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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Changes Already


OK, so you might have noticed that I've changed the background, and I'm going to be changing a few more things in the weeks to come. As a graphic designer, I really dislike using a template, but also being kind of a perfectionist, I'm not going to put up something that I've made myself until I'm loving it.

I did make a slight change to how I'm going to be referring to the site. "Going Back to Simple" is rather long and for some reason, I find it annoying to type. So, I'm going to just call it "Going Simple." Don't worry, the blog isn't moving anywhere and you can still use the same links.

One addition I've got for you is the new "Going Simple" page on Facebook. You can find the page HERE, and I'd really appreciate it if you'd "like" it and even pass it along! Feel free to leave comments, and let me know what you're doing to eat organically, be healthier or live a more simple life. I think this would be a great place to start some discussions!

You also might have noticed the options at the ends of posts to either "like" or "send" that post via Facebook. Share the info with your friends and let me know you like what I'm writing!

So, a few changes made and probably more to come!

btw, go get yourself a nice big glass of water. This is very important for your body, and I know I have a hard time remembering to drink enough, so make a conscious move to get your fill!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Links

I've been planning a post of the links that I've found helpful as I'm searching for information and resources online, but the list keeps growing along with the list of links that I've heard about and am meaning to check out. So, I've decided to just post what I've got so far and continue to add to it periodically. I'll also be putting a link to this list on the main page of the blog. If you have anything to add, let me know!!

Organic Information:

Consumer Information & Current Events:

Nutrition:

GMOs:

Going Green:

Resources:
LocalHarvest.org - local farms, markets, co-ops and online retailers
Earth911.com - recycling locations
PristinePlanet.com - green comparison shopping online

Campaigns:
WestonAPrice.org/take-a-stand - see list under "Campaigns" on left side.

Brand Information:

Other Bloggers:

Misc.:
StillTasty.com - shelf life guide
MotherEarthNews.com - covers pretty much everything
GreenReportCard.org - which colleges are doing what to be green

Friday, June 24, 2011

Vitamins

I recently discovered Mrs. T, Naturally while searching for other people interested in organic on BlogSpot. Her post for today is about vitamins and the benefits of making sure that your vitamins are made with whole foods. Check out her post, Guilt Free Shopping Spree, for some information, a link to an online store and $5 off your order!

I'm still working on that list of links, so that will come next week! Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Wanna Help Me Out?


I've entered in a contest to win a PA roadtrip. You can help me out by clicking HERE and voting. You can vote once per day, and I'd really appreciate it if you pass it along!

I'll be back later this week with some good links I've found for organic info!

Thanks!!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Does Organic = Expensive?

Sometimes, but not always.

I was definitely a bit concerned, when we decided to buy organic whenever we could, that it would mean spending a lot more money, but so far, I haven't seen a big difference at the checkout. This is what I've been doing to keep the costs down, and really, this could should be done whether your buying organic or not.

1. Generic Names
I think that most of the time names mean nothing when it comes to food quality, though I know sometimes generics just don't taste the same. For example, I've tried all the brands I could to find a condensed tomato soup that tastes as good as Campbell's. No dice. But, I think a lot of the time buying brand names is a pride issue. It's time to get over that. Many stores are now coming out with their own brand of organics. We have a local Giant Eagle that is stocked with the Giant Eagle (Nature's Basket) organic foods. Here are other stores with their own organic brands:
Safeway (O Organics)
ShopRite (ShopRite Organics)
Kroger/King Sooper (Private Selections)
Albertson's/Jewel (Wild Harvest)
Whole Foods (365 Organic Everyday Value)
Harris Teeter (Harris Teeter Naturals)
Meijer (Meijer Organics)
Publix (GreenWise)
Super Target (Archer Farms)
Food Giant (Nature's Promise)
Food Lion (Nature's Place)

2. Discount Grocery Stores
One of my favorite stores to just wander through is Ollies. You really never know what they'll have and more than once I've seen random organic drinks and things piled at the ends of the aisles. The only problem is these types of stores are never consistent. You know how you hate it when a store gets you hooked on something and then stops carrying it? Well, that happens. A lot. So, if you find something you really like, I'd stock up. 

Another favorite store of mine is Sharp Shopper. Again, you never know what you're going to find, but again some really good deals. I'm talking Cascadian Farms Chewy Chocolate Granola Bars for $.99 a box. You just have to keep an eye on the dates on packaging, but for lots of canned/packaged foods those dates are for optimum taste, they don't necessarily mean if you eat them past the date, you'll get sick. Just use common sense.

3. Stock Up.
If you find a great deal on something that you know you'll use, buy lots. I just bought about 10 jars of organic spaghetti sauce for about $1 a jar, and I should have bought more. We'll use it for pasta and pizza, and it will keep for quite a while. When I found those $.99 boxes of granola bars, I bought 6 boxes. I usually take one to work for a snack in mid-afternoon, and we'll grab a couple to take if we're hiking.

4. Circulars
I know that Giant Eagle has a section in their flyer for organic/natural items on sale. Believe me, it's very small section, and it's easy to miss, but it's only a portion of what they actually have on sale. So, if I see a good price on something I know I need, I make the trip to the store and usually end up finding many of the other things on my list on sale.

5. Perks
I've mentioned a lot of Giant Eagle things today, but that's because that's the closest grocery store we have besides Walmart which I've found to be disappointing when it comes to organic foods. Another thing Giant Eagle has going for it is it's fuel/food perks. It doesn't take long to rack up $50 worth of groceries anywhere you go, and with gas prices going up and down, I like that extra $.10 off. Plus, it builds and you could end up with free gas! Just watch out, because the points expire.

Check to see if any of your grocery stores have perks. It's easy to sign up, and you just have to remember you store card - some even give you cards to put on your key chain and sometimes one for you and another person in your family.

6. Coupons
This is something I'm terrible at. I don't get a paper and I just don't know where to find all these coupons that everyone else seems to have. While on the blog that I mentioned above for store brand generics, I found a post on coupons including links to find them. Check out: Affordable Organics Part 1: Using Coupons. And judging from the two post I've read so far, you might want to check out the other posts in that series.


There are a few things, however that I've either not been able to find at all or haven't found at a price I'm comfortable paying. Juices, soups and dairy products seem to be the biggest problem. Our local Walmart carries a total of 2 organic juices in tiny little bottles for ridiculous prices. I was able to find some at Giant Eagle for a better price, but still not a very good selection. Larger stores might have better options. I had pretty much the same problem with soups.

When it comes to dairy products, I've found nearly nothing. Last week Matt discovered that our IGA carries an organic milk. Because they seem to be more expensive, I don't shop at IGA very often unless they're having a good sale, or I need something immediately (they're just down the hill, in town, and our big grocery stores are at least half an hour in any direction). The milk was not an exception. I think Matt said it was about $5 for a carton - not even a gallon! Even with just the two of us, we go through a lot of milk. I usually buy two gallons at a time. So, this is where the organic prices could really get us, and I haven't made the commitment yet to the organic milk. But, we ran out of milk a couple days ago, and I had made cookies, so Matt bought a carton. I was surprised at how different it tasted! It was delicious! It was like it had more flavor, and it was creamier even though it was still 2%. I'm thinking if we can find all these other places to save, I may just splurge on the milk, but we'll keep an eye out for better prices.

The moral of the story is you don't have to double your budget to buy organic foods.

I was not compensated in anyway by any of the stores mentioned above. These are just my opinions and observations as I'm trying to find the most inexpensive ways to eat organic.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Welcome!

I've been blogging for a few years now, but only recently did my husband, Matt, and I begin a journey to pay more attention to what we eat and what we support in purchasing and to move into a simpler way of living. This new blog is going to be my space for sharing the things we're learning along the way and encouragement and information for anyone else who chooses to embark on this adventure. I'll also probably be including some of the recipes and things I share on Spice of Life as I'm trying out organic ingredients.

I've brought over the previous posts from SOL that I wanted to include in this blog with their original dates, so they'll appear before this post. The first two posts give a very clear picture of what convinced us to make these changes and what our goals are. Check out: Making Changes and What's Different?

And, of course, I'd love to hear thoughts from anyone else!

Have a great day!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Organic?

So, I've been posting about healthier lifestyles and eating organic foods, but what does that mean? Organic.org is a great website for educating about organic and healthy eating.

First, what exactly is organic? The Organic.org FAQ pages says this:

"The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows: Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too."

So, how do you know if something is organic? Well, there's a labeling system, because there are actually a few levels of organic. There are products made with 70% and less organic, 70%-94%, 95%-99% and 100% organic. Check out this guide. Also, remember that right now, there is a lot of paperwork and expense that comes with being certified organic. So, just because something isn't labeled, doesn't mean it's not organic. This is especially true with small local farmers, so when you go to the farmers markets, make sure you ask!

And finally, why should you go organic? This article is a list of some of the reasons to consider, but ultimately, it is a personal decision. For me, it's about health - about my health and the health of my husband and the health of the environment. Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." I believe this creation was entrusted to us, by God, and we are to be stewards of it - taking care of the land so that it will not only support us and future generations, but that we can continue to enjoy our lakes and rivers and see wildlife return to places where pollution had once wiped it out.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Simplify This Life

Just a warning: this post may seem to wander, but I hope it will make sense at the end. And, if you don't want to go through the whole thing, please read the last paragraph anyways.

As my husband and I are moving toward healthier eating and being more conscious of what is in our foods, I've also found myself with a desire to rid ourselves of the junk that clutters our lives.

I moved into a apartment with two other girls the fall after graduating from high school. I lived in that building for two years while both of my roommates were replaced and things came and went. I had enough furniture and things to fill my space and help fill the spaces we shared. Then, I moved into a 2-bedroom apartment in which I lived by myself. And, I lived there for two years, expanding my possessions to fill that space.

When we got married last July, Matt moved into my apartment, bringing only a few things with him, because we'd be moving again that September when my lease was up. We then moved into a house where we have lots of space to spread out, and he moved some more things in, but the majority of our possessions came from my life between high school graduation and marriage. We've bought a few things together, mostly furniture and appliances.

I feel like we need to start anew with our possessions. A lot of what I have, I don't use anymore, and I'm pretty good at having stacks of papers that need sorted and/or thrown away. We currently have a room that is supposed to be the office area, but is more of a storage area for things that I don't know what to do with. Papers that need sorted, things from school, art supplies and just general junk.

A few months ago, we watched a movie on a trip taken to Patagonia (180° South), the places seen and the people met and a conservation project going on there. We talked about it briefly. We talked about taking a month and just going. We talked about selling a lot of our stuff a taking a lot of time off of work and going. Then, we starting thinking about what that would mean. I would probably have to quit my job - not that this would be terrible for me, but our goal is to build a house and to get a bank loan, they like you to have two years at a job. It would mean some money. The cost to actually do the project is very minimal, meals and lodging when your not camping a few days at a time at the job site are included, but the airfare to get there was a bit more than we could handle.

We hadn't told anyone about this dream that we had. We kept it to ourselves, and slowly the talk subsided, and without a word being said, it was "cancelled" - not forgotten, by any means, at least not by me, but there seems to be an unspoken, "impossible."

I'd still love to participate in the conservation project in Patagonia. It's really not a plausible idea for us right now. Where would Ajay stay? What about this house we're building? What about the machine shop that Matt's family owns and runs that has been blessed with an overflow of work? Someday, maybe.

Anyways,  I've been thinking about simplifying since seeing that movie. And, I know that's something we can do now, even if we're not flying thousands of miles away to spend a month in a foreign land. Who knows, maybe it will make it that much easier if that opportunity does come.

A close friend of mine, along with her husband and kids, moved to Ohio to start a church plant, last fall. She's recently started a blog about the journey her family is on, as well as her desire to simplify their lives. Simplify This Life is that blog. Stop on over and let Jessica introduce herself, and while your there, tell her, "hello!" She's giving me the motivation I need to sort through and get rid of some of our stuff, and she might just give you some inspiration too. Or, maybe you can give her some tips!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Others Making Changes

I'm finally getting caught up on some of my blog reading. Today, as I was reading a blog I follow regularly, I came to a post from a week ago about eating healthier and the weight problems facing the U.S.. It fits right along with the lifestyle change we're making in our family and I'd like to share it with you.


Just click the link above to be taken to Low Tide High Style, and while you're there, check out the lovely photos that Kat takes.