How I Spend my Days or I'm Spent in a Daze

Please tell me I'm not the only one who sometimes feels plainly, spent.  Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade  one thing.  except for a cook and live in maid.   After a week of chasing after babies, laundry, cleaning up after everyone just to get dirty again to clean up again,  blah blah blah you know how it goes.

 How I Spend my Day (grandma this one's for you)

I guess I'm pretty lucky afterall

A Clean Feeling

We all suffer from at least one ailment. Whether it be a cold, restless nights, anxiety or frequent fatigue (that's me lately).  Most likely if you were to go to a doctor for one of these they would most likely prescribe pills.  Although this might help short term it's really not addressing the root of the problem.   TOXIC BUILDUP. Toxic buildup comes from the food we eat, our chemical -filled environments,  and just going about our daily lives.  I highly recommend reading Clean by Dr. Junger.  It gives some great information on re-examining our health care, tips on doing a cleanse, what foods to eat and what foods to eliminate. It can be a bit overwhelming, but for starters here are some tips we should all incorporate into our daily lives:

• REMOVE from your diet packaged and processed foods 
• Instead of sugar or splenda try Agave Nectar to sweeten drinks or food.
• Become conscious of the amount of unnecessary info that may be in your life. Reduce whatever is superflous
• Exercise daily and commit to a regular routine. (even if it's just getting outside for a brisk walk)

After reading Clean and several other books like it I truly have become a believer that healthy food = good medicine.  The food we put into our bodies can either put us into a good mood with tons of energy and clear thinking or make us want to take a nap and get moody.  

Resolution

I do like to set some goals for myself every year and it's fun to  look back at the end of the year to see if I've  accomplished any of them.  One of my goals for 2010 was to read 1 book per month. I already finished my first book for January.  A Million Miles in a thousand Years by Donald Miller.

The first part of the book is a little  slow, but  quite entertaining.  As I finished the last few chapters I kept telling my husband "this is my favorite book" this book is awesome" so on and so forth.

Are you living a great story? If people went to watch a movie of your life would they walk out of the theater and ask for their money back or would they leave the movie inspired??

Try this Recipe

Goop is an online newsletter by actress Gwen Paltrow. I am a fan. Goop has had some fantastic articles from detox tips to tons of healthy and delicious recipes. I can't wait to try this one.  I love Vietnamese food.

Vietnamese Salad 

Serves: 4 

Time: 15 minutes 

Toss the bok choy, cabbage, watercress, carrot, herbs, cucumber, chili
 and 1/4 cup of the peanuts together with enough dressing to 

coat.  Serve sprinkled with the remaining peanuts 

4 large bok choy leaves, rough bottoms discarded, 

stems cut into 1/4” bias and leaves shredded 

4 big leaves Napa cabbage, shredded 

1 bunch watercress (discard thick stems), roughly chopped 

1 large carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks 

the leaves from about 8 stems each basil, mint, cilantro, roughly chopped 

1/2 small cucumber, thinly sliced on the bias 

1 red Thai chili (or more…or less), thinly sliced 

1/2 cup roasted, salted peanuts, roughly chopped 

Vietnamese Dressing (see recipe below) 

grilled fish, shrimp, tuna, chicken, or tofu for serving (optional) 

Vietnamese Dressing 

Serves: 4 

Time: 5 minutes 

Mix everything together. 

1/4 cup fresh lime juice 

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 

2 teaspoons soy sauce 

1/4 cup fish sauce 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sesame oil 

2 tablespoons agave nectar 

1 teaspoon minced garlic 

1 teaspoon minced ginger 

2 tablespoons finely diced red onion or shallot 

My Heart Hurts

It has been over a week now since the devastating Earthquake hit Haiti. So many lives were lost and from the images I have seen it seems like HELL on EARTH. I want to help someway somehow. You can always donate money, goods or clothes, but just make sure you research the organization you are donating to.  My family is involved with Compassion International and I feel like they are a great organization to give to.

4Kids of South Florida is another ministry that we believe in and support.  You can go to their website and check out what they are all about.  My family is praying about taking in a young girl or boy from Haiti through 4kids Safe Families program.

We are to imitate GOD in caring for those who have less than we do.  "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me into your home." (Matthew 25:35)

Posterbrain

I just love when friends of mine ask me about these pictures of my girls. Usually they want to know the photographer and of course I jump at the chance to give myself some props "I did it".  But really I can't take all the credit. I wanted to enlarge the photos so I looked for a company online and found  Posterbrain.  I can't say enough about the EXCELLENT customer service I received. Not only did I get my order back quickly, but they followed up with the sweetest email thanking me for their business.  I will use you again Posterbrain. May more businesses follow your customer service etiquette.

For the frames I simply used some old frames and spray painted them with a high gloss black spray.  Then sent them off to the framer.  

Chalkboard Paint from Hudson Paint

Little by little my house is becoming more child-friendly  fun for my children. I found this and thought it would be neat to paint a door or wall in my home for my kiddies to draw on. Check it out. It is chalkboard paint from Hudson Paint and comes in several different  colors.  I have been wanting to add a little pop of color to my laundry room and decided to give it a try.  This is Bakery Green.

What do you think?? I really like it. Now I have to get some white chalk.

Daydreamer

Some images I found by one of favorite Architects, Christian Rice.  I love this man's work!!!

The Perfect Snack

If you are looking for a healthy post workout snack for yourself and for the kiddies, look no further this is not only healthy but Delicious!!!  And you can't even taste the spinach...that's right SPINACH

A Purple and GREEN Smoothie Recipe


1 handful of ice cubes
2 cups rice milk (almond or organic milk is fine)
1 banana
2 cups frozen blueberries
2 heaping scoops of vanilla flavored soy protein powder (whole foods 365 brand)
1 cup of spinach
1/2 Cup Water
Blend Well in a Blender

Just Getting Started

As one of my 2010 Goal's I decided to document my days. As a young mother of two precious baby girls I figured starting a blog would remind me to take pictures of them and record our daily adventures.

The 2 3 reasons for starting a blog.