The debate between organic versus non-organic foods has always been confusing to me. I just found this list online and it was helpful to me so I thought I would post it. It's a list of the top twelve foods that are most important to eat organic. From this website there's also a link to ten foods where eating organic does not make much of a difference.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods
Here's a quick list of the top 12 foods that they say should be eaten organic.
1. peaches
2. apples
3. sweet bell peppers
4. celery
5. nectarines
6. strawberries
7. cherries
8. kale
9. leafy greens
10. grapes
11. carrots
12. pears
* potatoes
* meat
* milk
* coffee
*These foods were also listed on the website, but not part of the "dirty dozen".
Here's the ten foods where they say it doesn't matter if you eat organic or not. I don't know why there are 15 items on their list.
1. sweet potato
2. tomatoes
3. broccoli
4. watermelon
5. papaya
6. eggplant
7. cabbage
8. kiwi
9. sweet peas
10. asparagus
11. mango
12. pineapple
13. sweet corn
14. avocado
15. onion
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Herndon Park
Park Amenities: The playground itself has two play structures, one large and one for the smaller kids. It has some swings for older children, and a sheltered area with picnic tables. This playground is park of a larger complex that has several baseball and soccer fields. It also has a building with restrooms, but these are usually locked, leaving the port-o-potty by the soccer fields as your only option.
What we like: We love this playground on colder days because there are few trees and lots of sun to keep things warm. The bigger play structure is really nice because you can walk right on to the upper level from the sidewalk. That makes it easily accessible for parents. It is also right next to a southern portion of the American Tobacco Trail so you can head out on a walk through the trees when you are done playing. They say that eventually this portion of the trail will join up with larger sections to the north and south, but right now that is a work in progress. There's also lots of room for kids to run because of the nearby soccer and baseball fields.
What we don't like: The lack of trees can also be a disadvantage in the summer time because this park can be pretty hot. In addition, all parks have puddles, but this one has a particularly big one under the picnic tables that appears after it rains and makes the tables somewhat difficult to use. This park also doesn't have any swings for younger kids, it only has ones for the bigger kids.
Directions and Website:
http://events.mync.com/durham-nc/venues/show/953278-herndon-park
(These directions are from mync.com instead of the Durham parks and rec site because this park is in Durham County and outside city limits.)
Photos:
1. View of the whole playground
2. In this picture you can see how the play structure is accessible from the sidewalk with no stairs involved.
3. The large puddle under the picnic tables that every toddler will want to find and jump in.
What we like: We love this playground on colder days because there are few trees and lots of sun to keep things warm. The bigger play structure is really nice because you can walk right on to the upper level from the sidewalk. That makes it easily accessible for parents. It is also right next to a southern portion of the American Tobacco Trail so you can head out on a walk through the trees when you are done playing. They say that eventually this portion of the trail will join up with larger sections to the north and south, but right now that is a work in progress. There's also lots of room for kids to run because of the nearby soccer and baseball fields.
What we don't like: The lack of trees can also be a disadvantage in the summer time because this park can be pretty hot. In addition, all parks have puddles, but this one has a particularly big one under the picnic tables that appears after it rains and makes the tables somewhat difficult to use. This park also doesn't have any swings for younger kids, it only has ones for the bigger kids.
Directions and Website:
http://events.mync.com/durham-nc/venues/show/953278-herndon-park
(These directions are from mync.com instead of the Durham parks and rec site because this park is in Durham County and outside city limits.)
Photos:
1. View of the whole playground
2. In this picture you can see how the play structure is accessible from the sidewalk with no stairs involved.
3. The large puddle under the picnic tables that every toddler will want to find and jump in.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Kindermusik with Catherine
What it is: Kindermusik with Catherine is a branch of the larger Kindermusik franchise. Babies and toddlers take classes with their age group for a summer, spring, or fall session in which they learn music, movement, rhythms, and meet other kids.
What we like: These classes are some of the more affordable in the area, several of our kids have taken classes and have really enjoyed the dancing and music, and Catherine, the teacher, is fabulous! She is caring, energetic, flexible, and laid back and the kids all seem to love her. There are two locations in Durham: Infuzion near 15-501 and Catherine's house in S. Durham. This is also one of the few opportunities for very young babies to be in a class and be exposed to music in this way.
What we would change: Kindermusik is great for most kids, but some toddlers tend to be too active for the dancing and music. The best way to find out whether your child would enjoy it is to contact Catherine and attend a free trial class for yourself.
How to find it: To find out more, go to a trial class, or sign up for a class simply head to Catherine's website or e-mail her. Here's her information:
website:
http://www.kindermusikwithcatherine.com/kindermusik/Welcome.html
e-mail:
kindermusikwithcatherine@yahoo.com, cszuch@nc.rr.com
Sunday, December 20, 2009
S. Durham Moms Meetup Group
This group is a must-join if you're a mom in the S. Durham area, especially if you're new to the area or to being a mother!
How to find it: To join this group or just take a look, head to the website http://www.meetup.com/South-Durham-Moms/. It is one of many groups on the larger site "meetup.com". This site has groups for a wide variety of people all over the country.
What they do: This group doesn't cost anything to join, simply e-mail the coordinator, Anna, who is a fellow mom of a toddler, on the meetup site. Then, you can sign up for any activity on their calendar from your computer. The group simply requests that you try to go to at least one activity a month. There are a wide variety of activities for a wide variety of ages, from playdates at people's houses to trips to the museums or the local coffee house.
What we like: This has been a fabulous way for all of us to meet other moms in the area. In fact, some of us met through going to a meetup activity. People in the group are openly friendly and eager to meet new people and welcome them into their group. The coordinator makes sure to introduce herself at every meetup and is very friendly and conscientious, always making sure that you are enjoying yourself. It's an organization in which you can become as involved as you want and do not feel pressured to do anything.
What we would change: It's easy just to join this group and then sit back and not meet people. You must actually go to the events to meet people, no one will seek you out. But if you go to the activities, you will meet a lot of great moms and kids!
How to find it: To join this group or just take a look, head to the website http://www.meetup.com/South-Durham-Moms/. It is one of many groups on the larger site "meetup.com". This site has groups for a wide variety of people all over the country.
What they do: This group doesn't cost anything to join, simply e-mail the coordinator, Anna, who is a fellow mom of a toddler, on the meetup site. Then, you can sign up for any activity on their calendar from your computer. The group simply requests that you try to go to at least one activity a month. There are a wide variety of activities for a wide variety of ages, from playdates at people's houses to trips to the museums or the local coffee house.
What we like: This has been a fabulous way for all of us to meet other moms in the area. In fact, some of us met through going to a meetup activity. People in the group are openly friendly and eager to meet new people and welcome them into their group. The coordinator makes sure to introduce herself at every meetup and is very friendly and conscientious, always making sure that you are enjoying yourself. It's an organization in which you can become as involved as you want and do not feel pressured to do anything.
What we would change: It's easy just to join this group and then sit back and not meet people. You must actually go to the events to meet people, no one will seek you out. But if you go to the activities, you will meet a lot of great moms and kids!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Cook Rd. Park
Park Amenities: We love this park because it has so much for our young toddlers to do. There are two big play structures, one is more geared for younger kids and one has great tall slides. There is also a basketball court, picnic pavilion, big field, and some swings.
What we like: the large interesting play structures, the actual playground surface is rubber and good for little toddler knees to land on, lots of swings, the basketball court has a low brick wall around it to contain toddlers.
What we don't like: The park is often deserted and set back a LONG way from the parking lot. For this reason, we would hesitate going to this park by ourselves, but it's great with a couple people or small group. The distance to the car also means it takes a long time for a toddler to walk all that way! The area by the swings can also get pretty muddy when it rains, so there are lots of puddles for toddlers to play in.
Directions and Location:
http://www.durhamnc.gov/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?ParkNam=Cook+Road+Park&selVal=park
Photos:
What we like: the large interesting play structures, the actual playground surface is rubber and good for little toddler knees to land on, lots of swings, the basketball court has a low brick wall around it to contain toddlers.
What we don't like: The park is often deserted and set back a LONG way from the parking lot. For this reason, we would hesitate going to this park by ourselves, but it's great with a couple people or small group. The distance to the car also means it takes a long time for a toddler to walk all that way! The area by the swings can also get pretty muddy when it rains, so there are lots of puddles for toddlers to play in.
Directions and Location:
http://www.durhamnc.gov/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?ParkNam=Cook+Road+Park&selVal=park
Photos:
1. Here's a view of both play structures with the bigger one in front.
2. Fenced in basketball court
3. Looking back toward the parking lot from the playground. You can tell how secluded it is, which can be a good thing and a bad thing.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Welcome to our Crazy World
Hi! Welcome to our blog! We are a group of 7 moms with a group of very energetic toddlers all within two months in age and all full of energy. We all come from different points of view but all share the similarities of loving our kids, wanting to give them a rich, full life, and at the same time, wanting to get out and have fun ourselves. Our group of moms includes part-time working moms, stay-at-home moms, and work-at-home moms.
We all met about six months ago when we came to the same playgroup, and ever since then, our group continued to get together. All of our children are full of energy, and we needed ways to keep them occupied, interested, and having fun. We searched together to find all of the playgroups, museums, indoor playspaces, kid-friendly restaurants, and every other kind of interesting place we could take our kids.
Now, we feel like, between us, we have a pretty good collection of information about what to do and where to go with a toddler in Durham. Then, we began to think, wouldn't it have been great if we had had a resource to look to with all of this information. So, this is our goal. We will try to share what we know and welcome you to do the same. We hope we can help and look forward to sharing our adventures!
We all met about six months ago when we came to the same playgroup, and ever since then, our group continued to get together. All of our children are full of energy, and we needed ways to keep them occupied, interested, and having fun. We searched together to find all of the playgroups, museums, indoor playspaces, kid-friendly restaurants, and every other kind of interesting place we could take our kids.
Now, we feel like, between us, we have a pretty good collection of information about what to do and where to go with a toddler in Durham. Then, we began to think, wouldn't it have been great if we had had a resource to look to with all of this information. So, this is our goal. We will try to share what we know and welcome you to do the same. We hope we can help and look forward to sharing our adventures!
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