Too Much Information?

Perhaps this is too much information, but I've been doing a colon cleanse for the last 3+ weeks. It feels as if I have been doing it forever and I'm so tired of it. First you must take 4 pills when you wake up. Wait 15 minutes and take a wretched scoop of fiber powder. Mixing it with juice makes it tolerable and it still needs a chaser ounce or two of juice to get the grit out of my mouth. Then take 4 pills before lunch or dinner and three more pills with lunch or dinner. Before bed there are two more pills and a tea to brew and drink. Can you believe that? Now do you know why I'm tired of it? They recommend you do the cleanse for 3 months. Unless I got amazing results you would have to pay ME to do it that long.

If you look online you see all kinds of crazy things produced from the bowels of people willing to post their toilet leavings for everyone to see. I haven't really noticed anything crazy. I felt pretty low on energy when first starting the cleanse. There have also been more breakouts on my skin the past few weeks. My friend who did the cleanse started sweating yellow grease and got little bumps on her forehead and chest.

I have suffered from constipation for much of my life, but since I started eating the fresh made whole grain foods I really believe my colon is much better. I still have problems when we travel. Low fiber food, less exercise and less water makes for a bad combo. The bran in the whole grain flour really does lessen the transit time, softens the stool and bulks up the stool. I'm really not embarrassed to talk about this because as a dietitian I've talked about bathroom stuff with so many people and I know it is a problem for many, many people. Got to go get Joshy. More on this subject later. :o)

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things

These are all things that I enjoy immensley and use frequently. Just in case you wondered!

1. Burts Bee's Lip Balm - I'm addicted and use it every morning and every night.

2. Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner - Fabulous stuff. A bit tricky to apply, but stays on better than any other eyeliner I have found.

3. The stereo in my kitchen that has XM satellite radio. I LOVE channel 164, which is old time radio. My favorite shows are the detective shows like Dragnet and the westerns like Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger. I also enjoy the comedy shows, mostly from the 40's and 50's. Something about them is so appealing - the comedy is true clever comedy, the bad guy always confesses, there is always a tricky ending.

4. My oversized toaster oven. It keeps me from having to turn on the oven so much in the summer. Tonight I made quiche in it. It has a convection bake setting as well as regular baking and toasting. I wouldn't trade it. 5. Origins A Perfect World Lotion. This is hands down the best face lotion I have ever used. My skin did not flake and feel dry this past winter at all. Though a bit pricey, every Origins product I've tried is fantastic - microdermabrasion, hand lotion, serum, etc.

6. Pureology voluminizing conditioner and also the power dressing hair goo stuff. It is expensive, but it only takes a dab for my fine hair. It is organic and works wonderfully.7. Southern Living magazine. I am not ga-ga over it, but I really do enjoy it. My favorite was the recent issue with their idea houses. I would do flips to have the North Carolina floor plan with its huge rounded porch, open living spaces and library retreat area on the second floor. See it at www.southernliving.com/ideahouse. Check out Davidson Gap.

8. My Nutrimill grain mill. It works fabulously, self cleans and gives me fresh ground flour whenever I want.

Roaring River

It was so pretty here. I just drank in the beauty of God's creation.

Here is the mouth of the river. 20+ million gallons of water flow out of here daily. Amazing.

Roaring River State Park

On Mom's birthday yesterday I surprised mom by taking Josh down to meet her and my niece and nephew, Jessie and Britain, at Roaring River state park. We had SUCH a good time. We had a picnic in the shade.
Mr. Cracky wading in the water. It was absolutely beautiful scenery there. I remember having my 8 or 9 year old birthday there.
Three sweeties by the water.
Nana and Britain holding down the chairs.
Mom and her grandchildren by the fish hatchery. After we left we went to Sonic and everyone got to get a treat/drink of their choosing. Mom - lemonberry slush (a medium because of her birthday - live wild mom), Britain - Butterfinger blast (a medium because it was Nana's birthday), Me - a creamslush (because I didn't want to be boring and always order the same thing), Josh - an apple juice slush (because he didn't know what to order for himself), Jessie - a hot fudge sundae.

Anne of Green Gables

So after several months of reading books on gardening, farming and self sustainment I'm reading the book Anne of Green Gables for the first time. The movie is my favorite movie for sure. I like to watch it while I iron in the bedroom in the evening (when the ironing pile gets too big to ignore). A few weeks ago I got a biography on L.M. Montgomery at the library. It was so dry I only got through about half of it before it was due back at the library. I have read other L.M. Montgomery books many years ago, but somehow I never read the Anne books.

I have enjoyed reading this book so much. I think what I love the most about the book is her way with words. When someone can use words cleverly I'm all theirs - even if it's just a physician on tv, something explaining with a good vocabulary or telling an interesting tale. Anne is quite a dreamer and comes up with the funniest ideas and tells them so passionately.

Countdown to my Birthday

So it's officially almost my 30th birthday. Next Friday, the 15th, to be exact. Btw, is there a way to lose 20 pounds in a that many days? If there is you just let me know! I don't know why, but this particular birthday has me in a sort of tailspin. As long as it's not a downward spiral I'll be okay. It is not as if something magically changes when you turn one day older. 30 just sounds so...uncool. Not that I was Miss Cool in my 20's, mind you, but I did have potential.

Mike has planned a party for me here at the house on my birthday. I don't know but what that there will be elephants in the backyard offering rides to all. He's asked me what I want to have to eat and I gave him a few suggestions, but I end up being too practical. Nothing special for me, I say (but I'm secretly thrilled he's having a party for me because I honestly don't know that I've ever asked for something all about me in my whole adult life).

The party is pretty much a mystery in that I don't know the plans. Michael is in charge of it all and I'm a bit terrified that there will be something major missing - like silverware or ice. I asked to stay and help set up everything that day, but Mike has ordered me to go away for the day to shop and relax. I will only be allowed to return an hour before the party to get ready. It kills me. The controlling side of me NEEDS to be there to make sure all is well and in place.

I did suggest my dear husband ask my friend Julie to be the party consultant. She has assured me he has everything under control, and I DO trust her.

Certifiable Crick in the Neck

So I woke up a few days ago with a typical crick in my neck, annoying but something I get every few months. Then yesterday the muscle spasms began, so painful that I couldn't move for several seconds until it subsided. My head was at a peculiar angle and couldn't seem to straighten up on my neck. What a pain - literally. Mike called the chiropractor I saw four years ago and who I ended up serving with on the Fountain of Youth Daycare board of directors a few years ago. Dr. Jarnigan was thankfully in and could see me. He is the best guy, seems to be a really good chiropractor and has A+ customer service. He takes such good care of you that you want to go back just to feel pampered.

Although he couldn't do a major adjustment on the worst part of my neck the spasms stopped after the appointment. I've still felt out of whack, but am improving. I told Michael that perhaps since I am getting on in years I can no longer bounce back as easily. :o) Incidentally, Dr. Jarnigan told me my neck problem might have been caused by sleeping under a fan in the hot weather. Interesting.

The chiropractor also told me they had been searching for his first patient he ever had in that clinic. The day before I came in they figured out I had been his FIRST patient. He was surprised to see me on Saturday after hearing my name on Friday. I hadn't even seen him in 2+ years! Anyway, he gave me a certificate for a free 1 hour massage - something I've been saying I'll get for a long time.

Michael's Favorite Holiday

We spent July 4th at my brother and sister-in-law's house in Missouri. It was SUCH a fun day between the trampoline, 4 wheelers, fireworks in the backyard and all the kids running around.

My mother may not appreciate this photo too much. Sorry mom, I didn't realize you had this expression until I saw it here.

Me oh my Josh what could be better to a 2 year old boy than a 4 wheeler?

Here you see my city guy and wild guy. Josh was afraid/ecstatic and not about to get off when he got to go for a ride. Mike couldn't resist getting in on the action and ended up having a ball riding around David's land. This picture was such a good memory that I framed and put it in the living room. Josh admires it regularly. My nephew (8) also has a 4 wheeler which he's had since he was 5. It almost gave me heart failure to see the him ride, but I guess he knows what he's doing at this point.

Nana and Josh looking smoking hot in their helmets. And dear Peanut the dog, God rest your soul. If only you had the doggie sense not to chase cars so passionately you would not have expired before your time.

More Vacation Shots

This is Averie, our friends Dave and Jen's little girl. She and Josh are only 3 months apart in age so it's fun to see them together. Averie is definitely taller than Josh and so sweetly shy it melts my heart. I have let God know that when he blesses us with a girl I have put an order in for a sweet girly girl.

Did you know you were going to be on my blog Jen? Jen and I spent a lot of time talking about our fresh milled grain breads, recipes and such. Jen got a mill not too long ago and has been baking away. It was really fun to make a batch of bread together, though I felt out of my element with different equipment. Hopefully the bread was okay!

I have a feeling this will be pretty funny to these kids some day.

Great Grandma Betty and Joshua at her condo.

Fun at Grandma Chris's House

Mike' s mom gets Josh a TON of toys when he visits her or she visits us. He was thrilled beyond words to have a "whimming" pool and with a slide no less. It was never quite warm enough to make the water enjoyable, but Josh loved it, blue lips and all.

Grandma also got him a new tricycle.

Every few minutes an airplane going to or coming from O'Hare Airport would fly by. It was fascinating - if you're a little boy.

Does this face show how excited Josh was to swim? Cloud 9 describes it adequately.