Dining Room Make Over

My Dining Room Before and After

After being in my home for a little over 7 months now, I decided it's time to add my own touch. I think the hardest part has been choosing paint colors and window treatments. Slowly but surely it's coming together.

The first picture is my dining room. Before it was a neutral color (the same color that every room was painted when we bought our home) It was a flat base (I personally do not like flat base paint at all. I have to many sticky little fingers running through my home. You get any little finger print on a flat base painted wall and it's nearly impossible to get off, and if you even attempt to scrub it down it looks horrible after) I always like to use eggshell base on all my walls. It always looks smooth, not too shiny and I can get and dirt, scuff or print off without ruining the wall!

This is my dining room before the makeover. I'm not sure what the exact paint or color was used. It was a flat base.
(Thats my kitten Charlie! He was keeping me company while I prepped the room.)

And this is after.

We are very happy the way the color came out. I used BM -Waters Edge 1635 Eggshell base.


We had a lot of extra paint left over so I used the same color in our basement bathroom!

Now, I'm on a kick to paint every room in the house so stay tuned for my next project!!! (My husband just rolled his eyes. Lol)

My Perfect Pancakes!

My Perfect Pancakes 

I always try to make my kids homemade breakfast every morning (unless I over sleep, then it's cereal for all, lol) Eggs, toast, oatmeal, waffles are some of the things they'll eat in the mornings. But there favorite is mommies pancakes! 

This is the pancake recipe I use all the time!  They always come out perfectly round every time.  I always have the ingredients in my pantry. And, two I know exactly what ingredients are in my pancakes (I'm to scared to even know what is in those boxed pancake mixes). 

(It makes about 10 pancakes. But this depends on what size pancakes you like)

• 1 1/2 Cups of flour...(I use "Wheat Montana" whole wheat flour.

• 2 tsp Baking powder (Bob's Red Mill)

• 1tsp Sugar (Wholesome Organic Sugar)

• 1tsp Sea Salt

• 2 Eggs (organic caged free of course)

• 1 1/4 Milk (Organic 2%)

• 3 Tbls Coconut Butter (or Shortening) I use a non-stick griddle so I almost always skip this.

Sift flour, baking powder,sugar and salt into a mixing bowl. Mix all dry ingredients together until combined (make sure you start off at a slower speed, other wise you'll get a big poof of flour all over you....yes, it's happened to me) Add eggs and milk and mix for about 30 seconds. Stop scrape bowl, and mix again for 15 seconds.

*Hint- I take my spatula and press down on the pancake just to be extra sure the middle cooks evenly.

Slowly heat griddle or skillet. Pour pancake batter into desired size. Cook until bubbles form on the outside surface and the edges become dry. Cook until golden.

You can also add fresh berries, Chocolate Chips, Sprinkles or any other touches you might like in your pancakes. I'll sometimes add a freshly grated apple and some grated cheddar cheese. It adds a serving fruit and calcium (for those picky eaters). My oldest had a faze where she wouldn't touch anything with dairy, so I would add a little cheese. (They won't even know it's in there)

There you go perfect pancakes.

Enjoy!  :-)

Yuck GMO

 It must have been a new moon, full moon or something since my kids played nicely all day yesterday together. It was cute listening to them use there imaginations playing school and house (especially at there ages of 3, 7 & 10. you'd think they'd be doing there separate thing but they really play well together) So, my husband and I took advantage of (this rare occasion) and cozied up on the couch under a blanket and watched Netflix. 

I came across "GMO OMG". I really thought it was a great documentary. It taught me a few new things about where GMO's might be lingering. I have a handful of friends who eat organic and feed there families very healthy home cooked meal. But then, I have the other handful who think organic food is for "hippies" and they have no idea what GMO stands for (in case you don't know it means Genetically Modified Foods http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food). I once had somebody ask if I cook anything else besides organic, and if I make regular food.....???? I stood dumbfounded. Seriously?!? What do you think organic means? Were people this uneducated about what organic is and where there food is coming from? 

After the movie a bit of guilt came over me, because here I am trying to feed my family the best that they can eat, and in actuality I can't protect them from the harmful possibility they're eating nasty chemicals. Every Halloween, every time we go out for ice cream or they get a birthday treat at there friends parties, they are really eating poisons. Ugh, so gross. It's very frustrating as a parent. 

Then it got me thinking more. Wow, my mom was diagnosed for the first time in her 40's with breast cancer (a woman who came to America from Europe, who most likely ate mostly fresh organic foods) Was it something she ate when she arrived here. My mom always made a home cooked meal every night for dinner (take-out and fast foods was non existent in my family growing up) but she was always looking for the bargain (she would put the people on "Extreme Coupon-ing" to shame) We never had organic foods (it was almost unheard of in the 80's). Everything she seasoned her foods with was most likely MSG filled. All her cereals she bought on sale (full of GMO'S) And all the dairy & meats (hormone up the waazoo) For lunches we practically lived on "Ramen Noodle Soups" (Imagine if she did feed me McDonalds, I'd probably be glowing)A little more towards the time my mom was diagnosed for the second time with cancer she became more knowledgable of eating more healthier, she began researching and using natural products and remedies (she almost became like a "Go To" medicine lady. She'd would actually get phone calls all the time from people asking her about her natural remedies to help them) At one point we even raised our own chickens which gave us fresh eggs daily. Unfortunately, cancer got the best of my mom and she passed away in October, of 2009. 

Though I know cancer and other illnesses can be genetically passed on, and the "research" hasn't been proven that all these chemicals are causing all these illnesses, I don't feel like taking my chances. As soon as the movie finished I ran online to find local organic farms. I was very pleased to find a farm only 20 minutes away from my house. They sell only organic meats, eggs and dairy products (can't wait to visit them later this week). I also went onto www.seedsavers.com  and ordered my seed catalog to start my own home grown fresh "organic" fruits and vegetables (I'm really excited since this will be my first garden in my new home and I have tons more places to plant) 

So, as hard as it might be I will always make sure to give my kids the best stuff for them. The greatest gift my husband and I can give our kids is, the knowledge of healthy eating, the knowledge of where our food and products come from. My goal in life is (and though my kids might not understand this today)... but, maybe in there future they will realize "Hey! My parents fed me all that good healthy organic, GMO free, Hormone free stuff and I just walked out of the doctors (at 99years old) with a clean bill of health". 

I highly recommend everyone watches this movie (even if you're not an organic eating hippie like me). You'll still learn a lot (and you won't ask others if they make regular foods besides organic). I guarantee you'll look at food you buy and eat differently.  Plus the family in this movie is adorable!

New Year, New Eats

Both my parents passed away from cancer by the time I was 27, so being healthy and raising my family to be healthy is very important to me.

I try to buy as much organic products as possible (Yes, I do opt out sometimes and buy the non-organic product) But, no matter what I at least try to stick to organic milk and meat products. It can get pricey,but I feel that is the best gift that I can give my kids (now they're young and don't understand too much, but hopefully it will benefit them in the future).

 As the New Year approached I wasn't even going to make a resolution (because I don't usually stick to it)But last minute,I decided I'd start the New Year with new eating habits (not a diet). Three weeks in, (a few minor slip ups)but, I've been sticking to my resolution and I really feel good! Breakfast has always been my least favorite meal. A cup of coffee with sweetened creamer, 4 sausages and waffles doused with syrup used to be my usual start to my morning....(now that I think of it, thats sounds like a gross start to my day) After researching and pinning I decided to creative with my morning meal. No sugar (not even imitation) & none,(to little) carbs.

Here are some pictures of my morning eats .



       2 scrambled organic eggs. Fresh strawberries and 1 Tbls of salsa! Coffee with skim milk, no sugar. Yummy and filling.

Avocado and egg bake I found this idea on Pinterest. I love avocado and egg. But together I wasn't a fan of this breakfast (at least I tried)

2 eggs scrambled. Fresh raspberries. Chopped spinach sautéed in garlic. A sprinkle of salt to taste.

2 eggs scrambled. A dab of red horseradish. Fresh apples sprinkled with cinnamon (my favorite 

breakfast, and very stuffing)

(Sorry the pic is so blurry)

Eggs scrambled with spinach and garlic. Tbls and salsa. Green tea no sugar.

I'll also have plain Greek yogurt with chia seeds, oatmeal with cinnamon & fruit. I've also tried making the over night cold oatmeal. Breakfast is slowly coming together. I'm always searching for new breakfast ideas ( less eggs)