My little fairy princess is not as innocent as she looks. Just like the "real" Tinkerbell ("real" as in the one depicted in storybooks, on stage and in the classic cartoon flick), she is always up to something.
You have no idea how difficult it was to snap these pics of her in this cute Tinkerbell costume. She kept hopping up out of her seat and running around her room, pulling out everything in/out of sight like a tiny tornado (From what I understand, her father grew up doing the same thing; no wonder Jacob did and still does it, too. I just can't keep up sometimes).
At least I did get some photos of Hayden in her costume for my site, as Jacob (who is going to be the black Spiderman with muscles) was camera-shy, as usual. Hopefully, I'll be able to take a few of them together on Halloween night.
I had planned on bringing my camera to Hayden's Halloween party at story time yesterday (the parade of toddlers and babies in their costumes was so adorable), but accidentally forgot it. Please someone remind me to charge it and have it ready for the big night.
I remembered the camera when we went to the pumpkin patch last weekend. I got some pics of the costume and decoration display (you can imagine the image of Hayden next to the two-headed baby; it's a tad bit disturbing), us on the hayride, Jacob going down the drainpipe slide and this sweet pic of Hayden standing by the height chart (she really is a shorty, like her mommy, who was standing by her side).
Then, you guessed it; my camera ran out of "juice." My sister's camera was also "dead," so the rest of the excursion was captured on my brother-in-law's camera phone.
Maybe he wouldn't mind sending us some copies of our trek through the same corn maze we got lost in last year (it was dark last time, and we needed flashlights to find our way), the kids jumping in the sandbox-style corn kernel pile, Hayden riding the kiddie train with her big brother and cousin, picking out pumpkins, playing on the playground and putting out heads through the photo op boards (Hayden loved posing as a pumpkin). Wow, that's a lot of stuff. No wonder my memory card is always so full.
I also need to delete some photos off my camera to save room for trick-or-treating pics. It's currently loaded up with family shots and food, too. For example, I recently photographed these scrumptious treats for Natural Zing's "From the Archives" series on the company's blog. I had hoped to include it in my Halloween post for them, but instead reserved it as a fall post of its own.
Looks like Hayden's at it again. There's that blurry action shot of her hand snatching up/crumbling up some of the leftover treats.
Into her mouth it goes, in yet another blurry action shot (gotta snap quick when these things happen).
So does she like them? Oh yes, she approves :-)
Okay; I'll admit this isn't the clearest picture ever posted on this site, but like this blast-from-the-past photo, it's still darn cute enough to share (at least in my opinion). The best part is the story that goes along with it.
Let me first say, I can't believe our tomato plant out front is continuing to produce yummy produce (the first being the verb, followed by the very slightly different sounding noun; kind of like the whole "to-may-to/to-mah-to" thing ... except it remains the same tomato. On second thought ... maybe "produce" is pronounced the same both times). You may recall seeing it (the tomato plant) pictured/mentioned in this Natural Zing post, although the tomatoes on it were green at the time.
Hayden has become quite curious about these color-changing fruits (that's right; a tomato is a fruit), even snagging one for herself when no one was looking. She bit right into it, eating it like it was an apple (kind of like when her online boy friend - a friend that's a boy, as she's not quite ready for that yet - bit off an unchopped apple).
When I caught her (quite quickly, I might add), I washed it off and helped her (by holding the tomato for her; she wasn't about to share with me) polish off the rest. To my surprise, she chowed down about 3/4 of the tomato before calling it quits. Something tells me that she takes after her mommy (although her daddy has been known to use the same tomato-eating method).
Speaking of taking after her mommy, I wonder if she'd like this cool (seriously, it's chilled) clear tomato soup recipe I discovered this weekend. I can't wait to try it :-)
... oh yes she did. Sorry that I've been too busy to post lately (which reminds me, I need to get another post together for Natural Zing; here's the last one, if you missed it). I've just been living/enjoying life with my family, free of all the online drama. I have to admit that I really haven't read up on all of it myself, but I've heard there has been a lot of food confessions, label-ditching, etc.
Anyway, I'm happy to be going about my day-to-day without all the labels, standards and what-have-you. Yes, I still primarily eat raw vegan foods (green smoothies are a staple for this mom, who finally got her own cool reusable cup like her blogging friends), but I like not having to answer to anyone about how perfect my diet/lifestyle is (sometimes it's not all organic, as I can't always afford it).
For example, I've confessed to eating some cooked here and there (usually baked sweet potatoes and steamed veggies), and when I slip, it's not always the healthiest choice (although healthier than most options, like when Alicia Silverstone eats a not-so-superhero vegan cupcake; BTW, I found out I won an Eco Tools brush set from her Kind Life site). This leads me to today's post.
A while back, I finally got the opportunity to make The Fitnessista Gina's Vegan Chocolate Mug Cake (in case you're wondering, it's gluten-free and packed with protein; Sun Warrior to be exact), and I don't regret it one bit. Yes, it was cooked, not to mention the fact that it was baked in the microwave. Hey, at least it's better than when I used to nuke marshmallows as a child to see them blow up and shrink back down to size (microwaves are great for experimenting, literally).
Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed having a little fun with this tasty experiment. Although I don't see myself microwaving my meals in the future, I got a kick out of seeing this mini cake bake, like the ones from my Easy Bake Oven, only much faster.
Life is too short to worry so much about achieving the perfect diet or what someone else thinks. I still want to live a long life, but I want to truly live it. I can be healthy and make room for the not-so-perfectly healthy stuff, too (only on occasion, of course). In the end, not stressing over every last detail all the time really keeps you youthful.
My kids keep me young, as well. I'm having a blast spending more time with them, rather than the computer. We are getting more involved with reading. In case I never updated you, Jacob did finish all 50 books from his summer reading project, and even added one more to include Washington, D.C. (there was a place on the map to put a sticker there, too; he selected "Duck for President" as his book). He is currently participating in a Read-A Thon for school, which has him clocking in more than the required minutes of reading each and every night.
Hayden is going to story time, and bringing home her own books from the local library (as well as goodbye hugs and kisses from the boys; can you believe it's starting this early?), although she took a pencil to one of them (thank goodness I could erase it, like her doodles on our chalk board). No wonder I tend to stick to our own personal library.
Speaking of books, I signed up to be an ambassador for Barefoot Books. You may have noticed the links set up on my blog. I plan on updating them periodically to reflect any special offers, videos, activities, etc. Feel free to check them out to either purchase books or just to sing along with the songs (Hayden is a big fan of this pirate one).
But enough about that. I basically wanted to check in and let you all know how I was doing. Hope all is well with you, too :-)
*****
In case you were wondering what piece of jewelry I made my mom this year for her birthday (I usually blog about it), here is the bracelet I gave her (my sister and I also cleaned her garage). It was inspired by this Martha Stewart project.
Oh, and Hayden colored a card for her, too :-)
I don't know what I was thinking when I invited my friend Becky and her son Leo to my house for a relaxing day of pampering with Hayden and yours truly, of course. If you are a mom like me, you can probably imagine where this post is going.
Let's start from the beginning. I have this amazing "Green Beauty Recipes" book that I've been dying to take for a test drive. You may recall my review of author Julie Gabriel's previous book, "The Green Beauty Guide," a while back (it is still one of my favorite references around here).
Now, she has put together a recipe book of sorts for making your own natural products for beautifying you (and your little ones, too, as she included a section for baby care) from head to what's in your shoes ("toe" didn't rhyme, so I used "shoes. Isn't it strange how "toe" and "shoe" don't rhyme with each other, although they end the same?).
The recipes in the book are divided into sections, including Cleansers & Toners, Creams & Lotions, Hair Treatments, Acne & Anti Aging, Scrubs & Masks, Baby Care Products, Fragrances & Deodorants, Massage Oils & Body Lotions. She explains the basics for making each and offers some troubleshooting tips, too.
I found that there is something for everyone in this book. Not all of the recipes are vegan, but a lot of them are. They can also be easily adjusted to remove any eggs/dairy or to tailor-make them just for you.
For example, my friend Becky and I both have sensitive skin and need to be careful when it comes to what we put on it. When we selected to cleanse with the Peach and Lime Exfoliating Facial Soap, we opted to remove the "soap" (the recipe calls for soap flakes) and sea salt, replacing the two with baking soda. We loved the results, but were a little bummed about how our decision to make the swap dulled the once vibrant color of the peach/lime mixture. At least it didn't have that effect on our skin. We were simply glowing (especially after spritzing with the Skin Detox Toner). Love it!
I'm so glad we found the time to actually try out this recipe, along with a few more. When you get two mommies together with their tiny tots, you never know what's going to happen. Both of us had already had busy weeks (I'm extending the mural at my parents' house, Hayden had her first day of story time, there was Back to School night at Jacob's school, and Hayden decided not to nap, etc.) and were longing for some relaxation.
Unfortunately, I had no time to prep (nothing was ready to use, snack on, photograph, etc.) and was running around like a crazy woman, while still entertaining Becky, who was entertaining the kids. We almost didn't get to any of the spa stuff before making the trek to the bus stop to pick up Jacob.
Luckily, we always enjoy our visits no matter how chaotic they may be. I served up some spa water I made for an upcoming Natural Zing blog post (stay tuned to that blog for it), along with a beet-wrapped melon snack (also in that post). Becky was going to help me with a mandolin and spiral slicer showdown, which somehow didn't come to fruition while she was here. Instead, we enjoyed these fruits of my labor (still referring to the melon and the spa beverage), and I tested out the two gadgets some more later.
Lunch was the best, as we chowed down on a chop-and-toss salad made on the fly (I just chopped and tossed in what I had, such as romaine lettuce, cucumber, carrot shreds, asparagus, tomato, red and green grapes, peaches, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a pinch of sea salt; sorry, I didn't have time to take a picture of this one, so enjoy this past chop-and-toss photo instead), got the kids fed in their seats and soaked our feet in a Lemon and Vinegar Foot Soak from the book. Becky and I agreed that the soak alone made this spa day worth while. We are definitely doing that one again.
Our "ha ha" (and "ah ha") moment of the day was captured quite well in a green-masked photo shoot, involving two kids and a bathroom mirror. First, Becky brought in Leo, who was very attached to her that day (Hayden had gotten a bit rough with her little man; she has a tendency to forget that he is about 4 months younger than her. No wonder he didn't want to be left with her for a second).
I think the looks on our faces sum up everything perfectly. Ha ha :-)
Then, Hayden started yelling for her mommy, so I brought her in for a few more shots. She was very interested in the whole photo-taking process and the green stuff on our faces. One thing led to another and she ended up getting a green beauty facial, too.
Becky and I thought she'd be the perfect model for the book's Troll Princess Mask. What do you think?
I guess I could have gotten away with just posting the pics of Hayden (and/or this photo of my old Troll doll alongside the container of troll princess mask), but I had to follow through with the rest of the recipe instructions. It specifically said, "Don't forget to take your photo while in this mask! ... Now upload the photo on the social network of your choice."
Oops! Now I see that part is optional. Oh well, her sense of humor is as good as mine, so I hope that means she doesn't mind. Girlie girl, you know I'll remove them, if you want me to, but hopefully, you find them as fun as I do.
Anyway, the mask, cleanser, toner (which we followed up with some coconut oil as a moisturizer) and foot soak were all we had time for during our visit. I sampled the Sweet Kisses Lip Scrub and Golden Shimmer Lip Balm after she left. I have to say, I was a fan of those, as well. I can't wait to try out more of these green beauty recipes. I recommend picking up a copy of this book and having a spa day with your friends, too :-)
Hayden's 1rst birthday is on Saturday, so I guess it is alright to allow her to consume nuts. To be honest, she actually had a head start completely by accident when she got a hold of Jacob's pb&j a couple months back. At first, I had that moment of panic (she better not be allergic, I thought), but once I knew she was okay, my more laid-back mommy-of-two attitude (been there, done that) decided to let her try some other related food items, like almonds, cashews and pistachios.
Her first experiences with these items were either in nut butter form or blended into a beverage, pudding, etc. Now that she has teeth (and she knows how to use them), we're moving on to raw cookies. Yum!
Speaking of cookies, did you know Natural Zing is carrying some of Cafe Gratitude's pre-made creations, like I Am Delighted Chocolate Fudge Cookies and Lemon Coconut Cookies. Lucky me, I made sure to get some with my last order. Although they'd be perfect for sampling as an after-school snack (Jacob starts back next week), I naturally couldn't wait that long, so I took a few with us to the beach/boardwalk.
I must say, the lemon ones were quite refreshing and and the chocolate ones were so cute and fudgy (love the piped flower shape and candied walnut center). But, what did the kids think?
Jacob wasn't really in the mood for a photo shoot (as I've mentioned in the past, he's beginning to outgrow it; he's tired of these paparazzi-like moments), although he was kind enough to let me snap a few pics while he shared some lemon cookies with his little sis.
Hayden, on the other hand, loves "cheesing" it for the camera (she gets it from her mama), so I was able to get these extra pics to share with you. Here is what she had to say about it:
Look mom, I've got my very own cookie.
How does it taste?
Mmmm ... I really can sink my teeth in these things.
Nice texture ... it holds up in my hands ...
Okay, just a little more ...
I think I just ate the whole thing. Yum!
Nice summary, Hayden. I should've put you in your Cookie Monster shirt for this one (she actually has a shirt with the monster himself on it that says, "me did it all for the cookies"), but instead, you still look adorable in your Toucan Sam tee.
Although I don't plan on giving her that particular cereal, I have fun dressing her in these "novel-tees." Besides, I could eventually serve her a raw version like this one. I might like some, too :-)
... and Jacob, too, although he was camera-shy today. Thanks to him, we got to enjoy some yummy blueberries with a good book, "Blueberries for Sal;" it is one of the books on his recommended reading list for the summer.
This morning, the three of us snuggled up on the couch together to take turns reading the pages in this classic tale of a little girl and her mother berry picking on Blueberry Hill, alongside a baby bear and her mother bear with the same idea. The mamas had plans to save the berries to preserve for winter (there's no way any of my berries would ever make it into the dehydrator, although I have managed to sneak a few into the freezer for future use), while the little ones just wanted to eat them all.
As you can see in the pic, my kids can't resist snacking on these sweet treats. Looks like Hayden got caught with her hand in the "cookie jar," or in this case, the blueberry bowl. Yum!
*****
BTW, I just wanted to share Jacob's progress with his Passport to Summer Reading project so far. Here are all the states we've "traveled" to this summer (each book read represents a different state; today's book was Kentucky). We're picking up 14 more books from the library this afternoon. I think he'll cover the whole map soon :-)
My little fairy princess is not as innocent as she looks. Just like the "real" Tinkerbell ("real" as in the one depicted in storybooks, on stage and in the classic cartoon flick), she is always up to something.
At least I did get some photos of Hayden in her costume for my site, as Jacob (who is going to be the black Spiderman with muscles) was camera-shy, as usual. Hopefully, I'll be able to take a few of them together on Halloween night.
I remembered the camera when we went to the pumpkin patch last weekend. I got some pics of the costume and decoration display (you can imagine the image of Hayden next to the two-headed baby; it's a tad bit disturbing), us on the hayride, Jacob going down the drainpipe slide and this sweet pic of Hayden standing by the height chart (she really is a shorty, like her mommy, who was standing by her side).
Maybe he wouldn't mind sending us some copies of our trek through the same corn maze we got lost in last year (it was dark last time, and we needed flashlights to find our way), the kids jumping in the sandbox-style corn kernel pile, Hayden riding the kiddie train with her big brother and cousin, picking out pumpkins, playing on the playground and putting out heads through the photo op boards (Hayden loved posing as a pumpkin). Wow, that's a lot of stuff. No wonder my memory card is always so full.
I also need to delete some photos off my camera to save room for trick-or-treating pics. It's currently loaded up with family shots and food, too. For example, I recently photographed these scrumptious treats for Natural Zing's "From the Archives" series on the company's blog. I had hoped to include it in my Halloween post for them, but instead reserved it as a fall post of its own.
