Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s how it’s going to work.  I will first share a few inspirational thoughts that I’d like you to open you mind to and absorb.  Then, I will tell you a story.  After that, comes an interpretation of that story with the somewhat hidden announcement.  Finally, a request that will result in someone winning a surprise gift!!  Are you on the edge of your seats or what?!?

Here we go!  First, take a few really deep breaths.  And a few more for good measure.  This part has nothing to do with me or my blog.  This is a reminder to take a few moments for yourself.  Now that we are all in a calm and quiet place, here are the quotes to start us off:

Now, read them once more and apply at least one to your life.  Jump, splash, get dirty, believe, show your kids what strength and faith means.

Story time!  Most of you know the beginning of this story, so I’ll be quick about it.

Once upon a time, there was a girl.  She was nice and friendly and wished the best for everyone she met. She fell for a boy and they decided to meander down life’s path together.  They added a golden blonde crazy angel baby  and the three of them skipped to their own beat, laughing along the way.  Just as life was becoming sleepy and simple, another budding baby decided to join their little party.  The girl and the boy laughed and told this sweet pea to come along!  As they started to stretch their little world for a fourth friend, something else decided to climb aboard.  This “something” wasn’t invited.  This “something” had an ugly cloak and a bad reputation and had no friends to call its own.  This “something” decided to sneak into the party, behind the shadows of the budding baby, hoping that it would go unnoticed.  The girl was too smart to fall for such a scheme, and noticed its unfamiliar presence.  Unfortunately, it had made a home already and refused to budge.  The boy and the girl looked at each other in shock and a bit of worry.  ”What shall we do?” they asked each other.  ”Well,” said the girl, “I suppose we must go into the box that will tell us what to do, and wait for help.”  The boy said he would follow any which way, no matter how high or low.  So, they slowed their pace, and crawled into the box and waited.  A flurry of white coats and silver instruments poked and prodded that “something”.  It peered out with a scowl and ignored the request to vanish.  Those white coats reassured the girl and boy that they knew exactly what to do.  The little family of almost four donned their cloaks of bravery and followed closely behind the parade of knowledge.  They marched to a steady beat, and were rewarded with many enthusiastic compliments of a job well done.  Their march slowed to a crawl when their sweet, brunette cherub entered the world.  They sighed with contentment when they looked at their expanded tribe of goodness and love.  The girl was tired but oh so happy.  After a peaceful spell outside the box, the girl stood back up and dragged herself and the “something” into the harsh light of fighting and conquering.  She felt heavy and sad as she looked around the desolate land she had chosen.  She missed the forest and the trees and the wild path that had a sense of unknown and was alive with possibilities.  She couldn’t find her warmth because she had lost her hair and was so tired she couldn’t remember where.  Her laughter had somehow shrunk and her joy was broken into tiny bits and pieces that she would stumble upon every once in a while.  The girl felt ashamed and alarmed and thought she might have made a mistake.

Well, the Mother of all mothers heard her cry.  She sweetly smiled a sunny smile and wrapped a blanket of tranquility around the girl and sang her a lullaby until she fell asleep.  The Mother of all mothers opened the girl’s heavy suitcase and started to unload all the unnecessary pieces.  She laid to rest all the doubt, anxiety, fear and uncertainty.  The Mother of all mothers replaced them with little pockets of intuition and harmony.  She folded blankets of courage and slippers of joy inside.  When she was done, the girl awoke to the bag she had always dreamt of.  She joyfully kissed the Mother of all mothers on each cheek and ran as fast as her legs could carry her.  She cheerfully shouted to the boy and the golden angel and the brunette cherub to wake up!  The girl unfolded a map that was full of everything she loved and knew.  The map told them to skip and hop and laugh.  The map showed them where to find the freshest spring water and the sweetest apples.  The girl laughed in delight as she recognized her most favorite things of all time on that map.  The little family of four linked arms and started forging their path along the mossy forest floor.

The story takes a few twists and turn, but you get to be included in the next part.  The foursome was stopped not far ahead by the coats of white and the needles of silver.  ”You can’t go this way!”, they exclaimed.  ”You’ll get lost, you’ll get hurt, you’ll never be able to find your way back!”.  The girl asked how they knew that.  ”Have you ever gone this way to see what is ahead?” she asked.  They bellowed and hollered and shouted numbers and science and protocol at her.  ”But do you know where my path leads?” she enquired.  The coats of white looked at each other and grimaced.  ”No, but we only have one map and this is the map you must take.”  The girl smiled sweetly at each and every face, for she still wished the best for everyone she met and said, “You are kind to offer me your map, but this world is bigger than that one map and  wider than that one needle.  I shall follow my heart, for it knows me better than any book or number.  I shall climb brand new mountains and swim brand new seas.  I shall breath every breath with faith that another breath will follow.  I will turn my eyes to the sky and thank every cloud and raindrop and wisp of wind, for they will be a part of this journey.”  And with that proclamation, the boy and the girl and the golden angel and the brunette cherub climbed into their boat made of faith and boldness, and pushed away from the safe shore.  They set their sails to go any which way, no matter how high or low.  Their life was an adventure and they relished in the moment, for that was all that was promised to them.    The End

Well, my version of short may not be very short.  But once I started, it became so therapeutic and I couldn’t stop.  For those of you who don’t’ speak “fairytale”, I’ll interpret it for you.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer while five months pregnant, I couldn’t see beyond the fog of the disease.  I couldn’t dissect my emotions and think through what was happening, because it all moved so fast.  I had four rounds of chemo while pregnant, and then gave birth to a wonderful baby girl.  After a month to recover, I started back up on a different “cocktail” of chemo.  The fifth round proved to be much more difficult than the previous four rounds.  I wasn’t sleeping or digesting very well and I was having strange heart palpitations.  After the second round with the same results, I consulted my doctor about it.  She assured me that these were all common side effects to the new chemo.  Something just didn’t sit well with me, and my intuition started to speak up.  What came next was a very personal decision and I am in no way telling anyone else to follow suit.  I think everyone will make the best decision for where they are in life and knowledge and capabilities.  I decided to delay conventional treatment and start researching alternative therapy.  The very moment I made up my mind to change course, an enormous wave of peace shrouded my every thought and I knew in my heart of hearts that I had made the right decision for my body.  My body and I get each other and have an understanding to listen to each other.  When I was going through chemotherapy, I told my body that this is what it needed to work with.  When my body decided on a better way to heal, I listened to it.  Do I get a guarantee that this will be successful?  Nope.  But no one is offering me that option, so I had to go with the one that makes the most sense to me.

I started an organic whole-foods diet. I researched supplements and vitamins that have well-documented anti-cancer synergies, support the immune system (the most important tool in fighting cancer) and balance hormone levels.  I threw out all chemical ladden household cleaners and cosmetics with natural substitutions and have implemented exercise and spiritual healing programs (all of this is in addition to the treatment program itself).  The ultimate decision to defer to alternative treatment at this time is one that gives me the most peace.  This peace of mind is not only based on diligent research, but also based on my own “gut feeling”, which I believe to be critical.  So, there it is in a nutshell.

A part of this ride is prayers, good energy, positive thought, love and goodness directed our way.  We’re not asking that you agree or even completely understand.  What we are requesting is your well wishes.  This decision is ours for the making and opinions of doubt and discouragement will not be accepted. We hold no opinion for others and their decisions about treatment and healing their body, and hope that others can give us the same grace.

Now you get to play!  Everyone that feels so inclined to leave a kind comment of encouragement and love at the bottom of this blog will be entered in a raffle for a fabulous prize!  You will also get a chance to enter by entering a comment on my blog titled “Surprise!”.  Look for it tomorrow on the OCinSite website by clicking on this link:  User – OCInSite.  Alabama will randomly draw a name from each and I will email you the exciting details of your win!

I am feeling so incredibly blessed by the support I have received so far.  In the coming weeks, I will fill everyone in on all kinds of fascinating details and share my wealth of information with you.  Not to worry, it will apply to the sick and healthy and everyone in between!  I will now be signing off my week of blogging.  Thank you for taking the time you took to read it these past seven days.  Your kindness and caring means the world to me.  Here’s to a beautiful day and all that jazz.  I’m off to play in a very shoddily build sheet tent with a very happy crazy golden angel baby while a certain cherub cheerfully gurgles nearby!  Sending each and every one of you immeasurable amounts of love and joy!

I will leave you with a simple and sweet thought:

xoxo, Brita

Happiness in a Click…

Have you ever made dinner and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, only to reheat it for lunch the next day and it’s subpar at best?  Well, unfortunately, that seems to be the case with the “to be continued” blog from last night.  I was on a roll (in my head) and had so much to add to the next blog, but upon starting today, it doesn’t hold the same pizzaz.  So, here’s the gist of intuition.  If you need to make a big or small decision, try this.  Step away for a moment and peacefully sit.  When thinking about the situation, what is your first reaction?  When thinking about your options, what is your first reaction?  Most likely, that will be your guide.  If you doubt your choice, reevaluate.  You are always allowed to change your mind.  And you are always allowed to keep the course of your first instinct.

And now, moving on!  What have you done today to make yourself happy?  What have you done this last week that was just for you?  How about this last month?  Most people strain to remember a time when they weren’t working, commuting, cooking or cleaning.  I would read these blogs about women taking morning baths, spending a quiet hour clearing their chakras and treating themselves to a massage once a month.  I would assume these women weren’t married or mothers or animal owners because who has that kind of time to carelessly throw around?!?  Turns out, it’s not really an option.  Your health depends on it.

Making time and space for yourself has been medically proved to reduce stress, increase your immune system, and can slow the aging process.  There is a catch though.  The whole “time and space” thing is limited.  To get these results, you can’t have media stimulation (I’m talking boob tube and iPad) or distractions that keep you from centering yourself.  Of course, there are distractions even without those things.  It’s called a monkey mind, and it’s the part of you that starts to mentally write a grocery list, or prepare a speech to your husband about hanging up the bath towel after a showering or tries to remember if you recorded “Real Housewives of New Jersey”.  This is something that can be mastered over time, but gently letting these thoughts drift out and not paying heed to them is a good start.  Eventually, these thoughts are spaced out farther and farther apart and clean, quiet space is replaced.  Hours upon hours of meditating is not required to achieve the health benefits.  Take a moment in the shower to close your eyes and breath.  Try to go to bed a little earlier and spend a few quiet minutes meditating before falling asleep.  This may not sound like fun to you, but you will notice a calm and peace throughout your day if you incorporate small meditation moments.

Now onto my favorite part!  Happiness!  It took me quite a while to hone in on what makes me happy.  For the longest time, I thought TV made me happy.  I couldn’t wait until the girls were in bed and I could hunker down and watch a few mindless shows before bed.  Sometimes I would watch something of substance, like a documentary or have a movie night with my husband, which was always enjoyed.  But something interesting would normally happened.  I would drag myself away after two or three hours and feel lethargic and dull.  I wouldn’t sleep very well, which would result in a groggy morning.  The worst part was that I have a never-ending list of things I wanted and needed to do, and I wasn’t making a dent in it.  After weeks (aka months) of this strange rhythm, a little lightbulb went off and I felt my brain starting to rewire.  I started “my time” with cleaning the house up, so it was fresh and tidy in the morning.  Then I’d spend about an hour replying to emails, writing thank you letters and coming up with an appealing weekly menu and grocery list.  After that, I’d do what made my soul sing.  I started a list of what truly made me happy.  Things like taking a bath, reading a book that has nothing to do with nutrition or cancer or parenting, “pinning”, meditation and cooking.  I would pick something from that list and fill my night with it.  I was going to bed content, and sleeping like a baby (except when the baby wasn’t sleeping like a baby!) and I was waking up content and ready to start a new day in my already tidy house.

Understandably, not every day turns out this way.  But what I realized is that it needs to be something I add to the mandatory list.  Even if it’s only sitting in the sun for five minutes, it will make me happy for those three hundred seconds and that will hopefully carry over into some of the day.  When I’m happy, my babies seem happier, which makes papa bear happy.  And then, we feel like we are doing something right in this world!  All from remembering that you are just as important as everyone else in your life, and to take the time to show your appreciation for all that you do.  It’s like giving yourself a bonus for a job well done!  And who doesn’t want a little quality time as a reward??

Helpful hint of the day:  Meditation is like taking a minivacation, a quick “reset” for your brain, body and nervous system. In our culture, most people do best with structured meditation, rather than trying to “empty” the mind.  This is one of my favorite ways to start my day.

LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION

Say each phrase on an exhale, repeating four times:

For yourself; a loved one; for someone you don’t know well who needs it.

“May I (you) be filled with loving kindness.” “May I be well.” “May I be peaceful and at ease.” “May I be happy.”

You’ll find that saying these out loud will put your intentions for the day out in the open.

To end, here are a few more things that make me giddy with delight!  Go out and find your happiness!

*Please note:  All of this pictures were stealthily taken from Pinterest.  I take no credit and if one of these are rightfully yours, I thank you for inspiring happiness in myself and the people that read this blog.  If you have an issue with me using your picture, email me and I will have my daughter send you a hand drawn thank you card.  Cheers!

Pillow Drool…

I am slumped in bed, still wearing my yoga pants and a t-shirt that a certain someone spit up on.  I’ve arranged all the pillows around me as a sort of throne and as the minutes pass, I find my head slowly but surely drifting down to the billowy depths of comfort and sleep.  ”Slacking for the second day??” you ask.  Not really.  I had written a gem of a post about intuition.  In depth, thoughtful and with a hint of humor.  Unfortunately, when I decided to head over to Pandora and my computer asked me if I was sure that I wanted to leave this page, I obviously answered incorrectly.  Apparently, my computer’s intuition knew that I had not saved my post.  So, my tired brain has decided to re-write approximately half of the post and encourage you to read the conclusion tomorrow!  Without further ado, here it goes!

“If You’re Quiet, You’ll Hear It…”

Have you ever spent time with someone and felt completely and utterly exhausted afterwards, like they drained you of your sunshine?  They may have not done anything that you could pinpoint as the culprit, but you felt depleted nonetheless.  Or have you ever had a situation that you just didn’t feel right about?  It might have been someone asking for a favor or a business arrangement and it just didn’t sit right with you.  We’ve all been there, when your first reaction is “no”, but you say yes and end up paying for it somehow.

That little voice is your intuition.  Everyone is built with one, but it’s not too often that we trust it.  We start to believe what others say and what the media pushes and what is considered “right” by society.  We start to become such a follower that the whisper of the real you is buried in the noise.  Doubt nibbles at those fleeting feelings and we second guess and then guess a few more times until it’s all a muddle and you’re blindly pointing at any which way.

I can’t recall a time when I regretted following my intuition.  I have an incredibly vivid memory of following it when I was in first grade.  I have a few from high school and a few more in my adult years.  I also have a mental trash bag full of decisions that I wish I had followed my gut feeling on.  Intuition is invaluable, so start dusting off your sixth sense and get acquainted with it again!

Turns out, scientists are starting to agree that it isn’t so mystical and wacky.  It’s associated with the right side of your brain, which is the side that holds our artistic and creative qualities.  There are a few ways to figure it out, and that’s where my studying benefits you . So, here’s a few key points to get you started.

*Your body language:  Clammy palms, shallow breathing, or a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, are all obvious ways that your intuition is trying to get your attention.  Likewise, feelings of peace, joy or elation, are also obvious signs that you’re headed in the right direction.  Need some help with the more subtle hints?  Your intuition always wants what is best for you, so it will only back what is harmless to you and others.  When you make the best decision for yourself, you will feel a relaxed and gentle energy.  Unfortunately, it may not last long if you invite others to critique your path.  You will undoubtedly teeter-totter back and forth from what’s best to what’s right to what’s nice to what’s expected.  Plug your ears tightly and go back to the quiet place inside.  Do you still feel peace in your decision?  Ok, then go back out there and give them hell!  Trust that you know yourself better than anyone else in this entire world.  Don’t let a degree or a white coat or a black American Express card phase you.  Schooling or money or experience can’t touch what you think is best.

*Your Dreams:  When a decision is weighing on you, it tends to come out at the midnight hour (you better be asleep by then!).  Your mind will try to solve problems when you are most relaxed and perceptive.  Keep a journal by your bed and  as soon as you wake up, jot down anything that seemed noteworthy.  Intuition tends to follow a pattern, so you might notice a theme for a few nights in a row.

 

Yes, that is all I have tonight.  What a cliffhanger!!  The second part will answer every single question you have ever had.  That is quite a stretch, but I’ll complete my insights in hopes that something hits home for you.

Healthy hint of the day:  When my mom was young, baby oil was considered safe while sun tanning.  When I was growing up, SPF 50 was considered essential to protect me.  It turns out that neither is quite right.  While a “Magda like” suntan isn’t anything to aspire to, the absence of direct sun exposure is also harmful.  More and more studies are showing that there is a huge Vitamin D deficiency.  Studies are showing that Vitamin D can build bones, strengthen the immune system and lower the risks of illnesses like diabetes heart and kidney disease,high blood pressure and cancer.  Try to spend 15-20 minutes a day in the sun, between 10am and 2 pm.  Make sure to cover up once you’ve had an adequate dose, because a sunburn is still damaging and looks dumb.  Now, go soak up those rays and I will see you back here tomorrow for the conclusion!  And I will see you Thursday for the fabulous and mysterious surprise (spoiler alert:  I am NOT pregnant, so stop sending me texts asking that

A Quick Punch to the Gut…

Here’s the deal.  I am obviously on a ridiculous health kick.  I have become a knowledge junkie on anything green and mean.  I will not bore you with a lecture on what should be sitting on your shelves and what should be lining your garbage (but Twinkies are on the second list, so toss those nasty little nuggets out!).  I will give a very brief overview of what I have learned and hope that a bit of it hits home for you.

*  I had read about super foods in a magazine article a few years ago.  It listed things like salmon and almonds and omega-3s.  Those are all very well and fine, but did you know there are super super foods out there??  Goji berries have 500 times more vitamin C per ounce than any other fruit.  That’s a pretty good reason to down a handful of these cheery red berries, but that’s not where it ends.  They are also a superb source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E and contain a full complement of protein with 18 amino acids and 21 trace minerals.  Enough said, but the icing on the cake is that they are an excellent antioxidant.  For those who are unaware of the role that antioxidants play in our diet, I’ll enlighten you.  Simply put, they can reverse aging and protect against disease.  I have started popping these bad boys like candy!  I decided to mix it up a bit and throw in a little variation, which is why this next item became a humdinger in healthy eating.  Raw cacao is so ridiculously pumped up on antioxidants, it should be a mandatory dietary supplement. It is quite possibly the world’s most concentrated source of antioxidants found in any food.  As if that wasn’t enough, it is extremely high in magnesium, a mineral that most people are very deficient in.  The best part is that a small 28 ounce serving of cacao beans is 314% of your daily needed iron intake.  Steak is out, cacao is in!  Throw in a few almonds, which contain phytochemicals and call it a party mix. Phytochemicals help protect against cardiovascular disease and even cancer.  That is a pretty tasty powerhouse trio to nibble on!

* ”Let thy Food be thy Medicine and thy Medicine be thy Food” – Hippocrates.  What does that mean to you?  Does that statement from the founding father of modern medicine make you rethink the way you view your dinner?  Take a day and follow a guide for wholesome and balanced eating.  There is a slew of knowledgeable and credible people offering a one-day, three-day or seven-day fasts or cleanses.  Or just keep it simple and try to include two fruits or vegetables in every meal.  Attempt to drink at least eight glasses of water (and no, coffee doesn’t count).  Sleep for eight hours.  Turn off the TV a bit before hitting the hay so your mind can wind down naturally.  Take a few minutes in the day to clear your head and concentrate solely on your breathing.  These are the little pieces that can add to the big puzzle of internal peace, health and happiness.

*  I will pick one more interesting food fact.  Try to incorporate 51% of raw food into your diet.  Take a look at your plate and do the math.  Do you have cooked meat, a cooked vegetable and a cooked starch?  How about putting a big ol’ salad on a half of that plate and the other side can be whatever floats your boat.  Why raw?  Maximizing the intake of phytonutrients is an important factor contributing to the success of raw diets. These vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in raw plants are necessary for humans and other animals to thrive. Eating raw food generally means you are getting a higher concentration of phytonutrients and other heat-sensitive nutrients in your diet.  The resume of phytonutrients includes the following: Serves as an antioxidant, enhances immune response and cell-to-cell communication, alters estrogen metabolism, causes cancer cells to die (apoptosis) and repairs DNA damage caused by smoking and other toxic exposures.  Not too shabby for chomping on a carrot stick.

I care about you.  I care about what you are putting into your body.  Everyone is able to tweak their diet and lifestyle before the wake up call of cancer or disease comes knocking.  It’s like a heads up that there is heavy gridlock on the freeway that you’re traveling on.  You’re able to re-route your path without having to be one of those cars in nasty gridlock.  Consider this a possible alternate map.  Take it from a gal who has done her research on different ways to get to the destination of a happy, healthy body.  There are more ways than I can count to achieve health.  Do your research.  Listen to your body. What feels like a fit and what feels like torture will be a pretty good indicator as to what will work.  You know yourself better than anyone.  Start trusting you!

Healthy tip of the day:  If you want a big dose of food knowledge, watch “Food Matters”.  Fascinating science behind our food and the role it plays in health.  If you don’t want a big dose of food knowledge, tune in tomorrow.  I promise it will be foodless

A nice thought to end this post:

simply sweet

 

Well, What Do You Know….

Yes, I did slack today.  But I am a woman of my word, so I refuse to end the night without posting something!  You may be surprised that 10;00 is considered the end of the night.  I will most likely be up between 2 am and 4 am with one or both girls.  It’s a different take on partying all night long.  So, without further ado, I will throw out a few of the latest pictures in hopes that you will tune in tomorrow for a very wordy post, filled with fascinating information and riveting dialog.  Cheers!

Sweet baby girl handing out free kisses!

Very first face painting!

Ruby loving on Auntie Megan

Mindful Octopus yoga, story and craft hour!

Mommy's breakfast of rock star champions!

 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

The month of February has been wonderful thus far.  It started with the joy of green smoothies, brought to life by the incredibly giving company, Vitamix.  To read about this sweet and lovely story, please visit my other blog here: Brita Corradini: A Unicorn, Double Chocolate Cake, and a Perfect Sunset… : Blogs – OCInSite.  This blog is different and equally enjoyable!  To view the other posts I have written for this website, please visit:  User – OCInSite.  Multiple blogs, you ask??  Yes, I am a bit of a tart when it comes to my words.  This blog is published on Stu News here:  Stu News Laguna.  I figure if you’ll listen and follow, I’ll write and spread the word!

Back to wonderful February and the chicken dinner!  I felt an enormous lift in energy and spirit as I drank my smoothies chock full of dark green goodness.  How intense did I get?  Very.  I started following a smoothie recipe from an inspirational woman by the name of Courtney and her aptly named blog – “Green Drink Diaries”.  There is the expected greens like kale and spinach, with a few exciting ingredients like spouts and seaweed.  She throws in a very complementary avocado.  But the creme de la creme is the raw brussel sprouts.  You could not pay me $20 to eat a raw brussel sprout.  You could probably pay me $50, but I haven’t seen anyone pulling out their wallets to watch me nibble one of those baby green globes for an hour.  It does make sense that if you can’t chew your way to healthiness, why not blend?  This is the ultimate big gulp of smoothies, weighing in at a whopping 64 ounces!  Thankfully, the Vitamix whips this bad boy into a silky oblivion.  The taste is intense but very drinkable.  You may notice I use the word “intense” quite a bit.  In case you’re wondering what I mean by it, let me do a re-cap of when I use it.  My completely drug-free natural labor wasn’t painful, it was “intense”.  Going through chemo with two babies wasn’t difficult, it was “intense”.  Drinking a smoothie that is full of raw vegetables I wouldn’t normally eat isn’t gross, it’s just “intense”.  Why give it a label that has a negative connotation before you’re out of the gate?  Why not start the race with a word that leaves room for growth so that moment can create its own feeling?  When I say “intense,” I’m reminding myself that I am stronger than any experience.  Of course I know there are moments of exhaustion and pain and frustration, but I am setting myself up with verbal armor that looks for the light at the end of the tunnel.  Turns out, this “intense” smoothie has become an enjoyable drink.

I am doing myself a favor every morning when I hit that blend button and watch the swirls of emerald and forest green.  I have felt the difference in my energy levels and have seen it in the healthy glow I exude.  I am even fitting into pre-pregnancy jeans!  And by pre-pregnancy, I mean pre ALL babies pregnancy!  Oh yes, I think happiness has snuck into my description of the smoothie!

As I watch Alabama stretch her little limbs into the person she’s growing into, I am daily reminded of my influence on her.  Her eagle eye doesn’t miss a thing, and she has asked for a drink every time I make a smoothie.  Yes, I am making ridiculously delicious noises that would make anyone say “I’ll have what she’s having,” but it works.  She has found delight in sunlight and plants and little baby bugs that probably don’t survive her poking and prodding.  Combining a green smoothie with a little sunny Vitamin D and my baby soaking up nature leaves me as the happiest camper this side of the Rockies.

Helpful hint of the day:  We are all aware that broccoli is incredibly good for you.  My dear friend Miss Mahlia clued me into the best way to eat this mini green tree.  A quick dip in boiling water opens up the pores and releases any hidden toxins.  Even organic broccoli will drink up the floating toxins from the commercially grown plant next door.  Then, a quick dip in cold water stops the cooking process and you’ve got yourself a toxic-free, healthful veggie!

Now onto my favorite part

Repairing what the Santa Ana winds tore apart

Drinking from her homemade watering can

Growing my own sprouts like a super cool counter farmer!

Green mustache and my chia pet hair!

Wait, this is in February?? Yes, non-Southern California friends, this is winter

Oh How I’ve Missed You…

It’s been quiet around this blog, and I do apologize.  Life took a few crazy turns and the holidays always add a little extra spice (and by spice, I mean stress) to anyone’s load!  To pay back each and every loyal and dedicated reader, I am going to blog every day for a week.  On the seventh day, I will be revealing my big secret, ultra fantastic surprise.  So, stay tuned because it’s about to get crazy awesome!  Today will be my backtracking day to reel you back in and saturate you with updates and pictures and a little kiss of sunshine to brighten you day!

Where were we?  I think Christmas/New Years was my last update.  Christmas was wonderful, with family and a fat, fat Christmas dinner.  My husband’s family knows how to do it UP!  I come from a family that does pizza on Christmas Eve and deli meat/potato salad buffet on Christmas night.  I’m not complaining, because clean-up was at an all-time low.  Because my mother reads my blog, she will want everyone to know we only ate that way on those two evenings.  Every other meal was well-balanced and wholesome.  Because my sister reads my blog, she will want everyone to know that we had burritos and spaghetti every single week of our entire growing up, which is why we have a bit of an aversion to both.  Because my dad reads this blog, he’ll admit he doesn’t remember any meals we had, because he’d eat anything that was put in front of him.  He’s one of those wonderful men that, when asked to, would taste the milk that smells funny or eats the really, really old leftovers so my mom didn’t have to throw it out and waste food.

Anyway, fabulous family Christmas.  New Years was quiet at our house.  Andrew spent the evening entertaining the masses at K’ya and partied with the best of Laguna.  I was in bed by 10, and spent the stroke of midnight feeding little Ruby.  I’m not one to make many resolutions, because I feel an intense pressure to come up with a brand spanking new resolution that has never been uttered on the 31st.  How cliché and mundane to mention my diet or my generously sized thighs or pinpoint the piles of love letters and bills and recipes cluttering my counter.  So, I spent that moment just soaking in what I have already accomplished and the gifts already given to me and mine.

Well, that only lasted a few weeks.  I felt so out of the growth loop as everyone spouted on about their new juice fast or their resolve to stretch when rising and pray when going to bed.  I simply couldn’t be left out and found my mind speaking its… well, its mind.  I ended up with a feasible and doable list of wishes for this year.  And since I can hear each of you begging to know what I came up with, I will share them with you!  Because once it’s out there, written permanently in Georgia Regular 13 font on this blog, it’s out there and I will be responsible for following through.

Thankfully, I kept it pretty simple.  My first goal is time.  Analyze how I’m spending my days and where I can tweak moments into peace and contentment.  The first thing I realized is if I pop open my computer before 10 am and innocently log into Facebook and Pinterest and my email and my other email and weather.com, I’m done before I started.  Anyone that has seen the “technology loop” on the show “Portlandia” knows what I’m talking about.  I actually strongly disliked that episode.  It was annoying and disjointed.  Then I realized that it was because there was truth in how out of control our technology connections are!  Do I really need to check the 10 day weather forecast in Tallahassee?  Is is going to help the flow of my morning if I start pinning DIY ideas for dresser drawers and fab hairstyles?  What I started to realize is that I was neglecting quality breakfast prep time and food because I wasn’t mono tasking.  So, the computer stays in the other room until breakfast is done and cleaned up.  Have I noticed a difference?  You bet your sweet booty I have!  I’m calmer when I focus on my bowl of uber-healthy oatmeal and spend time talking to Alabama about kitties and babies and why she should eat her apple instead of tucking it in her bib for a rainy day.  She knows she has my undivided attention and doesn’t need to paint her arms and cheeks with blueberry juice to get a glance in her direction.  Resolution #1 was a success.

Then, the rest of my resolutions hit every branch as it fell down the cliché tree.  I started going a mile a minute.  ”I want to meditate every day, I need to sign up for Green Peace and Transition Laguna, I will walk 3 miles six times a week, I will lose all my baby weight while simultaneously finding cheap, stylish attire.  I will write a blog a day and make every single morsel of food from scratch.  I will create my Pinterest life on a budget and have the perfectly organized kitchen.”  Once I caught my breath, I frowned at the growing list that started to cause me anxiety.  Where is the balance in resolutions?  Do you make every resolution and hope some stick?  Do you make one and know you can succeed but you’re not pushing yourself to grow?  I honestly don’t know.

So, I decided to start slow.  I’ve got the peaceful morning trick under my belt now and have picked up the mediation resolution.  I signed up for a 21-day mediation challenge guided by Deepak Chopra.  They say it takes 21 days to create a habit, healthy or otherwise.  And anytime someone mentions the word “challenge”, you better believe I’m going to win.  Of course, I’m hoping that the end of this challenge will result in letting go of the need to win and beat everyone and then rubbing it in their faces.  Ok, I’m not that ridiculous, but I am unnecessarily competitive.  Focusing on the personal benefit of dedicating time to being and breathing will be positive and will add calm and purpose to my days.

Alright!  We’ve updated January!  Yes, I will be diving into my health and the girls and the ridiculous amount of information I’ve accumulated in the last few months.  So, stay tuned!  This week will be froth with entertainment and fun facts.  I will leave you with a helpful hint and a few January pictures to whet your appetite!

Helpful hint for today:  Adding apple cider vinegar to your bath water will draw out toxins.  Make sure the apple cider vinegar is the kind with the “mother” in it.  If you are a bit concerned or curious as to what that cloudy clump  floating on the bottom is, here’s the explanation from dynamichealth.com:  ”The “Mother” in Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is the dark, cloudy substance found in the vinegar formed from naturally occurring pectin and apple residues. It appears as molecules of protein connected in strand-like chains. The presence of the mother shows that the best part of the apple has not been destroyed. Vinegar containing the mother contain enzymes and minerals that other vinegar may not contain due to over processing, filtration and overheating. “Mother” is formed naturally by the bacteria in unpasteurized vinegar.”  The benefits of incorporating organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar into your diet is endless.  So, let’s all cheers a glass of filtered water and vinegar to health.  Today, I will cheers to Miss Lee Garret, who got me hooked on it eight years ago!

Now, to end on a sweet note:

Alabama+Pluto= terrifying!

Doesn't know the meaning of "too big for that"

Who needs a chair when you have a basket?

Never too young to be adorably fashionable!

Happiness is her middle name!

If there are snacks, they will follow

Alright!  That’s a summary of January.  I’m just warming up.  Tomorrow will be yet another riveting post!  Now go out and enjoy the day, whatever it has in store for you!

Who You Are To Me….

I’ve mentioned a few people here and there who have kept me company while I hike the cancer trail.  I didn’t realize how many people I had backing me up until I attended the fabulous Christmas party thrown by Shaena Stabler and Stu Saffer of Stu News.  Stu News was the first to reach out to me about my story and has continued to give me a platform to discuss this disease and my progress.  I haven’t been much for parties this past year, but I felt that I could make an exception for this one, and I am so very glad I did.

I met so many incredible people who follow my blog and I was blessed with energy around each introduction.  I met women who had successfully survived cancer.  A few men who told me their wives kept them up to date.  Even the mayor had her take on my story!  Once again, I was so appreciative to be a part of this community.  The sincere care and support made me feel stronger than ever.

Things get rough at times, but I’ve got an army to back me up.  The belief that I will beat this cancer is strengthened by every person that makes up this crazy life.  Babies, husbands, friends and strangers keep me going!  Thank you so much to each person who plays a part.  I may not know you, but I feel invigorated by the love that is sent.  May each of you feel the same strength from me!

I will leave you with the sweetest love of all:

Paying the Pied Piper…

There are many honeymoon periods throughout life. I was privy to a treatment-free-new-baby honeymoon phase. After my fourth round of chemo, I happily anticipated six weeks of homebound happiness. And I thoroughly enjoyed each day. My forth round came a little too quickly, but I met it with a strong resolve to power through the next four treatments as I had with the first four. Upon inspection before I was hooked up, my oncologist joyfully exclaimed that she was unable to find the tumor. My body had obviously put the medicine to good use, and I’m feeling certain lifestyle changes playing a role as well. This post-birth cycle of chemo was a new cocktail and the side effects were unknown. My sit-down time chalked up to five hours for this first round, and I have to admit, it wasn’t so bad. I was able to take a nap, eat my lunch in peace and respond to emails from months (and years) ago. I ended feeling rested and ready to take on the world… or at least take on my household, cats and kids!

Turns out I got a little help from the steroids I had been taking. I actually had an insane amount of energy, and was cooking and cleaning like it was going out of style. I was so excited that I was once again beating the odds of the side effects. Then the pied piper came to collect. I’m not sure if it was the chemo or the injection they gave me to increase my white blood cell count, but I hit an extreme low point. About three days after treatment, I woke up feeling like a tractor hit me. The kind of tractor that has all those spikes to break up the hard earth. I had flu-like achiness and felt like my energy had bottomed out. I refused to be bed-bound, so I still got up every morning and put on a decent outfit. Granted, I didn’t leave the house that often, but I felt like it sent my body a message that I could if I wanted to. I did succumb to popping a few Advil around 5:00 pm. Since drinking isn’t really an option, and 5:00 is the witching hour for both babies, I needed something to see me through to the other side. The other side being when everyone is in bed and I can lay on the couch like a corpse without having to play peek-a-boo or read “Biscuit and the Baby”.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed that my streak came to a halt. My nights are stretched between two babies and their dinners and baths and bedtimes, and now included feeling nasty. So, once again, I searched high and low for that pesky silver lining. What I found was that the other two weeks feel even better. There is a powerful spirit inside pushing me to get through each day when I’m under the weather. Then, just when I think I will need to check into an institution for lack of sanity, my body is back to normal and my happy temperament along with it. And now I look ahead at the three remaining rounds and it all seems pretty doable. The piper will be paid and I will be free to write about other things, like unicorns and hot fudge sundaes!

The Big Number Four…

I remember sitting in the chemo chair for the first time and envisioning the day when I’d be at the halfway point in my treament rounds.  I couldn’t quite mentally jump to the finish line then, because the end seemed so far away.  So, I set my sights on finishing my first four rounds of chemo.  I knew the completion of the fourth round meant that baby #2 was right around the corner and I would be given a few weeks of “vacation” post baby before starting my second half of chemo.  I am now looking back over my shoulder at those rounds with a sense of accomplishment and pride.  I made it this far!  The baby has made it this far!  My family has made it this far!  There are many, many things to be grateful for.  I’ve realized that by setting manageable goals, I get to feel that more often.  I can check half my treatments off my list.  I can cross off organizing the baby’s closet and learning how to use the ‘Bentley’ of all double strollers (thanks to some incredible girlfriends!).  I have a ”honey do” list which hopefully keeps my husband feeling goal-oriented.  All in all, I think we’re ready for this next stage.  My goals have become somewhat smaller after chemo.

One goal was to make it to the pumpkin patch.  It seemed simple and something fun to do with our baby girl.  Using the word simple seemed to jinx the plan.  We apparently picked the hottest heat wave in October and I dressed as if we lived in Canada.  It turns out that my daughter could care less for pumpkins and was more interested in the little pieces of trash that lined the walkways.  After surviving a few near-fainting spells in the patch, we attempted the corn maze.  It felt like a safe place to be in case I needed to throw up my breakfast.  I trudged along while my husband chased his nieces and nephews around the heat death trap.  After that excitement ended, we left.  I think maybe we clocked about 20 minutes there.  I sat in the car and felt a sincere disappointment at my pumpkin patch goal.  It turned out nothing like I had anticipated and we didn’t even end up buying one of the incredibly expensive pumpkins.

But here is where the real beauty of the goal is.  It rarely turns out perfect, but when you’re open to new experiences, there will always be something to take away from it.  I didn’t realize what I was gifted with until I loaded the pictures from my camera onto my computer.  I realized that we have fantastic family pictures, a unique story of Alabama’s first trip to the pumpkin patch and a list of what not to do next time.  That sounds like a goal I can feel good about crossing off my list!

100 degrees in a plaid shirt never looked so good!

My little candy corn baby

Cousins make everything better