Vitamix....where have you been all my life????

I was finally able to purchase a refurbished vitamix blender and am IN LOVE!!!!  I make soups, dips, breads, ice cream (dairy free of course) and the BEST SMOOTHIES EVER!!!!!!!  Seriously! I can throw anything in this blender and it still makes a perfectly smooth, drinkable, frozen smoothie.....EVERYTIME!!  Green smoothies have become a big deal at our house....only to become even more of a staple in 2011!  Like I have mentioned before, I have become a bit relaxed the last two months but a ready to hit the ground running and make 2011 amazing!

Hubby didn't like the smoothies I made with my kitchen aide because they always had little spinach or kale chunks in them.....the vitamix makes everything so silky smooth.....it's fabulous!  I made big sister the best berry "ice cream" with frozen berries and some coconut milk.......she asked for coconut sprinkles and ate it like it was a dessert, yummy!!  The book that comes with the blender has a ton of recipes and the dvd is a great help! I watched it first and then read through the book to get ideas.  Now I just throw in what I have on hand.....haven't had a bad concoction yet ;)

I am forever sold on owning a commercial blender! The more I try to eat raw the more in love with this blender I am!! Make a giant smoothie in the am and head out the door with the kiddos....I can sip on it all morning driving around town.  As tasty as Starbucks, not full of ick and packed full of more nutrients than Starbucks could even dream of.  MMMMMM, getting hungry typing this! Looking forward to my smoothie in the morning :)

PS, if you don't like shopping online Vitamix does demo shows at COSTCO.  Call your local COSTCO to see when a Vitamix rep will be visiting.....super fun! You can also youtube videos of all the wonderful things your Vitamix can do.

Where this journey has brought us....random babbling

Crazy food rules, vegan, snowball of destruction and finally balance and joy in eating.  The last year (specifically the last 6 months) have been crazy when  it comes to food!  In the last year we have gone 100% dairy free and haven't looked back!  We then went to all organic produce and pastured meat/eggs in our home but still made some exceptions while out.  Sometime in May or June I went crazy (and was making myself even crazier) with all sorts of food rules and regulations.....I was taking a ton of information I was reading and just making rules for us without researching further, praying and chatting with the hubby.  A trip to California had me eating whatever was available (but always dairy free) and this forced me to relax......it was a good thing!  I have continued to research, experiment, pray and listen for what God wants our little family to do......it's a process for sure!

2010 is coming to a close and 2011 will be much smoother when it comes to food.  I am finally at a place where I can simply love and enjoy what I am eating.  I am careful to only bring quality foods into our home so whenever I am hungry I can eat whatever I have :)  Between having a baby, breastfeeding and changing how we eat I have lost 60-70lbs this year.....back into jeans I hadn't worn since before  having Stephanie.  This is all icing on the cake when compared to the amazing health benefits we have all experienced!  Major illness has stayed away, sinus infections have been cleared up with my apple cidar vinegar concoction and energy level for this mommy stays high despite being up all hours of the night to take care of kiddos :)  I continue to be amazed at the healing powers of the things God provided for us in nature and the insanity that is the prescription drug industry!  Our bodies are amazing and when fueled with the right things they work so much better.  I had no idea how much my traditional american diet was impacting my body and life until I changed it....wow!  Anytime I get relax and indulge a bit I am quickly reminded as to why that is a bad idea.....I feel like garbage shortly after :/  Great motivation to stay on track though!

So, what do we eat?

• We are still eating all organic foods, pastured meat and no dairy in our home.  I have also started to do limited gluten and seen some benefits with my allergies :) 
• We order a basic share, extra fruit and extra veggie from our co-op (your health source).  Our little family has no trouble devouring this produce in two weeks!  Thanks to my wonderful MIL we will also be enjoying a variety of dehydrated fruits as I become familiar with my new dehydrator :)
• I was vegan for a month and a half....LOVED it! Loved the freedom, loved how I felt....just loved it! Sadly the more research I have done I have decided that being vegan isn't the healthiest choice for me...especially breastfeeding.  I'm eating meat again, not as often as the food guide pyramid says I should ;) I'm eating it often enough to provide little bit with the best quality milk I can....when I am done breastfeeding I will probably try being vegan again.
• Chipoltle, Z Pizza and MooYahs (they have a FABULOUS black bean patty) are our "go to" out to eat places.  We have made some exceptions and QUICKLY pay for those decisions :/  2011 will be the year of NO MORE DRIVE THROUGHS.....I'm very excited! 
• I have to bend a bit.....we will eat at a "forbidden restaurant" if it is for the purpose of fellowship.  I realized all my rules were great for our family, They are great for health, $$ and the way we feel God has called our family to live.  The hubby also helped me understand that these rules don't have to be black and white, end all rules.  If our foster agency has a family night at a local fast food restaurant we should go......despite the "rules" it's breaking.  My food rules need to be flexible, more like guidelines.  This is something I'm working on....I can't help it! I like rules :)
• Our food choices and homeopathic options have been noticed and people are asking me questions....this makes me happy!  Living this way has become such a passion for me and the more I am able to share with people and help them on their own journey to healthier living the happier it makes me!  The drastic measures we have taken in our family aren't for everyone, but every small step helps :)

God has brought so many people into my life to help me keep perspective, share their wisdom and to help me through this crazy journey.  Our family is a zillion times better off than we were a year ago (when at exactly this time I was enjoying a HUGE rare steak after just delivering a baby.....wow how times have changed!!).  I look forward to 2011 and what I will be able to say about our food habits this time next year!