For The Love of Blog
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Blogging was something that brought me out of a funk. When I became pregnant with Lucas I was reaching a new point in my mama life. I was feeling like the parts of my past, present and future self were coming together in a beautiful way. I was eating foods that really suited my body, exercising, enjoying my children, in a play, surrounded by amazing women and adoring my husband of then 9 years.
It was that adoring part that brought Lucas.
Even though I wanted a third child I thought the baby would come to us in a different way then me becoming pregnant. Pregnancy makes me very sick and the thought of having two children to care for while pregnant was not something I could talk myself into. Turned out I didn't have to. Here I was, two months pregnant and I couldn't take care of Chloe and Eli, couldn't walk the dog and could barely hold a conversation with my husband. My body was so ill and stressed; my mind was panicked and lonely.
At about 5 months I started to feel better, eat better and move my body for the first time in 3 months. I had spent the winter isolated, alone with my thoughts. I wasn't sure how to start connecting back with friends and even my children. My muscles were like jello and even though I had not eaten much, the food I was eating made me gain a lot of weight. When I was around people I felt panicked, depressed and uncomfortable in my skin.
And so I started to blog. Slowly I started to regain my confidence, swollen belly and all. I love to share my food, my children's life and this little world I live in. There are so many amazing women writing blogs and sharing their little worlds. These women inspire me and give me a sense of community in our shared interests, passions and words! A stay at home mom now can create a business, keep distant family connected with the children and put to use a creative spirit. My kids are even starting to notice the recipes that should be blogged and want to create their own. When I don't know what to cook for dinner I have so many inspirations to choose from in my favorite blogs.
When I was a child I loved to write a report about a trip my family had taken. I would save tokens, postcards, toll receipts and menus. Blogging is a bit like those childhood reports for me. Capturing the day to day and exceptional all together is how we write our family's story.
Chloe singing in the rain.
Eli having a quiet moment with his tea.
Lucas turning into a little boy as my eyes blink for just a moment.
And of course, a really good salad.
1 bunch kale
1 fennel bulb
1/2 beet, grated
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
salt
Dressing
olive oil
apple cider vinegar (raw)
agave or maple syrup
lemon
salt/pepper
Garnish
avacado slices
raw cashews
pesto
Cut the kale off the stems, cut into chiffanade. Put in a bowl with 1/2 tsp olive oil and rub kale until soft. Add sliced fennel and grated beets. To make dressing, whisk ingredients together and pour over salad. Let sit while you make quinoa. Bring two cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup quinoa and a pinch of salt. Cook for 20 minutes, let cool for 15 minutes.
Put it all together, salad in a shallow bowl, top with 1/2 cup quinoa, avacado slices, cashews and a bit of pesto ontop. Serve with some spring time lemonade.