Mylking It--Raw, Vegan Style

Full disclosure: my father and his family were raised on a dairy farm. They milked their cows daily (yep even on Christmas Day!) and sold most of it for profit, keeping a few gallons around for their own consumption. Milk, to my father, is as healthy as water. He loves it and drinks it with every meal.

His daughters, however, well, we're weirded out by milk. Please forgive us, Dad! Since I was young, dairy milk always left me feeling full of mucus (sorry, TMI, I know). I have never really liked the flavor, either (and I know so many people these days who are either lactose-intolerant or suffer from a full-on dairy allergy). So what's a girl to do when it comes to cereals and smoothies?

Make your own! No cow required.

The raw vegan lifestyle is all about getting the most possible nutrients out of your food. That's why we don't cook our food--heating food past 112 degrees destroys most of the natural enzymes that I believe God placed in food to help us not only absorb and digest nutrients, but also to assimilate them properly. There are a few exceptions: nutrients in cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower can actually be activated by steaming them just until their colors peak, i.e., they become bright white or green but are still aldente. But if you're looking for max nutrients and max enzymatic properties in your food, look no further than a raw apple or bunch of kale. In fact, I've heard people say before that they wish they could take a wire brush to their intestines, you know, to really clean out all the little nooks and crannies where food hides inside. Enter the green leafy vegetable! It's like a roto-rooter for your tummy.

Keeping this enzyme-rich goal in mind, it's important that I make the most of everything I eat. And when it comes to nuts and seeds, most of these are beneficial in the raw but still not enzyme-activated. Remember the raw buckwheat I sprouted? Sprouts are living and therefore chockfull of enzymes. By soaking things like nuts and seeds, you can activate them and then blend them into a milk, also called "mylk." Not only is it raw, living, enzyme-rich and much higher in protein than average milks or milk substitutes, but it's also super easy and pretty affordable. Plus, it's completely vegan and lactose-free.

Here's how we do it:

Nut Mylk
Yields 2 quarts

1 cup raw, organic nuts*, soaked in purified water for 2 hours or overnight
6 cups purified water

Blend until smooth and creamy, use it anywhere you use dairy milk or milk substitute. That's it! (I am telling you, raw foods are the easiest things to prepare!) Store in sealed jars in the fridge for about 2 or 3 days or until it smells funny. You can alter the amount of water to make it creamier or thinner according to your taste. The more water, the thinner the mylk and the less water, the thicker or creamier the mylk. I also sometimes add about a tablespoon or so of honey just because, again, honey is so nutritious that I try to squeeze it in everywhere I can. And lastly, this thick kind of mylk makes for the best hot chocolate or latte. It's so thick and creamy you might never want to go to back to dairy milk. (Don't tell my dad!)

*A few notes on nuts: most nuts contain something called an eznyme-inhibitor. These inhibitors make it very hard to digest the nuts. Soaking them removes this inhibitor by activating the enzymes. Also, with so many different nuts to choose from try a few different kinds to see which flavor and texture you like best. My favorite right now is cashew mylk--cashews are very rich and creamy but somewhat mild in flavor so the mylk adapts well to just about any use.

One of my favorite things about this mylk is not only that it's full of activated enzymes and highly nutritious fats and oils, but also that it's not full of all the preservatives found in most milk substitutes. Have you ever read the label on rice milk? It's not so pretty. With nut mylk, however, I know exactly what's in it and don't worry about preservatives, additives or anything else I can't pronounce (not to mention the chemicals used to line many of the cartons...yikes!).

And how does it hold up for us budget-conscious consumers? I'd say pretty well. One bag of 16 ounces of certified organic cashews typically comes to about $12--that's $6 a cup (buy in bulk, however, and that price drops to $5 a cup). One cup of nuts makes just over two quarts or one half-gallon of milk. At my local grocery store, one half gallon of organic milk comes to just about $5--that's the same price of nut mylk if you buy in bulk. Keep in mind, too, that you can always thin out the nut mylk by adding more water, easily putting you below the five dollar mark. You can also shop for various kinds of nuts and purchase what's on sale. If you're looking for an affordable way to get the most nutritious milk, look no further than nut mylk.

Happy Mylking!

When Mothering Is Your Profession

Can I share my thought for today with you?

Some background: I have to admit that I almost instantly felt that my bond with my sisters had changed when Dia was born. It didn't weaken or wane, it just changed. Something about being a mother and nursing your daughter and worrying about nap times and diaper changes kind of pulled me out of the clothes-conscious, no-time-constraint life that singleness brings. I think it's a normal part of being the oldest child. You do things first and often go a while without empathy or understanding from your younger siblings.

I sought out other young moms like me, though, and found that spending time with like-minded and like-living people helped me feel "normal" again. No one even gave you a second glance if you had banana on your clothes and hadn't showered for a few days. We all exchanged stories about sleep deprivation and our hopes and fears for our little ones.

But every now and then I have step out of my circle and enter the real world. Like today, for instance. Today Dia and I went to visit my aunt and uncle. They own a production company downtown (I used to love being an extra as a kid for their various projects!) and we had planned on grabbing lunch together. They are one of the most fun couples I know and really some of the only extended family I have in town that I am close with.

Hanging around their production studio after lunch, though, I found myself in a room of creative professionals. And realized...they are all my age (give or take five years). I even asked my aunt who the young guy was and she said, "An intern." He looked so young to me! And here I thought I was still closer to the intern age than the professional age. I guess a part of me has always held on to that security blanket of choosing the "modern women's route," but I always thought I had time to make that decision still. You know, when I am older. But seeing all of them in that room really impacted me: to get ahead later, you have to be working now.

And what's more, as Dia played with various objects around the room and delighted the crowd I overheard some of these young professionals dissect my lifestyle.

"Think you'll have kids?"
"What and clean poop up?"
Laughing and chuckling.
"I don't know...dogs are a lot easier."
"No, you have to clean their poop, too."
"And even wipe their *bottoms* (my word choice there)!"
"I can't imagine having kids."
"She's so cute, though!"
"What's her name again," this one was direct my way and I told them her name.
"Oh! So sweet."
More laughter.
"I can't ever see myself with kids."

Admittedly, they were a funny bunch! But it was the first time that I really saw the line in the sand so to speak. The professional world on one side, being Dia's mommy and the life of a stay at home mom on the other.

I want to stop here and make crystal clear that there was not one moment of hesitation for me regarding which side of that line I stand on: I am a stay at home and proud of it! It's only the reality of my choice that hit me today...and the reality that I am choosing where to spend this critical time of my life. While I am not getting any younger as far as my professional career goes (I worked as a freelance writer among other things before having Dia), neither are they. I can't imagine putting off the joy of motherhood for a life inside an office (not that that's what they're doing, they have fabulous jobs and are extremely talented, but to me, that's what I would have felt like).

Life is a funny thing and, as you may have noticed, there is no instruction manual. Even the Bible won't spell out every choice you should make. Stephanie 1:3 "And thou shalt become a mother and devote every last breath to the joy and edification of your family." Ha! But it is clear that He will speak to you and tell you which way to turn, whether to the left or to the right. I have heard and I know I have obeyed. And it has led me right to my heart: to Dia and our family.

And now I know it's a choice I am glad I am making...even though I am older than the intern.

Gratitude Monday

My husband and I are finding that attitude really IS everything. Last night we went out on a date and halfway through our time alone together laughed at how we had gone from feeling like potential cheapskates to then feeling surprisingly hip and confident to then feeling unsure and a little nerdy to finally to feeling like the luckiest couple in town in a matter of, oh, say an hour. Obviously nothing literally changed in our life (same income, same family/relationship status, same clothes on our backs, etc.), but the way we felt about those things, well, that can be like rollerblading on gravel--quite a bit bumpy and too often unpredictable.

As you know from reading my emotions off of my sleeve (aka this blog), life isn't always sunny and maintaining a Christ-centered and Christ-like marriage brings surprising challenges. Last week on Valentine's Day Rory brought me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. Apparently he happened upon a florist with a master's degree in floral arrangement (ahem, one of 80 such degreed floral connoisseurs in the world). Rory asked for an arrangement of sunflowers and roses (totally nailed it, by the way). And this is what the professional created:




It's striking and has not only survived more than seven days in stale water and a sunshine-starved living room, but the green and brown branches have actually blossomed.


That's never happened before. Most of our flowers linger on for a week or so (especially if I am faithful to rinse them, put fresh water in the vase and clip the stems). This time we simply sat back and admired it, hoping to enjoy it for what it was worth. And then it bloomed. New life just growing afresh right there on our dining room table. We regularly stop to watch the miracle.

We're learning to stop regularly and see His miracles in us, too. And hope for many, many more blossoms in our life together.

I have heard that gratitude is part of the Lord's plan for opening our eyes to His miracles...which is why I want to start counting His blessings in my life. Every Monday a blogger whom I don't know but love turns her manic Monday into a Multitude Monday and her example has struck a chord of inspiration with me. She's counting her way up to and beyond 1,000 gifts. Here I go with my first few:

1. Grace
2. The beauty of new life, even if it is just on a branch in a vase on my dining table
3. Relationships that grow and change and sometimes just barely hold on
4. Astounding beauty that you can only see looking into your child's eyes
5. Bonding time--all the time when you have the right attitude
6. A husband who can turn a trip to pick up take-out into a father-daughter bonding experience while Mama enjoys the quiet
7. Quiet
8. "Mi-mi" as Dia calls all music, singing or any other remotely melodious sounds
9. A sister who calls to see if she can just stop by (YES! A thousand times Yes!)
10. Our first real owie complete with "nan-aid" (bandaid)
11. The privilege of showing the world to a three-foot tall blonde beauty who replies "Yeaaahhh...." to everything you show her (AGH! I die.)
12. Date nights
13. Watching your husband fall in love with someone else and feeling nothing but pure joy...
14. Provision: yes, food, water, clothing, shoes, transportation and a roof over our heads. If it weren't for these I wouldn't know where to start.
15. A God who loves by forgiving and saves before I even know to ask
16. A family unit
17. Examples before me who lead me to Him
18. A perfect accomplice in surprising my husband: my accomplished sister
19. His Word
20. That fabulous groundhog--my apologies to the Northerners but I love a long winter in the southwest
21. Learning that most everything makes an excellent toy
22. Being Mama

Can Your Food Do This? (Sprouting Food + Another Choco Recipe To Love)

I think we are finding a great groove with our raw lifestyle. (And I should somehow be getting paid to advertise for it because I just can't stop talking about how much I love eating this way!)

The key to raw (and I love this so much) is to be constantly eating. Seriously. You can eat, eat and eat all day long. The amazing thing is that your appetite decreases, so, for example, having a huge breakfast is almost completely out of the question, but a green drink in the morning (I juice any combination of fruits and veggies using my Omega juicer) can do the trick. If I'm planning to do something more strenuous than usual, I'll make a smoothie and grab an apple with almond butter. But lately I've just been in the mood for a banana or even a small orange to start out my day. But I don't end there!

I snack all day long. Take today for example. I started out with the banana. Added a few kiwi slices after a while. Then I shared some sprouted buckwheat cereal and home-made cashew milk with D. Not long after made a power-packed green smoothie (1 frozen banana, home-made cashew milk, huge handful of spinach, chia seeds, flax oil and spirulina--this thing was as green as Gumby and lasted me most of the day. I just kept sipping on it (and sharing it with Dia). At some point I squezed in an apple with home-made almond butter. Then had a few handfuls of blueberries. I put baked potatoes in the oven for us for dinner and served it with an avocado for each of us and our old classic Mock Tuna Salad (this meal is seriously our comfort food!). Afterwards I made some chocolate mint pudding. (Are you also noticing the home-made theme with our food? Raw food is so ridiculously easy to make at home, you'd be crazy not to make it yourself! And I love knowing exactly what is in our food.) I kept up with lots of water as the raw food diet keeps you intimately acquainted with your thirst--such a good thing! So it's not that I am necessarily eating that much more as in calorie-intake as much as that I am just eating more often. I feel very much like a little rabbit or bird eating bits and pieces of fruits and veggies throughout the day. And the energy level? Through the roof! Sometimes I wake up hours before Dia and just putter around, up and awake (something that never happened when I lived off of goat cheese quesadillas!).

I like to think that part of my energy comes from the fact that my body doesn't have to work overly hard to digest its food because all of the natural enzymes are still intact. What really excites me is when I can take seeds or nuts and watch them grow (aka sprout)! Then I know that I am really eating living foods and there's plenty of research on how beneficial living foods are, especially sprouts.

And of course the biggest reason we keep eating this way is that it really is so simple. (I recently read a raw recipe book that touted if you know how to slice an apple, then you are a raw food chef, but if you know how to dice an apple then you're a gourmet raw food chef! Ha!)

Here are some recent buckwheat sproutlings (these took less than 24 hours):

Baby plants!

See it's cute little tail? I grew that in my cupboard!

I stay away from fancy sprouting techniques and find that my good ol' colander does the trick just perfectly. Dia liked eating them just like this--they are very soft and easy to chew.

So are you on pins and needles, anxious to sprout your own food? It's just a matter of soaking and then allowing enough time and the right environment to sprout. Make sure that you're using un-processed nuts or seeds (for example, oatmeal is the processed form of oat groats; you cannot sprout oatmeal, you can sprout oat groats), follow this chart for the right soaking times and then once adequately rinsed let them sit in the colander covered with a towel for the necessary time as listed in the chart.

Have I lost you? It's really just that easy. Want to sprout some sunflower seeds (again, not the salted roasted seeds you buy at the convenience store, but the hulled raw seeds you buy from the health store or Whole Foods or even Trader Joe's)? You would place a cup or two (the amount usually doubles so if you want four cups of sprouted seeds, start with two) of seeds in a bowl with twice the amount of water. Let it soak for about 2 hours. Then put them in the colander and rinse them very, very, very well as the water it soaked in is now full of yuckies like enzyme-inhibitors and other "dead" material, so rinse until the water runs perfectly clear. Cover the colander with a towel and place it in a dark area at room temperature (I use my cupboard). Let it sit there for about two days, rinsing every 8-12 hours to prevent mold. Before you know it, you'll see those cute little sprouts start to form and suddenly your seeds have become tiny little plants packed with nutrition. Use them in salads or wraps as the ultimate superfood addition.

With the buckwheat I sprouted aboved I simply added milk and agave and our whole family had a delicious "cereal" that would bring any bowl of Wheaties to its knees.

And my delicious, under five minutes to make all raw chocolate mint pudding:

You won't believe how easy (and rich and creamy and delicious) this is:

Chocolate Mint Pudding*

1 avocado, pitted and the insides scooped out
1/4 cup honey or to taste
1/4 cup raw cacao
1/4 cup water (I use mint water sometimes for an added minty kick)
1-2 teaspoons mint extract, again to taste

Blend and enjoy. No cooking, no dairy, no sugar. Instead wholesome honey (nature's only complete food), omega-packed avocado, antioxidant-rich chocolate and deliciousness.

*You can also make this without the mint extract and mint water for plain chocolate pudding.

You don't have to be a raw fooder to enjoy the many benefits of raw foods. Try replacing your family's dessert with this pudding next time and see what happens!

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time there was a darling little girl whose papa brought her a red balloon.






Oh how she loved that balloon.

The Marriage of the White-Washed Tombs

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. And oh how we cried.

There's nothing harder than marriage. I hear sighs and even chuckles from those of us on the latter side of the first five years since saying I do. It's especially hard when you know Jesus.

Maybe that last part doesn't make sense. But, to be honest, I do blame Jesus. And, to be equally honest, I think He knows why.

Do you know Him? If you know Jesus than you know peace. Real real real peace. Beautiful, genuine peace. Then, according to His wisdom, all wives should know the same peace via their husbands. (Did I hear sarcastic laughter from us same jaded bunch?) No really. It's true. The whole husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church bit isn't just meant for theory. But, let's theorize here: if the Christian church today was chock-full to the brim with men dying to themselves to serve and glorify their wives...well, think we'd have to work on our Christian testimony much? Or do you think that this dying world full of emotional pain and relational turmoil would turn in desperate need to this Jesus that we emulate first in our homes and then let radiate out to all in need? My mom often says the only shock-value left in this world is a successful marriage.

I don't blame non-Christians for not seeking us Christians out. Too many times all we have to offer is cute music and a lot of shame. Rarely do I see a relationship in church that I want to emulate. And let's be honest--people are looking for role models. People are dying for role models. But wasn't it Jesus who died for us?

This is where all our trouble started. See my husband took on a vow to love me, even understand me, as Christ does. Oh how the thought of it warmed my heart when first we began. Sure I envisioned a struggle and a disagreement or two between us. I did not envision my own weariness at this battle. I did not envision pillows soaked with tears over a very real sense of abandonment from this man who too often let love come with words, too rarely with action. I never thought I'd feel unloved. Not unloved to such a real and deep degree. But I did. I have. I, ugh, will probably again.

These words, these ones of marital pain, are the ones too often left out of sermons and Bible studies. People, Christians, don't seem to know what to do with them. I used to work at my church (I love my church--love most churches I attend, actually!) and remember overhearing two pastors chuckle at their own counseling abilities. Apparently, just about every couple that either of them had counseled were now divorced. And knowing these two God-servers, I knew they had tried everything to save the marriages that came to them in distress. Yet...How many couples do we all know who could not endure the pain I described? It is hard. Hard. Life-threatening. We all know the marriage stats--over 50% don't make it, whether in the church or not.

This doesn't make sense to those of us who know Jesus. I know, I know about the submission deal (how husband and wife are called to submit to each other as unto Jesus). And if husbands are also called to love (to live? Yes, to live!) as Christ, well, how many women do you know who would really abandon Christ? Not the church-version of Jesus, but the actual Jesus in the Bible.

Let's observe: being married to Jesus would look (yea, feel) like...being never condemned (ok, I'm even laughing at that one! How many of us weak women would die, cry to be relieved of the guilt we carry daily! This freedom alone would bind us to our sweethearts forever I daresay!), being served (would He wash even our feet?), being relieved of merely serving others so that we, too, could partake in the joy around us (oh Martha, how we know thee! Yet how often as wife and mother do I find myself the only one of us two who are married leaving the party to change the diaper? Clean the dishes?), always being thought of, no matter the work/problem/stress that lay ahead (as He literally hung dying who did He remember? His mama...Oh, Lord, You are truly too great for us.), being empathized with to the point that He would work miracles (how many times have I seen him nod as I talk, knowing he hears but doesn't feel what I say...and yet, Jesus wept with his friends...emotions so strong that He then brought a man back from the dead). Do I even need to go on? A marriage that truly carried even one of those characteristics (and we know there are so many more qualities to Jesus' love!) would be so different, so genuine it would be nearly magnetic to those of us in search for authenticity.

Which brings me back to Jesus and how my husband's quest to love and live like Him has actually brought us pain. So much pain. It has also brought us so nearly to the breaking point so many times.

It's also what brought the tears last night as we re-visited our wedding-sight and laughed and cried and danced. We are approaching seven years since we not only said "I do," but also vowed to love each other honestly, to allow him to see when he does not love as He does (yes, this requires a great sacrifice from a wife: all access honesty to my true heart, that place of pain and joy I trust to no one else). We promised to stay the course. We laughed and cried so much thinking about how we never could have known just what that meant.

I cried a lot because I never could have known how much it hurts to be married. To continually offer up my heart to a man who wants to love me but just doesn't know how. Not naturally, at least. And I cried because for nearly seven years not only have I wanted him to love me, but I have needed it. Oh so desperately! When the Bible talks about us women as weaker this is what I believe it means. Sometimes I am smarter than my husband. Rarely can I open or lift something he can't. But always, oh, how always, I need him to love me to a depth that he doesn't even know exists. I can't submit my way to get him nearer to the Lord anymore than the church can pray Jesus closer to the Father. How backwards that would be! He is to be to me as Christ to the church...in submission to each other, under submission to Him. And let me tell you from personal experience oh how freely and richly the respect flows from that perfect relationship. There is no quieting my powerful voice...he has already heard and understood it from our conversations at home. There is no shushing of my many thoughts and ideas...again, he already knows them. There is now a symbiosis, a harmony whose glory? Well, it's all His.

Oh the example He has set before us! Anyone can get married (most will get divorced). Anyone can appear happily married: hand-holding, date nights, lots of big smiles. But how Pharisee-ish of us to only appear it while dishonoring the truth, to allow what should be the testimony of our marriages to wane as white-washed tombs. I say this because I know we all are not happily married...or if we are, we have missed out on His best for us: complete imitation of Himself and His ways. This is a commitment greater than love and respect, greater than smiles and date nights. This is a commitment to a literal living out of His literal word.

And it's hard.

It has made us laugh and cry. And mostly, in between, made us more like Him.

Happy Valentine's Day. A day late, but never too early to really start living. And loving.

Raw Vegan Update + Healthy Choco Recipe

So we're still raw vegans over here. Well, 98% raw vegan. One night a week we eat red meat and one night we eat fish so technically we're not vegans. And surprisingly, the two nights a week of cooked protein come a lot more often than you'd think! This healthy balance that we're finding is actually kind of hard. It's one thing to be raw and it's one thing to eat the standard American diet (SAD), but combining them...well, if feels right, but it's weird.

So we start out the day with either a green smoothie (spinach, frozen bananas, fresh strawberries, rice milk or coconut water, spirulina, flax oil and dates is our favorite right now) or a vegetable juice (carrot, spinach, cucumber, celery, lemon, apple, ginger and either romaine or kale or chard depending on what's going bad first). The rest of the day is mostly a combination of snacks rather than solid, sit-down meals. We eat nuts, raisins, oranges from the tree, apples, almond butter, dehydrated onion bread, dehydrated flax crackers, avocados, and here's the best part, dessert!

Raw desserts are unlike anything you've had before. They're amazing. Let me try that again. AMAZING. Can I tempt you? Would you be interested in chocolate brownies for breakfast? Oh yeah. You read that right. Brownies. For breakfast. It's gooooooood. (I substitute honey for agave in that recipe, by the way. Agave is still somewhat controversial but honey is almost always a great sub that we know is nutritious.)

We don't make a habit of it, but when the mood strikes I actually have no hesitation serving Dia a lovely raw vegan brownie for breakfast. This girl is well-versed in her chocolates. Raw chocolates, that is. High in essential oils, the superfood raw cacao (which does not have caffeine in its raw state) and yes, even protein (from the walnuts and almonds).

And just in time for Valentine's Day, here's our most beloved recipe for raw chocolate. It's super duper easy: mix, pour and freeze. You may get carried away and eat the whole batch by yourself...but it won't give you even one little cavity (I'll tell you the story someday about how I went five years without seeing a dentist and without brushing regularly while never flossing, but since cutting out sugar had zero cavitities at my first dental appointment and did NOT even require a deep cleaning as is per usual for someone who hasn't been to the dentist in that long). Instead, it will hydrate your skin, improve your mood and dole out a delicious dose of antioxidants. Who doesn't feel good about that?!


Raw Chocolate
1 1/2 Cups Cacao butter or coconut oil (in its liquid state)
1 to 1 1/2 Cups Cacao (not cocoa, but cacao--check online or at Whole Foods) depending on taste, the more cacao the darker the chocolate flavor
1/2 Cup Agave or maple syrup or even liquid honey
1 Tbsp Vanilla extract
1 1/2 to 3 Cups Almonds or other favorite ingredient (raisins, walnuts, goji berries, etc.)

Mix ingredients in mixer adding almonds last. Spread on wax paper on cookie sheet, freeze. Score into small pieces 15 minutes after placed in freezer.

(Did you catch that? This makes an entire cookie sheet of chocolate! All for you!)

A few notes:
-Coconut oil is very, very good for you. Some people tried to get us to believe that fats from things like avocados and coconuts were bad for us, but it's not true (that is so 80's!). So don't feel bad about this "saturated" fat. It does harden when frozen which is what keeps the chocolate solid, so make sure to keep it in the freezer and only take out as much as you can eat, otherwise you will have very chocolately fingers!
-Agave is not exactly good for you. There are a lot of rave reviews out there and while I will always believe it's better than sugar, splenda, equal or any other chemical, it should be eaten in conservative quantities. Unless it's that time of the month. Then you eat this entire cookie sheet of chocolate by yourself. In one sitting. While watching Steel Magnolias (80's on the brain, I guess). With a glass of pinot.
-You can buy most of these ingredients at your local health food store, Whole Foods has everything for sure or you can always go online for better deals (although then you'll have to wait longer for the chocolate...hmmm...). Don't hesitate to buy a large container of coconut oil--it's one of the best oils to cook with (it may leave a slight coconut flavor, though, which I've never detected but just be aware).
-Since the beloved V-Day is right around the corner, feel free to pour this chocolate into heart molds or anything else cutesy. Just store it in the freezer and you're good to go.
-You can buy this chocolate in stores (well, Whole Foods or the hippie herb store Chakra). It's stored at room temperature (if I knew their secret I wouldn't be handing out my recipe for free...) and is made with love in Sedona. They are called L.O.V.E. Cups and are good, but not quite as rich and hearty as this yummy recipe.
-You will love this. I recommend keeping a sheet in your freezer at all times. Not only will it save you money, but it might just save your health (and your teeth!), too!

Growing Up

Everyday Dia learns something new. It astounds me.

A few days ago she pointed to her eye (while squinting, of course) and said, "DD eye."

WHAT?!

Who told her that?!

Oh yeah. We did. But still...I guess I just didn't expect her to start repeating already. As you know, I cried when she turned one. I will cry at each milestone now, apparently!

So tonight when she pointed to her chest and said (to no one in particular, I might add, she was merely commenting) "I Dia," Rory and I nearly fell over.

When asked her name, she will say, "Name," very matter of factly. But then whenever the mood strikes, she'll point to herself and say, "I Dia."

All this growing up has me excited for all that's to come (and yes, emotional over all that's progressed already). When I read this great article on Mothering.com about early reading I knew I had to document and spread the word. Make sure you read the fine print in the author's bio at the end of the article--the three-year-old she wrote about is now a biochemist. Amazing how fast our little ones grow, amazing what they can accomplish.

Apples To Oranges

I still remember it vividly. The day my MD explained to me about the oranges.

"Stephanie," he said. "I'm just curious if you're still eating oranges. Be honest, but I'd like to know."

The truth is I have two beautifully full orange trees in my backyard. I tell you there is nothing like the taste of a fresh-picked, organic, all natural orange. I've eaten them first thing in the morning, as snacks, even with dinner. And yes, on occasion, they've made the best dessert. I simply walk outside, pick one or two (ok, ok, sometimes I pick a lot when I'm especially in the mood for them), peel it right there and then take a delicious juicy bite. Oh man, there's nothing like it! But why would the doctor be so concerned about this?

"Um," I stammered, trying to pinpoint the origin of his medical query, "Well, I--"

"I thought so," he interrupted.

"Look," he went on. "Oranges are...well, they're great for kids. Teenagers maybe. But you're 22 now. 22 years old. Do you really think that oranges are necessary at this age? Let me ask you, do you see all of your friends eating oranges past the age of 22?"

He seemed agitated. Maybe even genuinely concerned. Apparently something about eating oranges past the ripe old age of 22 wasn't sitting well with him. To be honest, I'd never thought about it. In fact, I've never heard of any medical professional advising anyone about food restrictions based on age alone.

I racked my brain--oranges, oranges, oranges...what was it about the oranges? I knew they were packed with vitamin c, high enough in fiber to reduce cholesterol, full of antioxidants found nowhere else in nature...hmm...Oh. Maybe he's worried about all the work it takes to eat oranges. I mean, I know it sounds crazy, but my hands do sometimes get sore from all the picking, peeling and eating. Yeah, maybe he's just concerned about my comfort.

And come to think of it, I don't see a lot of my friends eating oranges. I mean, they might do it at home in secret, but I can't recall the last time I watched an adult pull out a fresh orange from their bag and start peeling away right there in public. Maybe I've stumbled upon a social taboo. Maybe you're not supposed to eat oranges....or at least, not in public. Oh! I even remember one time I spilled a little juice from my orange once! Oh no, there was no way to hide my orange-eating that day. Wow. I wish someone had told me about this obvious sin.

The doctor interrupted my thoughts. "Stephanie, I'd like to give you this," he offered me a paper coupon. "It's 75% off a case of orange-flavored soda pop. I think you should try it. It comes in a bottle with a lid and a label so it won't look weird to your friends and family if you drink this. And," he seemed to get really excited about this last part, "this particular brand has been fortified with all kinds of vitamins and nutrients. It doesn't have antioxidants and certainly can't lower blood pressure or help fight cancer like normal oranges, but it is high in vitamin c, something that's really important for you to be consuming."

Wow, I thought. I'm so grateful that this medical professional, the man who spent YEARS in medical school (not health and wellness school, not dietary or nutrition school, but MEDICAL school) cared enough about me to show me the right way to get my nutrients. I mean, before this appointment, I would have been carelessly enjoying fresh, delicious oranges when it's now clear to me that orange soda is way more acceptable. Thanks, doc.

....................................

Are you laughing yet? Infuriated by the audacity of a medical professional to take away my right to fresh oranges and instead suggest I drink teeth-rotting, bone-decaying, sugar-filled soda?

This is the scenario I dreamed up this morning as I imagined what some doctors (ok, and friends and family!) would say to me about continuing to nurse my daughter at 16 months of age. I have yet to hear one solid piece of actual health benefit to weaning my daughter before we're ready. And yet, by the time our little ones are 6 months of age doctors are right there to encourage us to cut our babies off. Why? Well, who knows, they could be 22 years old and still nursing in public, right?

Anyway, hope I didn't offend anyone, but I do hope this encourages all of us to question all of our accepted norms in light of what is really best for us and our families.

I'm off to pick some oranges.

Daredevil

Ever wondered if daredevils get their need for thrills from an early childhood experience????? Found this video when I was cleaning off the camera, it's a little long but the first few seconds really say it all.

GIVEAWAY!

If there ever was a mom from my own generation who I'd love to be more like, it's Heather over at Cultivated Lives. A fellow KONOS alum, she speaks my language and I love her heart for her boys.

She's doing a fabulous giveaway for a fabulous cause over at her blog and it's ridiculously easy to enter--in fact, you'd be crazy not to enter!

Hope to see your name in the comments section over at Cultivated Lives...and best of luck to you :)

In case you didn't see all the links above, you can enter here.

It's Good To Be A Girl

u


My Aunt Theresa gifted Dia with this beautiful tutu (along with the adorable hoodie and fantastic leggings) for Christmas. People often stop Dia to tell her how beautiful she is, but in this outfit, well, we couldn't walk into a store without literal gasps of "Oh my gosh--do you see how cute that little girl is?" A few folks even yelled at us from across a few yards "ADORABLE!" What can we say? We love being a girl! Thanks, Auntie T!

thanks

Just a quick thank you for enduring all these changes to the blog. I am most assuredly not tech-savy but somehow want these black and white keys to express what I feel on the inside...thus, a lot lot lot of changes. Not sure I've quite found my style yet, but appreciate your understanding.

Xo,

Steph

Creamy Onion Dip--Raw Vegan (By Request)

A beloved vegan friend suggested I post this recipe after I mentioned it here and I am tickled she asked. She actually gave it to me a few years back and we all grinned as her kids literally licked it off their veggies. If you've been wanting to encourage your kids (or family) to veg up but hesitate to use bottled ranch dressing (and I fully support your hesitation--that stuff is full of yucky, horrible, no good chemicals), we have your answer! This recipe is raw, vegan and still high in protein, and of course, flavor.

If you have never pulverized nuts/seeds, you're in for a treat (does that sound wrong or is it just me?). Raw nuts are full of healthy and necessary to life oils. Soaking and then blending them releases these oils, which is why you can get the creamiest of dips (and cheesecakes!) from cashews and macademias. Crazy, huh? I didn't believe it myself until I tried it. And where there are various concerns (scientific as well as anecdotal) with dairy, the only concern with nuts is the potential for an allergic reaction. (This is a great dip to make for anyone who is lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, too.) So as with any nut/seed, wait until you're comfortable introducing them as a new food and make sure to introduce them as the only new food for about two weeks to able to watch for and pinpoint any sings of reaction.

This not only makes a great dip for vegetables, but with some added water it also makes a great salad dressing. Use it anywhere you'd use traditional ranch dressing. This recipe does not require any soaking of the cashews.

Creamy Onion Dip

2 cups raw cashews

1/4 cup water (or more if needed)

3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 tsp salt

2 small or 1 large garlic clove(s)

1 Tbsp onion powder

2 Tbsp dill

Blend all ingredients in high powered blender or food processor until creamy. Add more water for creamier texture if needed/desired. And as with nearly any recipe I use, feel free to add to/subtract from the measurements suggested until its flavor suits you.

*Apologies for the poor photo quality--my cell phone was the only camera available at the time.

Look Ma!

Dia found a new way to ride her bike....



And knowing the fearless and fun girl that she is, I can see her turning BMX tricks in no time!

I May Not Look Old Enough...

But word on the street is that I am a Grandma!









Dia is all about the babies and plays regularly with the baby doll I gave her for Christmas but has always had a special place in her heart for this beany baby type teddy bear that we call "Baby Bear." And yesterday, we took Baby Bear around the neighborhood for a walk. The cutest thing was that she would pull Baby Bear out of the stroller to show her different things like the neighbor's fantastic animal Christmas light collection (yep, mid-January but looks like December 25th still on their front lawn!) and our other neighbor's water meter. SO CUTE. I was grinning and holding back laughs--sometimes I wonder if someone is filming this stuff and just hired Dia as an actor because she is just so adorable I can barely believe it! She is amazingly maternal already...so maternal, I feel like a Grandma!

Inspiration

As I wrote a little earlier, I am finding my way as a mom more and more these days. Since I plan to home-school, some people ask me when I'll start.

Start? Start what?

Start educating my daughter? Isn't that what I did when we read books this morning? Or took a walk to pick oranges yesterday afternoon? Or when I pushed her on her bike through the neighborhood and she stopped to explore their water pipes?

Actually, I think she learns A TON when we grocery shop and run errands. She learns not just the basic facts of handing money to the cashier, but also how to smile and be polite. How to wait our turn nicely. How to behave and function. (Did you read about her "maying"? I mean, if that isn't proof that child training begins right at home, then I don't know what is!) There are a lot of great teachers out there, but no one quite like Mama and Papa. Certainly no one who loves her as we do, so even with all our disqualifications, the grace of a loving relationship can (hopefully...) endure and even flourish.

Rory brought home this book from the library a few weeks ago and it has been an excellent read. The writing isn't anything special (kind of reads like a book report actually!), but its simple style lends itself well to the meat and weight of the content. And as a mama trying to find her stable footing, I've even cried at some of the stories as their honest and hard-fought fight to do what they know is right resonates with me. And I've been extremely inspired to pursue our own path with home schooling and child-raising. It can be hard to go it alone, so to speak. To not only be so confident in what I know is right for my daughter, but to actually walk it out.

One of the moms from the book says, "People everywhere are following the same general plan of nursery school, school, college, jobs. It is always surprising to me, that they don't believe they have any other choices. ... One of our goals is to help (our daughter) be true to herself, not to follow the herd. The gift we're giving our daughter is to be able to take eighteen years of her life, at the beginning, and really discover who she is, what she's good at, and what it means to be a good person. We're giving (her) the space to pursue many interests, and to reflect on who she is and where she wants to go in her life."

Another, "One pleasant surprise for me has been the experience of seeing us all become so close. Unfortunately, the way my children value my company and my opinion is something rather foreign to many families these days. We live as a team, with each member making contributions appropriate to his or her age and gifts. So we have a true sense of needing each other." Later the same mom says, "I want everyone to know: You can do this."

And this was a great, simple answer to the socialization question: "Our children interact with each other daily. There are people of different ages, different personalities, different temperaments under one roof. They play with people in our neighborhood. They participate in a variety of activities of their choosing. ...for us socialization means much more. We're teaching our children to be productive members of our family so they can be productive members of our community and, later, the world. ...I don't think the public school system teaches true socialization. They teach a child to conform to the group around him. I don't want my kids conforming to a group of children who make fun of those who are different (two of her boys have ADHD, just so you have a little background here). I don't want my teens conforming to a group where doing their assignments means they're inferior and weird, and where they have to smoke, drink and have sex to fit in."

And this one really hit home: "When a child is in school, the teacher slowly replaces the parents as the authority figure of a son or daughter's life. It takes some time to switch it back to the way it should be."

But mostly it was reading stories like this that inspired me: "I love homschooling and the kids love it, too. We live a homeschooling lifestyle. We don't try to mimic the public school's schedule or time blocks. ... Learning is fun and exciting for my children, because they don't have to worry if it's going to be on a test. They can read for enjoyment... and they love being able to express their ideas without being mocked by their peers."

"It's wonderful to be with your child as he takes his first step and says his first word. With homeschooling, I get to be there as they reach other milestones as well. I was able to hear my children read their first words and spell their names for the first time. When they make one of their many realizations and discoveries, it is my husband and I who to share that celebration with them."

Of course, "There certainly are unique challenges in homeschooling. Perhaps some see these as problems with homeschooling. But I see them as family challenges. Normal family problems may be magnified when families are together for longer periods of time, such as kids arguing, kids not wanting to listen to their mother or father, and a mom with burnout." Personally, I found these problems to be problems whether homeschooled or not. Homeschooling offers the time and availability to work them out. There was nothing worse than being sent off to school after having a fight with my mom. Being homeschooled, well, you're either going to resolve that issue or....well, you're gonna resolve it, buddy!

But the best and most reassuring parts could be found in almost all 21 stories: their housework is never done either! Yes! I love that I'm not the only one! (Please, don't point out that most of them have mulitple children.)

When All You Eat...

When all you eat (and drink) are veggies, apparently all your kids will want is veggies, too.

Eating raw has been different this time around. The first time was exciting, like an experiment. We kept it quiet from our beloved carnivore/omnivore friends and had an adrenaline rush that kept us digging for more information. This time around, Whole Foods has a raw section! And it has actually affected my excitement, I think. It now feels a little more common and well, common just isn't as exciting as uncommon. I am thrilled that the raw lifestyle is growing in popularity and we found some great treats in the raw section, but there was something special about those first trips to the farmer's market where I just grabbed everything green and made my husband eat it. We had lots of "fun."

But where the novelty may have worn off, there's nothing quite as adventurous as living with India. She's given this detox quite the motivation I needed, not to mention that I can't eat any of her same food allergens since I'm nursing.

And it turns out that her food allergies/sensitivities were a kind of answer to my prayer. I kept asking the Lord for a kick in the pants, so to speak, to eat better. But like I said before, too often settled for the goat cheese quesadilla. Nothing's wrong per se with a goat cheese quesadilla, but it's not very nutrient rich. And by the time dinner came around, even serving it with a salad still left me on the short end of the vitamin stick.

But when you take out eggs, wheat (all kinds), corn and a variety of "easy" fruits like strawberries and watermelon, well, you're left with veggies. Lots and lots of veggies. I think food choices have actually become easier now that we're raw vegans again. And our delightful girl who always preferred bread to carrots and pita to hummus, now prefers raw kale (mostly she gnaws on the stem or swirls it around in her mouth until she's licked all the dressing off, ha ha), steamed carrots and raw nut cheese. And this girl loves to juice! If juicers weren't so pricey, I'd recommend buying them as toys.

One of the easiest ways I've found to make dinner is simply steam whatever veggies we eat raw. So tonight we had a romaine and spinach salad with sesame oil and rice wine vinegar served with nut cheese (this stuff has always been popular with non-raw fooders, too!) on cabbage with broccoli, carrots, bell pepper and sprouts. So I threw the broccoli and carrots into the steamer with some added potato and voila! Combined with some garbanzo beans, Dia was like, "Bread? Bread who?" Yippee skippee!

Plus, Rory and I are chock-full of greens. Can you say "Win-win"?

And this is the video where I got my raw nut cheese (she calls it pate, I call it cheese or spread) recipe. It's still our favorite. And yes, we did buy and still use the tiffin. I highly recommend them! We love ours.

Mama's New Toy

This is my new toy and I just love it! While Rory is over the moon at Apple's latest announcement (he's been holding out on renewing our contract with Verizon for over a year in anticipation of the iPhone), I jumped for joy when I saw this beauty at Whole Foods a few days ago.

I've loved my stainless steel bottle for years, but with this trusty friend there's no metal taste, no dark interior that never feels quite clean enough and no dents. Though, obviously, I'm a little nervous about shattered glass...So far so good!

Plus, and here's the real stinger, it's dishwasher safe! Yes, this is my new toy.

Christmas Memories--Age 1

We couldn't help but call this last Christmas "Dia's First Christmas." Sure, she was here with us in '09 celebrating, but this year, she could sing Happy Birthday, Jesus ("Happy, happy, happy aaaaaaaa"), open presents, give presents, and most of all, really enjoy our whole family together. It was spectacular!

As a family, Rory and I are still testing out new traditions and finding our place in the holiday season. His entire family on his mother's side (somewhere near 100 people, I think) all get together on Christmas Eve in West Covina, California. It's his family's tradition and while we had planned to celebrate with them this year (since we stayed in AZ last year), Rory decided that all the work and planning needed to get the three of us over there might dampen the whole spirit of the season. It was a tough decision--we LOVE going out there and being with all that family!

But we were thrilled with what ended up happening back here at home. Christmas Eve started off with a new tradition:


Matching Family Pj's! (It's hard to tell from the blurry camera, but we all had red Christmas greeting shirts (Dia's said, "Who needs Santa when you've got Grandma"--which Grandma loved) and black pajama pants. It was fun to get new pj's on Christmas Eve!) I stole the idea from a friend and, quick tip, don't head out to the stores a few days before Christmas looking for matching pj's, but we have fully adopted it as our own tradition and we all loved it. Even Rory got a kick out of it. It was fun--kind of felt like we had our own cool club, The Starks Family, and that Dia was not just born into our family but officially a part of something bigger than ourselves, our family. I know that's a lot to expect from pajamas, but what can I say. We had fun. :)

We then spent Christmas Eve as a family just the three of us opening up presents and eating Papa's homemade chili. It was a great time to really enjoy just being a family and we even set up the video camera to record all our merriment.

Rory and I had given each other our vacation in California last August as our Christmas present, so gave ourselves a small dollar amount with which we could use to fill each other's stocking. I totally went over the limit, but we had a lot of fun opening gifts from each other while Dia played with her first gift:

Dollhouse nursery furniture! It even came with a tiny baby. What she didn't know was that this furniture was for the dollhouse Grandma and Oma got her for Christmas that she would open up in morning. She didn't need the house, though, as you can see from the pics below. She went crazy when she opened up her "Bee be! Bee be!"

This is her saying "Cheese" ("Deeesh") for the camera

Her fascination with the dollhouse furniture (you can see the little baby doll in her hand in the pic above) kept her busy enough for Rory to open his gifts (a vanity plate for his work truck among other things) and give me a few beauties: the book The Alchemist (very new age, kind of like reading a novel version of the Dr. Bronner soap bottle, but I was still able to glean some wisdom from it and I really enjoyed it's encouragement to banish fear), a lot of great baking utensils (he tries to gift using a theme and this year it was kitchen accessories--you know the cool kitchen things you'd love to have but never take the time or money to buy for yourself?), but my most favorite gift of all, the one that brought the tears, is a photo book he made called "Mommy and Daughter." It's full of pictures of just Dia and me from her first year. If you're a mom, you know how rare it is to get shots of you with your beloveds--usually we're the ones behind the camera. So to get an entire book full of pictures of just the two of us made me feel like the luckiest mom ever.

And after we were done with our sappy, Mama/Papa gift-giving (wink, wink), we brought out the big guns:



Her first baby doll and her first bike! Killer combo, let me tell you. We both hit this one out of the park. While all her gifts were obviously from both of us, the bike was a special project Ror worked on for her while I scoured the world wide web for the perfect baby doll. It's hard to tell from the pics, but she was floored with both gifts. And that last pic of D on the bike is EXACTLY how she rides it: one-handed, leaning back as far as she can go while holding her baby with the other hand. She reminds me of John Travolta's character in Grease! No idea why, but she has this motorcycle cool approach to her life that makes me laugh.

Honestly, we could have ended right then and there and had the greatest Christmas ever. We both were shocked at how more special gift-giving was even just between the two of us. I was also convinced that no child really needs any more than two or three gifts at one time. It would have overwhelmed her and left with her little option than to feel out of sorts and act out. Which is kind of what happened the next morning...

When I picked out the "Who Needs Santa When You've Got Grandma" shirt, I wasn't joking. A huge part of my mother's love language is gift-giving. And by that I specifically mean giving Christmas gifts. She's addicted. Has been since I was very small. I've been trying to prep her all year in hopes that she would take the "less is more" attitude with her granddaughter.

For the most part it worked. She really only did buy the one "toy": the dollhouse with furniture and a doll family. BUT there were lots of other things for Dia to open like clothes, shoes (if Dia even sees the shoe section at the store she immediately shrieks "Shoes!" and wants to go right over to look closely at all of them), a purse, books and even two beautifully sentimental gifts she and my dad made. I need to post pictures of them but can't find my camera....For one, she and my dad made a bird feeder. A beautiful wood base with a nail standing up in the center to put apples or other fun bird food on that you hang from the roof or a tree. She painted it to say "Dia's Bird Feeder" and it's so special to have something that both her grandparents worked on together. I was touched. The other, well, the other was a project I had started but hadn't finished. She spent weeks finishing it for me (and Dia). I really need to post a picture to do it's justice. It's the most beautiful quilt made out of Dia's baby clothes. She even used the blood-stained blanket and towel that were the first things to hold her after she was born. It's just....beautiful. Perfect and beautiful and I cried and cried. Most of the onesies wore had cute organic-like sayings (since she only wore organic clothes the first 6 months of her life and those clothing options are rather limited) so the quilt is full of sayings like "Organic Baby," "Green is the new black," "Be friends with nature," etc. It's one of my most prized possessions and if Dia grows up feeling indifferently towards it, I'll count it a blessing and keep it forever for myself!

We did learn for next year, though, that too many presents left Dia unable to enjoy the moment, the people and even the gifts themselves. At one point I even wondered if that was the Jewish secret: eight nights, eight gifts, no temper tantrums! She never threw an actual tantrum, but for me, the day would have been just as beautiful if she spent it riding her bike and then playing with her dollhouse. There is a certain element, though, too of being the only grandchild/niece on both sides that keeps her constantly in the spotlight. While it's lots of fun, I think sometimes it might even add pressure to her little heart. We're learning and will keep you posted on how we handle these precious responsibilities of raising a daughter.

Overall we had the best Christmas of our lives, though. Family came to us this year (a major first) and so we served GF Banana-nut waffles, veggie frittatas and fresh squeezed OJ for breakfast. We had a lot of fun and are very grateful to my family for making the trek up here for Christmas morning. After naptime (Rory and Dia napped for close to 2 hours!!!), we went over to my aunt and uncle's to see my cousin in town from RISD and grandparents in town from Cali. We had a great time over there as well, but it will only get more fun for us as more of the family has little ones of their own. Dia really is the only baby, but she has great fun playing not only with all the adults, but the Jack Russell named Bella and Pekingese named Chin-Chin (who she calls "Mo" because it looks just like Oma and Opa's Pekingese named Mo).

Here are some more pics from the big day:

Not just any shoes--silver sparkly shoes that she LOVES

Leather bomber jacket--my two sisters dress her like she's their personal doll!

Her purse--complete with coin purse, of course

Oh! And they found this great bird book at Costco (it even makes all the bird noises and has numbers corresponding to each picture so that you can learn more about each bird) that they gave her with the bird feeder. She loves it--she's waving hi to the birds :)

This isn't from Christmas morning (obviously) but this is Dia's dollhouse--she loves it. We play with it at least once a day, usually she asks for it first thing when she wakes up. Thank you, Oma and Grandma!!!

And what would Christmas morning be without one big surprise present? Dia wasn't the only one shrieking that day...My mom and dad gifted my sisters with their most prized possession to date. So fun! No wonder my mom is addicted!