Yes.  I’ve completely lost my mind.  I have decided to start “homeschooling” Kiran three mornings a week using the Montessori method.   It’s not really “school” as much as it is complete and total mayhem, including destruction of property (the house), tornado force toddler-made messes, a little graffiti, a couple of tears (mine) and several time outs.  BUT today was a breakthrough.  Today was awesome.  Magical even.  Today I had an “a ha moment”.  We started right away before breakfast with working with blocks and playdough.  Then we moved into the kitchen for dry pouring activities, bird watching and breakfast.  He was amamzing!  He was smiling and laughing and I was NOT pulling all of my hair out as I quietly searched for any leftover xanax.  OH NO!  Today was THE day.  Today was the day that for a split second I thought, “I could homeschool him forever.”  Then.  It happened.  After repeatedly being told to NOT open the sliding door and go out on the deck.  (All reprimanding done with smiles and gentle encouragement.)  He stood in doorway, half his body in the house and the other half on the deck.  And then shot me a raspberry.  HE. CHALLENEGED. ME.

Little shit.  Oh and he also bit me on his way to time out.  Sort of like a drive-by biting.  Here’s a picture of the wild man from this morning.  All in all we did have a wonderful morning which included a two hour play at the park!

Naturally yours, Dallas

OMG am I sick!  I’ve picked up Nugget’s cold (how could I not with the excessive wiping of boogers on me) and I feel really rotten.  And as disgusting as juicing/blending sounds to me right now – I know I need it and I know it’ll make me feel better!  So here is the smoothie of the day.

red cabbage (sweet taste)

carrots (just cuz)

red pepper (nasal congestion)

ginger (anti just about everything – said to kill strep on contact )

tomatoes (antioxidants)

blueberries (antioxidants)

banana (potassium)

honey (sore throat)

celery (about to go bad!)

cukes (super watery so no need to use water/fruit juice in blender)

tumeric (chest congestion)

2 tbsp of Berry Boost (extra greens/berries and probiotic)

Juice the veggies and then toss the juice and fruit into the blender and let’er rip!

Naturally yours, Dallas

I was doing a little online research about HFCS and wanted to post what I found.  Ever since we moved to the Outer Banks, I’ve really had to change the way I shop for food.  In VA, almost 100% of my grocery list was USDA Organic and I never looked for anything else.  I wasn’t worried too much about ingredients or labels because I was shopping at an all-natural food market and trusted them to do all the weeding out of the crap.  When I went in there to shop I knew I was buying GMO-free, USDA Organic, no HFCS items and never batted an eyelash.

But now…WOW.  To continue to shop the same way here on the OBX, well, it’s almost impossible.  At the Harris Teeter, I’m spending about 25% more than I was back in VA…and I’m not finding nearly as many of the same items.  I have a few brands that I was devoted to and just can’t seem to locate them here.  So, at the risk of bankrupting my family…I knew I needed to do a little homework and make some changed.  So, I’m starting to buy more national brands that aren’t necessarily USDA Organic or even “natural” and that means I’m reading a lot more labels.  I’m starting with making sure that the products I buy are high fructose corn syrup FREE and it has not been easy.   That sh*t is in EVERYTHING!  And it’s soooo bad for us!  It’s a fake sweetner and your body reads it as FAT so it doesn’t get burned off.  I’m not saying HFCS is the only thing that’ll make your backside swell…but it ain’t helping!  If you’re going to eat sugar..eat REAL sugar.   So I just found this list I wanted to share.  Look over it and you’ll be surprised to see so many of the national name brands that are HFCS free.  I know I was!

NO High Fructose Corn Sryup List

Naturally Yours, Dallas

OMG!  This thing was soooo good!  I got a juicer from “Santa” have been going crazy with that thing!  I use it about every other day but have enough pulp left over to make smoothies for everyone for two days.  Today’s recipe was by far one of my faves!  Try it out and let me know what you think.

PS The Nugget totally drank his entire smoothie this morning…could not believe it.  I think the red cabbage helped because when I hand him a smoothie – if it even looks like the lightest shade of green, he makes a “yuck” sound and hands it right back.  Today, he gave it the once over and sucked it down.  What am I gonna do when he can talk and asks me what’s in it?  I tell ya what I’m going to do.  I’m going to walk through the door to the Dark Side of Parenting and LIE.  Not very AP but it’ll do for now.

Red Cabbage Juice

Couple of chunks of red cabbage

2 celery stalks

tons of collard leaves

two apples

handful of parsley

1 cucumber

carrot

handful of cherry tomatoes

Enjoy!

Don’t forget to save the pulp in an airtight container with foil wrapped around it.  Foil keeps out the light.  Be sure to use the pulp in a smoothie either that day or the next.  For the smoothie recipe add pulp, water, honey, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, PB if you want or maybe some berries. Let her rip!

Naturally yours, Dallas

Well, the holidays are officially over.  It was awesome but I’m so effing glad it’s over.  When I look back on 2009 I do feel a certain sense of accomplishment.  Why you ask?  Because I didn’t set myself up to lose.  Yep, that’s right.  Not a single resolution was uttered from my lips at the beginning of the year so when 12/31 rolled around-I didn’t get all bummed out because I didn’t live up to any of my resolutions.  Aim low Willis…aim low. Read the rest of this entry »

Love that phrase and see it everywhere down here in NC.  I love Christmas time and it’s so refreshing to be in place where people say “Merry Christmas”!!!  Anyways – Christmas is in full swing at our house..thrifting, baking, wrapping and decorating!  I love it!  I’m putting together goody baskets for our family and will be sure to share once the everything is all done.  I scored major fun stuff for the Nugget at the local thrift stores and can’t  wait for him to open!  (Thank you Hotline!)  The Hubs wanted stuff for his iPhone so had to buy new and have it shipped to us…unfortunately not a very enviro-friendly gift but I feel like I was able to offset by making/baking and using recycled things for all of our other presents.  PLUS by doing this was able to save lotsa moula!  Ok – gotta scoot!  Merry Christmas fellow Nuggets and I’ll catch up with ya soon!  Can’t wait to show you the baskets once they are all done!

Naturally yours, Dallas

Check out this article on Dr. Mercola’s site.  Yikes!

swine flu vax scandal – Mercola

Naturally yours,  Dallas

I had an emotional day today.  Actually, the last few days have been emotional. Nugget has been sick and anyone with a kid knows that a sick child can be just as depressing and scary as anything you’ve ever experienced.  Out the window went to-do lists, plans, play dates, laundry, grocery shopping….all of it-right out the window.  All I could even think about while he was feeling sick, was trying to make him feel better.  To bring back that mile=wide smile, the giggle and all the hugs that I am so honored to get over the course of our days.  I held him, rocked him, gave him his remedies, made tons of meals that went uneaten, watched enough Sprout to last us a lifetime and just prayed.  A lot.   See, I’m one of those Moms that wakes up in the night, in a cold sweat and rushes  to her son’s crib to check to make sure he is still breathing.   Or to see if he has tried to climb out of his crib, gotten his shirt caught and hung himself.  Or somehow managed to suffocate himself in his blanket.  Or maybe someone has broken into the house  and taken him from us.  Yes, I am just that kind of Mom.  I have lingering PPD I think.  I know all those fears are a little illogical, crazy if you will..but that’s just who I am.  I believe a lot of it stems from  not feeling worthy of being Mom to such a perfect little creature.  That perpetual feeling of “when’s the fantasy going to end? or “it all eventuallly fades away so why try to enjoy it?”

I deny myself a lot of joy a lot of the time.  I spend a lot of time trying to ignore the fact that I’m pretty pissed off at my parents.  Well, who isn’t really, right?  My anger gets in the way of joy that I know is just on the horizon.  I constantly wait for the other shoe to fall and for the disappointment to come that I know is right around the corner.  Sort of like my fears with losing my son.  Same as losing my husband, my home, my friends…my own life.   It’s this impending doom that is going to get me.  So…where is this coming from?  Well, today I met a woman who gave me a snapshot of where this might be coming from AND…a chance to turn it all around. Read the rest of this entry »

I just wanted to share this article on Chinese Medicine, acupuncture and fertility.  We used Chinese Medicine to have the Nugget and I have to say that after our experience…I am forever a believer!  If you are struggling with infertility and are not sure if Western fertility treatments are for you, I encourage you to seek out information on Chinese Medicine and fertility treatments!  It’s much more natural and will help to correct the underlying problems you could be having with your fertility.  And in this economy…it’s a lot cheaper than Western fertility treatments!  If you would like to know more about our journey through Chinese fertility treatments…send me an email and I’ll be more than happy to chat with you!

Chinese Medicine & Fertility

Naturally yours, Dallas

Ok – now for the good stuff!  I have some info to share about what I have been told about the swine flu or as the docs on TV like to refer to it as, H1N1.

I am not going to reveal my sources so please do not ask.  And this info should be thrown into your already growing pool of info because you are all doing your own research…right?

Here are some things I have learned about this flu and its vaccine.  Now you may or may not already know this but if you feel you have something you want to share…comment on this page and I will post.  If you are going to be shitty and mean- go someplace else.  Like per say, the Gosselins Without Pity site.  Those two crazy bitches deserve it.  Those poor kids!  Money will make you do some crazy shit, right? Read the rest of this entry »