I Became An Trim Healthy Mama Affiliate

Last fall, I started doing THM full on. The results were amazing, and I naturally shared about my non scale victories as well as my scale victories. In condensed summary, my body changed a lot from the outside and within. Here are a few victory posts with photos if you wanna have a read :)

Victories 1
Victories 2

I got so excited about Trim Healthy Mama and it's products that I looked into becoming a distributor for the area that I am currently residing in. Unfortunately, someone else beat me to it, so I heard. That's all good, I have peace that everything happens for a reason and that God had other plans for my life at this time. So then, I went ahead and joined the affiliate program! I figured that as long as I am doing the THM plan, blog and instagram about it, someone will see my results and my testimony and use my affiliate link to purchase THM goods. If they do, I'm happy, and if they do not, I will just keep on looking to God for provision like I always have. Win win! He he!

I wanted to take the time to thank you, the handful of you who have supported my family by ordering THM goods through my link! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! It all adds up :)

!!!THANK YOU!!!!

My Affiliate Link

Follow me on Instagram @trimhealthycathy

Easter Pasha (S)

Calling all Nordics! THM'fied Pasha is here! Okay, a day late -but it's here! You got like 2 days to make this, devour it and call it Easter. This is the ultimate Easter dessert! Well, at least in Finland. Here we go,

You'll need

• 1.5 sticks of butter
• 2/3C Gentle Sweet
• 1 egg
• 2 1/4C Greek Yoghurt/Qwark
• 3/4C whipping/heavy cream
• 2-4T sultanas/diced apricots (if you don't mind going over to the XO'r, then don't shy away)
• 4T almond slices or slivers
• juice of 1 lemon (I also added a few drops of doTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil)
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1-2t vanilla extract
• fine mesh sieve or bonus points if you have the traditional "pasha mold". (I obviously didn't!)
• muslin/cheese cloth

Instructions

1. Whisk together butter and Gentle Sweet. 
2. Add egg, yoghurt and cream. Whisk for 1 or 2 more minutes. 
   
3. Pour into a pot and turn the stove to medium LOW -do not boil!
4. Heat and keep stirring until the mixture loosens up and begins to steam. Make sure you don't simmer or boil, else it will separate. This process usually takes about 5 minutes. 
   
5. Zest the lemon in and add the vanilla extract. Let the mixture cool an hour or 2.
6. Add the almonds, sultanas and lemon juice. 
   
7. Line the sieve with the cheese cloth/muslin, and pour the mixture in. Cover it gently with the cloth and rest the sieve in a large bowl. Place the bowl into the fridge over night and unravel the next day. 
   
8. Flip onto a serving plate and decorate with fresh berries or more sultanas. I used dried apricots. 
   
   
   
   

So this is my "little bit of Finland" during every Easter. I have let go of many traditions to save my sanity, but this is something I can easily keep and my family doesn't mind at all.

I brought this dish over to our friends today and within minutes this dessert was devoured and the plate licked, if I hadn't interfered. Ha!

Let me know what you think if you do decide to give it a go :) Oh, and some of you might notice the spelling differs from what you're used to or may disagree with the origin of Pasha... who cares! More power to you! It's a yummy dish, am I right or am I right?

Blessings!

Do check out my recipes on HolyTempleUnderRenovation
HERE

If you need to order THM products, use my affiliate link HERE Thank you for supporting my family!

My Top #10 - oops 11! February 2018

1. Baobab fruit powder. I have yet to get sick this year (Fall 2017- Spring 2018). I don't know whether it is because I have been religiously getting Meyer's Cocktails (IV vitamin therapy), or whether it's because I have been adding Baobab powder to my daily sippers? Or a combination? Whatever the case is, I dare not go a day without 1T of Baobab powder. This my friends, is the REAL deal. 
   
2. True Lime and True Lemon sachets. I love these! water enhancers sweetened with stevia. My favourite sipper is one of these true lemon/lime sachets, 1T Baobab, 1T ACV (apple cider vinegar), and 1/4 gallon of water. Sometimes, I add ground ginger and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
   
3. Grocery shopping over the border. I have been doing this for about 2 years now. Every so often, I will hop over the border (not illegally of course!) to do some grocery shopping. I posted my recent "grocery haul"on YouTube (Click Here!), go check it out! Why do I shop in the US? Well firstly, it takes around 20 to 30minutes to drive to the border, and usually we've been really lucky with the border lines. Secondly, the food I need fits better with our budget and household size (larger quantities). Thirdly, I get stuff I cannot get from Canada (just some stuff are novelties!). And fourthly, it's always fun to do a mini road trip with your "besties" and on top of that, visit our favourite restaurant! 
   
4. Cat Nip -ha ha ha! No, but for real it is ridiculously cute to watch the cats go wild. We got 3 kittens last year. I almost crossed the "crazy cat lady" line.
5. Dark roast decaf. I gave up caffeine a while ago, but not coffee. I love coffee. I love dark roast and Italian. I realized that drinking coffee really affected my night sleep, even if I could fall asleep without any problems. Also, since I'm nursing baby Alistair, he seems to be sleeping a little bit better too.
   
6. Trim Healthy Mama. I'm so back on the THM plan. I have lost around 25lb so far. My post birth weight was around 231 to 233lb, my current weight is 207.2 and my goal weight is around 135 to 150lb. I am aiming to be there sometime in 2019. I cannot believe the "food freedom" THM provides you! It is incredible! If you haven't looked into it yet, I suggest you do! Do not go another day without reading about it and giving it a go! You can follow my journey on Instagram (CLICK HERE!) and see what I eat, how I feel, read about my "non-scale-victories" and more! Check out Trim Healthy Mama by clicking here.
   
7. Created To Be His Help Meet by, Debi Pearl. What can I say about this book? I had several women warn me about this book. Some threw "book reviews" my way, and of course these reviews were advocating for women NOT to read this book. Well, I'm one of those gals that likes to make her "own reviews" and I'm so glad I did. I was so close to putting this book down and continuing on with my life, but there was something that really intrigued me, "why is this book rubbing so many the wrong way?" Geez Louise, mama bear! This is hardcore stuff! Sure, there was stuff that I didn't agree with in particular, but I'm really glad I didn't throw the baby out with the bath water, if you know what I mean! Our marriage has experienced tremendous healing through this book and I am grateful for that! I'm talking about 12 years of a certain thorn in our side, gone! You might not want to pick up this book, but if you decide not to, please don't let it be because of some nasty book review. 
   
8. The Excellent Wife by, Martha Peace. This book is a notch down from Debi Pearls book. Ha!
   
9. Above Rubies. What can I say? I stumbled across this magazine (ministry) almost 12 years ago in Finland. Above Rubies has carried me so far in my motherhood journey than any other mother support group-ladies weekly Bible study- mother or in law support- combined or imagined! The hope and strength that I possess as a mother today, is because of the Above Rubies Ministry. I have gained so much knowledge, so much wisdom, so much hope and encouragement, joy...the list goes on! Above Rubies has pointed me to the Cross, the Truth in regards to what "mothering" is all about. I cannot thank AR enough. Check them out! (Click Here)
   
10. Instagram -is where I've been active recently. More than Facebook. If you want to know what's going on with me on a regular basis, check there first!
    
11. Holy Temple Health products on Amazon Empty Gelatin Capsules, Silicone Breast Pump and Breast Milk Collectors. So this is exciting!!!! We've launched our own business! Who knew we would be selling pregnancy, baby and health related (my personally favourite products ever) goodies on Amazon?! We do not believe in debt so we launched our little business initially with only $500 that hubby got as a bonus last year. Starting out small and Lord willing, this will grow. Keep us in your prayers!

Whats up with you guys? Missed you!

Elderberry-Lemon Gummies And More

It is time to prepare ourselves for the "flu season". I love Autumn, love the colours, the crisp air, candles, apple cider, warm woolly socks etc. but, I really detest the snotty noses, followed by the sinus infections and everything else. I HATE with a passion. I don't take my health for granted, or at least I don't think I do, so please please could we just dodge the crap this year??? Probably not, since we do live in a fallen world with disease and curses, and as much as anyone wants to argue that you can dodge sickness and disease with a well around plant based diet, well you just can't. SO, what exactly am I going to do about it?

I have this grand war plan to be as alert as I can with immunity boosting, cootie fighting strategies - which I will list down soon- but as fallible as I am, I'll probably start strong like a commit, lose my focus in a week or so into it and face-plant into the midst of a slimy snot fest. Just from experience, that's all. 

The 10 (ten seems to be a reasonably stupid number to overwhelm us all) Ways You Can Fight The Slimy Snot Fest:

1. Be the hero of your family, cook a batch of Elderberry-Lemon gummies and convince your family to eat them. My girls and personally I think they taste alright, but my boys are not so sure. I'm working on it! (recipe at the bottom)
   
2. Diffuse doTERRA's OnGuard essential oil around the house. This virus/bug fighting killing machine is feisty! I usually lather up OnGuard with coconut oil the bottom of our feet and massage it on around their lymph nodes too. Today I put OnGuard in a capsule with a few other oils (Oregano, Melaleuca and Ginger) and ingested it. Wowza!
   
   www.mydoterra.com/rosecathy
3. Start your day with a "flu-fighting" smoothie. I use, spinach, avocado, frozen berries, vitamin-C powder, Greek yoghurt, orange juice, probiotics, powdered greens etc. with some extracts and other goodies, whatever I can find! I once blogged about it, http://holytempleunderrenovation.blogspot.ca/2012/04/morning-smoothie.html AND http://holytempleunderrenovation.blogspot.ca/2011/09/update-and-super-healthy-morning.html Notice, the latter is "super healthy" lol
4. Avoid sugar. I can't go into detail.. well I could... but, I'm just too lazy to. Avoid sugar! Trim Healthy Mama Plan has MANY MANY recipes to choose from, and all are sugar-free! Google it! (Affiliated Link) being "pumpkin spice everything-season", I don't want to NOT eat these yummy goodies... I want it all!
5. If you can afford it, get a Meyer's Cocktail done. Meyer's Cocktail is a highly concentrated vitamin and mineral IV administrated by your healthcare practitioner. In my case, this would be my Naturapathic Dr. down the road. *super-excited!*
6. Commit to your high quality supplements. I had my Naturapathic Dr. go through my supplements and point out to the ones I was wasting my time and money on. Thankfully, there weren't too many that were poor quality. She pointed out that my probiotics then, consisted mostly from potato starch and less from the actual probiotics... umm ok! Check them out, and commit to taking them.
7. THM (Trim Healthy Mama) have a few "all day sippers" that are very much so immunity boosting drinks! My favourites are the Good Girl Moonshine, Earth's Milk and Singing Canary. Basically drink plenty of water too! Infused or steeped, drink it.
   
   
8. Make sure you get enough sleep. Maybe a bit more than enough. I'm guessing with the amount of cooties we need to fight off, it wouldn't hurt to ease off from other areas where we put our bodies under so much stress. Lack of sleep is one, diet is another etc.
9. If you're a woman, make love to your husband! You're probably wondering how on earth this would be helpful and whether my husband paid me to write that in here?? Well, no he didn't bribe me and he is probably very ecstatic about "number 9" which he might hold me to every evening...*sigh*... ANYWAY, the reasons are plenty, here's a teaser -
   
   "Love Your Husband Love Yourself -Jennifer Flanders"
10. I would say, hit the gym.... but, with so many cooties floating around, I recommend working-out outdoors. If the weather permits it, go for a run, walk, "freeletics", Pilates outdoors...

WHEW! There's 10 ways to "Kung-Fu" those viruses and bugs. Hope these help!

What do you do to prep for the "flu-season"? Comment below!

Elderberry-Lemon Gummies

Ingredients:

• 1C dried elderberries
• 8 drops doTERRA Lemon EO
• 4C water
• 6T Gentle sweet or 3T Sweet Blend -taste test and tweak it to your own liking
• 1t cinnamon
• 1/2t cherry extract
• 1/2t vanilla
• 6,000mg vitamin C powder (optional)
• 12T Gelatin

Method:

1. Simmer elderberries, cinnamon, and sweetener  on low heat with 3C water for about 30minutes.
2. Strain the water into another pan and discard the berries (careful you don't do this the other way around!)
3. Add the remaining water (or more) to make 4C of liquid in total. Let cool down.
4. Turn on the heat to medium-low and add the extracts, Lemon essential oil and vitamin-C. Slowly sprinkle in the gelatin as the mixture warms up and whisk until dissolved. 
5. Heat up, but do not to boiling, then pour it into a glass baking dish or molds. 
6. Store in the fridge until set and cut into squares. 

Follow me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/trimhealthycathy/

Irish Soda Bread -Crossover (Trim Healthy Mama)

This week I have been teaching the kids about St. Patrick and Ireland. Irish Soda Bread is kind of like a must have, I guess LOL. I probably could have made it into an "S" meal, but I decided not to bother but still make a recipe that was compliant to the plan. 

So here it is! Our very first, GLUTEN FREE Irish Soda Bread -THM Crossover... *drum rolling*...

Ta-daa!!!!

It was so yummy, especially smothered in butter! :)

Ingredients:

• 2C Baking Blend
• 1 1/2t Baking Powder
• 1t Baking Soda
• 1t Salt
• 2t Xantham Gum
• 1 stick/ 1/2C Butter (room temperature)
• 2 Eggs
• 3/4C Almond Milk (unsweetened)
• 1t Lemon juice
• 2T Raw Honey
• 1C Currants or Cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees.
2. Mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately and then combine and beat on medium speed until all ingredients are well combined. Do not over mix.
3. Dump the dough onto a baking stone. Shape it and cut an X across it.
4. Bake for 30-40 Minutes until a knife comes out clean. 

Follow me on Instagram @trimhealthycathy for encouraging and inspiring meal ideas!

To support me and my family, use my affiliate link HERE to purchase your Trim Healthy Mama products. Very much appreciated!!!

My trim Healthy Mama SCALE Victory So Far.

SO, I've posted about my NSV's (non scale victories) quite a bit. The reason I have not posted about my SCALE victories is because I have had the hardest time finding any before photos of myself at my heaviest. I look at the pictures from last year and it seems that any picture that I'm in, I'm either hiding behind something or someone and my camera angle is deceiving. Understandably, I'm guessing! I didn't want to be "seen".

These "before" pictures are not from when I was my heaviest, but they're "up" there, so they'll have to do.

My starting weight was around 245 lb 2015

My current weight is 192 lb

(Do note: I'm 5'8/ 171cm tall)

These photos were taken late August 2015

And now the photos from today...

Sorry for the extremely dirty mirror. Oh what joy is it to have little sticky hands, a.k.a CHILDREN!

I have a long way to go, but I'm midpoint! Another 20 to 50 lb, I'll take whatever :)

My top 10 THM products that I can't live without.

The link below is my affiliate link. If you choose to order through it, thank you a million! If you do not, no worries! However, I do encourage you to try the Trim Healthy Mama plan out, regardless of whether you can purchase the brand name products or not. There are many other brands at your local health food/Walmart even, that sell them.

1. Collagen. Integral Collagen is a pure protein powder for health and beauty as well as yummy food creations. From the grasslands of Argentina and Brazil, 
   bovine Integral Collagen is pork free and processed with integrity. It dissolves easily in liquid with no blending required and is completely tasteless. This makes it the perfect choice to swirl into Greek yogurt or pour into your hot tea for a nutritional overhaul.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg's)
3. Gentle Sweet. Having trouble adjusting to the taste of Stevia? Sweeten those “hard to get right” treats with Gentle Sweet and you can bank on the “yum!”  word passing your lips. The Trim Healthy Mama community fell in love with our pure Stevia extract and Super Sweet Blend, but some of you kept begging us for a sweetener that popped like pure sugar itself. Gentle Sweet blend has a cotton candy taste but won’t mess with your blood sugar.
4. MCT Oil. This is the ultimate “trimmifying” oil, with 100% Medium Chain 
   Trglycerides that boost your metabolism life rocket fuel. MCT Oil has 
   become the delicious and multi-talented dietary BFF of Trim Healthy 
   Mamas all over the globe. Its succulent silky texture and neutral taste 
   make it perfect to whip into your morning coffees that we call 
   “Trimmies” and to drizzle over large leafy salads topped with protein. 
   It delivers a very fatty mouth feel but provides the fewest calories of 
   any oil!
5. Miracle Noodles. Not-Naughty-Noodles contains 6g fiber, which is known to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels as a part of a healthy diet. They are made from Japanese Konjac Root which is one of the most alkalizing foods found in nature (even higher than green super foods). Konjac Root fiber is known as Glucomannan and is both a powerful colon cleanser and detox aid. Glucomannan is a healthy alternative to processed flours. Unlike other noodles that explode the fat cells, Not-Naughty-Noodles make fat scram. So twirl them on your fork and indulge heartily.
6. Oolong Tea. Oolong tea is 100% natural, fat-free, calorie-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and preservative-free. So feel free to sip your way to increased vitality and better health. Keep on sipping for all the many benefits it offers. But above all… drink it because it’s delicious. Either in The Shrinker or just as an iced or hot tea. It harmonizes beautifully with a Doonk of Trim Healthy Mama Stevia Extract.
7. Sunflower Lecithin. Lecithin is not a weird defangled man made substance. It is a powerful 
   brain food. Did you know that approximately 1/3 of your brain is made 
   from lecithin? When you include lecithin in your diet, you are 
   nourishing your brain and helping to support your nervous system. 
   Lecithin is a historical superfood that is making a comeback from the 
   source of sunflower seeds. Trim Healthy Mama Sunflower Lecithin is pure,
   soy-free and does not contain any GMO’s.
8. Nutritional Yeast.
9. Baking Blend. You can totally make this from scratch, like I do, but when I can afford it, I buy it. Finally a gluten-free, low glycemic baking mix that isn’t excessively loaded with fuel. Our blend also contains disease-fighting lignans and satisfies any hungry tummy with large amounts of insoluble fiber.
10. Troodle, Noodle Maker. What on earth is a Troodle? It’s a magic little gadget that makes your 
    noodles trimming! Yup, this Mama toy can twist out trimming noodles in a
    couple of minutes. Waist whittling pasta can be twisted on your fork 
    tonight for dinner. Try it… it turns kitchen work into play. Say goodbye
    to fattening noodles and welcome Troodles into your life.

To order yours, go to Cathy's Affiliate Link.

Eating Trim Health Mama Way, Ethically. Possible?

The Trim Healthy Mama Plan is amazing! It's biblical, it caters for all individuals. It works. It's been a blessing to me for the past 6 months. I've had about 20 victories with the THM plan and I can't hype about it enough HERE and HERE. I love THM!

At first our dishes were loaded with dairy products. The THM book recommends to eat the "full fat cream" and "butter" and enjoy the "cheese" for they are approved foods. The book even quoted "Abraham's encounter with the angels: He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

" and other scripture where it clearly reads that dairy was consumed etc. 

So, my conscience has been bugging me about the grain fed, GMO fed, caged and mistreated animals, which lead me onto a mission to buy more organic and trust that making these healthy egological changes, god would provide us the means. It happened, we've managed to buy organic grass fed beef, homestead organic eggs, and organic cheese etc. Great, right!? Well there is more. Sadly.

After stumbling across a short clip of how dairy cows are impregnated and separated from their babies right after birth, over and over again, just for our dairy "needs"?

This picture got to me. I have a baby. I know that we differ from the animals, and have been given "stewardship" over them, but I do not believe in exploiting them. 

What else did I come across?

This... the milk, that have the "cow growth hormone" is not allowed for her, but taken -for us.

and...

this. Is this ethical?

I ended up doing my own research and contacting a few local organic farms to find the "ethical farm" that would not do such an inhumane thing as separating a baby calf from it's mother immediately after birth... surely?? 

Unfortunately, I have yet to find one :( 

What I did find, I am struggling with. It made me question my family's diet and where we buy our foods from. I have gone back and forth with scripture... "He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree"... what about the exploitation of dairy cows..what am I supposed to do.. now that I know. But now I know. Now, I know. How do I move forward with the information, conviction, guilt and trust the Word??

Just to dissect the scripture a little the lay man way, before I talk about my ideal way of raising dairy cows -

He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, -stop here! He brought these to ANGELS. Not, billy and Jane next door, but to divine angels. Angels! Did the cow just give birth to a calf that didn't make it? Was this an unfortunate birth that ended sadly, and nothing was wasted? Was the cow milked and the milk made into butter. Was this a special treat, a special "angelic treat"? I wonder if back then, dairy and cheese and butter was such a special food, that only happened once in a while? Was it reserved for guests of honour, weddings or such? It makes me think. Okay let's move on, .."and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree". He obviously didn't eat it himself. Interesting...? Any thoughts?


So what is my ideal dairy cow farming? I am not sure, I guess I am still thinking through it, but let's dream a little. :) (I know farm life, so I won't go into all the details of water expense, the labour etc) Firstly, I don't think we ought to be consuming so much dairy in the first place. (Then the second part, seems to be more realistic) Secondly, I think a neighborhood should share a cow. "Cowshare". Let's pretend I have a homestead, mostly "plant based" homestead. I got myself a dairy cow, her name is Bessie. Bessie is a sweet cow, she grazes all day and fertilizes the ground for the next years crop. She is expecting:) (naturally) yay! Our kids are super stoked to "baby" Bessie's calf. She is so adorable. She is nursing well and is playful. It's so lovely to see them bond! There is our window to milk Bessie in between her feeds with her baby. We get enough milk for homemade cheese and perhaps some fresh milk. Maybe we can make clotted cream for our homemade scones, and any other special dairy treat that we've been craving for :) buttermilk, kefir, etc? Lovely! Bessie's babe is growing well, everything is well at the homestead. It's just like "Little House On The Prairie" where these special foods are not taken for granted. they feed our tummies and our souls, oh how do we appreciate Bessie's dairy! One day, unfortunately Bessie for one or another reason has to be put down. She served us well, we appreciate her, we love her and "wish her well". Her meat nourishes us for quite some time, her bones are made into broth, her blood nourishes the land and her hide is put to good use. She is not wasted, and her beautiful creation, "baby Bessie" takes her place on our homestead. SO the cycle starts all over again.

Yes I know, that sounded like a fairy tale and that there is so much "more" to having a dairy cow... I know. But this is MY daydream. This dream is the "ethical" that is missing in my "organic". 

SO, how am I going to keep on following the THM plan according to my convictions?

• I am going to have to give up or eat very little dairy. I will have to hunt for dairy free options and be on a mission to eventually find my "ethical farm". I am sure He will provide. Until then, I hear great things about "goat's milk" and their "baby breaks". maybe I'll develop a taste for goat's yoghurt and cheese? (we haven't drank dairy milk in 7 years anyway)
• Increase protein and calcium rich plant based food in our diets.
• Keep moving forward with buying more organic vegetables, eggs and meat. (I have my "dealers" I know where my eggs and beef come from)
• Eat less meat.
• Grow our own urban vegetable garden, and teach my kids how to also.
• Keep doing the THM plan like normal. I mean, it's possible, there are a lot of people out there allergic to dairy! It can be done.

So, for those who also struggle with this, put it out there, God knows where you're at, He will meet you THERE. He loves to provide. LOVES. There is nothing wrong with going "ethical", but there is something wrong with going against YOUR convictions. Pray about it, ask Him to take them away if they're not from Him, or to give you options if they are.

Let me know what your thoughts are??

**I am not looking to debate, any negative comments will not be published**

Granola (Trim Healthy Mama Approved)

I have often cringed while my kids pour themselves a bowl full of cheerios in the mornings. My kids love cheerios and granola. Surely there is a THM approved granola recipe somewhere?? Well, good news! There is a great recipe, right here! Keep on scrolling :)

Turn on the oven to 300*F 

 Ingredients

• 10 C old fashioned oats, or any oats... I had 3 different types of oats, in they all went!
• 1 C wheat germ or psyllium husks
• 1/2 C golden flax seeds, ground
• 1 C shredded coconut (unsweetened)
• 1 C seeds, sunflower, pumpkin etc (or a mix)
• 2 C organic sprouted whole wheat flour
• 2 t himalayan/grey salt
• 1/2 xylitol

• 1 1/2 C coconut oil
• 1 C honey * (if this is for you and you're looking to lose weight, omit the honey!)
• 2 T coconut/vanilla (or both) extract

• 1-2 C dates, chopped
• 1-2 C raisins/sultanas/cranberries/dried fruits

1.  First mix all the "dry" ingredients
2. Then in a saucepan over medium heat, melt the "wet" ingredients
3. Combine the two, and mix well
4. Spread the granola onto baking pans, about 1" thick, and bake for about 45 to 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so.
5. After the granola has cooled down, add the dried berries/fruit.

Makes about 21-22 Cups :) That's about 28-32 servings! (well, at least in my house)

(serve over almond milk, helps bring down the greenhouse gas emissions...more on that later.)

* what does Trim Healthy Mama say about honey? Click here! 

To support my family by ordering your THM products through my blog, click HERE

My THM (Trim Healthy Mama) Non Scale Victories 2

I listed 15 NSV's HERE, and here are a few more... How exciting, this never gets old!!!

(pulled Chicken, spinach, Nando's hot sauce on Wonder Wraps and cilantro)

1) Yearly check up at the dentist. Zero cavities. Nada. Zip. Wow. That saves money, now doesn't it?? I'm wondering if all that ACV did the trick? Any thoughts?

(GGMS)

2) Feeling really good about the "bedroom" and hubby :) As another fellow THM buddy puts it "BOW CHICKA WOW WOW!" He he 

(Ezekiel Sandwiches)

3) My skin, especially on my heels are not dry, or cracked. This time of year... -weird! 

(My E-day breakfast: Collagen loaded creamy oats, GGMS and a stirred MCT oil collagen coffee)

4) I can think more clearly, and prepping and planning are running a lot smoother than before. Homeschooling has come up from its "lul" and we're on the way up again. Thankfully, I am motivated and inspired again. I think more clearly and not overwhelmed with 4 kids, homeschool, house work, me time, hubby and me time, outdoors time, and every other errand that you can think of. I feel like I have it "under control". This is BIG for me. I'm sure that my brain is being fed good omegas, proper nutrition, the lot. I am happy.

(fuel cycle week 2)

5) More energy than before. I have been working out at home during the days, and feeling energized and positive. I am currently doing the 12 week MUTUSystem online. It's so so so worth it. I am hyped up about it :)

(Chicken-Avocado on "troodles")

6) Lost 7 lb last week. Oh yeah. Fuel cycle week 1 took me down 7 lb. I am 6 days away from finishing week 2. I am wondering if I will enter the 180's. Last week I went down from 201 to 194. My over all starting weight was 245/250, for those who do not know. My desire would be 140-150 lb. But who knows what I'll end up weighing. I am just enjoying all these NSV's along the way :) So motivating and inspiring! 

(Fuel Pull-day lunch: Wonder Wrap Tacos)

I found an ethical grass fed, beef farm that delivers, and a local organic, free range egg dealer lol YAY! I will be making a grass fed, cheese order next payday. I can't wait!!I have been very much convicted of the way our meat and animal products are raised and produced. I believe with all my heart that if we move towards ethical and organic produce, that God WILL provide. He loves to provide. We were called to be good stewards of everything He has given us. Let's not turn a blind eye to how the meat industry is treating our animals and what chemicals are being sprayed onto our produce. I know that the THM plan approves all foods, but I am convicted not to let ill-treated foods hit my plate, or my family's plate. Anyone else feel this way??

(I still can't get over this)

7) Besides my skin looking amazing, besides one little pimple -my body is changing shape, my hair is shiny and my mood is a lot better. Here's to 2016, "the year of change" in all ways possible!

(My favourite breakfast these days)

Let me know what your NSV's are, if you're on the THM plan? I would love to hear more! 

Follow me on Facebook! Everyday, I post about all the THM buddies around the world and their victories. Click HERE -remember to like my page! :) Thanks!!!!

To support my family please consider purchasing your THM products through my affiliate link HERE. It's much needed and appreciated :)!

Follow my meals and weightloss on instagram @trimhealthycathy :) see you there!