And So It Begins!

Photo Credit

I have been absent for a while now and mostly because I have been trying to figure out what direction to take this blog in next.  I have been stuck in a rut with it mainly because I just haven't had any motivation to write anything.  Well, now I have decided to venture on a journey that will never end and I need your help! I have at last concluded that I need to head in the direction of a non-dairy, vegetable based possibly gluten-free diet!{AAAAAHHHHHH!} There, I said it! You probably can't tell but, I am totally shaking in my boots right now. I have had said "adventures" in the past and they haven't worked out like I planned:( I really believe that you are what you eat.  Our bodies are always regenerating and if we ingest mostly junk, then that is all our bodies have to work with. Therefore that is what we become physically...I know, I know I don't like it either! I want to be able to eat whatever I want when I want it and feel awesome!  Too bad I don't have a magic wand.

Photo Credit

So, here is my dilemma.  The way I think about health is {I am pretty sure} a lot different than most people. I don't like to eat any kind of oil. This is largely because my Dad is a health guru and has a genetic heart condition that I could inherit one day...scary huh?!  Any kind of fat, I am turned off to, again it's largely due to family history and what my Dad has taught me.  !~BUT~! I believe in moderation!  I still need to fit into society!  I also don't think honey is healthy because of the sugar content.  I think that Agave Nectar and truvia are great substitutes.  And lastly, salt and sodium....what can I say they are enemy!!!!  Just kidding but, not really......

Photo Credit

Here is the difficult part.  I need to be able to do this and not fail at it.  This is what I have to work with, I. LOVE. SWEETS! And so does my husband.  My kids are young enough where they have no idea what is going on, good thing,( I have a 21month old and a 9 month old). Which brings me to another point...FOOD is the LAST thing on my mind with two HIGH maintenance toddlers running around! I am exhausted ALL. THE. TIME!  But, if I eat better, exercise and get plenty of rest that should help right?  It better...
Did I mention we are also in school{Dental} so my funds are limited?
Well, that about sums it up!

Photo Credit

I am opening an official "HELP ME!" on this.  I need healthy recipes {preferably crockpot, freezer, or done-in-30-minutes or less}.   Tips and tricks would be most helpful{ like where to shop, how to shop, food substitutions, lunch ideas for kids, blogs to read( I will totally follow you if you have a blog!)

I Love this story and picture! Can't stop looking at it! Click here for the story:)

I know this is all of a sudden, but I am asking for your help....from one mom {or dad or person} to another. I hope in return I can add some value to your life.  Thanks for reading!!!!!

Have a Wealth of Health Day! Or Night:)

Photo Credit

Yummy Fresh Balsamic Vinegar Pizza and Dessert

For all you pizza lovers out there who want to try something new, fun and HEALTHIER than your average take out or dine in pizza.  It's yummy too!

I combined some recipes so to get my desired product so this recipe is totally customizable!(Spell check says this isn't a word...is it? Maybe I spelled it wrong:)

I didn't take a picture of it, but it looked something like this....

photo credit

But, for my recipe I made a whole wheat crust.

Here we go:

First of all, consider how many pizzas you are going to make.  I just wanted to do one and I found out the hard way that the recipe will make more than that.  The hubs and I could only eat one piece...it was that thick:) So, just make sure!  Or if you are like me and an impatient cook(meaning, I don't wait for the dough to rise and it turned out just fine:), you can always just buy a ready made crust or rely on Pillsbury for your basic pizza crust needs.

Here is the recipe just in case you want to make it yourself:

1 of 60 Photos

Amazing Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

By: Marla 

"A healthy whole wheat crust that comes out soft and chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Use with your favorite pizza toppings or pizza recipes."

 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (587)

Prep Time:
25 Min

Cook Time:
20 Min

Ready In:
2 Hrs 45 Min

Servings  (Help)

USMetricCalculate

Original Recipe Yield 10 servings

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C){I didn't check the temp on my water}
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour{I substituted whole wheat here, didn't use all-purpose}

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle yeast over the top, and let stand for about 10 minutes, until foamy.
2. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour and 1 cup of the all-purpose flour until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining all-purpose flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 10 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover loosely with a towel, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. {I told you I am impatient and so I didn't wait an hour, it was more like 10 minutes. Still yummy!}
3. When the dough is doubled, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 pieces for 2 thin crust, or leave whole to make one thick crust. Form into a tight ball. Let rise for about 45 minutes, until doubled.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any further. Then, drape it over both of your fists, and gently pull the edges outward, while rotating the crust.{I just greased my pan, slapped it on there and mushed it to the sides, no extra work...I am not a restaurant.  I am good if I get dinner on the table} When the circle has reached the desired size, place on a well oiled pizza pan. {you need to pre bake the crust until its brown around the edges, don't put any toppings on it yet}
5. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes (depending on thickness) in the preheated oven, until the crust is crisp and golden at the edges, and cheese is melted on the top.

~The next step is where the creativity comes in! While the pizza dough is cooking, make a balsamic glaze for the sauce{ Combine 1 cup of balsamic vinegar and 2 Tbs of brown sugar in a sauce pan until it reduces to about a 1/2-1/4 cup}.
~1While both of those are cooking, chop your veggies and grate the cheese. I used onions, tomatoes and lettuce(don't use iceberg!).
~When the glaze and dough are finnished spread your most of your glaze{not all of it, you may want to save some to drizzle on top or your pizza or for dessert...}, on your crust. After the glaze is spread, sprinkle your onions and cheese on it{I used mozzerella but you can use whatever you would like....goat cheese would be interesting, don't you think?} Stick it back in the oven on broil to melt the cheese.
~When the cheese is melted, take it out of the oven and immediately sprinkle your fresh veggies on top! Cut and enjoy!

I drizzled more balsamic glaze on top of my pizza PLUS, for dessert I cut up a nectarine and ate it with that.  It was DIVINE!  Another dessert idea would be to have some kind of vanilla ice cream or whipped topping with fresh fruit, and drizzle the glaze on it. YUMO!

Thanks for stopping by and I would LOVE to know how your creations turned out.  Gonna need some new ideas:)

Mirror Re-purposed

Have I mentioned that I LOVE to decorate?  Well, I DO! But, I not only LOVE to decorate...I LOVE to create it! See, I cant't{and won't} afford to buy  nice, new furniture, shelves flowers, plants, baskets etc. I mean I COULD wait until we move into a house{in 4 years} OR I could just get creative! And to be honest...I would rather make it than pay full price.

So, it turns out that being a Dental School wife brings out some hidden talents{snicker}.  So, I decided to share my creative side with you all:)  This is  thrown together "Before and After."

Here we go:

Just about every weekend my husband and I hit the garage sales. And a few weekends ago, we found this AWESOME mirror for only !$5!{I KNOW! I know....you can find some GREAT stuff}.
The mirror looked something like the top of this dresser:

Photo Credit

It is a little different...the mirror was about the same size but, it was detached from the dresser and there is an embellishment on the top{between the mirror and the frame, you will see what I mean later}.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it, but !$5?! I could NOT pass it up!  But, I soon came across how I wanted it to turn out {at least color wise} It's illustrated in this picture:

Obviously the wood is different but, I liked this idea:)

                                                                           Photo Credit

So here comes the best part..THE REVEAL!  I am pretty stoked about it, what do you think?

So  this is what I did:

I spray painted the frame metallic gold, then painted over it with black{with different directions with the brush for texture and some dry brushing techniques}

Plus, i distressed the paint{not the wood, I scraped off some black after I painted it} by the embellishment.

Overall it was really fun!

Thanks for looking!

Organize That Dang Purse!

Is this how you react to the inside of your purse?

Here are some suggestions on a few purse organizers. Some are homemade and others you can just buy:)

Homemade

Just click here to see the tutorial

Click the here to see tutorial

Click the here to see tutorial

Just Buy It!

Click it! They'll Accept it!

I'm thinking I want this one:) Click it!

Hope this helps!

Have a Healthy Day!

PS- I am not an affiliate with these products....

Homemade/Natural Baby Wipes!{Money Saver}

"How Do YOU Like Your Bum Wiped?"

Hello Everyone! {Yes, these pictures are of my adorable kids!}

So, how many of you buy wipes in bulk or on sale just to save a $1 or two?  Ummmmm....ME! Then, I came across a recipe for homemade baby wipes! YES! Save money! Plus, they don't have the chemicals in them that can cause irritation and what not.  So, if your child suffers from diaper rashes or the like, this may help!!!!

I got this recipe from the book "The Melaleuca Wellness Guide."{LOVE IT!} Look for it here.

"I like my bum wiped naturally"

All you need is:

 ~Water

~Paper towels{it's better if you use Viva or Bounty because they are stronger, or some people use reusable ones  out of material like flannel, I personally am going to stick with disposable but, it's up to you}

~Some kind of container{I have seen people reuse old baby wipe containers to ice cream buckets, whatever you have lying around will do. Use what you already have!}

~Children's Shampoo or Bodywash{be careful what kind! Some of the ingredients are very harmful!  Look for "Quaternium 15" or “Q-15” which is formaldehyde or for other harmful ingredients that are found in children's bath products refer to this article) I will use Koala Pals Hair Wash. This product is from my favorite chemical-free/kid safe store.

~Baby Oil{again, be careful of the ingredients!}

~Tea Tree Oil{optional}, this helps if your wipes mold in your container.

How to:

There are a couple ways to prepare the paper towels to become wipes.  Of course this would probably depend on your container:)

#1: You can cut the paper towels in half once, so then you double your quantity of  wipes

#2: Cut the paper towels in half then in half again the other way so they lay flat.
{side note: don't remove the cardboard yet, trust me it will come out later}

To prepare the solution:

Once you cut the paper towels how you want them stick half of them in a container with a lid.
Add 2 cups of water, 1-2 tablespoons of children's shampoo or body wash and 2 tablespoons of baby oil. If you encounter mold add Tea Tree Oil. Now, cover and let them soak for 10 minutes{still don't remove the cardboard}.  Once they are soaked through, now pull the cardboard from the center and pull the wipes from the center and rip off. Easy Peasy!!!!

{Side Note: If you cut your paper towels in half the two different ways, then the cardboard will come off before you soak them}

"When my bottom is happy, I am happy!"

"YAY for happy bottoms!"

Have
    A
Healthy   Day!

Beautiful Wall Art Made From Toilet Paper Rolls, Recycled Books and Poster Board!

I LOVE Sunburst Mirrors! Up until now I thought I just couldn't afford them....but now that I know I can make them out of TOILET PAPER ROLLS or CEREAL BOXES, I am SO making one!!!! Aren't these people so creative?!!!  Click on the the pictures and they will take you to the blog I stole it from and their tutorial:)

Toilet Paper Rolls RULE!




This Starburst Mirror was made from POSTER BOARD! NO KIDDING!




Book Pages!  Books at Goodwill cost 99 cents! BOO YA!




Recycled Book Pages Again...BEAUTIFUL!!  I can't wait to make one!  You can even paint them! How cool is that?




Can you tell I am excited about these?  Did I put enough capitals and exclamation points?

May Toy Recalls

• UJ Trading Recalls Knight Hawk Toy Helicopters Due to Fire Hazard
• G.A. Gertmenian and Sons Recalls Toy Story 3 Bowling Game Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

April Toy Recalls

• Infantino Recalls Toy Activity Trucks Due to Choking Hazard
• Kid O Products Recalls Wooden Puzzles Due to Choking Hazard
• Manhattan Group Recalls Parents Wooden Activity Toys Due to Choking Hazard

Not too many! Hope This is Helpful!

Have A Healthy Day:)

May Household Recalls

• Telstar Recalls Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Due to Fire Hazard
• Sheet Sanders Recalled by One World Technologies Due to Laceration Hazard
• Tween Brands Recalls Beaded Curtains Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation; Sold Exclusively at Justice Stores

April Household Recalls

• 
  
• Heartland America Recalls Wooden Stools Due to Fall Hazard
• June Deadline Set for End to Globe Fire Sprinkler Model J Sprinkler Recall; Property Owners Should Act Now To Request Replacement of Sprinkler Heads
• Aquarium Heaters Recalled by United Pet Group Due to Fire and Laceration Hazards
• Pacific Trade International Recalls Candles Due to Fire and Burn Hazard
• ADP Recalls to Repair Unit Heaters Due to Fire Hazard
• Lennox Industries Recalls to Repair Garage Heaters Due to Fire Hazard
• Redken 5th Avenue NYC Recalls Guts Spray Mousse Foam Due to Risk of Rupture
• Stained Glass Soldering Irons Recalled By Cooper Tools Due to Burn Hazard
• Williams-Sonoma Recalls Hot Chocolate Pots Due To Burn and Laceration Hazards

WOW! Kind of  a lot here:(

Have a Healthy Day!

May Child Recalls

• Additional Fingertip Amputations and Lacerations Prompt Reannouncement of November 2009 Recall of Strollers by Maclaren USA
• Meijer Recalls Infant Slipper Socks Due to Choking Hazard
• CPSC Alert: Consumers Urged To Stop Using phil&teds USA Clip-on Chairs Due To Serious Dangers Posed To Children
• Dorel Asia Recalls to Repair Bunk Beds Due to Collapse and Fall Hazards
• Sandbox Medical, LLC Recalls Pacifier Clip Due to Choking Hazard
• Tween Brands Recalls Beaded Curtains Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation; Sold Exclusively at Justice Stores
• Girl's Hooded Sweater Recalled by El Gringo Imports Due to Strangulation Hazard

April Child Products Recalls

• 
  
• Cribs Recalled by ducduc Due to Fall and Entrapment Hazards
• Children's Scooters Recalled by Kiddieland Due to Laceration Hazard
• Disney Princess Plastic Trikes Recalled by Kiddieland Due to Laceration Hazard
• Wrist Rattles and Baby Booties Recalled by Midwest-CBK Due to Choking Hazard
• Girl's Clothing Recalled by My Michelle Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
• Fashionviews Inc. Recalls P.Jamas Children's Sleepwear Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard
• Pampers® Natural Stages Pacifiers Recalled by Key Baby Due to Choking Hazard
• Arm's Reach Concepts Recalls Infant Bed-Side Sleepers Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

{Source}

Whoo....a little too much for me....

Have a Healthy Day!

For The Sake Of A Laugh...

Yes, this is my adorable daughter:) When she was about 9 months, now she is 16 months!

Ok, you have to check out this blog post! It is pretty funny:)  It's pregnant belly art and.....I really don't know what to say, you just have to check it out...

(Warning: there are a couple ladies in bikinis)

http://swankybaby.net/2011/05/pregnancy-belly-art.html?showComment=1305423755267#c7016730992992738170

Is Your Home Healthy?

    Forgive me as I personify where I live:)  I know I have been driving home{pardon the pun}the existence of chemicals in our homes and our lives. Well, I have become a believer! TRUST ME, I wasn't before! I didn't think it mattered...at least not to the extent I had heard on the news and what not.  The news always blows things out of proportion right?
Here is my conclusion thus far, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!! I didn't expect it too! Especially if you convert your home{I am doing it slowly}to being more chemical free.

 I am also a HUGE fan of the medical field and scientific research and more and more studies are showing the harmful effects of chemicals on our children, spouses, pets, granparents, parents etc. And not just small things we are talking Alzheimers, Asthma, Leukemia, Brain Cancer{I know...everything causes cancer}, mental retardation and many more.

Now, I know you are asking yourself, "All that from chemicals? I want to see proof!" Don't blame ya! I thought overly protective parents and environmentalists{have you ever noticed the word"mental" in that word?Just sayin'}went around barking about it! Well, now I have joined the club:){Guess you could say I am "mental" too:} I don't think I could ever go back to the cleaners I used to use!


Since you and I are like minded, let me direct you to some references:{disclaimer: some of the links on these pages don't work...sorry, but what does is GREAT info!} Here, Here, Here, oh and Here, hmmm...Here, Then Here.  Wait one more! HERE!

These resources have really opened my eye about living chemical free...or at least trying! Hope this was insightful!

Have A Healthy Day!

Trying To Get Paint Out Of A Carpet? Look No Further!

Can you believe it?  I actually found a natural and chemical-free product that gets paint out of carpet and marker(permanent and RED!) out of white shirts! True Story! The product is called Sol-U-Mel. It's from my favorite Eco-Friendly Store Want proof and not just from me?  Here it is: My Sister-in-Law(love her!) spilled some paint in one of her rooms in her house and tried EVERYTHING to get it up and nothing worked!

She said,"The paint was brown...and white...or who knows maybe it was red, it has been there for years I don't know!!! The white paint was my doing about 3 weeks ago and IT'S ALL GONE!"--via Facebook

Convinced yet? Obviously the best way to know if this works is to try it yourself! Go to this website to learn more!  If you are interested in buying, PLEASE let me know! 


Have a Healthy Day!