Fresh & Easy

If you haven't already made the commitment to try juicing, get to it!  Try out our latest recipe and join this community of liquid greatness.  If you are aren't already up to date on my personal journey then check it out, I only hope it motivates you that much more!  If you are in fact ready to do give it your all, then let me help you get started.  Try this sassy salad in a glass and enjoy the lingering taste of sweet pineapple.

As always, please remember, my servings are based on 32 oz. mason jars, and I always make two.  So ultimately, these recipes make 64 ounces of power packed juice.  Strive to use organic produce for "soft skinned" fruit and any vegetables. Oranges and pineapple (unless you throw the skin in the juicer) are acceptable non-organics as their skins are not able to be juiced.

The Final Countdown!

Some days I can't believe I'm already in my LAST trimester, and that due date is creeping ever so closely now. All of the sudden the responses to my most asked question ("when are you due?") get met with "Wow so soon!" to which I cringe a little and say to myself "not that soon......". My second trimester seemed to just kind of float on by - not too fast, not too slow. I did my best to savor each day as a pregnant person, and enjoy all the happiness that's been following me throughout this process.

But now it's all business. TH and I finally moved into our new home (which you read a little bit about already) and I am finally getting baby's room together. We also started our plethora of classes - birth preparedness, first aid & CPR, baby care basics, breastfeeding, etc. I fully believe that being as educated as possible only makes life easier so I have no problem dragging TH to all of these (despite his hesitation at needing to attend the breastfeeding class - I don't understand why he WOULDN'T need to know every single detail about his child's life). I've also begun the arduous task of really mentally preparing myself for "the big day" and all the work I'll need to put in for it. A well-planned Nic is a happy Nic, so that's the name of the game this trimester.

Celebrating Mother's Day on our Babymoon in Hawaii!

I've also been suffering from some severe baby brain this last month. My mom warned me about her 7 month baby brain and it looks like, once again, I am taking right after her because most days I can't recall my own name let alone the million details I need to get through life. I am fortunate to have very patient individuals surrounding me but I get a lot more eye rolls from TH these days as he wonders why I am putting a tape measure in the refrigerator, or something else ridiculous. Oh well, this too shall pass!

First bump pic in our NEW home! Taken in the baby's room no less...

Overall I still feel amazing and think being pregnant might be my favorite thing ever. It must show too, because I get plenty of feedback from people who say I am glowing (although I'm not sure I agree) and seem so content. Now, it's the birth part I'm not so sure of. My goal is to have a natural labor and birth experience, and I'm feeling pretty positive that *I* can do it if my baby and body allows. However, I know I can't control everything and am willing to be flexible as that is the best birth plan a woman can have, in my opinion. I'm a pretty tough cookie, but I've never had serious physical pain in my life so I just have no clue how it's really going to go down, and that of course is the most frightening part for an uber-planner like myself (and Em). All I can do is try my best, and take comfort in the fact that SO many women have gotten through this exact same process just fine and dandy. Plus, I love the saying "pain with a purpose" - yes it's going hurt and it's going to suck beyond belief, but once I have that little baby in my arms I won't care one iota.

P.S. Wishing my TH a very happy 30th birthday today! To the next 30 and beyond my love...

Make Your Mondays - June 17th

We hope everyone had a fabulous Father's Day yesterday! Nic spent some time with her TH since it's his 30th birthday this coming Tuesday, and even managed to get a nap in on Saturday in between activities and continuing her house projects.  Em was a busy homemaking bee, doing her best to accommodate her team of painters (more to come on that later) all the while unpacking as best she could.  Don't worry though, she was able to fit in a quick trip to the Long Beach Antique Market as well as the Randomly Glorious Furniture Warehouse with Nic.  We are never too busy for a frugal fab find hunt!

So much of our society bases success on material; what we have and how much.  What if each of us, one by one, started to shift our focus from what we want to what we have?  What if success was measured by the amount of happiness and joy we felt?  Wow, doesn't that sound like a nice world to live in.  Well, make that world your reality and strive for happiness within each moment of each day.  Decide that your success will only be measured by joy...how does it feel? 

Karma is a B...eautiful Thing!

I know the word "Karma" can be touchy for some as it does have a religious connotation.  However, the term itself seems to have evolved and taken on a meaning of its own...apart from its Buddhist origin. I myself am a big believer in Karma no matter where it came from.  I truly believe that good things come to good people and that kindness is contagious. The more you help others and spread positive energy, the better you will feel, look and live.

 Have you ever done something only to see it come back to you later?  I know I myself practice the art of paying it forward trusting that the Karma I put out only comes back to me stronger.  For example, I pay my toll as well as the person's behind me (I have often gotten that one back...to which I feel great all day), chase after someone when they've dropped something, walk my cart to it's proper drop off (I personally think collecting carts is the worst job that could ever be..it never ends, where is the satisfaction in that?!) and simply try to do nice things for others.  While I don't act kindly and expect something in return, I act kindly because it makes me feel good and  hopefully inspires others to do the same.   

 

Just recently I had a representative from a paint company take time out of his day to check out my newly purchased home and give me an estimate on how much paint he thought I would need to do both the exterior and interior.  He had just done a job for my Magical Aunt B and said he would be happy to stop by, do a walk through and apply his 20% discount to my paint order.  Needless to say I was ecstatic!  Paint is quite pricey and since we finally pulled the trigger and decided to hire out for our paint job (more to come on that later) I was desperate for a deal.

I chatted with the man briefly, set an appointment for him to meet with my TH at my house when he was available (since he could only meet during school hours), then called to follow up and order.  He was such a nice man and I was so grateful for his time, knowledge and expertise that I was just beaming through the phone.  Before he called in the order to the corporate office, he warned me it could take a few hours and to keep my phone ready as a missed call would mean going to the bottom of a possibly endless list and delaying the paint delivery.  Well, I promised him I would literally tape my phone to my heart with the ringer on full blast.  He chuckled and said he would make the call.

As I paced around the house, checking to ensure my ringer was on full blast I was just sick that I would somehow black out, go deaf and miss the call all at the precise moment they tried.  Literally five minutes into my freak out, it rang!  I eagerly answered and the man on the other end chucked as well...was this perhaps not the call I was waiting for?  I repeated my cheery, "Hello?" and through his continued laugh he said, "This must be Emilia..I just got a call for an order and the man told me you were one of the nicest people he had ever talked to, I can already tell he was right".  From that moment on, I thought my heart would explode from my chest.  I mean, this is the kind of thing that can truly make my entire day, week, maybe even month.  All I did was be myself, appreciate someone's time and alas...it all came back.  The man on the other line of a shortly awaited phone call said due to this nice-ness he had heard about he decided to move me right to the top of that call list...BOO YA!

So, do  you believe in Karma?  Does what goes around really come around?  Let us know and share some of your Karmic Krusades!