Thankfully, we have some warm(ish) temperatures coming our way this weekend.  “Upper Fifties” never sounded so good!!!

Have a *fabulous* weekend

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Lunch today was fantastic!  I made this delicious tuna salad that held a variety of flavors and textures.  It was a perfectly pallet pleasing sandwich. The combination of the salty tuna, sweet grapes was phenomenal!  Of course, the crunch from the celery and sunflower seeds made it *fun* to eat!!

Tuna Salad

{Ingredients}

1 can Tuna packed in water, drained

1 rib celery, chopped

5-7 grapes, chopped

1 T chopped onion

1 T mayo

sprinkle with sunflower seeds

S+P

{Directions}

In a small bowl combined all ingredients until just mixed in.  Add S+P to taste.  Serve on a soft roll with tomato and letttuce or over a bed of greens.

I’m off to spend the afternoon painting with Ava!  She’s been under the weather, yet again…arrggghhh.

Have a sweet Wednesday!

Greek yogurt with fresh berries and homemade granola = pure heaven

Ava rediscovered her love for Pink grapefruit this weekend!! yayayyaya!!  We love pink grapefruit!!  It suprises people that she will eat foods that most childern will shun.  I credit this to introducing these foods to her at a very young age!  If you keep putting new foods in front of them and repeat. repeat repeat. they will eventually eat it. 

Ava chowing down on pink grapefruit (no sugar added)

Also, on the agenda this weekend was making some wonderful trail mix!  This is a quick and simple snack to throw together and have it in your purse or at your desk.  It’s super healthy and will hold you over for hours! 

Delectable Trail Mix

1/3 Cup nuts of your choice (my faves, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds and cashews)

1/3 cup Dried fruit (cranberries, apricots (mmmm), raisins)

1/4 cup dried coconut (unsweetened)

1/4 cup dark choc. chips

Throw into a container.  Give a little shake to mix.  Happy Snacking!

Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a great start.

I spent my Friday night spending quality time with my mixer and oven. It was quite romantic, I must say. The results were nothing short of scrumptious.

I’ll be sending half of these chew oatmeal raisins to my family. I’m confident to say they will fully enjoy them.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

{Ingredients}

½ C butter
½ C shortening (Earthbalance is a great brand to use.)
½ C NUstevia baking sugar (or regular granulated sugar)
1.5 C brown sugar
2 Eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 ¼ C spelt flour
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp all spice
3 C old fashioned oats
1 C raisins
½ C coconut (optional)

{Directions}
1. Mix sugars, butter and Shortening.
2. Add in one egg at a time, and vanilla. Beat for 3-5 min.
3. In a separate bowl combine flour, salt, baking soda and powder, cinnamon and all spice.
4. Slowly add dry ingredients into the wet. Mix until combined.
5. Fold in Oats and raisins, and coconut if using.
6. Bake at 350* for 10-12 min.
7. Let cool and enjoy!

They make Amazing ice cream sandwhich cookies too!! Teehheeeehheeee..

We have had some amazing sunsets here. If it wasn’t so frigid out it would be the prefect setting to sit out on the deck and enjoy a sweet cookie while enjoying the gorgeousness of the sky!

*I hope you all are able to get out and enjoy some much needed sunshine this weekend*

Happy Friday.

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I remember one time going into a Guess store!  I was so excited and felt so cool (NOTE: I’m a small town gal it doesn’t take much to get me giddy!) I grabbed the trendiest pair of jeans I could find, in the perfect size I thought I should be wearing!  Much to my dismay I could barely wiggle one leg into them and the thought of getting my caboose synched in them was pretty much impossible (although I’m sure it was quite a humorous sight  trying *thank goodness walls/mirrors can not talk!).  Instead of going and getting a much bigger size than I was used to wearing I choose to walk out of the store with nothing.  I remember being so confused and sad leaving the store empty handed. I didn’t understand why I didn’t fit into the size I normally wear ….at Old Navy I could easily fit into the size I picked up at the Guess store…what was the difference??? I knew I hadn’t that gained weight since last buying a pair of jeans.?!  I think they were trying to tell me THE NUMBER DOES NOT MATTER!

I also recall many times walking into GAP and dreaming of buying the dazzling size 00!  So LAME of me! But sadly now I know that I by far was not alone in that thinking and it’s time to make changes for everyone!

It saddens me greatly that numbers get in the way of our happiness so often.  If you put on a pair of jeans that make you feel confident and beautiful that is all that matters not the number pressing against your behind!  I mean come on if your caboose looks HAWT NO ONE IS GOING TO CARE WHAT THE NUMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR JEANS IS!!

My daughter has always had extremely dry skin with occasional eczema patches. She itches like crazy. We always have to be super careful with what we use on her because even lotions like Cetaphil burn her sensitive skin when it is broken out. Recently I started a new regimen of putting Olive Oil in her bath water and lotion her with Skin MD Natural. You would not believe the improvement we have seen. Her skin on her legs does not feel like an alligator any more. It is smooth! This winter has been so cold and dry in our area and we have not had the problems with her waking up in the middle of the night screaming because her skin is burning and itching. It’s been such a relief!

I tried using Skin MD Natural on my face as well. I loved how light it was and it didn’t leave a weird greasy residue. Sadly though, due to the dryness of winter my face was still flakey and dry. Usually in winter I need a heavier cream like Cetaphil. I think Skin MD Natural would be a great option for summer, when it’s hot and humid, due to the lightness of it. It also has a SPF which is great all year round. I’ll definitely be trying it again on my when the coldness of winter passes (SOON I HOPE GRRRR!!).

The biggest problem I have with this product is the price.  At $18 for a 4oz botter, it would be much too expensive for me to use on a regular basis.  On the other moisturizes are very expensive and your skin is very important so it’s really all about perspective.  I will continue to use it on my daughter and see how it goes…I’ve already seen improvements in her skin so we may continue so use it on her. 

COOL FACTS: • No animal products or testing • Dermatology tested • Fragrance and colorant free • Hypoallergenic • Paraben free • Non-comedogenic

INGREDIENTS: Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7% Octisalate 5% Homosalate 3% Other Ingredients: Deionized water (Aqua) Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe Vera) Cyclopentasiloxane Dimethicone Methyl Gluceth-20 Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) Arnica Montana Flower Extract (Arnica) Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract (Comfrey) Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract (Chamomile) Achillea Millefolium Extract (Yarrow) Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer 1,2 Hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol Butylene Glycol Aminomethyl Propanol Phenoxyethanol

This was a fun product to review. Skin care is so very important!  After all our skin is our biggest organ!  So why not take care of it the best we can with natural/protective products?

It seems like a fun place to play though..doesn’t it?

*Have a swanky weekend*

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Not to mention practice what you preach the sencond you say “eat all of your dinner!” you better darn well be on it yourself because if you don’t you will have a little angel singing “but mommy you didn’t all of your dinner why should I??” ohhhh the woes of parenting! 

Children not only pick up bad words that slip through your lips in a moment of frustration but they also pick up the self criticismyou might say after a big meal or that unforgiving dessert you indulge in every night!!!  There has  never been a bigger wake up call than hearing your child ask “is my tummy fat?”  as she tries  twist, turn and poke it out to make it look bigger.  All you can do is laugh and say “yeah right you little munchkin!!”  While a piece of your heart burns with angony inside!  It’s funny I never realized how much I vocally said I disliked certain things about the way I look until I met my daughter.  Now I think twice before blurting out how fat I feel. 

Moral of the story: while eating a sweet Valentines Day cookie with your child…enjoy the moment and forget the calories and fat.

*HAVE A WARM WEEKEND*

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