4 Books I’ve Been Reading (That I Highly Recommend)

First of all, can I just say that I love my Kindle? (Actually… what I really love is my Kindle app on my tablet… but my Kindle makes it possible to enjoy my Kindle app… so I love my Kindle!) I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my Kindle in the last few days, and have actually devoured quite a few brand-spankin-new eBooks in the past 24 hours. I’ve been toting my Kindle everywhere – to the living room, to the dining room, to the kitchen, to the bedroom, and, of course to the bathroom (where else does a busy mom find time to read?!).

Whether or not you have  Kindle, too (my friend Erin wrote a very helpful post about reading digital books without an e-reader), you can benefit from the ever-growing digital library of wisdom out there that is far more accessible (and takes up a lot less space) than its old-fashioned hard-covered, paper-backed ancestor. In particular, there are 4 recently published digital books that I have been perusing the past couple days and highly recommend to you!

Cloth Diaper Guide
1. Confessions of a Cloth-Diaper Convert

Whether you’ve been cloth-diapering (or CD-ing, as the lingo goes) since before it was popular or are pregnant with your first little one and curious about the possibility, you will learn something in The Humbled Homemaker’s brand new eBook, published just a few weeks ago. I promise. Erin leaves absolutely no stone un-turned and shares every little shred of knowledge she has learned in her years of researching (and using!) cloth diapers. I totally wish I had access to this book when I was researching cloth diapers, because I would have avoided some mistakes along the way that led to the demise of my first set of CD’s. Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert is currently available right here via PDF for $9.95 (But the price is going up soon, so get it while you can!).

2. Accidentally Green

Accidentally Green is a memoir of one woman’s journey from “normal” to “green“… almost by accident! Wherever you are on your journey to improve your health and your environment, you will identify with the questions, obstacles, and issues that provoked Hillary to discover “new” and better ways to eat, clean, shop, heal, and just plain live! I found myself empathizing with Hilary at times, and admiring her at others. Her determination to research the best for her family is inspiring to me and encouraging as I continue on my own journey to simplify our family life without sacrificing what is authentic and real. As someone who strives to make EVERY decision in life based on the Word of God, I also really appreciated her Biblical perspective. This quick read is available for just $2.99 via PDF, Kindle, and Nook.

IB 300x250 ad 2 Affiliate Program3.  Intentional Blogger

 

Can you believe that when I first started my own blog, I had never actually read  one before? I had only heard of them. It makes me laugh to think about the earliest beginnings of my blog when pretty much me, myself, and I were the only ones who ever visited it. And then when I started it up again – in earnest and for reals – I still had absolutely no earthly idea what the heck I was doing. I didn’t even know for the first year that I could actually monetize it beyond Google Adsense. Crazy, right? Too bad I didn’t have LeighAnn and Nikki’s new (as of yesterday!) eBook, Intentional Blogger, then! I would have started out right instead of making a zillion mistakes along the way and falling flat on my face more than once. Huh! If I had read their book first, I might even be a mega-blogger today (Haha!)!!

Clearly, I’m in the place where I’m supposed to be… but if you’re a blogger at any stage, I really think you need to read this eBook. Packed – and I mean PACKED – with resources, you’ll have everything you need to take your blog to the next level (whatever that is). And I love their emphasis on focusing on God and what HE wants from your blog. You won’t be a success without that determination as your guiding focus. And since it’s a brand new eBook, you can currently get this book for $12 (25% off the price) by using the code “LAUNCH25″ at checkout. (Only for a limited time.) Alternatively, if you subscribe to the authors’ newsletter, you can get 50% off the purchase price until 8am April 26 (which is Friday morning). Buy Intentional Blogger here. 

Easy Peasy Chores @ GoodOldDaysFarm.com4. Easy Peasy Chores

This last one is more of a tool than a book you sit down and read. But WHAT a tool it is!! Busy mamas everywhere have been needing this resource for a loooonnngggg time. I can remember back when I was growing up, and my mom organized our chores using index cards in a little file box. She would have loved this system! Alina has broken down all the possible chores that need to be done in your home into simple tasks that even the children can help with. Whether you want to organize the tasks by person, by room, by zone, or by day of the week, you can do so with this – truly – easy peasy system. There’s an initial cost for printing out the cards and purchasing the supplies, but Alina’s even got some great ideas to help you get started with minimal out-of-pocket expense. I am SO excited to get The Boys (ages 4, 2, and, um, 33) and myself started on this house-cleaning system, especially now that I’m teaching again and my boys are going to school with me. Anything that simplifies my life excites me, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to find this resource exciting, too! It’s only $15.99, and it’s worth every stinkin’ penny. (It would honestly be worth even more.) You can buy the Easy Peasy Chores system for yourself here.

PS> Several of these books will be available in an eBook bundle sale coming up next week. $30 for almost 100 eBooks, all of them just as good as the ones I mention below. It’s not a hard choice to make… $16 for Easy Peasy Chores today? or $30 for Easy Peasy Chores PLUS 96 other books, ecourses, printables, planners, etc etc?! Yeah, like I said, not a hard choice. It’s coming on Monday, so stay tuned!

PSS>My very own eBook – Your Grocery Budget Toolbox – is in the same eBook bundle. Yippee!

PSSS> The very last one I promise. I’m a total cheapskate, but even I have to say that this bundle deal is gonna be kickin awesome and totally worth it. $30 is a lot to spend on books all at once, but it’s WAY more than books. Stick around and I’ll be telling you more about it here on the blog, on FB, and on Pinterest.

PSSSS> Oops. Really the last one. I forgot to mention that there are more than $140 in bonuses that come with each purchase of the book. Seriously, this is a no-brainer.

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Healthy 2Day Wednesday {4/24/13}

Welcome to Healthy 2Day Wednesday!

Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

Welcome to Healthy 2Day Wednesday! Thank you so much for linking up all your great posts each week – we always love seeing the knowledge everyone has to share.


Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

Rachel’s top 3 picks from last week:

As the top 3, you have been Facebook’d, and Tweetedand Pinned by Carrie. And don’t forget, your posts were pinned to my Pinterest board made especially for Healthy 2Day Wednesdays.

Check out helpful post from Yummy Inspirations to get

your kids to eat cauliflower, the pizza crust is a MUST to try!



gummy candy recipe

Small Footprint Family has a recipe for yummy-looking

Probiotic Gummy Candies, perfect for an afternoon snack!



title2_C_IMG_0932

Now that it’s warming up outside these Watermelon- Strawberry

Pops from Fox in the Kitchen look amazing! 


Have you been featured as an H2W favorite?

We now have a button for you to add to your post or side bar! You can get different size buttons here.





How to join this week’s fun:

    • Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going “green” tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!

 

 

    • If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here (also find the “I’ve been featured” button there)

 

 

    • Comment on another participant’s post, this builds community.

 

 

    • Add button or link back to that day’s link up.

 

 

    • Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.

 

 

    • Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to’s, the list goes on and on!

 

 

    • If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health.

 

 

    • If you have any questions regarding H2W’s, please contact Rachel.


If you’re not participating today, I hope you’ll come back & join in next week!



BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Really Easy Real Food

It’s Day 3 of the 7-Day Real Food Challenge…. how’s it going for you? I’m finding that I was in the habit of making a lot more “compromises” in my daily life than I really want to. I’m also finding that it’s easier to say “No!” to the yucky food when I have you all to keep myself accountable! So thanks for helping me out with this challenge!

If you’re curious about what in the world I’m talking about, you can find out more here (and join in on the fun, too! Better late than never, they say.).

If you’re struggling with eating real food for 7 days straight, I’ve got some ideas here to help you out. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, even Snacks. All covered! No need to go hungry even when you’re sticking to a stricter diet than you normally would – it’s actually a lot easier than it sounds.

Breakfast

savory pancake sliceSavory Oven Pancake – An egg-based batter with just enough whole wheat flour to hold everything together will keep your tummy full until lunchtime… and beyond! Pair it with some veggies for a super-charged breakfast.

Yogurt Pudding - Not a pudding exactly, but a fluffy yummy concoction that goes perfectly with almost any kind of fruit and tastes like it’s really dessert.

Muesli – Top it off with plenty of fruit, nuts, and seeds, and you’ve got the makings of the perfect start to your day.

Sausage Ring - Pull out all the stops and make this meaty breakfast, ideally with sausage from pastured pork that doesn’t have any nitrates.

Frittata Frittata - Eggs are great for breakfast, but I often get tired of plain old scrambled or fried. Here’s a fun twist – a frittata!

Lunch

Quick & Easy Fish Fingers – Grab a package of wild-caught fish fillets and whip up this healthy lunch in no time.

Toasty Salmon Melts - Another great fish dish, this one based on wild-caught canned salmon (you can also used canned tuna). I love to make this on my homemade sourdough bread… mmm!

Crunchy Chicken Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette - I love a good salad for lunch, and this one is just about perfect.

Garden Fresh Chicken Salad – So you probably don’t have anything growing out of your garden yet (unless you live down South perhaps), but this chicken salad is delicious with whatever produce you can scrounge up. Even dried fruits, nuts, and seeds can be thrown in here!

Better than the Box Mac n Cheese - Mac and Cheese isn’t out of the picture just because you’re sticking to real foods! It’s so easy to make from scratch, I promise!

Dinner

Salt Marinated Steak – If you can afford it, grab a hunk of grass-fed steak and grill it this weekend. What the hey, pull out all the stops!

Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes – An amazing combination of flavors that might surprise you. And vegan, too!

No-Cheese No-Sauce Pizza – If you’re avoiding dairy as part of the real food challenge, you’ll love this cheese-less twist on the pizza concept. It is surprisingly delicious!

Garden Fresh Meatloaf Balls – Once again, you might not be getting anything out of your garden right now, but don’t let that stop you from trying this yummy version of meatloaf. And again, it’s best to go for pastured beef (or turkey).

Brick Chicken – This method of cooking chicken makes the most amazing crispy skin and tasty flavor… try it with some pastured chicken!

Snacks & Desserts

Toasted Chickpeas – No sugar or fried potatoes involved – a guilt-free snack if there ever was one!

Gingersnaps – These cookies are sweetened with molasses, so if you opt out of the sugar topping, they’re completely refined-sugar-free. I bet you could make them with maple syrup for an even healthier choice.

Parmesan Crisps – Nothing is easier or more delicious than these super simple snacks. Nothing.

Orange Chocolate Macaroons – Macaroons can be some of the healthiest desserts around, since they’re made with mostly coconut and eggs. Opt out of the chocolate chips for a truly real-food snack.

Simple Fudgy Bites – It tastes like fudge, but it’s way better for you!

How are you doing with the 7-Day Real Food Challenge? Are you finding it difficult or easy? What is your favorite food you’ve enjoyed so far?

 

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Natural Sources of Folic Acid {Raising Healthy Families}

Welcome back to the Raising Health Families series, join us each week as we take a look at different ways to keep your family healthy and vibrant in a not-so-healthy world.

Written by Justyn Lang of Creative Christian Mama.

When a woman is pregnant or is trying to conceive, she is usually told to start taking a folic acid supplement to prevent birth defects. Did you know that this synthetic form of the vitamin folate has been shown in many studies to cause cancer? Please visit Justyn over at Creative Christian Mama to get the scoop on what folic acid is and how to get plenty of the natural sources of folate in your diet!

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Healthy 2Day Wednesday {04/17/2013}

Healthy 2Day Wednesday Week 97

Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

Healthy 2 Day Wednesday Week 97

Welcome to Healthy 2Day Wednesday! Thank you so much for linking up all your great posts each week – we always love seeing the knowledge everyone has to share.

 

Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

Carrie’s top 3 picks from last week:

As the top 3, you have been Facebook’d, and Tweetedand Pinned by Carrie. And don’t forget, your posts were pinned to my Pinterest board made especially for Healthy 2Day Wednesdays.

http://www.oatmealwithafork.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/bar22.jpg

Lauren from Oatmeal with a Fork shares her scrumptious Thick Raw Lemon Bars.

salad_box

Shannon Miles from Simplysmiles.us shares with us how cooking in bulk saves dinner.

Post image for Your Tap Water May Be Fueling Your Food Allergies

Real Food Forager shares with us how your Tap Water may be fueling your allergies.

Have you been featured as an H2W favorite?

We now have a button for you to add to your post or side bar! You can get different size buttons here.

How to join this week’s fun:

  • Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going “green” tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
  • If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here (also find the “I’ve been featured” button there)
  • Comment on another participant’s post, this builds community.
  • Add button or link back to that day’s link up.
  • Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
  • Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to’s, the list goes on and on!
  • If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health.
  • If you have any questions regarding H2W’s, please contact Rachel.

If you’re not participating today, I hope you’ll come back & join in next week!



BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Learn How to Make a Simple Sourdough Bread

Sourdough is not as complicated as it seems. Once you learn the basic procedure, it’s actually – in my humble opinion - a super simple way to make a delicious and healthy loaf of whole-grain bread. 

And today, I’m over at Baking Whole Grains with a super-simple method for baking delicious and healthy loaves of sourdough bread. This is the recipe I use every week (in fact, I have one in the process now!) to bake our bread, and it honestly could  not be any more simple. Click here to find out how to make Super Simple Sourdough Bread.

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

How to Cook With Your Kids And Maintain your Sanity {Raising Healthy Families}

kids-and-kitchen

 

It’s no surprise that when you commit to preparing healthier food for your family, you also commit to spending at least a little more time in the kitchen. And if you’re following this series on Raising Healthy Families, you’re probably doing it with kids.

Stephani from The Cheapskate Cook is no stranger to making dinner with a toddler clinging to her shin. However, over the years she’s learned a few simple but intentional ways to take the fight out of kids versus kitchens, and she tells all in her post, Peace on Purpose: Managing Kids & Cooking.

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

7-Day Real Food Challenge!

It’s been a while since I can honestly say that I’ve eaten “real food” for anything longer than a day or two. Ever since the holidays, my life has been a whirlwind with uprooting and moving and starting a new job and all that entails. I’m ready to get back into the healthy swing of things, and so is my poor ill-treated body. Time to get back to REAL FOOD! That’s why I’m super excited about the 7-Day Real Food Challenge coming up, which you can read all about here.

I encourage each and every one of you to join me in the challenge – you can choose the free or the paid option! I will say that the paid option has lots of awesome perks (including a copy of my eBook if you don’t have one already), and is 100% worth it, but I totally understand going for the freebie.

Do you think you can eat only real food for 7 days straight?

To some of you this might sound nearly impossible and some of you may be thinking – I already do. This challenge is designed to help those of you who really want to live the real food lifestyle but might need a little guidance to get started. This challenge is also for all of you who have already figured it out, but you have fallen off the bandwagon. Sometimes life gets hectic and our diets seem to suffer. It’s never too late to get back into the healthy food routine!

So, What is the 7 Day Real Food Challenge?

There is a big group of us following this challenge. Everyone who joins this challenge is making a pact to eat only real food for 7 days – specifically on April 21st – 27th. Already there are 28 bloggers who have committed to this challenge and are here as a support team for everyone who joins us. Here is your support team:

Todd Dosenberry from Primal Toad
Amanda from Natural Living Mama
Erin Odom from The Humbled Homemaker
Janey McKeever from Consistantly Sporadic
Jaime Reid from Jaime Reids Kitchen
Anne Simpson from Authentic Simplicity
Laura Broach from Mama Making Changes
Mike Lamitola from MikeLamitola.com
Alix from Blessed in Homemaking
Stacy Karen from A Delightful Home
Nina Nelson from Shalom Mama
Melissa Joulwan from Well Fed
Kimball Young from Heavy on Wholesome
Laura Prevost from Head over heels in Health
Victoria Moore from Yogi Mami
Carol Lovett from Ditch the Wheat
Katie Stanley from Nourishing Simplicity
Jami Leigh from Young Wifes Guide
Andrea from Homemade for Elle
Sarah Warren from Unorthadox Momma
Amanda Anderson from Chef Amanda Anderson.com
Sara Roylance from Sara Roylance.com
Sara Shay from Your Thriving family
Jennifer from Hybrid Rasta Mama
Marillyn Beard from Just Making Noise
Nichi from My Healthy Beginning
Michelle Elnycky from The Crooked House Blog

So for those of you who think this might be way too hard to do – you have all these experts here to back you up and help you meet the challenge. It’s not only these bloggers that will be doing the challenge but many of our readers will be following along. We will have a special Facebook group for discussions about the challenge and a place to reach out to everyone for help and support. There are two ways you can participate in the challenge:

Option # 1 (Free)

Join us and make the commitment to eat only real food for 7 days starting on April 21 – April 27, 2013. You will receive:

  • An e-guidebook on “What is Real Food?”
  • A chance to win one of our fabulous real food prizes

To enter this challenge for free click here

Option # 2 ($29)

If you want to get really serious about this challenge and take full advantage of the support you can get from this group – this is for you. Making a big lifestyle change can be difficult on your own but with a huge group of people doing it along with you it is a lot easier – and a lot more fun! As a member of this challenge you will receive:

  • An e-guidebook on “What is Real Food?”
  • A full real food Paleo meal plan for 7 days – three meals a day and snacks
  • Recipes for all of the items in the meal plan (37 Delicious recipes!!)
  • A shopping list to help you prepare for the challenge
  • Tips on how to prepare your kitchen for this event
  • Membership to our private Facebook group which is a place to reach out for help and ask questions
  • A chance to win one of our fabulous real food prizes – worth over $600+

PLUS these fabulous Bonuses (worth over $237+) for everyone who buys this package…

The meal plan for this challenge is a Paleo menu! This means that all the recipes are grain-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free. If you have ever thought about trying the Paleo / Primal diet and thought it was too hard this is the perfect chance to try it out. All of these done for you planning items and the built in support are designed to make this challenge much less of a challenge to complete. What do you think – are you ready to take the 7 Day Real Food Challenge?

Click here to join us and get the plan, recipes, and support now!

The plan and recipes require basic kitchen tools. A good set of knives is the best thing you can splurge on in my opinion – even better you may win some in the giveaways that go along with this challenge!

Speaking of giveaways…Don’t forget about all of the fabulous prizes from our amazing sponsors!! We are giving away $600 worth of products! The Giveaways (over $600+ value)…

Ergo Chef Knife Company, makers of ergonomically-designed professional chef knives, is giving one participant of our challenge their Pro-Series 7” Santoku knife, Come Apart Kitchen Shears and a 9” & 12” Duo Tongs (Retail value $132) Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

 

Taza Chocolate company, makers of traditional stone ground Mexican Chocolate, is giving one of our participants a package of their salted almond discs, their chipotle chili discs, a jar of chocolate covered hazelnuts and their 87% chocolate bar. Taza chocolate has a direct trade cacao program that cultivates face-to-face relationships with farmers. (Retail value $ 30.47) Follow them on Facebook and Twitter

Kaya Foods, superfoods for delicious living, is giving one participant 5 bags of their delicious Kale and Veggie Chips, great for healthy snacking and a few $1.00 coupons (Retail value $ 10) Follow them on Facebook

 

 

Yogi Tea, products inspired by Ayurveda is giving one participant of our challenge 4 boxes of a variety of our top selling teas and a Yogi tea mug. (Retail value $40)Yogi tea is committed to providing healthy, natural teas that are accessible to as many people as possible. Follow them on Facebook.

 

 

Applegate, Organic & Natural Meats, is giving away a gift pack of products. (Retail value $ 25) Applegate meats are free of anti-biotics, growth hormones, nitrates, artificial ingredients and fillers which makes them far surpass the quality of conventional sliced sandwich meats. When buying Applegate products you can be confident you are eating a high quality product. Follow them on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter

 

Trilight Health, makers of fast-acting, great tasting liquid herbal supplements, is giving one participant a $50 gift certificate to order products on their website! For over 20 years now, TriLight Health have supplied their customers nationwide with their high quality line of liquid herbal products. They specialize in great tasting, alcohol and sugar free, liquid herbal formulas for pregnancy, children, and the family. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter

 

Eco Lunch Gear, eco friendly reusable lunch gear, is giving one participant a a reusable sandwich wrap (Retail value $10.50). Eco Lunch Gear was started by a Mom who saw a need for an alternative to plastic and aluminum foil, her products can be washed and reused over and over to save money and our environment. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Erin Odom from The Humbled Homemaker and creator of Real Food, Real Easy the eBook is giving one participant a copy of her eBook to help you continue with your Real Food journey (Retail value $$9.95) Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

 

Health Coach, Mike Lamitola, is giving one participant free entry to his Tele-seminar on Cravings. Do you have a sugar habit you’ve been trying to beat? In this tele-seminar, Mike will explain how. (Retail value $25.00) Follow Mike on Facebook and Twitter

 

 

Alix from Blessed In Homemaking offers organic and all natural body care products, gentle baby care products, herbal products, crocheted items, and more, for your healthy lifestyle in her Etsy Shop. She is giving two participants a one ounce bag of loose chamomile tea (Retail value $8.00) Follow her on Facebook

 

Stacy Karen from A Delightful Home is giving one participant of this challenge a copy of her eBook, Simple Scrubs to Make and Give. Start making your own scrubs at home for yourself and others (Retail value $3.99) Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

 

Nina Nelson of Shalom Mama, is giving one participant of the challenge a healing balm and lavender mint lip balm from her etsy shop (Retail value $19.50) Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

 

Melissa Joulwan from The Clothes Make the Girl, is giving one participant a copy of her Paleo eBook called Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Like to Eat (Retail value $14.95). This is a great resource for anyone interested in Paleo diet, whether you are just getting started or you are just looking for some new recipes to try. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Health Coach, Laura Prevost is giving 10 lucky participants one of her Dynamite Coaching sessions. If you are looking for some support around breaking a bad habit, or getting yourself motivated, Laura will work through it with you in this session (Retail value $20.00/session) Follow Laura on Facebook or Twitter

Jami from Young Wife’s Guide, is giving one participant a copy of her eBook, Apartment Gardening, which is a great resource for getting started growing food in small spaces (Retail value $2.99) Follow Jami on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

 

Jennifer from Hybrid Rasta Mama has also offered to give away two copies of her eBook, Cooking with Coconut Oil (Retail value $19.95). The 68 recipes in this eBook are all simple to make and the ingredients in the recipes are all readily available. This eBook is a great way to start getting more coconut oil in your diet to get all the amazing health benefits. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

You will have the chance to win all of these prizes by joining is the challenge with either Option # 1 or Option # 2 detailed above!

Do you have questions about this event? Please feel free to comment on this post with any questions or concerns.

BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Healthy 2Day Wednesday {4/10/13}

Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

Welcome to Healthy 2Day Wednesday! Thank you so much for linking up all your great posts each week – we always love seeing the knowledge everyone has to share.

 

Anne’s top 3 picks from last week:

As the top 3, you have been Facebook’d, and Tweeted and Pinned by Anne. And don’t forget, your posts were pinned to our Pinterest board made especially for Healthy 2Day Wednesdays.

Kelly from Eyes on the Source has a great - and SIMPLE - recipe to help heal eyes affected by allergies... and even pink eye!

 

Erin of Sift, Stir, and Savor offers a great alternative to Girl Scout Tagalong Cookies - grain-free and refined-sugar-free!

Cassi of Live Right Be Healthy has a great tutorial for almond milk and almond flour.

Have you been featured as an H2W favorite?

We now have a button for you to add to your post or side bar! You can get different size buttons here.



How to join this week’s fun:

  • Share an idea, tip, recipe, things to avoid, something new to try, natural remedy, alternative medicine, going “green” tips, etc. that will help us to remain or become more healthy!
  • If this is your first time participating read more info & get button here (also find the “I’ve been featured” button there)
  • Comment on another participant’s post, this builds community.
  • Add button or link back to that day’s link up.
  • Spread the word so we can learn more ideas on keep our families healthy; feel free to share on Facebook or Twitter.
  • Ideas: homebirths, natural remedies, an interesting article, something eco-friendly, a review, natural cleaner, alternative or holistic approaches to health, how to’s, the list goes on and on!
  • If you are adding a recipe, make sure the ingredients do not include white flour, refined sugar, processed products, packages products (unless it is clearly stated or pictured that it is organic or all natural) and the like. We are looking for whole food recipes that are beneficial to our health.
  • If you have any questions regarding H2W’s, please contact Rachel.

If you’re not participating today, I hope you’ll come back & join in next week!


BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday

Strawberry Quinoa Muffins {Secret Recipe Club}

This month’s Secret Recipe Club entry comes from the beautiful blog Delishhh, written by Ewa (pronounced “Eva”), who has a  decidedly international flair which is probably the result of being born Swedish and raised in Asia (now residing in the United States in case you’re curious). She also, like me, loves to eat healthy, whole foods, and is an advocate of GMO labeling and enjoying organic foods. I definitely recommend you browse through her blog and check out her gorgeous photos and delicious recipes.

I’ve had her Pumpkin Energy Bar pinned for ages, and still fully intend to make it, but I never seem to have all the ingredients at the same time. I’m working on it, though: I’ve got everything except the pumpkin and I plan to get that this week so I can give her recipe a whirl, and after that, I’ll try some variations using the same framework she used.

I also want to try her White Bean Puree to use as a dip or spread – me and The Boys enjoy our beans, so this will be a nice addition to the bean recipe repertoire!

But what I made this time around was her Blueberry Pecan Quinoa Muffins. I love that Ewa increased the health factor of a not-super-healthy breakfast favorite by filling it with high-protein quinoa and fruits and nuts. Score! I didn’t, however, have any blueberries, and we don’t eat tree nuts around here, so my version turned into Strawberry Quinoa Muffins. We heartily enjoyed it for breakfast, and I have a few more in the freezer to pull out later this week. Can’t beat fast and healthy on a crazy school morning!


A note about the quinoa flour: It’s super easy to grind whole quinoa into flour using a grain mill like the one I have below (Wonder Mill) – just remember to pour in the grains a little bit at a time (maybe a tablespoon or two). You can hear when the grains have gone through the mill and then you can add more. Once you have the feel of it, you can keep a constant stream of grains heading down the hopper into the mill to make your flour. You can also buy a small grain attachment that will feed the quinoa for you. 

Alternatively, as Ewa suggests, you can grind the quinoa in small amounts in a spice mill or perhaps a coffee grinder.

Intrigued by the Secret Recipe Club? Find out more and join here.



BundleoftheWeek.com, 5 eBooks for $7.40!

Find more inspiring and informative posts at Make Your Own Monday, Motivational Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, The Bulletin Board, Better Mom Monday, Natural Living Monday, Trivium Tuesday, Titus 2sday, Teach Me Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Titus 2 Tuesday, Delicious Dishes, Open Call Tuesday, Tiny Tip Tuesday, Healthy 2Day Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Works For Me Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesday, The Mommy Club, Encourage One Another, Thought Provoking Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemaking Link Up, Keep it Real Thursday, Frugal Thursday Rewind, Your Green Resource, Homeschooling on the Cheap, Thrifty Thursday, Fellowship Friday, Fight Back Friday, I'm Lovin' It, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Weekend Whatever, Snacktime Saturday