Toys, Toys, Everywhere...

..And nowhere left to walk!

How do you organize your toys? And your homeschooling supplies (if you have them)? I need suggestions! Comments, links, photos and ideas appreciated!

$14.95 at IKEA

Can buy you happiness AND independence!

Love this step stool that we got from IKEA for $14.95; it's the perfect height to reach the sink and the fridge. I have been meaning to get one for a while to incorporate some more Montessori-ish concepts into the house and so far I think it is really encouraging P's independence. He loves filling up his own cup and even wipes any water that spills!

New Years Resolution #1

Finish P's scrapbook through to Christmas 2008 (just after his first birthday, I'm so slack) by December 31st 2010.

Off to get started!

How Far Can a Pound (or 2) of Mince Go?

Grass-fed beef is EXPENSIVE. It sucks that ground (mince) grass fed beef costs at least 2-3 times as much as corn fed ground beef but it is completely worth the added expense. It is much richer in omega 3s, the fats are healthier for you and it TASTES better too!

We usually buy our ground beef for $5.99/lb from our farmer friend's but haven't made it to the farmer's market in a while so I finally *had* to buy some from the store, our local HEB/Central Market sells organic grass fed ground beef for $6.49/lb. Not a big price difference but I still prefer to buy locally.

ANYWAY, I got three pounds and turned two of them into a bolagnaise sauce (meat sauce) that we have used for multiple meals now. So I wanted to see a cost breakdown per meal, I bet it's not THAT pricey when you stretch it out.
   - 2lbs grass fed ground beef - $12.98
   - 1 8oz jar of org. tomato puree - $1.99
   - 3/4 jar of  org. tomato sauce (I think it's a 16oz bottle? maybe more) - $2.25
   - water - mostly free - maybe 0.02c worth
   - 4 org. carrots -  0.67c
  - 2 cloves garlic - 0.10c?
   - 1/2 a large onion - 0.75c?
   - salt, oregano, thyme and rosemary - who knows? not very much at all, we'll say... 0.50c total and that's     an over estimate
   - and a bag of org. whole wheat pasta - $1.50

= $20.79 which would be a lot if we ate it all in one meal but we don't!;
- 6 servings for the three of us and P (he eats as much as we do) - had it for dinner one night and then P had it for lunch and dinner on leftover night, and some went to work with J today for lunch
- enough left over to make 4 servings of cottage pie with tonight using:
   - a bag of org. mixed vegetables - $1.99 (Central Market has great store brand prices!)
   - $2 worth of organic potatoes

So, how does that look? $24.78 is our total for... 10 servings, 11, I just found out someone snuck a bit ;)...  spread out over the last few days; $2.25 a serving. THAT is not a bad price for 10 98% organic, healthy, filling meals. And it saves us even more money because J takes it to work for lunch instead of eating out ;)

Now what should I do with that last pound?

A Glass of Bacteria Will Do You Good!

We have had a stomach bug for the past TWO weeks. It was bad for 3 or 4 days but has lingered, causing us pain and... other issues for weeks now. I emailed my doctor and she said that there was a very impressive virus going around but it sounded like we were almost done. J went to the doctor and got some meds to help with the side effects of said virus. I drank a glass of probiotics a day for 3 or 4 days, no other meds. Can you guess who is feeling better sooner?

Me! I was fully recovered 3 days ago, J is still feeling it this weekend. AND he was sick before me. Needless to say I MADE him drink a glass of my bacteria concoction (I say made, because I really had to force him lol told him he didn't have an option) and will be doing the same tomorrow. Probiotics help rebuild the colonies of good bacteria in your gut (that are washed away along with everything else when you have a nasty stomach bug) and restore normal digestive health. They're also good to take while on antibiotics or just because! Always buy the refrigerated kind, I got ours from a local health food store.

It could have just been a coincidence that I got better faster, or it could have been thanks to my minuscule Acidophiles and Bifidus bacteria buddies! Only time will tell...

Member Only Shopping Sites

these seem to be growing more popular. There are SO many of them. I thought I'd make a list to help ME and you keep track of them :) Feel free to comment and add any, I'm always looking for good deals on things I can't make myself or find used ;)

They're basically a website that you have to join to see their sales. The sales change frequently, sometimes daily, other times they run for a few days to a week, and they will usually have multiple sales (different brands) going at once. Almost all of them have referral programs so sign up and then invite your friends to earn money for future purchases!

The Mini Social - almost always has organic clothing up and some kind of earth/baby friendly toy. Right now they have Hape wooden toys up! There was a free shipping code yesterday so I grabbed a couple more Anamalz (a crocodile and camel to go with the others we have, you can see them in my Hay Bales post)
Plum District - they only run one or two sales at a time (a local one and a national one) but the last one was GREAT! It was a $30 gift card to an online kid's store for $15. Sounds good, right? Well there were also $15 in coupon codes that could be used so we were getting the gift cards for FREE!
HauteLook - has a Melissa and Doug sale ending today as well as a bunch of sales for mom and dad (or men and women). Let me know if you'd like an email invite!
zulily - this is a new one for me, they have lots of sales running right now from kid's rugs to clothing, blankets and bottles. I think it could become a favorite. Message me if you'd like an email invitation :)
ideeli - looks promising, they have a lot of sales right now running for women and a few kid's ones including some really cute rugs!
Swirl - is a clothing and accessory sale site. They have clothing, lounge wear, handbags and shoes for women up right now. There are often coupon codes too!

I think I'm missing some! And don't get me started on daily deal websites! Oi...