Catching up...

Hello bloggy friends, it feels like ages...well, maybe just a week and a half! lol. Like many of you, I am feeling the holiday rush and don't even know where to begin to blog. For today, I thought I would catch you up on some of my happenings...

I survived black Friday...oh, and Saturday! There were not many "big" buys on Friday that I was looking for...more little Christmas presents here and there. The day was long yet successful. My big find was actually on Saturday at Joann's. I would like to officially introduce you to my new best friend. Her name is Lucy and she fits perfectly into my craft room. :)I have begun Christmas decorating but am finding myself getting overwhelmed with it all. So much to cram in one little month. I like that we can start fall in September...even August if you're crazy! Here is a little tid bit that I love that isn't driving me insane:
On another note, last week was the height of some digestive problems. I have been having some stomach and digestive problems for awhile but it got really bad this last week. From a combination of sources and a doctor visit I have come to the conclusion that we eat way TOO much wheat and dairy. Wheat and dairy are not bad for most people but we need everything in moderation. Because the majority of our food is wheat and dairy...and processed...yuck...our bodies do not do well with over consumption of one thing. I stopped eating wheat and dairy a couple of days before seeing the doctor and I have been feeling a lot better. She said I did not need to cut these out but that having too much could affect my digestive system. Needless to say, I am looking for more wheat and dairy alternatives to balance my consumption. And as the doctor ordered, I should take Pepcid when my stomach starts to hurt. Though a hassle in itself, I have been educated more on my body and am able to shop more objectively for natural foods. A few of my finds...brown rice pasta, Ezekiel bread, some good ol' Pepcid, and some delightful make your own trail mix from Whole Goods...YUM! I also found some soy ice cream from Trader Joe's that is absolutely amazing. In the bigger picture, I am creating habits and learning what is best for my body in being the most healthy that I can. I am really thankful for this reevaluation that will help me meet my health goals...(I have lost 30 lbs. as of today! If you want to know how I'm doing it, read this. My goal is to eat less than I burn each day, losing about a pound a week. The doctor was very impressed and said this was the best long term type of weight loss because I am slowly losing the weight over time, creating new and better eating/exercise habits).After I stopped at Whole Foods, I went in to a cute little kitchen store and found these adorable little cookie cutters. Every girl needs a crown, a little Irish luck come March, a snowflake, and a delicious ice cream cone. So cute!

I will leave you with this...if you are getting stressed out from the holidays, just remember...


"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children they are all 30 feet tall."


-Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas