I have to remember to put away the pencils, pens, crayons, and anything else that could be used as a writing device. So far, our walls have escaped toddler art, but chairs, desks, tables, and anything that resembles a blank canvas have been turned into tiny masterpieces.

Why, yes, I did bust out my favorite parenting books. The most life-changing one for our family? Making the Terrible Twos Terrific by John Rosemond.

Speaking of that book, I will never forget walking into the bookstore when Lucas was 20 months old. Overnight, he went from a happy-go-lucky baby to a tantrum-throwing-body-hurling toddler. I frantically searched for that book as it had come highly recommended by several people. When a salesclerk asked if she could help me find something, I said, “I’m looking for a book called Making the Terrible Twos Terrific.” She almost fell over laughing. “Good luck, sweetheart,” is what she said back.

I did find the book, by the way, and it revolutionized my parenting and Lucas’s behavior. My little Caroline? She’s a bit more stubborn. We shall see how this goes…

Signs I’ve been blogging an awful lot about food:

Mike: Did I just hear the camera flash? Are you taking pictures of our dinner again?

Me: Yes, what of it?

Mike: I smell a post coming on!

By the way, I’ve been mulling over an idea about how to share my real food journey with those who most care about it. I shall reveal that to you soon…

Signs I’ve been doing nearly all my grocery shopping at healthy markets:

A leaning tower of paper bags. I really need to remember those reusable bags when I head off to the store.

My pantry smells like Whole Foods. Seriously.

Signs I’m almost in the third trimester:

Heartburn, all day long, even after only drinking water. Heartburn oh heartburn, I hate you, you stink.

Insomnia, all night long, even after taking Tylenol PM. Insomnia, see above conversation with heartburn.

The return of my body pillow. Of course, it doesn’t do that much good between the heartburn and the insomnia.

What’s going on with you? What are some signs in your life?

Life happens when we stay positive and find humor in the everyday ordinary.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

-1-

First, we loaded ourselves up in the car. We turned our car south and drove. For 10 hours. Well, really only 5 the first day. Of course, we stopped at the Alabama Welcome Center to see “the” rocket ship.

-2-

We got back in the car and drove a few more hours. We had a dinner at a classy restaurant where you get to throw peanuts on the floor. Then, we found a hotel room to rest our weary heads.

-3-

The next morning, we woke up and drove on just a few more hours. Finally, we arrived in Panama City Beach, Florida. Our first stop? Lunch overlooking the beautiful ocean.

After lunch, a certain little boy ran straight into the ocean, fully clothed. This moment will forever be etched in my heart. My little boy meeting the ocean for the first time (that he remembered, he was 7 months old the last time he went to the beach).

It was love at first sight.

-4-

Finally, it was time to check in to our condo where we stayed for 5 blissful, beautiful days. We enjoyed an overcast day with the beach all to ourselves. We enjoyed the warm Florida sun on our faces the rest of the trip.

We built sandcastles. We collected sea shells. We jumped in the waves in the ocean. We sunbathed. We played in the pool and the splash park at the condo. We took in the breathtaking sunsets. We stared in wonder and awe at the ocean, especially from our balcony. We spotted lots of dolphins and Manta rays (seriously, and I only barely freaked out about them).

The boy couldn’t get enough of the water. The little girl didn’t want anything to do with the water, but found herself content in the sand.

-5-

I actually read (and finished) a book that didn’t talk about faith, parenting, pregnancy, or food. It was fluffy and I didn’t have to think at all as I read it. It’s been awhile since I’ve had the opportunity to read entirely for pleasure and it was just what I needed!

-6-

On Mother’s Day, we found a quaint little donut shop where we consumed an absurd amount of sugary goodness. After several hours playing on the beach as a family (and one glorious hour on the beach all by myself), we headed off for dinner and ice cream. We didn’t get a photo of our whole family as I’d hoped, but we still captured some sweet moments. It was a perfect Mother’s Day!

-7-

On Wednesday morning, we reluctantly packed our bags and climbed back in the car. We drove the 10 hours back home. We stopped for lunch and to pick up some Fireworks in Tennessee. We stopped at (yet another) restaurant where we could throw peanuts on the floor. And when we turned into our driveway, we all sighed just a little. As much as we loved our vacation, there’s no place like home.

We tucked our sweet ones into their beds where they no doubt dreamed of the salty ocean, the sandy beach, and their very favorite restaurant that they chattered on about for 9.5 of the 10 hours we were in the car: Pineapple Willy’s.

It was a most awesome way to “kick off” our summer and I’m SO glad we decided to go. The kids did GREAT save for a few meltdowns here and there. It was the perfect amount of time. And it was the perfect time to go- the rates nearly double beginning next week!

We are already daydreaming and thinking about our next trip to the beach. Until then, we have lots of amazing memories to carry us through!

Life happens when we go to the beach.

For more quick takes, head over to Jen’s!

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

On the roughest of days, here are 7 Bible verses that build me up:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
-Psalm 46:1

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
-Philippians 4:13

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
-Joshua 1:9

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
-John 3:16

“Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
-John 14:27

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
-Romans 8:31

“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”
-James 1: 2-4

What is your favorite encouraging Bible verse?

Life happens when we find encouragment from scripture.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

Let Facebook go on without us for the day. Not worry one lick about the news or politics.

Head outside to enjoy a beautiful spring day.

Tune in to the people who really matter.

And with any luck, blow some magnificent bubbles.

Or just eat them…

Go on. Get out there. Make the most of your day (after snapping a photo or two, of course)!

Life happens when we put away the technology and truly focus on what’s important.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

TIPS For Cutting Out Processed Food:

Keep a “Can Do” Attitude- If this is something that’s really important to you, then make the decision to do it. And believe that it can be done because it can!

Replace Items Slowly- There’s no need to scrap everything in your pantry and fridge right this second. In fact, that will probably overwhelm you more than anything! When you run out of your salad dressing, don’t buy it again, swap it out for some balsamic vinegar. When your canned goods and breakfast bars are gone, start fresh with something else.

Stop Making Excuses- There are plenty of excuses to be made, and you’ll keep finding them until you just dive on in! And definitely don’t blame it on your kids. They don’t have to have their favorite cereal or snack to survive. Children survived for hundreds of years without all the processed junk kids consume nowadays. I assure you they will be just fine with the new food you provide them. I promise they won’t starve. They might have a bad attitude about it at first, but I think it’s a great way to teach them not only about the harmfulness of processed food, but also that you eat what you’re given. Period. End of story. But, I’m a mean mom like that.

Allow Time to Adjust- That being said, it will take time for everyone to adjust. Real food is missing all the additives and preservatives that make processed food taste so good. Just because it tastes good doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Remember that! Slowly, but surely, your taste buds will get used to your new diet. And there is plenty of deliciousness in real food. I promise!

Be Prepared to Spend More Time in the Kitchen- This lifestyle does involve additional time. I know everyone is time-crunched these days, and unfortunately, this lifestyle calls for some of that precious time. However, with a little creativity and planning, you can still enjoy a minimally processed lifestyle as you dash to this practice and that one. In fact, my sister and I brainstormed some ways she can ensure less processed food for her very busy family of 5. Stay tuned for some of those ideas!

Below are some links to blogs, articles, and books I HIGHLY recommend to help you as you elminate processed food from your diet!

Crunch Time (a blog about real food by a busy, working mom)

“First Steps to Real Food” (an awesome article from Keeper of the Home)

“Real Food Defined” (what you can and can’t eat from 100 Days of Real Food)

“Why I Hate the 5 Ingredient Rule” (Hands down the BEST article I’ve read about eating real food from Butter Believer)

What my kids eat all day. I’ll follow up soon with an update and things I eat each day, as well.

Weelicious (Awesome website with realistic recipes for busy moms and families!)

Deliciously Organic (Blog with recipes using fresh, unprocessed ingredients!)

A list of books by Michael Pollan

Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us (Book by Michael Moss)

Like I said, I know it’s hard. But most things in life that are truly worth it take a bit more time and effort. I hope these tips and links help you on your journey. Now go ahead, dive on in.

Life happens when we eat real food.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

There are plenty of ways to make the most of our faith during Advent and Christmas. As Lent comes, we offer sacrifices to grow closer to Christ. We rejoice triumphantly during the Easter season.

But the vast majority of the liturgical year is filled with Ordinary Time. How do we make the most of it? As Kathleen Basi says, “Ordinary Time is make-or-break time for one’s faith. This is when we choose to be comitted, feet-on-the-ground Christians, or slide into mediocrity.” We can get lazy if we let ourselves.

That’s why her newest book, This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes is so encouraging. She gives parents and children practical strategies to live out our faith in the seemingly ordinary moments of our life.

I was so excited when Kathleen reached out to me to see if I would review (and give away a copy of) the book. I’m already a big fan of Kathleen’s work! You might recall me telling you that her book, “Bring Lent to Life” was part of my daily Lenten routine. Also, the practical ideas for serving others and growing in faith from her book “Joy to the World” provided the inspiration for my family’s Advent Acts of Service.

This Little Light of Mine was exactly what I’d been searching for to not only grow in my own faith journey, but to teach the faith to my children.

Each chapter provides a look at Scripture, the Ten Commandments, and/or the Sacraments. It then breaks down one of the Beatitudes and relates it to our everyday lives and our Catholic faith, often referencing the Catechism of the Catholic Church. There is a section written specifically for adults and a section written in kid-friendly language. At the end of each chapter is a section called, “Just Live It” that provides realistic suggestions and activities to live our faith out loud. I think grade schoolers and older could read this book easily and gain wonderful insight into living a vibrant and authentic Catholic life.

My own kids are too little to read this book with me, but it is still pertinent to our family. As Kathleen says in the beginning of the book, “The best way to ensure that religious formation “takes” is for parents to live their faith, to be seekers alongside their children.“ This book offers practical ways to live the faith as well as grow in knowledge of the faith in order to teach it to our children (and others).

This Little Light of Mine is thought-provoking and forces us to consider tough subjects including our own shortcomings and the necessity of suffering, but Kathleen’s down to earth writing style makes it easy to read and digest.

I’m positive that This Little Light of Mine will be a book I come back to again and again, especially as my children get older and can read with me. It is an invaluable addition to my Catholic library, and it should definitely be in yours, too!

Want a chance to win a copy? Just leave a comment on this post to tell me why you want the book and you’re entered! That’s it. I’ll pick a winner next Thursday! Good luck!

Life happens when we make the most of ordinary time.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

I compared myself to other girls and I always came up short. In those days, it was all about what I didn’t have.

I didn’t have beautiful, long, soft, flowy hair.

I didn’t have a gorgeous, smooth, blemish-free complexion.

I didn’t have trendy clothes or any fashion sense at all, really.

I didn’t have a size zero body.

I didn’t have pearly white, straight teeth.

I definitely didn’t have the chest so many other girls were blessed with.

In the rare moments when I felt pretty, I was always immediately overshadowed by someone I thought to be so much prettier. In the occassions when someone would tell me I was beautiful, I’d roll my eyes in complete disbelief.

Though I’m still a self-conscious person, over time I’ve grown more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve also learned that real beauty goes far beneath the surface.

Still, I’m often very unhappy with what I see when I look in the mirror. These days it isn’t what I’m lacking, but what I have instead.

Gray hairs. Wrinkles. Child-bearing hips. Thunder thighs. Stretch marks. Lots of extra pounds. And despite already birthing two children and currently bearing one, still a remarkably small chest.

My husband tells me every day that I’m beautiful. I only roll my eyes some of the time. I really do believe him, but I often wonder if we’re looking at the same person.

Last week, I was just having one of those days. I happened to stop by Kathryn’s blog and caught a recap of her daughter’s First Communion. Man you guys, Kathryn knows how to throw a party, but that’s beside the point.

What caught me totally off guard and brought me to deep, inconsolable tears was an interaction she had with her daughter at the end of the day. Just before her daughter changed out of her pretty dress, Kathryn had her look at herself in the mirror.

“Never forget how beautiful you look today. That’s how God sees you everyday.” 

What wise and powerful and truthful words to say to your child. That’s what I want to teach my children. That’s exactly what I want my little girl, who will no doubt be filled with the same self-consciousness I’ve carried through the years, to know.  

But beyond teaching the magnitude of God’s love to my children, I realized her words applied to me, as well. And they apply to each and every one of you.

God didn’t make any mistakes when He created us. He made us just as we are for a specific reason and He loves us more than we could ever understand.

When we’re 20+ pounds overweight. When we accidentally ruin our hair. When acne covers our face and scars cover our body. Freckles. Crooked teeth. No make up. Beautiful white dress or frumpy sweatpants.

God loves us. In His eyes, we are beautiful. And he wants us to love ourselves, too. He wants us to see the same beauty He sees.

If you’ve been down on yourself because you don’t like your hair or your weight or anything much about yourself, stop a moment and think of a time when you felt beautiful. That’s how God sees you right now. That’s how you should see yourself, too.

Life happens when we see what God sees.

P.S. This is in no way a plea for compliments on how I look. For real. We all have those days when we’re less than pleased with what we see in the mirror, right? Thankfully, Kathryn so openly shared such an intimate moment with her daughter. She reminded me what I should have been focusing on all along.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

I decided to take on the out of control toys.

I swear that the toys in our house multiply overnight. I rarely buy my kids toys. They’ve been gifted some wonderful things and they’ve been the recipients of lots of hand-me-downs, but I’m also pretty militant about what I allow into the playroom in the first place.

I realized the other day, though, that I’ve let the toys take control. And that makes me feel terribly out of control, like the walls are closing in on me. 

I’d say by some people’s standards, I’m already a toy minimalist, but I believe there’s still plenty of work to be done. The tell-tale sign for me that there are too many toys around is when my kids, despite having plenty of toys to occupy them, are so totally bored that they need me to entertain them.

I took a good look at the playroom the other day and made some observations. Aside from things being strewn everywhere, there wasn’t a whole lot of actual playing going on. Instead it was lots of fighting between the two of them. Lots of begging for me to play with them. Lots of “I’m bored,” “Can I watch a show?” “Can I play on my LeapPad?”

I decided it was time for an intervention.

Without the kids realizing it, I filled three paper bags with toys to donate. I also filled half a trash bag with broken toys/missing pieces, etc.

I put a few toys in each of their bedrooms. I took a bunch of toys to the basement for safekeeping (to rotate later) and brought up the trains and tracks for a change. I put the blocks and Legos in clear view.

I put all the boy and girl dress up clothes in a big bucket that they can play with whenever they want, but have to get in the habit of putting away correctly. 

Because this is their idea of putting toys away:

Finally, I let Lucas go through some toys and decide whether he wanted to keep them, give them away, or put them away in the basement for his baby brother. He did a pretty good job and I was pleased with what he decided.

Except for this one Little People police car. He never plays with it, but every time I’ve tried to get rid of it in the last year, he acts like the very idea has broken his heart.

“Are you sure you don’t want to give this to someone who doesn’t have any toys? Another little boy might really enjoy it.”

“No, it’s my favorite toy.”

“Lucas, I don’t ever see you play with it. I only see it sitting in this bucket.”

“That’s because I only play with it on Wednesdays.”

Needless to say, the police car made the cut. He still hasn’t played with it, but I’m sure all that will change on Wednesday.

At any rate, I’ve already seen significant progress. The kids entertained themselves for hours yesterday.

The walls have given me some breathing room.

And the intense desire to nest went away just in time. I almost mopped the kitchen floor. That was a close call.

All those baby clothes will wash and hang themselves, right!?!

Life happens when we de-clutter.

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

May you enjoy a taste of Kentucky. Mint Julep? Bourbon? Hot Brown? “Derby” Pie? We’ll be enjoying lemon lime juleps (also known as Sprite). And my own version of “Derby” Pie since the original is trademarked by Kern’s Kitchen.

May your hat be big and your winnings be bigger.

May your behavior be better than the 80,000 or so in the Infield!

May you catch a glimpse of (or even rub elbows with) a celebrity. Miranda Lambert!?! Emilio Estevez!? Shaquille O’Neal!? Lauren Conrad!?! Valerie Harper!?! Jennifer Tilly!? Jennifer Hudson!?!

May your heart race fast during the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.” Also known as the Run for the Roses, the World’s Most Famous Horse Race, the Chance of a Lifetime, and of course, The Kentucky Derby. If you’re tuning in at home (like us), it’s at approximately 6:24 p.m. on NBC.

May your jockey be as cute, sweet, and lucky as this guy:

As so many eyes are on my hometown, may you feel our pride and hear our cheers of excitement.

And if you want a good movie to get you in the spirit, I highly suggest Secretariat: The Impossible True Story. It’s rated PG and family friendly. I should know as my brother-in-law made us watch it every day last summer at the lake.

How do you celebrate Derby?

Life happens when we catch Derby fever! Go Baby Go! 

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.

I originally started listing out ALL the items I buy and where I buy them, but then I decided that was kind of silly! Why? Because what I consider “okay” may not actually be “real food” approved and you may have an entirely different threshold of what’s okay and what’s not.

Instead of listing off every single item I buy, I thought I’d tell you the staples I like to keep in stock at my house. Each category will list a few of my favorite brands.

Fruits/Vegetables/Nuts

• Fresh Produce {Check back soon for a glimpse at how I decide whether to buy organic or conventional produce.}
• Frozen Vegetables {everything except corn}
• Organic Frozen Corn {I’ll explain why soon.}
• Organic Raisins
• Musselman’s Unsweetened Applesauce 
• Go Go Squeeze Applesauce Pouches 
• Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts

Dairy/Eggs

• Whole Foods 365 Brand Whole Milk {I’ve heard a rumor that their milk is actually organic but doesn’t say so. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but they do pledge to use milk from cows not treated with rBGH.}
• Whole Foods 365 Brand 8 oz cheddar cheese blocks- {same with the cheese-  not organic, but they do pledge not to treat cows with hormones. I am currently boycotting Kraft, so I no longer buy cheese blocks from the regular grocery store. As far as my price comparison goes, the price seems pretty close.}
• Whole Foods 365 Brand Unsalted Butter- {same reasons as above, but I also like the taste of this butter better than some of the other brands I’ve tried. I’m not a huge butter person, but I do use it in place of vegetable oil and margarine now.}
• Eggs {occasionally store bought, though I prefer to buy local, farm fresh eggs instead. Thank goodness for all those Farmer’s Markets starting back up!}
• Seven Stars Brand Organic Yogurt {This is definitely more expensive than Dannon or Yoplait, but the yogurt is organic, the cows it came from are allowed to graze in a nice, open field, and are fed a healthy diet. I buy this at Whole Foods. Kroger has this brand, but for double the cost, so watch out for that!}

Drinks

• Store Brand Orange Juice {Look for the kind in a carafe that says its only ingredient is orange juice. Thanks to my sister for that tip!}
• Trader Joe’s McIntosh Apple Juice {Ingredients: Juice from McIntosh Apples}
• Unsweetened Iced Tea 

Pasta/Beans/Rice

• DeLallo 100% Organic Whole Wheat Pasta
• Whole Foods (Imported from Italy) Pasta {This is not whole wheat, but only has one ingredient.}
• Annie’s Brand Macaroni and Cheese {This is technically not “real food” and does have more ingredients than I care for, but mama needs a break every now and then! At least there are no artificial colors!}
• Store Brand Dry Beans {pinto, great northern, and kidney, navy, black}
• Uncle Ben’s Parboiled Brown Rice {not exactly “real food,” but only one ingredient!}
• Store Brand White Rice {again- not technically “real food,” but only one ingredient}

Cereal/Oatmeal

• Instant & Old Fashioned Oats {We buy plain oatmeal and sweeten it with maple syrup or brown sugar at home most mornings for breakfast.}
• Barbara’s Brand 100% Whole Shredded Wheat Cereal {The good news? That’s the only ingredient! No preservatives whatsoever. The bad news? That’s the only ingredient! It definitely takes some getting used to taste-wise. I sweeten it with a spoonful (or two) of sugar, which is certainly a “real food” no-no, but I think definitely better than eating a cereal with additives.
• Nature’s Path Organic Whole O’s {Healthier alternative to Cheerios. It still has a few questionable ingredients, but is much better than actual Cheerios. Caroline can’t tell the difference and she gobbles them up for breakfast and snacks!}
• Arrowhead Organic 100% Puffed Wheat Cereal {Kind of the same story as Barbara’s Shredded Wheat. My kids eat it without the spoonful of sugar, though, and I sneak mine in when they aren’t looking! Ha!}

Sauces/Seasonings/Vinegars/Oils

• Canned Muir Glen Organic Tomato Sauce and Tomato Paste {Did you know that all canned goods are lined with a plastic coating? Most often the plastic contains BPA, which likely seeps into the food inside the can. Muir Glen products do not contain BPA. I’ve found them at Kroger, Meijer, and even Target at lower prices.}
• Pompeian Balsamic, Red Wine, and White Wine Vinegar {I use these for cooking and for salads in place of dressing.}
• Kosher Salt & Sea Salt {I stopped buying iodized salt after reading the ingredients in it. Apparently, Kosher and Sea salt aren’t that great of alternatives, but I haven’t made the leap to Real Salt, yet.}
• Pacific Organic Broths (Chicken, Vegetable, and Beef) {Broth is something you have to be on guard for MSG in. If it says “no added MSG,” that means there already is MSG in it! This particular brand has the least ingredients of all the other broth brands I’ve researched. I know broth is easy to make at home, but the one time I tried, I failed miserably and I haven’t gotten the courage to try again!}
• Trader Joe’s Brand Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Meat/Poultry

• Store Brand Ground Beef, Chicken, Pork, and Bacon {all in serious moderation- see below for why I prefer to buy “local” meat instead. However, our budget doesn’t always allow for the “local” meat and I have to make do.}
• Whole Foods “Local” Ground Beef {This is a personal choice and a pricey one at that. I am in the process of finding a local farm to buy ground beef from. Until then, I like knowing that the beef I’m buying (and eating!) came from 70 miles away, was fed a better diet than the grocery store variety, and was treated humanely. However, this is a pretty hefty price hike!}
• Whole Foods Chicken {same story as above}
• Whole Foods Fresh Fields Deli Turkey {This is about $1-2 more a pound than Boar’s Head (which has lots of ingredients and is already expensive), but the only ingredients are turkey, water, honey, and a small amount of potato starch and sea salt. I typically buy half a pound and eat it sparingly over the course of the week.}

Crackers/Bread

• ak-mak Brand Crackers {These take a little getting used to, but they’ve become a favorite in our house. We eat them with peanut butter or cheese cubes. Trader Joe’s has them the cheapest.}
• Whole Foods 365 Brand Organic Whole Wheat Tortillas
• Whole Foods 365 Brand Organic Corn Tortillas
• Breadworks (local bakery) Honey Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread {Ingredients: organic whole wheat flour, organic all purpose flour, salt, water, honey, yeast}

Spreads/Jams/Syrup

• Jif All Natural Peanut Butter {It does have palm oil, which I think is questionable, but I personally can’t stand the one or two ingredient “natural” peanut butter. Yuck!}
• Strawberry Jam- {Look for ones with only a few ingredients. I hate that most have sugar and pectin, but it is what it is at this point as I won’t be making my own anytime soon!}
• 100% Pure Maple Syrup

Snacks/Treats (Most of these are not “real food” snacks. They have questionable ingredients varying from non-organic corn to natural flavors to vegetable oils. However, I have to be practical and LIVE a little, so I allow these in my home and I eat them as often as my kids do (a couple of times per week or less).

• Organic Corn Tortilla Chips
• Trader Joe’s Rocket Ship Cheddar Crackers {I think these are new. They have even less ingredients than Goldfish (and kind of taste like it, too, but my kids don’t mind). I buy them for an occasional snack for the kids- much better than Goldfish and even Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies as far as ingredients go.}
• Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream {Only ice cream I could find without a bunch of junk in it. I think it tastes fine and Mike hasn’t complained. My sister DID make fun of me for it at Caroline’s birthday dinner. But no one complained there, either.}
• Whole Foods 365 Brand Sea Salt Pita Chips
• Pirate Booty
• Erewhon Cinnamon Graham Crackers
• Chocolate chips
• Unreal Candy Bars {It’s still candy, so it has lots of sugar and all that, but this brand doesn’t contain any artificial colors and they focus on better ingredients. There’s M&Ms style, Snickers style, and Peanut Butter Cup style packages. The M&Ms lack some flavor (in my opinion), but I like the other kinds.}

Of special note: We used to eat out at least once a week (sometimes twice) for dinner. I used to go out to lunch at least once or twice a week, as well. Since getting serious with this, I don’t eat out for lunch at all except for very special and rare occasions. We eat out for dinner maybe once every other week. That means mama does a LOT of cooking, but it also means we SAVE money. That’s how I am able to purchase some of the more expensive (but better for you) items like local meat, more organic, and such. 

On nights when I don’t feel like cooking, I stop in to Earth Fare and pick up a Rotisserie Chicken. The chicken is small and it costs $7.99. For bigger families, I get that it’s not a great deal. However, most other store’s rotisserie chickens are filled to the brim with MSG, way too much added sugar, and lots of other ingredients. I usually make homemade mashed potatoes and/or Annie’s Brand Mac & Cheese to go with it. Even with the high price of the chicken, the total comes to about $10-$13, which is still cheaper than if we’d ran through a drive thru or gone to a restaurant.

I’ve certainly given you a lot to chew on this week! Pun absolutely intended! As you digest it all (ha!), let me know if I can help in any way!

Life happens when we eat real food!

© 2013, lifehappenswhen. All rights reserved.