Green Smoothies

A very frugal and easy way to get some nutrition into those you love is by making a green smoothie.

When my daughter was little, we had an epic battle in getting her to drink anything at all.  She was not a fan of milk or water and so I desperately resorted to making green smoothies for her.  I made them solely with the intention of getting vitamins into her, and meanwhile, my husband and I found that we loved them as well!

So, as the weather is getting closer to warming up, I thought I would give you some of our favorite green smoothie recipes.

Easy and Toddler Friendly Green Smoothie:
1/2 banana
handful of spinach
frozen pineapple and mango
water

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until very smooth.  Add more water or ice if needed to get desired consistency.  Best if enjoyed through a straw!

And if the green color is a turnoff, try this recipe...

Not So Green Smoothie:
1/2 banana
handful of spinach
frozen berries
water

Blend and enjoy!
The frozen berries turn it into a purple color and if color is a factor in enjoying your smoothie, this might work better!

You can easily throw some chia or flax seeds into your smoothie for an added nutritional punch without anyone noticing!

When Lily was little and on her smoothie kick, she thought any type of cooking or baking was in an effort to produce a smoothie (which she lovingly referred to as a "hu-mie.")  Enjoy this video of Lily making a smoothie (which I am pretty sure was zucchini bread!)

Out to Lunch

Last winter, Jose and I had a newborn baby. A newborn who would not take a bottle and was, therefore, almost always in my company. While we did have occasional dates (thanks to our dear friend, Mo), most of our dates became family dates. So, we ended up going on Saturday lunch dates.

The great thing is...lunch dates are cheaper! Although I do appreciate Whitney's take on non-food related activities, I really love going out to eat. Going out to eat during the day allows you to relax and watch a movie at home, go for a walk, or linger over a long meal in the evening. If you're looking for great places to eat in your city, you may want to check out a local magazine. Our lunch dates happened to coincide with the release of 5280's Best New Restaurants issue. We've returned to some of our favorites again and again.

Denver Lunch Date Favorites:
Hutch and Spoon
Snooze
The Squeaky Bean
Bang!
Vert

Roses are red...

When someone walks into my home carrying a bouquet of flowers, I instantly feel lighter. It's like a breath of spring has wafted through the door--fresh, bright and hopeful. I adore having flowers in our home. For one summer season we received a bouquet of unbelievably beautiful flowers every week with our CSA. Since then, flowers have been a rare treat.

I was excited when my mother-in-law delivered a lovely bunch of daisies and roses to me when they visited two weekends ago. The flowers adorned our dining room table for over a week. Then, they started to look a little sad. The timing was unfortunate because I was preparing to host a little get-together and had hoped to have a pretty centerpiece.

I took action. Most of the daisies and roses had to go. The supporting cast members were given the lead roles. I separated the baby's breath into separate glass jars, and then placed a rose deep into the water in a drinking glass. My single vase of flowers was turned into a three part centerpiece. I think it's a pretty good alternative to tossing the flowers into the compost, don't you?

Risky

I really wanted to wear comfortable pants to Griff's music class yesterday. (We sit on the floor the whole time and dance around like crazy kids.) And, I really needed to do laundry. I had one pair of comfortable pants left in my closet. But, they had paint on them. For probably ten minutes, I debated whether or not I was actually allowed to wear those pants. What would people think of me? What would I say if someone asked whether I knew that I had paint on my pants? Would the women in the class judge me?

Have you ever felt this way? There are some days when I feel like such a high priority is placed on the appearance of things. When we worry about people thinking that we're not perfect. When intimacy is sacrificed, so that appearances can be upheld. At least, I know I have days like that.

God has been reminding me recently of the value of vulnerability. Being your real, honest, authentic self. I long for the relationships in my life where I can talk about the struggles and the joys. I truly want the people that I see every week to know me. But, sometimes it seems easier to just give people the quick, easy version of life, so things don't get messy. I think that we are created for so much more than that. Each of us is uniquely and beautifully made and has a gift to offer to others through friendships. Sure, there are sacrifices involved--you may end up being the listener when you don't expect it or being asked to babysit when you really don't want to. But, life opens up in new ways when we allow others in.

What I'm not saying is that every person in our lives should know every detail. I'm not saying that when the semi-stranger asks, "How are you?" you should launch into a five minute long rant about your broken washing machine. I'm not saying that you should confide in the woman at work who always know all the gossip.

What I am saying is that God places people in our lives. People who, just like me, long for deeper relationships. There are people at church, at music, in my neighborhood with whom I could have supportive, joyful friendships. But, so often, fear of rejection, vulnerability and betrayal holds me back. My prayer for myself and for you is that the risk of reaching out to someone else, while being truly you, won't feel so risky.

I did wear those pants to music class. And, you know what? While all the kids were dancing and playing instruments, I don't think anyone even noticed that I had paint on my pants.

Braided Headband

Athleta's Spring 2011 catalog arrived in my mailbox last week. I was immediately drawn to several comfy dresses and skirts. I could just imagine waking up near the beach, throwing on my cozy indigo dress, and going for a long walk in the sun. Ah. Of course, a beach vacation and new clothes from Athleta aren't exactly in the budget for Frugal February.

However, I can make a new headband inspired by an adorable one I found in the catalog. I was pretty sure that I could figure out how to make a braided headband, but not certain enough of my process to take pictures as I did it. I guess I thought if I took pictures, it was doomed not to come together. Don't worry. It's really simple.

Supplies:
Stretchy fabric (I used part of a tank top that I no longer wear)
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Rotary cutter or scissors

Step One: Measure out four rectangles. Three should be about 1.5" by 23". One should be about 2" by 3".

Step Two: Sew the rectangles into long tubes by sewing each rectangle to itself by folding right sides together. (You fold it hot dog style and sew the long opening closed)

Step Three: Turn the tubes right side out. I'm sure there is some clever way to do this, but I just used tweezers!

Step Four: Pin the three longer tubes together at one end and braid.

Step Five: Sew each end of the braid.

Step Six: Safety pin the ends of the braid together, so you can determine how big to make your headband.

Step Seven: Take off the safety pin and guide each end of the braid into the smaller tube.

Step Eight: Tuck the unfinished ends of the smaller tube under and sew it onto your braid.

Step Nine: Trim the excess thread and you're finished!

Meal Exchange

I've been in a bit of a cooking rut as of late. I find myself thinking of the same handful of recipes when I plan the weekly menu. Tacos, veggie pasta, soup, burritos, salad. Needless to say, both Jose and I have been getting a little bored with what's on our dinner plates. Luckily, I got an email from a friend in my moms' group at church inviting me to do a meal exchange. In case you've never done this before, the way it works is that each person makes a single meal for all of the other people in the exchange. Then, you get together and trade.

So, last Wednesday, I found myself spending about two and a half hours buried in noodles, sauce, veggies and ground turkey. (Figuratively, of course.) I ended up making six lasagnas to trade and one to give to a pregnant friend. While the project was intense, I reminded myself that I could go an entire week without really needing to cook. Or...that whenever I felt too busy, tired or overwhelmed to cook, I could just pull a homemade meal right out of the freezer. I don't know when I will cook my friends' meals, but I am excited that I have something that I know will be delicious because each of them decided it was good enough to share. No mediocre meals here!

It may not look beautiful, but I can't wait to dig in!

This is the first time I've done a meal exchange, but I've learned a couple basic tips that might help you. Choose something that is not too expensive or complicated, or else you will be in the kitchen all day and won't save any money. If possible, purchase your ingredients in bulk or on sale. (I had the unfortunate experience of trekking all the way to Costco and discovering that they do not carry lasagna noodles, aluminum loaf pans, or zucchini. Griffin was not happy making two grocery stops.) Give your meals in containers that do not need to be returned to you, but can hopefully be recycled. Oh, and make sure you have room in your freezer for the size of container you choose.

You can exchange with a whole group like I did or you could just exchange a couple meals with a single friend. Any way you look at it, a meal exchange is a great way to pull yourself right out of a dinner rut.

Griffin: checking out the newly stocked freezer

A few recipe ideas:

Tomato soup

Tamale Pie

Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken Pot Pie
Lasagna

Final February Winner!

The winner of Whitney's glittery headband is...

Congratulations, Kari! Send us your address at freshlyrootedblog (at) gmail (dot) com and we will send your fabulous prize your way!

etsy love

I'm trying really (really!) hard not to shop, but sometimes, you actually need to make a few purchases. For example, when starting a new job. Or a friend's birthday.

Now that I'm on a budget and can't really afford retail like the old days, I'm an Etsy addict.  Everything is so much cheaper! And because you can work directly with the seller, the customer service is typically excellent.

So, on this frugal February Friday, if you are in desperate need of some retail therapy (I used to say the fact that it's the weekend was reason enough), a few of my Etsy favorites...

to eat:

Amazing cupcakes in a jar. Are you salivating, too?

to make:

Adorable twine for an upcoming DIY.  I see a springy bag in your future (or friendship bracelet!)

to pray:

Super sweet faith hope love wall decal.

to nest:

Fun coasters for those who have a hard time remaining calm until coffee has been consumed.

to play:

Fabulous dress. Not so much a steal, but it would most certainly guarantee some playfulness.

PS: It's not too late to enter our giveaway!

when it's time to change you've got to rearrange...

Our mom is most certainly a woman of action.  She's been known to buy puppies on a whim and redo a room (or two) while my dad is gone for a quick weekend trip. When she gets an idea, it's pretty difficult to stop her.

When we were growing up, one of her favorite activities to do with us was rearrange our bedrooms.  I'm pretty sure I had my furniture arranged in every possible way multiple times and it wasn't until later in life that I realized not all of my friends regularly did this with their mom...

Needless to say, I quickly learned that rearranging is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to refresh a room.  It provides just enough stimulation to make a dull layout exciting again.

If you're feeling slightly bored this February, and are lusting after a new headboard from Pottery Barn (me), consider an afternoon rearranging session. It just might put enough pep in your step to avoid some wintertime spending...

via

think globally, act locally

"You know I've heard good people say there's nothing I can do, that's half a world away. Well maybe you've got money, maybe you've got time, maybe you've got a Living Well that ain't ever running dry..." Caedmon's Call, Share the Well

On Sunday at church, the sermon focused on making a global impact with faith.  The majority of the sermon was financially driven, and while I understand how deeply in need of monetary support many regions of the world are, it wasn't my favorite sermon.

Maybe it came at the wrong time for me (I mean, it is frugal February). In high school, each summer I went to Mexico, which cost both time and money, so it's not that I'm opposed to giving these resources by any means.  However, as a twenty-something who recently started a new job, I have neither time nor money to give in abundance.

The sermon got me thinking about other ways I could give on a global scale.  The most obvious way is to dedicate prayer to those living in and visiting other countries.  And while I did decide I'm going to make a greater effort to pray about more global issues (it's so hard when they don't impact me day to day!), I know it often feels more fulfilling to give something tangible.

A lot of churches that sponsor mission trips often need supplies such as toothbrushes and soap.  Not only is this expense minimal, but oftentimes you can call a dentist and they'll donate them.  In doing so, you're ultimately giving your time, by calling the dentist and delivering the resources, while still saving the organization money.

And, in the end, sometimes I think it allows for more growth in our own spiritual lives if we find ways to give beyond money.

In addition, many churches need help preparing for mission trips - whether it be by sending letters, stuffing envelopes, or helping schedule travel arrangements.  Consider calling your church to see how you can help prepare for an upcoming trip.  Getting involved on the local level can make a global impact.

image via charity water

freecycle

Although I've yet to fulfill my resolution of making something for our Etsy shop, I have every intention of doing so.  Which means, I purchased all of the supplies to make my creation, I'm just still gaining confidence when it comes to actually sewing...

In honor of frugal February and my resolution, my goal is to make my first project with fabric I already have.  I have this beautiful fabric Courtney brought me from Africa and awesome seersucker fabric Ashley wrapped my Christmas gift in, so I figure that is a great starting point.

In case you don't have such amazing sisters to fill up your fabric bin (or an abundance of it in your basement), you can still use recycled cloth for your DIY projects.

Consider old sweaters, throw pillows and sheets that you no longer use.  Ashley made awesome newborn pants from an old argyle sweater and cloth napkins from a flannel shirt (pictured). Which means, once you have the needle and thread, the project is basically free. What more could you want for frugal February?

Giveaway numero three

It's that time of week again - another giveaway!

But first, without further ado, last week's winner: Nakita! Please send your address to us at freshlyrootedblog (at) gmail (dot) com.

Now, onto this week's giveaway, which is also my first Etsy shop creation.  Comment on this post and you'll be entered to win the gold glitter headband below.  And I assure you, the headband is (far) than lovelier than my photography work...

happy {out and about!} monday

As an admitted clothing addict, I despise spending money on food.  When I started my previous job, my coworkers would often ask me to go out to lunch, and I always declined because I'd brought my own. Finally, one of them asked me why I never joined them and I explained that I'd so much rather buy a new dress than a week of lunches out.

Going out for meals is a huge part of our culture - getting dinner, drinks, or coffee is an activity instead of sustenance. Recently, though, I've been making an effort to suggest alternative ideas, such as going to an outdoor mall and [window] shopping or exercising with someone. This way, I can avoid spending money, while still being social.  And, an added bonus is that it's a whole lot healthier.

To challenge yourself this frugal February, try suggesting alternative ideas when your friends want to grab dinner.

PS: I only wish I could be so lucky to dance on the beach with Lily or fish with my Dad. An excellent alternative!

PPS: In honor of Valentine's Day (happy one to you, by the way!) I'll give you a pass for the evening.  Enjoy some dinner, drinks and dessert :)

Encouraging Play

It seems that over the last few decades, the philosophy of "more" has evaded all parts of our culture - including our children's lives.

There are more toys to be had.  More electronics geared towards children.  More programs to enroll them in.

And while some of these things are wonderful and encourage all sorts of growth, I think some of it is certainly too much.

I have found that when my son and daughter's baskets and drawers are overflowing with toys and books, it almost seems they become paralyzed about what to play with.  It seems that the options are too many and a decision cannot be made.  And as we live in a smaller home without endless storage, we are not able to keep piles of toys around.

So, we have a system of keeping some of our favorite toys out and some of our favorite toys in bins in the attic.  And every few months, we switch which toys are available for play.  Keeping less available and keeping the toys on a rotation seems to encourage more satisfying play.

Alongside a rotation of the toys, we have become really big at purging toys we no longer need or play with often or that don't encourage creative play.
We have spent a lot of time talking with Lily about children who have less than she does and she is very willing to part with toys on a regular basis to give away.  We are thankful that we live in a city with a curbside pickup for those who are less fortunate and so it is very simple to donate items.  Not only does in encourage generosity and not becoming overly materialistic, we have also found that our children play much happier when less is at their disposal.

I love giving new gifts to my children and we are so thankful when people so generously give them gifts.  But, we have found that if we simplify what is at their fingertips, it makes for happier kids...and that makes for a happier mama!

A Fresh Coat...

One of the most frugal and easy ways to give your nest a facelift is by painting a room a new color.

It is amazing what a few simple coats of paint can do to transform a room.

When we moved into our home, one bedroom was orange, one was pink and one was purple.  And while these are all lovely colors, they were not our first choice for our rooms!  We were able to completely change the look and feel of our rooms by simply painting a few coats of paint in each room.  It was simple and with the help of a few wonderful friends, it was finished in no time!

purple bedroom.  lovely, right?

Since then, we have painted almost every room in our home and I love the fresh and personal feel it gives our house.

Ryan has been known to come home from work to find a room a new color (luckily, he is a really good sport about that sort of thing!)

And I think the best thing about painting that has happened over the last few years is how readily available zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints have become.  Paints release low levels of emissions for years after being applied, even after the smell is gone.

You can find zero-VOC paints at Lowes, Home Depot and most specialty paint stores also carry their own line of these paints.  We have had wonderful results with them and I feel so much better about using them in a house with kids.

So, if you are looking for a quick pick-me-up that doesn't cost too much, consider trying a new coat of paint.  It is amazing how it can change a room!

Prayer

In terms of my spiritual life, there is so much I can do to strengthen my walk with the Lord that costs little or no money at all.

I truly believe that praying often and intentionally is one of the best things we can do to feel closer to the Lord.

And this month, as we focus on saving money, I felt it was worthwhile to point out how amazing and life changing prayer can be and it costs not one penny.

I am trying to be much more intentional about praying all of the time...when things are good, when things are bad, when I have a praise, when I have a worry, when I am just alone and thinking.  And I have felt so much more peace and strength in knowing the Lord is by my side.

January was a hard month for our little family of four as we had some big struggles flung at us, but I have to say that amidst all of it, I feel we are stronger...and I truly believe that is because we spent so much time together and individually in prayer.

Cast all of your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
- 1 Peter 5:7

Felting!

I really love doing crafts with my kids, but I am not one of those moms to whom endless creativity abounds.

One craft we have really enjoyed recently (and that is very inexpensive) is wet felting.

via embers

It is something that even the littlest of hands can enjoy and it is a mess that is not overwhelming.  The projects come together quickly and are very satisfying for little ones.

Felt can be purchased locally in many areas and it is sustainable.

And all you need to wet felt is wool roving, water, soap, and hands that are ready to roll!  You can make simple crafts such as balls (which my kids love) and you can make much more elegant things such as scarves, bags, purses, or little figures.

Give it a try!


felted eggs from embers on Vimeo.

Giveaway Number Two.

Congratulations to comment #5: Lindsay! Please send your address to us at freshlyrootedblog (at) gmail (dot) com and we will happily send you your new snack bag. Hooray!

Don't lose heart...we've got another giveaway. How would you like to win a set of lunch box napkins? Comment on this or any of our other blog posts this week and you are entered in our giveaway. These adorable napkins are perfect when you want to take lunch or go on a picnic. They are absorbent and machine washable. This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 11.

Remember...all of our giveaway items are available on our Etsy site!

Spending Less on Food

I have never been a huge fan of Sam's Club or Costco, but as our family has grown, our grocery bill has grown exponentially.

It is one of the expenses that stresses me out the most.

I am committed to trying to feed my family the best, most whole and pure foods possible and I really do not want to sacrifice in this area.  But, our budget does not allow for me to shop only at an organic grocery store.

I have been very impressed over the last few years by the big increase in organic and fair trade foods that Sam's Club and Costco are carrying.  It has made our membership well worth it and has given me much more pleasure in spending some of our money there.

If you are shopping for more than one person, I would highly consider checking out your local superstore to see what new options they have in this area!

These are some of our favorite finds at our local Sam's Club.  They even have some earth friendly cleaning supplies, composters and fair trade bananas, too.  Happy shopping!

Entertainment

I like to watch TV. I'm not afraid to admit it. Okay, well maybe I'm a little afraid, but don't you enjoy it? I blame it on the noisy house in which I grew up, but a silent house gets to me. So, when Griffin's asleep I find myself turning on the television for company. BUT, cable is expensive.

Jose and I sat down at the end of 2010 to really seriously look at our monthly expenses and what we were willing to cut out or reduce. The expense and the fact that we had just recently watched a show featuring Vanilla Ice as a home renovator, led to the decision that Comcast had to go. Partially, at least. We simply couldn't do without the internet service.

So, now I don't watch television. Just kidding. After doing some research, we opted to buy a Roku. The Roku allows you to stream show to your TV via the internet. After investing $99 in the Roku and about $38 in an antenna, we cut our monthly entertainment spending by 80%. We are paying for a monthly subscription to Hulu Plus, which allows us to watch tons of current and past popular shows, and a Netflix streaming-only subscription. It comes out to about $15. Woot!

The only real drawback to our current set-up is that Jose doesn't get to watch all of the sports on ESPN that he used to. But, he can still watch major sporting events on our antenna, so he doesn't really seem to mind. That and I kind of miss HGTV. But, the savings is definitely worth it. What are you doing to save on entertainment?

Experiment

The country has been gripped by some seriously wintry weather. While we are not buried in snow, the cold in Colorado is quite oppressive. We're staying inside for now. To keep from getting too stir-crazy, I've been doing a bit of experimenting.

When Courtney and Whitney and I were kids, we used to make concoctions in the kitchen. We would experiment with different ingredients and see what happened when we combined them. Since Whitney was pretty young, her role would be to taste our sometimes hideous creations and she almost always did. She was very accommodating.

I was inspired by our childhood experiments in the kitchen, as well as an article my dad sent to me about recipes for whole grain pancakes. So, I decided to mess around with a couple pancake recipes. One of my favorites is at oat cake recipe from Happy Foody. I've replaced the butter with apple sauce and added cinnamon, which is quite tasty.

Another replacement I tried was a combination of whole wheat and white flour for the oats; the milk had to be reduced by a cup. Griffin has loved eating his pancakes with a little bit of almond butter and applesauce.

Griff often has a hot cereal made of ground quinoa, almonds, and oats for breakfast. I have also tried the oat cakes recipe with his hot cereal mixture instead of just oats. The consistency is a not as fine, but the nutty flavor is delicious.

Don't feel trapped in your home! Find a way to experiment. If you never have, try making bread from scratch. Rearrange your bedroom. Switch some furniture from one room to another. Make a collage or a painting.

Fellowship

It is so easy to get wrapped up in our busy lifestyles and to forget or de-prioritize spending time with others. I think it's such a crucial and fulfilling part of our Christianity. Sometimes I do not want to go out of the house on a cold, dark winter night to drive to Bible Study. But, every time I meet with the ladies in my group, I feel refreshed and joyful. I guess God knew what he was talking about when He said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20. He uses each of us in each other's lives to build each other up, to learn about Him, and to remind each other of His love.

Once a month, my Bible Study gets together for a pot-luck dinner. There are five of us who meet together and it doesn't take much to make a meal when we all contribute. In other words, it's a cheap way for us to chow down and chat.

Here are some of my favorite pot-luck themes:
Chili night--the host makes chili; additions: toppings, bread and dessert
Taco night--the host has the meat and shells; additions: toppings, salad and dessert
Big Salad night--each person brings a part of the salad (whatever is in the fridge or pantry); additions: bread and dessert
Soup night--the host makes a veggie soup; additions: cooked chicken, grains, bread and dessert

You may have noticed that dessert is always included. Dinner together is a treat, after all. We take turns hosting the meal, so everyone will have a chance to not drive and the prep and clean up is spread around. Even if you don't have a regular group that meets, you can easily invite a few friends over for a memorable, inexpensive evening spent together. Who knows...maybe it will become a monthly tradition.

Pop of Color

As Whitney has mentioned, my mom has an intense love for throw pillows. She is all about a pop of color on pretty much every couch and chair. And, she does have a point. A new pillow or two can really change the feel of a room. My couch started to feel a little drab, as the leaves were falling off the trees. Preparing myself to be surrounded by brown grass and brown trees meant livening up my brown couch. My couch came with matching brown pillows with polka dots on one side. It sounds hideous, but they really weren't really that bad.

I had to take action. I stole a few pillows from chairs that didn't really need pillows and switched out the ones on our bed. Then, I decided to make one. I just needed some fabric.

When I was teaching, I used anything I could to brighten up my classroom--fabric, photos, calendars, quotations, etc. In other words, I have a bunch of stuff in my basement that is not currently being put to use. One of my favorite wall hangings was an old, striped shawl that I found in my parents basement. (I found out later that my mom's aunt had woven it, while working at a women's prison and living in the mountains of North Carolina.) I used a portion of it for Lily's Christmas present, but the rest of it was perfectly sized for a large throw pillow. I was a little apprehensive about the colors at first, but now I love it!

If you're desiring a little color in your living room or bedroom or wherever, make a pillow. It is one of the easiest, most satisfying projects I can think of. Just in case you're feeling unsure about how to make one, here are the directions.

1. Choose your fabric. Try to find something in your house that you can make new--a sweater, a scarf, a button-down shirt.
2. Double the fabric over to see how big you can make your pillow. You might want to measure to get a perfect square.
3. Cut your square. If you have a rotary cutter, you can certainly cut through both layers at the same time.
4. Pin your fabric with the right sides facing in.
5. Sew around the square. Leave about half of one side open for stuffing.
6. Turn your pillow right side out.
7. Stuff it.
8. Using a needle and thread, sew the side that you left open closed.
9. Find the perfect home for your new creation.