Paleo Diet Update

I have indeed been going more and more "paleo" as predicted in this post.  I am now 9 pounds BELOW my pre-pregnancy weight, and my digestion has been fabulous.  At Joe's prompting, I even got a blood test to make sure all my levels are fine.   The only downside is that my hair is insanely oily, which I've heard is a common result of a high-fat diet. Yuck! Like all the butter I eat is coming out of my head?

I'm now 80% paleo, which essentially means I eat:

• mostly protein (only top notch stuff- grassfed beef, free range chicken, new zealand lamb)
• vegetables
• certain starches (sweet potato, squash, taro, and yucca)
• some dairy (kefir, raw milk, heavy cream, and butter.  Lots and lots of butter.)  
• Oh, and coconut EVERYTHING (milk, oil, water, etc.)  

I don't (or shouldn't) eat:

• pasteurized milk
• grains
• legumes
• white potatoes
• peanuts (which are a legume)
• oils made from vegetables, nuts, seeds (olive oil and macademia nut oil are the exception)
• soy (unless it's fermented, like tempeh)
• sugar
• processed foods

 In moderation, I eat:

• fruit
• nuts

The 20% of me that isn't paleo still loves iced mochas, pastries, an occasional coke, and small amounts of white potatoes and rice. I'm definitely still addicted to sugar, but eating so much good fat and protein has made it so most of the time, I just want sugar, not need it.

My #1 piece of advice to anyone thinking of going paleo/primal/gluten free:
EAT A BIG BREAKFAST.  HUGE!  Filled with all the things you've been told to avoid- oils, bacon, sausage, and eggs, raw cheese, etc. Even if you don't really feel like eating breakfast.  It's THE reason I've been able to stick with the diet. There's something about starting the day off with a large, nutrient dense meal that helps curb snacking and sugar cravings.  It's as if your body knows it's gonna be ok, and doesn't need to seek out food constantly to keep it going throughout the day.  Read a more scientific explanation of this phenomenon here :)

I'll be back in a day or two with a super tasty paleo breakfast recipe!

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Milk Glass Headband

After working on nothing but baby headbands for months, I had a burst of energy for bridal hair pieces last week. Sure, baby accessories are fun, but there's something very serious about creating bridal headpieces. I get nervous and inspired just thinking about it. 

(I used to feel this way ALL THE TIME when I did wedding flowers.  I let my assistants do centerpieces, corsages, bridesmaid bouquets,  but they NEVER touched the bridal bouquet.  That was something I did on my own, usually in the quiet of the night after they had left. The bridal bouquet is the most special bouquet a woman will ever touch!)

To me, the bridal hair piece is just as important as the bouquet.  It's that perfect finishing touch that frames the face and makes a bride look truly bridal. When else do we modern gals have a chance to don a veil, feathered hat, or a bedazzled bug?

As I was supply shopping in LA, I came across some opaque white-ish crystals and milky stones, and I immediately thought of milk glass vases on antique store shelves. 

 via nobiggie

Then, as I twisted the beads randomly into clusters, forming an intricate garland, I imagined the Milky Way Galaxy, in all its grace and mystery.

Find it at the etsy shop!

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First word?!?

A few days ago, Sisi started making this funny panicky sound whenever there was food around.  It's different than the "James Brown grunts" she does before nursing.  It's a very intense "Mo, mo mo mo, MO!" type sound, that turns into a crying fit if I don't give her whatever food I'm preparing or eating.

Then it hit me. I'm pretty sure she's saying "more!"  And she gets very upset if I don't meet her request accordingly, and in a timely manner.  Yikes! I'm catching just a glimpse of what the toddler years will be like.

So much for "mamma", "dadda", "ball", and the other typical first words.  Joe joked that we must have a little princess on our hands.

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Chunky Sparkle

Two sleek silver combs encrusted with twisted bits of glitz.  (Hmmm, a tongue twister I'll be teaching Sisi one day.)

The icicle and pearl comb was created for a friend of mine who is getting married this winter.  The rose quartz and blush crystal comb I created just for fun.  It started as an excuse to watch Felicity on netflix, but it turned out sorta magical. 

I think they would be stunning tucked into a bride's loose, tousled updo.  They are basically the comb-in versions of my crystal bridal tiaras (the Snow Queen Tiara and the Mercury Glass Tiara).

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Trick or Treat!

Siena is wearing the hard candy headband.  I'm redesigning it a bit before I post it on etsy- this is like a "first draft"

Tonight we'll be eating pumpkin soup and watching not-so-scary movies at our good friends' house. We'll also be attempting something we've never done before- putting Siena down to sleep at their house, and then transferring her back to our house in the middle of the night. 

We'll bring the whole night night arsenal- pack n' play, musical glow worm, Goodnight Moon, night night doll and moo cow blanket.  We'll tuck her into one of their sound proof rooms (they have his and her's recording studios!) and pray that she falls and stays asleep, and then does not go monkey when we wake her up at midnight. 

I'm 99% sure this will be disastrous.  How's that for optimism?

Happy Halloween, if you celebrate it!  If not, Happy Monday!  I'll leave you with pics of our recent trip to the pumpkin patch...

Siena and Leila

Probably not supposed to do that...

Fatface.  Power Poof hair clip by Natty Bratty on Etsy. 

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Pot Roast Fail x4

Does a moist, tender pot roast really exist?  I have never tasted or made one, but the idea is really appealing.  Take a tough, otherwise useless cut of beef, throw it in a crock pot with some vegies, broth and a few spices, and it magically turns to a tender, flavorful meal in 6-8 hours.

Joe bought 1/4 a cow, so we have a plethora of roast cuts in the freezer.  I have no idea what to do with them, so I did what any modern housewife does: I googled "fool proof pot roast recipe no cream of mushroom soup", found a 5 star recipe, and went to work.

Pot Roast #1:  used crock pot, seared meat, added plenty of beef broth and red wine, vegies
Cook Time:  on low for 6 hours
Results:  dry and tough, but at least the vegies were moist and delicious.

Pot Roast #2:  seared meat, used pressure cooker, added broth, wine and vegies.
Cook Time:  45 minutes in pressure cooker
Results:  dry and tough, but at least the vegies were moist and delicious.

Pot Roast #3:  meat unseared, tried crock pot again, made a stuffing of olives, onions, and sundried tomatoes, added 1 cup water and spices.
Cook time: on low for 5 hours
Results:  dry and tough, but at least the vegies were moist and delicious.

Pot Roast #4:  went bare bones- crock pot, water 1/2 way up the meat, fresh herbs, vegies
Cook Time:  on high for 3 1/2 hours
Results:  dry and tough, but at least the vegies were moist and delicious.

Ok, so is the point of a pot roast to leech all the flavor and juices OUT of the pot roast and create the best vegetables you've ever tasted?  If so, then I get an A+.  If not, then WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?  I'm so stubborn that I keep on cooking them, but I hate wasting our precious cow. 

Mind you, all four attempts were listed as fool proof recipes or shared by trusted friends.  #2 in the pressure cooker was the least disastrous because pressure cookers are just awesome.  

Fortunately, Pot Roast #4 did not go to waste.  I shredded the rock hard piece of meat and put it in a skillet with it's own juices, some caramelized onions, garlic, salt and pepper.  Amazingly, the juices leeched back INTO the meat, and we ate the most delicious shredded beef tacos EVER.

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New Baby Headband

You may have seen this picture from last week and wondered "what is that on her head?" 

Let's try a different angle...

 

Yep, it's the Boba Milk Tea headband!

 

And if you're still wondering what the heck it is, then perhaps the tapioca milk tea craze never hit your neck of the woods.  Milk tea is THE reason I gained 15 pounds in 2005-2006.  I've since cut it out, but I get nostalgic whenever I think of it.  I'm whisked back to college finals, my 4 months in Taiwan (the CAPITOL of milk tea), and my first date with Joe, as we slurped liquid candy through oversized straws with googly eyes. I love it so much that I decided Sisi should wear it on her head :) 

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