Read

School has been out for only a few days, and I am trying to adjust to having my kids in the house.  I realize they do live here, but they have been acting like slugs.  I won't be preparing breakfast all afternoon for much longer....

Three things I noticed after my kids were in the house for 48 hours of no school:
1. They were whining and complaining about each other
2. They tattled at a rate of 5 tattles per minute per kid
3. They were picking at each other

I had to remedy this.  HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE SUMMER if it literally just began and I'm exhausted already?  And how can I get them to start viewing each other as BFF's {my girls are great with one another, but a few hours of freedom had turned them into lunatics}?

I decided on that first day off, we'd head over to the library to join the library summer reading club.  Each week the kids can come to exchange books, and pick an age-appropriate gift from a treasure box.  I told the girls our summer reading would revolve around the once a week visit to pick new books, and get the next prize.  They like prizes.  This is good. This could work.   And that place is quiet....

Let's face it, I'm not the only one who has freaked out in years past when I realized I lost their summer reading lists for school, including the projects that would need to go with them, right?  Please say yes...  This year is going to be different {fingers crossed}. 

• I'm not going to let them wait until the last minute. 
• I'm going to make summer reading really, really cool. 

At least that's what I told myself a few days ago~and don't tell my kids, but it's working....

Think of me as Claire Dunphy from Modern Family...it's pretty much how my life operates.

Remember the episode where she tries to make her daughters team up "against her" because she was such a spaz?  Okay, that happens a lot, but that was my goal here.  Give them a common thread to hang on to of..."mom is a total dork" and go from there. I'm willing to take that hit for my own sanity, it's worth it.

I had to do something, so I came up with BOOK CLUB.

The first rule of Book Club?  There is no Book Club. 

Joking....OK, the Rules are:

1. I will read to them {from a chosen book series} for 15 minutes a night, then they can all take turns reading a little bit of their own book selections out loud, followed up with quiet reading, or they can have quiet reading at another time.
2. There will be listening to one another. 
3. This club is not optional. 
4. They will help each other read hard words if needed
5. They would each be required to ask one question about the other books 

Sounds like a crappy club, huh?  Nope.  It's awesome.  And they're doing it. They are already reading longer than I told them they had to.  If I have tamed these wild ponies and gotten them to team up after just one book club meeting, then you can too.

Here is what makes this club really work:

You have to make it special and feel important.  There is a secret chant we do on a pinky swear before we begin, and I read to them by flashlight, inside a tent, or outside. 

Think Dead Poets Society here...remember how the boys would steal away in the night to read beautiful poetry in the dark, and bond huddled in that cave area?  I do.  It made the reading a bit more whimsical, didn't it?  To me, this is the key.  Make it irresistible.
And I'm just saying, but you will have to buy into this too, or else forget it.  Don't stomp your feet and roll your own eyes.  Have fun with it.  They're only little for a little while, you know.

This special location and secret chant before reading does a few things:  First, it makes them think I'm a total loser for making it up, and making them repeat the secret chant out loud, thus creating a pack mentality of "Mom is such a dork" {You see?  They are already bonding and rolling their eyes in unison now.  It's magical}.  Next, they will remember this when they get older. It will be a pleasant memory.  And lastly, it is my hope that they will be dorks for their own kids someday too. 

Mission accomplished.



Yes, this got set up in my foyer
because it was going to
rain...

So try it. You can go to your local library and sign up right now, and make up a silly chant on a pinky swear. While your kids are doing something you want {reading and getting smarter} they're also doing something they need~building strong bonds with each other that will carry over into other parts of their lives~at least that's my hope and plan. 

That is priceless.  Totally worth my loser status.


In the spirit of Dead Poets Society,

Carpe Diem! and read....

{Jenn}

Thank You!

Good Morning! 

I think I need to say thank you this morning.....



It is not happy people who are thankful.
It is thankful people who are happy.
~Unknown

This little blog has now been read in over 20 countries around the world, by more than 2600 people, since my first post in February.  That is blowing my mind, since I didn't really think anyone would read the first post.  I love it.  It's amazing how easily we can connect to each other, and how small the world really gets through the Internet.  I appreciate every reader, and I hope I am putting good things out into the world that are helpful, & might inspire someone else to do the same. 
I'm not an expert at anything, and I am no Mark Twain, but I'm certainly grateful this space exists, and I get to unload all of this out of my mind.  All of our perspectives come from our life experiences, so why not share?  The more we know about each other the less likely we are to be adversaries, right? 
If my experience as a teacher helps some parents navigate the muddy waters of education, or you try some healthy recipie I make at home, then I'm doing something good...

Imagine the world our kids could live in if we all felt like the world was literally our neighborhood.  When I think about my own children, and their future children...it's the only kind of world I'm willing to consider. 


Thank you to all of you from.....

United States of America, Russia, China, Australia, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, Greece, Serbia, Anguilla, Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand, Taiwan, Poland, Germany, Romania, Philippines, Belgium, Pakistan, China, Ukraine, Japan, Brazil {Brazil, you are the first from South America!}

.....and everyone from everywhere else inbetween who might stop by...

Have an amazing day!

{Jenn}

Summer Smoothie

Drinking a smoothie during the cold winter months is not appealing to me at all.  Now that it's warm, and I'm getting into summertime mode, that morning smoothie is top on my list. I don't like to eat much in the morning, and this fits the bill~it's packed with nutrition, gives a great energy boost, and keeps you feeling full. 

Note: If you are expecting this to be a smoothie from a chain store, or fast food place....it's NOT that.  This is actually healthy for you.  Promise.

I made my first breakfast of "smoothie-season" this morning {the ones in the evening with Bacardi don't count}.

You can tweak it to meet your own needs, making it sweeter in the beginning as you get used to drinking kale ;) I'm not giving exact amounts because when it comes to the blender, I'm an eye-ball kind of person, so I hope the pictures give you an idea of proportions.

Here are the main ingredients:

Jenn's Summer Smoothie

• Kale~if you are worried that you won't use the big bag of kale from the grocery store, do what I do and freeze it.  The bag is under $3.00 and it looks like a pillow.  It will last you awhile unless you are cooking with it as well, or adding it to salads.  It's worth it for the fiber, vitamins, and protein.
• Frozen blueberries~buy the big bag...if you are making smoothies and want your kids to drink them, they will think a purple drink is much more fun to drink than a green one.  That's how it works with my girls.
• Frozen bananas~when making a smoothie with kale, at least one frozen banana is a must for me to have the consistency that makes it 'taste right'.  If you make it without the banana, it will be kind of watery, and the taste is just blah.  You will curse me drinking it without this binder ingredient....and we should be friends.
• Water~I usually fill the blender up about half-way.  You can always add more later if it's too thick.
• Hemp protein powder~I added about 1/4 c of hemp to my smoothie for the added protein, Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids, and energy boost.  It doesn't change the taste at all.

I realize my pictures aren't super-fancy, but I was making my breakfast...it was early...you get the idea.  I hope you give it a try~and let me know what you think!  There really are endless variations....enjoy!

Step 1: Add about 1/2 to 2/3 blender full of kale

Step 2: Add about 2 cups worth of blueberries

Step 3: Add 2 frozen bananas {freeze them, skinless, when they start to darken with spots so they are sweet} 

Step 4: Add about 1/2 blender full of water

Step 5: Add about 1/4c of Hemp protein powder, and blend until smooth

Drink it up!

You will get about 2-3 large glass servings of this smoothie from this recipe.  I give my kids small glasses of it, and as long as it's not green colored, and sweet enough, they will drink it.  Most of the time without my prodding..... 

My tip is to give them straws...that's the easiest way for them NOT to realize there are tiny specs of kale in there.....also my blender is the one I got for my wedding 13 years ago....it is slowly dying.  I'm sure if I splurged and got the Vita-mix of my dreams, I would have a different consistency here....hint, hint to my husband.....we will see if he reads this post..... :)

Have a great day, drink up, and as my Nana would say, "To your health!"

{Jenn}

Prepare the Pantry

We've all heard the saying, "If you eat the way you've always eaten, you'll look the way you have always looked".  I'll take it a step further and say if you eat the way you've always eaten, you will never know the health that is waiting for you.  I have never felt better since changing my eating habits.  I know it sounds hokey, but I'm completely in tune with my body and how different foods affect me now.  When you clear out all of the junk...actually allowing yourself to feel hungry, you can tell right away what your body does and does not want in it. 

When you eat clean, the cravings you had in your former life of eating whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted to~go away.  It's like your brain had the craving switch flipped off. 

I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't experienced it for myself.  You owe it to yourself to give this "clean" lifestyle a shot.  Make your goal to eat this way 80-90% of the time.  That's what I do.  That way you can eat pizza with your kids on Friday night if you so choose, because you know you will only have a little since you are eating so many veggies to fill you up.  I don't deny myself anything, and I think that's why this works so well.

And I'm not always perfect....sometimes, like while on vacation {not like I just came back from vacation or anything.....choke, choke} I fall off the wagon a bit, and eat dips I normally wouldn't {with fresh veggies}...or snack on cracker packs {I was on the beach!} just because they were easy to grab...and I feel the repercussions.  Mainly the uncomfortable stomach bloating that comes from eating crap.  Now that vacation is over, I'm getting back to zero, and my body is breathing a sigh of relief.

The first thing you need to do when setting yourself up for success is to clean out the pantry, and fill it with new items.  Yes, I still buy a few things the kids want, but stop buying the cookies and regular potato chips...they will call your name {they talk to me too} and you may not have the power to ignore the siren's call {I don't give myself extra temptations}.  You will find you use these new items a lot, and you will be able to make substitutions easily when you need to.  I'm a Bob's Red Mill fan, so you will see me use lots of their products, and you can find them at most grocery stores or online.  I am a big fan of Newark Natural Foods {in Newark, DE}, and get most of my products there.  By changing what you eat, your kids will follow suit.  You can still make chocolate chip cookies, but know that they are not going to be a 'chips ahoy', okay?  Your kids will deal.  Mine are on board, and no one is suffering {or at least they realized complaining wasn't getting them anywhere with me...ha!}.

Don't let this list panic you.  You don't have to go out tomorrow and spend a fortune.  These are just my staples, and I will be posting some recipes soon which will include these ingredients.  I'm not paid for any of these opinions, and the brands I use are just my favorites. 

 

Oats~this super big jar gets filled and re-filled constantly in our house.  We always keep a large amount on hand.  Not only for oatmeal, but to add to bars, thicken shakes, make {healthy} cookies or even mix with our apple breakfast "cereal" if it needs to get beefed up a bit, or heated up {it just tastes better w/oats if it's warm}.

Shredded Coconut~I love using this in my bars, and I add it to my morning cereal as well.  This coconut is NOT what you'd buy in the grocery store near the chocolate chips.  That is the sweetened kind, which is junk!  This is unsweetened, and shredded...it's a must-have for me.

Walnuts, Almonds~I use nuts in many different ways.  I always buy nuts in the baking aisle in BJ's because they have large bags of unsalted nuts.  If you are always snacking on salted nuts, you will feel bloated and get way too much salt.  I try to buy walnut pieces {they're coarsely chopped} and sliced almonds, since they are easier to eat without breaking a tooth.  I use them in my bars, add them to my breakfast cereal, blend them to make flour, or even to make crusts for tarts.  It's the healthiest way I get fats into my diet.

Maca Powder~a slightly nutty flavored powder of the {you guessed it} maca root.  It's an excellent source of B-12, balances hormones, and gives an energy boost without caffeine.  I add it to the morning cereal concoction, to soups, dressings for salad, bars....it's also known to increase libido, especially in men.  You can thank me later, ladies.

Ground Flaxseed Meal~I buy the organic, ground flaxseed because that's the best way for our bodies to absorb the nutrients.  Otherwise it would just pass through your system. It's rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, high in fiber, and is high in lignans which balance hormones, especially in women.  It goes rancid easily, so keep in the fridge.

Dates~I use dates as a sweetener and as a binder in my bars, as well as chopped in our morning cereal.  There are so many good reasons to add dates to your diet...mainly for their high fiber content, the vitamins and minerals they contain, and how quick they can give you an energy boost when you need it.

Blue Agave~I use this instead of white sugar.  It has a low glycemic index, meaning it has less of an effect on blood sugar. It is way sweeter than sugar, so only small amounts are needed.  I use it in my bars, cookies, or drizzle over oatmeal.

Hemp Protein Powder~an excellent source of plant based protein that is super rich in minerals, essential fatty acids, and amino acids. So basically you will be in a great mood while getting the nutrition your body needs.

Hemp Seeds~these have a great, mildly nutty flavor, and are great sprinkled on salad, or in yogurt.

Almond Milk~I use almond milk for everything from drinking, adding to our morning "cereal", moistening bars, and to mix with my Vega powder for a meal replacement.  I buy unsweetened for most of my needs, but I also buy "original" which is lightly sweetened.  My kids all love the vanilla and chocolate options, and the added health benefit of getting extra dairy out of their systems has been amazing...Forget about the milk campaign that tells you 'milk does a body good'....I'll follow up with that at some point in a future post.  Promise.

Chia Seeds~This is a MUST HAVE for me.  I could go on and on about the benefits of chia seeds in your diet...and I'm sure I will at some point.  I drink them in water with a squeeze of lemon or lime {aka, "chia fresca"} using a straw...you will thank me when you don't have tiny seeds stuck to your face if you drink them without one.  You can also sprinkle them on salads, add them to bars, or make "puddings" with them, since the seeds create their own gel when soaked in water. 

In a nutshell, chia seeds are high in fiber, they contain Omega-3 fatty acids, they're gluten free, stabilize blood sugar, and can help "clean out your insides"...absorbing and getting rid of toxins in the body....keeping the pipes clean.  They do not go rancid, so you can keep them on the counter, unlike flaxseed.

Nutritional Yeast~a new addition for me, it is a great way to add minerals and protein to your diet.  It's also gluten free.  Sprinkle it on popcorn, veggies....really anything you would normally add cheese to.  It has a cheesy/nutty taste, and packs a great nutritional punch.



Nutritional Yeast



Yerba Mate~this tea, rich in antioxidants, enhances your ability to focus, and have sustained energy during physical activity.  It contains caffeine, but doesn't have the same let-down response you might have from drinking coffee or a soda drink.  I use this by cutting open the tea bags, and adding it to homemade sports gels I make for my husband during races {thank you, Brendan Brazier of Thrive}, or training. I've also added it to homemade sesame crackers, another Thrive recipe. 

I'll follow up with recipes soon.  Until then, have a great day!

{Jenn}

Peek

I'm the kind of person who is enamored by churches, regardless of what religion they're tied to, but I don't think you have to be in a building to seek or find God. 

During one of our walks along the Sound, in Duck, OBX, I stopped with my girls to peek in a special place just to the side of the boardwalk.  It's a small, round, gazebo style building with a beautiful view of the water.

The door is usually open for passers by, and it might be the smallest, but most quaint 'church' you could visit.  It sort of says, 'hey, here's a place where you can stop and say a prayer if you want....no pressure'.  Fitting for the relaxed atmosphere of OBX.

The single stained glass window inside has a beautiful message. 
It's a nice one to remember.  I thought I'd share.

 

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing, therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Have a great day!

{Jenn}

Canine Spirit

Weather can play a part in having a succesful vacation, but I can honestly say, as long as we can get to OBX, I can deal with whatever Mother Nature has in store for us.  Just get me there.

After a few days of hot sun on the beach, the clouds rolled in and the rain came, but that didn't stop us from walking the boardwalk at the waterfront shops, which expands down the shoreline of the Sound, all the way down to our must-go-to-sweet-spot, Duck Donuts.  We stumbled upon the owners getting interviewed and photographed for Distinction Magazine, and the girls had their photos taken too, as they dug in to a dozen of the hottest, melt in your mouth, donuts we could order...  As their Daddy would say, it figures we go out for donuts, and the kids end up in a magazine....  It was an extra treat, for sure, and we will have to keep an eye out for the article, and see if the girls make the cut.



Augen



The boardwalk connects you to a quaint shopping area, and across the street are beautiful little boutiques called Scarborough Lane.  My husband took the girls and I peeked into a jewelry shop, by myself.  I quickly realized it may take awhile to find everyone again, as the shops wrap around two seperate areas, kind of rectangular shaped.  My oldest peeked her head out and waved to me from the one store I was worried about taking them in...Outer Barks.  Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful shop, with all kinds of special gifts for your dog, but I worried that the girls would get sad, missing Augen, who we lost in February.  I think now it was Augen who drew the girls into that store, becuase it was the most special stop of the day.



The kids had already made fast friends with Robin, the store owner, and told her all about Augen.  Turns out maybe Robin needed the visit from little girls who lost their big brother dog, because Robin lost one of her dogs earlier in the week.  Her other dog, Bogie, was lying in his dog bed in the shop.  Our youngest daughter was petting him so gently and said, "Mom, he is so sad, I can feel it in my body how sad he is.  He misses his brother.  But the other doggies spirit is still here mom.  Just like Augie's spirit came with us to Duck!".  By now, I was tearing up, Robin was tearing up, Peyton was on the verge of tears......until she spotted a greeting card they had on a turn-style rack with a weimaraner on the front in a birthday hat.  "Look, Mom!  It's Augen!".  

Robin packaged the card up, and gave it to her to take home to keep so she could remember her Augen.  It was really sweet.

Our oldest ended up finding a weimaraner ornament with angel wings, so you know we picked that right up as a keepsake.

I make sure I talk to our girls in spiritual ways, and how we are all connected.  How spirit never dies.  Never goes away.  Guides us.  

Peyton's first comment when we arrived in Duck was, "Hey mom, Augen's spirit came with us, I think he is already down at the beach!". 

Seeing how she was able to openly talk about spirit and feel the loss of the dog is confirmation to me that even when I wonder if my kids are listenening.....they are.  And because of that, they were able to share in the grief while comforting Robin and her dog Bogie at the same time.  That's pretty big for little kids, especially when coming from a six year old. 

It was even more beautiful to witness.

Turns out I was pretty grateful for the rain, which took us to the shops, which led us to The Outer Barks for a little shopping. 

It was the best stop of the day.


Have a great day!

{Jenn}

Clarity by the sea



OBX, North Carolina

 After a few solid days of sitting on the beach with my family in Duck, OBX, and enjoying watching the dolphin play and ride the waves just like our daughters have been, I'm reminded of my intense love for the coastline, no matter where it is, on earth.  The air, the greenery amidst the sandy coastline, and the feeling of clarity that comes by being so close to the ocean, is something I think I honestly need. 

It always brings me back to an amazing experience I had ....

Years ago, during the summer between high school ending and college life beginning, I was lucky enough  to travel to Australia through the Experiment in International Living as a student ambassador.  It was an experience that shaped my life, and view of the world.   I met up with a group of same aged teens from all across the country in the Los Angeles airport, and together, as strangers, we travelled to (quite honestly) the most beautiful place on earth.

There was an experience where we each got to live with a host family in Melbourne (my family was the Cronins, a wonderful family), we lived in the Outback in tents with a wagon train for our meals, lived in Sydney in a youth hostle where I got the opportunity to see Madame Butterfly at the Sydney Opera House (after a quick call home to mom and dad, asking for Western Union replenishment for the ticket money), lived on a million acre cattle ranch where we were taught to "cut cattle" on horseback, and my favorite stop of all~living on Heron Island.  The entire purpose of the trip was to get to Heron Island for the marine science experience through the Heron Island Research Station operated by the University of Queensland.  I was in heaven.

We tagged coral reef areas to record marine life feeding patterns, we went seining for creatures to add to the wet lab, went diving over the Great Barrier Reef....all on this tiny island, perpendicular from the coast of Gladstone, straight out in the sea.  It's barely on the map.  The asterisk you see is way bigger than the actual pinpoint the island is....

Not only was it beautiful by day, and totally secluded...but by night?  The sky was so pitch black you could not see your hand in front of your face.  We were in ultimate darkness, no ambient light at all.  The stars looked three-dimensional and appeared to be reachable, all around you, as if you were standing in the middle of a laser show.  Not far off, or "way up there"....you felt that you were a part of the stars.  It was a connection to the earth I had only experienced when diving deep down in the ocean, sitting on the bottom of the sea. 


I was part of the earth, not just as an observer. 

All of us need to try to find a place that will offer us that experience, there's magic in it, and it is something that has stayed with me almost 20 years later (wow, I really had to think about that...it's been 20 years?). 

I would love to find my way back with my husband and children one day (there is a tiny resort on the island), but until then (when I win the lottery) I will soak up the sun and dig my feet into the sand where I'm sitting in Duck, OBX...because isn't that always the most beautiful place on earth? 

The place where you are, right now.

Have an amazing day!

{Jenn}

p.s~if the Cronin Family, of Camberwell/Melbourne, ever see this post, I'd love to reconnect with all of you~especially since my stay with you was "pre-internet".... {Host mom: Maureen Cronin, host sister: Jennifer, host brother: Andrew, can't remember host dads name, sorry!!  You were all wonderful to me}