Bike Riding, Baby Wearing, & the Mammoth Mtn. Trail

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Celebrating~ Family, New Life & Birthday’s!

Building sandcastles at the beach on my Earth birthday!

My first cupcake on the beach!

My lil’ guys…

Time to sing “Happy Birthday, to you”!

Pinata Time!

He’s blushing!

Family Potrait

Paula & I with our sweet babies. Dara and Clark had the same due dates.

Dara was born on March 23rd. Ty’s family is in town this week!

Proud Papa’s!

Proud Mama!

WW~ My First Swim Class

 

If you haven’t entered the Hemp Shopper giveaway…don’t miss out!

Green Baby Expo!

On June 21st, 2008-  Green Baby Expo will be held at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, in Chico, California from 10AM -5PM

Admission is $5 bucks per family!! An excellent bargain for us green and frugal moms, especially if you get a FREE re-usuable Chicobag filled with treats and coupons worth $100!!

Plus, there will be raffles for all sorts of great eco-friendly prizes.

“For Families and Everyone interested in Sustaining Their Future”

My husband, Tristan and I are actually going to the Expo- if you remember the Munchie Mug family (my husband’s cousin) I told you all about- well, we get to go visit them and they have a booth at the Green Baby Expo! We’ve never been to Chico and we’re really excited, considering, they’re known for being an eco-friendly town!!    We’re  also planning to visit our friends who own the Bonanza King Resort! We’ll be staying there for a week in July! I can’t wait. We love the Shasta/Trinity area! We hope to move up north one day…it’s definitely in our plans!!!

Anyway, Green Baby Expo sounds promising. Check it out if you’re in the Chico area- if not, I’ll report back to you!!!

P.S. If you haven’t entered the GIVEAWAY today is the last day….

Wknd. Round UP= Riding Horses, Descanso Gardens & Green Speak, & Our Little Homestead

Hello All,

Did you have a great Memorial Day wknd.!?? We normally go camping or to the lake…but this year the weather  permitted us from doing so. It was actually really nice to just hang around town and get things done. We were able to get out into the garden and plant our veggies, fruits and a few herbs.  We planted tomatoes, 3 pepper varieties, 3 bell pepper varietes, eggplant, zucchini, peas, pole beans (started to sprout!!), 2 kinds of lettuce, beets, oregano, dill, basil, chives, and carrots- we still have canteloupe and a few others to get into the ground. Our garden is bigger than the house! The chickens are doing well and will love to be able to get out and wander the garden once it’s flourishing. At this point, their free ranging is being let free to scratch, peck, and pluck at the grass. I’ve also planted a few more cutting flowers like dahlia, hydrangeas, and sunflowers. We also have lavender and rosemary growing. I can’t wait to dry some out soon. Especially, the lavender!! Gardening is so much fun. I almost forgot about the lemon tree that’s growing (Tyler saved the tree from going to the trash) and we planted a peach tree. The weather this weekend wasn’t all that great it was windy and cold. It would get sunny but wouldn’t last. For the most part, we were productive in the garden and tried to have a little family time in between. We didn’t get to the backroom like I wanted. It’s such a disaster. It has to get done… I’m getting impatient because I want to sew again!!! Our house is really small so I don’t have much room to do it in here. We’ve cleared of the kitchen table before but that gets to be a huge mess. There’s so much to do and so little time. Isn’t that everyone’s mantra. My husband and I are really inspired this year to grow our own food and live sustainably. I really think it has a lot to do with Tristan. Usually, our garden would be in full bloom but this year we’re behind a little…Tristan has been keeping us busy…but it so worth it!! He loves being outside and enjoys picking up a shovel ad digging in the dirt. The boy loves dirt and loves water…UH! OH!

This weekend Tristan rode Chester. He hasn’t riden in awhile and we really want him to get aquainted with the horses. After all, his Daddy is a cowboy!!! He LOVES to ride the horses and he also likes to mutter words to them and will pet them too! We have 3 horses China (who’s pregnant), Chester, and R.C. they stay with Grandma and Grandpa (my husband’s parents) where they’re 3 more- G.W. (G-Dub), Kit, and Val. China is gorgeous right now- her coat and main are really shiny! She’s a beaut. The other’s are special in their own ways too. My husband is an experienced rider and I’m intermediate. I’m still learning and ride when I can. I didn’t hop on this weekend because I wanted to shoot pics. I didn’t get any pics of me and the little guy at Descanso Garden’s either which is where we ended up yesterday. We decided to get out of the house and go to Descanso Garden’s which is about 1hr 1/2 south of our home (Pasadena area).  Tyler grew up going to Descanso Garden’s with his grandmother and he took me there on a date years ago before marriage. The good ole’ days! ; ) It was time to take Tristan and look in to the Edible Garden’s idea and  Descano Garden’s is incredibly beautiful with approx. 160 acres of gardens, woodlands, and chapparal.

We took our neice Sydney and had salad, pizza and ice cream for lunch afterward. The city is always fun to get away to. My dad grew up in Pasadena which is near the gardens and my grandparents live in La Verne which is about 15-20 miles East. While in Pasadena we remembered that the Urban Homestead was nearby. Since we signed up for the 100 ft. Diet, we thought it would be fun to check out the place. Once we arrived we were greeted by Mr. Dervaes himself. I was at their front gate grabbing all the literature that they had available. I did ask for a tour but was told by Jules that they get asked a lot and the answer was no. She was very polite and I felt rude as we drove away…afterall, it was where they lived and who was I to barge in without notice and ask to look around??  Can you say cliche’?  Many thoughts ran through my head at that moment and I think I was shell shocked at the fact that I was actually standing in front of the Urban Homestead. Their front yard is gorgeous and is blooming with native plants and an assortment of other plants. I was sorry that I opened my big mouth but glad that we had the opportunity to view the outside.

I’m excited for this Saturday, I’m attending a class at Descanso Gardens called Green Speak 2008 with Amy Stewart, on Becoming More Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly, a 3 part workshop.

” What does sustainability mean within the horticultural industry? And just how is the horticultural world, including garden clubs, conservation societies, global industry and civic beautification groups, taking on “green” issues? Amy Stewart will pose these questions, and discuss how individuals, businesses and organizations can adopt more environmentally friendly practices—and get the word out about what they’ve done. She will also discuss issues from her recent book “Flower Confidential–The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers,” including if organic flower farming is really possible on a large scale and how eco-friendly secrets of commercial flower growers can be applied to the home flower garden.”

I’m super excited to go to this class! It will be beneficial this site, my newspaper column and “Our Little Homestead” we’ve begun! We’ve been doing some talking to Tyler’s parents are and going to start a local co-op. His parents are in the process of starting a garden on their lot to and sell produce throughout the summer.  We live in an area where it gets too cold during the winter to grow anything- so we’re still looking into our option.  We’re in hopes of being able to support our community with local fresh produce. We’re looking at greenhouses and may end up purchasing one for the fall so that we can continue to provide for ourselves and the community with fresh foods. We’re hoping to get the word out through my environemental column. We’re also planning to contact some other people in our area that have their own homestead and actually one of the homesteader’s has a greenhouse! I live in small town, known for it’s agriculture- where onions, potatos, carrots, alfalfa, and barley are farmed. Our idea is to bring back farming and growing your own garden. They’re are still farms out here but none that can offer fresh produce!!! It’s an idea for now…but we WILL work hard to make it a reality! We’re also planning to sell fresh flowers and plants. Our greenhouse will be used for this purpose. I’m envisioning Janet from Three’s Company!  Lot’s of productivity and progress going on…

Anyone planning to be at Green Speak, leave me a comment….leave me one anyway, if you’re not attending…I’d like to hear from you~

“Boni Ami” means “Good Friend”, so if you like Bon Ami please tell your friends about it!!

                                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The title  slogon caught my eye as I reached for the golden canister of cleanser on a bathroom cleaning sprint, while Tristan was out (I try to clean when he’s away). You know, the one with the fluffy yellow chick  on the front!  “the  secret” is – Bon Ami- Earth Friendly Cleanser!!  I’ve never really stopped to check out the canister before in it’s entirety. The chick on the front is very cute and sweet- but, that’s not the reason we buy it…how bout’- NO chlorine, NO perfume, NO dye, NO phosphorus and totally BIODEGRADABLE! Bon Ami has been in business since 1886!! An impressive eco-scouring cleanser beating out top competitors were all familiar with! The original non scratching cleanser…” when you care about your family, your earth, and your home…”  Having many uses from shoes, garage floors, boat teakwood trim, fiberglass campers, and China- it certainly does the job! The Earth Share logo also caught my eye- another bonus! Bon Ami is recommended by leading companies such as Chantel, Pyrex, Regal and Corning Ware to name a few. Their packaging contains in excess of 75% recycled materials. What’s not to like? Especially, the wonderful vintage ads… Check out their website to get tips and find out the many uses of this ”earth friendly” wonder cleanser. www.bonami.com

What a great feeling to know you’re child is safe in the tub after you’ve scoured it!! It not only leaves behind sparkle and shine your sense of smell is still intact! Add Bon Ami to your next grocery list. I just love this stuff! My mom has been using it for as long as I can remember. I use it mainly for everything in the bathroom except for the windows. I’m sharing “the secret” with you ladies, now it’s your turn!!!  What’s your secret??                                                                                                                                                                                   Read more