Organic Monster Bites

I adore a good crunchy apple smeared in peanut butter. It is so good, like dessert good. I'd snack on apple slices dipped in peanut butter a few times a week. It is something I used to do, before kids.  Like many Moms, I have a child with a food allergy. Food allergies change the entire scope of your life, especially when they are severe. Food allergies have risen 600% in the last 15 years. YIKES!!  I live with a child who has severe food allergies. I admit, I miss my peanut butter. I never realized how much of I ate until it became verboten in my house.

I've found a few good substitutes, Soy Wonder, Wonderbutter, and Sunflower butter. The latter option if ok, and is best on a sammich. Soy butter is thicker and works really well when trying to substitute or replicate peanut butter awesomeness. With organic roasted soy butter, I've been able to replicate some treats for my whole family to enjoy. 

This is a little creative snack-- with a switch out to soy butter, it is allergy friendly. Keep your choices organic. I've seen a variation with fresh strawberry tongues. A good friend of mine Abbie suggested using freeze dried strawberries! A dried fruit or freeze dried fruit option will certainly survive the lunch box trip to school.

Here is what I chose:

Pink Crisp Organic Apple
Wonder Butter
Raw, Organic Sunflower Seeds
Organic Banana Chips

1. Slice apples into quarters.
2. Cut out mouth shape--- make it big.
3. Cram in as many sunflower teeth as you can
4. Dollop of soy butter to hold in the 'tongue'
5. Enjoy or pack into a container for sack lunch. 

Call to Action -- Connect with Your Senator

@RepMike #HR1599 would stop states from labeling #GMOs! #StopTheDARKAct Moms want to know what is IN the food!!! pic.twitter.com/mNXu136Ns5

— Mostly Chewy (@MostlyChewy) July 23, 2015

A Small Setback

As readers  know by now, H. R. 1599 has passed in the house by a narrow margin.

You can see how your Congressperson voted HERE.
If s/he votes No, please find them in twitter, Facebook, and call them. Thank them for listening to their districts and voting well.

Do the same if your Congressperson voted Yes, tell them how you feel, how this will affect your vote. Tell them WHY their vote screwed the pooch.

The twitter tag #HR1599 is now trending on twitter. Citizens are NOT happy about the obvious power play to obfuscate our food by enacting a voluntary labeling scheme and overriding any and all labeling laws passed by states. Monsanto must be collectively shitting their pants.

We have the Power.

The people do.

We always have.

We have just been convinced we are too small, too late, too weak, too poor to make a difference.

I know we can.

We are so close to tilting the table the companies who want to keep us in the dark are SCARED.

Do your civic duty, call and write to your Senator.


Now is not the time to delay. 

Call to Action Vote No on H.R. 1599

Contacting D.C. So easy a kid can do it. Can you? #DarkAct #HR1599 #MAAM http://t.co/einmFKNeB3 pic.twitter.com/yHRv8KSAKN

— Mostly Chewy (@MostlyChewy) July 20, 2015

Readers- Mostly Chewy supports mandatory labeling of GMOS.  The vote in the House happens Thursday July 23, 2015. There is no time to delay. Call your Congressperson, ask them how they are voting, and let them know you urge them to vote NO on H.R. 1599.

Fabulous Find Friday 7/10/15

Christmas in July Y'all 

Today I am sharing some photos of wonderfully vintage Christmas decorations from my personal collection. Most photos are of items from the 1940s to 1960s era. Nearly every item has been a thrift store treasure. I have noticed a tendency to only keep in my personal collection items I have found on my own. I do not often 'yard sale' or Ebay for my personal collection, I think perhaps it is not as thrilling as finding a sought after treasure among the cast offs. Thrill of the hunt!!

 My affinity for items from the post World War II era until the late 1970s often makes me wonder if I was born in the wrong decade. Were you born in the right era?  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Shark Week 2015

CHOMP! Save 30% on Shark Themed Personalized Name Stickers at Mabel's Labels 

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Shark Week is finally here!

In honor of these mystifying and majestic creatures, Mabel's Labels is offering 30% off on Personalized Name Stickers with the Shark or Hammerhead Shark Icon now through Sunday July 12th!

Shop the Shark Week sale at Mabel's Labels & Shark Week! Get 30% off Personalized Shark Name Stickers

Got a shark-loving fan in the house?

Here are some jaw-some shark facts: 

• Sharks have been roaming the Earth for 400 million years. They predate the dinosaurs by 200 million years!
• Of the 465 species of shark, 74 are listed as threatened and 11 are critically endangered.
• The smallest shark species, the dwarf lanternshark. measures up to only 7-8 inches in length, the largest (whale shark) can grow to be up to a whopping 50 feet in length!
• It is estimated that the largest known species of shark, the extinct megalodon, reached a maximum length of 67 feet!
• Across the globe, sharks are only responsible for about 5-15 fatalities every year.
• The skeleton of a shark is made entirely of cartilage.

The Monsanto Years

Neil Young recently thrilled millions of activists with his latest record released called "The Monsanto Years". The tracks on the album unabashedly sing of the travesties Monsanto has created, what activists are demanding, and the lack of consequences that face large faceless corporations. 


Favorite line of the album:

"Don't say pesticides are causing autistic children 

People want to hear about love 

Don't say people don't vote because they don't trust the candidates 

People want to hear about love"

4 Reasons Why Moms Should Not Breastfeed in Public (satire)

Mostly Chewy supports nursing moms anywhere and everywhere. 

Enjoy this Friday funny. Laughed so loud, I scared the cat.
That's pretty funny. Best video in a long time. "Amazon Prime it!!!"

Video credit- Kristina Kuzmic 

What YOU Need

Stay Strong Charleston

I moved recently from Charleston, South Carolina. I lived there for over 5 years and fell in love with the city. I had a lot of words to say initially. And none of them really mean much right now. I'm feeling preoccupied and teary trying to understand how a terrorist can walk into a church in one of busiest areas of Charleston and take the lives of peaceful strangers. I had to stop thinking about that person while trying to find the list of people who were killed. In five years I've made a lot of friends and care about a lot of people I left behind. I think everyone in Charleston held their breath while they read through the names. Those nine names; Susie, Ethel, Clementa, Depayne, Myra, Daniel, Tywanza, and Sharonda to be the ones my thoughts go to. I dont want to waste another moment thinking about or giving press to their killer.

To my friends, church friends, activists, and local Mommas in Charleston who are in shock, sad, and upset; I miss you and thinking of all of you. I am sending you all the love in my heart.
Stay Strong Charleston, You are loved. 

Buh-Bye Monsanto?

A rose by any other name...

Word is Monsanto has been courting the UK for relocation. Other than listening to cool accents and a milder climate than their current St. Louis location, Monsanto's move would be for tax reasons.


Merging with Syngenta would mean a possible name change. Considering Monsanto's history; Agent Orange, PCBs, Glyphosate, DDT, GMOs, and  bovine growth hormone more than a name change may be needed to reinvent Monsanto's image and social currency.




At the 2015 Monsanto Shareholder's meeting, Moms Across America found Zen Honeycutt personally spoke one on one with  Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant and asked him to consider leading Monsanto in a direction "... one that does not involve toxic chemicals and hurting our children.". Zen also put a proxy up to vote and asked several questions during the Q&A.

Zen Honeycutt addressing activists 

What is the purpose of the name change? Aspartame became AmnioSweet. Black Water became Xe. Phillip Morris became Altria. ValuJet became AirTran. Will Monsanto slide into obscurity? 

Will a name change confuse the public? 


Will a name change mean a new direction for Monsanto?

Sources: 

Wikipedia Monsanto's page

GM Watch 
'Monsanto Plans to move headquarters from US to UK'

Moms Across America
Full Account of Monsanto Shareholder Meeting

World Baking Day

May 17th is world baking day. I love to bake. I love to bake sweets. I love to bake sweets because I like to eat sweets. I have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe in the world.

I don't share it.

It's that good.


Seriously.


It will get passed down to my children's children's children. It really is one of my favorite things to bake-- Near instant gratification.



My husband woos me with bread pudding--
It was the dessert we had on our first date.
It was my first time trying it and the moans and food-gasm has had my husband making it for me every few years

This was this year's Mother's Day Bourbon Bread Pudding with Drunk Raisins and a bourbon cream sauce (not pictured).

Happy Baking Y'all.

Bourbon Bread Pudding with drunk raisins with a Bourbon cream sauce.

.

Danger of Ingestion of Essential Oils and the fleecing by MLM companies

My Point of View

I use essential oils in my life. I am a believer. My favorite thing to do is to turn on the diffuser in my bedroom mid afternoon with lavender essential oil and my the time my husband and I turn in our room is a relaxing, pleasantly scented oasis. We sleep better and enjoy the scent. I like knowing it is not full of other 'junk' that lurks in commercial air fresheners or candles. I have tremendous respect for essential oils and have taken baby steps in incorporating them into my life. I have a lot to learn about them. I am most excited about essential oils is making my own bath and beauty products. I enjoy a wonderful sandalwood scented bath using a packet I purchased at my health food store. The thrifty woman in me knows I can totally make that. I know I can. :) 

I've been able to manage illnesses, my migraines, anxiety by diffusing and using in a carrier oil at the proper dilution rates. I take care avoid a list of EOs for my child as they are cautioned against use in children under 12. I never ingest or take EOs orally. The fad of MLM companies suggesting ingestion is to increase sales for their vastly overpriced oils makes me see red. Taking advantage of others does not set well with me, especially when injecting a religious slant to it.

One Item Switch Out -- May 2015

Switch it out

Slowly over the past few months I have given up my nonstick cookware and have switched over to cast iron and stainless steel--- Cast iron is fairly easy to find online and easy to strip & re-season (most new cast iron is seasoned with GMO soybean oil).

While many stores sell stainless steel cookware, however I lucked out and found some pieces at thrift stores for well under Ebay prices. I am learning how to cook on stainless steel and while I am using a bit more of my Nourishing Traditions oil blend, I am feeling better about avoiding nonstick cookware.

What are ONE item will you be switching out in May forever and ever..?

"You Can't Wash the Wheat"

Jodie Bruning is in New Zealand, she is an amazing . She created one of the most awesome websites we have seen on GMOs and glyphosate www.safesayswho.com.This is a short clip from GMO Free News on Youtube, the whole video is worth a watch-- I am a huge fan of Kathleen Hallal of GMO Free News and enjoy watching her channel on Youtube.

Renew-- New Blog Name New Direction

As the reader will notice-- things have been happening with the blog. I have retired the Charleston Natural name and have broadened the scope of the blog beyond the Charleston Metro area.

I hope the readers will journey along with us while we delve into the crunchy granola life and become healthier, wiser, and knowledgeable about alternative methods for so many aspects of our lives. This is a journey, a small step at a time, at our own pace towards the best fit for our families and their lives.

Welcome.

Fabulous Find Friday 3/13/15

Fraggle Rock Library & Tote

This was a boon I found at a local thrift in town last summer. A stack of like new Fraggle Rock hardcover books and a adorable tote bag. I would have love to keep them but my little one is not into the Muppets.

{Sad face}

However, the new owner was thrilled and over the moon. I love matching vintage items with those who will love and adore them. Make me feel all feel-y. :)

I can still sing the theme song and still getting sad and cry on Jim Henson's birthday. Silly Muppets. As a child of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Jim Henson's shows, The Muppets, and Sesame Street were escapes from a a very hard childhood. I poured over books and stared into pictures and illustrations.

Fabulous Find Friday 3/6/15

Cake Carrier Find 

 Sharing from my private collection. I purchased this estate sale find with the intent of placing it for sale on Ebay--- One look at it and my husband was smitten. We have many Kromex aluminum canisters in our home and private collection. My personal items with few exceptions are practical and put to use. No dust catchers here. This find was a steal at less than five dollars. Impractical for long term storage, this cake cover would make a statement piece or a short distance travel carrier. This cutie is a Regal Aluminum cake cover/carrier/saver. I love it-- How hard is it to cover cakes after the guests go home-- ? Some are super big and you wrestle the cling wrap and lose a ton of icing to the cling wrap. Not good. I love the protection and style that vintage cake covers offer. Thrift and swank. Love it.

Soup of the Week 1/26/15 Minestrone Soup

Why you NEED to know the skinny on Glyphosate

Dr. Stephanie Seneff, senior research scientist at MIT explains why glyphosate in utero may be the environmental trigger for our skyrocketing Autism rates coupled with the increase in aluminum in vaccines is crippling our children. As well as a host of issues. Eating organically as possible is intrinsic to our health and the health of the planet.

Post by Higher Perspective.

Throwback Thrifty Thursday 1-15-15

TOYS

I love to get my thrift on! Some Moms go to Starbucks-- some head to the grocery, I pop into the nearest thrift and browse-- very often I find a treasure! This TTT is all about the toys. And they do not make them like they used to--

I remember this toy distinctly. Plays "Pop Goes the Weasel" when you turn the handle.

Tiny tin plates for tasty mud pies.

Who has not made one of these, ever?! 

Charleston Costco Monthly Organic Shopping List January 2015

New Items:
Nature's Path Trail Mix Bars
Organic Tortilla Wraps!!!!!
Turmeric Capsules
Steel Cut Oatmeal Cups
Organic Minestrone
Organic Vegetarian Chili
Hummus Party Platter
Popcornopolis Kettle Corn
Bare Fuji Apple Chips
Organic Baella
Sweet Potato Fries
Quinoa (new brand) 





Cuties Tangerine Juice
Kevita Probiotic Drink
Love Crunch
Sunmuscat Grapes
Red Lentil Rotini
Mott's Single Serve Applesauce

Discontinued items:

{insert frownie face}:
Bybee's  Frozen Green Beans

Avocado Oil

Raw Honey

Natures Earthy Choice Lentil Trio

Organic Brown Rice

Organic Bite Sized Chicken  Dumplings 

Coco Libre Coconut Water 

Celebes Coconut Water

Moms Across America on Pinterest

Visit Moms Across America's profile on Pinterest.