FeelGoodFoodie Fan Page

Well, now that TheFeelGoodFoodie blog is up and running, I've set up a Feel Good Foodie fan page. Just "like" the page and you'll receive notifications and updates on the blog directly on your news feed!

Also, on TheFeelGoodFoodie blog: you can subscribe to receive emails whenever I post something new to the site! Just go to thefeelgoodfoodie.wordpress.com; go to the right sidebar; click on the "subscribe to this blog"link, enter your email address and Voila! You will be sent an email every time I have a new post! That way you don't have to compulsively check the site to see if there's anything new! 

I'm hoping to have 1,000 page views by 11pm next Friday night! Won't that be exciting?! (So far we're at 150 page views in 24 hours...not too shabby) 

*Now, I know I said I was going to quit Facebook. That's still the case. However, IF by September The Feel Good Foodie fan page has at least 100 people (100 *likes*), I will simply switch all my attention over to that (remove my personal profile) and keep posting blog/food related links and info via Facebook. However, if September rolls around and I don't have 100 "likes"...then I'll just shut both pages down (personal AND blog related) and stick to the original plan. Phew, branding oneself is time consuming! **

So, for all those Facebook lovers out there who think I'm crazy to give up FB and don't want to see me go...just "like" The Feel Good Foodie page and I'll stick around. (Oh, and tell your friends and family about the new blog AND the FB page...I'd really love the support!) 

I have a feeling this is going to become something truly amazing! (or maybe I'm delusional...at least I dream big).  I feel a fire burning inside me (maybe I need a Tums?)!

TheFeelGoodFoodie is up and running!

My food blog has arrived! Finally!

Here is the link: http://thefeelgoodfoodie.wordpress.com

Go there, explore, give me feedback! 

Personally, I think it's fabulous.

Feel free to share this link with anyone you feel might enjoy the site as well. 

Oh happy day!

Exhausted

Man, I am so tired.

It's been a rough couple of nights with Josie's sleep-patterns (teething + growth spurt = one cranky JBird) PLUS I have been working 8-10 hours a day on the food blog (4 hours during nap times, then 4 hours once she goes to sleep at night). I should look into endorsements or something so I can get paid for all my overtime. Ha!

Last night I put JBird down to bed around 7:30 and it wasn't until after midnight that she actually fell into a deep sleep. Awesome, right?

I am so excited about the food blog. It looks Awe-some! I did a little photo shoot today in the backyard. I felt 100% awkward and was really thankful that none of our neighbors were outside. I felt like I needed someone there to shout verbs at me (Smile! Pose! Laugh! Frolic! Wink! Jump! Vogue! Stop Crossing Your Arms and Looking Over Your Shoulder! This Isn't a 1990's Sitcom!)...and maybe a large fan blowing my hair in all sorts of ways.

But on a positive note: Mom and Addison (and Lexie) will be arriving Sunday evening! It'll be so great having them here for a week! Yay!

Blogger vs. Wordpress

I am currently debating whether to stick with Blogger for the Feel Good Foodie blog; or if I should switch to Wordpress.

I've set up the food blog with both sites; so when it launches there will be a Blogger AND Wordpress Feel Good Foodie blog. This is extremely complicated, but I'm hoping to get feedback from readers on which they prefer. (or maybe I'll disregard everyone's feedback and just do what I want to do...that sounds more like me).

I love the ease of Blogger; but I love the "professional" look of Wordpress.

I set up my Wordpress page last night, and was beyond confused and frustrated with it. Yet, this morning I found it to be much easier to navigate and figure out. It's pretty darn snazzy looking too.

I will be posting BOTH links on this site in a few days. I'll let you all be the judge of what stays (now, don't you just feel so special).

The Feel Good Foodie

I am currently in the process of setting up my food blog. I've been working on the "idea" of a food blog since April; however, it's only been in the past few weeks that I've actually had a chance put it all together. 

As of right now, The Feel Good Foodie should be up and running by the end of next week. The blog is designed to promote not just healthy eating, but conscious eating as well. What's "conscious eating" you ask? It means being aware of what you're eating; not only what you're eating, but where it comes from as well. It's amazing how quickly your eating habits change once you actually start thinking about what you're putting in your body. If you read a label, and can't pronounce an ingredient (or don't know what the heck it is) then don't eat it. Simple.

In the blog, I will be sharing recipes, photos, links, stories and knowledge.

Now for some really exciting news: I will be collaborating with my good friend: Chef Damien Sutton, head chef at Lampy's Mediterranean Grill in Endicott, NY. He will be giving an "insider's perspective" from a restaurant's kitchen; giving tips and advice on cooking, as well as sharing some delicious gourmet recipes! It'll definitely be a great perspective to have!

My mantra for this site is: life's too short to eat garbage. Seriously, food is awesome and delicious; and should be enjoyed (not just consumed). I believe that food should taste good AND be good for you; in turn making you feel good all around. 

I'm hoping this blog will inspire you. Who knows, it might just change the way you think about food as well. 

Check back for updates and a link!

Father's Day 2011

To celebrate Tim's first official Father's Day, we packed up JBird and headed to Cabela's in Richfield, WI (what more could a Dad ask for?!). We wandered around for awhile, grabbed some tasty Bison Burgers at their little "Cafe" and bought a new Coleman camp stove (and a pound of fudge)!  We spent the rest of our day hanging out at home; grilling up brats and taking family photos! I love mellow holidays spent relaxing and enjoying the company of my little family. I think we might make the trip to Cabela's a fun Father's Day tradition.

Or maybe next year we'll go on a Father's Day camping trip.

Or maybe we'll sleep in until noon, and spend the rest of the day eating bacon and chocolate. 

Whatever we do, it'll be awesome (and low-key) because it'll be spent with the man that made me a mama; Tim of Thee. 

We Love You Daddy Bear!

I should mention that yesterday was the first time using our remote with the camera's timer...and I had a really hard time remembering to "hide" my hand after pressing the remote. The first 10 shots or so I'm literally pointing directly at the lens with the remote...Da-Doi!

despite the fact that it was Father's Day, I decided to sneak a few shots of me and JBird

instead of saying "cheese" Josie likes to say "fromage"...she's quite cultured

it may appear to be "sweet" that Josie is cupping my face, but 3 seconds later she was angrily clawing at my chin. 

Mommy and JBird

I totally stole my friend Riley's idea for a Father's Day gift. Here's one of the shots where Josie is holding a "D"; to spell out "D A D"

JBird is quite a lucky little girl to have such an awesome Daddy! (and who am I kidding; I'm lucky to have such an awesome husband!)

To buy or not to buy? That is the question

Next month, we will have been in Madison for 6 months. Time sure does fly. That also means that our lease will be up in another 6 months.

We've begun to ask ourselves what our game plan is when that time comes. Should we renew our lease for another year? Should we look into moving into a different rental? Should we take the plunge and buy a house? (the last one scares the crap out of me...but it looks like that may be our best option)

We really like where we are living currently. The neighborhood is nice. Our landlord is a really great guy. We have enough space to fit the 3 of us comfortably. Yet, it's not ours. I feel like as long as we're living in a rental, there will always be unpacked boxes lurking in various rooms. Photos will never get hung on the walls. There will always be "unorganized chaos" because we're just so accustomed to moving (what's the point of truly settling anywhere when you know you'll just have to repack in a year or two). In the past 3 years, we've moved 6 times. I'm sick of moving. 

We know we're going to be staying in Madison (hopefully indefinitely...but absolutely for another 5 years). Do we want to keep renting for another 2-3 years, or do we want to start putting our money into something that will be *ours*? Our mentality: If we know we want to do it, and are financially set up enough to go through with it..then why wait another year (or two)?

We've started teaching ourselves about the home buying process (mortgage jargon, learning about buyers agents, various fees to expect, etc). To be honest, it's really not nearly as scary and overwhelming as I once thought it to be. Yes, it's a big financial investment but anything involving large sums of money is always scary and stressful (that's why we're educating ourselves now...way before we even begin the pre-approval process). 

Our lease is up at the end of February; at which point we're planning on having a decent downpayment saved up and sitting in the bank (that is if nothing horrible happens in the next 6 months and we have to dip into that). We're also going to look into the possibility of doing a month-to-month lease or even signing a 3 month lease; if nothing comes to fruition by the beginning of next year.

It's a big step, but it's an exciting one (and the next logical step). I'm sure some people think we're crazy for wanting to buy a house after only being in Madison for 5 months...but I've been called far worse things then crazy ;).

Pretty much the last "uncharted" frontier of adulthood. Suburbia-Ho! (suburbs?! bet you didn't guess that!)

**I should also mention that a big push towards buying a house next year is that we are hoping to be pregnant again by next April; which means a January (2013) baby. I really don't want to move with an infant who's only a few weeks old and a 2 year old toddler...in the middle of winter....in Wisconsin. So, that puts us in the position to either buy next year, or in 2014. Do we really want to wait that long? Sure, the longer we wait the bigger our downpayment will be; but that also means that we'll continue living like gypsies for the next 2.5 years. I'm tired of being a gypsy.

Badass Dads

I love Moms. They are warm and nurturing and smell pretty. Nothing can take the place of a Mom.

But Dads... Dads are awesome. Dads are funny and irreverent. Dads are tough and strong. Dads are a wealth of (sometimes useless) knowledge. Dads build stuff (they don't just hire someone to build stuff). Dads are hard-workers. Dads won't take crap from anyone; but let YOU get away with murder (or give you anything you ask for). Dads are softies; big, masculine softies. Dads are cool and collected; but don't push their buttons.

In my opinion: all Great Dads should have all of those qualities. Especially any Dad who has daughters.

My Dad is all of those things. He's the original American Badass. Tom Foster has zero "classic-dorky Dad" qualities (with the exception of some 80's/90's fashion choices). Even his laugh is cool (totally sounds like Ernie from Sesame Street); it has a name: The Tommy Gun. What's more badass then that?

All dads should be as awesome as mine (seriously, it should be mandatory). Hands down, The Greatest.

Every girl should have a strong father figure in her life (and have an underlying fear of seeing him absolutely livid). I can't imagine ever seeing my dad enraged; but the thought of it terrifies me. Tina Fey was 100% right: "The key to raising an achievement-oriented, drug-free, obedient, virgin adult: Strong Father Figure/Fear Therof". So true.

I think all the badass dads should round up all the deadbeat dads and kick their asses. But that's just me.

I fear for this new skinny-jean clad, Bieber hair, ironic T-shirt wearing, generation of young men out there. Sorry boys, but you've got some big shoes to fill someday when you're a daddy. You best man up;  learn how to grow a stellar beard and figure out what a chainsaw looks like. The last thing this world needs is a shortage of badass dads. Let's hope they're not a dying breed.

So, if you have a totally badass dad and think he's the greatest dad ever...you should call him up and tell him so.

*I wrote this post this morning; but wasn't planning on posting it until Sunday. I just couldn't wait that long. Great dads deserve shout outs (that day).

Mokki Balls!

What in the world is a Mokki Ball? It's a little slice of heaven; that's what it is!

I was first introduced to Mokki Balls at a Holistic Mom's Network meeting. They are like a "no-bake cookie" of the raw/unprocessed variety. After eating what seemed like 10, I was hooked...and needed more. I actually bought the HMN cookbook almost primarily for this recipe (but there are a lot of truly great things in there; so the purchase was well worth it).

The recipe is out of the "Many Paths, One Journey to Health"  cookbook; put out by the Holistic Mom's Network. The recipe was submitted by Lisa Rooney of the Chicago Western Suburbs, IL chapter (Way to go Lisa!). The original recipe is good: (also known as Rooney Snuggle Bugs' "Gone Before You Know It" Mokki Balls)

1 c. raw nut butter

1/2 c. raw agave

1/3 c. raw cacao or carob chips 

1/2 c. ground flax

1 c. raw oatmeal

But I've tweaked it to perfection (in my opinion):

1/2 c. All Natural No-Stir Roasted Almond Butter (I'm a big fan of Maranatha brand)

1/2 c. All Natural No-Stir Roasted Peanut Butter (same goes for the peanut butter)

1/2 c. honey

1/3 c. 60% cacao chocolate chips

1/4 c.  natural cocoa powdered

1/2 c. powdered ground flax

1 c. old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 c. ground almonds (for rolling)

Combine ingredients in a large bowl. Using a melon baller (or in my case, an espresso scoop) make walnut sized balls. In a separate bowl, roll formed Mokki Balls in ground almonds until fully coated. Place Mokki Balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and put in the freezer to "set up"; about 30 minutes. Transfer chilled Mokki Balls to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator. 

They literally taste like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups; but without all the guilt! They are definitely not a low calorie snack, but the protein and fiber content (and the fact that there's no partially hydrogenated oils in them) make them WAY better then any store bought peanut butter/chocolate snack. The raw version is very tasty as well, but I only had non-raw products in my pantry; so those are what I used.  

They make a great protein packed snack! I plan on bringing a batch on all our camping trips this summer!

*they do tend to get pretty sticky when NOT chilled...but still really really tasty.

mmm, Mokki goodness

I love technology (always and forever)

Remember how I said I was quitting Facebook? Well, I wasn't joking.

I also wasn't joking when I said I'm going to use my (wasted) Facebook energy and turn it towards the blog. I want to stay connected with everyone and keep people "in the know" with the goings-ons of our life in WI.

I just set up mobile text posting AND email posting. Now, I'll be able to update the blog wherever I am thanks to my iPhone (just like I do now with FB).

Isn't technology amazing?!

I love that people are "inspired" by my (sudden) anti-Facebook lifestyle change.

Facebook has only been around for about 6 years; yet, isn't it funny how we feel like we can't live without it. I joined FB when I was an upcoming freshman in college. It was so nice to have an online community to meet new classmates (using an awesome tool that allowed you to search your classes based on the college you attended), find study partners, get party invites, and post pictures to share with my other *college* friends (I'm sure most of us wouldn't have been so quick to "tag" ourselves if we knew in only a few short years our parents, grandparents, co-workers, students, bosses, etc would be browsing through them).

In fact, when I originally signed up for Facebook you had to use a university email address. No ".edu", no Facebook.

 Then, Facebook became opened up to the rest of the world and things started to go downhill. It's definitely come along way since 2005 but it's also become a bastardization of it's original self. I'm not saying I'll be gone from the world of FB forever, but I would like to go at least 6 months (or a year) without using my account.

I love that it makes it *easy* to stay in touch with everyone; but I don't like how it makes us lazy. Not just physically, but also with our communication skills (and who are we kidding, with our writing skills as well).

I also don't like how Facebook has turned us into a culture of "social voyeurs". We LOVE to know every little thing that our "friends" are up to; don't we? This, of course, leads to us feeling the need to interject our two-cents into everyone else's lives (*just to be clear, this really doesn't happen to me; But I'm tired of reading posts left by others on my friends' walls).

 I think Facebook has made word vomit an accepted social phenomenon. When did it become OK to say every little thing that popped into our heads? Whether it's about ourselves or others? New Motto of the Facebook Generation: No filter? No problem!

Everyone is guilty of "stalking" someone's page; lurking in the shadows of the internet like Creepy McCreepers. I imagine our secret Facebook stalking selves resemble Gollum (because I'm a HUGE nerd). Sometimes, I take a step back and say "WOW! I need to stop acting this way" (because stalking leads to judging, and judging leads to me being a judgmental bitch...and frankly, that's just not a good thing).

Let's not forget the game requests, video posts, links upon links of random "stuff"...and the weird "I just answered a question about you" scam/virus thing. To me, all of this equals obnoxious.

...when did this post become a rant about Facebook?

Reader Challenge: I am leaving Facebook September 1st. At some point this summer go Facebook-Free for an entire week (or 2 or 3). Do it! I triple dog dare 'ya!

Instagram

I am in love with the Instagram app for my iPhone. If you have an iPhone, then you need to get this app. You can do all sorts of awesome things to the photos you take on your phone; then share them via Facebook, Twitter, etc. Plus, you can browse other people's photos (which I always find to be super inspiring and creative). Here are a few of my Instagram photos:


*the top photo is my all time favorite photo that I've taken..ever*

Josie Photo Overload!

Here are some adorable Josie photos that I took in May. I haven't had a chance to post them to the blog until now. Enjoy!

Josie in "The Command Center"

sweet little smile

posing (a threat)

crabby face

goofy face

smirky face

"oh look, a squirrel"

avocado aftermath

*what you can't see is how much is actually up her nose*

Josie's take on "Blue Steel"

Post from my phone

I am currently typing this on my phone to make sure I can successfully update the blog via my phone.

We are currently watching YO Gabba Gabba!. Luckily, it's almost nap time.

Addict

These days, I've found that I have an unhealthy addiction. No, it's not to chocolate, Nutella, or wedge sandals (you know, the usual suspects). No, my current addiction is Facebook; and I hate it.

It's true that for years now I've been addicted to Facebook but I'm finally admitting I have a problem (the first step in recovery, right?).

I hate how much time it sucks from my life. I hate that I check it so often (for really NO reason, other then it's something to do). I hate that in the evenings Tim and I both sit on our phones and browse through the *boring and meaningless* (to us) updates of the day. I hate that it's the first thing I do when I wake up. I hate that I feel like I NEED to keep my account; so people can stay updated on our lives (even though the whole point of this blog was to keep people updated..I'm just really bad at posting). I hate that Facebook has made us all so voyeuristic.

My goal is to get up the courage to kick this addiction once and for all. I'm contemplating disabling my Facebook account by the end of the year. Even typing that makes me cringe (and then I cringe again at the fact that I cringed at the thought of quitting Facebook).

I thought about taking "baby steps" and trying to not use my account for a month BUT (like those cookies in the cupboard) if it's there I know I'll obsess over it. "Just one look won't kill me" or "I can turn  it off whenever I want". Long story short, don't trust me in a room alone with a computer.

Now for some feedback: Should I just delete it? Should I keep it? Could YOU quit Facebook? What's the square root of 42589?