Juicy Juice.

Its been a couple of years since I've juiced. I was on it so hardcore 3 years ago, I ran through 2 juicers and then said forget it. And throughout my 3 year juicing hiatus my body and mind have been through so much. 3 hospital stunts, all resulting in major surgery, one full term pregnancy, one home birth, and being a nutritional hosts to a growing human being for the past 19 months. It's definitely felt like time for a complete physical and mental cleanse.
So I  got a new juicer  and started a gentle detox regime.

I try to juice at least twice a day. Once in the morning before breakfast and once before dinner.
For my morning juice I incorporate more fruits than vegetables and for my pre-dinner juice I pack it full of veggies. Making my own juice recipes as I go, its hard to go wrong with what you concoct because no matter how "yucky" it may taste its still so nutritional rewarding for your body.  3 of my favorite ingredients I like including in most of my concoctions are 4 carrots, a pinch of ginger and coconut water.

Since I've started back again, its increased my energy and appetite for more yummy healthy foods, and has toned my body and skin giving it a nice glowy look. And from a kids perspective stuffing produce into a machine and watching it turn into juice has been a pretty exciting process fun and healthy for the whole family!

A couple of yummy recipes I like to make using mostly organic fruits & veggies:

4 Carrots
3 celery stalks
1 apple
1 orange or grapefruit
pinch of ginger
2oz Coconut Water

1 handful of spinach
1 beet
4 kale stalks
pinch of ginger
1 apple
5-10 strawberries
2oz coconut water (optional)

Juicing Tips I had to learn the hard way:

• store left over juice in glass container as opposed to plastic for freshness.
• cleaning the juicer can be a pain so make an initial large batch of it to drink throughout the day
• prepare and organize your fruits and veggies before turning on the juicer.
• no matter what the juicer claims it can do, its better to cut bigger tougher produce in pieces before putting them in. 
• wash juicer immediately after use with a good cold rinse and scrub without soap!If there are any recipes you have to suggest I'd love to try them out! 

Feeling juicy? I wanna hear about it!!

the Snake Charmer

Rox has officially turned us into the reptile family.
It all started when his good friend G had Spiderman come and surprise him for his recent birthday.
In preparation for his own birthday, Rox kept insisting he too wanted Spiderman.
Been there done that. Lets crank it up a notch.
Rox is an avid crazed "reptile guy" who for any outing travels with his figurine cobra in one hand and saltwater crocodile in the other. Our zoo membership is for repeated visits to the reptile exhibit. And all he ever wants to watch besides My Little Pony are youtube clips of snake handling.
BINGO.
Forget Spiderman. We need the Snakeman.

The Snakeman was so awesome! And a bit of a hottie! I gotta be honest and say I kinda expected him to be a bit old and creepy...
All the park goers watched and joined in amazement as the kids were able to touch and handle different types of snakes. With this big daddy being the grand finale.
But of course every party has its debbie downer...
Someone who was afraid and repulsed by the fact that I had brought snakes to the snake birthday party.
Talk about killing a vibe. I paid 200 bucks for this damn snake man! You will have a good time!

The kids learned and they had fun. And I got to conquer my own hesitations with snakes.
I kinda want one of our own know to cuddle with.

adventures in pictures: Roxsssssss Party

Today was Roxs snake party! And it didn't rain! We splished. We splashed. We slithered. 

And ate cake.

My sweet beautiful boy thanked everyone for his party. And made a wish with balloons.

His new constant question is

"Am I 5 now?"

"Yes, your birthday is finally here. You are one year older."

"Mommy, why am I getting older?"

my first BIRTH day.

 Today is Roxwell's 5th birthday, and as I spend the night getting things ready for his weekend celebration, I cant help but think about the day he came into the world. It feels as though its my birthday as well. And although I have given many amusing verbal accounts of the day he was born, after 5 years I've decided its time to put it on "paper".
I remember it like it was yesterday. Being pregnant with him was a breeze. I felt happy, healthy, sexy and confident, I wore hot shorts and mini skirts with my bump and went out dancing, and yes I was 21 at the time.

May the 4th be with you.

The weather was beautiful today. And the kiddies and I played away!

Brother and I wrestled on the grass.

While sister did her thing on the swing.

And then brother showed us his stunts. 

 It was a Star Wars day after all.

Saturday Market Find.

My neighborhood threw a Market this morning and I scored this amazing Chinese vintage yang shaped weave bag.  It was 5 bucks and its a good large size in person.
The woman who sold it to me mentioned that someone else mentioned it looking like an old Chinese baby carrier.
"!!!!!!!!!"- Was my exact response.
I've been researching it all night and haven't come across a picture that even looks like the bag, let alone any history of it.
But I have to say when she told me that I instantly could see it. It would be the perfect size to carry a new born around. Not to mention its lined on the inside and sturdy!
Gosh, why the hell does it sound like I'm preparing for baby #3??!!
If any of you lovelies out there know anything about a bag like this, I would love to hear about it!

When the Mantis Prays

                                         Hey girl. Whats up?

When you choose to not wash your dishes for a day, and when you have a lightweight rainforest for a yard, you get all kinds of fruit flies and ants and apparently Praying Mantis.

My initial reaction was startling and it called attention to the kids. I mean when was the last time you've seen a Praying Mantis? Or the first? So up close, so personal? So stoic, ethereal, extraterrestrial, and easily mistaken for brush.It was definitely the first time being introduced to one for Rox. I quickly began taking pictures of it while we became familiar.  I had never experienced such a personal account. I was mesmerized. We gazed at it for about 10 minutes, then we set it free.
And being the "hippie" that I am, I thought, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
It felt like an omen.