In Season Now: Strawberries

Ripe Red Sweet Juicy Goodness.
Strawberries are such a great Spring treat.
They are a "dirty dozen" fruit, so I recommend you go local and organic on this one and enjoy while they are here!

Benefits of Strawberries....

• boost immunity
• promote eye health
• fight free radicals
• fight wrinkles
• fight bad cholesterol
• reduce inflammation
•  regulate blood pressure
• fiber
• aide in weight management
• promote pre-natal health
• low in sugar/glycemic load

More Usana Awards

Usana Health Sciences recently earned four Best in State Awards.

• Rev3 Energy--Heath/Nutrition Beverage
• MyHealthPak--Dietary Supplements
• HealthPak--Health/Nutrition Products
• Research and Development--Science and Technology

All the more reason to contact your Usana representative today.

My Kids' Smoothie

1 ripe banana
whole milk
1 heaping spoon of almond butter
1-2 spoons of steal cut oats
splash vanilla
a few sprinkles cinnamon

a great way to get health benefits of nuts without choking hazards.  cinnamon helps to keep blood sugar levels a little more stable.

.....yummy......

Energy Balls

Searched the web a little for energy ball ideas, then just used what we had on hand.
Here is what we came up with:

1 cup nut butters (a combination of peanut, cashew and almond; had three jars all almost empty to use)
1 cup local raw honey
3 cups rolled grain mix (like rolled oats but with wheat, spelt, oats, rye, and barley; my mother bought this at some Amish stand she drove past)
1 cup raisins and walnuts combined (more raisins since it was already nut heavy)
Mixed all together, formed balls then rolled in
wheat germ
flax meal

I let each boy roll a few on their own plate.  The rest I rolled and they are now chilling in the freezer.  I am freezing in hopes of being able to pack up a few in the morning and that they would be thawed by time to snack.  Wish I had some unsweetened coconut to roll in as well, but I just used it all in waffles a few days ago.  The boys loved the activity and the snack.  Very easy and adaptable to what you have in the pantry and fridge.

Usana Success Story

Great news from a new associate in my downline.

Her Vitamin D level was 19.2, for the first three weeks after testing she took nothing, for the next three weeks she took 4000 IU of Usana Vitamin D everyday.  At her retest, 6 weeks later, Vitamin D levels were up to 39.1.  Pretty good news after just three weeks of Usana!!  Of course every body is different.  But what a great improvement for her!

Thanks for sharing team!
Please keep the good news coming.

Inpiration

From an email I received today:
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." 
--Thomas Edison

(thanks Briana)

Amazingly Healthy School Lunches

Everything about Lisa's blog is inspiring, but these school lunch are just beautiful.  I love reading her blog and felt I really needed to bring attention to this post.  Great ideas for toddler and picnics too.
Read all about it, and drool over the photos, here

Hope you are inspired too!

Spring foods are here!

Kale, asparagus, strawberries...start watching for them.  Local season spring foods are here!  Peas and leeks will be here very soon, if not already.  Fresh spinach...yum! 
Farmer's Markets will be in full swing very soon!
Tower Grove opening day is Saturday May 5
Schafly's Maplewood Market is open now!  Wednesdays 4:00-7:00
Webster Grove's Market opens May 3

When you eat seasonally, spring is certainly a big treat!  Enjoy!

My Kids' Smoothies

Smoothies can be a mom's best friend.

This morning's smoothie for my boys:
1/2 avocado
large scoop of plain yogurt
squeeze of Barlean's Omega Swirl Fish Oil (Pina Colada flavored)
one ripe banana
ice

It was a beautiful light green color, rich, smooth and creamy.  so yummy.
The boys drank it down, but if I did have any left overs I would have simply poured it into my popsicle molds.

Healthy Home tip of the Day

With two young boys in the house my bathrooms frequently need cleaning.  And by "cleaning" I mean walls, baseboards, everything.  I clean with my favorite all purpose cleaner and disinfectant I've posted about before: 1/2 white vinegar, 1/2 hydrogen peroxide, a few drops of tea tree oil.  But now I have a new favorite "product" to add to my cleaning routine.  To absorb odors between cleaning I keep a small mason jar with baking powder and a few drops essential oil on the back of the toilet.  Occasionally shake to reactivate the oils scent.  A great way to have a fresh smelling room with out introducing chemicals or perfumes in your home.  I hope you like this idea as much as I do.

Inspiration

Refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy
Ecclesiastes 11:10

Immune Booster

Grateful people tend to be more optimistic.
Being optimistic boots the immune system.

What are you grateful for?
Feel better already, don't you.

USANA® PROBIOTIC RECEIVES CONSUMERLAB.COM CERTIFICATION

USANA Earns Sixth Stamp Of Approval From Third-Party Testing

Read more here
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/usana-probiotic-receives-consumerlabcom-certification-2012-02-10

How are you sleeping?

Look around your room tonight.  Is there anything you can do to make your room a little darker.  Light interferes with your body's production of melatonin, making it more difficult to fall asleep.  I few simple (and inexpensive) changes could make a difference in the way you sleep.  Can you make your windows darker with shades, black out curtains, or draping an extra blanket over the window?  Is there a light you are used to leaving on you could switch off?  Can your alarm clock be moved to a lower shelf or onto the floor?  Is there a door that needs to be closed?  Some appliance you could turn off?  Simple changes in your room could lead to better sleep and better health.

Still having trouble sleeping?  Talk to your Usana associate about Pure Rest.  Pure Rest is Usana's Orange-flavored dissolvable tablet designed to support better sleep made from an exceptionally pure source of melatonin and contains no animal ingredients.

Healty You Tip of the Day

Now.  Think of three things that make you happy.
Don't you feel better already?

Even better, join  me in starting a gratuities journal.  Everyday write down things you are thankful for. 
I'm sure you've read that over and over like I have, but I think if you just jump in and do it you will be happy you did.

Read more here .....
In a study by psychologists, Michael McCollough of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis participants were divided into three groups the first asked to journal with no direction, the second to journal unpleasant experiences, and the third to journal what they were thankful for.  "The results indicated that daily gratitude exercises resulted in higher reported levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism, and energy. In addition, those in the gratitude group experienced less depression and stress, were more likely to help others, exercised more regularly, and made greater progress toward achieving personal goals."

Healty You Tip of the Day

Drink water.
I know it's simple.  But you probably aren't getting enough. 
I know I'm not.
So right now.  Go.  Get yourself a glass of water.
Drink up.

January Goals Progress: kitchen countertops

How to get rid of the paper pile that seems to gather in the kitchen??
Create a tickler file.
I am amazed at how well this is working in my house.
Find information on how to create you own at simplemom.net
In addition to the month folders I've added a folder for tax documents so I have a place to put these as they come in and a folder for saved art work to be filed away at the end of school year.  I have concert tickets in the folder for the month of the concert.  Paperwork filed in the month it needs to be taken care of.  And no pile of stay paper laying in my kitchen.  It's a beautiful thing.

Healthy Home tip of the Day

Take off your shoes inside your door.  Shoes carry loads of pesticides, tar, oil and grease, and all the other toxins you walk through in the course of the day.  Do you really want to track that through your home?  I love classrooms where the children remove shoes indoors and change into house shoes, what a nice way to keep the children's area clean.  In fact, now is a great time to buy house shoes or slippers, they are always marked down between Christmas and spring, some are priced so low you could get a pair for this year and next.

January Goals Progress

Cleaning the vent on the hood of the stove.
I never even knew this job had to be done.  Go figure.
First I tried soaking in dish soap but they looked no better and I really didn't have the right kind of brush that would do much good.
Then I thought to run them through the dishwasher....much better....and super easy. 
Who Knew? 

January Goals

Are you looking to organize and have a smooth running household in 2012?  I certainly am.  I will be posting my monthly goals here (sure I should have done this at the beginning of the month, not half way through it), and I would love you to join me on my journey.

January Goals
--deep clean fridge
--clean out pantry
--rotate/flip mattresses, clean all mattress pads and blankets
--create meal planning system
--create grocery shopping system
--start daily devotionals
--write in gratuities journal daily
--clean stove hood vent filters
--clean kitchen counter tops and clean out cabinets

Healty You Tip of the Day

Do Something Different.
Changing your routine keeps your brain young.  This can be even simple things like taking a different way home.  Your challenge for tonight...if you choose to accept it...
Change where everyone sits at the dinner table.

Have Fun!

Healthy Home tip of the Day

Open your windows. 
It may be months before we have another nice day like this.  Let some of the bad air out and good air in.  Your body will thank you.

My Favorite Things: Children's Music

Have you heard Justin Roberts?  We really enjoy his music
Currently we are listening to the Best of the Laurie Berkner Band--lots of fun
Also Dino O'Dell from Kansas City who performs in St. Louis from time to time

Upcoming Events

At Wilson School in Saint Louis

Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D.

1-2-3 Magic:  Effective Discipline for Children Age Two to Twelve

Thursday, February 9^th, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Open to the public and offered at no charge.

Reservations recommended.

Speakerseries@wilsonschool.com

Wipe Recall

YIKES!!

http://www.stltoday.com/news/national/firm-in-wisconsin-has-to-recall-baby-wipes-again/article_944051b3-b8b7-5cb8-bcfc-67841e010939.html

Upcoming Events

Solving YOUR Weight Loss Puzzle

FREE

January 11 

7:00-8:00pm

Keller Williams Realty

 10936 Manchester Road

  Kirkwood

RSVP to sweetpea@usana.com

say you heard about it on Krypton Complete

My Favorite Things: Sappington Farmer's Market

Sappington Farmer's Market on Watson is a great locally owned grocery store that carries many local products.  My favorite part is that they have $10 off $50 purchase every Thursday.  You can print the coupon from home or pick one up on their add in-store.  The also have a rewards program in which you can accumalate points for free products.  And they have a CSA as well, though I've not had experience with it to share with you.

From their website:

"We’re the Missouri Farmer Owned Supermarket

Sappington Farmers Market is owned by a Missouri Cooperative effort of Small Family Farmers and Rural Entrepreneurs producing food the way it should be — naturally."

Here are my top picks:

• Store made peanut butter---yummy, it's found in the cheese case in the back of the store
• Windcrest Dairy Farms Yogurt--we love it! from Trenton, IL, cows not given hormones or antibiotics (unless they are sick), comes in regular and Greek styles, vanilla and plain
• Raw local honey
• local free range eggs in paper cartons 
• gluten free products if you need them
• pork from Todd Geisert Farms in Washington, MO
• local and hormone/antibiotic free chicken and beef, though I find this to be less predictable
• Salmon from Alaska caught and brought back by local fishermen

I like a lot about this store.  In fact I am there almost every week.  What I wish they did a better job of is labeling where the produce labeled "homegrown" come from.  Are they local?  Can I research the farm to find out what their practices and philosophies are?  A lot of time I end up not buying a product because I don't have this information and it might be exactly what I am looking for.

St. Louis Events

Upcoming Event at Cheryl's Herbs

Thursday, January 26, 2012

7:00 - 9:00 pm

HEALING NIGHT

Our topics this month are:

How to Implement Self-Organization Skills & Self-Management

with Jo Lena Johnson

and 

Practical Tips & Easy Methods for Aromatherapy, Herb & Food Preparations for a Busy Lifestyle

with Cheryl Hoard.

Preschool Project: Giving

This the season for charitable giving, but how to teach that to a preschooler can be difficult.  Here is what we did this year.

My son's preschool collected personal care items one week and food the next.  For the personal care items he and I sat down to make a shopping list, I explained we needed to list "things we used to take care of our bodies."  Our finished list was: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, and band aids.  I would have never thought of this last items myself, but certainly it is something the charities could use.   By every word on the list I drew an icon so that at the store my son could "read" the list and check off the items as we put them in the cart.  For most items we purchased both a kid and adult version (i.e. children's and adults' toothbrushes). 

For food we had less of a process.  My husband and son had one cart for charity and I had another for our own family.  We had coupons for $7 off $30 so we divided and loaded each cart with $30 worth of food.  (some of which went to the school's drive and some of which went to my husband's work drive).  We tried to get high protein items as those seemed to be in greater need.

Finally we got a name off the giving tree at our parish.  We chose a 4-year-old boy so that our son could help choose a gift for a boy like himself.

All items went into a bin I kept in a corner of the kitchen.  When my son went to school each day he went to the bin and loaded his backpack with the items being collected and once at school he unloaded his items into the box in his classroom.  We spread it out over several days so that he could do the work himself.  We wrapped the gift from the giving tree together and he took it to church and put it under the tree there. 

Now, do I think my son learned a great lesson in giving.... probably not.  But he did practice the act.  And like anything else practice makes perfect. 

Berry Booster Nutrimeal Shake

One of my favorite shake combinations

Frozen Blueberries (I buy the wild ones from Trader Joes)
Coconut Milk
1 Pack Usana Booster C
3 Scoops Usana Vanilla Nutrimeal

I think it is yummy!  Give it a try.