Book Review: 15 Minutes Outside Rebecca Cohen

I have been reading some really great family living or parenting books (if you would) lately!  One of the things that has been difficult at times in my house is getting Aidan outside everyday.  We love spending time outside, but let's face it, being sick last year and the beginning of the year hasn't helped that much, and Aidan's long commute to NH to school, one hour round-trip for him, and two hours for me sometimes makes it hard to make that extra effort to get outside.  I gotta tell you, it was a lot easier at the old apartment being on the first floor to spend time outside while supper is cooking, in the back yard playing or watering our garden.  Also, now that Aidan is in first grade we don't get home until about 4, which isn't that bad, but I am surprised at the amount of homework first graders get!

So, in an effort to acknowledge the fact that we needed some new ideas to get us moving to Create More Time in our busy days to just get out there, I ordered a book written by Rebecca Cohen, 15 Minutes Outside: 365 Ways to Get Out of the House and Connect with Your Kids.  Rebecca's book is great!  It organizes activities by season, and by month, so it is easy to pick up and find a good activity for the current season, without having to read through the whole book!  I got the book a few weeks back, and decided to put my plans into action!  Rebecca mentions her kids getting up a bit early to enjoy some play time outside before school.  What a great idea!  A nice way for Aidan to move around and wake up before our long drive to school.  I figured if he got the wiggles out before school started, maybe he would be more focused in school during his morning classes.  We have a great park right on our street that is on our way to school!  It's the perfect spot for morning play time!  I can't wait to try some of her other simple, fun ideas, and I think you should order her book too, if you are looking for new inspiration!  You can find out more about Rebecca on her site, Rebecca Plants.  She has a ton of great resources, including her own tv show called Get Out of the House!  On her site you can download a checklist of 50 Outdoor Activities Guide For Busy Families.  You can find the free download here 50 Outdoor Activities download.  Here are some pictures of our fun outside before school!  Enjoy!

I'm King!

Practicing his reading skills!

We have such a beautiful view overlooking the water.  Aidan was so relaxed.  It was so nice not rushing around last minute out the door, and straight to school.  I made sure he knew the night before that if he got dressed and got his stuff together, I would make the time for him to play outside before school.  I never saw him get ready so quick.  It helped to have his clothes ready the night before, but you know how kids are for an adventure they will be ready in a flash!

There is no playground at this park.  The area above, Aidan enjoys feeding the ducks and fish.  We will be getting him a fishing pole soon!  You can see how little rain we have had lately by looking at the next pictures.  Last time we were here, Aidan couldn't cross the smelly Swamp!  He enjoyed using a stick to push around in the mud, and get his rain boots wet, but on this day he was really excited to be able to cross what a few weeks before was a swamp.  It made for a very educational conversation on our ride to school, and Aidan got started off to a great day!

Wordless Sunday! Family Fun on Easter Sunday!

 

 

Best Ham Ever Kellie Brook Farm!

The guys playing Walkie Talkies!

Hope you enjoyed your day as much as we enjoyed our low-key celebration at home!

Kellie~

Salem New Hampshire Farmer's Market Part 2

We had so much fun when we attended the Salem NH Farmer's Market, that I couldn't get everything we saw and enjoyed into one post!  While we were waiting for Jamieson of Brookford Farm to set up his table, we went inside, and checked out some of the vendors in there.  You could smell fresh waffles cooking in the waffle iron.  I told my lil guy that they were selling "Waffles on a stick" AKA Waffle Lolly's!  They are made my a sweet woman named Christine, and her business is called Want Waffles, and that link will bring you to her Facebook page.  She was running a special for children ages 6 and under could get one for $1.00!  Aidan enjoyed maple syrup and powdered sugar on his, and he thought it was fantastic! 

While Mom was checking out the other tables, the music had just started up, and the guys are suckers when it comes to Blues and Jazz!  Poor Howard Stith had just started playing, and Aidan wanted to be front and center.  Howard is a great guy and we all enjoyed his music.  Actually, Aidan enjoyed it so much that that is where the guys stayed until Mom was done shopping and chatting!  I thought Howard was great,  He plays what he refers to as "traditional 12-string blues and roots music", "Songs from Mother's knee and other low joints."  In between songs Howard shares stories, jokes and anecdotes, and it draws you in and makes you want to hear more.  He is out of Dover, NH.  He did have a CD available for only $10.  Aidan wanted a bit of Howard's music to take home with us.  It was definitely worth the price.  Aidan has CD's at home, Dan Zanes, etc, but this was his first non-kid CD.  When Howard heard this, he breaked after his song, and autographed the cd liner for Aidan!  We have been listening to that CD non-stop since, whenever Aidan is in the car! 

By this time, my bags were getting heavy, and my camera was in some pocket.  I made my way over to the busy table that Hurd Farm, a family farm from Hampton, NH were selling their "Naturally raised meat, the healthier choice for you and your family"!  
Here is a little bit about them found on their site:  "We were a dairy farm that has transitioned to locally raised all natural meats and poultry. The Hurd family has owned and operated the farm
since 1923.
Today we raise all natural grass fed beef and chickens and Heritage breed pigs.
Our meats and poultry are fed an all-natural diet with no added antibiotics or other
additives as growth stimulants. Our animals are provided access to green grass
and sunshine on our farm's 160 acres.
We offer the best home grown beef, pork, chicken, and eggs to our customers." 

 The Hurd family was very friendly, and they told me that they have a meat CSA, as well as selling their great products at local markets.  If the line at their table was any indication, I knew we were in for a treat when we made our pulled pork!  I purchased a Pork Butt and pound of nitrite free bacon.  The next day the Pork Butt went into my crock-pot!  And the end results......Wow!  Melted in your mouth!  Aidan is a pulled pork fanatic and he thought it was the best!  

Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the finished product.  I did not have my camera handy.  


We saw many other vendors that day, all had some great stuff available.  The Salem, NH Farmer's Market is definitely worth visiting.  


One thing I have enjoyed about our participation in CSA's, farmer's markets, and visiting local farms, aside from supporting my local community, is that my son is learning where his food comes from.  I think he is starting to get that the food we buy at the farm, and market or receive in our CSA is not anything like they sell in the grocery store.  I want to thank all of the small local businesses that keep on trudging, even though the economy is getting more and more difficult.  Makes us want to spend more of our dollars closer to home!  Have a great Easter, Passover or whatever you believe in!  May you have a great time with your family!


Kellie & Family!

 

Family Fun at the Salem, NH Farmer's Market! Part 1

This past Sunday, the guys and I decided we wanted to visit a farmer's market that we hadn't been to before.  We decided to Check out the Salem, NH Farmer's Market.  It is located on Lake St. at the Lake Street Garden Center.  The market is open on the first and third Sunday of the month during the winter.  The hours are 12pm-4pm until May.  The market was founded in 2010.

I can honestly say what drew me most on the list of vendors was Brookford Farm.  Brookford Farm is a NH farm that offers raw milk, yogurt, cheeses, all from grass-fed cows.  They also have pastured pork, Grass-fed Beef, free-range eggs, New England Grain, vegetables, and a Whole Diet Based CSA Share.  Their site is beautiful and their staff is very friendly.  At the market, I met Jamieson, and he told me he has been part of the Brookford Farm for two years.  He had a table set up in front of an old white truck that was reminiscent of the old milk man's trucks.  When we arrived Jamieson was still setting up.  I held back from running over....I was dying to try raw milk.  I have never tried it, and have read of many health benefits of consuming raw milk.

Doesn't this remind you of the old milk man's trucks?

This is a quote found on the Brookford Farm website.  "Our milk is also raw, meaning that it’s never pasteurized, or subjected to high temperatures. We believe that raw milk is better to drink because it contains beneficial probiotic microorganisms, vitamins, and enzymes. It’s also much higher in vitamins like beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E. Even some people who are lactose intolerant are able to drink milk in its raw state, since the enzyme lactase, which helps to digest lactose, is not destroyed by the high heat of pasteurization.  Many people also think that Brookford Farm milk is uncommonly delicious. In 2010, we were awarded “Best Milk” by New Hampshire Magazine, and have won numerous awards from milk distributors like Organic Valley and other organizations."

I have to say, me and my family totally agree with New Hampshire Magazine.  Brookford Farm Milk is honestly the best we ever had.  My son normally drinks chocolate milk, but he loved it so much he had three glasses.  He said "it's so creamy and delicioussssssssss!  Can I have more?"  Normally, we are not milk drinkers, and usually we have to (and I hate to admit that we are so wasteful) throw out part of our milk because it has gone sour.  This milk was so tasty, and like Aidan said creamy, and sweet.  We drank the half gallon in two days.  I can't wait to go back to get more.  We love that it comes in Ball Canning jars too.  We use them for everything at home.  Drinking, canning, storing leftovers, making yogurt.  I told Jamieson about my blog as I was buying the milk and he offered to give me some yogurt to review.  That too, was just as great as the milk, smooth, creamy, and fresh.  I like to make yogurt when I have the time, but I haven't in a while so we were excited to try new to us products and support a local business.  I can definitely say that I will be looking into their other products and continue to buy milk and yogurt from them.

Cookies, Crispy pops, and Marshmallow samples!  YUM!

Cupcakes

We needed something to enjoy our milk with and the place for that was Modern Sweets, a Merrimack, NH based baking business run by a mom named Charlotte.  Her booth was so cute it drew me over.  She had beautifully decorated cupcakes, and Easter cookies, and homemade graham crackers drizzled in chocolate, and some rice crispy pops.  I started talking to her about how great everything looked. She told me she just recently started her business a few weeks prior.  She is definitely off to a great start.




 She offered samples of her homemade marshmallows, and once one melted in my mouth, she had me sold.  I told her that I have a blog, and when I told her the name she mentioned seeing it on a search.  She offered me some of her Easter sugar cookies, and two different flavored cupcakes to review.  I knew Aidan and I would have fun trying them out, and I bought some of her marshmallows and graham crackers so we could make some microwaved smores.  All perfect to taste with our Brookford milk. 


And the taste testing begins!....



We went to the market Sunday and Aidan and my niece tasted some of the cookies, and loved them!

Monday after school, Aidan and I set up for our sampling!  We couldn't wait for supper.  We had a lot of fun.  First was the milk and cupcakes.  The cupcake on the left is chocolate with peanut butter frosting.  My boy loves chocolate, but only really likes peanut butter in sandwiches, so he wanted to have some cookies instead.  I liked the cupcake.  Then we tasted the beautifully decorated carrot cake flavored cupcake.  I love carrot cake and so does Aidan.  We make one for John's birthday every year.  I adored this cupcake...I was proud of myself.  I didn't devour it.  I split it in three.  I needed to leave room for the Smores we were about to create in our microwave, while Aidan was busy dunking an Easter egg shaped sugar cookie in his second glass of milk...Those were really good, but I behaved.  I had some Pulled Pork cooking in my crock pot that we purchased the meat from the market Sunday from Hurd Farm.  ( I will talk about that in post 2).  We had some smores we had to make!

 I apologize for the lousy lighting here.  These pictures do not do justice to the delicious Graham Crackers, marshmallows, and smores we created with our Modern Sweets.  I don't think after eating these graham crackers that I will ever want a boxed one again....This was....amazing.  I will have to try to make some with Aidan for those times we don't have a chance to catch up with Charlotte at the market.

 Are they making you hungry yet?  These are not flimsy graham crackers, but dense, crispy, tasty goodness.  They had just the right amount of chocolate to make good smores.  If you are going to make some smores, it is a good idea to remember that these are fresh, homemade ingredients, without all the preservatives of the store bought marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers.  We don't have a huge microwave and it only took about 7-8 seconds...(make sure you stand and watch, so you don't get a huge mess) to get some ooey-gooey smores perfection.  Seriously, screw you Nabisco, Hersheys, and Kraft.....Modern Sweets are where the best smores are at.  And no, Charlotte did not pay me to say that....that's my opinion, and the evidence is below!  See what I mean??????  (Again, sorry for the lighting, the skylights are great, until you need a picture!)

I will post soon about the other great products and vendors at the Salem, NH Farmers' Market.  We will definitely making a return trip soon!

Make Your Own Foamy Paint!

During February vacation, I was looking for some easy to do craft ideas for Aidan and I to have some fun with.  We planned on tackling making our own dish soap and laundry detergent as part of our experiments, but I figured something easy and artistic for Aidan would be fun too!  We have a book called The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions .  It is a really cool book with a ton of fun paints, doughs, slime and other fun kid approved concoctions to make and enjoy!  We decided to make Foamy Paint on page 36. 

The Great thing about the Kid Concoctions book, is that the recipes are created with things you would usually find at home, so no last minute running around for ingredients (most of the time).  Aidan loves any chance he can to mix or create so he was super-excited to make some new paints! 

All you need to make foamy paint is three things

1. a muffin tin or ice cube tray (we used the ice cube tray but I think a muffin tin would be great!)






2. one can white shaving cream. ( here you get a lot of bang for   your buck so you can borrow some of dad's if that's what he uses, you only use a little.)

3. food coloring

How to Concoct:

Place a small dab of shaving cream into each ice cube tray or muffin tin.

Add 1-2 drops of food coloring to each section and stir with a spoon. 

Aidan and I played around with the amount of food coloring and mixed colors and tried to guess what we would get.  He had a lot of fun with this part.  The book suggests using foamy paint to make 3d sculptures.  A snowman is shown in the book.  We used q-tips, one in each ice cube holder to paint onto our card-stock.  It was a lot of fun!

Our Foamy Paint!

 Aidan enjoyed testing out the different colors and ways to combine them on his pictures!

 Instead of two thumbs up he gave me a peace sign and a big smile.  We will probably make this again, it's a great rainy day activity and clean up was simple.  We have some really cool pictures Aidan made hanging around the house now.

 My boy making a house and grass!  It came out really good when it was done!

Mama's fun painting using foamy paint!  It was fun to use, and the colors vibrant.  It took about 5 minutes to make, and entertained Aidan for an hour or so!  We are going to try it again when my niece is visiting.  She is almost three!

The author suggests using the paint to paint pictures safely on bodies.  I wish I did that with Aidan with the leftovers, before bath time!  Let me know if you try it and how your little ones like it!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Enjoying the Winter Farmer's Market

My plans were to keep up posting here regularly, but we know life doesn't always go as planned.  I have been through the wringer, and hopefully it will be coming to an end soon.  I am having a tonsillectomy this Friday, and a biopsy to my lymph-nodes.  I cannot wait for this to be over and done with so I can enjoy the Spring weather with Aidan, and hopefully get back into the kitchen, full force.

 

I was feeling okay a few weeks ago, so Batman (Aidan) and I ventured out to Newburyport Winter Farmer's Market .   The weather was great, and so were the vendors.  Aidan really enjoyed the music, and the others visiting the market really enjoyed Batman.  I got a delicious Chai, and Aidan and I got  lunch from Kellie Brook Farm.  I had the pulled pork sandwich, and Aidan had the hot dog, all made locally from their natural pigs.  They are located in Greenland, New Hampshire.



Aidan and I both loved their meat so much that I bought a Pork Roast to Bring home to make our own pulled pork.  That too, was amazing.  It was an all out good day.


We left there with some local apples, some delicious quinoa salad, that even my picky eater liked, and a homemade smores.  I can't wait to feel better and get back out to enjoy the Winter Farmer's Market.  I would like to check out the Salem, NH Winter Market.  I think Aidan and John will enjoy it, and we can check out some different vendors.  Here are some pictures from our great Sunday outing!   The pulled pork was delicious.  I wish I got a picture of the finished product.  Just thinking about it, is making me yearn to get back there, and fast to get some more pork from Kellie Brook Farms.  I know Aidan would love to have another of their great hot dogs, no additives either.  : )

Pulled pork going into the crockpot!

Aidan enjoying Quinoa Salad from Figtree Cafe & Catering.  They are in Rollinsford, NH.  I'm gonna make it a goal to check out the different markets in our area.  I did go to the Lawrence Farmer's Market once, and did not like it at all.  It could've been a bad day, maybe we will give  it another try this year.