Family

People say you can't pick your family. You can't choose them but you can choose how much you see them etc. As you grow older family is who you make it. A close friend who has always been there that's like a sister. Your spouse and his/ her family. You choose who deserves your time and energy. There comes a point when you realize  you might not be able to control "family" who are energy sucks. But you can choose how often you talk or see them. Or how you let them effect you. Not letting them get to you or suck you in to worrying or a negative space.  You can fill your"family" with positive people who love you and treat you right.

Garden harvest

I am lucky enough to have a huge garden and yard. I try to take advantage of it as much as possible. I also started growing my own sprouts and micro greens and alpha sprouts this summer as well. We got lots of beans, peas and dill started and just started getting new potatoes now. Have a few squash just starting. Moxxi has eaten most of her beet and turnip leafs and the squash and cucumber blossoms so what I do get will be short supply. I can't complain that's she's eating the garden she's having fun digging potatoes etc. next year I will just have to plant things where she can't get them or plant more! Haha

July book overviews

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
I loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series. It's not your typical zombie story. There is a town surrounded by a fence to keep out the unconsecrated (zombies) who are in the forest. They are told that there is nothing beyond the fence. But Mary has heard stories passed down through generations and longs to see what's beyond the fence and make it to the ocean. When their town is breached her and a group from the town find out what's beyond the fence and in the forest.

Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber
A girl feels lost in her fame meets a boy with no past. They help each other through some tuff stuff and a scary situation which  makes them closer then ever in the end.

Girl Walks into a Bar...by Rachel Dartch
 Rachel talks about her start in comedy, getting on SNL and what happened to her after. She talks about how right from the start she was type cast and couldn't not break that hold.

The Kulak's Daughter/ The Red Stone by Gabriele Goldstone
This book is a 12+ so it's obviously an easy read but it has some really good history in it. It gives you an inside view of what the Soviet Union was like in the 1930's. It's based on a true story and it's a very sad and touching one. The hardships they endure as a family along the way are unbelievable. Finished it one sitting.

The Pink Hotel by Anna Stothard
When her mother she never met dies. She jumps on a plane from London to LA. She attends the wake and in the process manages to steal a suit cause with some of her mothers belongings. She continues on meeting the people who were in her mothers life piecing together who her mother is and who she is her self along the way.

I Hate My Selfie by Shane Dawson
This book is a collection of short stories. It's funny just like his videos but it gives you some onsite into his life somewhat. If you like his YouTube videos you will like this book.

Taking charge of my health

I have gained so much weight since they kept adding more meds and upping the dosage. The last thing I want is to have health complications from being over weight. I may never be thin but I want to be healthy. I want to be the best healthiest version of me I can be. I am starting with a parasite cleanse. Also I am taking my supplements more seriously. I am finding digestive enzymes and probiotics are helping my gut health. The sprouts I have been eating and growing have helped with this as well. They are very nutritious and healthy. This is the healthiest my guts have  felt in my whole life. I don't have that feeling of a brick being in my gut or being bloated all the time.

I am also  working with my Dr to get me off some of my meds. For the little they help they have to many side effects. I am hoping I will eventually be able to to manage just as well with diet, exercise, massage, essential oils, supplements and pacing my self. I have heard of many people being able to do this and function just as well if not better then when on meds and with out the side effects. We will see how far I can get with this goal. Even just getting off some of the meds is better then none. When I look at pictures. I look so unhealthy now. Not even just my weight. My eyes, my hair and everything. And I feel like I'm just managing and I want to be living. 

I am working on eating smaller portions and more often. I am use to just stating once a day which isn't good. I'm drinking more water and eating more veggies. I'm trying to work on my skin. It's never been horrible but my hands are raw and I have chicken skin on my arms from having celiac. So I am talking some supplements to help with my skin and then exfoliating and keeping it hydrated. My hair I am trying to grow out a little. I have been using shampoo with argon oil which seems to be helping it a little.

loss

When something tragic and unexpected happens it really makes you think about what's important. It makes our every day problems seem so small. We have had a lot of loss and sadness happen around us to people we know and are close to recently. It's hard to know what to do for people besides be there for them. It makes me feel at a loss cause I want to be able to help or lessen their sadness. Which I know is not realistic. I know just being present for people during difficult times is helpful.

Dinner and a show #4

Since we have so much going on family wise this week we didn't go to dinner before the show. I just made a big pot of chili. We arrived 45 min early and it was already packed and I couldn't find parking. The parking attendants were horribly rude. And after the women working the door last time being so rude and clapping in our face to tell us we should be clapping for the show. I was not impressed. They clearly need more training for these people or need to screen them better as it was enough to leave a sour taste in our mouths.
The show was amazing. It was Les Miserable which neither of us had see live before. I have seen the movie and know the music and let me say I was not let down! They cast people so well in this production. And everyone was so talented. It was a longer show but kept you captivated the whole time. If you haven't see it and you have a chance I suggest you go see this production.
Leaving the park was horrible. They need to do something about parking for the show. It was enough to give me anxiety and the start of a panic attack.

Growing micro greens

I have been enjoying growing sprouts so much I decided to give growing micro greens a try. I bought a kit that had 3 types of seeds broccoli, radish and mustard. They were really easy to set up. It took me about 20 min with letting the coconut soil hydrate from a pressed disk.

Definitely is a bit harder then growing sprouts. I need to get a spray bottle as suggested. It says to just spray them. I have been just driving small amounts of water but it's to much and was noticing mold was growing on some seeds.

Once I got a spray bottle to water them that way things took off wonderfully. They really took off. Some of the seed pods are on the leafs still  but they are a really decent size and really easy to grow. After my kits seeds run out I need to find some place to buy more.

Drugs drugs drugs... Some are good and some are bad

Before I was chronically ill I didn't even use Tylenol. Oh how things have changed. I'm trying to work my way back to dealing with things more naturally. I'm finding the side effects of meds etc are more harmful then they are worth I some cases. So I am slowly working my way off what I can.
I know I may never be off my meds. But anything less then I'm on is better. I want to try and manage my health as much as possible with diet, exercise, massage, meditation  and essential oils anything along that line that won't be causing more damage to my body. This might just be a hope or dream. But I am sure hoping that I can make this at least somewhat of a reality.  Either way I see a brighter future ahead  I just need to listen to my body and what it's telling me and remember to give it the rest it deserves.

Yard and garden

I have been trying to get out and enjoy the garden and yard lot this summer. There is a lot of hard work to get done as always. But I have been enjoying it. It's nice to be outside with muffin and the dogs. We are lucky to have such a big and beautiful yard.

I

Weekend with family

Muffins cousin and family came in last Thursday and parked their trailer on muffins brothers 6 acre property in the back. We went and spent some time with them Thursday all sitting around out side  the trailer playing with the kids and enjoying the nice weather.
Friday we took his cousin, his wife and their 3 girls to the zoo. They had not been since it was renovated. We got so lucky and the polar bears were swimming while we were there. 
 
Saturday muffins brother and wife were having a BBQ/ Bon fire so we spent the afternoon and night relaxing at their place. Even though it rained we still had a great time and we're still able to set off fire works.

Fort Whyte

so today we had one of my nephews for the day. We decided to go spend the morning at Fort Whyte.
Muffin and my self both had not been since we were children and it was just as we remembered. It was great to be out side and enjoy nature and see wild life. We definitely will be going back as we only walked 2 of the trails. They have boat rentals and snow shoe rentals so you can enjoy nature all year round. They also have great work shops and a farmers market that I'm hoping to take advantage of. I would also love to go on the bison safari sometime. Their is so much to see and do there.

How I spent Canada day

   We opted for a low key Canada day. We woke up late and played with the dogs for a while.

                                                 Then went for a long walk around town.

                                Had a nice chicken dinner that my brother in law came over for.

                                                         And spent some time out side.