Dirty Dozen- Consider Organic!

I have started trying to make my home a little greener and healthier for all of us. I have been reading more and more about chemicals in the home and in our food. I don't usually buy organic produce unless I can get a good deal on it, but I am going to start looking for organic items that fit into the "dirty dozen." These are fruits and vegetables that are most contaminated and suggested you buy organic.

12 Most Contaminated
■Peaches
■Apples
■Sweet Bell Peppers
■Celery
■Nectarines
■Strawberries
■Cherries
■Pears
■Grapes (Imported)
■Spinach
■Lettuce
■Potatoes


Also: Here are the items that are the least contaminated. I wouldn't buy organic for these items unless they are cheaper than the regular produce. I would still however, wash them well.

12 Least Contaminated
■Onions
■Avocado
■Sweet Corn (Frozen)
■Pineapples
■Mango
■Asparagus
■Sweet Peas (Frozen)
■Kiwi Fruit
■Bananas
■Cabbage
■Broccoli
■Papaya

Here is a downloadable wallet guide for easy reference!

I hope this information helps answer the question, "What Organic Items Should I Buy?"

*Information gathered with help from Organic.org.

To Clean or Not To Clean...That is the Question!?!

For Valentine's Day, my little Cooper got bathtub crayons...he loves to color and he loves to take baths, so what a better gift! Well, we didn't expect that everyone else in the house would love them as much too! Ever since Valentine's Day, Drew and I have been writing love notes back and forth to each other and Hunter draws pictures and love notes too! It's fun to read Kindergartners handwriting again and figure out the words like I use to for so many years teaching first grade! Anyway, now that the shower is completely filled with love notes and pictures, it breaks my heart that I am going to have to clean the shower this week! We will continue to write love notes and draw pictures, but I wish I could keep all of them! I am going to have to take a picture every week before I clean the shower I guess!

Oh, and Hunter has taken the crayons out of the bathtub and wrote us a note on the toilet and the sink...he knows he can't do that anymore, but it was kinda cute!

And Cooper, well he occasionally uses his crayons, but would much rather just splash in the tub...go figure!