We adopted you from the shelter when you were just a 6 week old puppy.  You were such a sweet little girl.  We knew we wanted a puppy and when we saw you at the shelter, we knew we had to have you.  I even skipped classes in college to wait and get you since there was a waiting list for puppies.  You were always the sweetest thing, always happy and playful.  You loved to snuggle with us, cuddling on the couch and the bed, even when you weren't supposed to.  You were always a little nanny dog, always wanting to be with us, or taking care of little ones.  When we got your "brother" Tommy, you let him suckle on your lips until they were scabbed over, but you never cared.  You two would sleep and play together as puppy and kitten.  You'd play with all the neighbor dogs, our family members' dogs, and the dogs in the dog park. And when we got your other "brother" Taz, you two were inseparable.  You were always up for a walk or playing tug-of-war.  You didn't care that you never learned to fetch or catch a ball, you just wanted to be with us.  Even as a puppy, you were like Houdini, always escaping your playpen and kennel just to be near us.  You'd brave the car rides, even though they scared you, just to go on the next adventure.  You were with us through moves, our engagement, wedding, when your sisters were born, through graduations, achievements and also at our lowest points.  You were always ready for a treat, even gaining the nickname, "little pig dog" from grandpa and the vets. You always loved cleaning up after the girls after a meal or begging grandpa for a treat.
You were our first baby together. We came to pick you up at the pound that day as a puppy and we were there with you as we said our goodbyes yesterday, almost 14 years later. We never expected to lose your brother Taz, and we certainly hoped that we wouldn't have to say goodbye to you too so soon.  But life had other plans.  You were able to follow me around as I put up the Christmas lights outside, but a slip in the bathroom combined with bad hips, nerve damage and arthritis, proved to be too much.  When you couldn't get up anymore, we knew we had to make another tough decision, and it still isn't any easier.  Our wounds still seem so fresh and to lose two of our babies within 6 months of each other has been so hard. I hope you know how loved you were, and what a sweet baby girl you were.  I take solice knowing you aren't in pain anymore and you're able to run free with Taz and Gracie.  I hope you three are having a grand time together, chasing each other and wrestling around, being the silly group together you once were when you were young.  I miss my puppies and the house seems so big and empty without you in it anymore.  I pray that we don't have to go through this again anytime soon, my heart can only take so much heartbreak in one year.  Goodbye for now my sweet baby girl.  Thank you for a wonderful 14 years together, give your brother a big kiss from us.  See you again one day, my baby.

​My beautiful boy... You came to us quite unexpectedly. Your first family left you abandoned in a dirt backyard and moved away, not ever knowing your fate. A neighbor (and fellow dog lover) knew you were left behind and fed and watered you for a day or two. It was then that our paths should cross. Your friendly neighbor was a good friend of ours and knew we had a soft spot for dogs. We came for you that day and brought you home. We thought our fur family was complete with 1 dog and 1 cat, but after 2 weeks of trying to find you a forever home, you had already found it. 
You and Echo became fast friends, would wrestle and play tug-of-war and even Tommy would get in on the fun by wrestling with you. You became a mamas boy almost instantly, only letting me be the one to snuggle with you. You were my running/walking/hiking/biking buddy, always on the lookout for bunnies and lizards to chase, ready to get in the car and go for a ride at a moments notice. You accompanied us on trips to the dunes, camping in 3 different states and traveled endlessly back and forth across Nevada. You made best friends with Gracie, bonding instantly. You were there for the births of your human sisters; were there with us through the deaths of parents and grandparents, through celebrations and heartbreak and were always willing to give a good snuggle and be a protector. You became a good big fur brother, playing with the kids and always willing to help clean up food messes or accept treats. 
Your seizures started so suddenly not long ago. We didn't know why for so long. Grandpa ran every test we could think of and your seizures were unlike anything the vets had seen. You were so patient with us as we tried different medications to try and stop them. You even loved the acupuncture treatments and the constant love and cookies you received during treatment. When nothing seemed to work, we decided to stop treatments and run one last test. It was then we discovered the tumors on your liver, most likely secondary to a brain tumor. We knew then that there was nothing we could do but make you comfortable. We thought we would have a bit more time together. You had become so tired over the last year, you just weren't the same. No chasing the bunnies or lizards in the yard anymore. Your hearing began to fade and was soon almost completely gone. And going on walks became impossible without fear of inducing seizures. You had seizures daily. And through it all, you still smiled and wagged your tail constantly. We made the heartbreaking decision to help you move on today and leave this crippling body of yours. You laid there wagging your tail even as we said our final goodbyes and you went peacefully in my arms. I hope you know how truly loved you were and know our home is not the same without you. I know you are able to hear again and can run free again without fear of having seizures. Be that big goofy dog you always were and give Gracie a big kiss when you see her. You will always be our Boo Boo. Goodbye for now, my sweet boy, we love you. Thank you for giving us 11 great years with you. See you again one day.

​I wrote this about a month ago as a way to grieve one of our fur-babies.  I wasn't quiet ready to share it publicly (although if you know me, you certainly heard about his passing or the struggles we went through for almost 20 months with trying to figure out what was causing his seizures.  Although things are a little better emotionally for all of us, we still miss him greatly.  I think his passing has been hardest on my youngest and myself. It's so hard as it is to lose a loved one, and now as a parent, to see your children grieve that loss as well, is doubly painful.  Every day gets a little better though. Our Taz will surely be missed, our grief will eventually fade, and we will always have our memories of him.  A friend of mine sent me this poem upon hearing of his passing and I wanted to share it as well. I only wish I knew who the original author was to give credit.

Don't Cry Mommy

Don't cry, Mommy, 
I'm okay! 
The Angels came, 
I couldn't stay. 

God brought me home, 
He loves me, too! 
He said that I can 
Watch over you. 

I know you love me, 
I love you, too. 
That's why I'll do 
My best for you. 

That's my new job, 
To wait for you 
Until you come, 
Here's what I'll do: 

I'll run and romp, 
And play with glee! 
(I'll lift my leg, 
When I have to pee!) 

But most of all, 
I'll guard you well. 
I'm up here watching, 
Can't you tell? 

Think of me, 
I'll hear your voice. 
And know you made 
The perfect choice. 

You saved me once, 
I'll not forget! 
You took care of me, 
But better yet: 

You loved me

I'd also like to share a couple of my favorite dog books.  These have been some of my favorites over the years and I have read some of these multiple times.  Getting lost in a good book is sometimes just as good of therapy as crochet is...

Watchers by Dean Koontz (One of my all time favorite books.  Einstein was our reason for getting our Golden Retriever, Gracie, so many years ago)
The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
A Dog's Purpose & A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron (These give me hope I will see all my fur-babies again)

Well once again I am up to new things! Alicia with Purple Goddess Design and I have merged our talents to create a new venture together - Artsy Fartsy Mommas.  We are now booking for parties and events for face and body painting!  This has been such a fun start and of course we are having a great time with our little models. From Birthday Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Baby Showers, Costume Parties, Corporate events, Business Promotions, Prenatal Belly Paintings, Small and Large Community Events, we will be painting it all!  We will be at our first event next week at the Steamboat Hot Springs & Double Diamond Athletic Club Arts/Craft Fair. We'd love to have you come out and see us in action! Please stop by our Facebook page and give us a "Like" and follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @artsyfartsymoms and let us know what you think!

I'm also stocking up for my first shows of the year! I decided not to do as many summer shows this year.  Mostly because of the heat and my skin care items not holding up as well as I'd like in the heat and to also spend a bit more time with the family. I have so many new items to share with you all! Many new upcycled items including a new crochet tote bag made from plastic shopping bags, a few different styles of market bags made from old t-shirts, and some really cute garden aprons made from old jeans. I'll also be introducing a few new skin care items including tinted lip balms and lotions with sunscreen in them (all natural/organic ingredients, of course). And of course I'll have all my old favorites with me!

The second show I'll be participating in is the Summer Fun at Arlington Gardens on Saturday, June 13th from 10am-4pm. I'll be there selling all my handcrafted goodies as well as selling Wildtree products with my team member, Nykki. There will be many great direct sales ladies there, local businesses inside the mall, local artists, and food trucks. We will also have some bins set up to accept pet food donations for the Nevada Humane Society. You can see all the event details on the Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/SummerFunatArlingtonGardens.

I hope to see all you locals at the events!  As always, if you need something custom, I'm happy to make that something special for you!

I'm a little sad that the no-poo method didn't work out as well as I had hoped, but in the end, not having an itchy head has been really nice.  I even looked into a few other blog posts and found that I wasn't the only one who this has happened to. The no-poo method is definitely not for everyone.  Everyone's body reacts to products differently, and mine definitely didn't agree with this one.  Here are a few other's experiences with no-poo who also didn't turn out as well as expected:
http://blog.kanelstrand.com/2014/01/baking-soda-destroyed-my-hair.html
http://gnowfglins.com/2015/03/16/why-no-poo-didnt-work-for-me/
http://www.oursmallhours.com/poo-method-didnt-work/
http://redandhoney.com/one-year-after-quitting-shampoo-a-no-pooing-update/#_a5y_p=3623703

I'd love to know if you have ever tried the no-poo method!  How did it work for you?

After doing my research into the company, I went back to the farmers market the next week and signed up to become a rep.  As a stay at home mom, I figured this would be a good way to earn a few extra dollars, or at least some free groceries with food that I really loved.  And the rest, as they say is, is history.  

Today I'd like to share a simple recipe with you.  It reminds me of spring and summer and it is SO simple to make.  (Did I also mention how easy and simple everything is to cook with as well?  I have numerous friends who literally, DO NOT cook, and I have had them make plenty of meals using Wildtree freezer meals, and they love them!  But I digress...)  This recipe is great for a light dessert on a hot day, or if you're in a pinch and need to make something for a pot luck.  Or if you just feel like having some dessert (hey, who doesn't?).  This recipe took me all of about 15-20min to make and my kiddos were even able to help me.  So here is goes, my yummy cheesecake recipe using the Very Berry Cheesecake blend from Wildtree:

8 oz organic cream cheese, softened
8 oz organic whipping cream
1-2 tsp organic sugar (optional)
1 pre-made organic graham cracker pie crust or 1 box organic graham crackers & a tbsp or two of organic butter, melted
1 cup organic berries (your choice)
2 tbsp Wildtree Very Berry Cheesecake mix (purchase here) 

If you are not using a pre-made pie crust, take the graham crackers (about 8-10 full crackers) and mix them in a food processor.  Melt the butter and mix with the graham cracker crumbs.  Poor into a pie tin or glass and form your crust.  Next, using a hand mixer, whip the whipping cream until soft peaks are formed.  Add in the softened cream cheese, Very Berry Cheesecake mix, and optional sugar and mix together thoroughly.  Pour mixture into the pie crust, top with berries and refrigerate until ready to serve.  

Easy, right?  If you're a fan of the other cheesecake mixes, you can also substitute those for the berry mix as well.  The Lemon Lime cheesecake mix is fabulous with a shredded coconut topping and a little lemon & lime zest.  The Chocolate Pumpkin cheesecake mix is also great with some chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, or melted chocolate drizzled on top as well.  When I made the pumpkin recipe, I also added in a few tablespoons of pumpkin as well (since I had some on hand from another recipe).  There are so many ways to customize these recipes!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!  As you can see, I've made this on several occasions.  I'm not much of a baker (I'm a much better cook), so these types of recipes are perfect for me!  And everyone loves them!

If you'd like to see more of my recipes, please stop by my new facebook page and check it out: www.facebook.com/MeganGisiWildtree,  You can also visit my website to order or learn more about the company for yourself: www.mywildtree.com/MeganGisi.  If you are interested in joining my team and earning a little extra cash and/or groceries, feel free to message me anytime!  I am also hosting monthly Freezer Meal Workshops, so if you're interested in making 10 meals in about 2 hours, stop by my events on the facebook page to see more (and you don't need to be local to me to take advantage of these!).

I actually started this blog post about 5 months ago. With all the holiday shows that came up in the fall, I honestly just didn't have the motivation to stick to an exercise routine. I didn't gain anything, and I wasn't losing anything either. Luckily, a friend of mine was on a similar journey. Also a busy mom, she started changing the way she ate and exercised. She also started up a website and started posting her results. You could say this was my virtual butt-kicker to get back on track with my goals. She started a group on Facebook for people to get back on track and get support in their healthier lifestyles and it was perfect for me. If you've read any of my other posts, you know already we are on a healthier eating plan, and it's been a great change! I love eating organic/local/non-gmo! And it's been a great transition and something that we actually stick to. Joining this group, was just my extra kick in the butt. 

So what did I do differently and how did I start to lose weight without dieting? It's been numerous little changes that have helped.  And they didn't happen all at once.  This has been a slow change, but one that I've been able to stick with.  And it will be one that I can continue to stick with.  Yes, it's become a "lifestyle change".  (I know, that sounds so cliche, but it's the best description for what this is.) Ok, so here is a list of the things that I've done:

5. Stop eating 4hrs before bed
This one has helped me out so much!  If you are a fan of my facebook page, you know I tend to be a nightowl.  And I was usually always snacking late while I worked.  I now make it a point to stop eating after 9:00pm and just drink water.  By letting my body go into a 12hr fast at night, it has sped up my metabolism and has helped me to lose weight as well. 

And that's it!  Those are the changes that I've made the last few months to get back into shape.  One of the things that has been helpful too is that normally with a "diet", you are following an eating plan that is super strict with food and you are eliminating things.  And by eliminating them, it only makes you want them more.  You might be able to stick to not having them for a while, but once you fall off the wagon, you usually fall pretty hard (or maybe that was just me...).  What I like about this change is that I haven't eliminated anything.  If we go out to a party or out to eat, I make a conscious effort to eat really healthy and make good choices about what I'm eating.  If there's a birthday cake or something, I don't necessarily say no.  I might have a small slice.  And I think because I'm in the mind frame that I CAN still have it, I don't want it as much.  By telling myself that I CAN'T have it, it just makes me want it that much more.  I know it's all in my head, and having the right frame of mind can make all the difference in the world.  

When I started with these groups this past fall, it was during my busiest time of year for shows and of course during the holidays.  I'm so glad I started it when I did!  I know most people don't want to try and watch what they eat during the holidays and they wait to do a New Years resolution.  I'm not a resolution kind of girl though.  If I have a goal, I want to start working on it right away.  The cool part about starting during the holidays was that I actually lost 10 lbs (and over 13"!), instead of gaining them.  And now I'm motivated to keep going and lose more.  I'm loving that I'm fitting back into my old sizes of clothes and that by working out everyday, I'm getting stronger and less "jiggly" (as my youngest would say). I'm happy to be getting back to me.  By taking time for myself, I think this has helped me to be a better mom and wife as well - being more active and less stressed out.

If you need a little more inspiration to start (or keep going) on your own fitness or health journey, here are some great links that have inspired me:

Mommy Transformed - Mind Body Spirit  - This is my friends Facebook page.  She has been one of my inspirations to getting back into shape and is also the leader in the groups that I belong to.  Want to join us?  Message her or me and we'll add you to the group!

Benefits of Drinking Water in the Morning

Some great articles from Dr. Mercola that have inspired me to keep going in our "hippie" lifestyle of eating organic and staying away from as many environmental toxins as we can.
7 Invisible Ways Exercise Improves Your Life 
7 Natural Ways to Reduce Cellulite in Your Body
5 Surprising Factors That Can Make You Pack on Pounds
Are You Fat Because You Are Being Poisoned?

A few books that I've had in my collection for quite a few years.  They are a great reference for detoxing your liver (which will also help you to lose weight) and they have some great recipes in them!

• Eat Right for Your Type & Cook Right For Your Type by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo
• Fat Flush Plan by Ann Louise Gittleman

Since the weather is starting to turn, I was able to get what was left of the more tender fruits and veggies out of the garden finally.  Our garden was not as prosperous as I had hoped it would be this year, but we did still get quite a bit.  It did very well for green beans, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, marigolds, parsley, catnip, and sunflowers.  Not so well for any of the squash varieties, corn, peppers, cilantro, basil, radishes, or berry varieties.  Next year I will definitely be adjusting the crop rotation to make sure we have better production.  Here's a little peek at our garden from this year:

Wow, I can't believe that it's almost September.  Where did the summer go?? All the kids here have been back in school for weeks now, which of course made the summer seem so much shorter than it really was.  So much to do, so little time!  So if you've been following me on Facebook, you already know I've been pretty busy.  I finally painted my Family Tree mural that's been on my to-do list since January.  I've been crocheting like a mad woman getting ready for all my upcoming fall/holiday shows.  And of course what you probably wouldn't see is that I've also been busy being a mom/wife/gardener.  My garden is now kicking into full gear (despite some issues with the squashes/cucumbers/melons.  I'll be giving a garden update here in a future post). But first I wanted to talk about my next event coming up.

One of my favorite events is almost here!  The Great Reno Balloon Races!  It's such a fun event and has been going on in Reno for 32 years now.  We used to go to it annually when I was a kid and of course as we got older we stopped going as much just due to school schedules and sports activities.  After I moved to Las Vegas I, of course, didn't go until we moved back to the area.  We ended up taking the kids for the first time 2 years ago and it was amazing.  There's nothing like looking at something through a child's eyes and seeing the magic and wonder you once felt as a kid.  This is how it was for me.  Now if you've ever been to this event, you know that most people will park over at UNR and will walk up the very steep hills/streets to get to Rancho San Rafael Park.  And if you want to catch the Glow Show and the Dawn Patrol, you have to get there insanely early (5:00am is when the show starts, so you usually have to give yourself at least 30min before to find parking and make the hike into the park).  For us, we planned on getting up at 3:00am to get ready, driving across town to pick up my parents then looking for parking and making the hike, all with a 2 year old and a 6 month old.  Quite honestly, I thought I was insane and I imagined that I'd have 2 very tired and cranky kids with me.  Boy was I in for a great surprise!  They slept most of the way to the park and in the stroller.  We got there a little later than planned and the balloons had already started the Dawn Patrol.  As soon as my oldest saw them in the air, she called out, "Balloons! Balloons!  Balloons EVERYWHERE! Look mommy!"  It was definitely one of those great mommy moments that brings happy tears to your eyes.  Both girls had such a wide-eyed look of wonder on their faces all morning as we sat amongst the balloons.  One of the greatest parts about the event is that everyone gathers around in the open field of the park and the balloons and crews are setting up/taking off/landing all around you.  With around 100 balloons and 150,000 people, it's quite the site to see.  My kids talk about this event all year long and look forward to us waking them up when it's still dark and then seeing all the balloons.  I'm not a morning person (in fact, I usually don't go to bed until around 1:00 or 2:00am), but seeing the joy and wonder on my kids faces each year makes that early morning wake up so worth it!  

This year I get the privilege of working the event as a vendor and seeing the balloons all 3 days.  While I'm not relishing the idea of getting up at 3:00am for 3 days, I am very much looking forward to seeing those balloons, working along side some amazingly talented artists and bringing my kids along with me to enjoy the event for yet another year.  If you are local or are planning on visiting Reno, make sure to stop by for this event at least once.  I promise you won't be disappointed!  And make sure to stop by Crafter's Row to say hi and check out all of the work of our Indie Reno artists!

One of my family's favorite dishes is pizza.  But it's hard to find a great pizza that's also healthy and organic.  Since we don't eat out much anymore (for one, it's way too expensive, and two, eating non-organic food that's full of GMO's quite literally makes us sick), I started making my own pizza.  It's such an easy recipe and you can customize it to however you like.  So today, I'd like to share my go-to pizza recipe as well as a yummy new recipe that I just tried for dessert - Avocado Banana Bread. 

My pizza is a basic spelt crust with a pesto sauce and pretty much any topping you can possibly throw on.  It is a little time consuming as you have to wait an hour for the dough to rise, but it is totally worth it! If you are in a pinch and don't have time to make the dough, a good alternative is the Wildtree pizza dough.  It's organic and pretty much all you have to do is open the bag, add water and mix.  You can buy the Wildtree doughhere (there is also a gluten free option available too!).  For my pizza, I use Cilantro Pesto.  Now I know cilantro can be one of those love/hate type of herbs (I've heard many a person say that it tastes like soap) so if you are one of those people, you can substitute basil for the cilantro.

For toppings, the possibilities are endless.  We usually use pepperoni (Applegate brand has an organic option that we love), fresh mushrooms, olives, artichoke hearts (Reese brand has a non-gmo project verified option), peppers, zucchini/squash, onions (green or red work best), feta cheese crumbles, and mozzarella cheese (Organic Valley has both of these options for cheese).  Another combination that we love is sliced ham (again, we use Applegate brand since they are organic and nitrate/nitrite free), artichoke hearts, roasted garlic cloves, crushed or sliced pineapple, peppers, zucchini/squash, mushrooms, pine nuts, goat cheese crumbles and mozzarella.  The toppings certainly pile up high, but the pizza is fabulous.  And you really can't go wrong with whatever toppings you choose.  

Basic Pizza Dough Recipe (makes one large pizza or 2 12" pies)

1 tablespoon dry yeast
1 cup warm water (warm to the wrist)
2-1/2 to 3 cups spelt flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Olive oil for the bowl

In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Add flour, oil, and salt and mix well.  Turn onto a well floured surface and knead dough for 5 minutes, adding more flour as dough gets sticky.  Grease the bowl with olive oil and put dough back into the bowl.  cover with a clean towel and let rise for 1 hour.  Once the dough has doubled in size, punch down and divide it into two pieces (unless making one large pizza).  Work dough for 1 minute and set aside.  To bake, preheat the oven to 475 degrees F and sprinkle your baking sheet or pizza stone with a little cornmeal (the organic and non-gmo kind of course).  Take your pizza dough and flatten on the pan.  Add toppings.  Bake for about 10-18mins depending on toppings. (Start checking on it at about 10 min.  When the cheese and crust starts to brown, it is done.)

Now for the Avocado Banana bread!  I just tried this one today and it is amazing!  The combination of the avocados and bananas gives this bread such a rich and creamy texture.  I love it!  For my recipe I substituted spelt for my flour (it's a healthier option since it is an ancient grain) and of course I have all my organic ingredients.  This is a must try recipe for any dessert bread lovers out there!  I tried the recipe on fellow bloggers site Crazy for Crust.  For her recipe on this yummy bread,click here.

Enjoy these recipes!  If you have any yummy pizza topping combinations that you'd like to share, please leave a comment!