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Pumpkin Patch Kids
Posted on: October 6, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
I have a slight obsession with a local apple orchard. I can’t help it. All you can pick and eat apples? Um, yes please. Plus, the atmosphere is so comfy and inviting. I took the girls there last week for a photo shoot. Not sure why I ever thought two toddlers would sit through pictures, but I tried it none the less. And then about half way through I broke our camera. A-W-E-S-O-M-E. Thankfully, Leah was there and used her camera for me.
My Top {Ten} Non-Sugar Sweets
Posted on: October 5, 2010
- In: Life
- 8 Comments
I spent some time last night figuring out good “sweet” options for this month’s no sugar/no coffee diet. After being so tired all weekend and then taking a 2 hour nap yesterday, I realized I need something to give me a pick me up. So here’s the list I decided on as my sweet alternatives:
1. Granola – A faithful standby, I love granola. I got some from the co-op last night that is their house special {rather than baking my own}.
2. Peanut butter – You have to be a little mindful, since most peanut butters either have high fructose corn syrup or sugars, but those that don’t are a great sweetener.
3. Honey – We have raw honey we bought from the farmer’s market this summer. It is finger lickin’ good {yes, I have actually just put it on my finger to eat it – don’t judge ;)}.
4. Agave – Since my no sugar/no coffee diet I haven’t baked anything, but in the past agave has been a great substitute for sugar and I’m hoping to bring it out again over the next few weeks {I’m missing out on all the awesome pumpkin recipes this month!!}.
5. Grapes – More so than any other fruit, I think grapes are super sweet. Which is good, because I never feel too bad if I sit down and eat an entire bowl of grapes. Unlike when I eat an entire bag of cookies.
6. Fruits – Someone posted in the comments yesterday that apples supposedly give you a boost much like coffee. I’ve not researched it, but I do know fruits help give me a little something.
7. Yogurt – Similar to peanut butter, you have to read the ingredients on yogurts. Ours has evaporated cane juice, which we agreed tonight might be okay to try, since it’s not processed {like sugar}. We’ll see how my body react to it over the next couple of days. Worse case, I go to plain and add honey.
8. 100% Juice – Along with fruit, just having juice or making yummy popsicles to snack on.
9. Fasting – Ok, since the whole idea of my goal this month is to avoid sugar, then fasting will take place.
10. Your ideas – Whatcha got?? Throw them at me!
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top {Ten} Tuesday.
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
Last Monday started my no coffee diet and this past Friday started my no sugar diet. I’ve been without coffee or sugar for four days and I’m starting to ask myself “What have I done?!?”
My energy level was pretty high all week until Friday. By Friday afternoon I was exhausted. And exhausted pretty much describes my weekend. I don’t know if it was cutting out my afternoon sugary pick-me-up but I took a nap Friday and Sunday morning. Originally my no coffee diet allowed me to have one cup of coffee on Sunday mornings {during house church}, but this Sunday Hannah was sick so I stayed at home. By the afternoon Jonathan said I really needed coffee because I was running on nothing and it showed. I had 16oz mug and felt a ton better.
As for the headaches, they came around Friday and Saturday afternoon. Friday was more intense then Saturday, lasting for a couple of hours and forcing me to lay down for a little while. It had residual effects the rest of the day, but lost its intensity by the evening. Saturday was more of a dull ache and was easy to push through. I’m praying that perhaps they were both sugar withdraw headaches and that as the week goes on I will see them less and less. After all that is my goal.
Finally, Jonathan and I agreed to wait this week without coffee, but to perhaps start drinking it again come next week. If my energy level stays this low, I need something to help me get through the day. I’m juggling with whether to have decaf, half caf or regular. I might start off slow {half caf}, having a cup every other day and go from there. Although, my theory has always been: Go big or go home. So perhaps going back to regular coffee the best option.
- In: Life
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College football is in full swing and we are keeping to my plan of actually watching games this year. I’ve seen more games this season then perhaps in the last 10 years {when the Titans first went to Tennessee}. It’s been a lot of fun actually, and I’m really excited about this Saturday’s Texas vs. Oklahoma game.
Jonathan and the girls survived their first weekend without mama this month. I think they might tell you they barely survived. The night I came home, Jonathan kept repeating “I’m so glad you’re home.” He has always been very appreciative of the work it takes for me being at home with the girls, but I think my time away made us both realize how important it is that we are in this together. It was good for all of us {perhaps me more than them ;)} and my time away made me love my time here even more.
Hannah has finally gotten all her teeth, which we’re hoping means less crankiness. She’s started talking more {besides just grunting} and will now say: Mama, Dada, Jack and Thank You. She’s also started signing: water, please and sometimes “more”. She doesn’t sign all the time, but will when prompted. It’s pretty cute to see her get really excited when she’s done it correctly and gets what she’s asked for.
Julia seems to be getting smarter by the minute. We are loosely doing preschool twice a week. I set aside time in the morning to go over shapes, colors, numbers and/or the alphabet. We have dry erase markers and books for her to “write her letters”. She really likes it and seems to enjoy the structure. Today we had “school” outside and learned all about fire hydrants and how they worked. She loved walking around the neighborhood and park pointing out all the fire hydrants.
I’ve had a really great month. My trip to New York, the change of the weather. It’s been a good September and makes me look forward to the next few months before winter hits.
And last {but not least} I feel I should mention Jack. I realize he hasn’t made it into any family pictures. It’s hard enough to wrangle to toddlers let alone a dog. But this month was a pretty big deal for Jack; he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. He went on some medication last week and already we can see an improvement in his energy. Now hopefully his hair will start coming back.
- In: Life
- 13 Comments
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I really, really love sugar and coffee. But I’m wondering if my two loves could be the root of my long term headaches. While I haven’t been drinking coffee as long as I’ve been eating sweets, I do tend to drink a lot of coffee. {Depending on what you consider a lot. Maybe 2-4 cups a day – usually closer to 4.} Oddly, I don’t put sugar in my coffee, which might be a plus for what is about to happen:
I’m giving up sugar for the month of October.
Now there are a couple of ground rules:
1. I will continue eating yeast breads that contain sugar {i.e. yeast rolls, sandwich breads, etc}.
2. I will stop eating sweet breads, cookies, cakes, etc.
3. I will continue eating natural sugars – honey, agave, peanut butter {without added sugar}, fruits.
4. I will in addition cut back my coffee to once a week, drinking one cup at house church on Sundays.
I’m giving myself two weeks to see how my body handles the changes. If I don’t see much improvement in my headaches, I’m going one step further and eliminating all sugar {basically cutting out sugar from my yeast breads}.
I’ve already cut out the coffee this week. It’s not been as hard as I expected, but I do miss it something fierce. I’m not as concerned about eliminating coffee from my diet as much as I am cutting it back and being mindful the timing of when I drink {better before 9/10 am}.
I’m a little nervous about this new “diet” adventure. I’m imagining having night sweats when I just have to have something sweet and can’t. Hopefully my imagination is just a little overactive. I’m keeping a date journal to see how things go, chart my improvements {fingers crossed} and if there is anything more that might trigger my headaches.
*Please keep in mind that I am not a medical professional and my crazy no-sugar diet is my personal exploration for headache remedy and not medical advice.
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
- In: Life
- 4 Comments
Sugar addict? Check.
Coffee addict? Check.
Massive headaches all the time? Check.
I’ve been getting headaches for years. You think I’m exaggerating. I wish. In high school I had an MRI because the headaches were getting so bad. It came back inconclusive and I got some medicine. Took it once and decided never, ever to take it again. Over the years I’ve had long absences without headaches {weeks at a time} and then times where they come daily {and then lasting for days}.
Over the last few years I’ve been more in the daily category. My friend, Rachel, asked if I’d charted when the headaches occur most. I hadn’t really, but decided to try it this last month. And the results: They are random with some increased intensity if 1) I don’t drink coffee till the afternoon or 2) I am close to my cycle and eating more sweets. That lead me to wonder how my diet might be effecting my headaches.
Does sugar really harm me? Is coffee that bad? Would my headaches decrease {or even disappear?!} if I cut one or both out??
Friday I’m starting a new “diet”. I’ll be posting about the details tomorrow, so be sure to stay tuned.
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
God is amazing and overwhelming. I’ve been battling with some crazy heart issues lately – wanting to control my own life, being angry at the girls, frustrated with abnormal laziness/fatigue. Most glaringly is my desire to chase after things of this world. Daily I feel the prickling of God’s Spirit warning me when something flashy catches my eye. Sadly, I don’t always listen. I tell Him “not now” and indulge. Even when sin doesn’t seem ugly or “bad” it is. It starts off all pretty but ends in heartache. And that’s where I am – in heartache. I’ve chosen things of this world over a God who loves me.
But it’s not hopeless, it’s not over. The next chapter has begun. And here are the ten verses that I have been meditating on lately:
1. Hosea 14:4 {NLT} – “The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.”
2. Proverbs 28:13 {NLT} – “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”
3. Psalm 65:3 {NLT} – “Though we are overwhelms by our sins, you forgive them all.”
4.Psalm 4:4 {NLT} – “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.”
5. James 1:19 {NLT} – “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters. You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
6. Psalm 62:5 {NLT} – “Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”
7. Psalm 39:7 {NLT} – “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”
8. Psalm 13:5-6 {NLT} – “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”
9. Proverbs 19:21 {NLT} – “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”
10. Psalm 118:24 {NLT} – “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Clearly I’m a big fan of Psalm – I do actually read other books in the Bible. Promise.
Visit Oh Amanda for more Top {Ten} Tuesday.
Very Chic Style of a Toddler
Posted on: September 27, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
It’s Monday and my brain and body are recovering from a looong weekend. Our family has been a little sick and it hit me hard Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday. Bummer. I figured a good way to cheer myself up {and hopefully brighten your day too} is by posting some adorable pictures of the girls.
What you get when Hannah demands to wear socks {even if she technically already is wearing socks}:
Like sister like sister:
{Not sure what Julia’s doing in this picture. Her face reminds me of Penelope.}
Emily over at The Adventures of Miss Mommy is hosting another giveaway {I just love her giveaways!}. This time she is giving away a Sound Oasis Travel Sound Therapy Machine – a fancy way of saying a travel white noise machine. White noise and I are BBFs. Seriously. We have three {yes, 3!} noise blockers in the girls’ room. Some might call it over kill. I like to call it sleep. 😉
{photo credit}
In addition to the white noise machine, Emily is giving away several “lifetime subscriptions to the upgraded version of a fabulous online white noise generator”. This allows you to have white noise on your computer {ingenious, right?!}. Helps cut out background noise when your working or if you’re like me, letting on of the girls sleep in my bed. Here’s the review I wrote about the online white noise generator:
We use a white noise machine in our daughters’ bedroom and love it. But when we allow one of them to sleep elsewhere {our bed or the family room} we can’t take the white noise machine with them. But having it our our computer for them is ingenious. And it helps cut out background noise when my husband works from home!
Go check out Emily’s giveaway!
I’m a Squirrel Killer
Posted on: September 24, 2010
I poisoned a squirrel the other day. Hear me out before you immediately shun me as an animal hater. I’m not. Promise. I bought these really cute fall decorations that look like little berries:
Super cute, right?
Apparently, they must taste pretty good too, as I saw a squirrel eating them the other day. I shooed him away and decided to leave out walnuts in case he came back. And he did. But rather than eat the yummy walnuts {like his other squirrel friends did}, this little guy went right back for my styrofoam berries.
The next day I saw a dead squirrel at the end of our neighbor’s driveway. I am not totally certain it’s the same squirrel, but what if it is? Did I inadvertently kill a squirrel- that just so happened to be a baby? {Yeah, I forgot that part. I am a baby squirrel killer! I will never live that down.}
I decided to make amends and offer nuts up to the surviving squirrels. The girls and I picked up a big container of acorns at the park and put them in a dish on the front porch. I even went so far as to make it all cute and fally:
It even matches my fall decor.
Hopefully now I won’t poison any more squirrels with my oh-so-not green berries.
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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