5 facts about me

 I've been seeing a lot of bloggers recently take a break from their usual vaccination debates, Pinterest inspired projects and new parenting stories and do a piece that's more personal. And about them. It seems like bloggers like to live anonymous lives, yet they have to balance their anonymity with being likeable and relate-able to their readers. So they write a 5 (3, 10, 20?) Facts About Me post. Here goes...

1. Pumpkin anything makes me nauseous. It used to be one of my absolute favorite foods/flavors. Unfortunately (yet, fortunately?) I was a little bit pregnant with the twinsies around September and October - Pumpkin season. I ate and drank so much pumpkin stuff that I don't know if I will ever be able to love it again. 10 months post-babies and I can't so much as smell pumpkin scented Febreeze without getting nauseous. Lame.

2. I'm introverted AND anti-social. Lots of introverts are just that, introverted. They don't dislike social interactions, they just need them in small amounts and on their terms. I am both. I get distressed when I have some sort of social activity outside of work and family that I am forced to participate in. Greatly distressed. If I could stay home and read books for a year without seeing anyone but my family... I would do it. No questions asked.

3. I don't function without iced coffee. I started working at Starbucks 10 years ago this year (yes, we're talking 2005!) and ever since I started drinking caffeinated beverages there during early-morning shifts, I actually can't function without my iced coffee in the morning. Every morning. Yes, I drank it daily while pregnant. You gotta do what you gotta do.

4. Until about 3 years ago, I had decided that I never wanted kids. And then one morning I woke up and wanted A kid. One kid. It took me nearly 2 years to convince Andy that he wanted A kid. ONE kid. And now we have two! Best BOGO free ever!

5. I don't finish TV series. We have Netflix and we watch a lot of TV series. Most recently, we "finished" How I Met Your Mother. But by "finished" I mean, we watched all of the episodes except for the last one. I don't want to know how it ends - it would ruin it for me. The same way reading epilogues ruin the entire book for me. Harry Potter? Epilogue ruined it - as best as you can "ruin" that gift-from-God series. 50 Shades of Grey (yes, I read it.) Decent, until the freaking epilogue. I watched all of Monk, except for the last episode and I am at peace with that. Dexter? That show was awesome. Andy made me watch the last episode and now it's ruined.

So there. What do you think? Do you feel me on any of these?

"No relationship is better than another..."

This article about love and relationships comes to us from guest writer Kelli. She recently married the love of her life and is practically a superhuman person - she does it all! Enjoy her 6 tips to living in a happy, healthy relationship with your best friend!

So nearly 6 months ago I walked down the aisle and said “I Do”. My husband and I had always talked about getting married and starting a family since we’ve been together. We’ve always been committed to one another and take our relationship very seriously. Marriage was the next step for us, to announce to our family and friends that we’re going to do life together and to make that promise in front of them and God. So even though we’re newly married and have so many things to learn there are so many things I want to share about our relationship and things I’ve learned along the way.




1. No relationship is better than another. Sure you see the wife that gets flowers from her husband at work, or the couple that has everything in common, but guess what? That doesn’t make their relationship any better than yours. Would I love to have my husband to pick out a chick flick for us to watch, sing show tunes with me, and then sit at the table and do crafts? Well, of course but we ‘re not that couple. We have our own incredibly beautiful way of connecting and spending time together. Focus on what you have not what someone else does.

2. Compromise—it’s not a dirty word. I remember when my life revolved around me and then suddenly, I had to ask my husband what he thought about paint, the couch, the floor, and essentially everything. I don’t know about you, but I love getting my own way...maybe it’s because I was the only child until I was 10 or maybe I’m just a brat. Regardless, my relationship has taught me to compromise because you HAVE to. Otherwise one person will always be bitter or resent the other for making all the decisions in their relationship. And sure, we both still get our way every now and then and if it’s an important issue, we sit down and really talk it out—why it makes us uncomfortable, why we’re having a hard time agreeing, and really figure out the root of the problem.

3. Stop nagging—this is something that I need to work on more. I have this lovely habit of nagging all the time—you know what I’m talking about: “these dishes aren’t going to wash themselves”, “did you seriously put your dirty tissue there?” or “Why would you move the chair and not put it back?” I hate that I nag because it is so counterproductive. If my husband came home after a long day and started going on about my hair on the sink or my jewelry spread out everywhere you better believe that I would stay right where I was and give him dirty looks. It’s not productive and it makes people feel bad.

4. Ask for help—so you’re part of a couple but that doesn’t mean you can read each other’s minds. Sometimes the floors need vacuumed, the laundry is backed up, the sink is full and you just really need some help, so ask for it. Now remember asking is NOT nagging, they’re different and usually get a different response. Asking isn’t “I really wish you’d clean up after yourself!” That’s nagging and it’s not productive. Instead just saying, “Hey babe, can you take out the trash and help me with some housework today?” The response is much better because he feels like you NEED him and hey, you’re part of a team!

5. Complaining to others—so you might not nag to your partner but something happened that really made you mad, so what do you do? You pick up the phone or go to work and tell anyone and everyone that has ears who will listen about it. STOP IT! You aren’t doing yourself any favors. So now your mom, sister, aunt, co-worker, and whoever else are mad at him now too. And guess what? They won’t forget it. So even though you might forgive your partner and patch things up, they are keeping a running tally of your partner and all the things that he should be doing better. Now when you hit a real rough spot in your relationship, they’re going to be the first person to help you air out all this dirty laundry rather than help you through your problems. So instead, find one or two people that your really trust- people that are not only invested in you but people who are invested in your relationship and want to HELP. So at my wedding, along with many others, there comes a time in the ceremony where the officiant asks everyone in the crowd if they will do everything that they can to support your marriage and keep it together. Which they respond “we will”. I have 2 dear friends that love me and my husband so when I’m angry or need to talk through a problem they are there to help me through it, to support my relationship, and to help me find a way to resolve it.

6. Be proud! Alright, the secret it out. I love my husband. And although I spent my entire life thinking I would marry a very different type of man (like the romantic comedy type), I got the perfect man for me. As much as I think how blessed I am to have found my soulmate on a daily basis, I don’t say it enough. I think our society has really gotten into the practice of telling people when they do something bad, but your relationship should focus on all the GOOD things. So build your man up and tell him how wonderful he is and point out those great attributes that you made you fall in love with him.

Makeup for Busy People: Moms!

For those of us who like our beauty sleep before work in the morning or for those of us who have some industrious little offspring, perfecting a quick, simple makeup routine is important. Today I'm going to share with you a basic makeup regimen that will make you look well rested and put together. We're only using the very fewest products to make it as cheap and fast as possible! 

You will need:

• a nude or white eyeliner safe for use in the waterline
• a black or brown eyeliner
• mascara
• foundation or a tinted moisturizer, depending on the condition of your skin
• a double duty concealer or separate concealer for the under eye area or skin

Before. Scary, sleep deprived and over run by an inordinate amount of freckles.

The most important part of your routine is starting with a decent, moisturizing skincare regimen. I'm not going to go into the details of my skincare regimen today, but know this: if you start with great skin, everything falls into place. If you're one of the normal people (i.e. not blessed with perfect, goddess-like glowing skin), you need to begin with a foundation or tinted moisturizer depending on the coverage you need. If you aren't using eyeshadow, I would start with skin first. You don't have to deal with fallout on the skin, or worry about having to clean up your application. We're going for simple, here! An excellent foundation to use is Revlon's colorstay makeup. It is a tried and true favorite that comes in many shades, lasts, and has buildable coverage. If you have great skin and just need a little bit of a boost, I suggest Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer. This is on the pricier side, but it lasts long and I find it's quality unparalleled. It is a beauty blogger favorite!

• Apply your foundation however you choose. I find that using a brush or a sponge wastes product. If I use my fingers (CLEAN FINGERS), the product warms and therefore blends with the skin easier. Experiment with your foundation of choice and find the coverage you need. Make sure you blend it into your neckline so it looks natural and there is no line of demarcation. Companies like Ulta will let you return the product after you open it-- that is license to try, try, try until you find a color that looks natural and is long lasting!
  
  

  

  After foundation and concealer. Under eye circles and skin discoloration diminished.

• The next step is to apply any concealer you need to use. If you have a raised blemish, sometimes using a brush is better because it gets into the crevices around the blemish better. You may need to use several applications. I suggest buying an expensive, double duty concealer if you spend a lot of money on one product. I find that Makeup Forever's waterproof concealer is unparalleled. It is creamy, you need the smallest amount, and it doesn't budge. The makeup EXPIRES before I use all of it. That's over a year. Totally worth the money. Cover blemishes, and lightly dab on the under eye area and then blend to hide any dark spots. We aren't going to bother with blush, because it is an additional unnecessary step a lot of days. Also, if you're not good at applying it, you could easily end up looking like a clown.

• Now comes the piece de resistance. THIS is will what will make you look wide awake! It will make your eyes look larger and more alert, and also tone down redness. Use your nude eyeliner, and line your lower waterline. You can find multiple makeup companies that have one of these including Tarte, Smashbox, NYX and Mac. This involves a lot of faith in yourself that you won't poke your eye. Gently pull down your lower eyelid and use the pencil to line your newly sharpened pencil. A nice pencil sharpener will evenly sharpen the pencil so no jabby wooden bits stab you. 
  
  
  
  

• Next, I would only line the upper lash line (remember, we're short on time) with a silky, waterproof pencil. I prefer Revlon luxurious color eyeliner. Use a black color for a more stark look, or a brown one for something more natural. Press the pencil gently into the upper lash line if you can so that your eyelashes look thicker.
  
  

  

  After applying nude eyeliner. Looking less tired already!

• Lastly, swipe on your mascara! A couple of coats will make your eyes look nice and wide. I have tried a LOT of mascara. Like every mascara in existence. This is not something that you have to spend buku bucks on to get a great product. Maybelline Full & Soft Thick & Healthy mascara provides amazing, non clumpy, buildable length. Additionally, the product isn't waterproof BUT I use it throughout a half hour, sweaty workout every day and it does not run. And I have lovely, soft eyelashes, too!
  
  

  

  Finally looking put together! No redness in the inner rim where the nude color was applied. Eyes look much clearer and awake!

  
  
   So there you have it! This is the least bit of makeup I would put on if I had a social gathering, or a workday. If you do this, you will look put together with very minimal makeup. As you get better at application, you will be able to do this in fifteen minutes or maybe even less. I would typically also include some eyebrow grooming and filling, but again we're going for quick and easy. I hope this is helpful for busy moms, and people looking for tried and true products so they don't waste money. Good luck!
  
  

Huge difference. Skin looks clearer and healthier, eyes look more alert and clear.

"An odd couple separated by a decade and brought together by chance..." Guest Blogger Kara

We are Kara & Jared, an odd couple separated by a decade and brought together by chance. We met at college almost five years ago, have lived together two years, and anticipate a future full of adventure. Jared is a graphic designer and builder extraordinaire, while I work in Parks & Recreation. Together we raise two dogs, three chickens, and forty-three houseplants. Despite obstacles, we make our relationship work by learning from what doesn’t work and loving each other through trial and error. Below you will find three tips that have helped us become a healthy, happy, unstoppable couple.

1. Compromising won’t solve all your problems.

Compromise can be a beautiful thing… sometimes. It allows couples to come to an agreement, but the issues which caused the disagreement are often overlooked. We have learned that if we are always compromising, neither of us really gets what they want. Our alternative? Jared and I decided to practice saying “yes” to each others’ needs and requests as much as possible. When your partner is satisfied, you are likely to feel more content, too. So the next time he’s had a long day and asks, “Can you rub my back?” I say yes even though I’m busy doing ten other things. After all, happy partners sustain healthy relationships.

2. Make the distinction that you are partners, not conjoined twins.

Don’t get me wrong, we love spending time together - camping, cooking, gardening, bring it on! We make a great team. Be that as it may, Jared and I don’t need (or want!) to be with each other every waking moment. It is important to take time for ourselves. Jared needs to escape to the woods with the guys as much as I need to attend wine festivals with my girls. Likewise, we appreciate when our friends and their partners can take a break from each other, too. Coming to the realization that you don’t need to do everything together will improve your relationship and your friendships. Keep in mind that there are things you absolutely should do together. For us, these include: spending time with each others’ families, accomplishing domestic chores, and brainstorming to solve problems.

3. Learn from what doesn’t work in your relationship.

As a couple, you will eventually find some aspect of your relationship that just doesn’t jibe. First things first, do not expect your relationship, or your partner, to be perfect. You have to learn to deal with your differences. Routine doesn’t work for Jared – he gets bored. Confrontation doesn’t work for me – I get defensive. The list goes on… So what do you do? This is when verbal communication is crucial. Discuss what isn’t working, but be careful not to play the blame game. Once you understand the problem, devise several solutions and try every single one of them. Do not be afraid of trial and error. Part of being together is working with your partner, and making mistakes, to achieve the best possible outcome.

"Love means always remembering to say you're sorry..." - Guest Blogger Ashlee

My husband and I have been together almost seven happy years. Our first wedding anniversary is coming on the 21^st, and I thought it would be great to write an article about lasting relationships. Now, I know for those who have been wedded for many years, and have known their spouses longer this might seem like a pretty miniscule amount of time. Of course we've had arguments—big ones! We're two sentient beings who have our own ideas about how we meander throughout this world. We choose to do it side by side, and we're obviously going to disagree sometimes about what path to take, but that doesn't mean we don't love each other. Maybe this will serve as a great reminder for those older couples about what make things exciting, and what makes things last. Maybe this will be great for younger couples trying to really make things work. Maybe this will also come across as utter mushy nonsense, but that's totally okay. That being said, here is my advice.

Love means always remembering to say you're sorry: All of that never saying sorry stuff is nonsense. After an argument, you have to reconcile. You have to express remorse, and you must mean it when you do, or there really is no point in apologizing. Everyone says things they don't mean when they argue. Maybe your partner was correct, but you have to apologize for causing distress in your relationship and mean it. Try to never go to bed angry.

Always say I love you: I don't think a day has gone past which I my husband and I haven't said I love you. Saying it often doesn't lessen the gravity of those words if you are sincere. Even when my husband and I are arguing, or his habits are irritating me, I am still saying I love you with each and every word. That's why these scenarios happen:

“Jon, please stop leaving chunks of food debris in the bottom of the sink. It's disgusting.”

“I love you too, sweetie.”

...And then I shoot some sort of disproving but affectionate glare. Affectionate glares happen in long term relationships. Watch a married couple long enough—It's a thing, not an oxymoron.

Sex: Without going into detail, I would just like to say that you should keep having it. It alleviates stress, it's great exercise and it releases all sorts of happy bonding hormones like oxytocin.

Compromise: Never compromise any of your basic principles—if you have to bend those, maybe you need to think long and hard about your relationship. However, know when to compromise about things that are petty in the long run like weekend plans and time spent with the in laws.

Always keep supporting and challenging each other. Always remain ambitious: Whether it's going to law school, some sort of short term health goal, or shooting for a promotion, you need to express support for your spouse. Even if that expression of support is unsolicited, sometimes people don't just come out and ask for it. I know my husband doesn't, but he loves to hear it. Everyone needs it, especially when they are making Especially when he has that vaguely worried, furrowed brow expression going on. Be attentive.

Keep switching things up. Do things that are unexpected and thoughtful: Experiencing anything new together creates lasting, fond memories. Do something new! It doesn't have to be a major adventure. My husband and I love to go biking and hiking together. Sharing that sense of discovery and wonderment together is fantastic. Also, surprising your spouse with something small, like something you knew they were pining after, or even your spouse's favorite beverage after you run into the gas station lets them know you were thinking about them and that you listened to their needs and wants. It doesn't have to be material, either. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and it doesn't go unnoticed.

Honesty: I think this is probably the most important thing. If you are not honest to your spouse, who are you? You're someone else. I believe your marriage must be built on a foundation of honesty. If you're not honest, you're presenting your spouse with a facade. How can you make major life decisions together without being honest? You must bare your soul. If you can't do that, I don't think you can be in a happy relationship.

Those are what I believe to be the most important parts of a happy, lasting relationship. Please feel free to share your input, and tell you how I feel about what I've shared myself.

"Relationships are like cats. That's right, cats." Guest Blogger Jen

Photo Credit: Trinity King Photography

Oh, relationships. Where do I begin? Let's just say they are like cats. That's right, cats. Well, let's just think about that for a second. Cats need to have their basic needs met, of course, but they also need nurturing and love. Relationships are the same. You can't just strive to keep them alive; you want them to thrive to get the most out of them. More often than not I think people get lazy and just cover the basics of a relationship. As a couple, it's important to focus on making and maintaining a thriving relationship, not just a basic one. Here are a few of the things that I think are important aspects of a thriving relationship...


Numero uno: spend time together. Not just doing things like watching TV or boring normal stuff, (which also has its place) but get out and do different things together. It's okay if you don't end up liking everything you try, just go try something different. Sometimes it's nice to be in different situations as a couple. You learn new things about each other, and sometimes laugh at each other and yourselves. Get out of your comfort zones and do stuff and go places together. Doing things like this breaks up the monotony of everyday life, which is SO important when you're married! 


Another important, but often overlooked, thing to do together is errands and housework. Those annoying things you have to do  - but no one wants to! I think too many women do these alone (example: grocery shopping.) I will not grocery shop by myself! That standard was required from the beginning of our relationship. We actually enjoy being able to pick out our own things and discuss our day and what we want to eat for the next week. It's funny... I have had women actually come up to me and ask me how I get him to go grocery shopping with me. They don't understand it's not optional. They made it optional in their relationships. 


All of that grocery shopping talk brings up another point: cooking! If you like cooking, go for it! But I don't...we don't. So what do you do? Cook together! It's not fair to expect one person to do something that neither of you enjoy. One person doing something for years that they hate will not end up benefiting anyone. Of course, sometimes it's just one of those fend-for-yourself nights though! 


What happens in many relationships is bitterness. People do things themselves instead of asking for help or asking their significant other to do things. It doesn't happen right away, but eventually those people feel alone and, quite frankly, angry with their significant other. Does that have to happen? No. Maybe I'm bossy and I make my husband do things but isn't that better than holding things against him? After all, if they don't know you are mad at them, it isn't fair! That kind of bitterness will affect the whole dynamic of your relationship. Don't do it to yourselves! 


Probably the last couple of things I would think worthy of mentioning is spending time together physically and spending time with family and friends. By physically I'm not talking about R-rated necessarily. Either way, here's the thing: I'm not a cuddly person. I don't need that kind of thing usually. But just because you don't need love like that, doesn't mean your husband or wife doesn't. Everyone gives and receives love in different ways, it's important to know the person you are with and make it work. 


As for family and friends - you need to make time for them. Not always for you, but for your partner. Spending time with your husband or wife's family and friends is not always convenient. But, more likely than not, it's important to them! Sometimes it's good to have other people in the mix to change things up. And lets face it - some things are better in groups. Some couples cut off ties to the outside world. Truth is, it doesn't benefit anyone. Last but not least, spend time apart - do your own things once in awhile. You don't have to spend every waking moment together! Sometimes it will prevent fights! Spend time with your own friends or family. You don't have to be a pair all the time... you are still individuals. 


Well, I guess that concludes my rant. These things have all been concluded from my experiences with the same guy I have known for 11 years, befriended for 8, dated for over 4, and married for two. I have learned from mistakes on both sides, experience, and of course, owning cats.

"Every girl loves to be told they're beautiful - and I'm no exception." Guest Blogger Jenn

It is sooo weird writing an article about relationships considering I’ve only been in two relationships my entire life—seriously, two. Even though I don’t have a lot of experience with relationships, my current one has taught me so much. I’ve been with Matt for the past two and a half years and we’re getting married this December—I couldn’t be more excited! Over the past couple years, Matt and I have grown to understand one another better and we have learned how to communicate our love in ways that will be best received by the other person. So here are just a few of the things that we have found work in our relationship...




We put effort into understanding and responding to each others’ emotions

I’ll be the first to admit it: I am high-maintenance when it comes to my emotional needs. Matt has to put up with a lot from me, and sometimes I even feel bad for him. It can be impossible to know how to respond. Run away and stay hidden? Head to the store for flowers and Twizzlers? Smother with attention? Matt has put a lot of effort into understanding my emotional needs and learning how to respond in ways that will diffuse my bad mood (it’s usually flowers and Twizzlers). I’ve tried to do the same when it comes to him—although he’s nowhere near as emotionally needy as me. I’ve found that he likes having someone listen to him vent about work for a while and then wants nothing more than relaxation and a back scratch, and when it comes to his cooking-gone-bad it is best to let him steam for a little bit without commenting on it. Eventually, when dinner turns out delicious, his mood will turn around. Putting effort into understanding and learning how to respond to each others’ emotions shows we legitimately care about one another’s happiness.

We do small things for one another that mean a lot

Although others wouldn’t consider waking up to a chilled coffee meaningful, I love that Matt thinks about me every morning and takes the time to put a coffee in the fridge so I can make an iced coffee when I get up. He also surprises me by throwing pineapple in the freezer and bringing home my favorite dried fruit and yogurt mix from the store (this article makes it seem like my life revolves around food...) He keeps a running list of anything I mention wanting and surprises me on special occasions with gifts I don’t even remember mentioning but absolutely love. He takes care of our dog Checkers on mornings when he is up first and helps with things around the house when I’m overextended and overwhelmed. Basically, he’s amazing to me and all of these small acts make me feel loved. I also do small gestures that he finds meaningful, like packing him lunches for work, giving him back scratches (I already mentioned this, the man goes nuts for back scratches), and making him his favorite desserts. Sometimes actions speak louder than words!

We compliment, encourage, and generally make one another feel good

Believe it or not, girls can be really critical of themselves—I can be pretty rough on myself at times. And even though I’ll get uncomfortable and tell Matt to stop anytime he holds eye contact and gives me a sincere compliment, it means a lot deep down. Every girl loves to be told they’re beautiful and smart and funny, and I’m no exception. And you know what else? Guys love to be complimented too! Matt is all smiles when I call him handsome or compliment his cooking skills. It’s so simple to think of something great about the person you love and compliment them on it and it can have such a big impact. We also encourage one another to achieve our goals—Matt supports me in my schoolwork and  I encourage Matt to go for that promotion at work.

We say thank you and show our appreciation

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes get angry when my fiancé doesn’t acknowledge the things I do for him—like, really angry. I know that the things I do for him should be out of love and not for recognition, but that doesn’t mean I want my hard work or effort to go unnoticed. Everyone likes feeling appreciated! A simple thank you can go a long way. I do my best to thank Matt for everything he does for me, even the little things like paying for Starbucks. I know that doing these things is just another way to show love. Showing appreciation, even just by saying thank you, can mean the world. And I’m not talking about doing something out of a feeling of obligation here—that just leads to resentment which is not grounds for a good relationship. The things we do for one another are done out of love, not obligation, and that makes them meaningful.

So there you have it—those are the things that we have found work in our relationship. Give them a shot and you might find that they work for you too!

The Perfect Fall Cookie

The Perfect Fall Cookie by guest blogger Ashlee

You know how my last blog entry talked about healthy eating? Well, today I am sharing a deliciously sweet, completely-bad-for-you baking recipe because when I bake, I do it with the intention of fattening up my family and friends. Enjoy!

So, my recipe for the perfect fall cookie happened completely by accident. I Googled THREE separate recipes and accidentally spliced them all. I'm not sure how I accomplished that. However, I am so glad I did! I had coworkers grabbing these and bringing them home to share with family members! They begged me to bring more the next day, and I happily obliged. 

Be prepared for these to disappear immediately!

Here is what you will need:

Cookie Batter:

• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 15oz can pumpkin
• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 teaspoons pumpkin spice
• 1/8 teaspoons salt

Frosting:

• ½ cup butter, melted (Melt only when you're ready to make frosting)
• 2 cups confectioners sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Cream shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in pumpkin. Separately, combine baking powder, baking soda, and pumpkin spice. Slowly add in the dry blend. A stand mixer really helps here! I love my Kitchenaid. Seriously.

3. Drop by rounded teaspoonfulls onto an ungreased baking sheet about an inch apart. They do not expand much, so don't be afraid to make them a little bit close. Bake 13-15 minutes. It might take a batch or two to get right, but pull them out of the oven just as the tops are getting solid and any peaks on the batter are starting to brown slightly. They will continue to bake into the most perfect, soft cookie after you put them on he cooling rack. The bottoms of the cookies will be nice and brown. I found that 13 minutes was the perfect amount of time!

4. For frosting, combine confectioners sugar, butter, vanilla, and just enough water to achieve a frosting consistency as you mix the other ingredients. Ice cookies only after they have cooled enough on the racks, about five minutes.You can frost the cookies in a much prettier fashion, but it is harder to portion out the icing and you need every bit of it to frost all of the cookies this recipe makes! They taste the same, even in their more... Ahem... Rustic formation. Voila! Now stuff your family and friends with these goodies :)

Introductions & A Semi-Paleo Lifestyle

 I'm sure you've realized by now, but having twins, working part-time, cooking, cleaning and taking care of a house is a full time job. Then I added blogging. I actually spend A LOT more time working on this side-project than I thought I would. I like it. I want to continue with it. I also want to open up my blog to people who have interests other than babies and food (also known as strange people... I know not of what these so-called "other" interests could possibly be!) Those are about my only topics of expertise but from what I understand, there is a whole world beyond babies and food!

Enter Ashlee. Ashlee has been a friend of my for, oh, 7 years? Can't remember. I'm getting old. Her interests are almost completely opposite of everything I enjoy in life, except for food. We both love food. Here is a list of things that Ashlee enjoys that I just... don't.

• Fashion & Style
• Make-up
• Working out & fitness
• Nature and hiking (this is perhaps my least favorite... umm, ticks?)
• Pursuing a graduate degree
• Working in an office setting
• Not having children... at the moment. 

So, with that introduction given, here is Ashlee's first post on Oh.em.gee it's Nikkie and there will be plenty more to come! Enjoy :-)  


"I have a serious problem with the word 'diet,' and if you know anything about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you probably do too. If you adjust your diet temporarily to lose weight, that weight loss will only be temporary. Another problem with the word 'diet' is that it doesn't necessarily mean healthy, and ultimately your goal should be a maintainable lifestyle so your weight doesn't yo-yo. Numerous studies have found this type of lifestyle extremely detrimental to the body.

So now I come to one of the latest buzz words, 'paleo.' Paleo enthusiasts want it to be a lifestyle choice, but for many of us that is entirely unrealistic. Therefore, if it is a temporary change, it is a diet. Here are the basic paleo principles:

• No grains, no gluten
• No unnatural sugars (anything not found in raw foods)
• Modern vegetable oils such as coconut oil (another fad food)
• High quality animal fats such as ghee
• High quality meats
• Lots of veggies

As you can see, some of these principles are unrealistic for average joes. Who wouldn't want to eat all organic meats? Why wouldn't it be healthy to eat a great deal of vegetables? But there aren't a lot of people who are willing to completely forgo grain and dessert, making this hard to maintain for your average person. Therefore, it is a diet for most—not a lifestyle choice.

I choose to look at these fad diets (those that are founded on decent whole foods eating principles, not those which include potions and lotions) and extract principles that are of value and incorporate them into my lifestyle. A great resource about paleo and the mindset behind it is “Practical Paleo.” I suggest you read it if you're interested in paleo as a lifestyle change. 

 

I use paleo this way: people who love food but are trying to have a more healthy diet love making recipes that mimic some classic favorites. Pizza, dessert, and all sorts of conventional recipes are adapted for these lifestyles so they're easier to maintain. If I want a healthy, filling dinner that will please my husband and that I will feel good about eating, I Google Paleo+whatever traditional recipe I'm craving. People on whole foods diets find very creative ways to make things such as crusts, desserts, and rice out of raw veggies and fruits making them lower in calories and very, very healthy. The paleo diet is high in animal products, so I don't do paleo recipes more than once or twice a week because as a former vegetarian, I choose not to frequently include a great deal of animal products in my diet. So here's what I made for us on Wednesday night!

Primal Pizza Pie Layer Casserole courtesy of Beauty and the Foodie

This recipe is easy, quick, and fairly inexpensive to make. If you don't want to use items like coconut flour, don't. I didn't! You can still get the benefits of eating a delicious, flavorful meal that incorporates a lot of veggies. Omit cheese for a fully paleo meal. Additionally, this might be a good choice for someone suffering from IBD, Crohn's, or IBS. My husband has Crohn's, and I will do a separate blog entry about creating meals that are compatible for someone who has a bowel disorder. I hope you enjoyed my introductory blog entry. Eat food you love, eat food that is good. Don't diet. Make gradual, sustainable lifetyle changes. Bon apetit!"