Breastfeeding Revolution

Hello Mamas,

Have you overcome huge obstacles and challenges in your life and gained great wisdom from the experience?  While we are in the midst of the chaos we really can't understand why it is happening.  It's usually not until quite some time later that we finally say, "OH!  That's why that happened and I'm better off for having that experience."

If you know me personally then you know that I have dealt with a lifetime of digestive issues.  When I was in my 20's I was diagnosed with a pre-Cancerous condition and had a HUGE wake-up call!  The message I received was, "I am RESPONSIBLE for my own health!"  Not the doctors, Nutritionists or Specialists.  Just me.  I healed myself through food and nutrition.  I vowed that my life would be different.  It has been.

During my first pregnancy I decided that I wanted a Natural, Unmedicated, Unassisted Hospital Birth.  I had a new-found appreciation for my body and knew that Birthing a Baby is what it was designed to do.  I knew if I could trust the process, all would go well and it did.  What I didn't expect was that when my baby was born that all my bacteria and years of my unbalanced system would be passed along to him.  He came out with minimal digestive issues AND he was unable to breastfeed.

You see, I had gained information about Breastfeeding and after experiencing a Natural Birth, I felt that Breastfeeding was the next step in continuing his path to health.  When things didn't go well I felt Isolated, Angry, Confused, Worried, Disappointed....   and the doctors didn't help.  They made me feel crazy.  "JUST give Formula."  But I had the Breastmilk.  I was home with my baby.  I was fully available for exclusive breastfeeding.  I began to question, "Why can't anyone help me to make this work?  Why must I be alone in this journey?"

I was blessed to have a husband that fully supported me.  He made meals, he brought them to me, he stayed up with me at night while I cried from the pain each time my son latched on.  He never left my side.  He carted me around to Pediatricians, Hospitals and ENTs.  Hospitals? Yes, because they took blood from my baby to see if there was a reason why he wasn't gaining weight.

When finally after 3 months of going through the agony, I began supplementing with formula and that brought about tremendous problems for my baby.  He dealt with constipated, diaper rashes, projectile vomiting, and constant crying.  At that time we had an amazing Lactation Specialist come visit our home and she diagnosed his tongue tie.  I was still trying to nurse.  I tried Supplemental Nursing Systems, finger feedings, and Syringe Feedings.  We rushed into NYC with our baby crying all the way and had it clipped in a simple 5 minute procedure.

You would think things would have gotten better after that, right?  Wrong.  Each and Every time I brought my baby to my breast he screamed, almost in terror.  He was so frustrated.  I was frustrated and exhausted.  I couldn't see past the emotional pain for us.  That was the end of our breastfeeding relationship.

I cried and cried every time I gave my baby a bottle.  It wasn't what I had desired for us but at that point I had no control of that.  I didn't know better.  I didn't have any other support.

In the end, I went on to make homemade formula and all of his issues began to subside.  Finally I was at peace with feeding my baby.


~This is part of my Breastfeeding Journey.  It is why I encourage moms to learn more about breastfeeding, so they can choose to do what's best for their babies.  Breastfeeding doesn't look the same for everyone but it is by far the healthiest choice for your baby.  You will need the information and support way before the baby arrives...  It is my intention that you will be informed and inspired here:  www.breastfeedingrevolution.com/Christine

It's a Revolution!  And it's F-R-E-E!  Join 21 amazing mama and baby experts as they share their own personal breastfeeding stories and their best nursing advice with you.

I look forward to welcoming you to Breastfeeding Revolution! 

Please SHARE this with all the mommies and daddies in your communities.


In breastfeeding success,
Christine

I Was the One

So, here is my tribute to April - Poetry Month:

I was that person

I was one that felt sick after every she ate

pants didn't fit after dinner and I'd have to unbutton them

because my stomach would bloat

I was the one who would have to leave the table after a few bites

during a meal to run to the restroom

I was the one who was trapped in the restroom for a very long time

with either Constipation, Diarrhea or extreme aches and pains

I was the one

who was embarrassed to use a restroom at work

or anywhere outside of my home

because of the toxic aroma

I don't mean to be gorey

but being that we're all Moms here, we've Seen it all!

I was the one who suffered from severe aches and pains from Menstruation

starting at a very young age and was put on Birth Control Pills

because of the heavy bleeding, debilitating cramps and anemia that followed

I was the one

who had the beginnings of Endometriosis at the age of 17!

I was the one

who had terrible skin conditions:

Acnes cysts, that needed to be sliced open, drained and injected

by the Dermatologist

I was the one

who suffered from constant re-occuring Yeast Infections

and was constantly put on Diflucan to cure them

but they never went away for good...

I was the one

who missed tons of days of work from stomach upset

and my chronic digestive illness

I was the one

who began having stomach attacks that would last anywhere from

8-16 hours

They would begin by me being awakened from severe cramps, abdominal pain, cramps, burning, nausea, projectile vomitting, diarrhea,

Superfood Saturday- PANCAKES! Grain-Free, Wheat-Free

There has been quite a BUZZ around these pancakes ever since I discovered the recipe on the back of the Quinoa Flour box!  I have made some simple substitutions, and you can feel free to do the same.  In our home we are mainly Gluten-Free and we were Dairy-Free for the past 3 years but then we started adding in RAW cow's dairy into our diets.  I'm still processing it and seeing how/if it's affecting my health.  I'll get back to you on that one, but you can still substitute the milk with Hemp milk, Coconut Milk or Almond milk and it should work.

When I do make these pancakes I'm sure to double and triple this recipe and then freeze these for the week!  Just pop into your toaster or toaster-oven and heat up!  A NO-COOK, Healthy, Superfood breakfast in minutes!   Enjoy! Please post any Additions or Substitutions in the comments below so that we can all benefit.

Wheat Free Pancakes:

1/3 cup quinoa flour
1/3 cup flaxmeal
1/3 cup Gluten-Free Rolled Oats
1 tbs organic sugar (or raw honey)
1/2 tsp Sea Salt

3 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp aluminum-free baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup of Raw milk (or dairy-free options)
1 Pasture-Raised EGG

Mix together the dry ingredients first and then add the milk, egg, and oil.  Pour small amounts onto your (Stainless Steel) pan (please NO non-stick, toxic pans otherwise you're defeating the Benefits of this meal).  Turn the pancakes as soon as they have bubbled but before the bubble breaks.

• If you'd like more recipes like this for you family and your loved ones, please subscribe, visit my website www.momscoachforlife.com 
• join me every Monday, for MomsCoachforLifeTV
• join our tribes on Facebook and Twitter

I also offer one-on-one Private Health Coaching Packages for Moms.  If you'd like to schedule a complimentary, 30 minute "Disease Proof my Family" Discovery Session, please contact me now.




Yours in Holistic Mommyhood,
Christine

Your Green-Mama Guru

Busy Moms Beginner Cleanse!

Simple Busy Moms Cleanse

Begins July 10th to July 16th

Interested in doing a Cleanse but have no clue where to start?

Too busy to make time to do a cleanse on your own?

Worried that you won't have the energy to carry on with your daily routines if you do try a cleanse?

And really, what is a cleanse anyway?

~ A cleanse involves a temporary change to your diet and lifestyle that will assist your body in eliminating toxins and mucous through the colon, liver, kidneys, lymph, lungs and skin which helps bring the body back into Balance. Spring is the time of the liver in Chinese medicine, and therefore the ideal time for a cleanse.

The Simple Cleanse for Busy Moms, is very much like the spring cleaning that takes place in your home. It's time to:

- Declutter: get rid of those extra pounds we put on during the holidays, and snow days that we spent baking cookies (eating them throughout the weeks and watching movies!) Get your body ready for summer clothing where MORE skin is exposed!

- Deep Cleaning: Break out all your Cleaning Supplies- FOOD that will lubricate, get things moving, get rid of the junk, clean the walls (intestines), windows (eyes), and air vents (Lungs, nasal passageways, sinuses/allergies). Don't forget to clean the chimney to get rid of that Mental Fog, and Afternoon Slump you've been having where you find yourself experiencing major Cravings!!! Bye, Bye Sugar, Caffeine and Processed Junk Food.

- Polish and Shine: Restore your appearance: Eyes will become brighter! Say goodbye to Dry Skin, Dark Circles, and Acne and H-E-L-L-O to Radiant skin, and Lustrous Hair that will have you feeling HAPPY, HOT & Healthy!!

- Bring Peace and Renewal to your Home & Family through the peace and renewal of your own Temple. And have tons of ENERGY to actually get all your Household Spring Cleaning done! That's just an added Bonus.

What will I receive? You'll receive a 20 Page Booklet to your inbox, which will include:

# 1 A complete Cleanse Protocol - Everything you need to know about sticking to a cleanse, instructions, procedures and which self-care items to purchase and how to use them. Complete with recommended Detox Teas, Detox Baths and Detox drinks. This is the entire FORMULA for a Successful Detox! ($127)

# 2 50 Min GET BUSY Teleseminar, and a Getting Started checklist. ($75)

# 3 7-Day Meal Planner filled in with ALL of your MEALS, Snacks & Drinks! Easy, right? ($27)

#4 SUPER Recipes - Super Smoothies, Healthy Recipes, Snacks & Drinks ($47)

# 5 Completely Categorized - Food Shopping List ($15)

# 6 Access to our VIP Facebook Page where you'll receive daily inspirations, group support, Instant Communication for Q & A and Group Coaching from ME! (Priceless!)

I added up the total cost, so you could see exactly what you're getting and it came out to be over $300. If I charged that price I wouldn't be able to serve as many people in leading healthier lives because of the fear to invest in themselves.

Although, I do know many moms that get weekly manicures, pedicures or spend hundreds of dollars on their hair and toiletries, but what are they doing to improve their Health?

Isn't it time you gave yourself the gift of health? So your investment in your Health is only $97….

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? This is the last time this cleanse will be offered at such a low rate! If you don't join us for our next cleanse on July 10th, you will see the prices go up!

Pre-Register for the next Cleanse by June 26th and receive 25% off!

Contact me today Christine@momscoachforlife.com

Hum, Hum, HUMMUS!!!!

For anyone struggling with healthy snack ideas for the kids, Hummus is a great place to start. I tested this out on my public school students who are not used to eating "Healthy" snacks while at school. In fact, most of the time Donuts, cookies and cupcakes are brought in to share. And then you have the "everyday" snacks that they get from the vending machines, which include Doritos, Cookies, Chips and pretzels.

So today, I created a presentation of "HUMMUS BOATS!" It was an idea I received last night from my friend Dawne. It's very simple to do and makes for lots of great conversations! Simply cut a Red Bell Pepper in half, and fill the cavity with Homemade Hummus. Then add sliced carrot sticks for Oars, Organic Pretzels for the Pier, Cucumber slices for pads, raisins for people and serve on a bed of Kale!!! Sound yummy? They thought it was. They used the veggies to scoop out the hummus, and then we cut up the red peppers so that each student had a slice. I couldn't believe how fast it all went and just how much they enjoyed it! Mission Accomplished!!

Here's the recipe for Homemade Hummus:

4 cloves of Fresh Garlic (finely chopped)

15 ounces of Organic Garbanzo Beans (Soaked overnight and cooked for approx 1 hr)

2 Tablespoons of "Organic Tahini" by Once Again

1/4-1/2 cup of filtered water

2 tablespoons of Freshly squeezed Organic Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp gluten free, Organic Tamari, or Soy Sauce

1/2 tsp of Organic Cumin

1/4 tsp of Organic Ground Coriander

a dash of Cayenne pepper

Optional: 1 Tablespoon of finely chopped parsley

Add all the above ingredients to a High Powered Blender, and blend until creamy! You can eat warm or chill in the fridge for an hour. When taking out of the fridge, allow the hummus to thaw until it reaches room temperature.

Kale Chips

Many Mamas want to know how to get "greens" into their kids' diet? Well, a tried and true way to do this is by purchasing Organic Greens and making them into a yummy, crunchy chip? Interested in trying this simple idea out on our kiddies? Okay, but if you try out the recipe you must report back and let us know how it went. Deal? Great!!! Here's the recipe I use the most, but there are many other varieties for making Kale chips. This is quick and easy for a full-time working mom! Enjoy!

Prep Time:	10minutes
Cooking Time:	10 minutes
Yields:	10 servings or more
Ingredients:	1 to 2 bunches kale Olive Oil
Directions:	1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 2. Remove kale from stalk, leaving the greens in large pieces. 3. Place a little olive oil in a bowl, 4. Dip your fingers and rub a very light coat of oil over the kale. 5. Place kale on baking sheet 6. Bake for 5 minutes or until it starts to turn a bit brown. 7. Keep an eye on it as it can burn quickly. 8. Turn the kale over and bake with the other side up. 9. Remove and serve
Notes:	Try different kinds of kale or collard greens. For added flavor sprinkle with a little salt or spice, such as curry or cumin after rubbing on olive oil. For an extra nutrition boost, try adding Nutritional Yeast Flakes!

More recipes

Lately I've definitely gotten more daring with my recipes. I'm finally at a place where I can substitute ingredients for others! This is a huge milestone for me, as a cook. It's also been an eye-opener as I've started to cook LESS meat and MORE veggies, that meat, in my house, has now become the minority ingredient. Seriously? I can't believe it considering just a little over a year ago I was still preparing the typical Meat, Starch, & Veggie dinners.

It's exciting that there is a whole other world out there that I'm still discovering. Today I'm sharing a few of my newest "non-meat" recipes. As always, let me know what you tried, what you liked, and what you trashed! =)

Cilantro Lemon Cod

Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Event: February 25 9 PM Eastern

Event: February 25 9 PM Eastern

Join Me for my next Teleseminar: End your Love Affair with Food!

Do you really think I LIKE cooking?

So, it's come to my attention that many of my followers have misinterpreted my love for food to mean I LOVE to COOK!!! Nothing could be farther from the truth!!! Lol!! I'm not sure how I conveyed that message to you, but thinking back on it now I can see how you would make that assumption.

Well, here's the truth about me and cooking! I never liked cooking!!! There, I've said it. Although I thought I liked cooking when I first had my own apartment, I have to admit, it got old fast. I hate following recipes. There was always an ingredient I didn't have on hand, so therefore the recipe was tossed aside. If I tried following lengthy, intricate, detailed recipes, it became way too much work for me. I quickly became discouraged and believed cooking wasn't for me. Let's face it, it was much easier, less stressful and WAY MORE Delicious to eat out!

What seemed to work was cooking one or two meals a week, packing frozen "diet" or "healthy" lunches and then heading out to dine for dinners. I soon found myself in my early 20's with GERD, IBS, a Haital Hernia, PMS, and Barrett's Disease.

Barrett's Disease can lead to Cancer. It is caused from years of Acid Reflux washing over the esophagus. Over time, the stomach cells start growing up into your Esophagus to protect it from the acid, but any time there is abnormal cell growth it can lead to Cancer. I finally woke up and realized something had to change.

After working with Nutritionist, Nancy Guberti, I started eating Organic foods, and eliminated soda, sugar and processed foods from my diet. While Nancy completely helped me to heal my gut, I still didn't like cooking. It wasn't until last year when I joined The Institute for Integrative Nutrition that I began to learn how to cook quick, simply, healthy meals in under 30 minutes!!! Today, I often post my meals/recipes on Facebook and here on my blog but I thought you should know I still truly do not love cooking. I do however, love to eat. Eating has become more of a sacred ritual in our home. We always begin with a prayer of thanksgiving, then we sit together, as a family and enjoy the fresh, healthy food that nourishes our bodies and our souls!

If you'd like just a little bit of what I've experienced, I'm willing to share all of my time-honored recipes with you and help you to restore your own health, and help you also give your family the gift of Wellness for years to come! Invest in yourself this year, and sign up for a FREE Health Consultation so you can hear about all the work & research I have done, so that you won't have to!

Here's my newest recipe that I discovered. Teriyaki Salmon! Definitely a change I welcomed from eating the same grilled mustard salmon for the past 4 years! =) Try it and don't forget to comment here and let us know what you think!

Beans, Beans, Beans!

Lately I have been on a BEAN - kick!!! It seems that I am finding more and more meals that incorporate Beans as a main ingredient. The more I learn about the Meat Industry, the more appealing eating beans are becoming to me.

I grew up eating lots of meat. I loved meat - Steak, pork, sausage, burgers, lamb chops, ground meat sauce and chicken were often found on our dinner plates. As I've learned more about nutrition I am beginning to enjoy new foods that give me tons of energy and are more sustainable to our earth.

Dinner has become more about planning ahead (in my mind that is, because I don't have time to actually get it onto a piece of paper) and doing some preparation in advance.

While I'm food shopping on Saturday I'll make a mental note of the beans we haven't had in a while. Right now I'm thinking of Mung, Lentil, and Adzuki beans. So, before I head out to shop I'll check out some recipes online, or if I have a few "staple" ones, I'll just resort to those for an easy week.

When I get home from food shopping, I measure out some beans, put them in a bowl, add water and soak for 8 hours overnight. Sunday morning I begin cooking the beans. Once cooked and rinsed I return the beans back to a container to store in my fridge. I'll use the beans in my menu for the week. This system is very effective, and it makes cooking SO much easier when I return home exhausted. *As a side note, I don't serve my family anything processed. We don't buy anything in a metal can or boxed. Ninety percent of our meals are strictly made from scratch. It makes a huge difference and it's quite manageable once you have a system in place.

Here are a few meals that I've recently tried and posted on Facebook. Many of you asked for the recipes, so I'm including these below. As always, let me know if you try them, tweak them, and how your family reacts to them as well.

I made these for the first time tonight- Sweet Potato Burritos!! My husband and I thought they were really tasty but my son wasn't too keen on all the spices. It think it was a bit too much flavor for his liking. Other than that, I'd give it 4 stars!

How does your food SERVE you?

I know that it sounds like a bit of an Oxymoron, to ask how your food serves you, when it is usually you serving the food.

Many people don't look at food the way that I've learned to "see" it in my life. Many of us just don't take the time to "think" about how food is serving our bodies. In the past, I've often worried about the types of products I used on my hair and skin and the brands of cosmetics I purchased, but I never thought of food as nourishment for my mind, body and soul. I never knew that the food I was putting in my body affected every ounce of who I am and how I live.

Within these past three years of my life, I've found the true value of food. I've learned which foods serve me so that I can live the type of life I've always dreamed of! Since starting on this journey of wellness I can tell you I have undergone a huge transformation due to FOOD! I am now calmer, more relaxed, my mind is clearer, I have more patience, experience more joy, have returned to my high school weight, and I've been able to handle the stress in my life much more effectively.

So, when I ask, "Does food serve you?," I really mean, "How is the food that you are putting into your Sacred Temple working for you?" How is food helping you to live the life you always dreamed you would? If you have no idea what I'm talking about because food is just something you prepare and scarf down, or if the food you are eating is making you sick, (IBS, GERD, ACID REFLUX, CONSTIPATION, DIARRHEA, ACNE, PMS, DEPRESSION, OBESITY, DIABETES, ANXIETY, INFERTILITY, ADD, ADHD, etc) then I invite you to send me a message today to learn how to restore yourself to optimal health and vitality. I will help you open the doors to a whole new world that's out there waiting for you!

Imagine being able to share all of this with your family, your children, and your babies (both born and unborn). Don't waste another minute eating food that does not serve your greater purpose in the world. Learn to take control of your health today! Imagine not having to diet, count calories or restrict your eating. I will teach you ways to make simple changes that will impact your life forever! Contact me today: Christine@momscoachforlife.com I look forward to hearing from you, and until then... Live Well!

Luscious Lentils for Dinner

Being a full-time working mom has created many new challenges for me but I refuse to let Healthy Cooking fall by the wayside. I also refuse to add any unnecessary stress to my already hectic life. Having said that, I cook 98% of all our meals, and I swear it is what keeps me going most days! While I'm not the most organized person in the world, I have acquired a few staple meals that I cycle through every few weeks. Lentil soup is a NEW recipe for me, and while it was not the tastiest soup that I've made, it satisfied our bellies and actually tasted better the next day.

I cooked the Lentil Soup on Monday night but we didn't eat it then. Instead, I re-heated the soup on Tuesday and cooked it a little longer than expected, so that when I went to remove it from the stove it looked more like a bean dip than a soup! I got rave reviews from the family on this one, so I decided to post it here for all my followers. Please feel free to let me know what you thought, or if there are other ways or ingredients to make Lentil Soup. For now, I am very pleased with this soup's ease, simplicity, and comforting appeal. I hope you are too!

Ingredients:

2 cups of Green Organic Lentils (soaked overnight)

3 Tablespoons of Pasture Butter

1 Organic Yellow Onion (diced)

3 large Organic Carrots (chopped)

4 cloves of Organic Garlic (chopped)

2 small Organic Russet Potatoes, Peeled and chopped

8 cups of Organic Chicken or Vegetable Broth (I use homemade Bone Broth)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1. In a large pot, toss the butter, onions, garlic, carrots, & potatoes and saute' for about 8-10 minutes.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook (uncovered) on medium heat for 90 minutes or until the lentils are soft. You can continue to add more liquid as it boils down, or you can make a thicker soup consistency.

Serve warm with fresh bread, or boil down the water until it becomes like a "bean dip" and serve with Tortilla chips!

The Healthiest Chocolate Pudding!!!

I've always enjoyed chocolate. It has been my favorite flavor when it comes to many things, but these days I no longer crave the Snickers bars of the past. Now that I've acquired a taste for raw Cacao beans, I'm totally addicted to this pudding. It's a healthy addiction. One that includes an energy boost, mental clarity and a release of those feel-good endorphins! I highly recommend you give this a try. If you do, please share your thoughts with other followers of this blog by commenting below.

Until next time, Live Well!!!


Raw Chocolate Pudding Recipe

3 medium Organic (ripe) Avocados
1/2 Raw Cacao Powder
1/2 cup of filtered water
1/4 cup Agave Nectar
1/4 cup raw wild honey
(OR just add 1/2 cup Agave or Honey)
2-3 Tablespoons of Vanilla (if using Raw Vanilla Bean, try only 1 Tablespoon)
1 tsp of Sea Salt or HimalaSalt (pink rock salt)

Combine all ingredients in a high powered blender. Blend until hot, smooth and creamy
Top with crushed almonds, walnuts or slices of banana!

Turkey Meatballs in November?

Thanksgiving Week is quickly approaching, but that doesn't even stop me from getting my weekly dose of homemade Turkey Meals. For the most part, Turkey meatballs are a staple in our home. My 2-year-old toddler can't seem to get enough of them and I just love the fact that it takes me all of 10 minutes to prep, then plop in the oven for 30 minutes. Since so many people have requested this recipe, I thought I would add it my blog. I don't measure the ingredients when I make this dish, but I've tried to be as precise as possible here. Use your judgement and let me know if you made any adjustments. Gobble, Gobble!! =)

1 package of free range, hormone free, antibiotic free ground turkey meat.
1 egg (organic is always best)
1/4-1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (we use gluten-free)
3-4 cloves of freshly chopped garlic
1/4 cup grated cheese
2 tsp of fresh parsley (finely chopped)

Preheat oven to 350
combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together with your hands.
Add 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin, Organic, Oil Olive to a baking pan, or cookie sheet
Use an ice cream scooper to scoop out balls of meat and drop into pan
Bake on 350 for 30 minutes!

Butternut Squash time of the year!!

If you've only had Butternut Squash with butter or tomato sauce, you are truly missing out!! It took me 10 minutes to prep and then it baked in the oven for 30 min. All-in-all, a very simple meal to make. I never knew Butternut Squash could actually be an entire meal!! Give it a try. Let me know what you think if you do!

Spaghetti Squash I Recipe - Allrecipes.com

Carrot, Banana, Walnut Muffin Recipe

The Fall season seems to be the best time for Baking and Cooking homemade goodies! I usually start by making a few different soups for the week and then I begin experimenting with new Muffin or bread recipes. This time I came across a truly delicious and HEALTHY Muffin recipe! I decided to give it a try when I looked at all the ingredients and saw there was no need for Sugar!!!! The ingredients were very basic and I had them all on hand.

After these were done, I began dipping into the pan, night and day, for a little treat. (You may not want to make the bite-sized versions, as it was much more conducive for snacking on throughout the day.) These are truly hard to resist! I think next time I will return to making the large muffins that can be eaten as a meal or a FULL snack-on-the-go! If Tyler were already in school, this would definitely make a great snack to include with his lunch!

If you decide to try out this Carrot, Banana, Muffin Recipe, please leave a comment letting me know what you thought. If you didn't like, or altered it in any way I'd love to hear about that too!!!

~ Here are the list of ingredients I used that may have changed the flavor or the quality slightly.

- Aluminum-Free Baking Soda

- Gluten-Free Sorghum Flour

- HimalaSalt

Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash recipe

I have to say this is very simple and delicious!! Great that we'll have some warm, soothing, comfort soup for this cool Autumn week ahead! Try it and let me know what you think. (This is another example that homemade cooking can be simple and stress free!)

Full-time working mom & home-cooked meals?

Is it even possible to be a Full-time working Mom, and a FULL-time cook at all meals? Well, in order for my son and me to have the best nutrition, I had to give it a try to find out. So far I will tell you that it does require a whole lot of planning. I'm thinking that may get easier as time goes by and I learn how to fully adjust to the cook ONE, eat Twice plan.

I used to think that it was too much work to plan the meals for the week in advance, but now I see it's just too much work NOT to!!!! When I go shopping I already have a few meals in mind that I'd like to make for the week. Breakfast is pretty simple, as we cycle through the main meals and smoothies but dinners are always a little more of a challenge.

I've been making MORE servings of each meal and freezing in preparation for the days towards the end of the week when I am tired and don't feel like cooking when I get home. I've turned to my crockpot in the past for certain meals, but now I'm beginning to get more creative!!!

This morning before leaving for work I put Turkey Drumsticks in the crockpot, and when I came home I had a delicious dinner waiting for me!!! Here's the recipe in case you'd like to give it a try. IF you do, please be sure to post a comment and give me some feedback. Suggestions are always welcome too!

Barbecue Turkey Drumsticks

2 lbs of Organic, fee-range, Antibiotic free TURKEY drumsticks

1/2 cup Organic Barbecue Sauce

2 tablespoons of Steaksauce

1/2 cup of spring water

Put turkey and water in the crockpot. Pour the sauces over the top of the drumsticks. Cover the crockpot and set on LOW for 8-10 hours.

Split Pea Recipe

Okay, my friend Kellie shared this very simple recipe with me last year. At first I never dreamed of making, "Split Pea Soup" because quite frankly it didn't sound very appetizing to me. After a little convincing of how simple and sweet this soup was, I caved-in and gave it a try. It has become one of my favorite soups of all time- especially when served over PASTA!!!! SOOO yummy!!! Give it a try. You will NOT be disappointed! For all the busy moms, it freezes really well too!

Split Pea Soup

(Soak peas overnight) 1st Bring to a boil, then rinse.

1 package of 16oz of Organic Split Peas

6 cups of Filtered water

2 Organic Carrots

1 head of chopped Organic Garlic chopped

1 Organic Yellow Onion chopped

2-4 small Organic Potatoes

Himala Salt (pink rock salt) or Sea Salt & Black Pepper to taste

Cover & Simmer up to an hour. Once peas are broken, blend with an Immersion Blender (hand-blender or transfer soup into your regular blender) and blend until smooth and creamy.

Serve over Pasta or with pieces of homemade bread!!! Sooooo Delicious on a cool evening!

Homemade Deodorant

Try making this homemade Deodorant at home!! Easy, and non-toxic to your system.

1 tablespoon of baking soda

1 tablespoon of corn starch

1 tablespoon of olive oil

5-6 drops of tea tree oil

5-6 drops of peppermint oil

Mix together and it forms a paste that you can spread easily under your arms after a shower (it spreads easiest when skin is a tiny bit damp)

** Special Thanks to my friend Ashley for sharing this! **