Being Bella

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For the last few months a storm has been brewing, and now I can finally share! I am expecting baby number three right now, and my whole little [and extended] family are thrilled! The past few months have brought on a different side of me though, something unexpected - not bad per se - very unexpected.

I have been enjoying plant based nutrition plan for over a year, feel happy, vibrant, and healthy, and wouldn't dream of eating meat and other animal byproducts again...except this baby has a whole other agenda. You see, eating my normal leafy green diet rich with beans, lentils, and legumes has brought on terrible stomach aches and layed me up in bed recovering from a meal for hours. Then, on my wonderful husband's suggestion, I ate some meat. Oh.My.Word. This baby LOVES meat! Like seriously! I am left feeling bad about my food choices, but moaning over how good it feels going down - and its ability to stay down - and how happy this baby is to boot. Everytime it happens I get a flash of that scene in Twilight Eclipse where Bella drinks blood and both her and the baby have a very [ahem] positive response. And so I sit at the dinner table with my family eating meat, happy as a clam, and the sweet baby doing flips of excitement. Not only is it fun to feel baby's happy dance, but feeling well after a meal is a real treat for this lady!

At my last midwife appointment I asked Savanna [my midwife] about my new cravings and she said it is very common for vegetarians and vegans to eat meat and/or dairy products while pregnant. The need for iron increases, and our body will naturally tell us what is needs. After recieving my blood test results [my blood was drawn before my meat cravings had set in] Savanna agreeed with baby that I need to be incorporating meat into my diet as my hemoglobin counts were low normal [normal range is 120 to 140 and my count was 125] and the fastest way to improve it was to chow down on meat. Having Savanna advise me - being a long time vegetarian herself - to continue on the meaty path made me feel better about these strange cravings. But I realy wanted to see for myself what the stats were on vegans/vegetarians eating meat while pregnant. A quick google search returns several hits of Mamas in a similar situation: pregnant vegans/vegestarians who are eating meat and feeling better for it.

So in the end, while I feel much like Bella looked as blood stained her lips and coated her teeth, eating meat is sitting well with me - right now. I don't do it every meal, or even every day for that matter, but man does it feel good!

Saying 'thank you' with cookies

...is something I like to do. Nothing says 'thank you' like taking the time out of your busy day to bake up some pure loving goodness for someone! The best part of these cookies is they're not all that 'bad' for you, in that the only refined ingredient comes in the form of chocolate. But really, I think that's something most people look past when it comes to chocolate. On Sunday morning I was up before the boys [gasp! It does happen on occasion] and decided to get the day started with some baking. So cookies were whipped up for a special family whom is more giving that most, and deserves the world in return but will have to settle for cookies as I don't know how to give the world yet so I wanted to do something to say 'thank you for being awesome!' I took out my Mom's perfect cookie recipe, looked over the ingredients and figured out what could be substituted to make them less aggravating to a sugar sensitive tummy. The boys determined these cookies were good enough to eat all of them in one sitting [Darius tried to convince me to give the family one cookie to share. Um, not happening dude!] and my Hottie Husband tried to convince me that they were no good and he should just take them to work and 'dispose of them.' So, if you want cookies that are amazing enough to turn your generous four year old, and giving husband, into a Scrooge this is your recipe! Ha ha, but seriously, make these - you won't regret it.

 

Mom's Chocolate Chunk Cookies

slightly revised by me

1 c. vegan butter
1 c. palm sugar
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
1 1/2c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. unsweetened shredded coconut
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 bag of your favourite chocolate [approx. 1 1/2 c.]*

Preheat your oven to 375* and in a stand mixer cream together the butter and sugar. Once light white and fluffy, add in the egg and vanilla and continue to beat until well incorporated. Stir in dry ingredients, then chocolate. Spoon onto parchment or silpat lined pans with cookie scoop [about 1 rounded tbsp], and pop into the oven! My lighter baking pans took 9 minutes to bake the cookies perfectly, and the darker pans were 8 minutes, so gauge your baking time accordingly. Let cool for a couple of minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

*I used tiny little peanut butter cups for the chocolate both Sunday, and today, when I baked these bad boys and let me tell you Oh. My. Chocolaty. Heaven. Try it. You'll eat more cookies than you mean to. Or don't try it. Either way, this was a hit!

When your babe goes missing...

...it's hard not to panic. When Darius' teacher at church poked her head into my class [where I spend two hours with a bundle of sweet little ones!] and told me that Darius was missing my heart skipped a beat. I scooped up Eli, and bolted out the door. She had already been searching for him, and the only information she could give me was "he just walked out the door." So, we began with the bathrooms, classrooms, where his Daddy usually is [but wasn't yesterday due to work], then headed out to where we had parked, and checked the rest of the parking lot for good measure. Eli yelled "DE!" the entire time, while I yelled an echoing "DARIUS COME OUT NOW!" but still no luck. After about 15 minutes and ten others joining in the hunt, my emotions got the best of me and the tears became a cascading waterfall down both cheeks. A dear friend and neighbour seeing me, running the halls searching for Darius while holding Eli, took Eli, gave me a hug, and assured me Darius would be okay. After about 20 minutes he was found when the pianist when to sit down at the piano and found him lying at the pedals. He had been in the same room THE ENTIRE TIME.

When we got home from church, after me trying to be focused [and failing miserably] through the rest of my class and choir practise, Daddy and I sat Darius down and had a serious talk about the appropriate times to play hide and seek, and the importance of asking Mom and Dad if he can play hide and seek before starting the game. My eyes were still sore and swollen by the time I was crawling into bed, having again cried as I yet again had thanked the Lord for keeping Darius safe and sound.

I talked to my favourite Police Officer and asked for advice in case there is a 'next time' [which I don't know if I could physically handle, but at least I'm mentally prepared for now.] His tips were right in line with my thoughts after the event had settled and are great, so I thought I would share them with all the other Mama's out there in case you have to endure this experience - which I hope you NEVER DO!

1) Always start your search where the child was seen last. No matter who has started searching already, and no matter how long the search has been going, always begin at last point of contact [if I had done this, man alive would yesterday been far less emotional!]

2)Fan out from this central point, if for some reason your child has not yet been found. Check behind curtains, under furniture etc, as children can fit where we can't. And, like Darius, some children can lay very still for long periods of time if playing hide and seek.

3) Stay calm, and ask yourself questions about this child. Do they like to play games? Do they ask for permission? Would they go outside? Would they go with strangers? It is important to stay calm while asking yourself these questions so your imagination isn't answering them, but rather the child's previous behaviour is. Also, staying calm will allow your senses to focus on the search instead of being caught up in your own 'worst case senario' thoughts. Trust me, don't go there.

My sweet boys is safe and sound, and I am so very grateful for that today and everyday - but especially today after yesterday's panic.

Vegan Fare

       Someone out there must have decided that to be vegan, or to eat a plant based diet, must mean you have no taste buds. Most restaurants don't even touch 'vegan' food, because "who would buy that??? We need to make money!" The fact of the matter is, food has become more flavorful, more satisfying, more everything since taking on a plant based diet. Instead of looking at dinner prep as a meat, side of vegetables, salad, and maybe a bread, you look at what vegetables, grains/seeds/nuts, beans, legumes would pair nicely together and how to prepare them to bring out the medley of flavors. Should coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil be used? Maybe a balsamic reduction or vinaigrette? Fresh pressed garlic, or grated ginger anyone? Flavor has definitely taken more of a shining role on the dinner plate since nixing the meat. So why again are vegan meals a rare breed once you've left your abode? Why are there burger joints on every corner, but not one offers a quiona, black bean, or millet pattie?
        As I mulled this over the other night, I flipped through some blogs I love and landed squarely in salivation station with this, this, and this post from the Vegan Project [have you heard of these girls? They're from Vancouver, and their blog is lively and fun to read - and full of great recipes if you're looking for new ones!] Through the three posts the lovely ladies over at the Vegan Project take you through a culinary journey at the Wynn and Encore hotels in Las Vegas, NV. The menus read like poetry, and the pictures are divine. While some of the dishes use vegan 'meats' many are strictly plant based, with embellishments like cashew cream, micro basil, and balsamic reduction. Be.Still.My.Heart. I laid awake in bed after this [never read tantalising menus after 9:30pm while waiting for your husband to come home. Especially when getting the food on said menus is out of the question] thinking of how and when I could get myself to Las Vegas long after my husband arrived home, climbed into bed and promptly fell asleep. I of course told him about all the amazing food offerings at the Wynn and Encore before he passed out, which he thought was a bizarre fixation for 10pm. Once his breathing settled into snores [yep, my hottie husband snores] I slipped silently out of bed and downstairs to eat [whats a girl to do when a menu makes her salivate so much shes starving??] and took my phone so I could text with my Mom and figure out how we could create these dishes ourselves, or better yet, how we could escape on a culinary vacation! My Mom being the kind and understanding woman that she is [shes eaten out with me enough to see the dejected look on my face when I realise that said restaurant only offers a iceberg lettuce littered green salad that satisfies my plant based ways; seriously guys, I eat more than salad! And I like dark leafy greens!!!] agreed to help me recreate these dishes, which is a great thing as she's attended culinary school, cooked her way through raising seven children, and has an eye for stellar food ingredients and flavor pairings. When we come up with some knock off recipes I'll be sure and share, but in the mean time, check out the menu choices and drool away![for pictures, check out the blog posts mentioned above, or head over to this page on the Wynn's website for a sampling.]
      If anyone feels so inclined to send me to the Wynn or Encore for my full in person analysis of the gorgeous vegan fare offered at their restaurants, please do :) I am critical, with an eye for detail, and my feedback may well improve the offerings at all seven restaurants, so really it would be a favour to all vegans and non-vegans alike. Maybe vegan fare would catch on and become as mainstream as McDonald's! If it tasted as good as the food at the Wynn and Encore restaurants, instead of the sawdust that I've been served to date, I think anyone would try it. Wouldn't that be a wonderful[creulty free] world?

Photography Giveaway [linked]

Beautiful photography is not something I take lightly. Having been blessed with an amazing wedding photographer, and gorgeous family photos since, my walls are adorned with smiling faces of people I love. The details caught in that one moment held forever to cherish and share with others.
  When I saw this newborn photography giveaway mentioned on facebook this morning, I seriously jumped at the chance to win. There is always SOMEONE in need of adorable pictures of their fresh and precious new babe, and that is why I am sharing this giveaway with you - so you can enter too! But hurry, you only have until the 22nd to enter, so hop on over to Laura Taylor Photography and enter for your chance to spoil someone you love [including yourself!] Here's the link to the post about the giveaway to make it super simple for you!

Cookies worth drooling over

  For most pumpkin seems to be a gourd enjoyed most in the fall and winter months. While I see nothing wrong with this, pumpkin is bursting with flavor and nutrients and my family and I enjoy it year round in cookies, pancakes, soups, chili, and more. Wednesday being the chilly day it was called for comforting warm food - and pumpkin naturally. As Eli napped, Darius and I headed down to the kitchen and whipped up a new recipe featuring pumpkin of course, then again for dinner. Dinner was not an original recipe, but seeing as it was a truly nourishing and delicious [and vegan!] chili, here's the link to the recipe I found courtesy of pinterest [does anyone else thing pinterest is fabulous when they find a golden pin like this one??]
  After some taste testing on these cookies by many, it has been declared that they are amazing, and a recipe worth sharing. So, without further ado, here's the cookie creation Darius and I pulled together this week. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Protein Cookies

an original recipe created by me

1 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 c. vegan butter, at room temperature
7 medjool dates, pitted
1/3 c. vanilla egg protein powder
1 lrg egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. pumpkin puree [not pumpkin pie filling]
3 1/4 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
1 c. dark chocolate chips

1. preheat oven to 375* and line two baking sheets with a silicone baking mat, or parchment paper, and set aside.
2. in a blender, combine pitted dates, pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla. Pulse blender, scraping down sides as needed, until dates are fully incorporated into the mixture.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter until fluffy, then add pumpkin mixture and continue to beat. With beaters running, slowly add protein powder.
4. Stop mixer and add all dry ingredients, except chocolate chips. Mix until fully incorporated. Add chocolate chips and blend until evenly distributed.
5. Spoon mixture onto cookie sheets by the rounded tablespoon [a cookie scoop is great for this!] and pop in over. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool on baking sheet for two minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Yield 3-4 dozen

These cookies are slightly crisp on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside fresh out of the oven. While these cookies are not vegan, I was trying to find something to replace the sugar content, and the protein powder my husband bought currently seemed like a good fit as it is sweet without being filled with sugar or additives.

5%

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       No matter what is going on in my life - big battles, small mole hills, or days of sun shine - fitting in a workout is always a must. The stress relief and feeling strong and healthy go such a long way to brighten even the dimmest of days! As I mentioned last week, lately I've been leaning on the good trainers over at  Body Rock to make sure that I get a sweat session each day, even if its simply 12 minutes. 12 minutes doesn't sound like a lot, but for those of you that have tried their work outs, you can attest to the 5 minute "I'm not even half way!" panic that can happen at times. These work outs are intense! But the beauty is that each workout is customizable to your fitness level. The amazing trainers even walk you through all the different variations that can be preformed to accomodate lower, or higher, fitness levels.
         Today as I headed over to check out the work out, I was so inspried by what one of the trainers wrote that I needed to share it here too. It's such a simple, yet profound, concept that can change your training, your life, and your outlook in general.

"Where are you right now?
How close to your goals are you? Miles off or just across the street? Take a minute and focus on 3 things that you want to be, achieve or change. In a moment of no bull-shit honesty with yourself ask yourself if you find a way of directing 5% more time, energy or effort towards what you want. Can you?
You can find 5% under your fingernails. It’s getting up 10 minutes earlier, walking an extra block, taking a minute to call instead of email, saying something kind to someone out of the blue – giving anything from the heart. This 5% compounded day by day, rep by rep and smile by smile will move the landscape of your life to a place where the sun shines a little bit brighter, your clothes fit a little bit better and your heart feels a whole lot lighter.
Start looking for that 5% in your BodyRocking today. Whatever you give you will get back – and that feel good sensation is your body smiling :)"[source]

          It's a simply thought, but really what would you do with 5% more time? Would you use it to rock your way to your goals that much faster? Do yourself a favor and think of the three things you want to do, be, or achieve - and then find your 5% to get you going!

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