Just call me; an oatmeal mom.

Much ado about granola [these days]

The "Granola" mom

Stigmas  
you may find attached to these moms:

• unshaven - I totally shave my legs 

• odd hiking sandals - I'd take stilettos over teva's in a hot second

• "tree huggers" - I don't often find myself hugging our barked branched foliage, but I do appreciate their shade in the summer.

• Bad birthday cakes - I hear talk of those that dread us "organic mommies" birthday cakes for our kids... Well, some may call me a failure but I totally order cakes from publix, cake making is just not a talent I possess

Granola qualities I qualify for:

• odd painting techniques - yup, our rooms are painted with no VOC paints - and the colors are not "brown, brown & brown"

•  baby wearing & boobies in public - well yes, I wear my kid around & he likes it... and yes, I breastfeed (covered) in public... it's these awesome things called "udder covers" "hooter hiders" etc... don't worry, you won't see my "me's" even though I see you gawking.

• Yup, my sugar is brown... not bleached and I like it like that. Same goes with my flour

• My kids use natural shampoos, toothpastes, and laundry detergent - and -oh my gah- they still smell good.

• My "granola" go to's: Colloidal Silver (natural antibiotic), Chamomilla & Arnica (grumpy teethers) Coconut oil (eczema etc.) homeopathic tummy drops (for gas etc) Emu oil (natural steroid, incredible moisturizer) - even celebs use it. I'm just cool like that.

• To shot, or not to Shot - we'll leave it at that.

I don't do "granola" perfectly, I'd probably consider myself more of an "oatmeal" mom.

• We eat out - I will never say no to Chick-Fil-A or Chinese takeout

• I [gulp] bleach my hair...I was born blond, but it didn't stick and I prefer it.

• I cook like a true blue southern woman - no tofu included. Just because my chicken is "free range" and my flour is organic and unbleached, or my milk didn't come from a cow who shot up steroids with Roger Clemons; doesn't make my fried chicken any healthier then yours.

• I make my own baby food - but I can't bring myself to give my kids dessicated liver powder in their "super porridge" just b/c it's a good source of iron... ICK!

• Lindt truffles; are totally conventional chocolate

• Coke is a southern staple and I'm southern, nuf said.

• I don't know what my carbon footprint is... but I'm sure you'll see it because I live in a household of 8.

• There have been times in our lives when financially we couldn't afford the "organic chicken" over the "natural chicken" but we do the best we can.

To all of you mommies be you conventional, oatmeal, or full on granola; 
making informed decisions for our children in our day and age can be scary & hard. We all do the best we can with what we have and that's what matters. It's the heart behind our motives that means everything and makes us wonderful mommies.

- The Shine


A [inexpensive] lunch thought for the week:

Organic black bean roll ups

You'll need:

1. 1 can of black beans
2. 1/2 a can or 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn (or to taste)
3. 1 red bell pepper (or to taste)
4. diced chilis (you don't have to use these, though they are spicy)
5. Tortillas
6. cream cheese
7. pepper jack cheese slices
8. spinach leaves

Add ingredients  1 - 4 in a pot and simmer until nice and hot, spread cream cheese onto tortillas, spoon in black bean mixture, top with pepper jack cheese slices and spinach leaves.

Roll em up, slice, and serve. Kids AND adults love em, and they're healthy!