cheapgreenmamma

I have found cheap bpa free water bottles for my kids...

2008-08-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

I have lately become concerned about plastic water bottles after reading the studies about plastic leaching chemicals into water. I have been on a search for a lunchbox sized water bottle that is inexpensive since my boys frequently lose things or break them. I was doing a search for bpa free bottles and found a site where someone suggested using medela bottles, which have always been bpa free, in the kids' lunchbox. I have tons of these bottles, woo-hoo!

http://medelabreastfeedingus.com/site-notice

Contest for 12 bum genius diapers

2008-07-24T13:09:00.001-07:00

http://babycheapskate.blogspot.com/2008/07/giveaway-12-bumgenius-30-diapers.html

Click on link for contest entry to win 12 bum genius diapers.

When will it end?

2008-05-13T18:18:00.001-07:00

My back aches, I waddle when I walk, have contractions every day, but none are consistent. When will it end? I am reaching nearer to my due date and getting very anxious. I did a ton of laundry today and vacuumed, does that mean I am nesting? Sometimes I wish you could just know, when will this baby come out? I guess that is part of the big mystery. We don't know if this baby is a boy or girl, nor when it will join us out of the womb.

New Blog giveaway for an adorable nursing cover

2008-04-24T15:25:00.000-07:00

This site has adorable stuff, lots made with Amy Butler fabrics. They are giving away an adorable nursing cover. Just leave a comment on the blog to enter. Contest ends April 25th. http://emileeandgrace.blogspot.com/2008/04/bloggy-carnivals-giveaway.html

Diapers.com

2008-04-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

I have a new deal for you. Diapers.com has lots of great baby things, including the Bum genius 3.0 cloth diapers. By using my Referral Code any new customers who enter the code JXSA6306 when placing their first order at Diapers.com will get $5 off their first order. They also have free shipping on orders over $49. You can even sign up for your own referral code. They have all kinds of baby product and they take manufacturer's coupons!

Check it out at diapers.com

Earth Hour

2008-03-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

I have failed as a cheapgreenmama to let my readers know about Earth Hour. It was from 8-9 P.M. last night. Cities all over the world turned off the lights for one hour. I turned off all the lights in my house and took a bath by candlelight. It was awesome! It saved money and the environment all over the planet! Cool!

Here's some links to the website: http://www3.earthhourus.org/

The Birthing Dilemma

2008-03-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

I finally decided that this baby was going to come out of this belly sooner or later and I better start reading up on the process of childbirth again (it has been over 5 years since the last one exited). Maybe it was a mistake, I don't know, but now I have been reading all these natural childbirth books and I am really seeing some truth to them (and wishing I had looked into it sooner).

It is amazing to read about women who have had home births and water births and what awesome experiences they had without the constant monitoring and medical intervention. I will admit, I used to think that it was totally wacko to do the natural thing! But after reading about women that did it the way God made them to do it, with the God given hormones that God gave us to cope with labor, I may be a wacko too. The pain has a purpose, to get the baby out of the womb into life. If I had looked into this sooner, I might be having a home water birth.

I don't want anyone who had a c-section (or an epidural) to think that what they did was wrong. Many women I know were happy they had c-sections (and epidurals), especially in a life threatening (or painful and long labor) situation. Yet, I also know and read about women who felt they could have given birth vaginally, were given the c-section and were traumatized, or had a horrible experience with an epidural. Obviously, there are times when medical interventions are necessary, but sadly it seems that a lot of doctors do c-sections for non emergency reasons.

I am seriously considering hiring a doula (even though my insurance won't pay). A doula is "an experienced, non-medical assistant who provides physical, emotional and informed choice support in prenatal care, during childbirth and during the postpartum period. A birth doula is a continuous care provider for labor in many settings, also assisting the parturient woman during transport from home to hospital or birth center." (copied from Wilkipedia)

I feel like a doula is my best bet for helping me have a natural birth at a hospital, where medication is readily available. Doulas can "go to bat" with the hospital and medical providers to avoid unnecessary medical interventions, while also encouraging someone in labor. I learned through reading that many things I was given in my two previous births actually made my labor more difficult (such as pitocin) and made drugs more likely (which I had both times). I also learned that women's bodies naturally know what to do to give birth. When drugs are used to speed up labor (or prevent pain), some of the natural hormones that help with pain and laboring are blocked, which can affect the process of bonding with the baby. Hospitals, sadly, are so worried about things going wrong (ie a lawsuit) that they have so many rules and want to speed things up or medicate, that it has turned birth into a medical condition instead of something normal that God designed for women to be able to do.

Here's some of the books I recommend reading to be better informed about birth choices: Creating Your Birth Plan, Mardsen Wagner; The Official Lamaze Guide, Judith Lothian and Charlotte DeVries; Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin; Gentle Birth Choices, Barbara Harper. I found these all at my local library.

Wheat Prices are Soaring

2008-03-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

I went to Trader Joe's today to pick up a few things and have noticed the drastic increase in grocery prices. My favorite flour, King Arthur, has gone up to $3.99 for a 5 lb bag. Whew! I think it may be time to take up my friend Megan's idea (halfpinthouse.wordpress.com) and buy the wheat kernels and grind it up in her grinder. This is the time where making your own bread can really be a savings, since I know the price of bread has gone up as well. My favorite place for any kind of bread recipe is King Arthur's site. Their home page also has an article about the rising wheat prices. I RARELY buy any bread any more. KA has recipes for any kind of bread you would want: bagels, english muffins, tortillas, pitas, buns, etc. I have made all of these and they are so much better homemade!

Cloth Diaper Research

2008-03-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

I have been pouring over the internet the past month trying to figure out this whole cloth diaper thing. I have learned a multitude after reading many reviews of diapers and figuring out costs. I have decided to use prefolded diapers for the majority of use with a bummis diaper cover to eliminate pins. I also am going to buy six bumgenius 3.0, which is an all-in-one diaper that is also one-size-fits-all. They have adjustable snaps which allow the diaper to expand as the child grows. They are expensive at $17.95 (average) each, but I am going to buy six for nighttime and travel. Each diaper costs about what one large package of disposables costs. Diaper.com has a deal for 6 at $104 plus you can use my coupon code JXSA6306 to get $5 off your first order.

www.diapers.com

Pennies In My Pocket Blog: ~~GIVEAWAY~~ YEAR Supply of dropps Laundry Detergent!!

2008-03-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

Pennies In My Pocket Blog: ~*~GIVEAWAY~*~ YEAR Supply of dropps Laundry Detergent!! I found this contest online for a giveaway of a green detergent. Just enter a comment on the blog.

Cloth Diapers...a New Frontier

2008-02-12T12:56:00.001-08:00

I have spent many hours on the internet looking at cloth diaper sites trying to figure out how to begin this new adventure in life. I am committed to the cloth, since it will save us a lot of $ and will reduce our carbon footprint. I never knew there was such an industry for cloth diapers until I started doing the research.

The general reaction I have received when I say I am going to do cloth diapers, is "Good luck with that." Cloth diapers have gotten such a bum wrap (pun intended) due to the supposed extra amount of work. I have been reading quite a bit and the people that use them, really like them. I figure I will have more laundry anyways with a third child, I might as well.

The problem with cloth diapers is there is a lot of cost up front. You can spend hundreds of dollars getting the basic diapers, covers, and accessories. That is where the cheapgreenmama is having a hard time making a decision. I did get several of the prefold diapers from a friend and have found a couple diaper covers at the freestore at the seminary. I posted a wanted on freecycle and several sweet people offered their prefolds. Now I have to find the pins and more covers. They now have an alternative to pins called snappis. I think I would prefer those to pins.

Since I am still going to need more diapers, I did a search for how to make your own cloth diapers and covers and came up with a few sites. http://fernandfaerie.com/frugaldiapering.html claim that you can make your own diaper stash for $30 or less. Fuzbaby has links to diaper making groups I am going to check out.

For any family members or friends who want to get us a gift, here's a big hint: http://www.cottonbabies.com.

Food Coop update

2008-02-07T19:57:00.001-08:00

I decided not to join the food coop, since I didn't find the prices to be so much better on the things I usually buy. However, I really like the idea of a food coop and found some information on how to start one. You only need 5 families to start one. Here's a website with some more info: http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/GreaterBC/Food_Buying_00254_02998.pdf.

Some more great books I found at the library

2008-02-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

The library, ahh a cheap woman's paradise. It is filled with books that don't cost a thing to borrow unless you don't return it on time. But the cheap woman tries very hard to not pay the fines!

My quest for freezing ideas turned up two more great cookbooks that I will highly recommend, especially if you have a picky eater in the house.

The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine has excellent ways to "sneak" healthy superfoods into the everyday meals that children love. She puts cauliflower in mac & cheese, blueberries in cupcakes and carrots and squash in spaghetti and meatballs. I can't wait to try some of the recipes.

The other one a friend recommended with similar ideas is called Deceptively Delicicous by Jessica Seinfeld (yes, her husband is the comedian Jerry). I actualy liked this one a little better because it has more pictures. I like cookbooks with pictures next to the recipe.

So, check these out at your local library. They have wonderful recipes for getting our kids, husbands (and ourselves) more veggies and nutrient rich foods.

I bagged some great deals...

2008-02-07T19:36:00.001-08:00

One of the great deals I got this week from my shopping trip was 3 3lb bags of apples for .99 each. I had an adorable little gal helping me that day and she faithfully peeled, cored and sliced with my Pampered Chef, apple-peeler-corer- slicer (gift from my buddy Karen, thanks). To see pictures of this cute little gal, visit her mom's blog at halfpinthouse.wordpress.com. She's one of the cute little blondes known as E4.

So E4 did the work of slicing and I made one quart of applesauce and froze two bags of sweet apples that I plan to use for apple crisps or an apple pie one day. Thanks E4!

The Grocery Budget Crunch Update

2008-02-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been doing lots of shopping, comparing, baking and reading the past two weeks. I am on a mission to get the grocery budget down. I found several more freezer meal cookbooks I would like to recommend that I have tried.

For ideas for making and freezing meals ahead of time I read: Dream Dinners by Allen and Kuna, and Once a Month Cooking by Wilson and Lagerborg.

Dream Dinners has great ideas for how to prepare and freeze meals in multiples. The recipes are written for one meal or show you how to multiply by three. Two local friends and I are using some recipes from this book to swap meals with each other.

OAMC has the best method for getting organized to do all your cooking in one day for a whole month's worth of meals. It has shopping lists and tells you exactly what to do to make a whole month of meals (or two weeks) worth. I probably won't use the recipes in the book because they use a lot of prepared soups (that have soy in them), but for someone who doesn't mind cream of whatever soups it would be a good book. I did find that the authors had some really good tips about managing the cooking for a month in one day.

So, after reading these books (that I got from the library) and looking at the budget, I headed to Sam's, Trader Joes, Aldis, and my favorite local Market. I spent $163.11 and realized that in January I had spent $488 (remember my goal was $300 a month). So I have stopped shopping for the month and have only allowed myself $247.69 for March. My goal is to make it through the month on what I have in my pantry, freezer and fridge and what I get from the meal swap I am doing with friends.

Do you think I can do it? I can use all the prayer I can get!

Food Coop

2008-01-30T19:35:00.000-08:00

I was reading one of my cheapskate books and came across the concept of a food coop. From what I understand, coops work by a group of people getting together to buy food products in bulk. I found one in St. Louis that I am going to check out tomorrow to see if it might be worth joining. This one requires 4 hours of work a month to buy food at cost (+15% and tax). I am hoping to be able to get the natural flour there that I like. I will let you know how it goes. For my local readers (all 3 of you), here's the link: http://cityfoodcoop.com/index.html. For those of you in other parts of the country who want to look for a coop, here's one for you: http://www.localharvest.org/food-coops/

Freezer Happy...

2008-01-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally talked Twig into a freezer! We found one that would go down the basement stairs and bought it. This was after being offered a free one that we didn't measure (until Twig was halfway down the guy's stairs). The free one wasn't going to fit, so we went to Sears and plunked down $250 for one that did. It is fairly energy efficient for a model of that size. The challenge now is how to fill it up without totally blowing the grocery budget (that has already been blown for January).

My first freezer happy moment was spending Monday cooking for 3 hours. I made 8 chicken dinners of different varieties. I found recipes in Cook's Illustrated's Best Made Ahead Recipe, that I found at the library.

This cookbook has several chicken recipes that I modified slightly to make all at one time. These dishes had similar ingredients that needed prep like onions, chicken breasts, cream and mixed veggies. I bought a huge package of cxx breasts at Sam's for $9.54 (it was reduced to sell), cooked them all in chicken broth, then cooled them and chopped them for the different recipes. Each recipe also called for onions, so I tearfully chopped a bag of onions all at one time. Then I followed the directions for each one and made a total of 8 meals in 9 x 9 pans. So for about 3 hours of work (including clean up) and about $20, I made 2 chicken pot pies, 2 chicken and rice casseroles, and 4 creamy baked chicken penne with artichokes and lemon. I plan to do the similar things with a large package of ground beef and a pork roast.

Slashing the grocery bill-ATTEMPT in progress

2008-01-24T06:28:00.000-08:00

In my efforts to hold to my New Year's resolutions, I have been reading through all my budget/saving money books for ideas. Books I have read in the past week include: The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyzyn; Debtproofing Your Kids, by Mary Hunt; Shop, Save and Share, by Ellie Kay and A Woman's Guide to Finances, also by Ellie Kay.

At one time in my family life, we were spending $250 a month on groceries. That involved lots of planning with coupon clipping and spending a lot of time at the store. Now with moving and two growing boys (one with a soy allergy), we have increased to over $400 a month. I really haven't been paying attention to the budget and that's where we are. So, my new goal is to get down to $300 a month.

My plan includes, buying a freezer to stock up on meats and frozen vegetables. I will continue gardening (also using the freezer for that). I am going to try to lessen my trips to the grocery store, trying to keep the trips to under once a week.

I still plan to bake my own bread, but I need to have an alternative flour than King Arthur to feed my sourdough starter. I will make most things from scratch. I am also trying to find cheap, non soy alternitives to more expensive ingredients (i.e. butter).

I have decided that coupons are no longer the way for me to save the most money. I find that most of the things I used with coupons were laden with soy and Philip can't have that. I am going to try to use cloth diapers when the baby comes, so diaper coupons won't make much of a difference.

So, here it goes, the attempt to slash the grocery bill. I will keep you updated on my progress. For ideas to slash your own budget, I recommend the books I mentioned earlier. The library is my main resource for those books.

Getting rid of junk mail and those credit card offers

2008-01-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

I just saw a neat news report about how to opt out of those credit card offers we get in the mail. Those are the ones that identity theives can use if they come across one with your information on it.

Go to www.optoutprescreen.com and you can opt out for 5 years or permanently. I just filled ours out. You can do it online and mail it in.

"All it takes is $1 [to cut junk mail] and a quick trip to DMAConsumers.org. Click on the button labeled "Remove My Name From Those Lists." It will direct you to a one-page form you need to fill out to cut off the flow." This was quoted from an online article at http://www.wral.com/5onyourside/story/2301121.

Freecycle

2008-01-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post something about the great new wave sweeping the nation-freecycle. Freecycle has groups all over the country (and is spreading abroad) in which the members give away stuff instead of putting it out in the trash. People also request things that they need or want. When I am starting a new project or crazy idea, I go to freecycle first to request something. For example, when my breadmaker broke, I went to freecycle and asked for a breadmaker. I got a breadmaker that had been used only a few times. It is also great when you need to clean out the basement!

Here's a link to a recent article online about freecycle and how to find one in your area: http://money.howstuffworks.com/freecycle-network.htm If there isn't one in your area, you can start one! Go to the freecycle web site (I have a link on this page) and look for FAQ, then look for media info.

New Year's Resolutions

2007-12-31T19:46:00.001-08:00

I don't know why they call them resolutions, because they don't seem to really resolve. It seems more likely that they dissolve as I go through the year, but I am going to post mine anyway.

1. Have my kids memorize scripture a verse a week (me too).
2. Get the grocery budget down and keep better track of our budget.
3. Start exercising again.
4. Post more on the blog.
5. Organize my basement.
6. Purge the house.

More Saving $$

2007-12-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

Ok, I realize it has been another month since I have posted. So, I am going to try to write a bunch of "cheap" entries to make up for what I haven't posted in awhile. I was trying to think of a list of things I have started doing since moving to seminary and neither of us are working. There are some ways I have changed my shopping habits.

1. I grew my hair out. I have only gotten one haircut in the past 11 months (and am ready for another.

2. I started baking my own bread. Philip has a soy allergy and soy-free bread costs about $5.00 per loaf. I use King Arthur flour (which costs a little more per avg 5 lb bag), but it is chemical free and makes tasty bread! I actually use the bread maker to mix and then bake it in the oven. Some recipes will follow in coming entries.

3. I try not to go shopping as much. I am a big thrift shopper, which can still cost a lot of $ if I am just shopping for good deals. I try to limit my shopping trips to only when I am in need of something specific and stick to a monthly budget. I try to not buy something just because it is a good deal.

4. We cut off long distance on our landline and use cell phones only for long distance. We also got rid of CALLER ID and CALL WAITING, they can cost an extra $8 per month per service. I try to make my long distance calls after 7 P.M. since my cell plan has free minutes then. I would have liked to dump the cell phones altogether and just get a pay-per-use phone, but we renewed our contract.

5. We try harder to conserve energy, water and gas. This is green too!

6. Twig has started carpooling to seminary with a friend. This saves gas and builds a friendship!

7. I love to eat out, but it isn't a wise choice on a limited budget. So, I have been searching for recipes on the internet for my favorite cravings. I love Greek, so I did a search for gyros and made my own. I can feed the whole family for what it costs me to eat at the restaurant by myself.

8. The garden I grew this summer was a wonderful way to grow organic food. Besides, freshly picked vegetables have amazing flavor!

9. My trips to the coffee shop have decreased tremendously. I really try to evaluate the cost of an 8 oz. vanilla latte (usually around $3.50) versus the cost of a pound of really good coffee (around $6.00). I can make one at home for a lot less. Besides, I am pregnant, I am not supposed to be drinking lots of coffee anyways!

10. We don't have cable tv. PBS has lots of great shows!

11. The library is a wonderful place to get FREE reading material. I have always been a library junkie. Instead of buying a book, I can read it for free at the library and it doesn't collect dust on my shelf. They even have all my favorite magazines, so I don't need a subscription. We can also check out DVDs for free. I just have to remember to get everything back on time.

Ok, there's a really good reason I haven't posted in a month

2007-11-05T12:15:00.000-08:00

Well, well, sorry blog, I haven't paid attention to you for over a month. Well, I have a really really good excuse. It involves nausea, gagging everytime I brush my teeth, my clothes don't fit, my appetite disappeared, and...something like a positive pregnancy test (3 actually).

Yep, cheapgreenmamma is going to be a mamma again, ready or not! I don't really remember feeling this bad with my other two kiddos.

So cheap has kinda gone out the window, green is slipping (other than the color of my face) the mamma will be increasing her brood. Although, I am seriously considering cloth diapers this time. We'll see! I almost bought paper towels the other day (and napkins).

Saving Gas

2007-10-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to an article I read today about a man who goes to extremes to save gas. Click here

My Fall Vegetable Garden

2007-09-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago I was inspired to get into the garden and plant some new vegetation for a Fall crop. I planted lettuce, spinach, some mesclun, and radishes. As I was washing up, Philip comes inside and tells me he planted his "veggietale" seeds. Two weeks later I can see some bean plants coming up in the middle of the lettuce. I guess I have my own little "Jack" and a Beanstalk.

He also took some photos of me in the garden, but I need to edit them a bit. They all seem to be pictures of my behind as I am bending over in the garden. I don't know if I am going to post them here yet.

Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans

2007-09-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Deborah, Harry Potter fan and a new friend of mine gave me some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. This morning Philip and I decided to give them a try.

I gave Philip the "booger" flavor since he usually eats those anyways (gross, I know), he said it tasted like chocolate and vanilla yogurt.

I tried the dirt one and I am still tasting it ten minutes later. It really tasted like dirt.

I think I am going to savor them and only try one a day, that is all I think my taste buds can handle.

2007-09-17T20:23:00.001-07:00

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

For Jane Austin Fans

2007-09-16T20:15:00.001-07:00

My dear Jane Austin fans, PBS will be broadcasting adaptions of all six of her novels, plus a drama based on her life. PBS will send you an e-newsletter about Masterpiece Theatre (my FAVORITE tv program) if you sign up. They also have a sneak-peek!

The Complete Jane Austin

Cheap and Green

2007-09-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

Folks, I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on you here, but here's a few of my cheap and green tips. . .

1. I don't use paper towels anymore. I find that I am saving $10 a month and I am keeping paper out of the landfills. This goes for paper napkins as well. I buy cloth napkins on sale and wash them.

2. We rerun paper through our printer so both sides are used. Then when both sides are used and we're done, the paper goes in the recycling bin.

3. Compost: It is free fertilizer people! We save all our vegetable scraps and eggshells (no meats or oils) in a bin in our kitchen, when it's full, it goes to the compost bin outside. For more information on composting check this link: http://www.compostguide.com/

4. I garden. Gardening's cheapness is debatable (see the book the $64 Dollar Tomato), but you can grow your own ORGANIC produce at home in a garden or even in containers (container gardening).

5. Buying used clothing, furniture and vehicles. When you shop at thrift stores or buy used, no or few resources were used to make whatever you bought. Although you can argue that originally they had to come from somewhere.

6. Reusing plastic baggies: I rinse them out after use with soap and water. I find that I can make it several months without buying baggies.

7. I try to buy as little packaging as possible, this means no juice boxes, individually wrapped snacks and water bottles. All that packaging means trash and extra $$. It is much less expensive to buy a huge bottle of juice and put it in a reusable bottle in my son's lunchbox than a juicebox, which usually isn't recyclable. As you may have heard most bottled water comes from the tap any ways, so why not get a Brita pitcher and a reusable bottle?

8. Cleaning supplies: I use vinegar, baking soda and Borax (you can find it in the laundry aisle) for all my cleaning. It is amazing how well these household items work to clean and don't hurt the environment (or us).

Fall Musings

2007-09-13T07:04:00.001-07:00

There is something about the way the sunlight changes, something about that chill in the air that makes me want to curl up on the porch swing with a blanket and a mug of hot chocolate and read a book. I have a craving for pumpkin muffins and pumpkin bread. I crave French onion soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I want to drag out the sweaters and get out the yarn to start knitting again. I want to go buy some mums and get in the garden. There is something different about the way the sunlight hits things in the fall, maybe it is the way the earth is positioned, I don’t know, but it is Fall.

Finding the Library

2007-09-12T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am sitting downtown at the Rooster café as I wait for Central Library to open. I got here early after dropping Philip off at preschool, not realizing what an adventure I would be in for.

Today I drove my minivan, feeling rather adventurous about going downtown St. Louis by myself. After passing the library, I find it doesn’t open until 10 A.M. It is now 9, I see as I look at the clock. Many homeless people are lying on the steps around the library and in the park across the way. I can see that they are surrounded by their belongings. I am saddened by these people who look so lonely and lost. I also am a little nervous since I have my laptop in my backpack.

After deciding to park my car next to an Episcopal church, I get out and find the parking meter costs 25 cents for only 20 minutes. I don’t have enough change for longer than that, so I set out for a coffee shop for some java and change.

I cross the busy street looking anxiously for a bagel shop, anyplace to get some quarters. I ask a well-dressed man hurrying past me with his briefcase swinging at his side, if he knows where I can find a coffee shop. I told him I was waiting for the library to open.

“It’s unfortunate how Central’s gone downhill,” he chides. “Bums all over the place. It is a shame that it is such a historical library.”

"Yeah, that’s why I am going there,” I say, “to do research.“

“Really what school do you go to?” He pants, walking fast his briefcase still swinging at his side. Maybe he was a lawyer on the way to a court case.

“I am actually not a student, just interested in the World’s Fair.” I say flattered that he thinks so, considering I have two kids and just dropped one off at pre-school.

The nicely-dressed man helps me locate the café and here I sit, drinking my mocha in the slightly chilly September air, praying that no one will come by and yank my laptop off my lap since I am in the middle of the city. Now I am going to have to guzzle the mocha, go back and pay the ticking parking meter to spend an hour in the library before I go get my preschooler.

Central Library, St. Louis

2007-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

After driving round the block, I found a parking spot right in front of the library, pushed three quarters in the meter and off I went. This was unlike any library I remember ever visiting. Rushing through the ornate patterned gates, I smiled at the library man opening them, later staring in awe at the immense ceiling. I strided across the foyer and into the Great Hall. My eyes couldn't drift away from the intricate wood ceiling, which is very high and detailed. It is surprising I didn’t run into anyone.

Central library was competed in 1924, with funds from Andrew Carnegie. I realized after seeing this place that we just don't build buildings like this anymore. I think it is because it would be too expensive. Modern libraries just don't have the craftmanship like this library relic of American history. The shelves are made of wood! I could spend hours just staring at the art on the ceiling.

The history section, east of the Great Hall, made me feel like I was walking into a scene from 1920. A knowledgeable librarian directed me to the books about the 1904 World’s Fair that I had been seeking. I perused a book that dated from the time of the World’s Fair that had pictures of every exhibit and building there. I was amazed that that many buildings and exhibits were constructed for the great fair of St. Louis. The librarian told me that I could find more pictures and books in their archives. I am planning a visit there next week.

I would highly recommend a visit to this library, the architecture is exquisite and the librarians are very knowledgeable and helpful. Central Library is a terrific place to learn more about the city of St. Louis and to visit a landmark in the city.

Note: I found the picture on Flickr, for more pictures other people took of Central click Central Library.

Remembering Day

2007-09-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

September 11, one of those days that live in infamy. It is a day where you think back to where you were and what you were doing on that day.

I remember my brother in Iraq and pray for his safety. I pray for all the troops in Iraq that are away from their families and fearful for their lives. I pray that they will know the love of Christ and the peace of knowing Him as their Savior. I think of those who lost people close to them and how they must suffer on this day as they remember that horrible, scary day.

This day reminds me how broken and sinful this world is. There is a Christian song that has a line, "Brokenness is what I long for..." I don't long for brokenness, sorry, it seems like there is enough of that. I long for Jesus to come back and wipe away the tears and brokenness. That is what I long for.

Soccer Mom

2007-09-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

I don't think I am ready to put the soccerball bumpersticker on my minivan yet, but I have arrived into suburban mom-dom. I am a soccer mom.

I am standing in the rain, mascara running down my face, snapping action shots of muddy, grass-stained shin guards and nylon shorts. I am yelling "Look at the ball, Luke!" as my son is scrunching up his face because he doesn't want to get dirty. I cheer as he runs toward the ball and kicks it (even though it is the wrong direction). The team of children fly along the field like a flock of birds as they chase the muddy ball. Injuries abound as children are slipping and sliding in the mud. Luke comes running off the field because he has mud in his eye.

Ahh, the first game of soccer season. Now I have to go do some laundry.

First day(s) of school

2007-09-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

All 4 of the Sargents will be attending school this year. So, we will have had four first days of school. Luke started on August 21st in 1st grade. Philip began one week later, then Twig started his classes at Covenant for the Fall. I will begin my class on Tuesday, Marriage and Family Counseling.

Luke's comment on the first day, "It was the worst day of my life." He was troubled that a girl in his class wouldn't play with him at recess. Philip decided he would go back again, although I had a bit of a struggle on Friday; he clung to my leg as I ran for the door.

Twig's report was good. He decided he would go back. I hope so since we moved out here for this!

The Projects

2007-09-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Twig is always chiding me for my attempts to rescue something from the trash that I say I am going to turn into a treasure. My first trash rescue was the bench I found in front of someone's house. I pictured in my mind a beautiful park bench surrounding my garden. Well, I rescued in April and here it still sits with two broken slats and covered in bird doo.

I have also rescued a wicker chair, an end table (still sitting in the basement) that I "plan" to paint. Then there is the metal table that I was going to spraypaint. Ok, I finally got rid of that one. It went to someone on freecycle. I just hope it doesn't become the same kind of project for them!

Buddies

2007-08-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share these pictures of my boy, Luke and his buddy Montgomery who drove all the way from Maryland (with his parents and sister) to see us here in St. Louis. We had a wonderful visit and still can't believe they came all that way to see us for a weekend. We still miss them very much! Love ya Jen, Charlton, M and E!

The End

2007-07-23T17:02:00.000-07:00

On July 21st I received in the mail via Amazon my last book in the Harry Potter series. I have to admit, I have never paid more for a book that wasn't a textbook for school, and I made an exception to my normal cheapness to buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I had friends in town visiting from Maryland on the day it came out, so I actually left it in the box until they were on the road. You must realize that I really love those friends to have waited until they left.

I had a horrible sinus infection raging through my head, so I did nothing but read, take otc meds and blow my nose. That was appropriate considering all the weepy moments in the book. Philip with his newly discovered photography skills (maybe from his mother being engrossed in a book) photographed me reading the book, so I will always remember the first time I read it, the end of one of my favorite series.

Our June Camping Trip

2007-06-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

We took a camping trip (my idea actually) in June to explore Trail of Tears State Park. The boys and I had a great time, Twig (the experienced INFJ outdoorsman) did not. Luke and Philip especially liked peeing in the woods whenever they had to go. This actually carried over into the return trip when Philip decided to go out in the backyard at someone's house. The camping trip's highlight was our trip to SuperWalmart to buy underwear for the boys, since in my attempt to pack light, had forgotten clean undies for them.

Our trip to the lovely little lake was spoiled by a thunderstorm, plus Luke decided he is allegic to sand. I burned the eggs while cooking on the campstove. It was a great time!

Trip to botanical garden

2007-06-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took the boys to the children's garden at the Missouri botanical garden. It is such a great, fun place. We explored the treehouses, water garden and the general store (which has real tomato plants and other veg growing outside). This is by far my most favorite place in St. Louis (besides Forest Park). I get inspired to garden everytime I go there.

Click here to take the virtual tour of the MO Botanical Garden.

Garden

2007-05-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Today I dug deep and decided to plant some corn. I made sure to plant on the north side of my garden so it doesn't shade the raised bed. I had to put it outside of the raised bed, so it will be fair game for the animals. My 4 yr old donned his garden glubs to help too.

Cheapgreenmamma

2007-05-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

Here is my entry into the world of blogging. I have decided to start one about my new life in St. Louis!

Why Cheapgreenmamma? Well, I am cheap as my dear friends know, I try to be a conservationist and I am a mom of two rowdy boys. Perhaps that will be the focus of this blog. Also I wanted a place to give our friends and family info about what is going on with us in St. Louis and at seminary.

So, here it goes. . .