Being One With The Earth

During our Thanksgiving vacation we stayed with Mckay and LaRee's family who eat healthily/healthy/healthful/ I don't know how to say it. I have changed my perspective about what I should be putting in my body and I just feel like I could do a way better job at this. It is challenging to make this change but it is so important. I have thought about doing this for a while but I hadn't quite convinced myself or gotten the guts to just commit and change myself. My mom has been trying to tell me about eating more organically and she recently sent me this bible of rich information on how to eat well. It includes recipes. I don't need to go into detail about how many crazy things we put into our body and how our food has been altered since the days of growing up on the farms, but I am quite surprised at the way our food is altered to be cheaper or taste better. The documentary "Food Inc" did a good job of informing me of that.

Andrew and I want to lose weight, have more energy, and feel good, so we are committing to eating more organic foods, veggies, fruits, and trying green smoothies, etc. I also want to have good eating habits so that my children will crave healthy food. Tonight we ate a huge salad with spinach, bell peppers, avocado, broccoli, cheese, and tomatoes. It sure beats the usual cream based, fattening recipes I recently made. I still have to learn about cooking healthy main meals. My current list of ideas includes brown rice, lentil soup, and Dave's Killer Bread. I need help and so I am searching the internet as well as reading the huge book my mom gave me. What resources are there for eating healthy?

On top of this we are committing to work out at least 5 days a week. December is the perfect month to make this transition from whenever we have time to daily workouts. Half of the month will be a lot less busy so that we can make it a habit.

On another note, I have recently gotten sick of hiding away my jewelry in a container that I never notice. I decided I needed to make a jewelry rack so that I actually wear jewelry semi-regularly. We already have a visible scarf holder that is packed and those get worn quite often.

On Andrew's run tonight he grabbed lots of random branches. I found one with a nice curve in it and proceeded to nail some fabric to it. I added more nails for hanging stuff. I placed it on some nails in the wall and there it lays. I hang my necklaces, bracelets, and belts on the nails and then I poke a hole into the fabric to hang my earrings on it.

I felt great about using the earth's resources to create something for free and fueling my body with healthy food. I feel like I am in control of my life more or something. I can't really explain it.

Gobble Gobble Time in California

First of all, Andrew got an iPhone 4S and his life is way better and looks cooler. Siri helps him organize his life and I don't have to remind him to do stuff that much. I will get one next month:) The pictures on this post were all taken with the iPhone camera+Instagram.

THANKSGIVING Vacation!!!!

We left Tuesday night on a long car ride to Sacramento, CA to stay at the Mckay and LaRee Florence home with all of Andrew's family. We drove with Jenny and her kids. There were times when we thought we would die but we finally arrived at 5 a.m. We left that night because there was talk of a storm coming through on Wednesday that we didn't want to hit.

We went on a trip to DI and I got some great new clothes, jewelry, and shoes. Andrew bought these sweet old man shoes.

Unfortunately, I asked Andrew how such cool shoes get to DI and he informed me that old people die and people bring their stuff here. That is how we find the jewels of DI. I was creeped out but glad to know that those shoes, which were probably some very nice old man's favorite pair, would be given lots of tender loving care by Andrew.

Thanksgiving day I made rolls and we watched the worst movie ever created, "Battlefield Earth" with Hank and Erin. Seriously though, that movie is horrible.

For breakfast, Andrew went and gathered eggs from the chicken coop outside.

There were 35 family members at the Florence home and we had an amazing feast filled with mashed potatoes, stuffing, ham, turkey, veggies, salads, yams, and plenty of diverse pies. We finished off the night by going to see "The Muppett Movie" with the kids and Hank and Erin. It was very delightful and nostalgic.

This morning we did a Turkey Trot that Erin and Jeff wonderfully organized. Everybody was on a team of two and we did a run around the park, then wheelbarrow, skipping, jumping jacks, running backward, carrying your partner upside down, and crab walking. We lost and are out of shape. The end.

We still have the rest of today and tomorrow with family. It is so fun to see Erin and we wish we lived closer to her. Everyone will be together for Christmas and I actually get to see all of my family during December too. What a treat!

I am grateful for loving and supportive family and a blessed life. I am so happy to be me. Life is great and I owe all of my happiness to God who has blessed me immeasurably.

Thermies

Winter is approaching and it is getting dang cold! When I moved here from Florida my Freshman year, my wise mother bought me some thermal underwear. I was like, "Pssshhh, it can't get that cold here!" Oh was I wrong. I have not used them that much because in the past I have been very resistant to taking off my flip flops and dressing warmly. Over my 5 years here, I have slowly given in. This week I found the thermals and I am addicted. I wear them all the time and I am warmer! Go figure. I really wish I didn't live in the cold where it snows, but we will move eventually.

Today I was telling Andrew that I was sad he didn't have some thermies of his own. He reminded me that the Dwarf tights he bought for Halloween (see below post) are like thermies. They make him do a little dance where he taps his toes and sings a little tune. He has never had a peice of clothing that makes him do that. He love his thermies too.

Here I am having just woken up (that's why I look like a super model) and wearing my 2nd best friend right now, plus wool socks. What happened to being able to sleep naked?!

So there it is! We are a thermal underwear family. That's the price you pay for living in a place that gets super cold. Yay! But not really...

Oh, last week Andrew cut off part of his finger in class. It is pretty cool looking now.

A Fairy Tale Halloween

Two days before Halloween Andrew and I decided to be Snow White and a dwarf, Doc to be exact. I have always wanted to be her ever since I was her as an 8 year old child. Andrew convinced me that I could make it happen in 2 days. I quickly called Debbie and she agreed to help me. She found all of the materials for the dress and like an experienced mom, whipped up a great costume. I helped with all of the glue gun stuff and ripping seams and such. She was happy to do it since it had been so many years since she had made one. Right before our Halloween party, Andrew stopped by a local Halloween shop to buy a white beard and some man tights. Do you know how much he spent? $38!!! Can you believe how much those stores hike up the prices during this season?

Next year we are going to be an Oompa Loompa and Willy Wonka. Andrew is growing his hair out just for the occasion. This has been his dream to be one of his favorite movie characters. Now that we know a year in advance, we can be on the look out for items to complete our costume and we won't be caught at the Halloween store in October paying an arm and a leg.

Halloween was Andrew's favorite holiday growing up, along with all the other kids who were deemed different. His mom recorded a whole day of halloween programs from the Disney channel and Andrew would pop that in and watch it semi-frequently during the year. Thanks to his Mom' seamstressing he has been a crash test dummy, bat, skeleton, Hobgoblin, and of course a witch, not a wizard. He grew up without a Dad and he had a bit of gender role confusion because his mom and sister dressed up up like that. Nonetheless, he made a spectacular witch. For make believe, not on Halloween, he was Willy Wonka, a pirate, Dracula, and Death. Many times Andrew would dress up like the Grimm Reaper with a black cloak and hood shrowding his face. He would sit on the pillars outside his house and beckon the passing cars to come inside. This is how much he loved dressing up and playing make believe. He actually wishes he had time to do that today.

Here is our costume!