Time
It’s something I’m massively short on this week! Somehow my rule of “don’t plan anything more than 1 night a week” has turned into “gone all but one night”. Eeek! On top of that, I’m trying to write my new e-course, plant seeds for my garden, and keep up here around the house.
Soooo, whilst I love to hang out and chat with you all, I’ll be taking a short break until next Monday. Where I will be back with a bunch of recipes (I just checked out my photo folder and forgot how many pictures of food I’ve taken!) another giveaway, and the next part in my fertility diet series.
Have a great week everyone!!
*also Tiffany won the sprouted baking mix from last week – an e-mail should have gone out to you! Congrats!
** Please do not construe my posts as medical advice, because *ahem*, I am not a doctor or medical professional. I am but a student of Nourishing Nutrition and Natural Health. I only hope to ignite a passion within you to do your own research and begin your own journey to better health. And to make sure you don't miss a single post, you can add my blog's RSS Feed to your reader or you can sign up for free updates by Email.An Afternoon of Friends + Food = Major Fun!
So last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending my friend Jodi’s (of jodimichelle.com) cooking demo! I got to meet some new friends and we had a blast watching her cook up some fabulous food, and an even better time sitting around eating it all.
First she made some caramel corn. And while I’m still watching my sugar intake, this had to be sampled. No judgment folks…
We also made up a curry dip for veggies. Curry and veggies never really seemed to go together in my mind, but it was quite delish! My favorite thing about watching other people cook is that I find so many new flavors and combos that I’ve never tried.
She then put together a salad, and while I’ve never been to big on sweet salads, this one will grace our table now and again. I was very pleasantly surprised! The sweet, the crunch, the goat cheese……oh wait. We won’t talk about the cheese huh Jodi. 
Oh and the poppy seed dressing……..Mmmmmm.
We (she) also made some salmon. Now, salmon is something I’ve just been making for a few years now and while we do like it, I’ve never stepped away from the “butter, salt, and pepper” basics. We chatted a bit about how she cooks it and why and I left with some great tips for the next time I make it for dinner.
She pricks the fish before pouring butter over it. Because it helps get the butter into the fish. Awesome!
She uses a fantastic amount of butter.
Sprinkled with a bit of brown sugar.
Broiled it and served with a slightly sweet red sauce.
To. Die. For.
And there was even a mocha torte for dessert, though I did not take a picture of it. But it was fabulous in all it’s brownie, mocha, whipped cream goodness.
Thanks Jodi, I had a blast! Can’t wait to do it again!
Do you ever get together and cook with friends? I’m really thinking this is a fabulous idea and a great way to try new recipes!
A Boring Title – You woulda thought I’d come up with something better for my first post of the year.
So anyways, two whole weeks without posting! But what a fabulous 2 weeks we had. I spent many hours baking away in the kitchen making gifts for our family and neighbors. I bought ingredients I haved used in years and felt so very guilty indulging as much as I did. You know, taste testing and all.
We had an awesome Christmas spending time with both my family and Todd’s family. And while I know the politically thing to do is NOT buy women kitchen stuff for gifts, it’s what I ask for! I got a new stock pot, mini ladel, stainless steel measuring cups, and a whole lot of new kitchen towels. (whoo hoo, I got new towels!! My other ones were about rags now that I don’t use paper towels anymore) I also got the wonderful gift of a zoo membership for the next year and can’t wait till it gets warm enough so I can use it!
And for the first time ever I went out on New Years Eve with my family! I headed downtown and spent a good portion of the evening eating and laughing and having a great time. Though I did head home so I could spend some quality time with my love watching the ball drop.
I’ve also been having a great time reading the answers to the survey I asked you all to take for me! It’s been great “getting to know you all” a bit more. I’ve found out that:
- my male readership stands at 1% (hi guys!)
- a lot of you live down south (I’m jealous, very jealous)
- that while many of you already eat a nourishing diet, there are quite a few fessing up to their junk food habits!
- a LOT of you love to cook!
- some of you would like a forum for more of a community/support atmosphere – would more of you be interested in a fertility forum? And would any of you like to volunteer to be co-moderators? I personally would love to set up something like this, but would need help running it. Please let me know if something like this would be beneficial!
I thank you immensely and appreciate all of you who took the time to take the survey. I now am a bit more focused on my writing and have lots of fun new ideas for the next few months.
And now since I’m a bit more focused, here’s my list of 10 things to start in 2010!
- Uh – can we say sugar detox folks? I need one. Desperately. How about you? And weight loss will hopefully happen as well.
- A toss the microwave challenge. I think I’ve finally been convicted.
- A series on “The Living Kitchen” showing all the goodies ‘growing’ in my kitchen.
- Starting up “Try it Tuesdays” again! I need to get out of my comfort zone. Again.
- A new “Adventures in Soaking” series showing my flops and successes.
- Nourishing Nutrition for different stages in life
- More natural living and some “detoxing your home” posts
- I also have an idea on a book. But I need to do some thinking and praying and researching. Please pray for me as it’s linked with….
- my motto for the year…… “Give Back”
- I also thought it would be fun to do some “Menu Makeovers” for those of you still not eating the greatest. (I know you’re out there!) Anyone up for it? I’d makeover either your breakfast, lunch, or dinner menu for the week into something a bit more nutritious. Nothing to crazy, just giving you some new ideas1 If you’re interested shoot me an e-mail at donielle (at) naturallyknockedup.com
And that’s what I’ve got going on, what about you? Any goals you’re looking to hit this new year?
** Please do not construe my posts as medical advice, because *ahem*, I am not a doctor or medical professional. I am but a student of Nourishing Nutrition and Natural Health. I only hope to ignite a passion within you to do your own research and begin your own journey to better health. And to make sure you don't miss a single post, you can add my blog's RSS Feed to your reader or you can sign up for free updates by Email.Craft Day Part One
Beth decided to host another craft day today, and I’m gladly jumping in as I have a few Christmas presents to finish up!
Now, parents. You may NOT look at the rest of this post. Or you shall ruin your Christmas surprise.
Got it?
Alrighty then…..
First up my 3yo painted some ornaments (that we got from Dad’s Wooden Toys on Etsy) for his grandparents and great grandma.
Next up was a Minkie blanket for my baby girl! This took awhile as I made up the pattern myself and it was a little trial and error from the get go. Especially cause I’m horrible at math. And measuring. And geometry.
The petals sewn together.
And I finally got the rest finished after I fought with my machine for 20 minutes. Here’s the front:
And the soft ‘minkie’ back:
Now I’m just waiting for the baby to nap so I can put the toddler in quiet time and possible get started on some fabric blocks.
Happy Thanksgiving!
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Psalm 100
Operation : Restore Order
As much as I feel like I should be keeping up with all my other blogging friends right now, I think this holiday week is the perfect time for me to take a week off to restore order in my house, get my kids on a basic schedule, get my head on straight and get my heart in the right place.And the fact that I feel I need to keep up in any way, shape, or form is the very reason I need to close the lid to my laptop for awhile!
This last year has been quite stressful for me due to many situations that have come up in both my family and within my own home, not to mention the fact that we added a new baby this year as well. So not only am I tired from lack of sleep, I’m tired from excess stress and my body and mind are really starting to suffer because of it. And my family and home are suffering as well.
I have some old posts ready to go up and a few, I’ve already had in the works, scheduled as well. Please have a fabulous holiday and I hope to be back in full swing and fully refreshed next week!
My “Before I Leave” To Do’s
In order to leave in a fashionable time on Friday morning for the conference there are many things I need to get done. Plus, I in no way want to come home to a messy house! So here I post my to do list. Not because I think you care at all (which I know you don’t) but because it’s accountability for me.
Wednesday:
- wash and fold laundry
- wash dishes and have counters clean
- clean out refrigerator
- vacuum
- work on designing a wedding album for my sister
- wash diapers (using disposables from here till next week!)
- put away clutter in each room
- clean bathrooms
- bake 2 loaves of bread
- give both children baths
- check online bank statements and pay bills
- get husband to check the van over
- print maps to the conference
Thursday:
- wash and fold any extra laundry
- have kitchen clean and dishes put away by evening
- pack for my toddler
- pack for myself and baby
- pack camera, video camera, laptop, business cards, batteries and cables.
- fill van up with gas
- get cash for the weekend
- check over maps again
- leave numbers for my husband
- have carseat checked
- have livingroom picked up by bedtime
- SET ALARM!
Friday:
- Up at 5am
- Drop toddler off at grandma’s at 6am
- LEAVE for Schaumburg!!
Why do we think we can do it all?
I think my power went out for good reason this morning. Because it made me just sit down and read some books by lamplight with my littles. No TV, no computer, no baking, or canning, or laundry. Just sitting knowing there was nothing to be done.
God sure know what we need when we need it, huh?
Welcome to my new digs!!
So I don’t think my site is hitting the readers yet (if you’re seeing this post on a reader – will you come on over and leave me a comment?) and I still have some cleanup and kinks to work out – but what do you think of my new digs? Hopefully over the next couple of weeks, I’ll get the links all fixed so they work again!
Thanks for being patient with me the last couple of weeks!!
The inevitable
Wait.
What’s that?
That right there?!
Do you see the red?!
Excuse me while I go sob.
But that only lasts for another 6 weeks.
Then it’s barren, and cold, and wet. And dark. Followed by the freezing cold and blowing snow. The snow that traps me in the house time and time again seeing as how we live far from ‘town’ and the plows don’t come our way often enough. Over the last couple of years this has meant that I literally don’t leave the house for a couple weeks at a time. You know, cause with all that precious cargo I’m carrying these days, it’s just not worth it.
And you’d think growing up here in Michigan, I’d have gotten into some winter sports or something. Ummm, no.
So here we go folks. The inevitable is coming. I’m trying not to scream “noooooooo!” every time I walk out the door, and really trying to enjoy these last few days of running outside without spending 30 minutes getting everyone bundled up.
Also – tell me, how do you deal with the cold blustery winter?
*And I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels this way! Beth was posting the same thing as I was out taking my pictures!
