A Character Building Two Years

I have been super duper stressed lately as I'm sure everybody has picked up on {no blog posts, and when I do post it's all negative and rushed and not-so-spectacular}. Last night I was in bed and couldn't help but analyze my stress. 

Of course there are the inevitables - 2 babies that are just 12 months apart & a food company that I'm barely holding onto, just trying my best to keep going despite the fact that I don't want a full-time nanny - yeah, those things are enough stress for anybody to deal with. 

But started thinking about the past two years and the events that have occured. Not only did I birth two babies in these past two years but I attended 10 weddings 5 of which I was IN as a bridesmaid. 

2 of my best friends also had babies and another one just got engaged a few months back. I have thrown two engagement parties, two baby showers and one HUGE birthday party here at my home in addition to the many I have attended. 

I have planned three bachelor parties and attended all of them. One of them I actually flew to SF for and brought my 5 month old. I hired a sitter service, stayed in a hotel by myself with my son and went out on the town partying with the crew and then driving and staying in napa again with my baby still in tow. 

I have flown to Oregon by myself with my baby and pregnant self. Gone with Wes to NY {2xs}, Hawaii {2xs}, SF {4xs}, Avila Beach, LA {6xs}, Switzerland, Paris and Czech with my baby. Then to Mexico and Cabo alone without kids. 

And on a terrible note, one of my best friend's mom's died {of cancer} and then so did my other best friend's new husband {of random causes}. Then, not long after, my favorite grandma passed away.

That alone is more than I could barely handle. How does anybody handle death like that? 

Somewhere in between all of that chaos I have been appeasing my work, creating new flavors, meeting with investors, fixing up my house, planning holidays and throwing holiday parties, making my kids some-what healthy food, myself green smoothies and trying my best to keep a big smile on my face and my kids as happy as can be!!!

I'm EXHAUSTED. Tired. OVER IT! I want peace, good health, calm and just NOTHING TO THINK ABOUT OR DO. 

Do you think it's possible? Do you think I can actually STOP the madness and start the peace? I want to. 

OR MAYBE it's just life in your 30s. I mean my 20s were just so easy. So simple and fun and adventurous but at the same time there were times when I was actually BORED. Yes, bored. That word hasn't come out of my mouth in the past two years, that's for sure. 

Maybe now more and more people will be dying, births will be more common and of course so will marriages {and even divorces}! Weird how life can change so dramatically and so quickly. 

But either way, it's weird to think that only 2 years have passed and I have done ALL of that? Or maybe, again, I might just be crazy to think I could pull all that stuff off and do it well. No?

I mean, some of it was obviously fun. But more importantly some of it was just plain non-negotiable. I need to be there for my friends and family during time of death, birth and marriage. I think it just all happened at once which became the craziness. I need to be a good partner and mother and boss, too. Right? That's not really a negotiable thing either, for the most part. 

My kids alone are more than enough though.  I want to JUST be a mom for once. A good mom. I think that I am, but gosh, I could be so much better. Maybe it's not possible. Maybe it's my personality and I will never be able to just stop. Hmmmmm.  

Thanks for listening and understanding. Good night. This post is a tribute to ALL moms out there! It sure is tough sometimes. No? I think we all have these issues. I'm just the only one bitching about them. Ha. Go figure. You'd think I didn't have time?!!!!! Right? {yeah, forgot about my silly blog that I started, that didn't take anything off my plate, but it sure has helped me find happiness --- so thanks for listening}!

Food Photography! Katie Quinn Davies.

I was on facebook for a second a few days ago and saw a great looking photo from Joy Cho's OH JOY EATS recent blog post...

Naturally, I clicked on the link {Joy always has really neat foodie stuff anyways}. Her post then led me to Katie Quinn Davies' food photography web site. And now here I am.

As you probably have noticed, I LOVE photos of interiors...and as you have probably noticed, I LOVE food. So...you could only imagine my excitement and obsession upon seeing this great photo spread.

Enjoy!

OH AND SHE DOES INTERIORS, TOO!!! LOOK AT THESE CUTE KID-FRIENDLY HOME PHOTOS!

Rooibos Tea - For Kids?

I had this grand idea the other day - TEA! Yes, tea. Not for myself but for my 26 month old. He had been asking me for tea since he was like 20 months old {I know, kinda odd} and I had always said NO. Tea isn't really a child's drink. I didn't think a baby had mature enough taste buds and of course most tea has caffeine. 

But I was shopping at Jimbo's awhile back and came across the tea isle. I picked up some super strong loose leaf green tea for myself and upon grabbing the tin I noticed a kids tea tin. It has a giraffe on it and a few other zoo animals. My son immediately wanted it. The labels claims it's great for kids? I wasn't so sure. 

The main ingredient is organic rooibos {which is caffeine free} and the rest is organic vanilla and strawberry flavors. 

So when we got home I warmed some water and made the tea. I thought for SURE my son would want honey or a sweetener, right? How good could it be plain?

I gave it to him plain. He told me he LOVES IT! He drinks a whole 'adult' mug full from time to time. He doesn't want it in a sippy cup. And he likes it warm so he can blow on it. 

Herbal teas are calorie free {kids actually need lots of calories but not necessarily in the form of honey or juice all day long} which means there's no sugar. Rooibos is full of minerals and antioxidants. 

Try it. Make it fun. Show your child how to warm the water on the stove, show her the tea bags and the mug. Let her drink it slowly, blow on it. Just like Mommy does! 

Enjoy!

Breast Milk Controversy!

We've been hearing so much lately -- from Giselle's "breast-feeding should be law" comment to Selma Hayek breastfeeding an African baby to mom bloggers outrage to working moms frustration and so on -- about breast feeding and the importance of it. But it's been quite the internet topic these days and a few womens' views in particular have become subject of scrutiny, gossip and controversy. 

So in light of all that fun talk I decided to pull out my good old Homemade Baby Formula recipe again! It's a GREAT solution to the problem. No? I wrote about this a few years back and thought today would be a good time to pull it out. You decide!

Recipe:

4 oz Goats Milk
2 oz Carrot Juice
2 oz Water
a few drops Flax Oil (EFAs) with DHA

READ FULL STORY/RECIPE HERE

New Snack Alternatives For Your Little Ones

For those of you moms that are looking for GREAT store-bought organic/natural snack ideas that are super healthy for your child {meaning, doesn't contain added sugars or oils or colors or flours} but also convenient, quick and easy to find, I have a few ideas for you. 

READ FULL STORY HERE. 

Nori Wraps :: Quick Overview

For all of you who ordered my eRecipe book and need better photos and direction when it comes to the nori wraps - here you go! 

It's the one recipe in my book that does NOT have photos. I hope this helps and that you can sort of get the idea here. Honestly you can't really ruin the wraps. They are good no matter what you use. I didn't use avocado {because I didn't have one} today and it was STILL amazing. Every time I make these for people they freak out! And every time I WING it and make them different using whatever is in my fridge. The only must-have for this particular recipe is the coconut jerky and the raw cheese crumbles {also in the book}.

You gotta try them! Enjoy!