Feeding my chil'ren

Any mom can attest to the maddening frustration that surrounds trying to feed your child healthy food that they will actually eat.  There have been sneaky attempts at filling your child with good food, like Jessica Sienfeld's "Deceptively Delicious" and probably lots of other less sneaky attempts.  Like my parents threatening to use the "food stuffer" on me if I didn't eat.  I think that is probably not AAP approved.  Well, I don't have food issues, so no harm, no foul.

I have one child who has food allergies of every kind, and so has pretty much eaten her own special diet these past three years.  Then I have another child who has been an avid fan of all things food her whole, short life. Until now. She is starting to snub all foods previously loved, including cheese toast. CHEESE TOAST??  Oh the horror.  What am I doing wrong?  Well, for starters, preparing three separate meals.  This is just generally exhausting for me.  Lately, we have been trying diligently to start preparing meals that the allergic child can share with us.  It has been working pretty well, and she is actually eating more new foods.  But it isn't like these carefully planned and prepared meals have been met with resounding joy and relish.  More like begrudging hunger.  And now I have to figure a way to work my 15 month old into the meal.

Problem #1: Food allergies in only one person
Problem #2:  The 15 month old is ready for dinner at 4:30.  Husband doesn't return from work until 6, on a good day.
Problem #3: Hubby is hungry and a little picky himself.
Problem #3: I'm a busy mom and really tired in the evening.

So needless to say this is a work in progress and I'm looking for all healthy and feasible options.

I came across this website, and it looks promising.  Thought I would pass it along in case there are other moms out there who have the same problem.  You know you do.  :)  Enjoy and Bon Appetite!

http://www.littlestomaks.com/

Pic of the countertop composter

Countertop composter!

I'm sitting down for 30 seconds to blog then I have to jump up and get back to my crazy Sunday.  This is the first time I have sat down all day!

I have nothing of import to report except that I found a countertop "compost keeper" at HEB.  So glad I don't have to order one online.  I feel like the only way I can find anything anymore is online!  I can't even believe how full our compost pile is already.  I feel so much better about the waste we make know that I can recycle a major portion of it and compost a growing portion.  I'm really looking forward to growing our own veggies, too.

I'm making my first vegan recipe this week out of my Veganomicon cookbook - which is fab, by the way - Black Bean Burgers.  I'm making red beans and rice tomorrow, so that is two meatless meals this week.  It's a start...

I ran a couple of miles this morning, pushing the baby jogger.  It is so much harder to do with the jogger! Sheesh!

Alright, back to 14 piles of laundry and dinner.  Good thing Tim just made a fresh pot of coffee!!

Short run

So despite my runny nose and sore throat I stuck out the training and
did my run. Fortunately it was a short one - only 15 min.

Now I'm enjoying some quiet time poolside with my book. Maybe Eva and
I will try toddler yoga today.

So sick of sick.

Well I did my swim yesterday, sore throat be damned. I got to class 15 minute early and swam a good 600 yds before class started only to find our coach planned on timing a mile. So I did a mile, in a cool 38:08. But I sure was tired after that. Lame-o swimmer here! Hopefully Casey and I will make it to Terramont on Sunday for some hills - that should hurt like the dickens!

In garden news, my compost is out there a-cookin'. I am ready to put another layer in, yet here I sit, blogging about it instead. I need to plant my herbs, too. I am a bit reticent to invest a whole lot of money - after all this is supposed to be a green/eco kind of thing, but i do need a countertop composter, so I guess I will order one. I've been using a big tupperware, and it is not so attractive.

AK, Eva and I trucked it to the mall to hit the Stride Rite BOGO sale and get our summer shoes on. I got two pairs for each of them if only because I couldn't really decide which ones to get!
I got the "Nala" sandals, which are great because they can wear them to school, ('cause their sneaks!) but they are still breathable. I got these for AK in the past and they got rather stinky by the end of the season since she didn't wear them with socks. So I thought I would get these washable ones instead, but they didn't have them in the store! Argh! So I got some other washable ones that aren't sandles, they are just regular sneaks, but they are washable. I really wish they had an all in one. May be better to just return all of them and get the washable sandals and forget the sale. I have so many problems. LOL.

I had some fun with the LightRoom3 Beta (which is free right now, by the way) this afternoon and made a lovely slide show. I'm getting closer and closer to wanting to do this for other people. I still need to practice my photography skills, but I sure do love it!

Here is the slide show!

Composting and gardening!

Tim has agreed to let me start a compost bin in the backyard. We went to Home Depot this weekend and got el cheap-o compost bin for like $50. Home Depot actually has some really reasonably priced, good, eco-gardening options. Including a rain collection urn that looks decent for about $100 and a 4x4 raised bed kit for $60.

Now, I know I don't have the time to tend a compost pile like a small pet, so I'm going to cold compost and take it slow. We have already collected quite a bit of kitchen refuse, so I need to set up the bin. I'm learning all about "greens" and "browns" and what is quality compost without inviting the 'coons to dinner. Here is what I have so far:

Browns:

Leaves and pine needles in the yard

trimmings from the hedges

shredded paper

paper towels

tissues

Greens:

apple cores

banana peels (a gajillion)

egg shell (only one, they break down really slowly)

left over brocolli

That should get us started right. I need a counter top compost pail, and I'm looking at the ones at www.gardners.com. Theirs are the cutests. I figure the counter top pail has to look decent since it will be very visible. We shall see how this goes!!

Off to the gym! I have to ride the bike for 45 min today, so I'm trying to make spinning at 9. I doubt I can get the troops in gear by then.