The Thing I Never Planned To Do, But Did

It was mid-December and life was racing along as usual at our home. Gifts were bought, cards were sent, cookies were made. You know. All of the things that we generally do in December were high on the priority list. And somewhere in the midst of all the celebrating and eating I heard the word "cleanse." And I do mean in the physical, biological sense.

It seemed that everywhere I looked there was a push toward healthier eating. Not just the usual "I need to lose weight " New Year's Resolution kind of stuff, but clinical research, can't-deny-the-proof stuff. If you know me, a healthy and environmentally responsible lifestyle is something I try to live out everyday. I'm not perfect, but since my first pregnancy I've always been careful about what I put in my body, how much, and be aware of where it comes from. But this chatter of "paleo diet" or "plant based diet" was hard to ignore. If you're not familiar with these terms don't worry... neither was I. Interestingly to me, they are not the same thing.

Generally speaking, a paleo diet is one specific to "whole foods" that includes a wide range of meats, poultry, eggs, and fish and stresses single ingredient foods. In other words, if you can't pronounce something on that can of soup that you're holding, just put it right back on the shelf. The paleo diet allows for eating all fruits and vegetables, some nuts but absolutely no legumes, grains, dairy, or sugar/sweeteners of any kind.

A plant-based diet is quite a bit more self-descriptive. If it grows from the ground, you're good to eat it. No animal based food of any kind is allowed. We most commonly hear the term "vegan" for people who eat this way. Unlike the paleo diet, the plant-based diet includes whole grains and legumes, but excludes any and all meat, eggs, or dairy products.

As of today, I am two weeks into my paleo diet. I'll admit to a "cheat" last weekend for a wedding we attended but I can honestly say I haven't had one taste of butter, one drop of honey, or a single sliver of cheese since starting this cleanse. And I do call it a cleanse, because I plan on making some diet adjustments after a couple more weeks.

Let me share what I've discovered for myself already in my own personal health:

• I'm sleeping better than I have in years. Although everything I read promised this result, I never expected it. I'm so grateful.
• I have the same level of energy or better than I had before and my energy level is consistent throughout my day. I absolutely do not have the dips in energy that I used to have.
• This is not a weight loss regimen for me, but there's no doubt that my abdomen is flatter than it was two weeks ago.

I'll be excited to share my report at the end of the cleanse as well. My intention is to replace meats with more legumes - I miss my hummus!! - but continue to eat eggs. I also intend to discontinue the use of cow's milk and use only coconut milk (no soy here unless it's organic).

So much of our lifestyle journey is based on our beliefs, our faith, our health, and our convictions. Science can prove or disprove many things, but our own experiences can't be denied. This somewhat unintentional journey deep into the world of health and science makes me want to plea with you to take some time to discover for yourself what the effects of your eating habits have on your health.

Don't drink another diet soda until you know the risks.

Don't continue eating dairy products because you grew up being told that was how you had to get your calcium.

Don't be fooled into thinking that sugar-filled and highly processed foods aren't killing you slowly... and maybe not so slowly.

Wishing you good health in 2012! See you back here in a couple of weeks.

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Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

I found this recipe in a Christmas Cookie Cookbook about 8 years ago. Since then, I have misplaced the book, but the recipe is soooo simple that it's still one we make every Christmas. It's certainly a great year round recipe and perfect for kids to help with!

Here's what you need:

1c. peanut butter
1c. granulated suger
1 egg

That's it! You can double or triple the recipe for bigger batches. The 1-1-1 ratio makes about 30 cookies (1 tsp. sized).

Cook at 350 for about 12 minutes. One note: you'll need to press down the cookie because it does not spread.

A few of our favorite variations include rolling the cookies in sugar before putting them on the cookie sheet, adding a Hershey Kiss, and mixing in chocolate chips. Some things I haven't tried yet but I think would be lovely and yummy are a candy coating drizzle or dip, using chunky peanut butter, and adding sprinkles.

What would you add to this super simple recipe?

And by the way, I intended to have a picture for you, but these cookies were eaten so quickly I never had a chance. I'd say that's not a bad thing altogether. :-)

Frisco's Wassail Days

Friends, 

I'm so excited to bring you the details of this family event in Frisco, Colorado! Nothing says Christmas like getting up into the beautiful Rocky Mountains and celebrating the holidays nestled in a cozy town with your closest friends and family. Fresh snow. Lighted trees. Sleigh rides. Visits with Santa.

And it all starts with the Santa Dash for Cash - a 1K "fun run" in which all participants must wear Santa gear! The run is TOMORROW and when you register at www.wassaildays.com you will receive a Frisco Santa shirt, a Santa hat and at the end of the run you will receive a stocking full of goodies including Wassail Cash (the official currency of Wassail Days that can be used at local restaurants and retailers) and a FREE pass for a ½ hour of tubing at the Frisco Adventure Park Tubing Hill. What a deal!!

Wassail Days is going on all week long (Dec 3-11). Start a new tradition with this annual event that has something for everyone in your family! (And, if you can't make it this year, mark your 2012 calendar.)

Here are a few more details:

                 12/3: $25 entry fee for SANTA DASH FOR CASH – receive Frisco Santa shirt, a Santa hat, Wassail Cash, ½ hour                    tubing pass for Frisco Adventure Park.

o    FREE admission to Tree Lighting along Main Street

o    Chili Cook-off at the Frisco Adventure Park where runners can redeem their ½ free tubing hill pass

12/7: Wassail Night at the Historic Park

12/8: FREE Nordic Ski, Tubing and Sleigh Rides

12/10: Breakfast with Santa at Tuscato’s (register for this event at www.wassaildays.com)

                12/11: Final voting day for the Wassail competition – sip and vote for your favorite wassail for FREE at participating retail shops along Main Street in Frisco.

Holiday Heads-Up Part 2

Well, I've done a little more reading and little more shopping since my first holiday post.

I'm convinced that to make it through December 31 debt-free, you absolutely MUST have a plan! Have you been to the stores that are playing Christmas music already?!? I want to not like it, but it's hard when that Christmas-y feeling makes you feel so good. And, it makes me feel like shopping for gifts, new decorations, ingredients for favorite recipes... the list goes on.

So on my most recent trip to a national chain craft store, I'll confess to you that I didn't have a plan. I had a few scraps of a plan floating around my brain, but no solid plan for what I was looking for or who I was shopping for. But, at times like these I do tell myself one thing: if it's not on sale, you don't need it. And so I began my  quest for gifts and goodies for the holidays. Maybe I should have left my wallet in the car, but I still think I made out okay.

If you're family, you may want to stop reading if you don't want to know what you're getting for Christmas. :) I found some great deals that will incorporate a home-made touch with a practical gift: note cards.

I was able to purchase note cards and envelopes in bulk at half off. Then, I purchased special embellishments at the same discount. For storage, I found wooden boxes on sale that the kids can decorate and personalize. I would be delighted to get this gift! And the best part? I was able to get all of the supplies and the box for less than $7/person (about 15 note cards each).

I've also been gathering Ball jars (or similar) for homemade candies. Check out the second-hand store for jars, mugs, tins, or plates that will dress up your candy and cookie gifts. Treats will be made just before they are gifted, but I was able to purchase ribbon at half price for these gifts too and the cost will be easily under $2/gift. Perfect for friends and neighbors.

Lastly, I've been watching my Walgreen's ads. You may not have a Walgreen's, but I assume other drug stores have similar sale items. I've been watching for when specialty and holiday candies go on sale. For under a dollar, I can gift a sweet treat... wrap in a new, holiday tea towel or tissue paper, tie on an ornament (I purchased tea towels & ornaments last year on clearance), and use that discounted ribbon! These will make lovely teacher gifts.

Please share your own ideas! I'll be back with one more post... maybe about holiday decor, but I haven't decided. Thanks for reading!

Holiday Heads-Up

It seems like it wasn't that long ago that I was a young bride browsing the shelves of a certain mega-bookstore in Fort Collins, Colorado. B.K. (before kids) my hubby and I would spend hours milling around the bookstore reading the dust covers, paging through table of contents, and rummaging in the bargain bin for our next read.

It was more his hobby than mine, but even then I loved to find a bargain! On one such outing, I stumbled on a book that would forever change my spending and my holidays. Debt Proof Your Holidays by Mary Hunt is just a little book, but it has big ideas that can change your entire outlook on the upcoming holiday season.

And if you're like me (I'm guessing many of you are), you're already thinking about Thanksgiving straight through to Christmas and dreaming about the things you'll give, what you'll cook, the parties you'll host, and the events you'll attend. The "problem" is it all costs money and it all takes time! And heaven knows that we do not have an unlimited budget for the holidays.

Have you even considered making yourself a budget? Ah-ha. Your answer tells a lot about you.

Living on a budget is a way of life for us. This one book was really a springboard for completely rethinking how we spend money day-in and day-out. In fact, you can find Mary Hunt's entire philosophy at her website: Debt Proof Living. There are many other great resources for staying on a budget and I'll plan on doing a piece about those in the new year. For now, I want to talk about ideas for keeping your next six weeks (YES IT'S ONLY SIX WEEKS!!) in the black.

I'm going to make this post a three part series. Please share comments along the way with resources and ideas of your own that will be helpful to others and a reminder to yourself that you can get through the holidays with less stress and less debt!

Today, let's reflect on the question that Ms. Hunt puts forth in her holiday book: what do you value and how will your Christmas celebrations reflect those values?

What is most important to you and your family? What brings you the most joy? What do you wish you had or had not done last Christmas? How do you want to feel on January 1, 2012?

Here are some thoughts to get you moving. I highly recommend starting to write your thoughts out journal-style and read them as you move through the coming weeks.

Do you love cooking and baking? Is it important to you to send Christmas cards and/or a family newsletter? Do you want to decorate your home? If so, how much is enough? Are there special traditions that you want to include? Are there parties you want to attend or some that you should skip this year? What is a reasonable spending limit? Do you need to talk to kids ahead of time about what Christmas will look like this year?

This is what I know. Just yesterday I saw that Walmart released their Black Friday sales. Not only that, they are starting those promotions at 10pm on Thanksgiving night (so much for Black Friday). Target will open at midnight with its door buster sales. And this is only the beginning. The buying, the rushing, the busyness, the stress will happen if you let it.

It is NOT too late to make this your best holiday season ever. And that doesn't mean more gifts, more parties, and more spending. It may actually mean less. But that's up to you. Have you started planning? What's your strategy?


"I will examine my holiday activities in light of my values, and because there's no way I can do it all, I will choose those things that bring the greatest joy and happiness to me and my family." ~Mary Hunt from Debt Proof Your Holidays

Card Game Tip for kids

We love to play games as a family. With the clocks turned back and the days turned shorter, more than ever were thinking about indoor activities that don't involve turning on the TV or sitting behind a computer.

One of our favorite games is Uno (close second place includes Old Maid and War). But we quickly found out that little hands have trouble holding all those cards! So, in honor of shorter days and family time I wanted to share this great little trick I discovered.

Save an empty egg carton and flip it over. First, cut off the lid - you won't need that part. Then, cut slits in each round egg-shaped compartment. Now cards can be held in place with no hands! Make one for each little person and they can be easily stored in a game closet or cabinet. (I think I originally saw this idea in an issue of Family Fun magazine, but don't remember for sure who to credit.)

Hope you enjoy many fun, family nights together this fall and winter!