Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

Today’s post is a hard one for me to write.  As I am sitting here typing, tears are rolling down my face. Madeleine James has touched my life and my heart. I know she will touch yours too.

On a Friday afternoon just two months ago in January, Maddie was in her kindergarten class playing with friends and two days later, on that Sunday morning, she was diagnosed with a malignant, inoperable brain tumor and given 6 months.  Survival rate for this type of cancer? 0%.

Click here to read her story.

Maddie is a relative of my friend, Sarah, who writes the blog www.whoorl.com and www.hairthursday.com so this story hits particularly close to home.

Sarah is one of those people that you meet and instantly love.  So authentic and fun and one of those people you feel like you have known forever.

When I threw out a request on Twitter this past fall asking if Sarah wanted to join our PCRF team to raise money for pediatric cancer, her support was immediate.   It was a “sure!” and then 5 minutes later she was registered on our team. That’s just the kind of person she is.

This was before Maddie was diagnosed.

When I got the word that Maddie was diagnosed with pediatric cancer, my heart literally broke into a thousand pieces. A five year old, beautiful girl almost the same age as my daughter.

I simply cannot fathom the depth of pain.

Sarah summoned the strength to write about Maddie here.  It is one of the most beautiful, touching posts I have ever read.  Written with such grace and honesty and honored Maddie in such a way that I really don’t know how she found the strength to write it.

Please take a moment and let her words touch you. Here is her post titled, “Madeleine.” You will need a box of tissues.

But in the midst of all the pain, what amazes me the most is that this family has found a way to take something so horrifically devastating and do something positive.

Her mother wrote here, in her story, that in the midst of feeling so out of control they realized there were two things they could control: making sure each day left with Maddie was lived to the fullest and do something to properly honor her.

One of Maddie’s favorite places in the world is the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.  She loves the ocean and the wonder of life under the sea.  When the family learned that the Ocean Institute is currently in the final phase of raising money for new oceanside programs and facilities to complement their existing Ocean Education Center they knew their mission was clear.

The Maddie James Seaside Learning Center would be possible with a donation of $1 million dollars.  The family is shooting for the sea stars and wants to raise this amount so that Maddie’s legacy and light will live on forever in a place she loves so much which is why they have created The Maddie James Foundation.

Again, I am crying.

I hope I get to take my daughters to The Maddie James Seaside Learning Center one day and teach them about the beauty of the sea and the beauty in humanity. I also want to teach them to take each day and treat it like it is our most precious gift, because it is.

If you are moved to help create this center, click here to make a donation.   Every gift helps.

Hug your little ones just that much harder today and every day.  And realize that this day is a gift.

Click here to like the Maddie James Foundation on Facebook . Follow @MaddieJamesFDTN on Twitter.

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Maddie has further inspired our team to FIGHT for her
and all the kids affected by this horrendous disease by running and walking on May 1st as
Team Tiny Oranges to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.
If you would like to join us in this fight
please click here and “Join Our Team!”

Sarah is organizing a fundraising Boot Camp for March 19th in Costa Mesa as well.
Click here for details!

Sharon is a local health and wellness coach driven by a passion for helping others live their healthiest lives.  Take a minute to click over and visit her website and read more about what she does.

We connected via email when she joined Team Tiny Oranges and signed up to run her first half marathon with us on May 1st!

Sharon is currently holding a FUNdraiser <– click for details! which for only a $5 donation includes a Podcast Class on the benefits of CHOCOLATE and a Recipe E-book of her favorite chocolately recipes.

After reading more about her, I asked her if she would be so kind as to write me a little guest post.  I wanted her opinion on the Top 5 Super Foods for Moms that she would recommend the most.  You know, foods that will give us the energy we need to get through the day!

I love what she wrote because some of the items are not the typical things you read about.

Mom Super Foods

As a busy mom of twins, training for a ½ marathon and running a business I find it is important to fuel my body with foods that will keep my energy up and at the same time make healthy choices to keep my body vibrant and well.

But making the right choices of foods can be confusing and overwhelming, there are so many fad diets and food facts on the market it is a no wonder we often just give up. As a health coach I tell my clients, don’t try to do too much at once, rather take small steps and slowly incorporate new foods into your lifestyle that will give you the results you want and become a way of life instead of a quick fix.

Here are my top 5 foods I recommend you start adding to your grocery list. I like to call them the Mom Super Foods, they will help sustain you and give you the energy lift you need as well as helping you maintain over all health. Plus they are easy to add in to any lifestyle without too much work or time.

Dark leafy greens (Kale, Spinach etc)

…are very rich in vitamins and minerals and are purifying for the blood as well as improving your circulation, which gives you more energy and strengthens your immunity, two things multitasking moms need. Sneak them into a smoothie or enjoy in a salad. They are delicious sautéed in a little olive oil with garlic too.

Quinoa (Pronounced KEEN-Wah)

…has the highest nutritional profile and cooks the fastest of all grains, great for busy moms. Quinoa is a complete protein and has equal protein to milk. These little grains are a very high-energy grain, helping you sustain your energy for longer. Quinoa is very versatile, you can mix in with vegetables, eat it alone as you would rice or you can add nut milk and dried fruit and nuts for a sweet breakfast treat.

Avocados

…are great for your heart, and with heart disease being the number one killer of women we need to take care of our organ that gives so much love. These little green gems are rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that may help lower cholesterol. They are also a good source of potassium, which can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. If that is not enough, they are also rich in foliate, a nutrient important for heart health.

Chia Seeds

…these little black seeds might be more familiar to you as Chia Pets but they are more than a decorative seed, they are more nutritionally dense than flax seeds or soy. They are very rich in Omega 3s, which are an anti-inflammatory, great for our heart, brain and joints. Chia seeds also have 6x the calcium of milk promoting healthy bones.  You can add chia seeds to nearly any baked goods, or add them into your smoothies. You can also grind 1 tlbs chia seeds and mix with 2 tbls water as an egg substitute in baked goods. They add a great crunch sprinkled over a salad.

Dark Chocolate

…yes I know what you are thinking – chocolate –healthy? Well dark chocolate is a super food but you must have one that is 73% cocoa or above to get all the health benefits. This is a sweet treat to have around when your sweet tooth is acting up, just a small amount is satisfying and at the same time you get a good dose of antioxidants as cocoa has more antioxidants than blueberries! And it lifts your mood, great when your nerves are feeling a little stretched with the many hats a mom wears.

Want to learn more about the health benefits of dark chocolate?

For a (completely tax deductible) donation of $5 or more to Sharon’s personal fundraising page for our PCRF team, you will receive a Podcast Class on the fun health benefits of chocolate and a Healthy Chocolate Recipe E-Book filled with healthy recipes you can make at home! So fun!

Click HERE to learn more…

Thanks Sharon!  I bought my first box quinoa this past weekend and am curious to try it out!  All great tips!  I can’t wait to high five you on May 1st!  Thank you for joining and supporting our team! xo Jen

For years I have been hearing about how GREAT steelcut oatmeal is for you.

Problem? I am really not crazy about how it tastes.

So when I discovered Trader Joe’s Steelcut Oatmeal I did a little happy dance because I actually really like it!

It can be found in the frozen section and is flavored with brown sugar & maple syrup (which probably helps.) However, Erica from CoreAthletica.com gave it her stamp of approval for it’s low calorie count (only 150) and fairly low sugar content (7g.)

It only takes 3 minutes to heat and I have been topping it with fresh berries (recently blackberries or blueberries) and adding some sliced raw almonds for a little protein and fat.

It’s great for breakfast or a mid-morning snack and nothing like steelcut oats to keep your system movin’ along!

Wanted to share this little find  - because who doesn’t love a new TJ product to love?