Homemade Vitamin Water

We are trying to eat better around here and drinking plenty of water is part of that equation. I always heard 6-8 cups a day so I would always shoot for 6. The website we are using suggests at least 8, that is tough for me but I am trying. Anyway I am excited to try these vitamin water recipes, it is always nice to add some flavor. I saw this as a facebook post originally but wanted to save it so I just copied it here on my blog. I will add updates if I try them and they aren't any good!

1) The classical : lemon/cucumber:
Mix in a pitcher: 10 cups of water + 1 cucumber and a lemon, thinly sliced + 1/4 cup fresh finely chopped basil leaf + 1/3 of finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

2) The granite : Strawberry/Lime or Raspberry/Lime
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 6 strawberries / 0r Raspberries and one thinly sliced lime + 12 finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

3) The digestive : Fennel/citrus
First: infuse 1 to 3 grams of dried and crushed fennel in 150 ml of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Allow to cool.
Mix in a pitcher: 10 cups of water + lemon juice (put the leftover lemon in the mix) + a small thinly sliced orange + 12 fresh chopped mint leaves + the infusion of fennel seeds. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

4) The antiOX : Blackberry/Sage
Note that a part from the berries, sage leafs is the herb that has the highest antioxidant content.
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of blackberries that have been very slightly crushed + 3-4 sage leaves. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

5) WATERmelon : watermelon/Rosemary
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of watermelon cut into cubes + 2 rosemary stems. Leave in refrigerator overnight before serving.

6) The exotic : Pineapple/Mint
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of pineapple cut into cubes + 12 fresh mint leaves finely chopped. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

7) The traditional : Appel/cinnamon
Mix in a pitcher : 10 cups of water + 1 cup of apple cut into cubes + 2 cinnamon sticks + 2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Leave in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Dapper Dudes

There is seriously something I just love about church/dress clothes on little boys. Or maybe it is just my little boys. :) Yesterday before church:

 And this guy went to Nursery officially for the first time. We are looking to good times ahead at church! 

Excitement of a Child

On our way home from the store tonight I stopped to pick up the mail. I noticed a couple of postcards in the mail for the boys as I got it. I got back in the car and told the Silly One there was something for him, he could hardly wait to get home. Once home I showed him the postcard and it was from Grandpa and Grandma who have been in Arizona this week. He loved looking at the picture and when I read the back to him. Tonight when he said his prayer he told Heavenly Father he loved many things and one of them was, "I love my mail!" It was so sweet. I need to remember to "love" and enjoy the simple things. 

Winter Treat

This is one of our new favorite treats - Cookie Dough Cocoa

The original recipe came from Betty Crocker and the only difference is that we didn't use Cookie Crisp cereal, I just bought a cup of those mini Chips Ahoy cookies instead. I also didn't add chocolate chips and it was rich enough without more chocolate. Also I think it would serve 5-6 people in a normal sized mug. We used large ones and it was a lot!

Here is the recipe: 

INGREDIENTS

Cocoa

4 Tbls. butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 pint cookie dough ice cream

5 cups water

Toppings

Whipped cream

Mini chocolate chips

1 cup Cookie Crisp cereal

1. In a 3-quart saucepan or large pot, whisk together butter, brown sugar, and ice cream over medium-high head until melted. Add the water; cook and stir mixture until steaming. 

2. Serve in mugs, topped with whipped cream, mini chocolate chips, and cookie crisp cereal. 

Home Improvements

Anytime I improve a space in my home I definitely see the good in that! I love the little projects and getting what I envisioned done. I think the Smart One just likes to get them done and I like to believe he is pleased with the outcome as well. Remember my Master Bedroom project from last winter? The Smart One gave me some lamps for Christmas to complete the look. I love them!

And then we have the half bath. I started to re-do this room in the fall and just didn't get it finished until this last weekend. I convinced the Smart One that it was ok to paint a small room purple. And yes, the same purple as our headboard. (Aren't I a lucky girl?) When I first did he told me he felt oppressed every time he went in there. 

Before - July 2010

I didn't paint all the walls, just three and then behind the toilet I wanted wallpaper. There still are a couple of things to finish. I am going to frame the mirror and then figure something to put on the wall. Maybe a couple of floating shelves? We'll see, but so far so good. 

After - January 2013: Paint and wallpaper!
I wanted a wallpaper that added some pattern, not really more color. 

Close up of the wallpaper I love!

I have another project in mind, not quite in the works, to use more of the wallpaper. I am excited! I love getting these types of projects finished. 

Welcome 2013!

Here we are with another new year and another new beginning. I enjoy the holidays and have a hard time letting go, putting decorations away, etc. The Smart One even mentioned to me today that he was embarrassed to open the curtains because our Christmas tree is still up. Back to the point, I have learned that goals and projects help me get through the rest of the winter. I have this amazing sister-in-law who posted that she is making her resolutions a bit different this year by having a word of the year. I loved it and started thinking of what my word could be. As I was searching and wondering I remembered a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Dedication of a Lifetime." I reread the talk and came across this:

"There is great strength in being focused on our goals. We have all seen the good fruits of that focus. Yet an intense focus on goals can cause a person to forget the importance of righteous means. When that happens, a commendable steady dedication can be transformed into a dangerous frenzy of excess."

Phew, it is ok that I don't go overboard on my resolutions and the thought of being crazy about it gives me all sorts of anxiety and eye twitching problems. :) But in all seriousness, the part that nailed it for me was this:

"Some people live the gospel with “short, frenzied outbursts of emotion,” followed by long periods of lapse or by performance that is intermittent or sputtering. What we need in living the gospel is “the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”

So because I want to be like my sister-in-law in more ways than one, my word for this year is:

I look at my resolutions from the previous year and I think that being more steady is a good focus for me. So much so that I think I am going to continue some of my past goals. I will post those in a couple of days when I get them nailed down. I did enjoy the bucket list goals we did last year, and in fact we completed all of them! That was a helpful twist on the resolutions for me. 

Have you made your resolutions or goals yet?

Good American People

I know, huge surprise I am posting again after a long time. Not that I haven't found anything good to post about, more that I haven't had much free time. Anyway, I thought I would try to focus on something positive on a day when many may take the alternate route. Yesterday was election day and while many people are happy about the presidential election results there are many that are not. (I happen to be among the later group.) That being said I saw this on facebook and it gave me a different perspective. I still believe in the political system of voting and always striving to make your voice heard and stand up for the values you believe in. But really when all is said and done the Constitution, the document that defines what makes our country special and unique, will be saved by good American people not by Washington. I believe good things can come from Washington but we, the people, have to make sure we do our part and not leave it up to the politicians.  

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to be a dooms-dayer or anything. I just get a little down because I am a very passionate person about almost everything. I believe there is good in all people and hope that God will continue to bless America. So no matter which side you fall on, just remember to stand up for, protect and cherish the freedoms we enjoy each day! 

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessing they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" - Thomas Jefferson