The Great Breakfast Debate

Mornings with a toddler are never easy, but the breakfast debate is what I dread the most.

Whether it just runs in her genes, or is just part of being a preemie, my 3 1/2 year old daughter has never been good at gaining weight.  When she was about 12 months old, and switched to cow's milk, our pediatrician recommended that we start giving her a Pediasure drink each day.  The Pediasure wasn't meant to be a meal replacement, but an additional caloric factor. 

What started as a bedtime snack became a routine in the morning,too.  That's right, two Pediasure drinks per day.  If you're unfamiliar with Pediasure, it's a thick milk-like drink with added vitamins & minerals, comes in a 6-pack, and typically runs about $9-14 in price.  It averages out to be $1.90 per 8-ounce drink, and my daughter consumes two 8-ounce drinks per day.  No, insurance doesn't cover it. 

These Pediasures have become a breakfast norm, sometimes with food, sometimes alone.  Mornings in our house are chaotic for a number of reasons.  I work part-time, so only 2-3 mornings a week do we get up against nature (that means with an alarm clock) and rush to leave the house.  The other mornings, we wake lazily and take our time facing the day.  Breakfast ranges from "here's a breakfast bar with your Pediasure" to "you're eating at daycare but here's your Pediasure" to "Daddy made pancakes and eggs, after you drink your Pediasure!"  We never know what the little one will be craving, but sometimes her cravings make me want to run into the street screaming. 

How can we make breakfast enticing, healthy, and fast?  Well, if M&Ms and marshmallows were good for us, my problem would be solved.  Since they're not, I'm going to borrow my dad's dehydrator and attempt a good trail mix.  My daughter loves dried bananas, apples, and blueberries.  I'm going to try mixing those with roasted, sliced almonds rolled in cinnamon sugar and a handful of Kashi O's (like cheerios, but minus the high fructose corn syrup).  On days that I need to bribe her, perhaps throwing in a few chocolate chips will work... but even with milk I think this will be yummy. 

Or at least I hope, because one more morning of "Honey, we're out of waffles, what else do you want?" leading to 6 open packages, mom's late for work, and a tantrum isn't good for my sanity!

First round with DIY Laundry Detergent

I posted earlier about making my own laundry detergent, and I spent 2 weeks searching for ingredients and recipes.  Unfortunately, 99% of the recipes I found called for Washing Soda.  I have looked in every store I've been into in the last few weeks (and some I just happen to drive by) but with no luck.  So, I decided to play around with my own recipe.  This is what worked for me, keeping in mind that I have naturally VERY hard water, thus a water softener.

For a small test batch, I mixed:

• 2 Tablespoons Borax (20 Mule Team)
• 2 Tablespoons Baking SODA
• 1/4 bar of Fels-Naptha Laundry Sopa (Measured soap to be 4 inches across, cut 1 inch off and shredded)

I mixed all the finely ground particles together and added 2 tablespoons of the mixture to the washer, medium load.   I did 3 medium-large loads, all came out great!  I don't yet have enough for a whites load, which will be the real test, but so far so good.  I have a 10-year old top-loading machine with agitator, and I use about 1/4 cup vinegar + 1/4 cup water as fabric softener.  If you have an HE washing machine, I would suggest starting out with less detergent - maybe 1 Tablespoon per load. 

Based on what I paid for my materials, cost is $0.09-$0.14 per load.  Is this cheaper than commercial detergent?  Not by much, depending on which brand you buy.  Is it safer for the environment?  I don't know.  Does it contain fewer chemicals all around?  Yup.  It would be even better if an organic castile soap were used in place of the Fels-Naptha, but the FN was much cheaper for me to experiment with.  

Being a child of the 80's, I was excited about this recipe and my feat.  My best friend - just as excited.  My mom, grandma, and aunt - they laughed at me and said "Why bother?"  I'm guessing its a generational thing, but this is just something I've always wanted to try!  Is it completely about being frugal, or the environment, or fragrance-free?  Not really....  But life continues.  Happy washing!

Looking for an indoor workout that's cheap and fast?

I live in Wisconsin, so taking a walk after dinner (between November and March) isn't an option in my quest to be more physically active. We have a Wii that we enjoy, but no room in the living room to utilize it. I have a wonderful elliptical downstairs, but then when I take the stairs at work I feel like a schlepp - I need a better all-over fitness regime.

Meaghan, meet Jillan Michaels.


A relative raved about Jillian's 30 Day Shred DVD, but I'm not that in to workout videos. But then I heard 2 girls at work talking about it (I work with exercise physiologists) so I figured - for $10, what can it hurt?

Oh, it will hurt alright!

Thirty Day Shred is a program that offers 3 stages. Each stage is 20 minutes, with a warm-up, several circuits (2 minutes of cardio, 2 minutes of strength training, 1 minute of abs), and cool down. In the beginning, you do stage 1 only, then stage 2 when you feel ready, up to stage 3.  Some people choose to do all 3 stages for a 60 minute workout.  The only equipment needed, besides TV and DVD player, are 5-lb hand weights and a mat (if you're working out on a hard floor).   

Intended to be done every day for 30 days, there is a guarantee from Jillian that you will be pounds lighter or more firm at month's end.  I'm not as physically fit as I wish, so I vowed to meet her twice a week for a month at stage 1. The EP's I work with agree that everyday for 30 days is not ideal, ESPECIALLY if you do not work out on a regular basis. For me, 2 days per week plus 2 days of elliptical is a pretty decent goal. I'm hoping within 6 months to be doing level 3... at least once per week - LOL.

There are two things I dislike about the video: crappy music and lots of jumping jacks.  I have been blessedly endowed for a long time, and these girls don't handle jumping jacks well at all.  Ladies, a good sports bra is crucial for this workout! 

Jillian, between your 30 Day Shred and Master Your Metabolism... you're the force behind "No pain, no gain." But I like it!

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

I just finished reading Fast Food Nation, an intense piece of non-fiction by Eric Schlosser.  Several chapters seem to be an updated version of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, but still an excellent read. 

I don't think that Schlosser has supremely great skills as an author, but as a researcher he really examined every aspect of the fast food industry.  In fact, there are aspects to Fast Food Nation that were completely unexpected.  I thought I would pick this book up to read about all the horrible fats, calories, and other hidden dangers available at the drive-through window.  I had no idea that Schlosser would take us behind the fast food store into the meat packing industry.  He looks at bioengineered food, unions, slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, government, and so much more. 

I wasn't riveted to the point of completing the book in a day or two, but I did stay up late several nights in a row fascinated by the "secrets" uncovered here.  Fast Food Nation would be a great piece to read in high school, if not for the fact that most high school students wouldn't understand much of the book.  The other caveat is that the book was published in 2001, and the version I read updated with an "afterward" in 2002 or 2003.  I'd like to know how things have changed since then, it being the dawn of 2010.  Overall, great book - a must read even if you love your Happy Meal (yes, I do... well, I did).   

Do Not Mail Registry - Sign the Petition!!

Use the link below to suport a petition for a Do Not Mail registry, similar to the Do Not Call registry!

Do Not Mail : ForestEthics

Reusable bags on a keychain

I LOVE these bags because they fold into themselves and have a carabiner - clip on to your key chain and never be stuck without a bag again!

Chicobag changed their logo, so old-logo bags are on sale for $1.50 apiece.  Shipping is very reasonable.  If you are interested in wrapping green-ly, and newspaper is not working for you (priceless art once the kids attach stickers!!), Chicobag has a great idea for using reusable bags as gifting bags - L O V E it!!

Now I can go to bed :)

A first - Making my own cleaner

In an attempt to be frugal (i.e. cheap, penny-pincher, save money) AND green (i.e. eco-friendly, save the planet, non-toxic for my child) I have been searching for recipes to make my own laundry detergent, dishwasher soap, and dish soap.  Part of my search is that I want items I can pick up at my local big-box store, instead of leaving a carbon footprint by driving 30 miles into "town" where the organic-friendly market is.

I found a 4-pound box of Borax (20 Mule Team brand, made by Dial Corp) at my local Pick n Save grocery store on sale for $2, so here goes.  The recipe I picked from many comes from The Naturalisa's Blog - she has several recipes for cleaning that I like, and she actually updates on what works and what doesn't (Thanks Noelle!!). 

One thing I want to note here: Essential Oils are not just used as a scent, but rather serve a purpose.  EO explanations can be found at Aura Cacia, on of my favorites.  I have heard of "therapeutic" essential oils, primarily from friends who independently represent Young Living.  I own several oils from YL, Aura Cacia, and a local scent shop.  I intend to use what I have around the house for the purpose of cleaning supplies.

I'll update as I use!