Own it Baby

We are conditioned to want to hide any so-called imperfections. We work so hard to fix things that we believe make us inferior to others. We spend so much time worrying about what other are thinking of us. So much wasted time.

We think that by fixing or hiding these imperfections, we can “get approval” from others and that will somehow mean that we are alright. Worthy. How silly. How sad.

What we really need to be doing is simply accepeting ourselves. As we are right now.

And while there is nothing wrong with working toward an ideal or wanting to improve upon ourselves, it needs to be for the right reasons.

Just own it. Be your wonderful self. As you are today. Start there.

When You Don't Have Time (isn't that always?)

Hello everyone!

It seems like Palm Springs was a month away! Sadly, it was only 10 days ago that we left. How does this happen? It's been a busy time, catching up on extra cuddles from my daughter; sifting through the work that was left piled on my desk; and getting the house back to it's regular state - free of anything that had to do with lying in the sun (emptying suitcases and doing laundry). Booooooo!

This wasn't a week that I had time to do a homemade pizza crust...so for dinner one night, I did what I do when I want pizza quick, but don't want to order a greasy one and also want a little extra taste that almost always seems to be missing from the frozen storebought ones: I dress it up.

This time I tried a "margherita" pizza from Buitoni. You can see the before photo here:

I then proceeded to "dress it" with extra pizza sauce (loaded with good tomatoes), lots of spinach and a tiny bit of extra shredded parm cheese.

Result: Delicious. In the past,  have generally used whatever I have had in the fridge for leftover veggies to dress up boring pizza's. It's an easy shortcut on the nights that you need a quick fix. I also have to say that I really enjoyed the crust on this new pizza - it was crispy and quite good for frozen.

Try it tonight!!

The Only Bad Thing About Vacation...

Is of course the blast back to reality as soon as you return.

It's been a busy time over here. I'll check back in soon!

Hope everyone is well!

xo

Sunny California

Hello everyone! I'm writing you from Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs) in beautiful California. The resort we are staying at was the resort we stayed at 4 years ago, around this time, when we suspected that I was pregnant. Turns out I was. Luckily, my body didn't agree too much with alcohol that trip and for good reason. (Even though the two pregnancy tests I tried here said I wasn't).

This trip we decided to leave our little girl at home with her grandma. We are only gone for 5 days and wanted to check out some of the great tennis in Indian Wells this weekend. It only made sense to leave her. I was settled into the couch, well into the first few chapters of the "Hunger Games" and the cell phone rang: Grandma calling us. Can't be good. Turns out our little girl had a fever and wasn't feeling well. Of course. On day one of our vacation. By day two she was better-ish and on day three she over her fever but wanted her mommy. Told me so on the phone. Broke my heart. In pieces.

I actually contemplated taking a plane home that day but my husband disagreed. "She's having a great time over there". And I know that. But it's still hard to hear. I think by today she will be fine, and we will be back before she knows it. I told her about a dress I picked out for her and talked about some special treats that I would bring home. That seemed to help.

One thing I know for sure: Next trip, she's coming.

Picky Eaters

As a mom, one of the things that we often struggle with is what our kids eat. We are in a state of constant concern about what goes into their mouths (both food and non-food items because that does happen!) While this (for the most part) is a normal thing to have concern about, I think we all from time to time may worry more than what is actually necessary.

This is why, when I came accross this great article, that I thought it would be a good one to share with you all. Being the mom of a picky eater myself, I found these ideas and insights very helpful. I certainly won't stop sneaking in fruits and veggies wherever I can; modeling healthy eating behaviours; continuing to reintroduce different flavours to my child's palate; or even limiting high-sugar foods and treats....but it does serve as a reminder that at the end of the day, we need to relax our worries a bit about what our children are eating - or not eating!

Let me know your thoughts!

http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/healthy-eating/let-my-kids-be-picky-eaters/

Below is a funny chart taken from the article. The first part represents a sample meal plan for toddlers provided by the American Association of Pediatrics. (But as you will see, it looks like it was written by a bunch of people without children). The second part represents what the writer's children actually ate this one day. You'll laugh because you will be able to relate!

Breakfast	1 slice wheat bread 1 soft-boiled egg 2 oz. orange juice
Snack	1 medium apple, sliced 2 oz. whole milk
Lunch	1/2 peanut butter sandwich (1/2 Tbsp. peanut butter, 1 slice wheat bread) 2 oz. whole milk 4 baby carrots, raw
Snack	1/4 cup dry cereal 0.5 oz. cheddar cheese cubes
Dinner	1/2 cup cooked pasta 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce with 1 oz. lean, ground beef 3 broccoli spears 4 oz. water
Snack	1/4 cup canned fruit cocktail in juice 1/4 cup low-fat fruit yogurt

Breakfast	Chocolate croissant from local bakery
Snack	Five bites of five different apple slices
Lunch	4 oz. orange juice 4 gigantic chicken strips (The older child just ate the breading off her strips) Fries
Snack	Cheddar Bunnies (they are just fancy, organic Goldfish)
Dinner	Three spoonfuls of brown rice with chopped-up broccoli, then declared “ALL DONE” 5 oz. bathwater
Snack	The cream filling from two Oreo cookies

Quinoa Take Three

Yep. Another quinoa recipe. And this one is delicious if I do say so myself.

-1 cup quinoa (rinsed well)
-1 cup orange juice
-1 cup water

-1 diced apple (I love honeycrisp)
-1 cup diced celery
-1/2 cup chopped pecans
-1/2 cup currants

Dressing:
-2 or 3 tbsp pineapple juice (the true secret)
-juice of half a lemon
-2 tbsp honey
-2 tbsp grapeseed oil (or EVOO)
-salt & pepper

Cook quinoa in the orange juice and water. (Combine them; bring to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the liquids are soaked up!) Once it's cooked, fluff it up and set it to the side to cool completely.

Slice up apples and celery. Add currants and pecans to the mix.

Assemble the dressing...mix well.

Toss everything together in a large bowl. (I actually didn't use ALL of the cooked quinoa in the recipe - use your own discretion. But if you don't use it all, just put the remainder in the fridge to use in place of rice or pasta instead). You're gonna love it! I think that the pineapple juice is the real secret to making this delicious. I used pineapple juice from a can of crushed pineapple, but I don't see any reason why any other pineapple juice wouldn't do just as good of a job.