Raising Happy Healthy Children…Naturally!
I think I am officially recovered. It really does take me about 2 weeks AFTER the Christmas tree is gone to feel back to normal. After all the new presents and toys have found their places, all the boxes are gone, no more deliveries at the door, all the decorations are packed away…after it all, it takes time to decompress.
NOW I can get back to regular posting….I have so much I’ve been saving. 
We’re in between on what sort of tree we want to decorate. This year we went ahead and got a local tree but I’ve since found out that a majority of the Christmas trees available throughout the states come from NC (where we live now). So next year I hope to find either a pesticide free tree or a live tree to replant on our property. Christmas trees have tons of pesticides on them. YUK…think about your kids touching them all the time and then putting their fingers in their mouths.
http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/organic_christmas_trees.htm
Ooooh…just found this local to NC resource;
http://www.pested.org/involved/actionalerts/xmastrees.html
My neighbor across the street is pregnant. She recently went to put up some Christmas Lights and noticed there was a warning on the box. Apparently, they coat the wires of lights AND extension cords WITH LEAD? WTF? I don’t ever recall seeing these warnings before and yet on everything I pick up this year, its there.
So read those warning labels ladies, especially if you are pregnant and do not let your kids touch the darn things….gloves for dh would be best. What are they thinking? I asked my dh, “why on earth would they coat the wires in lead?” And his reply was “I guess they have alot of lead they don’t know what to do with”. sigh.
The holidays are a coming! Someone was asking about inexpensive gifts that one could make at home for family and close friends to lighten the financial load come the Holiday Season.
I started thinking about some of the crafts we’ve done and other ideas and this is what I came up with.
What do you do with yours?
After all the family and thankfulness, you might still have some leftovers. I have very fond memories as a child of the smell of turkey permeating every room in our house as my mother made Turkey Noodle Soup with the leftover Turkey. I didn’t eat poultry for over 20 years but now that I am again, I can indulge in this memory by creating it for my own children.
Turkey Noodle Soup~
Remove any skin from the turkey carcass and place in a large pot covered with water. Leave any vegetables used to fill the cavities for cooking (if you didn’t do this, saute some large pieces of onion, celery and carrot for flavor and add to pot). I usually just add some salt, pepper and parsley and my secret….a dash of tamari sauce and bring to a boil, then simmer for hours! Along the way, I remove the smaller bones and pieces as they start to fall apart and let the larger bones cook. Then when there’s a good rich flavor, I strain the soup so that I am starting with just the clean broth.
Then I add some more chopped celery and carrots, bay leaves, parsley and salt/pepper. Simmer some more and add some cooked egg noodles. And you’re done. YUM. Not hard to do while you are moseying around on a holiday.
I love this time of year. Over the years, I’ve been able to work out a routine that helps keeps our chaos at a minimum so we can all enjoy the time off together. Today my 8 year old and I made stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans and 2 pumpkin pies. So tomorrow its just the turkey, some more veggies (rutabagas and broccoli probably) and rolls of some sort. EASY!
So my wish this season is that you all find yourself having a peaceful holiday. That your lives are plentiful, your challenges few, your laughter great and your hearts joyful. And lets all start thinking about those who are less fortunate and help if we can. Adopt a family for Christmas! Contact your local women’s shelter if you can’t find anyone to give to. A gift card to a supermarket is a great gift for Thanksgiving and Christmas too!
May we all learn to love just a little bit more and judge just a little bit less.
The Yard Haunter
A cool site teaching you how to haunt your yard properly. A little late for this year but maybe next.
Pumpkin Recipes (including Vegan Pumpkin Pie)
Halloween is drawing near and once again I feel that pit in my stomach because….. my kids are allowed traditional candy for halloween. A few years ago after a failed attempt to entice the neighborhood kids with a more healthy option, I caved and went for the popular candy.
I would like to give a natural Halloween a shot and since today there are so many more options, it might just be doable. I’ve found some links to order more healthful candy that doesn’t put a strain on the environment or one’s ethics.
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Belgian organic milk chocolate Endangered Species Bug Bites. 64 bites are 25% off now for $33.29 at MotherNature. They are also offering a “funpak” like the other candy bar companies do at this time of year. Check your local health food supermarkets, prices range from $3.50 to over $5 for the bag.
http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/Sku/30496
Thompson Candy has organic halloween colored chocolate coins and halloween chocolate pops. Call to order; 1(800)648-4058They sell retail only through their retail outlet factory store.
http://thompsoncandy.com/thompsonorganics/products.htm
College Farm Organic Candies offers a nice assortment of hard candies in many flavors including; vanilla caramel, strawberry cream and their favorite “Naturepops”. Check out their site on where to buy them but try Amazon and veganessentials.
http://www.collegefarmorganic.com
Peanut Butter cats and Chocolate Bat Cookies by Dancing Deer. Great for if you’re planning on making your own little goodie bags. 28 cookies costs $25.
http://www.dancingdeer.com/…..
  Sunspire Sundrops (like M&Ms). You can get a box of 24 for $24.00.
http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=172832&prrfnbr=213681
You can also toss in some halloween gifts instead of candy; stickers, pencil toppers, and a variety of other halloween inspired gadgets and toys.
There are also many many other organic candies but we try to stick with plain old chocolate with a few other things for spice. You can find gummy bears and fruit roll ups and more if you do a google. We steer clear of them because of teeth issues my kids have had.
My son reacts unfavorably to food dyes, in particular red food dyes. Unfortunately, these additives are in most candy that isn’t chocolate. So since my son was little (he’s 7 1/2 now) we’ve done trades with him. Good candy (chocolate) for bad candy (processed sugars, dyes, chewy things, etc). My kids don’t really like the taste of them anyhow so there’s no argument though my older son is now wanting a “toy” trade instead of more candy. I’ll take that trade!
I hope I can get it together enough to do a fair trade organic holiday! But if not, there’s always next year.