Wolly: A hot pocket I would recommend
Woolly Pocket makes these super fun, breathable and affordable planters from recycled water bottles. Clever and conscious...I like it!
Blogging Your Way: Green & Plenty style
image by Leslie of A Creative Mint
So I just finished a 4 week e-course called Blogging Your Way run by the amazing and talented Holly of decor8 and Leslie of A Creative Mint. Both of these blogs are beautiful, inspirational and very successful! If you're not already a fan, check them out, I bet you become one! They both started blogs doing what they love and have reached millions of people. Doors have opened for them in so many unexpected but welcomed ways thanks to following their passions.
The class taught me so much about writing a successful blog, taking great photos and expanding my audience, but also about staying true to myself and living according to my passions...and I have lots to do to implement all I learned. I can not thank these ladies enough for all the guidance and inspiration (and for connecting me with so many other bloggers around the world)! If anyone is thinking about taking this class, I would highly recommend it!
One of our "homework" assignments was to create a mood board to get us thinking about our inspirations and the overall feel of our blog. I "worked" on this for a few weeks (aka put it together and then just kept looking at it because something wasn't working). Anyway, once the deadline was seriously approaching, I thought about what I learned from Holly & Leslie and followed the advice of Coco Chanel and took a piece or two off....and it finally "works" (at least for me).
What do you guys think? I'll now create a mood board before decorating a room or planning decor for a party...so helpful and lots of fun...just like Blogging Your Way!
chickpea salad with parmesan and sun dried tomato
bon appetit magazine is always a great inspiration for delicious recipes. The only problem is that I usually have to hit the grocery first to get all of the required ingredients. Well, luckily not for today's meatless monday inspiration: chickpea salad with parmesan, basil and sundered tomatoes. This recipe is thanks to the writer of the blog orangette and her piece in bon appetit.
I didn't have italian parsley or any fresh garlic like the recipe called for, but I had the rest of the required ingredients and decided to add a little sundried tomato and a little less cheese....
Here's the recipe I used:
"reclaim" time for r & r
Looking forward to some downtime this weekend? Wouldn't it be lovely to enjoy it in this beautiful bed by trace made of reclaimed wood from a Staatsburg walnut tree?
So many more beautiful pieces on their website.
Thanks pretty little green things for introducing me to trace!
food & mood
The April issue of Vogue (covered by the gorgeous and talented Rihanna) contains a story about the use of food as a natural alternative to antidepressant medications. It seems that some doctors are finally considering the nutritional status of a depressed patient when determining the best treatment plan for their patients. Antidepressant drugs can have serious side effects and can be expensive. Recent research has found that patients taking 1,200 mg of fish oil a day had similar benefits as those they would see from taking medication.
The concept behind the "food-as-antidepressant" theory is that without certain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) such as tyrosine and tryptophan, we can't make the feel good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Vitamins and minerals like Zinc and some B vitamins as well as the omega-3 fats are also needed for our brains to function optimally. So whether or not your mood could use a little lift (it was a long winter) or you think there is a serious concern of depression, talk with your doctor and consider what's in your diet. Try to include more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (chia and flax particularly), fish and lean meats. An omega-3 supplement is another thing you may want to consider as it can be difficult to get enough from the diet if you're not a big fish eater (I take about 2000 mg of Nordic Naturals omega 3 fish oil supplements daily). Also consider asking your doctor or a dietitian about supplementing with amino acids or B vitamins. And when in doubt, a little sunshine and a good Rihanna tune can't hurt!
image by Annie Leibovitz via Vogue
The concept behind the "food-as-antidepressant" theory is that without certain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) such as tyrosine and tryptophan, we can't make the feel good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Vitamins and minerals like Zinc and some B vitamins as well as the omega-3 fats are also needed for our brains to function optimally. So whether or not your mood could use a little lift (it was a long winter) or you think there is a serious concern of depression, talk with your doctor and consider what's in your diet. Try to include more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (chia and flax particularly), fish and lean meats. An omega-3 supplement is another thing you may want to consider as it can be difficult to get enough from the diet if you're not a big fish eater (I take about 2000 mg of Nordic Naturals omega 3 fish oil supplements daily). Also consider asking your doctor or a dietitian about supplementing with amino acids or B vitamins. And when in doubt, a little sunshine and a good Rihanna tune can't hurt!
take a little action
The Today Show recently reported that 1 in 4 children in the US goes to bed hungry....1 in 4! That breaks my heart and makes me realize just how fortunate my family is.
The Hunger Site sells goods from around the world and the proceeds from products you buy converts into cups of food for someone in need. They have a lot of fantastic things that would make wonderful gifts. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Hunger Site sells goods from around the world and the proceeds from products you buy converts into cups of food for someone in need. They have a lot of fantastic things that would make wonderful gifts. Here are a few of my favorites:
The recycled flower sak grocery bag is super cool! It funds 50 cups of food and is roomy enough for all of your own farmer's market finds!
The recycled rice bag waste basket provides 25 cups of food and would also be great for storing kids toys or as the container for a DIY gift basket.
This stone sculpture funds 25 cups of food and would look nice in any room!
These 100% eco-friendly, vegetable dye painted tops fund 25 cups of food and would make a perfect party favor for a child's birthday party. Sam's baseball themed 1st birthday party is around the corner. I think I'll get these and attach a card saying "you're in the top of my lineup".
5 ways to get greens in your diet every day
St. Patrick's Day shouldn't be the only day that we incorporate more green in our lives! Green foods (I'm talking about the color here) are some of the highest in antioxidants and nutrients out there! Rich in everything from protein to Folic Acid to Calcium, we should all try to eat something green at least once daily. As part of my "Spring Cleaning & Greening" series, here are 5 tips to help you get your green on:
1. Get it over with at breakfast: Add broccoli or another green to your eggs or smoothie. Remember, frozen vegetables are a great option!
2. Change it up: Try something new, local, and seasonal when possible! Visit field to plate for a list of seasonal produce in your area. Currently in Illinois, there isn't much available, but in surrounding areas, greens, lettuce and asparagus are and they're on their way to us!
3. Keep it simple: Eat a salad with dinner every night. My grandparents ALWAYS had a simple greens, onion, tomato and cucumber salad with red wine vinegar and olive oil every night. A small salad helps up your veggie intake and cuts your total calories for the day as people tend to eat less at dinner if they have a light salad first.
4. Dive for it: Try dried sea vegetables (seaweed) like Wakame thrown into chicken broth with carrots, mushrooms and a few tablespoons of miso paste. Sea vegetables are potent anti-aging antioxidants and are high in B vitamins like folic acid and have the broadest range of minerals of any known food (especially iodine and magnesium).
5. Just drink it: Green tea, especially Matcha green tea is a potent antioxidant and potential weight regulator. Matcha is a powder that can be mixed with hot or cold water and enjoyed easily anywhere!
FYI, Whole Foods posts ANDI Scores around their stores. These are essentially a list of the most micronutrient (vitamins/minerals/antioxidants) dense foods per calorie. While this is by no means meant to be a complete list of everything that's healthy or necessary in our diets, it's interesting to note that the top 10 foods are in fact GREEN: Collard/Mustard/Turnip Greens, Kale, Watercress, Bok Choy, Spinach, Broccoli Rabe, Chinese/Napa Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard and Arugula!
image via two eat philly
image via lotiseement
FYI, Whole Foods posts ANDI Scores around their stores. These are essentially a list of the most micronutrient (vitamins/minerals/antioxidants) dense foods per calorie. While this is by no means meant to be a complete list of everything that's healthy or necessary in our diets, it's interesting to note that the top 10 foods are in fact GREEN: Collard/Mustard/Turnip Greens, Kale, Watercress, Bok Choy, Spinach, Broccoli Rabe, Chinese/Napa Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard and Arugula!
the only thing missing is green
The weather was 100% spectacular today in Chicago! The little time I had indoors was mostly spent looking out 2nd and 3rd story windows. And the only thing missing was the green leaves on the trees! Or was it? What about the potential for green where the sun shines most in the city- on top of homes and buildings?
Greensulate, a company started by Amy Norquist, builds sustainable green roofs on buildings and homes. Her company's projects have eliminated 3,300 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere and was featured in Inc. Magazine's "25 Entrepreneurs We Love 2010" issue! I'm sure it helps that they're expanding at 400% a year!
Would you like to see more green roofs from your window?
Chicago does have some green roofs now, but I'm hoping for more on homes, shops, restuarants and office buildings...many more!Would you like to see more green roofs from your window?
What's the best milk for toddlers? cow milk vs goat milk
As I've mentioned recently, my son will be turning one soon and will be switching over to milk in the next few weeks. So I've been researching what kind of milk we'll choose....
Two of our options are cow and goat milk. Cow's milk is the "popular" non-vegan choice and is readily available, but goat milk is gaining popularity and many claim it's the healthier alternative. Here's a look at what I've discovered.
According to pediatrician Dr. Sears, goats milk may be easier to digest and less alergenic as its fat and protein structure is closer to that of human breast milk. Results from a study in Science Daily showed that goat's milk had higher bioavialability of Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium (note this study was done in rats). With iron deficiency often a concern in toddlers ages 1-3, goat's milk could have a decent advantage in this area...
I've also read claims that goat milk is alkaline producing, as is human breast milk, while cow's milk is acid producing. More on this topic in a different post soon, but the goal is to avoid too many acid producing foods. A few other positives for goats:
image via abernathy creek farm
Two of our options are cow and goat milk. Cow's milk is the "popular" non-vegan choice and is readily available, but goat milk is gaining popularity and many claim it's the healthier alternative. Here's a look at what I've discovered.
According to pediatrician Dr. Sears, goats milk may be easier to digest and less alergenic as its fat and protein structure is closer to that of human breast milk. Results from a study in Science Daily showed that goat's milk had higher bioavialability of Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium (note this study was done in rats). With iron deficiency often a concern in toddlers ages 1-3, goat's milk could have a decent advantage in this area...
I've also read claims that goat milk is alkaline producing, as is human breast milk, while cow's milk is acid producing. More on this topic in a different post soon, but the goal is to avoid too many acid producing foods. A few other positives for goats:
- Goat's milk is consumed by more people worldwide than cow's milk.
- Goat's have a lighter carbon footprint as they're raised on less land and food.
- Calcium: Goat's milk has about 13% more than cow's milk
- B-6: Goat's milk has 25% more
- Vitamin A: Goat's milk has 47% more
- Potassium: Goat's milk has 134% more
- Niacin: goat's milk has 3x as much as cow's milk
- Copper: Goat's milk has 4x as much
- Selenium: Goat's milk has 27% more
- Folate: Cow's milk has 10x as much as goat's milk (look for goat's milk that is fortified with folic acid)
- Vitamin B-12: Cow's milk has 5x as much as goat's milk
- Look for milk that is free of added hormones and antibiotics (organic is your best bet).
- Milk from grass-fed animals is best as the fat ratios are most favorable and ideal for the whole family.
- Look for milk that is NOT ultra high temperature pasteurized (UP) meaning that all the healthy bacteria are destroyed and enzymes and proteins denatured. For more on this topic check out The Sweet Beet.
slow cooker garbanzo bean and vegetable curry
How does the weekend always fly by so fast? I was racking my brain and fridge for a good meatless Monday meal when I came across a new recipe for vegetarian curry from Nurture, a local grass roots organization that was founded to address issues including hunger, childhood obesity, wellness and an increasingly unhealthy food chain.
I didn't have every ingredient on the list, but there were others I did have that I thought would work nicely. With a little creativity and improvisation, I came up with something that even my recently picky little eater loved!
30 minutes before we ate, I put some red quinoa in the rice cooker and turned it on and threw the spinach in the slow cooker. I topped the curry with a little spicy chili sauce for some heat. SO easy, so healthy & so delicious!
I didn't have every ingredient on the list, but there were others I did have that I thought would work nicely. With a little creativity and improvisation, I came up with something that even my recently picky little eater loved!
1 can garbanzo beans
1 can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup red lentils
3 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp chopped ginger
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 Tbsp crushed cumin and coriander mix
1 sweet potato
20 oz low sodium vegetable broth
3 medium carrots diced
8oz coconut milk*
1/2 small head of cauliflower
1.5 cups spinach
3/4 cup red quinoa
In literally 10 minutes, I opened the cans, peeled and chopped the vegetables and threw everything (except the spinach and quinoa) into the slow cooker and turned it on low (for 8 hours). Sam and I walked out the door to music class and when we returned a couple hours later, the house was already smelling great!
30 minutes before we ate, I put some red quinoa in the rice cooker and turned it on and threw the spinach in the slow cooker. I topped the curry with a little spicy chili sauce for some heat. SO easy, so healthy & so delicious!
Recipe makes roughly five 2 cup servings
Nutrition Information per serving of curry with 1/4 cup quinoa:
316 Calories
14 g fat
41 g low glycemic carbohydrates
10 g fiber
10 g protein
And a good source of antioxidants, vitamins A, C, B as well as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc to name a few!
* According to Dr. Audrey Kunin, contributor to Dr. Oz's website, coconut milk is a great source of a compound called lauric acid which boosts immunity and fights infection. The only other major source is mother's milk. It also contains saturated fat, but in a different form than the kind that damages the cardiovascular system. These medium chain fatty acids are thought to be good for the skin as well as a potent antioxidant! I'm in...pour me more!
birthday decor
My baby boy will be 1 in less than a month...I can't believe it! We're throwing a party to celebrate our darling little guy and what was, for us, such a beautiful, wonderful year! I think this is a fun idea to display his life in pictures so far...what a difference a year makes!
image from Martha Stewart via A Cup of Joe (one of my favorite blogs)
eco-friendly designer clothing
The sun is shining this morning, and while the temps are still cool, my mind is drifting to spring/summer wardrobe! Here is a little taste of what's out there in the world of "green" fashion.
Organic by John Patrick focuses on sustainably and often locally sourced and made clothing. The eco-conscious designer's Spring 2011 line was hydro-themed to draw attention to New York City's Water on the Go initiative to cut back on the use of disposable water bottles. John Patrick placed a portable drinking fountain at the entrance of the runway show that people used to fill their water bottles when leaving. Way to use your influence to make a difference, John!
I'm obsessed with this hat made of natural straw and sewn in New York!
Another, more casual organic line, Stewart+Brown "believes in optimizing their designs and lives to attain the highest standards of quality and functional style while extracting the bare minimum from Earth's precious capital. Stewart+Brown practices and promotes a symbiotic and harmonious relationship between business, community, and nature. We aspire to apply the wisdom of sustainability to everything we do while inspiring others, just as we have been inspired, to do the same". I found this line in Chicago at Kaveri in Lincoln Park. Some favorites:
best plastic-free children's cup
We currently use a mixture of glass and plastic bottles for Sam and a few different sippy cups. It's time for a plastic-free overhaul!
I don't love any of our sippy cups, especially the stainless steel one we have. After doing a little research, I think I found the sippy for us...for now. Pura makes stainless steel baby bottles that can be converted to sippy cups and are compatible with many bottle manufacturers' nipples (born free and think baby to name a few) and make their own sippy spout. They are also completely plastic free! The only downside I've found so far is that it doesn't have a straw, which I wanted. I'm thinking I could squeeze a stainless steel straw through the nipple hole...is that a little extreme?? Maybe, but maybe not....
Does anyone else use a plastic-free bottle or sippy they love?
How to make a small change in your diet: giving something up
Anyone who celebrates Mardi Gras knows that the hangover can be rough. Whether your gluttony was of the food or drink variety (or both) , the point behind the overindulgence is traditionally to have one last hurrah before you fast or give something up for Lent, the season prior to Easter.
Whether or not you take part in this tradition, it may be a good time to evaluate what areas of your life might benefit from a little deprivation (or addition) for that matter. A friend asked me today for some suggestions of dietary restrictions she could make. Here are a few that will not only challenge your will power, but if done right, could ultimately clean up your overall diet!
image from our wedding
Whether or not you take part in this tradition, it may be a good time to evaluate what areas of your life might benefit from a little deprivation (or addition) for that matter. A friend asked me today for some suggestions of dietary restrictions she could make. Here are a few that will not only challenge your will power, but if done right, could ultimately clean up your overall diet!
- Give up refined carbohydrates: We eat so many empty calories from "white bites" like the bread on the table at the restaurant, those crackers you grab at a party or the pizza (crust) you find hard to resist. Eliminating these things can help cut unnecessary extra calories, but also force you to get creative: order a salad to keep you from the restaurant bread, go for the veggies at the party instead, or choose whole grain pizza, or something all together different. Want a bigger challenge, try going wheat-free!
- Give up cheese: You can cut lots of calories by eliminating this admittedly very tasty treat from your diet: the cheese on your sandwich, at the party and again, on your pizza! Giving up cheese can help you make better choices in general. Get your calcium from other dairy sources or broccoli, greens, sesame and other seeds, almonds or almond butter and tofu to name a few. Want a bigger challenge, try going totally dairy-free!
- Increase fruits and vegetables to 9 servings daily or more! This may sound like a crazy amount, but is actually very doable! For example, a smoothie for breakfast (3) a large salad or vegetable based soup for lunch (2-3), a fruit or veggie snack (1+) and a salad or other seasonal vegetable with or as dinner (2+)....done!
Nana
There is a fantastic "green" restaurant called Nana that I recently discovered thanks to a great friend. Located in Bridgeport, it's outside of our normal stomping grounds, but a welcomed change of scenery. Nana is a family-owned, organic restaurant offering choices for those who are not only passionate about great tasting food, but who are also passionate about where their food comes from. Nana, named after the owners' grandmother, sources ingredients from numerous local farms, artisan craftsmen and suppliers.
The space is sunny and fresh, but with a warmth second only to the food!
And you've gotta love the local art for sale on the walls!
My photos of the food do NOT do it justice! Everything on the seasonal menu sounded amazing. The dishes we tried did not disappoint!
Everyone was very happy with their Nana experience!
radish, pea shoot and hamachi salad
This week I wanted to cook with something different that I don't usually use at home. I chose 2 seasonal vegetables, radishes and pea shoots and also went for some Hamachi tuna...yum! I found radishes, an early spring vegetable at the Green City Market. They're crisp and spicey as well as great detoxifiers, high in vitamin C and a decent source of folate. Pea shoots are another spring treat also high in Vitamins C and A as well as folate. They taste a little like peas, but so fresh and green! I found organic Pea Shoots at Trader Joe's.
Then I started experimenting....
The three combined perfectly in my first attempt at homemade sashimi! This dish, loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats and protein, was inspired by my amazing lunch at True Food Kitchen in Phoenix. I think it tasted pretty similar!
Then I started experimenting....
Spring Greens Smoothie
1/4-1/2 banana
1 small cucumber, peeled and diced
2 kiwis peeled and diced
1/2 cup cantaloupe diced
1 cup pea shoots
Blend the above ingredients into a thick liquid.
Add a little ice if you like it cold
top with Chia seeds
&
serve for smiles!
The radishes spiced up my usual salad.
The three combined perfectly in my first attempt at homemade sashimi! This dish, loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats and protein, was inspired by my amazing lunch at True Food Kitchen in Phoenix. I think it tasted pretty similar!
I got 3/4 lb Hamachi (or other sushi grade tuna - skin removed) at Dirk's Fish Market in Lincoln Park.
Thinly sliced the following vegetables using a vegetable peeler
1-2 Radishes
1 peeled Cucumber
1 large Carrot
threw in
1/2 cup pea shoots
&
Topped it all with this dressing:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1/2 Tbsp reduced sodium tamari (gluten and wheat-free)
1/2 Tsp Agave
Juice of 1/2 lime
Pinch of lime zest
Juice of 1/4 of an orange
I ate my fish raw and thinly sliced, but my husband wanted his seared so I kept his piece whole. I cooked it on high heat with grapeseed oil (it has a high smoke point) for 1 minute per side. Either way, it was fantastic!
Enjoy!
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