Fast Track to Recovery

It has been awhile since I have updated on my recovery. The recovery process is slow, as in two months, BUT I am doing the best I can and actually listening to my chiropractor. She is amazing and I am so thankful for everything she is doing for me!

I was released to do two yoga poses, child's pose and cat/cow. Plus a lot of stretching. I had my first massage as well, I was totally freaked out. The massage therapist was great and talked with me the whole time. Most people are unable to relax when they talk, made a world of difference for me. I should add that I only did the massage because my chiropractor told me to. :) And I am not regretting it one bit. Totally helped me relax, and my muscles felt amazing afterwords.

My memory and emotions are getting in check as well. I do have my days that I become overly emotional, honestly it is difficult not being able to do everything I want to do. My memory is coming back as well. I still live off of post in notes and my calendar, eventually I will get back to normal.

It has been 5 weeks and 1 day since my accident. I have 6 to 7 weeks of recovery left. Seems like a long time but it will be here before I know it. I just hope that I can remain "good" and listen and take everything slowly. I can't wait to be able to run again and do full yoga sessions. Some day soon.


Hope everyone is doing well!
Much love!

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love banana's and I love chocolate. Why not combine the too?! Today I made banana chocolate chip cookies with the help of another blogger (Eat at Home Cooks). I will say that these cookies may not taste like the ones from the store but they are yummy and great for breakfast with a cup of coffee/tea!

Here is the recipe:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 ripe mashed bananas

1 egg

3 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

semi-sweet chocolate chips – 1 bag

(The recipe only called for 1 cup of chips, but we also like chocolate a bit too much.)

Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixer bowl.  Add the eggs and bananas.  In a separate bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.  Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until combined.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a baking sheet or stone.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

The cookies are soft, not like your typical cookie. They really do go well with coffee or just as a quick snack!

Hope you enjoy!!

Car Accidents Suck

On July 29th 2012 I was in a bad car accident. I was rear ended three times while I was stopped, the other cars were going 50+ miles an hour. This is why I have been neglecting my blog. And I am sorry!!!

What all is wrong with me as of Wednesday the 22nd. 

•    The bone of above my jaw is crooked. 
•     My neck is 1-2 inches to the left, in my neck there are 4 discs that are jammed together and straightened. due to the disks that are pinched (and everything else) I get daily headaches, memory loss and I am moody. Now moody as in; angry, upset, sappy, crying, etc. The memory loss is beyond horrible. I have the memory of someone with Alzheimer's which is not good.
• My entire spine is pushed to the left and wavy. This is causing severe pinching in the nerves and spinal cord. Which is why I say "My spine hurts". 
• There are a couple discs in the middle of my back that are jammed together. 
• My lower back muscles are all sprained and there are several jams in the spine down there as well.
• My collar bone on the left side has broken off from my spine and ribs. NOT GOOD! It explains why I couldn't raise my arms. Minimal pain so no need for a brace and I probably wouldn't wear it.
• My pelvic bone is pushed two inches forward on the right side and about 3-4 inches up making my legs uneven and I look like I have a peg leg when I walk. 
• Due to pain medications and muscle relaxants my liver failed me. I had to stop taking meds and go on other medications to get that to work properly.

I can't run, walk/stand/sit for over 30 minutes to an hour at a time, jumping is a huge no no, headaches have been miserable, memory loss is irritating, not being able to lift my 2 year old daughter and hold her is killing both of us.

I was told that doing yoga prior to all of this is the ONLY reason I didn't break my back. I am a FIRM believer in yoga more than ever. I can help in so many ways.

I am going to the chiropractor and it has been amazing. I have gone only 3 times and I have felt a HUGE difference. I will be going 2-3 days a week for awhile but I am being told that I should be back to pre-accident in 2 months. So we are looking at a total of 3 months of recovery for me. 

Life is hectic for us, my grandmother in law is here helping take care of the house and kids while I recover. I couldn't be more blessed with an amazing family!

Stay safe and healthy friends!

XOXO

Fall Hair Clips!

I love making hair clips! Honestly if I just did that everyday I would be set for life.

Oh, how I love to be crafty!

Turkey hair clip! (Eyes can be added)

Pumpkin Hair clips!

I have them for sale on my facebook page Busy Bugs Boutique or over at my webpage (that is currently being transferred over to a better page and to the new name Old Website that is currently being changed!

I hope everyone is had a great day!

Orange Push-Ups, the way to my childhood heart.

Remember those delicious Orange Push-Ups?

Running around the yard, playing in the sprinklers was the best part of summer. Our parents/baby sitter always topped it off by coming into the backyard with those delicious orange push ups. I remember sitting on the decks, steps or sidewalk dripping wet and sticky from the amazing taste of those push-ups.

Now enters the day I found an amazing recipe from Pinterest by a user (Averie Cooks) claiming that this smoothie tastes just like the orange push up. Of course I was judgmental at first, I mean how can anyone recreate the amazing taste! Then of course I had to try it. Honestly, it is a cheap recipe. And why not?

So glad I did!

Look at that yummy concoction! Sorry for it being a phone picture but honestly, it doesn't last long in anyone's hands. 

It taste's amazing, just like an orange push up and perfect for a hot summer day. My kids love them, when they see me buy the frozen juice they know exactly what they are going to have on a hot day. 

Here is the recipe:

Orange Push-Up Smoothie

1 can orange juice concentrate, slightly thawed (Hawaii's Own Mango Orange is the best)

1 C. Milk (half and half, cream, nut milk or soy milk also work)

1/2 C. Sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 C. Ice, or to taste

Combine all ingredients (except ice) in a large blender. Blend until smooth and the sugar and dissolved well. If you like you can add more milk or water. Add the ice and blend until smooth. 

Makes about three 8 oz portions.

She also has several more smoothie recipes at the above link. I can't wait to try those out as well!

No sweets challenge!

I started the "NO SWEETS CHALLENGE" today. So far so good, though it is only 3 in the afternoon. Honestly I am a sweets addict, I eat them often. Not normally on a daily basis but way too often in my eyes.

So here is where I stand...
NO:
Cupcakes
Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Candy
Donuts
Icing
Chocolate
ETC.

There is also the added, no chips and dip (unless it is tortilla chips and salsa), no fast food and no white bread. White bread is not a big deal for me. I prefer the taste of wheat, though there are times in which I think white looks delicious!

I have bumped up my work out routine as well with the help of sparkpeople.com. Running 3 days a week, yoga 3 days a week and 30-50 minutes of cardio on the extra day. Also every day I am doing strength training as well. It should really get my going to my goals. Which I hope that cutting all of these foods will help as well.


Bring on the red grapes!




#workingout #fitness #health #nosweets #yoga #running

Yoga warms my soul.

I have been neglecting my lovely blog again.

OH THE HORROR!

Lately I have been kicking up my work outs and health in general to the extreme. Doing Yoga Rocks the Park every Sunday has been amazing to say the least.

They have some throughout the US, so if you look it up and it happens to be in your area. DO IT!

As of now I am going to finish the chores before picking up the oldest from school, and waking the youngest up from her nap. All while trying to relax my yoga'd out muscles. It feels amazing, not trying to sound negative.


I <3 being a Yogi.

I will be posting updates soon on my daughter's 2nd birthday party. It is Yo Gabba Gabba themed and I am doing everything for it. A little bit over the top, but I am looking forward to it.

Starburst Jelly Bean issue!

I know I haven't been on here for awhile, so HEEEEEYYY! But I was appalled by a recent purchase at Target. I normally check expiration dates on food and beverages because I have had bad luck. Recently I went to Target to purchase Easter candy to fill up some Easter eggs, I had a coupon for $1 off any two packages of Startburst or Jolly Rancher jelly beans. So I was stoked! I buy two packages of Starburst and head home.

Later today I was trying to open one of the packages and seen the numbers 2006. I immediately stopped trying to open it and looked at the numbers more closely. Low and behold this package of candy expired February 2006....2006!!!!!!!!!!! 6 years old, really. Trying to poison our kids eh?

I went in tonight to exchange for new candy and seen their entire stock of Starburst Jelly Beans was in fact expired (including sour and tropical flavors). Oh and the Tropical expired in January of 2005. So I grab Jolly Rancher ones (after checking the date) and head up to Customer Service. I explain to the cashier I would like to exchange due to the Starburst being expired and told her the entire 5...FIVE...rows were all expired. Her response (In a dull tone) "Oh okay....".

So please be aware of this issue. Kids do get sick from eating too much candy but please, lets try not poisoning them.

Homemade laundry soap!

So for several months I had been debating on making my own laundry detergent, and this weekend I finally did it. Through Pinterest I found a "recipe" from this lovely lady that shows you how to do it. Of course I did my own little thing and changed it a bit.

Here is a look at my laundry shelf:

Yes I named my laundry holder "Laundry Bear". Next to him is my assortment of stain removers. Here are my lists of "laundry recipes".

Laundry Detergent:

1 box of Borax (4 lb 12 oz)

1 4 lb box of Baking Soda

1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (3 lb 7 oz)

2 bars Fels-Naptha 

1 container of Oxy Clean (3.5 lb box)

You can find all of this in the laundry isle at Wal-Mart and Target. You will want to grate (yes grate as in cheese grater) the 2 bars of fels-naptha. Then in a large container of your choosing you need to mix all of the ingredients.

I took a clean garbage can, put a garbage bag in in then dumped everything in. After that I tied it and put rubber bands around the top and shook. It is a lot of work. 

You then can put it into any container you want. The container I am using is the Target brand animal crackers. The kids love the animal crackers and it is large enough to hold most all of the detergent. Behind my bear is the oxy clean tub that is holding the left over.

You only need a little bit of detergent for your laundry. I use the scoop from the oxy clean. For small loads, or loads that have only thin materials I use up to the 1, for heavy or larger loads I use up to the 2. This also works in HE washers as well.

The blue bottle next to my detergent is stain remover.

Get anything out stain remover:

1 part Ammonia

1 part Wisk

2 parts Water

It gets everything out, you may need to let it sit a bit before throwing into the wash. (I got this recipe from a great friend!)

Everything Cleaner:

1/4 C. Baking soda and some squirts of hydrogen peroxide.

Mix this together in a small bowl and it gets everything out. It also works great in the kitchen, bathroom, carpet.... you get the point.

*Note: These work for our family but not everyone can use some products listed above Use at your own risk.

Crock Pot Applesauce

While my little bug is SUPPOSED to be napping, I will upload my delicious applesauce recipe. During apple season I love everything apples. And applesauce is on the top of the list. This past year I made about 4 batches of this delicious stuff and have not met one person that didn't love it!

Need:

8 Apples (peeled and cored)

1/2 C. Water

1/2 C. Brown Sugar

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Make it:

Take your peeled and cored apples and dice them into small chunks, place them into crock pot. Add water, brown sugar and cinnamon. Slow cook for a few hours (the bigger the batch the longer it will cook) stirring occasionally until soft. You can do this in a pot on the stove as well. The cooking time is only 90 minutes on the stove. 

You can enjoy warm or cold, whatever your preference. Before storing it make sure the sauce has completely cooled down. You can put it in the freezer but DO NOT can it. Make sure that when you place the mixture in the fridge that it is in a tightly sealed container or plastic bag.

Note:

I HIGHLY recommend having an apple corer/peeler on hand for this. It cuts the make time in half. I picked one up at Bed Bath and Beyond for $20, and forgot to use my coupon. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as everyone in my family does. 

Hold up!

So I am starting to get this blogging thing down. Slowly but surely I will get there. Yesterday I had a back molar pulled so naturally I am a little slow and trying to rest. (Resting with two kids and a home daycare is NOT easy) I have a huge list of "To-Do's" that I am bursting at the seams with excitement.
I think first off I am going to finish my sister-in-laws recipe book as a present. What is this you may ask, well it is awesome!
Four years ago my Grandma made me a small recipe book from a picture holder. Inside it had anything from family recipes to recipes she has picked up over the years, they were even sorted into sections regarding what type of dish. The best part was she left room for me to grow my recipes. And trust me, I am filling this book.
This last year my Grandmother in law made me a binder full of recipes as well. So right now I have those two books plus three other recipe books that are sitting onto of my fridge, that yes I do use.
Rambling done.
My goal is to make my sister in law a book as well, but add recipes from all of the books and even have it sorted. Instead of just typing up the pages I am also going to give it a scrap-booking effect with page protectors so the pages stay clean. I am getting all the recipes typed up now, which is a huge job. Soon I will get everything to decorate a book and then she will be here on the 20th.
Plenty of time right?

Why hello there.

I forgot about my blogger.

This morning I was thinking to myself, "hey you should start blogging things and posting them on pinterest". Then BAM I find my old blog. This shall work for now.

And to update since my last blog here is what has happened.

My daughter is almost 2 (birthday in April) and yes we were induced.

My husband's job relocated to Phoenix AZ in August of 2010. And I LOVE it down here.

I started watching some kids and we call ourselves "Little Bugs Home Daycare".

My crafting obsession is at an all time high; I now make bows, clips, tutu's and so much more.

Well I am going to go look into all my crafting ideas, recipes.. etc and start actually blogging more.

Ta Ta!