Organic Gluten Free Maple Glazed Granola

Oh yes, this granola tastes as amazing as the name sounds! Hey, who says you can't have treats and be healthy? We enjoyed this as a bedtime snack over a little unsweetened almond milk. Oh baby. 

Gluten-Free Maple Glazed Granola

(Please try and use all organic and as local of ingredients as possible for optimal nutrition)  

3 cups gluten free oats

1/2 cup chopped nuts and seeds (any you like, I used pecans and sesame seeds) 

3/4 cup unsweetened coconut (I used coconut flakes, but shreds would work as well)

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup pure grade B maple syrup 

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix oats, nuts and seeds and coconut together. In a separate bowl melt coconut oil until liquified, add syrup, cinnamon, and salt and whisk together until mixed. Add the wet ingredients to the oat mixture and spread onto a large glass baking pan.  

Bake for 10 minutes, then flip mixture over as good as you can. Bake another 10 minutes and flip again. Bake for another 5 minutes and take out of oven to let cool. Once cool store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. 

Nutritional Benefits 

•oats-contain a certain type of fiber which helps lower cholesterol. Antioxidant compounds unique to oats, called avenanthramides, help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol and reduces your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke

•pecans-excellent source of lowering cholesterol and provides a great source of omega 3 fatty acids crucial for helping to regulate heart rhythms. High in protein, fiber, and vital minerals for optimal health

•coconut oil-because coconut oils properties and benefits are so astonishing; here is a link to a fellow blogger who has wrote an excellent article on why you want coconut oil to be apart of your every day diet:  http://wellnessmama.com/2072/benefits-of-coconut-oil/

•maple syrup-this God made sweetner is so delicious and when used in moderation provides some crucial vitamins and minerals. It is high in antioxidants helping to combat inflammation throughout the body as well as cancer damaging free radicals. This awesome food also contains compounds that inhibit enzymes associated with type 2 diabetes. 

•cinnamon-the best cinnamon to use is Ceylon cinnamon; it is cinnamon in its purest form. It has many health benefits but the biggest one is it's ability to help regulate blood sugar. 

 

2 quick and easy salads||Taco Salad and Refrigerator Salad

 

This mostly raw taco salad is the easiest, quickest meal, I think, there is. It is packed full of vitamins and immune boosting foods to keep your body running at peak performance.

This recipe feeds 2 adults and can easily be doubled or tripled depending on your family size 

Kaseys Taco Salad

(As always, try and buy organic and local as possible for optimum nutritional benefit)

3 cups of greens (this is a good way to throw in whatever you have. In the photo above there is spinach, Swiss chard, arugula, and massages kale<---more on that later)

1 cup of crushed sprouted corn chips (if you at on the GAPS diet or are corn sensitive, the corn chips can be subsided for organic, GMO free bean chips for similar taste and crunch)

1/2 cup of raw shredded cheese (I used raw jalapeño cheese here)

jalapeños to taste

salsa to taste

guacamole (for a quick guacamole I mashed up 1 avocado, sprinkle of salt and pepper, 2 garlic cloves minced, Nd a squeeze of lemon juice) 

Put all of the ingredients in a bowl, and ENJOY! 

What is great about this recipe, besides the convenient factor and nutritional content, is this recipe can be added to suit your needs. I often times throw in shredded chicken or ground seasons lamb, you can omit the dairy and add nutritional yeast for a true vegan meal.  The options are limitless! 

Nutritional benefits:

•greens-full of essential vitamins, protein, antioxidants for immune and cancer protection, also it is a low carb, low calorie food which aids in weight loss. 

•raw cheese-one of the few foods that has a perfect balance between omega 3 and omega 6 essential fats. Also high in calcium and protein for bone protection

•salsa-picking a salsa with no sugar is crucial. When you do this you have a super healthy condiment loaded with vitamins and minerals, antioxidant protection, high in vitamin C and fiber to keep your vowels regular!

•guacamole-although avocados are naturally high in fat, it's a good fat that we all need for optimal brain function, not to mention avocados are high in vitamin K which helps your body absorb calcium. The garlic found in guacamole is proven to be stronger than some antibiotics at fighting off certain infections and food poisoning from common food contaminants.  It also helps boost your immune system.

Refrigerator salad means you empty your fridge to make a healthy, YUMMY salad. I love doing this for lunch or as a side with dinner. 

This recipe below feeds 1, so it can easily be doubled or tripled. I used what I had in my fridge but it can be easily adapted with what you have in yours! I love adding hard boiled eggs, any type of fruit, or cold shredded chicken. 

Refrigerator Salad 

(As always, try and buy organic and local as possible for optimum nutritional benefit)

2 cups of raw greens

2 shredded baby raw carrots or 1 shredded large raw carrot

2 tbls of shredded raw cheese

1/4 cup of cold cooked peas with a dash of pink Himalayan sea salt

Fermented pepperonchis to taste 

2 tbls raw hemp seeds

1 tbls raisins 

Sprinkle of sesame seeds

Dressing of choice (I used Mama Jeans Homemade ranch, just enough for a little flavor) 

Put all ingredients in a bowl, and ENJOY! 

Nutritional benefits:

•greens-full of essential vitamins, protein, antioxidants for immune and cancer protection, also it is a low carb, low calorie food which aids in weight loss. 

•carrots-we all know they are good for our eyes but they also provide so much more! A new 10 year study just out says that carrots decrease your cardiovascular risk!! They also have antioxidants and phytonutrients which can shrink tumor cells and decrease your cancer risk, as well as eliminate free radicals in the body. Wow! 

•raw cheese-one of the few foods that has a perfect balance between omega 3 and omega 6 essential fats. Also high in calcium and protein for bone protection

•peas-peas can be a problem for glutamate sensitive food, but otherwise they are a powerhouse of vitamins. Despite their startchy nature, the benefits greatly outweigh their minor natural sugar content. They have a phytonutrient that can actually help with damaged cells causing stomach cancer! They also are a low fat food, but providing a substantial amount of the essential omega 3, most if us are missing from our diet. 

•fermented foods-they help keep our gut balance in check, fighting off the bad bacteria while keeping and enhancing the good bacteria in our digestive system-they should be eating multiple times a day. 

•hemp seeds-high protein food containing all nine of the essential amino acids.  It also has high amounts of fatty acids and fiber as well as containing vitamin E and trace minerals. It has a balanced ratio of omega 3 to 6 fats as well.

•raisins-they are a high energy, low fat food. They do have a high natural sugar content but eating sparingly, the antioxident benefits outweigh the sugar. They also contain fiber for maintaining proper digestion. 

You've got cancer... But God didn't know what He was doing

I pray I never hear "you've got cancer".  But there are too many people that do and it's so heavy on my heart I'm about to scream!

According to the CDC, 7.6 million people die from the dreaded "C" word and it's only expected for that number to increase every year.  It is estimated by the time my young boys are adults that 1 in 2 people will have cancer. Which means one of my two boys will be diagnosed with cancer. 

When is enough, enough? I've had it, personally. I'm sick of seeing young kids never having a chance at life.  I'm sick of an elderly person who could have lived 10, 20, even 30 more years be taken to the grave way to soon. 

Unfortunatly, cancer is just the tip of the iceberg. We have people dying from cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and way too many man-made diseases to even list.

Death. We shiver at the word but when you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ it's a glorious reunion.  When you are a believer in the Father, son and Holy Spirit you are promised to spend eternity in Heaven; death is just a homecoming to your permanent home.  Your forever house. However, God does not intend for us to die young with PREVENTABLE, man made diseases. He means for us to live a long, abundant life fulfilling HIS glorious purpose for us using our gifts. He does NOT intend for us to suffer while our families sit in sorrow and disbelief of losing a loved one so soon.

God gives us instructions in the Bible, His Living Word, on how to live a long life. He gives us guidance on what food we should eat, to the way to cleanse ourselves mind, body and soul.  He instructs us on how to be joyous and give life to our bones. He promises no harm, only His riches and blessings. 

The enemy has other plans. And he comes as an angel of light making it hard for even believers to distinguish his evilness from goodness. But we have the Holy Spirit to help us discern that and if you are walking with Jesus every day, giving him your entire life, you have that wisdom that can only come from The Lord. 

His word says, "My people perish for a lack of knowledge." Did you get that? MY people. That means, the ones who are following Him, the good ole country boy, that precious baby girl, HIS people are perishing because they lack knowledge. 

Blame the enemy, disguised as man. 

•God made food so our bodies can function to its highest capapbility, giving life.  God made foods without genetically modified organisms, without chemicals and pesticides, and without being made in a factory. 

Man made food so our bodies fail, depleting and changing our very DNA, giving death. Man made genetically altered food, smothered on cancer causing chemicals and pesticides, and foods made in factories which actually is not food at all. So instead of having ALL of our food being organic and grown the way nature intended, we are stuck with paying outrageous prices just to find food that's grown and sourced organically, Gods way.  

But God didn't know what He was doing.

•God made our bodies to fight off bacteria, viruses, and disease. He made our immune system to work perfectly to keep our body healthy, killing the bad stuff around us and keeping the good stuff.

Man decided that when God made our immune system it wasn't good enough and man decided to make vaccinations in an effort to "boost our immune system" and provide "immunity" to our bodies. All the while man put known carcinogens, poisons, and bacteria and viruses grown on and from other animals in those vaccinations and called it helpful. (Let's keep in mind that the vaccination industry is a multi BILLION dollar industry)<----but nah, that doesn't affect anything, right? 

But God didn't know what He was doing.

•God made good germs to help fight bad germs, keeping a perfect balance on and around us. 

Man decided that all germs were bad and built an industry based on the fear of germs. It's called antibacterial-which wipes away 99.9 percent of ALL germs leaving our bodies out of whack. No wonder we can't fight off the bad guys, we've wiped the good guys away by the fear that if we don't disinfect and antibacterial everything we aren't clean enough. 

But God didn't know what He was doing. 

•God made our bodies to move. To flourish with activity by working hard, getting off the couch, and enjoying LIFE and nature.

Man has put it into our minds that in order to be healthy we need a structured gym and quick dieting program because who has time to work out and lose weight the way God intended.

But God didn't know what He was doing.  

•God desires us to have a harmonious, peaceful life; knowing we will face trials, stressors and hardships but can overcome those with promises from His word. He desires us to be pure in mind, keeping our thoughts on things that are Holy. He desires us to forgive others and love all people. 

Man desires for us to be stressed out so we can get a quick dose of an anti-depressant from the pharmaceutical company. (Which, again, is a multi BILLION dollar industry). Man desires us to be lustful, full of rage, anger, bitterness, dishonesty and hate because there's always a pill for that. And if we didn't crave sinful things our entertainment industry would be out of business. 

But God didn't know what He was doing. 

•God provided nature to heal us when we DO face sickness. He provided herbs, food and minerals to help us heal when our immune systems were burdened from environmental toxins and pollutants. 

Man made prescription drugs, eliminating herbs, food and minerals as way of healing because those can't be patented and marketed for sale. These prescription drugs have numerous side effects and most haven't been studied for long term effects. (Which we know by now the pharmaceutical company is a multi BILLION dollar industry)

But God didn't know what He was doing

The thing is, I'm pretty sure God did know what He was doing.

This isn't an argument on how to live your life. Praise The Lord we have the freedom to choose that. But my heart is bursting at the seams and I can't hold it in anymore. I choose to live the way God intended. I'm soaking in the knowledge from His word and basking in the wisdom imparted from the Holy Spirit. 

If I followed mans way, one of my precious boys will have cancer. 

And my boys aren't about to be a CDC statistic. 

I choose Gods way. Which way will you choose? 

(This list isn't exhaustive and certainly doesn't mean if you choose mans way you will get cancer or any other disease. I'm just putting in writing what the Holy Spirit has placed on my heart to open eyes that have been deceived by the enemy and man)

{Scripture references}

"For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from The Lord." -Proverbs 8:35

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." -Proverbs 14:30

"The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." 

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." -Proverbs 15:13

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." -Proverbs 15:30

"For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." -2 Corinthians 5:10

" I am greatly encourganed; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds." -2 Corinthians 7:4

Represent Yo State

I'm a HUGE fan of mom and pop shops. Supporting the local economy is super important to me as well as supporting small businesses all over the nation. 

So let me introduce you to States of Mind Clothing Co. http://statesofmindclothing.com/collections/missouri

They are a small company originating in Arkansas. Their slogan is "A humor infused and vintage inspired clothing company that encompasses all of your States of Mind" 

They offer wholesale clothing to small boutiques and are in big box stores like Dillards, but you can also purchase online or through their Facebook page. 

So for my outfit of the day, which includes...

Wait for it...

Packing.  I paired velvet wide-leg lounge paints, a teal green, black and white houndstooth States of Mind slouchy tee, fleece lined winter Toms, and of course my glasses so I can label my boxes correctly. Lol 

For the next 7 days I conclude my outfits will be inspired by comfort and flexibility and less about fashion. We officially load up our rented box truck on the 16th and hit the road with our whole house behind us on wheels on the 17th. 

Needless to say, I'm overwhelmed and my OCD doesn't fare well with a dysfunctional living space and unorganized messes. 

And as much as I want to say, "but it's only for a time and everything will be sparkly and clean soon" I don't really feel like being chipper today. {sighhhhh}

So for today, I'm wallowing in self-pity in my cute, small business bought outfit and dreaming of Ikea simplicity. 

That is all.

Buy local.

Buy small business. 

Represent yo state. 

Meet my friend Jen Hatmaker

Well she's not really my friend. She doesn't even know me. She's an author, speaker and pastor from Texas. 

But she won my BFF status after I read her book Seven last spring. It changed my life. She changed my life. So ya. We are friends. 

She posted this article http://www.sentralizedconference.com/#!What-Counts-with-Jen-Hatmaker/cr7x/61DDDE23-4A87-4D9C-8825-9D2C9457EDFC. 

Please, take 2 minutes and read it. 

Her perspective of life is inspiring. Her humorous interpretation of reality will help you find your child-like soul. 

If she hasn't become your friend yet, she will soon. 

Read Seven. Read this article.

Sometimes when you have no strength...

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. (Proverbs 10:25 NLT)

Sometimes when you have no words. 

Sometimes when you have no direction.

Sometimes when you have no strength.

Sometimes when you have no path.

You cling to the One who does.

Then everything else doesn't matter.

Everything else falls into place.

And everything make sense.

You then have words.

You have direction.

You have strength.

And you have a path.

You see, life isn't supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be full of trials. Because with trials come perseverance. And when you have persevered you see the blessing. 

How can your life be a testimony if you figure everything out on your own? How can your life be one of courage if you never faced any fears? 

We need Him. 

Stay on the course.

Don't lose hope.

PERSEVERE!

A blessing awaits. 

Mans diets don't work-but Gods diet does.

Diets fail 100% of the time, every time. 

Why? Because once you stop the diet and go back to eating the way you were before, you gain the weight back and all of the westernized mentality is feeding your soul. 

Deprivation of anything, whether it be food, sleep, money, or time, is never successful and actually can cause more damage in the long run. Just like not getting enough sleep night after night-it doesn't immediately cause dangerous affects but after a few night of no sleep or very little sleep you can have all sorts of problems; from cognitive to mental. 

The same exact principal holds true with dieting. By depriving your body of vital nutrients you are causing your body to go into starvation mode. What happens when your body goes into starvation mode:

    "First your body will go into starvation mode. When this happens your metabolism starts to slowly shut down. You make your body think that it may not get food for a while so it will fight to keep every calorie and ounce of fat. It is basically like a protection mechanism which aids our survival. It would be beneficial if we were stranded out in the middle of nowhere and didn’t know when our next meal would come.

Secondly, after a period of starvation, most of us will crack. When we crack under severe hunger we tend to gorge. It’s pretty much uncontrollable so you really don’t ever want to get to that point. You shouldn’t ever have to.

Thirdly, gorging on a huge meal after your body is in starvation mode will cause the calories to be processed differently than normal. If your body is running on a slower metabolism and trying to cherish every calorie, the food that you throw at it all of a sudden will be stored as well. Guess what comes next? Yup, more body fat.

When you starve yourself you tend to just end up eating more at the end of the day anyways. The only difference is that your body will have a slow metabolism when you do eventually eat." (Source steadystrength.com) 

Dieting puts unreasonable boundaries on our mind, body and soul. Instead of desiring to be healthier and protecting our bodies by feeding it nourishing, life-giving food so we can live out the will of God, we fall for any quick fix just to shed a few pounds. Losing weight, if you are overweight, is a great goal, but this shouldn't be our main desire. We should want to become healthier mind, body and soul to have an abundant life. 

Friends, this is SO simple to do. By eating FULL fats, organic grass fed meats, fresh seasonal produce, and limiting grains and sugar and staying away from processed foods, you are giving your body the chance to thrive the way God intended. In return you will be more successful in your business because of your clarity of mind, you will have more energy for your family, and most of all you can LIVE out your life's purpose in a fulfilling way. 

I want to see you succeed and falling for a low fat, sugar free, gluten free, Atkins, South Beach, Jenny Craig, etc. diet, isn't the way to do it! 

Follow me and my journey. I promise to give you healthy meals, recipes, shopping lists, and plenty of tips and tricks to see your body, mind and soul thrive! 

Messy is not okay, perfect is not okay

I'm frustrated. 

Which makes me write. Your welcome. (Or not.)

Here's the deal. There's so many blog posts going around about starting 2014 off being "real" woman and moms: showing their messy bunned selfies (which is fully acceptable btw), unmade beds, dirty dishes piled in the sink, and unkept kids. I get it. I really do. Instead of being perfect, striving for that magazine picturedesque house or that flawless bouffant hair and Mary Kayed make up face selfie picture, we are trying to be REAL and let others know we aren't perfect. Because let's face it, we aren't. 

But there's a  problem with this mentality.

Let's read what the Bible has to say about how we, as women, should strive to live:

"A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: “Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all!” Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of- God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises! (Proverbs 31:10-31 MSG)

I mean, the Proverbs 31 woman seems perfect. I can promise you she's not, but she DOES have a handle on her home, her business, her children, her attitude, and most importantly her relationship with The Lord. She doesn't have to be perfect but she does have strength to live her days out well with help from The Lord. 

Girls, I am the last person that should be writing this. I have days where my husband comes home to a yoga clothed, picked pimpled face, messy bunned lady.  Oh la la. Not. But that is exactly WHY I'm writing this. Because instead of having this REAL messy, unorganized life is okay mentality, let's come together and encourage each other to become Proverbs 31 woman.

Most of all, let's sweep the nation with women who fear The Lord. Be a woman your husband is proud of. Be a woman who feed her family well so they can live out a long life for The Lord. Organize your life, plan your days, get up early and have time with The Lord...live a life of intentional purpose where we are growing every day striving for perfection, knowing we will never get there, but with help from The Lord we can prosper.

 

I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman; somewhere in the middle of messy and perfect. Because I want others to look at me and think, "Wow, how does she do it?" And I can say, "Only with help from Jesus, do you know Him?" 

Rainbow Meal (easy and healthy)

Want an easy meal? Ready in less than 30 minutes, seriously delicious and full of healthy food? 

I present to you...

Rainbow Meal 

Tuna and veggie patties, bacon creamed collard greens, and carrot, beet, apple raw salad. 

Bacon creamed collard green

10 oz collard greens

3 slices bacon chopped

1/2 onion chopped 

3/4 cup raw milk (or milk alternative)

2 tbls sprouted flour or buckwheat flour 

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper  

Coconut oil

Preheat oven to 325. Heat 2 tbls coconut oil in large pan on medium heat. When the oil is hot, add your onions and bacon. Let brown, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add collard greens, flour, paprika, salt and pepper and stir while collard greens become soft and wilt. Add milk and scrape the bottom of the pan to get the yummy drippings incorporated into your recipe let cook for 3 more minutes. Put in 8X8 glass oven safe dish and cook for 15 minutes. 

While the collard greens are cooking....

Prepare your tuna cakes.

Tuna and veggie patties

1 large egg

2 tablespoons sour cream

½ teaspoon Soy sauce 

½ teaspoon smoke paprika 

1/8 teaspoon salt

Other half of your chopped onion

1/2 bunch Swiss chard or other green of choice

2 cans wild caught no mercury tuna, drained

1 piece sprouted or sourdough bread (I always save the heals or end pieces of a loaf and freeze for using for breadcrumbs. To thaw just stick in microwave for 20 seconds) 

Coconut oil for frying 

Combine the egg, sour cream, soy suace, smoked paprika , salt, onion, and greens in blender and blend until combined. Add the tuna and piece of bread and blend until all chunks of bread are gone. 

Cover and refrigerate while you prepare next dish.

Carrot, beet, and apple raw salad

1 apple peeled and cored

1 beet peeled

5 baby carrots 

2 tbls shaved or shredded unsweetened coconut 

1/2 lemon

2 tbls hemp seeds 

In salad bowl shred apple, beet and carrots. Put in coconut and drizzle with lemon juice. Stir together and top with hemp seeds. Put in refrigerator and let combine until other food is done. 

Back to the tuna cakes...take out of mixture out of fridge and heat oil in a large non-stick skillet or a large griddle set over medium heat. Once oil is hot and shimmers (just below the smoking point), carefully place the patties one at a time in the pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook patties until they are golden brown on the first side, about 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip cakes and fry on other side until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Remove the patties from the oil once they are golden brown on each side. This made 6 palm sized patties. 

At this point your collard greens should be done. Take raw salad out of fridge and serve all the meal! So yummy and so healthy for you. 

Here's just some of the amazing nutritional information on why this meal rocks:

•tuna-has what's called selenium which is an antioxidant known for having healing properties, tuna also is great for cardiovascular strength specifically for atrial fribulation (AF)

•collard greens-cancer fighting and cholesterol lowering

•raw beets-antioxidant, helps tumors shrink, detoxifying and immune support

•coconut oil-helps reduce risk of Alzheimer's, immune support, heart health, also supports thyroid and metabolism 

Heal your cavities!!!

Do you have cavities, gum disease, or tooth decay? Did you know there's a way to HEAL and PREVENT tooth problems from ever occurring?

There is and it starts with your diet. Imagine that. 

We all know that white sugar is bad for not only our teeth but our bodies, but there are other foods that do equally as much damage. The biggest culprit is white, processed flours made into bread, pasta, donuts and pastries along with the over consumption of natural sugars such as fruit and honey. (Fruit and honey in moderation are excellent and health promoting however) 

The book Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel (who implements the Weston Price  protocol from years of extensive research) has been a tooth saver for our family. By eating the HomeGrown Plan way and implementing some of the suggestions from the book, we have stopped decay and reversed some problem spots. 

Some things you need to know about healing teeth naturally is:

•avoid processed foods

•no soda 

•use a clay based toothpaste 

•NEVER consume fluoride-even in your toothpaste 

•use organic pasture butter only 

•take a daily probiotic (because all good health starts in the gut)

•no sugar and use natural sugars sparingly 

•take a daily omega 3 supplement along with a daily whole foods organic multi vitamin

•use only raw dairy 

•make sure you are not magnesium deficient (you need enough magnesium in your body to absorb the calcium from your diet. Due to our depleted soils I recommend you take a magnesium supplement as 90% of Americans are magnesium deficient) 

•do all of the above PLUS eating the HomeGrown Plan way. 

If you have a problem spot already on your tooth you can apply collodial silver straight to the tooth-it is a natural anti-biotic which can heal any infection in, under or around the tooth until you can heal your cavity from the inside out. 

If you must get dental care, choose a naturopathic dentist who can help you implement dietary changes for healing your teeth. 

Who knew you have natural teeth healing capabilities at your fingertips?! 

What is the American Dream?

What is the "American Dream"? Is it how big of a house you own (or are in debt in), how many cars you drive, how many Facebook friends you have, how high up you are at a company? Or a culmination of a lot of things? (Not that all of these things are bad. If God blesses you with provision, praise Him!)

God has really been opening up my eyes to desire less and less of what our culture defines as success. My amazing husband has always had a yearning for a simple, debt free life; but its taken this gals soul a few years to get there.

But I'm there. I desire less. I want to be debt free, without a mortgage or student loans. I want to have the freedom to put our money towards the present and a little towards the future, but always remembering our wealth on earth is gone in an instant. The money of today will be gone tomorrow. Our treasures lie in the investment of advancing the Gospel not in the investment of our retirement which may or may not come.

The Bible is flowing with scripture on where and how to store you treasures.

“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Luke 12:33, 34 MSG)

“If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.” (Matthew 19:21 MSG)

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG)

A miser in a hurry to get rich doesn’t know that he’ll end up broke. (Proverbs 28:22 MSG)

Although at 20 if you asked me at 30 what my "American Dream" is, the answer would have been to own a house with a family.

At 27 my answer is I desire a debt free, simple life where I can focus on sharing the Gospel with my children, raising my children to fear The Lord, to love unconditionally, and show grace in all circumstances. 

My prayer today is that as we are striving towards obedience on the call God has placed on our hearts, that he gives us the desires of our hearts. That we flourish in His love and grace. But most of all we can advance His kingdom by living a simple life focused on His glory. Amen.

Kid approved Green "ice cream" Smoothie

Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat their greens? Maybe you yourself have trouble. 

Smoothies are an absolute excellent, delicious way of getting your daily amount of greens. You should have fresh, raw greens with every meal. In reality, that would look like a heaping dinner sized plate full every day. For most of us, myself included, eating salads gets boring and mundane. 

To provide your body with optimal nutrition, getting a variety of raw greens is ideal. Some great options are spinach, kale, collard greens, sprouts, dandelion greens, Swiss chard, and so many more! 

Another benefit of smoothies is you can easily add Superfoods for extra nutritional benefit. I recommend you try and incorporate 1 or more superfoods with each meal. 

This recipe provides enough for 2 large smoothies or 4 small ones. 

Creamy Green Smoothie

(Use all organic and locally sources when possible for optimal nutrition and less chemicals) 

1/2 bunch of Swiss chard

2 large handfuls spinach 

2 frozen bananas

1 cup of frozen pineapple

2 tbs baoab fruit powder (superfood)

2 tbs sprouted chia seeds (superfood)

1 cup of coconut water

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

Combine all in blender and blend until a creamy, smooth consistency. Enjoy! 

My kids love this one! They call it their "green ice cream drink". It really does have an ice cream flavor. 

Nutritional benefits:

•swiss chard-blood sugar regulator, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. 

•spinach-good source of protein, anti-inflammatory, and cancer reducer

•banana-high potassium fruit providing energy! Because of its high potassium content it's great for cardiovascular support, kidney health, eye support and digestive support. 

•pineapple-provides a natural sweetness to smoothies. On top of its sweet flavor it has anti-inflammatory properties and digestive support, high source of vitamin C providing beneficial immune support and also providing heightened eye function

•baoab fruit powder-3 times amount of vitamin C as an orange and one of the latest superfoods in helping to regulate blood sugar

•chia seeds-great source of protein with little to no fat. Helps cardiovascular function, fights against cancer cells and provides a beneficial amount of omega-3s.

•coconut water is great to use in smoothies because it is like a natural Gatorade by helping regulate electrolyte function. Plus combining it with pineapple gives your smoothie a tropical flavor  

The nitty gritty and a sample menu plan

I will be sharing a sample menu of 6 days worth of dinner meals. However, before I do that I want to share some vital information on my history of nutrition and my philosophy on eating the way we do.

I am not a doctor or nutritionist and have never been to school for any food related degree. I only offer advice based on personal information that has helped our family thrive, hours of research, wisdom imparted from The Lord on eating the way He created our bodies to process food, and information provided by my medical naturopathic doctor. 

I believe our bodies were designed to process food closest to their whole state. I do believe we need animal protein to function well and I am not an advocate for vegetarians, vegans, or raw diets. (Or any diets in general.) I AM for changing a westernized way of eating to a healthy way by fueling the body with nutrient RICH food. I believe calorie counting isn't a resourceful tool on eating healthy and shouldn't be recorded. I also believe eating organic, non-GMO food is crucial for healthy eating, including fats, properly prepared grains, grass fed, local (when possible) meats, full fat raw dairy, fermented foods, filtered water, raw and cooked vegetables, fruit in moderation, organic coffee in moderation and soaked and sprouted nuts and legumes. I follow a 70% vegetable to 30% protein rule. The biggest thing I must mention is that life shouldn't be about rules and worrying about a strict diet. It should be about enjoying what you are eating and knowing that the food you are fueling your body with is helping you to live a long, abundant life! Taking a day off from cooking, partaking in a meal with friends, or indulging in a special birthday dessert is okay and should be enjoyed! Stressing about eating perfect 100% of the time does more damage to your body by raising cortisol levels than actually eating that piece of cheesecake for a special treat! So enjoy life, food, friends and family and know that because 90% of the time you eat a great diet, the other 10% you will be just fine indulging. :) 

Now that the nitty gritty is over, here is a sample menu of 6 dinners:

Monday-

BBQ Hawaiian chicken taquitos

Mexican salad

Guacamole

Tuesday-

Brown rice pasta with Italian chicken sausage and shredded mozzarella 

Spinach and garlic salad 

Italian roasted green beans 

Wednesday-

BBQ chicken sandwiches with creamy honey coleslaw  

Warm garlic infused Brussels sprouts  

Thursday-

Baked steak 

Baked Sweet potatoes with honey butter 

Balsamic mozzarella and raisin salad 

Friday-

Spinach Pizza-dillas 

Roasted cheesy cauliflower  

Crunchy bacon and ranch salad with roasted red peppers  

Saturday-

Tuna cakes over sautéed spinach 

Mozzarella, tomato and basil balsamic salad 

•keep in mind, no matter what plan you choose you will get a customized menu plan, recipes for each meal, shopping list for each week, an important note for each meal of WHY you are eating is health promoting and doing your body good, and also access to our exclusive Facebook page full of recipes, tips and tricks, and misc. healthy topics of living an abundant life! 

•all of these meals take less than 30 minutes of hands on time to prepare. 

•some of these meals will have enough ingredients left to use in next weeks meals

•Sundays are a great day to rest from cooking and enjoy the weeks leftovers or go out to eat as a special treat 

The next post will have the breakdown of each member level and how to join today to start living a life of abundant health! I do hope you'll take a leap of faith and become a member. I've prayed for you; I'm ready to see you succeed my friend! God is sweeping the nation with his wisdom and He needs people like you to honor Him by eating the way He made you too! It's never too late to become healthy from the inside out!