Life Changes, Paleo Style

Well, I would consider myself a foodie. I love trying new restaurants and staying on top of the best places to go. My favorite social events include restaurants and good food. Not your chains either. Something new, fresh and creative. However, my food excursions typically include fries and some sort of yummy dessert. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, I could easily be a vegetarian.

The time finally came. My husband and I went to LA and the universes must have aligned. When we returned, he was ready for a food overhaul. Not sure how it came to be, but we settled on the Paleo Diet. I don't really consider it a diet, but just changing the way we eat. In three weeks, we have both lost weight (of course his is more noticeable), feel much better, cook at home everyday, have spent more on groceries, but saved so much more. We are conscious of what we eat, yet having so much fun perfecting Paleo recipes.

As a foodie, I have eaten all kinds of "healthy" foods and desserts and often times thought I would rather not torture myself in that manner. My goal is not to suffer when I eat. I hope to share with you my adventures in the world of Paleo and some delicious recipes!

Here is a peak at one of my latest recipes - chocolate chip cookies. Dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, and seriously, probably the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had in my life! I wish I could have a glass of milk with it!!

Generosity

I firmly believe in the importance of generosity. Often I think it is a lost art. The "Joneses" don't encourage this act. I cringe when I go out to eat with a large group of people knowing we will need to split the check at some point. Invariably, there is that one person who figures it out down to the penny. It is an odd world to me. I can't imagine wanting something to be so "fair" that you have to waste precious time figuring out the exact cost for each person. I did not grow up with an emphasis on "fairness." In fact, my parents encouraged generosity. I am so thankful for those life lessons.

Today I experienced true generosity once again. I was helping with a car wash at my school to raise money for our annual trip to California. Every car wash is a great time! Students work together to wash cars and raise money to pay for their trips. I have never missed a car wash at my school. I love helping with them! Over the years, I have witnessed some pretty crummy acts of generosity. For example, one year a guy pulled up in a huge truck covered in mud. We worked so hard to get all of the mud off of his truck. After we all worked together to clean his truck, he dropped a few coins in our donation jar. I was shocked.

However, today was different. A guy pulled up in his Jeep Cherokee. He got out of his car and we began washing his car. Once we finished he asked some of the kids if anyone was lucky. He told the students that in one hand he had $100 and in the other was $25. They could have the money from the hand they chose. Thankfully, they actually chose the hand with $100 and he handed a crisp $100 bill over! It was amazing! This man did not know a single student, nor was he connected to our school in any way. He just randomly stopped by the car wash and made that generous donation. It warmed my heart and encouraged me. Definitely challenged me to be more generous!

Seven Years and Counting

In two weeks I will have been married for seven years. As I type that number it doesn't really seem like that many years in comparison to the number of years I have been on this planet. But at the same time I can't really remember what year one was like. I guess I remember a few interesting events, such as our honeymoon trip, how poor we actually were, and our first holidays as a married couple. Times, traditions, and priorities have changed, yet some things will never change. For instance......as I type this, my husband has set up a camping chair in our bedroom in front of the tv to watch college basketball. He is soaking his sprained ankle in a mop bucket full of ice water. As he watches the games, he surfs the web on his iPhone. This is our life. I love it! Don't get me wrong, I watch the games as well! I am checking my fantasy basketball team and bracket to check my progress. Currently, I am beating my husband in fantasy basketball, but down in the bracket. I am holding out hope that I will not lose the bracket for the 7th year in a row. I can't imagine our seven years playing out in any other way. We don't take ourselves too seriously, although I hear I don't laugh much. Either way, I consider myself lucky to be married to an amazing husband, friend, and resident comedian. He will tell you that he is the funniest person alive, and I believe him.

No Snow, but Walking Up a Sweat

Although I have not seen any snow in Texas, I have looked through all of the pics online of snow in AZ. I haven't left my parent's house in days. I have spent days relaxing, which isn't usually in my vocab. And I have eaten more than any human should. Today I went on a 2-mile walk with my dad. He usually goes 3-miles. He was nice enough to cut it short for me because I was hungry. Food takes priority over walking, plus I started to break a sweat. That is unusual for me. By the end of the walk I realized that my dad is in much better shape than I am. I guess I see a New Year's resolution in my future!

Norms

Today one of my students used the phrase, "what any normal person would do." Of course, this all to common phrase struck me for some reason and prompted me to think and ponder all afternoon and evening. Not only did I think about "normal people" that I know and normal behaviors, I began to wonder if I am "normal." Don't laugh. Based on some people's values and actions, I do NOT want to be considered normal by them. Norms establish what is normal behavior and therefore who is and is not a normal person. But who establishes the norms? The majority of course, which is the scary part. As easily as people are influenced these days, believe information to be true without ever researching it for themselves, or even take on a mob mentality, I am concerned about the future of "norms."

Here are my predictions for future norms:
1. Disney pop stars will one day graduate into political powerhouses. Demi Lovato for President!
2. Every American will be a Reality TV star or starlet. We will all record our every action and post it to the Internet for the world to see. Everyone will have an opportunity to be "The Truman Show."
3. There will be teacup and toy humans.
4. There will be more uncompleted tasks and projects that completed because "it was too hard."
5. Range Rovers will eventually become obsolete, as will rappers who use mono-syllabic words or lyrics with only three different words.

Must All Things Die

As many of you may know, I spent most of my summer cultivating my green thumb. I wasn't born with one, but I put forth great effort to develop a green thumb from nothing. Because my summer ended on August 5, here are the results of my summer adventures.

1. 20+ Plants - all dead. However, one box miraculously revived itself after a monsoon. There are no flowers on the plants, but green leaves do fill the box.

2. Grass - roasted and fried. I have watered diligently each day and it is starting to come back. Tonight we even added miracle grow.

3. Vines - mediocre. I planted 8 and 7 1/2 are still alive. I am hoping the 1/2 of one revives because I actually really like the Cat's Claw. I do not like the other vines that the guy recommended. I am not sad about that one at all. Always heed the advice of someone you know personally, not the salesman.

4. Hummingbird feeder - shattered. I was so happy when I purchased a beautiful glass hummingbird feeder for $4. I filled it with the right food and apparently there should be a warning that the Arizona sun is too hot for the food and feeder.

5. Bird feeders - useless. I have yet to see a single bird. Plus, I have never had to refill either of the bird feeders. Dear birds, I know it is hot in AZ, but please visit my yard. I promise my dogs will not attack.

6. Trellibo - roofless. Erik and my dad built a sturdy trellibo. Erik and I designed and sewed a roof for the trellibo. It lasted a few monsoons and then the roof finally completed tore off from the structure. I was more worried about the trellibo withstanding the monsoon winds, but apparently it is more sturdy than our neighbor's roof.

7. Yard creatures - existent. Every time I water cute geckos run up the block wall. I loved the backyard wildlife. Now we have ants. Those suckers bit me numerous times tonight. That is not the type of wildlife I was hoping to attain.

All in all, my summer was great and I learned quite a bit about myself. With enough free time, I am capable of being crafty. Also, start gardening in February when it is not too hot.

Reminiscing

Last weekend I was in Texas for my friend Sofia's wedding. It was beautiful and exactly as I imagined her wedding would be. It was relaxed and an organic affair. Sofia is not fussy and definitely not the "bridezilla" type. Through all of the wedding festivities I was able to reconnect with my friend Lindsey. Lindsey, Sofia, and I were all roommates in college. We lived in the Amarillo House with our other roommate Nikah. I had forgotten about some of our adventures and weekly habits. Cookie dough, Friends, Taco Bueno, and late nights for all except Linds. There was even the summer that Sofia and I didn't really work, but just stayed up late and watched movies all day every day. I said we were losers and she scoffed at me. After I graduated I moved out of the Amarillo House and within a few months, I was married. Through Sofia's wedding I met another wonderful person that moved into the Amarillo House after I moved, Rachel. I think I missed out. We had a great time just talking and soaking up the occasion.

During my trip I realized a few truths throughout the weekend. First, you can go months and years without seeing friends, but your experiences and values always keep you connected. It was as if we had never been apart and were the same girls in the Amarillo House, just now we have different stories to tell. Secondly, it is rare to find such wonderful friends. I think about people I meet all the time who don't have those connections to people. I know I don't cherish my friends enough, call or email. But I am glad they are still my friends and that we have opportunities to come together and reconnect. Finally, after everyone gets married and has kids, what brings you all back together? And, if we don't have kids, does that mean we see each other less?!?! College was one of my favorite stages in life. So far it is the only one I would willingly go back and relive. I love the opportunities to go back and revisit those days. It reminds me of what is most important to me and creates a new attitude in my heart. It was a place where I grew, figured out who I was through the support of amazing friends, and eventually took on a new journey - marriage and the "real world."