Try This Book Series For A Thought-Provoking Discussion With Your Child

“Some People Believe... Aliens” is a rhyming picture book intended for toddlers and young children, illustrated with bold, bright colors, simple lines, fun shapes, and even a little character hidden in each picture to find (which is half the fun)! It is currently available for only $0.99 on Amazon's Kindle, which you can also download as an app for your smart device or computer for free, no Kindle device required (and don't forget Christmas is coming up and there's nothing like instilling the joy of reading! Okay, enough with the shameless plugs, hehe).

My passionate hope is to set a jumping-off point for parents to initiate open, loving, trusting, imaginative, and exploratory communication with their young children. They're never too young to start that! My series, “Some People Believe...” is not about pushing any one view, it's merely about open-mindedness, possibly tolerance, and definitely education.

Sample Page

My mother-in-law deserves some major credit for planting the idea-seed in me, for without her one of my longest life goals may never have come to fruition. As her children were growing up, she never pushed one belief or another, she would simply say, “Some people believe this, some people believe that.” She is such an inspirational mother and person!


I loved the concept – children will grow up and eventually chose what they believe in, whether or not you agree with it...all we can do as parents is guide them.

When a child is raised, for example, in a Christian household, all they'll know of the world is Christianity – by that I mean because they're so young, they'll think everyone is Christian – so when they finally meet someone who believes differently than they do, it's sometimes a shocking experience and they might not know how to handle it.

By presenting views in an unbiased, non-forceful, educational way, it creates an open, trusting dialogue between parent and child. Young children, even toddlers, are capable of understanding complex issues if it is presented to them gently and age-appropriately. “I chose to believe in this, but let's explore what other people believe, too,” might be a great way to introduce your child to your values...and that nonjudgmental, tolerant, open-minded tone that you set will stay with them forever and later in life, when they encounter someone with opposing views, it won't be such a shock. They'll be prepared.

On top of being an English/Liberal Arts major, I've taken Early Childhood Education classes, and over the last few years of my adult life I have been a professional childcare provider, a foster mother, and have worked in an elementary school. I've wanted to be a mother since I was three-years-old and could fill my onesie pajamas with stuffed animals to pretend I was pregnant – if that anecdote doesn't illustrate that I have a passion for children, then I don't know what will.

I've wanted to be a published author since I was 11, so this is a major milestone for me! I've always been a writer, but I primarily write fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal romance for young adults. I never thought I would be inspired to write a children's book. The thought never crossed my mind. The final tipping point that set a fire in me for starting this children's book series happened when I was working as an After-school Care Coordinator with children a variety of ages. A six-year-old boy came up to me while we were watching a science movie about space and asked a simple question that would start the ball rolling, “Do aliens exist?” I couldn't answer that ethically and force my beliefs on him, so I answered with political-correctness, “You know what, what's a very good question! You should ask your mom.”

Even though to some it might be considered a controversial topic, I started with “Some People Believe... Aliens” because it was just so much fun to write and illustrate! I could let my imagination flow with fun colors and shapes and silly words and become child-like again! However, if that's not your cup-o'-tea, there will be more topics in the series, hitting on anything from different religions to even different types of cultural food (you know, some people believe a candied grasshopper on a stick is a dessert), so stick around and keep your eyes peeled!

I can't express how nervous and excited I have been over the last few months while I've been getting this ready, or how supportive my dear husband, family, and friends have been! (A quick shout out to my parents, who have always encouraged my dreams, to my brother for his discerning eye and critique, and to my husband/ soulmate – words cannot describe my love and appreciation for his encouragement).

I plan publish on other eReader platforms such as Nook, Smashwords, iPad, ect. Eventually, but sooner rather than later, I will have a printed edition (most likely through CreateSpace) because there's nothing like holding an actual book and children are very tactile. Please, feel free to share this post with friends and family and feel free to link this post to your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest or any other social platform. I'm really relying on “word-of-mouth” right now, so that would be a great help and much appreciated!

 

Again, feel free to link and share the news to friends and family!

Much love!

~Nicole A.

9 Tips For "Fitspiration"

I've seen the term Fitspiration (fit + inspiration) floating around Pinterest in regards to fitness, and while I don't know who coined the phrase, I have to say love it. I love it over "thinspiration" because I feel it sends a better message: that health is better than size. As you can probably tell, today I'm going to write about my fitness journey (in-progress), to hopefully motivate and “fitspire”!

I've been struggling with my weight, body image, and energy/motivation for years, like most Americans. Like many, I've done the research about nutrition and weight loss. I know the many physical/emotional benefits of exercise and fitness. And what I've concluded, from my extensive readings is that the messages of all the research boil down to two things: eat healthy and exercise.

That's it! It's that simple! So why do I need to constantly remind myself of this?! There's no pill that you can take, no crazy contraption that you need to buy, no magic food that you can eat that can do the trick; just plain ol' greens and sweat! In fact, the further you are removed from nature (like whole natural foods), the worse off you will be. While I've known this for years, starting a regular regime seemed impossible, let alone sticking to it for longer than three consecutive days.

Now, I'm not perfect, I have fallen off the proverbial bandwagon for a few years (try 10?) and haven't exercised (social obligations, life, the heat, other excuses), and I used to let that defeat me, but I'm not going to let it get me down anymore, I'm just going to keep on pluggin' away at it because I want to feel good in a bikini, darnit!

What finally changed? I started a cleanse that I wrote about in-depth here and I feel so good that I want to tell everyone! But that's just phase one of my health journey. My husband and I also got a gym membership, which motivates us to get out of the house and actually move.

I used to think the gym was a scary place where everyone judges "fat" people, but since I've been going, it's obvious no gives a crap about what you're doing since they are so focused on what they are doing.

I realized I didn't need to compare myself to these people (or anyone) since all that would do is suck my joy and self-confidence. The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to others. And I'd like to share with you a quote I recently read on a Disney shirt featuring my favorite plus-size villainess, Ursula, that hit home for me - "You can't weigh beauty!"

Let that sink in. 

 

since my cleanse and the increasing regularity of exercise, I now look forward to plugging in my headphones and losing myself to music while I walk on the elliptical. I barely notice the time. Also, during my walks I've noticed that my creativity increases and I'm filled with ideas!

 

So, here's some friendly advice that's currently working for me and what I did to prepare before-hand:

1. Visit your doctor to discuss an exercise plan and cleanse. I visited my doctor to discuss my weight loss goals and options and how to go about it safely. Previously I had absolutely no exercise routine and the most strenuous thing I did was deep clean the house. She wanted me to start slowly by walking at least one mile a day and eventually increasing to three miles (or one hour of exercise) a day over time. She also approved yoga.

2. Do a parasite cleanse, mucoid plaque cleanse, and liver cleanse, but not all at once.

3. Ditch the diet. Change your lifestyle. You've probably tried a bunch of different diets that never seemed to work in the long run, like I have in the past. There's scientific reason for that and I will probably write a post on it later, but in the meantime do the research for yourself. It's because most diets tell you NOT to eat certain kinds of food that you love, so when you finish the diet you might think, “Phew, now I can eat chocolate again!” But you can't just stop at one piece, or two, or three – I know I can't! Suddenly, all your hard work of refraining from those yummies has failed and you fall back into old habits! Diets don't work, especially when you're selectively starving yourself. Period. Instead, try starting by a) portion-controlling what you already eat, then b) add in more fiber (anything natural, grown from the earth), c) increasing fiber incrementally 'til the majority of what you're eating is natural (a great source for learning more about this is The Whole Foods Diet), and d) don't deny yourself treats, otherwise you'll crave them more. Instead just cut back on them or have a smaller portion. For example, I try really hard to make some of our meals from scratch, using fresh produce and lots of greens, but I LOVE sweets and I LOVE to have a little dessert everyday, so what I've been doing is I'll have a miniature size of my favorite candy (Snickers) so I can have a taste of it and be satisfied. Now there are days when I backslide, but I just have less junk the next day.

4. Read the labels. As a general rule, man-made products aren't healthy for you since they are loaded with chemicals. The further a food gets from Mother Nature, the more toxic it becomes. But that doesn't necessarily mean all boxed or packed products are created equal. Luckily, there are more health-conscious companies popping up lately that take a stand to make a quality, healthy alternative. You just gotta hunt for them! In general, avoid anything with HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) or anything with a huge list of chemicals. The smaller the ingredients list, the better, meaning it's closer to its natural state. For example, peanut-butter should only have an ingredients list containing peanuts, some kind of oil (not canola or vegetable oil!), and maybe a little salt. Once manufacturers start throwing in dyes, additives, preservatives, or words you can't pronounce, it's best to put it back.

5. Drink water instead and drink it all the time. Water goes with everything and you should have it at every meal (by doing this it can also keep you from overeating). Replace your usual soda or juice with water (they're just empty calories and sugar anyway). If you want to get fancy, add a slice of lemon, or buy flavored water (be wary though of added sugar/sodium. Remember, the further from nature it is, the more unhealthy it is). As an added bonus, water is free, which makes a difference if you eat at restaurants a lot since sodas and drinks can add up quickly. To encourage your new and healthy drinking habit, buy a nice reusable (24oz or higher) water bottle as you'll be filling it constantly.

6. Set aside workout clothes. I have several workout outfits that I alternate for laundry. Knowing that I have special clothes that I don't have to worry about getting sweaty takes my mind off of the negative of added laundry. Plus, it's a no-brainer because I already know what I'll be wearing, I don't have to dig through my closet trying to find something appropriate. I fold them and leave them on my bed console so I don't have to hunt for them and they're among the first things I see when I wake up, another reminder of my goals. I've read that some people sleep in their clean workout clothes the night before to eliminate hassle and to remove any excuse, and that might be another option for you to think about. 

7. Don't let it get you down. If the scale hasn't budged, if you didn't exercise for a couple days, if you had a binge session the night before, don't let yourself think you failed! You didn't! You're human! None of us are perfect! I have to tell myself this often! Just pick yourself up and start again! The best mindset for weight loss (or everyday life) is a positive one, so what I like to do to help hype myself up again is to look for inspirational weight loss quotes (my favorite place to go for that is Pinterest). Having a mantra to cling to during difficult times can be empowering.

8. Don't get on the scale. I know this sounds contradictory, but it's probably the most important thing you can do, at least it is for me. Take your measurements instead, it'll give you a more accurate depiction of your weight loss. I get discouraged easily, especially when the scale and I don't agree, so if I've been literally working my butt off and the scale hasn't gone down, I get depressed. BUT, that doesn't mean I'm not losing weight, or, more precisely, fat! We should all know that muscle weighs more than fat, and if you're exercising, you're shedding fat AND building muscle, and because of this, it's not uncommon for the scale to say you've gained weight! It's healthy weight! So you might be tempted to get on the scale to check your progress, and if you do I caution you to remember that muscle weighs more. Here's a picture that illustrates my point perfectly! Keep this picture as a reminder of weight versus health!

Used from Pinterest.

A lower number on the scale doesn't always mean a fitter, healthier body.

9. Keep track. If you can. Any way you can do it, write it down, mark it, check it off, cross it out. Keep a written journal, make a list, or get an app for your phone. I personally suck at keeping journals, so I just write a tiny snippet about my workout in my Notes on my iPhone. Super simple, which is why I love it!

What tips or tricks have helped you stay on track?

~Nicole A

Getting Inspired With "Forks Over Knives"

About five days ago my husband and I watched Forks Over Knives (which is available on Netlix), an amazingly informative documentary on the link between meat/dairy-focused diets and the rise of heart disease (and other illnesses). "We are sicker than ever by nearly every measure," states forksoverknives.com, and really, who of us can argue? Two out of three Americans are obese, myself included.

I, personally, have been battling my weight for years - in high school I weighed 135lbs and I thought I was fat (compared to the majority of cheerleader-build peers), but now I would give just about anything to weigh 135lbs again! Years later, weighing about 150ish, I moved out on my own and got engaged and that's when I really started to pack on "Happy Fat." Since then, I've ballooned up about 30lbs - the equivalent of carrying a one-year old child around constantly! - and I have the symptoms that follow weight gain; asthma, acid reflux, back pain, trouble sleeping, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem. Recently I've gotten concerned about heart problems (my family has a history of heart issues) and cholesterol - I had it checked and it could be a bit better.

I'll overeat for taste rather than hunger. I crave fatty, sweet, salty foods, and I have indulged more than I should, and every time I imagine my arteries clogging up - it's scary and anxiety-inducing and I want to stop putting this junk into my body - but the craving is so hard to fight! In Forks Over Knives, they likened this craving for heavily processed, hyperpalatable foods to a drug addiction, and in fact your body responds similarly to the food like a heroine addict would to drugs...pretty soon one hit won't get you high, so you have to eat more for the same fix. I had read about this in other articles such as in First for Woman, but it was really eye-opening for me! Hello, my name is Nicole and I'm addicted to food!  Processed, hyperpalatable foods, specifically...and it's harming my body.

Watching this documentary gave me hope with this message: all this damage can be reversed. The doctors and specialists on the film had heart patients, diabetes patients, cancer patients, ect., some who were on Death's Door, adopt a whole foods diet (with doctor supervision) and just about everyone saw their disease enter remission, completely heal, or become more manageable, and the majority no longer needed their medications for treatment. As Hypocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine...." Weight loss was just a symptom of their healing. I was so relieved watching this documentary that I cried.

In Forks Over Knives, they showed when a person eats meat, it fills the stomach less than vegetables/fruits, so they end up consuming more empty calories in order to feel full. Other graphs showed the rates of coronary heart disease and cancers increased dramatically with the consumption of meat and dairy products, versus nations that had a primarily plant/whole foods diet. Thinking about this, it makes sense...my vegetarian friends look about ten years younger than their meat-eating peers and seem to get sick less often.

So my husband and I been inspired to model our lifestyle change similarly to the Full Plate Diet (recommended to me by a friend), a whole foods diet which focuses on the use of fiber and teaches one how to pack their meal with nutrients, fiber, and protein (yes, all vegetables and fruits have protein, meat is not the only source, nor is it the best). For example, if I'm eating a Caesar salad, the Full Plate Diet would probably suggest amping it up in nutrition by adding tomatoes, cucumber, corn, maybe fruit, or beans, ect. I've done this and the taste is so much better and I feel more satiated for longer. I particularly like that the creators of the Full Plate Diet (doctors and nutritionists) are a non-profit organization, offer free membership, and give you the eBook for free as well as other weight loss tools.

My vege-packed quiche, low fat, low sodium!

If you're a meat and potatoes kind of person and don't think that recipes that call for only vegetables could be satisfying or tasty, I'm here to prove you wrong! I dare you to take a bite of my Vege-Packed Quiche and tell me you don't like it...

Here's the recipe. Feel free to substitute with whatever kind of vegetables you have on hand, and remember that the measurements are approximate (I usually just eye-ball it) and do not have to be exact...

Basic Pie Dough Recipe From Martha Stewart (or you could nix the dough to make it gluten free)

1 medium zucchini

1 medium onion

1/4 of a whole cabbage

3 celery stalks

4-5 kale leaves, stalks removed

2 cups spinach

5 eggs

1 cup Almond Milk

1 cup cottage cheese (you could substitute a vegan cheese for lactose intolerance or nix it completely)

2 tbsp butter (or coconut oil)

2 tsp garlic salt (or sea salt/himalayan salt with fresh herbs)

1 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp ground flax

Prepared Pie Crust and roll out for a 13inch pan. Preheat oven to 375 (or 350 if your oven is like mine and runs a little hotter). Mince onion and saute with butter (or coconut oil) in big pan over medium-high heat until translucent. Halve zucchini and celery and dice slightly thin and add to onions (add more butter/oil if necessary), cook on medium for about 10-15 minutes or until tender (alternately, you can boil them ahead of time). Chop cabbage, kale, spinach somewhat finely and add to pan for a couple minutes until well wilted. Season with garlic salt, chia seeds, flax seeds, mix and simmer on low for a few minutes. Then take pan off heat.

Prepare eggs in separate bowl, add almond milk, cottage cheese and mix. Add to vegetables and mix well. Then pour into pie crust and bake for 55 minutes.

Enjoy!

Have any hearty, tasty vegetable dishes to share? Any inspiring weight loss stories?

~Nicole A.

Effing Electronics: Battling The Clutter

So my husband and I have a very extensive DVD collection. Over 220 DVDs, not including boxed sets or video games. Needless to say, our entertainment center is packed. And I have mixed feelings over this. Part of me likes displaying our collection, an obvious visual cue to our being big-time Movie Buffs. However, since we do not watch all of them all the time, they are just sitting on the shelf, taking up space or collecting dust. And it's throwing off my vibe in the living room, since I have been inspired to go more minimalistic. I posed the suggestion to my husband that we sell or donate them in lieu of Netflix and he vetoed that right away.

So I came up with another option that he agreed with, one that will save up some space and dust-bunnies. We are going to put our movies into a DVD binder, which will protect them from scratching, dust, can be easily organized by category, and is portable so we can take our movies on trips if we want. I've found a product that comes in an attractive disguise as a leather book, click here.

However, I realize that this process will generate a lot of trash. So here's my plan: I'm going to contact our local movie rental shop and see if they will take the DVD cases to reuse. As for the DVD covers, the front pictures, there's a vendor on Etsy that uses them to make journals so I am going to ask if she wants them. If that all goes well the problem is solved!

As for TV - we don't watch it. We save tons of money on cable, I'm sure. Though, we do have Netflix, so we can watch TV shows and movies when we choose and the great thing is we don't have to be bombarded by commercials and advertisements. There's no way I could ever go back to regular TV, now that I have been spoiled by watching a show without commercials. And the only time my husband and I sit down to watch a movie (together) is in the evenings, so maybe I can convince him to move the TV to our bedroom to make the living room less about TV and more about conversation? Doubt it!

'Til next time, Dear Reader,
~*Nicole

The Cleaning Bug

Photo Courtesy of marthastewart.com

I am queen of procrastination! I confess! It's been - what? - five, six months since I blogged. I suppose I have no excuse as I have had no work or classes for the summer and have just been sitting on my ample bum doing nothing of value. Although I am probably being a little too harsh on myself... I have enjoyed events with friends and even made a little headway on a novel I haven't worked on since I was fifteen. Granted - it needs a lot of work and revision since I have grown and changed, but the basis is there - it's a start. Anyway, I have been yo-yo-ing between inspiration and complete lack of motivation, which accounts for the long interruption between blogs.

The past few days I have been completely waylaid by allergies! Ahhhh! Nasty things, really! Congestion, sore throat, itchy eyes, and not to even mention the exhaustion (at least for me). Of course, it probably doesn't help that my husband and I added another pet to our family (temporarily watching him for my sister), a small but fluffy thing that seems to do nothing but eat, sleep, crap, and shed long white hair all over my dark furniture! Granted it's not his fault, but it doesn't help my predicament.

Amidst the sneezing I caught the Cleaning Bug and decided to tackle our second bedroom (office/craft room) closet. What a challenge! I am seriously evaluating the small hoard of baubles and unused craft objects that have been passed down or that I have acquired, sitting there waiting to be used on some project or other. I keep forgetting they are there or what project I had in mind for them in the first place! Perhaps I have subconsciously held onto them as long as I have because I felt like the full drawers of bits and pieces made me a crafter/artist - which is just absurd. So I am trying to prioritize my projects and discard unfinished/un-started ones - I figure these materials would be much better in the hands of someone who will use them and am therefore going to donate to my local thrift store or post something on Craigslist. I have not yet finished the closet, but I already feel as if a weight has been lifted. I think next I shall start on my kitchen (again) and then my clothes closet (which has been needing some rotation and thinning). I have also taken a leaf out of Bea Johnson's blog and will be donating most of our books to the local library (which I have not yet stepped foot into and it is apparently right across the street!). I love to read, but honestly I have hardly touched my books and I find it much easier to read on the computer (since font can be enlarged and books can be awkward to hold after long periods of time, etc.) and we have been considering investing in a Nook so as to cut down on clutter. Also, and I have not yet brought this up to my husband, but we have an extensive DVD collection - which I am now realizing only 1/6 of which gets watched...I am going to propose that we sell those DVDs that hardly get watched since we have Netflix and can rent them anytime we get the urge to re-watch a movie. I think this would save space and be a valuable use of our money and time.

I look around our house and I see many non-functioning items and art pieces that I have no personal attachment to. Yet I still have this...fear/hesitation, I guess...of letting them go. What will I put in that place then, I ask myself? Can I find something functioning that replaces this aesthetically? I think this will be an interesting way to get the creative juices flowing, challenging but fun!

'Til next time, Dear Reader,
~*Nicole

I swear, this time! This time, for sure!

How many times have you said, "I'm going to eat better," "I'm going to work out," "I'm going to read that book?" For many, the lists go on. So many people live in the world of "later." Guess what, time stands still for no man, and if you live in the world of "Later", there might not be another tomorrow holding the same opportunity. If you're like most people - not having a visible plan of action that you've taken the time to create - then your wishes will forever be an empty statement sent out into the universe. I admit I'm the same way. In 2007(ish), in my College Success class I learned about the acronym S.M.A.R.T. for goal setting. It made soooo much sense and when I do follow the steps it actually helps me accomplish my goals, no matter how big or small, short-term or long-term. Here's how:

S - Specific. When you say something like, "I'm going to eat better," it's really a noncommittal statement. Ask yourself, "How?" How are you going to eat better? Do you need more grains or veges in your diet? Less sugar, perhaps? Saying something like, "I'm going to prepare organic, homemade meals using the Food Pyramid as a guide," is definitely more specific and can help you to better judge whether you're on track with your goal or not.

M - Measurable. So you might prepare one or even two homemade meals, but that's not really helping you achieve your goal. You need to measure flour for a cake, right? So it is with goals. "I'm going to prepare three organic, homemade meals a day using the Food Pyramid as a guide," would be considered measurable.

A - Achievable. Say your goal was to "lose 30 pounds in 30 days through eating organic and exercising," besides not being doctor recommended, it's just not reasonable. "Lose 6-10 pounds in 30 days through eating organic and exercising," is way more reachable!

R - Realistic. Is your goal reasonable? If not, you're setting yourself up for failure. For example, if I worked full time and commuted an hour and a half back and forth, had kids, after school activities, and was taking night classes, I probably would not be able to keep my goal of three organic, from-scratch meals a day. Oh, I know some people can do it, but would I have the motivation at the end of the day? Can pigs fly? So I would probably want to revise my goal to, "I will make one homemade organic dinner for three nights." For me, my schedule, family life, and motivation level - this would be realistic.

T - Time Frame. There needs to be an end in sight! If you don't set some sort of time frame, you will keep procrastinating. Think how inspiring it will be when you see that deadline approaching ever closer as you cross off the days on the calendar. "I'm going to prepare three organic, homemade meals a day using the Food Pyramid as a guide for 4 weeks," and at the end of those four weeks, guess what? I'll have a total sense of accomplishment! I admit, I get a high from completing my tasks.

Setting Mini or Micro goals helps too to achieve the larger goals as well. By writing out a monthly, weekly, or even daily goal objective using the S.M.A.R.T principals, it can help keep you on track. For example, my Mini (or weekly) goal might be to have shopped at my local farmers market for the best quality produce for my three dinners. My Micro (or daily) goal might be to secure one hour to look up new recipes.

What techniques have you used to accomplish goals? Have you tried using S.M.A.R.T. goals? How did that work for you?

'Til next time, Dear Reader,
~*Nicole

"Ten Things I Love About You!"

So I've never really liked Valentine's Day - I feel it's a holiday all about commercialism and consumerism. I feel if you really love someone, you should tell them everyday, not just one day. But, this year, since we didn't do anything for our very first anniversary as a married couple, I decided that I would do something this V-day to make up for it. The catch is - he didn't know. See, my husband shares my viewpoint of Valentine's Day - for most it is a depressing show of materialism, reminding one how very single they are - so we have never really celebrated it. Though, to make it as "green" and as heartfelt as possible, I came up with the following idea, inspired by a Christmas gift I received years ago:

When I woke up that 14th, I ran to the grocery store to get my fresh ingredients and two single pink roses (I bypassed the $20 one's in the front of the store, and went to the floral section. They were sitting in a tub in the fridge, without any wrappings, in personal tubes of water that I will save for another use) while my husband still slept. I heated up some pre-home-cooked, frozen pancakes and set the table with one tiny addition - an envelope tied with a black bow. Inside was a "treasure map" that I customized using Gimp (it's like Photoshop, but free!) - specifically it was a "Ten Things I Love About You" Valentine's Hunt map.

I had printed and hidden ten cards around the house with things I love about him, like his smile, his green eyes, etc. On the cards were clues to find the next card, and so on. I hid them in movies and books, in the kitchen, in the car - all over the house. I stretched the hunt over the day, interrupted only by school and a lovely candle-lit, home-cooked Italian meal, my husband's favorite, consisting of lemon-pepper chicken breast, white chedder shells, caesar salad with homemade croutons, Welch's Sparkling Red Grape juice ('cause I don't drink) and personal pink-frosted heart cakes (picture above).

This next idea was inspired by Gifts.com - and sorry if this is TMI, but I thought it was a creative "green" gift for a guy, plus it didn't cost any money - the hunt continued into the candle-lit bedroom where I laid cute, lacy panties with a printed funny, suggestive little clue, surrounded by rose petals in the shape of a heart. He got such a kick out of that!

I apologize for the "lateness" of this edition, but I had to wait 'til after the holiday passed to blog about so as to not spoil my surprise for my honey. We had such a lovely day and he repeatedly thanked me for my thoughtfulness, and saved each of my love clues. I was so happy it all went off without a hitch and I got to spend a special day with the man I love.

How have you made your Valentine's Days "green" or thoughtful? Or do you chose to celebrate a different special day with your loved ones? If you're single, what are some alternate ways to celebrate? I'd love to hear about it!

'Til next time, Dear Reader!
~*Nicole