Monthly Archives: January 2012

InspiredMe: 3 Reasons to Turn the T.V. OFF

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Reason #1: T.V. is like a Twinkie. It is fun while you’re eating/watching it, but afterwards you feel like blah…. you know, that “why did I eat that, I feel so sick” feeling. Have you ever experienced this? After watching a show, or shows, you have this flat, drained feeling that lingers for awhile. TV sucks your creative energy right out of you and leaves you with the Twinkie feeling. So don’t eat the Twinkie… turn off the T.V.!

Reason #2: T.V. steals REAL quality moments. I don’t know about you, but there are very few times I can say I’ve felt more bonded with someone after watching a show with them. If you really want to connect with someone, especially your children or spouse, turn off the T.V.

Reason #3: T.V. is addicting. The more you watch, the more you want to watch more. It gets hard to turn off, and believe me, 4 am and three seasons of Smallville later, not only have you officially gotten to know the addicting side of T.V., but you feel like a zombie the next day. (Yes, I know this from experience.) So, wake up and be alive… turn off the T.V.

SO WHAT TO DO?

I’m going to do an experiment. I have decided to go on a three-day TV fast to see how my life is impacted. That means I’m unplugging the TV for three days.That’s right, no TV, no movies, no shows, zippo, zilch, for 72 hours. Can I do it?… absolutely! Anyone else want to do this with me? Are you up for the challenge? Three days. See how your life changes… I’m excited to see how mine does.

InspiredMe: Banana Chocolate Muffins

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Muffin day has arrived once again! And these dainty lumps of goodness are almost on the dessert menu. But since they are technically “muffins”… we can sneak them into our breakfast for the morning. Chocolate for breakfast….Yes, please!

Enjoy.

Healthy facts about BANANAS: High in vitamin B6, potassium and dietary fiber. Great for your nerves, muscles, heart, blood, bowls, and mood. I found this great info here- go check it out!

Banana Chocolate Muffins

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup oil

1 large cage-free egg

1 tsp vanilla

Mix together well, then take the dry ingredients and mix them in a different bowl. Fold into wet ingredients just until moist.

2 cups flour

2 TBSP cocoa (optional, I didn’t use this in the above picture because I like the “banana bread” look better)

1/2 cup organic sugar

1/2 cup chocolate chips (or you can use chunks of candy bars and place in the middle of each muffin before cooking)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

Place into muffin tins, bake at 400 for 12-15 min.

InspiredMe: Mango Chicken Salad with Cilantro Dressing

A Big THANK-YOU to my wonderful sister who passed this recipe along to me… we made this last night with dinner. One word… yummy! The best part is the homemade dressing bursting with fresh vitamin packed cilantro! I have to say, not only is cilantro one of the tastiest herbs and my personal favorite, it is also loaded with good things…

Here’s some great health benefits of cilantro: It is rich in folic-acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-A, beta carotene, vitamin-C, vitamin- K, and quercetin, which is a powerful anti-oxidant.

Here’s the recipe. Enjoy!

Mango Chicken Salad
Organic romaine lettuce (I used mixed greens because it’s what I had on hand)
Jicama, cut into bite size pieces
Organic green onions (just the greens)
Organic cilantro
Cashews or almonds, sliced or crushed
Organic mango (chopped)
Organic cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
Cilantro Dressing
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup  organic olive oil
1/4- 1/3 cup organic brown sugar
1 big handfull of organic cilantro
3 inches of the tops of a bunch of organic green onions
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)
Dash of salt
Puree in blender. Pour over salad. Enjoy!

InspiredMe: DIY Framed Vinyl Wall Art

Four years ago this month my mom and I were shopping in this cute home decor boutique when we came across these framed vinyl lettering gems. We loved it at first sight, and we both had the same brilliant idea that we could make these at home- for a lot cheaper than that pretty little number on the price tag. So we did. Thought I’d share with you how you can make one too. It is super easy. You will love this craft!

Here’s what you’ll need: frame with glass, vinyl wall lettering (you can buy at any craft store), and a mat to go around the frame.

Find a frame that will fit the vinyl lettering measurements. Follow the directions to place the vinyl lettering on the wall, but instead put it on the glass. Fit a mat to go around the glass to frame the words in and to cover the glass hooks. And Ta-Da! It’s that easy… and it looks great! This would make a great valentines gift for your special someone!

InspiredMe: A Time to Be Still

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The sun was shinning this weekend and we decided to take advantage of it and go on a walk along the river by my parents house. There is just a incredible peace that nature brings to your soul. The world slows down and you have a chance to just BREATHE, and just BE. And it made me think, how often do I take the time to be completely in the moment? How often am I just “go go go?” Do I take the time to just BE STILL? Nature has a way of stopping your life and taking you to a quiet place where you can immerse yourself in the HERE and NOW and the enjoyment of being PRESENT. After that walk I’ve decided to make a more dedicated commitment to being still every day…. if it’s for 30 minutes, or three minutes… I want a time to be still. Because today is too short to not live in it, tomorrow will be gone before I know it, and yesterday is so far past… So be present…. and be still.

What are some things that create stillness in your life?

InspiredMe: The ABCs

My two-year old son is in the midst of learning his ABCs… He’s got the song down packed… Right now we are working on the names of the letters. It is just terribly cute when I point to a letter and say, “what letters this?” and 90% of the time he is spot on… He still mixes up the h and the n… We’re working on the tall line and the little line… And every so often the w and m gets mixed up. And p’s and d’s and b’s… Who wrote our language anyway! Seriously! But I have to say, little kids are just the best and man does it make you a proud parent when we drive past Best Buy and I hear my son shout out, “look, mommy… It’s the ABC store!” it must be the big “B’s” in the name that started that one. Too cute I tell ya! So anyway, to the point of this post, it’s got me to thinking about the ABCs that we as adults might not know so well… I’m talking about vitamins. Yes, here are some great things you may or may not know about some really important and powerful ones.

The Amazing Vitamin A
Not only is this great for your eyes and skin, it is also a powerful anti-oxidant… Meaning it is GREAT for a healthy immune system. I always have chewable vitamin A on hand to give my son especially during cold season. This is a great one.

Top foods with Vitamin A: Carrots, Paprika, Red Pepper, Cayenne, Chili Powder, Sweet Potatoes, Dark Leafy Greens, Parsley, Dried Apricots, Cantaloupe

The Brilliant B Vitamins

B vitamins are natures natural energy boosters. I take these every morning to give me a powerful start to my day. Being a mother of two kids means a lot of sleepless nights and busy days. Whether it’s up all night with the baby, or running around with your kids all day, you don’t have a lot of down time. All you moms out there know what I’m talking about. If anyone needs to supplement with this vitamin it is us mommies! Take them…you will thank me.

Also, another great thing about B vitamins… a study done in the documentary “FOOD MATTERS” (amazing movie- watch it!) talked about how Niacin (vitamin B3) can help cure depression as well… very cool.

Top Foods with B Vitamins: Beef, Eggs, sun-dried Tomatoes, Peanuts, Fish, Rice, Wheat, Sunflower seeds, Avocados

The Conquering Vitamin C

Everyone knows the incredible immune support and anti-oxidant this great vitamin gives you, but did you also know that it is thought to lower cancer risks? So stock up on these great foods, especially during cold season!

Top Foods with Vitamin C: Red and Green Hot Chili Peppers, Guavas, Bell peppers, Thyme and Parsley, Broccoli, Papayas, Oranges, Tangerines, Clementines, Strawberries

The Down Right Amazing Vitamin D!

Okay, all you awesome people out there- listen up… this might just be one of the most important vitamins you should be taking right now! Why? Well, unless you are living in Costa Rica or someplace warm soaking up some healthy sun rays by the pool, then you are probably deficient in this important vitamin.

Experts has found that nearly 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin d. That’s a lot. Being deficient not only increases your chances of getting the common cold or flu, but over 2000 of your bodies genes are regulated by this guy. That means for your body to function optimally and correctly, you need to have sufficient vitamin D!

Also, deficiency in vitamin D is being linked to cause depression, heart disease, pregnancy problems, birth defects, skin and other cancers, and multiple sclerosis. And it can brighten up your mood too, helping with your overall feeling of well-being.

So, until you’re spending your days basking in the summer sunlight, get on some vitamin D3 supplements… about 3000-5000 iu/day for adults. And possibly more if you’re pregnant. It might just bring some sunshine to those cold winter days!

Foods High in Vitamin D: Shiitake and Button mushrooms, Sockeye Salmon, Herring, Tuna, Sardines, Eggs, SUNSHINE!

Now I know my ABCs… next time won’t you sing with me!


InspiredMe: The Perfect Chewy Cookie

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If any of you wives have husbands like mine than you will LOVE this recipe. My hubby doesn’t have a big sweet tooth, (unlike me who will eat anything as long as there is chocolate in the name!) So, it has to taste really good for him to want to eat it. And so when I say these are one of his favorite cookies, then you know they are down right good. We made these over the weekend… one of my favorite things to do on weekends, by the way. And I made so many we are taking a plate over to our neighbors tonight- thought we might share in the splendor of these little morsels! So, have at it all you lovers of cookies out there… this one is for you!

Recipe from Allrecipes.com, you can find it here. Or just look below…

Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats, walnuts, and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.
  3. Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. Makes about 3 dozen cookies

InspiredMe: Strawberries and Cream

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Muffins just start the day out right, and making them with my two year old this morning just makes it all the better! These are one of my favorites! I got this recipe from my mom while she was traveling the globe… this time it was while they were living in Samoa. One of her neighbors gave her the recipe… so… thanks for going to Samoa Mom and shout out to your wonderful neighbor! They are SCRUMPTIOUS! I paired the muffin with some tangy lemon cream cheese spread. Enjoy!

Strawberries and Cream Muffins

1 cup pureed strawberries

1 large egg

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup oil

1/2 tsp. salt

Thoroughly mix together, then put all dry ingredients into another bowl and mix, then fold into wet ingredients JUST UNTIL MOIST.

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cups sugar

Scoop batter into muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 mins.

Lemon Cream Cheese Spread

1/2 cup cream cheese

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

3 TBSP powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients together and use in place of butter.

And just a little tip for today… and to make these more HEALTHY… you can use Organic Sugar- unrefined, pure and much tastier than the white processed stuff.

You can buy this at Costco... another reason I love that store!

InspiredMe: Liquid Happiness

Yes, you read right- LIQUID HAPPINESS! Want to know more? Ok, so here’s the scoop… there is a wonderful oil that can actually help depression, boost your mood, fight disease and a lot of other awesome things. Here it is in all its GLORY! Oh man, this makes me so happy!

The beautiful Omega 3s!

Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain development and function… and a deficiency can often contribute to depression… and listen up all you pregnant woman out there… a woman deficient in this has a higher chance of experiencing postpartum depression… Not so good! So all woman (and men)… old and young, mothers or future mothers, stock up on your Omega 3s! Your brain and body will thank you.

Here’s some more wonderful things Omega 3s help with:

Reduces risk of heart disease

It’s a great anti-inflammatory which helps with muscle pains, arthritis, joint pain, etc.

Reduces risk of brain disorders

Helps with auto immune diseases

Reduces risk of cancer

And it is really good for your skin… it’ll make it all soft and radiant looking!

Yep, that makes me happy!

So where to get Omega 3s? Supplementing with Flax oil and Fish oil are the best sources. And if you’re going to choose between the two, choose fish oil because the body can break it down and use it faster. But, BEWARE- not all fish oils are created equal! No they are not. So, make sure you get a HIGH QUALITY, ultra purified one that removes the mercury content. Ask the person at your local health food store for a good brand. With flax oil you don’t need to worry so much about brand. Most will be just fine, just note that it does take the body longer to break down and get all those good Omega 3s! So my advice is do both! I take 4 fish oil capsules daily and I occasionally cook with flax oil and flax meal.

InspiredMe: Potato and Ham Garden Soup

I enjoy making this soup when it’s cold outside and I am always looking for easy ways to add veggies to my meals. Here is a great recipe I came up with while making an old-time family favorite. And the best part is you can “SNEAK” in all these veggies by putting them in a food processor so your kiddos won’t even know it’s there! It has all the comfort taste as the regular version, but all the “hidden” veggies make it healthy and delicious!

Potato and Ham Garden Soup

1 1/2 lbs fully cooked all natural uncured boneless ham, skin removed and cut into bite-size pieces

4-5 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cups baby spinach, food processed or roughly chopped

1/3 cup green peas

1 medium zucchini, chopped or food processed

1 TBSP butter

salt to taste

water

Saute the onion in the butter until soft. Fill a large pot 1/3 full with water on medium high. Add salt, potatoes, onions, and ham. Bring water to a boil and boil for about 10 min or until potatoes are done. Meanwhile, put the spinach and zucchini in a food processor and roughly chop or chop them by hand. Once potatoes are done, add peas, spinach and zucchini. Mix and let boil for another 2 min. Add more salt if needed. Serves 4-6. You can serve this with warm french bread for dipping. YUM!

Enjoy!