Pack, Juice, Pack, Juice, Pack....

I am so over packing, so to break up the monotony I decided to juice our finds from the Farmer's Market (I will be hitting up our nearest one on Thursday) I made four juices today... Cucumber, green apple, strawberry, and plum; Grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple; Watermelon and cucumber with basil; and Cucumber, cantaloupe, and peaches. Only 2 yielded enough to freeze, but that's okay - all turned out pretty good, which I am stoked about. I know that there is a bit of ratio flaws, but it is keeping us drinking and for us that is a great thing. Hoping, on Thursday, to pick up some more spinach considering those seem to be the greens that my husband prefers.
So, with only 5 days until we move, we are doing all that we can to keep juicing and still being prepared to move. I can't believe that the summer is coming to a close, the start of a new school year is just around the corner, and the beginning of beautiful things lie so close....

What's in the water?

What a weekend. After a Thursday evening viewing of the Batman Trilogy, we immediately found out about the shooting, in which we were "Six Degrees of Separation" affected by it. Spent Friday helping with that, stopping all else, so that our landlord could show the house, and trying to continue everything else in preparation for packing. Saturday, we ran a few errands, watched Food, Inc. and did a bit of packing. After some serious discussions, my husband and I have talked through some additional changes we would like to make in the coming months.... start a change to hormone and antibiotic free meats, shop more often locally and organically for produce, and switch to preservative and modified free foods. This on top of juicing for the start of our day. So, today, we slept in, went to the Farmer's Market and had a great morning. This afternoon we are relaxing a bit and working to pack a bit more (as our move is in one week).
At the Farmer's Market we bought a ton of stuff (at least for the week until we move) including; a volcanic garlic braid, home extracted grape seed oil, fruits and vegetables, homemade root beer, and 2 pounds of organic beef steak. So, here's to trying to make better decisions for our health, supporting local growers, and enjoying the decisions we are beginning to make. I hope that each of you will join us in any of these small moves and will continue to follow us on this journey.

Not for the faint of heart...

In general, my life always runs full speed ahead with some new dilemma cropping up at nearly every turn - It is like that hedge maze in The Shining; I can't find my way out and there is a psycho with an axe not far behind... If I can only stay...two...steps....ahead...
Today, after sleeping horribly, my side of the bed was taken over by a restless husband and bed-hog cats, I had to go and doing some measuring at the new house. Then, it was time to come home, drink breakfast (Sunset Blend), and continue packing ... lucky me! Next, I would do a bit of laundry and continue packing (sensing a trend here recently?). Luckily, I sat down to drink lunch (Lemon Lime), watch an episode of General Hospital, and pin to Pinterest. Because of our recent modifications to juicing, I had produce that I needed to take care of, so in comes the packing break to juice... lucky me! Due to these leftover fruits and veggies, I began to take things into my own hands - honestly, they aren't bad! I did good, have no idea what the fruit to veg ratio is, but that's okay - still better than I would ever being doing trying to eat this many vegetables!
Now, I am posting the picture for the day, and if you are interested, the recipes are below... I will explain, the first one is not for the faint for heart! The first also yields a ton of juice, so freeze!

Recipe 1 (Not for the faint of heart): In blender smooth 1 banana and 4 cups of blueberries. Then, juice and add the following, 1 head purple cabbage, 4 pears, 1 cucumber, 4 kale leaves, 1 bunch spinach, 2 large chunks ginger, 5 cloves garlic, 1/2 bunch mint, 1/2 bunch basil, 4 golden apples, 2 green apples - Mix well with a spoon!  

Recipe 2:  2 cucumbers, 1 small carrot, 5 green apples.

Back to packing.... lucky me! Happy Wednesday All!

Home is where....

Where is home? This is a question that keeps coming up (see mover or stayer post), and I don't know that I have found a good answer. Most people say home is where the heart is... but physically, emotionally, mentally?!? As I pack to move again (I hate packing), I am (again) debating this question...
I was born in Chicago and still have a ton of family there - I feel like that will always be my first "home"- and a part of me remains with the family there, so is this "home"? I spent much of my time growing up throughout the state of Florida, so is this "home"? My parents and my baby sister remain there today and it was the last place I saw my beloved grandmother and, most recently, my mother-in-law, so part of my heart is definitely there, so is this truly "home"? I literally put my blood, sweat, tears, heart, and soul into my personal home where we lived for years (that we are now renting), and where we have left friends that are our family , so is this "home"? I gave away my heart at the end of an aisle to my high school love on a beach in Jamaica, so is this "home"? I moved across country, with that man of my dreams, to the Centennial state, and we could not be happier, so is this "home"?
I am beginning to believe that "home" is a fragmented version of "where the heart is" because the heart can lie in so many different places and with so many different people, and this definitely links to being a mover or a stayer. It is honestly amazing to me that our heart can be divided in so many ways yet remain whole. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, never forget the places your heart calls home; drive by, take a vacation and visit, look at old photos, use Google Maps or Google Earth, and keep the details with you because they are a part of you. Never forget all the people your heart remains with; visit them, call them, text them, send them a letter, organize your photos for those who have gone, and keep them close to your heart because they are a part of the reason you are who you are today.  

Compromise...

Compromise. That is what life is all about, right?!? There has to be some version of compromise or else nobody would get anywhere with themselves or others. In getting ready to turn thirty, this is a pretty big deal, learning to compromise and truly being okay with that compromise; realizing that there is a difference between compromising for a cause versus compromising oneself and your beliefs. At the end of juicing day 3, my husband was struggling a bit with the juices, especially the green ones. This prompted a discussion about realistic goals, the future, and what this meant for juicing... the results:
1. We are going to stick to juicing during the day.
2. For dinner, we will have an overall raw friendly meal.
3. We will continue to avoid processed sugars and prepared foods.
4. We will continue exercising and working out. 
This, for us, is still a huge commitment, and we applaud anyone sticking with juicing only. This is not a cop out, for us these steps are still steps toward a healthier overall journey in life. We believe, for us, this is the best situation in making strides to incorporating a healthier lifestyle as we continue our journey together. It is also important that we are supporting one another in this journey. We just know that we want to continue to be active, in better shape for snowboarding season (72 days away), and we want our future children to be healthy and active and that will begin with us.  
What this means to you: Whatever you a struggling with, fighting about, or debating - find a compromise; sometimes this is the best thing you can do to find the right path for you. Remember, everyone is walking a different path and struggling with different things, just because your paths are different does not mean that you shouldn't find an intersection every once in a while.

Juices: Sunset Blend, Purple Passion, and Lemon-Lime

General Hospital, a glass of water, and a glass of juice...

3 hours... Think of all of the things that you could do in 3 whole hours... 

- Drive well into and almost out of the mountains. 

- Complete 3 classes at the gym

- Hike 9 miles

- Catch a plane to Vegas (including plane ride)

- Nap, Nap, and Nap again

You get the idea, however in 3 hours, I managed to accomplish juicing, separating, and freezing the next two days worth of juices... At first I was a bit pissed off - 3 hours for two days?!?! Then, I realized I was thinking in dinner only terms... Duh. You just prepped 20 meals in 3 hours, it really is a decent trade off, exhausting, but a good trade. And here they are! 2 mean greens, a jugo, carrot soup, minty fresh berry, and tasty tart treat! 

So, now I am going to take my very tired self (lets not forget I am still packing to move and did that all morning) and plop down on the couch with my juice, my water, and some General Hospital!! If you are juicing, keep at it. If you are just following me on this insane journey - take some time for yourself in the next few days - you are worth it. 

What in the hell is "water weight"!?!?

I am in the middle of day two of juicing - it is a hell of a trip, but I am making it (it also helped that the scale said I was 4 pounds lighter this morning).  You know, then I began thinking, "it's got to be water weight." Does anyone actually know what in the hell this mysterious water weight is?!? Every time I have heard it, I have never questioned it - today, I did! Here is the definition:  Water weight loss is a temporary reduction in body weight due to the loss of bodily fluids -- generally through sweat, urination or defecation. I am fairly surprised by this because we always attribute losing water weight to dieting, when it really isn't the case. I feel a bit ignorant, but honestly, if we are stay hydrated and not doing the excess of any of the above, are we actually losing this mysterious "water weight" or is it something else? I feel like I've been lied to for many years... Anyone have any thoughts on this?!?  

As a side note, I took my "before" pictures yesterday, and I can honestly say that I am fairly certain they will never see the light of day. That is okay because it was still one hell of a motivator! We will see where this journey ends, I think. Honestly, can't believe that we decided to try this, and cannot tell you how proud of my husband I am for him sticking with it... With that, I must go continue my day of packing and then juicing...!

One day closer...

We knew this was going to be a random smattering of my journey to thirty - I had no idea where that would take me... So, here I am, just over a month from turning thirty, and my life is as crazy as ever... Somehow, at this point, I don't ever see that changing. I signed to lease to our new rental (we are still a bit undecided), have paperwork in the "boiler" for tomorrow, and completed day 1 of my juice fast.
I am super excited for the new place - we fell in love with where we live and aren't going far (not quite what we were thinking). It is great, but we will need a window air conditioner or two for a few months (anyone in the Denver area have one?!?) - not new to me as I grew up in Chicago with no central A/C. It is going to be amazing.
I have so many things that I need to do for this new job, which I ecstatic over because it is an amazing opportunity, but of course that adds to the pile of things that need to get done in the process of attempting to pack and clean!
I am very proud for making a complete day on the juice fast. I am tired, but otherwise doing okay. I am alright with okay right now.
So, here's to tomorrow, hopefully feeling good enough to pack some boxes and get my juicing for the next day done. I honestly think that is as big as my goals are gonna get right now! Night all.

Commencing Launch in 3...2...1....

Juicer arrived today, as scheduled.... Crazy shopping trip completed this morning, see previous post... Orientation attended, fabulous as all are, and prejuicing began tonight... I am exhausted!

I did manage to get all 5 juices prejuiced and packed for tomorrow, all the remainders (because I had the ingredients for 4 servings as per our plan) are packaged and frozen for the night. I will say, on the initial juicing I liked 4 of the 5; my husband, not so much. I am hoping as they are colder he will like them more - only time will tell. I will prejuice again tomorrow night, as I think this is the most efficient to continue as my days get a bit crazy... 

Here are my lessons learned today:

- Long (tall) vegetables are a little like trying to wrangle cats in my juicer - proceed with quickness.

- Beets are much easier to juice if you fold the tops over - they spin like a tilt-a-whirl.

- Radishes will escape a little worse for the wear if you don't get the food pusher in place fast enough - it is kinda fun to watch the first time or two!

- Plastic bag in pulp container - priceless.

- Cleaning juicer immediately - priceless. 

- I need to start composting (anyone have any tips?), the amount of peels and pulp are amazing... 

- Juicing is tiring on top of a long day, but once you are in the groove, it works. 

So, here are my final results... (these are the ones that got frozen for the night- the others are in drinking containers for tomorrow) 

Juice Shopping Mission One Complete

Goodness... I had made a list from the juicing recipes I found and multiplied them out. This is my trip for 6 days X 5 shakes per day X 2 people.... I have no idea if I am doing it right, but I will soon find out... I am hoping that this is an overestimation because this seems like a TON of fruits and vegetables.
Looking forward to this whole process, and hopefully to a less complicated, and slightly cheaper, shopping agenda!The looks and questions I was asked today were amazing: everything from being in catering to canning to baker.... I do not think that part will get any easier, unless I get the same people all of the time.

22 Lemons	7 bunches cilantro	2 Avacados
2 Pineapples	48" Ginger	Agave Nectar
6 cups blackberries	8 limes	4 Leeks
16 kiwi	112 Kale Leaves	6 cloves garlic
4 bananas	28 green apples	2 heads broccoli
2 cornice pears	Flax Seed Oil	4 zucchini
2 Cups Coconut Water	16 Plum Tomatos	24 cups concord grapes
9 bunches mint	4 apples	8 basil leaves
20 Red Beets	4 Jalepenos	8 cups blueberries
50 carrots	2 mangos	8 Asian Pears
72 Celery Stalks	4 pablano peppers	64 strawberries
7 bunches parsley	4 green chard leaves	2 Grapefruits
48 Radishes	4 sweet potatos
8 heads spinach	2 Purple Cabbages
32 cucumbers	4 red peppers
8 oranges	4 pears
32 golden delicious apples	1 papaya

Crazy, Beautiful Life

Wow - Life, full speed ahead - as always!
My husband and I moved to Denver over a year ago, and we absolutely adore it here. Honestly, what is not to love: mountains, year round outdoor activities, generally sunny weather, and friendly people. Well, the time had come where we needed to start looking for a new rental home, as our landlord is going to be putting this place on the market. September or October sounded reasonable to move again, it was only June.... However, an opportunity has arisen and we will be moving in three weeks?!?! Damnit.
It never fails, my life moves at a rapid, and often unforgiving, pace. So, in two days my husband and I will begin our juice feast and sign a new lease, in just under three weeks I will run Shape's Diva Dash, and in three weeks we will move (and I will somehow be miraculously packed). Did I mention that I am starting a new job in August, my husband has to take a trip south, and we will have to put our home in Georgia back on the rental market in September?!? Oh, and lets not forget an August 19th Warrior Dash run...
With that all in mind, and as I need to get to packing and preparing for juicing, remember that life is what you make of it. I am going to take this crazy trip as the reminder that life often moves at a pace we struggle to comprehend, if you don't stop to appreciate all that it has given you, you lose site of the big picture. Today, as you park your car a little further from the entrance to the store, stop and enjoy the feel of the sun on your skin, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the company of those around you. Put down your Cell Phones, Laptops, IPads, IPods, MP3 players, Radios, Walkie Talkies, Pagers, Fax Machines, XBox Controllers, Boomboxes, and any other electronic device that  you may have and enjoy all of the gifts that you have around you. Vow to, at least once a week for one complete hour (while you are sleeping does not count), put down all of those distractions and enjoy everything you have in your life - I promise, it will be worth it.

Life Won't Wait - Ozzy

"Fat,Sick, and Nearly Dead" - We are joining the reboot...

My husband - a meat and potatoes southern kinda guy, who is aiming to lose around 30 pounds (ideally would be 40).
Me - someone willing to find a healthier lifestyle (that may just help my illness) as I get ready to surpass 30, who is aiming to lose around 60 pounds (ideally would be around 75).
Today, my husband and I watched the movie Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, and we have decided to join the reboot. (Reboot Your Life) We are a bit pumped and truly going "balls to the wall" - 30 days to start and then, hopefully, 30 more. We ordered our juicer today in order for it to arrive on Wednesday, I created one hell of a 6 day meal plan with shopping list, and we begin on Thursday, July 12th. This is a huge step in my journey to surpassing thirty and hoping for some good results: physically, mentally, and emotionally. I also realize that this step is going to be a small one, and that I will have to plan very carefully coming off of this liquid as to make it the best benefit for my health; I am willing to do that. I want my 30's to be an introduction to the best years of my life, and with my husband standing with me, I believe we can achieve that. 
Yes, there are pros and cons to this whole plan, I get it. However, it is no worse than being vegan, and I get that there are pros and cons there. Honestly, it is well worth the shot and that is the most important thing that I can do - give it my all. 
In closing, decide to do something better for your health and go for it. It can be "extreme", as my husband and I, and doing a complete 180 or it can be as small as parking at the end of the parking lot at the grocery store or replacing one meal a week with a salad. Whatever is it, go for it! Then, come back here and lets support one another through this crazy journey of health, fitness, and surpassing thirty! 

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It...

:::Mission Impossible Theme Plays:::

In the idea of turning thirty, I have vowed a few things (this is not an all inclusive list): I will not fear aging, I will have a baby before 35, I will continue to travel, I will try things that scare me just a little, and I will fight through my sickness to obtain the best level of fitness I can. 

Well, I, like a genius, have already signed up for Warrior Dash in August (dragging my husband and my brother along for the ride - a first for both of them). |Please see my previous posts if you haven't already!| Apparently, I am a glutton for punishment; I signed up for  Shape's Diva Dash running at the end of July in Boulder. Now, there are a few amazing things here - 1. It is a female only race (except for the drag wave), 2. It supports local charities, 3. It is only being run in a few cities 4. It is a bit different from the male driven races, and 5. It will be a great warm up for Warrior Dash. 

So, I am a bit nervous even though I still have 3 weeks, and I think it has to do with the factor that I am running it "alone". Sounds a bit stupid, huh? That's okay, here's my challenge to you: find something that you want to do, vow to do it (even if no one does it with you), and DO IT! This is about a journey in life and you need to seek the opportunities you want to have. Today, I did something that scared me: I rode an Alpine Slide (a huge step for me), and, at the end of the month, I will be running this race on my own - no friends, no family, just me doing it for me because that is what this life is about. Find your opportunity and seize it, then come back here and tell me what you are doing, plan to do, or did - Lets take this journey together! 

Mover or Stayer?!?

Movers - People who roam freely, and often, from their place of birth or the home base of their families.

Stayers - People who stay put.

Are you a Mover or a Stayer? Americans have often been thought of as a mobile country - no roots, no obligation to family, and no need to "stay". 

A few things have triggered this discussion in my brain the past few days; extended family being in town, my parents enjoying a visit from my older sister and her kiddos, my baby sister trying to find her place in the world, and my dad, who I am pretty sure believes I have abandoned him. I was always taught to chase your dreams, but does that mean only within the confines of the locale of your family? Where does one find, and determine, the balance of their lives versus the lives of their family? What delineates loyalty to your family versus to loyalty to yourself? How do you define yourself if you have never left the town where you were born? Is locale the only way to show love, loyalty, and respect for ones family or can it be done from a distance? 

In the quest to think through these questions, I began some research. Welcome to the Pew Survey! "It is noted that college graduates move more often and further distances than those with a high school diploma or less, and employment plays a greater role in their decisions to move." Hmm.. Perhaps this is a partial explanation to our moves; I am the first college graduate within my immediate family. On the other hand, "stayers most often cite the tug of family and connections." Is this truly the measure of family and love - the proximity to one another?!? What the hell, does this mean there is something wrong with me?!? 

I am not certain that I have this answer, nor am I sure that I ever will. What I do know is that no matter what I am classified as, I love my family. They are the most important people in my life - does proximity make it easier, sure, but the same can be used to explain cheating spouses and overbearing parents. I believe that there are pros and cons to both sides of this, and I know that I will continue to weigh this question as my own journey towards thirty continues. The question is: are you a mover or a stayer? What are your thoughts on either side?!?

My Sister's and her Kiddos

• The Pew Survey