Really The Best Cookies

You thought I already had the perfect cookie, the grain free, high protein snack that I give to all my clients and that my son Eli eats for breakfast! Over the past few months, I have been gifted with clients who cannot eat nuts. Time for a nut-free perfect cookie, I did not know that it would turn out to be the best yet! Going for a GORP (good ole' raisins and peanuts) kind of cookie, minus the peanuts of course. When I was pregnant with Chloe I made GORP cookies with whole wheat flour during my third trimester and couldn't get enough. I used to bring them to my childbirth classes and share them with the hungry expectant parents. When you decide to eliminate foods that don't work with your body, a big part of that commitment is overcoming the loss of the tastes you are leaving behind. I have never once felt that loss. In fact, to me it has been a gain in flavor, texture and enjoyment. Now enter that taste memory from before I was a mother. I think these are even better.

What is your favorite taste memory?

Good Ole' Raisin and Sunflower Seed Cookies

1/2 jar tahini (8 oz)

1/2 jar sunflower butter (8 oz)

2 eggs

1 cup palm sugar or sucant

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 Tb vanilla

pinch of sea salt

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

3/4 cup raisins

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips or carob chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together tahini, sunflower butter, eggs, sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, salt and baking soda until smooth. Add in sunflower seeds, raisins and chocolate. Form cookies into a ball about the size of a golf ball and slightly press it down on a baking sheet. These are big cookies, you want to get bites of all the goodies in each one. Bake for 10-12 minutes, allow to cool and store in the refrigerator. When they are cold they come alive!

Being Brave. Now.

I am borrowing a bit from my newsletter for this one. I want to share this story of feeling brave to inspire your own bravery. A friend told me right before I went to the piercing studio that being brave is doing something you are afraid of, or apprehensive of, but doing it anyway.

The essence of the work I do is to help others connect to their authentic self. As I work with clients to help them heal themselves and meet up with their authentic self, I am also doing my own work. Constantly challenging myself, or having my mentors challenge me to be better, greater and happier is how I grow as a person.

One thing I have always quietly envisioned for myself is a pierced nose. For the last 18 years (half my life!!!), every time I would see someone with a pierced nose, I would feel a wave of longing. I would say things to myself like, "If only I was that kind of person who could do that."

What is "that kind of person?" I was so focused on who that kind of person was, I was not able to connect with my authentic self whispering in my ear, "You can be who you are." Knowing it was time to move past fear of judgment and listen to that whisper I walked myself into the piercing studio and turned vision into reality. It didn't even hurt. The needle part was a sharp fast pain, but leaving the voices of fear and doubt behind didn't hurt a bit.

What is holding you back from the whisper of your authentic self? Is there something you have always wanted to do, yet something holds you back? I'm not suggesting you all run out and pierce your nose (though I suspect there may be a few that do)! I'm asking that today you give your whisper a chance to be heard.  

Be Brave!!!

What have you always wanted to do, but fear or doubt held you back?

Leave a comment as your first step to taking a chance on yourself.

The essence of the work I do is to help others connect to their authentic self. As I work with clients to help them heal themselves and meet up with their authentic self, I am also doing my own work. Constantly challenging myself, or having my mentors challenge me to be better, greater and happier is how I grow as a person.

One thing I have always quietly envisioned for myself is to pierce my nose. I am 36 and for the last 18 years, every time I would see someone with a pierced nose, I would feel a wave of longing. I would say things to myself like, "If only I was that kind of person who could do that."

What is "that kind of person?" I was so focused on who that kind of person was, I was not able to connect with my authentic self whispering in my ear, "You can be who you are." Knowing it was time to move past fear of judgment and listen to that whisper I walked myself into the piercing studio and it actually didn't even hurt. The needle part was a sharp fast pain, but leaving the voices of fear and doubt behind didn't hurt a bit.

What is holding you back from the whisper of your authentic self? Is there something you have always wanted to do, yet something holds you back? I'm not suggesting you all run out and pierce your nose (though I suspect there may be a few that do)! I'm asking that today you give your whisper a chance to be heard.

Be Brave!!!

What have you always wanted to do, but fear or doubt held you back? Hit reply to this e-mail and share your whisper. Writing it down is the first step towards action.

Feeding The Whole Family With a Gift (From Cynthia Lair)

I wrote about my Mother's Day last year, mostly about wishing for a little time alone, or with my ladies...some time off from my mothering and nurturing to be nurtured. Last year I was in the process of getting back to myself, finding more than just mothering. What a journey that has been! Amazing moments and adventures (I went to Florida on my own for 4 days) to events that made me question things on a deep level. As a family we have been looking for ways to find balance and place emphasis on meeting all of our needs without sacrificing our beliefs and family values. I'll share just a few.

Example: More computer time during the week for the kids, but no, we will not now or ever have a video game!

Example: I won't break the bank and have a kombucha every day, just a couple a week.

Example: Gym time for my husband is now at night; he gets to work out with his power lifting friends and we get his company without rushing in the morning.

Example: Patrick and Hannah will have a conversation together that goes uninterrupted by children, and feel no guilt.

Example: Still eating fresh, healthy foods, yet simplifying so that one night we might have scrambled eggs and popcorn.

Example: Currently interviewing babysitters so I can take my business and relationship (heard of date night?) to the next level.

In honor of mothering and values and great food, how about a little give-away, a signed copy of Cynthia Lair's book, Feeding The Whole Family. I am thrilled that Cynthia works to promote healthy, simple food and throws in a bit of humor along the way. Having her words and signature in the book adds energy and promise to the mission of quality ingredients for yummy meals.

This Mother's Day I will be out gathering some plants for my garden (which my guy and kids will be building me); most likely I will be pampered with homemade cards (hint, hint) and scrambled eggs with lots of fresh veggies mixed in. I will probably find myself smothered with love from my family and perhaps, at some point, I will find myself alone. The alone that allows me to reflect, re-energize and remember how I became a mother.

To enter the give-away for a signed copy of Cynthia's book, tell us what you will be doing for Mother's Day this year in the comments. Let your friends know on FB and twitter, post another comment for more chances at winning. Contest will close Monday, May 10th Thursday, May 13th at 9pm Eastern and randomly drawn for the winner. Happy Mother's Day! Contest Closed.

Congrats to Bernadette!

I love this book and have been hogging it from the library! I had hoped to go to a Sheep & Wool Festival in NH, but we are staying put instead. Honestly, I feel blessed to have my Mom another year and blessed to BE a Mom, so really what more could I ask?…Oh, OK, maybe a little uninterrupted knitting time…maybe on the beach?……

http://www.cookusinterruptus.com/

Woman To Woman

So it began last night, in a beautiful room (so much gratitude for the woman who shared her space with us as my office proved to be too small) with tea, cookies and the women. Seven women and myself, an eighth will join us next week, as we move into the process of positive change. You can never tell someone what to do, they will resist it. A person must discover for themselves, have an experience that allows them to learn. Positive thought sounds impressive, a part of all of us wishes to be positive. If our experience has always been negative, all the talk of positive thought is just that, talk. When you start to practice and experience using positive thoughts, it becomes easier and eventually will fully integrate itself into your speech, your heart and your head.

Positive thought is essential for changing our relationship to food. If we believe that we will always be "fat" or unhealthy, aren't we going to reach for those things which full fill just that? If we start to believe that food can be simple, that we have and deserve healthy energetic bodies, will we seek the foods that will bring us to that body.

Each woman in The Get Real Group has her own unique story. The connection is motherhood. Of placing focus on children and loosing focus on self and relationships. It is the way food gets so complicated and busies lives. The connection is also the inspiration. I am not walking this path alone, which every mother should not just hear, but feel.

When I graduated IIN, I was asked to speak on stage during the last weekend. Gulp. I knew that I was meant to be up there, but why? What was I supposed to say to inspire and share my experience with 1,500 plus students? And yet, what I had experienced during the training was a connection back to myself. Starting there, meant that I could expand into other areas, my children, my career, my friendships, my family, my passions and ultimately my relationship with my husband.

I delivered my speech on stage that day ending with the words, "Now being a mother is no longer my role, it is my inspiration." That is my intention for the group.

Smoothie For Two

This boy is a green smoothie addict. I simply put kale, parsley or other random greens in his smoothies, and by the end of his gulping, he is a green monster mess. Called "moomies," I try to share with him. I'm not a winter smoothie person, but when spring comes I can't get enough. Neither can he, so my sharing idea hasn't worked out so well. Every now and then we try, though the straws are still a bit tough for him. I'll share our basic formula, have fun creating your own. In other news, I will be giving a "Food as Energy" workshop at RISD this weekend. I will be doing some hands on food prep with the participants, I can't wait to serve them a green smoothie! I will post the recipes I use on the blog to share with all of you. The Get Real Group starts next week, I'll be reporting on how that is going. Lastly, Cynthia's signed copy of her book, Feeding The Whole Family arrived today, watch out for that give-away next week!

Green Smoothie Formula

2 kale or chard leaves

or 1/4 bunch of parsley

cucumber or celery (optional)

banana or pineapple, apple or mango, pear or grapes

frozen strawberries/blueberries/peaches/cherries

chia or flax seeds

handful of nuts

coconut oil

cacao (optional to transform into a chocolate smoothie)

water or rice/almond milk

Friday Stillness

Inspired by Soulemama blog, friday stillness. One moment to pause and remember from the week. One picture, no words.

Synchronicity

Chloe and Lucas (or toe-toe and baby as Lucas calls them) were playing the other day and we realized after a while that the two of them were dressed alike. The next day, without planning it out the night before, it happened again. They were in sync. Enter my thoughts on synchronicity.

When I was at school (Institute For Integrative Nutrition) my teacher talked about synchronicity, and how the healthier we become, the more synchronicity we will experience. I'll be honest, I really didn't get it in the beginning of my training. It certainly sounded like a beautiful concept, I kept the possibility open. Synchronicity defined in Wikipedia as "the experience of two or more events that are apparently causally unrelated occurring together in a meaningful manner. To count as synchronicity, the events should be unlikely to occur together by chance." Keep it open I did. I became healthier in body and mind and accepted being a mother as part of my whole self, acknowledging how much more I was. A shift was occurring and inside of that shift, synchronicity, as promised by the wise and wonderous Joshua Rosenthal, started to occur.

Early on in school, before I had connected with the women who eventually would become a large part of my life, I used to sit in different seats and try to meet a variety of people. We were encouraged to gather e-mails from other students so that we could connect with them to work on assignments. I met a woman in one of the first classes who I exchanged e-mails with and only saw one other time after that, when she told me she had passed my e-mail on to someone she had met who had grown up in RI. The Rhode Islander, Lindsay and I eventually talked on the phone and participated in an assignment together. We tossed around the possibility of meeting for lunch, but never followed through. Many weekends later, I sat down much closer to the stage (large room, 1,800 students) as my heart was longing to find other women to connect with. I sat next to a beautiful woman and as we were doing partner work, she and I started sharing details of our lives. At some point she said, "Hannah, I'm Lindsay, we did a Health History together!" Synchronicity. She was part of a group of women who I became close with in various ways. What my heart had been searching for was realized that day through the chance I took moving out of my comfort zone and into unknown.

Synchronicity. You may see it in your children, hear about it from others or have stories of your own. Keep open to the possibility. As you become healthier, it shows itself more and more as a signal to you that the path you are on is the right one.

Mango Meets Chocolate

One of my favorite cookbooks for family meals is Feeding The Whole Family, by Cynthia Lair. I use some of the recipes exactly as they are written and others as a jumping off point for creations of my own. Imagine my happiness that Cynthia is sending a signed copy of her book which will be kicking off monthly give aways on my blog. More on that to come. Mangoes are ripe and really affordable at the store this week. I was dreaming of a creamy, rich pudding using these mangoes, and the idea of pairing it with chocolate kept dancing it's way into my thoughts. I have eaten my fair share of this one, so please...your turn!

Mango Pudding with Chocolate Sauce

4 mangoes, flesh diced

1 1/2 cups soaked (8 hours) cashews

Juice of 1 lemon

1 Tb raw honey

1 Tb vanilla

In a high speed blender place mango, nuts, lemon, honey and vanilla in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. You may need to add just a splash of water to get things moving, though nice ripe mangoes should be juicy enough.

1 can coconut milk (not low fat)

1 cup 70-80% dark chocolate

1/4 cup raw honey

2 Tb vanilla

In a small saucepan, heat coconut milk to a simmer. Reduce heat, add chocolate and honey and stir on low for about 15 minutes. Turn off heat, stir in vanilla and allow to cool.

Place pudding in small bowls or cups, leaving room at top for chocolate sauce. Pour the cooled sauce over top, refrigerate for about 5 hours until smooth and cold. Enjoy in the sun with your feet up!

This Is How I Eat

As much as I love high quality healthy food, I don't always get to the Farmer's Market, or have time to prepare lavish meals. I eat simply. My kids eat simply. When food is fresh and whole, it doesn't need the attack from other outside sources. A little olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper go a long way to turning a food into a sensory explosion! I went to the store this morning, I was out of eggs (if you read my blog, my love affair with eggs is no secret, nor my desire to have my own chicken) and needed a few items for the next couple of days. It's 50/50 with me on the olive oil. I like to buy organic, sometimes I save the money and get the cheaper stuff. Today mangoes were on sale and ripe, I bought four of them and will transform them for dessert night tomorrow into mango pudding using soaked cashews and only 2 or 3 other ingredients. Tonight we are having falafel, the chick peas are soaking as I write this. Steamed artichokes with warm butter (or olive oil for me) with lemon and salt for dipping. Baba Ghannouj and sprouts are for my lunch with a couple of hard boiled eggs. And the kombucha is my treat!

This was Eli and Lucas' lunch the other day. Popcorn with coconut oil, raw cheddar cheese, pear and carrots. I put out big bowls and trays and they can help themselves as they get hungry. I keep it out until it empties which with little boys can take hours! Please note, I have 2 dishes to wash rather than multiple ones, no macaroni pots to scrub! I don't make them sit still at every meal. Eli just can't do it. He takes a bite and then needs to move. So I have breakfast and dinner as the still meals and lunch on the "go" for him. A friend and reader has requested kid friendly meal ideas, so watch the blog and the newsletter for more on how I feed the kiddos! (Thanks for the suggestion Lara!)

I have set a strong intention of feeling like the picture above with my children, rather than worrying about the house being clean (much more on that to come) or preparing a fancy meal or feeling guilty about anything. It is taking much focus, discipline and deep breaths. A mantra that is working for me is "My life is as it should be. I am full, focused and loved."

And The Circle Goes Round

Ever notice that life keeps asking you to learn the same lesson over and over? My lesson has different levels of course, but for me it comes down to my reactions. How I react to my kids, how I react to criticism, how I react to disappointment and on and on. This has been my work over the last 10 or so years. Though getting better, the lesson keeps needing to be learned, and it comes back and reminds me.

Balance. Distraction. Forgiveness.

That is where I am. Years ago, if Patrick was to point out an obvious "flaw" in my inner workings, I would go a bit coo-coo. We have together come so far from our early days of heightened interactions. Before Lucas was born I decided to go on Zoloft mostly to help with my reactions, to my children, to my stress, to find patience and clarity. I was lost behind a fog and I prayed for a way to see clearly so that my children would not have to suffer from my reactions. They needed a mother with stability and patience, with confidence and calm.

When I became pregnant with Lucas I quickly went off of Zoloft and it was perhaps the roughest point of my life. That is when the decision to radically change my world was made, I enrolled in school to become a Health Counselor and my life changed forever. I learned about balance and how much we all need support. I grew from the mother role I was lost in, and discovered the woman who was so much more than that. During graduation I was asked to speak about the transformation I had made, on stage, in front of 1,500 people. I knew in that moment I could inspire other mother's to connect to the woman inside. The woman who so easily gets lost in being a mom.

I feel a bit vulnerable writing this now, it would be so much easier to give you a recipe (I will do that too).  I feel as though I'm in a circle of balance, which doesn't always go around. At times it stops, it shows me where my balance is off. I used to get angry when that would happen, and it did a lot! I'm starting to learn that it is a gift when the circle stops and lets you see so clearly where you need to get out of your own way. Once you do, the circle continues it's path, going around until again, it must momentarily stop.

Today when I stopped to face the circle and it's stillness, instead of anger, I felt a sense of calm. A change in patterns that have held me back, a shift in my thoughts that everything in my life is as it should be. That this lesson that comes back to challenge me, all of a sudden doesn't look so scary. This time, it was a chance to try out a new way. Of taking a chance that this lesson must be here for me.

The circle spins, and everything is as it should be.

Even better with a chocolate frosting recipe.

Coconut Chocolate Frosting

coconut cream from a can of coconut milk (about 3/4 of the can, or use from 2 cans if less)

The coconut cream comes at the top of an unshaken can of coconut milk. I use 365 brand from Whole Foods and there is always a great thick cream on top.

Place the cream in a saucepan and heat on low. Add in 1 cup of dark chocolate (I keep a 70% bar and shave off bits as needed) and stir until melted. Stir in 1/2 cup of palm sugar, 2 Tb vanilla.Stir occasionally over low heat for about 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool, stirring a few times. Place in fridge and the mixture will thicken up and become a delicious frosting. We use this high protein cupcake as a vehicle to eat this frosting. Enjoy. Balance.

Travels, Time and Tahini

Photo shoot with Eli trying to take some pictures for the site.

He is so happy to have 15 pictures with mama, he even shows them to people when they come over.

Ah, I'm back to this space that does more to lift my spirits than chocolate! With the shift from my former blogspot blog and website, to my now one complete site, I am starting to relax. It has been a process that has taken me far out of my comfort zone. With amazing support from my tech guy (thank you Mike) we are working on making the site mine. It's a work in progress and one that you will watch go through ups and downs until it reaches the place where it really is me.

I am headed to Florida for a conference with The Institute For Integrative Nutrition on Friday and it doesn't feel like my life. I have never left a baby before, I know Lucas will be loved and safe and supported while I'm away, yet I won't be there for his morning nurse and I wonder what he'll think. Time means so little to children, so much to us. I will experience for the first time in almost 8 years the quiet of sleeping in a bed alone, no children, no pregnant belly, no nursing, no snoring. I wonder if I will dream, how settled will I feel being away from my family? I think of the time when Patrick and I can go away together for a couple of days; could we perhaps go to Florida together some day?

Florida is a place I have never been. Stretching my comfort zone, meeting up with incredible Health Counselors and reuniting with a friend who has made her home in this land of sun and lizards...it must be my life.

Now what will I bring to eat?

I have no picture at the moment as the batch has been devoured, but these little tahini chocolate balls are something else.

Tahini Chocolate Balls

In food processor place:

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 cup almonds, sliced or chopped

1/2 cup cashew butter

1/3 cup coconut oil

splash of vanilla

1 TB raw honey or maple syrup (only if needed)

6 dates, soaked for 2 hours, water discarded

Blend it up, remove and place into bowl. Using 70% or higher dark chocolate, mix in 1/3 cup chocolate bits. (I used a knife and thinly shaved the chocolate bar)

Roll into balls using about 1 TB of dough per ball. Place on a tray and freeze.

Enjoy!

Going Green

Things have been looking up around here. I was sinking into the February Blues, which for me have a certain look. It starts with a dash of emotional eating, eliminating all exercise, and for fun, adding a teething 18 month old who doesn't want to sleep. A recipe for the February Blues! My goal for the month of January was to not spend, look at what we have, and purge what we don't need. Warning...lots of emotions come up during this process. The whole family went for a month not buying anything new other than groceries and a tire for the car when a piece of glass found it's way into the old one.

I have made van fulls of runs to donation sites, yet there is still more. Upon clearing out the playroom of almost all toys, my kids have never played better. We are making systems for ourselves to stay on track. I'll show our family meal board in the next post. The kids and I are putting together our chore/responsibility chart which has become a fun search for clip art online.

In some of the clearing, that green and white tablecloth appeared in a box of forgotten linens. I had been visualizing a new tablecloth, it may not be the one, but Chloe is loving it's presence on the table. For now, it's bright and green, teaching me a lesson in patience and using what you have.

Pairing down our toys to the essentials, there will always be blocks and rocks of all shapes, colors and sizes. Endless villages are being built for me in the scant 20 minute naps the baby is taking. You cannot safely build a village with a giant baby running around!

The best part of going green is daily green smoothies! I make them using what we may have on hand for frozen fruit, but the kale is the star of this green goodness.

Green Goodness Smoothie

2 giant handfuls of chopped kale 2 TB parsley 1 1/2 cups of frozen pineapple or cherries (if using cherries the green will be a bit more on the brown side, with pineapple a nice bright green will appear) 2 TB hemp seeds 2 TB coconut butter (you could use the oil or almond butter) 1 cup almond milk (fresh or store bought) 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water, depending on the thickness desired

Blend away and enjoy the burst of natural energy that comes from going green.

Thoughts For Tuesday

My heart has been heavy with thoughts of Haiti. Many of us donating what we can, my children dipping into their piggy banks for the public school collection of $1 per child. IIN, my school of change and hope, offering to match any alumni donation to the red cross. I am touched by the swift movement of our country in times like these. Please visit Erin Goodman's blog for a chance to win 2 months of e-mail health counseling sessions with yours truly. It is so fun to have a give-away and perhaps help change someone's life for the better.

Lucas discovered coconut cream, the stuff on the top of the coconut milk if you do not shake it! He could not stop, by the end looked like a snowman, glistening in white.

Finally, my high protein, favorite cookies, turned into an ice cream sandwich with coconut milk ice cream. I made these cookies on Saturday and mentioned to my husband how happy I was to have them in the house again. His reply, "That whole week and half without them was rough, huh?" With boys who eat like my two, this high protein cookie is a winner. I use any nut butter I have, Chloe prefers peanut butter, Eli cashew butter and for a more elegant, slightly thinner version, almond butter is nice. I discovered using nut butters instead of flour with this lovely brownie and have never looked back.

High Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 jar nut butter 2 eggs 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 1/4 cup palm sugar 1/2 (or more) of dark chocolate chips 1 TB vanilla

So simple, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the dough on the sheet in TB sized scoops. Gently pat each one down a bit. Dough will be sticky. Cook for 8-10 minutes. They will continue cooking when you take them out so err on the side of looking a bit under done. These cookies must cool before moving, or you will have crumbs. Sometimes when we can't wait we go for crumbs on the first batch!

When we make these with peanut butter, we use tsp sized scoops, making a smaller cookie. They tend to be more moist when made smaller. When making these for ice cream sandwiches you want to make sure they do not get too crispy. Cook them on the shorter side, allow to cool really well and then carefully put softened ice cream on the underside of one cookie. Gently place another cookie on the top, wrap in parchment paper or put in a glass container into the freezer. Makes a great birthday party treat for kids or me!

Simplicity Meets Soup

I have been an indoor mama this winter. Last year I took a walk with my snow girl most nights. Oh does she love the snow. I ask memories of myself as a child, covered in snow to come to me; ask them to remind me of the pleasure of sweating through the cold.

The inside mama has been searching for simplicity in her home. Does that ever take work. I have been at it for weeks. Going through each drawer, each bin of toys (which was reaching overload) and creating a huge mess in the playroom as I went along, depositing baskets of things to go through down stairs. The ultimate goal, to create space to play. I received an invitation to watch a parade with floats from these two; a mess does not deter them from creativity.

Lucas found his own float to ride, an amazingly patient one who almost seems to enjoy is guest.

And then there is soup. Simple, simple soup to warm the belly. Soup is in my childhood memories. Warm, salty, smooth soup.

"Cream" of Cauliflower Soup

olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 head of cauliflower, broken into florets 3 garlic cloves 2 carrots, chopped 3-4 cups stock (enough to cover the vegetables) splash of milk substitute, coconut, rice or almond works

Saute onion for 3 minutes in oil, add in cauliflower, garlic and carrots. Saute for another 4 minutes and add stock to cover the vegetables. Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer on low until soft, about 30 minutes. Splash in a bit of milk substitute and blend with an immersion blender until smooth. If you are using a blender allow the soup to cool a bit first. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pepper, hot sauce and a squeeze of lemon.

Fewer Ingredients...For Food and Home

One small envelope dropped through the mail slot on a day that doesn't happen in my life often. It was quiet and I was alone, in my house, for 5 hours. Curtain rods that had been ready to fall off the walls were getting attached, finger prints and dirt scrubbed from the walls and every piece of random paper was being attacked and placed in recycling bins or other proper places. I can't tell you what a head spinning delight this is for me. Should I spend my time reading and drinking endless cups of hot chocolate mixed with warm showers and silly web surfing? Not in this life with three children and ever searching to make things simpler, more efficient and less. Back to the letter. No return address but the handwriting so familiar. (That is it hanging on my newly started vision board.)

After reading a few sentences it comes back to me. The woman's retreat, write a letter to yourself...it will be mailed to you sometime. It took that long for me to recognize myself.

Notice The Silence...It's There, wait...Listen... Breathe.

Yes, it was there, no waiting required. The day at the retreat had reminded me that self care was not something I put on the top of my list because it's definition was off for me. I need time alone in my house more than I need spas or movies. Space in my space refocuses me. Moving things around, as annoying to my family as I'm sure it is, helps me see things clearly. I forget what I have, where it is. I become burried underneath the un-important. Usually I just shift items and hide away the clutter in the basement. This time I am removing it. This is hard and this is scary.

Are you pausing to think it through?

Yes. I know I need less. Less stuff, less clutter, less excuses, less clothes (that don't fit anyway), less ingredients, less frustration, less anger, less regret. How can success and patience find room if I do not give them space? I dream about simple.

There was a shelf that had become a magnet for junk. I took part of my 5 hours of silence and created a space for my computer and client folders and family drawing books. I found all the scissors scattered in the house...7 pairs of scissors. SEVEN!!! I found receipts and pictures and kid drawings. I saved what I needed, let go of the rest.

Have you captured some space?

I sure hope so.

Make room for beautiful food. Scrambled eggs with garlic, carrots and spinach served over pea shoots.

Simplify ingredients. Chloe's request the other night was for fish burgers. We weren't sure what she had in mind so I was winging it. Huge success. Two burgers eaten in entirety by Chloe and Eli (on buns). Mine over lightly dressed arugula. Patrick's winning the prize with baby spinach piled high on a bun. No good picture of these, just the real deal in the ecopan, coming off the stove into hungry bellies.

Fewer ingredients, less preparation and really good food.

Chloe's Impromptu Fish Burgers

1 pound white fish, cooked just barely through with salt and pepper and flaked into a bowl 2 eggs 1 tsp paprika 3/4 cup almond meal (Trader Joe's brand) 1/4 tsp sea salt 1 TB parsley 2 garlic cloves, chopped lemon zest from 1 lemon

Mix it all together, form into 2 inch round balls, flatten slightly and cook in olive oil on medium heat for just a couple of minutes on each side. The fish is cooked and you don't want to end up with dry burgers. Get a nice light brown on each side and serve with a slice of lemon on the side.

For a nice salmon burger and mango salsa check out this recipe. If only we could all eat in this kitchen every day, oh the happiness.

The simplifying continues through the house and into my food. I'll be posting the easiest cream of cauliflower soup recipe next. Stay warm and Happy New Year.

"Gingerbread" Houses and Nuts

Thinking of my favorite things, this annual event of decorating gingerbread houses at Chloe's dearest friend's birthday party, must be on the list. They are made from graham crackers and royal icing, and the kids love putting all the beautiful decorations on. This year the kids ate them the day they made them, leaving a few flakes of icing "snow" and a crumb not big enough for a mouse!

My head can't help but wander to next year, when Lucas will join them at the table, shoveling mouth fulls of sugary goodness! Having friends who make our family feel happier and stronger is a gift of joy to me. Our sense of community stretches from family and friends close by, to those who require a bit of a drive to see.

One addition to our extended family of friends this year was a little girl who's smile lights my heart each time she throws her arms around me. Watching this family learn to become one, seeing sisters born through chance...this is a gift of joy. It makes all the presents seem silly, the real wrapping and bows belong on this little girl and all the others who make our life just a bit more special.

The Solstice has come and gone and Christmas is just a couple of nights away. My children are giddy. Eli says, "Happy Christmas Eve" every day and wants to be in NY, now, where we will celebrate the Holiday this year. I've been spending some time in the kitchen finding new recipes to share that make our gatherings delicious, without sugar! These are tasty little nuts that bring the taste of Holiday without the indulgence.

"Gingerbread" Pecans

2 cups raw pecans 2 TB olive oil 2 TB agave 1 TB molasses 2 tsp powdered ginger 1/4 tsp sea salt

Mix everything together and put on a parchment paper lined baking sheet or shallow baking dish. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle a bit more sea salt to taste, allow to cool and serve.

Cookies Among Organized Chaos

We are truly wrapped in December and all that it brings us each year. This year the horses on the parkway had no snow under their feet, it wasn't to come until the next day, covering our neighborhood in a white playground.

We decided as a family not to purchase any wrapping paper and are re-purposing and finding clever ways to use things we have around. Patrick kicked off the wrapping using some Whole Foods paper bags and the kids loved watching him decorate their names in clever ways, all the while trying to guess what was inside. We have lots of gift bags saved from presents years past, tissue paper that always gets saved and material that we will use for our other gifts.

I looked over at the kids this morning to realize that they were all dressed in Christmas red and how fun it would be to capture a picture of them under the tree.

You know that transition between laughter and crying that feels so good? It doesn't allow for Christmas pictures no matter how cheery the color red.

Thank goodness for cookies, gluten free and melt in your mouth. We made them for all the teachers and a great grandfather (via the mail). I used my standard chocolate chip recipe and added a bit of Holiday flavor inspired by these delights!

Ginger Chocolate Bites

1 jar cashew butter 2 eggs 1 1/4 cup of palm sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2-1 cup chocolate chips

To turn gingery I added:

2 tsp powdered ginger 2 Tb finely grated ginger root 1/4 cup plus 1 Tb molasses zest from one lemon

Mix it all together, place small tsp sized balls onto cookie sheet. Bake in 350 degree oven for 7-10 minutes. The cookies will puff up and crack as they bake. Allow to cool and store in the fridge for best results.

Saying Good-bye to 2009

What I Have Learned This Year (From my e-newsletter)

I thought it would be fun to share my top ten lessons from the year. With small children, the lessons are always changing and always valuable.

I'd love to hear some of yours and share them. If you would like to send one of your lessons from the year and share it with others, send me an e-mail.

1. Cereal is an appetizer. Put nuts or cheese sticks in your purse because when you get in the car on the way to school, the words, "I'm hungry" are sure to be heard.

2. Wake up to a clean house every morning. This is the difference between a crabby mother and a functioning mother.

3. You can give up lots of things, but not sleep. See reason number 2.

4. Schedule time for your relationship. A happy home starts with happy parents.

5. Good conditioner is as important as a great haircut. I'm partial to the Trader Joe's conditioner and my hair is sad without it.

6. Dark greens give you more energy than a cup of coffee. You knew I had to mention greens! These things are like a shot of energy. Low energy? Go steam some broccoli.

7. Children are mini recordings of us. Sometimes they get it a bit confused, like when Eli said, "crap-it" after dropping and breaking glass. (I know what I need to work on)!!!

8. Start living as the person you want to be. When I decided earlier this year that I didn't want to get sick anymore (colds, flus, stomach bugs, etc) I have lived every day as someone who doesn't get sick. And I haven't! All my decisions are based on being that person.

9. Affirmations can change your life. I live in a small space with active children. When I feel challenged for space I say "my home provides all the space I need" and suddenly my perspective and reality changes. I get rid of some clutter, simplify a closet, donate some clothes and space opens up.

10. Feel the fear and do it anyway. My life has changed this last year by taking risks and putting myself out there. It has happened with the children also. Chloe started a new school in October and had to adjust to a teacher and class full of new kids. Every day she felt the fear, but she did it.

When you feel stuck think of one place to challenge yourself, feel the fear and do it anyway.

Happy Holidays to you all and thank you for reading my words, trying the recipes and supporting the work I do. To my friends and family who have supported and encouraged me, thank you more than I can say!

Event From Hannah's Harvest

$5 Teleclass... January's Resolutions Approach

From the end of October until the first of the year time seems to speed up. It's Holiday time and before we know it the champagne toast on New Year's Eve finds some of us stepping on the scale a few pounds heavier. Before I shifted my health and that of my family, I would actually not fit into my jeans after the Holiday eating. (That would spiral into my seasonal yo-yo dieting.) I have learned ways to celebrate without binging, moderation is a friendly word and I do a lot of the cooking so that I have something I can eat nearby.

We all know someone (or are someone) who is struggling with their health, weight or seasonal depression. Are they waiting for the magic pill, the New Year's Resolutions or next year to get healthy? Are you ready to change your life and the health of your family? Would you like support and accountability?

Join me for a teleclass discussing changing your patterns and habits through simple steps and accountability. We'll talk about goal setting, how we do it and why we do it. You'll have a chance to hear from people who have changed their lives or are in the process of getting to their ideal selves. We will talk about accountability and it's importance in creating positive change. I'll tell you about an upcoming group program that can bring your health to the next level.

Join me in your p.j.'s from the comfort of your home. Get some Holiday Inspiration from others who are ready to make a change!!! Make 2010 resolutions into goals that work. Your time is now...and it's simple.

Pass this newsletter on to the people in your life that need support and encouragement.

Holiday Resolution Teleclass

$5.00

Wednesday, January 6th

7:30pm

Send me an e-mail to register for the class and then I will send you the conference number.

Real Mama Eats Eggs For Breakfast

Chloe and I have been taking pictures of ourselves together since she was little.

I was inspired by a post on a beautiful blog I read almost every day. She asked for a bit of a conversation to help with her situation of her daughter wanting some privacy and not wanting to be written about on her blog. I thought it was a good time for her to focus more on sharing herself. So I am taking my own advise a bit (not that my kids mind being blogged about for now) and I will try to add more of myself to the blog.

I have been feeling a bit selfish lately. Starting to have some real work time has filled me deeply inside. I love going to the office, meeting with my amazing clients and getting lots and lots accomplished. I struggle when I am home with the feelings of "things" never being over. I sweep, the floor is instantly dirty. I pick up the toys, they are all over the house again. I remove the toys and my kitchen drawers get ransacked and become creative play. I love all this as it means I have a busy and fun family but sometimes it exhausts me. My work on myself has been trying to find my calm amidst the chaos. More often than not I do.

I am curious as to why when I feel this way I define it as selfish?

In my work with my clients we figure out what needs to be focused on and then we set goals. I know that I need to include the kids in daily maintenance of the house. Part of that means that I must be more consistent with them. I crave more rituals in our house and daily life. I am looking for a rhythm we can all feel satisfied with.

This was Thanksgiving day and Eli had an arrow drawn on his head. (photo and arrow art work by Chloe)

One thing that is consistent in my life is my three eggs for breakfast or brunch over greens. I eat pastured eggs which means that the chicken have been out eating grass and bugs and that the nutritional content of the eggs is perfect. It is my dream to have my own chicken. These eggs over greens will not harm my cholesterol or make me fat. These eggs give me energy and protein to nurse my little guy, drive kids to school, cook meals, walk dogs, work, play...nourish!

Three Eggs Over Garlic and Ginger Greens

Cook eggs in olive or coconut oil until the whites are firm and the inside runny!

Greens of any kind, chopped 1/4 cup water 1 TB olive oil 1 clove minced garlic 1 TB minced ginger 2 t tamari soy 1 t honey pinch of cayenne fresh squeezed lemon

Add all of the ingredients into a pan and water saute until the greens are soft. Serve eggs over the top.