Hey Laura, What...?

Whatever it is that you think is too hard because of circumstance X, Y, or Z…get over yourself and go do that thing.

He did.

So can you.

This post is dedicated to a friend of mine who is going through a really rough time right now.

This is for anyone who needs the courage to speak up about what they’re going through and ask for the help that they need to make it through.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

HELP WILL ALWAYS COME.

YOU ARE PRECIOUS. YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE WORTH A RESCUE.

There are a million different flavors of struggles the human race goes through, but it seems as if Depression always seems to tag along - a bonus affliction, if you will.

About 2 years ago, I began listening to someone’s well-meaning but totally off-base critique of my parenting choices, taking things to heart that were simply not true.

This voice was one of legitimately caring concern. But it posed as wisdom when its actual root was fear and misunderstanding. It very, very subtly undermined my confidence and slowly shut my heart down. I lost my footing, became ungrounded, and felt totally adrift.

We do things differently, my little family and I. And not many people get us. I allowed someone’s ignorance of our Way misguide and nearly derail me. It was a close call. We all suffered for it and are all healing from it now.

I’m actually in therapy for this. A...

I promised you a picture of the Bahn Mi Style Noodle Bowl of Delight, and here it is!

This is a modification of the recipe linked above. I used raw spinach, garlicky sauteed green beans (which I’d made for our lunch earlier today), shredded raw carrot, sliced raw bell pepper, and green onions for our veggies - just the stuff I needed to use up in the bottom of the veg drawer of my fridge.

It took about 15 minutes to put together - I just prepped veggies and tempeh as the noodles were boiling!

Do your tastebuds a favor and make this soon!

My family’s latest obsession is this simple meal of utter deliciousness.

If you’ve ever enjoyed a Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwich, imagine this as the noodley, salady, vegetarian version of it.

Here’s the sandwich version I made once. Looks yummy, huh?

Here’s a picture of the Bowl version:

To make the Bahn Mi Bowl, here’s what you’ll need:

Noodles
Enough noodles (udon are best, spaghetti will work in a pinch; rice noodles work great for a gluten-free option) for the people you’re feeding.
Boil, rinse, drain, and set aside. You can stir a little sesame and olive oils in if you want, to keep them from sticking.

Meat
Tempeh, or meat if you are so inclined.
Marinate in soy sauce and pan...

A friend introduced me to the magic of artisan roasted single-origin cocoa beans, and I’m totally hooked.

I’m not a coffee drinker, but I often like a hot drink that isn’t tea.

Crio Brü is most akin to coffee. You can’t go in expecting a typical cup of “hot chocolate.” It lacks the thick, creamy mouth feel because it isn’t full of sugar and fat.

My husband likes the soporific effect Crio Brü has on him (I don’t notice it at all, but then I’m not a 2-3 espresso a day junkie!), and I like that it really takes the edge of my late afternoon snack attacks.

If you’re looking for a warming drink that isn’t coffee or tea, but doesn’t have the calories and fat of most other alternatives,...

I am only halfway through this book (I had to return it to the library and am now awaiting my Amazon purchase!), but I wanted to link it up here for my readers.

I haven’t talked too much about my personal parenting journey (that’s something I intend to do more of this year), but suffice it to say, the last 5 years have been rough. Like, “Is something terribly wrong here?” kind of rough.

Of course, something was terribly wrong for the first year (food allergies), and recovering from that first year was rocky, but I kept waiting for things to get easier in subsequent years, and they haven’t really. I’m dealing with new challenges as developmental stages pass, but there hasn’t yet been a...