{ STARdom }

LobotoME goods are featured in the new issue of Star Magazine! Whoot!
{And in case you needed any additional incentive to pick up a copy there are like 7+ pictures of Robert Pattinson in it too!}

{ monday mantra }

Hope you all have a great Monday friends! Don't forget to pick up the latest edition of Star Magazine ~ check out page 26! :)

Love this print via etsy.

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 4 - the brain edition }

Scientists have identified the region of the brain responsible for all your bad money moves.... ;-)
"A specific site within the prefrontal cortex, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) is, in fact, among the suspects in the colossal global economic implosion that has recently rocked the globe," according to a new article in Scientific American.

This spending hiatus adventure has helped ME {re-program} my brain with regards to spending. Before, I would see something cute (and often on sale) and think, I like those jeans, they need to come home with ME... Now, I 1) try to stay out of the stores that pose a risk and 2) try to talk to myself about why I think I want those jeans and ultimately out of wanting them. Do I think they will make my butt look good? {yes} ...but so will getting off my ass and going for a run. {note to self: go run now} Do I not have 10 other pairs of similar looking jeans? {yes} 3) Isn't that money better spent on going to MEXICO than on overpriced denim made in China? {yes}

What tricks to do you tell you mind to keep you from spending money?

So, the spending hiatus went well this week... I WILL avoid Anthropologie, Target & The Container Store this weekend, mostly because I don't want to have to confess to all of you! ;-)

With regards to reprogramming our brains...I really feel that mine is now re-programmed to look at money differently...instead of landing a big order that I wasn't expecting and blowing through the money... Now, that money instead is labeled for a very specific purpose (towards either a very specific debt payment or a very specific savings account - travel fund, kids college fund, etc.) This has helped us reach our financial freedom goals more quickly.

I've gotten some emails from some of you participating in the spending hiatus because you or your spouse had gotten laid off...so it was out of necessity for the interim period but now that everyone is re-employed, now what? First, I'd urge all of you to be prepared should that happen again (with a 6-12 month emergency fund). Second, I'd encourage you to look at any non-mortgage debt you are carrying. Now that the income is coming back in, but you've been living below your means, could that extra income go towards paying off your debt more quickly? Third, look long-term...What do you need to be saving for in the future? We really want to be able to pay for 2/3 of our kids education (the other 2/3 will be their responsibility, as it was ours). What that means is we need to be putting a minimum of $4-5,000 a year away into the college fund. We know that our annual travel plans need a fund of $xxxx. Let's keep socking money away into that. And let's max out our IRA's each year. This is an interesting article I came across about "forced frugality" and how easy it is to forget the "lessons" learned once circumstances improve.

I know that some of you are frustrated with your personal finances and your personal debts. I hear you. I do. We bust our butts to make our businesses successful so that we can not only feel at ease and comfortable but so we don't reached a stressed out point. Will & I are both FINALLY on the same page financially and it feels good. Instead of arguing about where the money is going, we celebrate how it is staying and where WE are going! But it takes time and hard work.

Money is a complicated subject matter and it helps to really think about what money means to you...does it = happiness? Here's a great article on the subject.

This year our specific financial goals were to pay off both of our newer vehicles (one down, one to go), pay off my grad school loans (almost done) and to beef up our savings funds (IRA's, kids college funds, travel fund). So far this year, thanks in large part to the spending hiatus, not-traveling -which did involve not being able to go to some weddings & family events far away ;-( and increased revenue from LobotoME, and selling our pop-up camper) we've paid off over $16,000 in non-mortgage debt and have a 6-month emergency fund. By the end of the year we will have paid off the remaining $16,000 on the other vehicle, have a 12-month emergency fund, maxed out IRA's, kids college fund deposits and a great travel fund established. Then, we'll start tackling the mortgage. Seriously. If I can do it, so can you.

“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it.”
~Benjamin Franklin

{ we're nuts for kokopax }

I've had the pleasure of testing out this baby carrier from Kokopax that I am in love with...In the past I've tried slings, the baby bjorn, the snugli backpack and the ergo baby carrier. My fav carrier prior to discovering the Kokopax was the ergo, because I could have Henry on my back...He is just getting too big to have on the front of me. But with ergo I literally had to watch the online video 10x to figure out how to use it properly. The design of the Kokopax is simple, the fabric options are totally hip, the padded shoulder straps are comfy, and it is super lightweight so not only is it easy and simple to get on, it is great to take on trips. {The only thing I wish it had was a waist belt, but it still works great without.} They also make adorable totes, sun hats and other accessories...Use coupon code lobo2009 to receive a 10% discount on any order from Kokopax.

Kokopax was started in 2007 with the classic framed backpack carrier, modernized with chic materials. Designer and creator (and mom of 4), Sarah Spoor, was in need of a hands free solution to carry her babies while cooking, caring for her other children, tending to household activities and moving about regular life. The Kokopax classic carrier was designed first. The Blakely Tote came soon after, using the same stylish materials - it is a lightweight gorgeous alternative to the bulky diaper bags we have gotten used to seeing. The children’s sun hat and organic monkey attachment for the carrier are the latest additions with the Kokopax name and are meant to complement the existing products. Use coupon code lobo2009 to receive a 10% discount on any order from Kokopax.

{ feed ME - bebe edition }

I'm on the road most of this week for an event we are putting on + some other work related travel, so we don't really have a meal plan other than to bring lots of water, snacks & fresh fruit in the car with us. So, this week I thought I'd try to answer some of questions about what our kids eat and do they really eat as healthy as we do? The answer is yes! They don't go grocery shopping, I do! So they eat what I buy. I mention this because it is an important concept. I hear from moms all the time, "well my kids will only eat coco pebbles for breakfast..." Uh, no they won't. Not if you don't buy them. Not if you find the time to cook yummy eggs and whole grain toast with homemade jam. Their bodies need protein and fuel and not sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

Anyway, Sam (5 years old) eats most of what we eat - there are some exceptions of course - she doesn't like some veggies such as arugula. But, she snacks on apples, almonds, greek yogurt, etc. when hungry. I always have bowls of fresh fruit and veggies out for her to help herself to whenever she'd like. She eats kale, tofu, bok choy, salmon. Now, she is a kid and if she had her way she would eat pasta everynight. But again, since I am the one who shops and cooks, she doesn't get her way. ;-) {While I'm getting dinner ready, Will is generally playing with the kids and then Sam comes in and helps set the table or I have her help add the chopped veggies to the pan or salad or go pick greens and peas from the garden. This helps involve her in the meal preparations.}

In terms of sweets...we don't "ban" sweets from her life but she doesn't have them frequently. On her birthday or at other kids birthday parties she can eat cake or cupcakes. When her grandparents take her out for ice-cream that is a special treat (not something that happens everyday). When we make baked goods at home to help them taste sweet but remain healthy we use agave instead of sugar. We make homemade popsicles with frozen fruit & whey protein for treats on hot summer days.

What does bebe Henry (9 months old) eat? Other than a lot (meaning large quantities) he is a very healthy eater too...He eats greek yogurt or plain goats milk yogurt, scrambled eggs, organic whole wheat cheerios, diced up avocado, pureed sweet potatoes and other veggies, hummus, bananas, tofu, homemade teething bisquits, etc. I will sometimes use organic jarred baby food from the store when we are traveling and I don't have access to a kitchen.

I generally make his baby food in bulk at the beginning of the week (puree it up in the food processor or blender and pour it into metal ice cube trays to freeze and then transfer to bags - I then just pull out a few "cubes" each meal time and warm them up.) Sometimes I'll follow a recipe, but for the most part I just throw in whatever I've got around - if I have bananas and peached that are mushy - I throw them into the blender and then voila I have his breakfast fruit (mixed in with some brown rice cereal or oatmeal) for all mornings that week. One of his favorites is blueberry/spinach puree and apples, kale & blueberries. Samme calls it blue or green monster food. Be creative, you'll be amazed at what they like to eat!

On a related note, making your own homemade baby food is way more affordable than buying the jarred organic baby food (ranging from $0.79-$1.29 per jar). For less than $1.29 I can mix together some tofu, banana & peaches and make 7+ servings.

Why do I do this? Because I can control what goes into his food, how fresh the food is, and I know he's getting the best nutrients in the purest form possible. Babies don't need sweeteners, fillers, or artificial anything -- just fresh, healthy food.

Here are some great resources for healthy family eating...

This family cookbook, Feeding the Whole Family.
This baby food cookbook, Super Baby Food.
This website, Nuture-Baby also has great recipes for homemade baby food.
This lovely blog, Raising Foodies, about Josyln's adventures in getting her kids to try new food.

photo via flickr

{ smeeks }

This looks like one of the cutest stores I've seen in a long time.

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 3 - the food edition }

Not much new to report on the spending hiatus, other than we recently acquired 3 new fruit trees to plant near the creek that runs through our property. {We purchased trees in lieu of celebrating our anniversary with an expensive dinner out.} I also bought the above {adorable} reusable produce & bulk bags, thereby making it possible to never use a plastic bag at the grocery store ever again.

I did raise our food budget up from $100/week to $125. Just to accommodate some of the yummy, fresh food we've been buying. We've been enjoying lots of greens from our garden and the farmers market. {Samme has been eating lettuce and greens straight out of the garden!} We've been savoring the season and feasting on food that's fresh right now. {Eat locally for the tastiest produce, meat, and cheese and you'll be supporting the local economy and local families.} Farmers markets are also in high gear right now across the country. Get to know the growers, ask questions, bring cash. Find a list of local farmers markets here.


And YUM... Berries + a bit of agave + sparkling water + blender = refreshing drink on hot summer days!

ps - The spending hiatus will be tested next week when I am in Boulder but I have lots of fun stuff planned in between work meetings, including a visit to a lavender farm, so my plan right now is to not go within a 5 mile radius of IT and stay busy with experiences instead of shopping. Next week I'll answer some questions you've had about the spending hiatus and our {financial freedom} goal progress.

ps - I've also listed a few more things on ebay - still on my mission to get rid of STUFF.

{ inspired ME }

A few recent things around blog land that have inspired ME that I think you'll love too...

A wonderful podcast interview with Me Ra & Brian the husband and wife team behind the wildly successful, Me Ra Koh brand. I'm inspired by their creative life vision, how well they work together, how they homeschool their children and take them around the world in their quest for leading what I would call (and what we are after), {a mindful lifestyle rich in experience}. My favorite part is when they are talking about the 3 month family adventure to Thailand and they say that "family isn't an obstacle." Right on. So often I hear from people, "well, we'll travel when the kids are older." NO! Do it now!

Some other inspiration in blogland...

This article about {Having It All} by Erin Doland of Unclutterer.

And this article {Love Life, Not Suff} by Leo Babauta at Zen Habits.
Here's a snippet of it: We buy things when we’re depressed, we buy things for others to show how much we love them … and in this way, stuff has separated us from actually dealing with our emotions, blocked us from truly connecting with others. Let’s replace that lust for stuff with a lust for life.

What's been inspiring you lately?

image via Whole Living.

{ brain buzz }

LobotoME's momME planner is featured in the July issue of American Baby magazine!

{ feed ME }

This week's feed ME meal plan...

Monday: Baked halibut w/ lemon & dill (from the garden)with grilled asparagus (w/ crumbled goat cheese from a local farm).
Tuesday: Grilled chicken + big salad with greens (from the garden)
Wednesday: Chicken (using leftover chicken) & Spinach quesadillas with avacado & tomato salsa (w/ fresh cilantro from garden)
Thursday: Whole wheat angel hair pasta with asparagus & sun dried tomatoes.
Friday: Grass-fed burgers and sweet potato fries & salad
Saturday: BLT's on sprouted bread w/ salad
Sunday: Grilled salmon, brown rice & broccoli.

Next week, I'll do a post and try to answer your questions about what food I make for bebe Henry... {Samme eats all of the above}.

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 2 - the hoME edition }

As many of you know, my little family and I have been on a mission to try to reduce our spending and energy consumption and grow some of our own food. To simplify our lives and adhere to slow family living. How is it going you ask? Wonderful! The other day I paused to look around and see how it was going... the clothes were up on the clothesline, the windows were open to air out the house, and the garden was tended to. Greens for our nightly salads were handpicked by Samme from the garden and the rest of the veggies were from our local farmers via the market. The TV was only on late at night when we watched the Tour highlights after the kids went to bed. Simple is good.
ps - I'm so inspired by all of you with your urban homesteading successes too!
pps - No unnecessary spending this week! Although I think Henry would look spiffy in this.

{ organize ME }

Here is a great pic of some LobotoME goods in use in Denise's home office. Thanks for sharing Denise!

{ i am wealthy in my friends }

This card says it all to ME. I am wealthy in my friends and treasure every moment spent with them. {Below is a pic of my best friend from childhood who came out to Colorado for a joint birthday celebration this spring. Instead of sending each other and our kids holiday & birthday gifts, we decided to take a girls spa trip together each spring.} With 2 kids I find it is getting harder to see all of my friends on a regular basis. How do you all fit in girl-time?

{ my little man }

I can't get enough of him. Even though he is getting into everything. Everything.

{ feed ME }

I recently read Christina Pirello's new book, This Crazy Vegan Life. The author, host of the PBS show Christina Cooks, is up in arms about the American diet and the effect it is having on our health. While I am not vegan (I love eggs too much), I do prepare a lot of vegan recipes. I am also astounded daily by the crap people put into their bodies (and their childrens bodies). To quote from her book, "When you're at the local mall, how many of the people you see are truly vital, alert and physically fit? How many have clear eyes, firm, glowing skin, gorgeous hair and a healthy body of normal size? Not many, sadly." Her book entails information on what to eat and how to cook it along with a 21-day meal plan.

Anyway, onto our meal plan for the week:

Monday - flat iron steak, big salad, roasted veggies ~ our anniversary and Will's requested dinner
Tuesday - at birthday party &/or leftovers
Wednesday - grilled chicken w/ roasted veggie sauce (using leftovers) and salad
Thursday - at friends house for dinner
Friday - chicken orzo dish with feta cheese (using leftover chicken) & arugula salad
Saturday - Nie Nie's Tofu stir fry with brown rice
Sunday - Salmon, brown rice (leftover), edamame

Breakfasts - eggs, multi-grain toast OR green smoothies and using kale from garden & healthy banana bread (I made a big batch on Sunday)
Lunches - turkey, avacado & tomato sandwiches, apples OR smoothies & fresh veggies & hummus
Snacks - homemade granola, apples, carrots, plums
Salads - red lettuce, butter lettuce, spinach, mixed greens & arugula from the garden

{ hoME }

We spent most of this past weekend at home...which wasn't our original plan but that is what our bodies & minds were telling us we needed...a quiet weekend at home to work in the garden, play outside and relax. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend too!

{ happy 4th of july }

Here is a great idea for some 4th of July Party decor via Twig & Thistle. Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Take a moment today to remember those who serve their country, and their families. Cheers!

{ spending hiatus - month 3: week 1 }

As mentioned before one of the reasons I have been doing this {official} spending hiatus and avoiding Target and Anthropologie like the plague is that I want Sam to understand that it is more important to be DOING instead of BUYING. I realize this will be a harder concept as she gets in school and feels the pressure to own certain things. It doesn't feel like that long ago, that I was there begging my mom for a pair of Guess Jeans because EVERYONE had them. ;-)

Here are some action tips on this topic from the New American Dream:

• Get rid of the TV.
• Expose kids to other media - surrealist films, art exhibits, museums, gatherings of interesting adult friends with non-mainstream stories to tell.
• Parents who resist consumerism for themselves are the ones who teach their children to resist it.
• Teach children to be doers and creators rather than shoppers and buyers.
• Supply them with sidewalk chalk, old cardboard boxes and other makings of creative play.
• Grow your own food. Involve the kids. Teach your child of the connections within the natural world. Experience their beauty together. Talk about where things come from, who made them, what they are made of.
• Teach by example and conviction a set of values that allow kids to make their own choices.
• Teach kids empathy for others. Instead of buying toys, suggest they spend the money bringing some groceries to the local food bank.

“My children are seduced into believing that if they have the right things or more things, they will not just be happier, but also more popular. This culture that sees kids mostly as consumers is creating a future generation of kids that have not felt valued for their character or their contributions to the greater community.” - Jane Brolsma, Oregon via the New American Dream.

What tips do you have for teaching your children mindful consumption?

{ps - my spending hiatus update from this week... I got a pedicure and we ate out 2 times as we were on the road for a fun, spontaneous trip to Moab. A little break {from work + the meal plan which was great}. Spent the last few days in Moab hiking, swimming & biking (and not shopping) - athough if any of you have ever been to Moab you'd know that avoid shopping when there aren't many stores isn't much of a feat in itself!)

image via flickr