Zucchini Chips! & Paprika benefits

I recently saw a recipe floating around Facebook on zucchini chips. I am all about finding new and creative, not to mention yummy, ways to incorporate more veggies in my family's diet so I decided to give it a try. And the fact that there are tons of zucchini at the farmers market right now helps too. ;)

It was super easy! All I did was thinly sliced up 2 medium size green zucchini. (you could use your favorite) I tossed it with about 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil along with a little garlic salt and black pepper. 

I spread the zucchini in an even layer on my cookie sheet and then for the magic ingredient - Paprika!!! I sprinkled this over the top.

I baked them for about 25-30 minutes at 400 degrees. (You can play around with your oven temp if you have a hotter oven). They were crispy and delicious! Even my kids loved them. I did have some that were too thin and burned so watch your pan to avoid that.

The key ingredient is paprika because it adds SO many health benefits! Did you know that? And you only need a little each day to gain some great benefits from the vitamins it has as well as the antioxidants. Some of those benefits include:

Hair Health

Skin Health

Digestive Health

Helps with Sleep

Lowering blood pressure

Boosting metabolism

Helps maintain energy

And more! If there are things on this list you are looking for, consider adding some paprika to your diet regularly. It is easy to add to soups and different recipes. I also have other suggestions through supplementation that could help with those health issues as well in case you need a bigger boost. Please contact me for more ideas.

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy some Zucchini chips soon and let me know what you think of them.

And remember that our June Shaklee specials are ending soon! Check them out and take advantage of the free products (Free Stress Relief complex and free Shaklee 180 Mango smoothee) AND free shipping we have going this month. Check with me for the details. There's never a better time to take charge of your health then right now and I can help you do that. :)

~Rebecca~

Midwest Girl Moves South!

It's official! My family has moved from Indiana to Mississippi! This is the 5th state I have lived in and so far it is a surprising contender for one of my favorites. I have already caught myself comparing it to my beloved favorite, Iowa. Each state that I have lived holds a special place. Iowa was where I found music therapy, my faith AND my husband! So you can understand why it is a favorite! Wisconsin was where it all started and I spent the first 23 years of my life! I have lifelong friends in Wisconsin and also most of my family is there. David and I lived in Southern California for about 6-7 years and also made some lifelong friendships there as well as some amazing adventures. And Indiana was where we bought our first home and had our babies along with some wonderful friends.  I always thought at some point David and I would move our family back to Iowa where we first met and also got engaged but now that we are here in Oxford I am not so sure!

What I love about Oxford, MS so far:

The people! Hands down this is the difference from most other places I have lived. Don't get me wrong, there were certainly nice people in the other states I have lived. But no where have we been where people say hi to you every where you go. Every neighbor gives you a wave as you drive or walk through the neighborhood. People are continually making EYE contact and smiling and saying hello and are very welcoming. I used to think that was a midwest thing, but I really have to say that southerners really do this so much more from the experiences we have had so far. I do remember Fr. Ed at the Newman center in Iowa City saying he could always tell the students who weren't from Iowa at the start of the semester because they looked freaked out by everyone making eye contact and smiling on the street. That is kind of how I feel here at times! lol

My boys on the square with William Faukner, who lived in Oxford.

We were at JCP the other day ordering drapes for my youngest's bedroom so maybe just maybe he would sleep past 7am. The woman helping us was so nice. We started talking about how we just moved here and I mentioned how nice everyone was. She mentioned how she went to visit her dad who lives in the north and the people were not nice to her at all! I was sad to hear her say this because she was so sweet, but I was absolutely shocked when I asked where in the north he lives and she said MILWAUKEE!!!!! Gah! That happens to be near my home town…

That made me wonder, has it been like this all the time and my perception is just different since I grew up in the midwest? Or are people changing slowly over time? Are things like social media and our devices getting in the way of actually having human contact and making an effort to recognize another person on the street and say hello? Is the south the last stand for that to eventually change here too? Does living in the Bible belt have anything to do with it? Is faith in general, just stronger here and it shows in how people interact? I was surprised, no maybe shocked is a better word, when we were at the cell phone store recently getting new phones and the 20 something single guy helping us asked at one point if we had found a church here yet. I immediately reached for my cross neckless to see if it was showing and it wasn't. It's just a common question here and an assumption that you go to church. Does this have something to do with Southern hospitality? Is this part of the reason why so many people have told me they moved here for a job, planned to stay no more then 5 years, and here it is 20-30 years later and they "ain't leaving"?!? Could be!

Until recently, I hadn't really spent any time in the south. But I am glad we are here and for my boys to experience southern hospitality. I feel like we are making our home here and maybe just maybe in a few years when someone asks me of the 5 states I have lived which is my favorite, I may just say Mississippi. And y'all are more then welcome to visit any time.  

The next time you are planning a vacation, I encourage you to try the south. You may not want to leave either. :)

Thanks for reading! Have a great day!

~Rebecca~

We Moved! And Free Gift Offer

Hey Y'all! :) I realize I need to think about changing my midwest green living blog name to southern green living because my family has moved to Mississippi!!! I never thought I would say that! Although, I never thought I would live in California and I did that too for 6 years. So far we love it here! The people, the food, our new home and neighborhood and my husbands new job. Everyone is very nice and welcoming. 

So that is why I have been MIA recently. So much packing and now unpacking! Moving is a lot of work and I told my husband that I really hope we love it here because I don't plan to move again for a VERY long time! :)

We took Memorial Day weekend to travel here and visited friends and saw some sites along the way. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky was so neat! I highly recommend!

And now I am getting back to work and blogging, which in all honesty, doesn't feel like work at all. 

I want to share the wonderful June special Shaklee is running before June gets away from me!

For the month of June, all new members and distributors in Shaklee with at least a 50 PV order will receive…..

A FREE Stress Relief Complex!!!

Membership to Shaklee is like joining Sams or Costco but without annual fees or minimum requirements. It just gives you extra discounts and perks along the way and a great way to save.

Membership is 19.95 but I recommend starting with Vitalizer, which is the most complete dietary supplement you can find and the best quality! And with any Vitalizer order, your membership fee will be Waived for you!!! It's a wonderful deal and will give you this great free gift in June too!

Stress Relief Complex is a wonderful product that helped me to get through my youngest's early birth and NICU stay, as well as general day to day stress. Here is some info:

We all have stress, right? It's a normal part of life and being human. Here are some of the bodies responses to stress:

Stress affects many areas of our body and our health. Proper management of stress through exercise, eating properly, faith and prayer life, friendships, etc can help manage it. And I have found that Shaklee's Stress Relief Complex is another way to help take the edge off stressful times.

To take advantage of this great deal please visit my site HERE.  And ask me how you can also get FREE Shipping this month too!! 

If you aren't familiar with Shaklee, it is the #1 natural nutrition company in the nation and something I grew up with. The quality of the products and the integrity of the company is something I have not seen elsewhere. Shaklee has something for everyone. Not luxuries but everyday products we use in our homes. Check out more HERE.

Thanks for stopping in!

~Rebecca~

May Special Announced!

We have another new and great special for new people to Shaklee! 

I was really excited about this one because the free product is our Omega 3 fatty acid supplement (fish oil) - OmegaGuard!!!!

I take this every day! What are omega 3s good for?

Heart Health

Arthritis pain

Depression

Baby development for expectant mothers to take

Asthma

ADHD

Brain Health, Memory, Attention

Basically they are good for everyone, including kids!

What's special about Shaklee's OmegaGuard?

Shaklee uses a triple distillation process to take out all contaminants and things that just should not be there. We use cold water fish for this. It is so hard to find a pure fish oil these days because our water supplies are so contaminated. So many people are eating less fish and afraid to supplement. Fear no more! Know that with all Shaklee products you get the best quality that is tested and retested by 3rd parties to ensure it is pure and good for you and your family. Shaklee is the #1 natural nutrition company in the US and something I grew up with as my parents have been using shaklee since 1975!

Don't miss out on this awesome deal! Contact me for more detail or check out my website today to learn more and get started!

This special is good to new members and distributors in Shaklee with a minimum 50 PV order in May, 2014.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

~Rebecca~

Earth Day Special for April!

It has been way too long for me to post! So sorry. Life has gotten a lot busier with our upcoming move to Mississippi in May! Easter was busy too with my church choir. But I didn't want to miss posting to share with you the great Earth Day special for you!!! This special ends April 30!

When new or current Shaklee members in my group order a Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit from me, I will give you a FREE Scour off Heavy duty paste! (note the link to the starter kit is with our regular scent laundry detergent. Also comes in a fragrance free)

I have posted about Shaklee cleaners before so you can read HERE how I de-toxed my home and now only use 3 cleaners for the entire thing!

I grew up with Shaklee products as my parents have been using their cleaners and whole-food supplements since 1975! I love using them with my own young family as they are completely safe, work really well and save us money because they are so concentrated! See this cost comparison to understand the value you are getting.

Shaklee's Basic H organic concentrate cleaner was the first Earth Day product in 1970. This is a great product because it works on so many different things (windows, counters, floors, cars, stains, rinse aide in the dishwasher, bug spray, cleaning produce, etc)

Shaklee cleaners are so safe that if your little ones or pets got into them, they would not harm them.

Our scour off paste (you know, the free product with a Get clean kit) will last you 1-3 years! And it is great for any heavy duty scouring cleaning like ovens, stoves, showers, tubs, grime, etc. It is made of cherry pits and smells so good! 

None of Shaklee cleaners will burn your nose hairs off. Good to know, right! You can throw away your cleaning gloves and masks to clean with. You will not need them as our cleaners are so safe, even on your skin and in your lungs.

A starter kit gives you everything you need and has the equivalent of $3400 in conventional cleaners you would find at any store!! That is some great savings for your wallet as well as the earth!

To take advantage of this great Earth Day special, you can shop at my site HERE. Add the Get Clean Starter kit to your cart as well as the scour off heavy duty paste and anything else that catches your eye. And don't forget to add your Shaklee membership (19.95) so you can get this deal with me if you aren't already a member or distributor in my group. This is a lifetime membership that will give you 15% off of this order and any order in the future! There are no minimum requirements or annual fees with Shaklee membership so it is a great deal and my group offers other nice perks along the way too.

Offer good today through April 30, 2014

Thanks for checking in and be sure to contact me with questions! Thanks and have a wonderful week!!

~Rebecca~

Natural Options for Your Medicine Cabinet

I get asked questions often about what I use for…headaches, earaches, infections… Many of you know I am married to a pharmacist so you may think we have a lot of medication in our house. But if you have been to my house you probably know that is not the case. Don't get me wrong, I know that medication can be important and even save lives. So I always say to check with your doctor before stopping or changing medications on your own. But I thought to share a nice chart that has been floating around the internet lately with some natural options for common health concerns, through the #1 natural nutrition company in the US - Shaklee! In my home, we really don't have medication, especially prescription meds as we are able to help prevent most illness with things seen here:

Through Shaklee, we are able to help prevent illness, which saves us time and money on doctor visits, medication and missed school and work days and missed activities. Here is how I organize our supplements in our pantry that keep us healthy. Of course we don't take all of these every day! Just like your medicine cabinet, we have some for those "just in case" days.

Here is why my family chooses Shaklee:

Shaklee started in 1956 (my parents have been using Shaklee since 1975!) and a few things are known to be true - 

Shaklee products are always safe. We test and retest through 3rd party testing to make sure our products are free of harmful things for our bodies. We do not add artificial anything.

Shaklee products are always green. We have led the "green" movement and have been a green company before it was popular. Shaklee's signature Basic H concentrate cleaner was the first Earth Day product in 1970!

Shaklee products always work. The science is there in over 100 published studies. We have patents on our products and go above and beyond what the FDA requires.

Here's a quick video on the Shaklee difference and why someone would choose Shaklee. The average amount of time Shaklee consumers have been using our products is over 17 years! Would you continue to use a product for that long if you didn't like it or it didn't work for you?

One thing I love about sharing Shaklee with other people is that there is something for everyone.

If there are some things in this post that are interesting to you and things you may be looking for, let's talk soon! I would love to share our February specials that end 2/28/14 where you can get a Free Shaklee Membership, Free Shaklee 180 Latte Smoothee canister and from me, Free Shipping! Ask me for the details or find them HERE.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

~Rebecca~

Homemade Pizza? Yes, Please!!

I have two little boys who look alike, are close in age, and like many of the same toys. But one area where they seem to be polar opposites these days is their taste in food. So when I can find something that they both enjoy, I need to blog about it so I don't forget! lol

The other night my husband was working late so I thought I would make a homemade pizza with the kids. It didn't take too long and was a healthier pizza choice then frozen or take out.

I found this easy, no-yeast, crust recipe online. The only suggestion I would make would be to pre bake the crust about 5 minutes before putting toppings on to make it a bit crispier. It doesn't have to look perfect so just roll it out as you like it.

I did substitute 1/2 cup of the flour for this awesome Baking Protein for a little extra nutrition. It doesn't lose any nutrients when heated.

I also used about 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and the rest all purpose. But you could use whatever you like. I also mixed in about a TBSP of Chia seeds into the crust for extra omegas and fiber. If you are not familiar with Chia seeds, you need to be! They are easy to add to recipes, soups, smoothees, etc and are a sort of super food.

After I got the crust going I quickly cut up veggies for my half of the pizza. My kids don't like cooked veggies but they will eat them raw. so I left some out for them to eat on the side. 

I sautéed  chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, mushrooms and I added fresh spinach right onto the pizza.

I made my sauce with approximately 3 oz of tomato sauce, 2 oz of tomato paste to thicken it, oregano, basil, fresh garlic, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and about a tsp of raw honey to sweeten it. 

(sorry for all of you who love to measure. I never do which is why I would never be able to write a cookbook! Just add flavor to taste and go easy on the salt. Most of the time you don't even need it or much of it)

I picked up some fresh pepperoni from the deli that day and topped it with that but sometimes I will sauté  chicken or use ground chicken or turkey.  Pepperoni just saves me time but it has a lot of sodium so that is another reason to go easy on the salt with the sauce and veggies.

I shredded my favorite colby jack cheese (it happened to be what I had on hand and I am kind of drawn to the name. lol.  use your favorite) and then put it all together and baked at 400 for about 15-20 minutes until the crust was browned and cheese melted.

It.Tasted.Awesome!

both of my kids loved it and kept asking for more. Goes nice with a green salad too.

Let me know if you try this recipe or have another to share that your kids love!

Thanks for checking in. Sorry I have been a bit MIA lately. Life is busy and business is going well. Don't forget to check out the awesome Shaklee specials and free shipping this month!

~Rebecca~