choices that you didn't think you would make before you were a parent?
    I have a totally different disciple approach than I thought I would.

5. Is there one book or person in particular that's heavily influenced your parenting choices?
    Green Babies, Sage Mommies is one of my favorite reads and of course, the Bible

6. If you describe each of your children using only one word, what word would you use?
    Madeline - Free spirited
    Benjamin - cuddly

7. Is there one parenting decision that you regret more than others and wish you could change?
    The only thing that comes to mind is giving my oldest Tylenol after her first shots just because everyone was telling me I should. I regret medicating her unnecessarily and never did it again...and guess what?! No fever or issues (probably also thanks to a much better schedule at our pediatrician compared to the traditional schedule)

8. Is there an area of parenting that you wish you were better at?
    Patience...I have gotten pretty good at it but from time to time I forget that a toddler is going to have a different pace and have to remind myself that she's still learning and to be patient.

9. Now for fun questions - is there one particular food or type of food that you could eat every day?
    Indian food for sure! I LOVE it!

10. Vanilla ice cream or chocolate?
    Vanilla, then you can add lots of yummy fruit to it!

11. What's your guilty pleasure?
    Ice cream...I love it but am trying to make my our Popsicles (see awesome book ICE POP JOY!) to be healthier; scrapbooking and laying outside and watching the clouds roll by...

12. If you could be a part of any TV show, what show would it be?
    Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, food and education...two of my favorite topics!

Please take the time to check out my blog and feel free to comment!

Enjoy!
Heather

Thrifty Thursday

Here's the top organic deals I've come across so far this week:

Target:

Annie's Organic Granola Bars $2.99
Annie's Organic Mac & Cheese $1.00
Annie's Organic Canned Pasta $1.00
     -$1/1 Target Printable Coupon
     - buy 3 and submit for free gardening pack!
Kashi Organic Cereal $2.99
     - $1/1 Kashi Cereal Printable Coupon
     - $1.50/3 Target Printable Coupon
Newman's Own Organic Pasta Sauce $1.89 or Organic Raisin Boxes for $2.07
     - .50/1 Sunday Paper Clipping
     - .50/1 Printable Coupon
     - $1/1 Printable Coupon
YoBaby Organic Yogurt $2.24
     - $1/1 Printable Coupon
Kashi Frozen Entrees $2.87
     - $1/1 Target Printable Coupon

*See more on My Frugal Adventures!

Kroger:

Santa Cruz Organic Juice $2.50
     - .75/1 Printable Coupon
So Delicious Coconut Milk $1.99
     - $1/1 Printable Coupon
All Seventh Generation Products 25% off!
     - $1/1 Printable Coupon here or multiple Printables here

Again, these are not all the deals out there, just some of the better one's that I have found. Don't forget to sign up for Earthfare's Weekly Coupon emails as well; this week's is FREE ORGANIC GIRL BABY SPINACH! (Think outside of salads, this will make great sauteed spinach, veggie lasagna, or even baby food!)

Wordless Wednesday

School Lunch Controversies, My Opinion, and Options!

This week is shaping up to have lots of cafeteria related conversation; probably thanks to Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Season 2 returning this evening. And rightly so, as school lunches contain highly processed, nutrient deficient foods. Surely not what will give our kids what they need to focus, learn and participate to their full ability. Below are the links to two articles I have come across this week as well as to Jamie's Petition, which I encourage each of you to sign.

Chocolate Milk Stirs Controversy in Schools

Chicago School bans some lunches brought from home

Jamie's Petition!

I am a firm believer in homemade lunches that involve your sprouts in packing a healthy, delicious lunch that will not only feed them better food but also teaches them how to make healthy choices. Below are some of my favorite lunch items and ideas:

Laptop Lunches

Shop for awesome lunch containers

Muffin Tin Mom

Just get creative! Think outside the PB&J (and stay clear of Lunchables!) and create colorful, delicious and nutritious lunches for your little sprouts!

A Must Buy for Eco, Health Conscience Parents!

Recently (on the release day) I purchased an amazing new cookbook that is a "must have" for parents looking for yummy treats that are also health-conscience.

Anni Daulter, author of Organically Raised (featured on my top 5 baby/toddler cookbook listing) has done an amazing job in her newest book, Ice Pop Joy, combining the naturally sweet fruits that kids love with everything from veggies to tofu. This book features beautiful photos (by Alexandra DeFurio) of the pops and kids enjoying them. Just the photos make me want a pop...they look so refreshing!

One of my favorite features is that she uses agave nectar, honey, coconut sugar or even no sweetener at all! All of these items have low glycemic indexes and are far less processed than your standard bleached-white table sugar. There are fruit, veggie, yogurt, tofu, herbal tea, chocolate and specialty pops; some even have a great source of protein...wonderful for the vegetarian sprouts! One of the Herbal tea pops are great for sprouts with soar throats, you get the numbing comfort of the ice cold pop and the healing properties of the tea... a win, win!

We most recently tried one of the speciality pops that has quinoa in it! I must say, I thought having a protein like quinoa in my pop would be strange but they are super yummy! Even my two year old sprout loves them! (And the purple color from the blueberries doesn't hurt, as she loves everything purple!)

I can't sing the praises of this book enough! Parents, grandparents and anyone who wants the refreshing sweetness of Popsicles without all the artificial junk...this is a must have! I have recommended it for mother's day gifts already! So, as the weather warms, pull out your Popsicle molds (or purchase cute BPA-free one's on Amazon) and start creating! And of course, go organic and local whenever possible!

Be sure to "like" ICE POP JOY on Facebook and check out Anni's new digital magazine, Bamboo Magazine - Conscience Family Living on Facebook too!

Sunday's Eco Inspiration

John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."

Don't forget that people are a part of Creation too. When you help the needy you are being eco, when you feed the hungry you are being eco (especially if it's local and organic...check your local food pantry; lots in the area take garden fresh produce!). Don't be unkind when you are being eco by condemning; instead, teach in love and compassion. Love one another no matter how different and together we can work toward the Glory of God by caring for ALL of Creation.