Posts by admin:
- 3 medium carrots
- 2 medium red apples (cored)
- 1 large handful kale
- 1 large handful spinach
- 1/2 inch ginger
- 1/2 lemon (cut off peel)
- 1 cup quinoa flour (use 1/2 cup quinoa to grind)
- 1 Tablespoon chia seeds, ground
- 1/2 teaspoon of guar gum or glucomannan (starch that binds)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon agave nectar
- 1 banana, mashed
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/3 almond milk
- 6-8 ounce chicken breast, sliced in tender strips
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Salt Free Original Blend
- 9 small bamboo skewers
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 3 apples, sliced at width about 1/4 inch thick (1 apple per box)
- Use a small cookie cutter of choice to make fun shapes
- 1/2 English cucumber, sliced 1/4-inch thick and cut in fun shapes (4-5 slices per box)
- 15 black olives (5 per box)
- 3 Tablespoons sunflower seeds ( 1 TBSP per box)
- 3 YumEarth Lollipop
- 3 Natures Promise Fruit Twists
Fall Detox with Zesty Carrot Green Juice
October 3rd, 2016Today I am sharing about fall detox and a great way to jumpstart it during the fall season to prepare for winter. Don’t miss a great green juice at the end.
Stress and Detox
Summer did not know go the way I expected in many ways. When my husband and I spoke about our summer plans we did not think we were going to be busy but summer ended up busier than we expected. In fact, it was a bit stressful with two unexpected deaths in our family and quitting my full-time job. One of the things I have had in mind was to start a detox.
What first comes to mind when you think about detox? Initially for me, I think I getting rid of the things I enjoy the most but in reality it is retreating to actually analyze what has been dominating life and habits. There are so many things in our life that contribute to having a toxic lifestyle that not only harms the emotional being but also the mental and physical being.
Even though I am not a health professional, I am a person who has always been interested in healing my own body with the things that God has given us on this earth. Since being married and having kids I have been less consistent with my health because truth be told, I get distracted by my situations, stress, and by life circumstances.
Being truthful to yourself
I know one of the first places to start is to be truthful with myself. It is not enough to have the desire but to actually follow through so even though I do not have an accountability group, I have been praying that God will give me the strength to be wise to go about a healthy detox so I can have a reset.I think one of the reasons we get stuck is that we get so far into bad habits that any hope of regaining control seems so distant. Well, when I decided to start my slow detox, I read on what would be go for digestion since I have slow digestion due to having no gallbladder.
Ayurveda, which translates into “knowledge of life” is an ancient system of healing that examines physical constitution, emotional nature, and spiritual outlook in the context of the universe. I think it is an interesting system and philosophy but I do not embrace it completely. While I know my spiritual connection is clear through knowing God as my Creator, I know he enlightens us to understand more about our bodies in many ways.
Health Reset
I will not get into this all completely but it helped me in my research on what herbs to use for my own detox. In the last 2 weeks I have been using Organic India‘s triphala, a traditional Ayurvedic digestive tonic (made up of three fruits—amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki) with antioxidant properties. These three fruits act as a mild laxative while ridding the body of toxins that will sicken the body. I have seen very great results after taking it twice a day. Let’s just say I am going to the bathroom a lot more.
Additional slow not shocking ways to detox is eliminating processed foods. I get in a rut of picking ready to eat foods that are not as healthy because of convenience especially as a mother of 3. I am being more consistent leaving foods prepared so as not to feel tempted to make wrong choices.
Green Juice and Fall Detox
I am thankful for juice cleanses as well, like my friend Nicole’s recipe called ZESTY CARROT (NOT SO) GREEN JUICE. I made her recipe yesterday and sipped it slowly on an empty stomach and then took a nap instead of eating a heavy meal. I felt energized! I loved the combination of kale and spinach with the apples, ginger, and lemon. It was super tasty and very palatable.
Check out her page for more recipes like these including her Magical Immune Booster Smoothie and her Post-Workout Green Smoothie.
ZESTY CARROT (NOT SO) GREEN JUICE
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients (1 glass)
Instructions
Run all ingredients through the juicer.
Serve immediately
Notes
Depending on the size of your juicer’s feed tube, apples may need to be chopped before juicing.
Related articles across the web
Sharing is Caring!
Stylish Everyday Wear by prAna – Discount + Giveaway
September 26th, 2016prAna clothing is no longer for those who climb or do yoga, but it is now created to be stylish everyday wear for every lifestyle especially for moms who have very active lives.
Loving Fall
I am loving the fall esepcially these last few days. I can officially start all my baking which is always hard to do when fall season is not cool. Have you taken your fall clothing out yet? I am finally making the overhaul and it is a lot of work. I wish we could just wear sweaters over summer clothing.
Now that the girls are in preschool I have a lot more time to organize and clean but in addition to that, I am finding time to exercise. I am the first to admit that everything else in my life comes first before my health and being fitness. My focus gets clouded with all that needs to be done around me.
Wearing with Purpose
I am not normally a mom who wears yoga pants all day even though I’d like to. I usually do not like dropping my girls with my workout clothes BUT it usually helps because I am ready to workout after I drop them off. I am glad that there are company’s like prAna who give options of clothing that make it easy to look stylish before getting to a workout.
Back in 1992, PrAna started out making clothing that was good for climbing and for yoga but as times changed, the company decided it was time to create clothing that worked well for lots of different passions. Not only do they create clothing with a purpose, it is also sustainable, stylish and versatile.
Stylish Everyday Wear
I love the unique names for each piece of clothing on the prAna site. One thing I learned on the site is that the designs are based on personal experiences. While I chose solid colors for my outfit, prAna offers clothing with whimsical patterns and awesome colors. Not only that but they really concentrate on creating and making clothing using sustainable materials like organic cotton, hemp and recycled polyester.
The top I chose is called Devan Henley which is made from an organic cotton jersey blend that offers a soft and cozy feel. I really loved wearing it especially lately with the cooler mornings. It is made from a combination of organic cotton and polyester. I am wearing the top that is available in Mineral Green, and is also available in Black, Vintage Cobalt & Winter.
PROS: While it is comfortable and loosely fitted, the sleeves are a little long, but I like it because it keep my hands warm. I LOVE the large hood and I love that I can wear additional layers.
CONS: It is a little out of my price range. I have a smaller clothing budget but if I know something is going to last for a long time, then it is worth the investment.
The Remy Legging is the first legging I have owned of its kind. It is made of a peached Micropoly performance knit, that is now in Recycled fibers. It also has a fitted skirt with shirred sides and is more for a figure that wears clothing at mid rise.
PROS: I usually prefer just wearing cotton leggings but I thought this would be a great opportunity to try something new. I thought the fact I was wearing recycled micropolyester was pretty cool and it felt pretty comfortable. I did not feel like I was overheating at all.
CONS: I unfortunately missed reading the fact that it had a mid rise when I ordered my clothing. I am high waisted so I need a little more coverage for my lower body. The legging actually rides a bit so I have to keep pulling at it. Either way, I like the feel of it.
prAna Discount + Giveaway
Have you always liked prAna but never tried anything on their site? Now is the time to try! Check out my last review for another outfit I tried. Here is your chance to try something new or to try an outfit for the first time. When you use my discount code MMLPSGKT you will receive 15% off at prAna.com. It is only good for a one-time use per customer and is not valid for Influencers, on Gift Certificates or with any other offers. It is only valid thru October 31, 2016.
If you would love to win the same exact outfit I am wearing, then enter below. Whoever wins will get to choose the same outfit but in your own size and color choice.
Sharing is Caring!
Easier Cold Season with NeilMed Naspira Nasal-Oral Aspirator
September 23rd, 2016NeilMed Naspira Nasal-Oral Aspirator is pretty amazing if you have little babies and toddlers. Make cold season a lot easier by using an aspirator and help your kids breathe easier.
Cold Season
I am glad that it is officially fall but then I realize that it also means it is cold season. The kids have started school and I am already seeing my kids getting colds and it is only the 3rd week of school. I tell my girls to wash their hands as much as they can remember but they are only little kids and that only goes so far.
While the body has to go through these seasons, I know that I do not like when my kids get sick, most of all when they cannot breathe or when they cannot sleep well at night. Little kids sometimes make the worst patients, but when I share with them the options of feeling better versus feeling lousy, they usually comply to me helping them.
My little baby does not understand this, which makes it harder when I try new things with her, like using an aspirator.
NeilMed Naspira Nasal-Oral Aspirator
I am not a stranger to aspirators. I actually have been using them since I had my first child back in 2011. I know how great they are but I know the one I have been using is not perfect. When I had the chance to sample the NeilMed version, I knew I had to try it.
The aspirator is very sturdy coming with several components that are easily detached allowing for sterilizing. If you are not familiar with an aspirator, it is a hand-held system that aids in effectively suctioning stuffy, congested, or runny noses.
Now wait one minute. I know you might be thinking how gross this sounds, but it is a system that prevents anything from coming up the tube and into parents mouth. Yikes! There is a filter that separates the aspirator and the tubing that prevents such a thing. With the unique, transparent 2-in-1 design, you can either use it as a NeilMed® NasaBulb aspirator or as an effective Nasal-Oral suction device, where parents can use suction force generated by the mouth to alleviate nasal congestion in babies and small children
Easy to use and clean
The aspirator is easy to clean and really easy to sterilize using either boiling water or a microwave disinfection protocol. Let me tell you, there are plenty of instructions for those who might not be able to understand how to use this product but the tip is a nice silicone that will not hurt or injure your child.
I loved that there were an additional 7 in-line disposable filters ready to insert for another suction session with my kids. It is definitely advised and required to dump each filter after each use.
Connect with NeilMed to find out about their other products. The retail price of the NeilMed® Naspira® Nasal-Oral Aspirator ranges from $9.99 to $14.99 and is available at the following places:
Discount
USE MOMSBLOG promo code for $3 off the purchase of NeilMed® Naspira® Nasal-Oral Aspirator through NeilMed’s web store.
Disclosure
I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet. com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
Sharing is Caring!
Vegan Quinoa Banana Pancakes + Mockmill for Grains and Seeds
September 15th, 2016These Vegan Quinoa Banana Pancakes are easy and pack a protein punch for your morning meal. Mockmill is an exciting attachment for your KitchenAid mixers. It grinds grains, seeds, and more in different ways. I am excited to share the recipe and how much I liked this mill. I received the mill in exchange for an honest opinion.
Taking a Brief Break
I am sorry I have been out of the loop but I am officially two weeks into being an official stay-at-home mom. Many did not know that I had a corporate job but that really was my personal choice. After 14 years, it was time to call it quits in order for me to concentrate and being able to balance life with my little girls. Now that I have had time off, I feel like I have so much to do and so much energy. Oh yes, the work continues being there in different forms, but I am currently enjoying trying to find the right balance between chores, cooking, and even blogging.
I am definitely still cooking and writing recipes for the times and moments that I feel like I can spend time, sharing my developments and discoveries. For me, writing has become therapeutic as is cooking. I know that the start of school for my girls is my priority right now but that does not keep me from sharing little things in life through photos over on Instagram.
What’s Been Cooking?
Since the girls started preschool, I have had a little more time to actually bake and cook or even prepare meals in advance. Let me just share a bit. When you have TOO much on your plate, it is overwhelming to get anything done at all. I kept getting stress-paralyzed and I was not a happy person.
What makes me happy? I like being my best self by getting enough rest, preparing ahead of time, and making my family happy.
Mockmill for your Mixer
Do you have a desire to make your own nut flours or even want to save money on buying bagged flours when you could just grind it at home? I have been using my poor coffee grinder for simple ingredients like spice, or making my own powdered sugar so when I heard that there was an attachment for my KitchenAid to grind my own flours, I decided I needed to find out more.
In June 2015, Wolfgang Mock Company was re-launched with their first new product, the Mockmill. In May of this year (2016) their mother company Wolfgang Mock GmbH in Otzberg-Lengfeld, Germany (near Frankfurt/Main) founded Wolfgang Mock, Inc., wholly-owned subsidiary in Wilmington, DE, to serve American consumers.
How To Use the Mill
The Mockmill is super attractive and is easy to use. While my indicates it is for KitchenAid, it is also compatible with AEG, Electrolux, and Kenmore stand mixers. It is also compact and does not require extra counter space but can easily be tucked away in a cupboard.
Here is the mill in a diagram showing you each part. It consists of a stone that grinds at different variables from coarse to extra fine. It is, as described by the company, a ceramic-bonded corundum stone, which produces very fine flour and will not wear down in time. The clean-up is simple too!
While I had a chance to try barley and flax seeds, I ended up using the mill for quinoa, which is a staple in my home. I love the fact that if I have a recipe that will use a specialty grain, that I can just mill a little and not buy a whole bag that will later go to waste.
Vegan Quinoa Banana Pancakes
Once I ground the quinoa, after I toasted it, I made quick vegan pancakes for my girls since they love pancakes. These pancakes were dense and also great for my 13-month old who loves using her hands. It has lots of nutrition and a nice change from normal pancakes.
The mill really finely ground the quinoa without having to use a sieve. I also added chia seeds instead of an egg, so when I was milling the quinoa, I simple added the quinoa to the mill and it blended nicely in the mixture ready to use in my mixer.
Hope you like this recipe and make sure you check out the website. Right now the product is not in stock BUT it is AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. It is normally $229.00 but it available for $199.00 but with limited quantities. ACT now!
Vegan Quinoa Banana Pancakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3-4 minutes for each pancake
Ingredients (8-10 small pancakes)
Instructions
Quinoa flour and Chia Seeds
If you are interested in making your own, you can use a mill like I shared, or you could use a spice grinder, but a mill grinds it finer without having to use a sieve. You can also buy quinoa flour. I toast mine in a skillet over medium heat until it is slighty golden and you can smell a nutty aroma. Remove from skillet and cool and then grind and the chia seeds or flax seeds to grind as well.
Pancakes
Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. In another bowl, add the mashed banana and the rest of the west ingredients. Add the dry to wet and fold until blended.
Do not grease non-stick pan since pancakes have oil.
Bake at medium heat and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Serve with coconut syrup and fresh fruit.
Sharing is Caring!
Grilled Chicken Skewer Bento Box
September 6th, 2016These Grilled Chicken Skewers are ideal for your bento box rotation. Looking for new ideas for back to school lunches? This chicken is super moist and perfect for those kids that like the Grilled Chicken Nuggets at Chick-fil-A.
Hope everyone had a lovely Labor Day weekend. We had all the intentions to visit the beach one last time when we planned the month about a month ago, but after a busy first week for my husband, we all just wanted to take it easy and prep for the school week.
Back to School
I am so excited to get to girls started in their Pre-K classes. They have been talking about non-stop and I am almost afraid they will not get much sleep because of the excitement. I have been busily mentally preparing for meals during the week and even thinking of ideas for fun lunches.
Since my kids only have half days at their school, I pick them up and they are ready for more play time at the park and a snack, or they are ravenous and ready for lunch. I usually pack their lunches before I leave the house in the morning and drop them off so I know I have to be ready the night before.
If you get a chance, go visit Produce for Kids on Instagram where I will be taking over for the whole day showing how we do it on the first day of school! It is called #TakeoverTuesday and I will be helping them to promote #PowerYourLunchbox. Have you taken a pledge to pack healthier lunches??? Go to
Bento Box Lunches
Bento box lunches are so cool. I feel like a little kid when I pack my own box but even more so I feel happy when the girls look at the variety they have available to consume. The Bentology boxes are great because they come with color-coded boxes showing what each should be filled with. If you remember, it is important for our children to have a well-rounded lunches. It is even important for parents as well!
I wish I could share the noises, the thank yous, and the excitement that my girls show when I hand them their lunches in these boxes. Sometimes they are too excited and forget to eat, seriously but that is a different story. In reality these are great for picnics too because you prevent from using too many sandwich bags and bringing too much food as well!
I pack the lunches in an insulated bag with some reusable ice packs that is large enough to carry at least 3 bento boxes in addition to drinks if needed. I also have a baby so I try to pack her food in a bento too.
Grilled Chicken Skewer Bento Box
My girls like going to Chick-Fil-A a lot! Well, at least they request it often but I know that to keep within our budget we can only visit once every other week, if even. My girls had been asking for chicken so I made a quick healthy grilled chicken nugget skewer that made them super happy. I layered a skewer with the grilled chicken and fresh yellow bell pepper, and I was so happy to see them consume it quickly. What a great way to get protein in our little ones.
Grilled Chicken Skewer Bento Box
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Ingredients (8 half bamboo skewers)
For Chicken
For Skewer
For Bento Box
Instructions
For Chicken
In a non-stick skiller, heat oil.
Pat chicken dry and cut into tenders. Season with salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash.
Cook for 4 minutes on each side and remove from heat.
Cool chicken and then cut tenders into 1/2-inch pieces and place on skewer alternating with fresh bell pepper.
Bell peppers should be cut in 1/2 inch cubes.
Assemble and add to bento box. Add apples to one box and cucumbers and olives to another. Enjoy!
