Cabooses

I think the very best place in my town for a picnic on a nice day is the train station. At least, it's great if you have a little boy.

We don't have a big train station that's open all the time. It's only open a few minutes before the Amtrak rolls through, a couple times a week, on its way to or from Port Huron or Chicago.





But it does have something cool... three brightly-painted cabooses. This was always a place Logan and I loved to come for a picnic. We'd just sit on a caboose and eat whatever lunch we brought, and if we got lucky, a train would go by or the little green and yellow work train would be busily shunting grain cars at the grain elevator. I am surprised that I never see other moms with their kids at the cabooses. We've spent a lot of time there!

Logan's over the whole train fascination now (something I thought would never happen!) but Jordan likes them a lot, so I get to have caboose picnics again! Fun! Plus, they're a really picturesque place to take photos. As a matter of fact, I wish I'd had some of my senior photos taken here or maybe even some on our wedding day. That would have been neat.

Today is Logan's last day of school, so I took Jordan over to the cabooses for a special picnic lunch, just the two of us together, before big brother is home for the summer. It was wonderful. Have a look.









I see London, I see France, I see someone's green FLIP diaper!



Fun memories with my boy







I LOVE this photo of him just hanging out on the back of the caboose, eating his peach



Don't look down!



Kicking my feet up and enjoying my lunch



He was cracking up at these sparrows that kept landing on the tracks. I think they were building a nest somewhere. On a really gross note, check out the disgusting amount of backwash in Jordan's Kool-Aid. One reason I NEVER share my drinks with him!





Checking out the wheels and stuff underneath

Camping chow

Do you remember the "Lowered Expectations" bit from MadTV? It was like a dating service for, well, people who might have a difficult time meeting other people because they were, like, serial killers or cat freaks or whatever? Well, I hear the little jingle from that bit going through my mind whenever I pack the food for camping.

I adore camping. Getting out in the woods with my husband and sons is something that just takes all the stresses and makes it float away. Getting ready to go is another thing altogether, though. I turn into a list-making machine the week before we leave. Particularly, planning out the food for the trip is a source of stress for me. I don't know why it gets my panties in such a bunch to deal with something that should be so simple, but it does. I guess it is partly because if you don't have every component of every dish, you're out of luck. What if it rains and you were planning to cook on the campfire? Also, there are four people to take into consideration, and I like to try to prepare meals that everyone will enjoy. I don't really want any mealtime battles on vacation.

At home, I try to serve my family mostly healthy foods. We have a couple boxed/processed items in the cupboards, but for the most part I try to stay away from too much of that stuff. Of course, with kids, things like Goldfish crackers are pretty much a staple.

But when we go camping, we don't eat nearly as healthy. I was appalled when I got groceries for our first camping trip of the year. It looked like, well, what I think a LOT of Americans' regular grocery shopping trips look like. Sad. A lot of junk. Sure, there were a few fruits and veggies in there, but I had definitely lowered my standards.

Here's a glimpse...



Here's what my planned meals looked like:

Breakfasts: Cereal, oatmeal, fruit (either fruit cups or fresh) and yogurt.

Lunches: Sandwiches. Ham & cheese or PB&J. I got the Simply Fruit jelly but shamefully got the Jif to Go peanut butter instead of the natural kind. Each little cup is just the right size to make a sandwich for each of the four of us, and the package of 8 cups will probably last us through the summer for camping. Plus, unlike with the natural PB, we won't have oily leakage! Learned that one from experience!!! Also we have fresh veggies with hummus, trail mix and beef jerky, or cheese and crackers and ring bologna.

Dinners: I planned three nights' worth. One was Koegel Vienna hot dogs and raw veggies with hummus. The second was ham steaks, crescent rolls cooked on a stick over the fire, and some sort of canned veggies. Probably green beans. The third was chicken fajitas (I'll pre-cook the chicken at home) and chips w/ guacamole I make at camp (the kind where you just mix a packet with the avocados).

As for snacks, I got a bag of potato chips (I never buy chips, except mini bags for the Chore Store, and tortilla chips to have with homemade salsa and guacamole) and, of course, I took stuff to make s'mores.

To drink, we took milk, orange juice and a copuple Powerades (it was 69 cents for a 32 ounce bottle so I figured it would be a treat. Plus, I always get dehydrated when we camp because I forget to drink water). We also each take our stainless steel water bottles to refill at the campground tap.

The funny thing is, when we camp, after a day or so my tummy tells me in no uncertain terms that it is unhappy with my food choices. Especially after hot dog and marshmallow night. My gut HATES that stuff! You'd think I'd learn, but I don't.

One day I'd like to figure out how to maybe not take quite so much junk camping. A little is fine, but when I'm getting tummy aches and often can't wait to eat a normal meal when we get home, something needs to change.

How about you? Do you eat healthy on vacation, totally junk out, or somewhere in between?

Cheap peace of mind

Childproofing.

I've never been a huge child proofer. I mean, I have most of our outlets plugged (but Jordan knows how to pull out the caps and put them back in) and of course I have any chemicals put up in high cupboards, but I never went to the extreme that a lot of parents do. I want my kids to be safe, but there should also be a little live and learn. I never, for example, got rid of my house plants (no poisonous ones) because I wanted my kids to learn to stay out of them. That meant, unfortunately, that each of them got a handful of cactus pickers at one time or another, but that's living and learning.

Jordan scares me, though. For one thing, he's a climber.

But his most recent trick has given me a number of mini heart attacks lately.

He escapes.

Seriously, I turn my back for two seconds and he's GONE. Out the front door, across the neighborhood, GONE. Locks don't baffle him. Barricading the door with a table? Minor obstacle. And he's fearless, and knows no boundaries. He will go into a neighbor's garage or house, out into the road, through the woods, into the swamp, wherever. No limits. Once last week I found him in the front seat of my car, pretending to drive.

I can see it now, my disheveled, tearstained face on the news... "I didn't even know he'd gotten out..."

Scary.

And he's FAST.

When Logan was this age, I used hook-and-eye closures on our screen doors at the old house. It worked well. However, we don't have screens here and there is fancy wooden trim around the front door, which would make using a hook difficult, and also it would permanently damage the wood.

My friend Eva told me she'd seen a door alarm at the dollar store. Well, I thought, it's only a buck. I didn't expect much, but I went to the store, found them, and bought the last two they had.

It looks like this







You simply peel and stick to the door and frame, switch it on and then when the door is opened, a really annoying alarm sounds.

So far, it works well. I have ample notice when Jordan makes a break for it. It's exactly what I needed, really. I love that you can turn it off, too. I just have to remember to do so. I set it off at 5 o'clock this morning when I left for the gym.

Jordan thinks it's hilarious to set it off, but so far, he hasn't been opening the door JUST to set it off. He just laughs when he happens to do so.

Here's Jordan, demonstrating how it works:



Anyway, I got it at Dollar Tree for a buck and it is called IntrudAlert, and I can say it does exactly what it's supposed to do. It might even make me feel a bit safer if Hubby's on a business trip.

Dollar Tree and IntrudAlert don't know me, didn't solicit this review, and I gained nothing from them to write this. It's just me sharing a bit of valuable info with other moms!

My foodie alphabet

My food guru is my friend Tina. Seriously, she has an amazing approach to eating--mostly--healthy and she comes up with (or digs up) really fantastic recipes such as Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes. She is the one that finally taught me how to marinate portobello mushrooms and now I eat them all the time. She also introduced me to peanut butter in oatmeal. Oh, and fish tacos. This girl knows what she's doing!

She's been an online buddy of mine for a while (she lives in Georgia, so I haven't met her in person, but that doesn't matter! I still consider her a good friend!) and I ADORE her blog Faith, Fitness, Fun (Go check it out. It's OK... I'll wait.)

So anyway, she did a fun little post the other day and since she's my food inspiration, I thought I'd copy her. Plus, for some reason, I love filling out--and reading--these kinds of things.

Here it is, the food ABCs of me:

A is for Apple: What’s your favorite variety?

Pacific Rose is #1, and it has an amazingly short season. My husband once asked me if these apples were less good-for-you than others because they're so sweet. Seems like barely anyone has heard of them. A very close second is Honeycrisp. They have a slightly longer season, but it's still limited. This time of year, i settle for Gala or pink lady. If you can find them before they get mealy, Ambrosia apples are also awesome.

B is for Bread: Regardless of nutrition, what is your favorite type?

I'm not a big bread eater, but I LOVE the yeast rolls from Logan's Road House. I could probably just have 10 of them and happily call it my meal.

C is for Cereal: What is your favorite kind currently? (just one!)

I don't eat cereal very often, but I could do a LOT of damage with Koala Crisp. It's like organic brown rice Cocoa Krispies. I do like raisin bran, too.

D is for Donuts: You might not currently eat them, but what kind do you fancy?

Tim Horton's Boston Cream. The ones with the fudgy stuff on top. Yum. I also like a good blueberry donut.

E is for Eggs: How would you like yours prepared?

I've been eating 2-egg omelets lately with Swiss cheese and chopped green olives.

F is for Fat Free: What is your favorite fat free product?

Black cherry Chobani yogurt! Pineapple's my fave but it's 2%, not fat free. If we're going naturally fat free, I'm crazy for fruit!

G is for Groceries: Where do you purchase yours?

Meijer, with very occasional pit stops to Kroger, Wal-Mart or Whole Foods.

H: is for Hot Beverages: What is your favorite hot drink?

Coffee, daily, with a splash of whole milk.

I is for Ice Cream: Pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.

I love Breyer's natural vanilla (the kind with the bean specks) topped with salted peanuts.

J is for Jams or Jellies: Do you eat them? If so, what kind and flavor?

Any kind my dad makes. I don't buy jam or jelly. Actually, I might if the Jam Pot wasn't something like twelve hours away. It's this amazing little roadside place next to a waterfall in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There's a monastery across the road and the monks pick wild fruits and make jams and baked goods. SIMPLY INCREDIBLE and VERY out-of-the-way. Actually, you can order it via mail. Check it out. The Thimbleberry Jam is to DIE FOR!

K is for Kashi: Name your favorite Kashi product?

I like Kashi GoLean Cruch Honey Almond Flax, but I rarely buy it because one bowl of it will have me hardcore tooting for the rest of the day. What's IN that stuff? I call Kashi "Seven Whole Grains on a Mission to Clear a Room in Two Seconds Flat."

L is for Lunch: What was yours today?

It's 8:42 a.m. so I don't know. I'm thinking the leftover half hamburger and whole grilled portobello from dinner last night and some berries.

M is for microwave: What is your favorite microwave meal/snack?

Amy's frozen Cheese Enchilada Whole Meal. HOLY GOODNESS! I don't eat frozen meals often but I'll get this as a treat once in a while. It's a cheese enchilada, black beans and corn. It's kinda greasy but sooooooo yummy!

N is for nutrients: Do you likes carbs, fats, or proteins best?

I think I'm a fat lover. I can go all sorts of crazy on nuts and avocado.

O is for oil: What kind do you like to use?

I use olive oil most, but love cooking in coconut oil (or, um, eating it with a spoon.) I like walnut oil on salads.

P is for protein: How do you get yours?

However. Eggs, nuts and nut butters, legumes, meat, dairy. A good mix.

Q is for Quaker: How do you like your oats?

My favorite is cooking the oats and then adding 2 tablespoons of milled flax, a generous handful of black/blue/rasp/strawberries (whatever I have) and a tablespoon or so of natural peanut butter.

R is for roasting: What is your favorite thing to roast?

BRUSSELS SPROUTS!!! But Hubby and the boys don't much care for them so I don't make them often.

S is for sandwich: What’s your favorite kind?

Hmmm... I don't really eat a ton of sandwiches. I do love hamburgers. I think that counts, since it's bread and meat. My favorite 2 fast food sandwiches are the worst for you: McDonald's filet o' fish and Subway's tuna salad. Both really bad for you but tasty. I'll get one once or twice a year, usually on vacation. I recently made a tuna salad (made with hummus), avocado, cucumber and homegrown alfalfa sprout on a Slimwich bun for lunch and it was really super tasty. Extra bonus healthy points too! ;)

T is for travel: How do you handle eating while traveling?

We used to go out to eat when we traveled, but not so much with two little kids. Much of our travel is camping or hiking, so I pack food from home for that. If we're hotelling it, we stick to easy stuff like Subway, grilled chicken from KFC, or a container of chicken fried rice, which everyone will eat. Not super healthy, for sure, but whatever. It's vacation.

U is for unique: What is one of your weirdest food combos?

I'm sure there's something, but I can't think of it right now. I love the taste of green olives and chocolate together, though. I was so excited to find a kalamata olive & white chocolate bar from Vosges. It's pretty yummy!

V is for vitamins: What kind do you take?

Should but don't usually get around to it.

W is for wasabi: Yay or nay?

I LOVE those wasabi-coated dried peas and the Wasabi Soy almonds, but I don't eat regular wasabi. Probably because I don't eat sushi!

X is XRAY: If we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?

Hard-boiled egg and half a banana from before my workout and coffee with milk from after.

Y is for youth: What food reminds you of your childhood?

Pan-friend perch or bluegill. My dad would go fishing, come home, clean the fish and mom would cook them right up. SO STINKIN' GOOD. I haven't mastered it, so I never have this meal unless I have it at my parents' house. I don't fry. I'm afraid of it, therefore I suck at it.

Z is for zucchini: How do you prepare it?

Ew. One of the few veggies I don't care for. I DO, however, like it in cookies, breads or muffins, so when everyone has zucchinis coming out of their ears in late summer, I'll often whip up a batch of zucchini cookies.

Well, a whole lot of words and no photos. Sorry.

If you copy this and do it on your blog, let me know. I'd love to see your answers!

ecoSTORE USA review

Ever since I did my first ecoSTORE USA review, I've been a fan of their products. Not only are they eco-friendly and made here in good old Michigan, they actually work well!

In fact, if you take a peek in my cleaning cupboards



or in my bathroom closet



you'll see that I buy a lot of the stuff when they run their great "double your order plus free shipping" sale. There are a few things, like the bar soaps, the toilet cleaner and the automatic dishwasher powder, that I don't want to run out of.

So, being a fan, of course I jumped on the opportunity to review a couple products when it was offered to me recently. I was given the improved toilet cleaner and also the glass cleaner to try.



My box arrived just in time. I had made homemade mango salsa and my stove top was a nightmare. I decided I'd really put the glass cleaner to the test.

Pardon the photos. The lighting in my kitchen combined with black granite and stainless steel means I can't take excellent, clear photos. I think you can tell that the stove top is a LOT cleaner after, though.

Before



After



The glass cleaner smells like plain old vinegar, and I usually use a mix of vinegar and water for glass cleaning. I am not sure this worked any better than the vinegar and water, to be honest, but I can say that without a doubt, the ecoSTORE glass cleaner did the job and did it well. That's more than can be said for all the other glass cleaners out there that I've tried, especially any of those dumb BLUE ones. They all leave awful streaks and smell horrible. I don't even want to THINK about what's in them. I love that I can give the ecoSTORE stuff to my six-year-old when he's doing his chores, and I don't have to worry if he gets it on his hands while he's cleaning.

My bathroom was in pretty sad shape, too, so I was able to use the glass cleaner in there as well as the toilet cleaner.

I'm not sure what was improved about the toilet cleaner, but it's in a bigger bottle and it still works great! LOVE that stuff!

I'll spare you a before photo of the bathroom, but it sure was sparkling clean AFTER!



In a house with me and three men, one of which is a two-year-old Mess Master, we need plenty of glass cleaner and toilet cleaner. I am thrilled to have found an eco-friendly version of each that does its job well.

The next ecoSTORE thing I plan to try out is the baby moisturizer, but not for my babies. For me! I've heard great things about it. Honestly, I'll probably end up trying out everything they offer, since I've been happy with all the items I've used so far.

ecoSTORE USA products can be found at Meijer stores, or online.

Call me Charlotte

There I was last week, hurriedly frosting, gum dropping and sprinklizing dozens of cupcakes to take in for Logan's birthday snack at school.



I am deep in the midst of the Terrible Twos with Jordan. He's been quite challenging lately. Not only crabby and vocal, but making huge messes and causing lots of trouble, too. As I've been dealing with this, I've also been dealing with a nasty sinus thing that leaves my head pounding, my eyes feeling like they're going to bug out of my head, my nose completely stuffed and my throat aching because I've been mouth-breathing. I'm hot stuff these days.

At one point, it all culminated. Jordan got up from a way-too-short nap and screamed. Hard. For about 45 minutes. And Logan was screaming because Jordan was screaming.

I threatened to leave and never come back. Really, I did.

Then I got a little hysterical weepy and shut myself in the laundry room and called my BFF, sobbing, and tried to form words until I calmed down a little.

A few minutes later, I realized something. I was pretty much mirroring the scene in Sex and the City 2, where Charlotte is frosting a zillion cupcakes for her older daughter, Lily, to take to school, as her Terrible Two-year-old daughter, Rose, goes bonkers screaming. Charlotte ducks into the pantry and loses it.

I was Charlotte.

Well, except I didn't have a beautiful, braless Irish nanny swoop in to save the day. I just had to get on with it.

This is what I looked like a little while afterward.



Anyway, I thought I'd do a little post to share just a hint of what the Terrible Twos are looking like in our house.

Tiny Legos everywhere. He pulls off the floor vents and puts them in there. They haven't gone into the toilet or up his nose yet. I hope he doesn't read this and get any ideas.



TP makes a great boa. It does NOT belong on the roll. Nor does tissue belong in the box.



Books do NOT belong ON the shelf.



I don't know exactly how he did this to his shirt. He was totally trapped. Also, the hand in the diaper thing? Constant. Great times when he poops, too, let me tell you!



Hand stuck in water bottle.



Right after I snapped the photo, he worked it free, looked at me and said "Oh no!"



Then he tried to jam BOTH hands in there.



But they wouldn't fit.



So he dumped it all on the counter and floor. I didn't get a shot of that.

So yeah, it's been a bit tricky around here lately. As my mom always says, it's a good thing he's cute.



And he is. So cute.



And he's totally in a Mommy phase, which gets annoying but I sooooo love it when he gives me those precious baby kisses.



So, I guess I'll keep him.

SIX

Fresh off the assembly line



One



Two



Three



Four



Five



SIX!!!!!



Happy birthday Logan! I love you so much!