HealthyMoneyMom's Blog

Well its official. I’m moving. Trying out a new site home. Please give it a try and I will be moving these past blogs over. It will take some time for the adjustment, but please note my new home
http://healthymoneymom.blogspot.com/
See you there!

Perhaps a good thing that the financial advise I have for you today is not actually from me, but a website with plenty of resources of differing topics and types. I encourage you to check it out when you have a chance, and bookmark it as it will take you multiple views to watch the videos as well as download the written resources.
http://www.saddleback.com/webcast/financialseminar/
Give it a try and see if you don’t get anything out of it.
And a big thanks to my home church Saddleback Church of Lake Forest for providing us with this great information at such an important time.

Even if you have just a small patio and think your thumb is far from green, with a little dilligence you can grow some items that you may want on hand, would love to use over and over (without paying over and over), and control the environment- i.e. organic! Yes YOU can grow simple plants and provide yourself with some great items to cook with. I suggest tomatoes and herbs. Grow some basil and you’ll always have it on hand. I love tomatoes and would add them to lots of things if they were always available to me. I can’t wait until my tomato plant turns those flowers into fruits.
Just be sure to read the descriptions before buying- there are lots of different kinds of tomatoes, read the planting tips, water daily, and I also recommend a non-plastic planting pot if you need to use pots like I do.
By spending just a few dollars (these plants really are around $3 at convenient places like Target and Walmart), you’ll be growing organic food for yourself with an unlimited amount of yield, helping replenish oxygen in the air, and making your home environment a little nicer. Who doesn’t like looking at a happy plant? Especially one that is practically growing you money. So who says money doesn’t grow on trees? (and little plants too)

If you live in the Orange County area and you have young children, you must take them on a family outing to Zoomars petting zoo in San Juan Capistrano. You can even take the train there as the station is basically across the street! Zoomars is open every day of the year from 10 am to 5 pm. and general admission is only $5. There are activities for additional costs, but nothing is very expensive. Pony rides take children around the back end of the little farm, past an amazing collection of birds. Families can pet goats, bunnies, and guinea pigs. And when I say pet, I mean you get right in there with them and pet them right on your lap if you’re gentle! (difficult with goats- wink) Veggie stick baskets are available for a couple bucks so kids can feed all the animals they encounter – also including some very hairy beasts- I think llamas, or alpacas, can’t remember now. There’s a huge tortoise, a cow, a very large collection of exotic birds. A little train offers rides, and a playground allows for energetic playtime.
A very family friendly little farm, they often have seasonal events as well, such as a pumpkin patch, or visits with Santa.
Definitely an animal encounter to experience.
31791 Los Rios St. San Juan Capistrano ~949-831-6550
http://www.zoomars.com

Well as you might have guessed, I’m taking advantage of the celebration today known as “Earth Day” to talk about it. Earth Day. Lots of us have heard about it, but what shall we do with it? First of all according to Wikipedia, Earth Day ‘is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment’. Have you been inspired or done any appreciating yet today? Target created awareness by handing out recycled, reusable bags on Sunday and I’m sure with a little more research, you’ll find many stores with incentives to come in, while increasing awareness. But you don’t have to go shopping to celebrate. Talk to your kids about how your family can do its part to reduce/reuse/recycle– especially give kids specific ideas that they can do. Empowering kids of any age is important to their self-esteem as well as, in this case, having more helpers for the cause.
Did you know? Not only can you recycle paper, aluminum, plastic, and more, but you can get paid for odd items that you’d probably just throw in the trash? Take your used ink cartriges to Staples and receive $3 credit for each one!
Happy Earth Day! Do something good for our environment- we’re all in it together!

Thank you readers for viewing my very first week of blogging. It has been exciting and fun so far. I hope I’ve given you a few new ideas. I aim to have a mix of “healthy” recipes, money-saving ideas, fun places to take the family, and any ideas that help make our planet and our families healthier! I don’t claim to be exactly “going green” or organic, though many of my blogs will include things that are in those directions. I’m learning more about healthier foods, and I’m always in favor of reducing waste and in turn, often saving money doing so. Please feel free to make comments to share your own ideas.
Soon to come… places to go- Seen the amazing sight at La Jolla lately? Ever taken you kids to Zoomars?
Also, a great site to help you find hormone-free dairy products.
And a delicious Sweet Potato Bisque.
Keep cooking!