Good morning reader friends! Today is my Mom's birthday, a big happy birthday to you Mom, I love you!!!
We have a lot going on at our house this week. Our oldest started college last week, but the younger 3 go back to school, including our 5 year old who starts Kindergarten. I think I’d be more sad about it if not for 4 things: the thought of uninterrupted time to write and work on the blog sounds really nice (Moms, are ya with me?); he only goes half the week, so we’ll still have plenty of special times together (we’re trying some Gymboree classes this fall – anyone do those?); his teacher is a good friend and he’s already very comfortable with her (I hope that doesn’t turn out to be a bad thing!); lastly, he literally cheers every time we talk about how much longer ‘til he gets to go – I love how excited he is! Now that I’ll have a couple days to get things done in quiet, I have high hopes that I might get on top of my life again! 🙂
I wonder how many will see this post and how many will be camping over Labor Day?
For those of you camping, I’m sorry. Although you may just be weird enough to love it. I wish I loved it. But Kent & I don’t get the appeal of air mattresses that lose air and leave you stuck to the kid who insisted on sleeping between you; tents that get so hot when the sun hits in the morning that all you can think about is getting OUT; a bladder so full you can’t believe it could hurt that much, but the thought of going out into the cold to cross the street to the bathrooms somehow seems worse; the dirt that finds its way everywhere because my sister insists that only the bad campgrounds have grass. My Mom’s whole side of the family does a big camping trip every August and Kent & I have agreed that we’ll go every other year, just for the kids. Yes, I do love being with the fam for a long weekend, that’s the only part that saves it all, but I will say this: every other year sure comes around fast. (Someone please tell me there’s a good campground in Michigan with a clean inland lake, clean bathrooms, and grass? There HAS to be! I’d love to go to Lake Michigan but they all say it’s too cold…whiners.)
OK, let’s get into the scoop for this Monday…
- Need some good snack ideas before the kids go back to school tomorrow? (If yours haven’t gone back already.) Just don’t listen to this USA Today article that says to give your kids low fat yogurt and low fat milk! We all need healthy fats but especially kids, so their brains can grow properly! (Read about healthy milk options.) Here are some much better snack ideas and please add YOUR ideas there, too.
- What about some healthy school lunch ideas to avoid those scary hot lunch options?
- Do you know how long I’ve wanted a good homemade Mojito recipe? I can’t wait to try this with fresh mint from our plant out back, thanks Jo-Lynne!!
Kristin's in the Kitchen says
We LOVE camping, especially since last year we bought ourselves a popup camper that actually has a potty! No more ‘Mommy spending most her ‘vacation’ taking kids to the bathroom’! But I have to agree – tenting is just not for me. Far too much back pain involved.
This year we went to Assateague Island, MD where there are wild ponies all over the place – and they waltz right through your campsite. It was incredible! We’ll be going back next year for sure! (You just have to watch where you step…ahem…) Our biggest problem was not taking food with us on pretext of getting food there. We had lots of trouble finding decent organic food.
Cecelia says
I was happy to see that you extended your enrollment period. My husband has been trying to get his dad to sign up for your class (thanks to lots of urging from me!) but he says that he’s “not ready.” So disappointing. I hope you offer the class again in the future and we can try again then. It looks like it has a lot to offer!
JenE says
Sorry I missed this post! You should check out Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping up in Mackinaw City. They have great camping spots, a beach, and nice shallow swiming water on Lake Huron. It’s so beautiful up there : ).
https://www.campmackinaw.com/home.htm
Jen
Peggy says
Had my first Mojito this week. I adore mint, and don’t dislike lime by any stretch. It would be sooooo cooling except for the rum (which just raises my body temp and makes me want to dance!) I didn’t do the infused syrup, but instead muddled the mint with the sugar and a little crushed ice. A little harder, but still yum.
You know those cream whipper things that they use at coffee houses? Apparently you can use them to “instantly” infuse herbs too. Hm. Still not quite worth the purchase price, but getting there!
KitchenKop says
Hi Liz!
Yes, Mike is much more laid back about things than Kent is! And the list of everything you do to get ready, geesh! I’m tired just reading it… 🙂
Kel
Liz F. says
Oh Kelly — you crack me up about the camping! For me, the camping is fun because it strips away so much of what we take for granted day in and day out. Yes, we live in the dirt and many things are more inconvenient, but it’s a great time to think about how easy and blessed my life really is. Now, let me say though that I am done with rustic camping! I will only camp where we have clean bathrooms, hot showers, and a place I can plug in my blowdryer! One of the things I like about camping is that my hubby really takes the lead. He brings me coffee in the morning, makes a big family breakfast, and overall enjoys the work to take care of his family. (I realize I’m very lucky!) From the very beginning, I sort of stood back and made it all look difficult — he stepped in a saved the day and that’s been our mode ever since.
I also do a lot to make our camping easier on all of us. I prep a lot of our food ahead of time. I freeze hardy soups and chilis, I marinate chicken/beef for the skillet or grill (freezing helps them keep in a cooler), I bake yummy muffins or breads to slather with butter in the morning and I always make sure there is plenty of beer and wine! 🙂
Get a good air mattress and then buy an foam eggshell thing to put on it — you’ll sleep great! I’m proud of you guys for doing it for the kids (at least every other year)!
KitchenKop says
You gotta tell us about it now, you can’t leave us hanging on the “bear incident”!
Kristie says
My dh is a camping fanatic! I did the “tent” thing for many yrs until….the Bear Incident. After that, it was all about luxury camping for me! Big Hard side trailer with a kitchen, potty, shower, and bunk beds for the kiddies!!!! That’s how I camp! 🙂
Kristie
Ann Marie @ CHEESESLAVE says
I love camping. I doubt we’ll ever do it because my husband is not the camping type. Not by a long shot!
But camping can be a lot of fun. It’s so nice to be outdoors. When I was a nanny in San Francisco in college, I used to go camping with the family. They would go every Labor Day to Yosemite, and they also made a trip to go camping by the lake every summer.
The mom was a gourmet cook, so we had the most amazing meals. We’d ride our bikes, hang out in the sun, and go hiking. And at night we’d sit around the campfire and drink wine.
I think camping would be fun if you went with people who are good at setting up tents, and who would help with all the cooking and clean-up. But like I said, Seth is not that guy so I doubt we’ll ever go. I’m not willing to do all that work — figuring out what to cook, lugging all the food and tents and what-not. Ugh!
I don’t mind life without camping though because quite honestly, I’d much rather go to wine country. We did labor day weekend early and spent last weekend in Southern California wine country. We stayed at cheap motels, spent the day going from one winery to another, and had wonderful meals. I guess that’s my kind of camping. 🙂
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
It’s very sad that John Mackey is spreading his vegan lies. Because a diet devoid of all fat and salt is…ridiculous. We NEED good, saturated fats and pure sea salt for our health!! I just wrote about adrenal health Saturday and those two foods factor in heavily. People buy the mainstream, simplistic view: eat fat, get fat. Eat salt, have high blood pressure. But, no, it’s only the REFINED versions of those foods that cause damage. Sigh.
Laurie says
You can rent some pretty nice campers, at least around here. I’m with you on the camping thing. I’d rather sleep in my own bed. We already live out in the country, so I’m surrounded by nature all the time (and sometimes slapped upside the head by it ;-). Our homeschool group has had a big not-back-to-school camp out the last two years. I like the thought but just don’t care to deal with the fuss. Sometimes I think about sending the boys off to school, but the good days homeschooling more than make up for the bad ones, so here we are.
I hope you had a good weekend.
Sue E. says
LOL!!
Actually, you could get creative for those every-other-year trips and borrow or rent campers…..just a thought for you…..:)
Sue E.
KitchenKop says
“Relaxation”, seriously?
The only camper I think I’d like is one of those $100,000 motor homes! LOL! Do you know how many trips we could take for that kind of money? And without all the upkeep that an expensive motor home would require!
Sue E. says
So, Kel, you didn’t make it clear…..was this the every-other-year year for camping? We went last month for the first time in 10 years after Mike said he would never go again (and he camped his whole life and we camped a lot before kids) because of all the gear we have to bring (he pretty much thought I would pack the whole house when we went). I really wanted the kids to experience camping (they are 11, 8, 6, and 3.) So, he agreed to borrow a friend’s pop-up so it had a floor. While we were there, we had a pretty good time (we were at Holland State Park—the grassy side, not sandy!), besides our 3 year old being an absolute dirt ball the entire time. When I asked Mike how it was overall, he said, “It was tolerable.” I’d say that was a promising answer. I enjoy camping because of its relative relaxation time, and because it gives the kids such a great experience. I will add that we had fabulous weather, and it only rained overnight one night. So, maybe a camper would be a better bet for you and your family??
Sue E.
Cara @ Health Home and Happiness says
Kelly, I really share your feelings about camping. Can’t we all just go for some nice day trip and then come back and all sleep in our own beds? I can camp, I just don’t like all the work involved, especially with little ones 😛 Thankfully we have lots of great day trips here in Montana!