Running? Yoga?

I've been wanting to start a running regimen and yoga too. Have I gone crazy?

After much consideration and research I have decided upon a short running routine:



I am no runner, in fact I hate it....mostly because I have a bad knee....but I'm going to give it a whirl. In addition to running, yoga also has always attracted me. I have chosen a DVD called Ashtanga Yoga-Beginners. I've done yoga before, but never been serious about it, but I'm gunna get serious about it.

My goal is to lose 15 pounds and be lookin extra great for our trip to Florida and the Bahamas!

Recent Events

I feel like I need to write about recent events and address them in order to help myself move forward in a positive way.

It has been one week since I found out that I had had a miscarriage. Since then I have done a lot of searching. Searching for the Lord, searching for my happiness, searching for myself. I retreated back to some old habits, reaching for my headphones, reaching for my most prized music collection, reaching for my notebook, reaching deep within myself to somehow find a way to make sense of everything and allow it to be okay. This was such a raw, emotional, and personal experience and yet in one week I've had more people reach out to me and share their similar experiences. I had no idea, and as hard as it sounds all these women have regained and even built their strength, confidence, faith, and courage. I am not alone in my experience and loss and I am so grateful for those the Lord has surrounded me with to comfort, love, and support me.

Although I lost something very precious, I also gained something very precious that you don't come by very often: perspective.

No one could have predicted this and I don't blame myself for what happened. I know that I am on a path set by God, I have no idea where I'm going, only that I am headed in the direction He would have me go.

Sad News

I am sorry to say that Jordan and I are no longer expecting a little one. For some reason, our little baby's body was not strong enough to continue living and growing. This has been a very sad and very emotional time for us and we are trying to come to grips with our new reality. Although this moment in our lives is something to grieve I know that things will be okay. I know the Lord surrounds us with His love and that our baby is safely in His care.

We are so grateful for the love and support of our family and friends. 

My Favorites: Volume II

Last time I did my post on bathroom stuff/beauty care products, this time we are going to focus on kitchen stuff! I'm really really excited for this one because I am all for making life easier and sometimes you just need a little outside help!

Kitchen Products:

1. Tongs


My mom bought me a pair of these for my birthday back in October and, I kid you not, I use them for most of the meals I cook! They are good for flipping meat, picking up noodles, tossing salads, and any number of additional things. If you do not have a good pair or any pair of tongs in your arsenal of kitchen utensils.....you must spend the $4-5 a pair at any grocery store, Walmart, Target, Ross...any will do. One suggestion, if you can find a pair with a self-locking mechanism I'd go with those over the manual locking system.

2. Reynolds Crock Pot Liners

 

These liners are miracles. I really like using my crock pot, but the clean up takes forever and I hate hate hate cleaning my crock pot! I saw an ad for these in a magazine and instantly thought there were genius and my next trip to the store I picked up two boxes of these babies! I think I paid $2-3 per box and I got them at Target, but I'm sure you can find them at Walmart or most grocery stores. You can thank me later ladies and gents!

3. Garlic Press



In addition to getting a pair of tongs for my birthday, I also got a garlic press. I love garlic and think it adds just the oomph to almost any dish, but I used to scrimp on it because 1) I hate the way it made my hands smell and 2) it took forever to take it out of it shell thingy or husk for lack of a better word and I don't want to take 10 minutes to clean and cut a few cloves or garlic. With your garlic press you pop in the clove, husk and all, and clamp down and you're done. This is a food specific product, but I think it is a huge time saver, and that, for me, is more important than taking up a little drawer space. There are lots of different makes and models to this product so go out and find one you like, that is comfortable in your hand. These are pretty cheap and, again, can be found at any grocery store.

4. Bread Machine




All growing up I had a bread machine and I just LOVED making bread with my dad on Saturday mornings. Once I got married and saw how expensive bread was/is I longed for a bread machine. A few months later, Jordan's grandma gifted her bread machine to us, and still to this day it is one of the best gifts I've ever gotten. Now if you don't have a grandma that is willing to gift you her bread machine, it is a little bit of an investment, but it does pay for itself within a few months if used regularly. If you are thinking to yourself, "Lexi, I don't have time to make bread and even if I did I have no idea how to use the machine or make the bread!" I'm here to tell you, a bread machine is the easiest machine to use ever. You pick a recipe, put all the ingredients in the bread pan (you don't even have to mix them), press a couple buttons, and walk away! There are things you'll learn as you go, but for the most part you'll be pleasantly surprised. There are lots of different brands and styles of bread makers, but if you go to Amazon and do some research (aka read some reviews) you can get a really good idea of what machine to buy. As with anything, you can stay on the cheaper side or you can go really expensive for the best brand out there...it is all up to you and what you want. Oh, I just wanted to put this in there....you can buy a loaf of bread for between $1.50 and $3 typically, but you can make a loaf of bread for about...meh $0.25-0.75 cents depending on what kind of bread you want.

5. Squish Bowls



Okay, so this is more of a wish for me, but a recommendation nonetheless! These bowls are SO COOL! They have different sized bowls, measuring cups,measuring spoon, colanders, etc. They are collapsible for easy storage, dishwasher safe, and even fun for adults! If you have not seen these, wander on over to your nearest Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond, check them out and buy me one! Just kidding, but they are pretty cool, especially if your family is big on camping...great product! It depends on the size and product you want but they run from $4.99-$19.99.

Those are my favorites for the kitchen, but I'd love to hear your favorites!!

12 Week Preganancy Update

How far along? 12 weeks 2 days! Yes, I need to add the 2 days in there!

Baby is the size of a: plum! That is pretty darn big!

Best moment of the week: Jordan is really picky and particular with some things and one of those things just so happens to be names. I sat down and looked through a book of like a bajillion names just to try and come up with some options that we both liked and...it was a success! Last night I went through the list of possibilities with him and he liked nearly all of them! 

Movement? Still nothin.

Cravings? No strong food cravings this week. I am really sleepy all the time, but I don't think I'd classify that as a craving yet.

Belly Button: Still in, however, I have noticed a little bit of change in my stomach. Saturday I felt normal, but yesterday I felt as if I had just popped out! Maybe I'm over exaggerating a little bit, but I do feel rounder!

Missing Anything? I miss being able to sleep all the way through the night!

Wedding Rings on or off? Still not a problem, it is on.

Aches & Pains: I've had a little bit of cramping, or what feels similar to cramping, here and there. I'm sure that is just because my body is trying to scrunch and squeeze and get used to a growing baby!

Stretch Marks? No, well, I guess I should say no new ones!

Flying While Pregnant: Jordan and I are making plans for our babymoon! We are planning on a trip to Florida with a mini cruise, but that won't be for another few months.

Happy or Moody most of the time? I'm happy most of the time. I've decided to take up prenatal yoga and also going to do some meditation to help with my anxiety.

Looking forward to: I'm going to listen to the heartbeat on Wednesday! I'm really really excited for that, but the gender reveal still tops my chart!

Deep Moment

I'm having one of those deep moments that happens every once in awhile.

Sometimes I just want to disappear for a minute, not in the sense of leaving my life to escape to a beach and be a bum or anything, but I just want to step outside myself for a moment.

For me this happens when I listen to music. When I am able to turn my Pandora radio to the Mumford & Sons station and just fall into the melody, the harmony, the lyrics and not be me, but be the music. Everything else fades into the distance and I don't have to focus my body, but just release my mind into the void.

I think many more of you would be able to relate this to reading a book. You open your book and you think to yourself you are just going to read for a half hour or an hour to pass some time before you have to start cooking dinner or go to class or what have you. You start reading, then your eyes are gliding over the pages, but you aren't reading anymore, you are the fly on the wall in the room with the characters. You are turning pages, but you are so entrenched in the rich imagery and descriptive language that when you realize you are indeed reading a book and not walking and talking with the characters you crash back to reality and fret that your husband is home from work and you still have to cook a meal or you are 30 minutes late to class.

It is in that moment that you exit your body and you disappear for a moment. You have submitted your mind to relax, to transcend yourself and the menial tasks of the everyday and just be. No concerns, no commotion, no commitments. I think in those moments you allow yourself, you are able to find a true meaning to yourself, to your actions, to your beliefs.

I'm not a super natural or earthy person or hippy, for lack of a better word, I'm not. But I do treasure those times when I can just put my life on hold to center myself again just disappear for a minute.

11 Week Pregnancy Update

I know that I just announced my pregnancy to the world last week, but these are some things I didn't talk about.

How far along? 11 weeks 5 days! I'm almost through my first trimester, whew, that was fast!

Baby is the size of a: large lime, between 1.5- 2.5 inches long

Best moment of the week: Yesterday was our 2 year anniversary. It was really nice to reflect on our marriage and ponder on our future. I looked through old pictures and we were able to spend the afternoon together so it was just really nice to escape the demands of work and other people.

Movement? I haven't felt anything yet. When I went in for my first appointment last week I asked how long it would be before I felt anything and my midwife told me between 18-20 weeks. It is pretty amazing that my baby is 1.5-2.5 inches big and yet I can't feel it move yet!

Cravings? I don't have any strong cravings right now, but I'm always up for Sunny D and pickles.

Belly Button: Still in. In general my tummy still looks the same, pants still fit well, no stretch marks yet. I have some chub so I predict I won't start showing (as in that roundness of belly) for a little while yet.

Missing Anything? I'm not a huge exerciser, so not missing that, morning sickness has gone away, so not missing food anymore. I think the only thing I'm missing is a little time with my family.

Wedding Rings on or off? I've never had to take my wedding ring off for swelling before, I'm hoping I don't have to!

Aches & Pains: My back mostly. I've been trying to be better about stretching and that seems to help, but I have a feeling the low back pain is going to be a bugger!

Stretch Marks? No, well, I guess I should say no new ones!

Flying While Pregnant: Jordan and I are making plans for our babymoon! We are planning on a trip to Florida with a mini cruise, but that won't be for another few months.

Happy or Moody most of the time? For the most part I've been happy. Work is really stressful for both Jordan and myself, so I have to be really careful with that. I'm the kind of person that worries and worries and over thinks things and so even if it is just something small I can turn it into an stressful situation for myself in a very short period of time, which is not good for anyone.

Looking forward to: I'm going to listen to the heartbeat in a couple of weeks. But what I'm looking forward to most is finding out the gender in the beginning of March! That is so close, I can't even believe it!

2 Years and Still Going Strong

Two years ago today I married the love of my life, my best friend, my protector, my not-so-perfect-but-pretty-much-perfect match! It was a sunny, but otherwise cold and snowy day in Utah at the beautiful Mount Timpanogos Temple. It was there that I bonded myself to him for this life and the next.

In the two years that we have been married we have been through so much. We have had about a gazillion job changes, about just as many moves, gained 15 or 20 pounds between the both of us, purchased a flamboyantly yellow car, had some pretty defining arguments, had some pretty defining tender moments, and have easily watched over 250 movies. I absolutely adore my husband.

Although we have some miles behind us, I'm focused on our future. I'm excited for our future. I'm am so blissfully anxious for him to meet our little baby and to realize that he is co-creator of such a magnificent miracle.

Here's to our last two years and here's to our future who-knows-how-many years! Cheers!

I love you babe!

Our Big News

To our dearest family and friends,

Jordan and I have some super exciting news!

I'm pregnant! 

Wha? Crazy, I know!

I've held this in for what seems like forever, but I'm so excited to be sharing our news with everyone! I'm 10 weeks along and I visited with my midwife today and everything looks great! Today was actually my first appointment with Allen Birthing Center and it was such a cool experience. We went through all the normal medical questioning and blah blah blah and then she told me to hop on the bed and she pulled out her little sonogram device and we tried to hear the heartbeat, but we were unable to hear it so she busted out this portable ultrasound machine and instead of hearing my baby I got to SEE it! I got to see my tiny little baby! Right now it is about an inch to an inch and a half big....pretty teeny, but at the same time huge compared to the poppyseed size we started at!

I'm due the first week of August, the 3rd to be more precise! It is probably going to be a pretty miserable summer, but I'll just stay in the air conditioning!

We told Jordan's parents when they were witnessing my awful morning sickness. They are so stinkin' happy! I told my family on Christmas Day, it was their Christmas present and they could not be happier. This will be the third grandbaby on both sides. Jordan and I are so blessed to be surrounded by such loving people and I know that this baby is going to be spooooiiiiilllled!

Simplify: Easy as ABC

So tonight I went to an all women's church activity and the whole activity was based on simplifying our lives. There were about 15-20 women that got up and shared tips and tricks that they use to do things faster, simpler, easier. For example, to clean your iron put a little salt on your ironing board, turn the iron on high, rub rub rub right over the salt! It will clean it up and shine it right back to new! At the end of all the little presentations and demonstrations we got a huge packet of at lease 100 tips and tricks to make things easier on us homemakers.

The past few weeks I've had a lot of time to spend thinking and pondering about my life. I've thought about finances, our future family, our home, our jobs, our church attendance, my personal goals, and my talents and abilities. I've come to realize that Jordan and I live very simple lives. We have been simpletons our whole marriage and I can say that I'm the happiest and most satisfied I've ever been in my life. I don't meddle in the politics and drama of heavy relationships with others, that is not to say that I don't have deep friendships, because I do, I am just more selective in those I choose to surround myself with. I don't focus on having all the hippest clothes and the shiniest jewelry. I visit a few sites on the internet and don't spend hours scouring for my next favorite. We live in a small apartment with the basics of everything. Our favorite date night activity is going to the cheap seats to see the newest movie.

Jordan and I live a very simple life and I think that is why we are so happy. We have cut out all the fluff stuff that doesn't matter to us and live in such a way that we can embrace only those things that work for us. We don't have a grand fantasy of "one day" owning a giant house with a pool, game room, theater, and 4 car garage. We don't dream of "one day" walking down the red carpet. We are who we are doing the best we can with what we have living one day at a time.

The activity tonight solidified in me the need to live a simplistic life. Because I have cut out things I think are fluff I'm not distracted and firmly know who I am, what I stand for, and why I live the way I live. I'm blessed to realize this at this time in my life. I am blessed and I'm grateful for the happiness that is cultivated in my home because of the simplicity of my life.

Family Pictures

So a few weeks ago we asked Jordan's sister to take our family pictures. She has been doing photography for a little while now and has been building her business and needed a couple for her portfolio AND we wanted our family pictures taken by a pro so it was a win win for both parties. Jordan and I wanted something a little bit more intimate, but also warm and joyful. We ended up taking this pictures less than a half mile from his parent's new house, and I think it was the perfect setting!

She did SUCH a great job and we could not be happier with the way they turned out! Please check out her page if you like our pictures!

The Power of Wow

Last month I received a magazine, Good Housekeeping, from a friend. It sat on my counter for about a week before I finally got the chance to sit down and really read the magazine. Most of the time I just flip through and look at the pictures and I don't really read the junk articles that are in there, but I had decided I needed some me time and one of my favorite things to do is read, so Good Housekeeping here we come.

In the middle of the magazine I found this wonderful wonderful article that I thought was so good I wanted to share! The article is called “The Power of WOW: Astonishing stuff appears in our lives constantly. We just have to be open for business,” by Anne Lamott. Take a moment for yourself and ENJOY!

“One of the simplest of prayers, ‘Wow,’ is often uttered with a sharp intake of breath. When we can’t think of another way to capture the sight of shocking beauty or destruction, an unbidden insight or unexpected flash of grace. ‘Wow’ means we are not dulled to wonder. We click into being fully present when we’re stunned into that grasp by the sight of a birth, or last fall’s hurricane destruction, or the experience of watching the northern lights, at dawn, for the first time. ‘Wow’ is about having one’s mind blown by mesmerizing or the miraculous: the veins in a leaf, birdsong, volcanoes. ‘Wow’ is a teenager’s Christmas car (secondhand, but still). 


I remember hearing ‘Wow’ for the first time from the mouth of our beloved family friend, a German nature-lover named Gertrud. She said ‘Vow!’ a lot when she and her husband took my family out onto San Francisco Bay on their small sailboat, and when we went on a wildflower hike in Yosemite: ‘Vow! Loot at zis!’ looking straight up from beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. ‘Vow! Look at zis!’ Alpine-blue spider lupine, monkey-flowers, paintbrush. ‘Wow’- because you are almost speechless, but not quite. 

When we are stunned to the place beyond words, we’re finally starting to get somewhere. It is so much more comfortable to think that we know what it all means, what to expect, and how it all hangs together. When life keeps us from being able to chip something down to a manageable size and then to file it nicely away, when all we can say in response is ‘Wow,’ that’s a prayer.

Wows come in all shapes and sizes. There are the lowercase wows: You can’t believe you felt as low and lonely till you thought to change the sheets; the cotton feels like cool, smooth skin-wow. And then there are the uppercase Wows: Fireworks. Fred Astaire dancing. Other planets (and other suns).
‘Wow’ has the reverberation -wowowowow- and this pulse can soften us, like the tingling electrical stimulation an acupuncturist directs to your spine. As a tiny little control freak, I want to understand the power of Wow, so I can organize it, and up its rate and frequency. But I can’t. I can only feel it, and recognize that it is here once again.

Nature explodes in winter, and more people die than in other seasons. The poor freeze and starves. It absolutely blows your mind how cruel the environment and poverty can be. You almost have to turn away, and many people do. We try to do our best, and then a whole snowy hillside buries a town, or a child dies where fire erupted (or was set). If you keep your heart open, these traumas beat you down. But against all odds, something emerges from the wreck- age in our hearts.

Nothing can possibly make things OK again. And then, people and grace surround the critically injured person or the bereft family. Time passes. It’s beyond bad. But people don’t bolt. Love falls to earth, rises from the ground, pools around the afflicted. Love pulls people back to their feet. Bodies and souls are fed. Bones and lives heal. New blades of grass grow from charred soul. The sun rises. Wow.“