Round Two

We had a great time on the lake.

I do have a swimsuit on.

I also made a blueberry galette. So good, and so easy to make. Find the recipe here

Thursday I went for another visit to Dr. T. He adjusted me and I had my first needle acupuncture. He said he was basically hitting the largest energy route along my body with multiple needles. It wasn't so bad and I guess time will tell if it works. The worst part about it was laying still for 15 minutes with the needles in. I am so impatient.

Yesterday and today we went to the lake. I only see Caleb for about 10 hours over the weekend, and spending some of that time at the lake is perfect. Then he goes to work...but hey, we are thankful for our jobs! Speaking of jobs, I should know this week if I get the permanent job. Cross your fingers!

Alternative Medicine and Magnesium Supplements

As many of you know I have to use the restroom a lot. On average I pee 17 times in 24 hours. In an eight hour day at work I use the bathroom at least 9 times and sometimes more. This isn't the worst thing that could be happening to me, but I am only 27, and I fear it will only get worse. I am comfortable with this issue for the most part except when the urge hits me and I can barely make it to the bathroom in time. That is beginning to be a problem.

My boss suggested I try acupuncture. I had never thought of this and went online to do a little research. I found a recent study that showed acupuncture significantly decreased the urge to go with 4 weekly treatments. That was enough for me. I mean, what could be the worse thing that could happen by trying it.

My mom has a chiropractor she LOVES and convinced me to give him a try. He also does nutrition and acupuncture. Today was my first visit. He went over a lot of things about my problems and then checked out my alignment. Apparently fixing the pelvis can help overactive bladder without even doing acupuncture. Dr. T said that my pelvis is quite screwed up and I began my, not-so-cheap, treatment to realign my pelvis and bring my bathroom breaks to a more normal frequency of about 6-7 times a day. I also got a form of acupuncture in my ears and something to regulate my adrenal gland.

Here's to cracking necks and natural remedies!

Method

Today I came home to the sweet smell of someone else having cleaned my bathroom other than myself. The fact that I didn't clean the bathroom was wonder alone, but the smell was intoxicating. I called PR right away and asked him if the smell overtaking the living room and bedroom was the new cleaner I bought recently. He confirmed my suspicions and further solidified my love for the Method Home cleaning products.

About a year ago I stumbled upon the method dryer sheets at Lowes. I have to admit it was probably the green packaging that lured me in (I am a sucker for all shades green) but I purchased the "sweet water" smell and began using it on our clothes. I was hooked. I had seen the Method products at Target, but they didn't carry the dryer sheets. I wanted to get more dryer sheets from their website here but the shipping costs outweighed the benefits of ordering online. So when i received a free shipping coupon from their mailing list I ordered the spring cleaning box and more dryer sheets. The multi surface cleaner pictured above is what left our bathroom smelling like freshly washed sheets.

I started making our own laundry detergent in April (I have only needed to make two batches thus far) but the smell of sweet water Method laundry detergent is strongly pulling me away from my economical odorless detergent. For now, I am holding strong.

I know you are thinking, "enough already, it can't smell that great." But, to me, the power of smell is a strong force. Just think of the things you remember when you smell a familiar smell. Hot pavement in the summer sends me back into my childhood of many long days spent out at Silver Dollar City when my parents worked at the park. The faintest smell of chlorine reminds me of days at White Water taking swim lessons or killing time with our babysitter. Hopefully one day when I do laundry and the smell of sweet water fills my nose I will be transported back to my first year of marriage, and one of the first days---and hopefully the beginning of many--- i came home to a clean bathroom without prompting from my loving husband.

"I Hate Jillian Michaels"

So...I have been doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day shred for about a month I would guess. I would not go as far as saying that I am shredded, but I would like to mention a few key points.
1. Instead of running three or four days a week I usually do JM 2-3 days a week and walk/run maybe another 2 times. Without changing eating habits I have lost a couple pounds.
2. Caleb refuses to do the workouts with me because he claims they are for girls, however in his attempt to finish the first one with me and upon hearing her name he groans, "I hate Jillian Michaels."
3. I think that unless I am training for a race or something else, I would rather stick to a 25 minute intense workout, than slog 45 minutes on the trail, running.
4. That being said, I have almost decided to run a 15 mile trail race in October with a friend, so back to the trails it will be.

It's a good thing I have been pushing through JM's workouts because I have been to the lake so many times this summer. Our friends come down almost every weekend to enjoy a little lake time, and I couldn't be happier about it.

Happy post-America day to everyone---and to enjoy our freedoms and Table Rock Lake, why don't you take a tour of the newly reopened dam.

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100703/NEWS01/7030328/Table-Rock-Dam-open-again-for-tours

No Spend May.

Deuces, Fall 2008, NASPA Conference

Engagement Pictures Summer 2009

Wedding Picture 9/19/09

Zach and Kendra at their going away party, summer 2009.

No spend May, is not really no spend after all. However, CAleb and I did start to eat clean. We probably eat clean 60% of the time. The other times we eat out or have family dinners (and really, we can't afford to TURN down free food by our families right now :)). I have lost about 3 lbs and Caleb about 4lbs so whatever we are doing seems to be working. Last night we attempted to try Jillian Micheals: 30 day shred. Caleb called it a woman's workout...yeah, he had to stop part way through. We are going to do it again tonight and not on stomachs full of pizza!


I am so excited for this summer. I think I am going to serve at Dixie (assuming I get hired) and Caleb will be working nights, so we will both be working nights all summer and have lots of lake day opportunities! I really hope I can make it through the rest of this year serving. But until Caleb gets done with school I will not let myself feel bad for not getting a 'real' job. Besides, I will make almost as much on less time at Dixie. Here's to my first waitressing job!

May 2010--Big Changes

I have decided to make a couple changes starting in May. It will be a big month! I have decided to clean eat for the month of May just to see how it goes. I have also decided (along with Caleb) to do a no spend month. We will have an amount to spend for the entire month. The amount will be everything BUT our fixed bills. It will include gas and groceries and any other spending we want/or will be able to spend up to that amount. I am thinking (with our current driving distances) $400. I think about $250 for spending and $150 for our cars to go the distance to work...i think ill keep a tab on what we/I eat and spend our money on. I am fairly in tune with where our money goes (since i do the finances) but I would really like to not spend the whole amount and get rid of some of our bills (cable, netflix, cell phones). We will see how it goes :)

Birthday Celebrations!

I have been blessed with multiple birthday celebrations this year. Makes 27 not so bad. Couple weeks ago Caleb's aunt and uncle took me out to Big Cedar. It was his aunt's celebration too, and they had not been to Big Cedar. We had a great time!

On my actually birthday Caleb and I went to a movie and out to eat. AND I made homemade laundry soap (Way cheaper, and way awesomer!) when we got home. Perfect birthday.

On Sunday my parents took me out to eat. My BFF drove up from Arkansas for dinner and it was great.

Last Saturday my friends from deuces went with me to Dixie Stampede and out to WAxy's for drinks. We ran into some old friends from high school and caught up on some old news.

This wednesday I am going to my in-laws for my birthday celebration with them! Couldn't be better. I have great family and friends.

First Blog Ever...

I have decided to start blogging about what is going on. I don't journal, or have any other way to put down what has happened in my life (except facebook, of course), so I thought I would give this a chance.

In 27 days I will graduate with my M.S. in Student Affairs. With no job prospects really in sight it sort of makes the next couple of months a little scary. Right now, I should be working on my final paper, but in an effort to put my first official blog into the world wide web, the paper can wait a bit.

Today I am celebrating my birthday with some friends. We are going to Dixie Stampede this afternoon. I am really excited because: 1) I have not been this year, 2) I love the food, and 3) the show is a bit different. There are only a few of us going and we are going out for drinks after. I can't wait to share in the celebrations with a couple friends of mine. My friend, Melissa, is celebrating tonight because she has an on campus interview for a job she really wants (and would be great at) and my other friend, Jared, is spending the weekend with us. We haven't seen him in a long time and its nice to catch up! Time to move on to my paper before heading to Branson...