Lifestyle

How to Combat the Overwhelm.

This morning I read another article highlighting the struggle of parents, trying to work from home, school their children,

This morning I read another article highlighting the struggle of parents, trying to work from home, school their children, keep up with the house, adult properly, and stay sane. It’s a tough gig, on every front. Added all together, this is more than any human being is equipped to handle alone. I have to be honest, and admit that I’ve been doing this homeschool deal for so long, that I don’t always stop to remember how overwhelming it was in the beginning.

Our introduction to homeschooling happened, for us, at the worst possible time in our life, when we had just moved across the country, from a very small town, to Orlando, FL with three kids under the age of 7. I had no intention of homeschooling my kids. Ever. But life is funny. I ended up pregnant with kiddo #4, who had a bevvy of medical issues and needed countless surgeries. I was living at the hospital, for months, with an infant in the NICU, my husband was working two hours away from home, and I had three kids in school. I couldn’t possibly keep up with everything that I had going on. Thankfully, my parents and sister were there to lean on.

I was used to dealing with a small town school system, the same one I attended myself. Suddenly I was in a city where I knew nobody, my kids were locked inside a scary looking, rundown C rated school all day. The first day I dropped them off, I cried all the way home. I couldn’t talk to the teachers, to let them know what our family was going through, and I wasn’t sure they’d even care. My kids were completely overwhelmed in an inner city school, and falling behind in their work. They had loads of work that they brought home every night, plus agendas and papers to sign, work to organize and the school was begging for parental involvement, but I was never available, because I was at the hospital with a very sick baby. I felt so guilty and I worried about them incessantly. As, if I didn’t have enough on my plate, I made the insane decision to keep them home, and sign them up for the K-12 program.

At this same time, my infant had been just been given a tracheostomy, and a feeding tube in his abdomen, so I was learning the very intimidating task of trach care and g-tube care, and now I had three kids to homeschool in the couple hours a day that I was actually home with them, but i knew that they were safe and we would get through it somehow.

At this time, as people often will in a crisis, friends stopped calling, everyone backed away from us, and I felt like I was being ostracized for having a “flawed” baby. Of course that’s crazy, but it’s how I felt at the time. As time went on, I realized that it’s much more likely that they just didn’t know what to say, or how to help, but in the midst of it I felt completely abandoned and isolated. It struck me this morning while reading that that is how overwhelmed and isolated others are feeling right now.

I have to make a real effort to remember how this felt, because, quite frankly, I try not to recall it often, but when I hear how people are struggling right now, I can put myself in their shoes, and deeply empathize with them, because I remember how desolate things felt to me then. The kids were the highlight of my life but the weight of the responsibility of them was drowning me. The adjustment period was brutal. It took a while to adjust to having the kids with me all of the time, which I now love, but didn’t always feel exactly that way.

To make a long story short, I was in way over my head with homeschooling, but the K-12 program helped us bump along through the rest of that school year and the next fall my kids went back to public school. We had moved back to an rated A school district, with excellent schools. It ended up being an excellent temporary solution for our family. Once my life settled down to manageable again a few years later, and the boys were a bit older, we decide to try homeschooling again, using K-12, at the time, with much success. It just worked for our family, and still does. This does not mean homeschooling is going to work for every family, nor should it. But I can tell you that the chaos is temporary. You will find your rhythm, and it will get easier. When you are too overwhelmed take a break. Take many breaks. The kids are going to be feel the same, as well. They will also need breaks, and time to just be kids. It’s okay to take time to just be a mom. The work will still be there.

When we were doing the K-12 program, we spoke with teachers on Fridays, they kept the kids on track, and kept the facilitator (parent) informed of progress, and areas that needed more work. They were very clear that the child is solely, responsible for their work; your job is to facilitate. That’s it. It helped to keep the boundaries clear. If you are lucky enough to have public school teachers that agree with this mindset, embrace it, work as closely with those teachers as you can, and don’t be afraid to let them know when you or your child are overwhelmed. Your child’s teacher knows that you did not sign on for this, and they understand how hard it is. They do it every day with 20+ children. They know your child’s strengths and weaknesses, academically. You, as the parent, will learn them quickly, and paired with your knowledge of their character strengths, you will find a way to help them thrive. Don’t forget though,that this situation is harder on them, so don’t get too bogged down in the particulars. Try to cut them some slack, at times, and keep in mind that they are human too. Don’t let the school work become more important than the relationship.

I wish you all the best during this overwhelming situation. Know that it’s temporary. You should not hesitate to reach out for any helping hand you can find right now. We all need to lean on each other, a little more, right now. When you begin to feel isolated call a friend or a family member. Don’t become too bogged down before giving yourself a break. Remember that you are not superhuman, nor are you expected to be. Take care of yourselves, and I hope you and your families are all staying safe.

Is It Time To Start Your Side Hustle?

I keep reading article after article, stating expectations for everyone in quarantine to come out of this crisis better than they went in. While I don’t necessarily agree with this mentality; I feel like people have enough stress on them right now, just dealing with this new way of life; if you do have the ability to find something positive (such as personal growth) to focus on, it’s probably a good idea to pursue it. There are so many people at home alone right now, and while some of us are desperate for a few minutes of quiet, others are intensely lonely, and in dire need of company. Finding a common goal, and some people on line to share it with, might be what it takes to keep you mentally healthy through this prolonged isolation. Or maybe you just need something to take the focus off of your endless to do list at home and remind you that you are a person in your own right again. It seems that everyone is starting a side hustle right now, because of the job insecurity that this virus has caused, worldwide. While this will increase competition in most industries, there has never been a time that there are so many free (and paid) resources to help you start a small business. Shopify is a great place to start. They are currently running a free trial which I have been delving into. Dropshipping seems to be their specialty, which I don’t, yet, know that much about, but there are many resources on Youtube, to get you started. If you have been ruminating on a side hustle for a while, today is the day to start.

After being (mostly) cheerfully stuck together in quarantine for a few weeks now, the boys and I have started on a new side hustle. Having, myself, a background in skin care and food blogging, paired with the boys’ love of all things gaming, pop culture and conventions, added to our love of over the top birthday and holiday celebrations, the idea for a gifting business sort of fell into our laps. We’ve been working on melding all of our talents, interests and quirks into an opportunity that will keep us happily working together during this unique situation. We’ve spent the last few weeks creating a new line of spa products, which will fill luxury spa baskets, starting right before Mother’s Day. Because birthdays are our favorite celebration, we will focus, as well, on festive pop culture toys, and collectibles and other birthday oriented gift hampers, aimed at both children, and adults, alike. Plus, we are sourcing items for housewarming gifts, and, unique foodie trays/baskets meant for themed dinner parties, entertaining, anniversaries, date nights, and other special occasions. It’s certainly not a new idea, but it’s a good fit for us, being that it incorporates many of our favorite things, in one engaging opportunity, which can be achieved from home, and online as well, making it the perfect quarantine enterprise, for us.

I hope that all of you are staying healthy and engaged in life. I hope that you find what you need to come through these troublesome times with your health and relationships intact, and having learned something to take with you into the future. Stay well.

Add Vitamin C Rich Foods to Boost Immunity.

We all know that foods high in vitamin C are useful for warding off cold and flu. But are you aware that Vitamin C is utilized in…

We all know that foods high in vitamin C are useful for warding off cold and flu. But are you aware that Vitamin C is utilized in the production of muscle, cartilage, bone collagen, and blood vessels? Plus, being that Vitamin C is being used in large quantities to fight Covid-19, this is one vitamin that you don’t want to skip. While nobody has immunity to Covid-19, it wouldn’t hurt to up your C intake for the time being.

It’s common knowledge that oranges are high in vitamin C, with 51 mg in one small orange, but a did you know that a small grapefruit can contain 68 mg of vitamin C? A single grapefruit, tossed into your morning smoothie can give you over 80-100% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. The recommended dose, on the low end is 65-90 mg, depending on your size. If you are aiming to ward off colds and viruses, though, your intake needs to be much, much higher. Closer to 1500mg. Of course you can take one of the many, kinda pricey, Vitamin C boosting products on the market, and you probably should during flu season, but how do you keep your levels up for an extended period of time with out resorting to daily Vitamin C packets? You add it into your diet of course. How to do that? Regularly eat these foods, throughout the day:

Broccoli

One cup of chopped broccoli contains a whopping 81 mg. of vitamin C. The bad news is that cooking it reduces the vitamin content. If you can’t stand to eat it raw, choose gentle steaming. This reduces the vitamin content by only 9-15%. Add raw broccoli into your smoothies and salads. Steamed broccoli makes a great side dish to almost every meal.

Cantaloupe

One cup of cubed cantaloupe has 58 mg of Vitamin C. It’s also loaded with vitamins A & K, beta carotene, potassium, folate, and fiber. Cantaloupe can be served lightly grilled, fresh, cubed in a salad, or added to your morning smoothie. It is delicious alongside strawberries, and blueberries, for a simple breakfast, with yogurt, or even wheat toast.

Cauliflower

Some people love it, some people hate it. It’s the only vegetable that I struggle to eat. I do eat it, but I don’t love it. This is unfortunate, because cauliflower has 51 mg of C per 1 cup serving. I prefer it raw, with hummus, or on a flatbread, mixed with other, hopefully overpowering, vegetables that I do like. Some people love to mix it in with mashed potatoes, or rice it, make dough with it. This is one health trend that I can not get on board with, but for those of you who can, it’s a great way to add loads of Vitamin C to your diet. You go.

Kale

Kale is a leafy green that I could eat for every meal, and do for many. It goes in my smoothies, in my salads, in soups and stews, on sammies, in falafels; anywhere that I can add it in. It can even be made into chips (sort of). 1 cup of Kale has 80 mg of Vitamin C. Take that, Cauliflower. There are many types of Kale to choose from. Curly kale is best for general cooking, and making chips, for snacking. Red kale is great for smoothies and salads, Tuscan kale is also great for salads and cooking. It’s leaves are less bulky, therefore easier to eat in salads, and it’s higher tannin-like flavor lessens when cooked. Redbor Kale has a gorgeous deep purple color, but eating it raw could bother your stomach, so it’s best, and most delicious simmered for hours, in soups and stews.

Kiwi

One small kiwi contains 64 mg of Vitamin C. Add it to your morning cereal, smoothies, or smoothie bowls, for a great C laden start to your day. Kiwi is also great with various greens and fruity dressing for a light healthy lunch. I also love to serve it in a fruit salad, next to tilapia, or other mild tasting whitefish, for dinner.

Other great Vitamin C filled additions to your diet are citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit, strawberries, & papaya.

8 Fresh Ideas to Help You Survive Quarantine.

We are all in this together. Isolation isn’t for the faint of heart. There are certain people that are rocking this, and some…

We are all in this together. Isolation isn’t for the faint of heart. There are certain people that are rocking this, and some who are struggling. What some think of as isolation, others think of as down time. Introverts, and ambiverts alike are going to find this much, much easier, than extroverts, who need people in their lives. We all need that face to face time with our friends and loved ones, but some need it more than others. In the mean time, though, we can take a leaf out the book of introverts, and use our quarantine time to better ourselves. Here’s a few ideas to help you get started:

Stay Connected.

Video chatting is the best way to feel as though you’ve actually spent time with the people that you miss. There’s so many ways to do this, from the camera on your phone to Zoom, Facetime, and even all the way back to Skype. Any of these will enable you to chat with people in a face to face manner, that will keep you connected to those who matter. It helps immensely that the schools have gone online, to helps kids and parents stay connected to their school families and friends. Props to all of the teachers who have pulled this together out of thin air. Homeschooling is hard. Fun, but hard. Some are going to love it, and some are going to hate it. The key to excelling at it, is to stay connected, and thankfully that it easy to do with the various apps available today.

Do Something You Suck At.

No, seriously. Revisit something that you have tried and failed at, this time without the idea of mastery in your head. Just shoot for gradual improvement, without judging yourself, along the way. I really, really suck at painting. I wish I didn’t, but I do. I enjoy dabbling with it, anyway, and learning how to improve. Take a course online, if you can afford it, and learn from someone new. This helps you improve your craft, while helping someone working from home make a little extra cash to get through this difficult period. If you cannot afford a class, find a new You-tuber to follow, who will teach you a little bit about your subject, for free. You are still supporting work from homers, while improving your self. Everybody wins.

Drink Less Coffee.

If you are feeling anxious through this quarantine, too much coffee is only going to exacerbate the problem. Try herbal tea instead. You can grow your own herbs, make your own blends, forage for them, whatever. I buy my dried herbs for teamaking through mountainroseherbs.com. Try switching out two cups of coffee a day for herbal teas or green tea. You will come out of this quarantine with a stronger constitution, and super glowy skin.

Grow Something.

With all of this uncertainty surrounding our food supply, right now, it just makes good sense to start taking responsibility for some of your own food. Even if your don’t have tons of space to work with you can still help out your own kitchen by planting some greens and tomatoes in pots, and filling your windowsills with fresh herbs. You can get your supplies delivered through amazon.com and start small, at first. If you have the extra space and funds, start a few flowers as well. As these weeks drag on, a splash color indoors might be just what you need to stay positive through it all.

Smudge Your Home

No, really. Hear me out. I know, you might think it’s woo-woo, but the benefits of smudging your home are proven. Cleansing the air with sage, lavender, palo santo, will improve the feel of your home, ridding the air of negativity, leaving a feeling of well-being in it’s place. If you are feeling stressed out, and anxious, or stuck in a place of unknowing, try smudging your space to help you move forward with a positive mental attitude. (Be prepared for a few 420 jokes from your kids though.) You can make your own smudge sticks with sage, lavender, even pine; or you can purchase them on etsy.com.

This is how we store ours at home:

Why yes, we do think we’re funny. Poor Mr. Antelope.

Order Wine Delivery

You can get $20 off your first box of wine at Winc.com right now. They will tailor your wine choices to your taste preferences, and ship it straight to your door. Who doesn’t need that in these trying times? There are plenty of other wine delivery services and wine clubs to choose from, as well, such as Firstleaf, Martha Stewart Wines and revel.com If you don’t want to risk braving the stores for wine, this is a great option.

Plan a Small Easter Dinner With Your Quarantine Crew.

Everybody’s Easter plans are probably going to look different this year. We usually have dinner with my parents, and my sister’s family if we are in the same city. This year it’s just us. We have a big family, so the food won’t look that different for us. Ham, potatoes, corn, pea salad. and dessert, of course. We will have really small baskets this year, and much of what they get will be made, courtesy of yours truly, not the typical mass of store bought candy. We haven’t done much of that since the boys were small. We usually get experience tickets for the kids. We won’t be doing that right now, so how are we going to make it fun? I have no idea. Egg hunt? Maybe. Decorate a bit? Definitely. We’ll try to keep it festive without being over the top. If you know me, you know that this is my struggle. Wish me luck.

Plan your Post Quarantine Vacation.

When we all bust outta here, we are going to have to go somewhere. At least for a few days. But many of us could be in dire straits, financially speaking. If you can budget in travel, keep it reasonable. Now is not the time to book a 2 week trip to Bora Bora. (Unless you can afford it… Lucky.) A camping trip, somewhere close. A run to the nearest beach. Whatever makes you feel like you had a break. Plan it now. Don’t set dates yet, just everything else. Pick the spot. Figure out how to pay for it.. Plan what to take, wear, etc. As soon as travel is possible book your trip and go. It will give you something to look forward to, and work on, instead of feeling trapped you will feel anticipation, and excitement. It could make a huge difference.

I hope these ideas helped you out, even a little. If you have great ideas to help people through this quarantine, we would love to hear them. Feel free to leave them in the comments or on instagram. Thanks for reading!

Suddenly…they’re home. Survival Tips from a Mom of 4 Who Schools at Home.

I can imagine the shock that parents are feeling right now, knowing that the weight of their children’s education, temporarily, lies on their own shoulders, in the midst of this

I can imagine the shock that parents are feeling right now, knowing that the weight of their children’s education, temporarily, lies on their own shoulders, in the midst of this quarantine. I am in a state of disbelief myself that they closed schools, and we don’t even use them. I’ve just never imagined something like this happening in my life time, and I’m sure that many are feeling the same. So, now that you are responsible for all of this, how are you going to survive your kids being home with you all day? How will you get them to do their work, from home? How will you get anything else done? I remember too well the feeling, myself. “What am I doing? I’m not a teacher. I don’t know how to do this. My kids barely even listen to me. I must have lost my mind.”

I lived in fear of waking up, one day, to a closet full of checkered prairie dresses and denim clad robot like children tossing seed to chickens in the backyard. We didn’t have a backyard then. We do now, and also a few chickens, but the children have grown into amazing, free thinking, well mannered, well educated young men, who are an absolute joy to us, and make us proud to be their parents, daily. No robots here.

If you are floundering at the idea of helping your kids learn at home, remember first that you are helping them learn. The bulk of responsibility for their education still falls on them. You will facilitate from the sidelines but it’s still, ultimately, between your child and his/her teacher. Keeping this in mind will take a load off of you, help you stay calm, and make you a better helpmate to your child and his teachers.

Here’s a few tips that may help you survive this quarantine with your beloved kiddos:

Wake Up Before Everybody Else

This is the most important thing you can do for yourself. It is so important to give yourself at least an hour or two in the morning, to drink your coffee, make a list of your goals and plans for the day, work out, eat a good breakfast. Take care of yourself first. This is a non-negotiable, in my house. This is not selfish. It is absolutely necessary to surviving this. Your day will get so hectic. You will need this. Please. Do it.

Get Fully Dressed Every Single Morning.

Yes it can be jeans and a t-shirt. No yoga pants, unless you are actually doing yoga, then yes, of course. Then..get out of them, and into something better. Do not fall into the trap. I’m not saying this to be shallow. Four days of sitting around in yoga pants reading, will have me in a deep depressive state, like nothing else on earth. Again, it’s about self care. Do your hair and makeup (mostly for moms…but, if that’s your thing Dad, you go.) like you are going somewhere. Yes, I know that you are not. That’s the point of a quarantine. Get ready anyway. Take lots of pictures with your kids, the dog, whatever. Play outside in the yard, if you have one. Walk the dog, if you can. Stay as active as this quarantine will allow. Stay out of public though.

Set Very Clear Boundaries At The Outset.

Because you are a parent first, any kid in his/her right mind is going to try to get around you on this school from home deal. You must be clear from the outset that it’s not going to happen. It all begins with this principle: Less talk, more action. Do Not give more than one warning. Do not beg your child to do what he or she is supposed to. One chance. That’s it. I know that this seems counter to my usual free range, democratic, hippie parenting style, but you first have to set up respect…then you can give them freedom. If they are defying you at first, give them loving consequences. No shouting, begging, wheedling, bribing. Just calm, clear appropriate consequences. No extremes. For my kids, this meant losing video game/youtube time, for that day. No gaming with friends online, no making videos with friends…nada. Keep in mind, during this social distancing, it’s their lifeline to the outside world. You should only have to do this once. It works.

Accommodate Your Child’s Learning Style as Much As Possible.

I know, I know, this seems impossible when you have more than one at home. Trust. I know. I had four that I was schooling from home. Take this time to really get to know them. Not who you think they should be, not who the school tells you they are, but them. Who they want to be. Who they are, right this minute. Then help them develop that character. Meet them where they are. Help them feel heard, and seen. What kids want most, is to be approved of. By you. They know more about themselves right now than you ever will. Trust this. Don’t tell them who they are, let them tell you, and go with it. Use this information to help them craft their dream life, not yours. Use fun tools, like board games, with little ones especially, to spend time, and get to know them better, while they are learning new skills. Find their level, and go there. Build with them. Bake with them. Read with them.

Give Them The Why.

When children truly understand the why of education, they become willing participants, as opposed to feeling as though they are being forced to do something that they don’t want to do. This helps to create a harmonious home, which is crucial when you are all together. All. Day. Long. Remind them, often, that they are doing this for their own future gain. Not for you, not for their teacher, but for themselves. Keep their eyes on their own life goals. Many times children feel as though they are just slogging through hours and hours of unnecessary work, for no other reason than somebody told them to. Of course they want to rebel. They need to see the path to their own goals. Add plenty of time for exploration into their day. Help them connect the dots.

Take Plenty of Brain Breaks.

You will all need them. You, more than the kids, if you are, at all, like me. Do some work. Grab a snack. Play a little. Do some more work. You are not at public school. Play by your own rules, as much as possible. Enjoy the freedom of it. Read, in front of them. Make lists. Show your children good learning habits, and good life habits. Lead by example.

Exercise.

Get as much exercise as this quarantine will allow. You are all going to need to blow off steam. Eat healthy, stay active. Exercise indoors. Exercise outdoors, if you have the space at home. Get out in nature, or bring nature indoors. Just stay active and connected.

Get Fresh Air, Often.

If you live out a ways, open your windows, let some cool, fresh air into your home. It’s cleansing. Let the sunlight in. Find some positive. Have a picnic in the backyard. With the kiddos, or by yourself, when you need a break. Try to add little luxuries to each day. For the kids and, for yourself.

Watch For The Up All Night Trap.

As any homeschooling parents learns, right quick, if you give them too much freedom, they will immediately abuse it. You guessed it. By staying up all night long. Doing what, you might ask? Right, again. Playing video games. The bane of every parents existence. Do yourself a favor and have them sign in their devices at night. For the love of all that’s holy, take the devices, after 9:00 p.m. Set clear rules and regulations, around video games from the start, or you will live to regret it. There is not much, more horrible, in this world, than having a full day of schoolwork to complete, with snotty, exhausted, miserable kids, who were up all night gaming with their friends online, while you truly believed that they were sound asleep. Turds. My kids are huge gamers. I can see the educational merit in quite a few video games, truly. We use tons of games for learning. They are a valuable learning tool, when used properly. I am not anti-video game, but they do not replace a solid education. That being said, there are so many great games online to help you through this trying time…which brings me to my next point.

Use Tech. Use Tech. Use tech.

There are so many great companies right now, trying to help parents through this. Get audio books, online. Use Amazon, Internet Archives. Project Gutenberg & Barnes & Noble, for free reading material. Tour Museums, from the comfort of your living room. Use the Smithsonian Websites, College websites, NASA, and the Space Center websites. Get access to as much info, online, as you and your children can absorb. Youtube has tons, and tons, of great fun educational videos. Do STEM/STEAM projects. Think outside the box. You will be amazed at what your children find fascinating and you may even end up learning a bunch, from them.

I hope this list helps you view your quarantine in a better light. I hope, as well, that you will take this unique opportunity to get to really know your children , and enjoy every minute spent with them. The most important thing to remember is your first job is to be a parent, then an educational facilitator, and to remember that this is a temporary assignment, that can turn out to be some of your best memories made, with your children. As mothers, we tend to put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect, with everything. This just isn’t possible. All you can do is keep your goals in the forefront, take plenty of breaks, and keep your expectations of yourself, realistic. Take care of yourselves, and thanks for reading.

Find me on Pinterest & FB@canigetaramen.food.blog. We can be found on Insta@canigetaramen. Feel free to drop me a line in the comments:)

Stuck Indoors? Grow Some Microgreens.

The CDC has recommended that anyone who is over 60, and has certain health factors such as diabetes avoid going out as much as possible in the midst

The CDC has recommended that anyone who is over 60, and has certain health factors such as diabetes avoid going out as much as possible in the midst of this current coronavirus outbreak. My parents fall in this category, and they are not happy about being told to stay indoors. Being very vital individuals, the thought of sitting at home, now that they are retired together, is offensive, and quite frankly cramping their style. My sister and I have been urging them to stock up on medication and food and lay low for a bit until we see how this mess plays out. They are very grudgingly, half-obliging. I’ve been encouraging them to delve into growing some of their own food, for back up, and to learn something new while being stuck at home. Starting with microgreens. Microgreens are easy to grow, and provide up to five times the nutrition of mature greens. That’s an easy way to make sure your nutritional needs are being met, especially if you can’t get to the grocery store. Being diabetic, many of the foods that we use for food storage, are very high in carbohydrates, which is not great when trying to control blood sugar levels. Having access to whole, healthy, low carb foods is crucial to them both. With no idea how long this virus is going to plague us here in the U.S., I feel it’s necessary for them to have a back up plan, where groceries are concerned. Learning to grow some of their own food just makes sense. If you would also like to learn to grow your own microgreens, your going to need to gather up some seeds and containers. Any shallow container will do. You can certainly order all of the trays on amazon, but I just use what I have lying around, for now. When I have turned growing microgreems into a weekly habit, I will probably shell out for the lights, trays and a really cool indoor setup.

But for now…it’s just old milk cartons and a south facing window.

Here I’ve started radish, mustard, and spinach.

Let’s get started. We will start by putting around an inch of dirt in a shallow container, sprinkling your chosen seed liberally, then add a light layer of dirt over top. You should have no more than 1.5-2 inches of dirt when you are done. Then just add water. There are a couple of ways to do this. You can dip your tray in another tray filled with water to water from the bottom up, or your can spray thoroughly with a spray bottle, just make sure to not over water. It’s recommended to mist a couple of times per day. Follow these instructions and you should have beautiful delicious microgreens to add to your smoothies, salads, and sandwiches in a couple of weeks.

Have you experimented with growing microgreens? What are your favorites? Share your ideas in the comments, or on instagram @canigetaramen. I can also be found on FB and Pinterest @ canigetaramen.food.blog.

What the Heck is a Kitchen Consultant?

So many times I have seen people set admirable goals for their health and wellness, start out on a positive track, stick it out for a couple days, or even weeks, then suddenly revert back to the old habits that they were trying to shed to begin with. They, then, continue to start, then stop, over and over, each time feeling as though they are falling further away from their intended goals. Why do you think they struggle so hard to meet their dietary goals? Is it because they just don’t want it enough? No. That’s not it. I’ve seen people who are desperate to transform their lives, lose weight, build muscle and heal themselves from illness, but they just can’t seem to make it last.

They start out striving to eat perfectly, based on the program they choose, thinking if they make just one little mistake it will all come crashing down, and all will be for naught. This extremist mindset sets them up for failure every single time. Then what happens? Their thinking moves from “this was a failure” to “I’m a failure”, sending them spiraling into shame, making them less likely to try again. If they do muster up the courage to give it another go, it’s with a preconceived notion that they will not, actually, succeed. Every time they put themselves through this cycle, they are less likely to succeed in their long term, healthful goals. Have you ever found yourself in this cycle? Maybe you are in this cycle still? There is someone out there who can help you find success.

What your kitchen consultant knows, that you don’t, is that what you need most is a mental shift, designed to alter your relationship with food. Someone who can help you understand where your food comes from, why you need to make healthier choices and what your food is intended to do for you, and for your health. Someone to help connect you to the food that you choose in practical, useful, real world ways.

The most common plea for help I hear goes along these lines “I wish someone would just come to my house and teach me how to do this.” I get it. It’s overwhelming. As always, the key to success is preparation and planning. Not everyone knows what that looks like. Or how to apply it to their specific goals.

An organized kitchen is a great place to start. Having the proper tools on hand, and knowing how to use them to simplify the cooking process. Knowing what to cook each day, and how each meal will help you on the path to your current goals. Learning how to organize and use herbs and spices in your kitchen, knowing which ones to purchase next, to prepare delicious, healthy meals that you will look forward to eating. Knowing when and how to splurge a bit and enjoy your life, while still staying true to the plans you have made for your health. Knowing where to purchase fresh, local produce, affordably, while helping your local economy, farmers and entrepreneurs.

A kitchen consultant can help you clearly define these goals, align them with your current experience and mentor you through each process to success. They will actually come to your house and give you the hands on guidance that will help to put you on track to your best life. With my holistic, systems thinking approach, together, we will create intentional goals, and a kitchen space that will support those goals. If you decide to make this investment into your health, we will explore a growth mindset, and help you develop a personalized, winning strategy, designed to meet your specific nutritional needs. If you live in the Western NY area, and think you could benefit from a kitchen consultation feel free to contact me at mdbridge8181@gmail.com.

Take Your Daily Yoga Practice On The Road

I know you. You’ve been working hard, making time for your daily practice on the regular. For months. You get it, girl! You’ve made so much progress.

I know you. You’ve been working hard, making time for your daily practice on the regular. For months. You get it, girl! You’ve made so much progress. You’re finally feeling completely limber, you’re Chaturanga is practically perfect, and you’ve finally nailed your headstand. You’re feeling pretty bad apple, until you look at the calendar and realize it’s almost vacation time again.

Remember that last vacation/camping trip that you took? You may have missed an entire week (or two) of yoga, then, adding in the less than stellar meal choices available, felt sluggish and unhealthy by the time you returned home. And that’s okay. Everyone needs a break now and then, but if you would like to skip the vacation hangover moving forward, then bring along this portable yoga/meditation studio on your next (camping) trip. What you are going to need, first, is a tent that you can stand up in. It doesn’t have to be fancy, mine is just an Ozark Trail Tipi Tent, that we pitch in our yard in the summer, near the firepit, for a shady reading spot.

This inexpensive tent is perfect for an on the go studio.

This tent claims to be for 7 people, but there’s just about enough room in it for two or three people to be comfortable. I just found a small hole in ours, so I am suddenly in the market for a new Tipi style tent, but I haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for yet.

You’re going to need a few things to make it feel like a zen space.

Tapestries, scarfs, (I like Jacquard Pashminas), some cushions, and your yoga mats, are all you really need to make a perfect mobile studio, but there are tons of fun little extras that you can bring, if you have room, of course. The tapestry pictured here is from Amazon, and is ridiculously affordable, so you won’t need to worry about ruining it.

If you love Pashminas too, I bought this one at a market in The Finger Lakes Region, but they can easily be found on Etsy or Amazon. I buy them in many colors so I always have something light to throw on if I’m in yoga pants and need to feel a little more covered up, or I need a swimsuit cover to toss on while on vacation. I also use them to add some appeal to my ugly drapes;)

A fun addition to this space would be these inflatable floor poufs.

These also make a great choice for extra seating outside.

These can be used for meditation cushions, and extra seating.

Be sure to bring along some sage. You can use it to smudge, or keep mosquitos out of your campsite.

Learn more about smudging with this set.

A little Tree of Life statue could be a great addition to your space, bringing a relaxing vibe…

I love these little Yoga Frogs.

Get these cheerful little frogs for your space.

You certainly don’t need all of this, but adding a few fun elements to your yoga space can make your practice more enjoyable.

Finally, you are going to need a great yoga app to take along on your trip. I have used Down Dog for about fifteen months, and I absolutely love it. It gives you the ability to customize your practice daily, depending on your skill level and the amount of time you have to practice. You can even save and download your favorite practices to use offline as well. I hope I’ve given you some ideas on how to stay true to your yoga practice, even while traveling. If you have anything to add, please feel free to leave me a comment. Share pics of your studios on instagram @canigetaramen. Find us on FB and Pinterest @ canigetaramen.food.blog.