Rainbows and Butterflies

The Rainbow dance concert was a success! Wow, thanks to all the many friends and family that came. I even got a comment about how many of my peeps showed up!! You guys rock!

I got so many wonderful comments about the swimming piece! I can honestly say that I was a tad apprehensive about my costume-- halter top bathing suit with shortie short shorts, but once the music came on it didn't phase me. And I know, people think I 'm crazy and way too self conscious, but I cannot help it-- really, I cannot help it! But then, I remembered that there were tons of little girls around and the last thing I wanted to do was set a bad example of negative body image issues. So, I sucked it up (literally), took off the cellulite-hiding tights and embodied a 50's synchronized swimmer cheesing it up for the audience. After all, when will I ever get to wear a polka dot bathing suit, swim cap and bright red lipstick again? Hopefully, I can get a few pictures of the piece up soon.

Sunday was beautiful and I was able to enjoy the sun for a few minutes. My doctor said I was Vitamin D deficient and that I MUST sit out in the sun for at least 15 minutes a day. Hmm, okay doc, if you insist. I can just hear it now . . . "No Grant, the doctor said I must sit outside. I'm sorry, but breakfast/lunch/dinner/laundry/dusting must wait." (I kid, Grant would never interfere with the doctor's orders). So, I sat and I read and I watched butterflies flutter by and I felt the wind and I heard the birds sing. It was a glorious ending to a LONG month.

Thanks again for all your support (dancing, life, etc.)- you all are great! Here's to Spring.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

Yum, this is one of Grant's and my favorite Sunday morning breakfasts. I find it fun to try and make a recipe a little bit healthier and I can honestly say that these pancakes taste fabulous all healthied up and stuff!



Whole Wheat Pancakes


* 1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour (freshly ground is the best!)

* 2 tablespoons honey, warmed so it runs smooth (raw and filtered for more nutrients)

* 2 teaspoons double-acting baking powder (aluminum free, please)

* 3/4 teaspoons salt

* 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil (olive oil will work too)

* 1 1/3 cup milk

* 1 egg, slightly beaten


Mix the dry ingredients together and set aside. Then mix the honey, coconut oil, milk and egg together (make sure that the mixture is smooth, no honey glubs). Then mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix just until flour is moistened. Then melt a pat of butter into your medium hot skillet and pour batter (about 1/4 cup) into the skillet. Don't flip the pancake until the batter is bubbly. Then flip and cook a bit more. Then slather with real maple syrup and enjoy!


Makes about 12 pancakes.


Here's something smart-- make a double batch and freeze the extras. Then pop the frozen pancake into the toaster to reheat and enjoy!

(Double Batch)

Here I go again . . .

Being a bad blogger that is. Wow, again, a crazy two weeks. Maybe one day I'll share what has been going on. In the meantime, I'm getting ready for the ever popular RAINBOW DANCE CONCERT!!!! Please come if you are in the area. Details here. Wow, my life will be a bit simpler once this concert is over! I've even lost a couple of pounds recently from all the dancing- woo hoo! I know, random thoughts-- this is where my head is lately.

And, by the way, spring has not arrived yet. It's still cold and rainy. But I can't wait to start on my garden this year and my sister gave me an old trellis that needs some TLC, so I'm excited to start on that project too-- spring are you coming anytime soon??

That's it for now. I'm planning a post on my homemade, whole wheat pancakes and hopefully a before and after of the trellis project!

Be well my friends!

Spring is almost here!

Oh, it's a gorgeous day here today-- 77 degrees. I've been the Farmer's Market and stocked up on my veges and fruit. I've taken a walk around the neighborhood (hoping to get a little tan). Now, I'm off to make dinner. Hope you are enjoying the weekend. Tomorrow will even be better!! Spring is on it's way!

Overwhelmed

Have you ever just felt overwhelmed!? I'm currently in that place right now. Just so much to do. And, my goodness, it's already March- winter is almost over and Easter is fast approaching. The year is flying by so fast. My life is flying by so fast.

I have so much to do at work-- major deadlines all this month and next. So much so that there is not a single day to take off (and this would be the month that I need to take a day off). I have a major dance concert coming up and am participating in another dance commitment this month-- both dances are not complete yet and dress/tech rehearsals are coming soon!!! So busy. I've got appointments that I am trying to squeeze in here and there. And, I've even learned how to say "no" to some commitments. That is not easy for me, but I have to realize my limits.

Trust me, it's not that I'm complaining, per se. I'm glad to be busy, but I'm ready for the "lazy days" of summer. I'm ready for warmer weather and time outside. I'm ready for a break from rehearsals. I'm ready for work to calm down. I'm ready for . . . who knows ? I'm hoping that April will be just what I need. Sunshine and rain. Calm and quiet.

Of course, in the midst of all this, I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be healthy, active and alert enough to do what I love to do and to help support my family with work. So really, yes, I'm busy, but thank you Lord for allowing me to be busy. There is a season for everything.

Hope you are experiencing the calm and quiet of life right now. Or, that the upcoming season will bring what you need!

Coconut Oil Revisited

I had a post about coconut oil awhile back and, I swear, I keep running into new articles or blog posts about it. This is a miracle oil! Here is a blog post from Passionate Homemaking about coconut oil-- read it here. Who knew you could make toothpaste and deodorant out of it.

In addition to using it in our cooking, I've started using it as a face lotion/acne medication. So far, it has been great (not a miracle cure, but good). It absorbs into the skin quickly (and smells nice) and I'm hoping that some of the antifungal/antimicrobial properties will help with the face issues. I've been convicted lately about some topical acne mediation that my dermatologist recommended. It's a very gentle medication and one that I've used for a couple of months. But it was just not getting the job done. I started thinking that if it wasn't making a difference then why the heck was I putting that stuff on my face and consequently into my system. And then it dawned on me: coconut oil = antifungal, etc., so why wouldn't this help with acne issues?! I decided then and there that I was better off putting a natural substance on my face (one that I was willing to ingest) then a man made chemical. I'm praying that this will be a good solution for me-- a lotion and an acne medication all in one!

It's a great oil (God put it on this planet for a reason, right?). And it will last forever. Go get ya' some!

Crazy Weather

Here is NC weather for you-- snow on Monday and sunny 73 degree weather on Friday. Actually, the wild temperature change doesn't bother me much. Having lived in Hawaii for 10 years, where the weather rarely fluctuates, I have immensely enjoyed the seasons that NC has to offer.

I can, however, say that I am ready for spring. I'm cold, I want to be outside again and I desperately need some sun. So, I'm ready for this weekend. This is also the month that I start my garden, so I want to start thinking about what I want this year. I really want to beef up on my herb garden this year-- last year I let it slip a bit. And I want to grow tomatoes and some other vegetables again this year.

Grant and I also want to work on our yard some. We have an ugly chain link fence that divides our property from the Shriner's Club, so it needs to be covered up. I decided that gardenia bushes would probably be the best option for us. After unsuccessfully trying climbing roses and jasmine plants, bushes seemed the next best option. Besides being my favorite flower, they are evergreen bushes and grow pretty tall. Hopefully, this will add some texture to our backyard. We also need to finish covering our slope with creeping phlox. This ground covering is so pretty in the spring- white, purple, pink and blue flowers cover our whole hill. Very nice. I also want to put some color in our front yard. I'll probably just get a big pot and put some flowers in there.

Well, I'm ready for spring-- are you?

Everyday Minerals Makeup

I have just discovered a makeup line that uses minerals (as the name implies) as its ingredients-- and boy am I super excited about this discovery! Everyday Minerals is an extremely affordable, natural makeup line. I went ahead and got their free sample kit in the mail (go here for information on that), and it came within a few days (you do need to pay $3.97 for shipping). They are very generous sample sizes, so it will give you a good idea about the product.

It is a powder based line, so there are still a few tricks I will need to learn (i.e, foundation primer, water spritz, etc.), so as to not make your skin appear cakey or dry, but I think once I master those tricks this may be a great line for me.

This line is not in stores, so you need to order online. That's why I would encourage you to get their free sample kit for foundation colors.

This is a seriously affordable makeup line, which I need right now (I'm ashamed to say I will spend up to $40 to $50 on a single tube of foundation)-- their foundation is only $12-15.

Of course, the best part is the chemical freeness (I know, not a word). I'm careful about the lotions and things I put on my skin, but have never thought twice about what is in my makeup. Partly because I've always had skin issues and the need for good coverage has always outweighed my concern about ingredients in makeup. I'm hoping that this might be the solution for me.

If you're at all interested- get a free kit and go from there!