What a Lady!

Moqui likes to dress up with jewelry and get into mom's make-up. So now she has her own jewelry box and a compact mirror and unused make-up applicators that she seems to enjoy pretending with.

How lovely!

Mom and Moqui dressin' it up with colorful scarfs, how fun!

Yes, we are beautiful....THank YOU! HAHAHAH! It also appears that Moqui likes to pose for her pictures.

Arboritum Superior

Adam and I had a Saturday day date together a few weeks ago. It was lovely. We had coffee and breakfast in Gold Canyon, there was an art festival in the parking lot where we ate. We don't plan things and most of the time it's hit and miss, but that day we couldn't have planned it better. So we drove 15 minutes north to Superior on a beautiful mountain road arriving at the arboritum and payed 7.50 each to get in. It was soooo..... nice to leasurly walk with my husband and soak up the beauty of nature surrounding us, not thinking about the kids, not have to be anywhere or do anything. It was an amazing infusion of renewed love and vitality that our relationship was screaming for. Anyway, the new picture top right of my blog page is from that day. Here are a few more.

Sunlight was coming through this huge Cypress.
The group behind me were enjoying and Austrailian on his Digaridoo(?) I was able to practice my yoga and breathing techinques by a creek.

Adam being..you know, Adam! He really took his time taking the picture of the rose.

I laid on the cool floor of this humidifed green house to get the Dr. Suess effect of the Brazilian succulants.

Sugar Free Week 2

I guess the title is not entirly true, unfortunatly. I am happy to report it is true for some of us. Our family meeting went well. We layed out rules and looked at labels and other names sugar goes by. To make things interesting and motivating for the kids we set a two month goal. Assuming we are sucsessful with our goal, our family will go on a beach, camping trip for 3 days! Ohh...they love this idea!

The first day at school after our family agreement, I got up extra early to make their lunches, unfortunatly I had nothing for them to drink yet (sugary drinks not an option). So I gave them .50 each for milk. The question was raised about chocolate or pink strawberry milk and I explained how they added unnatural things to the milk that make it taste like a strawberry or chocolate and that it was out of the question. On the way to school I reminded them again about our goal and asked them what they would say if they were offered a sugary treat, "No, thank you." they replied. Okay, at this point one must trust that when given the oppertunity to experience independence and exercise good decsion making, that we've done enough to know our children will make good choices. I asked Kaleb and Ethan about there day when they got home. Ethan told me that a boy in his class had a birthday, "did he share treats with the class Ethan?" I asked. "Cupcakes Mom (pause with trademark puckered lips, narrowing of cheeks, revealing dimples and blushing)" , "what did you say when he offered a treat?", Ethan "Ohh...mom...(disapointment in his voice), I forgot." It was so cute, I couln't be upset. Especially since I found out later that day that Kaleb bought pink milk, he forgot too.

Okay, so Moqui has been doing well. She likes herbal teas in her sippy and honey in her oatmeal so honestly, in the long run I'll worry about her less. Kaleb and Ethan with vigorous repetition of the word "no." and the camping goal reminder now and again, they to will find it easier. Adam wont eat it unless it's in the house and rarely wastes money on sweets, except for some reason last week. So really fighting my own addiction to sugar is and will be the hardest addiction I've ever had to overcome. Having done it with other substances, I know I am perfectly capable. Caffiene headaches, I've had a few. One was so awfull I just could not think straight. I scrambled around in my pantry to find some relief. Luckily I had some flower essences remaining, I took a few drops under the toung with water and within 10 minutes I was fine. I notice without sugar in my drinks or a sweet treat of some sort, I am short temperd, impatient and worst of all a yelling monster. So it's not been easy and I did cheat at school on Saturday, the school vending machine caught me at a vounerable snacky time and the M&M's won.

All in all I have great hopes that our family will create a new norm that is life without sugar, overcomming our desires, make good choices, meeting goals and appreciating a healthy lifestyle. So today I picked up the kids at school as it was pooring rain. Kaleb proudly declared to me as he hopped into the truck that he hadn't had any sugar today and he choose white milk over the pink. Ethan said he also had an oppertunity to say no to a treat in class today that he knew had sugar in it. I feel so humbled and blessed that they chose me as their mother, they are such special, sensative and gentle spirits and the world will benefit from their existance, this I know.

Sugar Free..Not So Easy.

So I started reading "Sugar Blues". This book has been around for a long time, first published in 1976 by author William Dufty. The week I started reading it Adam brought home a bag of cookies, gummy worms and my personal favorite...licorice (2lb. bag variety!!!!) aaaahhhhhhhhh!

Reading the history of sugar side by side with the history of humanities general degenerative health was enlightening. While reading, two desires rised within me. One, it's all got to go, NOW! The other was, um, licorice sounds good right now. Actually as I was reading some of the common signs and side effects of sugar addiction, my cravings for sugar grew insaciousable with each word. Watching these feelings and thoughts pass, it is apparent to me that my will (spirit) and my mind or (ego) are at constant odds with each other. Honestly, every day my mind conjures some sort of justification for a coke, knowing full well what it does to me.

Okay, so does this sound interesting, the battle of the ego verses will power. Well from here on out I am going to be documenting roughly a daily, weekly journal of what measures I am taking to save myself and my family from the sugar blues. I think the initial goal will be to live sugar free for 2 months straight. At the end of 2 months a review and family reward of some sort.

Week 1: All refined sugar was thrown out. Including brown sugar, which is nothing more than refined white sugar with a 10-13% molasses mixture to create the brown sugars color and texture. We went to Sprouts and purchased raw honey, and agave nectar that is extracted from the heart of the blue agave plant. I aslo bought a small tin of stevia disolvable sweetener that I can take with me anywhere to avoid the white crystals of doom at school or eating out. My biggest challenge is my drive thru soda. Yes, I even have one in front of me now. So tonight we are having a family meeting to lay out the new rules.

a.) no sugar cereals, snacks, treats or drinks in the house.

b.) make good choices when at school or friends houses. make sure to let others know that it's against family rules and ask for an apple or water to drink. If there are no good alternatives, learn to just say no thank you.

c.) everyone is responsible for reading labels, does it say "all natural" or does it say "organic/sugar free/no sugar added", KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!

d.) everyone needs help, so when one of us has a craving or is tempted lets talk about it and find a good alternative.

e.) grandpas, grandmas, aunties and uncles are all expected to encourage, support and respect rules set for the health and well being of our children and family. please be courteous and do not eat the forbidden fruit in front of the kids.

These are all things that will be discussed as a family. Feel free to share any other ideas of accomplishing this goal, we can use all the ideas we can get.

Monkey See Monkey....Whaaaat?

These are from our night out celebrating Moquis b-day in December. Adam and Moqui were in there own little silly world, no inhibitions, just being genuine goof balls! I've been wanting to share them for a while now.










Yuck! It's gross but I can't help but laugh when I look at Adam in this picture.

Tag

Emily tagged me and it has been months since I have blogged about anything. So there ya' have it.

Two names you go by other than your given name:
1. Micila

2. Momma

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Adam's pajama pants
2. glasses

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. camping
2. reading

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. romantic getaway
2. a spa day

Two favorite pets you have had/have
1. Lady (female lab)
2. Morrison (big fluffy cat)

Two things you did last night:
1. watch "Life Aquatic"
2. personal Tarot reading and prayer

Two things you ate today
1. whole wheat hot cereal with honey
2. Ceaser salad

Two people you've talked to today

1. Moqui
2. my cousin

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. hair cut (i hope)
2. clean

Two longest Car Rides you've been on:
1. Arizona to South Carolina (bus ride 2days grayhound style, not recomended)
2. Salt Lake City to Rocky Point Mexico


Two Favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. 4th of July
I like all holidays.

Two favorite beverages:
1. Yerba Mate
2. Coke

TRI Research1

TRI Research1

Check out this cool link to see all of the scientific data collected on various aliments or conditions, that are posetivley effected by massage and other touch therapies. I love when they do these studies. It's important to me to change societies mental approach to their health. I have always found it ironic (in a sad twist of man's ego) that those traditions of preventative or natural approach to healing the body, those passed down from ancient civilizations and ancestory is considered in our day "Alternative"?!?!?! While those who came up with synthetic drugs in pill form, machinery and unnatural methods to invasively treating the body, have made a name for themselves that assumes that it's methods should be ones first and primary defense, "Traditional Medicine". I in no way deny the role that these new technelogical advances now play in our society, nor would I would I attempt to advise or steer one away from these options. This is simply how I feel, based on my up bringing and experiences in the world of ancestoral traditions and self healing approaches. Take it or leave it. However this research proves that touch therapies (there are many) should be considered in conjunction with other therapies in a treatment plan or prevenative health care plan. It should no longer be looked at as just a luxury, although for some it may be.

Adam will be home Thursday and all is well, that's my ranting for the moment.