Journey through January (how's that for a cheesy title?!)

Hellllooooo! Hope y'all had a nice Christmas! We had a very relaxing and fun Christmas and of course, it was over much too fast. I thoroughly enjoyed having my hubby home for a whole extra week and I think he was pretty happy to have a break, too. My favorite gift this year was some pieces for my Willow Tree nativity set. I had the basics (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, shepherd and sheep), but Stefan surprised me (and boy was I surprised, actually to the point of happy tears) with the creche (if that's what it's called) and another shepherd, a few animals and the camel. It's beautiful. In fact, I was lamenting the fact that it would be packed up for the next 11 months - that's such a waste. So I found a nice home on the mantel in our bedroom (yes, we have a fireplace in our bedroom, and it doesn't get much use, but it looks really nice) where it will spend most of the year, until I move it downstairs at Christmas time. I love how simple and classy it looks. What was your favorite Christmas present?

I have been reading like crazy lately. Somehow I manage to get all my other stuff done, but I could easily read for a whole day. Not even kidding a bit. I have always read more fiction than non, but lately I've read a lot of both. I just finished reading the latest by Vince Flynn (he writes political thriller-type novels, in the basic style of the TV show 24 - very exciting, especially if you're an American and a Republican, but I digress). I've also got a few on the go by Jodi Picoult. She is an amazing writer and I love the diversity of topics she writes about. Her most well-known book is My Sister's Keeper, which was recently made into a movie. I've got one by Dan Brown waiting for me, plus a biography by Tony Dungy (former Colts headcoach, whose son commit suicide a few years ago). I also finished some corny British chic-lit recently - good for a laugh if nothing else.

In addition to those, I am being constantly inspired in the health department by a number of different authors. To name a few: Victoria Boutenko, Matt Amsden, Robyn Openshaw, Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Carol Alt, Ani Phyo and Kristen Suzanne. They all have the same basic message: you are what you eat (my interpretation). Plant-based, whole foods are the way to go if we want to avoid disease and general unwellness. I am determined to make some major changes to the way we eat - we've already made baby steps, but we have a long way to go. I've often in the past felt guilty that I would throw raw veggies on the kids' plates, because I was too lazy to cook them. Turns out this was not such a bad thing after all! I've read about the importance of eating raw food before eating cooked food, to allow all those amazing enzymes to do their work. Oh, there's so much information! I have been making some major changes personally lately, and the results are coming in! I've been doing green smoothies faithfully for over 6 months already, but now I'm adding in a lot more raw and cutting back on a lot of animal protein. I am feeling fantastic. I am almost always healthy - it has been years since I've been really sick. I almost never get colds (and this was even before this all began). I have more energy, my skin looks better, my nails are better, my digestion is in fine form and a few pounds are even starting to melt away. There is so much more to learn, but if you're interested, I can post some of the names of the books I've been reading.

In 18 days I will be relaxing on the beach (or by the pool, or somewhere else equally warm and wonderful and sunny). I CANNOT WAIT!!! I think the kids will have a great time with their friends, and even though there are some days when they make me REALLY CRAZY, I know I'll miss them a bit. If I remember... Maybe at dinnertime when I'm not cutting anyone's food into smaller pieces, other than my own, or saying just one more bite, then I might remember!

That's it for the moment. Thanks for visiting!