Research for Raw Goodness!

Since yesterday's post I have come across some fabulous blogs that are chalk-full of heath and nutrition (most all of it raw diets, but some other great information and inspiration). Not that I want to live vicariously through other people's blogs, but it does give me a sense of encouragement that a new lifestyle is possible. Here are my favorites so far: 

*Love Veggies and Yoga  

(this link is on the right side bar as well)

Oh yeah, and Love Veggies has some fun give-aways! Here's one that is going on right now for all you Tazo Tea lovers! 

* The Eco Diva

(not so much on the raw diets, but an entire eco friendly lifestyle change)

*Starting a Raw Food Diet for Beginners 

(This site is a must for going raw)

*The Ultimate List of Eco-living, Raw-eating, Exercise-junky Health Blogs! 

(An alphabetical list of a HUGE list of health/nutrition/fitness blogs that are fun to read)

Hope you have some fun reading :)

It's Awesome to be Rawsome....

 ....is something I recently heard from a friend. She loves to experiment on different detoxifications and healthier living.  I recently have become obsessed a fanatic about researching what it actually means to become raw.  I have asked Clint a couple times if he is interested in trying this new diet lifestyle with me and his quick response was, "No way! I could never stop eating meat." This is true as I am an Alaska Native and to not eat meat isn't in my family's vocabulary neither is it in my husbands.

After a few attempts at trying to convince Clint that going raw would be fun, he finally softened up and agreed that we should try it! I was all smiles inside.

 With all the research that I have been doing, I'm getting really excited to start my new lifestyle. I want to avoid the labels as being "vegan", "raw foodist", "vegetarian" because I still want to eat meat. I like it. However, I do need a lifestyle change of eating more raw foods.

 

I started to think hard about how and where I was going to get all the raw goodness...

Here's are some problems:

We live in bush Alaska (obviously not a surprise).

We have one store that hardly has any fresh produce.

We have no health store.

We would have to buy online.

We would have to pay shipping costs.

It's too darn expensive to try raw right now.

I'm saddened :(

I'm upset that having a healthy lifestyle is not within reach for us because of our location.

Starting now, I am on a Rawmission (I know it's not a word that is in the dictionary, but it has a nice ring to it!) to get RAW foods ORGANIC foods HEALTHY foods here in BUSH Alaska. 

(Those colorful words look so nice :) 

Wish me luck!

32nd Annual Ski Meet

Today was the start of the 32nd Annual Ski Meet.

 It was beautiful.

It was warm.

It was sunny.

It was a blast watching the skiers! 

I was the bib recorder.

Clint was a skier!

Make it so beautiful...

...it will be worth remembering:

originally from here

Spring Break...

As I'm typing this it's hard to believe that Spring Break has already came and gone. Now, it's Sunday and we are preparing-mentally more than physically- for the home stretch.

This week was full of:

*Late nights watching movies on the big screen.

*Spring Cleaning the entire house. I mean everything-except shampooing the carpet.

*Getting over our nasty lil' colds.

*Hiking as much as we can.

Here are some pictures of our camping trip!! It was definitely cold out and our dogs hated it, but it sure was beautiful!

Clint pulling our sled full of our gear:

Here he is again, walkin' up the Mountain. It looks tough. But he's tough. So it's all good :)

Here are some tracks we saw on the trail. They are HUGE:

Here is our camping spot on the Mountain.

And our dinner is cooking: Beautiful Sunset!

Clint taking a picture of himself. Me, being a dork!

Here I am in the tent. It was so cold, the dogs didn't mind staying in there the entire tim we (and when I say we, of course I mean both Clint and I..Ahem.... :) set up.

Hope your Spring Break is as fun as ours :)

Iditarod 38, 2010

Last night the first Iditarod musher-Lance Mackey-came to White Mountain! 

Clint and I are still sick so we didn't go down to the beach last night ( I am still kicking myself for it).

Clint took his students down there today for a field trip.

The weather is warm.

Blue is filling the sky.

The wind has died down. A lot.

It was a perfect trip for them and they were able to meet some of the mushers! 

Here are some photos:

Lance Mackey won the Iditarod for the fourth consecutive year arriving in Nome today. His total race time was: 8 days 23 hours and 49 minutes!

Way to go Lance!! 

Brownie Peanut Butter Cups

These are the most delicious brownies I have made! This time, they even turned out like brownies (last time I used baking powder instead of baking soda!) Silly me. I saw this recipe first on Somewhat Simple and found the source here: The Girl Who Ate Everything. This site is amazing and I actually tried her Honey Salmon recipe as well. The Salmon was devine and Clint was even surprised that I could make something so good :). So, without any more talking here is the recipe for the brownies:

Brownie Peanut Buttter Cups: 

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 tablespoon water

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup peanut butter chips plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips plus about 1/2 cup more for garnishing

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350*. Spray or grease 12 muffin cups. (or you could opt to do mini muffin bites and cook around 8 minutes or until center comes out clean with a toothpick test.)

In large microwave safe bowl, combine sugar, butter, and water. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips until melted. Stir in egg and vanilla extract. Add flour and baking soda, stirring until blended. Allow to cool to room temperature. Then, stir in 1/2 cup each peanut butter chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spoon batter by heaping tablespoonfuls into muffin cups.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out slightly wet. Place plan on wire rack. Centers of brownies will fall upon cooling. If not, tap centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds, then stir. While brownies are still hot, spoon about a tablespoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan. 

Enjoy! 

Photo Credit Here

It's time to Celebrate!!!

I really don’t know what I was thinking when I wanted to blog about my student teaching experience. Of course I would have loved to get on the computer and reminisce about the day that I had, but in all honesty I did not have the time! And even if I did, there wouldn’t have been enough time for me to explain all the little details of my day. After working on unit plans, lesson plans, and my college papers I did not want to get on the computer during my free time (I know, I know…That’s not like me!).

I started my student teaching February 1, 2010. It lasted three weeks and my last day of it was on Friday, March 12, 2010!!! I can’t explain in words how relieved I am that it’s over. Of course I loved every minute of it, but now that it’s behind me I can safely say that I am looking forward to finishing school and having my certification to hang on the wall. It has been a long, long, long…very long journey and I’m ready for the next chapter.

Here is a recap that happened during my ‘absence’ from the blog.

*We found out that I am not getting a job as a teacher this year (which was very disappointing, but there is something more beautiful and exciting in the works!)

*I have applied and have an interview for the preschool teacher with Head Start!!

*We have made our summer plans (not final-we still have to buy tickets)

*Lost some weight (but not as much as I would like)

*Both have gotten ridiculously bad, bad colds that have lasted for two weeks!

The weather has been on average -25 the whole month of February and so far in March. I do however have lots of pictures to share from my student teaching! I am putting together pages for the Project 365 that I started this year (it’s been SO challenging because Clint and I haven’t done any activities besides school and work).

I will be trying to get these pages done over the weekend, as long as the hubby doesn’t ban me from it J If so, I will have them up over Spring Break!!