Healthier Lifestyle day 7 and 8

I just tried the Zucchini soup I made, it was pretty bland but I ate it with some of my homemade zucchini bread and that made it doable. I went to Costco on Saturday and purchased vege-burgers which have been really nice when I want something tasty and meat-like to eat when the rest of the family is eating meat. I also got Mango Salsa and chips for snacking and some granola bars and some dried Mangos (for a personal dessert) which I learned I have to pace myself with and they do have sugar so I need to make sure I am careful not to eat too many of those.

Good news! When I weighed myself Sunday morning I was 2 lbs. lighter, I bet if I was even stricter I would have even better results. So that is helpful and incentive to keep up with this plant-based diet. My mother took me and H and E to a restaurant on Saturday night while the boys were gone and M was working. It was nice and frustrating at the same time. The menu had absolutely no vegan options, so I ordered several sides that I thought would go with my diet more. Seasonal vege's, green beans, mashed potatoes and side salad. The veges, green beans and potatoes had butter of course, the green beans also had bacon and the mash potatoes had gravy and the side salad was totally vegan only because I asked for dressing on the side, so I am realizing it is hard to go 100% but also happy with myself that I was able to be close to vegan by being creative and getting sides instead of something from the menu. I was full after having just the seasonal veges and a few bites of mashed potatoes (I tried to scrape off the gravy). I was able to take green beans and salad home to have later and that was nice.

I am trying to paint a little bit every day, because that gives me fulfillment. I have found I feel full and have plenty to eat I also make sure I am slowly replacing more vege type options for my family. I find fulfillment writing on my blog being out in nature. We went up to my dad and mom's cabin and listened to the river and even though it was raining a bit I didn't mind at all. Then we went further up to Aspen Grove and on the way it hailed and was crazy weather, but by the time we got to the top the rain and hail were gone and the autumn colors were full and deep and gorgeous. I had flashback memories as we found the amphitheater up there with it's castle like passage and stairs and balcony. H enjoyed being the prince and E the princess and J and I took turns being the dragon. Then when I went exploring as well and just enjoyed the cooler air the colors the scenery and appreciated how lucky and blessed we are to live where we live and to have our beautiful mountains so close. On the way home I stopped by Bridal veil falls and just breathed in the fresh air, enjoyed hearing the water crash on the rocks and the perfect evening it was. After having some food when we got home we sat as a family and played apples to apples and enjoyed our nice family time together.

The evening ended with a spectacular thunderstorm. I love thunderstorms though this one lasted pretty late and was pretty loud. It gives me a thrill maybe they are my haunted house. I hate haunted houses but thunderstorms I love there is that little bit of excitement, terror and anticipation associated with them. Because one of Mary's friends was over I had gotten a little more caught up on the house and I've been able to maintain that, when Haven was at school today I was able to pick-up sweep, iron 3 pants and 2 shirts, mend buttons on two items of clothes, do the dishes, make my bed, clean and sweep Haven's room and transfer laundry. I love days where I have enough energy and I can get things done. I'm looking forward to going to my writing group today and thought it is crazy there is satisfaction of figuring out everyones schedules and trying to make it all work, being creative in budgeting and family management and helping my children and their friends.

Shopping adventures

I just spent a bunch of money at Costco. I'm trying something new, monthly grocery shopping and I just had to keep telling myself, it is for the whole month. When I got home I divided fruit snacks, granola bars into smaller weekly bags so we don't go through them in one week and put extra cheese, meats, bread, butter, tortillas into the freezer. I had never spent so much on groceries in one go it was a little scary.

I then actually had to go clothes shopping for my seven-year-old who is already in size 10 and just shooting up like a weed. She has now grown taller then everyone we used to get hand-me-downs from. I realized her tennis shoes were two sizes too small and she had hardly any short-sleeve shirts or sweat pants for the sports I have her in. At her dance class she was the only one actually in a leotard, I guess shorts and tee-shirts are the dance attire for her age. I want her to feel beautiful and that she fits in. I fortunatly was able to find some very decently priced clothes and 50% off clothes for her at Target. I actually paid full price for the shoes. Even with all that I'm not used to clothes and shoe shopping much so it seemed like a lot. Then I about had a heart-attack when I got home and I couldn't find the bags I thought I had left them in the cart. Fortunately they were in the back with the groceries.

I'm back incharge of finances, so my husband can help out with other things. I hope I can live up to the trust he has in me and I can keep us on budget and on track. Its stressful, but stimulating too, to have a non-parenting responsiblity that uses another part of my brain. Just like taxes, I'm the one who does it every year and my husband says I make 500$ an hour, because of the tax return I figure at the end. (I thought that was cute).