I know it has been a while since I last blogged about this topic, but it was mostly because keeping a strictly no-processed sugar diet (when I mean no-processed sugar, I mean for all the foods out there) was quite difficult, and not as realistic as I thought it was (yay goals!) because making everything from scratch is time consuming and finding products that I would feel comfortable using is a pain and costly. I had read stories about people being able to do it, but man, at this point in my life, this goal doesn't feel realistic. Now that I am pregnant, and I am not always in the mood to cook, keeping that goal is much harder.
But I recognized that I could handle low-processed sugar diet or just an occasional sweet indulgence without a lot of issues (when I mean low-processed sugar diet, I mean in terms for sweets/snacks--I still eat store-bought breads and pastas, etc.) A lot of sugar consumed is difficult on my body because my body doesn't do well. For instance, I thought, "What the heck it's Christmas time, and I will enjoy some sweets." Bad idea. Even though I was trying to be judicious with the sweets I ate, I still ate more than my body was used to. My emotions the past several days were crazy, and I knew it wasn't just pregnancy hormones. I knew that I had exceeded my limit on sugar. Now I have a hankering for sweets, and I get to wean myself off of from all of the sugary desires by making homemade sweets. For now, I will be more realistic about this sugar goal and stick with the 80/20 rule. Be good 80% of the time by using natural sweeteners, and take it easy now and again especially when coconut and chocolate have made themselves into a delicious combination... or even a chocolate and peanut butter. Yum.
P.S. I realize that restricting myself from processed sugar seems like a crazy, mean thing to do to myself, but when you feel better about yourself, you try to do things to maintain that feeling.
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Week 13- Feeling Better
I am sharing how things have been going for me physically, spiritually, and emotionally these past couple of weeks, but if you just want to look at pictures, well, scroll down.
Physically, I felt unwell in a few ways during my second and third months of pregnancy. I have to admit that I felt really lucky when I got pregnant that I didn't experience morning sickness within the first couple of weeks, but then things changed. I have felt tired, nauseated, and/or just achy these past several weeks. I thought that throwing up was going to become a new morning ritual, but fortunately, I got that under control, but I even though I didn't always throw up, I got to deal with the nausea. I know now that I need to eat something right away in the mornings. I have felt much better physically recently since I've had more energy and I haven't been sick lately.
*Cravings/things I can really handle: Most meat, dates, grilled cheese sandwiches, air-popped popcorn, and yogurt! I combine plain yogurt with banana and/or some frozen berries with just a little bit of honey. My ice cream is a bit tart, but it has tasted so heavenly to me lately. I do have an aversion to the smells of bacon, garlic, however..
I should also add that clumsiness is a real physical change in pregnancy. I tripped and fell down a few stairs yesterday, and hurt my foot pretty badly. So I hobbled around town in Greg's slippers because my foot is too swollen to fit in my shoes. The worst part was going to the ultrasound because the office was located on the third floor of the building, and I had to climb up the stairs because the elevator was being maintained. I was kind of like the Witch of the Waste from Howl's Moving Castle climbing up those stairs...if you don't know what I'm talking about it was just pretty sad. I ended up borrowing crutches from a friend, and used those later on when I went to get blood work done.
Spiritually, I felt like I was kind of in a rut and just kind of frustrated with life for a few reasons. First, I was scared for this pregnancy. Second, I think part of this rut was due to the fact that I was hurrying through scripture study and prayers at night since I was exhausted. Also, being sick definitely puts a damper on life (even when you are sick for a good reason). I decided that I should try to study in the mornings instead of at night so that I'll be more aware and more attentive, and lately Christmas music has been so calming and spiritually uplifting. Music is a wonderful tool!
While I got my blood work done today, I listened to this beautiful song by Andrea Bocelli and the Mormon Tabernacle choir. I know this song isn't exactly Christmas-y, but it was so lovely to listen to! My wonderful friend helped me out while I got blood work done today since Greg was in class, and she recommended that I listen to "The Prayer", and what a wise choice that was. Overall, my first blood work opportunity went quite well; the nurse found my vein right away, and my blood just hurried through to fill four vials. I mean, I was done in under a minute or so! I did feel a bit light-headed afterwards, and I had to put my head down and had an ice pack placed on my neck, but the sickness passed away very quickly. I am just grateful that God has blessed me with good friends, has comforted me throughout my life and especially this pregnancy, and also that He has given me experiences that I can handle. Afterwards the blood work, I got to treat myself to Wendy's.
Emotionally, I have felt so much different now than before I was pregnant! I've felt more hormonal then what I am used to. I've yelled and cried simultaneously at Greg the other day over something silly, and honestly, I've cried quite a bit over a number of things. (I sympathy cry really easily now!) My first midwife appointment was surrounded by smiles and tears because I was SO nervous and yet thrilled. Some people have a sigh of relief that things are finished with hard events, but I threw up instead...outside my front door. Sometimes, I didn't even look forward to having a baby even though Greg and I want kids.
But after seeing my baby on the ultrasound monitor today, I definitely feel more connected to my baby, and I just feel more excited to have this baby. The ultrasound went well; I was relieved to see that I am carrying one baby and not eight like Greg has been teasing about. Since we went to get the ultrasound for prenatal screening, the technologist had to get the certain images of the baby which can take a while to get, so Greg waited in the lobby. I had a lot of fun talking with the ultrasound technologist, and she kept saying, "Oh hopefully your laugh will hopefully make the baby move around so I can get a better picture!" I had to cough, laugh, lie on my side, and urinate twice to try to get a better position for the baby, and the technologist just did the best she could to get the best image for the midwife. It wasn't until Greg came into the room later to look at the baby that the baby had moved into a fantastic position for us. I guess the baby was showing off for daddy.
Physically, I felt unwell in a few ways during my second and third months of pregnancy. I have to admit that I felt really lucky when I got pregnant that I didn't experience morning sickness within the first couple of weeks, but then things changed. I have felt tired, nauseated, and/or just achy these past several weeks. I thought that throwing up was going to become a new morning ritual, but fortunately, I got that under control, but I even though I didn't always throw up, I got to deal with the nausea. I know now that I need to eat something right away in the mornings. I have felt much better physically recently since I've had more energy and I haven't been sick lately.
*Cravings/things I can really handle: Most meat, dates, grilled cheese sandwiches, air-popped popcorn, and yogurt! I combine plain yogurt with banana and/or some frozen berries with just a little bit of honey. My ice cream is a bit tart, but it has tasted so heavenly to me lately. I do have an aversion to the smells of bacon, garlic, however..
I should also add that clumsiness is a real physical change in pregnancy. I tripped and fell down a few stairs yesterday, and hurt my foot pretty badly. So I hobbled around town in Greg's slippers because my foot is too swollen to fit in my shoes. The worst part was going to the ultrasound because the office was located on the third floor of the building, and I had to climb up the stairs because the elevator was being maintained. I was kind of like the Witch of the Waste from Howl's Moving Castle climbing up those stairs...if you don't know what I'm talking about it was just pretty sad. I ended up borrowing crutches from a friend, and used those later on when I went to get blood work done.
Spiritually, I felt like I was kind of in a rut and just kind of frustrated with life for a few reasons. First, I was scared for this pregnancy. Second, I think part of this rut was due to the fact that I was hurrying through scripture study and prayers at night since I was exhausted. Also, being sick definitely puts a damper on life (even when you are sick for a good reason). I decided that I should try to study in the mornings instead of at night so that I'll be more aware and more attentive, and lately Christmas music has been so calming and spiritually uplifting. Music is a wonderful tool!
While I got my blood work done today, I listened to this beautiful song by Andrea Bocelli and the Mormon Tabernacle choir. I know this song isn't exactly Christmas-y, but it was so lovely to listen to! My wonderful friend helped me out while I got blood work done today since Greg was in class, and she recommended that I listen to "The Prayer", and what a wise choice that was. Overall, my first blood work opportunity went quite well; the nurse found my vein right away, and my blood just hurried through to fill four vials. I mean, I was done in under a minute or so! I did feel a bit light-headed afterwards, and I had to put my head down and had an ice pack placed on my neck, but the sickness passed away very quickly. I am just grateful that God has blessed me with good friends, has comforted me throughout my life and especially this pregnancy, and also that He has given me experiences that I can handle. Afterwards the blood work, I got to treat myself to Wendy's.
Emotionally, I have felt so much different now than before I was pregnant! I've felt more hormonal then what I am used to. I've yelled and cried simultaneously at Greg the other day over something silly, and honestly, I've cried quite a bit over a number of things. (I sympathy cry really easily now!) My first midwife appointment was surrounded by smiles and tears because I was SO nervous and yet thrilled. Some people have a sigh of relief that things are finished with hard events, but I threw up instead...outside my front door. Sometimes, I didn't even look forward to having a baby even though Greg and I want kids.
But after seeing my baby on the ultrasound monitor today, I definitely feel more connected to my baby, and I just feel more excited to have this baby. The ultrasound went well; I was relieved to see that I am carrying one baby and not eight like Greg has been teasing about. Since we went to get the ultrasound for prenatal screening, the technologist had to get the certain images of the baby which can take a while to get, so Greg waited in the lobby. I had a lot of fun talking with the ultrasound technologist, and she kept saying, "Oh hopefully your laugh will hopefully make the baby move around so I can get a better picture!" I had to cough, laugh, lie on my side, and urinate twice to try to get a better position for the baby, and the technologist just did the best she could to get the best image for the midwife. It wasn't until Greg came into the room later to look at the baby that the baby had moved into a fantastic position for us. I guess the baby was showing off for daddy.
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| Lovely picture of our wee one |
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| Close up of the face |
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| 12 weeks pregnant here. I'm excited to get to that point where I look pregnant and not just chubby... |
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Week 9- I don't like having a nose!
These past few weeks have been kind of crazy for me! Just getting used to the idea of being pregnant has been a bit overwhelming. I'm excited... I'm nervous... I think I'm excited!
Physically, I've been feeling well for the most part. However, I think the hardest thing I deal with is food. My meal plans have just fallen to pieces. I feel like a bad person because I have produce that I haven't touched because of food aversions (aka tomatoes, clementines, and celery). "What do I eat? What do I want to eat? Nope I don't want that or that. Okay... mac and cheese again?" My cravings haven't been too bad to deal with (clam chowder or kimchi sound delicious), and I haven't had many cravings that I need to have every day, but it's when I don't feel like eating anything that gets me into trouble. For instance, in the mornings, I feel incredibly cautious, so I don't eat anything because I don't know what to eat. I think that I ended up throwing up the other morning because of this problem, so I guess I'll just have something on hand that I know I'll tolerate. Remembering BRAT (bananas, rice, apple/applesauce, and toast) has been really helpful in terms of keeping my stomach settled. I definitely eat a lot of rice and bananas, but not toast because the bread tastes funny...
The second hardest thing to deal with is smells. I recently went out with some friends, and as a couple of them were going to the bathroom I said, "The bathroom smells really weird just to let you know." They came back and they just laughed and said, "You just have a heightened sense of smell now that you are pregnant; the bathroom was fine." I hate the smells from my kitchen sometimes. My spice cabinet, kitchen sink, garbage can, and even the cupboard where I keep all my canned foods and stuff smell awful/funny. Baking soda and vinegar have been my friend.
Other than that, I've been sleeping a lot (the other night I slept for 12 hours), and I've been dealing with tender breasts and a very active bladder.
Emotionally, I have been happy and kind of worried, I guess. I worry about whether telling people so early was a good idea. Not that anything is wrong, but I just worry that things are too good to be true since we really want this baby. I've also been worried about my grandpa's health, and I want him to be healthy and strong. But I've also felt really grateful for the friends Greg and I have here because of all the support they've shown us especially after we told people we are expecting. Even though our family is far away, I've also felt like we are very supported, and I appreciate all their love.
Spiritually, I've just felt really wonderful lately. Rereading my patriarchal blessing after I found out that I was pregnant was reassuring, and just knowing that things will be okay has been a blessing. I feel blessed being pregnant, and initially I was scared that we wouldn't be financially okay with a baby, but we've been told by several people that they have baby stuff that we can use. General conference was amazing and uplifting because of all the counsel and advice for parents.
Physically, I've been feeling well for the most part. However, I think the hardest thing I deal with is food. My meal plans have just fallen to pieces. I feel like a bad person because I have produce that I haven't touched because of food aversions (aka tomatoes, clementines, and celery). "What do I eat? What do I want to eat? Nope I don't want that or that. Okay... mac and cheese again?" My cravings haven't been too bad to deal with (clam chowder or kimchi sound delicious), and I haven't had many cravings that I need to have every day, but it's when I don't feel like eating anything that gets me into trouble. For instance, in the mornings, I feel incredibly cautious, so I don't eat anything because I don't know what to eat. I think that I ended up throwing up the other morning because of this problem, so I guess I'll just have something on hand that I know I'll tolerate. Remembering BRAT (bananas, rice, apple/applesauce, and toast) has been really helpful in terms of keeping my stomach settled. I definitely eat a lot of rice and bananas, but not toast because the bread tastes funny...
The second hardest thing to deal with is smells. I recently went out with some friends, and as a couple of them were going to the bathroom I said, "The bathroom smells really weird just to let you know." They came back and they just laughed and said, "You just have a heightened sense of smell now that you are pregnant; the bathroom was fine." I hate the smells from my kitchen sometimes. My spice cabinet, kitchen sink, garbage can, and even the cupboard where I keep all my canned foods and stuff smell awful/funny. Baking soda and vinegar have been my friend.
Other than that, I've been sleeping a lot (the other night I slept for 12 hours), and I've been dealing with tender breasts and a very active bladder.
Emotionally, I have been happy and kind of worried, I guess. I worry about whether telling people so early was a good idea. Not that anything is wrong, but I just worry that things are too good to be true since we really want this baby. I've also been worried about my grandpa's health, and I want him to be healthy and strong. But I've also felt really grateful for the friends Greg and I have here because of all the support they've shown us especially after we told people we are expecting. Even though our family is far away, I've also felt like we are very supported, and I appreciate all their love.
Spiritually, I've just felt really wonderful lately. Rereading my patriarchal blessing after I found out that I was pregnant was reassuring, and just knowing that things will be okay has been a blessing. I feel blessed being pregnant, and initially I was scared that we wouldn't be financially okay with a baby, but we've been told by several people that they have baby stuff that we can use. General conference was amazing and uplifting because of all the counsel and advice for parents.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Unexpected
Yesterday, I took a short walk around my neighborhood. The world looks so pretty even with the seasonal changes. I saw geese flying against a brilliant blue sky. The yellowed leaves littered the ground. I finally learned why purple is one of the Halloween colors.
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| I know these are just weeds, but they are gorgeous! |
I hadn't planned on sharing this news with everyone at this time, but these recent events have reminded me how precious and lovely life really is, and we shouldn't take it for granted. I know that people generally wait to share such news until twelve weeks because things can happen, but I just wanted to share this because I'm just excited and this news is so meaningful to Greg and me. I'm glad that I can experience this new change. Baby is due late May 2015.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Book List
I was asked by a friend on Facebook a few weeks ago to list the ten books that have stayed with me no matter the book.
I, unfortunately, struggled to come up with the books immediately, and then when I looked through my library, I struggled to keep the number to ten. So, I'd like to share some with you, and give a short explanation as to why they've stayed with me for so long.
1. Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
I read this as a tween, and I guess the simple answer is that I related to this book well even though Alice was kind of weird to me.
2. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I read this book a few times as a child, and I loved it except that I liked the movie version where Sara's dad actually is alive and she has to remind him of that fact he's a dad before she's taken to jail. More dramatic. As an adult, I love the story more because of the life lessons I gleaned from it. No matter the situation, always behave as though you are a princess: kind, loving, thoughtful, dedicated to studies and friends, etc., etc.
3. Little Women by Lousia May Alcott
I read this book as a challenge to myself when I was younger. I was interested--and still am-- in classics. I read this book, and I thought it was super boring. Geez Jo! Why'd you get married to an old guy! When I went back and read it as an adult, I fell in love with the book. I love Mrs. March the most. She is wise and wonderful mom.
4. Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
Favorite book of all time even though I cry so much every time I read it. I first picked up this book in the library when I was in middle school. I remember checking it out a couple of times before I acquired this book by chance at a book sale (Score!) Ever since then, it's the book I always take with me when I move. What's not to love about a story that tells stories?
5. October Sky by Homer H. Hickham
Again, I think I love the stories within the story. I also appreciate the passion for science and the love of learning shared in this book.
6. The New Junior Classics: Fairy Tales and Fables compiled by Mable Williams and Marcia Dalphin
This book was on the shelf in the library in my living room for a short time before I stole it, and then placed it on my own shelf. I love fairy tales so much! This book was also my graduation present from Greg (I asked for it).
7. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I have a love/hate relationship with this book--kind of like Rhett's feelings towards Scarlett. I read this book about five times when I was between the ages of 13- 15 which may or may not have been good for me. For Christmas one year, I got my own copy of the book and the DVDs with lots of background information which you won't watch after spending four hours watching the movie. I love learning about the Civil War, and this book just made history feel almost alive. Plus Rhett Butler is such a babe even though he's an older gentleman. Every time I read this book, I want to yell obscene things at Scarlett 'cause she's such an idiot, but then I have to admire her will to live.
8. Love Stories of World War Two compiled by Larry King
I got this book at the same time I got my own copy of Mrs. Mike. I love reading positive stories about love and marriage. Plus, this is another way of experiencing history without reading a history book. What types of things were people doing during the war? Where did people go, etc.? So intriguing.
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I weep when Jane leaves Mr. Rochester. Also St. John is super annoying. I'm always glad Jane never 'marries' him.
10. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This book is tattered now from the many times that my sister and I have read it. I had to tape the cover together recently. All I can say is I love this book so much, and if you haven't read it, go read it 'cause it is a fantastic book.
11. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
I went through a phase where I was interested in Russian literature because my mom was doing a lot of family history when I was about fourteen years old. The summer before I started ninth grade, I read through War and Peace. Honestly, I can't remember much of War and Peace. I tried reading Crime and Punishment and Doctor Zhivago at some point, but I'll have to try again soon. If only divorce was not looked down upon in nineteenth century Russia, Anna!
12. Persuasion by Jane Austen
I love the movie so much. I ended up watching this movie all the time at my grandparents house because they didn't have a wide selection of movies. (I can only watch Mulan, A Little Princess, and Shrek so many times!) But anyway, I read this book for book club this year, and I really liked it. Perhaps I relate to this book so much because I can be easily persuaded and I like to make people happy. But I also like that their love is rekindled in a strange fashion.
13. David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I have to be honest: I never finished David Copperfield because the story was so depressing. Dad dies. Mom remarries. Mom dies. Step-dad is evil jerk. This story kind of hit home because sometimes I felt like I lost a parent. I couldn't progress in the book, but I plan to go back and read all the way through someday. Reading A Tale of Two Cities almost redeemed Dickens for me. Why does Sydney have to die!?
15. The Belgariad by David Eddings
My favorite fantasy series. So freakin' good. Although, I thought Aunt Pol was kind of mean to Garion when I first read this book, but I later changed my mind. She's quite protective of Garion. This is one of the series that I read to get to know Greg a bit more so to speak. I think you can learn a lot about a person by the books they read.
16. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Plshh. I know everybody likes Harry Potter, but they've just said Harry Potter series on their lists. I'll be more specific with y'all, though. I love Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban because Harry has hope for once at the end of the story even though he doesn't get to live with godfather. I also love seeing how hard working Hermione is by keeping with so many classes. Plus, Harry is still at that kind of cute age before he gets annoying with his angst.
17. Book of Isaiah
I took an intense semester to study this beautiful book of the Old Testament. Nothing like translating Hebrew and then having lengthy discussions to help understand this book. I still have all my notes and translations from this class.
I, unfortunately, struggled to come up with the books immediately, and then when I looked through my library, I struggled to keep the number to ten. So, I'd like to share some with you, and give a short explanation as to why they've stayed with me for so long.
1. Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
I read this as a tween, and I guess the simple answer is that I related to this book well even though Alice was kind of weird to me.
2. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I read this book a few times as a child, and I loved it except that I liked the movie version where Sara's dad actually is alive and she has to remind him of that fact he's a dad before she's taken to jail. More dramatic. As an adult, I love the story more because of the life lessons I gleaned from it. No matter the situation, always behave as though you are a princess: kind, loving, thoughtful, dedicated to studies and friends, etc., etc.
3. Little Women by Lousia May Alcott
I read this book as a challenge to myself when I was younger. I was interested--and still am-- in classics. I read this book, and I thought it was super boring. Geez Jo! Why'd you get married to an old guy! When I went back and read it as an adult, I fell in love with the book. I love Mrs. March the most. She is wise and wonderful mom.
4. Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
Favorite book of all time even though I cry so much every time I read it. I first picked up this book in the library when I was in middle school. I remember checking it out a couple of times before I acquired this book by chance at a book sale (Score!) Ever since then, it's the book I always take with me when I move. What's not to love about a story that tells stories?
5. October Sky by Homer H. Hickham
Again, I think I love the stories within the story. I also appreciate the passion for science and the love of learning shared in this book.
6. The New Junior Classics: Fairy Tales and Fables compiled by Mable Williams and Marcia Dalphin
This book was on the shelf in the library in my living room for a short time before I stole it, and then placed it on my own shelf. I love fairy tales so much! This book was also my graduation present from Greg (I asked for it).
7. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
I have a love/hate relationship with this book--kind of like Rhett's feelings towards Scarlett. I read this book about five times when I was between the ages of 13- 15 which may or may not have been good for me. For Christmas one year, I got my own copy of the book and the DVDs with lots of background information which you won't watch after spending four hours watching the movie. I love learning about the Civil War, and this book just made history feel almost alive. Plus Rhett Butler is such a babe even though he's an older gentleman. Every time I read this book, I want to yell obscene things at Scarlett 'cause she's such an idiot, but then I have to admire her will to live.
8. Love Stories of World War Two compiled by Larry King
I got this book at the same time I got my own copy of Mrs. Mike. I love reading positive stories about love and marriage. Plus, this is another way of experiencing history without reading a history book. What types of things were people doing during the war? Where did people go, etc.? So intriguing.
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
I weep when Jane leaves Mr. Rochester. Also St. John is super annoying. I'm always glad Jane never 'marries' him.
10. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
This book is tattered now from the many times that my sister and I have read it. I had to tape the cover together recently. All I can say is I love this book so much, and if you haven't read it, go read it 'cause it is a fantastic book.
11. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
I went through a phase where I was interested in Russian literature because my mom was doing a lot of family history when I was about fourteen years old. The summer before I started ninth grade, I read through War and Peace. Honestly, I can't remember much of War and Peace. I tried reading Crime and Punishment and Doctor Zhivago at some point, but I'll have to try again soon. If only divorce was not looked down upon in nineteenth century Russia, Anna!
12. Persuasion by Jane Austen
I love the movie so much. I ended up watching this movie all the time at my grandparents house because they didn't have a wide selection of movies. (I can only watch Mulan, A Little Princess, and Shrek so many times!) But anyway, I read this book for book club this year, and I really liked it. Perhaps I relate to this book so much because I can be easily persuaded and I like to make people happy. But I also like that their love is rekindled in a strange fashion.
13. David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I have to be honest: I never finished David Copperfield because the story was so depressing. Dad dies. Mom remarries. Mom dies. Step-dad is evil jerk. This story kind of hit home because sometimes I felt like I lost a parent. I couldn't progress in the book, but I plan to go back and read all the way through someday. Reading A Tale of Two Cities almost redeemed Dickens for me. Why does Sydney have to die!?
15. The Belgariad by David Eddings
My favorite fantasy series. So freakin' good. Although, I thought Aunt Pol was kind of mean to Garion when I first read this book, but I later changed my mind. She's quite protective of Garion. This is one of the series that I read to get to know Greg a bit more so to speak. I think you can learn a lot about a person by the books they read.
16. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Plshh. I know everybody likes Harry Potter, but they've just said Harry Potter series on their lists. I'll be more specific with y'all, though. I love Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban because Harry has hope for once at the end of the story even though he doesn't get to live with godfather. I also love seeing how hard working Hermione is by keeping with so many classes. Plus, Harry is still at that kind of cute age before he gets annoying with his angst.
17. Book of Isaiah
I took an intense semester to study this beautiful book of the Old Testament. Nothing like translating Hebrew and then having lengthy discussions to help understand this book. I still have all my notes and translations from this class.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Book Review: Einstein Never Used Flashcards
I just finished a book called Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How our children really learn--and why they need to play more and memorize less. (Whew! Long title!) I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as a recommendation from a close friend. The authors, Kathy Hirsch-Paske, Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, and Diane Eyer look at and explain a lot of research about early childhood development for all aspects of learning that parents are generally concerned about: social, language, and math. The research gives you a general idea of what your child can understand at different ages, and the authors basically repeat that PLAY = LEARNING, and that while those classes are good, they aren't necessary.
I think I am a big fan of this book because the authors remind me of counsel from the general authorities. The authors of Einstein Never Used Flashcards remind the readers that children don't benefit from this hurried society. President Uchtdorf says that we need to slow down and enjoy the moments especially during a time of crisis or being overwhelmed. The book suggest that if parents decide to enroll their young children in activities, that we should think about the reasons for doing so. Are we being pressured by the Jones family? Will this be something our child might enjoy? Like Elder Oaks has said, we have the option to choose good, better, or best. Many people, including myself, believe it would be best if our families could have dinner together every night instead of rushing off to various events. Lastly, the authors recommend that children need unstructured play time to replenish their batteries and to learn. I also believe that adults can benefit from this, too. While adults don't necessarily 'play' anymore, they can have quiet moments to think about their day and their troubles. I like what Elder L. Tom Perry says about living with simplicity. At the beginning of his talk, he mentions how he and his wife would go somewhere peaceful to get away from the demands of life. I just loved the ideas of slowing down and letting your child learn at their pace--but still parenting and guiding them in their learning!
Anyway, I know this isn't the greatest review, but I wanted to share this with y'all instead of leaving it as a draft. I like that even as a non-fiction book with a great number of studies mentioned, this book is easy to get through.
I think I am a big fan of this book because the authors remind me of counsel from the general authorities. The authors of Einstein Never Used Flashcards remind the readers that children don't benefit from this hurried society. President Uchtdorf says that we need to slow down and enjoy the moments especially during a time of crisis or being overwhelmed. The book suggest that if parents decide to enroll their young children in activities, that we should think about the reasons for doing so. Are we being pressured by the Jones family? Will this be something our child might enjoy? Like Elder Oaks has said, we have the option to choose good, better, or best. Many people, including myself, believe it would be best if our families could have dinner together every night instead of rushing off to various events. Lastly, the authors recommend that children need unstructured play time to replenish their batteries and to learn. I also believe that adults can benefit from this, too. While adults don't necessarily 'play' anymore, they can have quiet moments to think about their day and their troubles. I like what Elder L. Tom Perry says about living with simplicity. At the beginning of his talk, he mentions how he and his wife would go somewhere peaceful to get away from the demands of life. I just loved the ideas of slowing down and letting your child learn at their pace--but still parenting and guiding them in their learning!
Anyway, I know this isn't the greatest review, but I wanted to share this with y'all instead of leaving it as a draft. I like that even as a non-fiction book with a great number of studies mentioned, this book is easy to get through.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Geography and Faith
Lately, Greg and I have had the opportunity to go out with the sister missionaries to help facilitate lessons with investigators. I've enjoyed going to these lessons because I get to strengthen my testimony and meet new people. We've meet with this really awesome investigator who is reading the Book of Mormon, practiced the Word of Wisdom, and has occasionally attended church. When I asked him how he felt about reading the Book of Mormon, he says, "I really just want like a timeline or background history of this area as well as a map to help me visualize the locations of these places in America."
As someone who studied the Bible extensively for school, I laugh a bitter laugh at this statement. Several scholars and I understand how he feels only we want to know where to locate routes and places mentioned in the Biblical world, and when exactly certain events took place...
Examples of things we are kind of unsure of:
Mount Sinai and the Route of the Exodus: We don't know which way they went up from Egypt to Canaan, and we have a few well-educated guesses as to the location of Mount Sinai and other locations mentioned. We also don't know how the Israelites settled in Canaan: did they settle peacefully or battle it out with the locals? We don't even KNOW when they left Egypt!
We don't know where the city of Ur that Abraham hails from is located.
If Jeroboam I built two golden calf altars at Dan and Bethel, how come we can only find the site at Tel Dan? What did the golden calves really mean to the kingdom of Israel?
I think it is difficult to read any book and not have questions about the details. Recently, I've read through Harry Potter and I've been thinking about them a lot. I love the story, and when I read it, I gobble it up. But sometimes, I wonder about the fine details. What kind of society is the wizarding society?What happened to Harry's grandparents? What happens to Harry and Dudley when they are grown up? How many people know about wizards because of their relationships to wizards and witches? But sometimes, when I get too caught up in the all the questions, I lose sight of the point of the story the author is trying to make. When we are reading a book about God and those who believe in God, I think that sometimes we allow those fine details overshadow the ideas of faith that are also mentioned in the book. Yes, sometimes we don't know everything, and sometimes we will never find out in our lifetime all the answers we have questions to, and yes it is good to talk about the details, but when we allow these details to overrule our faith, we can lose sight of what's really important. From the scriptures, we can study the lives of believers and learn from their examples. The scriptures help strengthen my belief in God. I know that because of the scriptures, prophets of old and modern times, prayer, and answers to prayer that God is real and that He loves us.
So, we don't know everything about the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I could say that perhaps those who were writing them didn't include all the details because they were writing about things they knew and understood. Doesn't Mormon say that he is making an abridgment of the history of his people? We know that the Bible is a combination of the Torah or the law, prophets, and writings of the Jews. So having a combinations of different types of literature makes it difficult to pin-point details such as history, geography, etc. The authors wrote things were (hopefully) inspired to write, and the redactors or those who abridged were trying to keep to the important themes, messages, and ideas. We know that the Deuteronomistic historian (DtrH) had plenty of material to write a history because he/she/they referenced other books like the chronicles of the kings of Israel occasionally (1 Kgs 15:31). I'm sure they wrote the important messages down to the best of their abilities. And don't the authors of the Book of Mormon often say that they hope that they are writing useful things, and they recognize their imperfections, and then don't they ask for us to overlook them? What we should remember is that scriptures are the testimonies of others, and they give examples of the relationships people had with God, and these people who wrote them were imperfect like us. I like what Elder Holland said in conference a while ago. "Except in the case of His Only Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating for Him, but He deals with it. So should we." Do we need to be more charitable to these authors and redactors? Yes.
Anyway, my point is don't let the small things get in the way of the big picture. Have faith. Get understanding of the important things like the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "What we know will always triumph what we don't know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith."- Jeffrey R. Holland
As someone who studied the Bible extensively for school, I laugh a bitter laugh at this statement. Several scholars and I understand how he feels only we want to know where to locate routes and places mentioned in the Biblical world, and when exactly certain events took place...
Examples of things we are kind of unsure of:
Mount Sinai and the Route of the Exodus: We don't know which way they went up from Egypt to Canaan, and we have a few well-educated guesses as to the location of Mount Sinai and other locations mentioned. We also don't know how the Israelites settled in Canaan: did they settle peacefully or battle it out with the locals? We don't even KNOW when they left Egypt!
We don't know where the city of Ur that Abraham hails from is located.
If Jeroboam I built two golden calf altars at Dan and Bethel, how come we can only find the site at Tel Dan? What did the golden calves really mean to the kingdom of Israel?
I think it is difficult to read any book and not have questions about the details. Recently, I've read through Harry Potter and I've been thinking about them a lot. I love the story, and when I read it, I gobble it up. But sometimes, I wonder about the fine details. What kind of society is the wizarding society?What happened to Harry's grandparents? What happens to Harry and Dudley when they are grown up? How many people know about wizards because of their relationships to wizards and witches? But sometimes, when I get too caught up in the all the questions, I lose sight of the point of the story the author is trying to make. When we are reading a book about God and those who believe in God, I think that sometimes we allow those fine details overshadow the ideas of faith that are also mentioned in the book. Yes, sometimes we don't know everything, and sometimes we will never find out in our lifetime all the answers we have questions to, and yes it is good to talk about the details, but when we allow these details to overrule our faith, we can lose sight of what's really important. From the scriptures, we can study the lives of believers and learn from their examples. The scriptures help strengthen my belief in God. I know that because of the scriptures, prophets of old and modern times, prayer, and answers to prayer that God is real and that He loves us.
So, we don't know everything about the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I could say that perhaps those who were writing them didn't include all the details because they were writing about things they knew and understood. Doesn't Mormon say that he is making an abridgment of the history of his people? We know that the Bible is a combination of the Torah or the law, prophets, and writings of the Jews. So having a combinations of different types of literature makes it difficult to pin-point details such as history, geography, etc. The authors wrote things were (hopefully) inspired to write, and the redactors or those who abridged were trying to keep to the important themes, messages, and ideas. We know that the Deuteronomistic historian (DtrH) had plenty of material to write a history because he/she/they referenced other books like the chronicles of the kings of Israel occasionally (1 Kgs 15:31). I'm sure they wrote the important messages down to the best of their abilities. And don't the authors of the Book of Mormon often say that they hope that they are writing useful things, and they recognize their imperfections, and then don't they ask for us to overlook them? What we should remember is that scriptures are the testimonies of others, and they give examples of the relationships people had with God, and these people who wrote them were imperfect like us. I like what Elder Holland said in conference a while ago. "Except in the case of His Only Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating for Him, but He deals with it. So should we." Do we need to be more charitable to these authors and redactors? Yes.
Anyway, my point is don't let the small things get in the way of the big picture. Have faith. Get understanding of the important things like the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "What we know will always triumph what we don't know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith."- Jeffrey R. Holland
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Stories
I love stories.
I especially love those family stories that are told at nearly every holiday that no one tires of hearing.
I love fairy tales, too. I love that someone has the imagination to dream of cunning witches, magical enchantments, and giants.
I love folklore and myths. I love reading the creation stories of ancient societies. Have you noticed that societies try to explain their beginnings?
I love the stories of an individual. Occasionally I read obituaries to learn of the lives lived around me.
I love looking at the things collected in my grandmother's trunk, and I love listening to her explain the details of the objects that were given her.
I love sneaking away to look through all the photo albums my grandparents stow away, so I can etch all the beautiful moments of life captured into memory.
I love stories.
I especially love those family stories that are told at nearly every holiday that no one tires of hearing.
I love fairy tales, too. I love that someone has the imagination to dream of cunning witches, magical enchantments, and giants.
I love folklore and myths. I love reading the creation stories of ancient societies. Have you noticed that societies try to explain their beginnings?
I love the stories of an individual. Occasionally I read obituaries to learn of the lives lived around me.
I love looking at the things collected in my grandmother's trunk, and I love listening to her explain the details of the objects that were given her.
I love sneaking away to look through all the photo albums my grandparents stow away, so I can etch all the beautiful moments of life captured into memory.
I love stories.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
St. Jacob's and strawberry picking
I have a lot of updating to do because I've been slacking in my blogging duties.
My friend, Daisy and I went walking in St. Jacob's. The walk was gorgeous and green. And St. Jacob's is a town I'd love to explore because of the cutesy little shops. I love seeing the talent from the Mennonites that reside here.
Canada day, Greg and I watched most of the match between the U.S. and Germany, and then headed over to the Mitchell's for a potluck. (I'd say BBQ, but the BBQ actually wasn't on...) We played with friends, laughed, and talked, and then Greg and I headed home to watch the fireworks that was literally across the street. I feel lucky that we didn't have to drive anywhere else 'cause the traffic was terrible. The funny/terrible part about that night was the number of cars parked on the lane divider. I didn't know you could get away with this!! A cop on a motorcycle actually had to drive around the street to keep traffic moving because so many people were also parking illegally in the street. The cop was pretty awesome just giving the warning, "Keep moving! This isn't a parking lot! I will have to write you up if you don't move your car!"
On the 4th of July I ended up working 'cause I helped a friend out on Monday by watching her kids on Monday. Fortunately, I didn't have to go to work until the afternoon on the fourth, so I got to pick strawberries with my friend Daisy and her kids. I had a blast picking strawberries, and we were fortunate that the weather had cooled down quite a bit since the hot weather I experienced on Monday while watching kids and playing outside with said kids.
With the strawberries I picked, I was able to make about 10 cups of jam (I made two types: freezer jam made with pectin and cooked jam made with lemon juice and sugar.). I also froze a lot of strawberries. The strawberries were a softer and smaller variety, which in my opinion, are better for jam making then for cutting up and serving on a plate.
My friend, Daisy and I went walking in St. Jacob's. The walk was gorgeous and green. And St. Jacob's is a town I'd love to explore because of the cutesy little shops. I love seeing the talent from the Mennonites that reside here.
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| Our mapped out trail. It was surprisingly cool that morning. |
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| Apparently, they don't allow people to ride their horses along the trail. Such a sad day. |
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| The lovely river |
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| In this bag, provided by some thoughtful people, were condoms and lubricant. I laughed that people would be willing to have "business time"out on a trail. |
Canada day, Greg and I watched most of the match between the U.S. and Germany, and then headed over to the Mitchell's for a potluck. (I'd say BBQ, but the BBQ actually wasn't on...) We played with friends, laughed, and talked, and then Greg and I headed home to watch the fireworks that was literally across the street. I feel lucky that we didn't have to drive anywhere else 'cause the traffic was terrible. The funny/terrible part about that night was the number of cars parked on the lane divider. I didn't know you could get away with this!! A cop on a motorcycle actually had to drive around the street to keep traffic moving because so many people were also parking illegally in the street. The cop was pretty awesome just giving the warning, "Keep moving! This isn't a parking lot! I will have to write you up if you don't move your car!"
On the 4th of July I ended up working 'cause I helped a friend out on Monday by watching her kids on Monday. Fortunately, I didn't have to go to work until the afternoon on the fourth, so I got to pick strawberries with my friend Daisy and her kids. I had a blast picking strawberries, and we were fortunate that the weather had cooled down quite a bit since the hot weather I experienced on Monday while watching kids and playing outside with said kids.
With the strawberries I picked, I was able to make about 10 cups of jam (I made two types: freezer jam made with pectin and cooked jam made with lemon juice and sugar.). I also froze a lot of strawberries. The strawberries were a softer and smaller variety, which in my opinion, are better for jam making then for cutting up and serving on a plate.
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| M. holding up her basket of berries. |
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| Y. taking a break |
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| R. testing the strawberries |
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| Our haul: 26 & 1/2 lbs all together!! |
Kimchi
Lately, I've been on a hunt to find some really good Korean recipes. After my mom went to South Korea for the military, I've been interested in the Korean culture. Fortunately for me, I have a friend from Burma who enjoys cooking a lot of Asian foods and is willing to teach me. I just have say one thing really quickly. I was told that the Asian market in Kitchener is very small. Lies. They haven't seen a small Asian market. Try going to the Asian markets in Provo or Orem, Utah. I was told that the market in Toronto was much better, but for a white girl like me, I was pretty satisfied with this place even though the smell of fish was overpowering.
Anyway...
If you are looking for a kimchi recipe, I suggest looking here. Maangchi is a fabulous place to start learning how to make Korean foods. As a side note, my friend and I didn't make the kimchi with the porridge and we didn't use the dropwort. We did, however, add an Asian pear. This kimchi rocks.
Anyway...
If you are looking for a kimchi recipe, I suggest looking here. Maangchi is a fabulous place to start learning how to make Korean foods. As a side note, my friend and I didn't make the kimchi with the porridge and we didn't use the dropwort. We did, however, add an Asian pear. This kimchi rocks.
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| My friend did the hard part cutting up the vegetables so beautifully. |
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| I only had one yellow glove for mixing this kimchi together. Wear gloves unless you want red pepper flakes to stain or burn your hands... |
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| Mixing the cabbage, sauce, and vegetables together. |
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| My friend was so happy that this kimchi turned out so well! |
Monday, June 9, 2014
The Night We Met
I have been married for a little for almost five years, and I, like many of people out there, still get the question "how did you meet?". I try to give a simple version which is we met through a mutual friend, so that I can avoid all strange looks and embarrassment since this story is embarrassing for me. But I like that I have a memorable story, and that Greg and I can laugh at it still. Now the question I have for you is who made the first move? Greg or me?
When we got to Chris' place, he formally introduced me to his friend, Greg, who was wearing a black sweatshirt with "Now accepting applications for a girl friend" in Japanese at the time, told me that he was studying Japanese at BYU, and that he was from California. We talked a bit more, Chris showed off his new California king-sized bed, and then decided to watch the movie "Happy Gilmore" together.
I am not sure why I gave Greg a second chance after he kissed me, but I think it was more of curiosity. Greg was an interesting guy, despite the fact that he kissed me on the first night we met. But it wasn't until a couple of months later that I actually realized that it was me who initiated this kiss. Greg said, "Yeah, it was you initiated the kiss, AND not only that you pushed me up against the wall. "Oh... really?" I remember calling Chris the day after Greg and I first met and telling him, "Your friend kissed me. I don't know what he was thinking, but he's really forward, and I'm not really sure what to do in this situation." Chris then called and talked with Greg, and Greg defended himself by saying, "I don't know what she's talking about because she kissed me first! I would have fallen down if there wasn't a wall behind me!"
Part 1: Feeling Lonely
In late October 2008, I went on a date on a Friday night that was a bit disappointing, and I went home relieved that the date was over. I felt like I needed to do something to help me kind of forget it because it was slightly awkward (something that ironically never happened). Fortunately, my friend, Chris, called me right after my date dropped me off. He asked whether or not I wanted to come over to his new condo to watch a movie even though it was like 11 p.m. at the time. I jumped on the opportunity to have some fun with my friend who I knew from North Carolina. Chris came over to pick me up because I didn't have a car, and I met him at my door, and saw someone else right behind him. I thought to myself, "Who is this nerdy, short guy?" Now, Chris is 6'7", so anyone standing next to him looks quite little (Greg isn't short; he's about average height 5'11"). So, Greg and I hurriedly introduced ourselves, and Chris drove me to his house, and Greg followed us.When we got to Chris' place, he formally introduced me to his friend, Greg, who was wearing a black sweatshirt with "Now accepting applications for a girl friend" in Japanese at the time, told me that he was studying Japanese at BYU, and that he was from California. We talked a bit more, Chris showed off his new California king-sized bed, and then decided to watch the movie "Happy Gilmore" together.
Part 2: The Couch
Chris had a few new pieces of furniture at the time for his new condo. One of which was a couch, but the downfall was is that the three-cushioned couch only had two recliner chairs. On this night, I ended up getting the middle seat that didn't have a recliner. So partway through the movie, Chris realized that both he and Greg have a recliner for their feet, and I didn't. He then asked if I wanted to switch places with either him or Greg so I could have a recliner. I replied playfully, "No, it's okay; I get to sit in between two good-looking guys," and then I preceded to put my arms around both of them. I think I removed my arms soon thereafter (Greg says otherwise, but I'm not sure what happened at this point), but for some reason Greg decided it would be fun to cuddle with me, and pulled me closer to him. My initial reaction was thinking what is he doing ? I hardly know him! How awkward!! But I didn't want to make things weird by yelling at Chris's friend to get away from me... and I think I was bit vulnerable because of my awkward date. At one point, I looked over at Chris, and he was curled up by himself, sitting as far away as he could from us cuddle bugs. After the movie, Chris, after watching other people who just barely met cuddle on his new couch, asked Greg to take me home. Greg happily took me home with him.
Part 3: My Doorstep
At this time, it was really late--like 3 a.m.-- as Greg drove me home. I was exhausted at this point. However, I recall that he talked about his family on the way home. Greg recalls me being unable to give him directions to my apartment, which I have to say is a lie. I know my directions were correct. (How could he forget where I lived? He met me at my apartment earlier!) I remember thinking he was just driving all around town on his own accord. Greg was a gentleman that evening; he walked me to my door when he dropped me off. He asked me if I was interested in going over to his apartment on Sunday for a "Nightmare Before Christmas" sing-along with his roommates. I thought it would be fun, so I said yes. We then exchanged phone numbers for our upcoming date. As we were about to part, Greg moved in closer to give me a hug (ya know, since we cuddled and all he thinks he can get away with this), which at the time I thought he was trying to give me a kiss--a terrible signal to mix up!! So we KISSED! Afterwards, Greg said, "Well... that was awesome," and then left. I was kind of surprised by his comment, and I felt strange because I let him kiss me...
Part 4: After Thoughts
I went inside my apartment mortified because he kissed me. My roommate woke up when I went to bed, and we talked about what happened that night. I told her that I wasn't sure I wanted to see this guy ever again because he kissed me and cuddled with me. She then told me that I didn't have to, but I still owed her candy because Greg and I kissed (one of those strange BYU traditions). Greg went home with ice cream because he kissed me (this tradition varies from apartment to apartment), and then told his roommates, "I don't know what it is about this face, but I just got face-raped today." I am not sure why I gave Greg a second chance after he kissed me, but I think it was more of curiosity. Greg was an interesting guy, despite the fact that he kissed me on the first night we met. But it wasn't until a couple of months later that I actually realized that it was me who initiated this kiss. Greg said, "Yeah, it was you initiated the kiss, AND not only that you pushed me up against the wall. "Oh... really?" I remember calling Chris the day after Greg and I first met and telling him, "Your friend kissed me. I don't know what he was thinking, but he's really forward, and I'm not really sure what to do in this situation." Chris then called and talked with Greg, and Greg defended himself by saying, "I don't know what she's talking about because she kissed me first! I would have fallen down if there wasn't a wall behind me!"
So, I guess Greg really was giving me a second chance...
So there you have it: the story of how Greg and I met. I'm so glad I did meet him because he is a wonderful guy. We still disagree about who made the first move-- I still think Greg did it.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Canada in May
Finally spring has arrived! And I have never seen so many dandelions before in my life! I walk by a field of dandelions quite often, and I have to say that it is kind of beautiful. These dandelions just came in full force along with ants... Unlike BYU, University of Waterloo just doesn't care that the campus has beautifully manicured grass and covered with pretty flowers, so I just get to see a more natural beauty around here.
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| View of my backyard with all of the dandelions, and our trusty A/C window unit. Stay strong window unit. |
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| I wanted to add this picture in as a reminder of how far we've come since our hardcore winter! This is pretty much what my backyard looked like in February.
Since it has been so nice out I've taken the opportunity to go on some really lovely walks around my house. I discovered this cool nature trail along Laurel Creek and I've also found some trails around Columbia Lake.
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| Someone made a cute little 'thinking' bench along Laurel Creek. |
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| Laurel Creek--along the marshes. So beautiful! |
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| A number of little ponds surround CLV, and I found a huge nest of geese with their cute little goslings in one of the ponds! Aww! |
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| Columbia Lake |
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| On Victoria day, (go here for more info on Victoria day) Greg and I went to the Mitchell's house for a bonfire and fireworks. They have chickens, sheep, and a pony, and I went to feed them along with the kids at one point in the evening. I just had to take a picture of this sheep. I guess the grass is really greener on the other side for sheep! |
Last night we had dinner with our friends. We originally set up a dinner party with our friend, Phyo, who is the lovely lady on the right in the picture above, and we thought it would be nice to have dinner with the sisters in case they got transferred next week. We've been hanging out with the sister missionaries quite a bit since Greg hasn't had to study for classes this summer. The gal standing on the left side of me is Sister Christenson from Utah and the gal on the right side is Sister Fragapane most recently from Germany (she is from Argentina originally). Our friend Phyo is a year ahead of Greg in the accounting program, and because I told her I like Korean food, she brought a couple of delicious Korean dishes. She is a fabulous cook, and I'm excited for when her comprehensive exams are over in June so that we can make kimchi together.
Anyway, that is what has been going on here in Canada for us. What about you? Exciting news or plans coming up?
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Theodore Janke Jr.
I am pretty familiar with military life since a large number of my family has served in the military. I am very grateful for them, and for their service because I know being in the military is demanding on them and their families. I can easily list that I know a number of my ancestors and my immediate family have served in the military or been in the military during times of war, but boasting about something like that makes you kind of depressed since being in the military obviously means fighting and possibly dying.
This Memorial day, I just wanted to remember one person from my mother's mother's side of the family who served and, unfortunately, died during the Vietnam War. His name is Theodore Janke, Jr. He's one of my grandmother's cousins. You can find him on the Vietnam Memorial in Washingon D.C. or here. (Honestly, finding someone you know on this wall is a downer.) I, of course, never knew him, but I am grateful he served, and sad that he died.
Here's to you, Theodore Janke Jr.
This Memorial day, I just wanted to remember one person from my mother's mother's side of the family who served and, unfortunately, died during the Vietnam War. His name is Theodore Janke, Jr. He's one of my grandmother's cousins. You can find him on the Vietnam Memorial in Washingon D.C. or here. (Honestly, finding someone you know on this wall is a downer.) I, of course, never knew him, but I am grateful he served, and sad that he died.
Here's to you, Theodore Janke Jr.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
"Bubble gum" reads
Not too long ago, I came across several pins on Pinterest about how terrible the series Twilight is. (Guys this isn't hipster any more.) I think the world understands now that Twilight isn't the most well-written book out there. But hey, it still made a lot of money and people liked it which is something we can't say about Moby Dick when it first was published.
But I would like to remind people that we have different genres of literature--some are well-written classics while others are 'bubble gum' books. I define bubble gum books as the books that are easy to pick up and don't take long to get through while keeping you entertained for a while. I would say that most people, including myself, were entertained by this series and hoped that Bella chose Edward over what's-his-name. I mean, I am glad that Twilight was around so I could definitely get the five-hour unnecessary break I needed from studying to read through it and then proceed to take another two-hour break to go see it with Greg.
I would also like to add that Bella may have ONLY just cared about having a boyfriend and falling in love, but she wasn't the only one who thought about love at her age, right? I will be the first to admit that falling in love was on the list of things to do while a teenager. Yes, Bella did cry excessively, but didn't we all cry a bit when things didn't work out? Sure, Bella may not have started a wide-spread revolution like Katniss (vampires and werewolves unite!), but she still succeeded in getting her man (which is something most of us hope for!). See! We can all learn something from Bella, and then never read about her again.
Anyway, enjoy your bubble gum literature this summer while you get a tan or go on a trip to get a tan.
But I would like to remind people that we have different genres of literature--some are well-written classics while others are 'bubble gum' books. I define bubble gum books as the books that are easy to pick up and don't take long to get through while keeping you entertained for a while. I would say that most people, including myself, were entertained by this series and hoped that Bella chose Edward over what's-his-name. I mean, I am glad that Twilight was around so I could definitely get the five-hour unnecessary break I needed from studying to read through it and then proceed to take another two-hour break to go see it with Greg.
I would also like to add that Bella may have ONLY just cared about having a boyfriend and falling in love, but she wasn't the only one who thought about love at her age, right? I will be the first to admit that falling in love was on the list of things to do while a teenager. Yes, Bella did cry excessively, but didn't we all cry a bit when things didn't work out? Sure, Bella may not have started a wide-spread revolution like Katniss (vampires and werewolves unite!), but she still succeeded in getting her man (which is something most of us hope for!). See! We can all learn something from Bella, and then never read about her again.
Anyway, enjoy your bubble gum literature this summer while you get a tan or go on a trip to get a tan.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Recipe: Fried Rice
I wanted to share my fried rice recipe with y'all today. I really love making this because it is a one pot dish for dinner, and I always have plenty of leftovers for lunch the following day. I originally got this recipe from a class I took at BYU, and it's actual name is "Pineapple and Ham Fried Rice", however; I don't use ham very often, but I generally add pineapple to the pan. Another reason I like this recipe is that it's so versatile: you can use whatever meat you'd like (although I prefer using chicken most often) and whatever vegetables you like (while mandarin oranges aren't a vegetable I don't recommend substituting them for pineapple as they will most likely fall apart while cooking). The amount for each of the vegetables I add to this recipe is estimated.
Ingredients:
2 cups short-grain rice
4-5 eggs, beaten
garlic to taste
butter
Soy sauce (I use a gluten-free, properly fermented soy sauce like this brand.)
coconut oil
garlic, salt, and ginger to taste
chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup water or chicken broth
Sesame seed oil
1 medium onion, diced OR 1 bunch of green onions, chopped
2-3 carrots, chopped
1/3 cup of peas, fresh or frozen
1/3 cup mushrooms
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 cup chopped cabbage
Directions:
Cook the rice according to package direction on stove top or in a rice cooker. Heat butter in a large pan. Add beaten eggs and garlic to taste. You don't want to scramble the eggs, however; but allow the eggs to cook until the bottom has set. Cook the eggs until they are done, but not dry. When eggs are finished, cut them into pieces.
For the chicken, I prepare a little sauce by combining water or chicken broth and 2 tbsp soy sauce in a small bowl to pour over after the chicken has been cooked on the outside. Using the same pan, add butter or coconut oil and melt it over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and sprinkle garlic and ginger over it, and then add the sauce. Remove chicken from heat once the chicken is cooked thoroughly, and cover.
Add more coconut oil to the same pan and melt it over medium-high heat. Add vegetables one by one. I generally throw in the carrots first because they take longer to cook. When the rest of the vegetables have become softer, I add in pineapple and frozen peas. I season the vegetables with garlic, salt, and soy sauce to the vegetables.
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| (When I cook with carrots, I don't care about peeling them.) |
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| Above: of the vegetables and pineapple. For this batch, I added mushrooms, pineapple, carrots, peas, green onions, and cabbage. |
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Roasted Vegetables
One of my favorite ways to consume vegetables is to roast them in the oven. Often times I will roast potatoes and carrots together, asparagus, and broccoli with lots of garlic. For easy clean up I will place aluminum foil on a cookie sheet and then put the vegetables on the pan. However, I've found that some vegetables (broccoli, potatoes, and even carrots) tend to stick when they are roasted, so I've had to kind of play around with fats and oils that'll help the vegetables not stick so much. I've also added chicken broth that I've made in huge batches because I really like the flavoring the chicken broth gives to the fries and I also think that it helps the vegetables not stick so much.
Last night I made the most heavenly "French fries" by roasting them in the oven. Here's my recipe.
5 medium potatoes, cut into wedges
3 tbsp butter, melted
1 1/2-2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder
Combine the melted butter, olive oil, and chicken broth together in a small bowl. Pour butter mixture over potatoes and add spices with your hands. Combine the potatoes and the butter mixture with your hands. Cook at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or so until the potatoes are soft. Serve with ketchup or eat plain. Now these french fries were a bit greasier than your average roasted vegetables, but I'm sure you can adjust the butter mixture recipe so that the vegetables become crispier.
Side note: As a girl from Idaho, I just want to say don't pass on the potato. Sure the potato has carbohydrates, but comparing it to other items with lots of carbohydrates (rice, wheat, etc.), the potato looks good. Potatoes also has a lot of potassium--a little bit more than a banana, Vitamin C, and other necessary vitamins. And the Incas lived on these bad boys.
Last night I made the most heavenly "French fries" by roasting them in the oven. Here's my recipe.
5 medium potatoes, cut into wedges
3 tbsp butter, melted
1 1/2-2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
garlic powder
Combine the melted butter, olive oil, and chicken broth together in a small bowl. Pour butter mixture over potatoes and add spices with your hands. Combine the potatoes and the butter mixture with your hands. Cook at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or so until the potatoes are soft. Serve with ketchup or eat plain. Now these french fries were a bit greasier than your average roasted vegetables, but I'm sure you can adjust the butter mixture recipe so that the vegetables become crispier.
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| Yum! And removes from the foil so easily! |
Side note: As a girl from Idaho, I just want to say don't pass on the potato. Sure the potato has carbohydrates, but comparing it to other items with lots of carbohydrates (rice, wheat, etc.), the potato looks good. Potatoes also has a lot of potassium--a little bit more than a banana, Vitamin C, and other necessary vitamins. And the Incas lived on these bad boys.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Observations
Today, Greg greeted me when I got home from work (which I thought was very nice of him). One of his first questions was "Why do you have an umbrella?" I told him that it was raining earlier. I guess he didn't look out the window much. Later on, I saw that he was wearing actual pants and not pajama pants like he generally wears when he's home. I asked him, "Why are you wearing pants? Did you go somewhere?" He answered that he hadn't gone anywhere. This wearing pants business while at home has bothered me a bit because it's unlike Greg...and I feel under dressed since I'm in pajamas right now... C:
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Oh sugar.
Part of the reason I haven't said anything about how my low white, refined sugar diet did in February is because I'm kind of depressed it didn't go better. This week, I kept forgetting to make my own bread on my days off, so I kind of busted that part of my goal by eating store bread. Ugh. Goals are hard to keep!
I think I'll just remove the allowance for sugary things. I think I had it so that I could enjoy food still and get used to having sugar on rare occasions, but honestly having this allowance just sets me up for a really bad time these past couple of months. I had this in place originally so that I could have an easier time really giving up sugar, but honestly, it was kind of an excuse. I think I will try to see how far I can go without white, refined sugar, and reward myself with $.50 a week. Hopefully, I can get quality chocolate chips (which are like $5 a bag) or cocoa butter (kind of pricey, too) to make chocolate chips at home... C:
The biggest thing I didn't do well at last month is that I exceeded my sugar allowance a few times, however; I am able to recognize my weak points now. First of all, being apart of gatherings where sugary items are in view is incredibly difficult place for me to be. For instance, at one of the gatherings I attended, I had the hardest time because I saw so many different kinds of sweets! I ended up grabbing a small cookie even though I exceeded my sugar allowance by doing so. I don't grab a sweet right away, but I end up grabbing something towards the end of an event after I've argued with myself for the longest time about whether I should have that sweet or not. I have to remind myself of some advice I received from a nutritionist I saw last year about buffets or gatherings which is (1)scan, (2) plan, and (3) scram. Scan the food available to see what you really want, then plan or think about what you are really hungry for, and then leave the area with the food. I think the last part is the hardest for me!
I was very good about making my own breads as well as eat plenty of fruits last months. I'm excited for spring to get here so I can enjoy lots of berries and such. I think I'll just remove the allowance for sugary things. I think I had it so that I could enjoy food still and get used to having sugar on rare occasions, but honestly having this allowance just sets me up for a really bad time these past couple of months. I had this in place originally so that I could have an easier time really giving up sugar, but honestly, it was kind of an excuse. I think I will try to see how far I can go without white, refined sugar, and reward myself with $.50 a week. Hopefully, I can get quality chocolate chips (which are like $5 a bag) or cocoa butter (kind of pricey, too) to make chocolate chips at home... C:
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Life Update
Winter Woes:
Yesterday I heard a prediction that we wouldn't see spring until mid-April. I cried a little inside. The snow banks are melting away slowly now which gives me hopes of spring. I have pictures from the beginning of February when we had a huge snow storm and the snow was piled up really high. I have never seen so much snow, and as I've talked (more like complained, sorry!) with some of my Canadian friends that have lived in this area their whole lives, they've told me this is the worst winter they've ever experienced. We've had more snow and (surprisingly) rain since this huge snow storm, but nothing too bad. I'm sure most of us are sick of snow now, but I'd like to share some snowy pictures.
Hey! Where's the sidewalk?
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| The snow on both sides of the sidewalk is piled so high! |
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| Neighbor's backyard. I couldn't get a very good picture of mine because of all the snow in the way, but their yard looks like my yard. (The yard has a bit of a slope, but snow is sloped in their yard so dramatically because of the wind.) |
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| Front door! I can barely see where the steps are when we have a huge snow storm! |
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| Me! Note the amount of frost stuck to my scarf in front due to my warm breath. It gets that cold here.
I've been a little bit sad by the fact the world is so white still, so I bought a couple of plants--a hyacinth and miniature daffodil for a couple of dollars.
So pretty! I love that the are blooming now. The hyacinth smells wonderful.
My Christmas cactus is still blooming! So cool.
Books and Hobbies:
I've read six books this last month: House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, The Walk by Richard Paul Evans, The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley, Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (technically, I've been reading Little Women since August, but I read like 200 pages this last month, so there). I am crocheting a gray and blue afghan, and I am knitting a blue hat at the moment. I am not very talented with knitting, so the hat project is taking me a while to get through because I keep making silly mistakes like knitting when I should be purling. I thought I'd be done sooner, but alas, I think I'll probably finish it after winter is over.
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For Valentine's day, I really wanted to make enchiladas, but the problem is I can't buy a big stack of corn tortillas up here to make enchiladas with. I know you can use flour tortillas, but I was in the mood for corn tortillas. Fortunately, I was able to buy a bag of masa harina, so I could actually make these tortillas. I just didn't realize how difficult these things are to make.
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| This dough was super crumbly, but it enjoyed sticking to everything else! |
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| UGLY tortillas! |
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| I don't have a press, so I tried a rolling pin with plastic wrap on it as well as plates, however; the rolling pin worked much better.
I, unfortunately, did not make enchiladas as I hoped to do, so I attempted to make tostadas. That didn't really look awesome, but we still had a good dinner. We didn't do much for Valentine's day because I had to work, but I bought much needed pillows for our bed and Greg got Chrome cast for Valentine's day.
I did have more fun making fresh squeezed orange juice. A friend of ours gave us a bunch of oranges, but I didn't feel like eating them. I decided to make orange juice using my food processor attachment. I never tasted a juice this good!
A cup of juice... seven oranges later. I had a couple of swigs of it, but most of it went to Greg who had another cold.
Also, I wanted to show you the Canadian packaging for butter. You can pay an extra couple of dollars to get the fancy portioned butter, but since butter is already like $3.50 ($2.99 if you price match!), I will cut up my butter. America has spoiled me.
One last topic for this post.
My laundry/storage room now is completely furnished. I bought a plastic shelves to store my tools, laundry detergent, and food storage. I like these shelves because they can be disassembled and moved easily.
Doesn't this room look lovely with the pink walls? (Don't worry; the insulation is covered with a plastic sheet.)
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Monday, February 24, 2014
Potlucks
I have a love-hate relationship with potlucks. I don't appreciate the bring-what-you-will affair because I like meals balanced. I want to see a spread of main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. I like to have an idea of what to expect from other people. At the same time, I understand the desire to give people their freedom to bring what they choose. (I get the whole agency thing--make your own choices, etc., but even Heavenly Father has rules lined out for us.) Seriously can't a little bit of planning go into making the meal so that people won't all bring desserts? Can't you say, "if you are attending, let me know what kind of dish you want to bring"? Or "we're making burgers, bring a side dish"?
I'm attending a potluck-type gathering, and I look forward to it because I like the people attending the gathering. At the same time, I dread the next few days because I'm so indecisive about what to bring. The next several days will be me thinking about the food I'll bring. I'll be really indecisive about what I'm going to make, and then decide on bringing a bag of chips (chips go with everything, right?) because I don't have the energy to put any more thought into making something for this potluck.
Greg once had a potluck lunch at his work that I was also invited to. I texted (nagged) this poor man to tell me what everyone else had brought so that I could bring something that would balance out the meal later that day. I will do it again. I will find out what everyone else wants to bring, but until then, I plan on bringing a dessert and main dish.
I have a
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