12 Hours To a Great Marriage

Steve and I have decided to read "12 hours to a great marriage." I know it sounds completely cheesy, but it's actually a good read. We figured that we spent many hours on learning how to do everything else in our lives, that maybe we should spend some time on something that we take for granted-- our marriage.

We started the "first hour" last night- and I fell asleep because of the time change! I'm such a bad wife!

But- we made it up this morning.... I really recommend this book aside from the color of the cover which needs some improving :)

Last weekend and Halloween

Last weekend, Steve's mom came to visit us and we had a great time. Every time family visits, we go to the Sunnyvale Farmers Market. We love buying corn on a stick, tamales and the fresh strawberries. Actually, there isn't anything that we wouldn't buy here- it is so much fun.

Check'n out the produce.

Waiting in line for some baked potatoes.

Alie's mom sent us a Halloween bib and hat-- it was so cute for Halloween.

Maddie was an octopus- I was so excited for this costume (I bought it 2 1/2 months before Halloween)-- that it was almost too small when she put it on. We had a fun night and loved walking with her in the street watching her 4 little tenticles bounce up and down.

A REALLY Scary Halloween

The government just announced that the fake Halloween teeth sold by the tens of thousands last year contained 100 times the allowable level of lead.

Ok- this just makes me sick. Last year- I put one of these teeth in my mouth at a friend's party. The picture is a bit small- but all of us have it in our mouths.

This is just one of many news reports that makes me want to move to my own farm in Alaska and grow my own food, filter my own water etc. I know, I know, this is a little extreme... but our world is getting a little too toxic for my taste. You can't eat too much tuna fish or salmon because we pollute our oceans, or use certain types of water bottles because toxins will get into your water... and now you can't even put Halloween teeth in your mouth.

Beware!

One of my favorite Chick Flicks

I admit it. I love chick flicks. The cornier the better. I just love how everything is perfect, the story line is predictable, and she gets her guy in the end. It's one of my weaknesses, and I'm proud to admit it.

My favorite chick flick is "13 going on 30."

Ms. Garner has the cutest clothes in this movie.

I love this scene.

Doesn't every girl in the world want a closet like this? ( I know, it's shallow)

And- finally, the best scene in the movie. Here it is on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO0810JIF4Q

Reminder

Steve reminded me that our blog is about pictures... so here are a few:

We swam a lot during the summer. This was her little boat that got a hole in it and now needs a patch.

We went to the zoo, and she couldn't stop staring at the goose.

Daddy.

On a train ride through the Santa Cruz mountains with Aunt Krissi.

A lazy afternoon looking at the sky.

Being Thankful

As of late, I feel like I have been bombarded with bad news and sad stories. Last nights news was that our good friend's parents house burned down in the San Diego fires. So far, the total this morning was around 1300 homes. I can't imagine how that must feel, and I have been thinking of them non stop.

It is at times like these, where I like to stop and re-evaluate what really matters. Life is very fragile and situations can change at any moment, so I hope I can try to be thankful for what I have and what I can contribute.

My favorite story this week was from my friend who is devoting a year of her life in India to teach and create a science program for children who have nothing. They were skeptical of her, but she said she is winning them over slowly. Apparently, teachers are rarely goofy or silly, so she has been using that as her method to interest them, and they love it.

She is a great example to me and inspires me when I receive her e-mails.

One of my favorite quotes this week is:

"Character is the manifestation of what you are becoming. Strong moral character results from consistent correct choices in the trials and testing of life."

Food Snob?

I used to eat everything and didn't think about what ingredients were on the back of the carton. But, things have changed for me ever since I was "diagnosed" with gluten intolerance. Since I have to make sure that things I buy don't have certain things, I now read the back of almost everything I eat.

Let's take yogurt as an example:

I used to eat yoplait yogurt. I thought it was the best. Who could resist the cute little container? Well, now it seems so foreign to me. Yogurt just shouldn't be gelatinous-- it should be creamy, right? It shouldn't have high fructose corn syrup. What's wrong with that you may say?! I'll leave that debate for you, but I just want to focus on the taste... sugar just tastes better.

I have shopped around for the best tasting yogurt, and have settled on my favorite:

TRADER JOES ORGANIC YOGURT. I haven't tried the one in the picture, but I LOVE the vanilla and bannana/vanilla flavour. Mix in some rasberries, and some granola- and you have one of my favorite breakfasts. Even Steve can't go back (which is saying a lot). He wouldn't eat the yogurt I mistakenly bought because he said he could taste the "aftertaste" of chemicals? My tongue isn't that sensitive....

It's not 0% fat- but it's 100% yogurt, and 100% delicious.

(i'm sorry if i offend anyone who loves yoplait, or any other yogurt brand out there)