Coconut Crazed…

It’s safe to say I’m head over heels obsessed with coconut these days! These treats aren’t healthy, and I don’t eat them all the time, but balance is key right?! I once heard a woman at an essential oils class I attended say “ It’s not what you do sometimes, it’s what you do most of the time.” So I say go ahead and indulge once in a while!

So what’s on my sweet tooth list these days?

#1  Lime + Coke or Dr. Pepper + Lime + Coconut= Sonic Dirt Diet Coke.

#2 Coconut Oreos

#3 Fresh fruit- favorite include peaches, strawberries and raspberries, anything you have on hand will do though! Sounds healthy right- that is until I drench it in coconut creamer! Mmmm.

#4 Toasted Coconut almonds- this treat really is good for you!

#5 Orange Leaf frozen yogurt- my personal favorite- Yep- Coconut flavor with fresh fruit piled high and topped with fruity pebbles or more toasted coconut.

#6 We’ve had plenty of these this summer! Snow Cones. I usually end up with some coconut flavoring on mine. Want to make your own snow cone syrup? Here’s my recipe.

 

Home Made Snow Cone Syrup

4 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 packages Kool-Aid of your desired flavoring for example- 1 T. coconut extract
Bring water and sugar to a boil, add Kool-Aid. Cool and pour over crushed ice.

 

#7 It’s almost time to harvest all of that zucchini from the garden! This recipe came from my sweet friend Janeal {who has impeccable taste and just started up her own online boutique called Simply Sage Market}

Anyway this is THE BEST recipe for Coconut Zucchini Bread. It’s really to die for, you should probably try it out. :)

3 Eggs
3/4 C. Oil

1 1/2 C. Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 C. Grated zucchini

2 1/3 C. Flour

1/4 tsp. Soda

1/4 tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. Salt

1 sm. Pkg. Pistachio pudding

1 C. Coconut (optional)

Beat together eggs, oil, and sugar. Add the vanilla and zucchini. Mix all dry ingredients together and add to the other mixture. Pour into 2 greased bread pans.Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes.
Coconut Glaze

1/2 C. Sugar

1/4 C. Water

1 T. Butter or margarine

1/2 tsp. Coconut extract

Bring sugar, water, and butter to a boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add extract. Pour over warm bread and let it cool completely before removing from pans.

 

Oh I do hope you are enjoying your summer as much as we are! ♥

10 on Tuesday…

1.

Randomly picked this up on a road trip and I’ve been obsessed ever since. SoBe Life Water Pacific Coconut. Try it.

2. Pretty obsessed with the Olympics these days too. The gymnastics is by far my favorite, right next to the diving and do I dare admit this but… I kind of like the synchronized swimming too! ha! 

 

The kids totally fell asleep one night watching the Olympics. ♥

 

3. On the same lines as gymnastics, we found this CUTE American Girl Doll App for the iphone. It’s Called McKenna’s Gymnastics. Love it. Brooklyn thinks she wants Santa to bring her an American Girl Doll for Christmas. ;)

4. Finally took the kids to a Summer Movie. Super cute. My favorite thing was that all the kids in the theater kept breaking into laughter at all the same parts! 

5. I really love this blog. She is full of cute ideas!

6. Does anyone else HATE these new blogger ads? Grrr.

7. I ordered this journal to help me study my scriptures better. In love. Go HERE to check out her system.

8. My friend Annalee posted this song on her blog, loved it. I love being a mom. Even on the hard days. It’s almost been a year since we put our adoption papers back in. I don’t like to admit it but I worry and wonder if our little family is complete. Moving on, so I don’t start dripping tears on the keyboard. :(

9. I love our garden. Confession, more than half of it is growing my decorative pumpkins for my porch this fall. ♥

10. Favorite quote today  {I used it in my lesson on Sunday}

“A friend is more concerned about helping people than getting credit. A friend cares. A friend loves. A friend reaches out.

We can strengthen one another; we have the capacity to notice the unnoticed. When we have eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that know and feel, we can reach out and rescue those for who we have responsibility.

Often small acts of service are all that is required to lift and bless another: a question concerning a person’s family, quick words of encouragement, a sincere compliment, a small note of thanks, a brief phone call. If we are observant and aware, and if we act on the promptings wish come to us, we can accomplish much good.” President Thomas S. Monson

I want to be a better friend.

Green Smoothies…

Okay, I’ve had a ton of questions since my last post about how we make our green smoothies + why we drink them.

Well my parents have THE awesome vita mix blender and have been making green smoothies for about a year now. We had tried a few and thought, those aren’t too bad! Then we ran across this documentary called Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. We just watched it on Netflix one Saturday afternoon. It really got us going. We also watched Food Inc. and Food Matters. All awesome and really started us into this crazy health kick. We knew we wanted to get more greens into our diet. We bought our own Vita mix blender. They are pretty pricey, we looked into juicing first, but realized you loose a lot of nutrients + fiber- juicing instead of blending. Right now we drink the Green Citrus Dazzle in the mornings.

 

Here is our recipe:

 

Green Citrus Dazzle

1 bunch baby spinach

1 handful Kale

1 handful parsley

4 peeled whole regular size oranges

1 c. frozen raspberries

1 cup fruit juice (I use 100% apple juice)

1 cup water

1 T. extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil

1-2 T. flaxseed

1-2 T. wheat germ

 

Don’t let the color fool you, it’s awesome!

Then we eat a regular, healthy lunch.

For dinner we drink the original vita mix

 

Monster Green Smoothie

1 cup water

1 cup fruit juice ( again I use apple)

1 handful spinach

1 handful Kale

1 handful parsley

blend

1 cup mixed fruit (I buy the big Dole mix from Sam’s with pineapple, strawberries, mango + peaches in it)

1 cup blueberries

1 whole apple

1/2-1 whole lemon peel on.

blend

1/2 T. protein powder

1/2 tsp. flaxseed

1/2 tsp. coconut oil

handful of almonds (optional)

Zach also likes to add bananas to all of his smoothies

 

Both of these recipes make approx. Two 12 oz. smoothies.

 

I have to admit I was worried about starving, but the truth is we drink our first smoothie around 8 am and I’m not a bit hungry until lunch time around noon or even one! It’s crazy. Some of the benefits we’ve seen in just the 3 weeks we’ve been doing it: more regular bowel movements, clearer skin, more energy, Zach has lost 10 lbs, I’ve lost 3 and at least two inches around my tummy (we are not exercising at all with this diet.)  Even if we hadn’t lost weight, it just makes sense and we feel so much better. We honestly crave these fruity smoothies now. They are easy and quick to make. Braxton drinks one with us, Brooklyn can’t get over the color quite yet, I fix them normal meals.

 

Tip: We get our organic baby spinach from Sam’s Club, our Kale & Parsley in the organic section at Fred Meyers and so we aren’t running in town constantly for fresh ingredients, we like to buy a bunch and really stock up, we bring it home, wash it and throw it in freezer zip lock bags + into the freezer. It’s  a cinch.

Tip: I also bought this Fruit & Vegetable Wash- it is proven to remove pesticides, waxes & chemicals. It’s great. You can get it anywhere in the produce area of your grocery store. Another great tip- cut out the blossom & stem of your apples, this is where most of the pesticides stay after the fruit is picked.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. Shoot me an e-mail or just leave a comment. I’m happy to help if I can. I’m not a pro yet, just sharing what is working and helping us. We are trying to venture out and try new smoothie recipes so if you have any you love PLEASE do share!!! :)

10 things i love today…

1. Daves Killer Bread

It’s to die for, I’ve only found it at Fred Meyer & Winco… I ♥ the story behind it all too. Dave is an ex convict who has turned his life completely around. Cool right?!

2. Good Mail

 

I got two packages in the mail today! My new JoTotes bag & my adult size Minky Couture Blanket came today. YAY!

3. I got a new camera for Christmas. I love it.

I have wanted a good quality camera since Braxton was born, but after researching them all could never find one that fit my needs. I wanted one with a glass lens, but I wanted it to be compact too, I knew I wouldn’t take pictures if I couldn’t lug it everywhere or if it was too bulky. Let’s be honest too, I have TOO many hobbies and didn’t need one more to consume me, I needed one that was simple & one that I wouldn’t have to spend hours trying to learn to use. So the Nikon 1 was the perfect fit for me. My husband rocks- he totally surprised me with it. ♥ him.

4. Can’t wait to finish this project! I’ve wanted silhouettes of my kids FOR-EVER!

5. Shrimp Scampi,

I’ve eaten it for lunch & dinner the last two days! My cute sister in law introduced this recipe to me, and it’s quick and YUMMY! Go HERE for the recipe.

6. A FUN blogger friend introduced this i-phone app to me. It’s for kids, and I think it’s SO cute!

It’s called CAKE FUN. they get to bake a cake and decorate it, then eat it too! Brooklyn is also loving the apps, MAGIC PIANO & Fancy Nancy Dress Up.

7. Project Life

I’ve been a fan of Becky Higgins for AS LONG as I can remember! Her new scrapbooking system is to die for. Have you dreamed of keeping your scrapbooks caught up but just never thought you could? Check it out. Right now. I am in LOVE. All my scrapbooks are caught up through Christmas! For real!

8.  I’m totally lovin’ Instagram totally keeping me up to date with my

Project Life! ♥ it!

9.  Took pictures of this SWEET little guy. Can you believe we caught a smile?! EEK. He’s scrumptious.

Did I mention I’m over the top baby hungry?! I find myself strolling down the baby isle just to browse in about every single store I go into! I’m sewing new blankets & burp cloths for a baby I don’t even have yet! ha!

Did you know we are trying to adopt again? Feel free to pass our profile on to ANYONE  and EVERYONE… you just never know! wink. wink.

Check out our profile by clicking on the picture below.

How was that for shameless self- promotion! ha! ;)

10.  Sweet Valentines from Brooklyn to each member of our family. Ahhh. Love that girl.

Isn’t February the best? the month of LOVE! What are you loving in your life today?

A Few Young Women Handouts, A Few Favorites & a GREAT big GIVEAWAY…

 

Just thought I would share A Few of My Favorite Things to snack on right now… I always like to try new things- some are a hit others aren’t- so when I find something I love I do like to share!

And a Give-Away…

Karen is one of my friends from high school. She has the cutest smile, and is always cheerful. I just recently found out she was a Scentsy consultant. I LOVE Scentsy. I thought I would host a party for her. It’s online- so there is NO pressure at all, don’t you LOVE that! I do. If you want to get some of your Christmas shopping done, and HELLO- have it shipped right to your front door- you might want to check it out. ;) RIGHT HERE.

 

She is also SUPER generous and is going to let me do a give away on my blog. So head on over to Karen’s Scentsy website, come back here and tell me which warmer and bar you would pick if you win the give- away! Thanks Karen!

 

Hope you are all enjoying this BEAUTIFUL week!

It’s the Little Things…

I woke up to the smell of rain- sometimes I wonder if that is what heaven smells like. It’s been a low key day here at our house, staying in PJ’s until we absolutely have to get ready for kindergarten & lunch time. :)

I had a little mug of hot cocoa with some pumpkin spice marshmallows in it that I picked up just yesterday. If you like pumpkin pie- you will probably want to snatch some up while they are in season. {YUM}

I also read this in some headlines today.  The NBC’s controversial  new fall series “The Playboy Club”, cancelled after only three episodes. Hooray for good people, standing up for what they believe in.

I saw this at a local boutique and knew I had to find a place in my home for it. LOVE what it says!

 Life Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to be Wonderful!

 I honestly need to read that a couple of times a day. Am I alone?

I keep stealing black jelly beans out of the candy jar- my only hope is I eat so many I never want to eat them again- ha!

True Random Number Generator

Min1:Max:9 Result:9 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Winner of the spider clippy is #9

Miss Shannon & one of my most favorite people ever.

We also decided to make some “Lip Gloss” Paint {that’s what Brooklyn named it, because it’s so shiny! I loved it!} It really dries glossy too!

Lip Gloss Paint

used sweetened condensed milk with food coloring

Just pour the milk in muffin tins or ice cube trays and add drops of food coloring in the separate compartments.

I also heard this song while flipping through the radio stations in the car the other day- these words caught my attention.

“Maybe it didn't turn out like I planned
Maybe that's why I'm such, such a lucky man”

I really feel like this. My life- has not turned out the way I had it all planned out in my head- but I’m SO glad, so very glad- because now look at all that I have. Two beautiful kids. An amazing man that makes me proud every single day to be his. I’m surrounded by the support of loving, caring friends and family. Life is good when we let go and let God figure out the details.

I have a fun give away in the works- and an update on my cute dad coming soon.

Will you make today great?

Two Great Excuses…

It is a BEAUTIFUL day! I’m frantically trying to catch up on my to do list so we can head outside for the rest of the day! I’m pretty behind on well everything in my life, but that is the beauty of this season I’m in. I’m a mom and I have TWO great excuses of why I’m never caught up with anything right now! Pretty great right?!

Here is something else that took up a good chunk of my time. We obviously have been bitten with the travel bug!

We took a week and went to Puerto Penasco Mexico. Oh. My. Word. It was SO much fun! We stayed at the Casa Blanca.

I highly recommend it! It was BEAUTIFUL!

 

     

(I fell in love with the barrel ceiling in our condo!, Maybe in our next house?!)

 

We made these darling butterflies for Mother’s Day. Found the idea HERE. The kids loved making them.

The poem:
This isn't just a butterfly as you can plainly see.
I made it with my hand which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love especially to say,
I hope you have a very Happy Mother's Day!

I also celebrated a birthday!

I have the cutest husband EVER. This is what I woke up to:

My day could have stopped right then and there and been perfect. (Notice the mint, and the fork, I always eat my cereal with a fork because I don’t like milk, the fork let’s it drain right out!, he’s so thoughtful!) LOVE LOVE LOVE that guy!

I honestly didn’t need a thing. But I thought I’d share a few things that I am loving with and that are on my wish list right now.

I think this would be SO fun and if money grew on trees, I would totally buy one for all the ladies I love! Wouldn’t it be fun to get such a fun gift every single month?! Click on the picture to see the video!

 

 

I also fell in love with these cute purses! EEK! Crazy cute they are! The problem is she posts new one in her etsy shop all the time, and so I can’t choose which one I like the best! Here are a few of my faves. Find them HERE.

I want this knife to cut up my watermelons this summer too!  My mom saw it first, isn’t it CUTE and it’s extra long to get through those thick watermelons! ♥

 

Well, I’ll try to be more consistent in posting, I love sharing! That is why I keep on blogging! I’ll leave you with my new mantra-maybe you’d like to use it too! ;)