Green Eggs and.....Turkey!

Time to start thinking about that Green Thanksgiving menu. The majority of folks will stand in line at their local supermarket to buy all the standard thanksgiving food items and turkey, without ever taking into account any factors other than cost alone. You, on the other hand, may prefer the free-range, grass-fed variety turkey that have NOT been pumped full of hormones and were raised on a family farm. Where do you find these turkeys you ask? Well..... I found a GREAT website today that I want to share!

Local Harvest is a website that connects you to local farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area. By utilizing this fantastic website, you can find and purchase locally-grown organic produce, eggs, grass-fed meats (and turkeys), and many other goodies and desserts to help build your organic, eco-friendly Thanksgiving menu.

Local Harvest reminds us, "People worldwide are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food. It is fresher than anything in the supermarket and that means it is tastier and more nutritious. It is also good for your local economy--buying directly from family farmers helps them stay in business.". They even offer a catalog and online store for things you can't find locally!


Click the links below for Local Harvest's Thanksgiving specials 2008:

Turkeys (from 9 to 24
lbs)
Heritage, pastured, and/or organic turkeys raised on family farms
across the USA.

Cranberries
Organic fresh, dried or frozen cranberries, cranberry sauce, and other
cranberry goodies.

Other
Thanksgiving Ingredients
We carry plenty of ingredients for your
stuffings, sauces, gravies, and other Thanksgiving needs.

Other
Meats
We carry a wide variety of meats suitable for your holiday dinner.
From hams to lamb and beef and venison.


Decadent Selection of
Desserts
Many that are baked with whole grains, fresh fruits, and
natural ingredients.

Many wonderful items to truly be thankful for! Read more!

Pumpkin Seed Snacks

Photo: Flickr

Many of you will find yourself going through (in my opinion) the semi-unpleasant "ritual" of carving the pumpkin in the near future. This is usually done to appease your child's need to "create". In translation......this means they will draw the face....period. Then? Well, you find yourself elbow-deep in pumpkin innards as your child heralds "yucky" and "gross", subsequently backing out of the allegiance they had previously (and gleefully I might add) signed up for. My advice? Don't let them off that easy!

Photo: Flickr

Even though at present time the smell is making them gag, tell them to "fear not" for Jack's job is to scare away ghosts and goblins, not little boys and girls! By explaining the seeds that lie within can be transformed into an all natural, tasty snack with a deliciously nutty flavor, you may even convince them to help! (But shh, you will "kill" the fun if they find out pumpkin seeds are packed with fiber and protein, are an excellent source of zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, and monounsaturated fat.)

Children can help to prep the pumpkin seeds by separating the seeds from the stringy pumpkin insides. Place the seeds in a bowl or colander and rinse to remove any remaining pumpkin goo. Have them lay seeds out on paper towels to dry. Now, on to the fun part......

From Allrecipes.com, there are many ways to "dress up the pumpkin seed".
Any of these delicious recipes are sure to please:

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
Taco Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin Seeds with Cinnamon and Salt
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds with Sugar and Spice

*Important tip: Carve your pumpkin the night before Halloween. Jack-0-lanterns can age very rapidly. Instead of a Jack-0-lantern you will end up with Jack-o-Lemon!

Have fun!

Read more!

"Eeeeeeek-o Friendly Treats"

Photo: Flickr

If you are like me and want to avoid heavily packaged goods that are not entirely good for you (considering you will be the one to eat most of it anyway, not the trick or treaters they were intended for) then look no more! Oriental Trading Company has some great alternatives to handing out standard Halloween candy, that wont break the bank either. A Halloween pencil assortment of 144 pieces for $15.99 is quite the bargain coming in at approximately $0.10 a pencil. Not bad by comparison to the average cost per fun size chocolate bar sold in bags that comes in around the same price, that is if you happen to hit a really good sale.

If you are visiting my site, then lets face it, cost is really not your main concern anyway. What is troubling to you is the exorbitant amount of the non eco-friendly, mass consumption of candy that will be going on, and how it's subsequent packaging will contribute to our nations trash problem this holiday. So on a lighter note....... I am not telling you that by just buying pencils alone you will save the world, I am merely suggesting there are alternatives to handing out candy that can be as pleasing to children this Halloween, and is not a leading contributor to childhood obesity.

More Terrific Treats from Oriental Trading Company:

"Take a bite out of Halloween night with these plastic vampire
fangs!" Glow-In-The-Dark Vampire Fangs. $5.49 72 Piece(s)

Another "glowing goody" from OTC 4 1/2 in Glow-in-the-Dark Stretchy Skeletons. $11.99 for 144 Piece(s)

In keeping with my current "theme" is a Glow-In-The-Dark Nature Assortment . From the website, "These nighttime vinyl glow-in-the-dark bugs will give you the creepy crawlies! Include these toys on camping trips or backyard sleepovers. Put a handful in Halloweentrick-or-treat bags or scatter them along your driveway or sidewalks leading to your front door. These 2" insect decorations delight kids of all ages! Assortment may vary." Great idea for an eco-friendly Halloween decoration or treat! $4.99 144 Piece(s)

Click on the links above, or check out their website, to find these items and many more like:

Halloween Pencil Top Erasers $4.99 144 Piece(s)

Halloween Mini Eraser Assortment $17.99 720 Piece(s)

Glitter Halloween Tattoos $5.49 72 Piece(s)

For the die-hard who can't resist giving out candy for Halloween, here is a candy to feel good about in more ways than one. College Farm Organic explains they now offer a 50-pop bag at a great value and it is not only big enough for many trick or treaters, but more than plenty for a class at school, parties, or large families. These pops are without worry of dyes, hidden fats, pesticides, or mystery ingredients and are made with real fruit flavors, real chocolate, and only natural colors - nothing artificial. They explain the best part as, "the earth gets a treat, too, because the pops are individually wrapped in a fully-compostable material made from renewable resources, and shipping cartons are made from recycled cardboard printed with vegetable-based inks. Because we think the holiday should be scary - not the treats." Happy Hallogreen!
Read more!

Green Halloween Costumes

Photo: Flickr

There was a time when all of our Halloween costumes started out Green, whether we knew it or not. If you are a product of any generation born before, lets just say.......the 80's, then chances are you also had a creative genius at home concocting highly innovative and dreadfully imaginative costumes with the fervor of a mad scientist! More than likely, it's your mother too, who was the mastermind behind your guise every Halloween.

My mom's "budget" for our costumes as children was simple. There was none. Meaning, as a single mother of five girls for a good portion of our lives (until my wonderful step-dad arrived on the scene) a Halloween costume was not only an unnecessary expense, but the budget just simply did not allow for elaborate, store-bought costumes. Here are examples of some homemade costumes made from materials found around our house (or just a few inexpensive purchases) from my family's Halloween costume Hall of Fame:

"Old Lady" Use hot rollers , or a large barreled curling iron, and lots (and lots) of hairspray for a teased, curly, granny-style "do". Once your style is set, sprinkle baby powder in the hair for instant senior style. A matronly inspired ensemble can easily be obtained by simply looking through photos of your very own grandmother. Clothes will be slightly over-sized, pants are elasticized, slouchy, and almost always a sweater, or sweater cardigan, is involved.
Photo: Flickr

In the case of my sister, Shelly, who donned this costume in grade school, an old grey dress was worn with slouchy knee highs and sensible shoes (i.e. clunky, ugly shoes). A very large "lunch lady" bra (with wide strap- showing of course) should be stuffed with something of weight to make them droop. Socks filled with (uncooked) rice works very well. A small, flat pillow was arranged on her back (just inside the dress) to offer up that hunched over look. (Batting would work very well for a smaller child.) If you sew, find some inexpensive fabric and a zipper to design a miniature housecoat or "moo moo" for that time-honored casual look. Be sure to instruct your child how to walk the (hobbled) walk, and talk the (shaky voiced) talk.

Excellent accessories to fully achieve your elderly ensemble:

Wire rimmed glasses - a real bonus would be to include a chain
Cane, or walking stick
Jewelry - pearls, clip-on earrings , broach, or hairpins
"Granny" purse - you know the one
"Church" hats

*For your little "Old Man" , with a little
creativity you can apply the same principles, minus the dress and a few select
accessories.

"Panhandler" - or in our day it was called a "bum", but I realize it is not the most politically correct term, or costume for that matter. This is a costume for the family with a sense of humor. In our case, growing up in Nebraska it was inevitably freezing by Halloween. This is the kind of weather inspired costume created for warmth, that required lots of layers, coats, and hats.

What you will need:

Dirty clothes - easily obtained my most any child
Hat and gloves -you can cut holes in, or cut the fingers off of the gloves
Over sized, dirty coat
Cardboard sign - and write "Will Work for Candy"
Thermos (or flask)

*For a great effect, my mom would put Vaseline on our face so that coffee grounds would stick to it. This created that 5-day "5 o'clock shadow" look.

"Gypsy/Fortune Teller" - This is one costume where you will have tons of creative license. My mother worked with what she had for my costume (circa 1977), which consisted of a full bohemian style skirt, "pouffy shirt", silk scarf tied around my head that flowed on to my back, clip on gold, dangly earrings, clog-type shoes, gold chains and assorted necklaces, and a shawl of some sort. I thought I looked fabulous, especially since I was the only 6 year old allowed to wear earrings and jewelry in my class! Surf the net for pictures of gypsies and fortune tellers for all kinds of inspiration and ideas. A great accessory for the fortune teller would be to carry a snow globe for a crystal ball. And for the Gypsy? A tambourine, banjo, or small guitar.

Read more!

Happy Hallo-"Green" !

For a new generation of trick or treaters, it may not be all about the "treat" anymore. Concerns about excess.........excess shopping, packaging, and excess waste weigh heavily on the minds of the ecoist, but by simply reducing the amount of Halloween candy, treats and related products you buy for your Green Halloween celebration, you will be teaching your family the value of moderation and being friendlier to our planet. More and more people may find themselves forgoing the "ritual" of trick or treating altogether by hosting dinner parties for adults, all the while providing food and fun activities for the children that promote laughter and lasting memories for all to enjoy.

For the adult Halloween party, reusable, melamine table settings like this one from Target's Raven Scroll Dinnerware collection adds just the right amount of "spooky". Bring on the drama by placing several candelabras (like the one pictured above from Target) along the table to create the perfect glow to a dimly lit setting.

If you are looking for tableware that is more versatile and can be used well after your Halloween party is over, consider this set from Target's Melamine and Acrylic Dinnerware collection, featured in Persimmon. Pairing these bright and colorful plates with a black tablecloth and the Haunted Hallows 3 piece set of spooky trees as your centerpiece, you will have a table setting to "die" for!

The kids may enjoy a 'frightening feast" on a spooky display of (reusable - dishwasher safe) Spiderweb Plates & Ghostplacemats . These, and other kid-friendly decorations are available on the Pottery Barn Kids website.

To borrow a snippet from the Green Halloween's website referring to decorations, they suggest the following:

"Having a Green Halloween does not mean your party has be decoration-free.
Gourds, pumpkins, apples and other items from nature look great as accents on front porches and table tops while also reducing the use of paper and plastics.
Decorations such as fair trade skeleton streamers and colorful recycled and
recyclable dinnerware may add a touch of festivity. If you’d like to use candles for a little ambiance, be sure to keep them out of the reach of kids and only use those made of soy or beeswax instead of petroleum. Regardless of how you decorate for Halloween, being green also means eliminating as much waste as you can, so if you are going to purchase items that will end up in the trash, try to find items that can later be reused or recycled, or composted."

*For other great ideas and tips, please visit Green Halloween's website. Green Halloween is a program of the non-profit Treeswing , who's cause benefits children by helping to improve their health through nutrition and exercise. Read more!

I Came, I Saw, I..........

....was a complete idiot! So, as you know I went to the Sleep is For The Weak book signing on Saturday. Despite the threat of Hurricane Ike wreaking havoc in The Big D (well, Plano to be exact), it wasn't that bad- or bad enough to keep me away! From my last post you probably sensed my excitement. I mean, to meet one of the authors, more specifically Jennifer Satterwhite, (who's blog Mommy Needs Coffee is on my "Sites I Stalk" list) is a pretty major deal for me! I am just so in awe and full of admiration for these women who blog, and pour out their hearts and souls, to gratify our need for "realism" and describe their social conditions as they actually are, without idealization or a grand presentation.
I started out on my book signing mission pretty impressed with myself that I was able to finagle a hectic schedule that day in order to make it in time. This "schedule"- better described as a "fly by the seat of my pants mission" comes complete with a children's birthday party - earlier that day, a drive back to my friends house - with four little girls in tow, wrap up a successful party - of which the guest of honor was most pleased, put my kids down for a nap - well, almost...Daddy had to finish the job, drive through pretty heavy rains and a veritable amount of Dallas traffic, only to arrive at Barnes & Noble - in the nick of time!
I walked in the door looking like a "hare-brained mess" (to quote one of the entries in this book) and there sat our author, cool as a cucumber with that familiar smile I have seen over an over on her blog. Her smile was welcoming and friendly, OR just trying to be polite to the strange woman standing inside the entrance wet with rain and a big, stupid grin on her face. I only stood there for a moment before forging ahead to her table. My mind was spinning, trying to think of something poignant to say. Nothing came to mind, of course. I think I resorted to talk about the weather. The weather! I know.......that's what I thought, too. The minute I got back to my car, after having probably one of the most speechless moments of my life (and anyone who knows me KNOWS I am rarely - if ever-speechless), I realized I did not even compliment her on her blog, her contribution to this great book, previous accomplishments, or any other such accolades.

As I sat there in my car with rain pouring down on my windshield it occurred to me that I should go back in one more time. Not just that I needed another go at it, as I never even told her who I was or that I enjoyed her blog very much, but that I also decided after a quick thumbing through of the book how much my girlfriend (I was staying with) would enjoy a signed copy of the book as well. I went back in, got my book, had a semblance of a more normal conversation I suppose, and left.....kicking myself the whole way home that I Came, I Saw, I Forgot my camera. Read more!