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Showing posts with label Trader Joes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trader Joes. Show all posts

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Opposing Juice


A few months ago, I realized my family was out of control with juice.  When one of my children was thirsty, juice was being poured instead of water.  When the juice was gone, it was a huge meltdown catastrophe for one particular four year-old who I was concerned about the most.  It wasn't just the cost of juice that had me concerned, but my kid’s health and teeth.  And when I read about arsenic in most juices, I’d had enough.

One day we ran out of juice and that’s when I decided no more.

But my kid's were addicts, so I started out slowly.  I purchased juice boxes and they could have one a day.  My four year-old Reef had a hard time.  Over a few days and then weeks, he learned the new rule and although he tried his best to obtain more juice boxes by climbing into the pantry and sneaking it, he started to understand.

Then, I had an idea.

I started with purified water and steeping several Celestial Seasonings blueberry tea bags and Calli mint tea by Sunrider in a large container.  

Sneaking in the Calli tea was very important to me.  Calli has done wonders for my health; from treating bronchial asthma to reoccurring phenomena, helping with morning sickness from pregnancies past; also weight loss and clear skin.  It detoxifies like nobody's business.  I can't say enough great things about Sunrider Calli tea.

Next, I mixed it a few teaspoons of Stevia; a natural sweetener that is an herb in the Chrysanthemum family which grows wild in parts of Paraguay and Brazil.  Then, I mixed in a packet of Trader Joe’s pomegranate cherry drink mix packets, made with dried hibiscus and black carrots.  
It had the look and rich color of juice and it tasted great.  I called it special juice.

It’s so cute when Eden requests her special juice and my heavy drinker Reef doesn't even know the difference.  
This is Reef on hair gel.

I have it in the fridge at all times.  My kids have been particularly healthy during this horrible flu season.  Even the counselor is hooked because when he drinks it he knows he’s doing something good for his health. 
Linking up to:
Jenny Matlock

Thursday, February 11, 2010

The 14 Days of Valentines or Not



Valentines Day is this weekend. Other then buying and eating Valentines candy, I haven’t even thought about doing anything for Valentines Day.

That is until I ran into a beautiful friend of mine, a friend who’s not married, but she is dating a cute boy.

“I’m doing the 14 days of Valentines with my boyfriend,” she says to me, somewhat giddy.

“What’s the 14 days of Valentines?” I ask.

She smiles and it’s obvious she really likes her cute boy.

“February 1 thru Valentines Day, I do something special for him every day. Last night we snuck into a golf course and went golfing and tonight I’m making sugar cookies and dropping them off at his house.”

Hmm. How interesting, I think.

“So, you do something special for him for 14 days?” I slowly ask, like I’m trying to figure out some difficult formula.

I have a man in my life I love to pieces.

We've been married for 11 years & I have nothing planned for Valentines Day. What is wrong with me? Where has my creative gene gone?

When I was dating, I would have loved to do the 14 days of Valentines. Back then I was the queen of thoughtfulness, so sweet was I, taking time to put on lip gloss and earrings. Today I’m just happy if I’m wearing clean clothes.

Now, I found out about the 14 days of Valentines on February 8th and somehow felt cheated. Then I forgot about it all together. Today is February 11th. Can I do the 3 days of Valentines? Somehow that seems pathetic, doesn’t it?

The counselor loves lots of things.

He loves me.

His children

Jesus

Arizona Highways photography

And dark chocolate

Today I stopped off at Trader Joes and bought every package of dark chocolate available. This should make me feel better, but I still feel like I cheated him somehow.

Maybe if I display the chocolate in some cute basket, or maybe a vase, like a chocolate bouquet.

Hmm!

Maybe I’ll just open the chocolate and eat it myself.

Funny thing is, I always find the counselor gifts. I bring presents home weekly. I find the coolest stuff out thrifting, like XXL name-brand shirts and 38x34 designer jeans, photography books and Phoenix Suns ties, Arizona Wildcat sweatshirts and Nike basketball shorts. I am the queen of giving gifts on non-holidays and non-birthdays. I’m the gift-giver most days, but for Valentines Day I’m a blank. Valentines Day requires a bit more then just picking up something on the go.

I do have a computer and I love to write.

Tonight, I think I’ll stay up late and write the counselor a love letter.

A letter that says I appreciate the way he loves me, that he tells me I’m beautiful every day, how he pretends like I don’t have veracious veins and he gives feedback and encouragement for every novel I start. I love how he makes me and the boys a priority, that he shows us we’re all his #1’s. I love him for making my dreams come true and for making me a better person and for making cute babies with me.

And we’ll read the love letter together and eat dark chocolate. He'll put his hand on my belly and maybe feel his baby move.