Mommy Love!

Very few people would argue that there is a more important job than being a mother. It's rewarding in the sense that you get paid with kisses and hugs but its also thankless in the sense that you are literally on call 24/7 and personally responsible for another human life. Mom's come equipped with super powers beyond belief from being able to heal boo-boos with a magic kiss to being able to see through walls and know what their kids are up to.

Lately I've experienced and heard of other's experiencing a kind of war between working moms vs. stay at home moms.  From working moms thinking that being at home with the kids isn't a real job to stay at home moms thinking that working moms get it easy because they don't have to deal with their kids all day. Really? Why the drama?

Women need to empower each other, be there for each other, share stories, offer advice and sometimes just lend an ear. In the past 3 years I have had the opportunity to be a working mom, a stay at home mom, and most recently a work from home mom. I can tell you that regardless of the situation, it's damn hard! Stay at home moms hardly get a break and sometimes very little adult interaction, while working moms often feel guilty missing milestones and being away from their children for the majority of the day. The bottom line is that no body lives the same life and everyone needs to do what is best for their situation. Their should be no judgement! Just because you see a mom at the grocery store with her kids wearing workout clothes and running shoes doesn't mean you should start filling your head with thoughts about how she spent her morning at yoga and/or Starbucks while a nanny watched the kids, but more likely because when running after little monkeys all day, that is the most comfortable attire.  Most stay at home moms make a lot of sacrifices to be able to be with their kids all day and usually aren't perusing around town while "real" people work. Just as a mother running by the store with her kids after work while wearing her work apparel isn't choosing a career over raising her children, but rather making a sacrifice to be away from them for the good of the family to ensure that they have a roof over their head and food in their bellies.

The bottom line is being a mother isn't easy, but every mother I've ever met wouldn't trade it for the world! So ladies, love one another, send positivity and be there for each other! Work to build a mommy community and help each other out whether it be watching each others kids for a bit, getting together for play dates or even just lending an ear when someone needs to vent. Mamas are so special and need to be feel the love from each other!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Time to Detoxify!

After a long family vacation and really making an effort to enjoy our summer I felt as if all I had done for weeks was eat and drink wine (and basically I didn't do too much else!) After a while I began to feel really icky, grouchy, irritable and all over worn out. I decided to do a much needed cleanse, a detox to get all the bad stuff out of my system. I felt amazing and it was the best cleanse I have ever done! Many people began to ask which cleanse I was doing so I decided to write it out and pass along the information to whoever may be interested. I didn't follow any particular regimen and just listened to my body and tried to give it what it needed and felt satisfied for most of the detox. I believe the key was that I didn't go into the cleanse thinking of it as harsh, but rather nurturing- a way to give back to my body.


Here is my journal of the 5 day cleanse:

Goal: Juice fast/cleanse for 3 days then raw foods for 2 weeks. Meditate/Reiki nightly. At least 30 minutes of yoga/stretching a day.  Hoping to clean my mind, my body and my soul.

Day 1

•  AM- Lemon water*

•  Fresh Juice- Beets, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Kale, Parsley- 48 oz mixed with water

•  Apple Cider Vinegar- ACV Shot

•  Bentonite clay & psyllium husks*

•  Mason jar of iced green tea (no sweetener)

•  Evening- Fresh Ginger tea*

•  Water- 100oz+ a day

•  Extras- Spirulina; Multivitamin; Chia Seeds

Day 1 Experiences-  I feel optimistic and excited to cleanse. Im a little hungry starting out but feel that once I get past the first day or so it will be easier. I will be working to plan the next few days worth of juicing/fasting.


* Lemon Water- This was discussed in my previous blog posts. I have been doing this almost every morning since the beginning of the year. I love it and it makes me feel so great! I highly recommend adding this to your daily regimen.  You can get more information on how to make lemon water and it's benefits by clicking HERE.


* Bentonite clay & psyllium husks- This is another personal fave of mine. I have been drinking this concoction for years. It isn't tasty by any means, but its so good for removing toxins from your system through your intestines. It pulls out heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides among other pollutants. You add a tablespoon of psyllium husks to a glass of water. You then add a tablespoon of bentonite clay into the psyllium mixture. Make sure not to use a metal measuring spoon for the clay or to stir the mixture. Metal causes a reaction in bentonite which decreases its potency. I usually just pour a small amount directly into the mixture without really measuring and stir the mixture with a plastic or wooden spoon (or end of the spoon)


* Ginger tea- Peel fresh ginger and cut into pieces and boil in water. Once it reaches a boil you can turn off the heat and allow it to sit for about 20 minutes or so. Allowing it to steep will help extract the beneficial properties of the ginger. This tea helps to kill bacteria in the body, particularly the intestines. I thought this tea was so yummy and enjoyed drinking it nightly. 

Day 2 & 3

•  Drink 3.1 fl oz tepid water upon rising

•  20 mins of oil pulling

•  AM- Lemon water

•  Fresh beet juice- 64 oz mixed with water

•  ACV Shot

•  1 apple & handful of grapes

•  Mason jar of iced green tea (no sweetener)

•  ACV Shot

•  Water- 100+oz a day

•  Fresh Ginger tea

Day 2 Experiences - I woke up feeling great and more refreshed than I have in awhile. My husband said that I look more glowing too! It’s hard having to prepare food for the kids and husband while I am fasting, but I keep telling myself only 2 more days! Im sure I will be going crazy later tonight, but I will push thru.  I am very excited to eat a more raw, plant based diet than what I have been feasting on lately.  Its afternoon and Im pretty hungry. Its hard when Im preparing food for my kids or my husband I want to sneak a bite, but im trying to be disciplined. I look forward to my two hour yoga session tonight!

Day 3 Experiences- Felt great.  Lots of energy and not hungry for most of the day. When I did get really hungry cooking food for the kids/hubby I ate an apple and was fine. Drank 36 ounces of lemon water, ACV, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.  Tasted pretty nasty!

Day 4 & 5-

•  AM- 40oz of sea salt water.

•  24 oz of carrot, ginger, kale, oranges and apples.

•  100oz of water

•  32 oz Green tea

•  1 tomato & handful of grape

•  Homemade Ginger tea

•  Extras- chia seeds

Day 4 Experiences- Woke up feeling fantastic! Decided to do a salt water cleanse this morning. It was pretty crazy. You chug about 40 oz of water and 2 tsp of salt as fast as you can. You want to try to get it all down at once because it gives you an upset stomach for about a minute or so. I thought I was going to puke but got over it quickly. Then you need to stay very close to a bathroom for the next couple of hours. It definitely cleans you out. Today has been tougher.  I was only planning on doing the liquid cleanse for 3 days, now that its midday on the 4^th Im really craving a yummy, raw salad. Ive decided tonight after yoga I will reward myself with one and continue on with raw foods and juicing. Basically the regimin I have been following this week, giving my body what it needs and not being too rigid. If I deny myself food then it will no longer be enjoyable and that is not what I wanted. I really wanted to give my body a loving, nurturing cleanse. 

Day 5 Experiences- By the time I got back from yoga last night I wasn't hungry. I felt satisfied and was excited for my evening tea.  I woke up this morning and did another salt water flush and felt so great afterwards. Around 2pm I got pretty hungry and was really craving a yummy salad. I chopped up a bunch of veggies and made a dressing with olive oil, lime juice and a little salt and pepper. It was delicious and so fresh. Perfect for a hot, summer day. 

I really enjoyed this cleanse. Because I listened to my body and what I felt it needed in order to be replenished, I never really felt that I was being deprived. Because I had to still make food for my husband and kids, I faced some temptations where sometimes I just wanted to sneak a bite of food, piece of cheese, cracker, whatever. And if I did it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but I kept reminding myself to be disciplined and try to fully cleanse my body. Instead I would drink some juice or some water and try and go do something to get my mind off food. If it got really bad I would eat an apple because after a few days I was getting bored of liquids and the chewing sensation and the delicious taste of the apple was perfect and satisfying! By constantly consuming fluids I was able to control most cravings without feeling like I was being tortured. This was by far the easiest, cleanse I have ever done and really felt light and healthy after it was all over. I will definitely try to complete this same detox at least a couple times of year whenever I begin to feel like it may be needed.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Summertime!

With Summer upon us and being a work from home mom when I have to be home with the kids all day I love to plan to go to the park, pool or museum. It's not the easiest getting out of the house with two kids. As most moms know, even the shortest trips require some pre-planning. You need to grab diapers, sippy cups, snacks, hats, sunscreens, blanket, toys, etc. just to go outdoors for an hour or so. Although it can take a bit of work to load up the kids, to me the outcome is so worth it!

Getting outside in the sunshine and getting fresh air feels so good. I love it, the kids love it it's a win win. I get to unplug and take a break from email, writing, marketing, etc. I try not to be one of those moms on the phone while my kids and I are out and about. I like to reserve this time for us, after all, my kids will be grown up before I know it and they won't want to spend as much time with their mom so I try to soak up as much as I can.  Probably the best thing about getting out and going somewhere is the nap time that we get afterwards. The kids get pooped out and usually will sleep for 2-3 hours which allows me time to get done what I need to do, and maybe even take a quick catnap myself!

Living in San Diego there are plenty of family friendly activities that are free! There are a plethora of parks, our beautiful beaches, and Balboa Park has free museums on Tuesdays. Take advantage of what our beautiful city has to offer and explore the outdoors with your kids.

I have included some pictures of our recent outings!

The Typical Aftermath!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

My Baby Girl

I cannot believe how fast the past few years have gone by. How in the world is my baby girl already 3? She is so amazing, so full of life and very VERY strong willed. She is sassy and sweet, smart and so funny. She is very social and loves being around people, she loves being silly and making jokes and is just so smart. I feel so blessed everyday for my beautiful children. I didn't start blogging till a little over a year ago and have never written down her birth story, although the events of that day are still so vivid in my mind. In honor of her birthday I wanted to share my first birth story with my readers.

It was a HOT summer, our house had no air conditioning and I felt so big and uncomfortable. The scariest thing about labor for was the fear of the unknown. I had known for years before I ever got pregnant that I wanted to have a natural, drug free labor, but during my pregnancy encountered many nay sayers who told me I was crazy and that it was basically impossible. I knew that I could do it, because I am very stubborn and had my heart set on it. Usually when I deeply set an intention I try to do anything in my power to make it happen. I was still nervous about what to expect, how it would happen and most importantly when it would happen. Would my water break out in public? Would I wake up in the middle of the night? When was it going to happen? Being a control freak I really had to relinquish control and just know that when it happened all would be good!

We had just moved into our new house on July 3rd and I was due on July 24th. During the moving process I was so anxious to get everything done before baby girl came that I would stay up late unpacking and putting things away, setting up the nursery and sometimes just lay in bed with the anticipation of how much our lives would change. I didn't know what labor felt like and was having bad braxton hicks for weeks and swore I was going into labor about 8 times in that period. On July 18th I started getting sensations that felt like period cramps and just knew deep down that I would be meeting my daughter soon. That entire day I spent in bed, the cramps were irregular, they would come and go. There was no real rhyme or reason to them and by 7pm that night they had disappeared. I woke up around 2am with the same cramps, but they were more frequent. I watched the clock and realized that they were about every 5-7 minutes. My husband was sleeping and I got up and went into the nursery and sat on the birthing ball, doing hip circles and just breathing. I tried to walk around to see if they cramping would stop like they did the day before when I was experiencing them. They stayed frequent and lasted for about a minute. Once I realized this was most likely the real deal I decided to try to get some rest to save up my energy for when things started to progress and to listen to my relaxation prompts. I went back into bed and slept on and off until about 5am. I woke up and the cramping had gotten stronger so I thought it was a good idea to call the midwife. I was so happy when the midwife on call happened to be my favorite one that I had met with over the 9 months of my pregnancy. We talked through a couple of my contractions and she told me I sounded like it was still early and to call her in an hour or so to check in. I woke up my husband around 6:30 and let him know that it was time and that I was going to go in and get checked out shortly. I called the midwife back around 7 and she told me to come in to see how far along I was. We drove to the birthing center and she opened the door. She looked at me and right away said "Honey, I can tell you have a ways to go because most women who come in here are pretty uncomfortable and hardly able to talk, and you still have a big smile on your face!" She checked me out and I was dilated to 2.5 centimeters. The birthing center wants you to be dilated to at least 4 before they check you in. They usually encourage moms to be walk around Balboa Park for awhile and come back to get checked, but it was Gay Pride Parade in Hillcrest and the last thing I wanted to do was walk around a crowded park while in labor. I told her I felt like I was going to progress really quickly and she just smiled and said that "All women hope they progress quickly, but that labor can last a long time!" She sent me home and said I could be dilated at 2 for hours or days and to call her if my water broke or if things got significantly stronger.

Home we went, I laid in bed and listened to my birth affirmation and relaxation prompts some more. My lower back was really hurting so I hopped into the shower and just put my hands up against the wall and let the hot water hit my lower back. It felt so good. It really helped to ease the discomfort. I stated to do some of the visualization and meditation techniques I learned and had two VERY strong surges in the shower, to the point I got dizzy and lightheaded. I decided at that poing to get out of the shower. At this point the contractions were intense. I felt like I had to either throw up or poo, or both! I told my husband to call the midwife and tell her I needed to come in immediately. It had only been an hour or so since we left. He thought I was crazy and told me that she said it could take hours or days. I begged him to call her. He did and she said that she doesn't think that I would be that far along since I just left, but to come in and she would ease my mind and check me again. We headed back down to the center. This time she looked at me and said, "Well, you still have a smile, but you look a bit more uncomfortable, lets check you out!" All I kept thinking was 'Dear God, Please let me be dilated till at least 7 or I don't know if I can do this!" She did and she was shocked "Oh My Gosh! You are at 10 centimeters fully effaced! If your water broke you could have had this baby on the way over here!" When I heard that I knew the worst part was over! I knew I could do this! I had always heard that the dilating part is the hardest, once you get past that the worst has passed.

We filled up the tub and that was amazing. The warm water does so much for the labor sensations. I pushed when I felt the urge, I was able to eat almonds, raspberry and sip on orange juice to keep up my energy. So different from what I heard about hospital births and I loved it. The environment was so warm and homey, the midwife and nurses were so friendly and encouraging! I pushed for two hours and not much was happening. I started to get tired and frustrated. We all knew I had to get her out and soon. During the pushing process my husband had one foot on his shoulder, my mom had the other, the nurses had a sheet with two knots, one on each end, they held one end while I held the other and pulled on it while I tried to push her out. It was crazy, it felt so archaic, like something that my ancestors had done and I loved it!

After about 20 minutes of intense pushing I was exhausted.  Everyone went to talk in the other room while I was in the tub and they all came back with solemn looks on their faces. I knew something was wrong. My husband looked at me and said that I basically had 5 minutes to deliver the baby or I was going to be taken in an ambulance to get a C-section because they thought I was too tired to be able to continue pushing and wasnt progressing much. Don't get me wrong, if I needed a Cesarean I was prepared and willing to have one, but at this point I felt that I could get her out on my own. I yelled "Alright, lets do this!" The nurses and midwife looked at me and asked if I was sure. HECK YES! LETS GO! We moved me out of the tub and to the bed. I did a couple more pushes and her head was right there. I reached down and felt her hair, they gave me a mirror to show me how close I was and I got so much energy. After two more pushes I felt a pop and her head was out. One more push and I felt her body slide out and the next thing I knew she was on my chest. I was looking at this beautiful little girl that we made! I couldn't believe it. What an amazing experience. Such a Rite of Passage into womanhood. I felt so full of life, experiencing a true love cocktail that I had read about in the natural birth books. No one's description can prepare you for how it feels to see your child for the first time. It is a day that will always be one of my favorites, and it was a very special way for my husband and I to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary! Yep, you heard right, she came 4 days early meaning that this day will always belong to two people in this world who are nearest and dearest to my heart. So while my husband and I will never get a day dedicated solely to ourselves, this day will always be cause for much celebration!

                                      

Happy Birthday my beautiful Mia! You bring us so much happiness and it is such a joy to watch you bloom into this sweet little girl. We love you more and more each day. Love~ Mommy & Daddy!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Delicious Deceptions!

As many moms know, most toddlers are PICKY! Getting your child to eat their veggies can be a chore and make mealtime a battle. My toddler typically refuses almost anything green and I am constantly looking for ways I can disguise all the nutritious stuff I want her to eat, with something that she loves. My most recent creation was concocted when I had some Zucchini that I wanted to use up, and I wanted to feed my kids something healthy without having a major meltdown. Voila! Zucchini Pancakes!

It may sound weird at first, but I promise you it was so yummy!  I had experimented with other fruits and veggies before other than the typical Apples, berries or bananas and used sweet potatoes and butternut squash which are actually quite good also. The zucchini adds the perfect combination of sweet and savory, especially with maple syrup on top. The kids loved it and so did my husband and I.

To make about 4-6 pancakes (depending on the size)

1 Cup flour
1Tbs Sugar
1 Cup Water
1 Tbs. Oil (I like Coconut)
1 Egg
1/4 tsp. Salt
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 Medium Zucchini
Cinnamon or Pumpkin Pie Spice

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl except for the Zucchini and Cinnamon/Spice. The Zucchini can be either shredded in a food processor or you can make a puree in a blender/baby food cooker. Add the Zucchini and a few dashes of Cinnamon/Spice to the pancake batter. You may need to add a little bit of water to thin it out a bit because the Zucchini can dry out the mix. Once that is done you are ready to make them and serve! Enjoy!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

One year ago today.......

I can't believe my baby boy is 1 year old today! It seems like just yesterday we were rushing (Literally!) to the birth center to welcome him into the world.  I loved sharing my birthing story on my blog and catch myself reading it often even though the details of the day are still so vivid in my memory. That will always be one of the most favorite days of my life! Both of my births will, and I feel so blessed to have had such amazing experiences. I always get a sense of nostalgia around my kids birthdays. This beautiful rite of passage shaped me into the woman I am today and for that I am eternally grateful.

The day I found out I was going to have a son was life changing for me. I never knew I wanted a boy. The thought of it scared me!  I grew up with two sisters and the male species has always been confusing to me. For weeks I questioned whether or not I could be fit to raise a son? When I first laid eyes on him it all made sense. I knew why God had given me this beautiful baby boy. He was perfect and every day has continued to steal my heart more and more. Watching him and his sister grow this past year has been amazing and I cannot believe how fast it flew by! Mason, my baby boy, being your mom has been such a joy. I look forward to watching you grow up into a little man and sharing laughs, hugs, kisses and no doubt a few bumps & bruises. Mommy, Daddy & Mia love you more than the sun, the moon and all the stars. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Being at home with my children more I am constantly looking for toddler friendly activities to keep her busy (and him right behind her!). When the activity can also teach lessons, well then that is definitely an added bonus!  This project requires some adult setup, but then is very family friendly.  I loved this project because it is ongoing, teaches health, patience, responsibility, and most importantly is fun! 

Recently I had my husband retrieve a wooden pallet. I originally had the  idea of making it into the pallet herb garden I saw on Pinterest. Because we has a pretty small patio area I thought a vegetable garden was out of the question.  As I began to look over the pallet I got an idea to use it similar to how I saw the herb garden built.  I came up with a fun creative way that I could use the reclaimed treasure! And I could plant my beloved herbs with a few veggies as well. I thought this would be so fun for us to do as a family because my daughter is in her independent stage and loving to help out. An added benefit of our little urban garden is that she can be in charge of watering every day which in turn teaches a great lesson of responsibility. It would also be a good way for her to eat more vegetables because children get excited to eat food they grow themselves! Below is the tutorial on our urban garden project!

First we headed over to our local nursery and bought some organic herbs and veggies, a bag of compost and some black landscaping paper. When deciding on what plants to buy I wanted to get some things that I use the most when cooking. I also researched companion planting online beforehand to see what the best options were with our faves to try to make the most of this experience.  What we decided on was Cabbage, Red Romain Lettuce, Arugula, Lemon Basil, Thyme, Cilantro, Sage, Rosemary, Celery, Garlic and Beets. We plan to add to it, but I figured this was enough to start out! The Garlic and Celery were from my refrigerator, thanks again to some cool ideas I saw on Pinterest! 

Once you lay the garden down it is hard to move so I had monitored our patio area for a couple of days to determine which area got the best amount of sun. Once you have the items needed and figured out the best place for your garden you are ready get started. 

You will need:
Tough Sandpaper

Staple Gun

Landscaping Paper

Wood Pallet

Bag of soil/compost

The pallet we had the two sides were different (It's hard to tell from the picture) I chose my top side as the side that had two larger open sections on each side and thinner slits in the center. I thought the larger areas would be good for vegetables and the smaller middle sections would be great for growing herbs. First you will want to sand the pallet to minimize any splintering of the wood. Next you cover the bottom area with the landscaping paper and staple around  and up the sides of the pallet to ensure that it can hold dirt without any problem.

Once the bottom of the pallet is covered you can lay the pallet in the are you determined to be the best area for your garden. You can now add the dirt/compost/soil to the pallet filling and make sure that it is spread evenly.  Since most kids love to get dirty this is a good part for your child to start helping out!

Once we got the dirt added it was time to add our herbs and veggies. The garlic and celery were something fun that I had wanted to try. You just plant leftover cloves of garlic directly in the soil. With the celery, you cut off the end of a stalk and soak it in water overnight. Then you plant root down in the dirt and soon you will get leaves!

When we were done there was nothing left to do but water, and then admire our beautiful new garden.  We love it!  My daughter looks forward to her daily chore of watering the plants, and watching them grow.  We will be adding to our pallet and even to some containers to expand our urban garden. I will keep you posted on any new developments and invite my readers to share their urban garden tips and ideas!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.