Exciting News!!

So this is totally "unplanned" but we are excited!!!

Taking Care of Two and Beet nutrition

Hello all! So in case you all wondered why I haven't been blogging as much. ( I can only hope you miss me). #1 Reason is my mouse is broken and I am waiting to receive my new one in the mail. Using a desktop with just the keyboard and the tab button is WAY more difficult than I like. The accountant turned his cell phone into a remote but I only have it at night when he is home. So not so much blogging. The other reason I have not been blogging as much is I have been babysitting a friends little boy. I thought one kept me busy. I had NO idea how busy two would keep me! It's funny. They occupy each other but they also get into more trouble, so this necessitates a very close eye. So, no Internet surfing for information without the mouse, and not a whole lot of time outside of keeping the house presentable (sort of) and cooking for the accountant ( I de-stress by cooking, lucky man!).
I do want to share a tidbit of information that I learned to day in my perusal of the local co-op newsletter. It's a little nutrition information on one of my favorite vegetables. Hint this veggie turns your poo red.
Beets!
Beets are full of vitamin A, B1, B2, B6 and C. They also contain calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and iron. They are a great source of choline which is needed for your brain and that of a growing baby whether in or out of the womb.
One way I like to enjoy beets is cooked and tossed with olive oil, ground black pepper, dill and lemon juice. (I used to add feta cheese before I knew I was allergic to casein, if you are not allergic I highly recommend adding it in too!)
I love to buy beets, cook them and add them to my tossed green salad. (I am one of those strange people that craves salads) Juicing beets raw will give you even more health benefits than eating them cooked or try grating them with your cheese grater and putting them on your raw salad.
A few specific health benefits of beets, eaten in large quantity or part of a healthy diet are:
Choline detoxifies the liver
Helps with the healing process of a gastric ulcer
Helps alleviate gout
Helps keep arteries and veins elastic
Contains betaine an amino acid that has anti cancer properties. Protective against colon and stomach cancer
They are alkaline so helps combat acidosis in the body
Combat atherosclerosis
The iron in beets regenerates and activates blood cells fighting anemia.

So eat your beets!

My Baby is One Year Old!

Busy Days

So the accountant bought me a D3100 Nikon for my birthday. I am in love! So far I only know how to point and shoot it but I plan on learning all the features! It takes gorgeous photos! I highly recommend it! 

 I thought I would document a little bit of my life in pictures for you. Above meet Wesley our 1 year old yorkshire terrier. Below of course is little Olivia.

 Here is my idea book. I put everything I think is a good idea in it!

 Here is my journal where I write everything from lists, menu planning to thoughts.

This is where my herb garden is going to go next to my back door.

 Here is the wood for our chicken coop. We will of course need more!

 My backyard. To the right I am putting my two raised beds...not sure yet where the chickens are going.

 Spent some time reorganizing my bulk supplies...

 Birthday gift from my good friend. So excited to plant them!

 New dutch oven from my sister!

 The reason I have been so busy this week is I have two little ones running around!

 Working on my lotions..

Me at the end of a very long day!

On My Bookshelf

Books:

Mr Brown Can Moo by Dr Suess. Olivia's favorite book she makes some of the noises as we read. When I ask her to go get a book for mommy to read her this is what she drags back!

The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan. A book to remind me and inspire me to slow down.

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp this book is written by a lady whose blog I love to follow called Holy Experience. I have only read the first chapter and have cried my way through it. She is a gifted writer, sharing her story about love, loss and the goodness of God.

Becoming a Woman of Simplicity by Cynthia Heald. My current bible study. A great reminder as to what the simple life really is.

Chick Days An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Raising chickens by Jenna Woginrich. The accountant and I are beginning to build our chicken coop. We need to prepare for those chicks right! This is a great book with lots of full color photos.

Magazines:

Cook's Country Magazine I picked this up when I was at the local food co-op this past month. There are some fantastic looking recipes and I hoping to try soon.

Real Simple Magazine month of February. I had a free year long subscription that is coming to an end soon. I will miss it because the pictures are fun to look at.



Blogs:

Will Work for Decor a blog by a very creative friend who loves to take photos and make things.

Frugal Granola a great blog about living the simple life. Great resource and inspiration.

Heavenly Homemakers blog written by a home schooling mama of four boys! She has wonderful recipes and is an inspirational resource to me.

Picture Day

 How I wish I had one of those nice expensive DSLR cameras! This is my birthday/ next Christmas wish list. Nothing else! Olive was moving constantly this morning!! Most pictures were blurry. She keeps pushing the dining room chairs across the floor!

 The polka dots are so cute! I love baby clothes. Can you imagine me wearing this? We get away with so much as kids.

 And of course her friend Sophie the giraffe.

My adorable little girl...would not keep still for her pictures this morning!