Fall 2012 Garden Update no. 2

What's growing in our garden this Fall, an update...

We invested in these lovely metal yard dividers to keep the dogs out of the garden.

They sort of work.

 Here's what the whole garden looks like.

This is Oregano I purchased at Trader Joe's and have been too busy to replant. 

This is our Spaghetti Squash. {it doesn't look this good after the "cold" front we've had this week, but I think it will come back just fine in a few days.}

Kale and other leafy greens sneaking in the photo. 

I was so excited to see this little tomato plant, but when I checked on it today, I couldn't find it.

That cold front must have killed it. 

Spring salad mix. 

Pumpkin! 

My Fairy Tale and Italian Squashes were doing good up until a few weeks ago, I think they're done for, but here's to hoping. {I still water the whole area, so they might make a comeback} 

Fairy Tale Squash {up until a few days ago, now it's looking pretty gone} 

Carrots! 

Sugar Pumpkins {also probably gone after this cold front} 

Look how nicely they were coming in! 

More Pumpkins 

Thanks for following along with our garden progress, I'll post again when we get some produce to eat! Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long!

-Jenn

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Holiday Party Revisited.

Last year, around this time we had a Winter Solstice party and I never shared the images   The holidays are always such a busy time, I forgot to blog about it!  Please forgive me and enjoy these lovely details from the party...

The Table. {I sewed the table cloth and made the centerpieces}

Husband made the dinner and Pasta sauce.

I save all my Lorina French Lemonade bottles and reuse them for classy water distribution at parties. 

To remove labels, soak in HOT soapy water for 20 minutes.  They SLIDE right off.

Place on kosher salt for an icy display.

These ball jars are filled with epsom salt {to look like snow} then filled with UNSCENTED candles {no one wants to smell sweet scents with their dinner} and labeled as place holders.

I used the transparent avery labels and "budmo jiggler" font. 

All lit up.

The party. 

Happy Holiday Entertaining!

-Jenn

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Winter Cookies {photo documentation and a gift idea}

This past week we made sugar cookies.  It's a tradition I loved with my mom growing up and wanted to continue the creative process with my daughter.  Aunt Brittany helped with the baking and below you can follow along with the whole messy process...

Before Baking.

After Baking.

Waiting to be decorated until tomorrow.

The recipe above is what I used, but I think since I used almond milk instead of regular it prevented the frosting from fully mixing properly.  It has little white specs in it as you might notice below, I would use regular milk next time.

I have a few of these wonderful non-toxic sprinkles, that I've collected over the past few years.

*editor's note: Like anything else, it can be difficult to make a more environmentally responsible switch when the cost of the better product is so overwhelming.  Each one of these lovely sprinkles is about $5 and can be found here.  So, I made the switch slowly.  I kept all my old sprinkles, dyed with who-knows-what and as they ran out, I replaced them with these natural ones.  

It's the same advice I give to families who are considering cloth diapering.  You don't have to do it all at once!  It would be so overwhelming to make such a huge change, when you're already in a routine.  But, maybe, use cloth at night {less likely for baby to poop}.  Its the longest time period for the baby to have a chemical free bottom.  Then, as you get more comfortable integrate them in more frequently, you can add more cloth time and less disposable.  Keep your stash of disposables and use them when necessary.  Some environmental contentious change is better than none.  And It's the same for switching to a paperless kitchen.  You don't have to get rid of paper towels.  Keep a secret stash so you can clean up too gross of messes with those, or when your laundry didn't get done.  But, by slowly adding to your collection of cloth towels and using them instead of paper, you'll make progress.  And that's how it is with everything in our home.  We're making slow shifts in the way we shop as to not destroy our budget, but to allow for gradual environmental responsibility and overall health.  Hopefully, this extra information will allow for you to consider a similar path to Organic, Healthy, Environmentally friendly products.*

Note to self; I thought the parchment paper would help contain the mess.

It did not. 

Above: the finished cookies!

As for the cookie recipe itself, here's what I used...
1 1/2 cups softened butter
2 cups organic coconut or raw sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour
2 1/2 cups organic white flour
1 teaspoon salt

bake at 400* F for 6-8 minutes.

I also made these for my nephews by cutting the above recipe in half and fitting into the larger ball jars.  I added a unique cookie cutter for each.  {I modified and added chocolate chips and brown sugar to the one on the left}

Happy Baking and Gift Giving!

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European Planning Post no. 1

We're planning our Winter Getaway 2013 and I'm loving every second of it.  Literally, dreaming of French Macaroons and Swiss Fondue {but we can blame that on the pregnancy}.  It's going to be amazing.  and cold.  probably very cold.  But I'll be in Europe, so, there will be no complaining.

I decided to document this trip as best I can, here, for all my readers to know the planning process for such a big trip.  Not only is my little family going, but some extended family and friends too.  A serious planning task, one I would not be comfortable with if I hadn't done similar trips in the past.  This will be my 4th trip to Europe, my 2 {and a half} trip planned by myself.  The other two were with EF tours.  Once when I was in high school to Spain, 17 days, and again with EF tours as a chaperon with the teacher I student taught with.  That trip was 4 counties in 15 days, and Husband, my sister and I stuck around for an extra 2 weeks in a few other countries {planned by yours truly}.

This trip is going to be a two new countries and about 20 days {four countries total}.  I'm not sharing the exact dates or hotels BEFORE we travel for obvious safety reasons {sorry, creeps} but I'll be posting ALL the details once we're back safe in the states.

Step one of any trip is setting a budget {and sticking to it}...

Because of the amount of time, number of people and quality expectations I have, my family is budgeting around $10,000 to include airfare, hotel, food, spending and Eurail passes.

The breakdown for my budget is this:
Airfare: expected to be about $1,800 per person x 3 people {baby will be on my lap},
              but could be as low as $1090 a person according to recent searches.
Eurail: Select Pass 4 countries 6 days $474 per person x 2 {my kiddos are free}
Hotel: $50 per adult x 2 {making our nightly average around $100 USD} a night x 20 nights
Food and spending: $100 a day for our family {about $30 a meal with little spending money} x 20 days

Total: $10,348
Hopefully the airfare can really be as low as I've found, that would be super helpful, but I'm guessing high so if we have money left over we can splurge on more museums and souvenirs.

Step two is picking out where you can afford to go and in what order...
We knew we wanted Europe, and once we set a monthly savings goal we picked our favorite cites, based on proximity.
After looking at a map, getting input from the various members of the group and based on where we wanted to be for what holidays, we decided on Option 1.  Option 3 would have put us in Barcelona for New Year's Eve, which I really, really wanted.  Option 2 would have allowed us to spend a week in Calabria with Husband extended family on their farm.  But, Option 1 allowed for the most new cities and got the winning vote.

Step three is booking the trip...
This is a little more complicated than just "booking it."  I decided to start booking from the middle out.  Since we knew Paris was going to be our second city, I started there.  We are going to be there for a few nights and by having everyone book their room, now, a year out; we were able to confirm who was serious about actually going on this trip.  I DID NOT start with the first city on our trip, because we don't have tickets yet. Tickets will be available on Expedia soon.  But until then, I want to make sure we have some flexibility on the arrival and departure dates {in case, ticket prices fluctuate on a given day or other travel reason}.  Also, Hotels fill up quicker than plane tickets, and it's a good idea to get them a year out, when you still have choices.

Another thing to consider when booking a hotel is their cancellation policy.  It's up to you, if you want to book a refundable room.  I'd rather save money than consider cancelling or rescheduling, even though it's riskier that way.  What if we miss our flight, what if we get sick, what if, what if, what if.  I've had good experiences with hotels in the past and if you give them enough notice they're usually reasonable about refunding the money, or allowing you to reschedule.  And if not, they usually just charge a $35 {or more} fee for cancelling, which is about the cost of getting a refundable room anyway.  So, I prefer to pay it if necessary, instead of as a precaution.  Either way, you'll want to consider what is best for you, and how it will affect your budget for your hotels.

And that's part one of our planning so far.

Hotel in Paris Booked!

Next will be Geneva and Lucerne, Switzerland...
I want to get tattooed while in Geneva by Kim Anh-Nguyen {but her schedule might not allow it}, and a high school friend is now living in Lucerne so I'm very, very excited for Switzerland!


Safe Travels,
Jenn

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Fall 2012 Garden Update no. 1

Meant to share these back in October, but here is the start to our Fall Garden!  We actually have a lot more progress than these photos show.  So, I'll be sure to snap some photographs this week and give you another update!

Until then, here are our happy seedlings from this season...

Lettuce Seedlings {above} 

 Squash Seedlings {above}

 A Pumpkin!  {above}

 The Pumpkin was started indoors in August and transferred Successfully! outside in September.

This fall, I planted Spaghetti Squash, Kale, Lettuce, Carrots, Tomatoes, Yellow Squash, Fairy Tale Squash and Pumpkins!  Everything was planted from seed and the tomatoes are the only things I haven't seen yet.  Another update coming soon!

-Jennifer

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