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.

Day 10, 11, 12 Healtier living/ bird invasion

Quite an adventure, I thought I heard someone downstairs, thought it was my mother-in-law who is visiting and it was a bird flapping around, getting caught in the blinds and curtains. It was freaked out and so was I. I used a pillow as shield and wrapped a blanket around my head and slowly came towards it to open up the sliding door it kept trying to go out on. When I neared the bird, it ran under the hutch. My sweet neighbor ran over and we poked the bird out with a broom and fortunately it made it out the sliding door this time, both of us grateful for its freedom. Wow.

The eating better thing has been going well. Last night I had my nephews and my nephew's wife over she is vegetarian and my mother-in-law came into town who also eats little dairy and little meat so I was able to serve a minestrone soup I just made and left over dishes of quinoa and black beans, lentil and rice casserole, humus chips, water and everyone seemed happy and seemed to enjoy it. My son later made smoothies for those who wanted them.

I really am feeling more energy which I can tell, because even when I'm up a lot with the baby (who just started cooing yesterday sooooo cute) I still am able to function the next day. Gordon has lost 7 lbs, I can't claim that but I think especially if I start walking, even a little bit I'll start seeing some numbers like that though maybe not as fast.

My sisters have been sharing some new recipes with me, which I am excited to start trying, I think I am going to try the corn tortilla recipes this week for sure, I got most of the ingredients from the store today. My friend/sister Becky gave me a stuffed pepper recipe which I think the family will really enjoy a lot too.

Ups and Downs

Is it interesting how our energy levels can go up and down and our emotions. I talk to other women and I wonder if it is a woman thing. I'll go through so many emotions, I'll have a wonderful day just playing and being happy with my kids, the next day everything sets me off and I have no energy and feel crazy. So not only those cycles but the cycles women in general have every month, I get headaches and oneryness before those cycles. This one has been particularly bad, even clots so I think it might actually be an early miscarriage. I am sad about it but maybe because I never actually took the pregnancy test and it would have been really early like 4 weeks I can sort of tell myself it isn't happening. Though emotionally and physically I feel drained and sad. It usually takes me 2-3 years to get pregnant so in my mind it just isn't time yet, my babies not even two yet, that's what I tell myself.

My husband's mother just came into town this last week, you should have seen the energy I had I got the house clean top to bottom, and soon we'll have more family tonight or tomorrow, but I'm a bit drained right now so I'll take it slow and do what I can, they have ten kids, I'm sure they'll understand if everything isn't perfect. I do like having guests it gets me to clean my house and gives me energy to do it and organize beyond the daily stuff. I love having family come here, it is so much easier then traveling elsewhere with little ones. It is so nice to see family, I have great in-laws and it was so neat to marry into a family where I could have older sisters, I always wanted older sisters and I got my wish when I married.

My family was all here earlier in June, it was so fun, but short at the same time, it seems like when we got comfortable again with eachother then everyone had to go their separate ways. It's nice there is eternity with family, to know we can be together forever. I dread my children growning up sometimes, I want them to, but I love how close we are now while they are young. Yet I don't know quite how it works, but they will be my family forever if I can try to make good choices and choose the right, what better incentive could I have then to be part of Heavenly Father's family and live with Him again with my husband and children.