Handmade Gifts

My Summer Resolution is not to BUY gifts for the rest of the year...Sorry for those of you who are used to my store-boughtbirthday and holiday gifts and giftcards, as I am not very crafty...yet. However, I am committed to figuring out a way to make some amazing and creative and memorable gifts for my loved ones and friends this year.

I have recently learned how to knit. So, Michael is the lucky one to receive my firt handmade present. For his 43rd birthday (July 20th), my loving husband was blessed with a pastel washcloth. I just loved the yarn fabric and wasn't sure what would come of it - until I started my first project for this gift-giving endeavor. So, how appropriate that the most important person in my life would receive such a heartfelt present (at least this is what I am trying to convince him of)...

Back to School for Mommy

I have decided to go back to school. I'm very excited about this new endeavor. I have become a "foodie." I am using this term loosely - as I love food, and I am trying to love preparing food. I have truly embraced the Weston A. Price philosophy on food and nutrition. So, there is a certification program that focuses specifically on this subject. I just finished my first class and am waiting for my grade...It's so much more fun doing the college thing when I actually have a purpose in mind. I am thoroughly enjoying the content and cannot wait to begin the classes on biochemistry and fats & cholesterol. It's been a great way for me to use my mind as well. And, the recipes I have tried are fabulous!!! The kids are eating everything now...swordfish, lambchops, haddock, chicken livers, scallops, millet, sauerkraut, beets, etc. We haven't had a meal all summer that they haven't finished, and the newest, most favorite dessert for those who eat their dinner is homemade icecream (made with real raw cream and local berries). The ice cream can be made in the Cuisinart 5 minutes before eating (I'll post the recipe, for those of you who have an ice cream maker and rarely use it...you can get healthy ice cream going again without any planning!).

Recipes for the Summer

I have really enjoyed my Nourishing Traditions cookbook. And, I have spent a good deal of time trying to add variety and nutrition to our daily lives. Here is a sampling of the latest attempts (Each one of these recipes is so simple to follow. The children "helped" make these with Lovey and myself this morning. All was completed within an hour.) Take a look:

Homemade Mayonnaise
- 1 whole egg (room temp)
- 1 egg yolk (room temp)
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon whey (optional - if you want it to last more than a few days)
- 1 cup EVOO (or half cup EVOO and half cup Sunflower Oil)
- generous pinch of salt
* Blend everything together except the oil. Add oil slowly while blending.

I have decided to keep this on-hand for all "condiment" requests from my children. Luckily, I have broken all of the kids (especially Kells) from putting ranch and ketchup on every thing! However, he still asks "Is this a ketchup meal?" Most of the time it's not, but the homemade mayo allows the kids to "dip" into something a little healthier for them than any of the over-the-counter condiments. They love it, and it's great mixed with leftover chicken for a chicken salad sandwich or put on a salad as dressing. ENJOY!

Coconut-Date Rolls
- 2 cups pitted dates
- 1 cup shredded, unsweetened organic coconut
- 1/2 stick butter (optional)
- 1 cup nuts (eg walnuts, pecans) (optional)
* Mix all ingredients (except coconut) in food processor (may require a little warm water to start the blending process. Roll date mixture into a ball or small bite-sized log. Roll ball of date mixture into the coconut until completely covered. Refrigerate.

This recipe requires no cooking. The kids can help without much fuss. It takes about 10 minutes to make a huge batch, and then you have a homemade dessert that is extremely healthy and filling. This is great for lunchboxes and company. ENJOY!

Sauerkraut
- 1 medium cabbage, cored and shredded
- 1 TBSP caraway seeds
- 1 TBSP sea salt
- 4 TBSP whey (if not available, an extra TBSP of sea salt)
* Add all ingredients to a large mason jar. Push down cabbage to let all excess air escape. Make sure cabbage fills the jar less one inch from the top. Cover and keep at room temperature for 3 days. Transfer to refrigerator. Ready to eat. Improves with age.

This recipe is great for a side for lunch or dinner. It is full of enzymes that support digestion. I am going to try carrots next!

Whole Wheat Bread
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
2 TBSP EVOO
2 TBSP Maple Syrup
1 cup bread flour or ap flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp bread yeast
* Add ingredients to bread machine in written order. Bake on Whole Wheat setting with a light toasting finish.

This recipe is the ONLY bread recipe I have been able to do in a bread machine that is not as hard as a rock. It's great for sandwiches or for breakfast toast.

Detox Body Cleanse

Michael and I decided things were a bit too quiet on the homefront last month, so we decided to change things up. So, we spent June following a 3 week food routine consisting of mostly raw fruits and veggies. No dairy, No alcohol, No sugar, No caffeine. The results were quite amazing. We both lost a little weight, but, more importantly, we slept better; our skin looked better; we had more energy; we saved tons of money. We became suddenly aware of all the wrong foods we were eating and drinking (my diet coke habit had crept back up) and Michael's Starbucks habit was OUT OF CONTROL!!! So, back to basics. I am still off Diet drinks and caffeine. And, alcohol is so much tastier, as we aren't drinking as much or as often.

We Bought A New House

We found the PERFECT house! I have been talking about what I hope our new home will look like, how large it will be, how much land we'll have, where it will be located...FOREVER (it seems that way anyway). So, exactly 1 1/2 years after selling our home in Northern Virginia and moving to South Carolina. We've been narrowing down the location in and around Charleston for months. And, we finally realized we want to live at/on the beach. This past year on Isle of Palms has been so amazing. I have to say we are all so much more relaxed, laid back, more in-tune with one another, etc. Our move to the beach has allowed us to re-invent ourselves, our family, our lives. We are truly making the most of each moment now...

So, the house is perfect - perfectly small, perfectly adorable. It is 2,200 square feet on a half acre (a block and a half from the ocean). It is a one story,arts and craft style home with a very open floor-plan. We are in the process of making the most of every square foot (re-doing closets, building double bunkbeds in the boys' room, creating a customized workspace for each family member in the sunroom, etc. Michael's office is off the kitchen, so he will continue to work from home. The boys will share a room/bath, and the girls will do the same.

I am looking forward to having each space in the house be multi-purpose, to be more eco-friendly, to live more simply, to spend time truly together, to spend more time outside, to spend less time decorating, cleaning, etc.

Friends and family members are extremely skeptical. Can we do it with 4 kids? Can we scale down as much as we think? There are bets across the country as to how long we will last before we bulldoze the place and start over. Time will tell. I hope we can make it work...Stay tuned! BTW, even with all the downsizing, we still have a lovely guest bedroom with private bath and extra beds for children. So, please keep us on your calendars :).

My Not-So-Secret Garden

I have always wanted a garden. When we lived in Old Town Alexandria, VA, there was no room and no time. We had difficulty keeping our 3 window boxes watered. We finally just took them down, because I was so embarrassed at how many trips to Home Depot I made in the Spring to replace the poor flowers we planted and forgot about. Then, we bought this amazing home in South Riding, VA. I wasn't working; I had plenty of space; plenty of time; a new Home Depot; a new start. Didn't happen. I ended up paying Eduardo to plant my flowers, weed my gardens, and buy and replace the flowers and plants I forgot about again! But, those days are gone...

I am totally into my garden now! Not sure what happened. But, the garden is amazing and I am beginning to understand the importance of water, good soil, sunlight, etc. My neighbor, Ms. Kay, is a master gardener and took some time this month working with me on plants, flowers, and herbs that "work" together in the Charleston climate.

I have basil, thyme, marjoram, parsley, cilantro, mint, stevia (Talula's favorite), bay leaf, dill, etc. I also have cucumbers, pole beans, cherry tomatoes, jalepenos, banana peppers, and a ton of gorgeous, colorful flowers.

The kids love to pick the ripe fruit, wear the flowers in their hair, and water the pots each evening.

The entire experience seems so simple, so basic. But, it has been a learning experience for all. I am so proud of the garden! It is a true family affair. Michael just laughs. It took me 14 years of marriage to finally be in a space to truly "do" a garden. Now I know. The problem was not lack of trying. It was lack of watering.

No More Packaged/Processed Foods

Slowly but surely...Baby Steps...Tami's has another bright idea...We stopped buying pre-packaged and processed foods. I cleaned out our pantry and refrigerator. No more goldfish. No more pretzels. No more fig newtons. No more cereal (of ANY KIND). No more diet drinks. No more fruit rollups. No more instant oatmeal.

So, what are we eating? What are our snacks? What are our vices?

What do I put in my shoppping cart?
- all natural, organic peanut butter and almond butter
- dried fruits (organic and unsweetened)
- raw, unsalted nuts (sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.)
- "Seven Cows" plain, whole milk yogurt (unless I make myself)
- Whole, Raw Milk
- Whole, Raw Cheese
- Butter
- Real Raw Cream (for homemade ice-cream and whipped cream)
- Steel Cut Oats
- Farm Fresh Eggs
- All kinds of Organic Fruits and Raw Veggies (with homemade mayo for veggie dip)
- All kinds of Organic Frozen Fruits
- Homemade granola (Aunt CCs recipe)
- Homemade pita chips and hummus (bake sliced whole wheat tortillas w salt)
- "Ezekial" Sprouted Bread (sometimes homemade)
- Whole Chickens (make soups and stock afterwards)
- Grassfed beef
- etc.

It sounds a bit extreme when you tell someone you aren't buying breakfast cereal, juices, or goldfish b/c they are "silent killers." So, I just don't say it. And, I don't have to. The kids are full, satisfied, happy, well-behaved children who don't whine or cry for snacks any longer. I remember the days when the floor of my Yukon XL (yes, I am still driving the white whale) had crushed Cheerios and goldfish on the floor and in the carseats...Those days are long gone. And, we are all better off for it.

If anyone would like to know the rationale behind the ban on center-aisle grocery shopping, I would be happy to share!