A Farmer's Market Manifesto.

Recently, I've really begun thinking about where our food comes from and how it's sourced.  A couple of months ago, a video went viral that showed the terrible mistreatment of farm animals on an industrial farm.  It was beyond heart-wrenching to watch.  Although my family has been talking about humane meat for years, I wasn't truly on the "humane train" until recently.  That video was the catalyst for me, and I began reading all about the industrial farming industry.  I couldn't stop. 

After several sleepless nights, I got brave and posted my opinion about it on Instagram...Ooof!  The floodgates were open!  I began looking up meat labels, and apart from the occasional meal with friends, we stopped eating and buying inhumane meat and eggs.  I started going to the local Farmer's Market.  I am now a convert and a believer in organic vegetables (oh, the pesticides!), and I now consider myself a *semi* farm animal rights activist.  I read an extremely insightful book called Farmageddon, and have since learned that the effects of the industrial farming industry are much more far-reaching than just animal cruelty.  

The factory farming industry is entirely unsustainable.  It is sucking the Earth's resources at an unprecedented rate, and the destruction of the environment in heavily farmed locations is indisputable.  It has left many farmers physically, emotionally, and financially broken.  Industrial farming compounds can be unsafe for workers, who are often exposed to dangerous conditions and health risks.  People who live in surrounding towns consistently suffer from health problems and increased cancer rates related to runoff pollution in their water and chemical pollution in the air.  And last but not least are the billions of farm animals that suffer inhumane treatment everyday.  It is an industry driven by money, consumerism, and politics...and people, animals, and the environment are the collateral damage.

I could go on and on and on about Farmageddon.  Suffice it to say, it has encouraged me to do my part in the fight against "cheap meat".  Here is the short list of changes I'm trying to make:

1)  Eat less meat

2)  Buy local or humanely raised meat, eggs and dairy

3)  Know my food labels

3)  Reduce food waste

4)  Grow my own food (someday!)

All this to say that we had a summer of learning and growing, of trying to be more green and much more aware of where our food comes from.  Tuesday nights have become a fun tradition for me and Auggie where we walk to the Lawrenceville Farmer's Market to buy our lettuce and cheese.    

This whole food thing has been eye-opening, and it feels like this is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with real food.  I still eat a lot of things that I shouldn't (and waste a lot of things that I shouldn't), but I'm certainly trying harder than I ever have before.  We are doing our best.  It sounds cliche, but I feel empowered through these changes.  

Although our impact on the world may be small, it is certainly important for me.  

{My favorite "non-meat" meal.  Veggie burgers!}

For Don.

Back in June, Don and I celebrated our 9th Anniversary!  I say this every year, but I seriously can't believe we've been married for that long.  What an accomplishment!  Our marriage has had a lot of ups and downs, and for a while it was mostly downs.  But these days life is wonderful, and I find myself constantly thinking how very, very lucky I am.

A while back, one of my friends posted about her husband on his birthday, and she captioned her photo, "To the guy who makes our world go 'round".  I'm stealing that caption, because it's how I feel about Don.  I can't imagine life without him as my buddy.

He is my friend, my travel companion, my workout partner, my cheerleader, my money guru, and he is the rational voice to my worries.  He challenges me intellectually, he pushes me to work hard, he inspires me spiritually, and his passion for friends, family, and life is exhilarating.

He is a music snob and a talented skier.  He is a cyclist and a runner.  He is fascinating!  He is smart.  He is brave and determined.  He is loyal and humble.  He is funny, and he is a connector of people.  He never gives up.  He is a thoughtful and kind husband, and he is a great dad.

The list goes on.

Thank you for being my foundation, for loving me as I am, and for making my world go 'round.  I can't wait for #10 with you.

Milestones for Auggie

Since coming back from Europe, Auggie has hit a lot of new milestones.  He is officially nine months old and has learned to roll over, do push ups and planks, sit up, crawl, and eat solid foods!  We also introduced him to the great outdoors without the Ergo or stroller, which means he very quickly decided he's into eating pebbles and mud...bleh.

Seriously, where did the time go!?  Cause' this little dude is growing up faaaaast.

{Push ups & planks}

{Sitting up}

Once Auggie could finally sit up on his own, the world got a little bit bigger for him (and for us!).  It's so much easier to take him places now because we don't have to hold him wherever we go.

Also, can we talk about how extremely happy he is to be sitting in that shopping cart?  I love love love how much intensity and passion he has for life!  The world is yours, Auggie!

 {The great outdoors & mud eating}

{Rolling over & crawling}

It's pretty tough to get pictures of him rolling over and crawling.  I can scroll through videos all day, but pictures always turn out blurry when he's moving.  Just another reason for me to learn how to use my nice Sony camera!

So for now, this picture of Auggie living his best lounging-island-life will have to do.

{Solid eater extraordinaire}

We started introducing him to solid foods around four months, but he wasn't interested.  Then suddenly around six months he started to love it!  He's been a believer ever since, and he happily eats whatever we give him.  He doesn't seem to dislike anything, and I'm just crossing my fingers that it stays that way!  I love my little fruit and veggie eater so much.

He loves to gnaw on whole cucumbers, and is it weird that I love to watch him do it?  <3