GFCF Pumpkin Muffins

Found this recipe on www.foodgawker.com (one of my favorite websites for recipes).

It is a "normal" recipe, but was able to easily turn it into GFCF with some substitutions.
(GF all purpose flour,egg substitute and of course GFCF spices and vanilla).

3 1/3 cp GF AP flour
2 1/3 cp sugar
1/3 cup veg. oil
1 15 oz GF can pumpkin puree
4 eggs (used egg sub.)
2/3 cp. water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. all spice
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix the wet.
Mix the dry.
Mix together.

Makes two bread loaves or one bread loaf and a dozen muffins.
350 until done (about an hour).

Best pumpkin muffins yet.

confession time and re-start

It has been a rough few weeks at the Snell compound.
Between the up's and down's with the pregnancy and surrounding folk's health, Little Lou's behavior has been beyond challenging- it is like we were back at square one.
So frustrating. and heart breaking.

The past few weeks there were times where I wasn't paying as close attention to the food I (or more so, others) were feeding her. I have been so pre-occupied (slash exhausted) that as long as it was kind of 'ok' we would gamble; and I kept finding really clever ways to justify the short cuts:
Example:
I gave her turkey that wasn't GFCF (but we were at my parents, so options were limited and I was too tired to go to the store and she was starving!)
We stopped and got her Burgerville fries (cause she was starving and what harm could the gluten-y oil do?)
She was begging for cereal so I gave her some Rice Krispies (maybe the malt in it was small enough it wouldn't effect her?)

I just couldn't get it together anymore- being 100% was kicking my ass.
Waking up at 5:45a to stand on my feet (baking) with Mr. Finn pressing down on the pelvis.
Preparing and cooking dinners during naps, when all I could do was fall asleep with the kids.
Preparing meals and snacks to go, when each day was throwing us with so many curve balls I never knew what to pack or how much.

Slowly but surely, there went Quinn and out came the autism and SPD barriers.


Confession time:
I was so caught up in the challenging day to day cycles that I couldn't muster up the energy to step aside, breathe, and make changes.
I was watching this life get harder and harder and just praying that tomorrow would be different. That we would wake up and Quinn's neurological system had healed itself...I was doing everything 75% right, why couldn't that be good enough?

Praying, hoping.
But not doing.

I don't expect miracles out of this body and mind, but I do expect myself to rise to the occasion when I am cognitively aware of some short comings.


We can do this.
WE CAN DO THIS!

Back to the basics it is:
planning, support group finding, prepping, learning and reading.
The priority in our life is health and wellness for our family- 100% may not be in my grasp right now, but if I aim for 95%, give myself some slack, and breathe a lot more...I think we'll get closer to the zen we pray and hope for.

Pickin' Time: Peaches

We love us some peaches!
Grammy was finally well enough to go out and play with us- so we took her out to Jossy Farms for some peach pickin'.

Today we canned our 65 pounds of peaches: jammed, quartered, pie filling galore.
So thankful my mom is back in business- we missed her!

Art Therapy

Giving the girls time each day to express through creation has been a big priority of mine for a few years now.
The rhythm they find, the still-ness they have and the creativity they express is crucial for their little developing brains and self expression.

It also gives me some time, during the crazies of our days, to sit, breathe, play and just enjoy my kids.

Today: trees.

A Bunch of Sick-ies

Been a rough summer for sickness:

21 day virus for baby ladies
Pre eclampsia kicking in
Diabetes (full on and scary) started for my mom
Kidney failure for my mom
Pre eclampsia getting worse
Baby ladies have a summer cold

Scariest:
My mom's kidney failure. She spent two days in ICU at St. Vincent's Hospital- then was sent upstairs for another few days.
So, I spent 2 days in ICU and a few days munching on hospital food and napping bed side. (best 'bed rest' I ever had actually).
She is healing now, and although her future kidney function is yet to be determined, I could not be more grateful for having my mom near, alive, and on her way to healthy.

(A HUGE special thank you to the friends and family who helped our family during this scary time- watching the girls, making dinners, supporting, visiting, loving).

Monday I go to my perinatologist to have another non stress test on Mr. Finn- game plan to be determined for his delivery. Blood pressure has steadily been climbing, and protein in urine is nearing the tipping point.
SO, so, so crazy to think in a week, or two we will be a family of five- just in time for Quinny to go back to school, and for me to start on Halloween costumes (yes, I start two months in advanced making and planning their costumes).

All in all, we are hanging in (almost didn't make it through this last heat wave- Jesus can be cruel sometimes!)- and looking forward to a healthy, fabulous future.

Love. Kindness. Friendship.

Two days ago I started to go into labor- after dialating to a two, the doctor was able to calm down contractions and put me on modified bed rest for the next week and a half (until I am considered "full term").
Last night my contractions started back up, so back in to Labor and Delivery we went.

(Side Bar: One of the main reasons we moved to Yamhill was the desire to be apart of a community. To feel connected to our neighbors, be a voice in the schools and to feel like we could make an impact on other's lives. Some of our dearest friends (Eric, Amber, and their three kids) also live in Yamhill, and make that community SO much sweeter).

Last night, without hesitation, Amber jumped over to our house to hold down the fort while we were hospital hoppin'. She stayed there until 10p until her AMAZING 15 year old daughter, Taylor, came over and stayed until 1 A.M. when we got home. (Super sweet coming home to Taylor sleeping SO hard on our couch, all cuddled up in blankets- I almost didn't wake her, she looked so cozy).

Today- I stayed at my parents house and when I got home, I found I had had a little visit from that same friend fairy.
In my fridge there were meals that were pre-cooked for us.

Unreal.

That wonderful, thoughtful, strong willed, loyal, fun, generous friend Amber was at it again.
I didn't even ask for help- she just gave it.

To Amber, Eric, Tay Tay and the rest of that crazy clan:
Thank you, for loving us, supporting us, and being such a consistent form of community.
We love and appreciate you all.
xoxo

Project: for a Friend

The same wonderful friend, who is moving in a few weeks, needed a proper "be seeing you" gift.
Without fail, I am the worst gift giver, ever. I seem to panic, and my brain turns to mush when I try to put thought into the process. Especially when the intent of the gift is to be thoughtful- just real real tough.
In this case, I wanted to make something that every time she would use, she would think of us and think of love.

The other day Lou, Roo and I were doing an art project and Quinny made the most incredible picture (I cut out shapes with paper and told her to create- she choice to make flowers):

Wonderful, right?

This picture inspired me: what if I took Lou's vision and turned it into a tote bag!

First off: The Tote Bag.
I had no pattern, but I looked at my Lands End tote, and had an idea of what to do.
It took me a nap time (1.5 hours) and I was super happy with the results.

Second: Felt Flower Pieces.
I used Bamboo/ Rayon felt, and found colors that were close to Lou's picture.
I pinned them on, one by one and then sewed with my machine.

Final Tote:

The cotton fabric and felt was around $7, it took about 3 hours total, and it is full of love.

PS- a big thanks to my Mom for letting me bring my machine and crazy kids to her house so I could keep working after the kids woke up from a nap. Luxury.