Brown paper packages wrapped up with string!!!

Okay, so maybe it's a little less glamorous than all of that but I am expecting two packages to be delivered today. I'm so excited!!! They have all of the Melaleuca products I ordered for my demo kit and switching over my home! There is laudry brightener (think clorox 2) which may not seem like a big deal but I can't wait to see it work. There is also all sorts of cleaning stuff and new food stuff to try and an anti-aging product to try. (I know it is an odd additction to have at 26 but I LOVE anti-aging products and my mama says this stuff is AWESOME!) There is so much coming in and I just can't wait to open the boxes and look at EVERYTHING! I AM SO EXCITED!!!


Okay... deep breath. Every time the dogs have barked or growled all day I have jumped and ran to the door. No postal guy has been there with my boxes yet.


So, it's back to business building I suppose. Though my day is actually winding down. I'm so excited about this stuff that I need to remember to relax when I talk about it. I get so excited that I talk fast and get over exuberant. I think it scares people a little, but I really think this is just that cool.


So, here some healthy idea's for your family for today:
To get moving:
-Take those beautiful doggies out in the world for a walk! It's spring and everyone does well with a little fresh air! It's beautiful in Bellingham today. No pets? No problem! There is so much to look at with all of the trees budding and early flower coming up that you are sure to enjoy it anyway.
To eat:
-Here is something new to try if you haven't yet, Polenta. It's amazing and a great alternative to pasta, especially in those wheat free households out there. Last night we made a HUGE batch. It was wonderful. One serving has 2 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, and 8% of your daily iron. You can buy it pre-made and just slice it and cook it that way. (This is what our family usually does.) The other day though I saw a good sized bag of dry polenta for only $2.50, so I decided to make it myself. It was easy to cook and it was so smooth it was almost creamy. They tell you to pour it into a bowl to set it, but I tried muffin tins. It worked out perfectly! It makes portion control easy and they look beautiful when turned.
-Serve it with your favorite pasta sauce on top and a little shredded parmesean for a fabulous simple dinner. I like to serve it with a chunky sauce, so I used jarred organic pasta sauce, then add two small cans of mushrooms (with the water they are packed in for flavor), a can of black olives sliced, turkey italian sausage, and of course (after all this is my family) lots of extra garlic.
To keep it Green:
-Donate old cell phones. There is mercury in electronics that is causing damage to our planet when we throw them out. If you hold on to them because you know not to throw them out they end up cluttering the back of sock drawers or closet shelves or kitchen counters for ages. You can donate cell phones to several different charities. There are some who provide old cell phones to soldiers as a means to communicate with families, this is awesome! There is another organization (the one I am going to talk more about today) that give cell phones to people who may need to contact 911 quickly. This could be domestic violence victims or others who need to be able to get ahold of 911 easily. You can keep your planet cleaner, you house un-cluttered, and your community safer. It sounds like a win-win-win to me! This organization is  http://www.911cellphonebank.org/ you can also call and schedule a pick up and the will come get the phone from you. The number for that is 866-290-7864.  
Hope one or more of these quick tips sparked your interest today!
(still no package and it's 5pm)

Power of the Positive!

Positive pregnancy test that is... I got a positive pregnancy test on Friday, which was April fools day of course. I had to wait to tell most people until yesterday because I didn't want anyone one to think it was an April fools joke. I'm really excited to finally be a mom and still a little unsure if I can trust this to "stick." I have a long history of early miscarriages. I know that most people who have suffered with the repeated loss of pregnancies choose not to share their pregnancy until after the first trimester when the risk of losing the baby drops dramatically. I am though, going to treat this like it is forever everyday that I have. I love feeling supported and loved by my friends and family. It means a lot to me also that if something were to happen this time or any time in the future, that my friends will know why I am sad. Again, I am hoping with all I'm worth that this ends in a beautiful baby on or at least near December 12th this year. So, I'm taking extra good care of myself with healthy snacks, plenty of fluids, lots of rest, a little light excercise, and of course the best prenatal vitamin available.


Now... on to being green. I am going to keep this brief today since I've already run on a bit about the exciting news in  my life and I'm quite sleepy after a day out in the frest air.
Today, the change that I made for my world today was to "go local." While I know that this isn't quite the same as "going green" it is important that we support our local communities and the small businesses that (hopefully) flourish there. When buying perishable food items this often means fresher and less preserved food. In my home one of us has a gluten intolerence so we tried Bellingham Flatbread, they make an amazing gluten free flat bread. I'm quite picky about my breads and this was just plain amazing! I'm glad my room mate found this yummy locally made snack.


For myself, I made an effort to get out in the direct sunlight while I was doing some light yard work. This did two good things for me. In the pacific northwest we suffer an amazing rate of vitamin D deficiency and one way to help with that is to get out and get a little sun on a daily basis. I also got some light excercise. On top of all that I got to help a friend with her yard a little and hopefully make her day a little brighter.


I would love to hear what some of you have done this week to be a little healthier or happier... please share with me!   :)