Cleaning Your Fruits & Veggies

Summer is approaching fast and that means lots of berries and fruits that I absolutely LOVE! Fruit is nature's candy in my mind. All the sweet tasting berries and of course watermelon ALWAYS reminds me of summer during my childhood. Now that my kids love fruit as much as my husband and I it seems I have to buy a lot of it. I don't mind but cleaning it all can be tedious. So I decided to try something I read recently about washing it all with white vinegar. I was initially afraid that the vinegar would leave a taste on it but it didn't and it was so much easier! 

All you have to do is put 1 cup white vinegar and 3 cups water into a bowl, add your fruits/veggies and mix it around. You can also do it in the sink; however, mine was full of dished I had not yet put into the dishwasher so a bowl it was LOL. If you need to use the sink for as much as you have then make sure to keep the 1:3 ratio. So once you rinsed with the vinegar mix then run the fruits/veggies under water to give it a good rinse and rid it of the vinegar residue. I have a small portion of my sink (it's really useless other than for this) so I filled that up with water, transferred the fruit to the clean water and mixed it around. Then I dried the fruit (raspberries I made sure to just set on a papertowl and GENTLY pat dry but the strawberries and blueberries I used a towel and dried them. 

After cleaning them I placed them back into their original containers. I don't want to put them in sealed tight container because then moisture builds up. I also placed a paper towel in the bottom to soak up any water that gets released. 

Now all our fruit that we just purchased from the local market is not only fresh but now cleaned and ready to eat! Give it a try because it cut my prep time down in half! :)

It Starts In The Kitchen

I receive a lot of questions about how I stay on track with my nutrition and what makes my kitchen different from every other person's. Well today I want to share with you some tips on some small changes you can make in your kitchen & pantry that can make a HUGE difference. 

Kitchen Utensils/Tools

First, let's start with what utensils/tools you want to have handy at all times.Some of my GO TO items are:

• Vegetable Peeler
• Measuring Cup
• Food Scale
• Snack Size Plastic Bags
• Take & Toss Containers
• Apple Slicer

Take & Toss Containers - Found in the kids/infant section of Wal-Mart or Target

You want to keep these items where they are handy. I have drawers under the counter-top I use to prep my meals so I keep these items in there. 

Bulk Buying

Now, we need to talk about BULK buying. When we lived in the US we shopped at SAM's Club often. They always has great healthy options and their fresh produce was better than any other place (other than when the Farmer's Market was open). I actually encourage buying in bulk; HOWEVER, if you decided to do this then you MUST portion it out when you get home. This is where those snack size bags and the Take & Toss containers come in handy. Once you portion it out, store it in one of those items so that it's very quick and easy to grab and go. 

Don't Test Your Self-Control

Recently, I read a great statement in the book A Big Fat Crisis. The author, Deborah A. Cohen, MD., said "Any one instance of self-control is relatively easy, but it appears that continuous demands for self-control will be self-defeating." What does this mean? It means GET THE TEMPTATION OUT OF THE HOUSE! It means that you may be able to resist the urge to snack on that candy once but over time it will be self-defeating if you constantly have to resist it, therefore, you will end up giving in. Just get rid of it! Your kids don't need it either!  Now, I admit to having some of those corn dogs, frozen pizzas and frozen chicken nuggets in my freezer; however, they aren't tempting to me! I could careless that they are in there and since my kids REFUSE to eat anything else I buy them. Those items don't test my self-control though. Ice cream on the other hand....now that is a SERIOUS test of self-control so we don't keep it in the house typically. My kids love to have that as an after school "good job" treat but my husband takes them to the ice cream shop down the road for it. (It's a win-win for this mommy....alone time and no testing my self-control!) If throwing food out gets to you then DONATE it! I am sure there is a shelter or church near you that would be more than willing to take those items off your hands. You don't want your kitchen, pantry or freezer to be anxiety producing. Make it easier for everyone and just eliminate the option of bad choices. 

 

Organizing Your Food

(I like to color code my containers with the 21 Day Fix color system)

 Have you ever noticed that when you go into the supermarket that all the BAD/UNHEALTHY choices are right at eye level as you walk through? Well it's done on purpose! Those companies pay BIG BUCKS to ensure their products are placed just right so that you make an impulse buy. It's the perfect level for your child that sitting in the cart to see and start screaming for it. Don't fall victim to that in your OWN home though. Be conscious about where you place items in your fridge, pantry and freezer. 

When you open the fridge door you are looking for whatever is quick and is easy. You want what will take the least amount of time to prepare but tastes good. Unfortunately, the fridge producing companies decided that putting the drawers for the fresh produce would be best at the bottom which makes it totally out of our line of vision while standing there. This is where prepping your food come in VERY handy! When you get home from shopping you should unload your groceries, then clean and cut (if necessary)and portion out your fruits and then display them in your snack baggies. You want to ensure you place them in your fridge at EYE level. If you claim to not have time to do all that then buy them already cut up. You also want to do the same thing with your raw veggies. If you buy yogurt then place it next to your freshly cut berries in the fridge so now you grab the two, mix them together and your are ready to go. 

Everything that is healthy you want to be at the front of the shelf and at EYE level. This means you will be a lot more likely to grab that as a quick snack.

Replacing Less Healthy Items

We all have those regular staple items that we use. Things like ketchup, peanut butter, jelly, etc. You need to try and replace those items with healthier choices. They now make ketchup that is all natural with no high fructose corn syrup. Peanut butter is a HUGE staple in this house but that's okay because I buy the all natural brand. There is oil sitting at the top of it but once you stir it up it's good to go. I actually like it better than the "fake" stuff and so do my kids. Instead of sour cream, try plain greek yogurt. Don't use mayo, use mustard instead. Also, skip the butter, use olive oil as a substitute. You can put the olive oil in a little spray bottle and it's just like the spray butter. 

There is an app that you can download called Fooducate. This app allows you to scan the bar codes of two products and do a side by side comparison. Each item is given a grade based on it's nutritional content so that helps you make quick decisions as well. 

 Organizing Your Pantry

The bulk of your food should be in your fridge because if it can't go bad then MOST of the time it's not healthy for you. With that said, I know it's not possible to only have food in your fridge. I personally have a pantry that I keep stocked. I do; however, make sure the items I place in there are NOT the loaded with sugar and extremely unhealthy options.

The same thing goes for your pantry as it does for your fridge. Put the healthy options front and center! Make sure it's eye level and it's at the front of the shelf. The foods that are not the healthiest should be at the top...you know those shelves that you have to go searching for the foot stool for...yeah those! Let's be honest, if it's up there then what is the likelihood you will go searching for the stool to get it? Probably none...at least in my house. Those items are the ones that we forget about and then end up throwing out so I STOP buying them once I throw it out.

Again, if it is bulk items then make sure you have repackaged it into those baggies or a clear container. I also use baskets in my pantry to ensure everything stays organized but that's just my personal preference. It does help me to see what I have and to make the best choice health wise and it's done quickly since it's all organized. 

What you will typically find in my pantry:

• Unsalted nuts (Almonds, Cashews, Peanuts, etc.)
• Instant Rolled Oats
• Shakeology
• Canned Organic Black Beans
• Canned Organic Diced Tomatoes
• Instant Brown Rice
• Uncooked Quinoa
• Local Homemade Pasta (This lady here makes it with veggies and it's YUMMY!)
• Dried Fruit (Raisins, Cherries, etc.)
• High Quality Protein Bars (My kids & hubby LOVE Cliff Bars!)

I won't pretend that there isn't cake, brownie and other mixes in there because there are. You will however have to go searching for it and they have probably been in there for 6 months because I don't make that stuff normally. I have it in there for those times that I forget I am supposed to bring a dessert to a party or something. Make sure if you keep that kind of stuff in your house that it's out of sight...therefore, out of mind. That's my top shelf and very bottom back shelf kind of stuff. 

The idea is that you should be eating from your fridge, NOT your pantry. The pantry is my back up food or emergency food. We all know that if it's in the pantry that it's processed therefore not the healthiest option. GO TO THE FRIDGE...that's where the healthy stuff lives! 

Where do I start?

I know this seems like a lot of information and it is. But it's all information that you NEED to get started and to be successful. Why test your self-control when you need that energy for the bigger and harder decision throughout your day! So here's a run down to help you get started:

• Remove all the high sugar & high fat temptations from the kitchen/fridge/pantry.
• Check out your fridge and find those staple items and replace them with a healthier version.
• Stock up on containers, baggies and other organizational items.
• Arrange your prep utensils/tools so they are easy to reach when you need them. 
• Go through your fridge, pantry and kitchen and GET RID of stuff to make room for your healthier items!
• Divide your snacks and bulk buys into individual servings.
• Arrange your fridge & pantry so the healthy options are FRONT & CENTER!!!! 

I hope that this is helpful in getting you started. These steps have helped me stay on track. (For the most part - I am human and slip up like the rest of you!) If you have any questions then please don't hesitate to message me! XoXo

Shrimp & Asparagus with Lemon Sauce

I REALLY love quick and easy meals. Last night my husband worked pretty late and I don't like to eat without him so it was important that I made something that could be done quickly but didn't skimp on the flavor. This was a great choice and we both ate it up!

I mean how yummy does this look?

By the way, I LOVE my Polish Pottery bowls! It's just one of the MANY benefits of living in Europe! :)

Okay so here is the very simple recipe...

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided
1 Pounds Large Raw Shrimp, peeled & deveined
1 Pound Asparagus, trim the ends & cut into 2-3" pieces
Salt to taste
1 Tsp Minced Garlic

Lemon Sauce Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Sugar (I use an organic, raw brand)
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Lemon Zest

Directions:

* In a small bowl, combine all of the lemon sauce ingredients and mix well. Set aside.

* In a large pan, heat up 2 Tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the pan and season with salt to taste. Cook until both sides are opaque, but slightly undercooked.

*Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.

* In the same pan you cooked the shrimp add the remaining 2 Tbsp of olive oil and about 1/2 cup of water over medium-high heat. Add the asparagus and season with salt to taste. Cook until asparagus is bright green and tender-crisp.

* Add garlic and the lemon sauce to the asparagus. Cook another minute or so.

* Add the shrimp back into the pan with the asparagus and sauce.

* Simmer for about a minute or two, until the shrimp are fully cooked.

*ENJOY! :)

Healthy Mushroom Pizza

I don't know about you but I LOVE pizza but my body didn't get that memo so when I eat it I am in pain for hours. As much as I love it, it's just not worth it to me. I was reminded of this fact just last night so when I was craving pizza for lunch today I had to figure out a way to have it without the pain. Now don't get me wrong, it's NOT pizza...but it's pretty darn tasty and relieved my craving. 

BONUS....it's healthy!

Just looking at them makes me what another one! :)

Here's the recipe so you can enjoy them as much as I did!

Ingredients:

4 or 5 Portobello Mushrooms

4 Tomatoes

4 Cloves of Garlic

Lemon

1 Onion

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil

Kosher Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper

Fresh Grated Parmigiano Cheese

Directions:

*Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 205C)

* Chop the onion (I used a whole one but will probably only use 1/2 or maybe 3/4 of one next time

* Cut the tomatoes (I didn't make mine thin...I did more of a cube type)

* Chop the garlic

 * Heat up approximately 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a pan

* Saute the onion in the heated up olive oil and cook until it's lightly browned

* Once the onion is browned add in the tomatoes, garlic, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Saute the ingredients until the tomatoes are soft.

* Add a splash of lemon juice and sprinkle the fresh chopped basil (to taste)

* Spray olive oil on a baking sheet and place the mushrooms on the sheet with the bottom side up. (Make sure you clean up the mushrooms, such as taking the stem out if need be)

* Add the ingredients from the pan into each mushroom and top with grated parmigiano cheese. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 12 minutes. 

* ENJOY!!! :)

Stitch Fix - Box #1

I GAVE IN! I decided to try out Stitch Fix and I have to say, it's pretty amazing! You sign up, fill out the pretty detailed survey on your likes and dislikes, your sizes and all that fun stuff. You schedule when you want your box to arrive (can make it a reoccurring monthly thing or you can choose one time) then you can also leave a note to your stylist. 

I chose to do this because I have two toddlers and even when their daddy is with us to shop, I never feel like I can leisurely shop to find items I like and buying online means I am risking it not fitting and then having to return it and so on. Stitch Fix is really risk free in my opinion. There is an initial $20 styling fee that is charged when you schedule your box. That's the only charge until you receive your box, are allowed 3 business days to try the items on and decide what you would like to keep and what you will be returning in the postage paid envelope that is provided to you.

It's very exciting when you box arrives. I mean who doesn't enjoy when someone looks through your Pinterest board (you provide a link to them when you do your initial survey) and provides you items that are already on your board or that are similar to the style. The above picture is my box when I opened it. 

You get 5 items in your box. That includes if you have an accessory, such as a scarf or a piece of jewelry. In my first box I received a pair of jeans, a very cute top, a cardigan, a scarf and a tie waist dress. My stylist (Katie) gave me items that could be put together to make an outfit which was pretty awesome. I have plans to wear it when we are out this weekend. So let's get into what I received. 

The scarf I received is the Octavia Jalisa Floral Embroidered Infinity Scarf. It's not anything that I would have picked up on my own but I am SUPER excited that my stylist sent this to me. No picture does it justice. It's such a beautiful piece and very versatile. I decided to keep this item of course!

Henry & Belle Billy Skinny Jeans are AMAZING! They fit great, are stretchy and make your butt look awesome LOL. They are not cheap by any means but I have always been a girl that prefers to pay for good quality jeans that last as oppose to spending money on cheaper jeans that have to be replaced every year. Another item I kept!

The Fun2Fun Justice Lace Detail Blouse is very pretty. It has lace section across the shoulder area. I loved it from the minute I saw it. The downfall was when I put it on. The length was great and the sizing was perfect but the cut of it is pretty weird so it was pulling in the shoulder and breast area. I had to send it back because there was no way I could wear it with 2 little girls to take care of. 

Laila Jayde Swansea Drape Cardigan is such a great piece. I received it in a cream color that means I can pair it with pretty much anything. It's not heavy so it will work nicely in Spring or even during Summer while out to dinner. the length of it is pretty good especially since I have a long torso and often can't find long enough cardigans. I definitely kept this item. 

My last item was the Market & Spruce O'hara Animal Print Faux-Wrap Tie Waist Dress. This was another item that I definitely wouldn't have picked out for myself but loved it when I saw it. It's a light-weight material that would look great with riding boots or even some thong sandals depending on the day. I planned on keeping it until I put it on. It was NOT flattering to my physic at all. In my opinion it made me look a bit frumpy. I did not keep it. 

Once you decide what you are keeping and what you aren't then you sign back into your Stitch Fix account and complete the checkout process. When you checkout you can leave notes on why you like the item or why you don't like the item. It asks you about sizing, cut, and so forth. 

As for the prices, you give the price range in your initial survey and my items pretty much stuck within those limits. If you keep one item from the box then your $20 styling fee is credited towards the purchase. If you keep all 5 items then you receive a 25% discount. Your box will contain an invoice with all that information on it. I haven't had to deal with sizing issues but from what I have learned, you can simply email customer service and they can work with you on exchanging. 

Overall I believe Stitch Fix is absolutely worth it! I have already scheduled my next one to arrive next month. I don't believe I will get one every month but they have this AMAZING handbag that I hope they send me! I left a note to my stylist asking for it so here's to it being in my next box (hopefully) LOL. If you are interested in trying it out then head over to Stitch Fix and enjoy it! I thought it was pretty fun and a whole lot less stressful than heading to the mall with two kids in tow!

It's an adventure...make it a good one!

Over the weekend my family and I took a trip with some of our friends to Heidelberg, Germany. It was seriously the most amazing place. There is a castle there that takes your breath away. Once you go inside the castle you can see for miles! This picture was taken from a "balcony" type area inside the castle. It really is breath taking! This trip got me to thinking though. 

So many military members and spouses ask, "What's the best base?" or "What are the bad bases?" and that is kind of frustrating to me. In my opinion there are no bad bases. It's all relative to your attitude. I'm not saying that I am jumping to get stationed in Minot or something like that but I am saying that every base has it's good and it's bad. If you choose to focus on the good then it will be a "good" base rather than a bad one. Some might consider the base we are at as a bad assignment. It's a small base and the closest regular sized base is about 2 hours away. In order to get to the commissary or a small BX we have to drive 30 minutes. Sounds horrible right? It's not! It IS an adjustment but because of this we get to really experience the Belgian traditions and way of life. We have learned to appreciate those trips to "big" bases. What's probably the most frustrating for me though, when we are at those bigger bases I hear people constantly complaining about them. My initial thoughts are "what do you  have to complain about?" I guess I am just a different kind of spouse. I know that the base we are at is not permanent. In a few years we will be heading somewhere else, experiencing something else. Why not make the best out of the place we are at and learn some new things, see some new things and build memories with my family. 

Before being stationed in Belgium we were stationed in South Georgia. Over half the people there complain about what a horrible base it is and how they can't wait to get out of there. I will admit that I was a bit apprehensive about moving there because it really is such a small place (little did I know that our next base would be even smaller LOL). We chose to make the best of it and we ended up driving to Tallahassee quite a bit which was only a little over an hour away, we would go to all the farms and do the you pick them, an added bonus was that Savannah was only a few hours away. Never did I think I would miss that place. I took it as an experience and had fun while we were there. Now, I find myself MISSING it!  Had I not taken the right mindset when we arrived there then we wouldn't have found all the wonderful things that we did. All the festivals, the farm days, the farms, the friends, the list is endless really! 

You can choose to be bitter about the base you are at or you can choose to enjoy it and find the adventure in it! Get in your car and explore on the weekends. I will be the first to tell you that I don't get out during the week typically. I have the kids on a schedule and we stick to it during the week. That helps them and it helps me, plus I want to enjoy new things while my husband is with us. On the weekends, we try to experience something new, even if that means just driving to a big city around us, parking the car and just walking around. We have less than 4 years to experience Europe and I plan on taking advantage of that, even if that means we have to drive a few hours or go outside our comfort zone.

I think another thing that spouses/military members complain about is their children aren't adjusting. In a sense I get that but I also know from experience that your children will feed off of your energy. If you are bitter and complaining constantly about where you are stationed then your kids will not be happy there either. They will take their clues from you and follow your lead. My oldest was old enough to understand that we were leaving the place she was born and she watched as they packed our house and her toys. When I was stressed and freaking out about it, then she was a wreak. Once I settled into the idea and "let Jesus take the wheel" then she calmed into it and we told her we were going to a new home. It became a cool adventure to her and she has great ever since.

I guess what I am trying to say is that nothing is permanent. Enjoy where you are and find the positive in everything. It will make you a better wife, mother and person. I will admit that I wasn't always that person. I have had to work at it and learn to find the positive. You could have asked me a year ago and I would have said there are good bases and bad bases....now I think they are all good because there is ALWAYS a good aspect or two for each one. The base we are at now allows us to travel Europe, it's a small tight knit community with great leadership, and we are showing our kids that there is a whole big world out there! As Joel Osteen says, "Enjoy the season you are in!" 

Enjoy the adventure and know that in a few short years you will be on the road of another great adventure. :)

Honest Confessions of a Mother

 

I absolutely LOVE my kids! They are everything to me. I feel so very lucky to have been chosen to be their mother and wouldn't want it any other way!

With that said, motherhood is HARD! I spent 8 years in the Army and my childhood wasn't all roses but NOTHING prepared me to be a mother. Of course the multiple wake ups at night and the sicknesses and childbirth are all things that pass and seem to become more of a vague memory at best...what I think is the hardest part is once they start to talk! 

Just hang in there with me for a minute. 

It's always such an awesome thing to hear your kid say their first words! You wait and wait to see what that first word will be and most mommies hope that it will be "mama" or something along those lines. Typically, for me at least, our kids said "dada" first. No big deal...I just carried you in my belly for 9 months, couldn't have my glass of wine on Friday nights, suffered through morning sickness, gained 60 pounds, and birthed you without the epidural taking effect....but go ahead and say "dada" first. He earned it LOL.

Never mind the fist word....what happens when they start with the full sentences and they turn 2?! It's like someone takes over your kids body and the sweet and loving child you had before disappears. Well not fully disappears....that sweet side resurfaces on occasions. The temper tantrums, the refusal to do anything and they tell you so, then teaching their younger and sweet sibling to say the word "NO" every time mommy says something. 

That's what has happened in my household at least. Out of no where, well actually just this week, my 1 year old has decided to tell me "no" anytime I tell her to do something. I tell her to sit down and she says "no". I tell her to stop doing something and of course she says "no". She has only recently learned this from her 2 year old (almost 3) sister. I get terrible two's....well not really but at least it's an explanation....but I do not know nor enjoy why on earth my 1 year old has turned into a "no" machine?! It's literally driving me NUTS! I sit her in timeout for telling me "no" and she gets up, tries to run away from timeout while yelling "no". I sit her back down and we do this for about 20 minutes. My oldest likes to tell me "no" as well but since she is a bit older I have had a lot of discussions with her about why it's not nice to say that and why mommy asks her to help and so forth. I don't think it really gets through to her but only because she is one of the most stubborn kids I know....she's only second to her sister who has since taken the reigns on that one! 

So let's say I get passed the "no" issue...everything is perfect right? Umm NO (oh look, my favorite word LOL)! My oldest throws some of the most extreme temper tantrums! I mean we have to leave where we are, take her right away to the car and put her in her seat as we stand outside and listen to her SCREAM at the top of her lungs. She can do this for a good hour at least. Typically after about 10 minutes we get in the car, insert ear plugs and drive home. I used to get all worked up about it but as crazy as it sounds...I am learning to ignore it! Well ignore it as much as you can when they are screaming LOL. What bothers me most is the fact that she typically chooses to throw these fits while we are out in public and here in Belgium we get starred at by EVERY person with a look of "how can you not control your kid?" Well if you are a mom then you know that "controlling" a two year old's temper is as easy as nailing jello to the wall! It's NOT going to happen and I am not going to try! I am going to get her to a neutral place and allow her to get it all out. Eventually she will realize that mommy isn't going to give in and get her candy so it's not worth the tantrum....or at least that's my hope because typically her tantrums are about something very minor. When she has them at home then I take her up to her room, sit her on the bed and I sit on the floor and let her get it out. Again, it's about a 45 minutes thing and once she's done she will say she's sorry, gives me a hug and tells me she loves me. Sounds fun right?! 

Hmm what else is so much fun with kids? I personally LOVE when the kids are fighting over one particular toy (that we probably have 2 of but they don't want to look for the other one) and they don't yell at each other....the scream at the top of their lungs! It's a very high pitched, blood curdling scream that severs my nerves the second it starts. Oh, or the refusal to eat because even though they said they wanted chicken for dinner what they really meant was they wanted spaghetti. 

Motherhood is down right hard! I wouldn't trade it for the world but that doesn't mean that at the end of each day my brain, nerves and body are maxed out. When the kids go to bed and the house is quiet...that's the best feeling in the world. Again, I absolutely LOVE my kids and love my life but as a stay at home mom....peace and quiet are a rare thing so I enjoy every second that I get! This doesn't make me a bad mom either...it makes me a better mom because I take what quiet time I can get because I have started to expect these things from the kids. I know that typically I will get one tantrum a day from the oldest and now I get a "no" from my youngest about every 5 minutes. The kids are exploring their own thoughts, opinions and emotions. I won't stop them from exploring them but it does take it's toll on me! Eventually (not to long from now) they will be older and I will have teenagers to deal with. I think I will take now over teenage girls LOL!

Anyone know a good spa in Belgium?! ;-)