Meet Fletcher

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I'm not a real animal lover. It's hard to say that out loud, because it makes me sound kind of heartless doesn't it? When I was a child we lived out in the country. Our pets lived outside. They would come and go, and sometimes we wouldn't see them for a few days. I just never really bonded. Plus, when I was very small we had chickens. And an awful rooster. A really awful rooster. I think it impeded my ability to trust animals. 

A few years ago we had a pug named Mulligan (pictured here). Yeah, after chewing everything in sight and continually pooping in the house... he got his own mulligan with another family. Bye Bye.

But, the kids have been begging us to try again. They are a little older now and more able to help with the feeding and attention giving. Also, Ian is slightly obsessive about dogs (this became clear to us when he fell in love with my brother's dog). He LOVES them almost as much as helicopters. Almost. 

Just after Christmas we visited the Humane Society. And there he was.

Our Fletcher. 

Naming him was a real group effort. It took us a few days. In the end, I think his name suits him. He is a 3 year old Terrier mix. He is gentle. He never barks. He is such a lover, and he is my new walking/hiking/running partner. Clearly he is getting lots of love.

 {Don't tell anyone, but I kind of like him too.}

lunch- theirs and mine

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I've been taking pictures of our lunches. Is that weird? I think I'm weird.

Either way, I just thought I would share them with you. We can all use a little food inspiration from time to time. I hate the thought of us getting stuck in a lunch rut. Here's my contribution. 

Theirs:

I usually pack lunches the morning of. We use these boxes. I love them! They are 2 years old and have gotten a lot of use! My goal with the kids is to send them off with food that isn't pre-packaged and highly processed. That being said, another goal is to pack something that they'll actually eat. Tricky. I don't always get it right. 

Left to Right:

#1: pb and honey sandwich, cubes of cheese, yogurt + blueberries, chips and salsa

#2: turkey hoagie, raspberries + mandarin oranges + pomegranate seeds, yogurt covered pretzels + peanuts, cucumbers and snap peas + ranch

#3: turkey sandwich,  yogurt covered pretzels + peanuts, raspberries + mandarin oranges + pomegranate seeds, mini peppers stuffed with babybel cheese

#4: Yogurt, cantaloupe + mint, celery + pb, turkey wrap, small container of granola

#5: Turkey bagel, veggie booty, mandarin oranges, bananas + raspberries

Mine:

Lunch is my least hurried meal of the day. The girls are at school and Ian is napping when I eat, so I most always sit at the table by myself. Ugh, the silence is sacred. Also, it is the only meal where I make something just for me. My mid-day meal doesn't have to be kid-friendly or husband-pleasing. I love lunch.

#1: whole wheat bread, dill cream cheese, cucumbers, sprouts, cucumbers, avocado, salt and pepper

#2: wedge salad

#3: spinach, apples, pomegranate seeds, walnuts, goat cheese, and balsamic dressing

#4: tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, drizzle of olive oil

#5: butter lettuce, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, red onion, garbanzo beans, (was out of kalamata olives dang it!), feta, oil and vinegar

There are more lovely lunch ideas here. And as always you can find endless inspiration on Pinterest (you can follow me by clicking the icon up there in the right corner of this page). 

Okay you. Go eat something good!

clean it up

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The kids are home sick from school today. Just some sniffles and coughing- nothing horrible. We've thankfully been remarkably healthy so far this season. But, whenever there are germs floating around here I get motivated to clean everything! How about we make some cleaner?

All Purpose Cleaner:

In a large glass measuring cup mix together: 1 tsp Baking Soda, 2 tsp Borax, a few drops of Liquid Dish Soap, a splash of Lemon Juice, several drops of Essential Oil (Lavender/peppermint is one of my favorite combinations) and 2 cups of very Hot Water.  Stir, stir, stir.  Then use a funnel to pour the cleaner into an empty spray bottle. Wah lah. Lemony freshness coming right up!

Lavender Scouring Scrub:

Fill a shaker jar (found mine at the Dollar Tree) with baking soda. It's helpful to use a jar funnel.  Add 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil into the jar. (You could also use tea tree oil, or sweet orange oil- whatever scent you like best.) Screw on the lid, and place your hand over the holes. Shake it up to distribute the oils. Then, just sprinkle and scrub. I use this in my sinks and tubs. It works wonderfully, smells great, and best of all... it doesn't have any scary chemicals in it, which means the kids can use it too! I love kid-cleaned bathrooms! Oh wait, they're sick...

Floor Cleaner:

Pour 2 cups of vinegar into a large bucket or tub. Add a small squirt of dish soap and several drops of essential oil. Fill the tub/bucket up with hot water. Now you're ready to mop!

I'm off to sparkle and shine. Germs be gone!