Day Two Complete

I made it. Day two was so much less painful than Day one. I woke up and didn’t even feel all that hungry and the juices even tasted better today. I didn’t have to pace myself but I had to actually remind myself that it was time to drink them. No cravings or yucky feelings today. Just good energy and satisfaction that I made it. It’s been so rainy here that I nixed our original plan to go to the Natural History Museum and instead took the kids to Surfas and picked up all our baking supplies. We spent most of the day holed up inside baking baking baking. And I wasn’t tempted at all. I didn’t even lick my fingers if you can believe it. I will do a separate post of what we made but I am trusting that everything came out delicious. I don’t know what got into me since I’m not a big baker. But maybe not eating it was motivation to make a whole ton. The kids loved it and Greta especially was more than eager to lick any spoon and spatula that needed it.

Aaron on the other hand just completed his first day and I so sympathize with him. Poor guy came back to bed and laid there this morning. I asked him, “don’t you have to go to work?” “I’m already hungry” was his response. Poor guy, but I think he will wake up tomorrow feeling great, and I’m already salivating at what I am going to eat tomorrow.

Cleansing

Wordless Wednesday is going to be skipped this week. But there’s been a whole lot of photo love lately so I don’t feel too bad about missing it.

I just finished Day 1 of my cleanse and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t a piece of cake. This is the first time I’ve done a cleanse this intense, but fortunately it’s short because otherwise I couldn’t do it. It’s from a place in Brentwood called Pressed Juicery. The site explains it much better than I can, but I was wanting something really healthy and something to challenge me during my health month of December. A friend told me about it and so I decided after reading the information that this was what I was looking for. You don’t have to get delivery, in fact it’s cheaper if you go there in person and pick up your day’s worth of juices, but I do admit in this torrential rain with three children on winter break, it’s kind of nice to have a little cardboard box cooler delivered to my front door. I have to drink 8 16 oz containers of juice each day. I am only doing 2 days and Aaron is beginning tomorrow and doing 2 days as well.

This morning I really didn’t think I could do it. I got a cold Monday and the last thing I wanted was to drink a dark green juice labeled, kale spinach romaine parsley cucumber celery. I am not a morning eater type of person so to drink 16 ounces when I woke up was torture. Then you move onto the roots portion(everything in the greens drink PLUS beets and carrots) drink followed by another greens and then I almost lost it. It didn’t help that I took the kids to the best pizza place in Los Angeles for lunch and I had to sit there and watch them eat their pizza, and then NOT eat their pizza crust! And when I got home I had to down my fourth drink which was the detox part of the cleanse. Lemon, cayenne pepper and filtered water. 16 ounces of it! BLEH. I wanted to throw in the towel during that one but I wisely signed up yesterday for a Bar Method class for this evening knowing that I would need a distraction and hoping the endorphins would rise above the hunger pains. And it did. I finally got over my hump as class started and I feel great. On a side note, Bar Method, changing my body. Absolutely love it. After only four classes my pilates instructor commented on how flexible I have become and I can stretch beyond I have ever been able to before. This is definitely going to be a weekly habit for me, I wish I could fit in more times a week but for now one time is all I can do.

I came home to finish off another roots drink and lastly 16 ounces of almond milk. The other two drinks I sipped throughout the day for added hydration, aloe vera water and chlorophyll water. I have a little bit of oomph in me that says I can do this again tomorrow and also knowing Aaron is going to struggle through his first day, I hope I can cheerlead him on a bit.

I really like this place supplying the drinks because all their juice is from cold pressed and organic foods. They deliver each evening so the juice is the freshest. And my cold? Barely noticeable. I sneezed and sneezed during the cayenne pepper drink and then after my class I feel like it’s barely there now, but we’ll see how I wake up tomorrow. I honestly would recommend even just trying it for a day. Or a meal supplement if you’re in the area and stop in for a 16 ounce drink of greens. When are you ever going to eat THAT much kale and spinach? The whole idea is to get your body into a state of alkalinity which is ideal because that is when your body fights off infection and functions the best. I really didn’t do much prep the days leading up to the cleanse but just stayed away from red meat and refined flour.

I don’t recommend you do this when you plan to be home all day, no worries it’s not a diuretic so you don’t need to be near the toilet (unless your body reacts that way normally). I really need the distractions so as not to think about all the food in my refrigerator that I’m not allowed to eat. I haven’t felt weak or shaky at all, just hungry. My tummy growls and definitely would like some solid food, but nothing painful. It’s more a mental thing for me. It’s definitely an excellent exercise in self control for me and I know when I’m done I’ll feel great and that I accomplished something huge.

I’ll keep you posted as I finish tomorrow and am undecided if I’m going to complete tomorrow with a bowl of brown rice or actual lettuce leaves and fresh carrots just to celebrate. Oh that sounds divine right now!!!!

Greta and Her Papa

These two together crack me up. Greta doesn’t really have the same relationship that either of her brothers have with my dad. Gunnar is super affected by my dad’s opinions and will fall apart if he thinks my dad is unhappy with him(kinda like myself…and my sister). Sawyer likes to talk my dad’s ear off. Greta, she likes to tease my dad. I have never seen anything like it in all my life. Next time you see her ask her to show you what my dad looks like when someone takes a photo of him. You’ll die. She comes up with this stuff all on her own.

When we were in Ojai last month Greta was very interested in doing what her brothers were doing. She marched right up to me and said, “can girls golf?” I said of course they can! And she marched right onto that green and picked up a golf club. She insisted on going to the driving range with the boys and insisted on my dad showing her the proper formation. In fact, when we got back to our hotel room I walked out of our bathroom and into my parents’ adjoining room to find her standing on my dad’s bed asking if her “triangle” was correct and making practice swings over and over again.

Something tells me I will cherish these photos forever.

winter breaking

The kids last week of school was last week, and now they have THREE weeks off. It makes no sense. We have one week at spring break, which isn’t enough, and three weeks during winter break, which is too many. The weather looks like it’s not going to cooperate very well this week. We’ve had rain since last Wednesday or Thursday. I mean pouring torrential rain. But we still plan on doing some fun things with our time, Some of those on our agenda include: Natural History Museum (buying a membership was THE best purchase for us), making homemade peppermint bark, my sister’s pregnancy photo shoot, a few movie theatre trips, lots of reading from our humongous stack of library books, some one on one time with Greta while the boys go to one week of winter camp, and then when Greta returns to school (her break is only two weeks) some fun one on two time with my boys, lots of egg nog and hot chocolate, lots of sitting by the fire, planning out our garden planter boxes for springtime, and catching up on housework because after the weekend we had it looks like a tornado blew through here. I did promise these kids a trip to a toy store one time on their break for one item each and they’re already scheming what they’ll get. No doubt it will be somewhere along the lines of a Wii game, some princess paraphernalia, and Legos.

Aaron couldn’t get the time off work for a trip to Mammoth so we’ll be doing that later in the ski season in February and once my nephew makes his debut. But I do look forward to Aaron having 2 3-day weekends in a row. He does have to work the day after Christmas but hopefully we’ll get to keep him home and he won’t be busy.

The boys had their Winter Concert this last week, and I am just so proud of these guys. They really are such good boys. I love to watch them. You can guess that Gunnar’s songs were about peace and happiness based on all the tie dye shirts.

Oh Soso. Steals the show every time with his shoulder shaking and moves.

Two days later was Sawyer’s class’ Winter Party. They decorated gingerbread houses, heard winter themed stories, drank hot chocolate and other delicious foods.

Happy Winter Break for all of you with school aged kids!

A Bit More of Ojai

I posted our horseback riding photos and completely forgot to follow up with some other ones of our time in Ojai. I think making the video sidetracked me. But here’s some stills from our trip last month. As I was reviewing these the kids came up to me and asked when we’re going back. Uh, 11 more months? Sigh. It’s too long.

If they carried her jacket in my size, I would definitely be an owner of one.

We love to take walks when we are up there. They have a bike trail and every time we go on it we see people riding their horses, and they always stop and let us visit. We also take apples to this one special horse that we’ve been visiting for the last 2 years. And this year, she had a baby! It was pretty exciting for the kids to watch her nurse her colt.

She was super playful and kept jumping on her mama to play. The kids couldn’t stop cracking up.

I have one more post of golf-centric photos to post next week. Until then, happy Friday tomorrow and happy weekend everyone!

how’d i forget

Quick answer to question: My dress from the baby shower is by Marc Jacobs and from Bloomingdales, belt from my own collection. Happy shopping!

Also, I’m so excited when I see comments, especially from people so far away (ahem, Shannon)! Love that my blog is getting a little bit of love from NH!

I have a thing with catalogs, I browse through very few. In fact, the majority make it to the recycler as soon as I walk in from checking the mailbox. But I do like to peruse a few, Williams Sonoma being one. I tell you they have the best gadgets and kitchen goodies.

My sister was gifted this at her shower from Williams Sonoma and I can’t tell you HOW jealous I am. I am considering having a fourth child just so I can use this. Do you know how many months, probably years, I slaved over our stove with 4-6 pots going at once, steaming veggies and then switching back and forth between the blender and the food processor. My kitchen looked like a Gladware commercial. I had a system down very quickly where I would freeze amounts that would last about 2-3 days so I could just take a tupperware out of the freezer, stick it in the fridge and then spoon out just the right amount for the baby’s meal for the next few days. That meant I had to have a LOT of small containers that were refreezable. I learned it was a much better system than the ice cube one where I had to defrost 1-2 ice cubes per meal. I did this ONCE a month! I devoted a whole night to it, lasting about 4-6 hours so my babies never had to taste jar baby food. Now they have this thing called Beaba, it steams, purees, defrosts, warms. It does it all! I think this tops the Louis Vuitton diaper bag, and ties with her stroller for the most coveted item she was gifted.

And the freezer trays? Oh lord. Stop me now.

Coordinating lunch box set. Come on.

As I was flipping through the catalog I stopped a few times, and even folded down a page or two. Since I’m growing fresh herbs now pretty consistently. Our rosemary is still surviving, as well as our mint. And as soon as spring rolls around I can plant some more basil, cilantro, and thyme. How fantastic is this? It’s an herb mill that takes fresh herbs and minces them perfectly.

And lastly, I’m pretty vocal about my love of popsicle making in summertime. But I do hate the cheap plastic molds they come in. Look at this! It’s a new popsicle maker that freezes in as little as SEVEN minutes! And it has a special release tool so I don’t have to run them under hot water to get the pops out. There’s even a coordinating popsicle cookbook. When did Williams Sonoma tap into my dreams??

Boys would D.I.E. for this.

 

 

Wordless Wednesday- just one day’s worth of compost scraps

wish lists

It seems like every blog I read is posting their wish lists. Do people really get to pick out what they get?! That’s pretty awesome. It seems close to how anniversaries are on my side of the family, so I totally get the “don’t surprise me” stuff. Being I have no reason for a wish list, I thought I would make one. Just so I’m not left out!

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Sweet Romeo’s Baby Shower (one)- FINALLY

There’s a bunch of photos floating around on facebook so I’m so happy to finally post some of mine! This was the first of a couple of baby shower’s for my sister and all I can say is thank goodness it’s over! I am so exhausted, but could not be happier with how everything turned out. Niki made some deeeelicious food, there was shredded pork sliders, bruschetta, artichoke dip, all so wonderful. She worked so hard and I appreciate her help so so so very much!

The best part for me was the morning of, where I got to finally put together all the decorations and details I have been working on for the past 11 years. I only was able to snap a few photos at the very beginning, but here’s the highlights. She got some amazing gifts as well. And it was more than a little hard to watch her unwrap the fantastic stuff they have nowadays. Doesn’t that sound old of me, nowadays? Anyway. When I had Gunnar I had 2 choices, Peg Perego or Graco. Graco was cheaper so that’s what I got. In fact, I just recently ordered a new stroller for me to have for when I babysit Romeo and that stroller cost more than any stroller I bought for my own kids! Oh, all the goodies they have now! I will have to do a separate post with all the wonderful things, oh and the bedding this little guy has, too cute for words, I’ll just have to show you when I photograph his nursery. Don’t even get me started on Diaper Bags. I think my fanciest was a Petunia Pickle Bottom, so seeing that Louis Vuitton box sitting on my fireplace mantle and it not being for me to open, a little heartbreaking. But that’s okay, I will live vicariously through my sister.

On to the details:

I sewed a ton of this bunting and hung it from the stair banister, fireplace, archways. I thought it added a playful, more childish touch to an adult party that is actually for the little man.

I think the drinks were the biggest hit of everything. My sister’s good friend came up with an amazing recipe for Hibiscus and Blood Orange Tea/Lemonade. I have been planning these cups and straws since the very beginning, since the straws were the whole inspiration for the shower. And then the night before the shower I realized that no one will be able to tell their drink apart from anyone elses, so I added the baker’s twine and labels for their names. Every jar had fresh blackberries and the jars went home with everyone as a parting gift.

The Mama would be my sister’s label.

I spent weeks thinking about something sweet and memorable but avoiding games at all possible costs. I came up with a little WRITE station where I set up a typewriter and a little bowl with slips of paper and mini clothespins. I had directions above the typewriter that asked people to take a moment to give a piece of advice, or a thought or wish for my sister and brother in law. Next to the typewriter I hung up some string and everyone added their special note to the line. I was so happy that so many people loved this idea and participated. After the shower I took all the notes down and put them in an album for my sister and then she can add photos of the shower to the album behind everyone’s typewritten notes.

It was hard to get a picture of the WRITE, but I took my mom’s Instax camera and took polaroids of different patterned things, then I used a Sharpie and wrote in block letters W R I T E, next I used an exacto knife and cut out the letters, hanging them with mini clothespins above the typewriter station.

For dessert the gelato bar was a big hit. We had Vanilla or Strawberry to choose from and the toppings were: chocolate covered gummy bears, blueberries, chocolate sauce, 3 types of sprinkles, Dots, M & Ms, mini chocolate chips, and Animal Crackers. Big. Hit. I think Greta managed to put every single topping on her gelato.

And there you have the decor. The biggest thing missing was Jane. Poor Alissa came down with pneumonia the day of the shower, and I know Jane would’ve appreciated every last little tiny detail. Don’t worry Jane, I will recreate everything for you for your next baby shower.

Since my sister is so lax in giving me her memory card, I took my mom’s today and downloaded these this evening. I have to say her little camera takes good pictures!

Here’s me and Niki, in the middle of food prep. Niki and I have worked together on a few parties and she is always one I love to do stuff with. We work good together.

Four generations

Typewriter in mid-use. Rachel always appreciates my kooky ideas.

The three glowing preggo mamas. Kinda jealous I’m not one of them. No worries, we have no plans to expand despite my vocal desire.

Skin Question- Sunscreens

I have been meaning to sit down and write this for weeks. I have a ton of clients with the same question and I know there’s a lot of readers out there who are wondering the same.

Are sunscreens safe? Do I need them?

A little background on sunscreens first. Simply put, there’s 2 types. Physical, and chemical. Physical sunscreens are those that contain titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, they physically block UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens act as filters and have chemicals in them to absorb UV radiation. Chemical sunscreens can contain zinc or titanium dioxide but overall they have a different active ingredient with a higher percentage.

Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher for daily use.

Now, what’s all the issues with the lack of Vitamin D out there, and the dangerous chemicals put in sunscreens? Well, you’re going to have to weigh the pluses and minuses for yourself. Having a parent and a parent in law who have both had skin cancer I am a big proponent of sunscreen. Do I slather my children’s entire bodies with it everyday? No. Somedays do I forget to apply any at all? Yes. When we are going to be outside for longer than a 30 minute increment, do I apply sunscreen? Yes. Do I apply sunscreen to my face and neck every single day? YES. Do I do this because I am vain and I want to avoid pigmentation and wrinkles later in life? YES.

The controversy with sunscreens is in the chemical sunscreens. I personally do not use chemical sunscreens on my children. I choose to use mineral (physical) blocks solely on them. I do this because my kids don’t care. They don’t care if they have a white sheen on their face or it’s a little harder to rub in. The reason most women or men do not like physical sunscreens is because they are thicker. Because they are a bit thicker they can also clog your pores. This is where you have to decide for yourself what is important. For me, I have gone back and forth between the two types of sunscreens for years. I have read the reports about the chemicals in the sunscreens and have talked to numerous companies about it. This is what I have found from questioning them. When you look up for instance ‘harmful ingredients in sunscreens’, and it sends you to a page that tells you about how oxybenzone or another chemical is dangerous for pregnant women or that the ‘study has found …xyz’ they are not necessarily referring to a sunscreen with that ingredient being applied properly on your skin. They could be referring to a study where an animal was INGESTING the chemical and it had harmful effects. Well, of course. I could spray hair spray on my hair and it be perfectly fine, but if I INGEST the hair spray it may be another situation.

The reason I am making this clarification is because sunscreens are not allowed to penetrate the dermis. Therefore they cannot enter your bloodstream. This is by law from the FDA. Cosmetics, which are sunscreens, legally cannot have an ingredient where it can pass through the epidermis (top layer of the skin) and into the dermis (deeper layer of the skin). If a product in fact does penetrate the skin and can enter the bloodstream, then that is a drug. So if a sunscreen is doing that, then it cannot or should not be on the market and the FDA would make the company change the formula.

I have seen sunscreens be pulled off the market because of various reasons, sometimes it’s not a stable formula and they don’t get a consistent SPF, or the packaging alters the formula.

So what do I use on myself and my family?

Personally, I don’t think anything above an SPF of about 40-50 makes a difference. I am a big fan of reapplication. I do not use or own any of the aerosol sprays that deliver sunscreen. I stay away from the Banana Boats, and the Bull Frogs and all the cheap stuff on the shelves. I prefer brands like Blue Lizard, Neutrogena Pure and Free, California Baby, Burts Bees, when it comes to my kids. For myself, I am pretty picky. I don’t mind applying the kids’ sunscreens on my body, which I do all the time on vacation. But for my face I use professional products only. There is one brand I have tried and CVS carries it online, however it is not cheap at all. It’s a company called 100% Pure and they have a tinted sunscreen that I use on my face. I also use chemical sunscreens on my face by Bioelements, Dermalogica, SkinCeuticals, etc. It all depends on the season and my skin. But I must say, I never ever go on vacation, or to the beach without a sunhat. I am a firm believer in protecting my face and neck. I have no problem with my body’s vitamin D intake being from my feet and ankles.

I think the benefits of sunscreen far outweigh the risks and will continue to use sunscreen on my family. I also feed my family healthy foods rich in Vitamin D and think that unfortunately we have damaged our earth so much that the sun is harmful now. I hope that this may clarify some questions or reservations you may have about sun protection. All in all, be safe and healthy!