challenge

I enjoy challenging myself.  And I feel like it's time again.  I've happily been vegan since last October but think I can be a healthier vegan.  I eat mostly whole foods but sometimes I know I could do better.  So my next challenge for myself is to eat a whole foods, mostly raw, gluten free diet for the next two weeks.

Some might call this a cleanse, some might call it a fast, or maybe a diet, but it will be my diet for the next two weeks, beginning tomorrow July 2.  I will not be consuming sugar, oil, or wine (aack!!) either.  Potatoes and pasta will be taking a break from my diet these two weeks too.  Also, I'm challenging myself to exercise for 30 minutes 5 times per week and also complete my yoga challenges for the next two weeks (and beyond).  I'm a member of Dr. Melissa West's membership site and she posts weekly challenges, among other perks.  She is a loving, generous, smart, and talented woman.  If you like yoga or are interested in giving it a try, please look over her site. 

One last item on my list is bedtime.  I've been going to bed later and later and am embarrassed to admit I've been going to bed between 11pm and 12am (sometimes later) most nights.  That must change.  I challenge myself to be in bed by 10pm every night.  Maybe I can even make it earlier.

I'm excited to begin a challenge like this.  Why?  Because I know I'll feel good.  Sure I may miss my glass of wine during the Bachelorette tomorrow night.  I know I'll miss having coconut oil and salt on my popcorn the next couple of weeks.  I may even miss my usual baked goods, but I know I can make substitutes for those.  And a cup of herbal tea will be a fine substitute for the wine.  

It's all about challenging myself, pushing my limits, seeing what I'm capable of. 

Wish me luck!

full circle

Today went from tea to yoga to sunbeams in February to lots of clean dishes.

I've noticed lately that my life is having many full circle moments after moving back to my home state.  My boys are attending the school that I used to work at in college.  Some of the same teachers still work there, and I love seeing their faces.  It's a dream come true having them go to the school where I began my love of the Montessori method. 

My niece always looks at my oldest son like this...adorable!

I took my two oldest boys to see The Nutcracker.  I remember when I saw The Nutcracker for the first time.  It was with my best friend and we had on lacy dresses and nylons for the first time.  The things one remembers!!  It was about 30 years ago and at the same theater where I took my boys.  I got teary-eyed several times during the performance.  It was fabulous.

My full circle moments come with even the simple things like grocery shopping.  There was a small health-foods store that I loved browsing when I was in college.  It was in an old house and very small, but fun to look at all of the different products they carried that they didn't have at the bigger chain store.  They've since moved and have a fabulous selection of produce and bulk items, which is usually where you can find me. 

I'm so happy we were able to move back to this place I love, but I miss our friends and community we had back in Wisconsin.  There are no regrets, only that maybe we can visit them more often.

I'm looking forward to finding more full circle moments.  Does anyone out there have any of their own they'd like to share?

a good site, a bad site and some cookies

A beautiful site:

A not so beautiful site:

Somehow I overlooked a pen that was in Chris' pants and it exploded in our dryer.  I say "overlooked" but in actuality, I haven't been checking pants pockets...I guess I've gotten lazy.

I finished off Chris' bottle of Goof Off trying to remove the ink from the inside of the dryer drum.  It looked to be about 15 years old and it did a fair job at removing a lot of the ink...but not all.  I think I have to change my ways and start checking pants pockets again.

Another beautiful site:  oatmeal raisin cookies. 

I spent Nickel's naptime baking and speaking with a nice man from India about my Snapfish order.  I had ordered some home decor items and a they didn't quite turn out as I expected.  He was very helpful (even if it took 55 minutes) and I'm looking forward to hanging up some pictures of my cute boys.

A long phone call meant no time to make my soup that I was planning on making.  Nor did I have time to do my yoga class. 

My middle son is the one with the sickies now and I felt a little run down this morning.  I'm hoping I can fight it off with my ginger green tea and some immunity yoga...and a good night's sleep.

Until tomorrow...

quiet time and yoga

We had our second quiet weekend in a row.  We didn't go anywhere last weekend.  It was heaven.  This weekend, we stayed home all day Saturday and made one quick into town on Sunday.  Just enough to cure the cabin fever that was beginning to set in for me.

Today was a normal start to our week.  A bit of grocery shopping followed by a much needed haircut for all 3 boys.  I didn't take many pictures today, so I'll have to share their new do's with you later this week.

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I've been doing yoga more regularly since the start of the year.  I've done yoga off and on, very irregularly for about 4 years, since training for my first half marathon.  I actually remember doing my first yoga pose during my aerobics class back in 1998...tree pose!  I've wanted to begin learning more about yoga and practice more on a regular basis and finally am doing that with the help of Melissa West.  She is a Thai Massage Thereapist and Yoga Instructor who lives in Canada.  She offers free weekly yoga classes that are available online at www.youtube.com.  You can go directly to her website to see other information as well as linking up with her free weekly yoga classes.  She is so sweet and genuine in her classes, I really love her as an instructor.  I also love that I can do them when I have time, whether that's at 5 am or while my youngest naps in the afternoon...while I have dinner cooking on the stove.

I have joined her member site which allows me access to lectures, DVDs, and a forum where other members and I can communicate about questions, progress, anything really.  I'm reading a book that was recommended, The Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi, and studying the yoga sutras.  I'm excited to learn and it's already opening my eyes to a way of living a life more in touch with my heart than with my head.

 Good night and Namaste.

a snowy day and letting go

 

 

We awoke this morning to a lovely blanket of snow, a long list of school closings, and boys excited to get out and clean the driveway (or maybe just play in the snow).

Fridays are busy days for us.  While the two older boys have school, our youngest boy has music class in the morning.  And then there's cello after school.  I was also going to stop by a couple of stores to get some more supplies for the oldest boy's camping adventure this weekend.  Yes, I said "camping".  Yes, it is January in Michigan.  I know, me too.

He's a Webelo with  our local Cub Scout group.  He's camping with a group of Boy Scouts for 24 hours which will help him earn the Outdoorsman badge.  The Boy Scouts have to camp in the elements whereas the Webelos will sleep in a heated pole barn.  That makes me feel a tad better.  They will be doing activities outside like building a snow fort...  That's all he can remember right now. *smile*

Nonetheless, I had to purchase some cold weather necessities like a fleece hood, nylon liner socks, ski socks, long underwear, and nylon shirts (I had those...he's wearing my running shirts) and pants.  He informed me that he may not wear cotton.  He'll be wearing a little cotton, but mostly a poly blend in multiple layers.  I think he'll be just fine.

 

This mama will feel much better when he and Daddy come home Sunday morning.

I had my helper in the kitchen again today.  Since we didn't have our full, busy day I was able to make a nice, big dinner.  I made Gimme Chimis from Dreena Burton's Eat, Drink and Be Vegan.  Have I mentioned I love this cookbook?  We had a yummy salad with her cumin-cinnamon vinaigrette and an avocado and tomato salad.  Yum.

Now we're just relaxing, having our movie night.  It's almost bedtime.

There's just one more thing that I'm very excited about.  I just joined Dr. Melissa West's website.  She is a Namaste yoga instructor and Thai massage therapist.  Being a member of her site I'm able to view her yoga DVDs online, receive her weekly yoga podcasts, view the bonus footage from her podcasts, participate in her online forum, self retreat, and lectures.  I'm very excited.  I've been wanting to learn more about yoga and work it into my daily life for a while now.  I'm happy to be able to do that with someone as knowledgeable as she.

It's getting close to bedtime, for boys and their Mommy (and Daddy).

Have a wonderful weekend.