Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Mocktail

Summer is coming to an end and the cooler weather is starting to show its face.  But I have to share this yummy summer drink especially for all you expecting mamas out there or even any woman for that matter because this drink is for all of us woman!

Red Raspberry Leaf is considered to be the "woman herb"!  It holds so many benefits for all woman especially pregnant mamas!  It has been known to help with the flu, morning sickness, diarrhea, gum disease, fever, hangovers, postpartum depression, balance out hormones during the postpartum time, breast milk supply, menstrual flow,  and most popular helps during labor.  This herb has been shown to help strengthen the uterus in order for it to contract more efficiently during labor.  Which can help make childbirth easier and possibly faster.  So of course this should be considered the "woman herb", look at all these benefits just for us ladies!  This is an herb with centuries of safe use but please check with your midwife/doctor before using it.   

I drank Red Raspberry Leaf tea throughout both of my pregnancies and continue to drink it for all the vitamins and benefits it gives!  Maybe it will even make me a super woman!  Let's hope!  So with this last pregnancy, a close girlfriend of mine shared this yummy summer drink recipe with me.  It was perfect on the warm days when I was craving something cold.  I loved it when I was pregnant and continue to love it!

So for all you ladies out there, especially the ones growing a precious lil babe, try this out!

RASPBERRY LEAF TEA MOCKTAIL
Brew 5-6 bags of Raspberry Leaf Tea in 1 litre of boiling water for 5-6 minutes and chill.

Mix in 2 cups of apple juice, and 2 cups of soda water (you might want to play around with quantities here, to get the taste exactly right for you.)

Pour it over some ice and go crazy with the garnish.  I love it with fresh raspberries, a wedge of lemon, or even a sprig of mint.

Enjoy!

Peacefully,

Alyson

"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful; it's that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm

Wordless Wednesday

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~Elizabeth Stone

Brother Love and Menu Love

Since the minute we told my three year old son that he was going to be a big brother, he had many questions that led to a ton of excitement.  We had lots of talks about if the baby was going to be a brother or a sister, what it means to be a brother, and who mommy and daddy's brothers and sisters were.  

But I don't think he fully grasped the concept of being a big brother till our little one was born.  I will never ever forget the moment when Ayden met Asher.  I will forever remember the way he tried to hide his pure excitement behind his shy smile and his big eyes wide open with curiosity!  It is so hard to describe the emotion, excitement, and love Ayden had that moment in time.  I couldn't help myself but to cry those tears of overwhelming love when I saw Ayden look at Asher for the first time.  Ayden was so calm and compassionate to me and Asher.  He kept giving Asher little kisses and then he would look up at me and just put his hand on my cheek so softly.  It was the sweetest moment in my life.  My heart was so full and so warm.  I knew from that moment that these two boys were going to be the best of friends. 

With all the sweet moments that come with sibling love, we are still working on what it means to be gentle and calm around little brother.  I believe it could be like opening a Christmas present that you can't play with right away.  Ayden just wants to play with his little brother who he loves so dearly but is trying so very hard to understand that his little brother just can't play quite yet.  It has been a challenge but we are working on it. 

So for now we are working on singing songs to little brother, making him smile, and showing him all the amazing things that big brother wants to show him.....footballs, books, bubbles, jumping skills!  Soon the wrestling, digging, soccer playing, and fort building will be happening!

Now that my baby boy has been more awake and noticing the world around him, he has been in awe with his big brother.  Asher will just sit and stare at Ayden with this look of amazement.  I can tell from just the little looks and smiles he gives his big brother that he loves him so much already!  It is incredible to just sit and watch them together and watch their bond grow! 

Okay...On to menu planning.  I am back!  I am back to full on menu planning!  After my son was born we had so many of our amazing family and friends bring us meals, that I didn't have to think about what to make for several weeks.  It was such a blessing and we are so grateful for our loved ones who helped us out.  I also froze several meals as well.  I didn't even have to think about menu planning till the past month!   I am excited to try new recipes and share them.  And pretty soon I will be including a whole section of this blog to making your own baby food.  One of my favorite things I did with my first  son!  Stay tuned!  Of course all of our meals are organically and sustainably made as much as possible! This weeks menu is full of vegetables that we grew ourselves in our backyard and our little farm we grow on!

MENU:  

MONDAY:  Salmon burgers, green salad, and kale chips  

TUESDAY:  Rustic Italian Tortellini Soup

WEDNESDAY:  Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce and spinach salad

THURSDAY:  Leftovers

FRIDAY:  Baked Salmon, Parmesan Stuffed Tomatoes, and Green Bean Salad

SATURDAY-  Quinoa with currants, dill, and zucchini topped with a fried egg

SUNDAY-  Healthy Tuna Melt and Avocado-Corn Salad

What are you cooking this week?

Peacefully,

Alyson

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero."  ~Marc Brown

Happy Anniversary to my best friend

Today in my home we are celebrating two years of marriage and love!  Two years ago I married my love, my best friend, and soul mate.  I feel blessed every day to be walking this journey with him.   I couldn't imagine my life without him.  Plus I am super blessed to have a husband that goes along with all my crazy ideas!  Thanks babe!

We were blessed with the most beautiful day on the Oregon Coast!  Very rare!   It was almost like the day was meant for us to be there in that exact place uniting our love!  

I usually end my posts with a quote but today I am choosing to share with you the song we chose for our first dance as a married couple.  We choose this song because it symbolizes the friendship we have on top of true love for each other.  Plus it is one of our favorites to road trip to and sing obnoxiously loud in the car together.  Enjoy!  

P.S.  I am joining the blogging world again with a full force next week.  I needed to get a good routine down in order to find time to blog.  Late night blogging here I come.  Stay tuned to more frequent posts about babies,  preschoolers, mommyhood, pregnancy, life, and saving this planet one blog post at a time!