Milwaukee Laine

hello, hello. as michelle said we're back... hopefully it will last :) we were able to go to a good friends wedding in milwaukee mid-november. it was beautiful and now another place michelle wants to move to. we'll see. i met jake out here at church and we found out that we had actually "met" before. he's from cincinnati and we both went to the same dmb concert back in '98! when i think real hard i believe i do remember him, he was sitting a couple sections over and a few rows down. i remember being jealous because he was closer to the stage. anyway we reignited the friendship that we had embarked upon at that concert so long ago and he became our third wheel. his wife is lovely and her name's lia, now lia laine. could jake be superman?! probably, i wouldn't be surprised. anyway here's some pics of the trip. we also went down to chi-town to hang out with some of my old friends and eat the best pizza ever. period. it was awesome!

chicago. what!

at the rehearsal dinner. yeah that's a sweet stache!

the beautiful newlyweds. (on the left.)

hammin' it up at the reception!

wolverine?!

somewhere in milwaukee.

MmmMmmMmm...Raw Pecan Pie

Howdy Friends!

Tis' the season to make, bake, & eat sweets. Right? It's virtually everywhere: work parties, church parties, friend's parties, grocery store samples, gifts from neighbors or co-workers. How about those cookie parties that leave you hauling home 6 dozen cookies!! Holey Moley! Just about any social gathering is laiden with delectable morsels to nibble on...all night long!

Now, I am sure you don't want to, but consider the sugar that each bite of deliciousness is laden with.

White sugar, corn syrup, artificial sweeteners. These sugars are wreaking HAVOC on our bodies!

Now don't get me wrong. You all know I love to bake! There is something comforting about enjoying a delicious dessert this time of year.

As for me, baking is almost cathartic. I enjoy the process even more than eating the finished product!

Recently, I have been dabbling with raw desserts. Why?

Each bite is nutrient dense and not weighed down with a combination of ingredients that are "empty calories' and/or are difficult for our systems to process.

My sweeteners of choice are: Maple Syrup, Agave Nectar, Raw Honey, Raw Sugar, & Stevia.

This recipe was taken from Kimberly Snyder. I enhanced it a little bit...but, uh...haha, I forgot how. I think I just added coconut. I recommend trying it. You can go to Kimberly's blog for the recipe!

-michelle

We're baaaack!

I am at least. Let's see, April was the date of last entry. Holey Moley. A lot sure has happened between then and now. If interested in seeing photos right away, feel free to check out my Facebook photos here. I will (try) to have an end of year photo recap, well, at the end of the year.

Anyhoo.

Stephenie Meyer has been my author of choice in the last few months. I've read the Twilight series and The Host. Fun reading. I won't write about it here, but you better believe I will talk your ear off about it.

My mind appreciated the break, but now back into educational mode for me.

I've got a list of nutritional/holistic lifestyle books I will be reading over the next few months and will be sure to include a synopsis of the nutritional philosophy as well as my thoughts.

Up to bat is: Metabolic Typing.

On the bench: The No-Grain Diet, Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell,(again), The Milk Book, Food, Inc. & Not Just a Pretty Face.

(Am I citing these books properly?)

Here and there, I will do my best to update you guys on why I do the "weird things I do", like use Coconut Oil, use glass storage containers, avoid commercial deodorants (well, deodorant altogether), pass on the beverage during dinner time and so on and so forth.

As for today, right now:

I am actually excited about the clutter on my counter. Well, take a look!

MMMmmmmMM, right?!

I am attempting Ferrero Rawcher, found at this lil' lady's blog. I found her randomly the other night.

If you plan on attending the lady's get-together, tonight, at Pam Savage's house, then you are in luck! (thereotically-the lil' balls aren't made yet)

Well, I'm off to concocting the hazelnut chocolate coating.

One more thing, on a more serious note:

Today, all day, we are on our soul's knees for Matt Chandler of The Village Church. We hope that you will be as well.

-michelle

Who knew Filipinos sun-burned?!

And now, here I am, sneaking trips to the beach in between clients. Who knew filipinos could burn?
This is a new thing for me. I know, I know, I am only 28 and I don't have any strange fixations on turning 30. Not yet, anyhow. But my once resilient & bronzed, lather-me-with coconut oil baby!, sun loving skin is now enemies with the sun. Seriously. Genes-shmenes. Forget the tropical ancestory, my white boy father's heritage is taking over in my body. I am red and I am burning. Oh, and those little lines long the bathing suit, c'mon ladies, you know what I am talking about. Geez, I experienced a whole new burn during 6 a.m. spin class today.
So, the beach. I am pretty astonished by the beach. My recent observations have convinced me that our residency near the beach will last as long as we don't have children.
Once that test reads yes, so does the go ahead and begin packing the bags and hiking deep into the mountains. Safe and COLD and no need to 'dress down for the weather'.
No way in heck do I plan on having a beach babe daughter. (or beach babe watching son)
Yesterday, I was laying out on my back, neck craned up and forward and realize I am definitely the biddy of the beach. I reach for my glasses: undercover, now those highschoolers are unaware of my watchful eye. I mean, really, I don't mean to boast, but I don't recall flaunting my bootie like that!

Moses' new best friend

Jon, Aaron's brother, came to visit this past weekend. With him came another lil' rascal, Eddie.
Oh Eddie, the assertive lil' pup that poops bigger than ol' Mo, nowhere else but at the foot of our bed! Eddie is one heck of a ball of energy that puts a 1oo pound dog like Moses into submission. literally. Everyday their bond grew and, sadly, the two had to part ways Monday.

mewithoutyou

not the band, just something that deepak chopra said.
Things like this cause me to want a television. But I guess we don't actually need one, because I did end up watching it online.

Did you watch this on Nightline? Even if you did, watch it again.
(click on the link below)

Does Satan Exist?

-michelle

Colors of Tucson

We visited Mom and Dad and lil' bro James in Arizona. My picture taking doesn't exactly give the desert's beauty it's due justice. These are from Mt. Lemmon and Agua Caliente.

Please enjoy. Be inspired.

Michelle