Adventures in Local Produce / CSA Week 3

from Green Pastures CSA to our door

it was dark and raining by the time anyone was home to retrieve the box, but everything did ok.

kale, squash, broccoli, green onions, sugar snap peas, strawberries

What's In Our Pool Bag

We've been to the pool more so far this summer than we have in summers past. Both kids just completed swim lessons at a local university and we've had a few pool playdates with friends who are either members of a pool or who have a pool. Yay for water fun in this crazy hot weather we've had lately!

To get both kids (and myself) ready for a day of pool fun, it takes a big ol' bag of supplies. Here's what I've been using this summer.

The bag: my trusty Lands End Natural Canvas Tote (medium) and it's only $20 right now! I also use this for some car trips. I still have to carry some a towel or some floats in my arms (or make the kids do it), but I don't want to have a tote that is way to big to handle/store. 

The brush: My little lady has long, wavy/curly hair. I braid it for the pool but it's still an ordeal to get it combed after rinsing. I read about this Wet Brush in two magazines recently and got on Amazon and ordered it right away. AMAZING! No more crying after pool/bath because I'm pulling her hair out trying to get it combed. And I had to get purple, her new favorite color. 

The towels: We use normally just use their Disney towels that the kids received as gifts a few years ago, personalized with their names. 

The sunscreen: We had previously used whatever I could find on sale, since we use so much. But this year, when we first applied sunscreen for a long day outside, both kids broke out in a rash all over their bodies. The same sunscreen we had used last summer without issue. So we switched to Babyganics Mineral-Based Baby Sunscreen and they haven't had any issues yet. 

The goggles: Because what kid likes to swim without goggles? We had some cheap Speed goggles (as shown above) that we got in a two pack at Costco last summer, but both kids wanted swim masks that covered their noses as well. So I found these at Target this week and they love them. The fit is great and they are easy to adjust. 

There are a few other things I always pack in our swim bag. I always pack a big water bottle full of ice water, a pack of gum (for me), and their Puddle Jumpers even though I'm trying to get my little lady confident enough to swim without hers. 

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How do you enjoy pool time with the kids? 

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Adventures in Local Produce / CSA Week 2

from Green Pastures CSA, delivered directly to our door

Week 2

strawberries, radishes, squash, green onions, tomatoes 

Adventures in Local Produce / CSA Week 1

In addition to starting our first garden this year, we have also purchased a share in a CSA. This is our second year of trying a CSA (community supported agriculture), and I'm excited to see what the summer brings. Last year, we went with Elmwood Stock Farm, a well-established local farm, and we were very pleased with the shares and the informative newsletters that accompanied each bag of farm-fresh food. This year, I decided to try another farm's CSA for no other reason than I wanted to see how other farms did it, and the one I eventually chose was Green Pastures CSA. I liked the price and the fact that it was two farms working together to produce the shares, one being Clark Family Farms which we had previously toured. And they deliver for free! Another bonus for us as last year Mr. Making It Bright had picked up our shares at his work and then the veggies sat out and got wilty before they made it home.     

Here is our first share. Admittedly, it has been a weird season so far with the cold temps late into spring and so much rain. They expect more bountiful shares for the rest of summer.

Week 1

kohlrabi, radishes, tomato, green onions, and the best strawberries I've had in a long time

Look how red that strawberry is, inside and out. Heavenly. Totally worth cheating on the slow carb diet to have those berries.

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Have you ever tried a CSA?