a health fair

If you were in my ward, you would have heard at our last relief society activity that I enjoy ALL the free events here in Logan. Seriously, there's one every other day. Free samples, giveaways, food stands, animals to pet...my little family has been subjected to way too many of these events. But I just eat them up! A free event to walk around at and entertain us, I'm there!

 

This past Saturday there was a health fair at the Logan Rec Center - which is just a few blocks from my house. So my friend and I walked there. It was awesome! There was a local gymnastics group and they let the kids play on the bars and balance beam. Every vendor had candy available for the kids - ironic right? And I scored on free stuff ;) A shirt, a water bottle, band aids, toothpaste, mouthwash, CANDY, pens, pedometers, and several notepads. The kids also got to sit inside of a rescue helicopter!

 

 

And then that afternoon the same friend and I went to a local grocery store to buy Oreos. They were on sale for 1.81 for some special anniversary sale. The store also had free samples everywhere, a bounce house, and balloons. Logan is AMAZING.



Five Little Confessions: Food

(My friend Kim's blog post was too great this month...I just had to do it!)

 

 

1. I love food. That's an understatement. And I'm sure you all have the same confession but no really mine is huge. When I was little, if we ever drove ANYWHERE, I'd ask my mom if there'd be food there. I was worried about getting hungry and having nothing to eat. I remember when we drove to D.C. to pick up my older sister Adrienne from the airport, I put handfuls of baby carrots in my coat pockets.

 

2. I love way too many things that are not good for me. All kinds of chips, bagged cookies, sugar filled juices, etc. And I literally have to run away from Aggie ice cream in the freezer aisle.

 

3. In college, I remember telling my cousin that I wish I could start everyday with a HUGE Jamba Juice. And not one of those healthy ones with wheatgrass or juiced carrots. The one that has orange sherbet in it :)

 

4. Every morning I wake up and eat a super healthy breakfast - scrambled eggs with onions and peppers or a greek yogurt or oatmeal.  And by lunchtime all I can think about is white bread smothered with peanut butter and jelly.

 

5. At a relief society activity, someone said they loved to have popcorn for dinner. I couldn't believe it. Popcorn for dinner? I was sold. The next evening I was alone I made a huge bowl for myself and had a can of pink lemonade to wash it down.

 

6. AND a sixth one because I feel like all 5 of my confessions are about how I love dirty food. I do actually love fruits and vegetables. I try really hard to have half of my grocery bill each week spent on fruits and veggies. I roasted broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots last night with my dinner and this morning I ate strawberries and bananas with my yogurt!

easter

I might get a little too excited when there are free events in my area that give away candy.  My poor children were subjected to four different egg hunts.  I just can't help it!  It's so fun for me to watch and I love the candy too ;)

Last week we had an egg hunt with our playgroup, went to one at the zoo, walked Main Street for their Easter walk, and then went to an egg hunt on Saturday at someone's house in our ward.  It was awesome!  The kids totally scored.  And they didn't seem to mind at all.

I am extremely grateful for my Savior.  I know that He died for me.  I know that He atoned for my sins so I can repent.  I know that because of Him I can return home and live with my family forever.  I love Him.  I will forever be in His debt. 

I hope you had a great Easter!

(now enjoy the pictures of my kids!)

(And a cute selfie....ha!)



don't be annoyed

I've been thinking a lot lately about my family's eating habits.  I say family's but it's all on me.  I'm the one who buys groceries and cooks meals and prepares snacks.  I'm the one who makes sure there are enough chocolate chips in the house to make cookies for a whole year.  And I've been a little concerned about it all lately.  I checked out several books from the library and after I read them...was totally inspired.  And now I'm trying to make some changes.

 

And I need help!  I'm refocusing my groceries on whole foods and cutting out as much processed and packaged food as I can.  I'm also trying to cut back on the amount of meat we eat.  I know I should be buying all organic but I just don't think I'm ready to commit to that - ha! So I need help.  I want ALL of your recipes.  Recipes for snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinners.  I want your recipes for green smoothies and your recipes for meatless meals.  I need them all because I'm trying really hard to change the way we eat.  And all I still want is a dang cookie and pasta for dinner :) 

 

And don't be annoyed...but you should totally read The Honest Life.  It's awesome.  Sure, it might be a little bit of an advertisement for her company, but I still loved it. And I'm trying to really hard to incorporate her Honest Cleaning and Honest Eating in my life.

 

Ok email, text, or leave comments with your recipes please! :)

tiffnjames@gmail.com

a quick getaway

We drove to Bear Lake on Friday afternoon.  Have you ever been there?  It's this HUGE lake right between Utah and Idaho.  And there's lots of little towns around it.  We decided to stay in a one room cabin for the night.  It was awesome.

We took a nice long walk along the beach.  This beach is so fun in the summer. The water is shallow forever so your kids can't drown ;)

 And of course my kids played at this park on the beach.  We could see it pretty far away while walking.  As soon as Porter spotted it, he started running.  He must have ran for 5 minutes before he got there :)

two things i love about logan

This a picture of the mountains that I can see when I face west in Logan. Aren't they beautiful? They're my absolute favorite. I even tell my kids they're my favorite. And Porter will often point to any mountain and say, "Mom that's your favorite, huh?"

 

Have I told you that I love Logan? I do. I love that we can walk to the best park that I've EVER played at in less than 10 minutes. And I love that it's getting warm enough to do so. And when I say warm...I mean like high 40's. That might be the one thing I can't stand about Logan. It's so effing cold.

 

Walking our wiggle cars to the park. Please forgive Paige's unkept hair and her wearing Porter's shorts. She loves to wear his clothes. And why are they in shorts?! It's March and in the 40's. But since the snow melted, they think it's summer.

 It was particularly warm earlier this week - 50'S BABY! And we played outside a lot. Our neighbors have a sweet Barbie jeep that my kids like riding around in.

 



2014

1. I rang in 2014 in Idaho this year.

 

 

2. I started couponing...thank you, Adrienne.  I am now absolutely obsessed with getting my Sunday papers, cutting out coupons, getting my Tuesday ads and making massive lists of where things are on sale.  I bought shampoo and conditioner for .29 a few weeks ago. (applause please!)

 

Thank you Allison for these capes! My children love them. And this is the picture I can only ever get...them "flying away".

 

 

3. My children are my life.  Both refuse to take naps so I am constantly needed from the minute they wake up until they fall asleep.  Not to mention the times they wake up screaming for water, fall out of their beds, or crawl into bed with us.  And I love it.  I never want it to end.   All I want to do is hide out at our house to enjoy every minute of it.  So forgive me if I've been a hermit lately.

 

My kids and their best friends...we play a lot together.

 

4. Paige is potty trained.  No more diapers at this house.  Just lots of underwear, wiping bums, and Paige forgetting to put BACK on her underwear after she goes potty.  I'm positive she's naked from the waist down half the time.

 

Paige and Porter in their aprons helping me make cookies.  Thanks Mom for the aprons.  Like the buckets of sugar and flour?

5. At a ward baptism a few weeks ago, my friend said my children sang all the words to the opening and closing songs. (I was leading.)  My life is complete...my children love to sing and they know lots of songs.  It. Is. Awesome.

 

6. I found a new TV show on Netflix to watch.  Friday Night Lights.  And man do I love those southern accent, cowboy boot wearing, football players :)  I also dig the parenting in the show.

 

James built this fort/castle for the kids.  It was awesome.  But the snow melted - ALL of it!

 

7. I fully intend to train for a half marathon this year.  Last year didn't work out, although I did run all summer and did a 10k.  But a half marathon...it's happening in 2014!

 

Paige actually has underwear on in this picture.  Don't you love Porter's cowboy boots?  And that shirt Porter is wearing - it's his superhero shirt that he insists on wearing everyday!

 

8. I also had full intentions to write 14 random thoughts and I've got nothing else!  So here's to 2014, I hope it's a good one :)