25 random things you didn’t know about me… or maybe you do?! ;)

Hello, everyone!

I hope the week is treatin’ ya, well.  I wanted to switch things up a bit and do something different &  fun for a change! Besides, breaking up the monotony is good from time to time, right?!  Let’s get to it…

Wheeeeee!!!

1. First job: McDonald’s cashier

2.  Graduated High School in 1997

3.  I have an older sister (2 yrs) & a younger bro (3yrs)

4.  fave colors: purple & green

5.  Spelled the word “eleven” wrong in the 3rd grade spelling bee

6. Had my tongue pierced in Venice Beach, Ca before I was 18 took it out at 23. Now, I want to get my nose pierced. Haha!

7. Certified Massage Therapist

8. East of Eden by John Steinbeck — fave book!

9. Gave birth at home twice!! 1st birth was unassisted – 2nd, water birth <3

10. Favorite place in California: Big Sur

11. Rock hound. I collect rocks from places we travel to  – gems & minerals, oh my!

12. Last jobs: Administrative Assistant for a start-up computer Research & Development firm known as “2 Geeks In a Lab” (1 yr.)– prior to that I was a Legal Assistant for a Criminal Defense Attorney.

13. Yoga junkie

14. Tyler and I are high school sweethearts – together as a couple for 8yrs. married 6! Whoa! I just realized that this tidbit fell perfectly into place … 8 + 6 =  14 yrs!!!! <3

15.  Monopoly is the best game ever!

16. Kayaked solo first time out (per instructions direction) in Northern California ocean – scary. as. hell. Most epic adventure of my life. eeeep! In all honesty, I’d do it again but probably not in the ocean – lakes, rivers… calmer waters… LoL!

17.  Fluent in Spanish

18.  Passionately optimistic

19. eco pet peeves – water bottles (prefer reusables); plastic litter in general, & greenwashing!

20. Snowboarding is one of my favorite past times – haven’t gone in a couple years — missin’ it, so!

21. I like to read magazines back to front – not sure why — but it’s the way I’ve always done it.

22. Played piano for many yearssss, quit my freshman yr. of h.s — hoping to take lessons again someday.

23. <3 photography- been snappin’ away since I can remember. 110 film, baby!

24. Had both T & C’s placenta encapsulated & ingested them to help curb PPD (Postpartum Depression), and for many health benefits. This was inspired by Motherlove Herbal Company -- saw blip about placenta encapsulation on their FB page.

25. Secretly want  a Sprinkles cupcake for my birthday! A vegan, Red Velvet one, to be exact … yesssss, pleassseeee!

I enjoyed sharing this with you!

Feelin’ friendly; want to play along? Consider yourself tagged!!

 

Rainy DAYS and Monday’s …. !!

Hello, hello, hello!

It’s me, again.

 I wanted to share some glimpses mostly from over the weekend and a few from last week…

 Our local farmer’s market actually had organic strawberries… they weren’t overly sweet but tasted just like a strawb should.  Already? I know … they’re grown in California, at least.

:: I still can’t get over this ::

For weeks,  I’ve been Oooo & Ahhhing over purchasing a Nikki McClure calendar -

I had the 2011 but missed the chance to get one from the local coffee shop, this year (bought one there last yr).

My cart had 2 items in it – the calendar and the this book. The very same night I had intentions of going through with the purchase…

I found the above book ‘To Market, To Market’ in the “new picture books” section in the children’s section of library.

I was super stoked and could not believe our library had it.

I LOVE it when things work out like that —> strange coincidence?

I think not.

Are you a Nikki McClure fan?

The boys and I went on a “nature walk” last week and this it what they collected:

-itchy bombs, pine cones, pine needles, acorns, rocks, leaves, flowers… etc!

<3 nature and gettin’ outdoors!

The reason I went to the library: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day had come in after special requesting it!!!

A happy baker mama, I am… check your library – I highly recommend the book and technique.

T & C love their hens… Clark is holdin’ Dixie!

Were planning to add a few more chicks to our homestead come Spring!

 Urban Pioneer Explorers meetup!

The Mr. and I have been enjoyin’ some fire time lately on cool evenings after the boys have gone to bed or on our date night.

Something about fire = soothing to the soul.

We called this our gratitude fire… it took awhile to light up without the use of toxic chemicals.

soooooo warm & cozy.

We’ve had the old washer ring since I was a kid – my dad was going to get rid of it one day and I told him I wanted to keep it.

I can remember using the ring on many camping trips.

Maybe, someday, T or C will use it with their wee ones…gotta LOVE it!

 

The local coffee shop we go to has a basket of toys with these animals in it. Whenever we visit the boys always get it and play with the animals. This particular day, the animals were “playing train”!

Too cute!

Climbed to the top of Mt. Laundry and back down again; over the weekend.

My fave workout these days… haha…NOT!!!

– tackled a good amount;  I feel somewhat caught up now.

I should of taken a picture of the white sock mound… poor hubby got stuck foldin’ those.

juiced the majority of our lemons  – some for lemon aide, and  jarred 4 cups of juice in freezer.

Makin’ a mess with flour … let the bread bakin’ frenzy begin… !!!

KOMBUCHA!!

Rehydrating the Scoby — it’s going to be a few weeks before our first batch.

Don’t miss out on the ‘hippie tea’  deets.

YAY!!!

A sneak peek in the fridge- 5 minute bread dough, leeks, beautiful purple cabbage, lemon aide & Misson St. brew!

First homemade loaf of ‘artisan’ style bread using the recipe from the book (pictured above) .

O. M. GEEEeee!

SO  freakin’ delicious & highlight of today -

nothin’ like freshly baked bread with our harvested honey on top …

nom, nom, nom!!

Oh! & I still haven’t mopped the floors nor have I purchased the Nikki McClure calendar yet…

first world problems? I think so.

What have you been up to?

Did you catch today’s Meatless Monday,  post??

Tah-tah for now!!

peace & love

xo

 

 

 

{Meatless Monday} Tempting Tempeh Veggie Bowl

 Hi guys & gals!!!

HAPPY MEATLESS MONDAY!!

How are ya? Hoping y’all had a marvelous weekend. Things around the RYD homefront over the weekend were pretty low key! I managed to get caught up on the laundry and did some more clutter clearing and general cleaning. Ty did some electric work in the kitchen at the ‘new to us’ place which was nice since he didn’t get to do it during the week.  Still makin’ some progress over there and I *still* gotta mop the floors…since the rainy has been around I’ve been putting it off. The boys are away today, so , I’m planning to get it done rain or shine. LOL!

On one of our recent shopping trips I finally decided to pick up a package. I’m always tempted by the stuff and usually just by pass it. I know, I mentioned it before but we  try to avoid plastic packaging and minimize our plastic trash waste, if at all possible. Someday I’ll make tempeh from scratch (on my to-make list & no waste) but I figured we’d give it a go this way first & last week we did just that…

So here we are … tempeh!!!

Tempeh is made from cooked and slightly fermented soybeans and formed into a block patty, similar to a very firm veggie burger. Many brands add other grains, such as barley+ spices & flavors. I picked up the added flax version – there was also plain …!

The package said you could grate, cube, or marinate it and also offered other way tempeh could be enjoyed.

As soon as I saw the words ‘grate’… I went to town…

Sautin’goodness…

{TEMPTING TEMPEH VEGGIE BOWL}

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 package of organic tempeh

1/2 red onion chopped

1 large carrot chopped

1 1/2 cup of soaked brown rice

1 1/2 cup of frozen peas

2 fresh eggs (optional)

1/2 a head of cabbage chopped

s & p to taste

1/4 cup of namu shoyu

1 tbsp of rice vinegar

pinch of red pepper flakes

Directions:

saute onions, carrot and garlic

add in lil’ bit of sesame & peanut oil; after 2-3 minutes work in two fresh eggs (from our hens)

then add tempeh  & make friends with the carrots, onions, and garlic + egg – season with s& p. Next add in soaked & cooked brown rice;

Stirred everything around in pan on med- high heat then put in frozen peas.

At this point, add in flavoring…s & p + namu shoyu, + a lil’ rice vinegar  and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

It’s a lot like ‘fried rice’ but made with tempeh + cabbage & a wee bit healthier.

I chopped up some cabbage while it was heating up the peas & rice and sayin’ hello to the spices & flavor!

Once things are heated up mix cabbage and tempting tempeh mix together in a bowl.

Eat & EnJOY!

You can try many different variations of this bowl; kick it up with spicy hot sauce, roasted chopped cashews, or maybe even some chopped cilantro. It’s very filling and yummy, no less! The Mr. & my tots ate it right up. This was a good first time tempeh recipe- it was nutty in flavor, had a bit of crunch from cabbage and the rest mesh’s well with the tempeh. Quick and easy.

One bowl was pretty darn satisfying!

What’s your favorite way to eat tempeh?!??

Any yummy recipes to share?

Last nights dinner (pictured below) was  a black bean pita pocket with all the fixin’s…  it was finger lickin’ good – & completely meat free + vegan. The pitas are from our local farmer’s market and made from only water, flour & yeast – no sugar added!

The ‘secret’ sauce is made up of veganaise and organic ketchup & of course some spicy mustard to jazz things up!

Soooo deeeeelish. Mmmm!

What meatless meals have you been enjoyin’?!!?

If you’re a blogger feel free to add your Meatless Monday links below;

if you have a meatless recipe suggestion & would like to see it featured here at RYD, please submit ‘em to

lamamanaturale @ gmail {dot} com

Would love to hear from you.

Do share.

 

Here’s to a great week ahead!!!

peace & love

xo

{tidbits of green} edition #14

Hello everyone!

What a great week this has been, so far. I hope it has been just as wonderful, for y’all. Did you get a chance to sign the SOPA petition, yesterday? Thank you for understanding why we went “dark” — as a blogger the issue is serious + near and dear to my heart! Can’t let our rights get taken away — freedom of speech! Say whaaaa??!!

The boys and I had an action packed day filled with friends, family, laughs, and lot’s of dirt!! hahaha! My boys just love playin’ in the sand, mud and whatever other silt like stuff they can get their hands on. Every Thursday, we meet our group (Urban Pioneer Explorers) at the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve, which is where the boys have the opportunity to dig, lay, play, … in the dirt. Today, they brought loads of it home with them. Pockets, boots, hands, hair — sandy/icky! At one point, Tristan was dumping it on Clark’s head.  “Baby C” didn’t really seemed bothered by it; probably because he was too was some pouring it into his girlfriends hood. LOL! Gotta love it!

We spent the better part of the am under the “shade shelter”  while allowed our tots to run around and be free. My days always flow so much nicer after I’ve been able to chit chat with like-minded mamas. It does a the soul some good. I feel really lucky to know such beautiful, talented, free- spirited, & kind mamas/parents – lot’s of goodness, I tell ya.  Sharing the same ideals and belief systems + building community are some of the highlights.  Great friends, beautiful children, lot’s of wonderful minds, exploring nature … so far, so awesome.  We dig it (pun intended)!! hahaha

2012 is shaping up to be a fantastic year. I have a lot to be thankful for already. House remodel, taxes will be done by the end of month (a first in a few years), paying off debt, incredible support, intuitive messages coming to light…I’m definitely feeling some of life’s changes, an inner shifting taking place, and I’m also feeling open to change and opportunity. It’s not always easy to find the love, peace, and harmony in daily life but I try to do my best -and take each new challenge and a time to grow and learn.

Tonight, we went to a district meeting for a new school being built  on our side of town considered to be “school of choice”. As some of you may already know, we’ve been on the unschooling-life learning boat, since T was born . I love the style/concept and have enjoyed watching the experience unfold, thus far. I’ve teared up over it already –  my first born who will be 5 in a few short months could possibly be going to kindergarten by the end of the year. I’m facing the reality of sending him off to school… it seriously seems surreal??!! The ‘ school of choice’ main focus is science and technology and if  T attended he could potentially be part of the future community garden project, recycling program, and participate in any all environmental endeavors that this school is planning to put together.  Lot’s of pro’s & con’s… to consider. The only reason we are even considering this is solely for the fact that the school will be new and will be the only one in the district with the STEM program ( & it was a recommendation). There’s still 29-30 kids per classroom to one teacher ( + aide at times) … aye carumba!!!

The funny thing is, I thought I knew my answer already. When I asked T about school … he said ” does that mean I get to take a backpack and packed lunch?” I  replied “yes, that’s what it means… and it also means …” & the last part went in and out. He lit right up when we mentioned the possibility. T knows what school is… in fact, he’s very familiar with it. He’s tagged along with grandma (my mother) to pick up our niece and nephew from their school since he was about 2  years old (Clark now joins them as well). He also knows some of his friends go to school & many other ways related to this. His interest sure is strong! I’m still taking it all in…we were  the ‘parents’  & not students for the first time, IT totally put things into perspective for us. Boy, the tides have turned. I still have lot’s of brain sorting to do on the topic… but I’ll save it all for another post.  To school or not to school, that is the ???  I’ll definitely be meditating on this one.

Time for some eco linky love!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

LMAO… I’m guilty of a few…Shit New Age Girls Say

Great list of resources Saving Money With Organic Coupons

Love it! FUGMO the anti-GMO mascot

Sign it!! Protect the interwebs… SOPA video

Right on. Moms: Bring Breastfeeding back to Sesame Street

Book available on pre-order –

Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and You Can Too

Yuck! Fast Food Advertising vs. Reality

New flavor Kombucha – Maqui Berry Mint  YUM!  Thanks for the tip off @ecovegangirl & @epicself

Great post! 8 Reasons Never to Buy Another Winter Tomato

:: Giveaways ::

Giveaway & Interview: Aging As a Spiritual Practice

Oh, The Places You’ll Go & Book Giveaway

Win all 3 Earth Mama Angel Baby Lip Balms

That’s all the the links for the week… enJOY!

I hope you have a lovely Friday – till next time.. .

Peace & Love!

xo

{Meatless Monday} Portobello Mushroom Fajitas + ‘Shrooms on Toast

Hiya, greenies!

Hoping y’all had a marvy weekend + fantastic start to your week.

Happy Meatless Monday!!

A week or so ago, I made a meatless recipe using ‘portobellos’, that knocked our socks off.

Twas yummy to the tummy and my boys ate every last bite. They also enjoyed the ‘cauliflower popcorn’  I made as a side dish ;P

I’ve added the ‘portobello fajitas’ recipe to the weekly rotation since having it a few weeks ago. We just so happened to have all the right ingredients and it was a totally thrown together type of meal. Thought of it on a whim.

The perfect substitute for meaty fajita’s is portobello mushrooms!!!!

I love it when meals that would normally have beef, chicken or other meats taste just as GREAT without.

Portobello mushrooms are a wonderful filler here.  Since enjoyin’ the portobello’s fajita style, we’ also like to enjoy them on local bread/ toast!

Sauted portobello mushrooms and  LOTS of onions + wilted curly kale on top = simply delicious!

sooo, sooo good – I tell ya!

& now for the main dish & recipe …

PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM FAJITA’S

Serves 4

{ Ingredients }

all organic

2 large Portobello mushroom caps de stemmed; thinly sliced

1 large red onion- thinly sliced

1 large red bell pepper – sliced

1/2 a  bunch of cilantro – chopped

2-3 cloves garlic chopped

1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 tbsp of grapeseed oil

2 tsps of tamari

1/4 cup of red wine ( we used a local Merlot – balsamic vinegar or red vine vinegar would work also)

corn tortillas

salt & pepper to taste

{ Directions }

Warm pan & heat 1 tbsp of oil  – once oil is warm, add in onion,  and saute’ 2-3 minutes or until onions are tender. Next, add in garlic and red bell pepper, continue to saute’. Once bell pepper has softened add remaining tbsp of oil, then add sliced mushrooms to pan. Pour in liquids : tamari & red wine then add red pepper flakes + dried oregano. Stir mixture then cover for 6-8 minutes until mushrooms have reduced size and become browned. If mixture seems dry  – add a lil’ more wine & tamari.

Heat corn tortillas over stove or warm in oven. Your fajitas are ready – add sautéed portobello mushrooms over corn tortilla & favorite garnish(es)… in this case it was cilantro!

Oh. m. gee!! the flavors went so deliciously together. There was definitely a food party happenin’ in my mouth. LOL

In the past, we’ve grilled, roasted and enjoyed eating portobello mushrooms in other ways  …but this was certainly a ‘fajitas first’; a total keeper, indeed. I’m looking forward to trying out different fajitas variations. Oh, the possibilities. yum!!

We ate a huge portion of roasted cauliflower aka ‘cauliflower popcorn’ alongside our fajitas …

chopped cauliflower + coconut oil + curry + nutritional yeast + garlic powder + s & p

roast in 450 degree oven.

Tonight we had lentil soup with added greens and roasted root veggies… last night we tried tempeh for the first time!

Come back next week and get all the tempeting deets.

Do you participate in Meatless Monday?

What meat free meals are you lovin’ lately?!?!

If you’re a blogger feel free to add your Meatless Monday links below;

if you have a meatless recipe suggestion & would like to see it featured here at RYD, please submit ‘em to

lamamanaturale @ gmail {dot} com

We love comments too!!! 

Till next time.

Peace & Love

xo