look what I got!

sooo....the hubs pulled one over on me last night!  It was awesome!  We had been talking about getting mountain bikes forEVER.  It was a "we will, we will..." and Josh had been to a few bike shops around looking and doing the research (as he does before a purchase :)) and he told me he was going to go ahead and buy his yesterday and then we would go test some out for me at a later date.  Sounds good to me, at least we're headed in the same direction!  I had a late client last night so I didn't even get to the gym until 7 and home until about 8:45 (oy) and when I got home I was all excited to see his bike!  He brought it inside (it was a little dirty from his 8 mile ride that afternoon.  Way to go Joshy!) and was telling me all about it.  He was super excited!  Then he said, "are you sure you really want to get into mountain biking with me?" and I was like of course I do!  Something active and outdoors that we will do together!  Sign me up!!  He goes, ok good then go look in the dining room.  He bought me my bike!  I was legitimately surprised! He said he wanted to tell me to come straight home instead of go to the gym so we could ride together but didn't want to spoil the surprise!  WINNING! (Get it Charlie Sheen)  Josh is not what you might call a great secret keeper and aside from when he proposed, this is the best he's surprised me since!!  1 point for the husband!  Also, please let me say he bought me a helmet and other gear which is ALL color coordinated :)  He knows what's important here!  YAY!!  Here's a pic of my new bike...and Tucker!

overwhelmed and moved...

I have the great honor and priviledge of knowing an extraordinary woman that has been through more than you and I could ever imagine.  She's been healthy, she's been sick, she's been in between, and she's been on her death bed.  She is 25 years old.  Her name is Joanna and she moves me every time I'm around her.  I have never in my life known anyone with the charisma and spark that Joanna has.  And it's often very surprising to me, given the fact that she has been near death many many times.  It's easy to get caught up in life's "dramas" and play the "oh, woe is me" game, but I have never heard her utter a negative word about what she goes through.  She truly is an amazing person.

Joanna is one of a kind.  I mean that literally.  She has multiple disorders that nobody else in the world has. She suffers from cranial and spinal abnormalities, neurological conditions, a connective tissue disorder, and an immune system deficiency.  She was joking one time about how her scientist father found the probability of someone having all of the conditions that she has and the probability was a big fat zero.  She finds humor in this, and this is why she's still alive. 

I was inspired to blog about her today because she, yet again, had me in awe 2 days ago.  She and her husband (well, ex-husband but they are still together...long story, you should check out the piece 11Alive did on her... Joanna's Story ), sis and her boyfriend, and the hubs and I were all going to get together this friday for a fantastic dinner/game night.  We were totally stoked!  She sent me a message saying how sorry she is because we have to reschedule because she's going in for surgery on friday.  To her, surgery is like Wednesday...just another day of the week.  She has had over 40 brain surgeries in her life. I can't even imagine.  But what's so funny is that she was apologizing to US about having to have surgery!  I mean, come on! And this isn't like having an ingrown toenail removed...she's having surgery around her jugular and her heart and she's busy being concerned about disappointing us for missing game night??  That's just the person she is.  Completely selfless. 

On top of all of this she was threatened with losing her health insurance at the age of 25 when she could no longer be on her parent's.  That's a scary place to be when your medical bills were over a million dollars in 2010 alone...So instead of getting down and depressed about what she was going to do she started an organization called JoannaCare.  JoannaCare is not only for her, but for the millions of people who can't pay their medical bills because they can't get insured.  The statistic for how many people die each year because they can't get insured and can't pay is astonishing...it's awful.  And she's doing something about.

I can't say enough about her.  She is a beautiful person inside and out and I feel greatly honored to know her.

"I don't know if I have a week or decades to live but I am committed to this world having been better for my being in it."  - Joanna Reid

THAT's who she is.  I'm praying for her and her husband, who might I say, is an amazing person as well.  I can't imagine watching the person you love suffer like he does but he is her rock and he is just as awesome as she is.  Come friday any prayers are appreciated for Joanna as she undergoes yet another surgery.  I told her she better get well soon so we can have another date! 

Me and Jo at Christmas time 2010.  Is she not GORGEOUS?!

a non-disastor in the kitchen!

Ok, so I am usually not super excited about food, as I am generally a VERY bland eater.  I don't like a lot of spice, I like my protein, my veggie, and (sometimes) my rice.  Sounds fun right??  Luckily, I'm a big veggie lover otherwise I would get very bored very quickly.  Well in my new, eat 6 times a day life...I know, all I do is eat...well, and pee because I drink water ALL day...tmi?? :)  So, buying things like protein powder, protein bars, etc gets VERY expensive.  Genius idea...make my own protein bars!  OK!  So I did...last night.  I just enjoyed my first one, and I'm not gonna lie it's kind of awesome!  And a LOT less carbs than the ones I was buying before.  Now, I know exactly what's in it too!  hooray!

Ingredients

-4 scoops chocolate protein powder -2/3 cup flax seed meal -4 tbsp natural peanut butter -1/4 cup water -honey to taste

Directions

-makes 4 servings

-mix all ingredients in a large bowl and stir. At first it may not seem like it is enough water, but keep stirring and it will eventually become a sticky blob of dough. Add 1 tbsp of water at a time if needed.


-divide mixture into 4 equal portions and place in separate pieces of plastic wrap placing them into bars. It's easier to shape them by lying plastic wrap on one side of a small casserole dish, pressing the dough into the natural shape of the dish.


-store the bars in fridge or freezer. Once solid, enjoy.

I will enjoy, thank you!

she's here!

Introducing Miss Tori!!  She is so precious!!  I'm so happy mom and baby are both healthy and happy!

My new love! :)  I'm going to squeeze her cheeks too much!!