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MIA just like my TV

Yep, like I suspected I would get busy with the important stuff and neglect writing here.

Can't say I didn't warn you!

I do have in my drafts part 3 of the weary series and I promise to finish it....well sometime anyway;)

For today though I want anyone who is reading this that has a TV and has children to consider reading these items.

One mom's experience with TV-
http://happilydomestic.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-confession-and-25-tv-free-toddler.html

Children under 2 shouldn't watch TV, AT ALL!-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3603235.stm

Are you killing your child's soul?
http://www.itakejoy.com/killing-the-soul-of-children-revisited-2/

Raising kids TV Free-
http://myhealthygreenfamily.com/blog/wordpress/raising-our-kids-tv-free/

Another Mom's experience with going TV free- (warning there is some colorful language her, but hey we're all adults here!)
http://www.renegademothering.com/2012/05/31/life-without-television-i-have-not-died/


Through much prayer, research, and discussion, my husband put up the TV last night. At least for the summer, but possible for ever.
So far the kids haven't missed it this morning, we'll see if mama misses it during naptime later;)

Since our family started on a journey to better health through better eating habits over a year ago, there have been many a challenge.
Our first change we made was to cut out refined sugar. After reading this info, we couldn't deny that we had to make a change.
Once you start reading labels you will be astounded at how many things have sugar in them! Getting away from sugar lead only naturally to making many more things from scratch. If you make it yourself, YOU can control what goes in it.

We also started eating many more salads along the way and instead of ranch (which my Texan husband just loves!) we opted to make a vinaigrette in order to avoid all the nasty sugars and soy based ingredients in that tasty bottle of creamy goodness. But that left something to be desired.

Enter homemade ranch dressing. Iv made ranch before but it was from garden fresh herbs and those are just not easy and available all the time. Plus most of the recipes Iv found used mayo, and good luck with finding a healthy mayo unless your making that yourself too! Which by the way is very easy and healthy, but since you need to use pastured eggs from a trusted source, which I didn't have, that meant no ranch with mayo.
Finally though I found I great recipe that used alternatives to mayo,  and dried seasoning that taste AWESOME!
Here is the original recipe. My version has a few tweaks...but I wanted to make sure to link back to where I found it.

Here's how our family makes it and we LOVE it!

Ranch Dressing Mix

5 Tablespoons dried minced onions
7 teaspoon parsley flakes
4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dill

 Mix together and store in an air tight container. For dressing: Mix 2 Tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup Sour Cream (make sure its real cultured sour cream) and 1 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt. Another alternative is using plain kefir, making it even more healthy! Also make sure to use FULL FAT dairy in this, the low fat stuff does nothing for the taste of ranch and for that matter its not as healthy for you as full fat is.

 Enjoy! Comment if you try this out!

Is it worth it?

Blogging, is it worth it? Worth the time and thoughts? The typing and the distraction? Iv had this blog set up for well over a year now and Iv not posted but one quickly and poorly thrown together blog post. We've been busy frankly, and being a keeper of a blog just hasn't landed in the priority list. Yet their are things I want to write and ideas I want to share. But does any of that matter. I mean in the big picture is it all a waster of time? Is it just meaningless? Perhaps this is a cultural relevant way of interacting, of connecting with one another. Or maybe blogging and all other forms of social "interaction" is just a symptom of a lost, broken and disconnected people. Iv even noticed lately how Facebook has become lazy. I didn't think it was possible but really it is! People are "liking" and "sharing" instead of commenting and putting a real status up. Its weird. I still love my FB, its a great way to keep up with growing children and distant friends. But is all of this just perpetuating distance and promoting "self"? Anyway, Im going to attempt a few posts here and there and Ill see how it goes. Starting with a very deep and though provoking post about ranch dressing!!!