Purple Passion Smoothie

It has been awhile since I have experimented with a new morning smoothie. This is my latest creation. It contains mache instead of spinach. The mache looks like spinach, but seems to have a milder taste. The POM and blueberries make it a purple color. There is not a hint of green so you could serve this to someone and they would never know there is a green vegetable in there. I am thinking about making some popsicles for the kids with this recipe. I might use another cup of juice instead of water to make it sweeter. I will let you know how it goes.

Purple Passion Smoothie Recipe:
2 handfuls of mache
1 banana
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup vanilla soymilk
1/2 cup POM (or other pomegranate juice)
1 cup water



Blend ingredients and enjoy!

The Rookie Moms- send e-mails to your kids

I was listening to the Jumping Monkeys podcast while working out and they interviewed the Rookie Moms. The Rookie Moms have a new book including 250 activities to do with or without your child. The activities are every day things you can do. There was one great idea they talked about on the podcast that had never occurred to me before. Create e-mail addresses for your kids and send them e-mails. I thought this was brilliant. I can send quick little notes of milestones or cute things they say. One day they will be able to access the e-mails and read them. Plus, they have a gmail account already in their name. It's reserved for them forever (or as long as google is around).

Of course, my kids now have their very own e-mail addresses. Luckily, both of their names were still available. Pretty cool. I am off to e-mail my kids.

Best Shot Monday- Range of Emotions

I can't get enough of this face.

These photos speak for themselves.

Check out Tracey's site for more great shots.

Manic Mommies Shout Out

My favorite podcast Manic Mommies had an Earth Day special and they mention my blog in their show notes. YEAH!!!! They interview Kate from TLC's Jon & Kate plus 8. If you get a chance, you should listen to the show.

Our New Grass Pet

When I was searching for Easter gifts for the kids I saw some cute grow kits. They came with grass seed, soil, and a cute little egg to plant the seeds in. When the grass grows out you can put the grass in pigtails or give it a haircut. It was really cute, but a little too expensive for my taste. So we decided to make our own using old pudding containers, organic potting soil, and grass seed.

The kids loved playing in the dirt and planting the seeds. It was really rewarding to see the little sprouts come up. With a little water every couple of days, the grass grew like crazy. Here's the finished product.

Our new little grass pet now lives in my daughter's room.

She drew the nose and mouth. Don't you love the accessories she chose?

Menu Monday April 27- May 1st

I have some herbs coming up in my garden. Look at the Borage above.

I am bringing out some stuff from the freezer this week and trying to use some food we have had around for awhile so beware.

Sunday: Chicken Thighs, Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans

Monday: Balsamic Glazed Salmon, Corn on the Cob, Broccolini

Tuesday: Fettucine Alfredo (This is one of the only meals my daughter will eat so we have it a lot) and Caesar Salad

Wednesday: Swimming Rama, Rice, and Spinach

Thursday: Calzones and leftover salad

Menu Monday April 20-24 Recipe Review

Above are our coffee ground fossils that we did on Earth Day.

I did pretty well sticking to the menu this week. We had so many leftovers though. So I scratched breakfast for tonight and had leftovers instead. We will just have a really nice breakfast Saturday morning. I am really excited about trying those Cottage Cheese Egg Muffins.

Sunday- Rotisserie Chicken (store bought), Sherry Potatoes, and Steamed Broccoli

The Sherry Potatoes were interesting. I am not sure they will make it into my normal routine.

Monday- Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, Portobello Mushrooms, and Salad
I bought an herbal salad mix at Publix and it was really good. It had parsley and cilantro in it. It was just enough to give it a little flavor. I added feta cheese, pecans, apples, and a raspberry vinagraitte. The Tilapia is always good this way and the mushrooms were yummy too.

Tuesday- Basil-Balsamic Chops, Polenta, and Roasted Asparagus
I was going for creamy polenta, but it came out pretty thick. I put the leftovers in a pan covered it with tomato sauce and topped with parmesan cheese. Then I baked it at 350 degrees for 20 minutes It is better this way in my opinion.

Wednesday- Parmesan Pasta with Chicken & Rosemary (using leftover chicken from Sunday) and garlic bread
This turned out pretty good. No complaints.

Thursday- Leftovers (polenta and pasta)

Planet Harmony Fruit Snack Review

I have been on a search for a "healthier" fruit snack for my kids. Don't get me wrong. There is no substitute for the real thing and my kids do eat fruit. My son will eat the fruit leather, but my daughter will not. Both like dried fruit, however, they both have a weakness for the packaged "gummies", as my youngest likes to call them. I searched the supermarket aisles for a better (naturally sweetened, organic) fruit snack, but came back empty handed. I noticed Amazon.com had Planet Harmony Fruit Snacks, but they were sold out. I signed up to get an alert when they received more in stock and waited.

A couple of weeks ago I received the notice that they had more in stock so I placed my order. (Along with the Smart Power Strip, but more on that in another post) I ordered right when I received the alert and there were only 2 left. So I am not sure if they are in high demand or if they do not get a lot in stock. I do not usually order snacks online and have actually tried to stop my online shopping altogether, but made an exception to try these.

The packages are 3 oz, which is 2 servings, but I have been making them last for 4 servings. The snacks are definitely yummy and taste more like candy (which I guess they really are) then I had expected, which my children like of course.

The ingredients include: organic sugar, organic corn syrup, organic white grape juice concentrate, citric acid, pectin, sodium citrate, natural flavors, colors added (including annatto, turmeric, grape skin liquid, and black carrot juice concentrate).

There were a couple of incredients that I was unsure about so I did some further research. Pectin is a gelling agent used to thicken foods to a jelly-like consistency. It is diluted with sugar and combined with citric acid to adjust pH. Typical levels of pectin used as a food additive are between 0.5 – 1.0% - this is about the same amount of pectin as in fresh fruit. The sodium citrate controls the acidity of gelatin desserts, jam, ice cream, candy, and other foods. Both are safe and occur naturally in citrus fruits and berries according to this website. I wish that they did not contain corn syrup, but at least it is not High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Here is an alternative to the traditional gummy bears: Planet Harmony Gummy Bears

Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I received 16 packages, which is more than I really wanted. I do think that they would make good party favors in lieu of candy, but we will not have a birthday party until June. Hmmmm, I am sure we will think of something to do with all of the goodies.

How will my garden grow?

Well, I have done it. I finally planted all of the seeds for my herb garden. I bought a kit with several different herbs and a design plan. This plan includes borage, purple basil, sweet basil, parsely, nasturtium, chives, and dill. I have never done this before so I am a little nervous that nothing is going to grow. I am also excited to see what happens.

I thought I would try herbs this year and see how it goes. Then maybe next year I will get crazy and plant some vegetables. Ok, Ok, I should not get ahead of myself here. Let's see if my herbs grow first.

Keep posted to see the progress (hopefully). If anyone has any helpful hints, please post a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Happy Earthworm Day...I mean Earth Day

Check out the worms in my compost heap.

I am excited to celebrate Earth Day this year. To be honest in previous years, this day has not meant too much to me. I have to admit I have always been a little "crunchy" (a new word I have picked up from fellow green bloggers). This term always reminds me of my friend Ladonna who liked to refer to hippie-ish types as being "granola". Plus, my husband is a self proclaimed treehugger. Meaning he really likes to hug trees. However, I have never done anything special for Earth Day.

Anyway, I digress. I plan on doing a few special things with the kids. Earth Day gives us an excuse to do something fun. You know I am a sucker for a good craft project. I did take the recycling to the drop off center this weekend so my supplies are limited, but I am sure we will think of something we can reuse. Here are some good Earth Day crafts. These are even better.

Since we will have to start saving bottle caps to do this project, I might settle for the cereal box sandals instead. Or even better maybe we will make coffee ground fossils. Of course, digging in the dirt seems appropriate too. My kids love to search for earthworms and move them to a new home. They have created a central location for all the worms in the yard to live.

As for me, I plan on celebrating our progress so far. We have come a long way since January. Just thinking about it keeps me motivated to push forward and do even more.

Happy Earth Day everyone. I hope you have a good one.

Menu Monday April 20-24

Since the weather is getting nice, I feel like making this week low (ok, I mean even lower) maintenance.

Sunday- Rotisserie Chicken (store bought), Sherry Potatoes, and Steamed Broccoli

Monday- Broiled Tilapia Parmesan, Portobello Mushrooms, and Salad

Tuesday- Basil-Balsamic Chops, Polenta, and Roasted Asparagus

Wednesday- Parmesan Pasta with Chicken & Rosemary (using leftover chicken from Sunday) and garlic bread

Thursday- Breakfast- Cottage Cheese Egg Muffins, Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage, and Fruit

I might try to pull together a special dessert for Earth Day. Family Fun has some great ideas. I was thinking chocolate pudding with crushed oreos (dirt) on top with some gummy worms.

Menu Monday April 13-17 Recipe Review

Here's my weekly review:

Sunday- Manicotti, Garlic Bread, Salad

The manicotti was better this time. I made three batches about a month ago and froze two of them.

Monday- Pesto & Tomato Salmon and Chickpeas with Arugula & Sherry

The salmon smelled really good. I love pesto. It was really easy to make too. I added a hard boiled egg to the chickpeas and arugula to make it a meal for me.

Tuesday- Sweet Asian Chicken, Fried Rice (with tofu for me), and Sesame Green Beans

I thought this meal came out really well. I especially liked the fried rice.

Wednesday- Pasta with Wilted Spinach

This was my favorite meal of the week. Yum!

Thursday- Pizza- store bought whole wheat crust

You can't go wrong with pizza. Just look at the picture above.

Is Beauty Only Skin Deep?

"Beauty's but skin deep; nay, it is not so:
It floats but on the skin beneath the skin,
That, like pure air, scarce hides her fullest flow:
It is so subtle, fading, fragile, and thin:
Were she skin-deep, she could not be so shallow
To win but fools her purity to hallow. "

- John Davies of Hereford

If you are interested click here for the story behind this quote.

On average, a woman puts on around 11 pounds of lipcare a year according to ecofabulous. Wow. That is a lot of lip balm and lipstick. Imagine how much of this is ingested. It definitely makes me think twice about what I put on my lips. But it does not stop there, what about everything else that we put on our skin? What is safe? What is not? These have been the questions that I have been struggling with lately.

I have discovered Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Groups Cosmetic Safety Database. I especially like the Parents Guide, which gives you the ingredients to avoid and outlines some good picks for products in certain categories.

I have been slowly trying to change my shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, and make-up to safer brands. I now use a bar soap made by Pure & Natural. The packaging is biodegradeable and contains seeds that can be planted. My shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are paraben free. I use Alba & Burt's Bees lip balm. I am still working on my make-up.

It is very overwhelming at times with so many choices and so many opinions. I want the product to be safe for the environment and safe for my family. Plus, I want it to work. I don't want my hair to look greasy. I don't want my face broken out. I don't want to stink. I wish I could skip make-up altogether, but that is not going to happen.

Like everything else in my life, it is hard to strike a balance between good and good for me (and everyone else). For now I am muddling my way through. Doing the best I can with what I have available to me.

Green & Clean Mom Giveaway

Green & Clean Mom, one of my favorite bloggers, is doing a BPA free sippy cup giveaway. Click here to enter.

Too Lazy or Scared to Use Reusable Bags?

I have to admit the first time I walked into the grocery store with my reusable grocery bags in tow, I was a little nervous. I felt a little strange handing them over to the bagger. It seems crazy that I would feel that way, but I did. Now I don't even think twice about it. Every now and then when I am out and about I don't have them with me and have to settle for plastic instead.

Did you know that you can recycle the plastic bags? I just store mine with my reusable bags and put them in the recycling bin when I go to the grocery store. I shop at Publix and they have bins in front of the store for plastic bags and also foam trays. Since I knew I could recycle these bags, I decided to find out what other plastic bags could be recycled.

Here is a good resource explaining what plastic bags can and can not be recycled. Below is a summary:

These are the items you can recycle:

Grocery bags
Retail bags (hard plastic and string handles removed)
Paper towel and toilet paper plastic wrap
Plastic newspaper bags
Plastic dry cleaning bags
All clean, clear bags labeled with a #2 or #4
Note: Please recycle only plastic bags that are clean and dry. Please remove receipts.

Do NOT include the following.
The following are considered contaminants and could jeopardize recycling programs:
NO food or cling wrap
NO prepackaged food bags including frozen food bags(e.g., prewashed salad bags)
NO film that has been painted or has excessive glue
NO other bags or films
NO bio-based or compostable plastic bags

Toys 'R' Us introduces Natural Toys

Toys 'R' Us announced they will be selling a new line of Natural Toys just in time for Earth Day. They will have wooden toys, organic cotton dolls, and organic plush animals. Here is one of the product descriptions from their website:

"The new, natural wood formula race car, available only at Toys R Us, is both fun and forest-friendly. It bears the Forest Stewardship Council seal of certification and is decorated by a unique wood-burning technique. Crafted from replenishable materials that are chemical-free and eco-friendly, our natural wood toys make for good, green fun and safe play. No batteries required. Keep it natural with Natural Wood Toys from Toys R Us."

I am not sure how I feel about this announcement. I do think it is a step in the right direction, but I am skeptical. Is this just another marketing ploy? According to Eco Child's Play the wooden toys and organic plush animals are made in China. The organic dolls are made in Egypt.

I have not been to the store to see the toys and how they are packaged. I do know the packaging will be made out of materials that are least 70% recycled. Hopefully, packaging will be minimal and the toys will be well made.

Eventhough the toys are not made in the USA, it is encouraging that big retailers see the need to change. I am not going to run to the store to buy one of these toys, but it is nice to know I have more options.

Menu Monday April 13-17

Here's this weeks menu:

Sunday- Manicotti, Garlic Bread, Salad

Monday- Pesto & Tomato Salmon and Chickpeas with Arugula & Sherry

Tuesday- Sweet Asian Chicken, Fried Rice (with tofu for me), and Sesame Green Beans

Wednesday- Pasta with Wilted Spinach

Thursday- Pizza- store bought whole wheat crust

Menu Monday Recipe Review Apr 6-10

Roasted Brussels Sprouts


Well, it is only week 2 and I am already straying from my set menu. I changed the menu to reflect what we actually ate. Guess I can't review something we did not eat.

Sunday- Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Corn Casserole and Green Beans -This meal was good and not very labor intensive. Everyone seemed to like the chicken.

Monday- Fettucine Alfredo with Shrimp (whole wheat fettucine with sauce made with tofu, evaporated swim milk and parmesan cheese), Garlic Bread, and Steamed Broccoli -The garlic bread was the highlight of this meal. I was really excited to try an alfredo sauce that incorporated tofu, but I was very disappointed. I will not be making the alfredo sauce again.

Tuesday- Apple Cranberry Pork Loin, 10 minute Asparagus and Brown Rice dish-The pork loin seemed to be a hit. The asparagus was pretty good, but next time I will not make the tahini dressing. I will just add some parmesan cheese and maybe some butter.

Wednesday- Chicken Sausage, Baked Tofu, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Parmesan, roasted garlic couscous - This meal was thrown together at the last minute. I had planned on having caramelized tofu with shredded brussels sprouts. I just wasn't feeling it when I went to cook dinner. I kept looking at my cute little sprouts and did not want them to be shredded. Anyway, the roasted brussels sprouts were very tasty when they first came out of the oven. They lost some of their appeal once they sat for awhile. I will definitely make these again.

Thursday- Mango Black Bean Salad- I had a mango and some cilantro that needed to be used so I winged it on this one. Maybe next week I will be more organized.

Is there tequila in my coffee?

There are some mornings that I feel like spiking my morning coffee with tequila, but most mornings I settle for a little Agave Nectar instead. After all, tequila would probably taste pretty nasty in coffee and Agave Nectar tastes very yummy.

Both are made from the blue agave plant, but believe me taste nothing alike. The juice expressed from the core of the agave produces the nectar. It is filtered and heated to form the sweet liquid. It is thinner and sweeter than honey. Recently, it has gained notarity as a sweetener because of its low glycemic index. It also dissolves well in cold beverages unlike sugar and honey.

As a side note: The above photo has nothing to do with Agave Nectar. It's just one of the pretty tulips that sprouted in my yard.

Anyway, I originally started using the syrup because I wanted to stop using artificial sweeteners. I was also trying to stay away from sugar. I was doing some research on the Raw Food Diet and read that agave necatar syrup is an excellent sweetener. I use honey in my tea so why not use the nectar in my coffee?

To be honest, I am not sure if it is really any better for me. I have read conflicting information. For now it works for me.

Fix, Freeze, Feast Book Review

I have to say this book has made dinners at our house so much easier. The recipes are simple and you can have several meals in the freezer in no time. It is really nice to thaw the entree in the fridge the night before and then pop it in the oven when you get home from work.

Some of the recipes like the Margarita Chops and the Manicotti were not spectacular, but worth having again. The Honey Glazed Thighs and the Swimming Rama will probably become part of our regular rotation.

The only drawback I can see at this point is the use of ziploc bags. I am really trying to get away from using them, but they are pretty much a necessity when utilizing this program. You could use reusable containers, but you would have to have a ton of them. Plus storing the reusable containers takes up so much room. I will have to brainstorm and see if I can come up with any solutions.

New Greener Mama

I have been so focused lately on getting healthy, tasty meals on the table, I have not put too much thought into what I need to do next to accomplish a greener lifestyle. I have started a compost pile. I have also been working on the foundation for my herb garden. We spent a good portion of the weekend pulling weeds from our yard. I am proud to say we have not used any chemicals on our yard this spring. So I have not been completely idle, but I know I still need to do more. Here's my to do list for April:

1. Take shorter showers (this is probably going to be the hardest for me)
2. Install a low flow showerhead in our bathroom.
3. Start unplugging appliances such as coffee maker and toaster when not in use. (maybe install a power strip that can be turned off)
4. Constistently turn off the power strip for the computer and accessories.
5. Turn off the lights in the rooms not in use.
6. Start recycling cardboard, cereal boxes, etc. (I am not sure why we don't do this already)
7. Only wash my clothes if they are truly dirty. ( I have a tendency to wear something once and throw it in the laundry)
8. Mix up some more homemade cleaners to have on hand for cleaning
9. Drink more water (means less bottles, cans, etc.)
10. Plug the TV, DVD player, Wii, etc into a power strip and turn it off when not in use.

I am sure I will think of something else to add to the list, but I am taking it one step at a time.

Menu Monday April 6-10

Here's this weeks menu:

Sunday- Honey Glazed Chicken Thighs, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Corn Casserole and Green Beans

Monday- Fettucine Alfredo with Shrimp (whole wheat fettucine with sauce made with tofu, evaporated swim milk and parmesan cheese), Garlic Bread, and Steamed Broccoli

Tuesday- Apple Cranberry Pork Loin, 10 minute Asparagus and Brown Rice dish

Wednesday- Caramelized Tofu with shredded brussels sprouts, roasted garlic couscous

Thursday- Pizza (store bought whole wheat crust) and salad

Friday Finds Follow-Up

I had to do a follow-up to yesterday's post with some of my other great finds. Before picking up my kids yesterday, I decided to stop by Thrift Smart. I know the man who started this nonprofit organization. I went to school with his daughter. So I had been wanting to take a look at the store.

Anyway, it took me awhile to get into my groove. I looked through the tops and did not see any that I thought would work. I went up and down the aisles displaying the pants several times. I tried on several pair and ended up purchasing three pair of pants. The black pair are from Gap and are the ankle length, which is hard for me to find at the store. There was still a tag on the inside that is to be removed before washing. They look brand new. The second one is a pair of grey Isaac Mizrahi dress pants. The last one is a little more worn, but were really comfy. They are also from Gap. My grand total was $12.47. I love that I found some great pants that someone else did not want any longer plus I helped a good cause.

The photo to the left displays my Target purchases. Harper liked my dress so much she asked to wear it to bed.

I got all of this for less than $25.00. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.

My Friday Finds

I have to admit I have a bit of a shopping problem. I like to shop. I am not sure when it happened because I have not always liked shopping. I think it is the thrill of finding a great deal that keeps me going back for more.

I have been trying really hard to buy less and have been shopping more at thrift shops. That way I still get to shop. I still find great deals and I buy considerably less. You really have to search for the good stuff. But when you find something great like an unopened cartridge for a Leap Pad for next to nothing, it all makes it worthwhile.

Target is still my biggest weakness. Did you know that you can get some great deals at Target? At the end of some of the aisles they have clearance items. There is even a forum dedicated to Perimeter Perusing at Target. This forum has some great tips if you are a bargain shopper. The key for me is not buying tons of other things I don't really need while I am at Target.

While I was at Target picking up a couple of necessities, I passed by a clearance section in the health and beauty section. I found a pack of 3 Burt's Bees lip balm for $2.98. One tube usually costs at least $2.99. Burt's Bees lip balm is my favorite so I could not resist this great deal. You always need lip balm, right?

I also found a summer dress for $4.98, a T-Shirt for $3.24, and a dressier shirt for $2.48. So when I bought some Fair Trade Organic Coffee for $6.99, I did not feel so bad.

Menu Monday Recipe Review

Here are my thoughts on this week's meals.

Sunday- Grilled Steak and Baked Scallops, Freedom Fries (***SC), and Salad

There were no baked scallops left so that seemed to be a hit. The Freedom Fries were a little mushy in the middle and stuck to the cookie sheet, but I would make them again.

Monday- Tilapia, Portobello Mushrooms, Soba Noodles, and Sesame Grean Beans (**SBD)

This meal was okay. Nothing spectacular. If I make the sesame noodles again, I will do it the night before. The leftovers tasted better the next day.

Tuesday- Swimming Rama (a spicy coconut chicken and tofu for me- *FFF) on Spinach with Steamed Basmati Rice

I really enjoyed this meal. It was not the healthiest meal, but yummy. I made enough so I have 2 more meals in the freezer and some extra sauce. Yeah!!!!

Wednesday- Margarita Pork Chops (*FFF), Black Bean Salad, and Cheese Quesadillas

This was another successful meal. I made the Black Bean Salad (left out the avocado) on Tuesday night and the Margarita Pork Chops were thawed from the freezer. All I had to do was pop the pork chops under the broiler, make the quesadillas and add the avocado to the salad.

Thursday- Amy's pizza with salad

I stayed home from work today with an awful cold. Frozen pizza hit the spot. I balanced it out with a Caesar salad. Good thing I planned low maintenance for today.

POM Power Smoothie

I took a recipe from The New Sneaky Chef Book and adapted it a bit. You know me. I just can't give up my spinach.

I love this recipe. It is different from the other smoothies I have been making lately. I know Green Tea has lots of health benefits, but I can't give up my morning coffee. I like that this recipe sneaks in some tea. Plus avocados are said to help lower cholosterol, are a great source of potassium, and 1 cup provides 23% of the daily value of folate. This is definitely a heart healthy recipe.

POM Power Smoothie

3/4 c Pomegranate Juice ( I used POM)

1 cup Green Tea (boil 1 cup of water and pour over 2 green tea bags, steep for 2 minutes, then let cool)

1/2 Avocado

1 handful of spinach

1 cup frozen fruit (I used mixed fruit, but you can use blueberries, strawberries or a berry blend)

1-2 TBSP of honey (I used 1 TBSP, but if you like it sweeter use 2 TBSP.)

about 10 ice cubes

Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!!!! Like all my other smoothie recipes, this makes enough for 2 people.

Click here to read about the benefits of drinking pomegranate juice.

Click here to read about the benefits of drinking green tea.

No Sleep For You

Last night I felt like I was in a Seinfeld epsiode, except the Soup Nazi was the Sleep Nazi. I could see him glaring at me saying, "No sleep for you!!". I went to bed early because I was VERY tired and had an awful headache. Here is a summary of our night:

8:30pm- Both kids are asleep

8:45pm- I turn my lights out and try to go to sleep. I toss and turn.

11:00pm- I do not feel like I have been to sleep yet. It starts storming and the thunder is loud.

11:05pm- I use the bathroom and take some Aleve. My head is still pounding.

1:00am- Miller is awake. I think the storm woke him.

1:30am- Miller is in our bed. He is the only one sleeping.

2:15am- Miller is back in his bed and my head feels better. I finally fall asleep.

5:22am- Harper had an accident. I change her sheets and lay with her for a few minutes.

5:35am- I get back in bed, but never fall back to sleep.

6:15am-I get up and take Bailey for a walk.

While walking Bailey, we were greeted by a golden retriever puppy. Bailey is not the friendliest dog so I try to avoid other dogs whenever possible. Of course, this dog just wanted to play and would not go away. Eventually, I had to pick up Bailey and carry her the rest of the way while this dog followed us and continually jumped on me. Then when I finally got home, he followed me into the garage. Mitch had to shoo him out while I shut the garage door. I was so mad. The owners were no were in sight and this dog did not have a collar on.

Is someone playing an April Fool's trick on me?

On a postive note, I did make a good smoothie this morning. Mitch said it was a little tart, but Miller and I enjoyed it. I will post the recipe tomorrow.