A Harvest Day and a Staycation

So it's a little bit odd for the Mangums to enjoy a "Stay-Cation" on a 3-day weekend. But it's already proving to be a fabulous holiday. Yesterday we kicked off celebrating the labor force by making pinecone birdfeeders with the cousins; and then hit up Friday Night Lights at Cottonwood High School to support some kids from the neighborhood.

As I'm writing this, Utah State is beating Auburn 21-14 at the half (though it's not the first time USU has given a ranked team a scare). I like the Aggies (I mean, they're no Utes), but I can't remember wanting them to beat a team so badly since they claimed a "W" over BYU last year.

But before we camped out in front of the big screen in our basement to usher in Fall (Danny has gotten me addicted to College Football), we visited Salt Lake's Downtown Farmer's Market for breakfast pastries and a grip of fresh fruit (pie cherries, a watermelon too heavy for me to carry, plus fresh peaches and apples); and Holden and I trekked to the great outdoors (ok, just our yard) to do a little reaping of what we had sowed earlier in the season.

We picked the beets he planted, and I plan on roasting them to eat today. He ate a carrot (dirt and all) from the planter boxes, plus cherry tomatoes and then we dug up potatoes. This was by far our favorite part. Thanks to PBS Kids (yes my child watches TV now), he has learned from Dinosaur Train's "Dr. Scott the Paleontologist" about fossils...and as such, he told me he was "Digging for Dinosaur bones" as we played in mother earth in search of potatoes. We talked about fossils and dug some more. He searched for "T-Rex" and then would light up with excitement when he'd uncover a potato.

I know I talk about having a garden for environmental reasons, etc, but more than anything, I feel like some days the time we spend together out there is such a special time. There are so many positive things that come from our garden space. Potatoes are so cheap and easy -- but they seem to be the highlight of the garden this year. We're definitely planting them next year... he'll need to show his sibling how an expert digs for dinosaur bones.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Twenty-Eight

OK, the path of not-so-dedicated posting has continued... can I make them up for extra credit? Is later better than never. Do posts filled with more than one piece of gratitude make up for the lack of days? Is it more important to keep the number of posts consistent or is it more about my conscience saying "you said you would post every day" that is really the issue?

Only time will tell.

Right now I am in the play room with my toddler who is sporting his red "Utes" sweatshirt and holding onto his Ute football, rolling around the ground pretending to recover a fumble (our Friendters' bedroom is directly below. I bet they are thrilled with this at 7 am on a Sunday morning. But like Q said, "He's so cute he can get away with a lot more." (So true.)

Let me get right to the point on this snowy Sunday morning in the S-L-C. (Since I've been babbling for the past 3 paragraphs).

After Saturday Night's Game. The girl taking the picture was so cold and excited she couldn't stop shaking; so this is the best photo-op we got. :)

(Of course) I 'm grateful the Utes won.

I'm thankful I got to spend the game in the company of my husband.

I'm thankful for the 7th-row 50-yard line seat hook-up from my old man.

I'm grateful for the two zoobie fans sitting next to us that were civil and good-natured.

(Danny and I are ALWAYS next to someone from that team down south when we go to the Holy War Game...doesn't matter if it's the muss or crimson club 50-yard line. How does that happen?)

I'm grateful for those handwarmers that I stuck in the bottom of my boots so my piggie-toes didn't get frost bite.

I'm grateful for hot chocolate (really the only thing worth consuming at a ball game..I tried the pizza, gag!)

And I'm thankful for Brandon Burton.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Thirteen

Thankful for this guy! Because even when the Utes break my heart because they are playing soooooo terrible, I've got this perfect little man to cheer me up.

Have you ever seen a cuter Ute fan?

Don't answer that unless you agree...

it will shatter my perceptions.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Three

Totally thankful for the UTES! Between a husband who LOVES college football and is a huge Utah fan; and me attending a college with NO pigskin team to cheer for, I have adopted them as my own.

Plus, I went to pre-school there when I was 2 1/2; so it's practically my Alma Mater.

At this year's San Jose State Game

Danny and I have some great Ute Football memories. Just one of which being their win over BYU (in 2005 I think?)... he called me from Provo to celebrate even though he couldn't hear a thing. We became an official couple that weekend...it's pretty much been true love ever since.

And then there was the Undefeated Season with the win again 'Bama in the 2008 Sugar Bowl. And now we're 5th in the BCS standings?!?!? Crazy days!

Good luck this weekend verses TCU Boys. We need the football gods smiling on our side.

Go UTES!

Just another Manic Monday

Are you singing the Bangles in your head right now?
Wish it was Sunday.
Just wondering.
Cause that's my fun-day.
I was trying to come up with a catchy title to say "more randoms,"
It's an 'I don't have to run day.'
But I lacked the creative fortitude to do it.

So let's just get to the matter at hand:

Way to go Kim Kardashian and the entire city of New Orleans. Superbowl Champs. I thought God would be on your side because you know: "Saints" and all. Which makes me wonder, if Utah ever gets a NFL team, do you think we'd be the Latter-Day-Saints?

My heart goes out to Peyton Manning, because I adore him. (His rookie season coincided with my time in Indiana.) So I was pretty much cheering for whomever was on offense. But I do think it's a great win for Who Dat Nation.

Next:
Last night I had a dream I was trying out for a volleyball team, but we had to 'do' yoga. So I got into this really juicy Vashistansa, and I felt like I was going to float off of my grounded left-hand... I mean, I felt so light. It seems counter intuitive right? Don't get me... ok, try to do it, right now, on your living room floor. Who ever feels like floating in this pose?


Also:
I felt so nasty this morning after last night's cookie-fest and sugar-splurge, that all my system could tolerate for breakfast was a spot of cheese and peppermint tea (I had one bite of of Holden's fuit this morning, but it was way to sweet). I feel like I'm back on the wagon...for today at least.


Furthermore:
Holden and I went for a jog this morning... yes I put my son in a stroller, he did fine. He actually seemed to enjoy banging his feet against the back panel of the push chair. But our little 25 minute jaunt, seemed much more tiresome than that 5k from last month. Maybe it was the extra 23 lbs I was pushing. Maybe it's that you can't walk a block in my neighborhood without finding a hill, or 20! Maybe it's the elevation? Maybe I lacked the endorphin rush that comes with an actual race..I just know I didn't plod as far or as long today and it seemed a lot harder than the 5k. I don't know why I'm telling you (maybe just so my friend Em knows I've 'started'... sort of.)


Additionally:
I never learned the proper or correct way to type. That is why so many of my entries that are suppose to include apostrophes (') have semicolons (;) instead. They're right next to each other on the key board, and I am usually using my middle finger to hit the key (and my middle finger usually doesn't make it over.) I just thought you should know why that's my number one typo.


Finally:
Besides the aforementioned breakfast, today's victuals included...
Snacks: grated colby jack cheese, 1 spoonful of yogurt I did not enjoy, bits of avocado and a taste of peppers as I was preparing dinner.
Dinner was actually quite a delight-
Spinach salad with grapefruit, avocado, yellow bell peppers, a hint of shredded colby jack cheese, blush wine vinaigrette dressing and fresh mushrooms.
-Then-
"Meat"loaf Peppers: Red peppers stuffed with ground turkey (hormone free, of course!) and fresh onions, garlic, peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes. It was pretty good...would've been better with homemade chili sauce, but I have used up the last of our canned deliciousness, and it's probably better for us to do without the extra sugar, anyway. Also, I ate just over 1/2 of mine, so now I have something easy for lunch tomorrow. Holden even enjoyed his (sans pepper shell, of course.)
Oh, and I made white grape juice to go with dinner. I had some green grapes (from the co-op) that were about to call it quits --some already had-- so I found a recipe and improvised. Better than Welch;s if you ask me... curse you semi-colon!


Almost Forgot:
And if you're interested, my friend Christie took these of our front yard the other night. On a separate but similar note, we always get hunters parking in front of our home scoping out their prey. Apparently we've got a great view of the ridge line so they can track the deer's movements or something. I'm thinking of posting a sign out front because they all give me the willies:

Thank you for not stalking Bambi or his mom from our front yard. -Management

Thoughts?

Don't waste your time reading this.

My day - no breakfast or lunch (for religious reasons, not because I was saving calories) and then a Super Bowl Party (which also happens to be Danny's family bday party):

salad with baslsamic dressing
fruit - pineapple, mangoes, red & green grapes...
veggies & dip, roasted red pepper hummus
chips and tomato salsa
chips and mango-blueberry salsa
chips and spinach artichoke dip
more chips, just chips for chips' sake

cookies (lots of cookies, an embarrassing amount of cookies):
-4 oatmeal butter scotch
-3 granite bakery sugar cookies

Texas sheet cake
milk

I feel ill. And ashamed. Seriously, I told you NOT to read this.

Wondering why I posted my binge (without the purge)?

I should be skinny by now, right?

So it's been almost a week since I started our "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." experiment in lifestyle change at the Mangum-(suite-)Mangum household. Danny has taken to eating animal for lunch, and 'suffering' through peppers stuffed with rice & veggies and salads in the evenings.

Of course, it's been like six days (and I worked out every day this week), so I was obviously thinking I should be 10 lbs thinner AND have a six-pack by now. Ok, maybe not washboard abs, but at least the spare tire should be gone... right?

Except it's not.
And it NEVER works that way, does it?

Things I'm Feeling Good About:

• Working out everyday (bless and curse you Jillian), and getting to two yoga classes this week, is really the best 'fitness' week I've had since Holden was born (yes, that's more than a year.)
  
• That I have done a pretty stellar job trying to eat 'food' all week. I know that sounds counter intuitive, but cooking more meals at home, and not taking short cuts with food-like-products (like a protein shake for example, no preservatives, etc), I can tell a huge difference in how I feel.
  
• And we've definitely been eating Mostly Plants -- just ask Danny.
  
• And with the exception of last night's date night pizza, food portions have been more on target for a healthy lifestyle.

I could've done (or do) better with:

• It seems like I've totally cut back on treats, but my food may look like I haven't given up much. (Monday's cookie, Thursday's lime decadence by Cassandra and last night's gellato.) But when you can tear up 1/2 dozen cupcakes (or more) in a weekend, apparently three treats in six days is something to feel good about.
  
• I definitely need to be drinking more water.

I'm sure some of you may be wondering about my 'protein' intake, but I was a vegetarian for more than 10 years and vegan for part of college... all whilst I was a collegiate athlete (volleyball, thank you for asking).

As such, I'm not too worried about it, because lately I have tons more energy than usual and feel the best I've felt physically since before I was pregnant. Besides protein...like fat and carbs and whatever else is "in" or "taboo" with 'Nutrionism' seems to sneak in here and there when you don't even realize it.

This experiment of ours (ok mine), that I am forcing on my family because I am the one that shops and cooks, is about more than just losing weight though. It's also about the impact that we have on the world because of our food choices.

We're not perfect all of the time, but we're trying... most of the time. And who knows, maybe we'll end up with smokin' bods because of it!!!

Food Diary
Potatoes with onion, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes and avocado. Ginormous salad with cucumbers, red bell pepppers, carrots, avocado, spinach and goat cheese with raspberry vinaigrette. Bites of mango and blueberries whilst I was chopping up ingredients for Superbowl blueberry mango salsa. Six organic tortilla chips (organic-schmanic...they're still junk food, eh?) (Hormone free) chicken fajitas for dinner with golden onions, yellow and orange bell peppers, guacamole with pico, colby jack cheese and sour cream. Grapefruit.

I am looking forward to enjoying treats tomorrow for Superbowl Sunday. Finally my dang sugar cookie (and then some)!

9 months and Counting

I have mentioned to a few of you that I've been going a little 'martha' lately. Here is a sample of the spoils from my canning escapades (pickled beets, chili sauce and a variety of apple sauces.)

But this post isn't about me trying to hone into my domestic diva-ness. I've been putting other things into canning jars. I've been keeping track of some of the things Holden does at this point in his life, or some of the milestones he's passed through October. He hits the nine month mark today, so I thought I'd jot a few of them down.



Holden's a big traveler (California, Seattle, St. George and we just returned from Boston)...he always travels 'first class' (ok, this is actually a coach seat-- my seat -- but his legs are so short it's like 1st class to him.) His car seat is next to mine, but we hit some clear air and decided to give the guy a little breathing room. He was much happier out of his seat. I was scrunched on the floor next to the bulkhead. We cashed in SkyMiles for three REAL tickets and I can't tell you how much I love NOT traveling stand-by.

Holden likes Monsters - well, the Green Monster at least. Here he is in the famous seats at Fenway park, and a money shot(?) of our family at the stadium.

Holden likes to drink from a straw... he prefers straws and cups (real cups, not 'sippy' cups mind you) for drinking (water mostly, sometimes milk.) Here he is at an Italian restaurant in Boston's historic North End. We would return to Little Italy the next day where he flirted with a table of 50-something ladies with thick New England accents who wanted to eat him up like matza balls.

Holden loves his Daddy. He lights up when he hears the door open at half-past-five on the weekdays signaling that "Daddy's Home!" Here the two boys are our first night in Boston. We were getting ready to leave the Marriott and take a stroll on the waterfront.
Avocado - Holden shows his ethnic roots (yes, I am one-quarter Hispanic) with his love of guacamole (or organic avocado - same thing when you're a baby, right?) The kid loves it - I put it in applesauce, with pure pumpkin...he's a green fruit lovin' machine!

And as I mentioned, with his avocado he loves pumpkin. But truthfully he just loves pumpkin (period). The Nelson's (of the apple picking fame!) gave us a few cooking gourds from their farm, so I've been serving it naked to Holden (the pumpkin that is, I wear clothes when I feed him, obviously). Here's my favorite 'punkin.'
Big Boy Bed: I've been trying to figure out if I should just lay this out, but you may as well know... Holden's been trying out a "big boy bed" because he doesn't like his crib, and I have weird issues with them (personal choice for our family, but it's not helping the situation)... Plus, we used a cot for nap time for him in Boston and he seemed to do great in it. So we took apart the crib, gave it back to my sister and laid a twin mattress on the floor in his nursery. He can climb in and out of it - we had pretty much baby proofed his room anyway, but it makes nap time super easy and has been a great natural extension and transitional 'tool' for our cosleeping journey ("Don't you judge me Earl.")


Holden likes peace rallies for a greener planet earth... he 'tolerates' his *stroller.

Other things Holden's into:

Late July crackers... they look like Ritz, and taste like Ritz, but they're (drum roll please...) You guess it! Organic! He can feed them to himself which is nice because they are a lot less messy than avocado-applesauce puree.

Cruising - not on State necessarily. But apparently 'cruising' is the official pediatric developmental word for holding onto stuff while standing up and moving from thing to thing...

He's doing great with his 'potty training'. My grandmother-in-law remarked that in her day they called it 'training the mommy' which I think I have mentioned before; but I am fine with him training me. We are getting better at reading his signals and he is getting better about understanding what the toilet is for... he even crawls to his Baby Bjorn sometimes to let us know 'it's time.' We're not ditching his diapers any time soon, but it is awesome to use the same one for multiple cycles... he's so green.

At the Zoo, he dug the zebras, muskrats and some odd looking chipmunk...

Oh, and he LOVES brooms and the vacuum. He is crawling so fast, I used to be able to vacuum around him. It's getting more difficult to dodge his little piggies.

The rest of the Boston pictures can be found on Facebook... you don't have to be a member to check them out. I have loaded the pictures, but will be editing the captions etc over the next little bit.

In other news, I feel like I am FINALLY finding a 'flow' in motherhood and staying at home. I love it, but I am not the best at it... though I feel like I try really hard. Danny is patient with me, and Holden is VERY forgiving.

Love you both!


*This was out last evening in Boston, and we had been wearing him the whole trip in the Ergo Baby. His diaper leaked on the pack so we thought 'a little time in the stroller would be fine'... but of course it was 90% cobblestone and outside of our jogging stroller he really doesn't spend much time in his stroller. Plus Boston is 'the walking city' not the 'stroller city' so we laughed about our weak attempt to use a pram (did I mention Danny ran into a couple of things?). Holden was a good sport though.

On the same token, I've shared our Zoo pictures...we carried him in the pack for most of that experience too. My mother-in-love, like many a mother- is a lover of strollers...so she asked he'd like to sit in it as we were nearing the end of the excursion (I like to bring a stroller to carry purses, coats, the diaper bag --great at airports-- etc.) At that point I thought that his diaper was wet, so I figured I'd just hurry and change in pants in the stroller (it's one of those Graco ones where the seat can lay flat - so it's nice for a quick pants-change.) So we decided to change his pants and then we could try out the stroller (though, I was still a little apprehensive. It's not like we're practicing tribal continuum parenting, but still )... So we go to change his pants, which turned out not to be wet - and as soon as his diaper came off he pee'd -- all over the stroller, partially on me and on the sidewalk of the zoo (I tried to direct his aim away from my clothes but was a little too late.) So we decided he could do with out the stroller ride for a bit...

Check out our Boston Adventures Here!

America -- doin' a "solid" for itself. . .

I don't think words can really express how I feel about this election. 

I didn't vote for Obama because he is black. (I didn't vote for Hillary in the primary because she was a woman.)

And I didn't vote for Obama just because he's a great orator, a celebrity or "cool." 

Sure, I voted for "change." 

But not just change the cryptic, dubious, enigmatic, ambiguous .... not this vast undefinable or  unknown. 

I voted for a foreign policy based on diplomacy, instead of force.

I voted for better schools.

I voted for health care:  a basic necessity -- not a privilege.

I voted for the economy -- where the middle class is not shouldering the tax burden, and the American dream is attainable for all (not just those of us who have parents and in-laws who can "help out.")

I voted for helping my brothers and sisters -- regardless of their station in life. 

I voted for responsibility.  

I voted for family.

I voted for fiscal responsibility -- not uncontrolled spending. 

And I voted for the first Black president of the United States of America. . . not because he's black.  That doesn't matter to me when casting my ballot... but the significance of America making that choice, well, like I said (and as I think Pat Bagley perfectly put it) ... well played U.S. I'd say America's done itself a "solid."

PS. I can only assume that Horiuchi benefited from the "suite-mangum BUMP" after my endorsement... as one poll showed him behind before my post... ;)

I'd also like to congratulate the UTES on being 10-0... they must be living right off the field, eh? 

 

Why the Utes are like a Co-Dependent Boyfriend

So Danny and I made the trek from St. George up to Happy Valley yesterday, but it wasn’t so joyous for us. I’ll be the first to admit that the Zoobies outplayed us . . . but that doesn’t mean that they necessarily should’ve won.

I’ve participated in enough sporting events over the years to know that the better team isn’t always going to be going home a “W.” (And I’m not referring to our current president. Taking Dub-ya home would actually be worse than a loss as far as I’m concerned.)

I think when teams are as closely matched up as the Utes and that team down south, it comes down to heart. And Brian Johnson is significantly lacking in that area. And I think "attitude reflects leadership." (Yeah, I got that quote from the dude on “Remember the Titans.”)

Anyway, what kind of quarterback (when you’re looking for a crucial first down and it’s 3rd and 15) slides to protect himself from getting hurt when a title's on the line?!?! (or a chance for a title, small as it may have been.) It’s the last game of the season (excluding bowl games, but come on!!!); PUT IT ALL OUT ON THE FIELD! If you get injured, you’ve got an over excited Freshman waiting to pounce and prove himself at any given chance. (PS. I wish we’d ditch Johnson and just go with the freshman.)

That kid plays with heart. . . he’s out there; in it to win it.

Johnson . . . well, I think we’ve seen Wittingham put too much stock in Johnson … like the real key to the Utes losing early on the season was that their “Captain” wasn’t out there.

Well Captain my Captain; I defer to Steve Tate. That guy lays it all out on the line.

I’m so disappointed in Jonson; he reminds me of Rod Tisdell (sp) from Jerry Maguire (before he gets knocked out and finds his love of the game.) He plays with his head, but not his heart.

Anyway, back to my title. The reason the Utes are like a codependent boyfriend, is because despite all the crap they put you through . . . you still hold onto the memories of the good times and somehow think that makes up for all the time they break your heart. And just when you start to expect less. . . you begin to plan on disappointment .. well that's whenyou look back on the golden years; the good times (aka the Fiesta Bowl) and trust that even they if they broke your heart this week, they’ll find away to do something splendid (like beat UCLA) down the road. And you’ll take them back because truth be told . . . you never let them go.

There’s a reason that blood runs red, especially if you’re cut deep. ;) As my husband put it bluntly yesterday: “I’d rather be a loser than a cougar.”