#40 St. Louis Earth Day Festival -- Composting & A Free Whole Foods Market Tour

April Favorites...

Sunday, April 21, 2013 was the St. Louis Earth Day festival held in beautiful Forest Park.  What wonderful weather we had for this event.  It was family and pet friendly.  That day happened to be my 23rd wedding anniversary -- and I'm such a health nut -- me and the family took a stroll in the park.  It was on the Muny grounds and there was much to see, hear and taste!!!  It was free and open to the public -- and I don't know how long they have been doing this in St. Louis but this is my 2nd or 3rd time attending.

Here are some pictures of the event...

Composting

I view life differently now since I'm into healthy living and I get excited about the darnedest things now-a-days! 

While at the fair, I ran into a company called Worm's Way.  I was soooooooo excited -- let me tell ya why!  I've been learning a lot about composting practices.  I learned about compost tea!!!  No you don't drink this tea -- you use it in your garden with the use of Red Wigglers.  What are Red Wigglers?  They are -- you guessed it -- worms.  If you are a gardener and don't know about red wigglers -- let me be the first to say -- you will want to get your hands on these babies!!!!  I called Worm's Way and they told me that they sell for -- GET THIS -- $40 for a one pound box (1,000 worms) and that did not include shipping!!!!!!!  I was also told that you can buy them off of Craigslist and other places I'm sure.

Anyway -- about the wigglers...

These are the hardest working worms I've ever read about (although I don't normally read about worms).  According to Wormcompostingorganic in their February 2011 article entitled Red Wiggler Facts --  Red Wiggler are a breed of worms similar to an Earth Worm like you would usually use for fishing bait. They are a little smaller though and a little more red. They are very popular because many people use them for indoor composting to create fertilizer. 

One pound of Red Wiggler is approximately 1,000 worms. That 1,000 worms can eat about a half pound of organic table scraps per day. They will eat most anything that is plant based. Everything from apple and banana peels, to left over salad, to coffee grinds and left over tea bags. Keep in mind they don’t like spicy items, onions, and salad dressing (although a little salad dressing from left overs is fine).

After about 90 days in an average sized bin you’ll have some of the best compost you’ve ever seen. Add it to your indoor potted plants, your flowers, or you backyard garden and watch you plants take off. http://www.wormcompostingorganic.com/red-wiggler-facts/

I will be starting my worm bin in May.  Can't wait to order my worms.  If you are interested in learning more about Compost Tea and Red Wigglers -- I would check it out further on YouTube.  If you want to check out this video of how compost tea makes a difference in your backyard garden check out this guys backyard (using compost tea) compared to his neighbors garden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hsGb1SXLuc.  Or put in any of these keywords (Red Wigglers, Compost Tea) and you will get plenty to look at.  

Example of what mine looks like except
this one does not have wheels

I also have a trash can compost bin.  It was made from a regular trash can on wheels.  This trash can must have a lid where the lid locks so that you can drop it on the ground and roll it around.  You need to do this once a week just to make sure that your compost is being distributed properly.  This is the frugal way to compost on a budget and it works.  Hubby drilled holes throughout the can from the top of the lid to the bottom.  You can also find out how to make this by checking out this YouTube video.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZyox5yLiMU

If you have ever wanted to tour Whole Foods Market in Town & Country (THE BIG ONE) -- then this is for you.  This will be a tour with Marcia Whelan, Marketing & Community Relations Specialist, where she will give a tour around the store and point out and discuss healthy eating options in every department.  It's a free tour but registration is required so register at https://www.acteva.com/go/tac.  Put on your calendar the Healthy Eating Store Tour from 10:30-11:30am on Saturday, May 25.  

Until next time...

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#39 My Interview with Real Fit Moms

Real Fit Moms

I have two post this week.  The first is this one -- so don't forget to check out the other below this one.  I just wanted to give a shout out to my heavenly Father for paying it forward to me.  He allowed someone to read my blog and contact me to do a small interview for a website called  Real Fit Moms.

Check it out here http://realfitmoms.com/how-do-you-stay-fit-meet-renee-homeschool-mom-to-two-teens/.  Thanks for reading...

Read regular Friday blog below! 

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#38 Can you smell "IT" -- it's called Sabotage!!!!!!

I have had a time this week with one little word - "NO."  I start off having a great morning meal, snack, lunch and dinner -- but then -- I go out and my nose hits "it" and before you know it my hands are wrapped around something I had no intention of eating.

Introducing this weeks temptation "Exhibit A"

A friend of mine made trays of these delicious cupcakes for our meeting

This month I have been meditating on a podcast from Joel Osteen.

It's entitled "Don't Give Away Your Joy."  In his message he talks about how the first thing you need to do before you even get out of bed is to decide ahead of time that you will not give away your joy.  Then when life happens -- traffic is worse then normal, your children forget their homework at school, your spouse is in one of those moods, when your plans don't work out -- it's no big deal because you've already decided -- "This is the day the Lord Has Made" and your going to live it happy.  He mentioned something very, very important.  He said "YOU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL YOUR IN THE HEAT OF THE BATTLE, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE AHEAD OF TIME - THEN WHEN THINGS COME AGAINST YOU (AND THEY WILL) YOU ARE PREPARED.  YOUR MIND IS ALREADY MADE UP!!!!!

I realize I have to take this a step further.  I have to have that same mindset when it comes to saying "NO" with food.  I have to decide ahead of time that no matter what I smell, no matter how good it looks, I have got to say those two little letters.  It doesn't matter what is calling your name -- you have to decide ahead of time as well.  I am finding that no matter how good you are doing, something will always come along to sabotage our efforts. 

Now don't get me wrong -- I'm not stating that you can NEVER have something that is offered to you, quite the contrary, you can have whatever you like.  I'm talking to people who have a goal -- who desire to stay on track with their health and fitness plan.  People who desire to loose weight and perhaps stay consistent with where you are on the scale.  If you fit in that category then I'm saying that we need to be intentional about WHEN and WHAT we are going to indulge in.  Not just willy-nilly giving in to whatever is right around the corner.  Just because it is offered to you that does not mean you have to take it.  Think about what it will do to your hips if you keep saying "YES" all the time.  And don't fool yourself by thinking "Oh, all in moderation -- OK I will take it" or "I'll work it off when I get home" and as soon as we get home we are too tired to move.  All I am saying is plan your indulgences wisely and stick to it.

I'm reminded of Joseph in the bible.  There was a women who had a sexual addiction.  Joseph was a nice looking brother and not only that, he was second in command to HER husband Potipher.  This women hounded Joseph day in and day out to sleep with her.  Joseph said "NO."  But the hounding never stopped.  She finally did something that the bible never said she did before and that was she reached out and grabbed Joseph's garment -- as he was getting the heck out of her presence -- and she ripped it.  Her evil intent now was to lie and say that he raped her and she tore his clothing while trying to flea from him.

I say all that to say -- the same way Joseph fled from that temptation -- we need to do the same with whatever the food temptation is.  You say, "Aren't you taking this a little too far???"  I think not.  According to an article written by CBS entitled "Can People Be Addicted to Food 
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500165_162-20050841.html -- it showed that people with addictive eating behaviors have brain activity that is similar to people with drug or alcohol addictions.  

First get it in our mind -- like Joel said -- whatever the temptation -- decide ahead of time that we are going to flee it -- like Joseph.  Decide ahead of time that you are not going to allow this to sabotage your efforts.  Can you smell it?  Run like Joseph away from that temptation -- if you are in your car -- I don't advise breaking the law -- but go an extra five mph faster (five is usually allowed LOL) pass that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.  Don't be suckered in at the office to indulge just because every time you look up they are bringing in pizza, sweet rolls and all types of chocolate.  IT'S A TRAP!!!!  RUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNN!!!!

If you have fallen into this trap -- don't wollow in it.  Get back up, dust yourself off and know that today is a new day.  It's called the present -- and it is!  Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5). We all have choices -- but choose ahead of time that you are going to make up in your mind to say no to the temptations.  But as you know -- you are going to have to do more then just say no.  You will have to take steps by substituting those nos with yeses.  In Tosca Reno's book -- The Eat Clean Diet Recharged -- she encourages us to prepare a tote full of clean eating foods while we are out and about.  That way you won't have to stop at the drive-thru and you can easily say -- no thanks to the temptations.

Let's play it smart and be prepared.

Until next time...

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#37 The Tower Garden & Juice Plus

 

Last month I mentioned that I would be paying it forward by showcasing people doing things in our community by encouraging others with health and fitness.  Well today I will be doing that once again with one of my fellow homeschooling moms, Kim Lebbing of Healthy Tummies.

Kim came to my home and demonstrated the ease of using the Tower Garden to myself and other home school moms.  I'm one who enjoys getting my hands in the dirt -- growing in containers and watching new life spring forth from out of the ground.  I look at this as therapy for me.  But for those of you who feel that you cannot grow anything "PERIOD -- Without Killing It" but have a desire to grow your own food in a contained environment and at a fast pace -- this is TOTALLY IDEAL!!!

 

Kim was nice enough to bring her Tower Garden, which at the time she had just purchased, as a demonstration for us all to see.  If you are not familiar with the Tower Garden -- here is a little information concerning it.  

Welcome to the Tower Garden.  Are you ready to GROW your Garden with the Easiest Garden on Earth?  Taste the Fresh Picked Difference.  Grow your own food in your backyard year-round!  There is no weeding, tilling, kneeling, or getting dirty!  The Tower Garden is a plug and play vertical garden.  There is no need to have a "green thumb."  The Tower Garden includes everything you need to start growing.  It is easy to assemble and fun for the whole family to watch your food grow from seed to an abundant harvest ready to eat for dinner.  Tower Gardens fit easily on urban patios or rooftop gardens.

Recent picture of Kim's Tower Garden that she placed in-doors with grow lights

If you would like more information on the Tower Garden, feel free to email Kim at www.klebbing.towergarden.com.  

Juice Plus+ is also by the same company who makes the Tower Garden.  Kim is also a distributor of Juice Plus.  She informed us of all the benefits of taking just one veggie and fruit capsule.  Below you will find out more about Juice Plus. 

It was amazing to see that these little gummies contained so much fruits and vegetables for your entire day.  Here's more information regarding Juice Pus+.

Juice Plus+^®...
The Next Best Thing

Juice Plus+^® is a simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to add more nutrition from fruits and vegetables to your diet, every day. Taking Juice Plus+ is the next best thing to eating fruits and vegetables. Of course, there is no substitute for eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. But because most people simply can't, don't, or won't, Juice Plus+ helps fill that gap.
Juice Plus+ provides nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains. Each ingredient is specially selected to provide you with a wide range of nutritional benefits. Juice Plus+ contains not only a much wider variety of naturally occurring vitamins than vitamin supplements, but it also contains other phytonutrients, antioxidants, and nutrients — even some of the fiber — found in the fruits and vegetables it's made from. These nutrients work together in combination to provide you more of the nutritional benefits of eating healthful whole foods.

Why not check it out.  It will be great for your health -- for sure!  Look forward to more post showcasing other people who are helping others reach their fitness goals, teach others how to grow food, eat healthy and so much more.

Until next time...

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