Book Giveaway!

I am going to give away this book that I just reviewed (see my last post) in the next two weeks! The winner of said book will be chosen via the very scientific method of drawing a name out of a hat. In order to get your name in the hat you need to either leave a comment on a post anywhere on this blog or share one of my posts via Twitter or Facebook! (You'll need to mention the share to me so I know it happened.) Considering that there are very few comments on this blog - I'm thinking this will be an easy win for anyone who does decide to comment or share! Thank you in advance... And good luck!

(I am able to give this book away because it was given to me by Blogging for Books)

A Review: Love Food & Live Well by Chantel Hobbs

In her book Love Food & Live Well Chantel Hobbs gives us a down-to-earth and realistic way to "Lose weight, get fit and taste life at it's very best!" In this book Chantel gives a recount of her own struggle with weight and her journey from nearly 350 pounds to the lean, fit woman she is today. Her open recollection of the emotions and experiences she had while being over weight make this book an encouraging read!
Although some of the writing style and phrases used became a little repetitive as I was reading, I did feel as though I was being addressed by a real woman with real struggles and real successes. This book seems to be a combination "how-to" book and a personal conversation between the author and the world. Even though at times I had a hard time staying interested (I wanted her to just get to the point), this book is jam packed with helpful information and encouraging words.
Chantel addresses some of the bad "deals" we are sold as Americans (the Barbie Myth) and tells us about the best "deal" of all - the one that God offers us!
In the later chapters of this book, she lays out some practical, hands-on tools to assist with weight loss. Chantel passionately discusses carbs, protein and fat and the roles they play in our health and diets. She gives important tips on "how to make meals meaningful" including quick, delicious sounding recipes and delves into the "moving" and exercise portion of our lives, giving detailed directions (including pictures) on different ways to switch up the normal routine. 

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a light and encouraging book that gives helpful advice about health and fitness!

(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.)

Family Ties

Sometimes it is so hard to put into words the thoughts that are chasing each other around inside my head. This is one of those times...
The death of my cousin has reminded me once again how important family is and how necessary it is to cultivate and maintain those long distance family relationships.

So - if I am related to you, I want you to know how very much I love you!

Life vs Death

This week has been hard.      Emotionally.      Mentally.       I'm tired and I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to think or feel anymore.

Wednesday was a mixed up jumble of almost every emotion there is.
Frustrations from a disconnected phone and a disorganized job.
Excitement because one of the girls from my house FINALLY went into labor!
Worry and concern that she would think I didn't care because I couldn't text from my disconnected phone.
And then...
Stunning, tears-running-down-the-face sadness when we got the news that my cousin Ian had been killed by a train.
Helplessness as I watched my mother mourn this cousin that I barely knew.
Blank. Nothing. Sometimes feeling like I had to remind myself how to breathe.
JOY! Excitement. I got the text that told me a new little baby girl had arrived!

One life had ended, another began.

Even now... as thoughts tumble around my brain... I don't know what to think.
Maybe I'll be able to grab one and hold onto it... later.

(I've noticed that this post is incredibly depressing. I will write a more cheerful post, detailing the positive ways this week has affected me, in the near future. Thanks for reading!)

Winter Blues Solutions

During these cold, gray days of winter it can be extremely easy to fall into a less than cheerful mood. Ok - maybe I'm understating the problem. We can get depressed, grumpy, mad at the world. We can start to go just plain old stir-crazy! Clouds and below freezing temperatures seem to amplify the rest of life's little problems.

It is important for our sanity (and the sanity of those around us) to go to battle against these bad-mood monsters!
*Check out this post my mom mentioned that takes a creative look at a similar every day challenge many of us have: here.
I decided to write this post because the gray skies of winter have a pretty big affect on my mood. It is much harder to be grumpy when the sun is shining brightly and it's warm enough for shorts and a tank top! I have to continually fight against my bad mood. Everything I do can affect my mood in some way or another when the sky looks gloomy.

So how do I fight? There are the obvious ways: reading the Bible regularly, spending time in prayer, getting enough sleep (all areas I could improve).
There are other things we can do that may not be quite as obvious... I take liquid Vitamin D and an herbal extract Good Mood Tonic every day. Reducing sugar intake and increasing "good fat" (coconut oil, cod liver oil, etc.) intake is important for energy levels and over all well being. Having a clean (and organized!) living space is key to a positive outlook on life. Consciously enjoying the little things in life is very important! Take the time to enjoy and appreciate those things that we wouldn't get a chance to do if it was warm and sunny outside. Things such as - savoring a cup of hot tea... Working on a puzzle while the wind howls outside... Filing your taxes in less then fifteen minutes because you live in Washington and don't have to file state taxes! Walking through a field of untouched snow in the moonlight... Watching the snow falling outside while you fall asleep. Little things can provide some of life greatest joys!

Don't let those winter doldrums get you down... Fight back with every "little thing" you've got!

What are some of the ways that you combat the winter blues?

Book "review"

Few and Far Between: Moments in the North American Desert by John Martin Campbell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ok... I have a confession. John Martin Campbell is my grandfather. My moms dad. It's true. So I suppose you could say I "have" to like his books. Truth is though... I really just love the pictures! Some more than others. This book, for instance, is all about deserts - and I love anything to do with the desert. I actually had to ask him in particular for a copy of this book. I love it! The pictures. The fact that my grandfather took the pictures. I don't usually even bother to read the words. I just drink in the pictures...



View all my reviews

Party Time!

The weather is finally cooperating and staying nice enough that I can plan and throw all of those parties that wouldn't fit in my teensy tiny house!
My mom and I just had a fun ladies brunch for some of the women from church... We made open face cucumber and sprout sandwiches, caprese skewers, little BLT sandwiches, chicken curry salad sandwiches and chocolate truffles with strawberries and whipped cream!

*Unfortunately all of our cameras are either broken or have gone missing (mine), so I am unable to document any of the fun party happenings.*

The next party that's in the works is... My 26th Birthday Fiesta! *Gasp* I'm going to be 26.
I have big plans for this shindig... I'm making: tacos de lengua and carne asada tacos (tongue and steak tacos)! Mango, jicama and cucumber salad. Green chile salsa, chunky guacamole and homemade refried beans with corn tortilla chips. Several kinds of ceviche and oyster cocktails (if I'm lucky)! And don't forget Jarritos (for the kidos) and plenty of margaritas and caipirinhas. Yum Yum! I'm excited.

I'm working on some great decorations... I'm making these pom-pom things (only all of mine are going to be hanging) and I'm making.......... a PINATA! It's going to be fun :-) I only wish all of my Moscow friends could be there.
I am going to try to dig up a camera to take pictures of the actual party - so hopefully I'll be able to show you how everything turned out!