Each night in January I have been able to sit down for about 10 minutes and practice meditation. I do about 5 minutes of a mantra meditation. Basically I sit comfortably in a quiet space with some meditation music in the background and repeat a mantra in my mind or sometimes out loud. After that meditation I repeat affirmations, visualize, and say a few scriptures.

My theme this month has been "open, expand, flow." Basically since this is still pretty new to me, I wanted my practice to surround these ideas. I wanted to be open to new ideas, to expand my knowledge, to just let it flow in the way it should go. I didn't want to attach myself to any certain process or outcome, just observe what I was experiencing and be open to any new thoughts or ideas I might have.

This is the first month I have practiced consistent meditation of any kind, but I have really loved it. I thought I would share what I do, at least as a reference to me of how my meditation practice started out, and to remember what I have been working on in the past to see if I make any progress in the areas I want to. So here is my January Meditation Practice.

One of the focuses I wanted to have this year was to practice meditation in my life. I've heard and read about the benefits of meditation for a while now, but haven't been able to practice it for more than a few days at a time.

Sometime in the Fall of 2018 I came upon the Brooke Snow Podcast and loved every single episode. It was all resonating with me and as I further investigated her work I found that she had a course called Christian Meditation 40 Day Challenge. I immediately decided I wanted the course for Christmas and would start the meditation challenge in the new year. For me, it seemed to be the guidance I was looking for that would teach me how to start my own meditation practice with lots of great ideas, interesting meditations, and a Christian emphasis.

I'm about a month into the course and have practiced meditation every day since I began. The main meditation she teaches I do every day and the other meditations she shares I practice when I think about them.

It is hard to describe what I feel like meditation has done for me, and the differences I have experienced over the past month. Although I only meditate at night for about 5-10 minutes, I feel the effects of meditation throughout my days. I take more deep breathes throughout the day. I feel like my pace of life is slowing down. When worries and fears are presented to my mind I feel a greater ability to not be consumed by them. It hasn't changed much of my daily living circumstances, but I do feel like it has changed me. I love the practice so much I have shared it with my husband and want to start doing a more child appropriate meditation practice with my daughter.

In fact I recently got these kids yoga and meditation cards. Every night she gets to choose one yoga pose and one meditation to do before bed. It has been a fun way to introduce her to yoga and meditation.

I think the most interesting this about practicing meditation so far is that I feel the difference in myself, but it is not very logical to my mind. To me, it is magic.

As far as the course goes I still have about 10 more days of practice and more to learn, but I can already tell that I want the practice of meditation to continue beyond the 40 days. I want to learn and expand in my own practice, and allow it to change and flow freely as I enter different seasons of life. I'm really excited to see how it all unfolds for me, and I am extremely thankful for the practice I currently have.

If you are interested in meditation from a Christian Perspective I highly recommend Brooke Snows Christian Meditation 40 Day Challenge. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I have found this course to be even more meaningful, since Brooke is also a member and draws many of her ideas from that perspective.

Although I love this particular course, the most important thing is to find a practice that resonates with you. There are so many ways to practice mediation, and you really don't have to do them all. It's more important to find something that you can do diligently and consistently in your life, than to find something that seems cool. I struggled with that for a while, but finding something that works for me has been so much better.

Today I wanted to share a "what we eat in a day" on a plant based diet. Typically when people find out I am plant based and don't eat any animal products, they wonder what exactly we do eat. Hopefully this will shed some light on our plant based eating and the meals we enjoy.

BREAKFAST | It's the most important meal of the day right. This January I have loved to start my day off with a big smoothie. It's a little odd since it is freezing outside, but I have enjoyed it so much. And since I only put one frozen component into my smoothies (the blueberries) it doesn't leave me too cold, as long as I stay inside. I've been making this smoothie quite a bit, and my husband usually makes a huge smoothie for him and my daughter to share.


LUNCH | My daughter made us a cashew cream cheese cucumber sandwich one day and it was so tasty I've been enjoying it on a regular basis this January. It is a super simple sandwich but also quite filling. I like to add spinach to mine as well.


There you go. A complete day in our plant based life. It might not seem like much but we just eat until we are full. That means in the morning I drink about 36 oz of smoothie while Daniel might drink a full Blentec container. I might have one sandwich while Daniel eats two. We drink lots of water and snack on a few things in the afternoon. As for dinner Daniel completely fills his plate and goes back for more while the rest of us eat our own full plate (and sometimes go back for more).

I love eating plant based. I'm hoping I can share a day in our plant based life regularly so you might be able to glimpse the variety of foods we enjoy over the course of a year.

Are you interested in adding more WFPB meals into your rotation. Maybe you want to go 100% WFPB or maybe you already are. Check out my cookbook, Earth Fed Family, for 44 WFPBNO and Vegan recipes. It includes all of our family's favorite meals to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Thanks for your support!

How far along: 16 Weeks

Baby size: 4.6 inches & 3.5 ounces. The size of an avocado.

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I was thinking today maybe it is time to invest. I think I might need them earlier this time than I did last time.

Stretch marks: Nope. Lotion every morning and crossing my fingers.

Sleep: Generally it has been a little better. I've been having some really scary and stressful dreams though.

Gender: Not sure. I had two dreams it was a boy. But I am pretty sure I had dreams with Kennedy that she was a boy too, so those are not reliable. As I was with Kennedy I would not be surprised at all if it were a boy and I would be completely surprised if it's a girl. One more month to wait and see.

Best moment this week: Just chatting with my husband about the baby and talking baby names. So far we haven't really discussed baby names since it can get a little um... passionate. But we had a really good chat about it this week. Can't wait to find out the gender so we can get down to business on the name game.

Looking forward to: Little kicks and jabs, any movement that is definitely baby. I loved that, especially in the beginning when it is not as uncomfortable.

What I miss: Not worrying about how all my choices affect the baby. Like oops I forgot my prenatal today, I hope that is okay. Or I hope this lotion that I am using is okay for the baby. I guess I just second guess a lot of things, I kind of miss not worrying. Luckily I'm not too bad, I definitely feel more relaxed about a lot of things than I did the first time around.

Movement: Not yet. Hopefully soon!

Food cravings: I was totally craving the Kevita Sparkling Probiotic water after I tried the Mojita Lime Mint Coconut one the other week. But then I tried the Strawberry Acai Coconut one thinking it would be amazing and it was just okay. Kind of a bummer. I'm also drinking a delicious smoothie every morning for breakfast and I really crave it every night before I go to bed. It has tasted so good.

Aversions: My husband and daughter had a ramen noodle cup soup thing for lunch and it was the worst. Not buying those again until I am done with this pregnancy.

Nursery: We are mostly just wondering what the best set up in our two bedroom apartment is going to be for this little babe and the rest of us. Which corner will we choose? 

Overall: I'm excited to be 16 weeks. It feels like I am more settled into pregnancy. Lots of random people know now, I'm starting to think about maternity clothes and baby gear. It is just more real.

Miscellaneous: My mom touched my belly for the first time this week when she came over. I don't think a single person touched my belly with Kennedy, I mean besides when I told Daniel to feel a kick. It was super weird.

Kennedy | 16 Weeks

Making | Changes on the blog. It has been fun to do a little overhaul.
Cooking | Lot's of new delicious plant based meals. Now that I am not constantly nauseous I am feeling like I can break out some new recipes I have been wanting to try.
Drinking | Not enough water. Working on that.
Reading | Harry Potter. Just finished The Prisoner of Azkaban. 
Wanting | The freezing cold temperatures to be gone for good.
Listening | To the Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack. It is on repeat in our home, probably because it is just so good.
Wasting | Time doing puzzles. Actually I don't think it is a waste at all. I love doing puzzles, they just become kind of all consuming for me. But it has been a fun activity in the bleak midwinter.
Wishing | It were spring.
Dreaming | That we are having a baby boy. Quite literally. Two nights in a row.
Enjoying | All the kisses Kennedy is giving me and the baby these days. She says she has a lot of love to give, so kisses come our way all day every day. It's the best.
Waiting | To find out if this baby is a boy or a girl. I'm so excited.
Liking | Kevita Probiotic Sparkling Water. Okay so I just tried one, the Lime Mint Coconut flavor, but it was super tasty.
Wondering | What life will be like in one year. I would love just a little glimpse.
Loving | My Christian Meditation course. It is so so good.
Hoping | I am really out of the pure exhaustion and nausea of the first trimester for good.
Marveling | At how grown up Kennedy is. 
Needing | A good nights sleep. Maybe even more than one, if that's possible.
Wearing | All the sweaters and warm clothes, all the time.
Noticing | A little bump. Kennedy is too. The other day she looked at me and thoughtfully said "Mom, I think the baby is growing."
Knowing | Not too much. The more I grow up the less I feel like I "know."
Thinking | About Pittsburgh and Maryland a lot. And missing them both so much. 
Feeling | Hopeful about the future. There are lots of good things coming our way.

How far along: 14 Weeks. 

Baby size: 3.4 in & 1.5 oz. The size of a large lemon.

Maternity clothes: Not yet, but I have used the hair elastic trick for one pair of jeans I have.

Stretch marks: No. Can I hope I won't get them since I didn't get them with Kennedy? Crossing my fingers.

Sleep: I have been getting up in the middle of the night a lot to go to the bathroom. That has been pretty disruptive to my sleep. For a while there I was getting tons of sleep at night and taking multiple naps during the day. This pregnancy has sure left me feeling exhausted.

Gender: We don't know yet, but so far this pregnancy has been quite a bit different than my first one. Does that mean it's a boy? Or is it just the fact that I am 5 years older and my life and body are pretty different these days. Or maybe it is the fact that I have a four year old that keeps me on my toes and I can't just take a nap at will.

Best moment this week: This whole pregnancy has been so fun to have Kennedy give my belly kisses all the time. It has been so sweet.

Looking forward to: I am really anticipating knowing the gender. For a while we thought we would wait to find out, but then we waited for nearly 3 years to get pregnant and I just don't want to wait anymore. Super excited to find out if we will have a boy or a girl.

What I miss: I miss not feeling nauseous and having energy. I feel so nauseous at night, pretty much every night and it has just been yucky. Also I feel so low energy, wishing I had some of Kennedy's.

Movement: I don't feel any movement, but in the morning when I am laying down and my bladder is full I can feel my little bump popping out. It is one of my favorite things. Good morning baby.

Food cravings: I wouldn't say I have any food cravings, but two things that have been consistently good are green apples with lemon juice on them and grapefruit. They never fail.

Aversions: Ugh all the things. But lets not talk about the coconut ramen curry I had early on in my pregnancy, I literally can't even think about it.

Nursery: Well seeing as how we live in a two bedroom apartment where one bedroom is a office/ bedroom and the other bedroom belongs to our four year old... I don't think this little one will come home to a nursery in the same way that Kennedy did.

Overall: Overall this pregnancy has been pretty hard. I don't feel great, I'm so tired, I've been kind of grouchy. For a while there Daniel was making all the meals and watching Kennedy whenever he could so I could nap. It was really rough. I am starting to see the light, but I wish I could just get back to feeling more normal. Oh well, I'm thrilled to be pregnant and to have another go at bringing another baby into our home.

Miscellaneous: I don't really know. It feels like a long time since we found out I am pregnant, but I also can't believe I am 14 weeks. Time is just crazy.

14 Weeks with Kennedy