Ch, ch, ch...Chia! (yes, like chia pets

Let me introduce you to... Chia seeds! Chia seeds, friends-friends, Chia seeds!

 Though TINY, these little boogers are PACKED with goodies! Did you know that just ONE tablespoon, you can get 150% of your daily value of omega-3, and 4 grams of fiber?!! That's right, in just ONE tablespooon! They also contain five times the calcium in milk, two time the potassium in bananas, and three times the anti-oxidants in blueberries! 

  Where do they come from? The typically grow in Southern Mexico, and are a part of the Mint family. 

Chia seeds were a main component of both Mayan and Aztec diets and served as the basic survival food of Aztec warriors. It’s been said that a single tablespoon of the seeds could sustain a warrior for 24 hours.  

        You can do pretty much anything with them- put them in salads or in a protein shake, I use the Arbonne protein powder. It's vegan, it's chocolate (also comes in vanilla), and it tastes darn good! 

Now, here comes the goofy bit-if you add Chia seeds to a liquid, they will become kind of Tapioca-like in texture. If you are a texture sensitive person, mixing them in a drink may not be the route for you! However, don't be afraid to just eat them plain! They are about the size of a poppy seed, and taste kind of like a sesame seed-kind of nutty! 

But when it comes to managing appetite, chia seeds—which have a mild, nutty flavor—are true superstars. The reason? When added to water, within minutes chia forms a gel (tapioca like!). In the stomach, this gel slows the body’s process of converting carbs to sugar. Because of the way they form a gel, the seeds also produce a feeling of fullness in the stomach, so those who eat the seeds soon feel less hungry

             Need to know where to get them? I got mine in the bulk aisle at Whole Foods-LOVE that place! You can also get them Here . A friend of mine also uses chia powder! She also found it Here - she uses it as a flour substitute in things like muffins and bread! If your kids are like my oldest, you have to be a bit sneaky with certain things. If he sees one speck of pepper-he pushes half of the dish aside-where did that kid come from?! Anyway, you can also just half the flour-and replace with the chia powder, GENIUS! When I get the recipe, I will share it! 

The next morning...

Ok, here it is-the long awaited morning after picture-ha, just kidding. I forgot to mention in the previous post, that I have rosacea-around my "t-zone." The mask doesn't do much for the rosacea, although it does seem to calm it a bit.

Without further adieu: 

Significantly less red, still a bit splotchy-BUT not too bad after only one use! 

Keep an eye out for my next post-I am going to tell you a bit about Chia seeds!

You are what you eat...

Pure, Safe, and Beneficial

That's Arbonne's motto! 

I don't put anything on my face, or the rest of my skin for that matter, other than Arbonne. Arbonne's products are botanically based-meaning made from plants and other things from the ground! 

 I've learned over the course of the year, that for lack of better words, you are what you eat. 

    What I eat will show on my face-lots of sugar? BOOM, break out! Lots of water, and little sugar? Nice, even skin-you get the idea. 

  Stepping off soap box

So- the past few days I haven't been eating well, and haven't had enough water. I thought I would be brave and post a few pictures of my skin before, and a few after I've used Arbonne's  FC5 Deep Cleansing mask. This mask, I tell ya is awesome! It goes on so smooth, it doesn't freeze your face in place, and it also rinses off easily. 

 When I have a few problem spots, I dab a little of the mask on-and then the next day-gone. It's like magic :) 

 I can't say enough about this product---so i'll just leave it up to the pictures!

Before the mask, problem areas: Forehead, chin, cheeks, nose-the whole enchilada!  

Right after applying the mask

Before rinsing off the mask

Tomorrow I will post a picture of how my skin looks! I also put Arbonne's FC5 Intense Hydrating mask on afterwards, and I also prep my face for the night (eye cream, and night cream). 

Find these Products Here

Cheers!

I can't wait until I can see this everyday! I love when Tj wears his uniform! I have been around the military my entire life. My grandparents served in WWII, and they both made the Army their career. My dad was also in the Army, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Now here I am, married to an Air Force man. I am so thankful to him for what he is doing for our country, for our family, and also for himself. I know that he loves his job, I know he loves helping people-"giving them bandaids" as Nolan likes to say. 

I am also super excited that I might not have as much laundry to do-thank goodness for that! 

Peace and quiet...laundry!

Ahhhhh... Nice and quiet! Tj is working a 12 tonight, so I am having a great time eating bon bons and lounging on the couch....

HA!

I think I have a couple loads of laundry left to do, then I am finished-at least for today. Good Lord, I think i've probably done 5 or 6. I have no idea how we manage to  accumulate so much laundry! 

 In other news, I took the kids to Home Depot today-we picked out a few paint swatches for the new house. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! I have for sure picked out the color for one of the bathrooms, it is called Beckoning Sea. 

 I thought that I had picked a color for Ava's bedroom, but as i'm researching more about the colors, they are turning out to be different than I thought. So, back to the drawing board! :) 

  

Friendship

Ever since I was young, I can remember always being a very eager to please person. I always wanted everyone to be my friend, and I would do almost anything to keep them. Even the ones that treated me terribly...

           As i've grown older, I have realized that, unfortunately you go through a few cycles of friends. First, when you get married, when you have children; and then of course when you move a couple times. You find out very quickly who will keep in touch and who won't. 

 I have a handful of friends in my arsenal, that I know that I can call on for anything. Each one of them has helped me grow into who I am, and who I want to be. 

         I have also realized that it's the little things that count the most-it may sound cliche'-but whether it's a note in the mail saying hello, or gift card for a coffee, or the fact that you can stay on the phone for hours. Sometimes, not even talking to one another; almost like you were in the same room, what a comfort that is. 

       Over the last two years, I have learned a lot about myself and about my relationship with my husband. Since we have been off base, I haven't had a lot of friends-whether that means the friends you can run to for a cup of sugar, or someone to tell your secrets to. 

  I have learned that my husband is truly one of my best friends, I never saw him as such before. Which is where some of our problems started. I have learned to lean on him more, to trust that even if I don't have anyone else around, he is just what I need. I love having him around, now that's not to say we get irritated with one another. It would be too artificial if we didn't! :) 

   I think one of the reasons I want to live off base at our next duty station, is because I enjoy our time together. I enjoy when he comes home, we all hang out together-we don't have people around constantly. I know that it is going to be a bit different when we move, and I want it to be. I want us to have people around, but I also want us to still be around one another; enjoying each others' company. 

      My beautiful, kind friend Sarah posted a video on her blog the other day. It was about God, and how He is always there for us. No matter what. If you are away from Him for a time, decided to come back-He is there. No questions asked. 
                I was very apprehensive about going to church with Tj when we got married. He is Catholic, and I was raised in the Methodist church. Everything, and I mean everything was different. It was the fear of the unknown-but once I was allowed to see for myself, and make my own decisions-I realized that I needed God in my life. 
          I am so thankful to Him for strengthening my marriage, my love for my children, and of course my beautiful friends. 

                I have been trying to pray at nighttime before bed. I used to find it difficult to pray-we never used to pray growing up, at least before bed. I always wondered, how do you pray? Is it ok to ask for help on an exam? To make you a better mom, cook, wife? Is it selfish to ask for things for yourself? Even if it's money, maybe going down a few pant sizes? 

 I've always felt a bit uneasy speaking to God-but each time I find it easier and easier. 

  All of my friends believe in God, and know God. My relationship is growing with Him, and with my beautiful group of friends, I think it will only grow stronger. 

 I love you all, I am thankful for you all-I pray for you all every night. I thank God for you every night. For making me a better person, for making me believe in myself. I can only hope that I am as good of a friend to you, as you are to me. 

Love,

Sam