~todays moments~

today's green smoothie: spinach, fresh organic strawberries, banana and filtered water

park time

after watching the movie "Cool Runnings" (I love this kid)

eating our favorite summertime pasta, "Paradise Pasta"

reading

drumming and dancing

and well...just wanna know...is there anyone else out there who pretends to cry after putting in eye drops, or am I the only nerd?

end the night with a game of cribbage...

The wrap up

It has been a busy week and I haven't really had a chance to write much...
Ya'all left such nice comments about my Color Week. I really appreciate it!
It wasn't the easiest to get pictures b/c our camera is on the outs but rigged and working :). Someday I hope to get a nice camera! but this one will do for now. (did I mention no view finder= just point, cross fingers, and shoot)
The best part of doing the color week (which is the best part of photography to me) was finding beauty in the mundane. I highly reccommed it.
Okay, enough blabbing... lets see...4th of July has come and gone. It was a blur of noise, heat, food and more noise. Our neighborhood was lit up and apparently no one has gotten the memo that the 4th is now over.
This week pollywog went to her first story hour at the library. It was so much fun. I was impressed with how well she interacted with the children. She is so social and loves to pet kids. They don't always like that though. go figure...
CJ has been busy (as usual) playing outside. He comes in to eat and well, that's about it. Did I mention he ate a box of cereal in two days...
Here are some highlights from the week...

yes, that is what you think, on her head. She was helping mommy and apparently found a fun hat to wear too.

My budding artists!

You can often find CJ drawing cartoons or cars at his desk for hours... He really is talented...

and pollywog...who loves to color and paint

the paper (walls, carpet, dolls, books)...

herself...

and me...

I also was at it again with the popsicles. This time I made Kefir, Cherry and Banana pops (they were bomb diggity) and mint, blueberry, cherry pops (haven't tried yet, but they should be good) This week I am making carrot,spinach, apple pops (juicing them then freezing)- they might not sound good, but they are refreshing and sweet and the kids get lots of veggies and fruits- you know to grow big and strong- Everyone is enjoying them and the kids don't even know how good they are for them...hehehehehehehe (evil mom laugh)
On a "green note" (or what I call simple, practical, living) ,this week we sold our second vehicle. We decided we only need one, especially with the price of gas. We figure one of us can always bike. B uses the kid trailer with his bike to go to the grocery store or to the recycling center, coffee shop, etc.
We also perused our local Farmers market and got some goods and took the kids to the recycling center to help (we had a big load this time) and also...

...this I am so excited about...(doesn't take much to excite me apparently)...
I have been wanting a clothes line, but with renting and all we had to get creative.
The line comes unhooked when not in use. Pollywog really likes to help mommy with this chore.










Now we are just waiting for our lovely container garden to give us yummy treats. Once the tomatoes are ready we have plans to make and can salsa...recipes people, I need them!

This coming week is going to be full...of fun! CJ starts his karate and pottery classes... and I, don't laugh, start my hip hop dance class. (hey, I heard that) I am super excited about this. I love to dance and it will be a good workout. Also, pollywog goes to story hour again, CJ has youth group and an upcoming float trip, and hopefully we can sneak in some good food and swimming. We are also starting up (again), our green smoothies once a day.
No goals for the week...just lots of things to check off and long summer days to enjoy!

Blessed and humbled daily by life's graces.

I'll leave you with one more picture- just because-well...I want to share the joy...
can't you just smell the freshness....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
see ya Monday!

today

Fresh strawberries, blueberries,bananas, Kefir and beets blended into a yummy smoothie
Her new craft table

Sprinkler fun...wet toes and watercolors
Tool time with a box of wood and grandpa's old work bench

Vegetarian Recipe #1 : Clayudas

So here is the first meal I made from this month's Vegetarian Times
I plan to try and make several this week.
As soon as I spotted this one, my mouth said, "make me and eat me now".
My mouth, was right.
The chipotle chile in adobo sauce, gave the bean mixture a wonderful smokey, and slightly spicy flavor, that balanced perfectly with the cool and crunchy slaw. Each bite was a perfect ensemble of flavors...
This recipe will definitely be a repeat around here.
Here's what you need and what you do:
Clayudas
1 TBS canola oil
1 small white onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp ground cumin
1 can black beans, rinsed, drain
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained
1/2 tsp brown sugar
4 8inch four tortillas
8 oz. slaw mix
2 TBS lime juice

Preheat oven to 375. Heat oil in saucepan over med-high heat. Add onion, and cook 5 min., or until translucent. Add garlic and cumin and cook 1 min. more. Place onion mixture with beans in blender, chipotle chili, brown sugar and 3 TBS water. Blend till smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Bake tortillas in oven and spread bean mixture on top baking 5-7 more min. or until edges become golden.
Toss slaw in bowl with cilantro and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper. Top each Clayuda with slaw and cut into triangles.
(We also topped with salsa, sour cream and avocados, so good)



Today went by in a blur. I barely even remember having my coffee today. The day was spent entertaining restless children, vacuuming the house, wiping kitchen counters (I feel like I do this at least 100 times a day), going grocery shopping, eating, watching CJ and his buddy show me tricks on his new bike ramp, watching pollywog dance (she danced all day today...spinning and bowing, too cute), cleaning up pollywog's marker drawings, running around the front yard with the family, giving the little one a bath, assisting CJ with his laundry (new summer chore), reading books, parenting pollywog to bed, playing one song on guitar hero with the boy, to now laying comatose on the floor craving chocolate and blogging...
what will tomorrow bring?
hopefully I will work out and paint, maybe do the laundry that has begun to growl at me when I open the laundry door. These are goals but I don't hold them as expectations. I have been a mom long enough now to know that I will be left frustrated if I do that. It's much better to go with the flow and experience the day with the family.
When I choose the things that are really important over what will always be there, I never end the day with regrets...
reading pollywog's favorite books instead of folding the pile of laundry on the couch (it's my new slip covers) , sitting on the floor coloring with the kids instead of "wiping the counters", listening to CJ's many stories instead of picking up his room while he's talking (sometimes I just can't help myself),   going for a walk with the family instead of immediately cleaning the dishes after dinner.
goodnight

kinda busy...

The Green Smoothie Challenge is going good. I am remaining active and eating healthy.
Even between taking CJ to Jr. Lifeguard training and his (many) social activities and playing with my pollywog, I have stayed up on my challenges... which were
1. organize art/school room and paint, paint, paint
2. work-out and get up early
So far so good. The art/school room is a mess. I have slowly been going through my house and continuing my downsizing project. I love it! As I get rid of stuff we don't need or use, and eliminate clutter- I notice my mind feels clear tool. Each room in the house is simple, clutter free and much easier to clean,(yipee) ... with the exception of the art room. Here is an embarrassing picture.

Everything is on the floor as I look for shelving. I need lots of shelf space to store school and art supplies. This is just one corner. I will spare you the rest of the room. It's been difficult to find the shelves I'm looking for so I am going to create my own. I also went to a local shoe store and they gave me a bunch of empty shoe boxes, (who knew- re-use!) I am going to decorate them and they will be my storage bins. I also purchased an Ikea, kids craft table on ebay. Only 24.00- and I sold pollywog's old pack-n-play and highchair for over that amount so I didn't even really spend a penny- I will keep you updated on the progress in this room.
Quick side note- I mentioned selling the highchair b/c pollywog is officially at the big table. It's so cute and she feels so big. She enjoys getting in on the dinner conversation.

I have also been painting ~I am trying to utilize my time wisely and not make excuses. Even when I don't feel like it I make myself and then I start getting into it. My goal is to finish a series by the end of July and show them locally.


I have still not made it to the sunrise cycling class- but- I have been working out and juicing...
speaking of juicing...to ensure the kids get enough fruit and veggies I made my "Famous Popsicles." (okay, they aren't really famous but they should be)
In a blender I mixed bananas, blueberries, mango and sweet potato- and made a set of pops

Also in my juicer I juiced carrots, apples and beets. I swear by this juice. It is high in iron, builds immunity, gives you lots of energy and taste good...No really they do. They make the prettiest frozen pops too.

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer, your children, your special someones, and your days. Tomorrow I hope to share some tips with you and a recipe of this awesome..........you'll have to wait and see :)
I'd love to hear about your summer days... I heard yesterday that the sacred is found in the mundane...mmmm

Our Container Garden

We used a mixture recommended in
Square Foot gardening.
We were unable to find the vermiculite, however we did find a great airy, organic, coffee compost that we mixed with peat moss and some sand. It is a great mix.
To feed the plants (which we haven't yet) we have liquid fish emulsion.
We won't be using any chemicals on anything. We hope to can some things, and add some more plants later in the season.
So far we have:
























tomatoes (some heirloom),
two types of lettuces
(both heirloom),
a grape plant,
several basil, oregano, cilantro, several parsley, 4 peppers,
radishes, beets, carrots, sunflowers, wildflowers, and several bird-house gords.
The heriloom seeds are from Baker Creek Heirloom
Seeds.

(the wildflowers are not pictured)

Dangers of Canned Foods

It seems like there is always something dangerous, when it comes to foods.
I was just reading about canned foods and how they are finding dangerously high levels of toxic BPA. Here is an article that explains it further.
Although, it does seem like dangers are lurking around every corner, and we can't prevent everything...the simple solution is using non-packaged, non-processed foods and getting back to simple eating.
That is what we are trying to do around here.
Now I am going to start buying bags of dried beans and make home-made soups.
I think we are also going to can our own tomatoes this year, and maybe some fruits.
Here is a helpful list I found on this website
In the meantime, there are steps that we can take immediately to lessen our exposure to BPA:

Use a metal or glass water bottle

Limit your use of canned goods or choose canned foods from makers who don't use it, such as Eden Foods

Learn how to cook your own foods that you typically buy in cans -- like beans or chickpeas

Choose soups, milk and soy milk packaged in cardboard "brick" cartons, by Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc, with safer layers of aluminum and polyethylene (#2) that can also be recycled

Use glass food storage containers instead of plastic

Use glass baby bottles or plastic bag inserts made of polyethyelene, or switch to non-clear polypropylene bottles that are labeled #5. Don't buy canned infant formula.

Eat fresh foods in season to reduce your consumption of canned goods

Buy or can your own foods in safe glass jars

Stop using plastic wrap and plastic containers to heat food in microwaves. Ceramic and glass are better.

Throw out any old and scratched plastic bottles or plastic containers

Buy organic wine since many commercial wines can have up to six times the amount of BPA than canned goods

Let your grocer store know you want BPA free cans and are boycotting those products with BPA in them.

and more helpful tips here

Verde- Week One

Before I get to the reason for the title (verde)...I thought I better acknowledge the fact that, yes, I have indeed changed my layout a handful of times, and the name of my blog 3 times.
I decided to go with "Fish Dreams" b/c, for one I often compare my personality to a fish, (wow that makes me sound dull.)- I mean in terms of swimming this way and that...I am always "swimming" opposite directions, as my astrological sign shows, (yep, I'm a Pisces). Secondly, I dream a lot...day dream, night dream...you could say I'm a dreamer (but I'm not the only one...sorry).
Also, I am very visual and the color and lay-outs I tend to obsess over. I have been known to paint a room 3-4 times before feeling satisfied. I cannot promise that I won't change things around here again, but for now, I am good.


Let the Green Smoothie Challenge begin.
The plan is:
Week One: green smoothies for breakfast, healthy eating, no eating after 7, and exercise.
Week Two: same as above, only add a raw meal for lunch too
Week Three: raw food only, no eating after 7, exercise
Week Four: same as week 3
Wrapping up our first week. We have enjoyed the green smoothies (recipes are on Happy Foody blog) with the exception of ones containing parsley. Maybe we got a bad bunch, or have a crappy blender, but in our experience it gave it a bitter taste, and had a yucky consistency. They have given us a jolt of energy in the morning, literally. They make us feel clean, and clear and ready to start our day.
Come lunch time we are ready to eat and for both lunch and dinner we have chosen nutritious foods. Examples of meals this week: smoked salmon and crackers, black beans and rice with veggie toppings, tuna fish, lentil soup, and last night Falafel wrapped in lettuce and topped with mung sprouts, avocado, cucumbers, red and orange bell peppers, tomato and plain yogurt. (yummy) -the left over veggies we added to our smoothies this morning.
We are ready for week 2. I am writing down recipes for raw lunch ideas.

Manic Monday...long, probably boring post

Today was a breezy, beautiful, dare I say summer day (i know it's spring, but it felt like summer) Today was the kinda day that you dust off your box fan and get'r running. So that is exactly what I did. I cleaned it up and turned it on.
I love the sound of a fan. It has such a peaceful hum. It reminds my of my grandmother's house.

The day hummed along like the fan. The breeze gently lifted the kitchen curtains all day. The sun was bright in the clear sky. Birds chirped around the house all day and I spotted our regular friend Mr. Cardinal and Mr. Bluejay, eating the seeds pollywog and I put out the day before. The house was peaceful, and filled with natural light.
Although the day hummed, it went by more like a breeze. Here and gone.
While CJ finished his chores- I quickly picked up the house and threw some laundry in, which had piled up in a matter of minutes. (When CJ cleans he tends to throw all cloth items into his laundry bin- gotta get that thing outta his room)...

Once pollywog went down for her nap (more like closing her eyes briefly as of late)...CJ and I decided to make pizza dough for dinner tonight. (more like I begged him to hang out with his poor mother...why do i keep saying, "more like"?) He must've felt pity for me, b/c he agreed. We measured, mixed and kneaded our dough and let it rise in the warm kitchen. I got the recipe from, "Moosewood Restaurant New Classics"- its a goodin'.
He actually cracked a smile while hangin' out with his ol' mom, and it was nice to spend time with him. He is growing up so fast...(click on pics to enlarge)







He was having so much fun that he agreed to do a craft with me. I saw this craft on another mom's blog and thought it looked fun. We basically unwrapped all of our crayons and sorted them by colors, broke them up and put them into a muffin tin- then baked them for about 20-25 min. on 200, let them dry and popped them out. He is an artist like me, so we enjoy colors and projects. He loved the blues and said the different browns made him think of the desert.




Just about that time we were really getting into it, CJ's friend came to see if her wanted to ride bikes, and I was left at the table to finish the craft. Well it was fun while it lasted...teens. Sometimes I wish he was little again, but I'm pretty proud watching him grow up too. They did turn out great though, and pollywog colored with them, stacked them and showed the birds outside the window.





...and the pizza was a hit...





"its just another manic monday, ooohhhhh ooohhhh"

does your Toddler eat like a birdy?

If you have a toddler that is picky like I do, here are some ideas that have worked for us.
First let me add that she is still nursing and that we are pretty choosy about what she eats. She doesn't really drink juice, or eat sugary foods. We try to stick to whole foods (grains, fruits, veggies) and expose her to a variety of foods.

Toddlers in general are picky eaters. I don't just mean in terms of only eating"certain foods" and not others, but I mean they pick at their food. This is normal and healthy and fine. They are grazers. Not all of them, but a lot of them.
This stage is a time to expose them to all sorts of foods and let them explore fun ways to eat.
If I am stressed about her consumption at meal time, or make eating a "stressful" time, this will make her/him a picky eater- they dread meal time, rather than enjoying this Family Time... (this comes from someone who spent their entire adolescents sitting at the dining room table till nightfall-did I mention I was stubborn?)
I want eating to be a time with laughter and a time to nourish, not a time of stress and forcing foods
If they're hungry they will eat- old saying but so true
So get creative!
Preparing food for my children has given me a renewed joy for food. It's the simple foods that we forget about that are, oh, so good. Yummy fruits and crunchy veggies.

Ideas:
-Multi-grain cereals: We sneak lots of yummy goodness in her night-time, multi-grain, cereal. (we just started giving her warm cereal at night in the last couple months to up her iron and slow down the night feeding, worked) In her multi-grain organic cereal (which daddy feeds her while she sits in her bath, spoiled?) we add mashed bananas, flax meal or oil, cinnamon, and Flora Baby (a probiotic...not always just random for a week at a time) Sometimes if needed, we sneak some prunes in there.
- Kefir Pops: she loves frozen pops so for both kids we make Kefir pops. We blend various frozen fruits, with non-sweetened juices, and Kefir and freeze. Kefir as well as the probiotic treatment are important. If the gut is healthy the overall immune system will be strong. They love these pops sometimes we sneak in sweet potatoes. I
-Soups: We often give her soups (she loves veggie soups and pasta soups) , this is another great place to "sneak in" some flavors and goodness. We'll mash in sweet potatoes and add garlic cloves. We freeze leftovers and break off pieces throughout the week.
-Garlic: This is something we give her especially if she is getting a cold or around other sick people. Raw garlic is not usually high on the toddler's palate, so we roast the garlic and spread it on her pasta noodles at dinner or whatever else she is eating. She doesn't mind the sweetness of it roasted.
-Dips...Toddlers love to dip. Rather they are dipping crackers, steamed veggies, fruit, bread or their little fingers- great dips are Guacomole, Hummus, blended fruits, Laughing Cow cheese (her fav.) and yogurt.
-Smoke Salmon and Cream cheese on crackers- I love that she loves this- its the Oregonian in her.
Please share your tips.