I grow my own money- Week 10

It's been over three weeks... Three weeks of hard work, tears and joy. I had to take time for myself and my family these weeks, I'm sure you understand. Last week of Feb my father died of an EVIL disease called cancer. Over the past 10 years I have lost 4 very special parental figures to cancer... prostate, lung and colon cancer.

It was only until I found out my father had cancer that I took my families eating habits and health into consideration. I watched my mother juice in attempt to give her sickened body what it needed but it was a little too late. Looking back they smoked, drank, ate all the processed foods, hardly exercised, and wanted to eat what they wanted. What if they had juiced regularly? ate a more plant based diet? ate whole grain? cut out at least 75% of the processed foods we see today on the shelves of supermarkets? Does genes have a major role in cancer? What about our surroundings? nucular plants, pest spraying, additives to almost everything, smog?

There are a lot of what ifs.

I came across this video a few weeks ago and it has stayed with me.

Obesity
Cancer
Global warming
Curable diseases
The list goes on and on.....

   If we are going to leave our children a place to call home we as a people must change the world, that change starts with you.

"Growing food is like growing your own money" -Ron Finley




Here are just a few things growing in the garden.

We harvested 4.9oz of lettuce! whoop whoop. 

We made this with it.

My husband finally got around to making me a potting table from the free pallets we got from someone on craigslist.

This is our bean hut.... yeah...... well we decided to just leave it up and next year build a tepee instead. We'll see how it looks this summer with all the different kind of beans.

In other garden news, we've decided that the bottom half of the left garden is unusable this year until we figure out this flooding issue. The hubster agreed to let me use the other side of the main garden (out of the fence) to grow the pumpkins and melons. I'm thinking EarthBoxes will be used for them all and DIY trellises.

This week in the garden world I'll be transplanting my pomegranate trees into the ground, building trellises and re potting the rest of my tomato plants then hardening them off.




What is going on in your garden?

Other ways to save.

So you like the idea of saving money and you coupon here & there but do not have the time or patience to sit and clip.. I hear ya!! Anyway you slice it, saving your family money takes dedication and time. I'll give you some tips and hints to help you save money on your family grocery bill.

Shop to stock up don't shop just for the week.  I've done it, you've done it and your momma has done it; Shopped weekly based on meals you've already planned. You got your sunday paper, you've clipped all your coupons you want to use, list in hand you head to the store. Chances are you've spent and easy $150+ on that trip for about a weeks worth of food. Taking your cart full of things that will be gone in one week you feel like the store screwed you some how... I've been there.

You're going to start shopping from the circular. You will find the best SALE prices for the item and match it to a coupon in order to score the lowest price. When the price is about 75% off after coupon then you want to stock up. Buy about 4-6 of that item to last you until the next sale cycle.  Keeping this in mind will help further stretch your dollar.

Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you should use it right away. Know when to wait and use it.. Stack your coupons for those super deals.

Stay organized or this will not work.  All the clipping in the world wont help you unless you are organized. There is the baseball card method (which most all newbies use), the filing method (the method I use) and the no clip method . Which ever method you choose to use, organize weekly.

Shop local and help your community.  With many of us wanting better quality foods on a low budget, joining a food co-op like Bountiful Baskets or visiting a local farmers market might be the key to your families budget and health. Not only will you get better quality and quantity of food but you will stimulate your communities economy and support small business owners. I encourage you to find a local food co-op in your area and join, it will be one of the best things you can do.  Many Co-op offer organic baskets, Grain baskets as well as 'specialized' baskets, check it out.

Buy in bulk but not from those 'bulk stores'  Places like Zaycon Foods offer large quantity of meats for low prices. I personal ONLY get my chicken from them but they also sell bacon, salmon, ground beef, fruits and more.  Those other 'bulk stores' tend to have the same market rate price as your grocery store but in bigger prices (It tends to make you think you're saving when you are not). If you can't wait for a Zaycon event then watch your circular ads for low prices on meats and stock up then. Always check unit prices.

When in doubt Grow Your Own. One of the newest and fast growing trend is Homesteading . With people losing their jobs, food recalls, FDA findings of chemicals being put in our foods many people have had enough of it. Going back to our 'roots' is not for every one but you can grow your own veggies and fruit right from your backyard. If space is an issue you can always try "square foot gardening" to utilize your space. Growing your own veggies and fruit give those who prefer organics a better $$ option. Plus who doesn't like to eat from the fruits of their labor?!

Feeding my family of 5 under $160 a month

The week has really flown by. I've been busy painting, fixing walls and packing... slowly. I need some advil for these back pains. There is so much to do with so little time, when am I going to find time to bake?!

 Albertsons #1 $ 2.15
My clan can go through about a gallon every few days! (4) gal milks, 1.5lb grapes, blueberries (My oldest LOVES these), Trop50 peach drink, 1lb chicken breast and marshmallows

#2 $.89 
This is more of the stockup transaction. With our up and coming trip across country we'll need a few fast snacks so pudding and crunch n munch made the list and who can go wrong with ketchup with a house full of kids?

 #3 - $.69
Making use of the manager coupons that Albertsons sticks on their meats I bought about 8lbs of meat and spaghetti noodles.

#4 - $2.15
This transaction would have been better but my youngest saw these bowls and wanted them, at $1.00 each you can see where I had to spend $2.15. I got 3lbs of tilapia fish, mussels and yogurt. YUMMMM


These transactions where purchased with the $20 catalinas that I got from Albertsons gift card deal. Looks like I'm going back to get more this weekend.

Bountiful Basket $15 for conventional and $10 for the Asian pack
If I wasn't so tired from the bountiful basket/wedding day I would have taken the time to actually weigh the food but I forgot. I really love that our location opened up extra packs and add ons!! I wish I got the blueberries because they looked fantastic.

6/10- 6/16 I spent $28.73 (I do not count the 2 bowls in that total)

Dinner meal planner for the next two weeks? (look out for pictures and recipes later on)

Sunday- Burgers and Sweet potato fries
Monday- Tilapia with Braised radishes
Tuesday- White bean and sausage soup
Wednesday- Left Over night ( We normally will have enough left overs after 3 days )
Thursday- Fish patties (a family recipe- sorry)
Friday- Pizza night (we make our own pizza)
Saturday- Napa cabbage noodle salad

Sunday- Left overs
Monday- Spaghetti squash 'spaghetti'
Tuesday- Salmon w/ nectarine salsa (previously canned)
Wednesday- Ginger sesame chicken bok choy
Thursday- Left overs
Friday- Pizza night
Saturday- Baked chicken with pasta salad


My shopping list for all that?.... red pepper, the fish paste, and salmon :-)


Where do you get your veggies and fruit?

 

Isn't she beautiful?! I'm so happy for them.  

Fear of Independent Wandering

Let's take a moment to talk about something that might often gets you dirty looks as a parent.... Free range children/parenting.

 It's a topic that many friends have gotten into arguments about. The well meaning parents who's children are monitored 24/7 tend to get nervous and want (sometimes they do)to call the police when they see a child walking somewhere by themselves, thinking the parents that have free range children are basically asking for something terrible to happen.. The live and let live parents tend to think stifling a child's independent wandering will inhibit experiencing and gaining in-the-moment life skills.

On any given day you'll find my boys wandering and playing in the neighborhood. Maybe they're digging holes, racing on their bikes, playing bad guys and good guys or going on a treasure hunt but I don't know because I'm not normally with them. My husband and I base their independent seeking on the individual child's common sense and maturity, C is 6, J is 5 and A (ASD child) is 2. C is allowed to go on small adventures on his bike up the hill and a block away from the house, he is also allowed to walk to the bus stop alone. J is allowed to play in the circle and must ask for permission before going to the park (which is in between 2 circle- hard to explain) and A is allowed to play right in front of the garage while I am within ear range.

We are the minority around here when it comes to independent wandering and play. Many will not let their children walk to the bus stop alone or with friends, let alone play in their neighborhood without them being outside to monitor the child's every move. What ever happened to paper routes, going to the corner store to get candy, going to a friends house a block away, staying out until the street lights came on? It's a huge shift from what it was like for me as a kid. What happened?

In short? T.V

Many parents have bought into the idea that predators are lurking around the corner to harm their children. Shows like CSI, SVU and the news have made it (in many ways) entertaining to watch crime and death. But fact is violent crimes have dropped 50% since the early 90's and the number of kids being raped, murdered or kidnapped is so small it will normally make nationwide news.

Source: visual photos

Although the thought of anything bad happening to one of my children is devastating its not enough to support putting my children on a short leash but by no means do I let them run wild. Our house has rules that must be abide by, if one breaks that rule they are to come in immediately and if you see them come back out it is because I have confidence in them that they have learned. "Getting them outside gives them infinite opportunities  to explore" says Todd Christopher, author of the green hour. Tethered to me, they'd have fewer chances to hang out with pals and engage in creative play, which is crucial for developing constructive problem solving, creativity and critical thinking, says Susan Linn Ed.D, author of The Case for Make Believe. 

Over-protecting children keeps them from experiencing and resolving disappointment and failure says Bernardo J. Carducci Ph.D. Kids who don't learn to handle frustrations become fearful. They're the teenagers who won't try new extracurricular activities. When they arrive at college, they retreat to their rooms and play video games rather than going out and connecting with others.

I've encountered once or twice the parent guilt that may come with letting your children explore independently. About a year ago C was riding his bike outside and decided he could go down the main road out of our neighborhood, instead of stopping he continued to ride going towards would be traffic. He was taken inside and explained that mom and dad have rules for his safety and it was not intended to be mean. We explained the "look left, look right, listen" rule and the "earshot" rule.. He was not allowed to ride for about a week, in kid time that was more like 6 months. He was allowed to ride again because I felt he understood and had learned.

Should I be more active and hang out more with my children? no. over involved parents are often addressing their own need for closeness rather than giving kids the space they need. Being a supportive parent, in other words, can't always mean doing what's comfortable. It's also about bearing the anxiety and consequences that occur when your child strikes out for new territories. - Richard Weissebound, author of The Parents We Mean to Be.

Bare in mind there are a few things that need to be learned before letting your children out of your orbit.

• Find out what real dangers and hazards are in your neighborhood
• If your child follows through on tasks, owns up to mistakes and tends to look before he/she leaps into it, you are probably safe in saying yes to a longer bike ride or a walk to a friends a block away.
• Practice until you and your child are comfortable. With us it was walking to the bus stop alone.
• Stop watching all those tv shows and movies that show violence. It only fuels your fears. 

The Burnout.

The burnout happened, you know the burnout. When you add one thing after another on your list of To-Do's, you become so over whelmed that you HALT...STOP...QUIT... doing everything on your list. Well I got to that point already in the year.

My back went out just around the first of the year, I used that as an excuse not to do anything. When I say anything I mean anything, it's been a struggle to even get up the muster to really OCD ( as friends call it) clean my house the way I like besides the daily need-to clean.

Slowly I'm making my way back into the 'super woman' role, that woman who loves hearing " I don't know how you find the time to do all this,amazing". I'll admit, I LOVE to hear that, it drives me to do MORE actually. I've learned recently that my love language is 'words of affirmation' tied with 'acts of service'....I suggest anyone looking to learn better communication, go to www.5lovelanguages.com . back on track Kim,back on track....

So anyone who knows me, knows I like a challenge. I've recently become a fan of quilting. I've been working on a fantastic one recently and in true Kim fashion, I've found the next quilt inspiration. It's called the Cathedral Window quilt.

Picture - Hyena in Petticoats.

isn't it BEAUTIFUL?! I think I've fallen in love with this style quilt. This will be my Feb project :)

Getting back on track is the hardest part, you get into a habit of slacking and finding that motivation is hard. Instead of making excuses I need to just DO IT. Today was a good start, just keep it up Kim, keep it up.

What do you do to get motivated? or Who motivates you?

I play like a Bitch? WOW

I play like a Bitch?! WOW

So I was reading a friend's blog today (http://www.myspace.com/absolutpixy) go check it out!! The one I am referring to is "Ya'll Just A Bunch a' Bitches Pt. 2"..

"If he only calls you once every couple of weeks, or even only once a week…you're really not that important to him. Guys know which woman is going to give in to their last minute requests. It's no wonder he only sees you as an object. It's because you act like one."



Fucking fantastic!!!

Got to thinking…."Kim" I say to myself…." What is wrong with you? Where is the woman everyone has called 'the Maneater' "?

By now you're going *scratch, scratch* "huh?"

Kim: "what are you talking about SELF?"

SELF: your dignity!

Kim:…………………

SELF: you are diluting yourself into think this guy has any long term intentions for the two of you. *slaps Kim across face* do I need to run the list down for you?

Kim: NO!! I get your point 'SELF' so what do I do?

SELF: look up the word dignity

Dignity: a proper sense of self respect and worth; worth, honor, esteem

Women we need to realize-- if they want to be with you, they will make the effort. Stop jumping through hoops and bending backwards to make them happy. In the end ladies you know in your mind and gut if you are dating a douche bag! So what are you gonna do about it? Are you going to let him use you or are you going to take control?

drug addiction and late night phone texts, rarely work well together

I have been clean and in the process of recovery for close to one year now ( it would be 2 if I hadn't relapsed in Atlanta). Who I am today resembles very little of WHO I was when I first made the decision to find a new way to live; yet there are the aspects of my emotional character formed during my active addiction, that still exist within me today as tendencies that have the capacity to flare up when faced with an emotional tidal wave.

My experience within the realm of personal recovery has allowed me a unique opportunity to discover who I am at the core of my being permitting me to realize that the choice of who I want to be at any given moment is solely my responsibility.

But still after all this time, I still become Doubtful. Fearful. Uncertain. Confused.

I understand that life in moments will present me with the opportunity to change and redefine the current circumstances that are before me, most often occurring in moments of doubt. When the unexpected gray storms of life bear down into my experience resulting in an explosive moment, in which I find myself fully and completely face to face with who I used to be.

Change is a process that is constantly occurring and my responsibility in it's process is to decide which way I will change; For the better or for the worse.

There are times when I take steps forward and embrace the aspects of change that allow me to be a better person, but there are also time when I consciously decide to take several steps backwards; allowing the limitations of my past to reveal themselves in the present moment in time. But which still ultimately allow me to surrender another level of who I am and who I have been, so that I can again choose who I want to be.

There are many layers delicately weaved through the whole of who I am; some are courser, filled with tangles and knots, making them more of a challenge to unravel. But as each new experience, each new awareness, each new realization comes before me, I find myself strangely empowered and capable of surrendering a part of myself that has offered me nothing more then the same it always has.

I become more then I believed possible, releasing those tiny sparks of hope that were the very same flickers of light that led me to the process of recovery…

That led me to the path.
That led me to the journey.
That led me to the person I am.

That within every struggle, challenge, achievement, success or moment of doubt allows me to define who I want to be. From the darkness of the storms of life, I am able to choose from the rainbow of possibilities the person I am and the life I want to live.

Last night I also realized that this road to recovery is a path that is lead by me. Ultimately the fight against addiction is fought by one person; you. Although we get support from varies groups and family/friends, this road we walk it a path fill with many hurdles. It is the strength and courage of that person who chooses to be sober that ultimately changes the direction of their life; the support from friends and family hold values no sober person can imagine.

I had a moment of weakness last night; and no I did not touch a drug but I went to a person I thought would be there for me to find this person not really caring. He said, yes he didn't want me to touch drugs again but I was going to do what I wanted. And yes that statement hold truth when you need that support to be strong for you, your not looking for the " don't do, but you'll do what you want anyways" speech. Your looking for SUPPORT, the help, the word of advice that will get you past this hump of reversion. And may I just add that important topics should NEVER be texted!! It loses something in the mix of texting.

So moral is?

1. You have to be strong for yourself when no one else will be for you.

2. If the person you're dating doesn't help support you through these times, then maybe you shouldn't be with them at all.

I cant take not having sex!!

three weeks since a tender dawn goodbye of rough sex, things are getting ugly.

It's no exaggeration to report that I have never in my life been as horny as I am at this moment. I'm not cute horny right now, either. I emit the giggling blonde co-ed's level of horniness in my sleep. I'm talking about something else… a raging, vicious horniness that puts me in a horrendous mood during the day and turns me into an out-of-control, can't-get-enough, screaming-for-more lunatic at night.

I've gone through more batteries in the last four days than I typically do in months. I've used toys in ways they weren't intended. I've watched porn. I've broken all my self-serve orgasm records with ease, but never once felt like it was enough. I didn't know it was possible to come this much and still be so fired up.

My bedroom has turned into a disaster zone of pleasure. Toys strewn everywhere, a bottle of Liquid Silk running dangerously low, underwear littering the floor, blankets a madness of tangles.

And I see Scores's cock everywhere. Usually I just imagine it from time to time….. But today, I sat at my house seeing his beautiful erection just inches away from my face. All freaking day. Jesus.

There are drawbacks to fucking yourself too much. My right arm is going limp, for instance. I've ripped a magazine and a book because they were unknowingly in my way on the bed. My laptop survived a fall, but a knocked-over glass of water soaked through a favorite novel. Tonight, the brute force of getting myself off with the Rabbit somehow caused a smaller, typically ignored toy called the Dolphin to magically start vibrating on its own from the floor. I watched in amazement from the bed as the toy dolphined-itself across my floors. And after a freaking stupid comment I was again denied SEX tonight! Is this guy a monk or something? Cause if I don't get some soon Im gonna go ape shit or date someone else!!!!!!

Am I now so desperate for sex that I'm causing random sex toys to spontaneously get off when they're around me? What the hell is that!!!

I have either reached new heights or sunk to new lows this week; it's hard to tell which. But damn, at this rate, how am I going to make it to Wednesday or Thursday? Because I don't think my right arm is going to last, and I wasn't planning on making another battery run before I went to work... I'm sure my coworkers would really appreciate a mood turnaround sometime soon, too. You'd think 10+ orgasms a night would accomplish that, but no. I swear every one just makes me more and more moody, more and more pissed off that I can't calm down on my own.

Holy fuck, ladies. How bad is it going to get? This is ridiculous.

I think I need an intervention.