A Life Summarized

I don't like when I go so long between posts because then I feel overwhelmed.  So much happens between each post, so many little epiphanies, so many memorable moments...I don't know how to pick two or three jewels out of a thousand!  Here I am, trying to be real and transparent, really transparent, and capture snapshots for my girls, and how do you do that when there are 1,814,000 seconds in three weeks and you are trying to summarize them in about 1,000 words?  That's not real.  But I'll try for transparent.

First, let me just start by saying the eating thing...well, I'm still trying but I'm a far cry from being successful at going all-natural, or even mostly natural.  The first couple of weeks were great; I felt great AND I lost 4 pounds.  This past week was a total flop, and I gained two back.  But I've been trying to get back on track since yesterday with veggie omelets, black bean salsa (an all-time fave in this house), and lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

I also made 5 ingredient granola bars again today, but added my new favorite pantry item--Sunbutter!  Oh.my.goodness...these granola bars are the yummiest.  Seriously.  The last ones wouldn't even hold together and were a little on the sweet side for me, but these hold together, are not too sweet, and are just yummy.  I played with the recipe a bit...I used 4 cups oatmeal, 1/2 stick of butter and about a half cup of the following:  brown sugar, honey, Sunbutter, and choc chips.  Spread evenly in a 9x13, baked for about 18 mins, and ate way too many pinches while I was cutting the still-warm deliciousness into bars and transferring from the pan to wax paper (a necessary step if you don't want them to crumble when you cut them).

Detour:  For those of you that don't know, I am a little freaked out by peanuts right now (along with a few other foods that have seemingly caused a mild reaction).  I have not had peanut butter in my house for a couple of years and really did not miss it.  BUT I forgot just how much I loved it until I had Sunbutter recently (butter made from sunflower seeds), which tastes a lot like PB, but is peanut free, and the kind I buy is all-nat.  Ingredients:  Sunflower Seed, Evaporated Cane Syrup, Salt, and Natural Mixed Tocopherols to preserve freshness.

The reason we got so off our diet (as in "the way we eat," not "an effort to lose weight") is because we have all been a bit crazy around here...going to a Derby tea with some other momma-sisters and their little ladies, practicing for a children's musical, and then presenting the actual musical itself, attending the AWANA awards program, getting surprised with a visit from Mom/Ma-ma, graduating from preK, going to the zoo with the preK graduates, wrapping up the year's activities with a "children's celebration" at church, watching our friends' kiddos while they went to the doctor, getting a crown, and between all that, prepping our garden and working on our brick patio extension.  It's been a fast and fun week.

Today was a rare day in our home when I felt like everything just came together.  These days never come, so when they do I must document them!  I had my temporary crown replaced this morning.  I never thought I would have a crown, but I do, and I hope to never have another.  I abhor Novocaine so I did it all without any anesthesia.  It wasn't terrible, but I still hope to never do it again.  Afterwards, the girls and I went to the store to get foods that would get us back on track to healthy eating.  When we came home, they went to bed and I went to work, washing and prepping foods.  I have heard from multiple sources that the thing to do is wash and cut your fruits/veggies the day you buy them; then they are ready to use.  I've always done this to some extent, but now...the day I go to the grocery, I spend that afternoon in the kitchen.  This makes the rest of the week a breeze--as far as cooking goes.

Big girl woke first and wanted to make lemonade.  Since the all-nat bug bit me, I have said no to Kool-aid; so, big girl has had her heart set on making real lemonade.  We bought lemons today and took a stab at old fashioned lemonade.  Yum!  We just juiced, and sugared, and watered until we had a pitcher of something drinkable.  We figured that it took us about 4 lemons, 2 cups of sugar (yikes!) and a gallon of water to make real lemonade.  Just so we're clear, I never claimed I was cutting out sugar, just processed junk.  Sugar is still in our diet in a big way.  Maybe that will go next, but for now...one problem at a time.  It was tasty.  And lots of fun to make with my big girl.  She did a super job of juicing those lemons!  (have a pic but can't get it to transfer to my computer.  weird.)

We also made the 5 ingredient granola bars before supper.  After supper, we played domino's, Candy Land, and a Dora memory game.  We watched Dora, read books, and went to bed super late.  It was fun, relaxed, and productive.  I LOVE this kind of day.

Maybe it has something to do with the late-night Pride and Prejudice viewing last night.  That always makes life better, right?  I seriously can not explain the depth of longing I have had all week to just curl up on the couch and watch a movie.  I rarely watch movies or TV.  And I never crave it.  But I have desperately looked forward to the day I would have two hours to be brain dead and still.  It came last night about ten o'clock and I relished it.  Thank you, Jane Austen, for Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

Picture over-load coming soon...as soon as I can get my photo stream to work again.  For now I must go make sure I didn't burn up my dishwasher.  I ran it thru an entire cycle without water.  Lovely.  I know you are wondering, "How does one even do that?"  You must have a portable dishwasher, friends, the kind that hooks up to your kitchen sink.  I ran it again with the faucet turned ON this time, and just heard it shut off.  Here's hoping for clean dishes...

G'night all!