Its The Simple Things

Why do people try to make everything bigger, better, and more complicated than needed?  Can we not appreciate the little things in life anymore; the simple, perfect, wonderful things?  It seems like everyone wants everything faster and grander than necessary.  I'm guilty of this too...I suppose it is the mentality of Americans, or maybe people in general.  We want bigger houses, faster shinier cars, bigger better everything.  But why?  When we're children we know how to find happiness in a bubble, running through a field, a boquet of weeds, and jumping on the bed.  When does that change? 

Today was perfect.  My kind of perfect.  What did I do today that was so super fantastic you may ask?  Well, we celebrated mother's day.  I slept in a little, I cleaned the kitchen, and did a couple loads of laundry, then my husband and daughter went to run errands, and I took a nap on the couch.  (that in and of itself is super-fantastic)  I woke up when they returned, but since I could hear giggles and whispering I kept my eyes closed, and snoozed.  When they woke me I found my laptop with a happy mother's day note written in the paint program, a new cookbook (The Rodale Whole Foods Cookbook), and a card my daughter drew for me.  My husband had made me various coupons for dinner out, a trip to the beach, a trip to whole foods (SCORE), and foot and back massages.  I asked my daughter what she drew in the picture (she's 4) and she said that was her, and a giant mommy worm.  Well...it's original...and I LOVE IT! 

We went to a cute pizza place (courtesy of my dinner out coupon) and made a trip to Whole Foods (coupon again) so I could get some ingredients to make something out of my new cookbook.  It was the perfect night.  When we got home we watched a movie, and had popcorn on the couch.  We all four (dog included) hung out and ate popcorn and spent time together.  It was an amazing day.  I appreciated every moment of it, that's when it hit me.  How often do we just sit back and appreciate what we have; without the more, more, better, bigger thoughts?  Think about it....Think about what you have.  Does your mind automatically go to getting something new? 

Was it an expensive day? Not particularly.  Did I get that worm composter I've really been wanting?  Nope.  Was it a whine free day?  (of course not...did I mention she's four?)  But I got everything I truly wanted and needed; a day with my family, time with my little girl, cuddles on the couch, and a warm heart full of gratitude.  Sometimes, we just need to learn to be content.  Life has a funny way of showing us that happiness is found in the simple things.

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be;for I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions,and not upon our circumstances"~Martha Washington

I think I'll start a blog....

I've never blogged before, so, bear with me as I learn the ropes. I had several conversations with friends and family today that ended with the phrase “you should blog about it”. I thought to myself, who cares? Who will read it? Well….maybe no one. I guess we will see.

I suppose I’ll write a little about everything; Recipes, thoughts, pets, kids, husbands, houses, cars, and life in general. But today, I’m going to start with food.

How awesome is food! I love food! I love to eat it, cook it, learn about it, read about it…and apparently, blog about it. I’ve recently made a huge change in my family’s diet. We went….dun dun dun….organic.

There were several reasons for this. One was that I had to write a paper for my environmental science class, and I chose to write it on the food industry. There is stuff going on from factory to plate that would make your toes curl, but I’ll ease you into that. Another reason was the more I got into cooking and putting food together myself, the less I understood all those giant scientific terms on the side of the boxes of prepackaged food at the market.

The changes came slowly. First, we gave up trans-fat. Easy enough, no partially hydrogenated anything. Then, high-fructose corn syrup went bye-bye. (Do you know how many things have high-fructose corn syrup?) We threw milk with hormones out the window. We gave up fast food. Then, we saw Fast Food Nation, and Food, Inc. I read The Righteous Porkchop, and lots of interesting (and disgusting) journal articles on the food industry.

Sometimes I feel like I’m in a science fiction movie and the whole world has microchips in their brains so they don’t notice how bad it really is, and then my microchip broke. I’ve discovered there are whole groups of people out there now with broken microchips. I also know a lot of people that choose not to know. “Ignorance is Bliss” I suppose. Once my eyes were opened to it, I couldn’t go back. I won’t eat meat that isn’t grass fed, and antibiotic and hormone free. (Which, for the record makes it very difficult to eat anywhere but at home) My eggs are free range, and vegetarian. Now they shouldn’t have to label the eggs as being from vegetarian chickens right? Aren’t chickens vegetarians? Well…..they should be…unfortunately, a lot of times they aren’t…and that’s a whole new realm of gross.

I feel better knowing when I pack my daughters lunch, and make dinner, that I am giving her the best start and highest quality food I can. Will she go through life never eating a Dorito….certainly not. She’ll go to birthday parties, and snatch one from a kid at school. But what I can do is help her make the best decisions she can at home, and keep her informed. Plus, the food decisions we make, lessen our impact on the environment as a whole….SCORE. Two for one!


I will tell you, that after having gone natural/organic I feel better. I’m less lethargic. The 2 o’clock slump is not a regular visitor, I sleep better, and my skin is better. We’ve changed more than food now; we opt for natural cleaners, store bought and home-made. We try to get more products made in America. All of our body products are natural.

I’m sure I’ll slip some icky fact filled blogs in occasionally, but for now I’ll just keep blogging along. Maybe someday someone will read it. For now, I will just write about what interests me most. Food, family and environment, which amazingly all go hand in hand, and as the wonderful Julia Child said. “Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” And so I shall.