What do we really eat???

I have started a new initiative the past week or so to be conscientious of what I am eating. It's a semi-diet, but more of a lifestyle change.

Before you read on, I just want you to know this isn't going to be a post of pro-organic this and that. While I think some things are good organic, I can't justify the price to myself when the un-organic product is basically the same.

Here's what I've been focusing on...Cutting out high fructose corn syrup and simple carbohydrates.

Sounds easy huh?

Well, I'm coming to find out it isn't!

Turns out high fructose corn syrup is in almost everything!

Take for example to 2 picture below:

 
Which do you think is better for you?
...
Did you guess the Greek? You're right!
The original yogurt contains high fructose corn syrup, as well as the 'light' yougurt contains that AND aspertaime. Neither one are good for you.

Whereas, the Greek doesn't have either one, is Gluten free, and is made from cows milk that hasn't been treated or any additives....uh...added.
(I know that sounds so educated coming from a college grad, but I couldn't think how else to say it.)

When I went up and down the grocery store aisles yesterday, I became rather educated. Most everything that is 'reduced fat' or 'fat free' has either aspertaime or high fructose corn syrup in it to enhance the flavor.

As for the simple carbohydrates- these are simple sugars that once ingested convert to glucose if you're lacking..or fat if you have enough glucose. So, I've cut out the sugary cereals, mac and cheese, white bread, and other things. Complex carbohydrates are still good though: whole grain breads, potatoes, and a few other things..

My meals now take more preparation and planning, but I'm feeling better about myself and I feel healthier.
Hopefully I'll keep it up.

If you have any recipes or food products that you like and are healthy, please share!

Polenta....

How I love Polenta! 

For those who don't know what polenta is. It has the consistency of grainy mashed potatoes. 

It is creamy, soft, and rich delicious goodness.

It melts in your mouth, and is very basic. It takes on the taste of what you pair it with, therefore it is versatile and goes with almost any type of food.

So, did you see the picture just above? I tried making polenta tonight. It looked nothing like the picture shown above. I didn't take a picture because it was such an epic failure, but it looked something like the picture shown below. Which one would you like to eat??? Yeah, I'd like to eat the top one as well.

 

So, anyone have a yummy polenta recipe that is edible? If so, I'd like it. 

Pretty please? 

Also maybe what to cook with it?

Eat Pray Love...

I went and saw the movie Eat Pray Love for the second time this weekend, oh how I love that movie! I started reading the book as well and I'm loving it! If you haven't seen the movie, it follows this sequence: Liz Gilbert 'Eats' her way through Italy, 'Prays' in India, and finds 'Love' in Indonesia. I definitely identify with her segment of Italy when she goes to her Italian language class. Here's a little excerpt:

"The interesting thing about my Italian class is that nobody really needs to be there. There are twelve of us studying together, of all ages, from all over the world, and everybody has come to Rome for the same reason- to study Italian because they feel like it. Not one of us can identify a single practical reason for being here."

I love this quote because it is SO true. While I was in Siena, I attended language, culture, and cooking classes at the Societa Dante Alighieri. One of the hardest and best experiences of my life. There were 4 other people in my class- all from different walks of life, but with the same idea. We wanted to learn Italian- eat, breathe, and live Italian, and it was SO worth it. 

As part of our learning, every morning we had to introduce ourselves and try to explain why we were here. The only person who had a purpose besides pleasure or school, was Sua Lucia- she was a nun from Korea who was here to 'studia la lingua del Papa' - to study the language of the Pope. She was my favorite classmate. Quiet, timid, kind, unassuming, and good. There aren't enough adjectives to describe Sua Lucia.

This was my class (l-r): Tomas from Germany, Sua Lucia (Sister Lucy) from Korea, Pasqualena from Australia, me from America, Laura our teacher, and Jake from Australia

Anyways, you'll probably be hearing more of this book as I read. I know my poor husband has heard so many excerpt he can't keep them straight. Oh how I love anything Italian!

On another good note, I discovered a website tonight that I'm in LOVE with! I discovered it from another blog I read by Kelle Hampton. Enjoy her blog here. Getting back to what I was originally talking about- there is a website called www.shabbyapple.com - they make dresses that are modest- all have sleeves and length goes to the knee. They are of the belief that dresses should not require a cami underneath or a cardigan. How refreshing! You wouldn't believe how hard of a thing this is to find- a modest dress that is chic at the same time! I need to do some online shopping! BTW, they were going to have a sale in SLC this past weekend but the rain cancelled it. Let's hope they have another sale/garden party! So go and check it out!

Overcoming fear...

Yesterday I began a process of overcoming one of my fears.

I have always been afraid and extremely intimidated by GUNS-

well anything that can be deadly actually..

So, yesterday we went shooting with friends!

(This is where I would insert a picture had I remembered my camera)

I was able to shoot the gun my husband owns- I believe it's a Springfield XD subcompact-it's black and has 2 safety's. I like that there are 2, that way you know it can't go off on accident- you have to be gripping the gun for one safety, and pulling the trigger for the other safety.

I was really surprised when I first shot it! It had a powerful recoil. Apparently not as bad as some guns, but it was still surprising. It surprised me so much that I yelled a swear word! Josh was beside himself laughing and I had to agree. Not many people have that reaction when they shoot a gun.

Once the first initial shock was over of how powerful this gun was, I buckled down and prepared for some target shooting. Surprisingly, I was pretty acurate. I was able to hit the bullseye and around it the majority of the time.

I'm excited to go shooting again. I know there's going to be a next time. I'm not afraid like I was. I guess it was fear of the unknown, and definitely becoming familiar with such a deadly weapon. I'm not saying that I'm going to go out and be the next Rambo, but I think if I was being threatened I could defend myself.

BBQ's

One of my favorite things about summer are the bbq's! Last night we went to one of Josh's friends house and had a bbq with good friends! Too bad I forgot my camera, so here are some highlights!

We had ribs! These aren't the ribs we had, but oh they were SO delicious!!!!

So here's a couple of highlights of the night..

Eating delicious food (IF you hadn't guessed that one already!)

Visiting with girlfriends while the husbands played poker outside

Laughing really hard every time Maren snorted :)

Setting off some pretty lame fireworks, but nonetheless having a blast with the sparklers!

The men came inside to play smash brothers, so the women went outside to play blackjack!

(Just guess who one?!?)

Grooved to ABBA while Jamie and Tasia gave us "I think you've lost it" looks!

Seeing a stray bottle rocket, Maren and I decided to set that off...

turns out you're not supposed to be holding the bottle rocket with your hands..who knew!

I was the one holding it, it shot out of my hands and exploded over the neighbor's shed.

That caused many a snort to escape from Maren

I was laughing so hard I cried, then had the hiccups for a long time after

We finally went home around 1am, it's bee a while since I've been out so late!

So much more happened, but I don't remember all the details..

Fun times!

So much time on my hands..

With Josh working the swing shift, it seems that once I'm finished working for the day, I have all of this time on my hands. There are 2 things that I have noticed so far about this extra time:

#1 It is bringing out OCD tendencies and I'm cleaning a lot or doing laundry

&

#2 I'm going shopping so I'm not stuck by myself at my house

From these 2 things I've concluded that #1 really isn't fun and I would like to spend my time doing something else. And #2- while it is fun, this could be a dangerous habit, seeing as I keep finding things to buy :) For example, I had a $10 shopping card to Kohl's, so last night I went and bought some jewelry. Now this example isn't bad because I only spent $4 of my own money. But I have this list of things I would like to buy or replace now that Josh is working again. Because of this wishlist, I'm sure #2 could become expensive and all over a bad idea to be doing this in my free time...ok well not all of my free time, but a girl does have to shop sometime!

So I need some hobbies. Any ideas? Cooking is one- but it really isn't all that fun to cook for just one person. I want to learn Spanish, but do I want to go back to school at nights since I have the time or teach myself at home? Has anyone ever tried Rosetta Stone? Or there's working out- getting a gym membership which would be good, but on the days where I've had a long, hard work day, do I really want to go and beat myself up after work?

One avenue that I really enjoyed this week: I've been making yummy, mostly vegetarian dinners! Here's on dinner that I actually had twice this week! (It was even yummier the second time!)

Mmmm, bruscetta!

I toasted the french bread

Combines fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil and 

let it soak in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

It was DELICIOUS!!!

Jealous yet? I've decided to make it for a baby shower I'm throwing for my friend Heidi on Monday. I'm a little scared that people won't like it as much as I do, but then I'm kinda hoping they don't so there'll be more leftovers for me!

After this adventurous cooking, I think that's what I'm going to focus on...gourmet cooking! YUM!
If anyone has any other ideas for my spare time to be creative, you're a captive audience!

So proud!

Wow, I'm lame for not being on here in so long! Wow, this summer is going by quick! This weekend, we got to celebrate....wait for it.....Josh's graduation!!! In case you can't read what he's holding, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Western Governor's University.

I'm such a proud wife! Here are some other people that came to celebrate!

Me of course! We rock the sunglasses look quite well...

Josh's family, ok well 7 other siblings are missing, but there's his parent's and his sister Jamie.

Josh with my parents.

He is now officially a college graduate! Like me! I didn't have a blog when I graduated, so here's a picture of me:

This was taken about year ago.

Being back on the University of Utah's campus made me re-discover something about myself. I miss going to college. I am one of those people who love to learn. Not so much learning about things like math or science, but about people. People in history, different cultures, languages, and so on. I'd love to go back to school to learn Spanish, and I know I will once life calms down a bit. Or will I be waiting forever if I wait for that? We'll see what happens..