Yes, my hair is pointy and blonde...again!

Planning for the festival...

On my list of what I want to purchase at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival this coming weekend....=

05 Fiber Optics$23.00
‘Fly Me To The Moon’

 

A20 Verdant Gryphon
$25
Moss Man Eidos

 

 

Miss Babs

2-Ply Toes  ‘Babette’
‘Into The Void’  

 

 

 

Pretty Baby...

Getting things done on my list...

Dog Day Afternoon...

Girls...

Our last day visiting Lauren and Mila in CT...

Plethora of pics from our trip...

Planning meals...

Planning on making this for breakfast tomorrow:

Food Journal...

WATER: ********

Daily Food Journal: 4/7/14

Breakfast
coffee w/ sf creamer
Protein Smoothie

SLEPT ALL DAY

3PM Snack
Protein Smoothie
Banana
peanut butter

Supper
2 Baked Chicken Drumsticks
½ C. Broccoli

Snack
Protein Bar
coffee w/ sf creamer
-------------------------------

WATER: ********

Daily Food Journal: 4/8/14

Breakfast
coffee w/ sf creamer
2 poached eggs
1 slice dry toast

Snack
coffee w/ sf creamer

Lunch
2 bean and Cheese Burritos
on spinach wraps w/ salsa
Banana

Snack
protein bar

Supper
WAWA:
Salad w/ chicken
FF Honey Dijon dressing
coffee w/ sf creamer
_______________________

WATER: ********

Daily Food Journal: 4/9/14

Breakfast
coffee w/ sf creamer
2 poached eggs
1 slice dry toast

Snack
Banana
2 T. peanut butter

Lunch
2 Baked Chicken Drumsticks
coffee w/ sf creamer

Supper
(36 g protein)
2 Hard Tacos/1 Soft Taco
(lettuce, tomatoes, cheese)

Snack
Protein Smoothie
__________________

Dehydrating Class...

WOW! I really learned so much about Dehydrating foods from Lanette Lepper last night. I already own a dehydrator, so now's my chance to really see what it can do!

I can't wait for the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market Auctions to begin, so I can purchase fruits and veggies in bulk to dehydrate now. Hoping to plant plenty of herbs for homemade teas this year too.

FYI: You can view my "Dehydrate" Board on Pinterest...
lots of cool stuff pinned!!!

Here's just a 'few' things you can dehydrate....

 

Reference: http://www.housingaforest.com/healthy-dehydrated-fruit/

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Dehydrated Strawberries:

Wash the fruit and remove the steams.  

Use and egg slicer to make thin slices and

simply lay them on the dehydrator trays.  

No lemon juice or sugar needed.

They are great by themselves or as a topper for granola.

 

Dehydrated Kiwi:

Wash the kiwi and peel off the skin. Using a mandolin or knife, make thin even slices.  Arrange slices on dehydrator trays.  Again no special treatment, just ripe tasty fruit!  My kids think that they taste just like sour patch kids!  Love it!

Dehydrated Apples:

Wash your apples and run them through an apple-corer-peeler-slicer (if you don’t have one, then simple peel by hand, core and slice by hand).  Our family loves the tartness of granny smith apples.  Soak the apples in lemon juice to prevent them from browning.

We also enjoy…

• Sweet Cinnamon Apple Slices ~  Place apple slices in 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of agave nectar or honey.  Arrange the slices on the dehydrator trays and sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon.
• Cinnamon Sugar Apple Slices ~  Place apple slices in lemon juice and arrange on dehydrator trays.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

 

Dehydrated Bananas: 

Peel the banana and cut into thick slices.  I usually get about 18-20 slices out of each banana.  Soak bananas in 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1 Tablespoon of agave nectar or honey.  Arrange slices on the dehydrator trays.  These will not be crisp like the ones in the store, but they taste SO much better.

 

Dehydrated Oranges: 

Peel oranges and thinly slice with a mandolin or knife.

Arrange slices on dehydrator trays.  

You may be surprised by how delightful dehydrated

 oranges taste.  They also make great Christmas decorations.

Drying time will depend on how thick you slice your fruit and if you have added agave nectar or honey.  Generally most fruit will take up to 8 hours.  I often start my dehydrator in the evening and let it run all night.  The fruit is dry when you cut it open and there is no moisture inside.  Remove the fruit from the tray and let cool before storing.  I store my dried fruit in glass mason jars.  It is best to buy fruit at its peak season and make sure to only use ripe fruit.
 

 

 

These healthy dehydrated snacks are perfect for camping, going to the beach, long car rides, throwing in your purse, on top of granola and just about anywhere else.  I love that there are no messy, drippy, sticky fingers or faces to wash and that my kids are snacking on healthy treats with no preservatives.

 

jumparoo...

Mila jumparooed herself to sleep....

Socks are done!

Food Journal...

My late night snack was a big no-no. And even though I ate 3 oz. of the Plaza Azteca steak Sunday night...that was too much meat for the day and I had a hernia episode that night. ouch!

WATER: ********

Daily Food Journal: 4/5/14

Breakfast
Protein Smoothie

Snack
Protein bar

Lunch
cut up veggies w/ hummus
Carrots, Celery, Cucumber
3 slices Colby cheese, almonds

Snack
Banana

Supper
3 oz. chicken bites
1 slice pizza

Late night (1:30am) Snack-OOPS!
2 slices Pizza
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

WATER: ********

Daily Food Journal: 4/6/14

Breakfast
Cantaloupe chunks
Banana
Grande Coffee w/ half-n-half

Lunch
Ruby Tuesdays:
Burger (no bun) w/ avocado, onions, bacon, and swiss cheese
Small Salad w/ balsamic vinegar

Supper
Plaza Azteca Mexican:
Steak 3oz. w/ chorizo
refried beans w/ cheese
lettuce, tomato
5 tortilla chips w/ salsa

Snack
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

EEG...

Cameron had his EEG yesterday. Waiting until next week to find out how his brain is and if he is prone to any seizures, Hoping for the BEST!

VITAMIX!!!!........

Carson's weekend...

So, Miss Carson is getting ready to leave w/ her friend, Christa for the weekend to Kings Dominion. Won't be home until Sunday night. She is so excited and James gave her some spending money, since Christa's Mom has passes and is paying for everything else.

World Market Finds...

 Ramekins and cocktail spoons for after surgery. Popsicle maker to make my own natural, sugar free Popsicles. Sugar Free Torani syrup for special occasions (small bottle).

Food Journal...

(Approx. 8 cups water daily)

Daily Food Journal: 3/29/14

BreakfastProtein Smoothie
2-Coffee w/ SF Creamer

SnackProtein Bar

LunchOOPS!
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

Snack1 small banana
2 T. peanut butter

SupperSteak Salad
Hummus

SnackProtein Bar
---------------------

Daily Food Journal: 3/30/14

BreakfastBanana/Strawberries
1/3 c. Raisin Bran
1/3 c. Greek Yogurt
1 scoop PB2 Powder
Stevia, Cinnamon
2-Coffee w/ SF Creamer

SnackProtein Bar

LunchSteak Salad w/
Cherry peppers

Snack2- Protein Bites
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

SupperChicken Soup:
1 drumstick
cx broth w/ garlic
green beans
peppers & onions

SnackFruit Cup
Hot Tea w/ Agave

------------------

Daily Food Journal: 3/31/14

Breakfast Protein Smoothie
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

Snack
None

LunchRaisin Bran
Almond Milk

SnackBanana w/ peanut butter

SupperPower Steak Wrap
Iced Tea

Snack2- Protein Bites
Coffee w/ SF Creamer
---------------------------------

Daily Food Journal: 4/1/14

Breakfast2- Coffee w/ SF Creamer
2 poached eggs
1 slice toast

Snacknone

LunchSLEPT!

SnackProtein Bar

Supper2- Burrito Supremes (no sour cream)
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

Snack
Protein Smoothie
-----------------------------

Daily Food Journal: 4/2/14

Breakfast2- Coffee w/ SF Creamer
2 poached eggs
1 slice toast

SnackProtein Bar

LunchProtein Smoothie

SnackAlmonds
½ banana

SupperChicken
small sweet potato w/ butter
green beans
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

Snack
PB and banana
Protein bite
----------------------
Daily Food Journal: 4/3/14

Breakfast
½ Egg, sausage, cheese muffin
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

Snack
Pistachios
Protein Smoothie

LunchSalad w/chicken, cheese, hummus

Snackenergy bite
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

SupperBig Burger (no Bun)
mustard, 1 slice Colby jack
baked beans

SnackProtein Bar
---------------------

Daily Food Journal: 4/4/14

Breakfast
Starbucks Protein Box
Grande Coffee w/ half-n-half

SnackPistachios

Lunch
Simple Chicken Salad

Snack
Protein Smoothie
Coffee w/ SF Creamer

SupperCream of Wheat w/ butter, almond milk, honey

==========================================

almost done....

Throw Back Thursday (yesterday)...

#TBT- The Cutie Pies: Carson and Cameron (First Day of School 2006).

Porter's Progress...

For those keeping up with Porter's Progess:

 

Porter's appetite has increased greatly!

We are all so very excited, because this is what his Doctor

and our family have been working on since he was a baby!

He's almost 10 years old now and finally LOVES to eat!

Yea!!!

And now that we have only healthy food

in our house it's a win-win situation!

 

— feeling excited.

Old layouts of Porter...

April is National Autism Awareness Month...

 

March 30th...

At Liz's, having fruit, tea, knitting, and ready to watch Episode 3: 'Call the Midwife'

FitBit...

Got my FitBit Flex today (3/29/2014)!
@fitbit @FitbitSupport http://t.co/CIAwrhrmxL

Stoked...

Talked with James. His plans for while I am visiting Lauren in CT. are as follows:

1. Dry wall big hole in ceiling (that has been there for a number of years now).
2. Dry wall behind garage sink and hook up water (for yarn dyeing use).
3. Good Will/CHKD Thrift tons of stuff still in garage.
4. Clean out garage Freezer...in prep for stocking.
5. Till soil, compost it, prep, and organize Garden for... when I get back, so I can plant freely!

I AM TOTALLY STOKED!!!!!!

OK, so the stairs, walls and doors still need painting and our upstairs floors need to be re-done and a few more items need to be tended to....but I can always work on those slowly over spring/summer and James can do some of that as time permits here and there. So it's all good. — feeling blessed.