The Eleventh Commandment

Thou shall perceive happiness, health, and beauty in direct porportion to your weight and body size.

Outwardly, most people would read this and respond publicly with a "screw that" attitude. Inwardly? Yep. We live it as if it were a true addendum to the original 10 written in stone.

With every fiber of my being I can truthfully say I have never believed this. Perhaps it is easier for me because I have always been considered thin. But being thin has never made me happy.  I eat a lot. A lot. People, including family, watch me eat and wonder how I manage to stay so skinny. I laugh it off, while feeling decidedly uncomfortable with the inquiry. Are they looking for an answer? Do they think I have some secret dietary magic I keep to myself? I don't know why I don't gain weight (beyond the same 8 pound flux I've had since high school). My guess for myself is genetics and a high motabalism. And the part I stress the most, being thin does not make you healthy. I DO NOT consider myself to be a healthy person. I don't exercise, I don't eat well. I make horrible dietary decisions for myself. I recognize it, but currently lack the motivation to change it. *I do not inflict my decisions on my children*

Anytime someone talks to be about losing weight I try to stress that your weight is not a goal to be reached. If you want to change something concentrate on the inches/size you want to lose. Whatever you do, make sure it's something that is sustainable (as in exercise and diet changes). Looking back, I feel torn at having supported anyones goals to change themselves instead of encouraging them to love who they are. But I guess, since I don't love my body, I feel more secure in supporting their decisions since I can't practice what I preach and such. And exercise is healthy for you, so there's that. Or maybe that's just me trying to justify my actions.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling going on here. I read this post today, and it really resounded with me. Really articulates how I have always felt. Healthy is a word that encompasses so much, and I hope to live to see our society adapt to a, ahem, HEALTHIER vision of the word. So go read the post and come back and tell me your thoughts.

My Max, the Spaceship

Wordless Wednesday

Elly vs The Steak

I Wasn't Hungry Anyway

Dude. Bridie has a Healthy Living website that has a ton of great information on it. Hooray for your dedication to making you and your family healthy, Bridie! Me? We try but not with the same gusto Bridie has  : D 

So she linked to this article today. While this particular article may not bring out too many surprises, there are some additional links within it that were uber enlightening for me. *Sidenote: can 30 year olds still say uber?*
Like the 30 Saltiest Foods in America. There are salads on this list!!!! Also 20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper. I mean, come on!
On the up side, they also list The 50 Best Snack Foods In America. Some are no brainers and others were enlightening and appetizing.

So I figure, knowledge is power. Knowing these items and being able to avoid them, or alternately look for them when we're shopping helps us make a few healthier decisions for our families...and ourselves. This is the kind of change I can get on board with : P

Cuz....The More You Know (and shooting star).
You  have no idea how long I've wanted to use that line on here!

A Solution

I would love to take credit for this discovery, but in reality all credit goes to my girl Chibiko.

These frames are available at Target for $14.99. Talk about a Red Hot Deal : )

I'm going to have to get me some. We have an abundance of artwork that needs to be displayed properly. Not to mention protected from little hands!

To see them in action, visit Chibiko's blog post about Kids Artwork. Hopefully someday soon (you know, before the end of the year) I'll have my own and have them up to for display. *This is me dreaming*

Referring You

I want to send you to a friend of mine. She wrote a post that strikes near to our families' hearts (family's?). I'm sure you all remember the multiple mentions of the 17P shot I received during my pregnancy with Elly. It seems that the cost of these shots is rocketblasting (skyrocketing doesn't cover it) due to some new regulations. No use is writing more as she lays it all bare with more eloquence than I could probably put to it.

I am so sad to hear that a decreased number of women will be afforded the peace of mind I had by receiving these shots.

My Baby is More Expensive than Your Baby