Inspiration Dress

I thrifted this pretty floral dress last year when I was pregnant with Margaret. Originally I was going to sell it because it looked like it would be too small for me but I decided to compare it to some of my other dresses with a similar cut. I was pleased to see that it should fit when I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

Ten months postpartum and I'm still very far away from my previous weight. Considering this is my 5th time loosing baby weight I'm well aware of the fact that it doesn't come off easily for me. I've learned to remain calm about it and accept where I am but I'm ready to shed the extra pounds. Currently I can't wear 80% of my wardrobe and I refuse to buy new clothes when I have all my favorites hanging in the closet. I decided to hang my dress in my room as extra motivation.

Lent has officially begun and since it's a penitential time of year I plan on getting serious about about my health. Change in diet and lifestyle is never easy but I'm ready for the challenge. I am going raw again until Easter (you can read about my history with raw food here) and am pretty excited about it. This way of eating (plus exercise) is the only way I've successfully lost and kept weight off plus I feel much more balanced mentally. Hopefully in couple months my inspiration dress and all my other clothes will fit again.

For some yummy raw recipes check out some old posts here.

♥ anne

AGUA

Water. The past six months I have been seriously dehydrating myself. Not on purpose of course but it has happened none the less and the consequences have been very apparent in my overall health. Ruben encouraged me to drink a gallon of water daily and I'm happy to report that it's going well. I know from past experience that having a gallon container helps me to see my intake but I didn't want to use a plastic water bottle (for obvious reasons) so I bought this glass gallon jug.

 Last Christmas my dad got us a water purifier and it's been so awesome to have quality water to drink. It gets out all the flouride and other crap in the water. At long last I'm not fearing what I'm drinking every time I take a sip!
I look forward to taking better care of myself this year. I have lots of plans in that department but one step at a time is best for me.

Have you made any resolutions/goals for the new year?

♥ anne

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Well, it's a new year friends! I'm glad to have a clean slate and a new beginning. I know a lot of people aren't fans of New Year's resolutions but I actually like them. I don't set unrealistic goals for myself but I do like to look over the areas in my life that I'd like to improve and set to work on bettering them. My main goal this year is greatly improve my spiritual life which has been on the decline for the last couple of years. I'd also love to be able to keep up on my laundry but with baby #5 on the way I'm already having my doubts :)

I have been living in this tube dress from Forever 21. I have a black one as well and they are perfect for this stage in my pregnancy. I rarely shop anywhere other than thrift stores but I was having a hard time finding basic pieces so these have worked out perfectly. It's funny, I would never wear this type of dress if I wasn't pregnant so it's a good thing that it will most likely been worn out by the time baby comes. Oh, and my sweet sweater! A surprise gift from Milla that I've been wearing almost daily. Isn't it a beaut?! Thanks again friend!

I hope your 2014 is off to good start!

♥ anne

see ya later 2012

so 2012 has come and gone and frankly i am very happy about that! although there were some definite highlights this past year, overall it stunk big time. so, needless to say i am looking forward to a new year, a better attitude, new ventures in food, spiritual growth, and much more. i have a feeling i won't be let down this year!

i made this macrame plant hanger the other day with the help of my daughter. it was definitely a two woman job! the name of the pattern is "goliath" which is very fitting considering it's massive size. i also made some other fun stuff over the holidays which i will share once i get my camera back.

have a great weekend and cheers to 2013 friends!

♥anne

the space under the stairs

don't we all have those areas in our homes that just feel like wasted space? well, the area under the stairs has always been that place! until yesterday it housed a bunch of toys and other random items. it was so packed with stuff that nothing was easily accessible and therefore a cause of frustration for me any time i glanced in that direction.  there is a built in bookcase which is pretty inconveniently located unless you are 3 feet tall or want to risk hitting your head on the wood beam as you back your way out. needless to say i thought it would make a perfect reading area for the kids.

add some twinkle lights, colorful crocheted blankets and festive seasonal decorations and you have quite a cozy little nook!

i'm in the process of de-cluttering the house. i'm rereading the most helpful book that i've come across on this topic, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker. she gives such great instructions and covers all areas of organization from cleaning and clearing out clutter to meals, planning and doing things in the most efficient way so you have more time for the activities you really enjoy. below is an excerpt that really hit home with me-

A PLAN WILL SET YOU FREE

Some people fall into time traps when it comes to planning. "I can handle this. No need to waste time planning," they say. Still others fear that planning takes the fun out of life. One woman told me, "Being organized is ok for some people, but I enjoy living."

A plan does not fence you in. On the contrary! It is your road map to freedom.

To paraphrase Victor Hugo, "When disposal of time is surrendered to chance, chaos soon reigns." There are already enough crises that befall us naturally. Why add to them by failing to plan the things you CAN control? 

 -Deniece Schofield 

  yesterday i put the tips to use and got rid of huge bag of toys and took it directly to the goodwill. i'm really looking forward to moving through the whole house and getting rid of all the things that don't get used. i want a simpler life and i know my home is the most important place to get started. i also know that although i am not naturally organized that it is not an impossible feat. the thought of working toward improving myself in this way and being a good example to my children really excites me. and i know i'm not alone in the big clean out. these lovely ladies started with their closets...i haven't gotten that far yet ;D

so back to purging i go!

anne 

 

yosemite

last week i saw the above picture on instagram (taken by this pretty lady) and got super teary eyed. yosemite is one of my favorite places on earth and i miss it so much. i haven't been there in about 7 years :( so when i saw that christina was there AND staying in the same cabins that we've stayed in countless times, my heart grew sad for this magical place. so, in an attempt to relieve my sadness i'm going to take you on a photo journey of past trips. here we go!

these first two were taken the summer of '92. above is my ode to the sound of music :D and below is my sister, my dad, me and my friend rita.

here we are the next summer. this was the day we hiked to beautiful chilnualna falls.

the summer of '94 we hiked to the top of half dome. it's approximately 20 miles round trip and was/is the longest and most difficult hike i've ever done. the next few photos are of the cables going up the back. i have heard of many people that head back down when they see the cables. i can't imagine hiking all that way and NOT going to the top.

looking at these now it looks pretty freaky, but i don't remember being scared at all. maybe i was just so exhausted that i only was thinking of getting to the top.

in front is carrie (a high school friend) and then me, my sister and dad. my stepmom, cathy, must have taken the picture.

hahaha! i felt like rocky balboa here!

i immediately laid down and went to sleep. ok. so your getting that idea that i was not in great shape, that's why everyone was so proud that i actually made it.

the view was spectacular from the top! i remember imagining a helicopter picking me up so that i didn't have to walk the 10 miles back to the car. you know what's crazy??? now that almost 20 years have passed, i kinda want to do it again! anyone want to go with me?

sitting at the top of yosemite falls
in '95 we hiked to the top of yosemite falls. i love this hike and although it's only 4 miles to the top, it's pretty hard (for me). my sister, dad and i did it again in '04 right before my sister entered the convent. that was our last hike together :(

daddy and i on the way up to yosemite falls

look at little max and alex!
this is the year we walked to sentinal dome, it's easy, beautiful and only 2 miles round trip. great to do with kids. below is my sister and max.


daddy and baby alex on the sentinal dome walk

rita, me, daddy on the log and jen, max and alex in the grass. i'm pretty sure we watching people climb the face of el capitan.

there are so many other awesome hikes and walks all over the park. we have done so many that i can't even begin to list them. each one special and memorable!

i know i'm not alone in my love for yosemite. if you've never been there, i highly encourage you to go. as for me, i made it a goal to go there this year. i'm long overdue for a visit!

"Each of us harbors a homeland, a landscape we naturally comprehend. By understanding the dependability of place, we can anchor ourselves as trees."
i read that quote by terry tempest williams on heather's blog a while back and it has stuck with me. i thought it would be fitting for this post.

ansel adams photo

♥anne

goals

I have felt lately that my life is out of balance. As a result, I have been feeling low on energy, unable to concentrate, slight feelings of depression and basically just an overall yucky feeling. Here is my remedy which I have already put into action, starting this morning-

♥ one small cup of coffee a day (I know coffee has a big effect on me. I have quit drinking it many times and know that I feel MUCH better without it, but I do love it so, that's why I've limited myself to one cup.)

♥ drink a green smoothie everyday

♥ eat raw foods (I aim for 80% of my diet)

♥ exercise at least 4 times a week. This another thing I have not been doing :( I like the rebounder and other exercises using your own body weight.

♥ journaling at least once a week. There's something about getting your thoughts out on paper that really helps you feel better.

♥ Daily prayer. I already do this, but I need to make more of an effort in this area considering it is the most important to me.

♥ limit computer time

♥ make a schedule and stick to it! I know there is time for everything I want to do, but right now I feel like I'm wasting the days away and not getting anything done in the process.


This morning I was reading this article about depression and felt compelled to post this section of it-

Address your stress -- Depression is a very serious condition, however it is not a “disease.” Rather, it’s a sign that your body and your life are out of balance.

This is so important to remember, because as soon as you start to view depression as an “illness,” you think you need to take a drug to fix it. In reality, all you need to do is return balance to your life, and one of the key ways to doing this is addressing stress.

Meditation or yoga can help. Sometimes all you need to do is get outside for a walk. But in addition to that, I also recommend using a system that can help you address emotional issues that you may not even be consciously aware of. For this, my favorite is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). However, if you have depression or serious stress, I believe it would be best to consult with a mental health professional who is also an EFT practitioner to guide you.

Eat a healthy diet -- Another factor that cannot be overlooked is your diet. Foods have an immense impact on your mood and ability to cope and be happy, and eating whole foods as described in my nutrition plan will best support your mental health. Avoiding sugar and grains will help normalize your insulin and leptin levels, which is another powerful tool in addressing depression.

Support optimal brain functioning with essential fats -- I also strongly recommend supplementing your diet with a high-quality, animal-based omega-3 fat, like krill oil. This may be the single most important nutrient to battle depression.

Get plenty of sunshine – Making sure you’re getting enough sunlight exposure to have healthy vitamin D levels is also a crucial factor in treating depression or keeping it at bay. One previous study found that people with the lowest levels of vitamin D were 11 times more prone to be depressed than those who had normal levels. Vitamin D deficiency is actually more the norm than the exception, and has previously been implicated in both psychiatric and neurological disorders.

I don't know if anyone will be interested in all this. I know I don't usually talk about these sorts of things, but I'm posting it regardless :D We all aren't rays of sunshine everyday and I think our diets and habits have such a big impact on our lives and I want mine to be the best it can be (and I'm sure you do to). So, these are my thoughts on the subject. If you read this post I'd love to hear what you think :D

Hope all you Mama's had a lovely Mother's Day! I certainly did!

♥ anne

p.s. I think this is the first time I've posted with no pictures! Sorry, I know that's boring. I promise to have something to look at in my next post :D

Weekly Quote

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
I think this a wonderful quote to start off the new year. I actually feel like I did sail away from safe harbor last year and I plan to sail even further away in 2010. There are many things I'd like to do this year and many self improvements I will be continuing to work on. I thought I would first list some things that I was proud of from 2009, then list some goals for 2010.

♥ I started my blog
♥ I opened my etsy shop
♥ I ventured into the world of raw food
♥ I started practicing EFT and have been healed of many negative emotions
♥ I lost 15 pounds that I had not been able to loose for 10 years (thanks to the raw food and EFT)
♥ I got my Christmas cards printed and up for sale (they didn't turn out exactly how I had hoped they would, but I did it and learned what not to do next time)
♥ I tried surfing. Hopefully this summer I'll stand up :D
♥ I've stuck with nursing Shane

Now for some goals
♥ Patience, patience, patience. Did I mention patience?
♥ Read more. I like to have a classic and a spiritual book going at the same time.
♥ Focus on making my shop the best it can be. I bought a dress form, so I'll be able to update more often. With three children it's pretty tough to find time to get into the clothes, take the pictures and then update. I think the dress form is going to be a life saver :D
♥ Get my daily prayers said BEFORE blogging. This one has been difficult for me.
♥ Practice the piano at least 5 days a week for a minimum of 20 minutes.
♥ Make learning more fun for the kids.
♥ Organize my house. I figure if I organize one area a week, it won't take as long as I thought.
♥ Work on staying positive.
♥ Try one new recipe every week.
♥ Exercise for at least 20 minutes a day/ five days a week.

Alright, I think that's enough.
I'm really excited to make this year one of continued growth and staying open to new adventures and experiences.
What are some of your goals for this year? What were you most proud of from 2009?

I look forward to hearing from you!
♥ anne