Pools, rBGH, and Pretend Pastry

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TGIF! Have an awesome weekend everyone!

I have had an eventful week here. It was my birthday and my 10 year wedding anniversary was yesterday. My oldest son’s 8th birthday is in 11 days so I have been busy prepping for that. We are going to Pittsburgh to celebrate. That’s a mom’s life I tell ya…no big to-do over MY birthday or our wedding anniversary but the kids always have the best birthdays.

Hubby and I got his homeschool area all set up last night with a brand new HP computer and printer, and all his other gear. There is a also a comfy couch and sitting chair in the area for reading aloud. His special touch was to put a strobe light on his desk, LOL. Here is a pic:

We went garage saling this morning and got a few math workbooks, a board game, and a talking Franklin Phonics toy for the younger kids.

Other cool stuff:

Nature2 Express - If you remember awhile back I wrote about pool systems you could install to purify your pool water without chemicals. Well, those systems cost a few thousand dollars but I just became aware of a pretty nifty alternative. Nature2 Express has a unit that attaches to the plastic plumbing of most in-ground and aboveground pool systems. During the regular pool filtration cycle, water flows through the Nature2 Express cartridge, where a combination of silver and copper minerals destroy bacteria. This process significantly reduces the need for large amounts of chlorine. The unit only costs $175 so this looks likea GREAT alternative if you want a more eco friendly and kid friendly pool. If you have a pool make sure to check these out.

rBGH - I have mentioned many times on this blog how I oppose Monsanto and their growth hormones and gentically modified seeds. Well, it seemed for a long time that they would win the rBGH battle and force us to drink that nasty hormone in our milk. Just a few months ago they were lobbying in my state of Ohio to make it illegal for companies to label their milk as rBGH free. They knew that if conumers had a choice between hormone laced milk and milk without….consumers would pick the latter! I wrote a pretty seething letter to my local paper about it. But 5 years of consumer pressure has taken its toll and Monsanto announced this month that they are getting out of the rBGH business! Woot! But the battle for clean, healthy, eco friendly food is not over. Consumers need to fight Monsanto’s other products…gentically modified seeds.

I found a CUTE toy set from Haba that my daughter would love. A set of cloth pastries for play kitchens. Don’t these look deliciously real? I may have to break my nothing new rule for Christmas to get her these.

If your looking for a great family friendly movie this weekend…I recommend Flicka. I just saw it this week and it is WONDERFUL! It also has some delicious eye candy named Tim McGraw, LOL. It is movies like these that make me wish I was back on the farm.

Other things I have written this week at other blogs:

Essential Equipment for a Raw Foods Kitchen

Video - How To Make A Green Smoothie

5 Ideas For A Green Birthday Party

Have a great weekend!