Weekly Meal Plan

Three Bean Chili

Spaghetti with Lemon, Basil & Salmon

Poached Eggs in Tomato sauce

Tuna & Potato Salad

Sour Cream Pancakes

Spinach, Feta and Red Pepper quiche

Tuna Puttanesca

Veggie Burgers with grill potatoes and asparagus

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Flatbread


Just ignore the f-ed up spacing, I can't figure it out

Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, and all things eco, here is a list of things you can do to start being more eco friendly.

• Paper napkins to cloth napkins
• Paper towels to cloth towels or something like Skoy cloths
• Tissues to handkerchiefs
• Paper, plastic or Styrofoam plates to your kitchen plates
• Disposable utensils to regular silverware
• Disposable water bottles to (again) reusable bottles like Thermos, Klean Kanteen or Camelbak
• Plastic sandwich bags or paper lunch bags to reusable containers/bags
• Plastic straws to glass or stainless steel straws
• Swiffers (or similar products) to a broom and dustpan or mop (or use reusable cloths like cloth diapers/terry inserts in your Swiffer)
• Disposable dust rags to cloth rags
• Disposable diapers to cloth diapers
• Disposable baby wipes to cloth wipes (inexpensive plain washcloths work really well)
• Disposable feminine products (tampons, pads) to reusables like DivaCup, MoonCup, Glad Rags, Luna Pads, Pretty Pads, or New Moon Pads, among others. You can even make your own pads.
• Grocery store bags to reusable bags
• Disposable wrapping paper or gift bags to reusable cloth gift bags
• Single-use batteries to rechargeable batteries

List via Crunchy Domestic Goddess

And for your viewing pleasure are some beautiful, earth mama goodness.

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Container Gardening

via

I'm very excited to plant a container garden this year. Last year I planted some basil and flat leaf parsley that was dried up within a few weeks because I forgot to water them consistently. That's my problem; consistency. Anyway, I've been doing a little research over the past few weeks on the types of vegetables that will grow well in containers and have narrowed it down to:

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Lettuce (such as Black Seeded Simpson)
  

• Green Onion

• Chive

Plus

• Flat Leaf Parsley

• Basil

It's not that much but it's still very ambitious, as I'm not sure how well everything will fair on the very sunny patio, plus my problem with consistency, also my fear of spiders...

I still have a few things to consider in regards to soil and fertilizer. I need soil and fertilizer/compost. I haven't started my own compost yet so I'll have to stick to the store bought. Below are a few ideas to make my little container garden not only functional, but stylish too

I can't forget some sweet wellies for muddy spring days

Identity

Mike and I picked up some Pad Thai the other day and tucked neatly into my fortune roll was the following message.

                                                                        "Never cling to any single identity"

I liked this. A lot. It's something I've been thinking about/struggling with for years. As soon as Mike's tattoos became visible people began forming their own opinions on the "type" of person he is. Most people would never think a guy with a sleeve tattoo, true religion jeans and black frame glasses would be a cop, and I like that. Some people, however, take his tattoos as a sign that they should pull their kids closer to them when they walk past him. Really? He’s eating dinner at the Olive Garden with his 75 year old Grandma, but I digress. I wouldn't want to be with someone that fits so neatly and rigidly into a specific mold. Unfortunately, a lot of people fit into this one dimensional mold and that is where people come up with their preconceived notions. For example, on a whim the other day I got a “Monroe” facial piercing. I think it’s cute and fun and that’s the gist of it. I’m afraid, however, that this will place me into some people’s ideas of the “type” of person I am. I’m not hardcore, I don’t work at a tattoo shop, I don’t listen to emo music and wear studded belts (not that there is anything wrong with that, just making a point). I like French country and hiking and classical music. I like sci-fi, and gardening and watching the discovery channel. You get the idea. I’m not a “type” of person, I'm me.

7 Random Facts

1. I originally wanted to be in fashion

2. I'm married to my high school sweetheart

3. I don't like watermelon

4. I cannot wait to have children

5. I can say the alphabet backwards

6. I have two tattoos; a ladybug on my ankle and the word "live" on my wrist

7. I'm a huge Harry Potter fan

Check out Leigh's 7 Random Facts at Marvelous Kiddo