Update on giving up SUGAR

It's Day 7 on the Giving up Sugar Challenge!

The first few days were rough! I actually had to leave a playdate early on Tuesday because I felt so sick! Around Thursday I started feeling much better though. Thank goodness! I've read about "sugar withdrawel" symptoms - but I never thought that I'd have to go through it since when I gave up sugar in pregnancy it just felt GREAT.

Jon hasn't had any withdrawal symptoms. So either - he hasn't given up sugar (since he has many more temptations than I do being in an office, I know he's had at least ONE cookie); or his body metabolizes it differently. Who knows.

By the Grace of God, I really haven't had too many cravings! At the start, I was eating a lot of fruit after meals for something sweet, but the past few days I haven't even had that craving.

This week will be challenging though since it's Finn's birthday & I'm making this insane ice-cream cake (it'll take at least 3 days to make and assemble). Wish me luck!

How are you feeling?

Monday Mission 8/8/11

Is it monday again?

Today's mission is to enjoy the summer! I'll be preparing for Finn's First Birthday & the 'unveiling' of our house improvements!

Thankful Thursday 8/4/11

Is it really Thursday already? Well, I have two things I am thankful for on this sunny Thursday morn.

First, My husband finished sealing the floor in the den! Which means all the furniture will get moved back in, and we can have our house "back." This is very exciting!!! I have been waiting - literally - ALL summer for this (the debacle started on memorial day).

Second, I think I am past the ugly part of my sugar withdrawal. It was rough for a few days in the beginning of the week (flu-like symptoms), but now I feel pretty good. I'm just waiting for that great feeling of health and vitality to arrive!

Happy August and Monday Mission

Happy August to everyone! Where has this summer gone? I cannot believe that it is already August! A couple more weeks and my sweet baby is turning ONE!!!

We have had a great summer - my husband Jon is almost done with the renovations downstairs. We put a slate floor down (because it looks nice and if there is a sump pump failure again we won't have to deal with this headache all over again). He just needs to seal it and tile the half bath down there and we're back in business!

My sweet baby Finn decided to get up and walk a few weeks ago - and he's never looked back. It took about 4 days before he was walking more than he was crawling, and now he's unstoppable! He also started waving bye-bye, so we've begun signing in earnest. He's picked up on "eat" so far. And he is pointing at EVERYTHING. It's really awesome beginning to interact with him in a new way. Now we have 2 way conversations (kind of).

What kind of awesome things have happened in your family this summer?

Now for the monday mission... I just know you've been missing these!

This week, the mission has to do with Sugar. Or better yet, No Sugar. That's right! I've been thinking about this for a while now, and doing some research (as I am prone to do) and I think now is the time. I am going to give up sugar. Specifically, refined sugars (white sugar, HFCS, and definitely artificial - which I already severely limit - and the like). This means most processed foods, convenience foods, most desserts :(.

I cut ALL sugar out when I was about five months pregnant with Finn (until the end). Let me tell you - I felt so much better! Sugar has so many negative side-effects. Some people call it a poison. I'm not going to go that far. But it does have negative ramifications on fertility (for men and women), your skin (I read a story about a woman who had really bad acne and it cleared up when she cut out sugar), your health in general (lowers immune system effectiveness).

I had a conversation with Jon today. And he said that he AGREES with me (if you know Jon at all, this is a SHOCK because his thing is "I am an adult and can decide for myself what I will eat" which means... he'll eat the aforementioned processed foods, convenience foods, and lots of desserts).  So, right there, the fact that he agrees with me is nothing short of a sign from God himself!

What this will "look" like for us:

• Cutting out most desserts - this will be the hardest. I have a major sweet tooth, if left unchecked can reign supreme! This summer we have been making a lot of our own ice-cream. Which, I rationalize since I use raw milk, cream from the farmers market, eggs from pastured chickens, half the Organic sugar, is good for me - right? While it is miles above store-bought (or ice-cream truck bought) ice-cream; it's still got a lot of sugar, and I don't need it! 
• One day a week as a cheat day. We'll start with one day a week and special occasions ( Finn's birthday, our anniversary, etc).
• We have already cut out a lot of the processed foods entirely. I think the one thing that I just can't get myself to give up is Ketchup! I'm going to look up some homemade ketchup recipes.
• Eating more fruits and veggies
• Making a meal plan and sticking to it! This will help a lot with not eating out as much. 
• Making iced tea & having it in the fridge.
• Eventually experimenting with natural alternatives: maple syrup, raw honey, rapadura (or succinat).
• We do not have any travel scheduled in the near future, but if we did, this would be a challenge! 

There are a lot of good suggestions and links on Keeperofthehome.

What would going "sugar free" look like for you and your family?

July Blog Break

Since this month is so busy - construction in my house (compelling me outside into the beautiful weather), going to visit our new Nephew Riley, Finn's upcoming birthday, renewing my insurance license, family visiting.... and on and on...

I'll be taking a break this month from blogging.

Happy Summer :)

Monday mission!

Happy Monday to you! It is beautiful outside here in central New York.

This week's mission for myself is to get prepared for camping! We are headed to Vermont to camp over the fourth of July weekend. Jon and I, and Kayla, have been a bunch of times, but this will be Finn's first time camping.

We plan on: hiking, making s'mores, rock hopping (possibly), visiting Ben and jerry's, cold hollow cider mill, the farmers market, going to the forth of July parade, hopefully seeing the fireworks (this depends on Finn!), and generally getting dirty and having fun!

For meals, I am a huge proponent of hobo packs. You can put whatever meats and veggies in there you like with some butter or EVOO, wrap in foil, stick in fire, flip a few times, serve on a bun. It can be much healthier than the classic hot dog on a stick (which my husband could eat every night if I let him). Lunches will be peanut butter and jelly on homemade bread. Snacks are fruit, or homemade granola bars, and I usually make some trailmix as a treat. Since we usually like to get going in the morning (as opposed to rebuilding the fire) we'll just have some homemade granola and yogurt for breakfast.

I'm bringing the camp washer and flat dispers with five covers for Finn's bottom.

More planning to come.

What is your favorite camping pastime?

Thankful Friday

It seems I have taken a break this week on the blog. I have been spending my computer time making Finn's birthday invitations And a 'brag' book (that was free on walgreens.com!) for him to learn the names and faces of distant family.

I am finding it hard to be thankful for some reason. Just in a funk I guess. But here we go anyways.

I am thankful for the faithfulness of God. He is always present and freely giving of what we ask. He is good all the time, all the time He is good.

I am (teeth grittingly) thankful that we have this opportunity to redo the den. It's going to be really nice once it is complete.
My dad said it'd be so nice, we'll need new furniture!

I am thankful for good books. I am reading Francine Rivers the mark of the lion series right now and it is a blessing to be able to disappear into a different world for a few hours.