A Few Things About Me

• I love coffee and hot tea (I even have a big collection of tea)
• All of my children are almost three years apart
• I'm a vegan...most of the time
• I love to cook/bake
• I have severe insomnia due to Fibromyalgia and Rheum. Arthritis
• My heating pad is my best friend these days
• I love the smell of vanilla
• I have an obsession with Walmart and Trader Joe's
• I LOVE horror flicks but I'm still scared of the dark and sleep with a light in the hallway
• Have an all new respect for teachers now that I've started homeschooling
• I believed in Santa Clause until I was almost in highschool
• I would love to live in a Yurt (as long as it had internet access and cable)
• I would wear my pj's all day if I could get away with it
• I really would love a huge collection of wigs so that I wouldn't have to mess with my hair
• I act like I'm 14 when it comes to Twilight or Vampire Diaries (love, love, love them)
• hated highschool...seriously, would not go back!
• Wish that I had eloped than had a wedding
• Would love to be able to wear my wedding dress just to run to the store (at least I would get some wear out of it)
• I don't really know what my natural hair color is because I've been coloring it for so long!

I could go on and on but I will quit for now!  I hear the coffee calling me!

Cookies

These bad boys are definitely full of sugar but the kids loved them!

So, to satisfy my sweet tooth while making these, I hate a handful of cacoa nibs!  Yum:)  Oh, and some Herba Mate tea (Definitely have a major addiction to hot tea).  That's a whole other story!  Happy sleeping!

TGIF!!

As we finally finished with school today, the kids decided that it was time to decorate the pumpkins.  We only carved one (I am NOT great at carving pumpkins) and it may last a couple of days until it falls apart!  LOL!  The other two were decorated with Mod Podge and paint!  We also roasted pumpkin seeds AND made cookies!  The kiddos decorated the cookies (keep this in mind when I post the pics).  Now we are waiting for nightfall to light the pumpkin, make some hot chocolate, and head to the end of the driveway to see our little Jack-O-Lantern!  I LOVE FALL!!!!!!  Oh, and HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!

Notice that our Mod Podge pumpkin looks a little sad! 

Ok, well, looks like my computer won't let me upload anymore photos so the cookie pics will have to wait!

Life and Joy

Have you ever been at that place in your life where you're truely happy?  I mean, utterly, 100% happy?  I don't think that I'm there, but at least I can say that I'm content where I am right now.  For quite a few years I went through some rough times and went through alot of depression but I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It's not that I wake up every morning doing a happy jig, but I choose to be happy with what I have!  I have three beautiful kids, I have a roof over my head, a great family, and absolutely wonderful friends!  Don't get me wrong, I have many a pity party but if I let it last for longer than a second, I'll lose myself and my way.  It's the small changes that lead to the big and I'm still contently on my way...


"The healthiest response to life is joy."
Deepak Chopra

That week...

It's only Tuesday but I feel like I've been through a week's worth of stuff already!  Not only did I fall off of a chair yesterday (trying to kill a spider on the ceiling) but I hurt my foot and leg in the process.  WHEN did I turn OLD???  I laid on the floor while my kids gathered around looking terrified.  I was scared to death that they were going to call 911 or make a guerney to lift me onto.  Between that, school, decorating for Halloween (which meant getting costumes ready, baking, and bringing out the candles and lights), I'm so ready for the weekend!  However, I did get something REALLY cool for myself!  Vampire fangs!  Found them at the Halloween store!  Definitely going to be a vampire for Halloween.  Who wouldn't be with such cool fangs?!! Pics will come soon enough.  So, tomorrow is Hump Day and it's already been a week or should I say...that week!!!!  ARGH!

Field trip to Cowpens, SC

What a beautiful time of year, when the leaves are turning and the weather is getting a tad cooler!  Friday, our school went on a field trip to Cowpens, since some of our students are studying the Revolutionary War.  The kids had a great time being outdoors but I do have to say that the tourguide was quite longwinded.  I'm not exactly sure at all what he was talking about.  However, I did find out that he's 75 and has been married for more than 50 yrs!  Wow, that's wonderful but has nothing to do with our trip.  I'm going to post some pics.  Sadly, I felt like I was taking alot of pictures of trees and grass:|

Well, this is the only pic letting me post, but you get the drift.  They pretty much all look like this!  Beautiful!!
Have a Glorious Monday guys!!!

Something Yummy

I saw this yummy looking recipe on this blog:http://ohsheglows.com/2009/01/17/flax-oat-breakfast-power-muffins/ and thought that I would try my hand at them!  The only thing that I changed was the brown sugar, I substituted sucanat for it and I added dried cranberries!  They are incredibly good!!!

How wonderful do these look!  I can't wait to eat one in the morning! 

Nutritional Profile (per muffin):

200 calories
9 grams of healthy fats (from flax and olive oil!)
6 grams fibre
6.5 grams of protein

Family

So, I've been out of town all weekend visiting my cousin.  Alot of drama was going on with her but even in the time of adversity, she still stays levelheaded and will crack jokes.  Needless to say, I did ALOT of laughing!  On another plus side, I got to see one of my good friends too!  All in all, it was a pretty good weekend.  And then I come home.  DRAMA!  Family "he said/she said".  I sure did get an earful but all I could do was listen and from this listening, I'm about to get thrown in the middle (and it has absolutely nothing to do with me).  Without going into to detail, I hope that it resolves itself soon!  Family, you can't live with them and you can't smack them.  I'm starting to think that distance is the only solution!  Sorry for the vent!  Happy Monday!!!

Chia and Goji berries...it's what's for breakfast!

I recently found out about Chia seeds!  You don't have to eat many because they soak up liquid and will definitely fill you up!  Some of these with water or almond milk, a little fruit (Goji berries) and stevia on top, and you've got a great breakfast!

Goji berries are so yummy too and wonderful for you!!  Put these in a smoothie or on top of the chia or make your own trail mix!

A couple of my favorite things

I went grocery shopping yesterday and got some of my favorite things.  Well, actually, I got alot of my faves but I won't post them.  However, I hit up Trader Joe's and Earthfare for two "must haves" for me AND for the kiddos! 

Ok, this is probably my favorite.  It's great on sprouted bread, w/oats and fruit, in smoothies, or by itself.  There are so many things that you can do with this Almond butter!

THESE are such a delicious treat!!!  Berry juices covered in dark chocolate!!  Now, I'm not usually a big fan of dark chocolate but these are absolutely wonderful!! I have to hide them or the kids will get them.  I know, I'm bad.