20 days till christmas?!?

I wish I had some super awesome excuse as to why I haven't blogged since September.  But I don't.  Truth is, I kind of forgot about my blog.  And I'm a lazy slacker.  But I'm sitting here.  Alone.  On a Friday night, watching cheesy Christmas movies on Hallmark and Lifetime and decided I should finally take a few minutes to catch up on my blog.  Thank goodness for Instagram which allows me to remember everything I've done! (*Beware: long post below!)

The primary presidency was reorganized a couple weeks ago, but I'm still in as a counselor.  I put together some activity packets for the kids to do during general conference.  I actually really like being in primary.  The kids are so cute and eager to learn, and they continually crack me up with their answers and perspective on life and the gospel.

We decided to do two garage sales in October.  We have so much stuff!  They both went really well and I ended up making over $100 on things I was getting rid of.  

Love this little chunker!  She's getting so big.  We've had several family get-togethers the last couple months with birthdays (Barbara and Megan), Halloween, and Thanksgiving.  We also got three baby announcements!  Esther, Kristen, and Faith are all having a baby!!  They're all due within about 6 weeks of each other this summer.  It's going to be so fun to have three new little ones all together.  

I love this quote.  I wish my two best friends lived closer.  I miss both Katy and Kristy :(  I am counting down until February, because I'm going up to Utah for a weekend to see Kristy and go to Rootstech (a big family history conference).  I'm really excited.  I need some Megan & Rachel time.  Plus there's a French bakery in SLC that I really want to try out.  I've heard they have amazing pastries!

I named the two little geckos that hang out by the front door.  Francois and Columbus are really cute.  I love them.  They're next door neighbors (as Barbara pointed out).  Francois lives behind the siding around the front door, and Columbus lives in one of the corners by the front window.  They are often out having dinner together - enjoying all the tasty bugs attracted to the porch light. 

The Phoenix temple is finally done!  It's been a long road, but so worth it.  We were able to drive out and go through the open house and participate in the dedication the beginning of November.  It's such a blessing to have so many temples now in Arizona.  And there's another one on the way!  Once the Tuscon temple is built there will be 6 here in AZ!

Julia was in charge of Halloween this year.  We had a fun themed family dinner.  I made mummy dogs.  This picture still makes me laugh.  The dog on the left looks like he just got out of the shower and is wearing a towel turban on his head!  LOL!!

I decided I want to go to Disneyland for my birthday next year.  I also want to lose the last 50 pound to get to my goal weight.  However, that is turning out to be easier said than done.  I joined Weight Watchers, hoping it will help to keep me on track and more committed, knowing that I have to go in once a week to weigh-in.  So are, I've only lost 4 pounds in the last 3 weeks. 

 I went to a one-day family history conference put on by the family history library here in Mesa.  It was held at the Tempe institute building and was really interesting.  I learned lots and it got me really excited for Rootstech in February.  I've been working hard on the McLaws line of my genealogy.  I really want to find the missing link that no one has been able to find to further that line.  I'm hoping to get some inspiration (a visitation would be helpful) on this one soon...

Thank goodness for Hallmark channels and they're cheeserific Christmas movies every year!  There have been a couple of really cute ones this year (A Royal Christmas, The Nine Lives of Christmas) and one HORRIBLE one (A Cookie Cutter Christmas).  There was also a really ridiculous one of Lifetime that we watched: "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Movie Ever."  Don't waste your time on that one...

MATT MEESE!  Dad's cousin, Jef Rawls, owns an awesome improve theatre and they had a special event with guest actor Matt Meese (from the BYUTV sketch comedy show Studio C).  It just so happened that the show was the weekend that Aunt Jeri and Rachel were in town for a quick weekend girls trip.  It was really fun to spend the weekend with them and go to the show together.  Matt is hilarious and I love him. 

  

We introduced Jeri and Rachel to the wonder that is Bahama Bucks.  It's the best shaved ice ever!  

While Jeri and Rachel were here they slept in Julia's room, which meant that Julia slept in my room.  We were up late one night and trying to take funny pictures in bed.  This was the result...

 Veteran's day also happened to be the weekend Jeri and Rachel were in town.  We decided to go to a special memorial service that the city of Mesa does every year at the City of Mesa cemetery.  During WWII there were some members of the Royal Air Force training at Falcon Field, here in Mesa, when a training accident happened and some were killed.  They are buried in the Mesa city cemetery and every year there is a memorial service to remember them and all the veterans who have served over the years.  This was the first year we'd ever gone to the memorial service.  We decided to go this year because J.R. is a drummer in the Mesa Caledonia Bagpipe Band and they were playing as part of the service.  It was a very special event and one I'd like to attend every year.  While we were there we stopped by to visit Grandpa Benjamin F. Johnson's grave.  

I can't believe another semester is almost done!  Two more weeks, three lab reports, and two finals left and I can check another semester's worth of classes off my pre-requisite list.  One more semester closer to being able to apply to the ND program!  This semester has been fun.  I've learned a lot of interesting things.  In biology we did a semester-long experiment on plant genetics.  I'm taking a genetics class next semester, which I'm looking forward to.  

One of the other classes I took this semester was a three week course on aromatherapy.  It was very interesting.  I learned a lot.  I love the fact that there is so much healing potential all around us in nature, if we just learn how to use it!  As part of the class assignments I had to make a room spray and a massage oil blend.  I decided to make a room spray to use at night to help me relax and sleep using peppermint, orange, and lavender essential oils.  I love it!  And it really works!  The massage oil I made is one for pain/inflammation relief using tea tree, cedar wood, and orange essential oils.  This one works too and I use it when my lower back pain starts to flair up.  It seems to stop it in it's tracks, which I love. 

 Thanksgiving this year was very nice.  We had our traditional formal night on Wednesday with the traditional turkey dinner and all the fixings.  Yum!  Thursday some of us went to the park for lunch and to play for a few hours, then went out for the annual BUTT (Blowing Up of The Turkey).  I love our family traditions!

Really awesome book I started and finished Thanksgiving weekend.  Mitch Albom is one of my favorite authors.  I love his writing style and choice of words and phrases.  

 Finally time to pull out the Christmas music.  It's not Christmas without the boys!  

I am resolving to try and be better about keeping this blog updated.  Since I'm using it as my journal I know it's important, for family history purposes, and I haven't been doing so well lately.  But, I'm going to be better.  Sometimes I think my life is really boring and no one would really be interested in my mundane life and goings-on, but I'm repenting now and going to do better!  So, until next time...  :)

my week in pictures

Tuesday morning I got up and did my 2.25 mile walk around the neighborhood, despite the disgustingly muggy weather (due to another hurricane pushing rain into AZ). #operationweightloss #beinghealthygettingbetter

Then my favorite pair of shoes broke at work. #sadface

Dad filled sandbags to guard against flooding issues in this second wave of mega storms being predicted. #monsoonseason #ifyearepreparedyeshallnotfear

Wednesday, they put up a valiant fight against the water, but we were kind of fighting a losing battle. #whenitrainsitfloods

Double rainbow over the Mesa Community College Red Mountain campus that evening.  #beautyamidstthestorms

Went to CVS with Mom Friday after work and watched a master couponer (Mom) in action: 12) 14 oz bags of M&M's for $1.25 each!  #amazing

I have Paris set as one of the cities that shows on my weather app.  I torture myself everyday looking at it, wishing I were there.  It's especially difficult when I see weather like this.  I'm tired of summer and ready for it to be over.  I'd also like a vacation please.  I am feeling the need to run away from life right now.  My stress and anxiety about money and my decreased income are getting the best of me right now. #beinganadultishard

Went to Walmart last night with Mom, Dad, and Julia.  Julia needed to stop at the bank beforehand.  This is her, using the ATM from the backseat of the Nitro.  LOL!  #awkward #bumshot

While there I tried on and bought two shirts that were size LARGE!  That made me do a little happy dance in the dressing room.  #operationweightloss #slowandsteadywinstherace

Favorite quote from church today. #highcounselorsundy

First attempt ever at making fried chicken tonight for dinner.  #success #impressedwithmyself

anti-candida diet

I've been wanting to go to a Naturopathic doctor for a little while.  Fist because I had some health issues I wanted to see if I could get some help with, and secondly because I want to start to get an idea about what I'm going to be doing once I'm done with the naturopathic program.   A couple of weeks ago I finally did.  One of the patients that comes in to see Dr. Hallows (the chiropractor I work for) told us about the ND she had started seeing and had a lot of great things to say about her, so I called and made an appointment.  After talking with Dr. Bishop about different symptoms I've been battling and health goals I wanted help in reaching, she looked at my lab report from last year, asked lots of questions and we discussed a lot of things.  She decided to draw some blood and do some more/newer lab tests on my hormone levels and to get a clearer picture on what's going on in my body.

I went back in last Wednesday and we went over the results together.  Some of my hormones are a little off balance, but nothing too alarming.  However, it is enough to cause a little concern about a few things.  We discussed doing hormone treatments, but Dr. Bishop said that's something she doesn't really like to do, and I don't want to do it either, if possible.  We talked about my results, my history, and the symptoms I had and she said it sounds like I have an overgrowth of candida in my gut.

What is candida?  It's a yeast/fungus that can get out of control in the gut.  When it does, it affects the stomach and intestinal linings and then allows toxins to leak out into the body affecting hormone levels and other bodily functions.  It is normally found in the body, but when things get out of balance, they kind of take over and cause a lot of issues.  Such as:

-Skin and nail fungal infections
-Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
-Bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
-Autoimmune diseases like thyroditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus
-Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, or brain fog
-Eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
-Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
-Vaginal infections, urinary tract infections
-Severe seasonal allergies
-Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings

Out of that 10 symptom list, I currently am struggling with eight of them.  Before contemplating more drastic measures, my doctor and I decided that trying the anti-candida diet for the next 30 days would be a good first step.  If this really is my issue, than this diet should clear it all up!  These little yeastie-beasties thrive and flourish on sugar and carbs, so for two weeks I'm attempting to starve them by staying away from the things that they feed on.  Then for the next two weeks I will continue the diet, but will add in an herbal supplement that will go in and kill off all the bad yeast.  Then I can work on reintroducing good probiotics back into my system.

Here's the basics of the diet:


NO
-Sugar, or sweetener of ANY kind (stevia is the only sweetener allowed, but sparingly)
-Alcohol (luckily this one isn't a problem for me)
-Gluten, and most grains
-Fruit (only allowed 1/2 c. of berries each day)
-Potatoes and corn
-Dairy
-Peanuts and cashews (these nuts can carry mold)
-Mushrooms
-Vinegars
-Yeast (for obvious reasons...)

YES
-Vegetables (all kinds!)
-Meat (beef, chicken, turkey)
-Fish (not shellfish)
-Nuts and seeds (except peanuts and cashews)
-Herbs and spices
-Oils (coconut, olive, flax)
-Sea Salt
-Herbal Teas
-Eggs
-Wild rice, quinoa, amaranth (but limited)

So...it's a very healthy diet.  I had a mental tug-of-war with myself over reintroducing meat into my diet in order to do this, because I can't survive on just vegetables and nuts for the next 30 days.  I finally decided that I'm going to treat this like the Word of Wisdom and eat meat sparingly.  Every couple of days I'll do something, but I'm going to try to stick mostly with the veggies, beans, nuts, and the limited carbs like wild rice and quinoa.

I've already tried several new recipes and vegetables.  I discovered I like rutabagas, but dislike parsnips.  So far I've lost 5 pounds!  I'm holding out really celebrating this because my body usually lets weight go pretty fast in the first week when I start something new, but then it creeps back on.  So, the next 30 days will be interesting...

fall has...flung?

They say, "Spring has sprung," but what happens when it's fall?  Is it flung?  I'm not really sure.  But, I'm ready for it to be fall.  All the rain we got today made me REALLY crave fall.  So, since my class tonight was cancelled, I decided to decorate!

On Friday my boss closed the office because it was his birthday, so I didn't have work.  Mom and I ran a couple errands, one of which was to JoAnn's.  She found this adorable little hedgehog and I had to buy him!  He's so cute and I knew he would love to live in my pumpkin patch.  Faith named him Humphrey.

Today I pulled my fall boxed out of the shed (which, thankfully remained mostly dry from all the rain today).

Humphrey loves his new home!  I went to CVS and bought $20 worth of candy to finish my pumpkin patch.

I love fall!  As much as I love living in Arizona, and I really do, I do miss the fact that we don't have a real Fall here.  There really is no crisp autumn air, no brilliantly colored leaves crunching beneath your feet, or the smell of wood smoke from people's chimneys.  But, it is a herald that summer is almost over and cooler weather is on the way!

I have several things I want to do, or make this fall that I'm really looking forward to:

1. Schnepf Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party and their Farmer's Market and Flea Market Saturdays

2. Aunt Jeri and my cousin Rachel are coming down in for a weekend visit in November

3. Almost Raw Vegan Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake (I want to make this!)

4. Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls (vegan) - I want to make these too!

5. Butternut Cranberry Bake - I will be making this as well!

6. Pumpkin Maple Cornbread Bake Bean Casserole - will be making this!

I also have a couple classes that are half-semester classes that start next month (and one in November) that I'm really excited about: Herbal Remedies, Aromatherapy, and Comparative Healing Techniques.

I have a feeling it's going to be a good Fall!

the hundred-year rain

Today was one for the history books.  At least here in Arizona.  The powers that be (aka the local meteorologists and other news entities) have been forecasting a big monsoon storm for the last several days.  All week it kept moving farther and farther back, and I was kind of skeptical as to how "big" it was really going to be.  This has been a very dry monsoon season this year and most of the rain that has been forecasted the last couple months hasn't really materialized.

Well, it materialized this morning!

About 2am I woke up to some thunder and lightening and soon after heard the rain.  And it kept raining.  But I went back to sleep.  When I woke up at 6am to go to the gym it was still raining!  Hard.  Thanks to all the moisture being pushed our way from hurricane Norbert.

I hesitated about going out in it, not knowing how back the roads were going to be, but I went.  They weren't too bad, as I went up the street a couple miles to the gym.  When I got back home Julia was up getting ready for work and Mom was up watching the news.  Holy cow!!

I was so thankful I didn't have to worry about driving into Phoenix to go to work!  All the freeways were underwater due to flash flooding.  It was crazy out there!  

Last night at dinner Dad made a comment about how low the water level in the pool was and mentioned needing to fill it up.  Needless to say, after this morning there is no longer a need to!  The back porch became a lake, but no water came into the house, thankfully.  We only ended up with a small area of the back porch roof that had some leaking/water damage, and my leather chair which has been sitting out on the back porch as there is nowhere else for it to live right now, sustained some water damage.  But, those are both minor things compared with what a lot of other people are dealing with after today's storm.  

The rain cleared up about 11am.  It stayed kind of overcast for another hour or so, but then cleared up.  There was a forecast of more rain this afternoon and evening, but so far we haven't seen anymore here.  

Today was the wettest day in Phoenix on record.  Ever.  On average we get 2.71" during the monsoon season (June, July, August) every year.  Just today alone the airport reported 3.78"!  Chandler got over 5" and Mesa was over 4.5".  Here at the house we got at least 4" because that's how much the pool water level rose!  Crazy!  

I drove to and from work without any issues, thankfully.  Gary, one of the massage therapists that works at my office wasn't so lucky.  His car got flooded and stalled out on him on his way in today.  A lot of school around the Phoenix metro area closed today, or had delayed starts.  My biology class was cancelled this evening.

I'm so thankful for the rain!  We needed it so badly.  I know lots of people are dealing with the after affects of all the water, but it's hard to complain about something that is such a blessing.