Friday, September 10, 2010

zoobilee zoo!

Great day for the zoo, so off we went! 
{love membership}

We fed some goats

Pet some giraffes

Rode the monorail

got up close and personal with a lizard

and of course, horsey rides!!

another fun day at the zoo!!

{coincidently this is also where my camera fell off of the stroller and needed to be "repaired" for a whopping price tag of $300. yeah, fun huh? So be prepared for a few posts with poor quality photos ;-/  }


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Monday, September 6, 2010

Eating Raw: Month One Wrap-Up

So, how is eating raw going? Well, I am glad you asked! 
wonderful

I am really enjoying the way I feel, the way I look {wink}, and the way food tastes! I told myself when this adventure started, I would give it a month. After a month I would regroup, reevaluate and then decide where to go from there. Well I have to say that I am a raw vegan convert. I am keeping it up! I don't miss meat. Sweets and bread are the temptations at the moment. I find I have "cheated" on baked goods the most. I can also say, I pay for it afterwards, making me regret it completely. Those dang chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes!! I am down over 11lbs in a month- the first 8 in 8 days, and every week I lose more and more. I think if I would get my lazy bones up off of this chair that is pushed up to the laptop and exercise {WHAT?!?!} I would lose a ton more {I have 20 more lbs to lose}. 
*sighs*
If only you lost weight typing/surfing/playing on this silly laptop, huh!
Maybe I should invest in one of these

{he he}

ahem. Back to business.
Here are some wonderful things I have made lately with links to recipes!
{be prepared to salivate}

I am throwing out the ol' 'save the best for last' theory and starting out with the most AMAZING raw meal I have had, and maybe one of my top 10 meals period.

Start with a yummy tomato basil crust, dehydrated to perfection.

Add some YUMMY tomato basil sauce.

Next, comes some pesto that is to-die-for! I seriously licked the bowl ;)

Caramelized onions!! My dehydrator had my house smellin' good!

Macadamia nut "cheese" that tasted like goat or feta cheese. YUM!

and you are left with this. Oh if there was only smellernet! It was so so good! I felt like I was eating pizza from a gourmet restaurant.
{this recipe isn't for beginners. it is a bit labor intensive- well worth it- but tedious non-the-less.}

Next, Spanish rice anyone?
This was so yummy and tasted authentic!

I attempted to make some cool cucumber dill soup. 

... this is what happened. ugg. The finger swipe I got out of the upside down blender was yummy.

Coleslaw that tasted EXACTLY like the real deal, only better. No soggy milky yuck-ness here! This was so fresh and sweet- a huge hit!
Recipe for Picnic Coleslaw

Have a steak and potatoes guy? Me too. Here is a dish that won't disappoint! Mashed cauliflower 'potatoes' and portabella 'steak' mushrooms. The mushrooms and onions are marinated and then dehydrated to make super soft like steak. This meal is a huge hit and the flavor is too good!

One thing I love about this, is trying new veggies/fruits that I probably would have gone my whole life never trying. Fennel {or anise} is one of those things you hear them use on cooking shows, but never really know what it is or what to do with it. It smells like black liquorish when you are cutting it, but has just a slight sweet flavor and celery texture. This salad wasn't my favorite, but that is only because I am not a huge citrus fan. If you are, then this salad is for you!!

This is a mexican salad I whipped up, but the crown jewel was the "nacho cheese" sauce! YUM!

Dessert anyone??
This is Raw Chocolate Mousse w/ Strawberries and Cashew Cream! 
That chocolate sauce is death! It is so good I died. The ream was ok, but I probably won't waste my cashews on it again. The rest was too good!!

Watermelon water! YUM!!
Just blend up watermelon and add agave nectar to taste! ta-da!

Anything look good to you?

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Thrifty Finds

My dear friend and I went thriftin' and to say that we scored is the understatement of my life! 




LOOK AT THIS?!?!?!?


These suit cases were one of my favorites of the day. The cute little vintage purse in bright yellow made me smile too!

Would you believe those suit cases {in perfect condition} were only $3.50 each?????
Vintage purse- $2


Now I am squealing in my seat as I type about these!!!
I have wanted to collect these dishes {you may remember my first piece of the Pyrex in spring blossom/ crazy daisy here} for so long and found this 25{!!} piece set for only $15!! The cups I scored at another thrift store the same day for only $.33 each! I am in love!!

More plates!

for my plate wall i want to do that I scored for $.55-$1 each!

and lastly, a couple of canisters to store my raw nuts/grains in and a couple of cute platters
Canisters- $1 each
Platters $1, and $2


What a day! I am officially hooked. What a fun way to spend my allowance each month!!

All of this for around $31!!

for more of my thrifty finds click here!



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Sunday, September 5, 2010

Mi Amor




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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

tears & snot

Feeling very vulnerable as a mama today. You know, the days when you actually cry over spilt milk and find yourself at the end of the day just wanting to climb in bed with those sweet little babies and hold them? Yeah, one of those days. 

This song hit that very nerve. Grab some tissues {don't say I didn't warn you}!

Me by Plumb
I haven't had
A chance to sleep
And when I wake
I wake with your dreams
I guess my pillow
Holds some kind of key
To your peace
Your peace

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
Whenyou need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me

I haven't showered
And I tried to eat
But all your tears
Oh they needed me
I need some time, some time to think
But when I hear you
And what you need is...

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me

I wash your face
To make room for
All the kisses
Of tomorrow
And every day
That I get to
Be here with you
Is sweet

Me
I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy
In this great big world
Me
I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky
To be the place you go
When you need to feel safe
When you need a kiss
It's me

Oh don't be afraid
Cause you'll have is....
Me
....And this one. Get ready to have snot running down 
your sweet little face. 
{No tissues will help with this one I am afraid.}
God Speed {sweet dreams} by Dixie Chicks
Dragon tales and the "water is wide" 
Pirate's sail and lost boys fly 
Fish bite moonbeams every night 
And I love you 

Godspeed, little man 
Sweet dreams, little man 
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings 
Godspeed 
Sweet dreams 

The rocket racer's all tuckered out 
Superman's in pajamas on the couch 
Goodnight moon, we'll find the mouse 
And I love you 

Godspeed, little man 
Sweet dreams, little man 
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings 
Godspeed 
Sweet dreams 

God bless mommy and match box cars 
God bless dad and thanks for the stars 
God hears "amen" wherever we are 
And I love you 

Godspeed, little man 
Sweet dreams, little man 
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings 
Godspeed 
Godspeed 
Godspeed 
Sweet dreams


Or this whole CD?? WOW! 

Ok, off to snuggle with those boys!

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