First Harvest

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Good Morning!

Summer has arrived (at least for this week in Portland!) and we have been enjoying our first few days of summer vacation!

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As you may remember, I expanded my garden this year (link to blog post here) and we harvested our first batch of veggies the other day.

IMG_3001IMG_3002Kale, cauliflower, golden beets and chives!

We made a huge batch of kale chips ( that were gone in t minus 2 minutes!) and yesterday I made an amazing lunch inspired by a recipe for Raw Beet Salad with Green Olives, Raisins and Chives in the current issue of Natural Health Magazine.

Inspired is a loose term as I didn’t use any olives or raisins, no blue cheese or sugar, but  I rarely think to use beets in recipes raw.  I typically roast the beets and put them with goat cheese, which is amazing, but because of this recipe I shredded those little guys raw!

Debbie’s Raw Shredded Golden Beet Salad

Here is what I did:

Shredded the following in my food processor:

peeled golden beets

red cabbage

onion (only about 1/4 c)

carrots

Drizzle flax-seed oil and seasoned rice vinegar on top and mix!

Garnish with half of an avocado and you are done!

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It was delicious, filling and so fresh!

I am in week two of Vegan eating and so far so good!  My hay fever is still there, but much better, and my skin has completely cleared up… the experiment continues!

What have you been enjoying from the summer harvest? 

My Hay Fever Experiment and Vlog #2!

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Good Morning!

During my 6am quiet time this morning, I thought I would share my upcoming food therapy treatment for myself :)

Via Vlog, of course! I am getting into this…

What are your Hay Fever solutions?

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The “Friday Five”

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Here it is!  Friday again!

It looks like Friday mornings, when the house is quiet (it’s 6am and I am already up and showered…wow.) is MY time.  Time for me to share with you all the things that I have been wanting to share all week!

I am going to break it down today… five things for Friday.

Not at all related, except for the fact that they have been on my mind all week… here goes!

1.  When you take a step back to see the whole picture and make yourself a priority, you can make great decisions.

The summer hadn’t even begun, and I was already feeling so anxious about how I was going to have the kids home, take three classes on three weekends (one while Brent was traveling…), and take intensive online anatomy and physiology class.

I had originally opted to just power through it and “survive” it so that I could just be done by September.

As I sat with it, my heart palpitating, my anxiety flowing (more than usual) I decided that my already taxed adrenal system would not be able to keep me upright if I didn’t give it the necessary joy and rest that it needs.

via pinterest.com

via pinterest.com

Here is what I did.

  • I changed my classes to the online format, which allows me to be in class 2 hours per week (from home) for the entire summer instead of 16 hours in one weekend three times.  Great option.
  • Decided that I would wait until spring for the A&P class and take the time in between to study for the board exam so that I can take it right when the class is completed.  I realized I would most likely spend a few months studying anyway, so I might as well just not make myself crazy… right?  Or too late for that maybe?

I already feel a load of relief…. wow.  Sometimes we have to make things so hard before we can come to the “easy” conclusion huh?

2.  July Program at Santosha !   ( click the link to see the flyer and info!)

I will be conducting a 5 part discussion series at Santosha Yoga!  There is a great book ” Optimal Health for a Vibrant Life” by Tiffany Cruikshank L.A.c   and we will be following her 30-day program and talking about relevant nutrition topics each week.

I am thrilled for this opportunity to share what I have learned and what I love.

If you are local, I would love for you to join me!

3. I have been reading some WONDERFUL blogs!

I wanted to share these two blogs with you that I have been reading and think they both just have fantastic information.

via pinterest.com

via pinterest.com

Authority Nutrition.   This blog advocates for a low-carb lifestyle and while I do not subscribe to this way of eating exclusively, the topics presented are relevant to everyone and completely based on scientific research.  In each post, when Kris Gunners makes a statement, he cites the research that it came from.  I love that.  He is a medical student and personal trainer that is very well read.  Great stuff.

Thank Your Body. Robin is also a very successful professional in the world of nutrition and movement and writes about nutrition, but also ways to detox the home environment, diy natural personal products, and has a little bit of a more holistic approach.  Love it!  Back off though, I already entered the contest for the Vitamix… and I really WANT it!

4. Kissed by the Sun.

You might think this one is about the sun actually shining this week in Portland.  It kind of is, but not really.

I used sunless tanning lotion (from Whole Foods, as natural as I could find) for the first time in my life this week.

I have always said that “pale is the new tan” and felt really comfortable with my white, almost purple, legs.   But this week,  when I put on my skirt with yellow accents, I knew I had to do something.

I bought MyChelle Del Sol Sunless Tanner and I think I will never go back!  Wow.  Who knew being “tan” would be so fun?

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Slight difference, but WOW!

4. Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered, ” Man.  Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.  Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. An then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived. “ 

So important to keep in perspective.

Have a great weekend my friends!  Live fully, live joyfully, and be healthy.

How will you take care of yourself this summer?

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Vlogging??

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Good Morning Everyone!

Here goes my first attempt at Vlogging!!

To see my inspiration video- go to AspirelyTV !

Thank you again Melinda for your inspiration :)

What did you think??  

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A Little Soapbox. A Little Snapshot.

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Hello my friends and followers!  

It has been quite the blogging vacation for me, much needed in many ways.

The last couple days have been a complete testament (for me) to the fact that you get what you wish for.

Lately, as I mentioned in my last post many moons ago, I have been feeling like my life is scheduled to the max, busy beyond belief and I felt stuck in my schedule.

I know that my schedule was a result of MY planning, however there are so many things to juggle that not any of them seemed to be things that I could let go.

There is a constant need to balance the things that need to be done (laundry, dishes, housework), the things that you want for your kids (baseball, Taekwondo, yoga, working in the classroom), the things that you do for yourself (school, excercise, time away, blogging), and the things that if you don’t nurture will go away and you will be sad (friendships, marriage).

For me, I got so caught up in trying to do all those things at the same time, that I was so overwhelmed.  To top it all off, I am a total people pleaser and I can’t even imagine letting anyone down.

Am I the only one trying to be everything to everyone?  The supermom that can hold it all together?

Or maybe I am the only one talking about it?

This week proved to me that sometimes when it seems that you can’t figure out how to slow down, or un-commit to the things that you have already committed to, something happens and you HAVE to.

For me, this week, it was at Maddox’s expense.   Enter the going-on-two-days migraine.

I am never thankful for Maddox to have a migraine- clarify that right up front.

But I have not been disappointed to have to cancel my life for a couple days to focus inward, get stuff done around the house, and revisit some of the quiet things that I like to do- blogging.

The good news is that the medication that we were given at the neurologist helped (temporarily) but stopped the 15 hour puking session.  That’s a success.

I want to point out to those of you that understand what I am talking about that when we are overwhelmed and feeling stressed out, our body is reflecting that.

I went to our N.D. wanting to have all of my baseline bloodwork and health panels done and it turns out (as I suspected) that I am in Adrenal Fatigue.  My cortisol and B12 levels were scary low and this is completely not a shock due to the amount of stress I put on myself.

Adrenal fatigue is BAD NEWS and my hunch is that half of the busy moms out there are in the same boat.  Not just moms, but those of us who tend to be “type A”, overachieving etc… you get the point.

The great news is that because of my diet and our lifestyle, I have no inflammation (c-reactive protein panel), no risk for diabetes, my liver and kidneys are functioning awesome, and everything else looked amazing.

That was such a great testament that nutrition, supplements and lifestyle are HUGE when it comes to our health.  Yipee to that!

So I vow to take time out to just be.  To focus on the present (this is wishful thinking, but I am really trying!) and enjoy.  To be aware and grateful of all of the blessings in my life (Brent you are the biggest!).  To blog when I can; to continue to write and keep connected with all of you.  And to make room for white, empty space in my life and recognize how important it is.

Here is a little sneak peak of a bit of catch up from the last month in our lives!

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Both boys have their birthdays in May so we took an overnight to the Great Wolf Lodge. So Fun!

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The Bethany School Learning Garden is thriving!

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Maddox had his EEG and it came back normal!  The diagnosis: Cyclic Vomitting Syndrome and Migraines…  yuck.IMG_3024 The Boys got their green belts at Taekwondo!

IMG_2957 Baseball season began.  I think we have a future catcher!  See the game face?

IMG_2966 Brayden did his jog-a-thon at school.  The Bobcat Blast.IMG_2997 Brent and I got our yellow belts… trying to keep up with the boys!

IMG_2927Maddox turned 5!

This weekend Brayden will be 7!  Proof that time flies way to quickly and we must enjoy!

I hope you liked mini soapbox and snapshot!  I am looking forward to blogging more regularly again!

Have you taken the time to slow down lately?

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Long and lost

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Hello my long-lost friends and readers!  

I guess you haven’t been long or lost, but I suppose I have!

I would love to tell you I have been off having wild adventures, or traveling to far and away places, or working on the tremendous new launch of something amazing.

But the truth is, I have been taking some time for me.

I realized that something had to give.

Although I was having moments within my days that were relaxing and enjoyable, I was running from one thing to the next, with no time in-between.

I evaluated my circumstances and my commitments and obligations and decided that something had to give.

I chose two things.

1.  Work.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How weird right??  Who doesn’t have time to work?  Especially when it yields a paycheck!  In my case, it wasn’t really yielding a paycheck… for several reasons.  The good news is that by being seasonal, I can go back at any time!  I just couldn’t spend my only two free hours during the week at work…

2. Blogging everyday.

As much as I LOVE to share on amominspired.com  I had to take a little break to get my shit in order.

If there is one thing that I have always wanted for this blog, it is to be genuine, honest and coming from a place of passion, not obligation.   I don’t ever want to feel like I am posting just because I have to and not because it is something really important to me.

What was the result of my little break and time for me?  

Laundry.

For the last two weeks, I have been caught up on my laundry!

I know!  Knowing me, this is HUGE!  My laundry is currently washed and folded and there have been no baskets of clean laundry sitting in my room :)

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photo via stock.xchng.com uploaded by big foot

Round of Applause!!!

I’ll take it!

I have missed posting and reading your comments!  I am hoping to get back on a regular schedule soon and hope to have upcoming news to share :)

Until then, what have you been doing for yourselves?  Please Share!!

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Dropped off the Radar…

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Hello All !

I am here!

I haven’t posted in days and the week literally took off and never stopped!

via pinterest.com

via pinterest.com

Brent is home after a three-week business trip ( yikes!).  Bubbie has been with me in his absence ( thank God!) and after working last week, having a cold, starting a second class that will be weekly ( bio-chem… oh my.) and the beginning of baseball season for Brayden, we have made it to Sunday night!

I will do my absolute best to post daily this week- but know if the post doesn’t show up in your inbox, I am still thinking about the random things I want to share with you and taking photos to stock up for many posts to come!

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I hope you have had a great week!!  Looking forward to connecting with you this week in the blogosphere!

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The Day is Here.

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English: The Portland Aerial Tram at the Orego...

English: The Portland Aerial Tram at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After many months, years actually, of being put off by OHSU neurology clinic, we saw the infamous “headache guru” doctor today.

I have to say that after all the anticipation, anxiety and emotion surrounding this event, I am absolutely exhausted at this moment.

The appointment went well.  He spent a good amount of time with us.  He too, was pretty shocked that we had been on the waiting list since 2011…

Thank you so much to so many of you that have been so supportive through this process and reached out to us :)

The conclusion?

Maddox has Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.  This is a childhood migraine syndrome.

We still have to do a “sleep deprived” EEG, in which we will all be terribly cranky, but at least we do not have to induce an episode and stay in the hospital overnight…

Once we do the EEG, he said he should have all the information he needs to confirm the diagnosis.  Which will be good.

The only bummer is that this implies that my baby will most likely suffer from Migraines as a child, teenager, and adult…

At least the puking should stop at some point, I hope!

Even though I am kinda bummed about the impersonal nature of healthcare, I am glad to have seen a doctor who I feel confident really knew what he was looking at with Maddox.

That was our one shot.  Our 45 minutes.

He gave me a number to phone to schedule the EEG, and another number to phone to get the results.  I don’t expect to ever hear from him or see him again.

That makes me glad in the sense that my son doesn’t have a serious illness, and sad in the way that healthcare has gotten so far away from being about people and relationships between doctor and patient.

The good part is that unconventionally, my pediatrician is so amazing at personalizing his care and developing relationships with his patients that are based on follow-up and personal care and attention.

I guess you can’t have it all…

Or can you?

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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cyclic-vomiting-syndrome/DS00835

Here it is!

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The project you have been waiting for!

I know that all week, you have been wondering how the table turned out, right?

My dining room table is one of the best pieces of furniture I own ( with the exception of our couch which was Brent’s diva purchase of 8 years ago…).

I found this table and chairs on craigslist about 6 years ago.  It was a steal- I think I paid $500 for the table and 6 chairs and it is an authentic Pottery Barn set :)

It has a bit of a rustic finish and has been used and abused for many years.

It was time for a little makeover.   Enter Papa…

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Here is what the finish looked like before.

IMG_2822This is after it was sanded down to the wood…

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Papa did the base coat, I jumped in for coat number two.

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I roughed it up a little to go with the theme and give it a bit of a rustic look- it has to match the chairs!

IMG_2865Done!

Thank you Papa!!

Do you have any refinishing projects on your list?

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The Best Laid Plans

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I had two plans today.

The first plan was to blog about our major project of the week while Papa was in town.

That plan got hijacked by my frustration about my second plan- hence today’s post.

If there is one thing that I am sure of at this point, it is that being a mother means that if you have a few precious hours without kiddos, and you have a plan to do something awesome, someone will puke.

In my case, it is always Maddox.

What is up with that?

I think my mom and I might be cursed.  Maybe it is the shopping gods sending a VERY loud and clear message that we should not be allowed to shop by ourselves…

Today Maddox was going to be in school for 4 hours.  Yes.  4 hours.

We were going to drop him off and head to the shops…eat a bite of lunch and then pick him up.

When he woke up this morning saying he had a tummy ache and felt like he was going to throw up, I went through all the things…

Me:  Maybe you just need to go poop.  

Mads: I don’t think so.  Mommy I want you, my tummy hurts.

Me: Maybe you are just hungry?  Do you want some toast?  

( as I muster up a big snuggly hug – I secretly feel pissed and am directing it a little towards him (honestly) even though I know that in no way is this his fault…)

Meanwhile my little inner voice is saying: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!Are you f-ing kidding me?  If there is any kid that knows what it feels like to have to throw up, it is Maddox… but maybe he is wrong this time….??  

I give him a little piece of toast- because despite what he is telling me, he is TOTALLY PERKY.

At this point I am thinking that maybe, just maybe, he got it wrong this time.

Then…. up comes the toast.

My plans are D.O.N.E.   Game Over.

So this is what I am doing today-

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Yep.  Gumby.

I thought mom and I could sit on the couch with the computer and shop online, but it just doesn’t seem like it would be the same…

Does this happen to everyone?  Or just me?

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