New Year, New Direction

by Erin on January 3, 2012 · 1 comment

Well, I might as well join everyone else in the blogosphere and put up my “I’m going to be better in 2012!” post.  For those of you that know me, stop laughing.  We’re going to do this, but with some Jones style.

First, to catch you up a bit, Prince Charming and I took part in a four day juice fast between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The inlaws introduced us to juicing and the documentary “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” and it really hit home with us.  We’d been juicing once or twice a day before we tried the fast, and figured we’d give it a go.  Alaina was even asking for juice several times a day.  I think the fact that we’d never given her store bought “juice” made it much easier to enjoy the fruit and vegetable concoctions that we were serving her.  Anyways, back to the fast.  Here are my unedited notes from the fast detailing how it went:

Day 1-ish

Started fast last night for dinner.  Figured we’d get a head start on this.

Still feeling pretty good at lunch time.  Started the day with a fruit/veggie combo, moved on to mainly veggies for lunch.

Craving tater tots.

Adam swears baby is hungry.  For jalapeño poppers.

Stepped on scale at doctor appointment.  Did NOT like what I saw.   Reinvigorated to do this juice fast!

Craving chicken and couscous.

Baby gets pasta for dinner. We glare at her while we drink our juice.  Adam has a headache.  Tempted to take baby out and jack her noodles.

We are both pretty tired. Went to bed early.

Day 2

Made juice that was almost all fruit for breakfast. Felt like a rebel.  Delicious.

Baby is having turkey and cottage cheese for lunch.  It looks like a gourmet feast next to this greenish concoction that I’m drinking.  Very excitedly planning Friday night dinner.

Failed with dinner juice.  It included a whole beet and grapefruit.  Adam almost threw up. Won’t be doing that again…

Wishing for popcorn.  With butter.  And salt.  Did I mention butter?

Day 3

Feeling pretty tired, I guess this is normal of a juice fast.  Getting very excited about a yummy dinner tomorrow night!

Would kill for some popcorn or a salad.  Or even a grape.  JUST GIVE ME SOMETHING I CAN CHEW!!

Day 4

Tired, but not as agitated as yesterday.  Noticed that cravings morphed from tater tots and cheeseburgers to salads and raw veggies.  Hmm…  Maybe there’s something to this.  Decided to give it one more day so that we can end on a positive note.

Day 5

Weigh in!  Down 8.5 pounds!  There really is something to this healthy living.  Who knew?  Much less interested in processed food and caffeine, very excited about this.

Adam made homemade spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  We’ve died and gone to heaven.  Can only finish half a serving, but it is MAGICAL.

A month later, after two family Christmases and New Years Eve the weight is still off!  We are sold on the health benefits of juicing.  We typically juice once or twice a day and have “real” food for the remaining meal(s).  I don’t feel deprived, and unlike other “diets” we’re actually getting healthier and trying new things instead of depriving ourselves.  It’s a win that we hope to carry through 2012.  (especially since we invested in a (HUGE) post-holiday sale on this big boy…  A beautiful appliance to round out my collection, don’t you think?)

Moving on.

2012 is also bringing us a trip to Hawaii, compliments of my amazing employer.  I can’t wait!  A photography workshop, conference, and tropical vacation all in one!  My new job has brought so many amazing opportunities and blessings.  I am forever grateful!

As for the obligatory “here’s how we’re getting fit as a family!” resolution-y notes…  I’ll be continuing with Physical Therapy to continue strengthening my jerk of a back, Alaina will be starting tumbling classes this month, and we plan on getting out much more as a family to enjoy the beautiful area that we live in.  I’ve also started selling Wildtree (more for fun than for profit.  Everything I earn goes back into ordering more food to try.) It’s a great supplement to the lack of healthy, organic food available to us here, and the food is DELICIOUS!  It’s been a big hit with friends and family, and has been so fun to share!


I’m hoping to continue to do more consulting into 2012, and spend more time traveling.  I love working virtually!  I’m also hoping to continue to get to know my camera better.  I had a lot of fun taking photos in 2011, and as soon as I get a new computer, will work on getting them edited and up here.  2011 had an abundance of loss for us, I’m optimistic that 2012 will have more joy and less sadness – we all deserve it!  I think that’s the gist of it.  I’ll add more if I think of it.  Oh!  one more thing..  This site.  I really for real do plan on writing more.  For reals.  Other places you can find me:

Pinterest

Facebook.  And here.  And here.

Wildtree

 

Images courtesy AH Photography

 

 

 

 

 

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18 Months of Adorable

by Erin on November 8, 2011 · 0 comments

Alaina is about to be 18 months old, and seeing as I missed a few big posts in the past 6 or 8 months, I figured I would post a quick update.  Things have been crazy as ever around here, and since Alaina’s first birthday she’s turned from an adorable little baby to an amazing little toddler!  She walks, talks, and is full of attitude.  (not sure where she got that, definitely not from her mama!)  She has lots of adorable little friends, loves her puppies, and is always down for an adventure.  This kid has more miles under her belt than most adults I know, and she takes it all in stride.  She loves going new places, as long as Mommy, Dada, and her puppies are along for the ride.

Wordle: Alaina's Words

Alaina’s ever expanding vocabulary has been cause for concern around here.  For those of you that know us, well…  We don’t always censor our use of colorful metaphors around here.  It’s going to be a problem…

We’ve had lots of celebrations, and several unimaginable hardships in the past year.  We’re very thankful to have this little ray of sunshine here – she makes the good times better, and the sad times a little easier to get through.  She greets us every morning with a smile and a smooch, no matter how often she had us up the night before.  We may never get this kid to sleep through the night, but her sweet hugs and hilarious personality somehow make it all okay the next day.

Turns out, she makes an adorable flower girl too.  She’s got all of her aunties and uncles (and even her cousins) wrapped around her finger.  Don’t even ask about her grandparents, this kid is a pro.

Alaina’s sense of adventure is inspiring, and I hope it will take her far in life.  She loves people and pets, and is just as happy reading stories at home as she is at the park with friends.  We totally hit the baby jackpot with this one :)

Thank you for the last 18 months, Baby Girl.  You’ve changed our lives more than you’ll ever know!

 Photos courtesy AH Photography

 

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