Pesky Bugs

While getting ready for our Party on Saturday I have been looking at some articles on bugs and how to keep them at bay this year since they are so bad!  I came across this little gem of an article and am planning on using a few of these items to keep those nasty bugs away from the fun of my party!

Best for Standing Water

Mosquito Dunks

Birdbaths, gutters, and swampy areas are where mosquitoes breed. Drop one of these two-inch organic rings into any depth of water to scare away pests and kill larvae within a 100-foot radius.

Best for the Table

Citronella Bucket Candle

This four-inch textured candle releases a light, plant-based scent that’s effective but not overpowering, so it won’t interfere with the savory aroma of your grilled feast.

Best for Large Yards

This powerful electric zapper works on all bugs and protects up to one acre (!). Use an outdoor extension cord to place it away from the patio. (Yes, it makes noise when fulfilling its mission.)

These all seem to do the trick.  I am going out and getting some of these today to help make SAturday a success!

More Books to Live By

I got mail yesterday!! Only it wasn't email it was real mail and it came in the form of a package. I love getting fun mail like this. Last week my sister and I spent some time online (which is never a good idea) This is where she introduced me to Pinterest. yes I know I am behind but don't worry I am catching up! I could spend hours on that site! Anyway I got a package from something we had ordered. Again my sister introduced me to Mary Janes Farm Magazine. LOVED IT!!! We got on her website and ordered a few things.

This book is amazing!  I am loving it.  It has all kinds of recipes, ideas and just good old fashioned words to live by.  We also ordered some of her products 

 
This is all Gluten Free.  I try to eat Gluten Free as much as possible, although I don't have a food allergy or anything I just feel it's healthier.  The Chill Over Powder is like a gelatin, and you can use it with juice to make gelatin, and other recipes.  It can also be used in canning.  I am so excited to try these things.  The Budget mix is like a pancake mix or Bisquick.  The oatmeal is oatmeal.  As soon as I try them I will let you know how they were.  I also got a subscription to her magazine an absolute must for any Farm Chic!

Homemade Laundry Soap

I visited my cousin in Ohio last weekend and she was drying out some Zote.  I had no idea what that was so I asked her and she said it was for her homemade laundry detergent.  Now I had made my own a few years back but I used Fels Napa soap in making it and didn't really like the smell (or the non smell) it left on the clothes.  So I decided to try some of her concoction today and make my own.  

I am making just a small amount to see if I like it and to keep in a Mason Jar in the laundry room.


1 Cup Zote Soap
1/2 Cup Borax
1/2 Cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda


The Zote I found at our local grocery store by the Borax.  I grated the Zote with a cheese grater and am letting it sit out to dry and I mixed the other ingredients into a Jar and it will be ready to use tomorrow.  I'm excited about this.  Like I said I really enjoyed it when I made my own before I just also like the smell of my clothes.  I love the idea of making my own things like this not only for the money it will save in the long run (it turns out to be about .03 cents a load) but also I like the feeling I get knowing I am becoming more self sufficient.  I know it is better for my skin, budget and environment.  I mean think of how many laundry containers it will save!  I can't help but still use the Downey though.  I need the sweet smell to my clothes but maybe I can find an alternative to that too.

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday!!


We are getting ready for a big party this coming weekend.  it sour annual 4th of July party we have yearly.  I have been working most of the weekend trying to get things cleaned up and ready to go.  Weeding, cleaning, mulching.  All things to help make the yard look better.  I am trying some new things with my front porch.  i love to go out and sit on it.  We just recently got a new porch swing, and I love it.  It really makes the porch look "homey" and "comfy".  

This is the other end of the porch.  Yes I know the Christmas lights are still up but actually they are for the party...yea thats what I keep telling myself.  

So this week is going to be super busy with cooking cleaning and the every day chores that still need to be done.  But the results will be a fun filled weekend!!

Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

I got up early this morning to get a head start on the day and whipped up a great Raspberry Vinaigrette to have with dinner tonight.  I was De-lish!
Heres the recipe

Raspberry Vinaigrette

1/2 C White Wine Vinegar
1/2 C Honey
1-2 Garlic cloves (I used 2 We love garlic!)
1 T Minced Dried Onion
1 C Raspberries, Strawberries or Blueberries
2/3 C Canola Oil
Sea Salt and Paper to taste
1 1/2 tsp Poppy Seeds

Put all ingredients into a blender or Magic Bullet and thats it!  A delicious, healthy alternative to store bought salad dressings.  I love when I find things like this!

I love to store the dressings in Ball Jars like this with the plastic lid.  Makes it so easy.

Mexican Sweet Potatoes

 YUM-O


This is what I made for dinner tonight and Wow was it de-lish!!

 This was super easy...the only thing that took long was waiting for the sweet potato to cook in the oven.

Mexican Sweet Potato

2 Sweet Potatoes

1 Can Sweet Corn ( I used a bag I had frozen from last summer)

1 Can Chili Beans (you can also use black beans)

1 Small Onion Chopped

3 Tbs Cream Cheese

1/4 C Sour Cream ( I used light for both the sour cream and cream cheese)

Shredded Cheese to taste

1 Tsp Butter

Salt and Pepper

Handful of Fresh Cilantro (Out of my garden, but you can also get it at the Grocery Store in the Produce section.)

Bake the potatoes in a 350 degree oven for about 45-60 minutes.  Take out and let cool about 10-15 minutes.  In a skillet pan cook over low heat the corn.  Drain it first.  Let it get roasted,  about 20 minutes or so.  Pour into a bowl and melt butter and add onion til they are cooked and tender.  Pour the corn and beans into the pan and cook til heated.  Slice the potato in half and scrape out the inside into a bowl add the cream cheese and sour cream and mash together.  Spoon into sweet Potatoes then top with Shredded cheese, whatever kind you like.  Pop back into oven for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and ENJOY!

Me and my youngest had this tonight and she even liked it.  I had some leftover "stuffing" so I put it in a casserole dish to have with dinner tomorrow.

A Little History...

I want to give a little history on who I am and how I got to this point in my life.  Things that may help and things that won't help.  The best way to start that is to tell you about my own journey.  I have copied a part of an old blog I had on here to kind of give a little history about me...

I guess I should start at the beginning. I was very overweight a few years ago. I started working out, eating better and managed to lose 100 pounds! I have been able to maintain that weight for over a year, but I still need to lose some more to really get to a healthy weight. To be completely honest I was quickly approaching the 300 pound mark before this journey began. I could not believe my eyes when i saw that scale! I was just a few pounds away from 300!! No one really knew my weight, I kept it a very good secret and honestly I hide it well. I was overweight but ask anyone and they never would have believed I weighed that much. I got on the stick and started working out at Curves, eating right. No more going out to fast food, and eating more fruits and vegetables and cutting the carbs out. I will get more into a food plan in one of my other posts. The biggest thing for me though, was that I did this all by myself. I didn't go to any meetings, no surgeries. Just me working harder than I ever did in my life.
So now I want to start this year off on the right foot. Eating right exercising and getting myself healthy and able to run my 5k. This is a huge deal for mebecause I HATE to run!! But, it is a goal I want to fulfill. I want to lose these last 25-30 pounds and get myself to the point that next year at this time, I will not be setting a resolution to lose weight.
This blog is my accountabilty. I want to do something for me, and journaling my progress and charting my accomplishiments is what I feel I need to do to get where I want to be. This will be the place I will vent about my kids, struggle with my food and complain about exercising. But it will be something I am doing for me.

I have been looking through some old pictures last night looking for some before and after ones to post on here. As I look through them I just can't believe how I ever let myself get that big. I was married at that time, and was happy at times with my life. My mom died right after I gave birth to my youngest daughter, and I turned to food to comfort me. My mom was a wonderful cook and was always struggling with her weight for as long as I can remember, my dad was overweight also. I think I wanted to take my moms place in our family, and become the nurturing soul that she was to all of my siblings and to my dad. One way for me to do that was to cook and cook the good meals she did. I don't know maybe even in a way if I started to look like her or had the same body shape as her maybe I would feel she was still around. My mom and I were very close. She was my best friend. Not a day would go by that I didn't talk to her 2,3 even 4 times a day. When she died it hit so hard, but people would always tell me how much I looked like her, and I guess I wanted to keep that going by gaining the weight. Now I was always overweight. I have struggled with it my whole life but never like I did a few years ago. In reality this has been a cleansing for me to get this weight off and to realize I am not my mother and I can't take her place in my life or my siblings or even my dad. She is irreplaceable.

Here are some before pictures.

Now I will say I did do that 5k actually I did 5 of them.  I love doing them and I went on and lost another 33 pounds.  I am in the best shape of my life, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I am happier than anytime in my life.  I divorced the man who was enabling me to become a person I didn't like and met a man who is truly the love of my life.  I have great kids, and I love living the life we live.  I love being healthy and trying my best to be healthy.

Here is an after picture.  I am truly happy being at the place that I am in life right now.

All about me.....

This is me. I was born and raised in hometown USA and was brought up in a suburban neighborhood with grocery stores literally right around the corner. Now I live 15 miles from any store, on lots of acres and all complete with chickens, gardens, and trying to live the "chic" farm life. I love every minute of it and along the way I have come across some great ideas and some not so great ideas. This is the place I am going to share both...the good, bad and the ugly. I love to shop, love to work in my garden, I absolutely love my chickens and I try my best to live a healthy lifestyle and to try and give back whenever I can. I have lost over 100 pounds in the past 7 years, and am continuing on that weight loss journey and getting healthier and healthier. I believe in eating right, exercising, and doing good things for our today. I believe in organic products and try my best not to buy anything processed. 

I have a wonderful family.  a great man in my life great kids great step kids and wonderful animals.

 

I sometimes fall off of the wagon ( I still have a diet coke once every great while) but all in all I do my best to be a good person and to become not only a farm chick but also farm "Chic"...come follow me on lives journey.