Under Construction!

Under Construction! Wear your helmet...

It's no surprise given this blog's history, that we're trying to find a healthier way to live our lives while having fun and being active.

I wrote at the end of last year about needing to stop caring about the scale so much. I've tried 17 versions of the same thing - I've counted calories, points, carbs. But something changed this year for me. 

My focus changed. Yes, I want to be thin. That won't go away but I've noticed that slowly my focus has shifted to simply be healthier. My mother and her mother both have had or have auto-immune problems, family members have high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure and losing weight gets harder to manage the older you get. 

I'm certainly not old at a ripe old age of 29 but I'm not getting younger and my friends are all having kids, my parents aren't getting younger - and all of this has me thinking more about being the best version of myself and taking care of myself so that I am around and healthy for as long as possible. 

There are 3 big changes going on in my life:

My job: Which I stinking love and can't wait to share more with you

My knee: 17 years of ****

My nutrition

Our logo!! www.myplang.com

I'd like to say up front that as I go through this discovery and make choices for myself - I am not endorsing my choices or suggesting that everyone should do what I am doing. I do promise to pass on what I learn and find out and go through. 

There are two events that happened that kick started me asking people questions and doing research:

1) My sister finally went Gluten Free (not for a diet, it was necessary) and the changes in her body were ridiculous. She feels better and her body changed seemingly over night. You look gorgeous sis!

2) A friend of mine talked to me about how he had started something called Paleo. He and I read a lot of the same books - ranging in topics from the economy to fiction and he's one smart, healthy mother so I thought I would at least look in to it. (Gluten is minimized if not removed from your diet in Paleo... I was seeing a theme...amount two people...whatever.)

So with that all said...I'm going Paleo/Primal. 

What is Paleo you ask? Here's what Loren Cordain, Ph.d. (leading Paleo expert) says on his website: 

With readily available modern foods, The Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 500 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood) are high in the beneficial nutrients (soluble fiber, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates) that promote good health and are low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, saturated and trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems. The Paleo Diet encourages dieters to replace dairy and grain products with fresh fruits and vegetables -- foods that are more nutritious than whole grains or dairy products.

It's also referred to as a "hunter-gatherer" diet. A diet comprised largely of lean meats and veggies. No grains (pasta, bread, rice etc.). And folks that adapt this lifestyle to its core also cut out dairy, legumes and most potatoes. 

Drastic? Perhaps. But before you roll you eyes and scold me for cutting out things that are useful to our body....I talked, at length, to my doctor. 

Me: Have you heard of this diet call Paleo?

Doc: Yes, I have

Me: What do you think of it? Is it a fad? Is it legit? What do I need to know?

Doc: I think a marketer came up with calling it Paleo so he could make money and create one title for people to use. I don't care what you call it. But wheat is not good for us and you should cut it out of your diet and eat lean meats and veggies.

I go back tomorrow to have some blood work done and I want to ask her about the legumes and dairy part. So hang tight on that. I do tend to put cheese on everything....so while I'm not going to cut cheese out entirely - I'm not going to add it to salads, just for kicks etc. But wine and cheese together...YES PLEASE. I don't drink milk and I'm not a big legume eater - and while my favorite dip is a 5 bean dip, I can't eat chips so the dip becomes irrelevant! Damnit. 

I start last Wednesday - Ash Wednesday. I'm going to do it for 40 days and see how I feel. That's the challenge. You can do anything for 40 days as a test.

I've already found really yummy recipes and a new found love for Spaghetti Squash and coconut milk. Just today, I started to really miss my carbs. I am craving a bowl of pasta like you wouldn't believe. But I've lived my life on eating Pasta Roni so I need to detox a little I suppose.  

I feel WAY less bloated so far and don't want to take naps ater lunch.  Oh yeah...I'm also down 5 pounds. The scale is not my measurement here but it sure would be nice to not fear it so much.

I know you must have a lot of questions like "Why is wheat bad? I eat whole grain." I'll get to the guts of this thing but this post is getting to long and if you're still paying attention to me by now - you're better than most :) Until later...

Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

So much to tell you!!!

I know that I have been MIA. I hurt my knee (or so I thought), I was bummed, I'm not engaged and I am not my sister and don't have my entire house decorate 2.8 second after moving it...what's to tell you?!

Yesterday may have actually been life changing for me. 17 years of problems with my knee. I've been told by 4 other doctors that because they couldn't find anything in my x-rays or MRI scans that clearly nothing was wrong and that I must be faking my pain. And then I listened to a friend and went and saw Dr. Stadler at Commonwealth Sports Medicine. More on this later....I'll hold you in suspense about all the details but it involves this guy in yellow below and a pug.

Two weeks prior to this, another friend started down his journey of the Paleo Diet. I had never heard of this and in true Hilary fashion decided to learn everything I could about it. It's not the diet or the name or the fad that is so interesting. It's all the science and history of our kind behind it. And after a long talk with Dr. Stadler yesterday - we're making some big big changes in the Cook household.

It's been an exciting week...check back!

Healthier NATURAL Cookies!

Keep reading for these yummy delights:)

    Who doesn't like a good chocolate chip cookie every now and again?! I sure do! However, I've been reading a lot recently about trying to make better, healthier choices when cooking. Instead of using vegetable oil and sugar when I bake I'm trying to find alternatives such as agave nectar and coconut oil that are natural and don't have ingredients in it that I can't pronounce. Now, I'm not saying I eat completely organic, natural, etc. because that would be a lie. I try to make healthy choices when I eat without completely getting rid of something because for me that's not realistic and I don't want to follow some fad diet that helps you "get back to your high school weight!". I do however watch my portion size, try to choose whole foods, lots of veggies and fruits, lean protein, limit sugar, and I'm working on buying things with the real deal fat in it opposed to buying the fat free/low fat stuff because they put so many extra chemicals and additives in it that's harder for your body to break down and digest. Your body ends up trying to break down the chemicals and additives then trying to burn the good fat. Again, I'm working on this... when I see low fat/fat free I buy it whereas now I'm really trying to go more natural and just watch how much of it I eat. Here is a great Video about the idea of full fat vs. no fat/low fat and what foods to eat and which to stay away from. (My friend Maria over at A life to Bragg About has a lot of great ideas, tips, and recipes for healthy eating without following a silly little fad diet. She's inspired me a lot with playing around with recipes and has also helped me to understand the importance of natural ingredients.) 
    I will say that I did eliminate gluten/wheat products from my diet because I have a gluten allergy and my body can't process and break down the gluten. It was a hard hard hard adjustment for me because as my sister and family said "I had a problem with gluten"... breads, pasta, chips, etc. you name it and I was addicted. However, ever since going gluten free I feel better than I ever have! I don't feel bloated, tired, I don't have abdominal pain, and I no longer have to take pain/muscle relaxer medication. It is a wonderful feeling. For so many years I just thought those symptoms came along with eating pasta, breads etc. It wasn't until I pulled them out of my diet did I realize those were NOT NORMAL feelings. It took time to get used to not using them as staples in my diet and I did crave them for awhile but it's been almost a year since I gave it up and I wouldn't turn back. It works for me and the lifestyle I want to live. It doesn't mean it  has to work for you. Find a healthy way of eating that fits your lifestyle! I'm not a psycho health eater who wont eat at a BBQ, Tailgate, or birthday party. HA! I eat and I enjoy it but I try to make better choices. If I want a piece of cake I first know that my stomach will kill me because more than likely it's not gluten free and 2. I'm ok with indulging every now and again. If I want pizza I'm going to eat it but I'm going to add protein and not put as much cheese on it. Ultimately I want to enjoy my life and a huge part of that is what I eat. I plan to eat what I want in moderation and choose healthier ingredients/options when available.
    Ok ok I won't make you wait any longer for the cookie reveal! I got the recipe from my friend Kimberly who eats primal/paleo. Mike and I went over to their house for dinner a few weeks ago and if you know Kimberly you don't say no to her desserts. She was testing a cookie recipe and if you know me, you know I don't say no to... well... anything:) So I was her taste tester and BOY was I happy I was there. They were delicious! After that night I kept saying I was going to try out the recipe because Mike LOVES COOKIES. (He loves them so much that he wants to ditch the wedding cake tradition and just have cookies. Ha... too bad he doesn't get to have a say in that decision... but we will have cookies at our wedding) 

Primal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 ¼ C. Almond meal

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 C. raw agave nectar

1/8 C. Grass fed butter (original recipe calls for Macadamia nut oil) I used Coconut oil instead of the butter/Macadamia nut oil)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 C. Dark Chocolate chips. (the darker the chip the less sweet it will taste. If you are Primal- you should try for a 72% or higher dark chocolate) I couldn't find 72% dark chocolate chips so I used what I had at home (Semi sweet choc. chips) I don't care for dark chocolate... so again I followed the majority of the recipe but adapted it to what I already had in my pantry and what I prefer to eat.

Process:

Heat over to 325

·         Mix almond flour, salt, and baking soda well. In a small bowl, mix agave nectar, Macadamia nut oil, and vanilla. Combine wet and dry ingredients, mixing well. Add dark chocolate chips. ( I added coconut flakes to the cookie batter as well.) Batter is very sticky and should be thick enough that you can roll a small ball between your palms and set it on the cookie sheet without it drooping or losing shape.

          Make small balls of cookie dough and space them evenly on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Press the cookies down as flat as possible with the palm of your hand.  The cookies will not spread out on their own.

Picture by Kimberly :)

Press them flat with your hand

·         Bake about 6 minutes. Watch closely and remove when the edges start to brown.  Place on rack to cool.

·         Cookie bar option-  Line 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper. Spread batter thinly across pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes until top is lightly browned. DO not over-cook and check them every 4 minutes. (If you are paleo/primal- these are great. If you are not use to the dark chocolate- they may not be sweet enough for you.)

Again courtesy of Kimberly (I don't have a camera or cool phone)

They are soooooo good! Trust me on this one... you have to try them! And while you eat them you can know that they are all natural and better for you!

Enjoy!

Mango Monday

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a great President's Day weekend! I have today off and I'm so grateful for that! Our ski trip was amazing and we had such a great time AND no one got hurt!
    I woke up this morning earlier than I wanted to because a certain someone, that I'm getting married to, was loud... shocker! Lucky for him he's cute and I love him! I got up and got some things done about the room and started to make my breakfast. Now, I know I've talked about my love for Chobani Yogurt so I decided to show you how I jazz it up.

Per 1 container 6 oz. - Calories: 100kcal | Fat: 0.00g | Carbs: 7.00g | Protein: 18.00g  

Yum-O!

I usually just get the Grocery Store Brand

    Most people get the flavored Chobani Yogurt; however, I prefer the plain yogurt so that I can change the flavors and add whatever I want into it. This morning it was Mango Monday in this household! I would love to use fresh fruit every morning in my yogurt but a few things occur: it goes bad quickly and it takes more work then buying frozen cut up fruit. I'm all about healthy and easy. Another good thing about frozen fruit is once it thaws out a bit it gets juicy and it helps mix the yogurt up a little easier. So here it goes...

Mango Monday

-6 oz. of Plain Chobani Yogurt (you can use any type of yogurt here)
- 3/4 cup or so of frozen Mango Chunks
- 1 tbsp. of Trader Joe's Honey Apple Butter
- sprinkle of Cinnamon
- 1/2 tbsp. of reduced fat p-butter (I don't always put p-butter in my yogurt unless I know I'm going to be doing a lot that day and will need the extra protein to keep me going and keep me full for awhile. 


Mix it altogether and enjoy!


bushel and a peck,

Kendayl

It's Thursday, Thursday, Thursday!

    My Friday started today and in honor of my Friday starting today I'll share this rather annoying and obnoxious video my kids at school L.O.V.E. Occasionally during calendar math where I ask the kids "What will tomorrow be" I catch my whole class saying "Friday, Friday, Friday OHhhhh" it's their version of Rebecca Black's "Friday Friday" and Justin Bieber's "Baby Baby". It's so annoying yet catchy! 

  So why does my Friday start today? Well, we will be joining Regina's family at Blue Knob this weekend to go skiing! 

34 Trails with a Vertical Drop of 1072'
Beginner 20% • Intermediate 35% • Advanced 35% • Expert 10%

We've only been skiing once this season and it was for New Years and there was no snow. In fact there was more grass showing then snow. So to be able to get out there again and actually have snow makes me so happy! Especially because I bought new skis and boots this fall and have used them one time. So I'm excited to be able to pull them out again and get some use out of them!

I've never been to Blue Knob but I hear only great things about the slopes and conditions! Got any good plans for this weekend?

I'm excited to get away for the weekend and be active but also have a chance to relax. I hope everyone has a great President's Day weekend!

bushel and a peck,

Kendayl

It's official!

Yesterday was a success! We walked on to the property of Pippin Hill Farm and absolutely fell in love. As soon as we got out of the car I knew this was the place we would get married. However, I wanted to give Mike some time to get that same feeling. As we walked closer and closer Mike looked at me and said "this is beautiful!" We looked at the horizon and all the beautiful mountains and trees and I could just picture me walking down the isle toward him. It was p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

This is where I'll get ready with my mom and all the bridesmaids!

This is where my dad will walk with me:)

This is where we'll say "I do"!!

This is where we'll have our lawn games and cocktail hour

This is where we'll have our first dance as husband and wife!

And this is where all of our friends and family will send us on our way as the new Mr. and Mrs. Fissel!

    To say yesterday was incredible would be an understatement. We had such a great time with both of our families and got to share a very special moment with them. Mike and I are so truly blessed for our families and for all that they have given us and continue to give us. Both families are making our dreams come true and I can't wait to join my family and his family together on our wedding day!

May 26, 2013 here we come!:)

a bushel and a peck, 

    The Future Mrs. Fissel :)

Some more pictures of Pippin Hill Farm :)

View from the Bridal Loft into the Granary (main event room)

View from the patio

More Bridal Loft Views

That Patio/ Cocktail Hour

Wedding Venue Weekend!

    Despite being sick we're still leaving tomorrow to check out 3 possible contenders for our wedding! People ask us why Charlottesville. Well, we don't really have a reason. We both wanted to get married outside in the spring and we both LOVE vineyards. I happen to think C-ville has some of the most beautiful vineyards and landscapes in VA, or at least within a reasonable distance from here, so off we go! I love to hear people's connections to the places they get married and although I wish there was a spot in Richmond that gave me that Ohhh-Ahhh feeling for my wedding, I didn't get that. Charlottesville may not have special meaning to us YET but it will and we'll have the greatest stories to tell!
     We're driving up with Mike's parents and sister and we'll meet my parents and sister there. I can't wait! Here are the 3 that we will be looking at:

1. Pippin Hill Farm

Bridal Suite

Front to the Barn/Reception "Hall"

Lawn... for yard games!:)

2. Keswick Vineyards

    
3. Trump Winery   (Trump Winery is situated on Trump Vineyard Estates, formerly the renowned Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyards)

They don't have any pictures up yet but it's beautiful!

    I can't explain how excited we are for tomorrow! I feel like it's going to kick off our wedding fun! We were going to see another vineyard but this week had some unfortunate drama between them and are no longer going to keep them in the running... makes me sad because I loved it but I know it happened for a reason and where we choose will be meant to be!

    Mike will be bringing his camera along so hopefully we'll get some good pictures. Granted it supposed to rain/snow tomorrow and there won't be beautiful lush trees and flowers but we'll see what we can do!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

-a bushel and a peck, 

         Kendayl

sick as a dog

I'm sick. Not like cough, cough sniffle, sniffle kind of sick. Sick as in I've had a fever for 5 days, chills and sweats, a migraine since Saturday, a whooping cough, body aches, and the worst sore throat I can remember ever having. All I have wanted is my mommy. I have been go go go since we got engaged and got the keys to our cute little cottage in Reston and it has finally hit me. It hit me so hard that it literally knocked me on my butt. I worked a total of 1.5 days this week and really I should have only worked .5.

   So what do I have, you ask? I went to the minute clinic on Tuesday and she "diagnosed" me having the following...

      1. An upper respiratory infection

      2. A sinus infection

      3. The FLU

You would think that I would have gotten some of of prescription to help out with the above illnesses. But NO the doctor told me to take a daily allergy pill, Flonase, and to get over the counter Sudafed.

You: "Kendayl did those things work?"

Me: "Heck NO!"

    To top it off Wednesday night, as I was preparing to go back to work the next day, my throat starts hurting. I figure it was post nasal drip and would be sore until my sinus infection cleared up. To bed I went... I tossed and turned, coughed and hacked (poor Mike probably hasn't slept all week) and what seemed like 1 hour later, I woke up. I didn't wake up bright eyed and bushy tailed like I was hoping. Instead I woke up to the worst sore throat I have had since I was 12 years old surrounded by day care germs. I took a shower, got my life together and headed to work. I'll admit I cried on the way to work because I was in so much pain. But as they say, the show must go on!

    I worked that day... I cried that day...I cried out for my mommy that day. It was the worst day I've had in a really long time. I went to the secretary crying and asking for help getting a sub for the next day and who walks in... my principal! I looked like a hot mess! Fortunately the people are my school are incredible and did all the leg work for me in finding a sub. I finished out the day, barely, and left school headed home.

     I went straight back to the minute clinic, praying I got a different doctor. God was watching because I did in fact get a new doctor. She was awesome! The moment I started telling her my symptoms over the last week she looked shocked! She got on the phone to call for another doctor's opinion and proceeded to tell me that the symptoms I had been having sounds very similar to Viral Meningitis. In my case for this week I call that the cherry on top. She referred me to Reston Hospital Center Urgent Care and told me to go there immediately. (All I'm thinking is somebody give me some medicine and let me go home!)

    I went home and got Mike and he took me to the hospital. Thank goodness it was empty and I was seen right away. The doctor there proceeded to tell me that all my symptoms didn't really happen and that all I have is strep throat. I wanted to scream, I want to hit her, and I wanted to raid the pharmacy in the back of the hospital for all of the narcotics I could get my hands on because I was in so much gosh darn pain I didn't care what I had I just wanted it gone!

     Despite her telling me I didn't really have migraines or a fever for a week (ha!) she gave me a prescription for a Z-pack and pain killers. Thank you and goodbye.

      I got my pain killers and Z-pack and went home. I cried some more because of course the pills they gave me are giant horse pills and the obvious choice to give someone with strep throat. I choked them down, watched some TV, ate caramel pudding and apple sauce, and then passed out. I woke up so many times last night with the sweats and chills and feeling like the room was spinning. While those pain killers were great they made me feel ill. 

sneaky little pain killers!

    However, I'm happy to report that when I woke up this morning, although my throat still hurts, it is starting to feel SOOOO much better! No tears today! In fact I was so ecstatic that I was starting to feel somewhat like a human again I did what any person finally coming out of a dying state would do... online shop!  

    Mike has been making fun of my because most of my jeans and work pants don't fit anymore. To be exact he says I look like a grandma with a saggy butt. Thank you honey:) So I got to toss the old ones and get myself some news ones! They arrived today and I'll tell ya what... a good pair of pants that fits really makes you feel good about yourself (even when my throat is just about swollen shut). I may have added in a new pair of boots and some tops to go along with those new pants. My excuse, I needed a whole new outfit(s) in order to really feel good about myself. He can't touch those words! :)

Happy weekend y'all!

Kendayl

I'm seeing stripes

    I've been thinking for a while now what kind of curtains I want in the living room. I think I may have found them. I wanted something that had a pop but something that I could work with and wouldn't be too much. Our living room isn't super big so I didn't want a bold color because it would close in the space more. So, after much searching I think I have a winner. Here's a look at my inspiration pictures I found...

I love that these horizontal stripe curtains give a pop to the eye but are subtle enough not to draw too much attention
*picture from MarthaAndAsh

love:)
*picture from: A Thoughtful Place

Again, still a really cool pop to the eye but doesn't take away from the windows, natural light, and nature outside!
picture from: A well dressed home

I know I'm terrible at giving pictures of our place updated so far but I promise once I get them off Mike's camera I will! (One day I'll have a smart phone and pictures won't be such a pain!)

    We're currently in the process of talking price, fabric color, length etc. I searched high and low and found the cutest and most fabulous Etsy shop. They are called MarthaAndAsh and I've been talking with Ash a little bit today and she seems like the nicest girl/woman/lady ever! She's been so helpful and I'll tell ya what... good customer service goes a long way! We'll go with the khaki and creamy white so it draws your eye to the window but doesn't distract from the natural light and beauty outdoors.

    I will say they are probably going to be more than I wanted to spend (because I love a really good inexpensive way to decorate) however, they use good quality fabric, they line it with blackout fabric, the stitching is impeccable. I just really love it! To think that I could attempt finding fabric I love, learning to sew it, and come out alive is nearly impossible. So my next best thing was to find someone who could do it for me! MarthaAndAsh also makes super cute pillows and other accessories. They are flexible and very willing to work with you and your design.

So what do you think? Do you have any good Etsy shops you love? Or any cool projects coming up? Am I insane for paying this much for curtains?

Kendayl

A pile of pillow inspiration

I've been searching around for lots of inspiration for our home and considering I'm home sick with a respiratory infection, sinus infection, and the flu I've had plenty of time to browse around. I love the calm blues, yellows, whites, and greens but on the flip side I love the pop of some color too! So many decisions... I'm thinking once we redo our kitchen we'll do the blues, greens, and yellows in there because were going to get a Roman shade for the kitchen window and our plan is to build a built in breakfast nook with a bench seat so I'll be able to add some color in there as well. So this leads me to think I can bring the pops of color into the living room. Here are some of my inspiring photos so far... let me know what you think! I'm on the fence about which room (kitchen or living room) the color ideas would work best in....

Kitchen colors?

Very bright but I love it!

Kitchen?

Kitchen?

 I think the cool blues, greens, and yellows will be pretty in the kitchen.  Thoughts?

Kitchen or living room?

Could work in kitchen or living room

 All the pillows below I feel like would add some punches of color into the living room and I'd be able to work with a lot of accessories and seasonal changes...

Good accent pillow to go in the kitchen or living room with the colors

Another accent pillow to go in living room. Switch up the patterns.  Is it too much? Too trendy?

Love the idea of coral!

Love navy...

   

Ahhhh!! Because soon I'll be able to have these in my house:)

     I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my color ideas and inspirations but I'm not done looking yet! I want to make sure whatever I decide will be a longer lasting decision then most things I decide on... womp womp... I want them to be fun and versatile but classic as well. 

    What are some good places to find reasonably priced fabrics? Or any good etsy shops that make pillows? I've found a few but want to keep searching for a good deal... because I'm known for making quick decisions and not shopping around and Mike would prefer I shop smart! (so does my bank account) :)