A New Direction

WE ARE BACK IN BUSINESS FOLKS!!!

Barry, the bestest most awesomest, coolest, hubby ever,

fixed our computer!!! It turns out our hard drive just up and died and

our computer was running slow because we only had the factory level

ram installed. New hard drive, increased ram, and a reset from a 

back up we did in July (thank god!) and our computer is running

B E A U T I F U L L Y!

This means I can stop blogging from my phone, a joy I'm sure you can imagine. 

AND I can finally use our 7D again! I was only using my phone to take

pictures because our computer was so jacked up I couldn't even open iPhoto

much less import new photos.

With this new-found excitement and functionality I have been thinking about

this blog. What do I really want to accomplish with it? Is it a personal blog

that is mostly for me to look back on? Do I want followers? Do I judge my 

success by followers and comments and pins? Do I really want people to read it?

Do I really want to be expected to write three posts a week? 

What do I really want? 

So I've decided to go in a different direction. 

Lists. Lists are my big idea. One of my most favorite things to do with this

blog is to update My Bucket List post with links to completed bucket list 

items. I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I scroll down that 

post and see all the pink highlighted words. In my daily life I have

six or seven lists going on a daily basis.

I've noticed that most blogs have a running theme. Some are cooking blogs, 

baby blogs, fashion blogs, home decor blogs and some are just lifestyle

and personal blogs. I don't want my blog to be limited by its theme but

I feel like it completely lacks direction. So I'm going to become this list lady. 

I kinda like it!

I'm going to make seasonal lists, things I want to accomplish lists (like 

fitness goals), lists of things I want to do with the boys, places I want

to see....well you get the picture. 

I'm so excited to have finally picked a direction that fits with our 

crazy, no schedule, life. It is distinctly me. 

I can't wait to see how this turns out!

-Ri

7 Day Juice Cleanse: Day 2

Today I woke up...cautiously. Everyone was still asleep so before I got up I did an evaluation on my body. Headache? No. Hungry? No. Groggy? No. Body aches? No. I felt...normal. 

Also, I lost three pounds! Now don't get too excited, my water weight fluctuates between 4-7 pounds a day. Its frustrating as hell. But losing 3 pounds in a day is still good news!

The day has dragged on like every other day but other than that it has gone pretty well. I got hungry around one this afternoon but I realized it was because I hadn't finished my morning juice and I was behind on my lunch juice. 

I made a second batch of potassium broth and it has saved the day again. The first time I forgot to add the beet and spinach and it made a big difference. The taste was still great, just heartier. 

I've felt pretty good all day but it has felt just like any other day which I guess is amazing since I haven't really eaten any solid food in two days. No headache this time!! I'm feeling way more positive about actually finishing this thing! I did have a bit of a short temper this evening but that may just be because I'm tired and the boys were especially rambunctious tonight. 

Everyone says day three is the hardest but then the shift happens and day four is supposed to be when all the energy and mental clarity comes in. I'm definitely looking forward to it. 

7 Day Juice Cleanse: Day 1

A couple years ago, after watching Hungry for Change, I decided that I was going to be a badass and complete a 7 day juice fast/cleanse. At the end of day 2 I got a migraine so severe I was laid up in bed until the beginning of day 4 at which I point I said eff this! and started to eat again. I've always wanted to try again but then I had babies and was breast feeding so that was a no go. Now that I have no real reason to do the cleanse I've been putting it off. "Barry is going out of town, who is going to watch the boys if I get a headache?" "We don't have the money right now." "I'm training for a marathon, I need all my calories."  Fast forwards to two days ago. 

I was in the grocery store, trying to figure out what to make for dinner, when it really hit me. I really don't have any excuse to not do this cleanse. I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding. Barry is home. I've scaled down my training. And I just so happened to have some leftover Christmas money in my wallet. Right there, in the middle of the grocery store I made my decision. I would do this cleanse now. Today. No excuses. 

Juicerecipes.com is THE BEST website for juice recipes. Move over Pinterest!!! It has a 7 day cleanse plan with a shopping list so I got the fruits and veggies I needed and came home to tell Barry all about my newfound determination. 

I got excited. He got excited. And now we're doing the cleanse together. 

I started the cleanse yesterday but I don't have any photos because in my delirium I deleted them off my phone. Boo! 

Yesterday. Was. Miserable. 

I like food. I love food. I like to eat meals, I like to snack. I like to eat hot Cheetos while reading. I like to find recipes, I like to cook, I like the look on Barry's face when I make something delicious. 

This was like torture. I was never hungry, not once, but god I just wanted to EAT! And to make matters worse all the juices were super sweet and I wanted something salty. The cleanse plan comes with a recipe for potassium broth but says most people use it on day 3 when things get really rough. Um no. I made it day 1. And it was glorious. It was warm and a little spicy and salty and Barry and I drank all of it. 

If it hadn't been for that broth I would have quit. I have no disciple when it comes to food so I'm really proud that I made it through the first day. I was really cranky so I went to bed early praying the boys would stay asleep. 

I don't remember the first day being so difficult last time but so far everything about this cleanse seems different. I can't wait to get to day 7!