Vegan Cleanse

DJ and I looked into an online toxicity level test to see where we stood. It was bad. We had almost every sign of high toxin levels. So we decided to try a cleanse to see what a difference it makes. We didn't want to try one of those ridiculous "liquid only" cleanses because yes you lose weight, but it's all water weight you gain right back and its not a healthy week at all. Keeping up with Gigi takes protein!!! So I found a vegan cleanse;

NO animal products, sugar, sugar substitutes, gluten, caffeine or of course alcohol. The origonal cleanse is 21 days, but during the holidays, it was too hard to fit 21 days in that we didn't wanna break the rules.

In preperation, I planned out a full, 7day, every meal menu and made a list of acceptable snacks;

fruits/veggies, homemade hummus, airpopped popcorn, nuts, vegan rice cakes with or without a sugar free nut butter, caffeine free tea, tortilla chips and homemade almond nutrition bars. etc...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-garlic-hummus/ 

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2009/11/nourishing-protein-bars-a-great-whole-foods-snack.html

Cleanse Rules:

(nutritional and mental/spiritual)

-1 min closed eyes meditation/morning

-Purify essential oil applied to belly (digestive organs)mor & night

-at least 64oz water/day

-suppliments/vitamins with breakfast

-40-1hr exercise/day

-1 capsule or 8oz water with Zendocrine (detox) essential oil/day

Day 1:

breakfast-steel cut oats w/ agave, sliced almonds and banana

lunch-1 veggie patty sans bun and salad w/zero sugar dressing

dinner-sweet potato, apple, red lentil & carrot soup

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/sweet-potato-carrot-apple-and-red-lentil-soup/detail.aspx

*first day wasn't so hard, except when I made my mother-in-law a "delicious" cake for her bday and I couldn't even taste it :(

Day 2:

breakfast-quinoa with pure maple syrup,pecans and banana

lunch-leftover sparlc soup and rice cakes

dinner-vegan spinach, sundried tomatoes & potato balls

 http://www.instructables.com/id/Vegan-Baked-Potato-amp-Spinach-Balls-Fat-Free/

*still pretty easy today. Plus DJ joined me today (now that thanksgiving leftovers were all finished) so it helps to have a partner.

Day 3:
breakfast-steel cut oats with nuts and coconut
lunch-soup & rice cakes
dinner-spagettie squash taco salad with homemade black bean salsa
[this was the same as any taco salad recipe just using the cleanse restrictions and squash instead of meat]

*going strong! we are digesting really well and noticing better sleep.

Day 4:
breakfast-steel cut oats with banana

lunch-salad with non sugar dressing & a cup of soup

dinner-leftover taco salad (one squash made so much last night!)

*today i tried my first ever wheat grass shot! i am going to make this a regular thing. if you don't know it is wheat grass freshly juiced and put in a little shot glass and you drink it as you would an alcoholic shot really fast. it's so interesting because at first it tastes pretty earthy and bitter but then really sweet and yummy! still earthy but i liked it. the wheat grass can really detox your body so you have to drink lots and lots of water with it or the toxins will re-obsorb into your body and it could make you feel sick or give you a headache.

having some weird food dreams...but i am in a deeper sleep than i have in a long time!

Day 5:
breakfast-lentil scones (with gluten free flour mixture) & almond milk
lunch-a naked vegetarian burrito with guacamole 
dinner-curry with brown rice and tofu

*today i was feeling kind of off and tired...granted it was a VERY stressful day

Day 6:
breakfast-quinoa with roasted almonds & fruit

lunch-leftover curry
dinner-baked potato & veggie patty (this was a busy night so we didn't have much cookin time)
*feeling lots of energy today and my mood is way better!

Day 7:
breakfast-cranberry/orange muffins (with gluten free flour mixture)

 http://www.theppk.com/2011/01/orange-cranberry-muffins/
lunch-homemade hummus with veggies & chips
dinner-quinoa & sweet potato

 http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/quinoa-with-sweet-potato-and-mushrooms/detail.aspx
 *ALL DONE! after just one week i am feeling more energy and getting better sleep which of course has improved my mood! I have also LOVED all these yummy foods. It's so nice to get full without feeling bad at all. i will deffinately keep some of the habbits of this cleanse...with a few cheats here and there hehe.

OrEgOn zOO

During our last few days in WA, we wanted to take Gigi on her first zoo trip at the Oregon Zoo. We got to go with our good friend Kris and her adorable Sadie <3. 

Little one especially loved when DJ made animal noises for all the animals. After our zoo fun was over, we decided to buy Gigi a little keepsake for her first zoo adventure and we would hold little toys up top her and she would grab some and just stare blankly at others....but then the clouds parted and DJ held out this little stuffed lion with an Oregon State Zoo tee shirt on and Gigi acted like it was her best friend and she squeeled with joy :D it was a must have.

talkin bout my girl

Becoming a mom you suddenly seem to only speak in clichés. example: she is growing up so fast! seriously I swear she became a completely different baby in one week. She started rolling over, trying to talk and sing, sitting in her baby chair (bumbo), grabbing toys and TEETHING dun dun dun. she is seriously bursting with personality. she hardly even "cries" anymore. it's more like, "moooom! daaaad! I have needs! look alive people!" personality. even my missionary bro can tell through his spiritual insight. he fixed this picture for me...

"This is a little song I wrote in the nersery. I call it: Formula.

       My teeth are growing, growing all the time

       Look how adorable I am, though I never stop crying

       Every bottle I've ever had is on a shelf above my crib

       And sometimes I've got Wiggles playing out my windows"

[nick's family guy tribute to what college guys did to the guitar]

stroke of genious.