Healthy Addiction Recipe - Chocolate Truffle Balls

Ok these are my highly addicting AMAZIN-BALLS...lol  If you crave sweets and/or chocolate, this is for you! These are guilt free and can be made to be gluten free, GMO free, PALEO, and Raw Vegan. I use oats in this recipe but you can substitute with something else. 

I made these to help nursing mommas have more nutritious snacks that could help increase their milk production as well. 

However these are great snacks for anyone. 

All you need is a food processor and the ingredients listed below. 

You can add or subtract ingredients with what you have at home. This is just what was in my pantry so I am trying to use it up. You can also add your favorite protein powder/meal replacement powder into the mix and have some energy/protein snacks. This recipe is pretty flexible as long as you get a consistency you can roll into balls at the end.

1. Put 30 pitted dates into FP (food processor).

2. Put 2 large tbsp of Hemp Seeds in FP.

3. Put 2 large tbsp of Unsweetened Dried Coconut in FP.

4. Put 1 large tbsp of Chia Seeds in FP.

Put 2 large tbsp of Goji Berries in FP.

5. Put 1/2 cup of Oats in FP. (You can use nuts instead)

6. Put 2 large tbsp of Cocoa Powedr in FP.

7. Put 2 large tbsp of Agave Syrup in FP. (Could use honey, maple syrup, or molasses)

8. Put 1 tsp of vanilla extract. (or any other extract)/ you can add spices too, like cinnamon. 

9. Put 1 large tbsp scoop of Coconut Oil in FP.

10. Process Away... for about 1-2 minutes, you can stop and pulse it too.

11. Should come together like a dough. 

12. Roll into balls.

13. I got 26 balls from this batch... so a roughly 2 dozen yield. 

Get Greens into your Toddler

I find it difficult to get greens into Oliver's diet... not because he is picky but because I typically eat my greens plain and that just doesn't appeal to Oliver. So I have become pretty creative with getting greens into his diet. He loves eggs... Egg yolks were his first solid food and to this day he loves his eggs in the morning. So here is how I make Green Eggs and Ham...lol (No ham in this recipe...)

Ingredients:

• 3 organic eggs
• handful of organic cilantro and parsley
• fistful of organic super greens
• organic butter
• 1 organic garlic clove
• Pinch of salt

Melt some butter in your pan. I can not make eggs without butter it is sacrilegious in my family to use anything else.

Chop up your herbs very finely you could even use a food processor or blender.

Grab a fistful of greens...

And chop up those bad boys too...pretty finely.

Toss all greens and herbs into the hot butter.

Press or finely grate the garlic in with a pinch of salt.

Add in your eggs. I buy super eggs at the farmers market and they are always twins.

Scramble them up...

Keep scrambling...

And there you have it green eggs.

No complaints here...

Less is MORE: The Baby Registry Illusion

Being a first time mom is quite overwhelming. You have no idea what to expect from labor & delivery to what your child will need or be like... It is a roller coaster to say the least.

If I could go back and change one thing it would be to buy so much less!

After the baby shower my husband and I went on our baby shopping spree like most (first-time) parents do. Overwhelmed by the plethora of things there are (mostly gimmicks) we quickly started buying everything we "thought" we would need...and we bought a lot of stuff. I have never dropped the amounts of money in stores like we did that day... $300 here and $500 there and we didn't even buy baby furniture like cribs, changing tables, and such. It is so crazy when you come to think about how much people really do spend on a baby. 

After Oliver was born day after day, week after week, moth after month... I started to notice that most ( 99%) of the things I bought I NEVER used! The worst part you can never get a full refund for all you spend...bummer. I was able to return stuff for store credit, however I wanted/needed stuff not found in those stores...

So if I was to go back in time and re due my baby registry...it would look like this: 

• K'tan Wrap (my favorite wrap for newborns up to 15 lbs.)  www.babyktan.com
• A Girasol Wrap (for heavier baby) http://shop.paxbaby.com/girasol
• Ergobaby Carrier (http://store.ergobaby.com/) or Manduca Carrier (www.manduca-baby-carrier.eu) (for lond trips with heavy baby)
• Cloth Diapers (at least 25) www.alvababy.com
• Organic Bath Products 
• NoseFrida Snotsucker www.fridababy.com/
• Ikea High Chair http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30069724/
• Bouncer http://www.babybjorn.com/products/bouncers/babysitter-balance/babysitter-balance
• Baltic Amber Teething Necklace http://hazelaid.com/collections/childrens-baltic-amber
• Car Seat - http://www.combiusa.com/Products/Car-Seats/Zeus-360/48
• Wooden Teethers and Toys
• Clothing nothing fancy
• A Cleaning Lady
• A Personal Chef

Why I Make My Own Baby Wipes...

So the story begins with me trying to conceive...I had some issues and decided to change my diet and remove dangerous chemicals from my products. One of the culprit chemicals that attacks your reproductive system are from the Paraben family. Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The family of Parabens include Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Heptylparaben, Methylparaben, and Propylparaben. Read more about the dangers of Parabens HERE. So what does this have to do with making baby wipes... Well most baby wipes contain them and I had no idea...

I received a case of Pamper's baby wipes for my baby shower. The case contains three bags of wipes inside that are unmarked and unlabeled. So when baby Oliver was born I asked my husband to get me some baby wipes and he brought me one of the bags. Since I was exhausted I did not think to investigate the ingredients in the wipes and since the bag had nothing on it I just ignored it. When I got myself together after the birth and started getting back into daily routine, I went to the room where all the baby stuff was. I picked up the case of baby wipes and the word Paraben jumped out and slapped me in the face. Here I am trying to protect my baby from these crappy chemicals and I have been washing his genitals with them for some time. I immediately threw them out....

I realized baby wipes are a new invention for convinced so I went online to see if anyone else made their own baby wipes. I found out a lot of people do. Some to save money, others to save the planet from waste, and some to save our babies from horrible chemicals. 

So I found some online recipes and was quite happy with the results. Since I cloth diapered washing the wipes wasn't a big deal I just washed them with the diapers.

Here are some good ones:
http://wellnessmama.com/1459/homemade-baby-wipes-recipe/

http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/mama-resources/expert-panel/diba-tillery-rn-bsn/making-homemade-baby-wipes

http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2012/05/10/cloth-wipes-diy-free-or-fancy/

http://simplehomemade.net/how-to-make-and-use-cloth-wipes/

Since then, Oliver and I started venturing out more and I found it easier to carry a small spray bottle of diluted solution and dry wipes. I just spray him , wipe and then throw the wipes in our wet bag with the soiled diapers. 

At home since Oliver started squirming around during diaper changes I found it much easier and much more hygienic to walk his tush and other parts in the tub after pooping...so I don't even use wipes at home. I just hold his tushy under the running water and soap him up. 

Ladies I would highly recommended that you carefully read all your products as well as your baby's products to make sure these bad ingredients aren't in there. They are in almost EVERYTHING! What is crazy to me is that face creams I use to spend tons of money on contained them too. So just because something is pricey doesn't mean it is good.  Don't be ignorant do research and protect yourselves from the poisons that these money making companies are trying to expose you to. I am not willing to be a guinea pig for no one especially when I am paying for the products. I hope I spread some awareness. Remember a good rule of thumb is if you would feel safe putting it in your mouth you shouldn't put it on your body. Your skin is a living organ, it absorbs everything you put on it...

How to be an AWESOME house guest!

Most of us have had an experience with guests staying with us or being a guest at someone else's home...and when most people have friends or relatives coming to stay there is a negative vibe that comes out from them. We love our family and friends as long as they are not in our house...lol
So if you find yourself being a guest at someone's home here is a list of things you can do to make it a positive experience so they will happily want you back. :)

As you read these remember you are not paying to stay at a hotel...you are staying free at someone's home! Also remember that you may be on vacation but the people you are staying with might not be.

1. Be honest and give accurate and precise information on the duration of stay. Example: " I/We will be coming from June 20 to June 29, would that be okay?" Also make sure it is not inconvenient for them to pick you up from the the airport/train station/bus station... and let them know how many people/animals will be in total...don't show up with 20 friends or PETS :) unless you asked for clearance prior.

2. If the place you are staying doesn't have a great public transportation system...rent a car! Unless there is an extra car not in use where you are staying. Most people have to work, take care of kids, or just live their life. They don't need to be a chauffeur for you and they might not want their car being used all the time.

3. Be specific about your expectations...Will you be around all the time... or will you be gone most of the day and only sleep and shower there.

4. Always ask if you can help with anything...and TAKE INITIATIVE! If you see dirty dishes it won't kill you to clean them...and not only the ones you use. You can also offer to do laundry, take out the garbage, walk the dogs, watch the baby....see what the needs might be! If you are the owner of the home and someone offers you help, TAKE IT!

5. Don't eat food that is not yours...people have plans for things and when things go missing it is not a good thing... If someone says help yourself to "whatever"... do not take the last of anything! If you do, please replace it!

6. Try to keep your stuff organized and not make more of a mess  of someone's home. Unless they have a maid LOL! I am sure no one wants their house all messed up and have to work more because you are a piggie.

7. Just because you want to eat out (or party) every night doesn't mean the people you are staying with do also... they might not be in a financial situation to go out... or just too tired. Also don't expect the people you are staying with to cook for you unless you plan on chipping in with the groceries. You are already staying for free... hotels don't feed you for free and you pay to stay there.

8. Do not bring anything illegal to someones home. That is just a dumb-ass thing to do. Don't ever put someone helping you in jeopardy. This should be common sense but you know...and try not to be intoxicated during your stay, especially if you can not handle yourself.

9. Before you do anything... ASK! Don't assume things are done a certain way.

10. Before you bring anything into the home....ASK! Don't assume that you can bring anything into  a home that is not yours...

11. Look to see if there is something the people use frequently and purchase it for them (same brand just in case there is a reason for it)...a few groceries...toiletries... Just a nice gesture!

12. Bring each member of the family a small personal gift, even if you make it yourself... it shows you care!

13. Always leave as if you were never there! CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF! I always try to leave places cleaner than what they were when I got there.

14. Remember someone has to wash the sheets, towels, and anything else you leave behind, so don't be careless.

15. If something is off limits... respect that!

16. Try not to linger around common areas all day... people have there routine and you just lounging in their way is annoying.

17. Don't hog the TV and computer.

18. Dress appropriately...no one needs to see you naked or half dressed around their home.

19. Don't complain about things out of your control... if the bed is uncomfortable don't complain unless you want to buy a new one for them.

20 Don't steal people's stuff or snoop through things...that is just wrong.

21. Respect people's sleep. Don't be loud and obnoxious after people have gone to bed. People have to wake up for work or school. Never wake a sleeping baby!

22. Always lock doors.. don't assume you can leave door unlocked. Not every neighborhood is safe.

23. Don't give advice on how people should live or do things in their home...this is not the time for that. If you really feel something has to change speak with the person you are closer with once you have left.

24. Don't cause conflict... try to be as diplomatic as possible. Bite your tongue!

25. Don't hit on anyone or sleep with anyone your not suppose to!

Specific reasons for visits...

If the person you are staying with just had a baby...
- Feed them and help clean their home... they just need to be with their baby. You do not need to be involved with the baby... that is the mother's job unless she asks you to do something. If they have older kids...take them out and help watch them (make it fun).

If the person you are staying with is sick...
-Feed them,help clean their home, and help them rest...and ask them what you can do to accommodate them in any way. Obviously this can vary depending on the illness/disease.

If the person you are staying with just got married...
- GO TO A HOTEL! :)


If you find that it is too much work to stay with someone... you might be better off at a hotel. You will have maids, room service and a lot more freedom. You get what you pay for!

Oliver's First Year of Life

My little 7 pound and 2 ounce boy is one year old today...my how time flies literally. I still remember my labor and delivery like yesterday. So here is my letter to my one year old son on our magical journey through our first year as a 3 person family...

Oliver, My Dearest Treasured Gift From God,

 The day you came into my life was a magical one, I had no idea what I was in for, however I loved you before I even met you my son. You were the most precious living creature I had ever laid eyes on even though you came out purple (that freaked out your dad a little). I was in awe of you from the moment I looked into your eyes. The first night was surreal...after being in labor all day and then coming home in the middle of the night we were all exhausted. I couldn't believe I was a mother and you were really here with us. We didn't plan on you sleeping in the bed with us...but it was the most natural thing for me to do and so I did what felt right, and you sir were in our bed snuggled up with mommy from day one. I also had a bumpy road trying to breastfeed you...you did not want to latch lazy boy. You came out of the womb so calm and chill. So mommy had to get lots of support in order to get you on your way to become a super sucker :) . I remember the first month all you did was nurse. I felt like such a useless couch potato at times...since all I was doing was sitting/laying with you and nursing you. I had to remind my self constantly that I am sustaining life with my body...and that in itself is a SUPER POWER. I remember that the first 3 months you wanted to be held always. I wore you in a wrap most of the time just like I do now at a year. I had a terrible fear that I would never be able to put you down...that I would have to hold you forever, but that changed after 3 months.  You slowly were gaining your independence.  I also started to go back to Crossfit and you came with us and loved it there. You slept through all the noise and loved all the attention from the coaches and athletes. You were the center of attention everywhere.We also started to exclusively cloth diaper you on your 3 month birthday as well, which was my goal from the beginning since your mamma is kind of a hippie go-green kind of gal. I just remember that I could stare at you for hours and your little extremities and features always took my breath away. I don't know how you managed but every day you seemed to be getting cuter and cuter. Your smiles melted my heart and every little sound you made turned me into mush...by the way most of the sounds you made sounded like dinosaur sounds lol, You had many experiences with us. I took you out wrapped up in a baby wrap from the start.

After 3 months you didn't like driving in the car, so I couldn't take you many places unless someone drove with us. It was the only thing that you did that drove me a little crazy...You didn't like the stroller either. There were many times I had to carry you back on our walks. Your personality started to really shine at around 4 months...you became so much more interactive with us. You started to play with toys and recognize us so much more. At five months you loved sitting in the bouncy chair and started to sit very well by yourself. I started spending more time with you outdoors as well. You loved sitting outside in the fresh air looking at the trees, birds and our dog Zippo at the time. At six months you loved being in the jumping chair we hung from the door frame...you would bounce for quite a while there. We also started to introduce solids to you at this point and bought you your first high chair from Ikea. We started you out with egg yolks, avocado and bananas...and slowly tried different fruits and veggies with you. You even were chewing on kale. You had your first Halloween, we dressed you up as a baby dragon at the birth center and were seduced by a cute little bumble bee named Isabella. At the end of your sixth month your bottom two teeth emerged. Thanks to the amber necklace you have on 24/7 momma didn't know until I decided to rub your gums and I felt the first one. We also started to put you in the nursery during church services at Calvary Chapel Hollywood so that daddy and I could pay more attention and you could play with the other babies. You did well even though daddy and I were a nervous wreck leaving you. Month seven was lively, you were eating more and growing so quickly. You had your first Thanksgiving and were munching on a whole turkey leg followed by a bowl full of whipped cream thanks to babicka. We also found out that you LOVE LOVE LOVE oranges. I took you to vote for the 2012 presidential election, you stood in line with me and then one of the poll workers watched you while I filled out my ballot ( I did not vote for Obama, just saying in case you were curious). After voting we went to eat sushi and of course you couldn't eat sushi at 7 months...so I gave you some veggies to play with and a piece of orange on my plate as decoration ..and that was it...your addiction began. Still today you love your oranges.

Month eighth was a biggy, you became mobile. You started to crawl on my birthday and boy were you happy to be on the move. You celebrated your first Christmas, and we bought you some WOD Toys. These were the only plastic toys I approved of...lol  I only wanted natural toys for you. Most of your toys were wood. The idea was for you to use your imagination and become a thinker with out all the excess stimuli from the electronic toys. Your daddy and I took you to take pictures with Santa at Bass Pro Shops...you were a good boy and started exploring Santa's beard. We also got a new member of our family, Toby a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog puppy. At this point you were standing pretty well with the assistance of furniture and other large stable objects. You  also had your two top teeth come through at this point. Month nine you became quite the independent explorer...and mess maker. You began ripping and eating paper, chewing on books and cardboard, and your meals were now much messier. I started to give you many different food using baby led weaning. Good thing we had dogs to clean up your scraps from the floor. Unfortunately we lost one... We had to put Zippo down due to cancer even thought you loved him so much. Month ten was great. You started to do your morning poops and pees in the potty. You love sitting on the potty as long as I entertain you with all the wonders of the bathroom (hair rollers, brushes, bottles...). You also started climbing stairs like crazy at the park...totally on your own. The bottom right incisor came through too, then the two top ones followed. Month eleven was crazy. You started to get into everything...all the cabinets, draws...everything. Keeping me busy all day long. Took you to your first petting zoo, you go crazy for animals of all shorts. The last incisor on the bottom popped threw. You are standing strong and ready to walk soon. You walk with a walker and can stand by yourself. You have a great squat from a Crossfit perspective lol. You are eating everything in sight including dirt and anything else you can get your hands on.  I have been letting you get dirty and muddy a lot lately...keeping you naked more too so I don't have to do so much laundry. You are addicted to blueberries, egg yolks and oranges at this point in time, but you eat almost everything with a preference for meats. I can't get you to eat the egg whites...tried omelet style, scramble and plain... and you will not touch it. You are so funny and your personality is great. You have a little bit of a temper when things don't go your way. You point everywhere and say "deh" at everything. You are so smart and can identify a lot of things already. We never gave you a bottle which was my goal and I am so happy with the bond we have on our journey in breastfeeding. You are quite fond of my boobies and as embarrassing as this might be when you get older, you love playing with my nipples (as do most breastfed babies, so it is not a weird thing, it is actually instinctual). You say mama but I think you are referring to my boobs. If you even see them in sight you jump on them like a zombie on fresh flesh. You sleep well and still with us in the bed. You love the out doors, you want to be out all the time. You are completely covered in bug bites and that doesn't stop you. You make every morning worth waking up to. You are the joy of my life and even the hardest craziest day with you is worth it because you are in my life. You have many friends and life is good.

I pray for many years that I can spend with you and watch you grow. I love you so very much and want you to know that what ever I do as a mom I am doing to the best of my ability, knowledge and an abundance of love and sacrifice. No parent is perfect and by no means am I...but I want you to know that I am trying my very best to be the mother you deserve. I apologize for not understanding your every need. You are quite mischievous at times and require some discipline, just know it is for your own good so you don't hurt yourself or others.


Loving you Unconditionally Now and Forever, Your Maminka

When will I stop Breastfeeding Oliver?

It is funny how the first question out of most people's mouth when they know you are breastfeeding is " How long do you plan on doing that?"... My sarcastic side wants to shout out "FOREVER" or " Until he goes to College", none the less it is an annoying and ignorant question to ask a breastfeeding mom...

     I want to begin by giving a little background on my decision of breastfeeding and the bumpy road we had in the beginning...

      Well first off I understand my role as a woman as in that I have parts that make me able to carry and feed a baby, so therefore naturally and logically breastfeeding was what made sense to me. God created me to, so therefore I will. My mother breastfed me. I gave birth naturally with a mid-wife and it was clearly told to me that breast is best for my baby. Breast milk can not be manufactured and sold because it is a complex substance with living organisms. It contains everything your baby needs and changes with the needs of your baby. Reading study after study there was absolutely no doubt that I would exclusively breastfeed my baby. The ingredients in formulas, even organic ones disgusted me. So my choice was clear! The next question was how long would I breastfeed?

Ok so my mom breastfed me for 4-6 months...details and facts on this matter are a bit vague. So I figured before Oliver came that I too would breastfeed for around 6 months... and then I took pre-natal courses at the birth center with a lactation consultant and I realized it was better to breastfeed for longer so I bumped up my goal to one year being sufficient enough...

Well once Oliver was born things were tough...he didn't want to latch on, he was a lazy latcher and my nipples were a little short on top of that... so this was our first bump in the road! If it was not from the amazing support I received postpartum from the midwives I probably would have quit on the spot... My doula/lactation consultant from the birth center was at my house the following day and brought me a nipple shield. If you were like me and had no idea what a nipple shield was... it is a device that looks like a condom for your nipple. It extends further out than your natural nipple to give the baby more substance to latch on to. You use it until their suction is strong enough to nurse without it. With the shield we were good to go and I used that for about 2 months. Pain is also a deterrent. Yes there is pain! However it is usually from poor latching so if you fix the latch the pain goes away and stays away... Also in the beginning the baby is on your boobs pretty much 24/7 and this is what I believe the number one reason most women don't want to breastfeed... they want a break or some freedom. Well I have accepted and embraced my role as a mommy and I can honestly say that I don't want or need a break! I love my little Oliver. You have to learn to be very selfless in the beginning. I had issues with feeling non productive because I was sitting all day with a baby on me watching TV and browsing the WEB. I had to constantly remind myself that I am sustaining a live baby and that is VERY productive!

Well since I had lots of time in the beginning stages of breastfeeding I joined a couple groups on Facebook that offered me tremendous support. Two of the most helpful  groups were Respect the Breast and The Badass Breastfeeder.  I think I read every single post while breastfeeding and learned so much from other breastfeeding mothers. What I learned most was that breastfeeding was not only about nutrition but a bond between mother and baby...

This is when I decided that I will not stop breastfeeding at one...so when? That will be when Oliver and I are ready, could be one, two, three or more years... So this is where the ignorance of others shows up when I hear, "When they can ask for it, they are too old for it!".  Well Oliver has been asking for it since day one (vocally)! The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends that you breastfeed exclusively (NOTHING ELSE) for the first 6 months and then continue to breastfeed until at least 2 years. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months of life. This means your baby needs no additional foods (except Vitamin D) or fluids unless medically indicated. Babies should continue to breastfeed for a year and for as long as is mutually desired by the mother and baby. Breastfeeding should be supported by your physician for as long as it is the right choice for you and your baby. (http://www2.aap.org/breastfeeding/faqsbreastfeeding.html)

The other thing people don't realize is the bond that a mother has with her breastfeeding baby. This bond is one that you can not understand unless you are in it... I didn't understand it until now. You can not just cut it off cold turkey at a magic number of months or years. It is like snuggling with your child... you don't give an age limit to that, they just grow out of it. Cutting breastfeeding cold turkey is just COLD and heartless, it does have an affect on them emotionally. It is call weaning a child for a reason... and weaning is what I plan on doing. Obviously as Oliver begins to eat more solid food he will need less breastmilk to the point where it will just be a comfort session. Even though the nutrition benefits will ALWAYS be beneficial for him and his immunity.

Another thing to consider is that the weaning age varies from country to country where you have some cultures that wean around 7 years. If that seems odd to you again check your ignorance level on the topic. Don't judge mothers negatively, when they are doing the BEST for their children. Instead encourage mothers that choose to breastfeed! They are sacrificing not only their bodies but their lifestyle too.

Here are a few links that will help you understand why I am choosing to breastfeed Oliver full term (2-4 years):

- Kelly Mom on Breastfeeding Toddlers

- La Leche League on Breastfeeding Toddlers

- Myths about Breastfeeding a Toddler

- 10 Reasons to Breastfeed a Toddler

- How to Handle the Criticism of Breastfeeding a Toddler

-  6 Month Commitment/ The Virgin Gut