Ava’s Garden

Good morning and a very happy Friday, friends! This post has been three months in the making and I couldn’t wait to share it with everyone. This year, my dad and I finally got the garden back into shape that my late husband and I had started when we were married. It was something we both loved to work on, though back in the day we had only grown vegetables. We loved seeing the veggies grow and then use them in our cooking and salads. This year, I decided to use half of the garden for flowers and the other half for vegetables. 

Ava was excited with the mention of getting the garden going and then being able to watch all of her hard work come to fruition. She helped my dad and I plant all of the initial flowers and vegetables and then would help me water them each night. In July, Ava decorated a Peppa Pig stone we found at Target and placed in the garden on the vegetable side. Her first harvest came towards the end of July with some kale, squash, and a pepper. About one week ago, all of the wild flowers we planted were finally ready to be cut and put into vases. Her second harvest was just yesterday. 

 Having a garden is a fantastic idea if you have kids. It teaches them the rewards of hard work and also gets them outdoors. It’s pretty much a win-win situation for everyone involved! Each time I use one of the vegetables from the garden, I make sure to tell Ava that she grew it. That all of her hard work paid off. She loves to look at the flowers in their vases and say, “oh they’re so pretty” when she sees them. 

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend! Cheers!!  

xo, Amanda  

Vita Craze

Keeping you Healthy

While I try to keep a balanced diet as much as possible, there are some days where my sweet tooth gets the best of me. As noted before, I've always felt its fine to have a treat every now and then and to keep it in moderation, which is where my vitamins come into play. Since I already know there will be some days where I indulge a little bit, I keep my body balanced by taking vitamin supplements every day. Now if you eat a well balanced diet 24/7, you are probably getting all of the nutrients and minerals you need from food, but if not then listen up.

I've rounded up some of the best vitamins I believe a woman should be taking to keep a well balanced lifestyle. Now these are only suggestions, you may need different ones or only a few to add to your diet depending on what you already eat. Personally for me, I take vitamin D, vitamin B6, Fish Oil, and a prenatal which acts like a multi-vitamin.

1. A good multi: If there is one vitamin you choose from this list, make it a multi vitamin specifically made for women. Make sure it had folate or folic acid, which is important for woman ages 18-40, who are looking to start a family. This gives you a dose of everything you need for the day.
2. Fish Oil: Omega 3 has been getting a lot of hype recently and for good reason. Not only will this help your hair stay shiny, skin stay clean, and nails stay long, but it also helps the heart and blood system, helps lower cholesterol, helps with depression, and prevents painful periods.
3. Biotin: The beauty vitamin. This little gem works miracles on hair, skin, and nails. Many multi-vitamins contain biotin though so be sure to check the label.
4. Probiotic: This supplement is a great way to keep your digestion tract in check. Probiotics are living organisms that are considered to be "good bacteria" that help strengthen the immune system. Be sure to take this on an empty stomach.
5. Iron: This works wonders by delivering oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. This supplement is good for women who are menstruating and losing blood every month. If you eat enough meat, 1 serving per day, or eat leafy greens like kale and spinach, then you most likely are getting the recommended daily dose of iron.
6. Zinc: This mineral keeps our immune system strong and fights off disease. If you are pregnant, this is especially important to take since your little one will be using up most of what is in your body. Also, vegetarians who eat many legumes, which prevent the body from properly absorbing zinc.
7. Vitamin D: One cool thing about vitamin D is that our bodies produce it naturally when exposed to sunlight. The only problem is if you live somewhere that is perpetually cloudy or has long winters, then you may not be getting the right amount. This vitamin regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in your bones and keeps cells functioning properly.
8. Calcium-Magnesium: Calcium strengthens your bones, muscles, and teeth. When combined with magnesium, it allows vitamins to better absorb into the system. Like with a probiotic, this needs to be taken on an empty stomach and not combined when taking your other supplements since it can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.

Sweet Treats

Bird's Nest Macaroons

A spring time holiday, Easter brings with it delightful visions of blossoming color and life renewed. This simple dessert not only incorporates the pretty pop of color, but also the idea of new life. Like Christmas, Easter has many sweet treats associated with it. While I try to stay away from sugar, sometimes a girl cannot resist the temptation, especially while I'm in the mood for whipping up desserts. The recipe is easy to follow and only takes a few ingredients  to make these delicious bird's nest macaroons.

Ingreidents:

• ½ cup butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• 6 cups shredded coconut
• ¼ cup nutella
• Mini chocolate Easter eggs

(A small note to make: I used truvia baking blend to cut down on the calories and sugar intake. If using truvia, the amount of sugar decreases to 1/4 cup and 2 table spoons)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then, using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, and salt.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, until mixed thoroughly. Mix in coconut.
3. Drop your batter onto a cookie sheet by using 1-2 tablespoon amounts. Roll into balls, then make an indent with fingers to resemble a bird’s nest. You can make them however large or small you want. This will affect how many eggs can fit into the little nest. I found that 1 tablespoon scoop leaves enough for one egg, while 2 tablespoons leaves enough for 3.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom and browned in spots on top.
5. Once completely cooled, spoon a little Nutella into each “nest”. Heat the Nutella for 15 seconds to make it spread easier. Finish by topping with 1-3 chocolate eggs.