Inside my kitchen today...

Take a look into what a kitchen looks like when you make everything from scratch! 

It's amazing how much perperation you have to do when making "Real Food" every day. 

There is no "Babe will you run through Taco Bell before you get home, I had a bad day" Or "Let's get pizza tonight I don't feel like baking" 

 I decided this for myself and my family but I wanted to be very clear it's not always pretty! (like the picture above) There are hard days when making supper is the last thing I want to do. But when I have a clear list of what's for supper each week , it does make it easier. 

I do make everything from scratch because it's the best thing for our health. It also taste so much better then everything I've had, including taco bell! I'm not a perfect "Chef" if that's what you would call me. But I do put a lot of love into what I make (Newly wed thing) 

So here is what I made today!

First thing I needed to do was soak the dates for the dessert I was making for Cain to take to work tomorrow. 

Next I make Cain a Cream Cheese Chicken lettus wrap (Left over chicken from the "Whole Chicken (Crock Pot)" << Recipe

After that I made a quick trip to Kroger's. Around 8:00am they mark down the meat that is about to go bad. It's my favorite kind of meat... not because it's about to go bad but because it's cheaper!!! 

I found a awesome deal on pork tenderloin so I decided to change up my dinner plans and have pork. 

When I got home I needed to make a marinade for the pork that I've been wanting to make. That didn't take long but getting spices out and back out again can be a pain! Once my pork was in the fridge with the marinade I finished the dessert by processing the dates with unsweetened coconut and pecans. And after they were set I added chocolate!... They are called No Bake German Chocolate bits << Recipe 

All stored and ready for Cain to take when he leaves at 5:15am.... AM! I dislike waking up that early!

After taking Cain his lunch, doing a little apartment searching (Our lease is about up!) I went to my Biolife appointment then came home to start packing for the weekend.

Most every weekend we make our way to my parents house because we go to church with them on Sunday's. It makes it easier to be there Saturday night so we don't have to wake up extra early on Sundays.

I also schedule pictures for the weekend home too! I have a great session this Saturday! Along with the Notre Dame game... going to be a great weekend!

So not only do I have to pack clothes for a couple days worth for us. I have to prepare all the food I will be bringing for me to eat. I am a little more picky with my food then my mom or even Cain. Even though they do make great choices. I am really trying to heal my body from years of eating junk. So I no longer am eating sugar..... *Gasp! I know haha all sugar too! Even honey and maple syrup! The "Good" stuff right?

Well what I am finding out even more then ever is ... listen up.... this is good stuff...  Sugar is Sugar! If it comes in the form of table sugar or honey. It's sugar once it hits your blood stream. And one of the only ways to heal your cells is to stop eating what's damaging them.

Okay enough about that (UNLESS you want to know more about healing your body, then please email me and I would love to pass on some great information!)

I needed to make Cain's lunch for tomorrow so I went ahead and got that in the crock pot later this afternoon. It's one of our favorite meals ... Buffalo Meat Balls with Ranch sauce. I got the recipe from Maria Mind Body Health Slow Cooker book. It's been one of my favorite recipe books yet!

I even made her Sub Bread << today for Cain to have with the meat balls! A much better choice then eating Yoga mat! Yoga mat?! you might think. YES! That's what's in SubWay bread. Hopefully not much longer though thanks to Food Babe <<

So for tonight's supper I made Bacon wrapped Pork Tenderloin with a side of cucumber salad :) UM!

You can find this recipe pretty much anywhere but I got mine from Ruled Me << Meal plan.

Phew! With all food packed for Cain tomorrow, my food packed for the weekend and supper cleaned up I am ready to call it a night!

But just for the night, because its up bright and early to make Cain breakfast before he leaves for work tomorrow!

Even though, yes.. making food from scratch is more time consuming and can make a mess at times. It's all worth it when I know my body is happy with what's being put inside.

Mrs. Grogg

Get the weekend started

Before I start my day of editing pictures, preparing supper, prepping food for me to eat this weekend, packing up for the weekend (Heading to my moms!) and oh yeah, showering..... I thought I would write this blog post!

We have a some what busy weekend I would say. Today will be normal for me with editing pictures. Cain is at Parkview working his 12 hour shift. And tonight Sam, our cousin is coming over to spend the night, because tomorrow the boys are heading to South Bend for a Notre Dame game!

Last week Sam asked Cain if he would go with him tomorrow to the game. I was first upset that I couldn't go because I will be photographing the Montpelier Queen Contest tomorrow. But then I was alright knowing it was Sam asking. Anyone else I would have been still upset ;)

But I don't mind one bit that Cain gets to go with not only Sam but his brother too! It all worked out and I hope they have a great day. And go Irish!

When Cain started at Parkview I was so excited because well, he had a great job. AND I could bake treats for the nurses on the floor he works on. I am always looking for someone to bake treats for, not counting Cain of course haha. I bake for him enough :p

Today they got this "No-bake Pecan Pie Bars"

I haven't heard yet if they like them or not, but Cain said they were amazing so I will trust him!

You can fine the recipe here > No-Bake Pecan Pie Bars

I wanted to also share these photos from last week with Graci. I'm always a week behind when sharing photos but I think she is just so beautiful I have to share even if it's a week later....

It's easy to see just as sweet and fun she is.

Well I need to get things started, wishing everyone a happy weekend!

Mrs. Grogg

Why we eat Organic

Why organic?

Here is why, straight to the point no long story. (well maybe a little!)

Non organic food means it has GMO's (Genetically modified organism) The word "Modified" means (From Dictionary.com) "To change the form of qualities of; alter partially; amend:"

Hasn't our food always had GMO's?

No. It first came into our stores in the year 1994. And since then there has been more people facing food allergies, weight gain, health troubles even infertility.

Where are the GMO's?

More then 85 percent of corn and soy crops grown in the United States come from seeds whose DNA has been rejiggered. So look on the back of the boxed food or canned drink in your home and you'll find it.

Certified organic foods leave out GMO's along with pesticides and leave you with actual real food.

Why eat food that is modified, altered or change in quality?

It's cheaper, sorta. You see farmers who grow organic foods have to go through more trouble and money to get their food in stores then non organic companies.

I said sorta because yes it might be cheaper now to buy food that has pesticides or sugar that is causing cancer....  but one day you'll have to pay more in health care cost because of those choices. So pay the farmer now or the doctor later... it's your choice in the end.

So why do we eat Organic foods?

I think I've pretty much answered it already. But here is why.

August 2009

I don't want to be sick anymore. I may not have looked, acted or felt sick the years I was eating Taco Bell every day (Yes, everyday!) But inside my body was suffering. And down the road if I would have kept up, I know it would have affected me.

We want to live full lives. Not half of it. Because eating junk food doesn't mean you're "Living it up" because You Only Live Once.... (That's sad to hear) Cain says YOLO is Carpe Diem (Seize the day) for douche bags haha. Because it actually means you are putting yourself at risk for heart, liver, and digestive problems. And the older you get the more it will become aware of what's really happening to your insides and it will start showing on the outside through pain, headaches and weight gain.

I decided to eat Organic foods not just for myself but for my future kids. Just as I decided not to drink alcohol or smoke when I was just a teenager.  I wanted a healthy, pure lifestyle for my children and that's where it started... and then overtime I realized that I wanted to add a little more to a healthy lifestyle by what I was eating to what I was putting on my body.

Everyday I learn something new that is harmful to me. And I still am not perfect and mess up a lot. But what I want to get out of this is to see my children not suffer from allergies caused by processed foods and to have energy for playing sports, be able to focus while doing school and to live a fulfilling life.

Those things I listed can happen for my future sweet babies, by what I decide to feed them. Now when they are old enough to make their own food choices I hope I can show them what's best by teaching them,  but it's on them in the end. Just like it's on you, now.

We aren't perfect like I've already said. We make adjustments here and there to make it easier on our family and friends. But there is only so much I will give in too.

Have you heard or seen this pictures before?

What it means is what we are eating today, fast foods, GMO's and processed foods is shaping us into what we will be in the future.

Now I have said all that to say... I never have and will never judge or think less of you if you don't buy organic food or even make healthier options just in general. I love my family and close friends and they know where my husband and I stand when it comes to our food choices. They have made adjustments for us and we are so thankful for that.

What we would love to see one day is our families thrive off real food and see how awesome it is to say no to processed food... not because you "Can't" eat it... but because you "won't" eat it. There is a difference and I've learned to love that.

How do we afford Organic food you might ask? I will be sharing that in the next couple of weeks.

We are a very young, newly wed couple who have to make hard choices when it comes to where to spend the little money we work hard for. Priority comes into play when we divide what we make into a budget.

If I can help just a little bit on how to make healthier choices, it means the world to me.

So just be aware, be smart and be healthy.

Mrs. Grogg

End of summer | Session recap

I've been such a busy bee these last couple of weeks. With summer ending I'm trying to spend time with my hubby while he is still on summer break, yet still have to keep up with work and everything life brings!

So I thought I would recap some of my favorite photos from the last few sessions I've had! Here are just a few of my favorites...