nipping it in the bud, hopefully

When it comes to food, I am a firm believer in moderation in all things (except for alcohol and caffeine - those are never ok for me). But I have a hard time moderating my sugar intake. That is probably apparent by the kinds of recipes I post on this blog. Have I ever even posted a recipe for something savory?! Goodness, I don't think so.

Anyway, my hair is falling out, sort of in a major, worry-inducing way. And my skin is the pits. I am tired a lot. Plus some other things that nobody needs to hear about. Something is out of whack in my body. I've felt it for a while now, but it isn't going away like I hoped it would. So it's time to get serious about fixing my diet, because deep down inside I know it's the cause of my problems. I eat too much sugar and that's all there is to it.

The hair loss was the final straw. (I've experienced hair loss before, especially after having my babies, but it was never anything like this. Have you? What did you do about it?) I've decided to give up sugar and white flour for a month (or more, we'll see). I'm going to eat more protein and still lots of vegetables. I've gone off sugar for a week or so before and I noticed a significant increase in my ability to moderate my treat intake afterwards. I hope the same thing is true this time around, plus a much needed balance in my hormones. Once my month is up, I am aiming for treats only on the weekends, and definitely not to excess (moderation, moderation, moderation!). I can't live without baking forever, but I am pretty sure I can do it for a month. Good grief, I will do anything for the sake of this hair that I've spent so long growing out!

I'm hoping changing my diet is the key. I know my doctor would gladly prescribe some sort of hormone balancing drug, but that just doesn't feel right to me at the moment. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm trying hard to listen to what my body is telling me, and so far, I feel really good about this process.

on blogging/not blogging

Sometimes there's just nothing to blog about, you know? And that's ok. Blogging is pretty silly most of the time anyway.

(But! Silliness aside, I am thankful for my blog. I love that I have a record of the last 9 years of my life here on this page - and most of the treats I've made, too! I used to feel bad that I wasn't writing in my journal anymore, but I've let that go. Blogging is a blessing, I am sure of it. It has helped me remember things that I otherwise would have long forgotten. It clarifies ideas and beliefs that I hold dear but probably wouldn't have recognized, let alone put down in writing. I believe blogging has made me a better wife and mother. When I say here that I do something, I better be sure that I am really doing it! It keeps me accountable, even if only to myself. That's the thing about blogging. You have to do it for yourself, I think. It doesn't matter if a million people read your blog or only one, the audience shouldn't change the content. The fact that anyone besides my grandmother even reads this blog is somewhat shocking. But I am glad you are here! I've met some pretty great people through my blog, and that is something I'll always be grateful for.)

Elliot and I have been doing a lot of hugging lately. We read books or play flow on my phone. We brave the still-too-warm sun and go to the park. We clean the house and get the mail. And yesterday we even organized the sewing room. These are the details of my life at the moment, and as mundane and unblogworthy as they seem, I know someday I'll look back on these days wistfully and I'll be glad I wrote them down.

Do you like to blog? I'd love to hear why.

weekend things

First of all, when Mike and I went running this morning there was a very small hint of the slightest chill in the air - the first time this season. That means that fall might actually be on its way! Oh phew. The summer heat in Arizona isn't as awful as it sounds, but by this time of year I am just so tired of it. (As I'm sure I've made abundantly clear on this blog.)

Tonight is our ward's annual Daddy Daughter campout in Sedona. When I asked Oliver what he wanted to do while the girls were gone he requested renting a movie and making popcorn. So that sort of gives you an idea of how exciting we are around here.

Mabel has joined a choir and her practices are right across the street from the new Gilbert Temple. (What are Mormon temples used for anyway?) So we have an awfully nice view while we wait for her in the park nearby. This temple isn't quite finished yet, and we are anxiously awaiting news of the open house.

What are you up to this weekend?

on time

After a few weeks of getting the house ready for guests, then hosting the guests, and then traveling with Mike, this week I am happy to sit. Elliot and I have been taking it easy. No rushing. No errands. Just home.

I feel lucky to be at home. To have my days stretch before me, to fill however I wish, is such a luxury. That's what being a stay at home mom means to me. Of course there are meals to prepare and toilets to scrub and children to tend, but really, my days are spent precisely how I wish to spend them (even if that means shuttling kids to piano and ballet after school). I've been trying to be more deliberate in how I do this, and I have been pleasantly surprised to find that when I chose wisely, there is plenty of time for reading my scriptures or squeezing in family prayer before the kids head to school. I have time to hug Elliot on the couch while he watches "Monkey George" or to sit with Stella while she does her homework. We've even been reading scriptures together as a family before bed! We're totally on a roll. I know it won't always be this easy (who knows, next week I might completely fall apart), so I am trying my best to appreciate it right now.

I am grateful for this life of mine, for a husband who works hard to provide it, and for a Heavenly Father who watches over me. This week has been just what I needed.

Plus, I can totally smell fall in the air.

Soft Frosted Pumpkin Cookies

While I was visiting with my friend, Marcie, in Nashville, she mentioned some soft pumpkin cookies she had recently made. I guess that stuck with me because I found myself making a batch almost as soon as we were home. These cookies are thick and soft, with a chewy outer layer and a rich, cinnamon cream cheese frosting. I'd make them again in a heartbeat.

a trip to Nashville

Mike had a business retreat in Nashville last week. Since he hates traveling alone, he brought me along. We had never been to Nashville before, and we had so much fun! And we're not even country music fans!

Nashville isn't a terribly large city. In fact, we didn't even rent a car, so we did all of our sightseeing by foot or on city bikes. The downtown is full of restaurants (and bars) and live music. Everyone is a musician in that town, it seems, and most places had a different band performing in each room.

The first night we were there, we rode our bikes to Jeni's to meet up with some old friends and to eat the most delicious ice cream I've ever tasted. Oh man, I craved it for the rest of our trip! But Jeni's was a soggy 9 mile round trip ride from our hotel, so we didn't make it back to that side of town again. Such a shame, because their dark chocolate ice cream is the stuff of my dreams.

Another night, Mike's company provided dinner and entertainment at Sambuca. They had three award winning country music songwriters perform for us, and I am telling you that I very nearly converted to country music right then and there. It was so fantastic! The songs were beautiful and sweet, funny and wild. And the musicians were, too.

Our hotel was close to Centennial Park and Vanderbilt University. While Mike was at his meetings, I pretended to be a coed and ran through the campus and around the lake at the park.

I'm not totally sure why, but they have a life-size replica of the Parthenon at the park. It's not quite as pretty as the real thing, but it will do.

One of my oldest friends, Marcie, lives outside of Nashville. She braved an intense thunderstorm and drove into town to pick me up. We went to Franklin, a super quaint, very old little place about 20 minutes outside of the city. We ate lunch and shopped on Main Street and strolled through the historic neighborhoods. We had a lot of catching up to do. It's been at least 13 years since we've seen each other, I think, and it was so fun! I didn't want our afternoon to end. Thank you, Marcie!

So here's my advice: if you ever get the chance to visit Nashville, take it! Even if you don't like country music and you don't drink alcohol. Tennessee is a really beautiful place, and Nashville is a town unlike any other.

Special thanks to my sisters-in-law Abbie and Lindsi, and my mother-in-law Susan for watching our kids. I didn't have to worry about them one bit while we were gone because I knew they were in such capable hands.

a full house

Last week we hosted my sister Leslie and her family from Texas, my sister Julianne and her Toni from the UK, and my parents from Utah. My sisters and I hadn't been together at the same time in longer than I could remember. It was so fun.

There were crossword puzzles to solve, Words with Friends to play, and future vacations to plan. The kids mostly kept themselves busy in the basement.

My sisters both married exceptional men who make for really fun uncles for my kids. We were so glad they could both come, and we had such a fun time with them.

The Parker women reunited!

And the men, too!

Last year, Julianne and Toni were living in Ethiopia to do research for their PHDs at Oxford. While they were in Africa, Toni and a friend started Run Africa, a UK company specializing in running themed travel in Eastern Africa. It gives runners of all levels the chance to train with some of the fastest athletes in the world, in some of the most beautiful landscapes. It sounds really special. Are you a runner? Is this something you'd be interested in? Check out their page for more info.

My dad has magical sleep powers.

Toni and Oliver share a birthday. So there were presents to open and candles to blow out and cakes to eat.

Why do we all live so far away from each other? Oh, it's so hard. They've only been gone a day, but we miss them like crazy already.

Happy birthday Oliver!

I don't have many pictures of our Oliver. If there is a camera nearby, you can be sure that he is quietly staying in the background, hoping to not be noticed. Today he turns nine. Oh, Oliver, he is such an obedient boy! I never have to ask him to do something twice. He is such a good brother that he doesn't even mind when Elliot climbs into bed with him and wakes him up at the crack of dawn. He is generous and kind, smart and helpful, and is really, just the best boy in the whole world. We're so lucky to have him in our family.

We let him skip school today and now we are off to Denny's for lunch (his choice).Happy birthday, Oliver!