Coconut Oil...and other Hippie Beauty Secrets.

By Amy

Hey friends!  Remember when we talked about skin woes (as well as other beauty insecurities)?  If you read my gut-spilling crappy skin post, you know that I have had problem skin for about 13 years now.  Ugh.  I expected it to go away when I escaped my teenage years, but Noooooo....my face has still been misbehaving well into my 20's and up to my current age of almost 28.  But.  The fabulous news?  Just like when I was pregnant with Hayden, my skin becomes GLORIOUS during my 2nd trimester!!!  (Cue singing angels!)

IT IS AWESOME.

I feel so much more confident when I'm not worried about my blotchy, spotty skin.  Those who have great skin, please appreciate it!  That's what I'm doing right now. :)  I'd much rather have the visa versa--generally great skin and then deal with a couple months of breakout during each pregnancy--but, hey I'll take any clear skin my face wants to give me!

But, rewind about 7 months, and I was quite bugged with my skin.  I just freakin' wanted it to be clear.  Seriously, is that so much to ask, you adolescent, temperamental face?  *ahem*  Sorry.  Anyway, one thing I tried was coconut oil.

Have you ever heard of Oil Cleansing?  I first read about it on The Healthy Diaries after a super cool blog friend gave me the heads-up. (She uses this method!)  Back in November and December, I decided to try Oil Cleansing, since nothing else has completely worked on my face.  My reasoning: "If my skin already sucks, why not try something new?  What's the worst that could happen?  My face will break out?  Oh wait, it already is."  Here's the general gist of oil cleansing: we commonly dry out our acne prone skin waaaay too much with harsh acne cleansers.  So, our sensitive, crazy skin keeps breaking out.  But, if we can return the skin's natural balance by nourishing and cleansing it with a gentle, natural oil, then our skin can heal and produce the right amount of oil on it's own...which will result in less breakouts!  At first, it seemed totally crazy talk to me--add more oil to a broken out face.  But, the skin on my face often feels tight and peels sooo much, I wondered if I really was aggravating and over-drying my skin by using my Proactiv face wash.

So, sceptically, I gave it a go.  I first tried Extra Virgin Olive Oil mixed with a small amount of Castor Oil.  Hmmm, my skin felt soft afterwards, but I didn't really like the feel of putting the olive oil on my face...it was too heavy of an oil.  But I used it for a week anyway.  A few days in, my pores were realllly clogged.  Yuck.  Now, some will say, "Oh but you didn't stick with it for long enough!"  But, I hated the feel of it, so the clogged pores really just seconded my first opinion.  I decided I needed to try a different oil.

Next, I tried Coconut oil...Organic and unrefined.  It's kinda strange stuff...it's got this weird, crisco like texture when it's solid, then becomes liquid when it's warm.

This is how I've been using it:

Right after my shower, when my skin is still damp, I use a q-tip to take a tiny amount of oil and put it on the palm of my hand, then I kind of mix it with my finger till it becomes warm and liquid.  Then I put it on my face--a small amount goes a LONG way!

I LOVED how the coconut oil felt.  Oh my heck.  It felt silky, not greasy.  Wow.  I used the coconut oil in this way for about 2 months.  At first, my amounts of breakouts were about the same as normal. though the general feel of my skin was much better--it felt soothed, instead of tight, if that makes sense. Alas, after a few weeks, it still wasn't a miracle cure.  I still was breaking out.  In fact, I noticed that my pores were a bit more clogged than normal.

But, then when I hit my second tri, my skin became glorious--no more breakouts!...and suddenly, I realised that this had become a flawed experiment.  How could I judge if my result was caused by my face finally becoming balanced or if the pregnancy hormones were the miracle workers?  Funny thing: even though my skin wasn't breaking out, I still had clogged pores!  Yuck.  Which made me sad, cause I so wanted the coconut oil to be that answer to all my crappy-skin prayers, since I loved how it felt! I finally decided that I don't want those clogged pores, especially since my skin is SOOO nice otherwise. I want to enjoy my 2nd tri face!  :)

So.  Back to the drawing board.  I want to try an oil next that is even lighter, for the sake of my pores....I've heard sesame oil is really good for breakout prone skin.  And since I tried the three oils that are super easy to get, I'll probably have to look online to try any other oils.

In the meantime, I am using a very light moisturizer that my sister-in-law recommended: Nivea Firming Lotion.  I really like it so far!  And, maybe if my skin stays happy even after babe comes, then I'll just stick with that.

But, what to do with a big jar of coconut oil?  I already tried to use it as a makeup remover for my eyes--um, no thank you.  It is supposed to be wonderful for the skin around the eyes, which I bet it is!  It's said to reduce the fine crinkles...which are now creeping in on me....but, when I use it, even if I used it the night before and wash it off well with soap and water in the morning, my mascara and eyeliner are smudy under my eyes all day.  That stubborn small amount of greasiness that seems to stick around for two days, makes it impossible to keep eye makeup in place.  Equaling racoon eyes.  No thanks.  Avril Lavigne can keep that look.

So with my coconut oil on hand, I decided to try another beauty fad...Oil Pulling!  Here is an Oil Pulling link from Design Mom.  Have you heard of it?  It's totally weird, but lots of people swear by it, (people who I would consider non-extreme) so I thought, what the heck!  Basically, you swish oil in your mouth, through your teeth, back and forth, for 20 minutes.  Then you spit the oil into the trash, so it doesn't clog your drain.  This is supposed to be great for your teeth and gums--they say it pulls toxins out of your saliva, more efficiently gets into those tiny nooks and crannies of your teeth, and helps your mouth be healthy and clean.  Also, they say it whitens your teeth.  SO, I wanted to try it!  Why not, right?  It's cheap and all natural, so it can't do any harm.

I especially wanted to try it, because I'd like whiter teeth, but the two times I've tried Crest Whitestrips, my teeth were so sensitive the next day, I felt like I was CONSTANTLY biting into a hunk of ice cream.  To those who deal with cold-sensitive teeth, you know how evil and torturous that would be!   And I felt like that ALL DAY!  No good.  So, if only for the benefit of whiter teeth, I wanted to try oil pulling.

About a week ago, I took the plunge.  I put a small spoonful of coconut oil in my mouth (but remember, it's solid till it warms up in your mouth, so I had a mouth full of grainy crisco) and after holding it in my mouth for about 3 seconds, I started gagging and coughing it into the garbage.  It was soooo gross.  I'm such a dope--I should have known!  Since I'm pregnant, I gag WAY easily right now, especially from textures.  And that texture was Not Good.  *shudder*

But, I tried it again this morning, and tried NOT to think about the fact that I was swishing a mouth full of oil and spit.  "I'm cool, I'm cool...No big deal," I told myself, then popped a spoonful in my mouth and hopped into the shower.  My goal was to make it 10 minutes and...I made it 11!  Wahoo!  So, nothing magical happened, no organic rainbows and unicorns burst forth from my suddenly perfectly whitened smile... (ha..I"m kidding...I know I only did it once, and only for 10 minutes!) but I'm going to keep trying it out.  I still am going to brush...some oil pullers totally quit brushing and flossing!  I plan to keep trying the oil first thing in the morning, then brush right after.  Cause, I've been brushing for forever, ya know?  I'd feel way too nast if I just didn't brush.

So, friends...how about you!?  Have you ever tried oil cleansing or oil pulling?  If so, I'd love to hear about your experience!  Awesome or over-hyped?  Do you have any other funky beauty habits to share?  It's fun to hear about. :)  OH...and anyone else have dramatic changes in their skin during pregnancy?  Or have a physco gag reflex?  Ha...pregnancy is weird.

Peace!

Update: So I washed my face before going to bed after writing this, and felt I needed to amend...maybe "glorious" was a bit strong for wording.  But, it's glorious to me!  But, hey--I have low standards after 10+ years of bad skin.  :)  It is by no means a flawless, baby skin, rose-petal complexion.  I still have the little bumpy forehead stuff.  But, it's still pretty darn clear over all!  Ha...just didn't want any person who read this to see me in real life and go, "Umm....that's glorious, huh?" :)

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Night Owl or Early Bird?

By Amy

zouchmagazine.com

I have a confession. 

I go to bed toooo late.  Usually after midnight.  But isn't that what college kids do?  I remember staying up for hours talking with roommates or cramming homework.  When it came to school and art projects (art major!) I was the most productive at night.  But, now I'm a mom...shouldn't my night owl days be over?  Since Hayden started sleeping though the night, (and it was a loooong 10 months till he did!) I don't feel so desperate about sleep.  I know that when I sleep, it will be deep and peaceful till morning.  So 6 and a half hours now means a better night's sleep than 8 and a half hours did when Hayden was waking us up through the night.  These days...I love staying up late.

When it's all quiet, and everyone else is snoozing I stay up reading, writing, or facebooking.  Sometimes I peruse Pinterest or Houzz, dreaming about homes and home decor and DIY projects.  Sometimes I have my headphones on, watching a delicious BBC movie that sucked me in, that I HAVE to finish.  Sometimes, my husband is still up and we both chill together, staying up way too late.  But, now that the summer break is over and his grad school classes are in full swing, my husband gets to bed earlier.  So, when he walks into the bathroom to brush his teeth, that's my cue: I come to our bedroom where we kneel at the bed and pray together, then we pray separately and lay in bed reading scriptures aloud. (Some days it's about a page, but...weeeell, let's just say it's usually more like a few verses...or someone will sleepily quote a verse if it's way late.  Haha!)  We cuddle a bit (which might just be the best part of my day), then he turns over and falls asleep; I read next to him with my little lamp.  I feel like it's important for married couples to go to bed together and share that closing of the day...but I'm usually not ready to sleep yet! 

I know I should get more rest, and that I would be less tired during the day taking care of my son, but It's hard to give up this time.  Cause this time is all mine.  I get to relax and enjoy the things I love...UNINTERRUPTED.  That is so rare during the day since becoming a mom.  And it's ok, cause this is the life I've chosen--every day is busy and my baby has lots of needs and grown-ups have responsibilities, ya know?  But, man, I savor the quiet time, safe and warm in bed with my hubby sleeping next to me while I savor a good book or peruse blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, etc. on my laptop.

This isn't new; I've always been a night owl.  Growing up, I'd stuff a towel under my door, so when my mom came to see if I was still awake late at night (reading), she couldn't see any light coming from my room.  I was such a nerdy rebel.

HA!  So true.

My husband, on the other hand, is not a night person.  When we're laying in bed, I'll keep trying to talk to him, and he just mumbles, "I'm asleep."  Guess guys don't want to stay awake talking all night like I did with my old college roommates.  Ha!  In the morning, he bounds out of bed, ready to go.  As for me, you can probably guess, I do not wake up gracefully.  I'm always pretty bugged that morning came.  And I kinda want to slam my phone into the wall when its alarm rudely disrupts my slumber.  Maybe that's another sign that I need more sleep. 

The late nights are a habit I should change, but I don't really want to.  I'm sure when I have baby #2, I'll be so desperately sleep deprived that I'll collapse into bed at 10:30, like I did when Hayden was younger.  But until that forces me to change, I probably won't.

When do you go to bed?  Did this change after getting married or having kids?  Do you love tucking in early?  Are you a night owl too?  Or a morning person?  Do you and your husband go to bed at the same time?  I'd love to hear! :)

PS.  Do you want to share a story, some tips, or just make us laugh here at SOM?  We're in need of contributions!  Click on the "Wanna Contribute?" button on the right sidebar for more details!  And, I hear ya...one more thing to your list, and I know you're busy, but it is amazing to share your heart and be heard....and it's fun, I promise!  :)

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This is the Cold that Never Ends....Yes it Goes On and On, my Friends...

By Amy

I was going to show you pics of two sweet dresser re-dos, but, I need to ask you experienced mommas for your input instead.  Here is my question:

ARE CHILDREN ALWAYS SICK??!

Holy Moly.  Hayden's colds seem to roll in like the tide; there's a week of blissful peace before the familiar signs start up, and BAM...he's a coughing, miserable, snotting, mess again.  I feel bad for him, poor kid!  And it's a nasty cycle, cause after the cold, comes the Aftercold effect--two weeks where he's acting in every other way healthy, but still running out the nose faster than I can wipe it.  ALL. DAY. LONG.  Haha, I look like this neglectful mother at the grocery store.  I want to holler to the passing elderly woman, "I wiped that nose like, 3.5 seconds ago, for the trillionth time today!!!  DON'T JUDGE MEEEEE! "  I stuff a wad of kleenexes in my pocket everywhere we go, and I still usually run out.  I'm just thinking, "Dang kid, where IS that all coming from!?  In the course of this day, you probably drained the equivalent of your weight in snot!"

My mom, who at one time had three little girls under the age of 4, used to safety-pin handkerchiefs to my sister's shirts when they all had colds, and just wiped their noses every time they walked past.  Ha!  Nasty but brilliant!  I want to patent a soft, thin absorbent (washable) strip of cloth with elastic loops at the end that hook around the child's ears.  They wear it across their face--under their nose and above their upper lip, to catch the flow all day.  Genius, huh?  I mean, yeah it would obstruct breathing through their nose, but they can't breathe out of them anyway when they have a cold!  It's a better idea than the old wrestling trick for stopping bloody noses--tampons up each nostril.  (I probably would have tried that with my son, but baby nostrils are TINY.)

Poor kid was sick, but still couldn't resist an empty box!

But really, what do you do when your child is always somewhere on the cold spectrum (getting a cold, has a cold, or getting over a cold)?  I mean, I'm all for limiting the passing of germs, and I TOTALLY get that other moms don't want their kids catching a cold, cause I know it sucks, but are we supposed to just stay in the house and not go anywhere?  Should I skip church, stop meeting to exercise, avoid the library, stay away from get-togethers and sit in quarantine if my child has any cold symptoms?  I would NEVER go ANYWHERE!

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about a sickness like strep throat, stomach flu, chicken pox, pink eye, etc.  To those, Yes.  The answer is: Quarantine yourself.  Nobody wants that crap!  And I'm also not saying, "Woop-di-do, what's the big deal, kids?  Come take a lick from the sick kid's lollipop!"  No.  But, you can't stop living your life when your child gets cold once a month and the cycle lasts three weeks.  That only leaves one week a month!  I just read in a pamphlet from my pediatrician's office: "Young children will often have anywhere between 6 and 12 colds per year.  That is why we call them 'common'."  Oh great.  It really is once a month!

My son felt miserable (hence the rare cuddling).

Now this blows my mind...What about you moms with several kids?  Do you EVER have all members of the family healthy?  Cause they just pass it to each other, right?

Oy.

I'm a little bummed out that my son is sick, yet again, and we have a big family party this weekend.  And I don't want to pass germs to 14 nieces and nephews.  But...I REALLY want to see everyone and I'd be so sad if we missed it!  Maybe, if I'm honest with myself, it get frustrated too, because it's hard for me to miss out on fun, social functions when my son's sick.  I've always been super social--this stay-at-home-momma craves being with people!  But it's not fair to get upset--I mean, and, it's not his fault that he gets these colds!  My poor babe....He's so sad-looking with his weepy eyes and runny nose.  The only plus side: we have some sweet cuddle times when when he's sick!  Usually, he's running 95 mph at all times, but when he feels crappy, he doesn't have the energy to squirm and run off when I hold him! :)

Does it get better, mommas?  Is there an age when they stop catching every cold wafting by?  And, do you stay home every time your child has any cold symptoms?  Any tricks you have for helping your kiddios stay healthier?  (Besides the obvious of not leaving your house.)  I'd love to hear!

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Let's Get Healthy, Yo!

By Katelyn
Introduced by Amy 

Katelyn is the wife of a guy I knew while we both did church missionary work in Missouri.  After our missions, I met his lovely fiance, Katelyn, at a party.  Then later...by a crazy fluke, I sat next to her at a Messiah sing-a-long last Christmas, (OH my goodness, people, she has a GORGEOUS voice.  I was blown away!) and we've been friends ever since!  (Check out our little boys clobbering each other on a playdate.)  She's so genuinely kind and fun to talk to.  I'm so glad she agreed to write a post on health habits, because she's so down-to-earth; I knew she'd give us REAL advice, that REAL women can live by.  Cause, seriously--who wants to spend an hour and a half at the gym everyday?!  NOT me.  

So, enjoy this read, then--let's get to it! :)  
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Hey, I'm Katelyn and this is my son, Peter.

May has arrived and you know what that means? Yes... blossoms and flowers and warm walks to the park and pulling out your old summer clothes with hopes that they still fit and yadayadayada.  It also means dead New Year’s resolutions.  Like so dead... dead on January 5th dead.  You know what I'm talking about.  That pile of books you vowed to read, collecting dust, and every so often you swear you can hear it sneeze a lonely, illiterate sneeze.  And what about that gym membership?  Lost in the bottom of your diaper bag with it's fingers crossed every time you dig down searching for a spare binky.  It is feeling abused.  Let's be real, New Year's resolutions are great and all but their life-spans tend to be shorter than a dragonfly's... which turns out to be 24 hours although I'm not totally convinced.  Don't you think we should reevaluate these short lived resolutions (let's call them goals actually) and give ourselves a break if we haven't quite done the impossible like we promised we would do on New Year's day?  I think we should.  I think we should talk about some of the most common resolutions made by us unhealthy humans (cough Americans cough) and make them do-able goals.  Let's accomplish something huge without having to actually do something huge.

Have I caught your attention?  Because I can almost guarantee one of your goals is the one that I have in mind.  Yep. It's that goal.  The goal that says you can't eat sugar ever again.  It's the goal that says you have to lose 75 pounds by June.  Guess what people... these goals are hard!  And I believe that you can do hard things… but I also believe in efficiency.  Trying to get healthy by totally restricting your sugar intake or trying to lose the weight equivalent to your right leg is not efficient.  Making small goals to become more responsible with your sugar intake as well as gradually losing extra weight is definitely much more efficient.  Now your goals may be different than the two mentioned but really this applies to any behavior change you would like to make.  Let's review, making small stepping stone goals so you can do huge things=very good.  Very good and very do-able.  That is how we are going to accomplish something huge without actually doing something huge.

Why small stepping stone goals?  First off because we are human and that is how humans are meant to work.  Also because many of us are moms, some of us work full time, we have multiple community and church responsibilities, and the list goes on!  Not to mention the menial activities that fill our days.  Pretty much we just don't have time to drop everything and focus on one huge, barely do-able goal.  Do we have time for little bite-size goals?  You know it, Jack!

So let's do it.  Let's get healthy.  Let's throw those over-sized-stretchy-pants goals out the window and start with a new slate.  Let's talk to ourselves about what we really want and what we can do to get there, one step at a time.

Let's do it.

Alright are you in??  Oh good, I'm so glad!  You won't regret it, I promise. (:

How do I know what I want? 

For the most part, many of us "know" what we want.  We want a smaller pant size, smaller scale reading, smaller waist measurement, smaller calorie intake, you name it.  Although "smaller" seems to be the key problem word here... it's actually the fixation on numbers that is the issue.  I know you've heard this before... but it's true, the numbers do not matter and you will always be beautiful.  Seriously, just accept it.  As much as we know our bodies we can't totally understand our metabolism and natural healthy state so don't discourage yourself with outrageous goals fixated on the numbers.  For example, let's say I weigh 157 lbs.  I would love to weigh 130 lbs but my body just wasn't built to be 130 lbs.  I have broad shoulders and broad hips... so unless I flatten out like a piece of New York style pizza, light on the cheese of course, I'm not going to ever weigh 130 lbs.  So seriously though, don't stress over the numbers, you will lose inches, you will lose pounds, you will drop pant sizes, and your body will settle into it's most healthy natural state if you are doing your best to focus on making healthy decisions.  So what do you really want??

What should and shouldn't my goals look like? 

Like I mentioned (more like hammered into your brain) before... they need to be small!  A goal like "I will run a marathon next month" is not small.  A goal like "two times this week I will wake up at 6:30 and run 1 mile" is so much better!  For those of you not in need of exercise help... how about your nutrition?  What?  I can't understand what you're saying through that piece of chocolate cake.  (yummm please share!!) How about a goal like "instead of two cookies for my afternoon snack I'll have one cookie and an apple."  See where I'm going with this?  Small steps.  Then once you feel comfortable with those goals you can upgrade to running 2 miles three times a week.  Or likewise having a cheese stick with your apple instead of a cookie.  Pace yourself.  Small steps.  Success.  Yeah!

What should I avoid? 

Two words: fad diets.  They lead to major weight fluctuation and you don't need them.  Seriously, put down your weight loss sprinkles, roll out of the wrap, take off your exercise simulator and get healthy the right way.  These fad diets are pretty much anything advertised in the media minus choosemyplate.org (now there's an awesome website you should check out for getting-healthy help).  Please PLEASE don't fall for the fad diets!  They are going to try really hard to snatch you with all sorts of advertising tricks... my least favorite is promising that you'll be down 8-10 pounds in the first few days.  Listen, losing weight takes time... like half a pound to 2 pounds a week if you're over weight and really working hard.  So don't fall for it!  This weight that they're talking about is called water weight... water keeps the body alive.  You don't want to lose 10 lbs of it over the weekend.  That's called the flu.

How do I achieve these goals? 

Patience.  Lots of patience.  And persistence.  Getting healthy is not going to happen overnight as much as we'd like it to.  Getting healthy takes months, even years to really understand.  Just like any other good-for-you-goal... it takes time.  There are going to be road blocks, road bricks, and road why-the-heck-is-this-so-hard-today moments.  For example, as soon as I felt like I was getting healthy and understanding my body (2 years into my program/interships focused on health and fitness) my husband and I got pregnant.  We were thrilled!  But I had to learn an entire different way of being healthy... and for two people!  Then the baby came and I got to learn how to be healthy while breastfeeding and in 3-ish more months when my little guy stops nursing I'll get to re-install all of the things that I learned before I got pregnant.  So hang in there and understand that getting healthy is never flawless, you have to struggle to get better at it.  Luckily, once you have the basics down and you know what it feels like to be in good health it is fairly easy to adjust to your different life situations.  Speaking of life situations, everyone's is different so don't compare yourself to your more- or less-successful neighbor.  Everything that I am sharing with you is based from my own life situations as well as from the experiences of individuals I have coached through my undergraduate career... not to mention the material taught to me by some pretty neat-o professors.   Anyway... keep that in mind and just be ready to be flexible.  You can do this!

Once successful how do I maintain my new healthy habits? 

This is the tricky part.  Obviously you want to be healthy because you’ve been making goals for years that have addressed different aspects of health.  The trick is somehow keeping that motivation around longer than January 5th.  Remember why you want to get fit.  Do you want to be able to keep up with your kids?  Are you trying to avoid a certain health issue that a close friend or family member is unfortunately experiencing because of their bad health habits?  Do you want to fit into those jeans from years ago and look dang good while doing it?

Remember what motivated you to get healthy in the first place and stick with it.  Stick with it through the good days and the bad… because there will be both but I know you can do it!  I know that with practice we can all be healthy and fit and really respect these awesome bodies of ours that are so neat.  Seriously, think about all of the mind blowing things our bodies can do… why would we not want them in tip-top shape?? 
-Katelyn

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Isn't she cool? :)  I love her wisdom, especially about making realistic goals!  

So, what about you, ladies?  What are your health goals?  How do you stay motivated to have healthy habits?  If you blow it (for me, every holiday I become a carb-binging pshyco...) how do you get yourself back on track?  We'd love to hear from you!
-Amy

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Thoughts on Birthdays and Kicking the Bucket (along with How I Ruined My Own Birthday Suprise)

By Amy

So, I just turned 27...the gap to 30 is closing fast!  A few days ago, as I contemplated my birthday, I wondered, "What have I done while my body was in its prime?  Did I run a marathon?  Hike the Grand Teton?  Join a dance company?  Swim the English Channel?"

And, the answer is NO.

To all of the above.

"GREAT," I realized disgustedly..."I BLEW it.  There goes my prime!"  With panic mounting, my thoughts raced and became a little loco: "Physically, it's all downhill from here!  A slippery slope ending in a rest home; it's just a matter of time before I my teeth are removable, I'm pushing a walker, and I'm wearing Depends.  My life is basically over, soon I'll be pooping my pants!  I got one foot in the grave, WHAT THE HECK HAVE I DONE WITH MY LIFE!!???"

After a few minutes of minor freak-out, I forced myself to take a dang chill pill.  

After all, I am STILL in my 20's. 

And, even though I haven't accomplished incredible physical feats, I feel like I've done a lot in my 27 years!  I lived a happy childhood, survived High School (it was actually pretty fun, but small towns have their share of drama...) I graduated with a Bachelor's degree (LOVED college.) visited Japan, Hawaii, Europe, NYC, and Canada, served a year and a half mission for my church, met and married my hottie bald husband, taught Jr High and High Art, and gave birth to possibly the cutest human child on this planet.  (I'm a little biased.  I guess.)  And, MAN, in my opinion, pushing another person out of my body was a pretty incredible physical feat, thank you very much!  So, it's ok that I haven't climbed Everest.

I also have hope for my future, because I know some super active older people.  My soccer coach, a family friend, is a grandpa (possible a great-grandpa...he's like in his 70s) and has white hair.  He was always out there, showing us drills, and kicking the soccer ball down the field!  So cool.  Once I did Pilates with my mission-president's wife, (who is in her 60's, in incredible shape, and she had 10 KIDS!  No joke.) ...and I was DYING; shaking, red in the face, trying to discreetly gasp for air, while she's next to me, doing all these same moves, acting like this is pleasant.  And she's 60+!

So, there's hope!  I've got to work at staying fit, but it can be done!  I guess I'm not going to be cruisin in a wheelchair just yet.

So...back to my birthday.  It was a good time.  A little lesson to you ladies, if you married a guy who isn't big into planning parties, then don't frustrate yourself by dropping (what YOU think are obvious) hints the whole week before...just tell him straight out what you'd like to do on your birthday!  He wants you to have a great birthday, but he can't read your mind.  If you like to be surprised, and you know your husband will deliver (and he isn't in the middle of crazy circumstances which would keep him planning a party) by all means, let him surprise you!  But, when I'm in the position of spouse of the birthday person, I like to know what Patrick wants to do.  After all, it's HIS day!

Here's an example of how you could clearly state what you'd like for your big day: "Hun, I'd like you to take me out to eat at Bajios for my birthday on Friday.  Is 7:00 good for you?"  Easy as that.  If you want a party, tell him!  Or if he has a hard time planning such things or is crazy busy with finals, work, travel, etc, then plan it yourself!  And if you're single, plan your own party, girl!  Your friends love you and want to help you celebrate your day and your life, but lots of people have a hard time knowing what to do or what you'd like.  Invite people to go out to eat or to a movie, or invite friends to your house for games! 

Whether you're married or single, there is no darn point in moping around or sulking on your birthday, cause nobody planned some crazy shindig in your honor.  Instead, YOU make the fun happen!  

Take my birthday for example.  Patrick was on a trip with my Dad and brothers for the 3 days before my birthday, so I took matters into my own hands.  The day before my b-day, I bought some Papa Murphy's Hawaiian pizza (my birthday tradition) and a cheesecake (which we ate with crushed oreos and a delicious strawberry/raspberry topping Patrick made).  I invited some family and friends, (I wish I could have invited more of my friends in the area, but I knew we didn't have enough pizza!) and set up my own small, yet rockin party.  It was awesome!

I didn't want to show my teeth, cause I was sure there was oreos all up in em!

Ok, half of us didn't get the memo that a pic was being taken...

That's better!

I know my husband loves me, I'm just more of a party person than he is, and that's ok!  So I planned it myself.

But, let me tell you how sweet he was for my birthday.

And, then...how I ruined it.  :(

So, for a long time I've wanted black and white Converse All-star sneaks.  I love them.  They remind me of "The Sandlot," skaters, and drummers.  (I have an identity crisis when it comes to clothes.  I'm stuck between three styles: chic young momma, gym rat, and alternative punk high-schooler).

*source: The Sandlot "chucksconnection.com"

These shoes are expensive to buy full-price, so I've been scouring thrift stores.  Payless had some in their own brand, but they were still a little too spendy.  (I'm cheap.)  Anyway, I told Patrick a few months ago that they had black Converse wanna-be's at Payless, but he didn't say much.  I didn't buy them myself, cause they were just for fun--I couldn't justify the purchase.

Well, a few days before my birthday, while cruisin my local thrift store (D.I. Woop Woop!) I saw THE SHOES.  Black and white converse All-Stars, for $5, and they fit PERFECTLY!  BLISS!  So, I snatched them, casting evil looks at shoppers near-by, did an ugly victory dance in the middle of the aisle, (ok, only in my mind) and quickly went to pay.

Back at home, I started getting uneasy, thinking, "Wouldn't that be so ironic if Patrick bought me those shoes at Payless?"  I knew where he hid my present, but I hadn't peeked, cause I wanted to be surprised.  But now... I had to know.  I looked behind his clothes on the floor of his closet...lo and behold, there, in a Payless bag, was a shoe box.  My stomach sunk.  I didn't open it, but still... I knew.  I felt like such a poo; I RUINED my husband's thoughtful gift!

When he got home, I blurted out, "So I may have bad news.  I'm not sure, but I think I messed up my birthday gift."  Then I showed him my D.I. find.  His stared for a minute, then marched to his closet, pulled out the box, and tossed it on the bed.  He said, Happy Birthday.  I have to go to the bathroom."  and walked out of the room.  I wailed through the bathroom door like a wounded beast, "I'm sorry! I"m sorry!"  He came out soon, laughing then glaring at me, and kept alternating between the two.  Haha... 

So, I called Payless, and we can take them back, and I will pick out something else.  Golly, I feel like a dope.  I'm glad Patrick has a sense of humor!

The shoes from D.I.  They're beauties, huh?

Ha...weird pic, my foot looks GINORMOUS!

His second surprise was to get one of my good friends Shanda, who lives 45 minutes away, to ride with my dad and brother to the party without me having any idea!  It would have been SO awesome to see her, but she got sick and was puking the night before.  Poor Patrick, his second surprise didn't pan out either.  Needless to say, I was still very touched by both efforts.  I LOVE that guy.

In the end, we had yummy food, we laughed our heads off, I got some sweet gifts from my family and friends, Hayden was cute...all-in-all, it was a pretty awesome birthday! :)

So, I'm over my freak-out....I'm YOUNG!  Life is good!  And...I'm not going to die any time soon.  I've got a healthy body and I'm determined this year to accomplish some cool things with it, before I have baby numero dos. 

The only thing still worrying me?  I think Alzheimers is setting in.  My mother-in-law took me to the mall to pick out a birthday gift a couple weeks ago (so sweet, huh?) and I picked out a cute sweatshirt from Maurices.  I hid it so I wouldn't be tempted to wear it before my birthday...and I feel like such a doofus, but I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE!   

Oh well...Here's to old age!
 -Amy

Update: I thought I hid it, but I forgot that I asked Patrick to do it!  Of course he knew right where my sweatshirt was.  At least one of us still has a brain.  What would I do without him? :)

P.S. Do you think it's kosher to throw your own birthday party?  Have you ever planned your own?

P.S.S. Have you ever ruined a surprise meant for you?  (It is so sad.)

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Out Running Cancer

By Brittany
Introduced by Amy 

Brittany is my second cousin (my dad and her mom are first cousins).  She pretty much blows my mind: she is an amazing athlete (um, I am in awe of any sort of athletic ability...or any coordination for that matter!).  She is smart, kind, and beautiful.   

I remember riding on the bus with her and our other cousin, Nicole, reading chapter books together, chatting and laughing the whole way to school.  As we got older, we were involved in different activities and made different friends, but we were always friendly to each other.  After college, it was sad to hear that her dad was fighting cancer, but I was also SO inspired to hear about his turn around!  The whole family became more health-aware.  Brittany writes about becoming healthy and her love for running on her blog "Running From It."  She also covers other topics, such as riding behind sled-dogs, getting engaged, dry-heaving on the side of the road, traveling to Hawaii and New York, and her incredible duck lip talent, just to name a few.  I don't even like to run, but her witty writing and awkwardly posed pictures seriously keep me interested and laughing.  

I am so glad she was willing to share this story.  Especially since I have chocolate-chip brownies calling to me from the cupboard...this is perfectly timed!  Cause, lets face it, we all have times when we need the reminder that exercise and good nutrition go far beyond just fitting into a smaller size of jeans--it's about living a healthy, strong life.  Creating healthy habits now just may save our lives someday!
-Amy

My first encounter with cancer began many years ago.  As a young girl, one of my dad’s brothers found out he had stage four cancer.  I didn’t know exactly what that meant at the time, but I knew he was one of my favorite uncles.  He passed away.  Several years later, another one of my dad’s brothers also lost the fight to cancer.

Two years ago in January, my 54-year-old dad went in for a routine colonoscopy.  I love to give him a hard time and tease him relentlessly, so this time was no different.  It became a big joke that he had to have this procedure done and he was such a good sport.

My dad and brother in 2008

 The morning of his procedure came and I didn’t think twice about it.  Well actually, I must have thought about it, because I had a good joke prepared for when he returned home.

My dad was the first one through the door, when my parents returned from the doctor.  I didn’t look up from the workout I had been doing, when I jokingly said, “Did they tell you that you are going to live?” SILENCE.  My dad did not respond.  I finally looked up and I saw my mother’s face.  My heart lurched in my chest when I saw her.  I knew immediately that something was wrong.  With tears streaming down her cheeks, she responded for my dad, “No.”

I struggled in the months following my dad’s colon cancer diagnosis.  A lot of negative thoughts ran through my head.  I was not very optimistic for my dad.  My dad’s brothers received the same diagnosis with the same type of cancer, and there had only been one outcome.  I kept thinking I would lose my dad and it broke my heart.

Immediately after his diagnosis, my dad started riding a stationary bike.  He strived to become healthier before undergoing surgery.  Many prayers later, in March 2011, doctors successfully removed his cancer.  Although the journey was rough, his experience has become a HUGE blessing to him and many in our family.  Colon cancer prevention has become a big deal.

As many of you probably know someone with cancer, it can often come back.   There are a number of factors that can contribute to a colon cancer diagnosis.  Several of them are:

1. Obesity
2. Diets high in animal fats and low in fiber
3. Sedentary lifestyles
4. Not getting screened at the age of 50 (or 40 for those that have family history)

My dad decided that he would reduce all of those factors in his life.  After recovering from surgery, he stopped riding his bike and laced up his running shoes.  Six months after his surgery, he successfully ran his first ever 10k race!  I was a little bit worried when he agreed to do it.  I was a very proud daughter when he crossed that finish line!

I jokingly mentioned to him that he should run a half marathon with me.  Only a year after having several feet of his intestines removed, we stood together at the Salt Lake City half marathon starting line and agreed to try our hardest.  I cried as we went our separate ways and was already proud of my dad for trying.  After I had finished, I walked back to a difficult hill just before the finish line and waited for him.  When I saw him looking so strong as he passed a lot of people running up the hill, I cried again.  He was (is!) my hero.

My dad running up that final hill

After the race

Not long after recovering from the Salt Lake City half, it became our goal to run a full marathon (26.2 miles.)  At the starting line of the Logan Marathon on September 15, 2012, I remember my dad’s wave to me as we went our separate ways.  We agreed to do our best, but neither of us would be disappointed in the other if they didn’t make it.  I cried for the first mile.  The entire time I ran I had no idea if my dad was okay.  Seeing my dad run the final stretch of that marathon was one of my proudest moments.  A year and a half earlier, I didn’t know if he would even be around, so to see him accomplish something so hard made me very emotional.

Since my dad’s diagnosis two years ago, he has ridden his bike, walked, and ran more than 10,000 miles. To improve his diet, he drinks a green smoothie every morning and eliminated red meat. Finally, he gets screened when he is supposed to.  Many in our family try to keep up him these days, but it is virtually impossible.

Conclusion:
This wasn’t a story about a mom, but many of us have personally been affected by someone with cancer.  My heart goes out to any and all of you had a loss.  I have so far been very blessed.  Because I had a slight glimpse of the pain that it can cause, I try to share what I have learned about colon cancer.  Colon cancer unfortunately is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  With that said, it often can be prevented.  Virtually all colon cancers start as a polyp.  Having polyps removed before they become cancer, can be a big factor in preventing it.  Colonoscopies discover these polyps.  I will be getting a colonoscopy at 40.  If there is no family history, 50 is the suggested age for everyone else.  It can be an uncomfortable thing to talk about, but if caught early, colon cancer can be prevented.  I didn’t know that, but I am glad that I do now.

-Brittany

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Home Remedy: Kicking that Cold to the Curb!

By Becca
Introduced by Amy

Becca is the cool big sister of one of my best friends, and I am in awe of her skills!  Not only does she rock pretty much anything "outdoors-y" (caving, camping, hiking, etc.) but she also has some MEAN home and mom skills!  She truly lives her slogan: "Do It Yourself". (Plus, she has two stinkin' cute kiddios.)  I'm excited that she is going to share some of her do-it-yourself smarts and help us find some relief when we fall victim to the dreaded cold. 
-Amy 

After becoming a mom… one of my harshest realizations was that when I’m sick, there are no sick days… Sure as a school teacher I had to find a sub and prep stuff for her, but then I could go home and get some quality R&R. Now that I stay home… home is my place of work and not so much a refuge for relaxation. You can’t just cancel your daughter’s birthday party and stop taking care of the baby for a few days while you’re fighting a vicious head cold. You still have to keep things going, they depend on you. What do you do?

I’ve been stuffy and having some major sinus congestion, w/ an off and on cough for the past 4-5 days. My head was pounding and I just pushed through it. When I stopped for a bit to realize how crummy I was feeling I’d take some decongestants or some night-time cold medicine to get some rest and a little relief from the post-nasal drip at night. The trouble was that I was not getting any better; in fact I was feeling progressively worse—I had completely lost my sense of smell and was starting to feel pain in my ears. I nursed the kids back to health (they were the ones who had given it to me). All that extra care for everyone else was leaving me little time to take care of myself. The past 2 days I’m feeling immensely better and I’m kicking this cold to the curb. Here is what has helped for me. 

Breathing Steam. A lot of the complications from colds are caused by breathing dry air in the winter. When we heat our homes in the winter it makes the air dryer. Use humidifiers, especially at night. When you lie down the mucus draining down your throat and in your airways is more likely to drape across the airway and cause it to tickle making you cough. If it is thick and nasty it can be very hard to cough up; causing wheezing and inflammation from all of that unproductive coughing. If you are coughing and it is not helping to clear your airway you need to suppress it, or find a way to make it more productive. Adding moisture helps. It loosens the mucous and helps you to cough that crap out of there. 

HOT STEAM TREATMENT: to clear sinuses, soothe airways, and prep for a DIY facial. 

Put the kids to bed, get a pot of water warming on the stove. Place a hot-pad on the table near your chair, tissues, and a bath towel. It’s also nice to wash your face and brush your teeth at this point and maybe take a night time cold remedy. 

Insert head here!

Once it starts simmering that’s plenty hot. Bring it to the table and set it on the hot pad. Lean over the pot and drape the towel over your head. Depending on the temperature of the water you may want more ventilation (raise the edge of the towel above the rim of the pot –like if the water is boiling hot). 

Start with slow steady breaths through your mouth. This usually makes me cough after the first few breaths. After I cough up a lot of mucous (which I didn’t realize was in there) I feel so much better and I can breathe deeply and freely… it feels glorious. Afterward your throat may still need something to soothe it like a lozenge if you still have coughs from irritation. 

Then I focus on breathing through each nostril. If one is really stuffy I plug the clear nostril and force the steamy air up through that nostril. Within a few minutes I really have to blow my nose and suddenly I can breathe again! If your congestion is merely from mucous this really works wonders. If you find your airway is still restricted you have rhinitis (inflammation up your nose most likely from all the snorting and sniffling you’ve been doing all day or from irritants: chemicals/allergens). Take antihistamine or maybe just aspirin or ibuprofen (they calm inflammation). 

Hang out under the towel as long as your heart desires. Be sure you allow enough fresh air in; you aren’t getting light headed. If you are super tired and you’re just happy to breathe again go straight to bed. 

OPTIONAL FOLLOW-UP FACIAL:
If you want to spend a little time pampering yourself, go to the bathroom and do some micro-derm -abrasion on your steamed open pores. Steaming your face is the recommended 1st step for unclogging pores... (I don’t know if it’s just turning 30 or having kids or what, but I’ve noticed that my pores really need some attention lately). 

If you want an easy inexpensive micro-derm treatment simply add some baking soda to your face wash. I soap up my face with my Neutrogena bar, put about a teaspoon of baking soda in my palm and use my finger tips to gently scrub the areas that my pores are most prominent. Add more water if it gets too abrasive and stop before it gets too irritated (you can buy powdered aspirin that prevents inflammation, but I like the finer texture of the soda). 

Rinse your face well with very warm water and then follow with super cold water (like my winter tap water). This helps tighten those freshly cleaned pores. This would be the perfect time to use a clay mask. Either way, finish with a cold rinse and a generous application of comedogenic moisturizer. If not, your pores will feel dry and fill up with oil. The excess oil is what hardens and clogs pores. I wish I figured this out years ago. When my skin was oily I always thought that moisturizer just made my skin worse, but eventually the moisturizer will train your pores to produce less oil. 

So you moms: take a little time out to take care of yourself and get feeling better!

-Becca

P.S. Try out these tips and let us know how it goes!  
 
P.S.S.  Hey, I'm not a doctor, so if you are still feeling miserable, you probably need to seek some medical advice!

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Weight-loss Tips from a Lazy Momma!

By Katie

Introduced by Amy

Katie and I met at church, and I got to know her better when I was called to be her visiting teacher (where women go to each other's homes so everyone gets visited, helped, and loved.)  Katie is soft-spoken and kind.  She was so great to talk to, because she was so sincere.  I loved her relationship with her daughter.  I wish I could have spent more time getting to know her, because she moved soon after, but we stayed friends on facebook.  She started telling about her weight-loss goals, and I was SO impressed!  She graciously agreed to tell her story!  This girl is strong and has come a long way.  I am SO proud of her for taking charge of her health, rather than becoming a victim to it!

Enjoy Katie's story and be inspired!  

First of all, I am not a fitness expert. Not even close. I am just a mom, who found herself overweight and unhappy and decided to make some changes. I am also not sponsored in any way—this is just my story, and some tips I’ve learned that might help you, too.

Before  (August 2012)

You’ll probably assume that, like many moms, I’m trying to lose the baby weight. But the truth is, I’m losing the pre-baby weight. Between getting married and getting pregnant, I gained 40 pounds in less than 2 years. I am 5’6” and at my heaviest was about 180 pounds. I also have a short torso and carry my weight in my stomach. This male-pattern obesity is higher risk for long-term health problems. In November 2009 I was diagnosed with insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). In 2011, after I finished breastfeeding my daughter, I took my doctor’s advice and joined MyFitnessPal.com, which is a calorie counting website and mobile app. I had good success for a couple months and lost about 15 pounds. Then I let life get in the way, stopped counting calories and gained back to 175.

In September 2012 my daughter turned 2 and I knew I needed to get on track and lose the weight. We started talking about having another baby, and I knew I needed to be healthier first. When we were trying to conceive our daughter I struggled with infertility because of my weight, and I didn’t want to go through that again.

I got back on My Fitness Pal on September 16, 2012, and I have tracked my food (and occasional exercise) every day since. In 4 months I have lost 31 pounds and counting. I have gone from size 12 jeans to size 6, and have lost a total of 24 inches comparing these measurements:

Pecs (above the bust)

Bust/chest (fullest part of the bust)

Ribs (bra strap, under the bust)

Waist (narrowest point, above navel)

Abdomen (belly pooch, just under navel for me)

Hips (fullest part of the butt)

Left/right upper thigh (just below the butt cheek)

Left/right lower thigh (2 inches above the kneecap)

Left/right calf (at fullest point)

Left/right upper arm (3 inches from armpit)

My advice is simple. I have no secrets. I am not paleo or veggie or South Beach or hCG. Weight loss does not require expensive trainers or programs. It simply requires self-control and moderation. I don’t assume that my advice will work for everyone, in every situation, but this is what has helped me and I hope something here will benefit you.

·      Set realistic, short-term goals. My first attempt at weight loss failed in part because I only set a long-term goal. I wanted to lose 50 pounds in a year. A year was a long time away when those Oreos were staring me in the face. Setting and achieving short-term goals will give you the momentum to keep going! Realistic weight loss is an average of 1-2 pounds a week.

 

·      Reward yourself. I have had great success by setting up a reward system. I decided to pay myself $5/pound, which I could use for clothes once I met my goal. This satisfied my need for instant gratification, and I kept my money in a glass jar on the fridge as a great visual of my progress. I also drew a chart showing my weight loss and money earned. I have it up on the fridge door and it’s an excellent reminder!

During my weight-loss path...

·       Drink your water! Drinking enough water helps prevent water retention. It is also the simplest detox. It really helps flush your system. You need at least 64 ounces of water daily, and you should work toward drinking half your body weight in ounces. I am 144 pounds, so I should try for 72 ounces of water daily. I drink and refill my 20 oz bottle throughout the day. On a good day I drink 20 oz when I wake up, 20 oz at lunchtime, 20 oz in the afternoon, and 20 oz with dinner. I don’t chug it, but keep drinking on my bottle until I’ve finished, then refill and stick it back in the fridge.

·      Eat homemade. Most restaurant food and processed, packaged meals are excessively high in calories and sodium. Cook at home and control exactly what you’re eating.

·      Make sustainable changes to your diet. The truth is that almost any diet will help you lose weight. But in my opinion if you choose an extreme diet (i.e. meal replacement, pills/supplements, juice fasts), you will not learn how to eat healthy and are more likely to regain the weight. This is why I really believe in food diaries/calorie counting. Make gradual changes to your current diet, and you will make natural improvements and learn to eat healthy for a lifetime.

·      Keep a food diary. You don’t need to jump into a strict calorie goal immediately, just start by recording everything you eat. I highly recommend MyFitnessPal.com for this, but there are many other websites as well. Or you can simply write it in a notebook! Record your food and calories. Use measuring cups or a kitchen scale to learn correct portions. Work on proper portions and cutting out junk food. This happened naturally for me because I hate “wasting” my calories on junky snacks! Gradually cut down your calorie intake. A great thing about My Fitness Pal is that it will calculate a calorie goal for you based on height, weight, age and activity level.

·      Treat yourself. You don’t need to completely eliminate your favorites, but a treat should be just that—a treat! Allowing your favorites in moderation helps prevent you from feeling deprived and abandoning your diet.

·      Take it one day at a time. Keep a positive attitude, and don’t let one moment’s splurge throw you off track. If you have a bad day, and give in to emotional eating, don’t give up! What really matters is what you do next. Instead of beating yourself up, and giving in to further emotional eating, move on! Start fresh and strive to do better. [insert pic, don’t give up]

·      Find “IT” – your personal drive and motivation. We all want to look good and feel good, but if that were enough, we’d all be fit! So find that something extra that will push you to make a change! If it’s nothing obvious, try writing a list of why you want to lose weight. Writing helps organize your thoughts and feelings, and you’re likely to learn something about yourself.

·      Find a support group for accountability and encouragement. This is huge! I am a member of an online parenting forum and found a group of moms trying to lose 25 pounds or more. I joined in and have gotten great support and advice. I also decided to post my weight loss goals and progress on Facebook. I have received so much love and support from family and friends, and I’ve been able to inspire others to try for their own fitness goals.

After!

If I can do it, you can do it too. I mean that wholeheartedly. I am not a personal trainer or a health nut. I love sweets and junk and hate exercise. I am lazy and already overwhelmed with my 2-year-old. But I decided that I deserve to be healthy. I slowly made changes to my diet. I established small habits every day that have added up to a huge improvement in my health. No more excuses! Make a change today!

What has helped you to get healthy and lose weight?  What is your "IT"?

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