Inspiration

As an INFP (more on this later), I find myself dreaming all the time... and when I come across posts like this, I lose myself for a long-while:

This is How Photoshop Artist Erik Johansson Creates His Mind-Bending Images

I think I could get lost in his "Endless Stories" image for the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation over and over again. Stunning.

H/T MCP Actions

Babies & Milk-Protein Intolerances

Being a new mom terrified me. As a type-A perfectionist, I had an almost paralyzing fear that I would "get it wrong". (I'm happy to say I'm now the mom of 2 happy and thriving daughters - I might have gotten a lot of things wrong, I'm trusting God to help me get the important stuff right!)

It was only a few weeks in with my first that I was in tears every night. My some times smiley baby would spends hours and hours screaming. The only way it seemed to calm her was to nurse her, and the crying would stop for about 20 minutes. I had no idea what was wrong or why I couldn't console her. In my sleep-deprived stupor I would try rocking her and rocking her... And nothing would work.

photo credit: marcstolz via photopin cc

What I didn't realize at the time is that she was suffering from abdominal cramps due to her gas, caused by the milk products in my diet, and more specifically the milk proteins in milk products.

My mom, thankfully, helped me realize it was gas causing the issue, and then I began the process of eliminating various foods from my diet to figure out what was causing the gas. Unfortunately when I was researching, I tried some of the usual suspects - broccoli, garlic, onions, and other veggies. 

photo credit: Philocrites via photopin cc

It was on some obscure website that I read that milk frequently causes gas in newborns, and more specifically, milk proteins (so "lactose free" products were still problematic). I went off milk and the difference was night and day. I realized very quickly that I consume a LOT of dairy products in a day - from yogurt to cheese to ice-cream to chocolate to lattes.... All culprits and all reasons I would get minimal sleep at night.

photo credit: zaveqna via photopin cc

Thus my milk-free diet began. At the time I feared it would go on forever (at least until I weened her... Though that feels like forever away when it stands between myself and chocolate!) I began taking calcium to replace what my diet was lacking (there are some green leafy veggies that can do this, however they can cause gas from time to time too).

I was fortunate, she wasn't soy intolerant, a common additional one, so I was able to use soy cheese in some of my cooking. I avoided soy milk as I found the taste quite awful compared to the real deal, unless it was in a latte. Beware with switching to soy, however, as soy contains hormones and long-term exposure is not so good. 

Over time, I learned to make (and enjoy!) brownies without chocolate chips. Meals became a bit more creative. Instead of cheesy sauces, I made a lot more tomato sauce based pastas and Chinese food.

Cheese:
-soy based cheese
-there are other options out there, but our tiny town stores don't stock them yet

Chocolate: (stash the good stuff until you can eat it again!)
-Brownies (replaced butter with margarine and no chocolate chips)
-Mix-in-a-Pan chocolate cake

Hot beverages:
-apple cider
-herbal teas
-Soy chai lattes or London Fogs (for a special treat!)

Ice-cream:
-sherbet
-sorbets (watch the label!)
-frozen banana substitutes

Meals:
-lasagna (remove my portion of noddles & meat before adding cheeses)
-pizza (sprinkle soy on my portion or individual size)
-homemade dough to make buns and cinnamon buns (their recipes often call for milk!), and also pizza crust and bread
-tomato soup with water (and toast with dried basil sprinkled on instead of cheese!)

Things to be careful of:
-pastry (often made with butter!)
-icing (butter/milk)
-"cream of"soups (often in casseroles)

Where I've Been

Where I've Been

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

It's a big world out there! Travel is in my bones. Can't wait to take on more of the world!

Minimalism 2YO

As we try to pack our house, I keep coming across things that the sentimentalist (read: hoarder) wants to keep, while the minimalist keeps screaming "get rid of it!"

One such thing was my daughter's first colouring book. It was dog-eared and had pages ripped out of it, but she had coloured in it from cover to cover... and I literally mean even the covers! She loves to "dolour" :)

photo credit: candycanedisco via photopin cc

In that moment of fleeting nostalgia, I thought I should keep it to show her one day. Or perhaps photograph it. I wasn't sure I was ready to toss it, when suddenly my wonderings were shattered by my daughter bursting into tears. 

Her potty training had missed the potty.

I clamoured to race her to the potty, briefly surveying the scene and what needed cleaning, when my eyes happened upon her colouring book.

It had taken the brunt of the damage, saving my carpet from a soaking.

I started laughing.

Minimalism: the two-year-old edition.

So we bought a farm

I feel like Matt Damon a lot these days. 

When I tell my city friends we bought a farm, I get the same kinds of looks he got when he tells his kids "we bought a zoo."

Image Source

It is truly wonderful and terrifying all rolled into one. The best part? We have to be out of our house in two days. The same two days in which my daughter whom I swore I would always give a special SEPARATE birthday party for (so it doesn't get lumped into Christmas) turns two... And our other one gets dedicated. Do we know how to pick them or what?! You could argue we could do both another time, but with everyone here for Christmas, it just makes sense.

But back to the farm. There are no "tame" animals yet - by that I mean none that the owners have bought. However, there are mice (I already found a kitten to take care of them, thank you very much) and likely other wild animals of the larger variety - coyotes and deer. 

But no. There are no ponies. I'm raising two under two, why would I want to care for a pony too? (I try to say with a smile on my face every time people ask). No chickens either. It's winter. Why would I want to add to my chore list, outside, in the freezing cold?

photo credit: Five Furlongs via photopin cc

My husband on the other hand has kept his ears open for animals being sold in the area, and his most recent finds? A buffalo and a llama. Um? No. And after an episode of Dragons Den, he thought a kangaroo would be cool (and admittedly, it would be!), but since we in fact bought a farm and NOT a zoo, that one is less likely.

Phew. Dodge a bullet there ;)

I really am excited though. We've been praying for this farm for seven years. Seven years! I also feel a bit like Jacob waiting for Rachel. How all of the details have worked out to this point can only be God, and will be an amazing addition to our collection of "remember when God did ..." for our family. 

So be bought a farm and I keep having this strange urge say "ya'll" :)

Ya'll, we bought a farm! 

I like your {buns}!

I love the smell of fresh bread.

As busy as our household can be with two under two, I try to still bake bread once a week to help my house smell home-y and yummy. I always smile when people come to my house and tell me "it smells delicious!" I smile because I agree.

Here's my favourite recipe -

No-Knead (Bread) Dough

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups warm water

1 T. quick-rise yeast

2 tsp. salt

2 T. oil

6 cups of white flour (alternative: 3 cups white, 3 cups multigrain)

Steps:

1. Sprinkle yeast over water. Set aside 5 minutes.
2.  Add to the yeast mixture salt and oil. Mix.
3. Add 6 cups of flour. Mix until smooth/elastic dough.
4. Sprinkle with flour/”grease” with oil. Cover with cling-wrap and allow to rise in bowl for 1 hour. (Can speed it up by placing it in the oven with the light ON.)
5. Divide and shape into portions. Allow to rise uncovered for 1 hour. Again, can speed it up by placing it in the oven with the light on.
1.  Thirds: 2 loaves (9x3x5) and 1 pan of buns (8x8)
2. Half: pizza dough and 6 hamburger buns
3.  9x13 + 8x8 of cinnamon buns/regular buns
4.  And many more combinations!

6.Bake according to portions:

1. Loaves: 375F for 30 minutes
2.  Buns: 350F for 20 minutes
3.  Pizza: (once topped) 450F for 10-12 minutes

And unfortunately for you we tucked into them before I got anymore photos.....mmmm :)

(Borrowed & adapted from Erin Leschert who borrowed & adapted from WM Cookbook!)

If...

... I was single, with no kids, there's a certain appeal to this:

Danny Macaskill: The Ridge

Beautiful. Inspirational.  Wow.