A pick-me-up for this dreary weather

Time for a garden related post! It just started getting cold here I'm already tired of winter. I always seem to get in a huge rut. I had all sorts of big plans for my winter garden and they flopped. I can't tell you the last time I walked over there (it's at my future house across the street) I had 9 tomato plants, basil, lettuce, and kale doing pretty well, but it's been weeks since I've watered and I'm sure the freeze knocked them out. Sad and uninspiring, I know, but the truth.

On a brighter note  - my Baker's Creek Heirloom Seed Catalog arrived yesterday!!!!I didn't order from this company last year because I didn't find out about them until after I bought all of my seeds from Lowe's.  I've spent many nights browsing their website, but the actual catalog is breathtaking. One of the many reasons I'm crazy about them is they work to uphold our agricultural heritage and do not carry GMO. There are so many new varieties I want to try. I'm super excited about the great selection of Thai vegetables I can impress my grandmother with. If you go to their site you can request your  free catalog, but while you wait, I took a few pictures to share with you.

I couldn't resist....

Tree Pickin'

Trying to start and enjoy family traditions while overcoming what I believe to be prenatal depression hasn't been very successful. I managed to get off of the couch, turn off Sponge Bob, and go out to Whispering Pines in Milton to pick and cut down our Christmas tree with my family. It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back next year. Our seven foot tree was only $18 and they gave us a baby tree to plant. They provide the saw, shaking, and netting. All  you need is a proper vehicle to strap it on. I recommend a 1988 Ford Taurus Station Wagon, but we used my mom's SUV.

This was 'the one.'

Checking for chipmunks.

There was a baby goat nursing and my mom exclaimed, "Look! It's breastfeeding!" Haha. We had a good laugh over that.

I highly recommend a real tree! You only get to have a decorated tree in your house once a year. If you get them at a local farm it's much more budget friendly. They are worth the fuss, in my opinion. That's coming from someone with allergies and a mischievous cat! Here's a site to help you find a farm near you and some great facts about fake Christmas trees.

PS Thanks to my mom for snapping pictures of us so I can finally be included in some of our memories!

Falling in Love

This is a small pillow my mom cross stitched. My father picked it out. I never got to experience my parents "in love" because I was so young when they parted ways. I have a few pieces my mom has made that were started while she was pregnant with me.  Little things like this are a sweet treat that give me glimpses of the love they had for each other that led to me. I'm sure there's a tremendous amount of hope and love in every stitch. My mom gave it to Stella and we keep it on her window seat. It reminds me, "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)."

A Call To Arms

I'm easily bogged down by the constant reminder of how whacked out or society is. Whether it's a news article, blog post, or a public episode I want to jump to action and changed the world. When I realize that I am one little lady, with an even littler  lady on my hip, who has a mountain of laundry to fold - I get so down and discouraged and want to give up on this what seems to be hopeless world. I don't have the greatest sense of humor and what usually gets me by is a sentimental flicker of hope (or someone else's sense of humor) Two recent experiences reminded me there IS a point to being an advocate (in my case for natural parenting).

I met a pregnant woman and decided to get over my insecurities, introduce myself, and tell her I was very passionate about and somewhat experienced with breastfeeding and if she had any questions or needed any support that I was here for her. She had sort of a negative view about breastfeeding, and willingly let me inform her how fantastic the whole experience is. I made sure to tell her if she decided to try it there would most likely be obstacles and days where you want to give up. (Mastitis UGGG) I have had plenty for sure! She was excited to have another woman her age that is experiencing being a "younger" mother tell her all of this information and we exchanged e-mails. She may not try, but the exciting part is....my backbone is getting stronger and stronger! I get so worried I'm going to offend someone that I lose out on oppurtunities to form relationships and serve other women.

About a week later, I was walking through Target and had Stella in the Moby. It was close to nap time and I wanted to prevent an outbreak. I noticed a woman with an infant carrier attached to her cart eyeing us, so I smiled at her. She walked past, came back and asked, "Is that a Moby?" She was really frustrated because she couldn't figure out how to use it and Target wasn't letting her return it. I gave her some pointers and offered to show her how. I told her how I could nurse Stella while grocery shopping which really turned her on to keeping it which led to telling her about La Leche League meetings. We both walked away feeling much more confident.

So ladies, don't be ashamed to nurse & wear your baby or toddler in public. We are walking billboards that will boost breastfeeding and natural birth rates. Living out our passions is how more women will consider questioning vaccines, choosing chiropractic care, attempting a homebirth or VBAC, and saying no to chemical laden and GMO foods. Resist the urge to be in the closet about the lifestyle choices you've made. Think about tobacco free advocates and all they have gone through and accomplished. Make yourself available for help whether or not you have degree at the end of your name. We may not be the pros, but we know where to get valid information and support.

MOST IMPORTANTLY! Remember to be compassionate. At some point we have all been ignorant, confused or full of pride. Your example is the best witness. A woman is more likely to approach you if you make eye contact and  flash that beautiful smile. God will bring people to you especially if you are willing to serve and love.

My husband said it best to me the other day (in regard to our decision to bedshare), "You really shouldn't doubt yourself and the decisions you've made all the time."

Yes, this is the (improper) use of a Moby Wrap so my husband could play video games.

Getting Dirty

We cleared out our raised beds and prepped them for fall yesterday. The little canaray was QUITE the helper. She also enjoyed treating herself to a mud spa treatment and soil tasting. Unfortunately, I didn't take the camera over to the garden, but you can still enjoy the aftermath :-)

A Hitler-esque mustache on a blonde hair blue eyed babe and that pose! Oh, dear.

This Is Where the Healing Begins

"So you thought you had to keep this up. All the work that you do so we think that you're good. And you can't believe it's not enough. All the walls you built up are just glass on the outside. So let 'em fall down.There's freedom waiting in the sound when you let your walls fall to the ground. We're here now" -Tenth Avenue North


Most people don't know that Stella wasn't my first pregnancy. That is the way I wanted it. The coping mechanism I most often use for any suffering in my life is to forget. It seems so much easier to pretend that a negative experience didn't happen, but in the long run it is devastating to one's spirit.


Three months into our engagement, Cameron and I found out we were pregnant. In fact, the same night I sat my father down and told him I wanted to postpone our wedding - I was eighteen , six months fresh out of rehab, and just graduated high school - was the night I found out. I know, what a great day. A lot of people tried to help me look on the bright side, "Hey, at least you're getting married! At least you're not in high school!" I was more concerned with the fact that children are brats, we had to cancel our honeymoon to Disney, my beautiful dress that my dad had already paid for wasn't going to fit in three more months, and the last thing I wanted to be was a pregnant bride. (Me, me, me, me!) Other negative realities were I had a 2 pack a day habit, was planning a wedding while working full time as a manager of a small gelatiere/cafe, and did I mention I wasn't very fond of children?


At about 9 1/2 weeks I started to spot. Everyone told me that it was normal. For more days went by and I was very heavy. Finally on a Sunday I trusted my gut and told Cameron we needed to go to the emergency room. It was such a surreal experience. The nurses and doctors didn't communicate very well with us.The whole time I had no idea what was going on until finally, when I was being discharged we asked, "So what's going on?" The nurse getting me ready to go said in a pleasant and cheerful voice, "Oh, you are in the process of having a miscarriage." And showed us the way out.


A few days before I started bleeding I had finally become content and thankful for the blessing of having a child, so although a miscarriage ended up being a huge relief to the selfish part of me, Cameron and I  were devastated. "It just happens a lot" and "At least you were only two months along" did't make it any better. My puppy was missing when we got home from my D & C (she was found.) I thought God was punishing me and told Cameron he was next that was being taken. I recovered and forgot with pain medication, 2 packs a day, long work shifts, and busy wedding plans. I told myself all that it was only a little blob of cells. My wedding dress fit perfectly and we moved on. 


I never thought about the anniversary of the baby's passing much. I couldn't even remember it and had to dig for the date, honestly. Growing, birthing, and nourishing Stella from my body has changed that. This late summer heat has been killing me emotionally. To understand that it wasn't just a blob of cells, but in fact was a baby with a heartbeat and fingers, brought all of the pain back. I realized to simply forget about this tragedy was to deny that there is a little angel baby waiting to meet us in Heaven.


We all bear so much burden whether it's something from our own hand, a natural disaster, or outside attack. We can't make it on our own. It's much more painful to reject God's comfort, healing and joy and keep all the pain tucked away inside of us than to ask for help or confess something. I'm not suggesting everyone tell the whole internet their deepest secrets. Most times it's just admitting things to God between the two of you. Plenty of people are hurting in the same places you are. They're probably the one's you are jealous of or intimated by (I'm speaking from experience) So, this is me letting my walls down, in hopes of healing from the hurt of losing a baby (along with many other hurts) and inspiring you to do so as well.


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

Mopping Solutions

There was a time when I didn't mind and actually almost enjoyed mopping. That was before we moved into my dad's house. It's completely tiled save three of the bedrooms. The best part? This vastly tiled casa is home to a cat, a dog, and a Stella. It gets overwhelming, trying to find a mopping routine while juggling three to four  part-time shifts at Old Navy, playing with and nursing Stella all day, making meals, social interaction with adult humans, running errands, checking Facebook, and the countless other important things I do throughout the week. I CAN remember the last time I mopped the living room and I won't tell you. We have another toddler coming over tomorrow and I didn't want to offend her mother so I decided to mop the living room today!

We made the switch from conventional cleaning products to "eco-friendly" alternatives a couple years ago. Now we are making the switch, inspired by No Impact Man, to natural, homemade cleaners made from inexpensive ingredients we can by in bulk. In addition to saving money and respecting our earth, a huge perk is being able to personalize the solutions to our tastes and preferences. I'm going to share the solutions I find or come up with and let you know if it's working for us or if our home starts smelling like a dirty hippie commune. I would also love for you to share your concoctions and success  (or failure) stories with me!

Mopping Solution
A bucket of water (1 gallon size)
A squirt of Dr. Bronner's (Trust me a tiny squirt is all!)
A few splashes of vinegar (about 1/4 cup)

There are several recipes out there. I decided to start simple. Be sure to use warm or hot water and do not mix straight Dr. B's and straight vinegar together because it will create an oily clumpy mess. So start with the vinegar, then the hot water, and finally the castile soap!I bought my Dr. B's at Target in the beauty department by Burt's Bees. I'm not sure if it's available everywhere. I'm in love with it! Now I just need a decent mop head The floors look great and the house smells like peppermint! It smells cleaner than clean. If you don't dig peppermint, there are several other scents, including eucalyptus or opt for no fragrance. You can use this product for EVERYTHING.

Now for the solution to my lack of a mopping routine.....a maid!! Or speed!!
I can't afford either, so I'll just have to get off my lazy bum.

Ravioli and Tradition

Every year on Thanksgiving I remember making fresh pasta with my grandparents. My grandmother would spend all day tending to the sauce and my grandpa was in charge of the pasta. The most fun was catching the strands of dough which was usually where my "help" came into play. I've always daydreamed about making pasta with my own family and that day is finally here! We made ricotta filled ravioli today. Stella isn't quite ready for dough catching, but here she is turning the crank. She'll be a pasta making pro in no time!

Visitors in the Garden

Good and bad. The bad are stink bugs ruining my tomatoes. Among others....leafhoppers, aphids, and cabbage worms. The damage isn't extensive, but I'm trying my hardest to not spray anything.

On the other hand,this morning I saw 4 wasps eating a bad bug breakfast :-) A few days ago I saw a lacewing, but I accidentally sprayed him with my homemade insecticidal soap. I'm not sure whether or not he survived. I'm just happy that I"m attracting beneficials.

Other helpful visitors include my brother and momma.This was two weeks ago, so the plants are 3 times bigger than this!  I'll have a better update hopefully tomorrow.

Restoration

Mother's Day has always been uncomfortable for me. I've never been able to relate to the cliché imagery the holiday is marketed with. I'm not a warm fuzzy kind of gal. I anticipated that my heart would soften this year with the arrival of my daughter. I've been a teary-eyed emotional wreck all week thinking about how blessed I am being a mom. My Canary makes every day seem like Mother's Day, Christmas, and my birthday all wrapped up into one
. 
My heart did soften, but not just because of Stella.Things haven't always been picture perfect for my mom and I. Actually, sometimes, they've been extremely rough. Sometimes it seemed like our relationship would always be a challenge, but lately it's been amazing. I can't really explain how it evolved. 


Here's a secret, I've known for years that my firstborn daughter, Stella, would be what sparked the complete restoration of mine and my mom's bond.  I didn't know when or how it would happen, I just knew it would. It was a glimmer of hope God gave me in my adolescence. Call me crazy, it's okay. It has taken this experience for me to realize how great my mom's love is for me and despite her weaknesses (cause, ya know, she's a human too!) she is the perfect mom for me. God knew what he was doing! 
I'm telling you all this because sometimes things seem so hopeless. It seems like no one cares or understands. It's hard to accept that things happen the way they do and to find peace in the truth that all things work together for good. BUT, God cares, understands and thankfully redeems our broken hearts and relationships and I want you to have hope, too.


Finally, on Mother's Day, I can say with a bright smile and pride that I honor and love my mother. I am overflowing with praise and thanks for my beautiful daughter, God's vessel for bringing us closer together.

A First Glance Review of "Four Season Harvest"

I really wanted to wait until I was done reading this book cover to cover to share a review, but I've finished the first two chapters and I can't wait any longer to tell you about this great book by Eliot Coleman! 

Did you know that most of the US has more winter sunshine than southern France where it's a traditional and common to have a winter garden? I didn't! Here in Florida we're very blessed and it's much easier to have a year round harvest, so I know it may seem pretty pointless that I ordered this book, but I'm a book junkie and I figured there might be really great information and ideas. I was right!

 Eliot and his wife live in Maine and enjoy fresh, organic vegetables year round. They don't use any fancy, expensive heating systems, but rather, the core of their winter gardening technique is utilizing sunlight and protecting plants from wind. a few of their practices include using cold frames (raised beds with glass lids), succession planting (planting crops multiple times), planting seasonally-hardy vegetables, and hoop houses. There are many informational diagrams, tables, and illustrations. Every page has so much to take in! I'll share more as I continue to read. Here are two great quotes.

"The best short statement to describe our approach to the four-season garden is a quote from Buckminster Fuller in his book Shelter (1932): 'Don't fight forces; use them.' "

"In our grandfathers' day, people celebrated the seasonality and variety of the home garden. They knew that one cabbage tasted best fresh in June and that another made the best sauerkraut. This was the pea for eating fresh and that the one for drying. They were familiar with fifty different apples and twenty kinds of pears. They knew when these were ripe and which blended best for cider or complemented the flavor of this or that cheese. We can recover such civilized living again."

**If you've been having problems commenting, I have no idea what's going on, but try commenting under 'anonymous' and just leave your name in the comment :-)

Disclaimer

If you're going to friend me on a social networking site, follow my blog, or spend any "real" time with me... here's a little disclaimer:

I, like most people, like to research and make well informed decisions for my family. Unfortunately, there is an abundance of conflicting information, advice and opinions. There are unreliable and reliable sources everywhere in all kinds of forms: websites, books, articles, doctors, friends, and family. I  pass on any reliable information I find, so that someone can be inspired to  dig deeper and make the best possible choice for themselves. Actually, I hold back a lot of it in fear of offending people. If a friend of mine hadn't shared the valuable information she had with me I'd completely different parent. It changed my life, and I am trying to do the same for someone else who may be peeking in at my life.

Our culture breeds "sources" that spread ideas that require the least activity, commitment, and time. It's hard to sift through all of the parenting techniques and traditions.  I understand though that there are exceptions to everything and ALSO that no one can do 100 percent best at everything. Also, what's best for you may not be best for me and vice versa. Shoot, sometimes we don't even KNOW what's best and just go with what makes the most sense for our circumstance. Go with your instinct and trust the Holy Spirit to guide you, pray to God about every situation, always ask questions and always be seeking out several different sources of information and support for each topic.

I apologize if I have made anyone feel degraded, stupid, or like a bad parent.

Baby Spinach Harvest!

I made calzones for dinner tonight. The recipe called for 10 ounces of spinach, but the bag I bought was only 6 and I had just about 4 ounces ready for picking in my garden. I finally got to harvest something besides herbs! I did a raw taste test and the garden spinach had 5 times more flavor than the store bought. Plus, it was organic! The recipe came from this months Everyday Food Magazine which is a Martha publication. My favorite thing about the magazine is the "Grocery Bag" section. It's a menu plan for weeknight dinners. There are 5 simple, wholesome, adaptable recipes that come with a shopping list. I had over half of the ingredients, so I ended up only spending $40 on groceries for this week. The recipes usually serve four, but we still had leftovers most nights, so lunches were also covered (with the help of a piece of fruit.) A subscription to EDF would be a great investment or gift. I do a jig  in front of the mailbox every month when the new issue arrives.

Seed Starting Adventures

I went to Lowe's today to grab some peat moss for my seed starting mix, but before I settled for the case of it I decided to go over to the seed starting section and see what else they had. I found a concentrated seed starting mix by Burpee for $2.47! It makes 8 quarts in seconds! The package says minutes, but it expands instantly. My Jiffy Greenhouse was $6 and the refill pellets are $3, so this method is much more economical.

I save all kind of containers for future seedlings and plants, especially egg cartons because they aren't biodegradable. They are perfect for seed starting. Here's how I do it:

You'll need seed starting mix, egg cartons, a marker for labeling, and a corn skewer for poking holes.

Poke holes in each area, fill with mix, and use sharpie to make a hole for the seeds! Follow seed packet for planting instructions.

Healthful Cranberry Granola

I've been browsing for a wholesome granola recipe for a few weeks now and slowly accumulating ingredients I didn't have. I couldn't find ONE recipe that had me completely had me sold, so I took a few of the runner-ups and adapted my own to suit my taste and make it as healthful as possible. Here you go....

Healthful Cranberry Granola

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

1 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup flax seed meal

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sunflower seeds

3/4 cup slivered almonds

1 cup dried cranberries

1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

1/3 cup applesauce

1/4 cup honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup water

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. 

2. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients and pour over dry ingredients. Mix together until evenly blended.  Spread onto two greased, large baking pans.

2. Bake1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Cool completely. Store in an air-tight container.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Although, there aren't as many clusters as I'd like, so I think I'll add some maple syrup next time. I was worried about using applesauce in place of oil, but I can't stop eating it. I might be able to get away with cutting the sugar down to 1/4 cup. Oh, if you just so happen to be allergic to honey, you can substitute with pure maple syrup. ;-)

Persistence Is Paying Off

My dad built these two garden beds out of reclaimed wood from a friends old gazebo! One of them has a bench for things like pots with seedlings and Stella. I picked my first Sweet Basil harvest today. My dad is making Bruschetta with it! Can't wait to eat some.

This is the bed that all of my seedlings are in. I can't believe they've made it this far! It only took three times...

The other bed has plants that I bought at the nursery. My tomato plant is already flowering!! Experiencing all this growth is almost overwhelming. I'm amazed daily by God's design.

Cameron built this compost tumbler for me for Valentine's Day.  I filled it up already, note the pile next to it waiting for it's turn to be tumbled. These are all reclaimed materials, again, so the garden beds and tumbler cost us $0! I'm so thankful for my crafty husband and father :-)

Azaleas are in full bloom! These are my neighbor's. The mini lighter pink blooms are my favorite. They are really small and the perfect shade of pink for me. I might have to go to the nursery and buy a few bushes for myself.

I'm still in awe that my plants are thriving. Every day that something doesn't die is a huge accomplishment. Gardening is so rewarding. If I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed I go to my garden. It's been a dream of mine for YEARS to have a garden, but unfortunately my high school social life got in the way. Then work, moving to Charlotte, pregnancy....but alas! we are finally somewhat settled and I can take solace in my urban farm. I call myself an urban farmer, by the way. I was going to keep it to myself until I actually harvest something, but I have hope that one day I can go to a farmers market and sell my surplus like the Dervaes family. Call/e-mail me if you ever want to visit. I have big plans for our backyard this year!

Unpacking the bags and setting up and planting lilacs and buttercups

We finally have our first garden bed put in! We're not yet moved into the actual house, but we have a garden! Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, Thai basil, sweet basil, cucumbers, and rosemary! These, mind you, are not from seed. I got fed up and bought a few plants. I do have my third batch of seeds and a couple of survivors from the second round that are well on there way to being transplanted into our second raised bed. My thumb is slowly turning green :-) OH! I almost forgot to mention my amazing watering can from the amazing Liberty of London line at Target. God bless Target for bringing affordable design to mommas on a budget.

Now, all we need are some yard gnomes.

Progress - Definitely Not Perfection

Tomatoes

Okra (Swiss Chard & Onion trying to get in the shot)

My first round of seedlings encountered some loss thanks to me being a newbie in seed starting. I over watered them and they weren't receiving enough light in the north facing window sill I had them in (you should put them in a south facing window) So, about half of them are goners. Most of them were lettuce varieties, beets, kale, swiss chard, and a few onions. So hopefully I wasn't too late for the remaining tomatoes, basil, parsley and peppers. I'll keep you updated.

I've since planted the second round which includes spinach and succession plants from the previous batch (more tomatoes, lettuce and onions) and I replanted what I lost. It probably seems like I'm overdoing it, but I'd like to try to enjoy garden fresh produce year round and I'd like to share with friends and family.  I spent hours planning and and researching, so hopefully it will pay off.

Here's a few great resources for gardening in NW Florida that have been very helpful to me:

• Florida Gardening Calendar Tips for what to plant and regular maintenance every month.
• Vegetable Guide (Table 3 was VERY helpful during my planning)
• You Grow Girl I have the book, but the website has even more great info and pretty pictures. The author, Gayla Trail, has a new book called "Grow Great Grub: Organic Food From Small Spaces."

Planting & Purpose

I planted seeds last week (January 21st). I planned out four 4X4 raised beds. So far I have planted Romaine, Tomatoes, Sweet & Hot Peppers, Leaf Lettuce, Beets, Onions, Basil, Parsley, Bok Choi and Cherry Tomatoes. Everything has germinated so far. I hope I can keep at least half of the seedlings alive. My compost is started and I'm hoping to make a couple of rain bins.

Cameron and I are very interested in what they're calling "Urban Homesteading." I just call it back to basics.

We're starting with the vegetable garden this year and in the next few will hopefully venture into raising poultry, planting fruit trees, home brewing, canning/preserving, needlework etc.

There are so many blogs and books with tutorials and great information. I'll have to pick through my faves and share them here. I'm sharing this information because I think that this blog is going in the direction of tracking our experience and growth as "Urban Homesteaders" I will probably change the name of my blog to correspond with it's purpose and hopefully will get a new look and some kind of logo. Maybe...if I'm successful enough I'll even do tutorials and giveaways!

Here's the family that gave me the final push of inspiration I needed to start really making efforts in transforming our lifestyle. Meet the Dervaes family.

Rainy Days and Two Stuffy Noses

Stella and I have had a cold for the last couple of days, so I am behind on many things. I haven't been alive for breakfast. Haven't had access to a camera. As soon as I have the energy I need to plant seeds for our vegetable garden. That's my "Do something...anything!" goal for the week.

Isn't it a little funny how I get sick after I worked out for 4 days in a row? Now I have to get re-motivated. Blah.

Kitchen Garden Planner

Spring is around the corner! Time to start planning my garden. I came across a really awesome tool from Gardner's Supply Company. It's a Kitchen Garden Planner. They have pre-planned gardens, or you can design your own. It's super easy to use. It tells you how many plants to plant per square foot and how to take care of each type. There is also have a Vegetable Encyclopedia and you can print and e-mail your plan. I love free online resources!

Baby, It's cold outside!

We're still here it's just too darn cold to do anything! I won't bore you with the daily ins and outs.

My friend Sara made Stella's adorable Berry Hat with a matching blanket. She found the pattern here but there is a similar one Ravelry (and it's free!) Ravelry is such a great resource for knitting/crocheting There are many free patterns and others are for sale. If only I could knit or crochet. There are so many things I would like to make Maybe I'll learn this year...

Breakfast on a Whim

January 4th begins our family's "New Year". We decided it was kind of hard to start resolutions on a Saturday morning.
Stella fell asleep at 11:30 last night! I was so excited I could be asleep before midnight, but of course I lay awake thinking about all the activities and projects and saving goals and mini vacations and gardening plans and lunch dates I'd like to accomplish. So, this morning I finally rolled out of bed 20 minutes before Cameron had to leave for work. I managed to whip together fresh coffee, breakfast and lunch! We had leftover turkey breast, a sunny-side up egg, and half a banana with peanut butter. Did I mention the coffee?

Now Stella and I are enjoying listening to Jack Johnson and pretending the sunlight pouring in the house is the source of our warmth. (Thanks heater!)

Oh and since breakfast wasn't picture worthy, here's an inspiring one!

Whole Living Community

I joined the Whole Living Community from Martha Stewart today. They have put together a 4-week Whole Body Action Plan that starts on January 4th (you can start whenever you'd like). It's very flexible with plenty of 'approved' recipes you can make or use as inspiration as well as a list of foods to include and avoid. There are all kinds of calculators: BMI, Ideal Weight, etc. There's even a printable food journal and a daily newsletter - all FREE! If you join add me as a friend :-)