Almond Flour Cookies and Trusting Yourself and Washoe Lake

**THROWBACK POST**

June 14 2013:

I finally put the almond flour cookie recipe on my website y’all! Gluten free, dairy free and vegan and YUMMY!! Here ya go … Also, if you wanna make sure to not miss any of my blog posts you can sign up to get them as I post. I write about once or twice a week on living a natural, simple and inspired life (with a smattering of special needs parenting issues).

Recipe: Almond Flour Cookies

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When we are urged by our inner voice to share, do or say something, sometimes we don’t know the reason. Simply trusting that the reason will become clear once we let go and embrace it is all that’s needed to understand the reason. I received this comment on my website last night. I share it with y’all for anyone who questions their inner voice and chooses to ignore it.

“Dear Camilla

I have only by accident come across your book and upon reading the first few pages was surprisingly ( even to myself) reduced to tears. Someone else has a daughter with 18p- … Someone else knows what that means… And the rarity involved. Someone else knows the endless parade of doctors and decisions and someone else does it as a single parent. I did not know I felt so alone in this until reading u describe my own child, Emalee, (13yrs) in your words about Lillian. I have lost a daughter to trisomy 18 and a husband to divorce. I look forward to reading your book knowing I am not navigating this alone.”

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Headed to turn in Thomas‘ summer horse riding paperwork … Making a fun little stop to get inspired and refreshed!!

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A few more pictures from our quickie stop at WashoeLake‬ today. So beautiful and inspiring‬!

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Walks and Gifts and Cookies

**THROWBACK POST**

May 27 2013:

Just back from a refreshing walk with nature … Look at the beautiful gift I found waiting for me! Had the entire trail and walk to myself …. PERFECT!!

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May 27 2013:

It’s a homemade almond cookie kinda day! YUM!! I experimented this time and made some substitutions to the recipe I usually use. Turned out GOOD! Sending y’all warm homemade cookie hugs!

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May 27 2013:

Team TLC had dinner at The Romano Casa tonight … Yum!!!! That Romano Duo is so good to us!!

Team TLC May 27 2013

Why I Began to Blog

December 22 2016:

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Team TLC extra movie night: My choice: “Julie & Julia” –

I say, “I watched this for the first time in 2007. It was one of the reinforcing messages to teach myself everything about blogging.

Which, I did. I spent hours and hours learning. And, then I jumped in!! I purchased my, Thomas’, and Lillian’s names as domains as I knew this would be important for them later in life. Thomas was 2 years old at the time. He’s 11 years old now. (CamillaDowns.com and ThomasADarnell.com and LillianDarnell.com … )

I began blogging at Pink Elephant Books .com and then Lillian joined me over there. I think she was 6 years old. Then at some point she and I switched to writing at our namesake blogs. And, later, Thomas did too. And at some point I began an online journal at The Team TLC .com (this blog).

I loved this movie then and now as, for me, it is about listening to our intuition, divine messages, and following those messages without hesitation. xoxoxo”

Thomas says, “I liked it. I like food. I liked that she was driven by a passion for something. I liked how it switched back and forth in time. I like how it is similar to my 365 photography project.”

Lillian says, “Good, I like how it has to do with food, liked how she was passionate, like the humor, my favorite parts were Julie’s blog, and after she cooked the last dish, and how she got to see Julia’s kitchen.”

Little Bird Says Love Your Self

**Throwback Post**

May 12 2013:

My alarm clock this morning was a little bird outside my window singing …..

Love your self, release judgment of your self, change the things you say to your self … YOU are Perfect!

Have an awesome day y’all! ~ Camilla

Completion and New Beginnings

December 14 2016

Here’s to completion and new beginnings!!

Today we graduated from psychotherapy sessions with Alexa at Midtown Mindfulness.

After a trip back home to Germany beginning tomorrow, Alexa will begin her new journey helping young girls affected by sex trafficking. A beautiful heart centered new beginning for her.

We are extremely grateful for the year and a half we’ve experienced sessions with Alexa. She has seen Lillian come a long way from that first visit in 2014.

Alexa always shared wonderful comments about my style of parenting and ability to stay calm and relaxed. Of course I’m not always able to sustain this, yet how would I know the joy and peace of remaining calm if I don’t experience the opposite.

Mindfulness is indeed miraculous and has been life changing for all 3 of us. Another wonderful path in our journey together!!! Cheers!!!!!

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Windy and This Time of Year

December 14 2016:

Wonderfully windy walk with Lillian this afternoon. The clouds and wind put on an amazing show. Nature is her own gallery! xoxo

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December 15 2016:

Lillian shares why she loves this time of year ….. The wind had quite a bit to say too so some is muffled. Yet, I think you can hear most of it!

Biggest Little Photographer on the Radio and Flying to Germany

December 13 2016:

Thank you Terry Torpet Vasenden for buying 10 copies of Biggest Little Photographer to be sold at Sierra Family Pharmacies, including Don’s Pharmacy!! He gets a spot right up front at the counter! Your kindness, friendship, and excitement were refreshing to experience this afternoon! xoxo

So far 5 local shops are selling Biggest Little Photographer … He’s getting around! Tomorrow is post office run day so if you planned on buying a book and want it mailed tomorrow, place your order by end of day today.

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December 14 2016:

Biggest Little Photographer gets to travel to Bavaria, Germany tomorrow with Alexa! He will permanently reside there with her Photographer Uncle!!! We are so blessed to have had Alexa in our lives for this past year and a half. xoxo … (Alexa is the wonderful psychotherapist that we’ve been seeing to help Lillian with processing emotions. Today was our last session with her! We graduated!)

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December 15 2016:

Thomas and I will be on the LRP Book Hound radio show live this coming Monday, 12.19, between 4-4:30 to talk about Biggest Little Photographer!! OKCKQ 1180 AM in Reno, NV and live streaming at https://amm.streamon.fm/….

We are so grateful to Jan for this opportunity and the entire crew at LRP for all they have done with bringing the book together. Oceans of thanks to everyone who has supported and cheered from the beginning and who continue to support Thomas’ creation! xoxo

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December 16 2016:

Thank you Dave Asher at Buy Nevada First Gift Shop & Visitors Center!! Biggest Little Photographer looks amazing with all the other locally created souvenirs! It’s already time to re-stock! There’s only one left!

Thanks so much everyone!! Supporting another’s heart creation is indeed a blessing all the way around! xoxo

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The Romano Duo and Steve the Alien and Meals and Glow and Homemade

December 11 2016:

We’re getting to have a drive by quickie visit with The Romano Duo on their way to see Heather Schutzler and Brian Schutzler in Washington. They’ll be back here next week! Happy Thomas and Lillian!!!! xoxo

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December 11 2016:
Three Team TLC thumbs up!!! It was great seeing and chatting with you for a wee bit this afternoon Brian Benson. Thomas chose this for our nightly read. Hope you have a beautiful time visiting your son!
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December 13 2016:
Made my salad into a meal tonight. One of the best salads I’ve ever had!

Sautéed onion, garlic, and potato salad with beets, cashews, raw pecans (from a Mississippi pecan tree – courtesy of The Romano Duo), raw sunflower seeds, sulfur-free dried apricots, sautéed broccoli, chopped pickle, olives, English cucumber, sprinkle of prairie sunset cheese topped with a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar. Potato mixture sautéed in coconut oil, Himalayan pink salt, black pepper, paprika, chili powder, and ginger.

Yum!!!!

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December 16 2016:

Yum, Yum dinner last night!! Mixed mine with romaine lettuce, pickles, beets, English cucumbers, and aged balsamic. Thomas had his sans the salad.

Sautéed sweet onions, garlic, raw pecans, raw pistachios, and raw sunflower seeds in coconut oil with Himalayan pink salt, black pepper, and ginger. Mixing in gluten free Tinkada pasta and sprinkled with Prairie cheese.

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December 16 2016:
Thank you to The Vintage staff. They put together a Holiday Glow celebration for the residents. So grateful …. and what fun to meet and get to know the people in our community. I really, really like these two humans with whom I get to share this life ….. xoxo
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December 17 2016:

And then there was this ….

Vegetarian chili infused with fresh sage ….. With sautéed sweet onions and garlic, big pinch of unsweetened cocoa, dash of aged balsamic vinegar, Himalayan pink salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, and ground ginger. Needed quick so used 2 cans of Trader Joe’s organic vegetarian chili and 2 cans of fire roasted and diced tomatoes.

And …. it is soooooo good!! xoxo

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December 17 2016:

Finally took time today to get caught up on some “love” details.

We had a party, cake, and gifts for Lillian’s birthday in September; yet, I had not made her card. I also finally made Thomas’ 11th birthday poster for his November birthday.

I love making homemade cards …. xoxo …. 💙💚💜

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