Sharing the Love of Organics- Breakfast

Sharing the Love of Organics- Breakfast

Love love love this bread! Rudi's Organic Bakery makes bagels, breads, and english muffins just to name a few. I have tried many different breads of Rudi's but my favorite is Honey Whole Wheat. Makes fabulous toast and yummy sandwiches! Spread a little organic butter on your toast and grab a piece of fruit in the morning and you are ready to start your day on a healthy note, without high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils!

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I Love Organics!

I'm all about organics these days, and have really decided that I need to stay on the bandwagon this time around. I fell off for awhile not because I wanted to, but because it is so expensive! I am slowly stocking back up on my organic food, body care and household items. I think it is so important to take care of your body and what you are putting in it, on it, and also what you are inhaling in your home on a daily basis.I am going to start sharing a lot of my favorite natural and organic products here on my blog so if you are also interested in organic living, you can get some product info right here! I'll start today by sharing one product I have never strayed from, and that's organic milk! I usually try to buy whats on sale (if it ever is) and those two brands are either Horizon Organic or Organic Valley and they cost around $4.20 for a half gallon of 0% fat fat free milk.

And here is one of my all time favorites! Organic Valley Reduced Fat Chocolate Milk! This stuff is better than a milkshake! Yumm- It's so addicting and I try not to buy it too often :)

Fear not, For I am With You

It was just another Wednesday, rushing out of school to get home, change clothes and get ready to go babysit. I do this every week and this day shouldn't have been any different. When I got to the house to watch the kids, I got a phone call from a close friend. "Caleb has leukemia" my friend said as she was crying. I didn't know what to say, this could not be happening. Just a few days prior he was having some issues with his arm and leg, and we all thought it was just from a minor injury at soccer.

I was supportive and told her that I will get up there as soon as I could. I visited Arnold Palmer the very next day and everyone was in a complete fog. I still didn't believe what I was hearing, my heart ached for the family, and for little Caleb.

His chemo began very quickly after the diagnosis and the hospital gives him beads of courage and each time he gets any kind of treatment, he receives a bead to add to his necklace. This is a great way to help kids cope with their cancer.

It still hurts me to think that this is true, and I know that my friend is opening up a whole new chapter in her life that is any parents nightmare. But just like I told her, you have to trust in Jesus, He is the only way to see the light. He is the ultimate healer.

I will continue to pray for Caleb and his family. I know everyone else is praying too.

‎"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10

NYR Organics

Today I had the pleasure of gathering some friends over at my house for an organic skin care party! I had been interested in this line of skincare after hearing some talk about it and then found out that someone I had known for years was selling it.

I immediately wanted to try the products, so I held a girls afternoon of pampering.

We started out by exfoliating our hands, followed by our own facials. We were introduced to so many products, but the beauty sleep concentrate was definitely my favorite!

Many people do not realize that the products you use on your body is just as important as what you put inside your body. For those of you who know me well, know that I am a huge advocate for organics. If I could buy everything organic I would, but that takes a lot of funding :)

There has been so many links between parabens leading to cancer and this is what is in most of the "average"skin care products. NYR, Neal's Yard Remedies is free off all things articifial and I will gladly support this brand. I cannot wait to start using these awesome products!

Word of the Year

In the beginning of each year, my pastor at First Baptist Orlando, tells us his word of the year and asks that everyone have a word of their own to live by. Most of the time I have to think about it awhile, in order to come up with a word that means something in my life.

This year was different, it came to me so quickly and I knew it was something I have been struggling with in the past. My word is Commitment. In the past, commitment was a problem for me. I always had great intentions of doing things and I would WANT to commit to, but never followed through. I am not sure exactly why I am like this and my procrastination with some things drive me nuts, and I am the one doing it to myself!

So, this year I am making a COMMITMENT. A commitment to everything I do.

* to my sunday school job

* to the Magic

* to my students

* to cooking at home instead of eating out

* to my new eating lifestyle

* to pilates

* to my schoolwork

* to paying off my debts

* to spending time with friends

* to spending time with family

The list goes on and on, but these are the most important for right now. What are you commited to this year?

New Years Eve Glam

New Years Eve was fun and tiring this year! I never do much on New Years Eve, because I don't like being out on the roads. So this year I packed my bags for the weekend and headed to hang out and babysit some of my favorite kids! The night started out with fireworks on the golf course and then the girls and I went inside because they wanted to make a music video! I was chosen to do makeup and hair....

"More lipstick please..."
Things started getting super silly the later it got!
We were up at 1:00am making cake pops! (Note: I can't stand these "makers", they cook weird. I like old fashion oven baking!)
The next morning, we played on this...a crisp 80 degrees on New Years Day!

Starch and Sugar Free What?!

About 2 months ago I had a whole set of bloodwork done, just for wellness purposes. It came back great other than above average triglyceride levels. So my doctor very casually said that "without starch and processed sugars, it will be back to normal in no time". Excuse me? You mean I cannot eat potatoes, or bread, rice, or PASTA?! No pasta?? No SWEET TEA?!! I live off of sweet tea! I sat there thinking what I could possibly eat! I loooove pasta and rice and eat it too much. No wonder my starch level is high :) I always try to eat healthy and eat a lot of organic foods, but just because it's organic doesn't mean it's healthy for you. I take a food based multi vitamin every day, along with Vitamin D supplements.

Soooo with this new eating style in place, my daily menu looks like the following:

Breakfast- organic egg whites and coffee with only half&half. I tried substituting sugar with Stevia, but yuck! So I am going sugarless. On weekends, I will add turkey bacon to the mix

Morning Snack- organic fat free yogurt (I love Stoneyfield Farms) and string cheese and a banana or some other type of fruit. But I like bananas in the morning.

Lunch- spinach salad with turkey slices. I add green peppers, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, carrots, onions, etc. depending on what I want on that day. With the salad I will have fruit.

Mid-day Snack will consist of fruit, cottage cheese or a Starbucks skinny drink :)

Dinner- Fresh fish, chicken, etc. Sides will be an assortment of vegetables. I also love chili and cauliflower soup!

I know with this new eating lifestyle, I cannot have candy or sweets in which I love..and no more ice cream. But I will be just fine...because I know I will be healthy and see a whole new me!