Dr. Oz Sugar detox!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Combo
This tasty duo will satisfy even the most voracious sweet tooth. Melt a bar of dark chocolate and mix it into a jar of organic peanut butter. Leave it in the fridge so that it cools and the flavors blend. When a sugar craving strikes, have a spoon. One spoonful has 4.5 grams of sugar. Compare this to your average brownie with a whopping 30 grams of sugar, and you’re well on your way to shaking your sugar habit in healthy ways you never thought possible!

Dr. Oz Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients
1 acorn squash, washed, cut in half with the seeds removed
1 cup of cooked quinoa
1/2 cup chopped mushroom
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp chopped sundried tomato
4 cloves of chopped garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place your squash onto a baking sheet.  Brush oil on the squash. Salt and pepper and bake for about 45 mins.

In a sauté pan, add in oil and the garlic, mushroom, and peppers. Sauté for 5-7 mins. Add the salt and pepper after the vegetables are done.

Cook quinoa according to instructions and place in a large bowl.

Take out the squash from the oven, to add in your mixture.

In the bowl with the quinoa, add the mushrooms and peppers, the feta, and sundried tomato. Mix well, and add the stuffing into the squash. You will have leftovers, so don't worry about not getting the stuffing all in the squash. Place your squash into the oven for 5-10 mins, more if you want your squash well done.

Dr. Oz bean burger!

Ingredients
Serves 2

1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 cups cooked or canned red or pink beans, no-salt-added or low-sodium, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup minced onion
2 tbsp low sodium ketchup
1 tbsp wheat germ or old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 tsp chili powder

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil a baking sheet with a little olive oil on a paper towel.

Chop the sunflower seeds in a food processor or with a hand chopper. Mash the beans in the food processor or with a potato masher and mix with the sunflower seeds. Mix in the remaining ingredients and form into two patties.

Place the patties on the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, until you can pick up each patty and compress it firmly in your hands to re-form the burger. Return the patties to the baking sheet, bottom side up, and bake for another 10 minutes.

If desired, these may be done on a grill. Serve on small whole grain pitas or buns with lettuce, tomato and chopped red onion or on a bed of lettuce with tomato and chopped red onion.

Decorating!

Check out this before and after.  The color needed to change because they were moving and needed to make the space a little more neutral.  I found this on pinterest and there was no blog attached to the pin, so I can't give the blogger credit but I love how much more neutral it became, even with BLUE! And yes, the window treatments and blinds moved higher definitely makes the space seem larger.  Isn't it beautiful?

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to stage a bathroom:

• Clear off the counters. Store daily use items in a basket, out of sight, inside cabinet.
• Remove all medicines to a safe, private place.
• Remove any and ALL items you are not using, or do not need. Hide feminine protection items.
• Put cleaning supplies into a new, clean bucket.
• Clean the bathroom till it looks like new. Tiles, grout, switch plates, air vent covers (these are usually rusty- remove, clean, and spray paint them glossy white).
• Repair walls and paint, replace missing grout, add new caulking, replace old toilet seat (mandatory).
• If tub is chipped or stains won't lift, hire someone to re-enamel the tub.
• Don't store your clothes hamper in the bathroom. Store clothes in laundry room next to washing machine.
• If your toilet paper holder, towel bars, light fixture, or cabinet knobs are outdated or have seen better days, replace them.
• Add a new white or neutral shower curtain, as well as fresh towels.
• Use plush rugs.
• Tri-fold the towels so the edges are in the rear on the rod.
• Add greenery. Flowers, ferns.
• Beach shells are a nice touch.

Create a bath that you'd buy the house for,

just so you could have the bathroom that goes with it!

 

YUMMY CUCUMBER SALAD

4 large cucumbers, sliced thin
1 medium tomato diced
1 medium onion diced
1 Tbsp salt

Dressing:
1/2 cup cider vinegar
4 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2-1 tsp salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp dried oregano

Put sliced cucumbers in a strainer and toss with 1 Tbsp salt. Let stand for 30+ minutes. (This draws all the water out of the cucumbers, so either put it on a plate to catch the water or in the sink. I like it on a plate in the fridge so the cucumbers stay cold)
In a large bowl, combine diced tomatoes and onions.

In a small bowl whisk together all the dressing ingredients. When you are ready to serve, rinse the cucumbers to get all the salt off and drain. Add to tomatoes and onions. Toss with dressing.

Looking Glam for less!

I absolutely LOVE this idea.  It just makes your bathroom so much more elegant.  Hanging two shower curtains instead of one, gives the illusion of custom made curtains in your bathroom.  Be sure to have chip clips in the shower so you can properly shut both liners together, so you don't have a puddle on the floor after you suds up!

By the way, isn't yellow and gray, a wonderful combo?

Organizing can be fun!!!!

OK, it's not a cartwheel but hey, finding your stuff when you need it is...rewarding!!!  Or, maybe not rewarding, but less time consuming.   How about this little trick.  Go buy some inexpensive containers from wally world or target.  If you are like me, you won't get out of there without spending about $100 on other stuff, but I digress.  Buy 6 matching ones, clear boxes!!!!  Shoebox size.  There are countless items in your home you can organize with them!!!!
How about cords?

How about light bulbs???

You know as well as I do, you have STUFF!!!  Lots of STUFF, you can store in these boxes....Here's another idea...

Who doesn't have 10,000 batteries around the house?  People without kids, I guess.  We always have and need batteries.

Anyway, think of how cool this would look in your linen closet?  You would look so..."Martha"!!!  (as in Stewart)  You might even find yourself, doing a cartwheel afterwards.  :)  Happy Organizing....

Amazingly Healthy Cold Salad!

In a large serving bowl, whisk together:
5 Tbsp red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp grapeseed oil
1/3 cup cilantro
2 limes juiced
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic

Set aside

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil and add edamame and boil for 3 minutes.  Add corn to the boiling water and continue cooking for 1 more minute.  Drain very well and pour into the bowl with the dressing.  Gently mix in the cherry tomato's, green onions and black beans.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving!

1 LB package frozen shelled edamame
3 cups Frzn corn
1 pint cherry tomato's
2 cups chick peas
1 can black beans

I did some PR for a new airline start up called PEOPLExpress not long ago.  Actually this airline was an airline before and they are making a come back.  The CEO is a very charismatic man.  Incredibly charming. He has surrounded himself with some really nice folks.  Tragically, his 20 something son, passed away last week.  The week prior to this awful news, a friend of mine, Lynn lost her 20 something son. 
It is leveling.  Why did this happen?  Is this God's plan?  God has given us free will, so certainly He never plans anything so devastating.  Of course, it is heartbreaking to try to lift someone else up, when you yourself have no idea the answers.  The compassion is so deep because it could happen to any parent, at any time.  It is our risk for loving so deeply.  We are all born to die.  Nothing ever loved is ever lost or gone, it is still inside us.  A different love, completely, not tangible, of course but it is there.
How would you lift yourself up after this horrible event?  How do you try to live again with that intangible presence?  I love hugging my sons.  How would I go on with out them there to touch, hug, smell?  I wish I had the answer to this and I pray to God, I never have to experience that pain.  I will continue to pray that each family will hold on to their faith and find a meaningful life again, after time. 
One quote I know for sure, as I experienced it after my Grammy passed.  As she is with me quite often. 

“Death ends a life, not a relationship.”
― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie

 

I love to re-purpose something.   It's just a green thing to do, you know saving the planet and all. 
This is the cutest idea.  An old wine rack in the bathroom.  You could also use this wine rack in a doctors office waiting room, for magazines.  You could place it in the garage for shorter gardening tools.  How about in the kitchen for a rolling pin collection?  What would you use it for? 

Closet #1

Closet #2

More photo's of Terry's closet! :)

Speaking about Karma

So, I posted this Karma thing 2 days ago.  Here's a karma story for you.

Yesterday, my husband was out running and found wallet contents.  Credit cards, voter registration card, ss card, etc..,  There was no cash and no wallet but a large stack of pretty much everything else.  As he kept running, he kept finding other scattered cards.  When he got home, he showed them to me.  We both agreed that the person with all those cards probably had cancelled them all but would be relieved to know someone had found them.  He had a name and address from the contents and called information.  Fortunately, the number was a listed number.  The guy came to our house immediately to get the contents.  He was thrilled, to say the least.  He offered money and my husband turned it down.  When he left, he said to my husband, that is great karma, something good will happen to you for this.   (which was odd that he even mentioned karma a day after I blogged about it!)
 
Well, last night, our beloved dog, Sandy, got out of our yard via a broken fence post that we did not realize was broken!!!!  She is 5 and has only gotten loose one other time and we found her right away.  A lady knocked on our door and brought her back to us before we even realized she was missing!!!  It was 7:30 at night.  If it had been later and dark, it could have been bad. 

After Sandy was returned, my husband told me what the guy said when he got the wallet.  My husband said, that was his karma coming back to him!!!

How cool!!!!

Terry's Closet Before and After!!!!

Terry had a large master bedroom and 3 reach in closets, instead of one master!  We needed some organization for her.  She is an awesome client.  We had a lot of fun together and planning her design was a joy.  I could really listen to her all day long.  She is from Boston, so she has that cool cool accent.  I am a voice over artist and love different dialects.  She is a great family gal and I instantly relate and could really hear her stories forever.  About the design, she knew what she wanted and was great at collaborating her design with me. 

This is the before of closet #1
And here is the after-

 So we were able to utilize the space better.  The bed is right off this closet.  I wanted her to have a nightstand type thing to put her bottle of water, pills, books, whatever.  I also wanted her to have a hamper.  Right before she goes to bed, she can put her clothes in the hamper!!! She desperately wanted a file drawer!  (that is what is above the hamper-it is a lateral file drawer).  Beautiful is it????

Here is closet #2  My main mission was to get rid of those shoe hangers on the door.  (stay tuned for closet #3)

Terry had a lot of hanging items and I wanted closet #2 to be just double hang!!!!!  Above it is a shelf for boxes!!!  Don't you love the darker brown she used to paint the walls with????  LOVE IT!!!!

Here is closet #3

Here is closet #3 after!!!  The hanging clothes are in the middle of the closet, although it looks like it is on the end- the photo is misleading.  The end had baskets!!!

Above is the left side (with the 3 sliding baskets).  One drawer.  Close ups of closet #3  This large shoe shelf (10 shelves) is on the right side.  (In closet #2 you will notice all the shoes hanging on the door, my mission was to get rid of that thing)  With sliding doors, you really have to keep hanging in the middle!!!  This was the only closet out of the 3 that had sliding doors the other doors were french doors.

There you go!!!!  All done!  So happy, Terry was thrilled.  She will be even happier in the morning when she is organized and clutter free and able to see all her clothes.   I think she will spend less money when shopping because she can see all her stuff.  

Here I am, saving the world one...closet at a time!!!!!  YAY!!!!

Isn't this the cutest idea????  Putting Barbie to sleep in a shoe rack!!!  I don't have girls but if I did, I would so totally hang this on the back of the door for her to put her barbies in to go to "sleep" until it is time to play again!!!!  Love it!

Karma

Is your circle positive or negative?  If you are negative in thought, word or deed, perhaps you need to rework your plan.  You attract what you are.  If you are giving, it will show to your clients and you will most likely get more work because of it.  If you are not, word gets around fast.  I have worked for and with some real jerks over the past couple years.  I really started to think I was attracting them to my life for some odd reason.  Not true!  As soon as I identified the problem, I left it.  Sometimes it takes trial and error but eventually one lands in an environment that is perfect and positive.  If you feel liked and valued that is a great sign you are where you are meant to be.  That's Karma, baby!

Garages

I have garages on the brain!!!  I am honored to be able to design the garage for homearama.  If you are not familiar, homearama is the Tidewaters Builders Association home show.  Closet Factory is working on a house in the show and I am honored to get the garage, along with my design manager, Claudia!  We met today to go over our design and I am just so happy.  I will include the photo as soon as the garage is built (mid June).  Here are some of my inspirations!!!!

I am pretty sure if we had a garage like the one above, my husband would never leave the garage!!!!  :)

I love the red above.  The walls are going to be gray in our design with red cabinet doors!!!!  Black and gray will be on the floor.

I will add more photo's later.  Our Closet Factory cabinets will sit flush on the floor, which I like much better because bugs and dust and other unmentionables can't accumulate.  Are you inspired to clean your garage now????  :)

Tension Rods!
They are not just for curtains any more.  Love these idea's to better organize your space.

How cute is this???  This would be perfect in a new kitchen!  Here is another one that is built into the cabinets.

Of course, I could do something like this, with the doggie dishes underneath!!! Love this design!!!  Don't forget your favorite four legged pet when designing a new pantry or kitchen or even laundry room!!!  :)

Organizational Tip of the Day!

Metal garbage cans are cool, retro and look good in a garage. No, not for garbage, silly- for STORAGE!!!! :) Put all that gardening soil, fertilizer, bug killer and other misc. things that are on the floor of your garage in a bin!!!!! If you want to get real fancy, label it and then tape over the label with large, clear packing tape. You could even put your kids soccer balls and other sports stuff in there. 

April Fools

Juicing!!!! Day 4

The worst day, yet!  UGH! 

OK!  I admit it.  I am hungry.

Juicing!!!! Day 6

Here is a yummy blended morning drink!

handful of spinach
1/2 bottle of coconut water
2 banana's
spoonful of peanut butter
crushed ice

YUM!  I can't think of a better way to start the day!!!!  :) 

So....Here is an amazing low cal dessert, I found it on pinterest!!!!  We LOVE this. 

First cut up a banana and dab some PB on it.  I also peeled a clementine because it was sitting on the counter. 

Next, microwave about a cup of choc chips and small amount of almond milk.  (maybe a quarter cup) Start with 30 seconds and then try to stir...if it is still hard- 10 more seconds...cover the banana's and orange slices in chocolate...

Then stick in the freezer to harden!!!

YUMMO!!!!!!!

Closet Envy

Organization is paramount to a well run house.  You can have a day that flows, or a day that doesn't.  It's your choice.  Take a look at this before and after.  Which space would be easier to find things in?  Which would leave you anxious?  Start today!!!  Just one shelf.  Free yourself!

Closet Envy

Closet Before and Afters

More about Juicing!

I am still juicing and I am feeling better than ever!!!  I drink about 3 or 4 juices a day.  Mainly vegi juice.  This morning I had:

1 banana and peanut butter in the blender and added 2 juiced apples to make an amazing smoothie.

My skin is noticeably better, I feel more energetic and I am falling asleep way way easier than I used to.  I have completely stopped drinking coffee and eating meat.  I wasn't out to stop anything.  I just feel better and have more energy when I don't have these things.  The one occasion when I had part of a steak, I felt very different.  Lethargic, kinda.  On the occasion when I have had coffee in the morning, I have a LOT less energy.

My favorite juice is cauliflower, broccoli and one apple.  My son calls it broccoflower juice! :)

Meatless Monday Recipe

We have meatless Monday at our house.  Since my juice fast, though, I have gone from eating meat 5 to 6 days a week to NO MEAT at all.  Now if you would have told me before my juice fast that I would do away with meat, I would have called you crazy.  I have always loved a good steak and baked potato.  I feel sooooo good, however, from my juice fast, that I have no plans of messing that up.  I am still juicing and I am eating very healthy, too.  Tonight my husband made the best meal and I need to share it with you because I added NO MEAT to my portion and it was really delicious!
He made brown rice first.

2 TBSP olive oil
1 medium onion finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup brown rice
1 cup white wine
3 1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/4 cup parmesan

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add onion, salt and pepper and cook until tender (6-8 minutes)
Add rice and cook for about a minute.  Add wine and simmer until rice is tender and broth is absorbed (18 - 20 minutes)

Meanwhile...
Heat snow peas, frozen peas, 2 scallions (thinly sliced) and some button mushrooms.  Cook until heated through (about 3 minutes) and add this to the rice!

YUMMO!!!  Devine, seriously.  (and healthy)  My husband and boys added rotisserie chicken precooked at the grocery store to theirs.

April Fools

Ever since my boys were little, I have been making April Fools day treats.  It's fun.  They are in middle and high school, now and I still do it!!!  Why?  I don't know.  I guess it has become a bit of a tradition.  This is what I am making this year.

Here are some things I've made in the past.  I am trying to get better about taking photo's!

Sushi- rice krispie treats with a fruit roll up around them and gummies inside.

This was chocolate rice krispie treats, ice cream with caramel sauce and fruit roll up or some other chewy candy rolled up in balls!!!

One more I can find:

A fried egg milkshake!  HA!  Ice cream with marshmallow fluff on top with glaze on very top!