My the Force be with Willaim Sonoma!?!

As our move date gets closer I am dreaming about how different our life will be at the new house. I am especially excited about the kitchen and I have been thinking about all the meals I will be preparing in there and the tools in which I will prepare them with. Most of my kitchen tools are in desperate need of an upgrade. I am not going to lie, I dream big. I told myself that I would save up and outfit my kitchen in William Sonoma, Le Cruset and have a new Sub-zero glass front fridge. Yes me, one of the most frugal people out there, who tries to buy most things second hand and when I do break down and pay full price I never truly enjoy my prize. I did have a plan, find the fridge second hand or one that needs fixed, buy a couple plates at a time and wait till things went on sale at William Sonoma. As I put my plan into action my husband started to sweat because he knows if I put my mind to something it will happen. He hopes my normal, frugal sense of mind would be stronger than this new crazy woman kitchen spending spree mind set. But you must indulge your self every once in awhile.  So as soon as I had the chance I was off to William Sonoma. Did I mention that I don't really even like cooking that much :) Well as I wandered around looking at copper pots and cast iron skillets I could feel my cooking skills getting better. That is until I actually pick up an idea to buy. I was planning on picking up an ice cream scoop for Matt, ours recently broke and Matt said he wanted a good one. This is where my dreams came to a crashing halt. I found one I thought he would like it was heavy and good quality but it was $27 DOLLARS! Yes, now you might laugh because an idea that is under fifty dollars burst my bubble but it brought me back to reality. I am proud of saving money were I can. Since I am a stay at home mom, every dollar I spend is time my husband has to be away from us, so I will stick to my dollar store spatula. Not to say a splurge here and there will not happen, especially when it comes to my Munchie. For Easter Corbin received Star Wars pancake molds and a spatula. They were well worth the money, we have used them a handful of time already. And if my crazy William Sonma cooking craze comes back I will whip out Corbin's R2-D2 spatula and whip up  something yummy!

Cool trick with green onions

Did you know that you can use green onions over and over again? I didn't! This is one of the coolest things I have learned lately. All you have to do is put them in water after you cut off what you want and they will grow back! I have them in my kitchen window so they get lots of sun and I make sure they never get dry. I usually keep about an inch or so of water in the glass, always making sure the roots are submerged. This is a picture of my green onion today and by the end of the week they will need trimmed because they will be falling over. I have cut them back this far four time already. If they need cutting and I don't have a use for them in my cooking I have found that they freeze nicely. I wash, chop and them throw them in a freezer bag to be used at a later day. Now I know green onions are not super expensive but every little bit helps right. If you are going to do this I recommend getting organic because they will taste better and be better for you. Also since you wont have to buy them again for at least awhile the added upfront cost will end up paying for itself.

Weekend update

In an attempt to blog more, I have taken the iPad into the bath tub this evening. For me a bath is really the only thing I get to do without a million interruptions.  So I try to multitask as all moms do. This past weekend was full of good news and fun times. Saturday morning Matt took and passed a test he has been dreading to take! At the last minute Munchie went to my parents and I got a trip to the mall all by myself. I am happy to report that Lu Lu Lemon was not out of yoga pants :) I didn't buy any but had to check and see if the world was indeed ending. Later that night Matt and I actually got a date night and we stayed out till....10:30pm!!! Today we were given a tour of our new house by the current owners. I can not wait to move, and am hoping to have a closing date by the end of this week. Happy Sunday and here's to a calm and productive week.

Goals for the week
Drink lots of water
Use my new Bliss Yoga And meditation DVDs each morning

Sorrow, Strength and Reflection

It's funny how your mind works, that today of all days I wanted to do a blog post.  Today is the day I spend a few quiet moments and go through my baby's box. As I open it I smile at the name printed on  a sticker that is affix to the top of the box. Jude K. R. Koch. I think of how unfair it is that I have a certificate of death instead of a birth certificate, sympathy cards instead of congratulations cards and I wonder how I will explain to Corbin one day that he is a little brother. I think of all the mind numbing pain that I thought I would never escape. I wondered what I would do with all of that sorrow I felt, and I now realize that you bundle it up, tuck it away and carry it around with you. Or at least that is what I have done for these past three years. Even when feeling immense happiness I have held a little back, scared that  tragedy is around the corner waiting for me to let my guard down. But today as I look back I don't  see things the same. I look at the strength that it took to get through it all and tell myself that you are stronger than you think. I remember all the friends and family that helped us along the way and remember that I am not alone. I hug and kiss my little one that sits next to me as I write and remember that each day is truly a blessing. Life is hard and  can be an uphill battle, but I can't let it beat me down. I am reminded to live  in the moment, and when tragedy happens, take a deep breath and carry on. Today I lay down some of my sorrow so that I can smile more and enjoy what I have.

Benifits of Lemon Water

Why You Should Drink Warm Water & Lemon

By Ashley Pitman

The way you start each day is incredibly important. Whether you're a mom, a coach, a writer, a small business owner or a yoga teacher, what you do first thing in the morning matters.

According to Ayurvedic philosophy, choices that you make regarding your daily routine either build up resistance to disease or tear it down.

Ayurveda invites us to get a jump-start on the day by focusing on morning rituals that work to align the body with nature's rhythms, balance the doshas and foster self-esteem alongside self-discipline. 

Your mind may say you have to check emails, take the dog out, get the kids out the door, that you can't be late for work or that you just don't have enough time to cultivate your own morning rituals.

But, if you can only make time for one ritual that will improve your health, let it be this.....

Start the day out with a mug of warm water and the juice of half a lemon.

It's so simple and the benefits are just too good to ignore. Warm water with lemon:

1. Boosts your immune system 

Lemons are high in Vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C is great for fighting colds and potassium stimulates brain and nerve function and helps control blood pressure.

2. Balances pH

Lemons are an incredibly alkaline food, believe it or not. Yes, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they're alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). As you wellness warriors know, an alkaline body is really the key to good health.

3. Helps with weight loss

Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster. And, my experience is that when I start the day off right, it's easier to make the best choices for myself the rest of the day.

4. Aids digestion

The warm water serves to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis—the waves of muscle contractions within the intestinal walls that keep things moving. Lemons and limes are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract.

5. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic

Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.

6. Clears skin

The vitamin C helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well.

7. Hydrates the lymph system

This cup of goodness helps start the day on a hydrated note, which helps prevent dehydration (obviously) and adrenal fatigue. When your body is dehydrated, or deeply dehydrated (adrenal fatigue) it can't perform all of it's proper functions, which leads to toxic buildup, stress, constipation, and the list goes on. Your adrenals happen to be two small glands that sit on top of your kidneys, and along with your thyroid, create energy. They also secrete important hormones, including aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormone secreted by your adrenals that regulates water levels and the concentration of minerals, like sodium, in your body, helping you stay hydrated. Your adrenals are also responsible for regulating your stress response. So, the bottom line is that you really don't want to mess with a deep state of dehydration!

Adopting just this one practice of drinking a cup of warm water with lemon in the morning for a month can radically alter your experience of the day. Don't be surprised if you begin to view mornings in a new light.

Like I said, the recipe is really simple—a cup of warm (not hot) water and the juice from half a lemon.

Benefits of Ginger

Ginger Root Benefits

Contents

• Ginger Root benefits
• Notes / side effects
• Where to buy Ginger Root
• How to grow Ginger
• Ginger Root reviews

Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) is well known as a remedy for travel sickness, nausea and indigestion and is used for wind, colic, irritable bowel, loss of appetite, chills, cold, flu, poor circulation, menstrual cramps, dyspepsia (bloating, heartburn, flatulence), indigestion and gastrointestinal problems such as gas and stomach cramps. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb and there has been much recent interest in its use for joint problems. It has also been indicated for arthritis, fevers, headaches, toothaches, coughs, bronchitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, to ease tendonitis, lower cholesterol and blood-pressure and aid in preventing internal blood clots.
Ginger has been well researched and many of its traditional uses confirmed. It is well known as a remedy for travel sickness, nausea and indigestion. It is a warming remedy, ideal for boosting the circulation, lowering high blood pressure and keeping the blood thin in higher doses. Ginger is anti-viral and makes a warming cold and flu remedy. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb and there has been much recent interest in its use for joint problems.

 http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/10-healing-benefits-of-ginger



We are addicted  to Ginger Tea with lemon and honey at our house. We like to use dehydrated ginger so today that is what I did.

 Five pounds of fresh Ginger, I found Cash and Carry to be the cheapest at $2.00 a pound

 Its amazing how all those trays fit into these two jars

 I hate to waste, so as I was cutting of all the "butts" of the ginger I was trying to figure out what to do with them. Ginger Butt Tea is what I came up with! I took all the butts and put them into a pan of water and let it cook all day on our fireplace. I then strained out the butts and ended up with a highly concentrated Ginger Butt Tea. I took a small sip and wow it cleared my nasal pathway, it made Matts eyes water. I am  keeping it in the fridge to add to my morning tea to kick it into high gear. I will probably freeze a portion of it for the next time a nasty cold takes over our house .

Re-------------start

Wow, it has been over a year since my last post, I kind of forgot I had a blog. I am not going to try and catch up on the year that I missed. All I can say is we are happy, healthy and still blissfully exhausted! Oh and Corbin is walking and talking, hence the exhausted part.

The reason why I chose to start again is to motivate myself to finally start taking the steps towards a couple of goals that I have. I finally have realized that just having the goal is not enough, I must actually work towards those goals. Crazy I know! So I will start today, well tomorrow actually.

Eating a whole foods, plant based diet. For ME that means No meat, dairy, or bread. Only whole grains (Barley, Millot, Quina, Brown and Wild Rice.)  I am an all or nothing kind of person, so I have to go cold turkey. But at the same time I want to have fun, and experiment with weird food I have never tried. And remember to get back on the wagon without being to hard on myself, because I will fall off.

Now, where the blog comes in. I love looking up facts about the health foods...wow that sounds super nerdy seeing it written down. Oh well, I do! The problem is I forget most of what I read, so this will be a collection of what I find.

Also I like living my life as frugally fun as possible or finding neat "old school" ways of doing things. I often find myself thinking "how did people do this 50 years ago,this of course is my husband Matt's fault. But I am beginning to enjoy these new adventures. They do not all work and I often catch myself  saying "its a pain in the ass" that's why people don't do this! But in the end I am always happy that I have learned a new skill.

Yoga! I love yoga, a lot. I am consonantly amazed at the body when I practice and even more so when I stop practicing. They say you are as old as your spine is flexible, and I totally agree! I now understand that flexibility is just as important as strength.

 I hope to get my fingers on the keys at least a couple times a week. For now I will end with one of my Favorite Quotes

"Few are those who see with Their OWN eyes and Feel with Their OWN Hearts"

                                             - Albert  Einstein