Welcome back friends! Got one kid doing virtual learning, the other playing cars in our kitchen sink and I have my afternoon mama fuel (aka coffee), so lets catch up!
I hope you find yourself well, sane and healthy amidst our current global pandemic. We are fortunate enough to say we are healthy, and finding small joys in this new world we live in.
Not going to lie, my fingers and heart have been itching to reach out to you, to connect, to talk.
Before diving in to all the stuff… let me reintroduce myself for anyone who is new around here:
I’m 33 years old, born in Venezuela, living in Minnesota via Texas. I grew up eating good home cooked food, traveling and playing lots and lots of tennis. I have 2 little minions and a handsome husband I am madly in love with. I’m the happiest when I’m cooking plant-based, running while listening to my news podcasts, or traveling with my spiffy travel mug and camera! I’m an introvert with more energy than I sometimes know what to do with, equally happy humbly meal planning as I am eating a 10 course restaurant meal. Sweet Poppy Seed was born with my first kiddo, my sweet Poppy and it is a place of yummy healthy food, shared life stories and easy family recipes!
Since around March, I took a bit of leave from social media. Through out everything going on, pandemic, lockdowns, George Floyds murder, protests, etc, we have been here at home, doing the best we can to stay healthy, sane and well.
The pandemic hit our area the second we returned from a trip to Puerto Rico. It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was really only 6 months ago! A week long spent with dear friends hanging by the beach, hiking the rainforest, paddle boarding, running and getting as much tropical sunshine as possible. Once we returned, things had changed.
Quarantine
For the sake of our health, our extended family’s health and the health of everyone we come in contact with, a serious quarantine was in order. We pretty much stayed home 100% for a solid month.
We are fortunate enough to have a yard and a great neighborhood with lots of walking paths, so nature has been our best friend. Finally by July we had 2 quarantine pods with family that allowed us to reconnect. That was sooooo nice and so needed.. for our sanity!
We have isolated the rest of the summer. No playgrounds or public places like restaurants and very limited in store grocery shopping. But yes to picnics, CSA produce, fishing, backyard distance get-togethers, dance parties, game nights, and now finally some cabin time.
A slow summer truly enjoying being together and being outside. There are way worse things than that. And for that I am grateful.
Therapy Shift
As you may know, we have been doing ABA Therapy (for Autism) for a year at home. But with social distancing as a priority for us, we have done a hybrid of virtual with our team and in person with me as therapist/mom.
Although not perfect nor ideal, our kiddo has responded OK to this method for the time being and our ABA team and I have done everything we can to make this hybrid work.
Food
You know I can avoid talking about food! It’s been veggie filled summer for us! Back in May after watching Game Changers on Netflix, the hubs decided to shift his diet to plant based. As a way to get healthier, take advantage of fresh summer veggies and help with some injuries, my otherwise meat eating, dairy loving husband went all in.
Summer 2020 turned into a summer compassion towards animals, better health and saving the environment through our diet. And this makes my soul oh so happy.
Now 4 months in, and we have all seen an improvement in our health, energy and just feeling better!
And don’t think for one minute that plant based means no yummy foods! We are still treating our selves to good food. Gotta keep things fun around here!
Our kiddos are still getting their dairy and occasional grass-fed ground beef (well because… nachos), but mostly vegetarian with the ever-constant struggle to eat more veggies.
I have so much to share on this topic and lots of new fun recipes! Look for more posts to come!
The Blog
This space has been my friend and creative outlet now for 5 years. It started off mostly food, then added travel, family and day to day living. Looking ahead, I want this space to be a place of positivity, compassion, good food and family fun. My hope is that in the same way that many blogs inspire me, I hope to inspire others by sharing a little of my life and good food.
It feels good to be back guys. Chat with you soon!
Summer time photo reel
Originally posted 2020-08-20 22:08:17.
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