Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood!

So once we got home from our Christmas travels in Kentucky, the Watkins started a dietary journey. Josh has had some heartburn issues...nothing like he has to take prescriptions or anything, but it is bothersome to me how often it is an issue.

I do believe that diet can be used to help our bodies, so I did a little research on what diets are helpful for those that have heartburn. I saw plenty of the typical foods to avoid, but I knew we needed to try something better than that. I found several accounts of people going paleo/whole 30/gluten free, all with good effects for heartburn issues.

Now let me just say, we love our carbs. We do ok on trying to keep our meals balanced and not horrible for you, but we don't normally eliminate anything in particular from our eating habits. Our biggest downfall by far is sugar. That being said, I decided to start us on a paleo/whole 30 type deal, but please know, I'm not following anything super duper strict. Nor have I read any in depth literature about it. But we are avoiding processed sugar, grains, dairy, and gluten. In terms of sugar intake, we use some raw honey or 100% pure maple syrup here and there, but try to avoid it everywhere else.

Guess what. That's hard. Do you know how much sugar is on things that it doesn't need to be on?! I found it in a spice blend which was called "Garlic and herb grill spices"...number one ingredient? Sugar. SERIOUSLY?! Should have been labeled "Sugar spice blend for your chicken."

Anywho, we started on Wednesday January 4. By the time I actually post this we will have completed 1 week.

Here's what I've found:

(1) I have SO MUCH MORE ENERGY!!!!!!!  I can't say that I felt bad before. Lots of people say that. I wasn't plagued by anything necessarily. But I noticed very quickly how much more energy I had. And we cut our caffeine intake in half (we have young kids, we will not torture ourselves with zero caffeine.)

(2) I have been full longer inbetween meals. I still snack, don't get me wrong. But they are better snacks, and I don't feel bad about it.

(3) Almond milk in tea or coffee is pretty tasty. I even made some Paleo hot cocoa with water and some almond milk and it was really nice.

(4) Food tastes better. I was marvelling at the amazing taste of plain celery tonight. And earlier today I couldn't believe how sweet my carrots tasted, plain! A honeycrisp apple was so sweet it tasted like candy.

(5) I still need dessert. But dessert doesn't have to be key lime pie or cheesecake. It can be paleo fudge or skillet bananas. But life is too short not to give yourself a healthier option of dessert. I have adjusted to these "desserts" and am satisfied. Josh is not convinced, although he is kind of liking the paleo fudge.

(6) Josh's heartburn has already decreased in a week's time. It is not totally gone, but it is better. We have to give it more than a week to see how it goes though obviously.

(7) In one week's time I am down about 3 pounds. Josh is down about 4-5 pounds. Weight loss is not our goal necessarily. Josh is glad to lose some, but I was already pretty much at my body's happy weight. I just want to be healthier and I think it is helpful to see how cutting down on sugar and over processed carbs can affect your weight. It's just a nice experiment to see.

(8) Eating well is expensive!!! I hate that about being healthy. Really wish we could all get our act together so food that is good for you doesn't cost so much more. However, we don't have lots of easy options for eating out, so our "Restaurant" budget will go towards whatever extra we need for groceries during this experiment month.

We are going to try and maintain the eating plan through the end of January. Maybe even round it off for a full 30 days and wait until Feburary 5. After that we will see if we try a couple food groups which I still believe are fairly healthy (for example, brown rice...or using small amounts of cheese) but checking to see how they affect Josh's heartburn levels. Then we can pinpoint what might be some specific triggers.

Wish us luck!!

The Staples

Do you ever wonder what other products people swear by?  I think it is so interesting how there are so many different versions of EVERYTHING that you could choose from. It truly is unbelievable the amount of choices we have in this country. And every day it seems like someone comes out with another new choice to choose from!

So I decided to write a little bit about some of my favorite "cannot live without" products...I think it is always interesting to know what other people love too - so feel free to post what items you can't do without!

Dr. Dan's Cortibalm: I came across this product by accident. There was one really cold winter a few years ago, and I was getting what I thought were cold sores (for the first time ever in my life). I went to the dermatologist to check it out and it was just really really dry skin around my mouth. Man did it burn and itch. I have been a hard core chap-stick user for as long as I can remember, and nothing was doing the trick for me anymore. So the dermatologist recommended this lip balm that is not prescription, but you do have to order it specially through your pharmacist. Not only did it cure my very uncomfortable lip problem - I use WAY LESS chap-stick than ever before. Seriously. I can do one smear a day...sometimes less! And it is just as cheap as any over the counter stuff if you have your local Walgreens pharmacist order it for you!! Serious miracle product.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser: I remember when these things came out when I was in college. I didn't quite get how it could be so awesome, but it is. These things can clean anything...but be careful - it will take colored paint off of the walls if you are doing some major scrubbing!  But I can clean my bathroom so quick with one of these sponges, and so many other things too!!  They are a bit expensive in my opinion, but it is a splurge I am willing to make because it brings me so much joy while I clean! Who doesn't want to be happy while they clean?!
 
Summer Soles: **Honesty Alert** I have clammy hands and feet. Most people who know me, know this about me. It's annoying and I was terribly embarrassed by it for years, but I got over it and realized it is what it is. However, in the summertime it poses a real problem. If you take naturally sweaty feet and then add really hot temperatures...well then you get really really sweaty feet. It can be a real hazard trying to walk up-hill in flip flops in the middle of summer!! One day I decided - there has GOT to be SOMEONE who has made a product for people like me. Enter Summer Soles! These are a summer life saver! I am able to wear all the fun shoes you want to wear in the summer, and I am not terrified that I might break my ankle. Most of you will never need or use this product (lucky dogs), but for those of you that know the summer sweaty feet struggle I am talking about, give summer soles a try! They are super absorbent and cute!!
 

Tupperware Insulated Tumbler: Ever since I got pregnant & have been nursing I have been a thirsty fool. I think I have had more water in the past 20 months than I have my whole life. My sister sells Tupperware on occasion and she got me one of these (and then I asked for another!) I use these by my bed for those middle of the night thirsty episodes and when I am at home. They keep the water at the perfect temperature after I pour it from the pitcher in the fridge (I like to drink it fast, so super cold water w/ ice doesn't work for me). I love these, and they are pretty!


So those are some of my favorite products - what can you not live without?!

It ain't easy being green!

It turns out that for the past 13 years, pantone has released a "color of the year".  Did you know that? I didn't know that. Basically, they talk to designers (fashion and home) and figure out what colors they are using most, what people are being drawn to (that elite group on the cutting edge) and then they pick the color for the year.

Now looking back on what those colors have been in past years, I can't say I remember being overly affected or influenced by any of them. (here's the link to the list - http://pantone.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Color_of_the_Year)

But this year...THIS YEAR...the color of the year is - EMERALD. Yes ladies and gents...emerald. Love it.

So what does emerald mean exactly? According to Pantone's website they chose emerald for the following reasons:

"Emerald, a vivid, verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony. Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. It’s also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity – no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity."

So it seems like Pantone is trying to promote a year of healing and growth...good idea I guess. But we all know that declaring a color over the year means nothing. At least I hope you know that!


Now here are the two reasons I am excited about it being the color of the year:

• Green is my favorite color - and I especially love emerald green
• Emerald is Noelle's birthstone (and I love her and anything associated with her)

Green has been my fav color since around the age of 14. So we've had 15 (ahem, almost 16) glorious years together. As far as I know, I have only had 3 favorite colors in my life (mom, feel free to correct me.) Those being: pink, yellow, and finally green.  

I always had an appreciation for green...I can recall that it was one of my favorite colors in the crayon box (seafoam to be exact), but my true love of green came when I discovered that my eyes are green and that when I wear green, they really pop. It was probably one of the first things I really loved and appreciated about my appearance.  They especially pop when wearing emerald. So I hope lots of new clothes come out with this color - and luckily I already have some because I love it so much! In fact, just last month my sweet Mama bought me a lovely new pair of emerald green jean leggings!

I also wore a bright green t-shirt for our maternity photos because I love it and I was really convinced it would definitely be Noelle's birthstone. Enjoy a look back from almost a year ago (these were taken last March):

Probably a silly disappointment I have with green is that it is NOT the color Noelle looks best in. A stupid thing to be disappointed by, but true nonetheless. There are some greens she looks good in - but dang the girl looks amazing in red and purple and blue (see the red below)...but not so much green. I guess somewhere in my heart I thought we would both look amazing in green together, but alas - I will look amazing in green alone.

So cheers to an emerald green year everyone - I challenge you to add a little green to your life...specifically EMERALD!