Memorial Day

Growing up, Memorial Day was a welcomed holiday that ushered in Summer. Every 4 years, my dad’s birthday was on Memorial Day. It was a happy day. Now, my husband trades off years when his birthday falls on Memorial Day. It’s a day, set aside for us to honor and remember those who fell in defending and protecting this great nation. We have this holiday… a time for us to enjoy our freedom. We make an effort to both celebrate and revere those who gave the ultimate sacrifice that we can be free.

Let Us Celebrate!

In an effort to make this a wonderful time with family and friends, the natural thing to do is EAT! Here are some recipes that pack up well to take on a picnic or a pot-luck gathering.

I prefer to use fresh corn and just cut the corn off the cob. It’s amazing! You can also dice up a cucumber. This is one of those kitchen sink kind of recipes… you can even add rinsed & drained beans or cooked and cooled quinoa. Don’t have lime juice? Mix 2-3 drops of Lime Essential Oil into the olive oil – taste first before adding to the recipe. Or, use some white balsamic vinegar with Lime Essential Oil. The possibilities are endless! (Only use essential oils that are safe to ingest. Contact me for more information.)

This is such a perfect treat to take to a gathering. You can add a half cup chopped cilantro or flat leaf parsley for a different taste, or even a little dill, but my family loves it plain with chips. It’s so easy to make, and tastes much better than store bought. You may even want to double the recipe… we do!

Dessert!

We like dessert as much as the next person, but we don’t indulge in processed sugar or dairy. So here’s a couple of recipes that we enjoy…

These brownies are a favorite in our home. We like them gooey. You can add chopped walnuts if desired. We use Cacao because it is the pure form of baking cocoa. You can even add a couple drops of Peppermint essential oil or Orange essential oil. I think that I love this recipe best because I don’t need to worry about gaining weight eating them. They are healthy, whole food nutrition. Plus there are no cravings afterwards. They are quite rich and heavier than normal brownies, so cut the squares small. Recipe was adapted from a recipe from April Ashcroft. Here’s her blog: http://health4lifecooking.blogspot.com/

My family LOVES this. The Cacao butter is actually very good for gut health and digestion while raw cacao or chocolate is a strong antioxidant! I buy both on Amazon. When I make it I use pure maple syrup. We also like adding 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and a pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt. It’s satisfying and wonderful without the wax or processed sugars and other scary ingredients in store bought chocolate. We prefer really dark chocolate, so we just use ¼ c. sweetener.

A Little Preparation…

It also helps to be prepared for any little occurrences that might make the day trying…

Grab a bag and put a few items in there now to be prepared! Having things on hand and ready to go will insure a happy and memorable experience!(for the right reasons)  We don’t want to end up in a Funniest Videos! Did you know that if it’s a hot day, you can be prepared with a glass spray bottle of water with 10 drops of peppermint. Spray on the back of the neck and/or chest for a cooling sensation that will last a while.

Enjoy the holiday! God bless America!

As we draw to the close of 2015, our hearts are drawn to the blessings we’ve enjoyed though out the past year… dear friends, family, good health, laughter, joy and prosperity.

Our Monson Boys

Our 6 grandsons have brought us such delight with their individual personalities. We have loved laughing with them and watching their growth and their accomplishments.

Our Smith Boys

Geoff & I feel so blessed to have been able to enjoy another year together just living life. We’ve continued to enjoy visiting with family and friends along with the ever delightful blessing of eating! Yes, Geoff is a foodie and loves finding a healthy restaurant that serves delicious food! He spoils me so!

This year we celebrated 40 years of marriage! We have both expressed how blessed and amazed we are that we put up with each other all these years. I was such a baby at 19 years old when we married! I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that Geoff has always been committed and devoted to me. We often laugh and wonder why!

We are so proud of our family and enjoy so much hearing of all the goings on! We are grateful for cousins, aunts & uncles, sisters, nieces & nephews who love us and continue to keep in touch. Brian & his family enjoy traveling and spending time abroad any chance they get! We are so grateful that he works in a job that allows him to take his family on such amazing adventures! Kristi has continued in her athletic businesses and is currently performing in a dinner house locally! She amazes us with her strength and determination! We are ever grateful for Geoff’s ability to work and provide for us as I continue to build my health, energy and oils businesses. It appears to be very promising that he will be able to retire sooner than expected because of the blessings of having these businesses given to us!

At this time of year when people gather their families together to celebrate the birth of the Savior, our hearts and minds are focused upon the sacred gift He is. We have leaned upon His Atonement for strength many times and felt a powerful peace that only it can provide. Our hearts swell with gratitude for this divine gift.

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season, may your hearts be filled with love and may the new year bring prosperity and hope abounding! Thank you for your association with us. We love you!

We look forward to sharing 2016 with you!