Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life.
Is it?
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf
A friend of mine posted this on facebook last week. It really spoke to me (as in it stopped me in the middle of my busy tracks to really ponder life kinda spoke). I know I am frequently guilty of this. I know I need to slow down life for myself and for the girls. I don't want this time of their lives to be a whirlwind. I cut back hours at work so that life would be less stressful. Some how that time quickly got filled with tutoring, volunteering in the girls classrooms, extra assignments at work and such. I work just as much as ever. I just get paid half as much. Some thing's gotta give. I'm not yet quite sure what... but something.
Am I searching for the Holy Grail? Maybe. I'll let you know if I find it.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Eva's 12
It's Eva's turn to share her 12.
1. I like the color green.
2. My favorite food is miso soup.
3. I didn't like going on water slides before, but I like it now.
4. I like being fancy.
5. I love to read.
6. My best friend at school is Reagan.
7. My best friend from school last year was Sophia.
8. I love art.
9. I like playing board games and hide-and-seek.
10. I don't like boring stuff.
11. I'm a really good skier. I can go on steep hills without the harness.
12. My number one 1 Christmas wish list item is Unicorn Stompeez.
I had add the last one, just in case I was surprised like I was with Naiya's... I wasn't. I knew about the Stompeez. Not sure what they are? Google them. A total necessity for a fancy girl. :)
2. My favorite food is miso soup.
3. I didn't like going on water slides before, but I like it now.
4. I like being fancy.
5. I love to read.
6. My best friend at school is Reagan.
7. My best friend from school last year was Sophia.
8. I love art.
9. I like playing board games and hide-and-seek.
10. I don't like boring stuff.
11. I'm a really good skier. I can go on steep hills without the harness.
12. My number one 1 Christmas wish list item is Unicorn Stompeez.
I had add the last one, just in case I was surprised like I was with Naiya's... I wasn't. I knew about the Stompeez. Not sure what they are? Google them. A total necessity for a fancy girl. :)
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Naiya's 12
Today I'm letting Naiya take the reigns and share 12 things about herself that you all may not know.
1. My favorite food is mac n' cheese.
2. I love my pet cat, Lola.
3. I also love my 2 guinea pigs (Milo and Otis) and my hermit crab (Hermie).
4. I'm a good runner.
5. I ran a 5k race, and I'm only 7.
6. I love to write in notebooks.
7. I like to draw too.
8. I like going fun places.
9. . My favorite vacation is going to the Ranch in Idaho with all of my cousins.
10. I don't like doing my math homework.
11. My favorite game is playing Jenga.
12. For Christmas, my biggest wish is to get a boy cat for Lola, but my mom said I can't have kittens, so instead I would like a blue bag with a lock and a key.
Well... Mom just learned something new about Naiya.... looks like I need to make a few emergency phone calls to the North Pole.
1. My favorite food is mac n' cheese.
2. I love my pet cat, Lola.
3. I also love my 2 guinea pigs (Milo and Otis) and my hermit crab (Hermie).
4. I'm a good runner.
5. I ran a 5k race, and I'm only 7.
6. I love to write in notebooks.
7. I like to draw too.
8. I like going fun places.
9. . My favorite vacation is going to the Ranch in Idaho with all of my cousins.
10. I don't like doing my math homework.
11. My favorite game is playing Jenga.
12. For Christmas, my biggest wish is to get a boy cat for Lola, but my mom said I can't have kittens, so instead I would like a blue bag with a lock and a key.
Well... Mom just learned something new about Naiya.... looks like I need to make a few emergency phone calls to the North Pole.
Friday, December 21, 2012
We might just make it...
We may just survive to see another day... but the day ain't over yet. So here's another random 12:
1. My favorite foods are pizza and sushi. Not at the same time... wait. Maybe at the same time. No. Too weird. Same day though. That would be awesome. Pizza cause to satiate the 8 year old that lives in my core... and sushi for my grown-up outer layer.
2. I want a hedge hog. (Don't you?!)
3. I need a ukulele. See... Pretty, right?!
4. I think I could use a Roomba vacuum cleaning robot. I strongly dislike sweeping. Very strongly.
5. I wish on stars. Still. Like I just did a few minutes ago.
6. I sleep with a stuffed animal. Eva adopted my childhood snuggle, "monkey George." Last year, a friend sent me Neo. I sleep with him every night... unless one of the girls sneaks in and kidnaps him. Don't judge. He's snuggly.
7. There are at least 5 children's books that I can't read out loud. Cause I bawl. From the first word. Can't help it. Tried to read one to the girls tonight. It was a mess.
8. I like to iron. Really really really. Lately the dryer is my iron. I never have time, but, I LOVE watching the wrinkles slowly release from something. I use to iron my girls baby clothes when I was preparing for them to come.
9. I do not own an i anything. I had an iPod, but I never used it. Ever. A friend of mine had her car broken into and her iPod was stolen. I gave her mine. It was full of songs Martin had loaded for me 2 years ago... that I think I listened to once. Not even all the way through. I am iLess.
10. I'm a little afraid of technology. A little, a lot. I'm okay if I get a good crash course by someone who knows what they are doing, but if I get something as a gift that I have to set up myself, forgetaboutit. I can put together furniture like nobodies business, but set up a Kindle by myself? Not happening.
11. I frequently get an overwhelming urge to pack up the kiddos and drive to an unknown destination. I think it would be a fun adventure. One summer in high school, Dawn's gas light came on so we decided just to keep driving north until we completely ran out of gas and then we could make an adventure of getting gas. We made it to Ogden... and then we just got gas because it was taking too long. (We were teens and our attention span for such things had reached its limit.) I'd love to go on a spontaneous road trip with the girls... and with adequate fuel. Maybe this summer.
12. One of my favorite sights in the whole-wide world is the mountains covered in snow with the blue sky in the background. I love that I drive towards the mountains to get to my house. That scene frequently overwhelms my heart with joy. I love the mountains.
Well, it's 10:00pm and nothing crazy has happened. Maybe the end of the Mayan calendar isn't the end of the world. Maybe it's the beginning. The beginning of a whole new way of life. The kind of life we hear about in songs. No war or violence, only kindness... As long as we're dreaming let's make it the kind of life where I can eat all the ice cream I want... without having to run up and down a 1/2 mile hill 6 times or suffer from lactose intolerance. That's what I'm hoping to wake up to tomorrow... No war, no violence, loads of kindness and ice cream. Who's with me?
1. My favorite foods are pizza and sushi. Not at the same time... wait. Maybe at the same time. No. Too weird. Same day though. That would be awesome. Pizza cause to satiate the 8 year old that lives in my core... and sushi for my grown-up outer layer.
2. I want a hedge hog. (Don't you?!)
3. I need a ukulele. See... Pretty, right?!
4. I think I could use a Roomba vacuum cleaning robot. I strongly dislike sweeping. Very strongly.
5. I wish on stars. Still. Like I just did a few minutes ago.
6. I sleep with a stuffed animal. Eva adopted my childhood snuggle, "monkey George." Last year, a friend sent me Neo. I sleep with him every night... unless one of the girls sneaks in and kidnaps him. Don't judge. He's snuggly.
7. There are at least 5 children's books that I can't read out loud. Cause I bawl. From the first word. Can't help it. Tried to read one to the girls tonight. It was a mess.
8. I like to iron. Really really really. Lately the dryer is my iron. I never have time, but, I LOVE watching the wrinkles slowly release from something. I use to iron my girls baby clothes when I was preparing for them to come.
9. I do not own an i anything. I had an iPod, but I never used it. Ever. A friend of mine had her car broken into and her iPod was stolen. I gave her mine. It was full of songs Martin had loaded for me 2 years ago... that I think I listened to once. Not even all the way through. I am iLess.
10. I'm a little afraid of technology. A little, a lot. I'm okay if I get a good crash course by someone who knows what they are doing, but if I get something as a gift that I have to set up myself, forgetaboutit. I can put together furniture like nobodies business, but set up a Kindle by myself? Not happening.
11. I frequently get an overwhelming urge to pack up the kiddos and drive to an unknown destination. I think it would be a fun adventure. One summer in high school, Dawn's gas light came on so we decided just to keep driving north until we completely ran out of gas and then we could make an adventure of getting gas. We made it to Ogden... and then we just got gas because it was taking too long. (We were teens and our attention span for such things had reached its limit.) I'd love to go on a spontaneous road trip with the girls... and with adequate fuel. Maybe this summer.
12. One of my favorite sights in the whole-wide world is the mountains covered in snow with the blue sky in the background. I love that I drive towards the mountains to get to my house. That scene frequently overwhelms my heart with joy. I love the mountains.
Well, it's 10:00pm and nothing crazy has happened. Maybe the end of the Mayan calendar isn't the end of the world. Maybe it's the beginning. The beginning of a whole new way of life. The kind of life we hear about in songs. No war or violence, only kindness... As long as we're dreaming let's make it the kind of life where I can eat all the ice cream I want... without having to run up and down a 1/2 mile hill 6 times or suffer from lactose intolerance. That's what I'm hoping to wake up to tomorrow... No war, no violence, loads of kindness and ice cream. Who's with me?
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Just in case...
The world may end tomorrow... maybe. I thought today might be a good day to post some things that you probably don't know about me.... ya know, just in case. These are 12 completely random facts that popped into my head as I started typing. (12 since it is nearing the end of 2012):
1. I have personal dance parties in my kitchen after everyone is sleeping. Usually while I'm baking cookies, doing dishes, mopping... you get the picture. I'm sure it's not a pretty picture (but that's why I wait until everyone is sleeping.)
2. I become obsessed (like high-school-crush obsessed) with bands. I always have and I probably always will. As I type, I am listening to a youtube loop of the Lumineers top 17 songs. I love them (as of earlier this week). Love. I could listen to this for-e-ver... or until the next obsession comes along.
3. I have become a terrible housekeeper since I started working full time again (ya know... 4 years ago). I would so much rather make a mess (baking, crafting, etc) than clean it up. Time is limited. I pick my battles (and by battles, I mean that I do the fun things and leave the messes for later).
4. I know the rules about the carpool lane. I know that if you have two or more live bodies in your car you can use the carpool lane. I still can't bring myself to use the carpool lane unless there is someone in my car who could have driven separately. If the extra bodies are children under 16 (even if it's a car load of them) I can't do it... not even if the carpool lane is whizzing by me as I'm stuck in traffic. I may have a mental disability.
5. When I was in elementary school, I was put into the "talent pool" or advanced class. The whole time I was terrified that someone would find out that it was a big mistake. I thought someone would figure me out. I still worry about that.
6. There is a certain intersection on Foothill Drive that I try to avoid if at all possible. Evey time I drive through it I picture a car accident so vivid that I am convinced that it either must have happened to someone in the past or it is a glimpse into the future. I'd rather go the long way.
7. I pay extra money for Meyer's dish soap in the Basil scent. I know it costs more and is more difficult to find, but dishes are funner to do with basil scented dish soap because at one point, years ago, my girls decided that Basil would be my grandma name. I never want to forget that.
8. I love to read but have a hard time finishing a book. Currently I have bookmarks in at least 5 different books. I pick one up, get into it, then something comes up and I don't have the time to finish it... Then I get another book and start reading it.... It's a vicious cycle. Every now and again I have a few all night read-a-thons and I catch up on a few books at at time... but then I just load up on more books and the cycle starts again.
9. I procrastinate. It's horrible. I am not sure if it is because I am busy or if I make myself busy... Okay. I know the answer to that. I find things to make myself busy that are less "important" than the task I should be doing. Then I have to pull an all-nighter to get my "have-to-do" done in time. Sometimes I feel like my best ideas come under pressure... sometimes I'm must pretty sure that I have that mental disability that I mentioned earlier. I pull at least one all-nighter a month. It takes me back to being in high school and cramming for AP exams... except without the peanut butter M&M's and all of the giggling.... OK.. maybe sometime there are M&M's and giggles, even now.
10. I love the stage of life that my girls are in. I love what they are learning. I love what they can do. I love what they share with me. I love what they teach me every day. I love how they look out for each other. I love their compassion, creativity, excitement, and joy for life.
11. I miss my girls being babies. I miss how they would tickle my side while they nursed. I miss the little noises & faces they made when they were sleeping, eating, smiling, excited, sad, tired, surprised... I miss their tiny little hands. I miss every new thing. I miss everything about it. So bad. It hurts my heart to think about it. (I just cried a little.) I would have a million babies if I could. One million.
12. If someone offered me a cabin on a little plot of land away from society where I could raise my girls, have a goat, grow my own food, keep bees & chickens, and just plain slow life down, I would do it. In a heartbeat. Yesterday.
As I was typing I thought of about 20 more facts. I'll save them for another day... if there is another day to save them for. ;)
1. I have personal dance parties in my kitchen after everyone is sleeping. Usually while I'm baking cookies, doing dishes, mopping... you get the picture. I'm sure it's not a pretty picture (but that's why I wait until everyone is sleeping.)
2. I become obsessed (like high-school-crush obsessed) with bands. I always have and I probably always will. As I type, I am listening to a youtube loop of the Lumineers top 17 songs. I love them (as of earlier this week). Love. I could listen to this for-e-ver... or until the next obsession comes along.
3. I have become a terrible housekeeper since I started working full time again (ya know... 4 years ago). I would so much rather make a mess (baking, crafting, etc) than clean it up. Time is limited. I pick my battles (and by battles, I mean that I do the fun things and leave the messes for later).
4. I know the rules about the carpool lane. I know that if you have two or more live bodies in your car you can use the carpool lane. I still can't bring myself to use the carpool lane unless there is someone in my car who could have driven separately. If the extra bodies are children under 16 (even if it's a car load of them) I can't do it... not even if the carpool lane is whizzing by me as I'm stuck in traffic. I may have a mental disability.
5. When I was in elementary school, I was put into the "talent pool" or advanced class. The whole time I was terrified that someone would find out that it was a big mistake. I thought someone would figure me out. I still worry about that.
6. There is a certain intersection on Foothill Drive that I try to avoid if at all possible. Evey time I drive through it I picture a car accident so vivid that I am convinced that it either must have happened to someone in the past or it is a glimpse into the future. I'd rather go the long way.
7. I pay extra money for Meyer's dish soap in the Basil scent. I know it costs more and is more difficult to find, but dishes are funner to do with basil scented dish soap because at one point, years ago, my girls decided that Basil would be my grandma name. I never want to forget that.
8. I love to read but have a hard time finishing a book. Currently I have bookmarks in at least 5 different books. I pick one up, get into it, then something comes up and I don't have the time to finish it... Then I get another book and start reading it.... It's a vicious cycle. Every now and again I have a few all night read-a-thons and I catch up on a few books at at time... but then I just load up on more books and the cycle starts again.
9. I procrastinate. It's horrible. I am not sure if it is because I am busy or if I make myself busy... Okay. I know the answer to that. I find things to make myself busy that are less "important" than the task I should be doing. Then I have to pull an all-nighter to get my "have-to-do" done in time. Sometimes I feel like my best ideas come under pressure... sometimes I'm must pretty sure that I have that mental disability that I mentioned earlier. I pull at least one all-nighter a month. It takes me back to being in high school and cramming for AP exams... except without the peanut butter M&M's and all of the giggling.... OK.. maybe sometime there are M&M's and giggles, even now.
10. I love the stage of life that my girls are in. I love what they are learning. I love what they can do. I love what they share with me. I love what they teach me every day. I love how they look out for each other. I love their compassion, creativity, excitement, and joy for life.
11. I miss my girls being babies. I miss how they would tickle my side while they nursed. I miss the little noises & faces they made when they were sleeping, eating, smiling, excited, sad, tired, surprised... I miss their tiny little hands. I miss every new thing. I miss everything about it. So bad. It hurts my heart to think about it. (I just cried a little.) I would have a million babies if I could. One million.
12. If someone offered me a cabin on a little plot of land away from society where I could raise my girls, have a goat, grow my own food, keep bees & chickens, and just plain slow life down, I would do it. In a heartbeat. Yesterday.
As I was typing I thought of about 20 more facts. I'll save them for another day... if there is another day to save them for. ;)
Sunday, November 11, 2012
30 day crazy diet DONE! (sort of)
Today is day 31, and I have to say, IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT! I say this mostly because I weighed myself this morning. In the last 30 days, I lost 12 pounds and 3.3% body fat. If you've talked to me at all since I started seriously running again last January, then you know that with all the running I've been doing, I've lost.... ZERO pounds (until now). So, this is particularly exciting for me. I won't throw out a number, but I officially weigh less than the lie I put on my drivers licence. :) AND I FEEL AWESOME!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Whole30 Approved Discoveries
So... This week has been particularly interesting as far as my Whole30 Challenge is concerned. We had a family dinner last Sunday, parent conferences at school on Monday and Tuesday afternoon/evenings & Halloween (with all it's festivities) on Wednesday... not to mention teaching kids on a crazy sugar high Thursday and Friday. (Side note: Can we all just agree to make Halloween officially the last Friday of October?)
In addition to a busy week, I have been faced with one of my favorite foods on three occasions in one week... pizza. (Yes, when it comes to favorite food, I'm like a typical 8 year old.) On top of that, there's been the usual Halloween festivities (donuts, cookies, apple cider...) to politely decline (while holding back tears). Not to mention that this is still sitting on my counter:
So in an effort to overcome the sugar monster that still tempts me every time I walk by that over-sized bowl, I'm going to focus on new things I've discovered while doing this challenge.
First up:
What is that? It is blueberries in coconut milk..... and kinda tastes a little like heaven. Maybe it's just because i haven't had any sugar/honey/sweetener in 22 days, but I LOVE IT! If you like coconut, then try it and let me know if it's just me (and my lack of sugar/dairy).
Now that I mentioned my lack of dairy, I have to admit that there is one tiny bit of dairy that is Whole30 approved. This:
Ghee is clarified butter. This is a purchase I finally made a couple days ago so that I had an alternative to cooking in olive oil and had something else to put on my vegetables. It's been a happy addition to my diet.
Next up, coconut water. Yes, I drink coconut water. The nasty kind that smells (and tastes) like bad breath. Wait... I should correct that. I DRANK that coconut water. From now on I will drink this coconut water:
Sweet, fresh, & yummy. Even my girls liked it. That's saying a lot.
Finally, I have been using this organic seasoning in some of my cooking:
I LOVE it in my eggs in the morning. No artificial anything, no preservatives, yada yada yada. It's good.
So, maybe these discoveries don't replace pizza or treats, but they have made it easier to stick with the challenge... and even think about continuing beyond the 30 days.... we'll see.
In addition to a busy week, I have been faced with one of my favorite foods on three occasions in one week... pizza. (Yes, when it comes to favorite food, I'm like a typical 8 year old.) On top of that, there's been the usual Halloween festivities (donuts, cookies, apple cider...) to politely decline (while holding back tears). Not to mention that this is still sitting on my counter:
First up:
Now that I mentioned my lack of dairy, I have to admit that there is one tiny bit of dairy that is Whole30 approved. This:
Next up, coconut water. Yes, I drink coconut water. The nasty kind that smells (and tastes) like bad breath. Wait... I should correct that. I DRANK that coconut water. From now on I will drink this coconut water:
Finally, I have been using this organic seasoning in some of my cooking:
So, maybe these discoveries don't replace pizza or treats, but they have made it easier to stick with the challenge... and even think about continuing beyond the 30 days.... we'll see.
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