Crackin’ eggs and takin’ names!

We’re going primal (aka paleo) in our house and LOOOOVING IT!  We’ve jumped right into “The Practical Plaeo” as well as “The Bulletproof Executive” and could not be happier about food and the positive influence this way of eating has had on us.  How does loosing 7 lbs of fat sound?!   Let me tell you, it feels amazing and I credit it ALL to going primal.

Now if eggs aren’t your thing you may need a little warming up to eat this way.  I sure wasn’t, and some days still not, a huge fan of eggs.  I’ve been playing around and found some good egg eatin’ to satisfy my household.  Here’s the secret mama’s or designated chef of the house, the eggs gotta be from free range birds who eat a natural chicken diet (worms, bugs, scraps, grass etc).  Think chickens happily pecking the ground out in the open air.  Why?  A healthy, happy chicken eating the way nature intended lends its self to healthier eggs and as well as happier & healthier moms, dads n’ babes who eat the eggs.

Here’s a delicious recipe I use often.  It makes enough grub for the three of us for three for three mornings.  I highly recommend cooking in bulk it’s a “mom protocol” that’s helped keep our mornings flowing well with full bellies;)  Go eat!

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paper and love all rolled into one!

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paper and love all rolled into one!

My new jewellery is my direct connection with a fellow mother.  I bought this hand-made wrap bracelet, or long necklace if you will, through an amazing organization called Shanti Uganda. This bracelet and other paper jewellery like it are hand rolled by Ugandan women.  The ladies also sew a variety of bags including yoga mat bags.  The money generated from the bags and jewellery sales goes straight back to the ladies who make it!!  Cool right!?  Shanti Uganda believes in empowerment and support of the Ugandan women to create these heartfelt pieces as a means to support their livelihood and that of their children.  The ladies receive training in skills and business parctices as well as access to an onsite community garden.  Many of these ladies face a bundle of challenges including but not limited to poverty, single parenthood and a weak immune system (HIV/AIDS).  You can see why a support network is so important to their success when some many cards can be stacked against them.  The mission of the organization is to improve infant and maternal health of Ugandan women living with HIV/AIDS. Local Ugandan midwives with traditional knowledge paired with modern-day best practices help provide safe deliveries in the local birthing house.

Looking for a way to support mammas and their new bundles of joy?  Visit Shanti Uganda for inspiration :)

Best, Julie

The No-Equipment Workout self.com

Vintage Grunge Textures 24The No-Equipment Workout: self.com.

Here it is!  A lil fitness for parents that won’t cost them a dime!  Funds are tight for many families and paying for fitness isn’t something worth sweating over.  Buddy up to a near by wall and give these moves a try:)  I’ll be doing it too.  Cheers to summer coming soon, feeling great and keeping money in the bank.

Julie

Cuppow!

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Cuppow!

Cuppow!! It arrived in my mail box this morning and this gal could not be more excited for “the little things in life”. This awesome cuppow lid transforms a regular mason jar into a travel cup for hot or cold drinks. It’s made in the USA, is BPA free and can be recycled if need be.  I bought mine on line from Delish General Store located in North Vancouver, BC, Canada.

one of my first loves

Esty, an unexpected find for me that quickly grew into a serious, year round love years ago! This banner I used at my wedding, was one of my first purchase on Etsy from the talented Kara Melwood based out of Alberta, Canada.  Etsy is a artisans wonderland full of hand crafted goods and antique delights from around the world.  The options are nearly endless for what you can find.  Like many wonderful finds on the web, Etsy can whisk you away in imagination, amazement and creativity that many guys and gals can easily fall in love with:)  I love for Etsy for it’s ability to house the grass roots mentality within the tech advanced world.  Etsy magnifies and gives a new definition to the words “craft fair”.  The goods for purchase are the tangible hearts and souls of the crafters behind them.  The site includes the option of creating a favourites (Canadian spelling folks) list of specific items or favourite shops.  If you’re a creative bug your self and you’re looking for a great way to share what you do Etsy could be for you.  If the parameters of parent hood occupy your “free time” so purchasing others creative talent is more your style swing by Etsy and enjoy creating your fav’s list.  Now I just need a grand room with high ceilings to hang my beautiful wedding banner!Image

” We all do bet…

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” We all do better, when we all do better” – Paul Wellstone.

I came across this phrase in a magazine while on my honeymoon in 2011.  It has stuck with me and I think it speaks volumes.  I’m a self proclaimed lover of our planet and all living things on it.  I do believe every little bit counts, good or bad, it all goes into the pot and has an effect or a result.  Collective responsibility for the common good of everyone and everything helps everyone and everything.   A shared resource is just that, SHARED and is vulnerable to misuse or over use and thus depletion leading to a tragedy of the commons.  So, we all do better, when we all do better so LET’S DO BETTER :)

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photoPractical Paleo

My O negative roots have been calling and I’m listening.  I’m wired to eat good, clean, healthy meat, fats, vegetables, nuts and some fruit.  Wow that sounds easy!  I like foods from those categories and I feel good when I eat them.  With a little guidance from the fantastic book “Practical Paleo” by Diane Sanfilippo the transition has begun well.  The recipes are easy to follow and contain ingredients that I’m likely to have in house anyway.  The food looks and tastes great!!  My husband and baby both love the food and the recipes are NOT labor intensive.  (Thank goodness because this mama can only do labor so many times). The book offers 12, 30 day meal plans specified to autoimmune conditions, thyroid health, chronic fatigue, fat loss and cancer recovery among others.   The Practical Paleo talks about food quality as well as the negative effects of grains on our health.  There’s even a guide to digestion…and poop!  Leaky gut?! Grab the book and have a read.  My brother, 37 years young, avid road cyclist, snowboarder, mountain biker, graphic & design guru has taken this book and its meal plan by the horns.  He’s loving it and has reported after 3 weeks on the plan that his joints no longer hurt!  This book rocks!  I “mom protocol” approve it and will be sharing the book with as many possible:)

Day (416) - Heartfelt

Reblogged from The Better Man Project:

Click to visit the original post

Les Brown in his speech "Step Into Your Greatness" describes an event in his life where he got down on himself, and didn't slow down the "car of his life," he just decided to get off the road and park. He stayed off the road, he went back to his comfort zone, and didn't even give himself the opportunity to be helped by those who were around him.

Read more… 517 more words

Love it! Simple words make the biggest impact for me:) Thanks for posting this The Better Man Project.