Sweet Treats

One of my biggest concerns whenever starting a new style of eating (which sadly, has been too many times) is what kind of "treats" I would be able to get. I have a HUGE sweet tooth. I need me my treats!

So I was really worried about what kinds of treats are available in any kind of "RAW" diet- luckily, they are plentiful!  My friend Patty emailed me with a link to Likes Veggies & Yoga and the problem was solved!

Averie has some amazing recipes that are vegan, high or all Raw, gluten free, etc.  Then she busts out these totally gluten-full, white sugar, not so good for you (but she explains why in one of her posts) desserts as well, and those look just as yummy!

The desserts I have made so far:

Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip balls.  I have made these seriously a bazillion times. I LOVE them
And she has a whole section of raw vegan "balls." I have made them with cacao nibs and my dairy free soy free choco chips. All were delish
Marshmellow stuffed Rice Krispie Bars.  I used my marshmallows and my chocolate chips, but still used butter, so it wasn't 100% vegan, but they were sooooo so good. Steve's favorite- making it again for him for his upcoming bday :)
Microwave Chocolate Peanut Butter and Oat snack bar. Vegan, and Girls approved :)
Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups. Off the chain
Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars. I think these are my favorite bars I've made (another post on that, later)
Raw Vegan Chia Seed Pudding (you know I love me some chia!)
Raw Vegan Cheese Cake. Not exactly, but close enough for me!
Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse. To DIE for.

To name a few. And I have actually LOST weight eating all those deliciousnesses. (I'm aware that I just made that word up).  Goes to show that good food is good for you, no matter the calories or the fat.  Girlfriend needs to make a cookbook. I'd be the first to buy it!

I've done a bunch of Averie's other recipes as well- I've taken a liking to her blog, and her. Probably because she's in SD and likes yoga and has a little girl and likes photography, so we share a lot of common interests!  But her blog is really easy to get lost in, she's constantly linking up to her old posts and recipes.  Go check her out!

Izzy's point of view

Taken during Jessica's soccer game
LOVE

One of my favorite things....

One of the best parts of soccer and swimming, is that its right down the street.

So we can just walk

I love that

(and Jessica and Izzy LOVE the sit and ride stroller!)

Izzy's swim lessons!

Swim pictures aren't the most exciting, but its still something that is going on at the Post household!

Jess is taking swim lessons Tuesdays and Thursdays with some of her preschool friends

Izzy is taking a mommy me class on Saturday mornings :)

They all look so cute in their suits

My goal is to have Jessica pretty much swimming by next summer (for our trip to the midwest to visit family, where pool parties and trips to the city pool are a big part of the day!) and Izzy at least putting her head under.

After this mommy me course is over, she's going to go to a big girl swim class all by herself! (and other 2 year olds, of course. Just no mommy!) It will be her fall activity while sister is in soccer.  Oy, I sound like such a mom saying that....

I haven't gotten any of Jessica swimming because the lifeguards are total sticklers and won't let me get close until the last day. Then I can take all I want. So everyone will have to wait to see those.

Izzy and I in pool

 Blowing bubbles

 Dunking under water. She wasn't very happy about that....and look at me totally smiling. I'm mean.

 The best part is being popcorn!

 Well, I think the best part for Izzy is getting to eat a snack at the end of class....

Jessica is playing soccer!

Jessica just started her first season of soccer!

I'm so proud of her :)

And I for sure have the potential to become a psycho soccer mom. I was cheering like crazy!

Her team is the Dragonflies (side note: the team didn't get to pick their own names. When I was a kid, that was one of the best parts! Was that just where I lived, or is this a new thing?)

AND her team colors are magenta & black.

How perfect?

 Izzy is her number one cheerleader- if she has enough snacks, of course

 So cute to watch her run around- she actually looks like she knows what she's doing!

This is right before she scored her first goal!

 One of the best parts- half time fruit breaks :)

 LOVE this action shot. Totally crop it close so you could see her expression- priceless! And she didn't even cry, just got back up and kept playing. Atta girl....

 Her and coach

 Scoring her THIRD goal! I know! Considering, in all four years I played soccer that I NEVER scored a goal, I was pretty darn impressed. And proud. Don't matter the fact that the girls have no idea what defense is (oh, she has the ball now? thats cool) and they don't even keep score.....

 And she fell on the dirt right at the end of the game. This led to some tears....

 and a pep-talk from Daddy

And then all was good.

So much fun, I'm loving this soccer thing. Though it is crazy juggling her soccer practices and games, and both girls swim lessons. They're also only four and two- and we want another ???- so its just the begining.....

GF/DF/SF Vegan Pancakes

my pancake recipe is adapted from my Better Homes & Garden cookbook (love this cookbook!)

1 cup gluten free all purpose flour (I use Bob Mill's)

1 tablespoon maple syrup

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 ripe banana (or egg)

1 cup almond milk

2 tablespoons applesauce

(chocolate chips optional, but so so yummy! I use dairy free chocochips. Mmmm)

Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, the wet in another, then mix the two.  Then, put in a pan over medium heat with coconut oil. Flip when the side starts to bubble.

Serve with maple syrup 

Anatomy of a Preschoolers Outfit

Girlfriend is a DIVA
I mean, really?
Where does this sass come from?

because hello kitty rain boots are all the rage in europe right now.....

Dress up tutu outfit

Pink hello kitty rain boots

work it GIRL

4th of July

(oops, just realized that this never posted, nor was the post ever finished. Oh well, the pictures do a good job telling the story....)

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays- mostly because of the fun memories I had spending it with my cousins in Iowa.  

We can't take the girls to Iowa every summer (as much as I would love to!) So I realized I needed to plan something almost as fun to make a tradition when we are home for the 4th.  I organized a bike decorating a parade with a few friends, then we played (and ate!) at a park, then headed over to a friends house to bbq & wait for fireworks.  Izzy & Steve went home early (Izzy was fighting a cold and needed her sleep) but Jess got to stay up late and we walked from our friends house to a park where we could watch the show! 

Its not Iowa, but it was fun! (next year though, we're all about the mid-west for the 4th!)

A few fav pics from the day:

Jess helping me make fruit salad

 mmm, stra

Health and all that jazz

I've been a little frustrated lately
I feel like, through out my entire 20's, I've been constantly counting calories, watching what I eat, working out. I'm tired of it. I want to enjoy food and not be worried about the calories. I want to make healthy choices and take care of my body, of course, but I don't want to feel guilty if I have dessert. Or even if I decide to have seconds. I have worked very hard to lose all the baby weight, but it really feels like I've been constantly counting calories, wondering how many calories I burned in that work out, when will I finally hit my "goal" weight and be able to relax- since Jessica was born. I'm tired of it. So I'm trying something new :)
Making some changes. Along the lines of me being healthy and taking care of myself, so that I'm sure I will be around for my grandbabies and great grandkids, I also want to work on living a life commited to being green and taking care of the planet. So those great grandbabies? So that they can live long, healthy lives to, on a planet not destroying itself.  I am not going to label what I'm doing, just say that I'm making healthier (for myself and the earth) life choices. I am trying to eat a more raw, plant based, vegan diet. I am by no means giving up meat, or animal products, but I believe for the health of myself and of the planet- I really don't need to have animal protein every day. Shoot, even every week. I can get everything I need from plants, and if I commit to eating mostly organic, locally grown produce, I'm helping the planet as well. And from what I've researched, this should also help with my ridiculous sweet cravings (getting enough minerals and vitamins through fruits & veggies) and help me hang out at a place I'm happy with, not having to worry about calories in and out.

I realize this is a total, random change from anything I've blogged before. But I plan on sharing recipes I've tried (and I have found some amazing ones!) and hoping to get some encouragment from any of you out there with similar values.

Wish me luck :)

Camping at the Beach!

For our end-of-the-summer vaca (!!! how did summer go by so fast??!!!)

We went camping again

This time at the beach

And only for one night

It was a quick trip, but oh so much fun!

Izzy & Jess set up "camp" while we set up the tent

 Then we got our suits on and headed to the beach to play in the waves!

The girls busted out their model poses for me

They are destined to be on America's Next Top Model, dontcha think?

 When we got back, Papa & Uncle Chris arrived in time for s'mores and dogs!

(thats the nice part about camping at the beach, its only 20 minutes away so we can have peeps visit us)

(AND help us out by running to the store for pull ups and motrins. Oops, forgot those things.... Thanks Papa for saving the day!)

 Uncle Chris was kind a enough to take some pictures.... of his foot....

 Then we roasted some dogs for dinner

 Izzy took a potty break (and apparently told a scary story)

 LOVE this picture of the girls and my dad. They love their Papa!

 Did I mention that we went camping on our 6 year wedding anniversary?

Exactly where I was hoping we'd be when we got married

(With 2 beautiful children, happy & all that, not necessarily camping on the beach.  But that was a bonus!)

 Best part of camping (in my opinon) S'mores!

 Mmmmm, I love me some roasted marshmallows :)

 Uncle Chris read them a bed time story while we cleaned up after dinner, before he and Papa took off

 The next morning we made a yummy egg taco breakfast, Jessica helped clean up

 We headed to the beach one more time. I swear Izzy had fun. She's just pissed off that she's getting too big for us to carry all the time.  Just LOOK at that drama face!

 This picture I LOVE- set the camera on self timer and we went frolicking in the waves. Hilarious! My feet aren't even touching the ground!

 Came back to camp, had a quick banana party snack, packed up and went home

We were pulling into our driveway by 10:30am. Love how early we get up when camping.....

Steve and I will be going camping with some friends for his 30th bday in early October, but thats probably it for family camping this year.  We had so much fun, hoping the girls did too, and can't wait for next years trips!