Mi Gusta Tacos!!

I love tacos! So simple, yet so many different options. I wanted to share a recipe that I recently created with some inspiration from Pinterest (CLICK HERE to follow us!) As fall approaches I am ready to use my Crockpot to make yummy soups and stews, but since we have still been having a bit of a heatwave I have been looking for healthy dinners that are also light and summery!

BEHOLD! Lobster Tacos with a cilantro lime yogurt sauce and homemade Spanish rice and beans! Not to toot my own horn, but it was to die for! I keep dreaming about it and plan on making it again
real soon.

Ingredients:

Black Beans-

Dried black beans
Salt & Pepper


Place in a pot and cover with water. Soak the beans for 1-4 hours (the longer you soak them the less likely they are to cause gas and bloating) After the beans have soaked drain and rinse them and place them back into the pot and cover with water and add some salt. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat to low, cover and allow the beans to simmer until soft. You can season to taste.

Spanish Rice:

Basmati rice
Chopped tomato
Chopped carrot
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
A few Saffron threads
Salt & Pepper

Bring rice to a boil and add chopped veggies and seasoning and mix. Turn heat to low, cover and allow rice to simmer stirring every 3-5 minutes until ready.

Taco filling-

Lobster, shrimp or Longostino tails (from Trader Joe's)
Chopped garlic
Cumin
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper
Salt & pepper
Olive oil

Mix everything except lobster (or shrimp, etc.) into bowl. Toss the meat and coat and cover. Let it sit in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to marry.

Yogurt sauce-

Greek yogurt
Chopped cilantro
Zest and juice from a lime
Cumin
Salt & pepper

Mix all the ingredients together and cover. Let it sit in fridge until ready to use.

You can chop up whatever veggies you want to use as condiments to your tacos. I used chopped red onion and shredded cabbage and shredded cheese. You can change the intensity of the taco filling, and the rice by adjusting (or completely eliminating) the Cayenne pepper. I fried up some corn tortillas but it would also be good if they were just warmed. Either way this healthy, easy meal is sure to impress! Try it and let us know what you think!

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.

Kick that Cold & Flu to the Curb!

With cold and flu season approaching I wanted to share some of my favorite natural remedies. These alternatives are cost effective, easy and all natural with no yucky dyes or additives that are added to many over the counter and prescription medicines.

The first step is prevention. Living a healthy lifestyle helps to build up your immune system so that when you do get sick, your body is able to overcome most illnesses. Eating lots of organic fruits and veggies help to ensure that your body has the essential vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Vitamins such a C, D and Probiotics help to protect your system and help to prevent and treat many sicknesses. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is detrimental to the body and can result in diseases such as cancer, diabetes and even depression. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get an ample amount of Vitamin D is to go outside for 10-15 minutes and enjoy the sunshine!

Even the healthiest person is not completely immune to getting sick, but the healthier the person is the less severe the sickness will be. Using natural alternatives help to heal the body rather than mask them like many over the counter medicines like NyQuil and Robitussin do. Many of the options I am about to share are safe to use on infants and toddlers (unless stated otherwise).

All Natural Cough Medicine- 

Ingredients:
Honey (local organic is best)
1/2 an onion (any color)

Chop up the onion and place in a Tupperware or jar and cover with honey. Put the lid on the container and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. The next day strain the mixture saving the liquid and discarding the onions. You can keep this in your fridge for up to two months. I promise you this doesn't taste as bad as it sounds. It has no alcohol so you don't feel loopy, its safe on kids (over a year due to using honey) and works incredibly. My mom used to make this when I was little and it's has worked better than any cough medicine I have ever tried! I swear by it!

Herbs to have in your Natural Medicine Kit-

All of these herbs are safe and effective and can be found at most health food stores or online! Ever since all the Children's Motrin & Tylenol recalls since I had my daughter I swore off those commercial brands and have gone strictly homeopathic. The results have been great! Children can take 2 pellets every 30 minutes for acute symptoms and 3 times a day for less severe cases. Adults can take double the dose of children with the same frequency.

Chamomilla 6C- This homeopathic remedy is good to have on hand for irritability and digestive issues. It is also great to help with severe pain associated with teething, ear aches and gas pains.

Belladonna 6C- Helpful for fevers that come on suddenly as well as a clear runny nose. Also helpful in relieving headaches and inflamed, red sore throats.

Nux Vomica 6C- This is useful when a child has eaten too many sweets or has overindulged and has a tummy ache and nausea. Also works well to cure adults of the same symptoms (including hangovers!)

Pulsatilla 6C- This is to be used with nasal discharge is thicker and and children act clingy and weepy. Also helpful for earaches that are less intense.

Arsenica Album 6C- This is used to treat signs of food poisoning or stomachache accompanies by diarrhea. If your child vomits suddenly and its not due to overeating, Arsenica should be the natural treatment.

Natural Cold & Flu Buster (Adults Only!)-  

Ingredients:

Peeled Garlic cloves
Peeled Ginger
Cinnamon
Cayenne Pepper
Lemon
Honey
Water

Boil fresh, purified water as if you were making tea. Roughly chop up the garlic and ginger and add it to the water to boil. Once it comes to a boil turn off the heat and cover the pot to let it steep for about a half an hour. After it has stepped you can remove the garlic and ginger and discard. Add cinnamon and cayenne pepper and squeeze some lemon and add honey to taste.

This is a butt kicker but I like to get hardcore and try to kick the butt of whatever is coming after me! This elixir is awesome at soothing a sore throat, alleviating congestion and clearing out sinuses. The combination of these ingredients are strong and work well to boost the immune system. It's a little harsh at first but after the first couple of sips you should be fine and start to feel better pretty quick!

If you have any other homeopathic remedies that you use I would love for you to share them!

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.

Healthy Trails to you!!!!

This blog will share with you a delicious Red Lentil Trail mix recipe. This is a new family favorite! Its so easy and so healthy. My kids want to eat it by the truckload, and I don't mind because its so healthy! Even my husband loves it and he doesn't even like lentils.

1 cup of organic red lentils
1/2 cup of raw organic pumpkin seeds (Pepitas)
1/2 cup of organic raisins
1/2 cup of organic dried cranberries
1/2 cup of chocolate chips
Sea salt

Soak the lentils for an hour and then drain. Preheat the oven to 350F. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread out the lentils evenly on the pan/paper. Cook the lentils in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until they are crunchy and then let them cool off. Mix all the other ingredients, except for chocolate chips in a large bowl and add lentils. Add chocolate chips and sprinkle sea salt when lentils are completely cool and mix everything up. However, the last time I made it I added the chocolate chips while the lentils were still a little warm and when I was mixing the chocolate slightly melted which caused the chocolate to really hold the lentils. I liked this technique because my daughter is famous for picking out all the chocolate first (then berries and then not wanting to eat the rest. With the chocolate slightly melted it allowed her to get a good about of lentils.

You can make so many different versions of this! You can add or substitute with any of your favorite dried fruits. You can add other nuts and mix and match to create so many different, healthy blends of trail mix! We would love for you to share with us your favorite creations!

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.

Get Your Kombucha On!

So here is another one of my obsessions. Kombucha!! For anyone who hasn't tried it, it's definitely an acquired taste. I will never forget my first sip! It tasted tangy and sweet at the same time with a bit of effervescence. I didn't know what to think. It took me a couple of bottles (on different occasions) to get a taste for it. But once I learned of all the benefits it offered I was hooked. Being  $5+ dollars a bottle it was something that I would get occasionally, but wanted to get my hands on more for a cheaper deal. That's when I looked into making my own. I was so excited when I saw how easy it was and how cheap! You can basically make a gallon for less than a $1 (not including supplies) I'm going to share with you my super fun Kombucha experience and I encourage you all to try it yourself (if you dare!) and share your story with us!

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a living health drink that consists of fermented tea and sugar. It has been known to cure a wide range of conditions such as arthritis, intestinal disorders, cancer, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, baldness and much more. The tea has been shown to boost the immune system and even reverse aging due to being high in antioxidants that attack free radicals from damaging cells. It is especially beneficial in detoxing the liver and kidneys. Kombucha is high is glucaric acid which helps to ward off cancer, contains glucosamines which prevents and treats arthritis and is also a probiotic to improve digestion, fight candida and eliminate the symptoms of depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.  All these wonderful benefits thanks to the living mushroom type bacteria culture that grows and makes this all possible!

That's right, a living growing culture that feeds off the sugar and transforms into all sorts of wonderful health benefits! Making it was a pretty cool process, very easy, and very much like a science experiment. If you are pretty squeamish I probably wouldn't try to make your own, but anyone who is up for it and enjoys Kombucha, I would totally try it!

What you need:

• One gallon of water (fresh purified) 
• One cup of sugar
• 10-12 tea bags or 1oz of self bagged tea
• One cup of Liquid Kombucha
• One piece of solid Kombucha Culture- "The Mother"
• Large glass 1 gallon brew container
• Cheesecloth or paper towel
• Rubber bands
• Dark warm place with good ventilation (I used a space in my garage. I wouldn't do it in my house due to the slight smell from the fermentation process.)

If you know someone who makes Kombucha you can ask them for a piece of their culture to start your own. If not you can purchase a kit that contains the tea, the culture and instructions. I got mine at People's Organic Coop in OB. The brand is Oregon Kombucha and I got the Jasmine Green Tea version (as opposed to black tea). I'm almost done with my second batch so if anyone in San Diego would like a little starter culture let me know! I would love to share!

To process is simple! Bring the water to a boil, brew the tea, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Now you just wait for the water to cool completely. It cannot be too warm or it will kill the culture. I let mine sit for about 2 hours just to make sure its nice and cool. You add the water to the brew container, add the liquid kombucha and culture. You finish by covering with the cheesecloth or paper towel and securing with a rubber band. Place the container in a warm dark place and wait for the magic to happen. The process can take 7-28 days depending on the heat and your taste preference. It grows fast at 80-85 degrees and much slower in cooler temperatures. 

In a few days you will see a solid film grow on top of your batch. This is the new "Mother" culture forming. It will most likely not be a pretty sight. It could be white, brown, lumpy and bumpy and slimy on the underside with strings of dark material. Smile! This is a sign of a healthy culture. It may float or sink and will eventually grow into thick layers which can be separated and used to batch more, shared with others or even composted. 

After 7 days you can try your kombucha and see if its ready. If you want it more bold and tangy you can keep testing it every couple of days to find the flavor that is right for you. That is the beauty of making your own! To taste, I would use a straw and a small glass. I would stick the straw in the brew with my finger on the top of the straw to capture the tea, and then transfer it over into the glass to taste. This helps to prevent contamination of the batch. 

Once your kombucha is ready you can remove the culture with clean hands (no gloves) and just place the culture in a bowl with about a cup of the kombucha and cover with a clean cloth until you are ready to make a new batch. Or you can store the culture and liquid in a closed container and even in the refrigerator for an extended period of time.  When you are ready to bottle the kombucha you can pour it into clean jars with tight fighting lids. Fill almost all the way to the top. Next store the kombucha at room temperature for another 2-4 days to allow for the second fermentation process. You can then store your kombucha in the refrigerator for months if needed and still enjoy the same yummy flavor and natural carbonation.  

I had so much fun brewing my own Kombucha and will definitely make it a habit (although will probably have to take a hiatus once it really cools down). Not only has it been a fun experience, I have felt so much more energized since I have been consuming the healthy elixir almost daily!

Supplies; Kombucha Starter kit: Culture from starter kit. 

The Brew and Storage Process

Finished Product

Kombucha with the new "Mother growing on top" 

The "Mother" removed and placed in a bowl with about a cup of kombucha. Ready for me to start my new batch!

All bottled up and ready for the second fermentation process before serving!

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.

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.