Activities, Art and Culture: Homade Books with the Children

The children and I made a book!
I have been wanting to see how well they would follow directions and take interest in a "real project" together, and they did amazing!

We pulled out all the crafting materials to decide what we would use. I did the cover and let them do the inside pages (with a little guidance).

It was so fun! I talked to them about what we were doing, colors and what was happening with our "story". I really recommend doing this with your kid at any age. It makes them think, get creative, you get to see their creativity too.

Practice Positive Living

Health and Fitness: T.O.T.A.L. FITNESS 6 week challenge

T.O.T.A.L. FITNESS Taking Ourselves To Another Level   

Six Week Next Level Body Transformation Challenge  

September 9, 2013 Monday
5003 S La Brea AveLos Angeles, CA 90056
 
this six-week program is giving the winner a spa day at Burke Williams, a in home message with Home Therapy, and a hair treatment with Mahogany Hair Revolution owner Dr. Kari! Expect to lose 4-5 inches off your waist, 12-18 pounds, and possibly win the Fitness Ambassador title (yep, we are giving the person with the best results a total makeover worth $400 and naming them Fitness Ambassador!)

would typically cost you $500-$600 because it includes;

* 6 weeks of awesome fat burning and body toning workouts
* Pre and Post program fitness evaluation
* Customized nutrition plan to follow
* Unlimited motivation and accountability
* AND my "after burn" system so you can burn more fat!

The prize includes;

*A Burke Williams Spa treatment

*In-home message with Home Therapy

*AND hair and scaple treatment by Dr. Kari of Mahogany Hair Revolution

But you're not going to pay anywhere near $500-$600 for this six-week challenge. When you join the program its only $185. That's a savings of over $300!

Reserve your spot call Jeff Williams (323) 218-1052
Or email bodybytotal@gmail.com

P.S. This is for all fitness levels. Even if you've never worked out before, this six-week challenge is for you :) Hurry, the program starts next Tuesday.

My husband personal training service is now 

T.O.T.A.L. FITNESS Taking Ourselves To Another Level

 bodybytotal.com

 Check us out on YELP

I just love how he gives the average Joe that celebrity work out! - the encouragement, tools and safety- even me!

I'm so excited for the new focus of his personal training! Ill show my fore and afters soon!

By the way, I have this picture here  because 1 i adore gabrielle Union, 2 this so looks like it could be one of my husbands clients from the room theyre in to the face shes making! lol! #Workface

 

Practive Positive Living!

Cooking: Oatmeal Yogurt Pancakes with Blackberry Crush The Newlywed Cookbook by Sarah Copeland

I have to get better at taking pictures of the food before I eat it.... but this is the books photo.

I got a new cookbook The Newlywed Cookbook by Sarah Copeland and made the Oatmeal yogurt pancakes with blackberry crush. It was so so so good... I loved it and the kids did too! Recipe below

Ingredients

• BLACKBERRY CRUSH:
• 2 cups/480 ml fresh blackberries
• 1/4 cup/50 g raw or turbinado sugar [MY NOTE; i added a little more... (steph)]

• 1/4 cup/60 ml pure maple syrup, plus more if needed
• [MY NOTE; I added a little butter.. just a little bit...  (steph)]

• PANCAKES:
• 1 2/3 cups/190 g all-purpose/plain flour
• 2/3 cup/55 g old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 heaping tsp baking soda/bicarbonate of soda

• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt or iodized salt
• 1 cup/240 ml Greek yogurt, plus more for garnish
• 1 cup/240 ml whole milk
• 4 tbsp/55 g unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
• 2 large eggs

Directions

To make the Blackberry Crush: Combine the blackberries and sugar in a medium bowl and mash slightly with a fork. Strain the juice into a small pot and reserve the berries. Heat the juice over medium heat and simmer until it is thick, syrupy, and easily coats the back of the spoon, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the maple syrup. Cool slightly, and pour over the berries. Adjust the sweetness with additional maple syrup if needed. Set the syrup aside.

To make the pancakes: Whisk together flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda/bicarbonate of soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, milk, the melted butter, and eggs. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, and whisk in the wet ingredients until well incorporated. The batter should be thick, with little tiny bubbles on the surface.

Heat a cast-iron or nonstick griddle or heavy frying pan over medium heat until a drop of water sizzles when splashed on the pan. Brush the griddle lightly with melted butter. Drop about 1/3 cup/75 ml of batter per pancake onto the hot griddle, leaving about 1 in/2.5 cm or so between pancakes. When bubbles form around the edges of the batter, gently lift and flip the pancakes with a flexible spatula. Cook on the other side until the pancakes are golden brown around the edges, about 2 minutes.

Steph

Practice Positive Living

Monthly Boxes: The Honest Co.

        

So I subscribed to Honest Co, a baby and toddler personal care/ health line by Jessica Alba, and so far I love the Infant and Toddler Multivitamin Powder. I also tried the diapers, wipes and a sample of the hand wash, hair & body wash, hair conditioner, body lotion and healing balm.

I like the Infant and Toddler Multivitamin Powder because it boasts;
Pure & Unadulterated. HONESTLY FREE of commonly found binders, fillers, allergens, synthetic additives, pesticides & contaminants

Healthy Probiotics. Made with a unique blend of 500 million live bacteria cultures clinically proven to support a strong immune system & healthy digestion 

Real Food Based. Filled with 22 essential vitamins & minerals from 31 organic fruit & veggies, in addition to key antioxidants, superfoods, amino acids & more 

Key Nutrients. Optimal balance of Vitamin D, Vitamin A, folic acid & iron to support brain function & promote healthy growth & development 

Doctor Formulated & Recommended. Developed by a team of experts, beginning with only the purest, nourishing ingredients, and crafted in small batches to ensure the highest quality product

In that order!

Since having my first child I have gotten very serious about health and in addition to feeding my kid (now kids) organic, not genetically modified, local foods. This mulyi-powder is the cherry on top! I feel so good when I know I am giving them good wholesome and real food!

Steph

Practice Positive Living

My Style: I love designing

I have been drawing for years now and never made one piece of clothing. This year I made it a New Years Resolution to start creating some of my designs. So far I am working on a clutch bag, dress and pajamas! Mind you I have no experience actually sewing, measuring or whatever else is involved with sewing, not even a sewing machine! My best friend (and family) just took me to a thrift store and I saw opportunity after opportunity to create at a really low cost. So, I went for it! And out of a buttery worn in leather jacket at the thrift store here is, my first draft if you will, of a clutch bag I drew long ago...

More to come!

Je suis un designer!

Restaurants: Clementine for my Birthday

Clementine is a place I saw when trying to find parking at Sugar paper. From the outside you really would not think much of it, but the smells coming out and the look of the foods inside will make you want to move into the neighborhood to be in walking distance!

My Aunt treated me out for a bite and asked i name the place and I said here. Turns out it was the perfect spot for the both of us! I love picking my Aunts brain and hearing about her life experiences and this was the perfect place for it!

Clementine in Century City

Funny thing though.. I can not remember what we had besides the fresh ginger lemonade.. hmmph. Maybe it will come back to me! But It was good and the ginger lemonade was so good, cant express that enough! I also like that they sell it by the quart.

 Je suis un gourmet!

Home: Collages of Plans

 

I don't know if everyone does this but I have collages on the small pockets of wall in every room in my apartment of how I want to redo each room.

 I plan to continue to make my current living space as nice as I can and of course keep in mind my dream to one day own a home too! The cut/tear outs are from Pottery Barn catalogs mostly - because I adore that store! So here are some of my plans...

Favorites: sectional couch, table behind couch, floor lamp, circular mirror, entertainment center hutch, leather trunk and leather arm chair

Favorites: Wooden Lanterns, Clocks, Arm Chair, Bed frame and bedside table table and the way its organized.

   

Favorites: Beds (with storage under, side by side and safety rail), Armchair Glider, and Tall 5 space shelf.

  

Favorites: Circle Table and Wicker Chairs, Ceiling Lighting, Ceramic Kitchen and Compost

GREEN: Gardening

In Virginia everyone in my family had vegetable and fruit gardens. I have missed that so much since moving to LA! Aunts and Uncles would send us kids out in the yard to pick collard greens, peas and berries to bring in for rinsing and eating! So I have been planning to start a garden and decided to start small. So far so good  and I am inspired and ready to go bigger!

Pottery Barn Kids Alpine Strawberry Garden

                                                          

Next I plan to get a window planter box.

I love the idea of feeding my kids from our family garden, teaching them how to garden and the independence from grocery stores. Not that I am by any means against them, but i like the idea of not being completely dependent. So I hope to share on this strawberry plants transplant to my outdoors patio, the window boxes and raised beds soon to come!

Practice Positive Living

Steph

Music: Create a Mood, Inspire and Move Me

I recently I asked myself why I have not been listening to music and I found its because I didn't like what I was listening to... that much.  Long story short I asked myself what kind of music do I really like! I found that I, like I'm sure most people do, like music that makes me feel good, teaches me, relates to me and inspires me! And so I wanted to share this amazing music I am falling deeply in love with!

Tamela Mann Take me to the King.

This song moves me every time I listen to it and I look forward to getting her album! Between songs like Tamela's, Kenneth Copeland and My Bible Experience cd's my spiritual intake is covered! I enjoy and anticipate hearing Gods word and praise songs!

Best of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, the whole CD!

Their voices are strong, soulful and just amazing! I love singing their saucy lyrics with the music playing throughout the house. My husband and I will dance with each other randomly to songs - it sets the mood and atmosphere I want in my house!

The Christmas Collection of Frank Sinatra. I know its not Christmas yet but this album is so happy and holiday and his family sings 12 days of Christmas with him and i just love it! The Christmas album and his others too!

I really like my kids music I picked out for them too. Puntamayo Kids Cd's are the best! The kids dance and sing to every song and my husband and I enjoy it too! I have favorites on their cd's. Everybody wins

And lastly The Lumineers. It all started with Classy Girls then Hey Ho then Stubborn Girls and now I am hooked!

And of course I enjoy popular hip hop, R&B but I've learned that's occasional for me.

j'aime la musique!

Listen to Music that you really like! It has done wonders for my mood and the atmosphere in my house!

Practice Positive Living

Steph

I'm Back!

I'm back!

I have been on a mental vacation. Re-assessing everything and gaining new focus and new inspirations! So I have lots to share from monthly box reviews, music, entertaining, restaurants, health and fitness, children and more!

Stay, Be and Live Inspired!

Steph

Holidays: The Grove

We missed the tree lighting but were happy to just go and check out the Holiday scene.
And we were delightfully surprised by an exhibit there promoting The Hobbit movie!
My husband and I love movies! We always have pretty heated discussions over movies we see as if we are getting paid for our review/ opinion!
One of our many favorites - The Lord of the Rings. Anyone who really loves movies has imagined what Middle Earth, the elven cities etc would really look like and they have a little Middle Earth right in the middle of The Grove!

Holidays: Thanksgiving

I love my family and am so thankful for them everyday! We have the best Holidays because of our family faith, love and it doesnt hurt that theres always great food!