Journey to a Green Life

Grain Free Dairy Free Brownies

2017-01-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

I had a taste of some keto brownies this week that a friend was gifted for her birthday. There were so moist and delicious I decided to find a great recipe and give it a try! I couldn't find a recipe that I loved all the ingredients so I made my own. Most keto recipes are using stevia and in my experiences using stevia the recipes end up having a bitter aftertaste. I love coconut sugar and I'm not specifically on a keto diet but I am gluten free so this recipe worked perfect!

3 eggs

4 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 cup coconut sugar

Pinch of pink salt

Bake 350 for about 20 minutes

The icing was actually a chocolate mousse and was 1 can of full fat coconut milk, 1/2 cup coconut sugar, 1/4 cup cocoa and I blended it in the Vitamix then chilled till pudding consistency. You can ice the brownies as you serve or keep refrigerated if you ice the entire batch.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did😀

5 Ways To Get Better Sleep Naturally

2017-01-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

5 Ways To Get Better Sleep Naturally

I keep hearing people complain about not sleeping well or not being able to get to sleep at night. This isn't a problem that I've had regularly but when I have it has been a nightmare! I require LOTS of sleep and I am kind of fond of it too. Did you know you lose weight while you sleep?!? That means if you are not sleeping well you are actually hindering any weightloss efforts you may have been trying to achieve. Good sleeping habits are a necessity of overall good health.

There are many different reasons why you may not be getting a good nights sleep but that's the topic of another post. Here I am going to share with you my top 5 tips for perfecting the art of a good nights sleep. I hope these tips will bring you to a restful sleep and end the nightmare of tossing and turning while bringing you into the colorful world of dreaming.

1.) Sungazing: Did you know gazing at the sun at sunrise and sunset each day will boost your melatonin and serotonin? These feel good hormones will not only help you get a better nights sleep but also help with weightloss!!

2.) No caffeine or stimulants after noon. If you are relying on stimulants such as caffeine to get you through your day these can affect you all the way up to bedtime and wreak havoc on a good nights sleep! Enjoy your cup of joe in the morning but cut out all caffeine after noon for a great nights sleep.

3.) Magnesium, magnesium, magnesium! Did you know over 90% of the population is deficient in magnesium? This magnificent mineral not only helps you to sleep better but helps with symptoms of anxiety and restlessness too! Take a nice hot bath about an hour before bed time and add at least a cup of Epsom salt (I like adding an entire box!) for a great nights sleep and detox benefits too!! There are also magnesium oils and supplements you can take to help you get that sleep you so desire. If you want to give a DIY a try and make your own magnesium oil here is a link to an easy recipe:

http://www.integrativenutritionaltherapies.com/diy-magnesium-oil-spray/

4.) Binaural Beats are a great way to rewire your brain into relaxation. By listening to two different frequencies in either ear the brain actually makes up the difference and changes! You can use binaural beats for more than just relaxation and sleep! Here is a link to one for you to try for better sleep. Remember to always use headphones when listening to binaural beats.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P6izUrS1q7o

5.) Meditation is the best way to handle ALL the stresses of life. If you are feeling overwhelmed I recommend spending 5 minutes sitting in meditation and focusing on your breath. If you make it to 5 minutes without a problem try increasing your time in small increments. Even if you feel as though you are completely failing you will feel better internally. If you are so completely stressed that this sounds too far fetched try a guided meditation video. Here is one that is specifically for sleep but you can try one for stress or anxiety too!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HutgMrYMbfE

Masking Pain With Pleasure

2016-09-26T10:16:00.000-04:00

How many of you have experienced a painful situation in life? How did you handle that situation? Is the first instinct to cry, or to get angry, or to find something to block out the pain? Sometimes it's revenge we seek when we experience pain. For some reason we feel that seeking revenge on the person that hurt us will make us feel better but in the end it usually only hurts us and is extremely bad for our health!

Part of a healthy lifestyle is mastering how to deal with pain effectively. And when I say dealing with it effectively I'm not talking about masking it with drugs or alcohol or food or shopping or filling your calendar with social events and dates. If you are unable to find happiness with just yourself in an empty room or sitting outside in nature alone with nothing to do but be then you haven't mastered this.

As told by Deepak Chopra in his book, The Book of Secrets, "The beginning of suffering is often a refusal to look at how the situation really is". There was a study done that was sponsored by therapists hoping to learn where people turn to for help when they find themselves in trouble. It was found that 15% of people seek some kind of help from a counselor a therapist or a pastor but the rest just sit and watch TV.., refusing to ever even consider looking at the problem or opening it up for discussion with someone who might help them. I think it's pretty obvious if you look around in this age of the consumption whether it be food, alcohol, stuff, or experiences people are trying to mask their pain instead of dealing with it and healing.

I have had my share of pain in this life and one day I will write a book and share my experiences in hopes of helping others who may be dealing with similar pains. I've experienced the "need for revenge" and the deep despairing pains that leave you exhausted and searching for something to end it or just numb it. I've turned to all those coping methods mentioned with absolutely ZERO healing! It wasn't until I stripped all that stuff away and actually dealt with the issues that I have been able to realize that healing IS possible and life can be pure bliss on the other side of pain.

I've lost loved ones to both death and indifference and experienced the kind of hatred from people that smothers the soul and I lived through it and I'm so much better because of it! Life's troubles have a purpose! The purpose of pain is to expand your consciousness and allow your soul to grow! You will never grow if you cannot face the pain and deal with it and you cannot grow if you're masking the pain with drugs or alcohol.

I will be completely honest, because I believe that IS the only way, and say I am so very thankful for ALL the pain I've endured!! I'm thankful for the growth that has taken place. My self-pity and bouts of crying because of the hurt inflicted from others is much shorter lived than in the past. I have been able to let go of how I believe things should be and accept the way they are even if it's not exactly how I'd like it to be. Ive learned to deal with deep pain without turning to drugs or alcohol or stuff. I've realized that I can't change people, only they can change themselves and I've accepted the fact that some people will never change.

I hope that if you are experiencing pain and heartache that you will find healthy ways to work through the pain and grow. I hope you will turn to meditation and prayer and leave behind all the bad. I hope you will find someone to talk to who will guide you through the process of letting it all go. I hope you find the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.

Much peace and love to you❤️✌🏼️

Healthy Vegan Gluten Free Granola

2016-08-12T19:17:00.000-04:00

Anyone else try really hard to eat a healthy breakfast but get bored of the usual smoothie or juice? Pre-packaged cereals, even the organic ones, are usually filled with sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. I wanted something that was not only healthy but quick and delicious! This recipe works perfectly! You can store it in a mason jar and it will keep fresh longer than you will be able to keep it on the shelf!

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another. Combine the two together and make sure the dry is evenly coated with the wet. Once coated spread onto a cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes. Once it is cooled you can transfer to a sealed container for storing.

3 cups gluten free oats

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon himalayan salt

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup dried cranberries (unsweetened)

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)

5 Things That Will Make You Healthier and They Don't Include Foods or Exercise!

2016-08-11T11:27:00.000-04:00

Are you trying your best to be healthy but finding that all those diets and exercise programs are more of a commitment than you are willing to make at this time? What if I told you that you could be working towards a healthier body WITHOUT changing your diet or exercise program? There is so much more to health than those two things alone yet that seems to be all the focus nowadays. I'm not saying that there aren't wonderful benefits to your precious body by what you put into it and how you move but I have a little secret that you may not have heard.....THERE IS MORE!

As i started my journey to health I focused mostly on food and some on exercise, I'm not a cardio junkie! Thankfully my journey has taken me through many ups and downs and twists and turns and I have learned so much in the process! I am going to share 5 SIMPLE things to add to your daily routine that can bring wellness to your life.

STEP 1
BODY BRUSHING
Have you heard of body brushing? If you haven't it is somewhat of a spa experience that you can do AT HOME! Body brushing helps to remove dead skin cells from the surface that give your skin a new and smooth feel but that is not the best part! It improves your circulation and lymphatic drainage which aids in detoxification! How awesome is that! With detoxification and circulation comes less cellulite! Who could use a little cellulite reduction? I know I could!

STEP 2
TONGUE SCRAPING
Here is another daily practice that you could easily add into your daily routine! Tongue scraping is an Ayurvedic practice that removes food particles, toxins, bacteria, and dead cells from your tongue. It takes seconds a day to do this and has the potential to greatly increase well-being! Did I mention it can also help in relieving food cravings? First thing in the morning scrape your tongue before you brush your teeth. Those few extra seconds will add so much to your health! Oh and say goodbye to halitosis!

STEP 3
MEDITATION
There's an old Zen saying, "You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day, unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour". Our lives are busy, hectic to say the least! If you don't take the time to sit down and breathe you will never learn to let go of all that stress that you are accumulating. I suggest starting with 5 minutes a day. Everyone has 5 minutes! It's easy and there's really no right or wrong way. Focus on the breath, breath in and out and continue this for 5 minutes. You can work your way up to longer times and you may even enjoy it so much that you pass the 5 minute mark your first time! I always feel so much happier and relaxed after even only 5 minutes of meditation! So many of us are shallow breathers because of stress and anxiety and this exercise will flood your system with oxygen as you are actually focusing on the breath and not taking that beautiful breath for granted!

STEP 4
AFFIRMATIONS
How many of you have affirmations? Do you even know what one is? Affirmations are positive thinking that can boost you towards a better mental outlook AND better health! We will literally become what we believe we are! How do you feel about yourself? Do you think you are lazy, a poor eater, out of shape? By speaking positive affirmations to yourself daily, you can work towards clearing out all that negativity and creating a NEW, HEALTHIER YOU!! Start out by telling yourself each morning as you look in the mirror "I am healthy and happy". You can add to this with any areas that you are aware of that need work and build on each area. You will be amazed at the results!

STEP 5
READ
This one may sound a little strange to add into your routine as you may already be doing this but this one alone has changed my life completely! When I started my Health Coaching journey with IIN I learned from many health and wellness experts. Most of the schooling was lecture format with lots of info packed into an hour or so session and it was hard to retain most or any of it! I would search deeper than what was being offered to me and find any or all books authored by these experts and read until I couldn't read anymore! It's amazing how the health journey is guided and inspired by each and every book, bit of information, and expert you have learned from! If you have a specific health related issue find a book about that issue and read it! When you are done, find another. You will find that somehow the information that you are needing for healing will eventually fall into your lap! I believe this is what is called serendipity. It has has happened to me MANY times!

So, now that you have read the 5 things to add to your daily routine for better health, what do you think? Do these sound doable to you? If you are already on a special diet, or exercising regularly you will find that these are easier to stick with and that half the battle is conquered! With your body and your mind finding better health the more difficult tasks such as diet and exercise will surely come to you too.

Love and Blessings,
Jennifer

Green Eating Healthy Living

2013-02-03T22:17:00.003-05:00

It has been a long time since my last post! I have been so busy studying and learning that I have not shared any new posts in a LONG time. My Journey to a Green Life has brought me to a new career! Last year I enrolled at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I have been learning some valuable information on how to truly live a green life! It is all about what you eat. I always considered myself a "health nut" but this education has really opened my eyes to so many new ways to maintain health.

I will start seeing clients starting in April for a 6 month program to help them live a healthier and happier life. In my program I will be sharing easy and attainable ways to not only eat better but nurture your mind, body, and soul! Some side effects of my program may be weight loss, newfound energy, and feeling great!

Feel free to visit my website and take a look around.

Synergy Health Coaching

Repurposed Decorating and Crafting

2011-10-30T21:22:00.000-04:00

We have been busy creating for our Etsy shop. Our main focus is repurposing items, recycling items, and using vintage and antique items to decorate and furnish homes. I love having unique pieces in my home. They are not only decorative but serve as a conversation piece too! So here are some of the things we have done recently.

This is a lovely headband with flowers made from vintage fabric and tulle. The fabric is actually a sewing notion (bias tape) shaped into a flower.

Here are a few more in different colors.

This is a vintage domino game piece that has been made into a charm. The domino dots are covered with faux crystals and then covered in a glaze.

These are adorable hair clips made with vintage lace and buttons. I love repurposing items!

This is barn wood that is over 100 years old! My husband mounted an iron piece for decoration and an antique glass doorknob to turn this into a wonderful coat rack.

Here is another coat or towel rack. This one is a repurposed piece of molding and acrylic glass look knobs.

Here is a king sized headboard made from the ends of a baby bed. What a great way to salvage the drop side cribs that are no longer deemed safe into something beautiful and purposeful. I was attached to this crib too because I loved the lines so dumping it was not an option!

Here is another one! Do you have any clothes that you have outgrown or are out of fashion but you love the fabric? This is a great way to repurpose old fabric and pearl necklaces. Nylon and silk fabrics can be seared on the edges and layered to create beautiful flowers. Add some pearls from a broken necklace and you've got a pin or barrette from repurposed items.

Next time you start to throw something away, take a closer look and see what you can repurpose it into. Learn to live green in all ways. Happy green decorating and crafting!

You can find most items listed here on my Etsy site at

www.ElijahsAttic.Etsy.com

Green Crafting

2011-10-07T14:34:00.000-04:00

I have finally put to use some of the wonderful items that I was given recently. I love making things especially when I don't need to run to Michael's or Lowe's to purchase anything. You can find something to make with just about any item you have laying around your house. I have even seen beautiful jewelry made from recycled milk jugs on ETSY. I was given boxes of sewing notions and some other craft items and so far I have come up with some pretty fun "Green" crafting.

For starters I had some vintage rick rack. I made some really cute flowers for barrettes using the rick rack as seen here:

I also have lots of fabric remnants so I made many flowers for hair clips by searing the edges, multiplying layers, and adding beads or pearls to the center as seen here:

I think I may use these for embellishments on picture frames too!

Another cool idea is scrabble tile pendants. Using old scrabble tiles, old magazines, and a few jewelry making supplies, you can make the cutest charms for necklaces or bracelets as seen here:

This one I added a guitar pick to it for my daughter that is a musician.

I have many more ideas and will be sharing as I go but for now Happy Green Crafting!

All of my items are on sale at my Etsy shop you can see here:

http://www.etsy.com/people/ElijahsAttic?ref=si_pr

GreeningYour Life Takes Time..

2011-09-28T07:36:00.000-04:00

It has been months since my last post and all I can say is wow! It takes time to green your life. I devoted many hours toiling in my spring garden only to lose almost half of the crops due to lack of water or pests. My fall garden will have irrigation in place before any planting is done to ensure a daily watering regardless of my plans.

I have yet to build rain barrels and am still searching for a free source of safe barrels to use. I have tried my local craigslist and even posted in our community freecycle ads looking for some but I may just need to pay to get that project started. I really think it is important to look for recycled products to use for as many projects as possible. There is way too much good stuff going to the dump and that is just sad!

The one "green" change in my life that is going really well is my recycling. I have my family trained well in knowing what items to NEVER throw in the trash. A weekly trip to the recycling bins keep the pile from getting out of hand. For those who have a recycling pick up, you really have no excuse just go for it! I recycle almost everything that comes into this house.

I had some disappointments with the produce I was buying from local stands. I noticed some had stamps from other countries and that is not good enough. I really think we need to have a local market set up that only sells local and surrounding produce. My husband and I made a trip to Plant City to pick up produce that is local the only drawback is that it is not organic. I am still searching for the perfect, low cost produce supplier close to us.

I am going to try and share more in the upcoming weeks of some projects I have going. I love to make things and I have inherited a stockpile of vintage crating items. I will be sharing some of the creations once I figure out what to do with it all. Happy Greening!

Greening Times Two

2011-04-08T10:55:00.001-04:00

I have been doing a double in the green department. I started with two bunnies and one cage. We added two more bunnies so we needed a second cage. My awesome husband built another one last night with recycled materials of course! I started with one clothes line and realized that our laundry filled one up too quickly so we added another one. By the way, I love these clothes lines because they are not always in view. I just stretch the line across the yard to a hook and when I am done it reels back up. It is like this one below.
A great investment for about $15 a piece from Home Depot. I have only used my dryer one time since I purchased the first one a month or so ago. I have broken the doubles when it comes to compost piles. With the addition to the new bunny cage comes another compost pile.
We are finally starting the worm bin and I cannot wait to get some worm casting tea to fertilize the garden. The plants are doing good so far. I did use an organic pesticide recently because I noticed lots of baby grasshoppers around the beds. The pesticide was a mixture of sesame oil and fish oil. The odor wasn't great but much better than the toxic alternative.

I completed one of two furniture refinish projects recently. The first is my new china cabinet as you see here.

This was a very unattractive piece of furniture, in my opinion, before the refinish. My patience paid off. I wanted a larger cabinet to house my glassware and couldn't find one I liked and didn't want to buy new wood to build one. I kept it green by waiting for one I could change up a bit and make it work! I am pleased with the outcome. The next project is curbside entertainment center find that is probably 8 feet long and 6 feet high. This one will take a little longer to complete but it will be worth it in the end. It truly is rewarding to be green:)

Modern Day Turning Points

2011-03-14T13:41:00.001-04:00

As I sit there staring out my back window watching the rainbow of colors waving in the wind I could not believe that I had taken a step back in time. The colors all flapping in the wind as if to welcome me into this new way of life with a wave. In all my life I have never even thought about using a clothes line to dry my laundry. It wasn't until that message my Aunt Mary sent me just a week or so ago that sparked an interest in me that brought me to this point. She had purchased a clothes line and was excited about it! I have to say a thank you to her for bringing me to this simpler way of life. Living in Florida it really makes perfect sense to air dry laundry outside. With the heat in the summer time running a dryer in the middle of the day makes the a/c work even harder and not to mention adding to the excessive power bills because of the heating element. I did some research and found that the sun works great to disinfect clothing too! I also read that it is somewhat like exercise because of carrying the wet clothing out to the line and hanging them up burns calories. I will agree with that but I won't be cutting out any exercise regimes because of my new laundry methods. I will just look at this as an extra calorie burning bonus of air drying my laundry. I even hung a line in my laundry room to hang clothes if the weather was less than perfect. I have actually gone close to a week without using my dryer. I am so excited to see the difference in my electric bill next month. I had some hesitations about the freshness of clothing that had hung outdoors to dry and surprisingly they smelled great! For all of you that have been doing this your entire life, kudos to you! For those of you like myself who never considered reverting to a somewhat old fashioned way of doing things, you should definitely give this a try. I promise it is not that difficult:) This is so much better for the environment and if that is not a good enough reason for you then the savings should be enough to make you a convert.

Backyard Gardens

2011-03-07T07:59:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy in my backyard that I haven't posted in a while. The bunnies have already multiplied. We purchased two more because they are simply the best pet you could have and they are extremely adorable. We have a second compost pile because when you are not eating out of a can or box there is lots of food scraps to add to the pile and one was just not enough. Needless to say with two new bunnies and a new compost pile there will soon be another bunny cage over that pile too.

We have been busy planting too. We have added a peach tree, two blackberry bushes, and five blueberry blushes. We also have planted corn, spinach, onions, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, sunflowers, lemon balm, more basil, and mint. We are working on the remainder of the veggie space so that we can get the rest planted soon. So far our plans are to add beans, potatoes, squash, and zucchini.

Since our garden is not producing much as of now we took a trip down to Venus yesterday afternoon to stock up on some organic produce. It was so cool to see all the great looking veggies picked right out of the ground and then served up for dinner just a few hours later. Talk about some great fresh tasting food! I will be picking the rest of the collards and purple mustard green to make room for some more plants. Those two have been the easiest to grow yet. The collards were huge and we never fertilized or sprayed them with anything. You really can grow without chemicals. I keep asking my husband if we can grow bananas in our yard but he says it is not wet enough. I may try anyways considering we consume about 5 a day in our house.

Our next task is a chicken coop. We are working out the details right now. We will probably start with 5 or 6 chickens. We will have plenty of eggs when they start laying so we can share with family and friends. I am looking into ducks because I heard there is a possibility Eli can eat duck eggs if he is allergic to chicken eggs. How wonderful that would be for him to be able to eat eggs. I could actually bake him a cake with eggs! I have to talk to the allergist first. I don't want to experiment on him and make him sick.

I will be posting some pictures soon if the outdoor spaces we are working on. Honestly I have been so extremely busy I haven't had the time to take any pictures. I am enjoying every second of it though!

What Do Bunnies, Worms, And Trash Have in Common?

2011-02-10T12:14:00.000-05:00

Organic fertilizer. This is the output of bunnies and worms along with kitchen scraps and yard trash. I am on my way to living greener and keeping some happy children too! My wonderful husband crafted us a bunny cage out of all recycled materials. We did not pay one dime for this cage. All the materials used were either recycled from other structures or leftovers from other jobs. The end result was a fairly nice habitat for some new pet bunnies we have yet to find. I will be adding a box and ramp for the bunnies soon.

This cage and the bunnies will serve two purposes. He built this structure over an existing compost pile. The bunnies will be adding nutrients to this compost pile while serving as great pets for the kids. This compost will be an excellent source of nutrients for our garden and the start of our next adventure....vermicomposting. We already have seen some big worms in the pile. We hope to get enough worms together to start out this worm bed. You would be amazed that this pile of kitchen scraps and yard waste really does not have a bad odor. This is in the back of the yard by the garden away from the pool and hangout areas. You really don't need a large space to do this.

There is no need to get fancy or purchase overpriced composting bins. Sit back and let nature run it's course. I will post some pics of the cuties as soon as I get them:)

You Are What You Eat, Need Energy Now?

2011-01-19T13:07:00.002-05:00

Do you feel like a big greasy cheeseburger? Have you ever heard that saying, "you are what you eat"? Well I tend to believe it to a certain extent. Have you heard the new scientific findings that people who consume more fruit and vegetables appear more attractive? They found that it affects skin tones and appearance. If you put junk into your body your going to get nothing but junk out of it. I'm not saying go to McDonalds and order a salad and yogart parfait because that sounds healthy because that is still junk! Your body may continue to function while you consume piles of high fat, high calorie, high sodium foods that are loaded with chemicals to preserve and extend the shelf life but every little bit you consume affects some or all parts of each cell that makes you a whole.

When you are lagging and need an energy boost don't look for more coffee or energy drinks to help you out, change your eating habits and reap the benefits. Did you know dark chocolate contains energy boosting flavanoids that help to keep you alert. Enjoy a few ounces a day of 70% or more cocoa bars to give you a treat for your body and soul. Carrot juice is a highly cleansing and nourishing and improves blood quality which aids in relieving fatigue. Honey benefits digestion and is a quick energy booster. Make up a smoothie with some fresh pineapple, carrot juice, and some honey and enjoy a bite of chocolate next time you need a quick pick me up. Bee pollen is another great energy booster that contains fatty acids and amino acids that give an energy boost. I take this daily in the capsule form.

Sniff peppermint. Peppermint is used in aromatherapy to boost energy. Get a peppermint candle for your desk or workspace or use a drop of peppermint oil on your wrists to release the scent while your working. This is another safe energy boost.

I know there are some people that don't want to hear this but exercising actually increases your energy. Move and get your blood flowing to increase your energy and give you a boost. If you are at the office all day sitting in a chair, take a break and do some push ups or jumping jacks to wake you up and keep you going. That caffeinated beverage will only leave you in a slump later on.

I have found that when I consume foods that have no nutritional value they leave me feeling blah. When I eat fresh fruits and veggies and cook everything myself I feel so much better. It brings me to a place where it is not really a guilty feeling I get when I eat that forbidden food but a feeling of why on Earth do I want to eat this knowing how it will make me feel later. I promise you I do not go without. I love sweets and chocolate and I refuse to go without the foods I love. I have found ways to eat what I like but in a healthier form that the alternative.

Here is an awesome snack that has become one of my favorites:

1 Banana
2 tbsp crushed raw almonds
1 ounce chocolate, melted
Slice the banana in half lengthwise, drizzle chocolate over banana and sprinkle almonds on top. You can use a 70% cocoa candybar and melt a square or two or use cocoa powder mixed with a little honey or sugar and a tiny bit of olive oil for drizzling consisitency. This snack will satisfy your sweet tooth and it is good for you!

Here is another filling snack that will satisfy a sweet craving and leave you full for hours:
1/2 cup fresh pineapple and juice
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup fresh strawberries
splash of carrot juice
2 ounces vanilla yogart
ice
blend until smooth, you can add other fruits or even fresh spinach and I promise it will still taste awesome and you are getting all those wonderful antioxidants and vitamans.

New Years Resolutions, Going Green

2011-01-12T13:04:00.000-05:00

I subscribe to Mother Nature Network through my Facebook account. They have some great articles on living green. The most recent one was on New Years resolution tips for going green. There were some great ideas that I wanted to share. You can check out the page here: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/questions/can-you-suggest-some-green-resolutions-for-my-family-that-wel

Many people want to take better care of their health and their finances in the new year. The biggest benefits of going green can be the financial savings you will see and the health benefits. It just makes sense to live green in the new year. So take a moment and read up on these simple steps broken down month to month for 2011.

Still Getting There!

2011-01-11T14:03:00.000-05:00

Despite the fact that I have made just about everything homemade this past week my trip to the recycling bins could have proved otherwise. My bins were full! I have finally convinced my husband that diet Coke is not good for him so hopefully all those cans will begin to disappear:) (They actually already have) So where does all the other stuff come from? Cereal boxes, milk containers, and toilet paper and paper towel rolls to name a few. Sorry, but I do not see myself cutting any of those out. I will continue to recycle and hope that the difference made is enough to justify the things I am not willing to go without.

I have enjoyed the cooking and the eating of all the foods I've made this week. Take a look at all these goodies.

I made a fresh pizza with a whole wheat crust. I made whole wheat hamburger buns and reused leftovers for mini pizzas. The hamburgers were made with organic beef and homemade avocado topping. I actually made a spinach quiche with a whole wheat crust. I just substituted olive oil in place of the vegetable shortening and whole wheat flour instead of white. It wasn't as pliable so I pressed into my pie dish and it worked great! The easiest dish of all is potatoes and onions cooked in a splash of olive oil with rosemary sprigs. Wow these are so good. I actually added carrots last night and sprinkled cheese on top and served with whole wheat flax seed rolls for the meal. If nothing else my family is not eating preservatives or a diet high in sodium or bad fat.

I have to say if you are going to make most of your foods homemade there are a few kitchen appliances that are a must. I could not go without my KitchenAid mixer, my Cuisinart food processor, and my Vitamix blender. These 3 products are awesome! I have had them for years and they work great. It is so well worth the extra money to buy a good one than keep replacing cheap ones (this is green too!). I have had my Cuisinart processor for probably 13 years or more. I can make smoothies, soups, breads, sauces, and so much more with these.

I am not posting recipes this time. Most of my recipes I come up with by using ones I find online and tweaking them to make them healthier. There are others posted on earlier blogs. I ALWAYS use olive oil. I never use vegetable oil for cooking because olive oil is so much better for you. I replace eggs some of the time with egg replace for Eli. I have started using whole wheat flour instead of bleached white flour for the health benefits. It really isn't difficult to change out ingredients and get a good result. I hope this will get you cooking and trying healthier alternatives. And as always keep checking back for more green living ideas!

http://www.cuisinart.com/products/food_processors.html

http://www.vitamix.com/index.asp

http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/category/230/

Healthy Eating is Living Green, Recipes Included!!

2011-01-03T15:32:00.000-05:00

So I was asked to do a guest blog for my cousin's craft blog this month. She and a friend do all kinds of really cool crafts and projects and have a very extensive list with instructions and pictures. You can see their blog here:
www.oursevendwarfs.com
The blog I did is below. I wanted to share some healthy eating alternatives that are considered green. I hope you enjoy:) Be sure to check out their blog to get some great ideas for decorating, crafting, and some recipes too!

I have been experimenting with only home cooked foods and I am going to share some of my ideas with you. My goal is to not buy anything in a package other than the staples and some hard to produce items.

I have been on a journey to living a more green life. In this journey I have begun changing the eating habits of my family. My interest is piqued any time there is a new health news report on foods or eating habits. Having a son with multiple food allergies has also raised my awareness of the ingredients in the prepackaged foods we purchase. I have found the only way to feed my family the best and control the exact ingredients in the food we eat is to make it myself.

My son Eli was allergic to dairy and soy for the first year and a half of his life (I say "was" because he has since outgrown the soy allergy). He is also allergic to eggs, nuts, and a few other foods. There was only one brand of frozen French baguette's that he could eat because they did not contain any dairy, egg, or soy. This began my "basic foods" home cooking. I started making my own pizza crusts, rolls, and bread so that Eli could enjoy some of what the rest of us were eating. I realized that it was not only easy to bake these basic foods myself but it really didn't take much time either. The taste was unbelievable! It is unnerving the amount of ingredients and preservatives that are in some basic foods such as bread and pizza dough. Anyways this started my experimenting and opened my eyes to some healthy alternatives to pre-packaged foods.

When I grocery shop I pretty much buy the basic staples and anything that I cannot create myself within a reasonable budget and time frame. Anything I buy prepackaged I always check the ingredients to make sure there are not lots of fillers or unnecessary ingredients. Here is a great site you can find info on all those hard to pronounce ingredients and what to look for and avoid:

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/healthy-ingredients

Some of the things I have started making from scratch are tortillas, bread, waffles, pizza crusts, sweets like cookies and pies, and seasonings like chili and taco seasoning. My shopping lists usually consist of staples like flour, sugar, sun butter, rice, meats, eggs, milk, spices, nuts and seeds and apple juice(this is something I have not found a way to produce better or more efficiently than the manufacturers). I try to buy my produce from local produce stands or farms to keep it green. I have found that in doing this my grocery bill has decreased and the amount of money we spend on eating out. These savings are a great way to buy some organic products that typically cost more.

My next big recipe will be making fresh cheeses. I haven't done so yet but my mindset is "if it can be done, I can do it myself". I am currently looking for somewhere to purchase unpasteurized goats milk so that I can make some that the entire family can enjoy. Below you can find some of my recipes and try them out yourself. I do most of my baking dairy and egg free so you can always substitute real eggs and dairy where I use egg substitute and soy or rice milk. I have found that this way of cooking and preparing meals it great for a budget and your health. You will find you can be very satisfied with your meals and at the same time be consuming less calories and sodium than if you were using prepackaged foods or eating out and consuming no nitrates. I even sneak in fresh spinach in my brownies and anywhere else I can hide the vibrant color from my older kids. I always use fresh veggies as my fillers in homemade breads, sauces, soups, and even meatloaf. This is a great way to get picky kid to eat their share of veggies sometimes without even knowing:) Enjoy!

Fresh Salsa

3 fresh tomatoes

1/2 medium onion

1 green chili

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp sugar

1 tbsp vinegar

Blend all ingredients in a food processor and serve

Homemade Hamburger Buns

2 tbsp dry active yeast

1 cup plus 2 tbsp warm water

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg replacer

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 to 1 cup of fresh chopped spinach

Dissolve yeast in warm water, stir in oil and sugar - let stand 5 minutes. Add egg replacer, salt, white flour, and 1/2 cup of wheat flour as needed to prevent dough from sticking to your hands. Fold in spinach. Knead 5 minutes. Divide into 8 pieces, shape into a disc. Let rest for 10 minutes. Bake at 425 for 10-12 minutes.

Turkey Chili

1 lb. ground turkey

1 green pepper chopped

1 onion chopped

1 zucchini chopped

1 yellow squash chopped

3 tomatoes chopped

1 can tomato paste (you can substitute tomato soup for a healthier option or homemade tomato sauce))

homemade chili seasoning to taste (recipe below)

Saute turkey and veggies in a dash of olive oil. When cooked thoroughly add tomatoes, and tomato sauce and season. Simmer for at least an hour to let all the flavors meld.

Homemade Chili Seasoning

1 tbsp paprika

2 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1 tsp seasoned pepper

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried oregano

Store in an airtight container and season chili to taste. You can double or triple the recipe to save on time and have a larger amount on hand.

Pizza Crust

1 cup warm water

3 tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

3 tbsp olive oil

3 cups flour

1 pack quick rise yeast

Top with favorite pizza topping and bake at 425 until browned.

Zucchini Lime Carrot Bread

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup sugar

1 cup finely shredded unpeeled zucchini

1 cup finely shredded carrot

1/4 cup olive oil

1 egg substitute

1/2 tsp lime zest

In a mixing bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder, and nutmeg. In another bowl combine sugar, shredded zucchini and carrots, olive oil, egg substitute, and lime zest and mix well. Add flour mixture and stir until combined.

Pour batter into a 8x4x2 inch loaf pan and bake at 350 for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Great for a healthy breakfast alternative to pancakes or poptarts.

New Years Resolutions to Stick With

2010-12-29T14:44:00.000-05:00

I have to say I have never been one to come up with a New Years resolution. I always felt that it was a waste of time to come up with something I knew would not last very long. Most resolutions consist of losing weight and exercising more. I would love to fit in some more exercise time and benefit from the weight loss. I am going another route this year on my resolution that will probably benefit me the same. I am going to stay away from fast food, restaurants, and prepackaged foods.

I know it s impossible to never go out to eat again but I will definitely choose my options wisely. No more fast food stops after school for a snack. I have already begun altering my shopping habits to purchase staple items and fresh or frozen produce. I am staying away from canned goods because of the BPA in the plastic linings of the cans. If you cannot buy fresh you should opt for frozen over canned. There is an organic farm a few miles to south of me and I will try to make a trip there once a week to stock up on fresh and organic produce.

Why do we consume so much prepackaged foods? I always have to read ingredients because my son has a long list of food allergies. This constant studying of labels had raised my awareness of the long list of unnecessary ingredients in prepackaged foods. Bread should only have a handful of ingredients unless it is 12 grain. Some breads have such a long list of 10 hard to pronounce ingredients that cannot possibly be good for you. Preservatives are a bad thing! My daughter actually was doing an experiment with a coworker stemming from something they saw online. They took a McDonald's cheeseburger and left it sitting in their office to see how long it would take for mold to grow. I am not sure how it turned out but she did say it had been days and still looked the same as the day they bought it. My son-in-law makes homemade beef jerky all the time. His jerky will only last a week tops in a zip lock bag. The stuff you buy in the store can last for years sometimes. So what I am saying is stay away from preservatives they are no good for your health.

I guess they best way you can start to eat better would be to read ingredients. If you are buying potato chips, make sure the ingredients are potatoes, oil, and salt. There shouldn't be much more than that. I have really been trying to purchase nothing pre-made. Everything from scratch, that's my new motto. It not only tastes better but it is so much better for you. If we are having spaghetti for dinner I make my own sauce from scratch, if we are having pizza I make the dough and add all fresh herbs and veggies.

It really doesn't take that much longer to cook from scratch and it is so worth it. With a little planning you can cut back on the processed and prepackaged foods too. So why not skip the typical resolution and join me in one that will benefit you in great ways! Go green, Go healthy, Live life:)

Last Minute Green Gifts!

2010-12-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

Well hopefully by now you have most of your Christmas shopping done. I would imagine there are a few people out there that have waited until the last minute to finish up. I have found a few ways to keep it green when buying for your loved ones.

It can be difficult to determine what products you are purchasing are actually true "green" products. Many may claim to be eco friendly but are they really? The most obvious is in the packaging. So many toys are bundled up in such a way to appear 10 times larger than they really are. I have unwinded, pulled, ripped, and yanked toys out of their over sized boxes one too many times. Once you have set free the toy you have a heap of packaging and a small toy that fits in the palm of your hand. It angers me to see the gross waste of resources just to make something look better. You can find true green toys on www.greentoys.com where all the toys are made from recycled plastic and made in the U.S.A. If you are purchasing something more on the lines for an adult you can check a companies "green ranking" on http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/green-rankings.html
Here you can find a score for different companies based on their policies and procedures and environmental footprints. Thinking of purchasing a computer, a cell phone, shopping at a specific store? Check here first and make sure you are supporting companies that act environmentally responsible.

When you go to wrap up all those goodies be sure to check out my previous blog on homemade wrapping paper and keep it green. You can also use items like fabric and bandannas for wrapping up a gift. If you really want to get creative take a potato chip bag and cut it open, wash it well and dry. You can use this inside out to wrap up gifts and it will look just like the expensive foil paper you normally would pay extra for.

I hope everyone has a Merry "Green" Christmas! Much love and blessings in the new year too!

Green produce doesn't always mean organic.

2010-12-14T14:22:00.000-05:00

How can we use green produce? When I say green produce I don't necessarily mean organic. I realize how expensive groceries can be without purchasing the higher priced organic products. I am thinking more on the lines of where your food comes from. When you are purchasing produce from California and you live in Florida there is no way that the product can be green when the travel involved to get it to you requires such a large amount of mileage. This is multiplied when we purchase produce from overseas.

One way to help green up your produce would be to purchase from local produce stands which usually get their produce from nearby farms. Another way is to grow some of your own. I have a modest garden in my backyard that supplies me some of my produce but there is still some I need to purchase. I love to receive the gift of someone else's abundance and enjoy sharing mine too. We have had an awesome crop of greens this year and have been able to share with numerous people. I also have received oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and avocados from other people's crops. These homegrown fruits and veggies are almost always organic which is another awesome benefit.

Here is a picture of my most recent crops from my own garden and some that were shared with me.

I realize it is not always feasible to have fresh produce grown locally but during the times of year when we can we should utilize as much as we can that is locally grown or at the least grown within your own state. If everyone would change their shopping habits just a little we could make a drastic change in the amount of fuel used to move food from one place to another.

As far as your groceries go, enjoy:) Cook up some good, home cooked, preservative free, yummy dinner tonight! I have truly enjoyed having fresh veggies and herbs that I can pick as I need them. My husband and I are looking into organic fertilizer for our crops and we have some exciting and easy ways to make your own and we will be sharing them with you soon!

Have yourself a "GREEN" Christmas.

2010-12-06T21:07:00.001-05:00

I have decided I would not buy any wrapping paper this Christmas season. I figured I could be creative and re purpose something else to wrap up my gifts this year. I had a stack of brown paper sacks from Publix that were leftover from crafts I did over the summer and decided this was the best place to start getting creative.

With a little bit of acrylic paint, stamps, paint brushes, glue and some glitter I was able to decorate the brown sacks and turn them into some decorative wrapping paper.

You can recycle just about any paper you have laying around and turn into beautiful wrapping paper. I even hand painted some of the gifts after I wrapped them to give them a personalized look to fit my children's personalities. For instance pink glitter script on one and a metallic and black zebra print on another.

Don't worry too much about the outcome just have fun decorating. It will be so much better than the paper you can buy at the store and will be such a great "green" alternative. I always have such a difficult time picking out paper that I like and then I end up with all the gifts under my tree wrapped up in what is usually 3 coordinating papers that I don't really care for.

Take a look at what I have done so far below and I challenge you to be "green" this Christmas:)

Garden Art From Recycled Dishes and more!

2010-11-12T11:53:00.000-05:00

There are many creative ways to reuse something for another purpose. Rather than always running to the store when you want something think about what you can create from what you already have first. This is another way to live green.

My husband and I have a hobby of reusing items for another purpose. We have made many useful and decorative displays from items we picked up on the side of the road and have found laying around the garage. It is not only a fun hobby for us but a way to keep from purchasing extra things that we don't really need.

Recently I told my husband I wanted a new bird bath for my yard and he came up with a really cool design using old kitchen items. I love my new birdbath and it is unique and unlike any other's I have seen. Here are some picture of projects created from recycled items.

Here is the birdbath made from recycled pipes and fittings, a bundt cake pan, a wine glass, and a glass bowl.

Here is an antique door that has been turned into a hall tree by simply adding two decorative iron hat hooks.

This is a deer rack mount that was made from a piece that was found in a trash pile. Not sure if this was a mirror or just a decorative wall hanging but with an added piece of scrap wood and the deer rack added it turned into a really cool piece that adds character to my dining room wall. It is the pieces like these that blend my husbands decorating tastes and mine together.

This is a towel or coat rack or it can be used as a decorative piece as well. We used wooden thread spools to mount vintage faucet handles on a scrap piece of wood. I love the look of these old faucet handles, I think they have character.

Lastly here are some decorative items I made for the Thanksgiving holiday. I love seashells, sandollars, and anything natural. I used these sandollars from my collection and added paint and a touch of glitter. They add a nice touch to my Thanksgiving decor and I think they are appropriate for the Florida weather I will be experiencing for the holiday month.

As you can see there are many ways to turn everyday things into pieces of art or useful items too! I love things that are unique and you do not find in the big name stores. I hope these ideas will inspire you to create something using recycled materials. Have fun imagining other uses for those items laying around the garage.

Want a good use for your kitchen scraps?

2010-11-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

Well I have continued to search for ways to live greener and I have found yet another. I have been recycling for a while and my trash output has really been cut down. We do not have to drag the trash to the bins nearly as often as we did before we began this journey. I have to say I have also saved on garbage bag purchases since my recycling has begun.

When my husband and I had acreage in the past we had hogs and would save all of our kitchen scraps each day to feed them. Since we no longer have hogs to dispose of our kitchen scraps we have been tossing what cannot go down the kitchen sink into the garbage. So I began to think how can I reduce the things I am putting into the garbage. Composting! What a great way to not only properly dispose of scraps but to reuse them for a greater purpose. It is also that time of year when the leaves are piling up throughout the yard. I have decided that I would add composting to my daily routine. It doesn't take long to turn your scraps and leaves into a nutrient rich fertilizer for your garden and plants. You can use any fruit or vegetable scraps, egg shells, newspaper, and coffee grounds to mix with your leaves and turn them into a black gold. You don't really need to be fancy about it and purchase an expensive composter. I have seen composters made from old pallets secured together into a box shape. You just toss your waste into and add a little water for moisture and turn the pile about once a week with a rake or shovel. If you are short on space and want something a little less obtrusive you can purchase one or make one out of something a little smaller. I will attach some websites below for more information on composting. I hope you will at least consider looking into composting. What better way to feed your plants than with the fertilizer nature intended!

http://www.howtocompost.org/

http://www.compost-info-guide.com/make_better_compost.htm

Reusing is green too!

2010-11-03T21:57:00.000-04:00

I am trying to live as green as I can without too much inconvenience and discomfort. I can only turn my air up so much and I cannot afford expensive solar panels or windmills to power my home so I will have to find other areas to be Earth friendly.

One way that I have found to save the Earth and save money is buying used items. I love to shop at a thrift store! I think it is exciting when I dig through a basket of jewelry at Goodwill and find handmade sterling silver earrings for 50 cents that I had seen just a few weeks earlier at a jewelry store for way more money. There was also the time I found a brand new pair of Italian leather boots for $12 at a Plato's Closet. I know some people think they are above shopping at thrift stores but I have always felt that it didn't make sense to pay more for something if I could buy it for less. It is just smart. I have also found so many cool pieces of antique furniture from different shops that have more personality than anything I could purchase from a new furniture dealer and they are solid wood no particle board.

So basically if you want to do something to live a little greener you could start by stopping in a thrift store and taking a look next time you are in need of something. Living green is living wise. We should not be wasteful with any of our resources no matter how much we have to watse, money included.

Homemade "Green" Laundry and Dish Detergents..BIG MONEY SAVERS!

2010-10-23T09:12:00.000-04:00

I spent about 30 minutes last night making my homemade laundry detergent. It was easy and not too time consuming. I started by using 3 simple and cheap ingredients.

I purchased these three ingredients from my local Publix for around $6. I peeled the bar of ivory like cheeses and put in a pot with 4 cups of hot water.

After the soap was completely dissolved I added 1 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of borax. I mixed this up and poured into a 5 gallon bucket and added hot water to fill it almost to the top.

This is the final product! I used a measuring cup to refill a few laundry detergent bottles that were in my recycling bin. I washed a load of laundry last night and it worked great! They were fresh and clean and smelled good too.

I will store this in the 5 gallon bucket with a lid and it should last me a long time. My husband did some mathematical calculations and came up with the price per load in this recipe. He said it equates to less than 2 cents a load. You can't beat that!

I also made my own dishwasher detergent using the same products. equal parts of washing soda and borax in a container shake up and you have some really good dishwasher soap. I tried this too and the dishes were really clean maybe even cleaner than with regular store bought detergent. I used a large peanut butter plastic jar from my recycling bin and it works great to store and pour.

Give it a try! You can save lots of money and keep your house clean and be green:)