I've been following this story in a previous post and just read that she had her baby via a successful VBAC! And the article CNN wrote was amazing.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/17/birth.plan.tips/index.html
Congratulations, Szabo family!!!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry CHRISTmas!
Steven and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, filled with love, family, and the giving spirit.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Life Resolutions to Make an Impact
New Years is around the corner and with the champagne, singing, party hats and blowers come promises to write more birthday cards, lose those extra "15 pounds", or a myriad of other wishes that usually fizzle out before the year even gets a chance to get started.
Typically, I abstain from making these empty promises to myself, however this year has already been monumental for both Steven and I and I wanted to see how I can continue to up the bar.
We set out to get healthy in 2009 and, as you can tell from the blog earlier, it didn't work. We had momentum and fizzled within a good solid month. However, Jesus got us back on track and June 1, 2009, we finally had had enough. I was at a whopping 209lbs and Steven at a hefty 220lbs. We joined Medifast and got control of our eating habits, which were completely disgusting. We each dropped about 30lbs (we still have some more to go, but feel incredible) and have since changed our diet. Oh, and we swore off fast food restaurants forever (with one single exception - In N Out Burger).
Steve and I have decided to eat preservative-free, locally grown organic fruits and veggies, free-range, hand-eviscerated poultry and farm fresh eggs, etc. The preservative-free part is the hardest, especially since we like to go out and try new restaurants. If we lived in West Hollywood or LA, we'd find a myriad of organic, local farm only kind of restaurants. Unfortunately, we live in the South Bay, where our options are a little more limited.
I have also started looking into 100% all-natural beauty products. I have taken myself off of shampoo and am LOVING the transition, but I have also started looking into homemade soaps for my face/body, homemade lotions and oils, and want to eventually make my own scents. I currently use bareescentuals, but am hoping I can get my adult acne under control so I can eventually go au natural. (Maybe some lipgloss)
We have become recycling pros. Our trash is SIGNIFICANTLY lower since we started recycling the plastics and paper. I take the bottles and cans to a local recycling company and we usually use the money for a meal together, or a movie, or we just put it into savings.
Lastly, but most importantly, I have finally started building/rebuilding my relationship with Jesus. I always knew I needed to get back to basics with Him and just submit, but I was either too busy, or too blessed, or too pissed, or too proud, etc. I wanted to do things my way. I didn't trust Him, I didn't want Him, I didn't want to hear things that weren't in line with what I wanted. I only with I had done this sooner. But I'm here and trying so desperately to get to know Him again, to trust, and to obey Him.
All of this occurred this year and seeing how vigilant and dedicated we really are energizes me to continue making more positive decisions in my life, in our life, especially for the future.
And, while this may be a little early, I'm writing down my continuing life resolutions and the new ones I hope to add for 2010 (some we already do, but I'd like to make more of a conscious effort):
* Set up a condo-friendly compost.
* Eat out less often (and when we do eat out more wisely).
* Post more recipes of our farmer's market delights (to be posted on Steve's food blog).
* Walk everywhere we can, take the stairs more, park as far away from the entrance as possible.
* Buy more hand-made items (I have a new love for Etsy.com).
* Walk the dogs for 25 min every work day morning.
* Find more homeopathic/integrative medicine Doctors.
* Make our family business more green.
I hope that this perhaps encourages you to think outside the box in terms of a "new years resolution" that fizzles out and dies and perhaps think about something that changes you for the better and, perhaps, impacts the world.
Looking forward to updating you guys throughout the year.
Typically, I abstain from making these empty promises to myself, however this year has already been monumental for both Steven and I and I wanted to see how I can continue to up the bar.
We set out to get healthy in 2009 and, as you can tell from the blog earlier, it didn't work. We had momentum and fizzled within a good solid month. However, Jesus got us back on track and June 1, 2009, we finally had had enough. I was at a whopping 209lbs and Steven at a hefty 220lbs. We joined Medifast and got control of our eating habits, which were completely disgusting. We each dropped about 30lbs (we still have some more to go, but feel incredible) and have since changed our diet. Oh, and we swore off fast food restaurants forever (with one single exception - In N Out Burger).
Steve and I have decided to eat preservative-free, locally grown organic fruits and veggies, free-range, hand-eviscerated poultry and farm fresh eggs, etc. The preservative-free part is the hardest, especially since we like to go out and try new restaurants. If we lived in West Hollywood or LA, we'd find a myriad of organic, local farm only kind of restaurants. Unfortunately, we live in the South Bay, where our options are a little more limited.
I have also started looking into 100% all-natural beauty products. I have taken myself off of shampoo and am LOVING the transition, but I have also started looking into homemade soaps for my face/body, homemade lotions and oils, and want to eventually make my own scents. I currently use bareescentuals, but am hoping I can get my adult acne under control so I can eventually go au natural. (Maybe some lipgloss)
We have become recycling pros. Our trash is SIGNIFICANTLY lower since we started recycling the plastics and paper. I take the bottles and cans to a local recycling company and we usually use the money for a meal together, or a movie, or we just put it into savings.
Lastly, but most importantly, I have finally started building/rebuilding my relationship with Jesus. I always knew I needed to get back to basics with Him and just submit, but I was either too busy, or too blessed, or too pissed, or too proud, etc. I wanted to do things my way. I didn't trust Him, I didn't want Him, I didn't want to hear things that weren't in line with what I wanted. I only with I had done this sooner. But I'm here and trying so desperately to get to know Him again, to trust, and to obey Him.
All of this occurred this year and seeing how vigilant and dedicated we really are energizes me to continue making more positive decisions in my life, in our life, especially for the future.
And, while this may be a little early, I'm writing down my continuing life resolutions and the new ones I hope to add for 2010 (some we already do, but I'd like to make more of a conscious effort):
* Set up a condo-friendly compost.
* Eat out less often (and when we do eat out more wisely).
* Post more recipes of our farmer's market delights (to be posted on Steve's food blog).
* Walk everywhere we can, take the stairs more, park as far away from the entrance as possible.
* Buy more hand-made items (I have a new love for Etsy.com).
* Walk the dogs for 25 min every work day morning.
* Find more homeopathic/integrative medicine Doctors.
* Make our family business more green.
I hope that this perhaps encourages you to think outside the box in terms of a "new years resolution" that fizzles out and dies and perhaps think about something that changes you for the better and, perhaps, impacts the world.
Looking forward to updating you guys throughout the year.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Patience
He told me that He is trying to instill patience in me, yet I'm having such a hard time submitting to His plan and trusting that things will work out.
Let me back up a bit. Yesterday I was driving home and I starting a conversation with God. Out of no where I blurted out "I know I need patience!!!" and then, as if I was off actually talking with Jesus only to realize I was in my car, I shook my head and wondered where that came from.
Then He began to show me substantial moments in my recent life where He, in fact, made me wait. Did I realize it at the time? No way! Who does?
The 2 flashes He showed me were of our courtship/engagement/wedding and then of me joining the family business.
See, with the first flash, I had known since we started dating that S. was meant for me and that I would marry him. I began growing very impatient around our 2nd year of dating, thinking it was time to get married. By the 3rd year, even though I loved him more than anything, I was beginning to doubt the longevity of the relationship and really started putting on the pressure.
Little did I know that Jesus had the situation covered and that I needed to be patient.
On December 10, 2005, 3 years and 2 months after we started dating seriously, S. asked me to marry him in the most incredible way a woman could imagine and 10 months later we were married in the best wedding EVER.
Instead of working on my time, I should have submitted to Jesus and worked on His.
Second flash was me working with the family business.
Back in 2004-2005, S. and I wanted to work together as it just seemed easier. Yes, that was our reasoning. Looking back it seems obvious that it wouldn't have been the right move then, but we were young and I was incredibly...impatient. (Who would have guessed?) Time passed and I gained more experience in the marketing field, our relationship grew, we matured, even got married, and eventually the time came when it all fell into place - and worked!
It wasn't until the end of 2008 when I finally joined the family business and everything, for the most part, has worked out beautifully.
Jesus provides, as He told me, however I just need to be patient and trust Him.
And while I continually struggle with succumbing to His will and plan, almost always it seems like I'm fighting God, I feel more comfort knowing that He will provide for us, but on His time, and I just need to trust Him.
*********
2 Samuel 22:31:
31 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Jeremiah 17:7
7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
Psalm 37:7
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Hebrews 6:13-15
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”[d] 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Let me back up a bit. Yesterday I was driving home and I starting a conversation with God. Out of no where I blurted out "I know I need patience!!!" and then, as if I was off actually talking with Jesus only to realize I was in my car, I shook my head and wondered where that came from.
Then He began to show me substantial moments in my recent life where He, in fact, made me wait. Did I realize it at the time? No way! Who does?
The 2 flashes He showed me were of our courtship/engagement/wedding and then of me joining the family business.
See, with the first flash, I had known since we started dating that S. was meant for me and that I would marry him. I began growing very impatient around our 2nd year of dating, thinking it was time to get married. By the 3rd year, even though I loved him more than anything, I was beginning to doubt the longevity of the relationship and really started putting on the pressure.
Little did I know that Jesus had the situation covered and that I needed to be patient.
On December 10, 2005, 3 years and 2 months after we started dating seriously, S. asked me to marry him in the most incredible way a woman could imagine and 10 months later we were married in the best wedding EVER.
Instead of working on my time, I should have submitted to Jesus and worked on His.
Second flash was me working with the family business.
Back in 2004-2005, S. and I wanted to work together as it just seemed easier. Yes, that was our reasoning. Looking back it seems obvious that it wouldn't have been the right move then, but we were young and I was incredibly...impatient. (Who would have guessed?) Time passed and I gained more experience in the marketing field, our relationship grew, we matured, even got married, and eventually the time came when it all fell into place - and worked!
It wasn't until the end of 2008 when I finally joined the family business and everything, for the most part, has worked out beautifully.
Jesus provides, as He told me, however I just need to be patient and trust Him.
And while I continually struggle with succumbing to His will and plan, almost always it seems like I'm fighting God, I feel more comfort knowing that He will provide for us, but on His time, and I just need to trust Him.
*********
2 Samuel 22:31:
31 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Jeremiah 17:7
7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
Psalm 37:7
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Hebrews 6:13-15
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”[d] 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
My start to helping the environment (and my body): No poo
I love learning new and exciting ways to get my body back to "normal" as well as helping out the environment.
I've become more involved with the 'crunchy' movement - the term crunchy refers to those who prefer a natural approach to life (no preservatives). This whole process includes our food, our merchandise, etc.
Anyway, in my readings and research I found a movement gaining increasing popularity called the "no poo" method and the no poo refers to no shampoo. Shampoo and conditioner is something that has come about within the past 50 years and gained popularity only because of amazing marketing. Shampoo strips your hair of its essential oils, leaving it bare and broken, but gives you that squeaky "clean" feeling that all have come to accept as normal and then conditioner adds a waxy residue on your hair to give it the lush, softness that makes it 'normal' again.
In addition to what it does to your hair, there is conversation that mentions the effects on nature that rinsing shampoo and conditioner down the drain have on our environment.
After months of deliberation on my part, I finally decided to go for it and am pleasantly surprised at the results.
You can find many different recipes online, but the 2 basic ingredients to washing your hair are baking soda (acting as the shampoo) and apple cider vinegar (as conditioner).
I'm currently following One Green Generation and got my recipe from there 2tbs of baking soda and about 2 tbs of warm water until its a paste. Scrub into scalp and leave in for about 30 sec. Rinse well. Then take a bottle and add 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water and rinse through your hair, make sure to get to scalp. Leave on hair for about 30 seconds then rinse well. Style as normal.
Normally I don't wash my hair for 2-3 days so my official last day of no shampoo was Friday, December 4th. So my hair was roaring and ready to go. unfortunately, I had a lot of hair spray leftover in my hair from an event I attended on Friday, so I had to wash again the next morning (there was way too much debris).
After blow drying and a full day, here is my do and I couldn't be happier. My hair is shinier and feels super clean and smooth - but not in the way we're all used to.
I can't wait to post an update a year or more later saying I'm completely free (and show the money I've saved, too)!
I've become more involved with the 'crunchy' movement - the term crunchy refers to those who prefer a natural approach to life (no preservatives). This whole process includes our food, our merchandise, etc.
Anyway, in my readings and research I found a movement gaining increasing popularity called the "no poo" method and the no poo refers to no shampoo. Shampoo and conditioner is something that has come about within the past 50 years and gained popularity only because of amazing marketing. Shampoo strips your hair of its essential oils, leaving it bare and broken, but gives you that squeaky "clean" feeling that all have come to accept as normal and then conditioner adds a waxy residue on your hair to give it the lush, softness that makes it 'normal' again.
In addition to what it does to your hair, there is conversation that mentions the effects on nature that rinsing shampoo and conditioner down the drain have on our environment.
After months of deliberation on my part, I finally decided to go for it and am pleasantly surprised at the results.
You can find many different recipes online, but the 2 basic ingredients to washing your hair are baking soda (acting as the shampoo) and apple cider vinegar (as conditioner).
I'm currently following One Green Generation and got my recipe from there 2tbs of baking soda and about 2 tbs of warm water until its a paste. Scrub into scalp and leave in for about 30 sec. Rinse well. Then take a bottle and add 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water and rinse through your hair, make sure to get to scalp. Leave on hair for about 30 seconds then rinse well. Style as normal.
 |
| From No poo |
Normally I don't wash my hair for 2-3 days so my official last day of no shampoo was Friday, December 4th. So my hair was roaring and ready to go. unfortunately, I had a lot of hair spray leftover in my hair from an event I attended on Friday, so I had to wash again the next morning (there was way too much debris).
 |
| From No poo |
After blow drying and a full day, here is my do and I couldn't be happier. My hair is shinier and feels super clean and smooth - but not in the way we're all used to.
 |
| From No poo |
 |
| From No poo |
I can't wait to post an update a year or more later saying I'm completely free (and show the money I've saved, too)!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Movie Review: Food, Inc.
S. and I were feeling lazy and decided to watch a movie on Netflix last night. We perused the Instant Queue offerings and found Food, Inc. A friend recommended the documentary and so we put it on.
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
We already knew that there were severe issues with the system (a huge part of why we've only been going to farmer's markets for our produce for the past 6-8 months) but we had no idea how far reaching it was.
I see why people are vegetarians given the state of our food.
This movie has changed us completely as we will never step foot in a supermarket again. I'm even rethinking eating out. Has this information made me paranoid? No way. It's provided me with information and I feel empowered to make critical choices that will affect my family's diet in a much better way.
Do I recommend you watch it? Hands down, yes. Yes, yes, yes.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
My rating: ***** (out of 5)
--------
Side note: Considering that health care seems to be a super hot topic right now here's a question that we should think about (this stems from the movie).
We are focusing so much on the insurance companies, doctors, and our government to fix this system because so many sick people need insurance but can't get care. In the movie, they talk about how ridiculous it is that a bag of chips and a soda are cheaper than buying fresh vegetables, which obviously severely affects the poor and minorities. The rate of diabetes, heart-related issues, and cancer is skyrocketing. No one is questioning the food. And no one is taking responsibility for their actions (choosing a McDonald's hamburger over fresh fruit and veggies).
My question is why are we racing to spend more money on a bill that will only put a band aid on the problem as opposed to changing out outlook on food and proper nutrition and exercise?
(The answer is in the movie so go watch!)
Oh.
My.
Gosh.
We already knew that there were severe issues with the system (a huge part of why we've only been going to farmer's markets for our produce for the past 6-8 months) but we had no idea how far reaching it was.
I see why people are vegetarians given the state of our food.
This movie has changed us completely as we will never step foot in a supermarket again. I'm even rethinking eating out. Has this information made me paranoid? No way. It's provided me with information and I feel empowered to make critical choices that will affect my family's diet in a much better way.
Do I recommend you watch it? Hands down, yes. Yes, yes, yes.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
My rating: ***** (out of 5)
--------
Side note: Considering that health care seems to be a super hot topic right now here's a question that we should think about (this stems from the movie).
We are focusing so much on the insurance companies, doctors, and our government to fix this system because so many sick people need insurance but can't get care. In the movie, they talk about how ridiculous it is that a bag of chips and a soda are cheaper than buying fresh vegetables, which obviously severely affects the poor and minorities. The rate of diabetes, heart-related issues, and cancer is skyrocketing. No one is questioning the food. And no one is taking responsibility for their actions (choosing a McDonald's hamburger over fresh fruit and veggies).
My question is why are we racing to spend more money on a bill that will only put a band aid on the problem as opposed to changing out outlook on food and proper nutrition and exercise?
(The answer is in the movie so go watch!)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Book Report: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Wechsler
Although I bought and started this book what feels like forever ago, I finally got the push to finish it and I'm glad I did. There is a lot of great information that is gone over - from basic charting lessons (basal body temp, cervical fluid, and cervix checks) to conditions that could be preventing pregnancy (stress, anovulatory cycles, and even luteal phase problems). In addition to charting and pregnancy-related issues, Toni Wechsler also discusses topics such as how to achieve a certain sex and even goes into detail about PMS.
There were other books mentioned in this one that I'm very curious about and will look into (and report back). Another great feature of this book that I liked was the picture section showing cervical fluid and cervical positions. I only wish I could find info on what a "healthy" menstrual flow looks like - especially since she mentions issues with a thin uterine lining (something I may be looking into).
The only issue I had with the book was the repetition. I felt she kept saying the same thing over and over and not in the "let me stress how important this is" manner, it was more like "I promised my editor a big, fat book and I need to meet that promise" kind of way. But this doesn't detract from the fact that there is a lot of great information in here and is something EVERY woman needs to read and practice.
My rating: **** (out of 5)
---------
If you're interested in charting to take control of your cycles, visit http://www.ovusoft.com/ or http://www.fertilityfriend.com/
Ovusoft is the official software of TCOYF. They have a CD ROM that only works with PCs, however they just released an online version that I've been told is good.
I, personally, use Fertility Friend and find it works great for me.
There were other books mentioned in this one that I'm very curious about and will look into (and report back). Another great feature of this book that I liked was the picture section showing cervical fluid and cervical positions. I only wish I could find info on what a "healthy" menstrual flow looks like - especially since she mentions issues with a thin uterine lining (something I may be looking into).
The only issue I had with the book was the repetition. I felt she kept saying the same thing over and over and not in the "let me stress how important this is" manner, it was more like "I promised my editor a big, fat book and I need to meet that promise" kind of way. But this doesn't detract from the fact that there is a lot of great information in here and is something EVERY woman needs to read and practice.
My rating: **** (out of 5)
---------
If you're interested in charting to take control of your cycles, visit http://www.ovusoft.com/ or http://www.fertilityfriend.com/
Ovusoft is the official software of TCOYF. They have a CD ROM that only works with PCs, however they just released an online version that I've been told is good.
I, personally, use Fertility Friend and find it works great for me.
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