A Repost From My Other Blog: Prop 37

This is the post from my other blog that I thought I would share.  Voters in California will be heading to the poles in November 6 and Proposition 37 will be on the ballot.  Even though I don't live in California, I believe this is an important issue and all Americans should care if manufacturers are using genetically engineered (ge) foods in their products.  I hope you take a few minutes to read this post: The Paleo Paramedic: Genetically WHAT?!?

August 2012

Yes, I know It's been a while...  I could make promises about blogging more but my history speaks for itself... 

Anyway, I wanted to share a little about what's new in our lives and tell you about my new toy (this is mostly going to be about my new toy...). 

Another summer has come and (almost) gone.  There are a few days left but it has started getting cool at night (last night it was in the 50's) and it's still nice during the day.  Perfect fall nights. 

The lake was a lot of fun this year.  I had some great birds at the feeders and around the cottage including a nesting pair of Eastern Bluebirds!  However, someone entered their home and stole their eggs so they left.  I am going to put a lock on the lid so that next year we can try again.  I also saw a Cooper's hawk, pied billed Grebes and a pileated woodpecker among the many other species of great Michigan birds. 

The last week of July I finally made my big purchase- a Big Green Egg!  We were in need of a new grill (I had no temperature control because it would catch on fire every time I tried to use it) and every time I walked into DC Meats, our local butcher shop, the Egg displays were staring me in the face.  I researched several types of grills and smokers and I found that the Egg was superior to everything else on the market.  I finally took the plunge and I am totally in LOVE! Yes, it's a grill, and a smoker but it's so much more than that.  My greatest examples of how wonderful it is: I made cookies for dessert one night- Oh...My...Goodness...  They were FANTASTIC!!! And the next morning I made pancakes on the "grill."  There was no "grill" taste or smokiness in the pancakes- everyone was amazed!  You would not believe how great it is! 

This past week I grilled some steaks, a very normal grilling activity.  (I would consider myself a good cook.  I enjoy cooking and grilling and Bobby has always commented how he enjoys my food.)  When we were done eating, Bobby said, "That was the best steak I have ever eaten.  I could eat another one it was so good."  Everything I have made on the Egg has turned out amazing!  The chicken was moist, the burgers didn't shrink up and dry out and the steaks....  WOW!  This has been the best purchase I've made in a long time.

So really, nothing is new in our lives.  We are still working hard and enjoying our off time and trying to hang on to summer as long as possible.  Life is good!

Do you know what's added to your food?

Today I made a new post on the other blog Paleo Paramedic: Do You Know What's Added to Your Food?  Check it out!

Paleo Paramedic: What is Paleo?

Even though I can't update this blog I've decided to start another...

Paleo Paramedic: What is Paleo?: The Paleolithic Diet, or Paleo (a.k.a the caveman diet), is the belief that our food choices should be based on those that were available to...

Wen It Just Doesn't Work

Many people might not know this about me but I have a secret addiction to infomercials... I know... It's sad. I don't know what it is about the infomercial that sucks me in. It could be the "but wait there's more!" or even the "you'll never find anything like this!" that really gets me but I could be flipping through channels, find an infomercial and all the sudden it's a half hour later and the next one is starting.

Anyway, I have always been able to say that while I do love them, I have never purchased anything (while the infomercial is on TV). And I guess I can still say that. Last year I bought TurboFire, a BeachBody workout and I absolutely LOVE it (but I bought it on Craig's List for almost half the listed price).

Then a few weeks ago we were at the mall and I stopped in at the Bare Minerals store. I have never worn makeup (only for special occasions) but I thought I would check it out and- I LOVE it!

When I purchased the Bare Minerals they added me to their mailing lists and I began getting emails from other companies including Wen. Wen hair care products claim to be "conditioning cleansers" without any harsh chemicals that strip your hair. So I decided to give it a try- what the heck? There's a money back guarantee if I'm not satisfied so I bought it. BIG MISTAKE

So Sunday after my workout I used it as directed. Monday I didn't wash my hair (don't worry...). Tuesday I showered again after my morning workout and my hair looked dark, but I thought I would keep with the Wen to see if it became better. After my workout on Wednesday, my hair looked disgusting! It looked like I had not showered in weeks. It smelled nice but looked very dirty.

This morning after my workout I went back to my old shampoo and my hair was so happy! It looks and feels so much better. I dare even say it is much softer.

The Wen is going back tomorrow. It is not worth the money, although I am going to try to save the styling gel and leave in conditioner, as long as I can find some travel containers. My hair was not created for Wen. Maybe I should stay away from products that can't be purchased in stores...

A Change is in the (H)air

Today has been a great day for me! Bobby worked overtime and I always feel like I accomplish more when he's at work. When I got home this morning I made myself some French toast and it was so good! Then after a short nap I ran 2 miles on the treadmill and after cleaning up I met my cousin for lunch at Hacienda. It was so nice to just sit and talk- girls afternoon out. Then I did something I haven't done in a long time: CUT MY HAIR!!! It has been two years since I actually went to the salon and had my hair professionally cut (my aunt trimmed the dead ends off my hair this summer at the lake but she didn't take very much off) and I thought it was time. So I went to Cheveux on Mishawaka Ave in South Bend and Trisha took great care of me. I told her I wanted to donate it to Locks of Love and she was very happy to measure it out - and that was it. She measured out 10 inches, cut and then probably took 1-2 more to even it out. It feels so different!

And here's the final look! It's super short (at least it feels that way) and I'm still trying to get used to it but I like it! I was talking to my mom and we both think the last time my hair was this short was when I was in middle school... so...uhhh...1996 ish...

And tonight, to make my day even better, I made some very good hummus. My neighbor gave me the recipe and it was fantastic! What a great end to the day!!

Happy Turkey Day!! (Thankful Thursday)

Happy Turkey Day to all! I hope that everyone had a great day full of family, friends and everything there is to be thankful for. I am thankful for so many things so I thought I would post a Thankful Thursday post on this very special day.

I am very thankful for my family. I have a wonderful, thoughtful husband that is so great. I have been sick for the past few days and he has taken good care of me. Today, we started our day at Bobby's parents at a large gathering of his mom's family (and when I say large it was actually small. Today there were about 40 people at his parents and if everyone would have been there it would have been closer to 70-80). We then went to my aunt and uncles for a very nice gathering of my (much) smaller family. We played Left, Right, Center and mom ended up winning $30.00! What a great win!

I can't express how thankful I am for my freedom and the men and women who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to the preservation of that freedom. I love that I live in a country where I am not censored and the only limits are those that I impose upon myself.

I am thankful for my job. In a time when there are family's struggling to make ends meet, I have a career that I can count on.

And even though I can not include everything, (this may sound silly) I am very thankful for Sophie and Lucky. Every morning when I come home from work they are waiting for me at the door and they let me know how much they love me. While I've been sick this week, they've stayed with me to keep me company and cared for me in their own ways. They always know if I'm having a bad day- they are such good kids!

This was a great Thanksgiving. We had an enjoyable day with our families and, as always, the food was fantastic! I hope everyone has fun Black-Friday shopping!

November!

I can't believe this year is almost over! Last night we went to a friends wedding and my husbands cousin reminded me that I hadn't blogged in a while- thanks Paula! So, here's the update:

Bobby's doing well at work and is glad to be back. He's on the ambo and surviving but ready to go back to the engine.

We held our annual Pumpkin Carving Party and it went well. I was really behind this year; I didn't send out invitations and ended up having to send out a mass text a few weeks before. I was so unprepared for the party (funny since I set the date and time and Halloween comes at the same time every year) that I didn't have any of my fall/Halloween decorations out until the day before.

Saturday (11-5), my mom and I went to the Indiana Dunes to see the South Bend Elkhart Audubon Society's private presentation of Saw-whet Owl banding. The Saw-whet Owl is a very small owl that travels through Indiana on it's migration to warmer climates. This presentation was very interesting and we were even able to pet the owl- she was very soft!

A few days ago Bobby and I took a trip to our favorite Indiana getaway- Nashville (Brown County), Indiana. We rented a beautiful "cabin" that was on 10 acres and had a small fishing pond. We went down on Sunday and started our vacation by visiting the Indiana Raptor Center located in Nashville. Lori and Patty were great! We learned so much and got to see the most beautiful birds. We saw a Kestrel, owls, vultures, falcons, hawks and the most beautiful Bald Eagles. That was SO amazing! We toured the facility, watched the birds eat and were offered knowledge of the birds and what the facility does to teach the public and rehab/release injured animals back to the wild. These ladies were amazing!

Monday morning we were eating breakfast on the front porch and had a wonderful show. We saw so many birds- I was in bird overload! I didn't know where to look and just when I thought I saw something in the tree I would hear another bird and look in that direction. It was great! If this place was so busy in the fall I wonder what it's like in the Spring when the migrating birds are headed north. We've already started talking about our Spring trip to Nashville.

On Tuesday we packed up and thought we would toss a line one last time into the pond to try and catch something. The previous day was unsuccessful and we both wanted to leave having caught something. So we fished for about 25 minutes on our way out and NOTHING! Not even a bite! but just as Bobby shut his door a fish jumped in the pond, kinda like a big HA HA from the fish. Bobby was not too happy. After we turned in our key we went to the Brown County State Park and decided to do a trail before we left. The park is beautiful and a must see! There is so much to do: hiking, horseback riding, camping, a swimming pool (summer) and the lodge in the park has an indoor water park. I think we will try to stay in the park on our next trip.

Even though we had a great time and we are already planning our next trip to Nashville, it was nice to be home. I missed the "kids" and there's nothing like your own bed. Now, I just have to get used to this silly Eastern time change. I HATE that it gets dark so early in the winter.

And So It Ends

Another summer has ended. Dislike. I ended up with a vacation day last Friday and another on Wednesday so last Thursday we headed up to the lake after I got off work. It was 90's, hot and swimming weather. Friday was even hotter- we had the air conditioning on in the cottage. Then some storms moved through on Saturday and we had the windows open. By Sunday we were in sweatshirts and Monday the heat was on. We have crazy weather in the Midwest! I am very sad to see the end of summer. So much has changed from last year. It makes me wonder how much things will change next year. I am headed up tomorrow morning and we are gong to try to get the boats out... Another end... I think it makes me so sad because I know what's ahead: cold, snowy, short days. Did I mention cold?

Wednesday, Bobby got cleared to go back to work September 18th. WooHoo!!! I know he's ready to get into a routine. So much so that he's already started going to bed earlier and waking up at a reasonable time.

Is it bad that I'm ready for spring? I like the fall- the cool, crisp days and the leaves changing (not the cold, damp, rainy day) so I think we should go from (nice) fall to an extended spring. Boooo winter!

I Guess We Have a Boring Life

Yes, I know I said I was going to post more often but there's nothing really new. I had a nice vacation at the lake and didn't want to go back to work. Bobby has been lucky and has spent a lot of time up there this year (even though he says he is ready to go back to work I secretly think he likes living at the lake). The lake has been REALLY warm- 88 degrees- soooo nice. So we have very boring lives- nothing new.