2015 Christmas in the Country Gift Reveal

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After keeping quiet for several weeks, I can finally reveal my Christmas in the Country swap partner!  I received a box of goodies from Miss Amanda of The Good Stuff.

Amanda is currently working in DC and utilizing her degree in Ag Communication that she received from Kansas State University.  #EMAW, isn't that y'all's hashtag?  I see it all over my social media sites because I'm friends with a host of alumni.  And the school's primary color is purple.  I can dig it!

In addition to being professionals (haha!) in the agriculture community, we share an affinity for turquoise, mason jars and wine!  What I need her to teach me... How do you create and rock that messy hair look?!  Amanda has also inspired me to get my butt in gear and create/post my 101 in 1001 that I talked about way back when...

To my swap partner I sent some cute measuring spoons and rubber spatulas from Crate and Barrel; along with a pad of notepaper.  She creates recipes and I thought that she'd be able to put those three things to good use.  In addition to the kitchen inspired goodies, I sent her a snowman figurine/photo display and some loose leaf tea.  The tea, oh the tea... What a calamity!  Unbeknownst to me, Miss Haddie got into the box of goodies I was sending and it was only after talking with some of the co-hosts did I realize that someone covered up Haddie's indiscretions.  Long story short, the tea was undrinkable.  Talk about a huge embarrassment, I felt terrible!  The best laid plans.

Okay, back to task at hand here's the scoop on the gifts Amanda sent!

First off... those caramels.  Y'all they have rum IN THEM!  Hello, delicious.  I'm also totally stoked about the glass nail file and the fact that it has a case to keep it in!  I can't tell you how many pairs of sunglasses I've ruined because they get scratched up in my purse.  And the notepad, I'm a list maker from way back and this is perfect!  Amanda also sent some really cute bev naps and a deck of wine cards that help you pair wine with your favorite foods.  Sold.  The four little jars?  They're spice containers!  They remind me of the ones my grandparents kept on their kitchen table when I was a little girl.  I love them!

Amanda did a bang up job and I hope that one day our paths cross!  The agricultural community is pretty small and I'd be willing to bet there's a good chance that us meeting IRL might truly happen!

I want to thank all the hosts (Laurie, Jamie, Kirby and Lara) of this year's Christmas in the Country swap for organizing such an undertaking!  Thanks for dreaming up this event that connects like-minded gals, that hopefully lead to great friendships despite the many miles that can separate us!

Make This: Pumpkin Protein Bites

During the fall, my work calendar is full of classroom presentations about pumpkins.  The best part of scheduling pumpkin presentations is making Pumpkin Patch Pie with the kids!  I find it funny to hear the chorus of "Ewws!" before they actually get to eat their snack, because almost every kiddo is asking for seconds when we're done!

Fun Fact: Illinois farmers grow more pumpkins than anyone else in the world!  

While I do enjoy Pumpkin Patch Pie, I was inspired by With Salt and Wit's recipe to make something a little more healthy.  These tasty nuggets of awesomeness are great for a mid-morning snack and also curb any cravings for sweets after supper! 

Pumpkin Protein Bites
Adapted from With Salt and Wit
Makes 18

Ingredients:
1/4 cup cashews
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup canned pumpkin
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 cup Smucker's Reduced Fat Natural Creamy peanut butter or your preferred PB
1 package Advocare Vanilla MRS or approximately 60 grams of vanilla protein powder
2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions:
1.  Combine cashews and oats in a food processor or blender until they are a fine powder.
2.  Mix the pumpkin, maple syrup and peanut butter in a medium bowl until combined.
3.  Add the cashew/oat flour, MRS, ground flax seeds, chia seeds and pumpkin pie spice to the pumpkin mixture.  Stir with spoon to combine.  Note: You may need to get in there with your hands to really mix it well.
4.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
5.  Remove approximately one tablespoon of the 'dough' and form a bite sized ball between your palms.
6.  Eat those bad boys!

Store in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for later.

Are you pumpkin'd out yet this fall?

Hiatus

Three and a half months.

That's how long I've been on a hiatus from blogging.  It's not that I've not thought about logging in to post a life update or something witty!  I just haven't.  Blogging isn't the only thing I haven't done.  The magazines I haven't read and the books I haven't finished are keeping it company!  So what have I been up to?  Well here you go...

Joined a gym.  For several years, I worked out at home doing DVDs, interval circuits and weight training. I'd reached a point in my fitness that I needed to either purchase heavier weights/additional equipment or I could give the gym a try. I chose the gym and hoped I liked it. I don't like it, I LOVE it! Workouts individually prescribed for me coupled with Advocare products and good food (and the occasional treat!) have yielded some results that I'm proud to show!

Blew out 31 birthday candles.  My friends and family spoiled me!  From handles of margaritas and wine to a gorgeous Kate Spade scarf and pretty accessories.

Listened to lots of live music!  Frankie Ballard, Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Sam Hunt, Craig Morgan and the wicked amazing, Kacey Musgraves.

Hung out with Meghan King Edmonds at a charity polo match.  Okay, so technically, we were just at the same match.  She was in the super exclusive VIP tent and I... was not.

Get really into vintage vinyl.  So far my collection is full of classic country singers:  Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell, Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker.  You get the picture.  The kicker... I don't have a record player to actually play them!  I've got my eye on this one though.

Agvocating.  Over the last several months, I've helped to educate more than 2000 students and their teachers about a variety of agricultural topics through classroom visits, field trips and speaking engagements!  

Celebrated five years of being married to my guy.  In my head I know it's been that long, but wowzers the days really do just fly by!

Registered for AgChat National Conference.  AgChat is a grassroots agvocacy group that strives to connect those of us in the agricultural community using social media and training to engage with consumers who want to know more about how the food they eat was raised and grown.  I'm ridiculously excited to connect with everyone involved!   

Trucked all over Illinois to show Louie.  Our show season kicked off in April and we finished up about a month ago.  Showing horses is equally exciting and exasperating.  You might be on the High Point one weekend and forget your showmanship pattern the next.  Yes, both of those happened this year.  This season did end on a high note; Louie and I locked up the third place slot in the Novice Amateur All Around race and we were Reserve Champion in the NovAm Hunter Under Saddle class!  

 Blog friends, near and far, forgive me for my hiatus.

What have you been up to these days?  

There's no doubt I've missed a lot with you also!

Swappers Gonna Swap

Last month when Crystal announced another round of her Beauty Swap, I totally forgot to sign up and then went into panic mode thinking I was too late!  Thankfully when I remembered there was still a few days to get signed up.

I don't know if it was because Ashley and I both signed up late or what, but I got another GREAT swap partner this time around!  Crystal literally works some serious skills matching us all up!

Ashley lives and works on a dairy farm in Michigan and has a flare for home renovation, agvocating as a FarmHer and enjoys good country music!  We've even talked about actually converging on Chicago at some point to meet up and enjoy some good food and libations!!  Keeping my fingers crossed that we can pull that off.

Okay, so back to the Beauty Swap!  Ashley and I sent countless emails discussing what sort of make-up/skin care items we use on a daily basis and then went from there.  I had told her that I was needing a good bronzer and wanted to add to my lipstick collection.  For Ashley I was on the hunt for some exciting skin care products, since she works on the farm everyday she mentioned wanting some things along that line instead of make-up make-up.  You can check out Ashley's post to see what I sent and her thoughts on each item!

As for me... Ashley sent me some really rad goodies that I'm pretty much in love with!

The Kat Von D lipstick (Lovecraft) is literally like butter on my lips!  It's like the perfect no color, color!  I'm certain Ashley selected Lovecraft for me because I had told her that I prefer to accentuate my eyes when I do a 'full face'.  She totally nailed this item.  The sample of shower oil went right into my shower and is fantastic.  I also received a sample of First Aid Beauty (FAB) face cleanser.  While I haven't used this one yet, the five star reviews are plentiful!  Ashley had previous reviewed the L'Oreal Paris Pro-Last lipstick on her blog and I was so excited to see she'd included it in my box of goodies!  I used this lipstick over weekend and it literally lasted ALL day... just like she said it would!  The UD Naked Flushed palette which features a bronzer, highlight and blush is on point!  This little ditty has definitely gotten the most use out of everything Ashley sent.  And you can't forget the Lindor egg truffles!  They're chilling in the freezer for a rainy day!!!

I'll leave you today with a picture of the handsome pony and myself this past weekend at our horse show!  We're all clear I like love the color purple, right?!?!

Five Faves

To round out National Ag Week, I wanted to highlight five of my personal favorite agricultural products and link up with some of my favorite Friday characters!

ONE
Wine, sweet wine!  Actually I'm a dry wine kinda girl, but "wine, sweet wine" rolls off the tongue a little easier.  Anywho.  Without vitaculture, which is the science, production and study of grapes wines aren't nearly as tasty!  Wineries are becoming one of the largest and most visited Agri-Tourism locations here in Illinois.  All you wine drinkers out there, remember to #thankafarmer!

 TWO
Meat eater's unite.  Having grown up on a farm that raised cattle to put food on our table, as well as others in our community, I know first hand the respect that farmers have for the animals they care for and raise.  It's a luxury that I'm able to go to our freezer and pick out a package of steaks or a pound of hamburger and have no concerns about what we're eating for supper that night.  Don't forget to #thankafarmer the next time you're standing at the meat counter or grabbing a quick burger at your local pub and grub!

 THREE
If you're not aware of my obsession with all things 'fall', you can bring yourself up to speed with a few past posts (here, here, here).  It's true!  From harvest to bonfires and everything in between I'm a fan, pumpkins and gourds are some of may favorite ways to decorate our house!  But someone is growing and tending all the mums, gourds and pumpkins that adorn my house each year... #thankafarmer

FOUR
Who remembers their first sip of beer?  Where you a little kiddo sitting next to grandpa on the swing on a warm July day or maybe it was a stealthy swig at your first college house party?  Mine was somewhere in between.  I've wised up since college and prefer (and can easily afford) "good" beer.  Matt and I both enjoy a good round of craft beer, but without barley, hops and wheat we'd be sunk.  Beer drinkers, #thankafarmer before your next swig!

FIVE
From my head down to my legs, I love eggs!  Just about anyway you can eat 'em... over-easy, hard-boiled, poached, I love 'em.  When I can get them from the 4-Her down the road, farm-fresh are my go-to and I buy them from her two dozen at a time.  Although I've broached the idea of getting our own chickens, to which I was shot down... I support and always #thankafarmer for my eggs whether they come from the store or just down the road.

What are some of your favorite agricultural products?

Linking up with Five on Friday, Friday Favorites and Oh, Hey Friday!

Celebrating National Ag Day

As part of National Ag Week, I'm doing radio and television spots in our local media to spread the message about how our lives are impacted daily by agriculture.  This morning I'm appearing on an hour long program to talk about National Ag Day, which is TODAY, the Ag in the Classroom program and also how farmers are gearing up for the Spring planting season. 

These media bits are just a small part of the deal though!  Last week I worked with our local community college to get fun, fact-based information printed and distributed to each 3rd grade teacher and administrator in our county.

In addition to the flyer, they also received some really cool AgMags that tell about all different aspects of agriculture and commodities (pumpkins, soybeans, dairy, soil, energy, etc.) that are kid-friendly and can be used in classrooms to teach math, science and language arts!

Crazy for Corn

Let's pretend you and I are driving down a straight, flat country road in rural Illinois.  The windows are down and we've got the radio up.  On both sides of the road there is something tall and green growing in the fields.

You ask "Is that the corn you eat off the cob? Or is it best popped and covered in butter?"

A smile slowly crosses my face and I turn to you and say "Neither."

The majority of corn that you would see in my next of the woods is called Field Corn.  This type of corn is used to feed animals and make products like sandpaper, medicine and ethanol.  

Source

Four other common types of corn would be:

Indian Corn which is primarily used for crafting and decorating.  The dried kernels can also be ground up to make corn meal.

Source

Broom Corn is a type of sorghum use for making brooms and whiskbrooms.

Source

Popcorn, delicious popcorn.  The tiny droplet of water inside of a popcorn kernel is heated and when the pressure finally reaches a breaking point it POPS!  When it does pop, the kernel actually turns itself inside out and we have ourselves a tasty treat.

Source

Sweet Corn is known for it's high sugar content and is enjoyed all summer long from farmer's markets, road-side stands or right out of the garden!

Source

Just a few "corny" facts before you go...

Illinois farmers rank 2nd in the country for corn production!
More than 95% of all corn grown in the US is grown on family farms.
Over 12,000,000 acres of field corn is planted each year in Illinois and produces approximately 2 billion bushels.
One bushel of corn weighs 56 pounds.

Sources:

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom

Illinois Farm Bureau

National Ag Week

Listen up y'all!

National Ag Day will be celebrated this year on Wednesday, March 18.  How many of you are asking: Why does this affect me?

Here's the scoop...

As Americans, it's important for us to know the value that agriculture has in our daily lives.  In celebrating agriculture (everyday, not just on National Ag Day), I hope you are increasing your knowledge of ag and how it pertains to nutrition and where your food comes from. 

You will also learn about the wide range of careers that are involved in agriculture!  These careers aren't just 'farmers' either.  Maybe all you've seen of a farming and ag was introduced to you by this season of The Bachelor, but even Chris Soules works with a seed salesman, an agronomist, implement dealer, banker, accountant and you can't forget a veterinarian and nutritionist for all those hogs they raise!  I'll let you in on a little secret... careers in agriculture are plentiful, just like the crops farmers raise!


Hopefully, you're aware that the food we eat and the fibers we wear don't just happen!  There are farmers and ranchers who are growing these products, whether they be grains or animals, and thereby providing us with a safe food supply and great options for cute clothes. 

And hello!  Who doesn't want cute clothes?!  

Last year I wrote about where your food comes from, how you'd be hungry and naked without agriculture and one misperception that drives me batty!  If you're new here, you should check them out too! 


I rely on agriculture on a daily basis whether it be the beef in my freezer or the 100% cotton (more on this later in the week) cardigan I've got on today!  If you think about it, even for a minute, you do too! 

Ag Chat: GMO Myth Busters

 

Today's Ag Chat is all about busting some common myths about genetically modified organisms or GMOs.  GMOs are a hot topic for consumers and agricultural producers, but I think it's important to share some fact based information with you!  No psuedo-science here.  I hope that you take a kernel (a GMO kernel to be specific!) of this info and share it with someone.

It's important that I pass along information about GMO's to each of you, but it's probably even more important for you to hear from America's farmers about why they make the choice to plant GMO crops!

The video below was created by CommonGround, an organization of farm women who want to help educate consumers about the food they're buying.  In the video, you'll hear one Minnesota farmer's perspective on why she chooses to plant GMOs on her family farm. 

Okay, time for some myth busting...  Read the statements below and then scroll to the bottom to find out if they're a myth or fact!

Q1.  A GMO is an organism that has had it's genetic material changed to exhibit a particular trait.
Q2.  There are more than 100 GMO crops available today for farmers to plant.
Q3.  Gluten allergies are caused by GMOs.
Q4.  Agriculture companies, like Monsanto, are forcing farmers to plant GMOs.
Q5.  GMOs allow farmers to use fewer chemicals, like pesticides and herbicides, on their crops.
Q6.  Crops grown from genetically modified seeds are studied extensively to make sure they're not dangerous for humans, animals and the environment.
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Q1.  A GMO is an organism that has had it's genetic material changed to exhibit a particular trait.
A1.  Truth!

Q2.  There are more than 100 GMO crops available today for farmers to plant.
A2.  Myth!  Actually, there are only EIGHT GMO on today's market.

                             

Q3.  Gluten allergies are caused by GMOs.
A3.  Myth!  Gluten is only found in products that contain wheat, barley or rye.  None of which have a GM version.

Q4.  Agriculture companies, like Monsanto, are forcing farmers to plant GMOs.
A4.  Myth!  To help reiterate this point, I want to share with you a quote from a personal friend and Illinois farmer... 

"I disagree, the market dictates what we plant.  As a farmer, we look for the best way to utilize every acre of ground to bring to market a premium product with a high net per acre all while being good stewards of the ground and environment for years to come."

Q5.  GMOs allow farmers to use fewer chemicals, like pesticides and herbicides, on their crops.

A5.  Truth!  Some GMOs have genetic traits that make them resistant to insects or diseases.  By creating that resistance, the pesticide or herbicide that would typically get rid of that insect or disease is no longer needed.  This saves farmers time and money, while reducing their impact on the environment!  

Q6.  Crops grown from genetically modified seeds are studied extensively to make sure they're not dangerous for humans, animals and the environment.
A6.  Truth!  On average, it takes approximately $135 million dollars and 13 years to bring a new GM product to market.  Why?  Because not only does the United States Department of Agriculture review them, but so does the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. 

For additional sources of information on GMOs, agriculture and farming practices, I urge you to check out these sources:

A Farm Kid's Guide to Agriculture

Ask the Farmers

Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food

CommonGround

Corn Corps

GMO Answers

Monsanto

U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance