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There's really no easy way to sum up this past year. So many fun parties, weddings and memories! Hopefully these 70 photos will help, keep those memories current. And now onto another very exciting year... hopefully many more posts to come!
Oh - And we're getting MARRIED!!
We are still going strong! Our lunches have been huge and packed with fruits and vegetables to munch on throughout the day, and most meals contain beans and/or rice in some form or fashion.
Danny came to the grocery store with me on Sunday, and nearly had a breakdown after being so frustrated with all of the hidden in ingredients in processed foods. All it takes in one trip to the store where you read a hundred Nutrition Facts to learn that the best way to shop is to stick with the produce and simple state foods like beans. He did find 3 frozen meals from Annies that fit the guidelines, which says a lot for that company.
Hopefully he will do better next time!
We made it through the first day. Check.
Things were a little touch and go at the bar last night........... but I think we did good in the circumstances. I just got home from the grocery store, and it was pretty nice to be able to go straight to the produce section, then straight to the rice aisle, and that's it! Easy cheesy shopping trips.
As anticipated, I was severely short on snacks at work (aka fruit, veggies, and nuts). Hopefully tomorrow will be better, now that I have some more produce.
I hope to make vegetarian sushi if I can muster the energy! It might be lunch tomorrow. YUM.
This will be year three for me, to undertake the 21-day Detox seen on Oprah a few years ago. My sister is the one who found it and first introduced the one month detox about 4 years ago. It is following the guidelines in the book Quantum Wellness, which includes eliminating gluten, animal products, sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
Sounds pretty difficult? Well it is! At least at the beginning when those pesky snack habits and comfort foods are creeping around in the back of your mind. The key for me is to have an abundance of healthy snacks around. I have found that you eat a lot more when you're sustaining on fruits, vegetables, and rice.
It also ends up challenging the way you live your everyday life. We will be watching the National Championship tonight (obviously) and it's going to be very difficult for us to be in a bar with tasty cold beer and tempting salty snacks. But this is where the willpower exercise is most apparent. It's hard to say no! We will keep you posted on our progress, and our weaknesses.
We are adding a new component this time around. In addition to the diet portion of the Quantum Wellness, we will also be following the 21-day Consciousness Cleanse. These are short mediations to help focus your thoughts on living to your highest potential. We are both new to meditations, and it's a little weird so far. We were both pretty uncomfortable the first lesson, but I think that is part of the point.
Here goes nothing.
Here it goes.
Really it started with the Ramsey Christmas, which I've already introduced.
Then, Danny and I hosted a small Christmas at our house since we were going to Nashville for actual Christmas. It was so nice! It was just the 6 of us, and we hung out all day, ending with a delishhh dinner (if I don't say so myself). I will post the recipes for you to enjoy, especially the chicken dish.
A few days later, we were off to the cabin, after work on a Friday. We had intentions of stopping half-way in Lousiville, KY to make the drive easier, but once we arrived (aorund midnight) we decided to just push through and drive all the way in one night! We are crazy. We finallllly got to the cabin at 3am, and went STRAIGHT to bed. In the morning, we slept in a little, but not too much. We were too excited to see everyone! In the end, good decision.
We enjoyed the cabin for a short day and a half; great food, drinks, and of course Christmas presents!! It was a nice evening with Danny's family, mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and newest member... Danny's niece! She is such a good baby. Nice and relaxed and super cute :)
Then it was off to Nashville for Christmas. We spent one night seeing some of Danny's high school friends, which was a lot of fun. We didn't realize it at the time, but we ended up staying at the same bar for 7 hours! haha oops.
Christmas Eve we went to the candle light service of the Methodist Church the Wickes attend. I love that service.
Such a nice relaxing holiday, with just enough drinks and TOO much food! It was also pretty nice not to be in the freezing cold for the holidays.
Our ride home was quite an adventure! Going 20mph for 3 hours is not fun, but it was better than spinning into the ditch. Luckily we made it home safely, after a great Christmas!
