Update: Less Sugars, More Stones (Or More Pics Of Food With A Side Of Ruby)

 I'm here with an update. A couple weeks in on this journey of health. I feel better. And, "better is better"! (Dad):) It's not some significant or obvious change, more so a gentle shift. I am beginning to sleep better. With the help, for the time being, of melatonin. Not to mention, my wife getting up with the baby. Although, even he has been quite accommodating by beginning to sleep much longer stretches and even through the entire night some nights! Hooray for Bubba! 

My diet has been a bit of a struggle. Just a bit though. I am happily eating more nuts, seeds, salads (yay warmer weather foods) and berries. I have eggs on standby at all times. Hard boiled. Soft boiled. Over easy. Scrambled. You name it. I can also say, even as of this moment right now as I write this, I'm realizing my sugar cravings have lessened. Do I still want a piece of chocolate after a meal? Yes! In time I absolutely will. For now however, I'm staying true to the nutritional overhaul Bree has me on and I am replacing all sugars with honey and maple only. FYI, the honey sesame bites from Peters Cornucopia have saved me! Alongside my prayer and meditation practice, of which I feel more driven and in love with than ever before I think, I love taking those moments, even if just a second or two to find peace. 

 I am adding to my stone family. The newest members being a quartz crystal pendant and a brand new baby, a raw ruby hand picked for me by my dear sweet personal stone shopper, Christina. I have a beautiful new mala I can wear on my wrist made with love by Becka (who just so happens to be part of the support team I mentioned in my last post). Just having such a meditative and centering tool I can carry with me at all times gives me such peace of mind and heart. 

 Meat. Hmmm what to say. Well, I have made conscious efforts to include some animal protein in my diet for this beginning phase. I have had a bit of turkey and chicken. Finding an organic whole chicken in out of farmers market season made me happy:) We cooked it low and slow in the crockpot and the family gobbled it up! Even Maxine raved! We are attempting to incorporate the idea of that common trend of "one night a week" meal planning. Most folks are doing one night a week vegetarian just to give it a try and introduce a new way of eating into their lives. We are doing the same yet the opposite. One night a week we strive for some meat in our meal. For now:) We do eat fish and seafood though so they make up for the rest of our weekly protein, that isn't vegetable or legume/beans. 

 Herbs 3x a day? Check! Get out and move my body? Check! (lately I've been walking twice a day outdoors!) Avoiding the addictive drug that is sugar? Check!!! The basic stripped down truth...I feel lighter in a way (without actually losing a pound yet). I feel good though. An overall thumbs up sort of GOOD! I feel better! And once again, better is most definitely better! 

Be well and enjoy the moments! And of course, the food pics below:) 

...but first, lets begin with a picture of these beauties. raw quartz crystal, raw ruby and my wooden mala. all beneficial in just the right healing process. i cant explain how much we love our healing stones filled with amazing earthly vibrations. and ruby is my birthstone and holds amazing vibrations for the heart chakra. LOVE!

an easy lunch made with left over gluten free pasta. olive oil and some parm cheese with a handful of kelp flakes are tossed through the pasta and topped with burst tomatoes! clean, healthy and easy. yum!

homemade granola comes in super easy, affordable and custom flavored. we love to top our yogurt or just add a little almond milk and its a great snack or breakfast.

a mid week meal so quick and easy. fresh scallops from the fish counter grilled on the cast iron. thinly sliced sweet potatos take nothing more than salt, pepper and drizzle of olive oil. a chopped salad with shredded veggies and avocado rounds out the healthy dish full! 

because its not quite summer juicing weather yet i cannot seem to wait! freshly juiced cucumber, kale, lime and pear make for a delicious and nutritious blast of minerals and vitamins. if you dont yet,you MUST juice for health!

we always keep at least a dozen hard boiled eggs on hand. easy protein for a quick snack, addd them to salads, deviled or an egg salad on rice cake or lettuce wrap. we buy only organic local eggs...and when we are lucky, momma brings us eggs from Saratoga given generously by a friend with her own sweet gorgeous chickens!