Golden Pine Cone Garland

This is such an easy project to do with the kids! It turns out a sweet and rustic accent for the winter season, and holidays.
My first step was- send the kids out in the yard (woods) and collect pine cones in a big basket! How fun is that for a chore! Next I sorted the pine cones and made sure they were bug free and nice looking. I placed them on a large cardboard sheet on my craft table in the garage. Door open, I used this fancy new gold spray on a can and coated the pine cones on one side.

Next, before the gold paint dried, I sprayed a quick coat of this handy dandy glitter spray (can you believe they have glitter spray!?!?). Krylon- thank you! Love this product.

After these two coats dried, I turned the pine cones over and repeated. Once completely dry, I tied them on a hemp string in even (relatively) intervals. I also found these awesome little hooks that I easily placed under the mantel shelf.

I think these cute pine cones can be arranged in many ways to make rustic decor statement for your holiday house- placed in a large bowl, around  a door frame, on a deck railing etc. etc.
Enjoy this project!!

Paying Attention

Living out here in the woods, in this beautiful and silent landscape, has made my days filled with gratitude and inspiration. Yes, it is Thanksgiving week. I have COUNTLESS things to be thankful for. But I am really reminded of is the small things. Nature. How remarkable it all is, and how we can always turn to the comforts of nature at any moment, and anywhere.

Pumpkin Butter- super easy, no crock pot needed!

I love me a good fruit "butter". When I first tried apple butter a decade ago at an Amish fair, I absolutely fell head over heels with it. I was surprised to find out there was absolutely no butter (or other fat for that matter) involved!
So, I learned to make apple butter, yum! Next, I tried pear butter- it may be even more satisfying than its apple cousin.
So, this time it is Pumpkin Butter's turn. This is my second batch ever, and I must say it is good, the only problem I found was that I had to add more sweetener than I expected and significantly more than in the pear and butter varieties, due to the pumpkins more savory flavor.
My sweeteners of choice in this batch was maple syrup (the real kind) and apple cider. Quantities of all ingredients is pretty much up to you and your preferences.

I start my pumpkin butter with, you guessed it, a PUMPKIN! Not from a can, but from a field. We got ours this year from a local farm- Hill Ridge Farms- where we also had a blast!

Here's some simple directions- play around with the seasonings! I'd love to hear about others versions I always love experimenting and learning! You can completely skip apple cider and maple syrup, and just go for some good ole cane sugar! Or, how about honey? lemon zest? Fresh ginger? I can't wait for my next batch!

Click on the images for larger- more legible version!

You will end up with a guaranteed delicious, nutritious and versatile spread/dip. My kids love dipping apple slices and graham crackers in it. It is also great mixed in with vanilla yogurt and granola. The options are endless. ENJOY!

Going for it

One of my most favorite quotes ever. I wish I knew who said it!
This rings so true in regards to myself, my life and my business.
I often catch myself dreaming of a retirement on a particular beach, and when I snap back, I remember this quote, and get back to work creating something new :)

Gift Ideas for the Holidays

I want to share some of these ideas with you. I'm sure we all have those people on our list who "have everything" or those that are very difficult to shop for. Or, a older friend in need of a health boost?

Check out some of these sweet, smart and from the heart, gifts for the holidays.

How about some adorable cleaning gloves and a Get Clean Starter kit? Best all-purpose green cleaner anywhere. It is so concentrated; I've had my bottle for 2 years. Fantastic product.

 

 Or, for some safe skin care without all the pesky chemicals and preservatives, check out this line of wondrous softness and age erasing power! I adore the A.M Repair! Add some super luxurious, organic face towels, and you have a memorable gift!

Water. Simple. Delicious. Essential. Water. I have made a promise to myself, I will never again buy plastic water bottles. One of the greatest sources of plastic pollution in the world is the water bottle. Not only can you get healthier, cleaner and cheaper water from your tap when you use Get Clean Water, you can also feel better about what you do for the planet. With so many cute, re-useable water bottles out there, why ever buy those pesky plastic bottles again!?

For even more gift ideas, check out my website- sunnyside.myshaklee.com - and I would love to hear your green gift giving ideas! I can never have too many :)

Trust

Re-boot!

I'm thrilled to be back on the blog! I must apologize for the extended departure, but I sold a house, bought another, and moved across country with the whole family. There was simply no time for blogging. Or showering (kidding on that last one... ).
What a ride it has been! We successfully pulled this thing off, and have now landed in the beautiful forests of Wake Forest, North Carolina! During this whole ordeal my whole remarkable family has kept smiles on their faces and and a sparkle in the eye.
Despite tons of stress, extended separations, 3 days in a car, 1 month living with in-laws and one very tedious real-estate transaction, we all remained happy, HEALTHY, and a tight unit.

As I have landed with both feet on the ground and technology back at my fingertips, I am re-launching my Shaklee business, and my blog! Hooray!
My contact information is mostly the same, except for the physical mailing address, and if you need it, you will have it.
My online store is still sunnyside.myshaklee.com, I am still on Facebook as well.


I could not be more excited to be back, and I'd love to hear from you!

Adventure!

Our family is getting ready to set out on our next big adventure- we are moving! 1800 miles across the country!
My deary hubbs has a new gig in North Carolina and we are selling our home in Denver to move!
It will be bitter sweet to say the least. We love Colorado and our friends here, but remind ourselves that our true friends will remain so. In North Carolina we get to be closer to family, the beach, try new mountains and experience the famed southern hospitality!

As we set out on our adventure, I will update the blog when I can. I am taking my dear Shaklee business with me (hooray for own business!!) and will continue to build and grow in NC.

Although adventure and change is something we thrive on, it is helpful to have a couple of nutritional stress relief aides in the back pocket. If you are ever in need, here's a good summary of what I'm stashing for this journey!

• My daily Vitalizer strip 
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin C
• Stress Relief Complex

Stay tuned friends!

Ooops. it's Summer!

Where does time go? I felt as if we had Earth Day, and I blinked, and now we are in the middle of summer! Whoa!
Well, to make it up to you (my abscence!) check out this amazing July offer from Shaklee!

FREE Membership with ANY purchase! Enjoy this, and I hope your summer is excellent!

Omega 3 ..

We all know we should eat fish 3 times/week. I certainly know this is true- but who can find affordable, sustainable and responsibly raised fish? I know I'm having a real hard time. Everybody in this family supplements to make sure we get our brain food.

It is shown that children with ADD and ADHD tendencies even out in temperament and shows significantly improved concentration when supplementing with fish oils.

Studies show that omega-3 fatty acids positively impacts and even prevents serious degenerative illnesses like heart disease, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and more.

The anti-inflammatory properties of omega-3’s are especially beneficial to menopausal women in preserving heart, breast and bone health, and even help keep our moods on an even keel.

Not to mention, it makes our hair, nails and skin healthy too!

Here are the best omega 3 supplements available:

Shaklee's Mighty Smart

 

 

Shaklee's Omega Guard

"cool" treats

Healthy and cool treats for hot days!

I love my shaped silicone ice cube trays- I get them super cheap at Ikea, and we come up with something different every day!

I enjoy cucumber or citrus in my water, and made the cucumber "stars" for myself. I also put an organic raspberry in each of the flower shaped molds and (always) water purified in my Shaklee pitcher.

Together the kiddos and I decided to blitz up some watermelon in the blender, and froze that. After trying those, Nathan said- hey- how about banana ice! So, we blitzed enough ripe bananas with water to make a thick liquid and froze those too - they LOVE them!

Earth Day Treat- Dirt

This special treat for the kiddos at our Earth Day celebration!

I baked 2 large dark chocolate kakes (Betty Crocker) let the cool completely, crumbled them up into a large pan (so fun!)
Added:
gummy worms
chocolate covered raisins
pretzel sticks

2 colorful scoops for the kiddos to use to scoop the dirt into cups and devour. Such a hit!

Eart Day Party Planning part deux- planet earth heart crayons

Add caption

The kids and I collected all their broken blue and green crayons and melted them down to create our heart shaped planet earth crayons. What a fun project! And, in recycling the crayons, we are also doing a tiny little good too!

Here's how to:

Step 1: collect all broken blue and green crayons. if your family is anything like ours, you will be amazed at the mountain of broken/discarded crayons. you want more blue than green, since planet earth is mostly water, hence mostly blue ;)

Step 2: chop crayons (on surface that is only used for crafts, the waxy crayons don't wash off)
Step 3: find a heat resistant mold you want to use, ours is heart shaped silicone.
Step 4: fill the shapes, we mixed the colors up, and again, made sure there was more blue than green.
Step 5: "bake" at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes until all crayons have melted
Step 6: with a craft tool swirl the melted wax a little to copy the geographic atlas look

Step 7: let set overnight of for at least 2-3 hours
Step 8: gently remove from mold and keep in airtight container

We can't wait to share these with our friends together with the coloring page we created!

Earth Day Partay planning

The kids and I have started creating crafts and fun for the Earth Day party next weekend and today we finished up our coloring page we are going to hand out to all the children.

 

We had a great time drawing and writing this one. I am always amazed at how much they take in, and how much they have picked up from various reading and conversations. They get it. They absolutely understand the importance of caring for our planet.

I have to give a shout out to one of our favorite books "The Earth Book" by Todd Parr. This book is a fantastic, colorful and fun way to introduce our future environmentalists to the topics.

Earth Day Partaay!

I'm so thrilled to be hosting a Earth Day party at my home this year. On Sunday the 21st of April we will have a open house style party from 11-1.
We are going to have some organic food and beverage, crafts and fun for the kiddos, tree seedlings for the adults- and a showcasing of natural home care products from Shaklee.
Shakee's environmental heritage makes it the perfect company to partner with during Earth Day, and any other day.
Shaklee was the first company in the world to be certified climate neutral, and continuously strive to meet and surpass that honor.

The home care products from Shaklee are completely safe, biodegradable, and simply amazing.

Here's to celebrating our planet and doing our part to take care of her.

Its not just bread...

just look at it....

.. its a loaf of wonderful. It costs less than 80 cents to make.

If you are as active on Pinterest as I am, you have probably already seen this bread. But honestly, everyone needs to make this bread. It is back to basics.
It is the BEST bread recipe in the world. Ask the New York Times where it was first published a few years ago. The recipe originally came from Sullivan Street Bakery's Jim Lahey (genius).

It is also the EASIEST bread recipe you have ever used. I am obsessed.
I have not bought bread in almost 2 months, I make about 3-5 loaves/week. We use it for toast, lunch sandwiches, giving to people we visit etc. etc.
















You like crust you say? Let me introduce you to the crunchiest, crispiest, most delicious crust you've ever had.

Just start baking already.

You need an oven proof pot of some kind. About 5 quarts in size. You can use a dutch oven, a ceramic pot, crock pot insert, or, like me, an aluminum pot. And it HAS to have a lid.

In addition to the basics, I have tried adding tons of seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin seeds) and some semolina flour to replace white. Delish! I've also tried with 1/2 whole wheat flour, its very good, but not as fluffy.

This is my seed add-in version (sesame, pumpkin, sunflower) all organic of course!
Mix the seeds in with the flour mixture before adding water.

The secret to this recipe is patience. You NEED to let it sit at least 15 hours before baking.

Here's the recipe basics:

In large bowl add 3 cups all purpose flour ( i use unbleached, organic)
1 3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dry yeast (i've tried several brands and varieties, and they all work)

Mix well.

Add 1 1/2 cup cold water.

This is the seed version of the dough again

Mix well.

It will be a sticky mess of a dough. It is ok! Its supposed to be this way!

Cover really well, with plastic wrap and a plate. Done.

15-24 hrs later, turn oven to 450 degrees. Once pre-heated  put your pot, with lid on, into oven.
Set timer for 30 minutes.

Pour dough out on well floured surface (still very very sticky). Shape into round with floured hands or forks. Place the plastic wrap back over dough.

this is the seeded version or rest prior to going in the oven

When the timer goes off- CAREFULLY remove pot from oven. Put dough into pot. Replace lid.
Bake 30 minutes. Done.

taking the lid off - nothing to worry about this is fool proof

This is the finished, seeded version. I know, but sadly I can not share over the computer.

Make sure you have some softened butter on hand, there's nothing better than this bread. Fresh. With butter spread all over. (real butter y'all!!)

Hubby and I did the math- with this flour, yeast and salt, the loaf of bread costs NO MORE than 80 cents.

Plant a tree lately?

With earth day coming up in April, and April being earth month, I am making plans for a tree planting event. More deets will follow as I solidify the details.

In the meanwhile, consider Dr. Wangari Maathai's words.

Dr. Maathai was a Kenyan environmentalist, and political activist. She was also the first African woman to win a Noble Peace Price for her work. She founded the greenbelt movement, and my trees will be planted in her honor.
I'm also proud to say she partnered with Shaklee and their efforts to offset all shipping impact with the planting of new trees.

Happy Spring!

Today is the first day of spring- finally!
The kids and I took a long bike/walk around the neighborhood and spotted the first crocus flowers of the season!
I also went to visit with a new personal trainer here in the neighborhood! We are so lucky to have this place, it is called No Boundaries fitness, and it is in walking distance from my home AND I can bring my kids there!
They have a really cute little play area for the kiddos with a window, so they can watch me work out!

Spring is truly here- work out, beautiful flowers blooming in the yards, and the air is full of beautiful bird song.

Have you tried anything new lately?

I am eternally grateful that I have tried. Tried my own Shaklee business.  I took the leap into this special company 2 years ago this month. It is an incredibly important part of my life, and has improved the health of everyone in our family. 

It has generated extra income every month. It has opened my eyes to the life that we make for ourselves, and the opportunity to make it great.  No, not just great, phenomenal. 

I am so glad I took the leap. And decided to try. I have met some of the most incredible people on my journey, and my life is so much richer for it.

What are you going to try?

Laundry Dreams

Yes- I dream about laundry. I know, I might not be quite right, but I do have dreams about my laundry.
I don't necessarily love doing it, but what I don't like is the dryer. The dryer costs about 40 cents per load to run, and clothes dryer useage accounts for about 6% of all household energy use.
I can't stand the static overly dry clothes that come out of the dryer. I always feel like an environmental thief using it too.
So, back to my dream. I WANT to dry my laundry outside. I want a long line stretching across a grassy yard. I want to dry my delicates, my sheets and the kids clothing in the fresh air outside.

Yes, I will still have a dryer, because sometimes it rains. And sometimes you're in a hurry. In all fairness I think the clothes dryer is a great modern tool of convenience, and I appreciate its ease of use.

I wish to leave the smallest eco-footprint possible in this world. I use only the safest, kindest laundry and cleaning products (Shaklee). And although the house is tiny, and my yard is a small dustbowl I try to dry clothes hanging on occasion. This is not the right place for it. Living 1 block from the highway the clothes would get covered in dust and pollutants. I am dreaming about a home on the country, with a lawn. With fresh air. With sheets blowing in the wind.

Flavor Explosion!

It is another cold and snowy morning here in Denver. I was really in the mood for a warm breakfast, but am dedicated my my 180 program, and didn't want to pack on calories from oatmeal or toast.
I did heat up the kiddos' breakfast cereal and had the brilliant idea of heating up my own as well. The smoothie heated didn't sound great, so instead I turned to the bar. The peanut butter chocolate chip one to be exact.
With 20g of protein, 6g of fiber and 270 calories this scrumptious meal bar never fails to deliver. I warmed it up for 1 minute in the microwave, it came out soft and gooey- leaving the kitchen smelling like a bakery...

I added 3 spoon fulls of plain, fat free FAGE yogurt, and dove in. Oh My Gosh! Such an amazing flavor and texture combination. I will return for this many cold mornings!
Can't wait to try the blueberry almond bar..

i licked the plate.....

Spring is coming!

Today I woke up with the feeling that spring is right around the corner. Outside the snow is melting, and the sky is blue. It is feeling hopeful, as if something is about to happen, something green and fresh and amazing :)
What a nice way to start this Tuesday!

H2O

Such a simple thing. Yet it is the most important thing.
Most houses built before 1986 (my lovely 1940 cottage included) have lead pipes. We drink water every day (surprise, i know!). Lead in water can cause a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, attention disorders and more.
Hold on- even if you live in a newer home and have "lead free piping", the EPA states that the new piping contain as much as 8 percent lead!!
Basically, the bottom line here is that we need to clean our water. The lead is not coming from source water, but from the very house we live in. Therefore we have to clean it before we drink it. Now, most of us would love to have a reverse osmosis system, remove the lead and be good to go. But, most of us also don't have thousands to spend on installation of such systems.
Did you know that most pitcher filters DO NOT remove lead?! But, there is of course one that does- and that is the Get Clean Water pitcher from Shaklee. It outperforms the other pitcher filters my a mile in removing all contaminants. AND it filters out lead. AND it is eco friendly too.
The filters are made from coconut fibers, and sustainable. They also last twice as long as any of the other filters.
Get this pitcher for your family. Give it as a gift to anyone you care about. And drink some fresh clean water.

The World's Best Oatmeal Cookies - seriously

My dear husband's favorite cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip. I am the only one that bakes, and always try to make healthy recipes, even for cookies. My husband is always disappointed, polite, but disappointed.
Not today. I found a recipe and tried it out- with craisins instead of chocolate chips nonetheless.

I give full credit to the examiner.com, and author Kimberly Kunaniec.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup AP flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned)
Directions:

Use non-stick cookie sheets, or line some with parchment paper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter and sugar until they have lightened in color and are smooth to the touch.
Add the egg and vanilla, beat until combined.
Combine all dry ingredients, except for the oats. Add to the creamed mixture and slowly stir until incorporated.
Add the oats and mix to combine.
Use an ice cream scoop to make balls of dough. Place them at least 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
Slightly flatten the cookies before baking.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until light brown.
Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes on the cookie sheet, then move to a cooling rack.
Using the ice cream scoop, this recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies. If you decide to make smaller cookies with this dough, the cooking time will be reduced. Keep an eye on your cookies and pull them from the oven when the edges are brown, but they are still slightly shiny and soft in the middle. This will produce a soft and delicious cookie.

Did you know about magnesium?

I learned recently about the many symptoms of magnesium deficiency. I found it interesting that as much as 57% of Americans are deficient in magnesium, and don't know it! The symptoms can truly interfere with daily life and could often be misdiagnosed as depression, and then overly medicated.
As I read the list of symptoms, (WebMd), I decided to give it a try.

Inflammation markers are higher in people with low magnesium, and my joints are often inflamed. Sleep problems, headaches and dizziness were a couple of others mentioned.

I started taking a calcium/magnesium supplement two weeks ago, and just have to report my experience;
I am beyond amazed at what these 4 little chewables have done for me in this short time. I sleep better, I have no headaches and have a calmer disposition.

Not to mention the calcium part of this- it will help with digestion, make my bones stronger, and help prevent osteoporosis.

Since this particular product comes from the #1 natural nutrition company in the US, Shaklee, you know it is safe and effective!

Check it out for yourself, and see what benefits you can gain!

Warm Quinoa Kale Salad

A must-share, must-make, dreamy good recipe! It doesn't sound nearly as good as it tastes! I got this from a friend on facebook, and I thanked her repeatedly.

1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tablespoons olive oil- divided + a drizzle
1 3/4 cup boiling water
2-3 minced garlic cloves
4 cups lightly packed, chopped kale leaves
juice of one lemon
a handful (that's a measurement, right?!) chopped parsley
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

As usual, I can't leave a recipe alone, so some of the items above are changed out from the original recipe. And I don't know what publication it came from, so I can't give credit.

1) Dry roast the quinoa in a medium sauce pan. Toast until fragrant and golden, stirring constantly. Add boiling water, half of the olive oil, and salt. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Then fluff with fork, cover and let it sit off heat for a few more minutes.

2) In a skillet, medium high heat, heat up the remaining olive oil. Add kale, garlic and parsley. Season to taste.
Cook a few minutes until kale is dark green and tender.

3) Mix all ingredients together in large bowl-mix in the toasted pine nuts, lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil.

Serve at room temperature as a meal, or as a side dish. Excellent as cold salad next day as well!