We’ve been super-busy and I am extra-tired lately, so here are some extremely short versions of the posts I have been writing in my head:

This is a great resource on how women’s “power of the purse” can be used to help contribute to a healthier, more sustainable way of life. And in many cases, it actually saves money to do it that way! MacEachern very helpfully lists some top “bang for your buck” suggestions in each chapter of the book, so that if a reader wants to test a few simple changes, figuring out some options is easy.

We read this as part of the local Smith Club Book Club this month, and most of the other women at the meeting agreed. The top changes people are considering after reading are joining a CSA and switching cleaning products.

Full disclosure: I did score a review copy of this book, but this review was not otherwise compensated.

  • Noah seems to have contracted Fifth Disease. It appears to be not serious, at least for him. I’m hoping that my utter lack of symptoms means that I, like most adults, had it as a child and am now immune. Because naturally it is dangerous only to people with compromised immune system and fetuses. And for some reason, my midwives haven’t returned my phone call about it.
  • No bug sightings since Saturday!
  • I am officially out of 90% of non-maternity clothes. I freaked out last week because I hadn’t gained any weight in 2 weeks, and I’m in prime weight-gain time for pregnancy, the second trimester. But don’t worry, I made up for it and am up 2 lbs since my freakout last Tuesday. Happily, I am still not on track to match last pregnancy’s 50 lb weight gain.
  • I joined a food swap. About a dozen other toddler moms and I are each making a bunch of sets of felt food items, and then doing a massive exchange, so our kids get a variety of safe pretend food. I’m making fried eggs — I did the first one last night, while watching election returns, and it turned out adorable!Considering that his cooking toys currently rank 3rd behind trains and cars, I think Noah will like the bounty due to arrive in early June.
  • I’ve been falling off the fruit & veg/healthy eating wagon lately. So I’m re-instating my daily fruit & veg reports here. Fruit & Veg Count, 4/22: Big fat nada, unless you count the amount of strawberries in a cup of strawberry yogurt. I’m going to go eat a banana.