how to: nutritional detox

power foods. on my wish list.

let me start by saying that i am not a nutritionist. ok, that said, this is my guide on how we do a nutritional detox. sam and i have been gorging on donuts and ice cream and pizza lots of pizza. whenever we can see that we are sort of  falling off the wagon we tighten the reigns (better than tight pants i always say) and do a detox. perfect for a jump start to a healthier lifestyle, to cut a sugar addiction, or as a post-vacation rx. even if you cut out sugar and grains for a week you'll feel so much better. perfect for leading up to labor day!

i'm also going to start over on my couch to 5k plan. done.

ok, that is enough talk (said in my best jillian michaels voice). here is my detox plan for this week:

monday
breakfast- egg muffins
snacks- raw organic walnuts
lunch- baby kale salad with cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar dressing, and red onions
dinner- turkey tacos with raw salsa and raw cheddar cheese plus black beans

tuesday
breakfast- greek yogurt with almond butter and a little bit of homemade jam
snacks- raw nuts
lunch- leftover taco salad
dinner- organic bbq (make sure you check the bottle for NO high fructose syrup) chicken with green bean salad

wednesday
breakfast- green smoothie
snacks- celery dipped in almond butter or hummus
lunch- leftover green bean salad
dinner- grass-fed beef burgers with grilled vegetables

thursday
breakfast- baby kale and onion fritatta
snacks- small plain greek yogurt with cinnamon and a little honey
lunch- mixed greens with leftover grilled veggies and italian dressing
dinner- sweet bison chili

friday
breakfast- fried egg and turkey bacon (nitrate free)
snacks- raw nuts
lunch- leftover chili
dinner- warm endive and fennel salad

saturday
breakfast- green smoothie
snacks- celery dipped in hummus
lunch- grilled zucchini pizza
dinner- coconut chicken (season unsweetened shredded coconut, dip chicken first in egg then coat in coconut, lightly saute in coconut oil) served with with peanut sauce and broccoli

sunday
breakfast- scrambled eggs with herbs and gorgonzola cheese
snacks- raw nuts
lunch- leftover chicken and peanut sauce with broccoli
dinner- leftover zucchini pizza

other important notes:
just say no to alcohol (even red wine) for two weeks or longer...
drinks lots of water
if you need a sweet fix, eat a handful of strawberries
reheat food in oven or on stove (not in microwave)
before you make a grocery list, plan your menu. i also clean out my refrigerator before a detox.

ps if you play along, i'd love to hear from you. feel free to ask any questions in the comment section.

rachel's birthday fiesta!

matt threw the most insanely perfect fiesta for rachel on friday night. the food was outofcontrol: stuffed peppers, grilled marinated pork, grilled cream of corn (cream of grilled corn?), spicy beans, etc. my mom made the best chocolate cake you've ever tasted PLUS matt got sublime to make rachel birthday donuts. my super crafty sister made the incredible fringe banners and lantern out of tissue paper. it was so pretty!

cuban records were spinning, the pinata was busted, and margaritas were surely consumed. i loved seeing rachel so happy and surrounded by so many people that love her. it was a fantastic party!

stay tuned tomorrow for how i plan on to get back on track to eating healthy. the birthday month has made me wild.

gossip.

so, writing this post makes me a tinge uncomfortable. i'm nervous of where to even begin so i'm just gonna jump right in. the other day when i was reading the celebration of discipline i came to the chapter on service. typically when i think of "service" i think of missions or casseroles. right? one of the things that richard foster says that stood out to me the most was "the service of guarding the reputation of others" and that "there is a discipline in holding one's tongue that works wonders within us."

i confess that i have gossiped plenty. i am no saint in this regard. when i told sam i was feeling compelled to write a post on gossip he said, "that's right up your alley." ouch. people get on my nerves and then naturally i want to "vent." venting isn't gossiping, right? it is so easy for me to justify talking about other people. there are some rude people in this world, but i'm called to be "the bigger person." it's essential i take the high road and that i pray for my enemies.

i have also been gossiped about. that's a fun little treat. i've fallen victim to several "friends" both christian and otherwise. i think that one of the biggest challenges in the christian community is keeping things in confidence. gossiping is shown as "concern" when in reality it's a slippery slope folks. no judgements, just sayin'.

i've worked in customer service in one way or another for 15 years now. gulp. i've worked mostly with women, waiting on women. as beth moore says in esther: it's tough being a woman, "so many of our problems as women are... other women". sisters! why are we so mean to each other? i know that the majority of negative things that i've said about other people stem from my own insecurities: i want to be liked, i'm not as pretty as they are, they dress cuter than i do, they're smarter than me, they hurt my feelings, ad nauseum. the biggest and most frequent cause of my trash talking comes from mind-reading. oh yea totally guilty. i make assumptions of why people do things and go from there.

so today i am making a pledge to shut.up.

leave a comment if you want to join me. it won't be easy. i'm sure i'll screw up, but each time we bite our tongue we will be growing. we've been given so much grace, it's time to pass it on.

*photo

simplicity

1/2 (recent pins)

i've been reading this book over the last week and i have to tell you that although i've had it for years i just now got around to reading it and that is a crying shame. each chapter offers so much information on growing stronger in your faith. the chapter that i've found to be most challenging (other than fasting) has been simplicity. i would classify myself as a maximalist (different than a hoarder people) so simplifying doesn't necessarily come easily. after reading this great quote from coco chanel: "when accessorizing always take off the last thing you put on," i've toned down my outfit choices but the other areas of my life could still use some work.

specifically i've been trying to home in (always thought it was hone didn't you) on my inward and outward compulsions. inward: checking email & social network sites more often than i'd like to admit (can i only check them once a day?). outward: getting new clothing to keep up with fashion instead of having a classic, simple wardrobe (the older i get the more i appreciate a simple pair of jeans with a striped shirt for instance).

this is where i'm at.

i'm going to take major strides to simplify because clutter makes me feel crazy and really that's not helpful. speaking of crazy... i'll be watching three kids under three today. wish me luck!

ps the adorable shop i work with is giving away $50 towards my favorite kids line: tea! tell them i sent you...

sew!

good morning! how was your weekend? we had the best sunday. it included church (kris is back hooray), sewing, ice cream with my dad and a lovely grilled dinner courtesy of my fine husband. we have been consuming far too much sugar so no mas until next weekend at least.

this tiny fete dress was created for one of my favorite little girls, willow. thus, i have dubbed it the willow dress (the creativity just doesn't stop around here). i want to name my dresses after babes they were created for. fun, no? willow loves pirates so it was imperative that the pirate ship be represented. because the body fabric has so much shazam we opted for pockets to keep the fabrics from competing too much. i also lined the pockets with a fuchsia and white striped fabric. they are curved and deep to hold whatever trinkets are necessary for the day. whatcha think?

i want to sew, sew, sew this week. also, my brother will be in town straight from a montana farm. can't wait to see him!

if you live in marietta you are probably as excited as i am that this restaurant is opening today. let's go out and support good food.

ps it's august (say what) aka the month of family birthdays... starting tomorrow!

dear diary,

aren't these just the prettiest?

last night sam started a fire for me and i burned approximately 15 years worth of diaries. i read through a lot of them and just felt bummed. i had some really sad times as a young person and still have sad times but in a totally free moment where i wanted to just be present i burned those times. i sad buh-bye to ex-boyfriends, mean "friends," insecurities, painfully private thoughts that i would be mortified if anyone read. it.felt.so.good.

i want to write a letter to myself at each age that i began keeping a journal while the entries are still fresh in my mind. that's my intention this week. i want matilda to be able to read them as she goes through those painfully awkward times in life. i challenge you to write your 15 year old self a note.

speaking of being 15. i found the journal where i originally did the artist's way and i can't wait to compare my answers now to how i felt then. progress.

speaking of advice... i've been loving yours.

horses gonna horse

my friends got this print for their baby girl's nursery and i just wish i had found it first. i love it.

lately i have been surrounded by a lot of negativity and it's times like these where i can feel God calling me to more quiet time with Him. i can sense the need to shut my mouth, to quiet any defensive spirit, to put away my pride. i think i word vomited a hundred times over the last several days. cringe. when i get nervous i always say things i don't mean. it's embarrassing. i'm starting to think i had it coming. pretty sure i set myself up.

i'm going to be diving back in to this book. i really enjoyed journaling my way through it in high school and even after college. i think this would be the perfect place to put my thoughts.

how are you?

hello monday!

i know we all feel a little like this when the week starts over and we're back to the grind. however, it is of my opinion that i have way too much to be thankful for. this week i'm going to focus on obsessing over how cute matilda is, spending more time outside reading in my hammock, creating pretty things, and no time at all whining. my goal is to try and not complain all week. wish me luck!

eat more vegetables

grilled portabello mushrooms

this week i plan on packing each day full of vegetables. fruits too, but mainly going vegetarian for the week. i'm also working on eating raw at least two meals a day. so far i have made these raw tacos and these raw brownies. they were both unbelievably delicious. it amazing how awesome nuts are. i would much rather eat nuts disguised as meat than soy which is so often full of c-r-a-p (i'm even spelling out cuss words on the internet). oh and i'm allergic to it too. my lips swell up like large balloons.

over the weekend sam and i made these portabello burgers for dinner with my sister rachel. grilled peaches might be my new favorite thing. so. good.

please share, i would love to hear your go-to vegetarian meals...

i was a vegetarian for about two years, but was more like a carbatarian. cheese quesadilla? yes please. i could easily eat like a healthy vegetarian now but sam loves him some meat. trying to find a way to "meet" in the middle.

this week's intention: be creative

1/2
just a couple of things i've pinned recently to my "make" board.i've been in a creative rut, so what better intention to have right? when i'm feeling anxious and yucky creating something is the best medicine. no time to be down. my goal (er intention) for this week is to make something for a friend, make something for matilda, and attempt to make something for our home. looking forward to being crafty for absolutely no reason.
also, this thought for the week:
"i shall sometimes look back at the freshness of vision i had in childhood and try at least for a little while, to be, in the words of lewis carroll, the 'child of the pure unclouded brow, and dreaming eyes of wonder.' "-clyde kilby's resolutions taken from here.
anything on your "to make" list?

this week's intention: NOW

1./2./3./4.
"when you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. the mind in itself is a wonderful tool. dysfunction sets in when you seek your self in it and mistake it for who you are"- power of now
this week's intention is inspired by this book. i've been reading it every morning and learning more and more about how to train my mind to live in the present. i have to constantly remind myself not to be in waiting mode or to dwell on things of the past. even though this is something i've been working on for years, i want it to be the sole focus of this week. i've caught myself being super negative the last few days. crankosaurus really. i don't want to miss out on the beauty of thunderstorms or my daughter's sweet voice because i'm preoccupied with feeling sorry for myself or worrying about things i have no control over.
the other day at book club (i'm a terrible member and have failed to read one book, but this was the book of choice) i felt completely present and so happy. it felt so good to be surrounded by fun girl friends and to be able to gab and gorge on jennifer's amazing spread of appetizers. specifically we were sitting on jen's back porch, which i've always loved. there are strewn lights everywhere and vines and lots of places to sit. the girls were taking turns reading their favorite parts of the book and i caught myself being totally and utterly present. it felt so magical to just be in the moment and not in my head.
when i'm practicing living in the present sometimes blasting this in the background helps.

this week's intention: "the challenge"

motivational images from here.

how was your weekend? we had some neighbor porch time and we were able to go to church on pentecost which is pretty cool because that's where the whole church thing began. we attempted to make it through matilda's second ever movie in the theater. we came armed with raisins to go see kung fu panda 2. we made it through most of it...:/

edit for claire: "I wish you'd told the whole story of Matilda in the theater cause I laughed about it all afternoon, seriously. HA!"

we decided half way through the movie that matilda could no longer keep shoveling raisins in to her mouth, so being the responsible parents that we are, we got some popcorn. everyone was enjoying said popcorn and then matilda had enough. she did not want to share. "that's TILDE's" then she began screaming hysterically and sam took her out. they didn't come back so i knew we'd lost the battle.

i wanted to start a new series that will kick off each monday to sort of inspire the week. i plan on setting an intention and then focusing on that each day.

my first intention is inspired by lara casey who is the publisher and editor-in-chief of southern weddings magazine, among a host of other talents. she put together a really motivating week/month/year long challenge (depending on how fast you plow through it). you can feel her drive and passion through each challenge and as i was scanning through it i thought it would be something i could really use right now.

i've been in self-discovery mode. at heart i'm an entrepreneur. that being said, even with working a wonderful part-time job and being full-time wife+mom, my heart still longs to "own" something. do something that is just mine. i'm trying to channel what that is and make it work in my life.

part of seeing things clearly means getting rid of clutter (figuratively + literally). i'm working to tidy up my thoughts and to home in on what makes me happy.

feel free to join right along!

ps i revamped homemade grits, so if you're in your reader... ch-ch-check it out.