Vintage Vegetarian

HBO has been running Author! Author! and no matter how many times I see this movie, when I run across it, I'm charmed. Al Pacino plays an almost-single dad who is a quirky playwrite and vegetarian. You see kids eating a lot of salads which I love, and communicating in a more adult fashion which is amusing and something you wouldn't see in a film today. The fridge is loaded with greens and veggies and the parent is an insomniac--just like our house.

It's warm and funny and I got a big crush on Al Pacino when I was a kid because of this movie. You can get the DVD on Amazon with some unfortunate edits, apparently, but I think it's still worth it until the full version comes out. It's totally dated but still refreshing compared to much of what's being offered in cinema these days. This is comfort viewing....like coming home to milk and cookies.

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Another Reason to Buy Organic

Finally, a study to state the obvious and yet another reason to buy organic. Organic food is free of GMOs, so if pesticides aren't enough to scare the crap out of you, there has finally been a study to confirm that indeed Frankenfood isn't such a great idea. How it isn't common sense that one probably shouldn't cross a chicken and a tomato and then eat it, I will never know, but Journal of Biological Science has published a study conducted by a group of international scientists, stating pesticides and GMOs make people sick.

This is all frustratingly obvious to many of us, but okay, good, now it's on paper officially (again). The study states, "The health crises may be more important than the international financial crisis because of the lack of transparency of the regulators." Since over three quarters of our non-organic food supply contains GMOs, (and there are no labels alerting you) I would say you're really taking your health in your hands eating this stuff, and that's reason enough to buy organic, pesticides aside. What kind of culture poisons its own food supply to make money? Don't support it! Buy organic!

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Product Review: OXO Salad Spinner--Awesome Summertime Kitchen Tool

I will tell you up front, this is expensive. But in my book, anything that encourages you to eat more greens is worth the money. I got this little salad spinner by OXO, and it has completely exceeded my expectations--I use it every single day.

The larger salad spinner was just too big for two people (one of whom is a four year old). This small(er) spinner is the perfect size to clean enough lettuce to make two Big salads. Before, I would try to clean my lettuce in the larger spinner and it would brown before I could eat it all. This one takes up less space in the fridge, it's more manageable, and there is no waste. It's also attractive to look at and you can serve in the stainless bowl. Forty bucks is a lot to spend, I know. But for me, it's worth every penny.

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Peas Please!

Sweet snap peas make a perfect summer snack. My kid loves them (I've finally convinced him to eat the whole thing, not just the sweet peas inside) and so do I. We keep a little bag of these in the backpack for a quick snack on the go, we put them in salads and enjoy them sautéed with other veggies and tofu. I look forward to these every year. Rich in B vitamins, iron, vitamin C, K and folic acid, peas are great for heart health, bone health, and energy levels. You start seeing them in the Spring and then they fade away toward mid summer. Choose firm bright green organic peas, preferably from your local farmer's market. Snatch them up if you see them, because they won't be around much longer.

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Product Review: ALPHABET Match Up Game/Peaceable Kingdom

You know those toys that are just really cool to have around, to look at, to see on the floor (if you must)? This is one of those toys. With super fun neo-retro graphics (the alien and the cowboy are too cool for school) and sturdy materials (the box is Not flimsy, and neither are the cards--both stand up great to four year old boy hard-play). We got this last week and my son has played with it every day since without losing interest. It teaches letter and word recognition, memory, and encourages whimsical discussions about things like octopi and noodles. We'll probably hang on to this one long after he outgrows it. Ages 3+/Peaceable Kingdom Press. You can find this at www.fairhaventoygarden.com

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Product Review: Life on Earth Matching Game/eeBoo

Instill a love for nature at an early age the fun way, with this charming match up game from Eboo. An eco friendly take on The Game of Concentration, the lines on the face-down side make this game a little bit harder than it looks at first glance. Bright colorful graphics and a shiny smooth surface make you want to touch, while the images delight. We love this game for its charm and ability to occupy for a good hour. My son enjoys the game, but also has fun lining up the pieces and forming groups of different colors or species. Made very well, educational, and fun. Five stars! Ages 3+/Eboo.

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Product Review: Klean Kanteen

Want to avoid BPA in your drinks? Klean Kanteen bottles are wonderful. They are non-toxic, non-leaching light weight stainless steel bottles in various sizes, even sippy cups! I have several and use them all the time. No plastic aftertaste, and they look cool. They offer different types of caps, including one with polycarbonate plastic (that's the stuff with BPA which the company actually cautions you about--a good thing, they're honest) so you can decide for yourself if a moment on the lips is dangerous or not. I prefer to avoid it altogether, but if you don't, at least your liquid isn't sitting in a bottle leaching the BPA.

This is also a great way to save money. Just fill your favorite beverage up from a more economical container at home and you're off. Or, fill them up from your own home filtration system--those individual plastic water bottles are horrible for you and the environment. I've even heard plastic water bottle users referred to as the new smokers. Klean Kanten bottles are the best I've found yet, and I've tried several brands. Thumbs up!

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