Countdown.

Let the countdown begin!

Today it is actually 18 days!

This countdown also consists of lots of planning, packing, prepping, and closing.

You see we have to pack for 10 days in Thailand and 5 weeks in D.C. each in seperate suitcases.

We will only have time to swap luggage because the day after we return from Thailand, we also leave to D.C! Also, Neil suggested we only take carryon size luggage. In theory its a great idea! No check in time, no waiting for luggage, no hauling it around on trains, buses, hotels, etc. But how is a girl to prepare for 5 weeks of clothes?! in a carry-on?! I guess I'll have to get creative! Stay tuned for more on that.

They Do.

We got to spend Memorial Day weekend celebrating with Matt and Megan on their wedding day.

 It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding! Pinterest worthy even! I may ask if I can post these pictures.

 Table numbers were wrapped around wine bottles with pictures of each of them at that age.

 Customized caricatures of them for the topper.

 Even the food was awesome. There were crawfish and shrimp tamales! and, an AVOCADO BAR!!!

Avocados cut in half with sea salt and all the toppings. Pineapple salsa, ceviche, bacon bits, sour crean, cilantro sauce, and corn relish! We had too many and that was just appitizers!

We were also glad to see them the day after for dinner in Waco! They are Officers in the Navy and we rarely get to see them but we can't wait for the next time. Seeing Neil with Matt (and his brothers) is so hilarious. Hopefully we can meet with them this summer while in D.C.

Congrats Matt and Megan!

Healthy Meals on a Budget.

Health is my business but I'm not as interested in gyms and diet plans as I am in reducing health disparities. With enough time and money, I think anyone can live a healthy life. At that point, it becomes a matter of will power.

Where living healthy gets hard is when money and time are tight. Living paycheck to paycheck. working multiple jobs. That kind of tough. In my current job, I mostly advise people how to eat healthy while they are sitting in the waiting room at the food bank, in the WIC office, and GED classes. This population requires completely different advise. Every now and again, I challenge myself to "test" my advise.

One of these ways is my $30 per week challenge. This requires me to feed 2 adults breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 7 days. I also has to include healthier alternative foods, fresh fruit, and vegetables. There will be some "snack foods" that may not be healthy but are better than cookies and cakes. I also allow myself to utilize coupons ONLY if they are something that I was going to get anyways.

Here is this weeks shopping list;
- Orange Juice (free with coupon)
- Frozen broccoli and cheese packet - $2.50
- fat free turkey lunch meat (free with coupon)
- Bagged Salad (free with coupon)
- Fat Free Yogurt (free with coupon)
- 4 Bananas ($0.33 ea)
- 3 Apples ($1.00
- 4 Oranges ($2.00)
- Granola bars (2.50)
- Canned 95% fat free chicken ($2.00)
- Whole Wheat Bread ($1.50)
- 1 frozen pizza (not healthy) - ($3.33)
- Garlic Bread (1.60)

- 2 baked potatoes ($1.50)
- sherbert (free with coupon)
- milk ($2.57)

- cereal ($2.75)
- Tortillini ($4.00)
- 4 avocado (4/$1.00!!)
- 6 eggs ($1.00)
- bag of prezels ($1.00)

 
Breakfast Options:
Yogurt and banana
Cereal with milk
toast

Snack Options:
Granola Bar
Apples with Peanut Butter
dry cereal
prezels



Lunch Options:
Turkey Sandwiches
salad
boiled eggs
tuna sandwiches

Dinner:
Tortellini w/ salad
Pizza w/ pasta salad w/ garlic bread
Broccoli and cheese baked potatoes
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwiches w/ prezels w/ sherbert
Lasagna w/ spinach salad w/ garlic bread

Puppy Postage.

Spring is here and that means more color in the house!

We brought out the oversized letter that I DIYed to the living room for over the piano. The portion was not right so I wanted to add art to each side. I already had extra frames but what to put in....

Puppies, of course. Our children.

I decided to make art that matches the postage stamp on the letter. I created puppy postage stamps!

The first step is to take a good picture.

 

Then, photoshop the background color to match the original and add "Forever USA" in Photoshop.

Hang it up. 

Oooo and Ahhh...

We love adding a little character to the house. 

The pictures really show their personalities, too.

Summer Reading List.

Growing up, I always had a summer reading list. First because of school. But as I got older, I wanted to. I got all excited! I would go to the library to research book I wanted to read in early May so that I could check them out as soon as school let out. Well, when I got a real world job, summer days were the same as fall and spring and winter days so I didn't get to have a "summer" reading list. BUT, this year, I do!

This is what I am thinking: 

My Beloved - Sonia Sotomayor

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

The Storyteller - Jodi Picoult

Wicked

Pride and Prejudice

and

Northanger Abbey

Between airports, airplanes, and exploring D.C. I think I can manage these. 

Any other suggestions?