Food As Medicine

Welcome to my series on Food as Medicine!! I hope you join me on facebook to learn interesting facts on how what's in your local supermarket or farmer's market can help heal, prevent and improve any medical ailment you may have. Click here to view on facebook.

For the next 30 days or so, I would like to share a food a day and what medicinal properties it possesses. I have shared the various foods on facebook and would like to share them here as well.

1. Chia Seeds

So what is so healthy about Chia Seeds? 

*they are good for weight loss because they are high in fiber and make you feel full!
*they contain Omega-3 so they are great for your health and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol.
*they taste great and can be added to yogurt, fresh fruit and cereal
*they give you an energy boost from natural sources, in face Chia means "strength"
*they are high in calcium so they are great for bone and teeth health

Be sure to pick some up and add them to your diet 
Note: if you allergic to sesame or mustard seed or are on blood pressure medication or blood thinners be sure to see your doctor first.

2. Kale

So why is Kale good for you?

*Kale is high in fiber and contains antioxidants
*Kale is high in Vitamin C, K, A and Calcium
*Kale is an anti-inflammatory food meaning it can help prevent autoimmune disease and other disease like arthritis and asthma
*Kale is a detox food meaning it produces enzymes that your liver can use to fight cancer and other disease.
Try to include it in your diet 

3. Coconut Water

Did you know that coconut water was using during the wars, such as the Vietnam war,  as an intravenous hydration fluid in some developing countries where medical saline was unavailable? It contains the chemical equivalent as human plasma and, unless the coconut has been opened, it is considered to be sterile.

So why is it healthy? 
*Coconut water has high potassium and may be a natural way to raise energy levels.
*It is low in calories and it healthier than consuming sugared sport drinks
*It is excellence for hydration and has been used for hydration for many years in other countries where water sources are sparse.
*It has anti-oxidant qualities that may play a role in anti-cancer and anti-aging
*Coconut water is excellent to add to shakes, especially to take the place of high sugar juices

4. Spinach

As most people know spinach is a very healthy food. What makes it so healthy? 

*it contains high levels of iron, calcium and vitamin A
*it also contains high levels of folate so its a good choice in pregnancy
*Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is also concentrated in health-promoting phytonutrients such as carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin) and flavonoids to provide you with powerful antioxidant protection.
*it has anti-inflammatory qualities so it protects against cardiovascular problems and cancer
Be sure to get your spinach and eat it raw, as a salad, or add it to sandwiches and omelets!

5. Blueberries

Whats so great about blueberries?

*they contain large amounts of antioxidants which means they may protect again heart disease, cancer and aging. They may even be able to help with cognitive skills and reduce cholesterol, raise HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides levels
*they are high in fiber and make great snacks
*kids love them!

6. Grapefruit

Another amazing food is grapefruit. The benefits of grapefruit:

*high in Vitamin C
*The rich pink and red colors of grapefruit are due to lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient. Lycopene appears to have anti-tumor activity. It may reduce a man's chance of prostate cancer.
*Grapefruit contains pectin, a form of soluble fiber that has been shown in animal studies to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis
Get yourselves some grapefruit! I had one tonight and it was delicious 

Stayed tuned everyday for new foods! 

Countdown to Halloween: Retro vs Modern Costumes

One of my favorite holidays is on its way...Halloween! I loved it as a kid and now its exciting to see how much my girls love it. The costumes have changed over the years but the fun has stayed the same. Trick or treating, Halloween parties and decorations have always been fun.

My Favorite Halloween Costume as a Kid: 
When I was 8 or 9 years old, my mom got me a Strawberry Shortcake costume and it basically was made up of a plastic mask and a plastic dress that tied in the back. I loved it and wore it for several years in a row! It looked like this:

My daughter has expressed some interest in being Strawberry Shortcake this year and right its a toss up between Strawberry Shortcake and a Bumble Bee.

Halloween of Recent Years:

For my daughter's first Halloween she was Sulley from Monster's Inc and last year she was a Ladybug. Her older big sister was a Pirate Girl and last year a Flamenco Dancer. Her other big sister was Tinkerbell and Ariel.

Sulley, Tinkerbell and Pirate

To Party or Not to Party: 

Last year I threw a party for the kids, it took alot of planning and time so I don't know if I will do it again this year but I'm thinking about it. The parents thanked me last year because Hurricane Sandy came on Halloween and the kids weren't able to go trick-or-treating so the party was their Halloween. 

What are your plans for Halloween? Any Parties? What was your favorite costume as a kid? What are your kids dressing up as? Leave a comment and let me know! The countdown to Halloween is here! We can't wait! New pics will soon follow.

Fall Fun: Apple Picking

Fall is almost officially upon us and I find myself trying to find fun activities to do with the kids. This year we plan to go apple and pumpkin picking. Here are some tips to keep the kiddies and parents happy.

Choosing an apple/pumpkin picking farm: 

1. Pick a farm close to where you live. Driving for many hours to a farm with children can be a difficult task. Try to keep the ride to an hour or less if possible. Your kids will be happy and so will you!

2. Pick a farm where you can pick-your-own. Pick-your-own (or PYO) farms are the most fun farms for kids. Reaching up into a tree and picking the best looking apples is fun for everyone. Going into the pumpkin patch is a great adventure for kids and they will get to experience the true energy of the season.

3. Pick a farm with a hayride. Hayrides are fun! Whether its a short ride to the best harvest or a long hay ride around the entire farm, hayrides are like a roller coaster of the farm.

4. Extra stuff. There are farms that have petting zoos, cider markets, small restaurants and even entertainment!

Apple-Picking schedule

Don't pick from the ground! 

The hubby getting the hard-to-reach apples

Apples make her happy!

Get Inspired Pin Party!

I was invited to participate in a pinning party. Please read below to find out how to get involved! And NOW our Featured PIN"s will be a REQUIRED re-pin in order to link-up the following week! That means, if you are Featured, and we have 60 link-up's that weekend, your PIN will be RE-PINNED 66 times including the hosts & co-hosts. The number of times your Featured Pin will get re-pinned depends on the amount of link-ups we have that week.   LOTS AND LOTS of exposure for your blog. What do you all think about that?  

Here's more on what's changing!

1. You can now link-up ANY pins that you'd like with the exception of Giveaways.
2. This hop will now be featured on 6 blogs! We have added 3 WEEKLY co-host spots. <---WOW :D
3. The weekly co-hosts will be selecting the FEATURED PINS at each week's party.
4. Every week, each FEATURED PINNER will be given the option to co-host the FOLLOWING week's party! :)

Yes, we're making it MORE FUN to Link-up with us :)

September Photo Challenge

September is almost here and so its time for the September photo challenge!! First I would like to thank everyone who participated in the August photo-a-day challenge. I loved your pictures and look forward to having you join me again in the September challenge. You can participate through social media (instagram, twitter and facebook) using the hashtag "lamommySeptember". If you want to follow me on instagram twitter, or facebook please click the logos below:

How to Make Roasted Potatoes on the BBQ

If you are anything like me, its sometimes hard to come up with sides to serve with your BBQ-ed meals. All you need for this is 5 simple ingredients: red potatoes, red onion, dressing, salt and pepper. This recipe serves 7-8 people.

1. Eight red potatoes- make sure you but the medium sized ones because there are some red potatoes out there that are really small. If those are the only ones you can get, then use at least 16.

2. Slice the potatoes into thin slices (not too thin) and cut up half of a red onion.

3. Add salad dressing (pre-made or you can make your own), salt and pepper.

4. Next place the half of the potatoes on 2 separate sheets of aluminum foil. I doubled them so I wouldn't have any accidents later. After you spread them out, bring the edges together (like in the picture) and close it up as shown (add some butter so that it won't dry out)

5. Place on the BBQ (top part or furthest away from the heat) and leave on while you cook your meat (at least one hour).

6. Serve and Enjoy!

Photography Challenge

I had some blogger's cramp for a while but now I'm back! I am enjoying my August photo-a-day challenge. I have always loved photography and taking a picture of an everyday item and making it look interesting and pretty makes it fun to do! I am so happy that many have joined me on my photo journey. If you haven't joined and want to, it's not too late! Just take the pic of the day and use the hashtag #lamommyAugust. I am going to try to do this every month. If fact, I have already prepared September's challenge and am going to show you a sneak peak!

Here are a few of my favorite pics so far:

Sneak Peek at September: 

August in case you missed it: 

Way Back Wednesday: 1983

Let's think back to simpler times: 1983.

So what was going on in 1983?

That's me in 1983!

For one, it was a time of great music. Madonna was just starting her career. One of the number one songs was Every Breath You Take by the Police. Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson had songs in the top ten on the charts.

Return of the Jedi was one of the top money making films at a time when people actually went to the movies!

Cabbage patch kids and Rubik's Cube were the big toys! I got my first Cabbage Patch Kid that year. I was so excited! I later got two more and still have them to this day. I also had the Rubik's cube but I could never do it :(

Do you remember the fashion? Big hair and stir-ups pants? Leotard and acid wash jeans? Big earring and lace? Do you remember what you wore?

What were you up to in 1983?

Baby Essentials Box Giveaway

Baby Essentials Box Giveaway: Baby in Bloom is giving away a box with some essential items that new moms might need. The box contains a Baby Daze Ultimate Parenting Organizer, Tiny Love vibrating toy lamb, Mam anti-colic bottle, Lansinoh nursing pads, Dapple pacifier wipes, and Mama Mio Tummy Rub stretch mark butter. To enter the giveaway click here. Good luck!

DIY Bug Repellent

I decided to do this post because I recently went to the pharmacy looking for a bug repellent with little or no dangerous pesticides. It was a last minute thing that I needed so I didn't have time to order it or go to the organic supermarket so I had to settle for what was at the neighborhood store. I had a really hard time picking something out and in the end settled for something that said "natural" even though it really wasn't.

If you are going to be outdoors with your child, try to avoid going out at dusk or areas near water where there might be alot of mosquitoes. Cover the child up in light weight clothing, covering as much skin as possible if the weather allows. If you must use repellent use caution. Insect repellents containing DEET should not be used if your baby is under 2 months old. If you do use repellents containing DEET in children older than 2 months old, please use low concentrations (10%) and do not apply directly to the baby/child. The correct way to apply is to first apply to your hands and then rub your hands and then apply with your hands. Some repellents contain picardin which is a bit less irritating but it is still a chemical and should be used sparingly.  Remember products containing these dangerous chemicals are harmful and try to avoid!

Making your own repellent is a safe, effective alternative! Here is what I did:

First find a good spray bottle. I used a small one because I didn't want to make a big amount. The general rule is you should pick an essential oil (either lavender, cinnamon, citronella, or eucalyptus oil). Remember, do not use eucalyptus if your child is under 3 years old. Fill your water bottle with water and add lemon juice (about 1/2 cup) and add 20 to 30 drops of the oil. You can then add vanilla extract: about 3 tablespoons should be enough. Shake well and then apply. Avoid sensitive areas like eyes and ears.

I read some other articles that said to use other ingredients like alcohol (vodka??? or which hazel) and oils like olive oil or sunflower oil but that's up to you! Have you ever made your own repellent? If so what did you use and was it effective?

August Photo-a-Day Challenge

August is a bittersweet month for me. It has always been, even from when I was a kid. It is the last month of the summer. The prelude to the colder days to come. The final month to get in all your summer activities because it soon will be back to school, back to work, and the start of fall. I decided to do a photo-a-day because I love taking pictures and because I often search for similar challenges so I asked myself, why not make my own? I invite you to try the challenge too. You can post your pictures on Twitter with the hashtag: #lamommyAugust. You can participate for as long as you want. If you miss days you can make up for them if you wish or simple start from the current date. If you have a blog, feel free to participate and include the picture below. You can link back to my blog. Please don't forget to include the hashtag so I can see your pics!

Blueberries Muffins with Real Blueberries

I recently purchased a mix for making blueberry muffins that came with a can of blueberries. I figured I would just add fresh blueberries but I was pretty surprised when I decided to take a look inside the can the supposed "real wild blueberries" looked like. They looked really gross! Very tiny and not blue at all. They even smelled wierd! Ick! I am glad we added the real fruit!

We mixed all the ingrediets minus the can!

Look at the difference in the blueberries!

The finished product! As you can see everyone loved them :)

Interests We Share

My mom blogger friend, Teddy aka Multitask Momma invited me to join in a twitter party called #InterestsWeShare. So my children and I all got together and did it as a Saturday morning craft project. Since two of them are really little 2 1/2 and 4, I allowed them to pick pictures of things they liked out of a magazine. My 8 year old stepdaughter used pictures and words and hers came out the best! We had a nice time making our boards. The kids loved it!


My 2 1/2 year old:

Among her favorites are milk, books and cupcakes

My 4 year old: 

Among her favorites are halloween, cupcakes and oreo cookies

My 8 year old:

And lastly, here is mine!

Thanks Teddy for the great idea!

Make Time for a Saturday

I had a wonderful day with the hubby yesterday. We spent the morning going for a morning brisk walk and workout. It was very hot outside so it was twice as hard to do it. After the workout we went to the store and bought some workout gear and equipment and went home. We started to get ready for our night out. We got engaged at this rooftop lounge in a beautiful hotel in the city 3 years ago and wanted to revisit it and take pictures and possibly even be there in time to see the sunset. So we trekked to the city and found a great spot right near the hotel and went up to the rooftop. Needless to say, we were disappointed when no one was up there: no staff, no people, not a sound. So we called the hotel and they said they no longer serve dinner there and that they only use the rooftop for breakfast and lunch for the guests of the hotel. We were a little upset but took some pictures and reminisced for a bit. We made the best out of the evening by going to another place. We enjoyed tapas, exotic drinks and awesome music. I had a great time! My advice: enjoy time with your significant other. If you don't have time, make time! Even its only for a day <3




Our path and my new workout shirt




Reminiscing





Some pics I took in 2010




Yummy Tapas