love, Ned

Foodies

Elli digging some vegan chocolate(avacado) pudding. 

 

Our life has been revolving around food lately. Obviously, we are okay with that. 

In the thick of it...

I've been over at Beauty that Moves doing her online vegan workshop for the last two weeks and have been cooking some pretty good eats.  I cannot stress enough how great this class is! I also am in the middle of setting up my sewing space in a different part of the house. And homeschooling a 4 year old, and calling left and right to get out driveway, roof, car & computer fixed.  We are busy over here. Busy with a capital B.

30 Day Vegan Workshop

I love how someone you've never met can impact you in a way that impacts for years upon years. That's how it was when I stumbled across Heather's blog - Beaty that Moves. Just the name of it had me reading for hours.   Then, after almost signing up for her workshop back in March, and just days after NOT signing up, I swore off meat for the time being.  I wished back then that I would have signed up for her class. As a mama to two littles, I was a bit lost in the beginning on what exactly we were going to eat. As we made our way to the other side I started to realize that it just wasn't about food. It was about treating myself kindly, wholly, and naturally. It was about spending time with the food I was preparing for our family that would give us energy throughout the rest of the day. It was about educating others in the kindest way possible. 

So, now I am enrolled in the summer 30 Day Vegan workshop and can't wait to start utilizing some of the recipes.  Today will be granola day here, since it's looking like the coolest day for the next week, (my granola will most likely not be vegan, since I have my eye on honey.)  Yesterday I went through the kitchen and pantry to put some finishing touches on my tools.  I didn't realize just how many tiny plastic containers I still had left in the kitchen. (BTW- Plastic freaks me out.)  Now the cooking will begin!

{this moment}

A day late, but my moment from the week before, inspired by Soulemama.

{this moment}

A day late, but my moment from the week before, inspired by Soulemama.

Knitting in July/August

There's something about the hot summertime months that makes me want to knit. Maybe it's that I long for autumn. Maybe it's because I don't get to see the girls in very many mama-mades during the 90 degree+ temps. It might just be that we get so busy during this time that I need extra down to sit and click my needles.  Whatever the reason may be, I've been knitting everywhere: in the car, on the couch, at appointments and friends houses.  Here is some of what I have to show for it.

My Ravelry page is here. 

Cookies for you:

Since I'm all hurting and feeling ouchy, I needed a pick me up. (I had two moles removed today! I hurt!) So, I decided to make some cookies. A small batch, vegan and what I had on hand was what I had to work with. They are so tasty. Enjoy:

 

1 and 1/4 cups unbleached flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1/8 cup organic sugar in the raw

1/4 cup maple syrup (none of that HFCS crap!!)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract (This might be my favorite part. If you do not like almond flavoring, omit and up the vanilla to 1 teaspoon.)

 

Mix dry ingredients and add to wet. Bake at 375 degrees fahrenheit for 10-12 minute. Eat all of them. Feel good about yourself and these cookies.

{this moment}

One of my favorite moments from the last week - knitting between my sisters - inspired by Soulemama.

{this moment}

Just joining in this week with a photo from last week, taken on a date night with my big girl. (Inspired by Soulemama.)

Before

I head out to a little retreat for iMom, I've been going through the old blog look for some creative group activities this morning.  I think I've got enough crafts to choose from, taking little ideas from two of these books, here, this & this. 

So, I'm off! Excited for what's to come this year with iMom.