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Saturday, August 3, 2013

Cleansed.



So I did it. 

I finally took the plunge and completed a cleanse. 

I was going to do the advocare cleanse...but that is 10 days of torture.

So...

At the beginning of the year when I found Costco's 3 day cleanse...

$14.99

Now that is more my speed.
Sambazon Three Day Cleanse

The cleanse comes with a complete shopping guide, juices to drink 3 times a day and menu plan.  It's vegan.  I have always thought being a vegan would be too hard....and who wants to only eat vegetables.  This cleanse taught me about a whole world of products I didn't even know existed. AND it taught me that eating vegan is actually tasty. 

Day One:

10 ounces of the Purifying Cleanse Drink made of Acerola cherry, lemon and cayenne.
(it tastes like super spicy lemon juice- Jaime was visiting and was not a fan.  It wasn't so bad...but for sure had some kick.)
and 10-15 raw nuts
(I did 15 nuts...because it said I could..and who only eats 10 nuts when they can have 15)

Mid day snack:
Quinoa Bowl with Berries
The recipe has you add coconut oil to the quinoa.
It was actually very good. I like quinoa better than couscous.

Lunch was the Eliminate Juice made of Kale, apple cucumber and parsley
(it tasted like unsweetened apple juice...it really wasn't bad)
with
potato and green bean salad with mustard.
I used dijon.  And it was good!  I found these tiny fingerling red potatoes at whole foods.  They were so tiny, and the perfect size for this salad.

Mid day snack was Recharge juice made of Brazil nut, cashew and cocoa.
It tasted like nutty chocolate milk...
Like...if nutella was in liquid form.
This one tastes the best.
( I also found that Madeline's princess cup is exactly 10 ounces....and glams up the cleanse at the same time)

Dinner was an Open Faced Veggie Burger with avocado, grilled onions and mushrooms and salad greens
Dude.
I could eat this every day. I chose a vegan patty from Boca and used lemon and olive oil on the salad greens. It was seriously good.

Day 2:
The same juices are used in the same order at the same time.
On Day 2 breakfast was the juice only.

Then a Fruit bowl for a mid morning snack.  I used fresh berries.

Lunch was a roasted beet and orange salad with caraway seeds
Sooooo good!
This recipe taught me new things! I always cook fresh beets on the stove top in water. This recipe calls for the beets to be roasted in the oven.  Delicious AND easy.  I'm a huge beet fan.  The sprinkle on top of the salad is Hemp Hearts.  They are so nutritious and good for you. Try some!


Mid day snack was raw mixed veggies of your choice
The hardest part for me is the raw part.  I love veggies...but I love them blanched.  So I tried to pick veggies that I like without blanching like radishes, celery, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Dinner was supposed to be Saag-sational curry

But

I had so much lunch left over.... I just did the same for dinner.....



Day 3
Prepare juice for breakfast and a pear or apple with almond butter for breakfast
I chose a pear.


Mid-morning snack was chocolate almond milk overnight oats.
You place all these ingredients in a mason jar overnight
Then top with berries in the morning.  I found out that I kinda like steel cut oats...and I like them prepared this way.  I can NOT eat oatmeal...but somehow the steel cut oats are a different texture that I actually liked.  I also liked the hint of chocolate flavor from the cacao nibs. And who doesn't like coconut! This is a win! And a new breakfast find! It keeps you full for hours!

Lunch was Eliminate Juice with Steamed vegetables and Tofu


I used Tofu Sausage....I need spice in my life...and I just can't eat steamed tofu.....so...I used an alternate

Mid day snack was the recharge Cocoa and nut juice

And Dinner was Lentils with Mushrooms, roasted garlic and Butternut squash
VERY good!

and I found out that I really like Lentils!

So...

In conclusion.....

This cleanse has been win win.  My clothes fit better, I FEEL better...and it kicked off my clean eating again...which is exactly what I wanted.  To FEEL better.  I didn't weigh myself before or after, because currently my scale and I are on the outs....but....I can say, I will do the cleanse again....and I think the only thing I would change is just to "eat clean" you don't need to follow the meal plan exactly...you just need to watch what you eat...and to "cleanse" your system...it's best to drink lots of water and steer clear of meat and processed food. AND...make sure one of your closest friends doesn't come to visit immediately after you do the cleanse....it may alter your ability to continue to "eat clean". (Damn Beer and fried pickles-good thing tomorrow is a NEW day)

There you have it.

Cleansed.

Now YOU try!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Maddie's Big Girl Bed!!

With the move, came the need for Madeline to get a new bed!

All of Madeline's baby needs were fulfilled by Jack.

Including Jack's Crib.

When I selected this crib I loved it.  I mean loved it.  I was at my Mother in Laws perusing cribs on the Internet and we stumbled across this red crib.  I was like.... "Can I do a red Crib??" She immediately said "OF COURSE you can!" And that was that.  If the Interior Designer says it's okay. Then it's okay.  I found bedding and centered the whole room around his red crib.

Then I became pregnant with Madeline. 

And found centering a nursery around a red crib... for a Girl ....

Challenging....

But I'm persistent and had a little help from my friends.... and found THE perfect bedding and on SALE no less.... I had one of best friends pick up the last piece of bedding 60 miles away. And the nursery was complete!

and I LOVED it.  

Jack had a hard time letting his bed go to his Sister.
Jack @ 3 years old


The crib was great for a loooong time
Madeline @ 3months.

Madeline @ 8 Months.

Madeline learned how to do this 
(2 1/2 years)

So we converted it to this....She was SO excited.
(almost 3)


I knew when we moved we would give our crib away because we were done with babies...

Done with babies...

Awww...

It was really hard for me to let the crib go.  I knew we were done...but there is something so final when you let your last baby item go...

At least it's staying in the family....
Hurry you two and fill that crib up with lots of babies for me to spoil!

Sooo...

In deciding to buy Madeline a bed, I wanted the bed to be something that she really, really wanted.  No hand me downs. Something she would be really excited about.  When I showed her beds online, her face LIT UP when she saw this bed. 
I had to get it for her.
She calls it her Pink and Purple Princess bed.

At First...

I thought it was impractical.  And something she could only use for a small amount of time. BUT they have dressers that slide under the bed for additional storage for when she is much older....and when she outgrows the "princess" portion, we can remove it and she can use it to hang out under in her room.

She LOVES it.

Hooray!

And once again... I found bedding!
Thank you Target! Perfect Color, Perfect weight. Perfect Price!

I have to give a HUGE shout out to a very good friend
She drove allllll the way down with Madelines bed in the back of her SUV and then helped assemble all 100 pieces.  The company we bought the bed from would not deliver to Clovis!  Thank god for Casey! You are the BEST!


Even Big Kids fit under the bed!

My Big Girl. In her Big Bed.
My how time flies...

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Home Tour

When you put your house on the market.... a magical thing happens...

It's clean.

All. The. Time.

Which is a rarity for our home.  

Don't get me wrong... our home is clean...sometimes... 

you know... 

an hour before a party... Friday afternoons for an hour after a  house cleaner comes... 

The usual.

But I realized I never shared our home on the blog.  So here is a quick tour.  Now mind you...it's not exactly how we lived in it...but you get the idea...and I get our home documented...so I can remember the home I brought my babies home to.

Our living room
The view from the stairs

And the view from the landing

Our dining room
(with our new table...for the new house)

And Kitchen
(lots of delicious meals and wonderful conversation were had here)

Up our stairway and down the hall
(all my favorite professional pictures Thanks to Mia Hope and Laura Cottril)

to Madeline's room
(complete with custom monogram from the talented Heather @ CookieMondays)


and Jack's room


Our room.
(don't mind the Christmas bedding still on our bed.... )

and our bathroom.
(my favorite room in the house, I just love, love, love how our bathroom turned out)

Some rooms were left out... That's just the way it goes...

But you get the idea.

Thank the Lord we're in Escrow!

We were SO blessed to get an offer.

And we accepted it!

Keep your fingers crossed for a quick close!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Maddie Turns 4!

Miss Maddie, Miss Maddie...
What am I going to do with you!

You are quite the handful young lady! 

And now you are 4! 
Four Years Old!!??
How can it be??

You are such a little lady. So full of life.  


You love everything girly, especially things that are pink or purple.   You love to play Barbies, Babies or cook up a storm in your Pink Kitchen.  You love to swim, and ride your bike.  You are very strong willed and are extremely independent. You want to do everything YOURSELF.  You love your Daddy more than anything and can't get enough of your big brother.  You are adapting the best to the recent change in our life.  You are thrilled you get to hang with Mom all day, you are so excited that Mom's new car has a DVD player and you love that your new home includes a pool. You have won the children's lottery in your mind.  



In keeping with tradition your Annual interview is below:

1. What is your favorite color?
Purple and Pink
2. What is your favorite toy?

My Pink Kitchen
3. What is your favorite fruit?

Broccolli! "Maddie, Broccoli is not a fruit." Ohhh... oranges then.
4. What is your favorite tv show?

Calliou and Dora
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?

Mac and Cheese
6. What is your favorite outfit?

My Horsey Pajamas
7. What is your favorite game? .

A puzzle
8. What is your favorite snack?
cupcakes
9. What is your favorite animal?

Cows
10. What is your favorite song?

Twinkle Twinkle... no umm....The Wheels on the bus!
11. What is your favorite book?  

A princess book
12. Who is your best friend?
Tenley! And Emma Kate!
13. What is your favorite cereal?

Chex
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Paint the sidewalk.
(this question was skewed by recent events)
15. What is your favorite drink?

Cranberry Juice
16. What is your favorite holiday?

I like Halloween!
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

Babies and Barbies!
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

Eggs and Toast but not the yolk! I don't like yolks.
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

California Roll! I love sushi! Oh, Oh! And Broccoli!!
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? 

A Mommy like you!


Happy Birthday to my favorite little girl.
Now.... 
Stop growing immediately. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Good Bye First Grade! Hello Summer!


We made it through First Grade!

Hip, Hip Hooray!

 He's grown so much!

He's such a little man now!  He's lost that baby face.  So grown up!  And So So excited for Second Grade!

Monday, July 15, 2013

A day in the life.... Creekside

Soooooo....
This happened....

Which brought on a time of reflection....

So many perfect Walnut Creek days are in my past.  Saying good bye to this city isn't something new for  me.  I've done it many, many times. And somehow I always seem to end up right back in this zip code.  Walnut Creek will always be "Home" for me... Maybe things will change...Maybe I'll adapt to a new place and it will become home...but there's something about the Creek.  I love it.  I always will, and I'm so happy I was able to live here as long as I have, and bring my babies home here.  They were born in the Creek, just as I was all those years ago...and maybe somewhere in them, they will always feel at home here when we roll on through to visit our loved ones.   

So just for fun... 

One more round of a Day in the Life through the eyes of a Walnut Creek Girl at Heart.....


A morning swim in our tub was always the best way to start the day....

As is blogging and Mac.

Followed by the Breakfast of Champions....
(no Noah's in Clovis....What will we do???)

A quick stroll through my happy place...

Followed by a leisurely walk through my place of worship.
:)

What's more enjoyable than a pedi at Olympic Nails??

A Quick dip with some Walnut Creek Besties

Dinner at my Favorite Restaurant...
Yes Please!


With My Girls???
My kind of night!

Too many "lemonades"
Why do they make them so delicious!

Nothing Says Walnut Creek like Crogans!
(on a side note... This establishment served me my first Beer a very, very looooong time ago)


Nothing like Walking Main Street with some of your favorite peeps in the world.

I. Am. Blessed.

I am one lucky lady for many, many reasons.  I'm not afraid of this change.  I welcome it.  I know that a fresh start can be a wonderful thing.  I know that Walnut Creek will welcome me with open arms every time I cruise on through 680.  I know that I will miss my friends and family more than they will ever know.  But I also know that we are not that far and that I have their unconditional support.  I know that the opportunity that is knocking on my front door is one that many woman wish for.  I'm excited for what lies ahead...

and I'm sure.... 

Not too long from now....

A day in the life....

Clovis...

Is coming to a blog near you.