$30

There's typically not a lot $30 can get you nowadays. It barely gets you a decent pedicure. It may get you a nice lunch with a girlfriend, maybe an amazing deal on a new pair of jeans (if you shop where I shop)... or it could be just enough to start your whole life.

In one part of the world, $30 provides a woman with an education on women's rights, business skills, and technical skills that will enable her to build a life she once had only dreamed of. She is probably living in a war zone, and has no running water or electricity. She works from the moment the sun rises until the long after the sun sets. She has children, typically more than 5, and is the primary caregiver.  Sometimes she is married, other times she has already lost her spouse, and is caring for everyone on her own. She dreams of being able to just feed her family. She wants to learn how to read and write, and develop skills so she can support her children and make a life for herself.

$30 isn't much to me. I provide that small amount, just once a month, to a woman in Rwanda. Her name is Constance. She has 8 children, a husband, and has feared several times in the last several months that she will be unable to feed her family. There is a life for her that is meant for more. I am humbled by the fact that I am able to help her achieve that life with just $30.

I made a commitment almost two years ago that I would support another woman in this world because I have been blessed with the opportunities that allow me to have a life I am comfortable with. I never have to worry about feeding my family, finding running water, or living with out electricity. I can't put myself in her shoes, but I pray that by helping her with this education, she could perhaps start to envision herself in my shoes.

For a woman to recognize her own worth is like shooting a canon ball from a canon...once you start, there is no stopping it. Constance has the opportunity to find herself and what she is truly capable of. She is my Rwandan sister, and I am so proud to be a part of her life. I encourage you to visit Women for Women International, and be connected with a woman in this world that needs your help. Thousands line up to have access to the education they provide. Most are on a waiting list for months, praying that a sponsor will come into their life.

Because while $30 doesn't seem like much to most of us, it is everything to Constance. Go find out what your $30 is worth.

 

Click here for more information on how to sponsor 

Lessons from my 2 year old:

1. Always wake up in a good mood. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. 

2. Give hugs whenever you can. It makes the other person feel so much better. 

3. Get excited about anything new. It opens up your whole world to new possibilities. 

4. Throw a tantrum and then get over it. It's probably not worth it anyway. 

5. Go to bed early. 

6. Take naps. You wake up in a much better mood. 

7. Dance in the car. It makes for a really fun ride to where ever you're going. 

8. Just dance. Whenever. Wherever. 

9. Laugh at the silliest thing. Over and over again. Laughing never really gets old anyway. 

10. Learn a new word every week. Surprise your friends with your new vocabulary. 

11. Find something you are passionate about and stick to it. Make it your new routine. 

12. Say no. And don't feel guilty about it. 

13. Cuddle in bed. 

14. Make new friends where ever you go. It's amazing what just saying "hi" can do. 

15. Love. Unconditionally.

Love you J-

Mom

Finding the Time...

Since I've had three days off in a row now, and forced to do nothing (thank you wisdom teeth), its made me think of all the stuff I could be doing right now that I'm not. And how I have to be totally fine with that. Here's my current to do list:

1. Do my taxes
2. Drop off bags of clothes/shoes, etc to Goodwill
3. Make a dr.'s appointment for Jacob
4. Buy a dress for my brother's wedding
5. Menu plan and grocery shop
6. Clean the bathrooms
7. Empty the litterbox
8. Do my laundry
9. Clean my room
10. Sleep at some point

Like most, well all, of you..I have a lot to do. Everyday. Everyday I look at the ever growing list of things I need to do so I can just go to work in clean clothes, my son can go to daycare in pants that are crusted over with spaghetti sauce, and my electricity stays on. There's nothing earth shattering on that list. I'm not performing brain surgery or saving a dying kitten. But why is it that it all seems like too much-that time seems to be speeding up and I'm on this treadmill of crap and all I can do is hold on to the rails so I don't slip off the back and go hurdling towards the wall?

Did you notice there's not one thing on that list that puts myself as a "to do"? Yeah I didn't think so. Probably because you don't make time for yourself either. And you can't count going to the bathroom alone as time for yourself. I have to start making time for me. At this point I crash around 8:30-9pm after going non stop since 5 am. I'm desperately trying to fit in a yoga routine at home...this is currently what I look like:

Crap everywhere...maybe grab the yoga mat, maybe not. I'm fine with cat hair in my mouth.  Why is it that we as mothers don't list ourselves anywhere? Because everything else seems far more important than taking time for ourselves. Well I call bullshit.

Every week when I make my to do list..I'm putting myself on there. I may even put myself as number one. (GASP!) And I suggest you do the same.

Don't roll your eyes at me. It's totally possible. Just put on there that you're reading a book for 15 minutes before bed. Or your going to take a hot shower for as long as you want. What ever it is that recharges your batteries...just do it. And no feeling guilty allowed. Because we all know when mom is happy...everyone is happy. It might be hard as balls, but who cares. So is trying to figure out when you're going to fit everything else in. But you do it. Because you're the mom and you're awesome.

There isn't a  Mom Police that will show up at your house the next morning if the dishes don't get done because you decided to read instead. YOU ARE WORTH IT. Just repeat it. Over and over until you believe it. It's time we start putting ourselves first. Whether it is on a list or in your head. 

And as I've been writing this I've thought of twenty five other things I need to be doing right now. But I'm not going to worry about that right now. I'm going to be fine with the dishes in the sink, the clothes on my dresser, and the litter box smell that's taking over my hallway. Okay maybe not that one. That one I'll do cause that's just gross.

But the others can wait.

Wisdom Teeth Removal=v.a.c.a.t.i.o.n.

So I'm 31 and just now having my wisdom teeth removed. Don't judge. I'm also a huge procrastinator. If you didn't get that by the first sentence I wrote.

Anyway, here I am...about six hours post op and feeling pretty good. But here's why I'm so damn excited about having my gums split open: three days of no housework (cause it says I can't), soft foods (which means ice cream and pudding without feeling guilty), and three days off work. And don't forget about the hydrocodone. Cause that stuff rocks my socks off. And my wonderful boyfriend is taking care of me and the baby...which he does already...so that's not anything new. He's so damn good.

So yeah peeps...three days of relaxation because the post op paperwork says I have to. Hell yeah.

Let's talk about poop

Okay my poop. Well really yours too, so don't get too grossed out. Geez. See that's the problem...we women (well, there's some that are WAY too comfortable talking about their shit), we women for the most part don't discuss what we do, or don't do-do...hahahaha..sorry. But really, its an issue for most of us, and that's why we need to talk about it. So for those of you that never have any stomach issues...this isn't for you. Lucky bitch.

So for as long as I can remember I've had the worst stomach. I wouldn't go to the bathroom for days, or I would be in the middle of Target and have to hurdle babies in strollers and stay at home moms in tennis outfits just to get to the bathroom in the nick of time. It was painful, and nauseating and uncomfortable. And I got tired of it. I hated not knowing when one of those episodes would come, or if please God Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints just let me poop! But of course I never saw a doctor, and never really changed my diet. So go figure.

Fast forward 3 years later, and post baby-and here I am still fighting my stomach issues. So after a very painful Christmas/New Years week just a few months ago, I got on the web to see if what I had was in fact IBS. And, yes, if I was a self diagnosing expert, I would say that's exactly what I have. Fan-friggin-tastic. But when I traveled home to Dallas to see my family, my mom dropped this book in my hot little hands and my world changed forever. Thank you sweet baby Jesus.

 Great Taste No Pain website

So what I learned ladies is this....its all about how you combine your foods together when you eat. Some foods are highly acidic and cause more acid in your stomach, and others decrease the acid. So when you have a healthy balance happening in your stomach, the acids work together properly to make sure digestion is happening the way it should....NOT PAINFUL. Food combining is not anything new, but its new to me and its new to most of the women I bring this up to, which is why its so important to get the word out.

This isn't about you eliminating anything from your diet (well, I eliminated fast food and anything else greasy and fattening...I was a real bitch for a good week or so). Its just about what you put together. The minute I got home from being away I tried this for a week and everything well really well. If you get my drift. And then the second week came and the same thing. And then I ate brisket, with potato salad and macaroni and cheese...and at 1:30 in the morning I woke up with the worst gas pains ever. Damn. Check the book the next morning, and sure as hell...don't combine protein with carbs. Its been almost 8 weeks and things have been working swimmingly! Hell yeah bitches this thing works and its saved my life! I've told so many other women about this and I have others trying it out as well.

Let me give you some examples:

1. No protein with carb/starches (no steak and potatoes)
          -Instead do your protein with veggies (chicken and sauteed spinach,etc)
2. Eat fruit by itself. And give yourself an hour or two to digest before eating another food.
3. Cut out caffeine and DON'T drink it with food (as much as you can)
4. If you need to eat dessert, wait at least two hours after your meal to eat it. It doesn't digest properly mixed with other foods (especially protein) so it creates uncomfortable gas pains
5. Drink lots of water!! And no tea doesn't count. duh.

Here's a chart for further explanation:

Food Combo Chart 

TRY IT. Try it and just see..what do you have to lose? You may even drop a few pounds and that's a-mah-zing just by itself.  Increase your fiber to 30 grams a day, and drink lots of water. Follow the steps and watch how your body reacts. Its pretty friggin incredible, I'm not gonna lie. The hardest part is waiting a few hours after dinner to have dessert. But if that means that I'm not on the toilet while having a romantic night with my boyfriend, well then the dessert can kick it!

All of my IBS symptoms have been eliminated since starting this new way of eating. And if I don't follow it, my body reacts almost instantly. So I know its working. I can't tell you the stress that's been eliminated now that I know my body is functioning normally. 

Email me with any and all questions please!! You can find the food manual on abebooks.com for around $30, and she has a great recipe book for super cheap on abe books as well. I hope this helps...!

I Don't Have Time for Fancy...

Okay, so let's be real about something...unless you have a whole lot of time on your hands, or extra people that just stand around in your kitchen waiting to help you with dinner-we mom's, whether you are working or not, don't have a lot of time to cook an extra fancy meal a few times a week. BUT-you can cook a healthy meal that doesn't take a whole lot of time and still tastes great. That was my challenge about 6 months ago when I knew I had to change my diet because fast food was eating away my bank account, and my grocery shopping spending had to change as well.

So here are a few of my favorite things: well, favorite meals. These are my go-to meals when I do my meal planning twice a month. Keep in mind I'm not using meat in these meals because I'm trying to eliminate meat from my diet...but you can add chicken or turkey into any of these dinners no problem.  And these also make fantastic left overs-another way to stretch your dollar!! I'm all about saving money people...

Couscous and Roasted Veggie

This one is super easy to make! I stock up on couscous because its a fantastic pasta that you can almost add anything to and it tastes great. It's also a great price at the grocery store, and it comes in different flavors (roasted pecan/garlic, olive oil/basil, etc). Nutritional value is good too: in 1 cup/serving can get up to 6 g of protein and 4 g of fiber. 

Just simply prepare the pasta as directed on the box, and while that's cooking, chop your veggies of choice ( I choose squash, zuchinni, mushrooms, broccoli,etc) and put on a cookie sheet to roast for only 10-15 minutes. Season your veggies with salt/pepper, little parmasean cheese, etc. and when they are done combine together on a plate! That's it..super simple and tastes great. 

Lasagna Rolls

I made these just the other night and they turned out friggin fantastic. The longest part is the cooking time, which is about 40 minutes...so save yourself a little extra time when making this one.  

Lasagna noodles cooked (cook as many noodles as you want rolls, I did 10)

Ricotta cheese (small tub)

Mozzarella cheese

about 4 cups of spaghetti sauce

Frozen spinach (thawed and drained)

I used eggplant, mushrooms and zucchini for the filling as well

(btw..I left the veggies raw, they cook nicely in the oven)

Meat of your choice (chicken, turkey, etc)

Italian seasoning/salt and pepper

1 egg 

Combine your ricotta cheese, egg, spinach (after thawing and draining), chopped veggies and cooked meat (if you add meat) into a mixing bowl. Season with Italian seasoning (or just basil/oregano if you don't have Italian seasoning) and salt/pepper.

Take your cooked lasagna noodles, drain them, and pat them dry with a towel once they're out of the strainer. Lay a sheet of wax paper down on the counter and lay your noodles down on the wax paper. Spread your mixture onto the noodle, leaving a little room at the end to roll the noodle and have it stick. Once your mixture is spread, roll the noodle and place it seam side down in your baking dish. Once all your noodles are placed in your dish, ladle your sauce across the rolls, covering them completely. (I used more than the picture shows) Sprinkle your mozzarella and parm cheese across with a little extra salt/pepper. Place foil on top of the dish and bake for 40 minutes on 350 degrees, or until the cheese is golden brown.

Breaded Veggie Bites

Okay I know you're thinking, "only veggies for dinner?" But when I was feeling extra lazy one day, I chopped up the veggies in my fridge, threw some bread crumbs and parm cheese on top and baked them for 15 minutes...they were so damn tasty and filled me up so quickly, I thought to myself...Damn I should have been doing this a long time ago. Plus it makes veggies extra tasty to my 2 year old, who is becoming a pickier eater by the day. 

So obviously this one is super stupid easy...pick whatever veggie you like or have in your fridge. I haven't found a veggie yet that this doesn't taste bad with. You can use bread crumbs, or use planko bread crumbs (they just come out crunchier). Chop and spread them out on your baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle your crumbs on top...add salt/pepper, I used shredded parm cheese on top, but you can add another form of cheese if you wish. Bake at 350 for a short 10-15 minutes. Ta da! 

Okay so if you're still not convinced your family can do just veggies for dinner...add brown rice, couscous or mashed potatoes...just as tasty. 

Black Bean/Veggie Quesadillas

Quesadilla recipe 

I included the link on this one, because this blog is great and she includes fancy pictures of the step by step process, which, bless her heart I just don't have time to do. The best thing about this meal is you can add/delete whatever you want...so have fun with it! It's becoming a new staple in my house.

Here's some links for you to check out some other meals and websites that may be super helpful in your meal planning...

One Pot Meals 

Veggie Dinners 

Happy Dinner Everyone!!
(oh and Happy Valentines Day!)

Unconditional Love

There are times in your life when you are forced to a dead stop. Emotionally. Tonight I came across a blog while browsing Pinterest, and it did exactly that. Its difficult to even put into words what just happened...but as I saw this picture of a mother with her little boy...her beautiful little boy that was covered in blisters and scabs, I knew I had to go further and find out what this picture meant.
Courtney and Tripp Roth live in Louisiana, and Tripp has been battling "EB" a genetic skin disease that causes him to blister and bleed with any kind of touch.

Just imagine not ever getting to truly hold your baby, or play with him, squeeze and kiss him, cuddle with him and feel his warmth against your body. This incredible, courageous young mother fought with her son for 2 years and 8 months before Tripp's little body finally decided to let go. Reading this story, and looking at the pictures of his short 2 years on this earth, brought me to sobs of tears. As a mother, to watch your child go through such pain is unthinkable. But you connect with her on a level you never knew before, because of their struggle, but also because of their unyielding unconditional love for one another.

I urge you to visit Courtney's blog, see her incredible journey that she still is just starting on, since her son's death just 3 weeks ago. This has been a wake up call for me to stop...just slow down. Put all my bullshit into perspective, and hug my son harder and longer than I ever have before. There are magnificent women and mothers in this world. Let's celebrate Courtney and her son's life.

Courtney and Tripp Roth

First Foot Forward...

My first post! I can't tell you how excited I am to be a blogger...! As if I need one more thing on my plate, this blog has become my newest baby and I'm thrilled to introduce it to everyone.  I was inspired several weeks (or months) ago by some of my family and friends to start this blog, and hopefully connect more women together through all of our similarities and differences. Many things in my life have brought me to this moment, and I am humbled to be able to share it with you, in hopes that I can share, connect and inspire.

I am a mother first and most everything else comes second. I, like most of you, have many balls to juggle and keep in the air and that can be very difficult and yet very rewarding.  I know that I am not the only one that feels that time slips away so quickly that you're left with a year behind you, and you're left wondering what you did with your time. Slowing things down is easier said than done, but my hope is that together, we can start to put ourselves first every once and a while, and start living a life that is meant to be joyful and abundant. Whether you are a mother of one or six, step mom or grandmother, I hope that this blog will be a spot for you to reflect, to be inspired, and to connect with others that are wanting and willing to have the same joy that you seek.

I am so excited to share my tips, advice, and inspirations with YOU! But most of all I am honored to be able to connect with you so that we all can learn and grow from one another. Meditating while multi-tasking...its something we do on a daily basis and I am ready to share my not-so-perfect self with all of you.