Simple shopping....

Simple shopping...hmmm....sometimes the two don't quite go together! In my efforts to simplify our meals, our health and our budget...I'm trying to eliminate some supplements that we are taking....and get more and more of our nutrition from food. I have tons of books, and usually pick and choose and glean from all of them, but one that has made the most sense to me is 'Nourishing Traditions' by Sally Fallon. I've always made our own homemade broth...and when I found out how very nourishing homemade bone broths are, I rejoiced! (I'll be doing another NT post soon)

So...today, since Ron was off, a friend and I set off to do some healthy shopping as inexpensively as we could. We headed to Trader Joe's. (with a quick stop at a yarn store...I can never pass them up!) Trader Joe's (for those of you who have never been) is a really cool grocery with everything their own brand....most organic, or at least simple ingredients. I love this store! Shopping with Amy was so much fun,too, as we have never had the chance to visit....so we talked all day! Most of what I get at Trader Joe's are things that I cannot get anywhere else...or I can't get them for that low price. I stocked up on lots of Gluten Free pasta, GF spagetti, Thai rice stick noodles, tuscano sauce, green tomatillo salsa (my very, very favorite!)...cashew butter for Meghan, and some gluten free waffles.

After that, we headed to the Strip District to a restaraunt supply store, then an oriental market for more gluten free supplies. 85 cents for tapioca starch! I loaded up! Picked up my husband some of his favorite Mancini's bread as a treat and headed home. Shopping with a friend is always more fun than shopping alone!

Ron is picking up our natural foods co-op order now. I've found for us, that ordering all of my dry beans and grains in bulk really saves us money...and with a pressure cooker, they cook up quickly. I also grind a lot of beans on a coarse grind, keep them in the freezer and cook them up quickly with some boiling water and spices for instant refried beans. Now we have to rearrange the pantry, and we're done for another month. I love "shopping" from my pantry and seeing how creative I can get to plan my menus as healthy as possible with what I have.

Now I'm off to finish dinner. The girls have a couple friends here now who will be joining us for dinner and a few more coming over in a little while for another movie night....complete with homemade lattes and popcorn again! I love having their friends here! They are welcome here anytime....and I have fun with them,too! I'm sure the girls will be posting their fun time tonight soon! Blessings! ~Sue~

Happy Birthday, Ella!!

It is my dear friend Ella's nineteenth birthday today! We spent over an hour on the phone last night and I plan to call her later today to sing Happy Birthday to her. :) It's little tradition we have in our family. :)

Ella is truly a wonderful friend. Though we haven't known each other very long, it seems to me that I've known her forever! She has a wonderful gift of encouargement and her voice always rings with joy-over the phone and through her e-mails. I thank the Lord for Ella!!

We've discovered that we have A LOT in common.....to say the least. :) We're both old movie nuts, old-fashioned, love books and writing. :) But our common bond is not our passion for old movies and Frank Sinatra (who is crooning right now on the CD player) but the Lord. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful friend in Ella and has blessed our friendship so much!

My dear friend, I wish you a wonderful birthday and to let you know that, "I thank the Lord upon each rememberance of you." Phillipians 1:3.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!