New Mantra

 "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." 

Isla's First

Thanksgiving Day also happened to be Isla's first birthday.  We had Crystal, Adam, Lyndon, Vera, Becky, Noah, and Jacob over for dinner and a little celebration for Isla.  Here are some pictures documenting the day:

Our table before all the food

Noah dutifully carving the delicious turkey

The other boys playing outside while we slaved away inside ;)

The finished product. It was SO good.

Isla's first cupcake, or what's left of it :)  She had a blast eating it.

All in all, a pretty successful day.  Such a good day and so grateful for all of my wonderful friends and family.

Thanksgiving

I would be lying if I said I always handled challenges gracefully.  This last month has proven to be particularly challenge-filled for me, and graceful would not describe how I handled most of it.  Suffice it to say that pretty much every aspect of my life went down the hole at once and I frequently found myself feeling like I was drowning in my own life.  Sounds pretty dark, but that's how it felt.  Take it or leave it.  Or not. 

Anyway, things were bad.  At first I just felt frustrated ALL THE TIME!  I knew I should be handling things better.  I knew I was not relying as completely on the Savior as I should have been.  We've all been there.  

What I'm grateful for the most this month is that it is the Lord who truly brings out the best in people, not ourselves.  I would be a complete wreck right now if not for Him.  He helped me understand that life requires patience---it requires waiting on His time-table because He knows what/when is best.  It requires trusting that He is still there even when it feels like things just keep getting worse and worse and how could He possibly still be involved if things just keep getting worse!  I know He is mindful of my life.  I know He loves me.  And I know that after night comes the morning.  There will always be a morning.  I'm so thankful for the things and people He has placed in my life to help me:

-my wonderful parents. You will never know how much I love you and appreciate the life you have given me.
 
-music. the right music can reach a part of me that almost nothing else can. it can lift me out of the deepest funks and put hope back in my heart.

-my incredible friends. we may not talk as often as I would like, but I still love you and am grateful to know you. my life would not be complete without you.

-my daughter, Isla. you bring so much crazy love into my life. sometimes you drive me nuts, but I love you. your smile makes my day. 

-my husband. you are my best friend. thank you for wanting to be with me forever.

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."  --Psalms 30:5

I draw

On my mission I started drawing as a way to release some creative energy.  I haven't shown these to very many people and I figure putting them up here won't be a problem since no one really looks at my blog either.

Ferdinando the fish: drawn on the mission

Love me some life.

I must have a lot of free time if I'm able to blog so frequently these days.  I need to get a new hobby. And stop complaining about how I have no time!!! Hah.

Last night Michael and I were eating dinner.  Isla was crawling around the kitchen.  This was the resulting mess:

Isla has recently discovered a new way to laugh.  She does it when she's particularly amused, or when she's hungry and is crying/laughing at the sight of her bottle.  It's pretty funny. 

Below are two pictures I saw/found recently that I thought were especially humorous.  Perhaps you will also find them amusing.  

 bahaha so true.

And on that note, I bid you adieu and good night.  Chicken salad and sleep await.

So little time

Do you ever feel like there's so much you want to do with your life and NEVER enough time to do it all?  I recently felt I needed to make a list of my goals for the future.  Some were relatively straight-forward like learn yoga and lose the weight I gained while pregnant (all 60 lbs of it...I'm not sure how much I have left to lose since I never weigh myself). Some, however, are a bit more in depth like starting a program to educate youth about mental illness.  How to do it all?

I think I need a professional life-organizer.

Boo (in a non-halloween-ish sort of way)

Is it okay to to just say life feels really, really crappy sometimes?  Cause it is. 

New of Isla

 I realized recently that I have stopped taking pictures of Isla all the time so I made up for it a little bit yesterday.  

One day at a time

Chocolate-Raspberry Cookies: Amazing

Being dirt-poor: Great learning experience

Having a cold & menstruating at the same time: So. Much. Fun.




Sometimes it's the little miracles throughout the day (like figuring out that if you omit the almond extract it makes the cookies taste WAY better) that make life beautiful. 

Never dull

One of my favorite aspects of life is that it's always changing---that we are always changing.  I was just singing one of my new favorite songs in my head (Radar Detector by Xaphoon Jones) when I realized that a few years ago I probably wouldn't have enjoyed this song very much.  Back in High School I listened mostly to pop, but had a healthy appreciation for country, "classical", classic rock, and the occasional rap/hip-hop tracks.  I'm delighted that my musical horizons have since broadened considerably.



Thank you to all who have helped me see the musical light---who have let me enjoy their iTunes or their Grooveshark playlists.  You help my world spin-round.  You keep my otherwise monotonous days interesting with smooth beats and sweet, sweet, tunes.

Chili

I love chili and cornbread. It's possibly one of my favorite food combinations.  This recipe is one of the easiest things I've ever tried. If you can operate a can-opener you can make this.  And it tastes pretty darn good, too.  Pair with your favorite cornbread  and you have a perfect fall-ish dinner.  Bonus: it's healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 (16-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Preparation

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven (or whatever soup pot you have) over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell peppers, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add sugar and remaining ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

Recipes

Here are a few recipes I've tried recently that Michael and I have really loved.  They're both either low-fat or fat-free and are both cholesterol free.  If you have any questions about ingredients (namely the nutritional yeast) let me know.

Mexican Dip
makes 2 cups

1 15-oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, seeded and top removed
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp onion flakes
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp fine salt
1/4 tsp pepper
dash of granulated garlic powder
dash of paprika
juice of 1/2 lime
1/3 c nutritional yeast
2/3 c (or less) salsa
1 jalapeno, seeded (optional)
1/2 c canned or cooked black beans

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease an 8-inch round or 9-inch square casserole dish and set aside.
3. Add all ingredients except black beans to a food processor.
4. Blend until smooth and transfer mixture to prepared casserole dish.
5. Gently stir in black beans and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until dip is thoroughly warm.


Lasagna Rolls
Serves 4

1 8-oz box whole-wheat or brown rice lasagna noodles
1 10-oz package frozen spinach, thawed
1 recipe Tofu Ricotta Cheese (*see below)
1/4 c vegan Parmesan (or mozzarella)
salt, to taste
nutritional yeast, to taste
Italian seasoning, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 25-oz jar marinara sauce

Directions:
1. In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta al dente, according to package directions.
2. Immediately rinse with cold water, pat dry with a clean towel, and set aside, laying flat on a plate.
3. Press out any excess water from spinach and combine with Tofu Ricotta Cheese and vegan Parmesan in a large bowl until well incorporated.
4. Once evenly combined, taste, adding salt as desired and adjusting nutritional yeast, Parmesan, and other seasonings, such as Italian seasoning or pepper.
5. Then add 1/2 cup of marinara and stir to combine
6. Line your large pot with a thin layer of marinara.
7. On a clean work surface, spread 1/4 cup of the tofu-spinach mixture on a noodle and roll it closed.
8. Place the roll in the pot with the crease facing down.
9. Repeat with all noodles.
10. Pour the remaining marinara over the rolls, cover, and bring to a boil.
11. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 5 minutes, until rolls and marinara are warm.
12. Serve immediately.

*Tofu Ricotta Cheese
Makes 3 cups

1 lb extra-firm tofu, drained
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 c nutritional yeast
2 tbsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp granulated garlic powder
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen cloth and place between two cutting boards.
2. Place a large, heavy object on the top board.
3. Allow to rest for 20 minutes, forcing excess water out of the tofu.
4. Crumble tofu with your hands so it's broken down into smaller pieces but not yet the consistency of ricotta.
5. Mix in the rest of the ingredients
6. Incorporate all ingredients with your hands, breaking down tofu to the consistency of ricotta or feta cheese as you mix it together.


These recipes are from The Happy Herbivore by Lindsay S. Nixon.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Trouble in vegan paradise

My second week of being a vegan is about over and it has proved more difficult than the first.  The reason?  Jacob's birthday.  The son of the couple in whose home we are currently living, resides in the basement.  His name is Jacob and this week was his birthday.  One might wonder why that had any bearing on my eating habits, but the 2 pumpkin pies, chocolate cookies and donuts he brought home should make more sense.  

I haven't had a donut in a long time, but seeing them on the counter made them mighty tempting in the face of my chocolate withdrawal.  Thankfully Michael was around every time I was tempted so I didn't give in.  I've never wanted dairy so much in my life and so tonight I bought vegan chocolate chips to compensate.  They taste like a dream.  Yum.  

Also really good?  The Mexican dip I made last night for a party.  I would have never guessed it was fat free if I didn't know it was beforehand.  Perfectly spicy, and miraculously tasting of cheese even though there was none.  It almost made up for the near-criminal lack of chocolate in my current diet. 

My first week

My first week of being a vegan is now complete and happily I am still alive.  The following is a list of food that actually turned out pretty well:

-black-bean brownies
-enchilada casserole
-couscous with spinach, fresh basil, tomatoes and garlic
-lentil and edamame stew served with toasted whole-wheat pita bread
-lentil tacos in corn-tortillas


As it turns out, I really enjoy eating this way.  Michael has reported higher levels of energy as he does his ROTC workouts, and I am sleeping better.  Michael lost 3 lbs last week (not that he needed it...), and I've lost weight as well (but have no idea exactly how much since I hate weighing myself).


I feel so much healthier even after just one week and I am even more excited about what the future will feel like.  Perhaps one day soon I will wake up and no longer be in constant pain.  How marvelous.

Vegan

Well, world, I'm going vegan.

I watched a movie called "Forks over Knives" and for anyone with Netflix or a way to rent it, I would HIGHLY recommend it. It has changed my life.


I have always believed in the Word of Wisdom but for so long I believed that so long as I was avoiding the no-no's (i.e. coffee, tea, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc.) I was living it.  I didn't pay as much attention to the "please do's" like eating fruits and veggies, grains, and meat sparingly.  I didn't realize how much meat and animal-based products I eat on a regular basis, but it's a lot.  Milk, cheese, butter, chicken, eggs, etc. I eat them a lot.  What I didn't know, and this movie taught me, was that I don't need any of those to get the nutrients my body needs.  Broccoli has more protein than beef per calorie.  I had no idea.  I'm pretty pumped that my arteries will be getting a break from all the garbage I usually eat. 


HOWEVER since I love Thanksgiving and Christmas food, I'm happy that I can have about 5% of my diet be from meat-based products.  But for the most part I'm going to be vegan.  I never thought I would, but I feel SO good about it.  Michael is on board and I'm glad Isla will be able to grow up knowing and loving healthy food.  

I'm also pretty excited to see what this does for my chronic pain and depression.  From what I've learned eating this way should help with those things, and maybe I'll finally become a morning person.  GASP! I know, right?  Me loving mornings?  Seems impossible.  

My Mom is the one who recommended I watch this movie, and I'm pumped to see my Dad's heart problems improve as they continue eating this way.  


I'll also post any fabulous recipes I come across in my quest to eat a whole-foods plant based diet.  


Wish me luck!!!!

I just can't help myself

A few blog-worthy photo's of Isla:

Becky and Noah babysat Isla. These pictures are of her on their porch eating an apple.

My brothers came over today and they got her to FINALLY do the "death stare" long enough that Phil could capture it. 

She. Is. Hilarious.

I'm not funny

I remember back in High School making a shirt that said, "I'm not funny" and I derived such pleasure from seeing others' reaction to it.  

When I was in college I had a mohawk and derived similar pleasure from seeing the old people in the grocery store stare at me when I walked past.
  
Now, I get to enjoy people looking my way not because of my shirt or hair, but because I'm holding a really, really cute baby.  I have to admit I prefer this.   

My sweet little monkey bear

I love babies.

Dear Isla,

The following is a list of things that are not intended for human consumption:

1. My knees
2. The brick around the fireplace
3. The paint on the kitchen stools
4. The blinds
5. The fly-swatter


Please keep these in mind the next time you feel the need to gnaw on something.


Love,
Your Mom

Isla Lately

This post has been long overdue.  At some point in the (hopefully) near future I'll get around to blogging about my recent vacation, but for now, just feast your eyes on all of Isla's cuteness.  

She has this repertoire of cute things she does to win people over...not that she has to try too hard.  She is crawling all over the place, starting to try and climb up furniture, she loves being outside, and she loves going for drives in the car.  She's basically the cutest thing I've ever seen.  Ever.

With my sister, Randi

Two Door Cinema Club

I'm pretty obsessed with this band right now so I thought I'd share 2 of my favorites by them. For the first video, if the dancing is too much just close your eyes :) Oh, and P.S. Several of the comments on YouTube said it looked like Harry, Ron, and Neville left Hogwarts and formed this band. Hah.

Updates

1. Michael is still working for Worldwide Book Drive and recently got a promotion and a raise!
2. Isla has started pulling herself up in her crib, making me very glad we lowered her mattress recently. I had started having nightmares of her throwing herself over the railing on accident.
3. Isla has a new play-pen thing that has saved my sanity. Crawling babies get in to EVERYTHING!!! haha It's pretty amazing how they manage to find exactly what they're not supposed to find and ignore all their toys. I wonder why that is...
4. I have started drawing again and playing the piano more. Something about moving here has re-awakened my need to be creative. I hope it continues!
5. We had a few visits from family this past week. My Grandparents, aunt/cousins came on Monday, and on Saturday Michael's Aunt Jan and Great-Aunt/Uncle came by. It was so nice to see some family.

6. We're going on vacation in a little less than 2 weeks and I am SO EXCITED. We're heading to St. Louis first to see Michael's family, followed by some time in Maryland to see mine. Should be fun.

Our backyard

I love to spy on her while she's napping...

Cute

Here's parts of a conversation Michael and I had last night:

"Jessica, you're so pretty. You're so cute. Cuter than a little kitten with a bow on its head."

"Michael, you know I hate it when you call me cute." (I was glaring at him)


Later in the evening he admitted that his co-worker had put him up to saying that to me after Michael had told him about my aversion to the word "cute." I don't like the word unless it's being used to describe old people, babies, or animals.

Salemites

It's official! We now live in Salem. At some point I should take pictures of the house and post them, but for now I'll just talk about it all.

We moved in on July 4...well, technically it was July 5 at about 4 am. Talk about a LONG day. Not much time to celebrate living in America and what all that entails, but the day was about freedom so that's good. Freedom from a home that I haven't missed at all since we got out and also freedom from bad traffic, and the crazy drivers of the world that seem to all congregate in Provo.

Salem itself is beautiful. We have a fabulous view of the mountains, there are horses in our backyard and nice big trees. Our backyard also houses a swing-set (complete with a baby swing for Isla) and a trampoline that's level with the ground. I have enjoyed lying on it during the day while Isla plays in her stroller under the shade of our patio-cover. It's all quite idyllic, actually. I could not be more grateful to the Lord for providing us with the opportunity to live here. It could not have come at a more perfect time.

Isla is loving it here. The day after we moved in she started crawling---I guess she was just waiting for a little bit of space to move around in. I can't believe she's almost 8 months old. She is getting SO BIG and I wish she would stay little forever. Alas, that is not to be. She's so fun, though. I love her so much.

Everyone should come visit me down here since our car can't make it too far these days. Once it gets fixed I hope to travel to the Provo-ish area more frequently, but until then I'm stuck down here.

Addictions, part 2

I found a cure to my obsession with Diet Coke/Pepsi:

The other night I read an article about the worst foods to eat during the summer if you're trying to look skinnier in a bathing suit and whatnot, and one of the bad foods was Diet Coke! What?!?!! Haha Apparently the carbonation makes you look bloated as it expands in your stomach. Also, it makes you crave food so you eat more. Crazy Diet Coke.

Just tell me that drinking something makes me look fat and I'm done! Haha. I haven't had any in 2 days. Michael is very proud of me.

To sleep, or not to sleep

1. A man went to the doctor complaining of insomnia. The doctor gave him a thorough examination, found absolutely nothing physically wrong with him, and then told him, "Listen, if you ever expect to cure your insomnia, you just have to stop taking your troubles to bed with you." "I know" said the man, "but I can`t. My wife refuses to sleep alone."
***I don't think my husband is a problem, I just thought this was funny.

2.

3.

Story of my life these days. Only instead of a desk job, insert a picture of Isla.

Gang Fight

Michael is teaching Isla how to dance. I think she has a bright dancing future ahead of her.

I have a problem...

I have an addiction problem. Exercise and Diet Coke. I just can't seem to get enough.

Apparently admitting I have a problem is the first step to recovery. We'll see how things go from here.

This is rhetorical

Why is it that intentions do not always result in the desired outcome?

Here's a video to watch while contemplating the answer. I hope it makes you smile as much as it did for me.

It's about time.

I have to admit I won't be in the least bit sad to say "goodbye" to this house...not to the washer/dryer combo in the kitchen, the lack of storage, the mold, the lack of air-conditioning, and the cramped living room. We'll be moving to Salem, UT in the beginning of July. We'll be house-sitting for a couple Michael knew from Illinois that are going on a mission to Korea. Am I excited? YES, YES, YES!!!! The only sad parts of moving are being farther away from the gym, leaving our current ward, and of course not living next-door to the Coleman's.

P.S. Two of the bedrooms have carpet from the 70's---can we say orange and shag? Amazing :)

Something about Spring

Things I find myself grateful for as of late:

+ Exercise: About a month ago I joined a gym with my neighbor/good friend. We've been going just about every day and I have become addicted. I LOVE the feeling I get after pushing my body past where it's comfortable, to a point where I am aching all over. It feels SO great. Thank you, gym, for changing my life.

+ My friends: I'm pretty sure I have the best friends in all the world. It doesn't matter how busy we get, or how much time passes between phone calls, because when we do talk it's like no time has passed at all. We trust each other and support each other and I am blessed to know you. Thank you, my dear, wonderful, friends.

+ My husband: He has been working SO hard lately and still makes time for Isla and I. He is my best friend and every day I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me with such a good man to be my companion. I am grateful for each day I have with him. Thank you, Michael, for all you do. I love you.

++ This one is most important, so He's last. My Savior: With Sunday being Easter, I spent a bit of time contemplating why that holiday is the most important, yet has largely been reduced in the world to bunnies, eggs, and marshmallows shaped like baby chickens. The day should instead be focused on the Man who makes it possible for us to change, to be forgiven of our mistakes and sins, who comforts us when we're sick or hurting in any way, who gives us EVERYTHING that we have every single day, who understands anything and everything that we experience because He has already experienced it. I am grateful for my Savior and the knowledge I have of Him---that He lives, that He gave His life for me so that I might live forever with those I love most. Without His influence in my life I am nothing, but with Him I can do anything. Thank you, Lord, for everything---even the things I cannot see. Thank you for loving me beyond my comprehension, and for teaching me to love myself despite my imperfections. Thank you for giving me reasons every day to be happy.

Ducks and Spiders

During my trip to Maryland last month, I heard the following story and couldn't resist sharing:

When my sister was about 3 years old, she heard my father "release gas." Not wanting to let on that it was him, he turned to her and said that she had just heard a duck. Her reply: "A duck pooping its pants?"

P.S. My sister is hilarious and apparently always has been.

Yes, indeed

I was starting to feel bad about not keeping my home as clean as I would like, but then I read this quote and realized that not keeping my home clean was actually an act of charity. I am so generous.

"The only advantage in not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are." ---Eleanor Roosevelt

A veritable "light-bulb" in the night

While Michael falls instantly to sleep, most nights I lie awake in bed for HOURS trying to will myself into unconsciousness. I must say, though, the wee hours of the morning when I'm half-asleep have proven to be great times to think things through. On one such night, not too long ago, I found myself thinking about what I want to be when I "grow up." When I was younger I had three goals: being a wife, mother, and piano teacher. As it turns out I've accomplished all 3 of those already, so I figured I needed some additional goals. I fully acknowledge that being a wife and a mother is a life-long thing, not simply a one-day-only event. That being said, I felt there was something else I should be doing.

During my various stints in college I threw around a LOT of ideas, including (but not limited to): dentistry, psychiatry, music teaching, sociology, home & family living, music, music, and more music. None of those felt right. While on my mission to Arizona I thought I might find some insight in to what I should major in. Nope. I got a husband and a child out of that mission, but no major. So imagine my surprise when at around 1 am on this night mentioned earlier, while lying in bed, I should receive the answer to this question.

I have had a very personal interest in psychology for a number of years and have felt on numerous occasions that people's perception of "therapy" and the type of people who need it, are way off-base. I have also noticed a growing number of young women with pretty much insane views of themselves, what they think beautiful is, etc., etc. SO. I want to major in Public Health Promotion, with a Business Management Minor. With this degree I'm hoping to set up a non-profit (or work within an organization that already exists) to promote mental health awareness among young women. I would love to travel to different schools, working within the health curriculum already established, to teach special classes on mental health. I haven't worked out all the particulars of how to do this and what exactly I want to teach, but yeah. That's the basic idea. I also want to learn self-defense and teach that to young women.

Nighttime is the right time for me to think. And to learn.

Hargiss' Lately

In the last month Michael and I have been blessed to see a bit of my family. We were in MD for a week during Michael's Spring Break. While there we ate a LOT of good food (a staple of any worthwhile vacation), went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, toured parts of Washington D.C., had a great "Baby Party" for Isla with some of our wonderful friends, and mostly (and I think most importantly) spent time with my family. Here are some pictures of our fun:

Jacob had a good time carrying Isla around for the day. He's a good brother.
This is at the Air and Space Museum in D.C.

Also at the Air and Space

Air and Space

Air and Space

View of the Washington Monument from inside the Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial in D.C.

Vietnam War Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

I love the feeling I get when I'm in our Nation's Capitol. The people of this country may not be perfect, but I know I am blessed to live here. This is a choice land, and I love it. So many people have sacrificed SO much for our freedom---I will be forever grateful for them. Places like the Vietnam War Memorial serve as a much-needed (and too often taken for granted) reminder of these sacrifices. We should never forget how blessed we are.


While in MD, one of my best friends took some pictures of Isla. To see some of them, click here. I'm thoroughly convinced that I have the prettiest baby EVER. She should be the new face of Gerber. Here are some of my favorite pictures that didn't end up on the website:






This past weekend my brother Jacob came out to UT for a visit, and to see General Conference live. I have such a blast when he's around. I'm glad Phillip lives close so I can see him as well. It's fun to see Jake interact with Isla---he is going to make one lady very, very, lucky someday as an amazing husband and father.

Believe it or not, he put her to sleep for me :)

And last but not least, here is a video from last night in which we are attempting to feed Isla some rice cereal for the first time. Our fabulous neighbors (the Coleman's) were over for the blessed event. I swear every time they leave our house I turn to Michael and say, "We have the best neighbors ever." Everyone should be so lucky.