My full plate

Irony on a platter!!

So, this past week I was watching a premiere of the show Jamie Oliver's Food revolution. I loved it!!

However, I was so mad at the people in the town who were so resistant
to the change that Oliver was trying to bring. Why were they so resistant to this change? Could it be because he is a foreigner? Bad food is yummy?

The premise of the show is Jamie Oliver will try to change school lunches as he did in Britain. The hope is that everyone will change their eating habits and become healthier and mindful of the toxins they eat.

For the life of me I did not understand why the school thought it was okay to feed the children cereal and pizza for breakfast? The chicken the school was feeding the children was made of 1000 ingredients.... I usually like my chicken made from.... I dunno um...CHICKEN!

The Irony of the whole episode is that we were unable to watch the whole show because the show was interrupted, because of the Healthcare Reform.

Healthcare Reform...would we need sucha thing if we feed our children better? Would we need this if the average American could afford to eat better? The healthy stuff does cost more--and that does differ people. Should we get the cheaper ground beef for less or the lean ground turkey for more? Hmm..

This I thought was Ironic... healthcare reform and school lunch reform. Don't get me wrong I don't blame the schools not at all, we as parents need to be mindful of our kids' eating habits and what we are putting in our kids' bodies. Oliver helped a mother and father understand that they were taking time off their children’s' lives. So sad...

This Friday a new episode came on and the town seems to be warming up to Oliver...I think it will work out. I hope!

Jamie-Oliver-shows-Schoolkids-how-Chicken-Nuggets-are-made

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Not so full plate after all..

I think all to often we think our plate is full, we feel sorry for ourselves, overwhelmed. This is okay we are allowed to do so...but then we read a story, watch something on television, or hear something that makes us think maybe my plate isn't to full. Maybe, life is GREAT and I should enjoy it everyday--never taking things for granted. I would like anyone who reads my blog to read http://laylagrace.org/ this is a blog about a little girl who is dealing with cancer at two and her battle is very faint now--
As a mother it saddens me to hear these stories but reminds me how very special my gift as a mother is-- how truly precious everyday my life on this earth is with my angels and my husband...
I cannot say next week I may not have b**ch fest, but I will try not to.

Best Health to everyone.

Melt Down

It finally came after all my progression an all out melt down!! Last night I feel asleep on the couch while my husband was playing the wii and then I had to get up to work on my team project. I got up worked on my paper and it was super late 12am finally I got done and my husband went to bed. However, I could not go back to bed my mind was racing...I tried to turn it off, I meditated and followed my breathing patterns.
Still my mind-- took over.
Why I had such a great day, I had brunch with my family and then we went shopping it was a really good day. We played the Wii and had fun as a family.
Could it be-- my dad!
I talked to my dad, and right now I am angry inside. I love my dad so much, but I am still angry with him for what he has done to my mother.
Their whole separation I just kinda.. I guess pushed it down-- I felt I had to. I was pregnant with my son when all the ugly stuff was happening and I could not let it bother me. I was pregnant and I tried not to let their problems become mine. I also didn't want to cry--I didn't want my kids to know if they didn't have to.
My parent’s history, they are on off and who’s to say the minute I told them they would be on again.
I did eventually tell my daughters before we went back to Texas this summer.
This visit back to Texas--just reassured me Texas is not home anymore.
This place used to be home and now it is no longer-- so much has changed.
Instead of dealing with it, I stuffed it down and early in the morning I had the biggest meltdown.
I was so happy my husband was there with open arms, even though he was sleeping so heavily he awoke for sobbing me...
I was able to just let it all out and cry till my head was in intense pain--tissue after tissue, I started to feel better.
The best part is I know my husband actually understood my pain. He loves my parents and his parents too are no longer together, his however split when he was younger. My parents choose to do this while I am adult...
Either way I was upset, that I allowed my anger to take over me, but was proud I let it out.
I feel much better-- and I feel an immense love and respect for my caring husband.
Whew... felt good to let that out!

Bananas

Its bananas the way you let your mind run ramped, let negative fill you and take over. Why not look at the glass as half full rather than half-empty?

When you start to feel sorry for yourself and then something amazing happens you wonder..."why did I not think more positive?"

Lately, I have been more positive and I have plenty to smile at... funny these smiles have been here all along--

However, the biggest smile of the day was finding out my husband still has his job! My husband works for a big-time Chicago Company and every year they like to give people ulcers with " we're going to be laying off, notices will be given on X date" What? Scary when you have three kids a house and a life in general. However, for some reason I was not as scared this time-- I was at peace. I did not cry like I would have usually, I just knew things would work out either way.

I love it-- we will celebrate tonight <

For the last month my husband and me were feeling a little bit lonely... our family and friends have not been in contact with us as much and vs. versa. Out of sight out of mind?

Then all of a sudden there is a flood of calls, texts and laughter from friends and family near and far over the past couple of days. Perhaps, we are not to far out of mind after all. : )

Cheese cake!

Non-dairy...

Good-bye to cheesecake?

Cream Cheese?

Really?

What am I gonna do?

This is turning out to be much harder than previously thought--

Almost Dairy-free Mia

I had a whole foods cupcake : ( : )

Turns out there was dairy in it...

Glass of Sunshine!

I have had a great day being positive--trying to rid myself of negative thoughts-- freeing!

I have started a new game with my family- you should try it. When at dinner ask everyone to answer the question "What made you smile today?" The kids will be so enthusiastic to answer, and you will be filled with more smiles.

When learning psychology we were told, that giving journals to our clients could be helpful, and in the exercises you should make them chronicle happy times and what made them happy or what triggered their anger or rage.

Fast Forward, and here I am reading Better Home's and Garden's magazine a magazine I myself would have never purchased but got as a gift. The recipes in the mag are pretty good, but this idea was worth a try- The Smilebox. The smilebox is when you and your family fill a box with index cards filled with your smiles of the day either write them down or draw. This helps to foster optimism. I loved the idea so much and now my family and I are now smiling and laughing at dinner a little more....

This morning I smiled a lot and I think sometimes we take these smiles, the inside giggles to our selves for granted.

My son made me smile when he pointed at Eva Longoria on Sesame Street and said Momma!

Giving my two youngest children a vapor bubble bath made me smile they are so cute, and it reminded me of when I would give my two girls a bubble bath in the middle of the day and now my little eight year old is a big girl : )

My oldest daughter got a haircut and said, "I love it I just keep looking in the mirror, but I know vanity is not good." Where do these kids get these things : )

Today I will smile and I will save these smiles....

It's like a glass of liquid Sunshine