Choosing A Career That Fits My Lifestyle

I'm the type of person that wants to do everything. And I do mean everything. Since a child, my aspirations have included: first female President of the US, lawyer, astronomer, working with monkeys like Jane Goodall, Belgian chocolatier, fashion designer, marine biologist, owning a pizza shop, and professional body piercer. (I'm pretty sure I'd also make a fantastic ice cream taste-tester.)

The older I've gotten, the harder it has been to make up my mind. To decide what I want to be when I "grow up". 

But I think I've finally made a decision. 

Here's a little look into my past. Since I learned where babies came from and the stork myth was debunked, I've sworn off ever having babies. Or having anything to do with babies. The baby comes out of WHAT?! That's just too gross!

Then I met my husband, Paul, and that all changed. I want a baby. In fact, I want all the babies. (If anybody needs me to take your baby, please raise your hand. Form a neat line to the right, and hand over those cuties.)

At the same time I discovered this longing, I was also starting my transition into a more natural lifestyle. With that came a lot of research into natural childbirth. 

Therefore depositing me where I stand today, determined to become a Midwife. That's right, I want to coach moms and babies through one of the most important day(s) of their lives. I want to be a part of that special moment. I want to encourage moms to embrace a natural lifestyle and seek the best for their children and themselves. Most importantly, I want to feel what life is all about. 

You can believe my family was a little surprised at my sudden 180 degree switch! I was surprised at myself. But it has become quite the passion for me. I can't get enough of the idea, and I'm excited about the future. 

Once Paul and I get back from our 6 month adventure in the Grand Tetons, I will be getting my Doula training, then off to Midwifery College. Meanwhile I plan on doing a lot of reading. Stay tuned, I'll be posting some interesting tidbits here and there, maybe some book reviews too!

Latest Obsession: Earthships

Like something out of a sci-fi film. These homes have me drooling. Wanna know why? Of course you do.


They are made using about 45% recycled materials. Which is good for your soul, and the earth. They also are practically self-sustainable. Here's more info:


Water.

Rain water is caught on the roof of your home, then funneled into a holding area underground. It is filtered before reaching you in your home for consuming/showering. That waste water is contained and treated in interior botanical cells (with the added bonus of growing yummy crops). It is then used in your toilets. Last, it is contained and treated once again in external botanical cells (landscaping) or held in a conventional septic tank. This system adds no pollution to aquifers. Talk about getting the most out of your water!

The best part about this is that you aren't dependent on city water. If any sort of natural disaster or another event that disrupts the availability of clean water happens, you will have no worries.

Electricity.

Your home harvests solar and wind energy to power your various appliances. There is no need for energy to heat/cool your home, which I'll get to later. Again, you are not dependent on city electricity, so if tragedy strikes, you will still be able to function normally.

Heating/Cooling.

This is the part that's really cool. In the least complicated way to describe it, the homes use a combination of the sun's heat, insulation, and the cool deep earth mass to keep the inside at a fairly constant comfortable temperature. All while using NO electricity. Sounds too good to be true!


Now do you see why I'm obsessed?! There are a few different standard models, or you can completely customize it to your needs. A main point is that you are a part of the building process. They highly recommend learning how to build the homes, and helping to build your own. So rewarding. One day...

Now prepare to drool with me while looking at some awesome photos of Earthships. For more info, visit their website.

Why Did I Ever Stop Doing Yoga?

WHY?!?!?!

That's what I was asking myself this morning. I've been thinking about it a lot recently, but haven't done anything about it until today.

I used to practice yoga fairly regularly, and I always felt amazing after I was done. But unfortunately I fell out of practice and now it's been about two years....

I know, shame on me.

So today I made the decision to quit just thinking about doing yoga, and actually do it! And I'm stubborn enough to try and incorporate at least 20 minutes of yoga time into every day here on out. My body needs it, and my mind needs it, so I'm giving it.

Since I can't afford a class right now, I'll be utilizing my living room floor space, and what sessions Amazon Prime Instant Video has to offer. I'm not looking for anything crazy at first, just trying to get back in the groove. If any seasoned yogis have some advice to offer, I'm all ears.

Post-Pill Cleanse; What Am I Eating?

Let's try that again… What am I not eating?

This cleanse has a pretty hefty list of No-Sir-Not-For-Mes:

• Gluten
• Dairy
• Sugar
• Soy
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Conventionally raised meat
• Pretty much anything processed (it all contains sugar)

And a pretty short list of Yes-Ma'am-In-My-Mouths:

• Leafy greens, other vegetables
• Healthy fats like avocados, coconut oil, eggs, nuts, seeds, quinoa
• Quality meats
• Turmeric and Maca root
• Some fruit

So what the heck am I eating? 

I have bacon and eggs scrambled with veggies most mornings. I drink a lot of super healthy smoothies packed with all the essential nutrients. I eat salads with every vegetable in my house thrown in. Homemade dressings and sauces that don't contain sugar (impossible to find in the store). And lots, I mean lots, of happy meat. 

If you asked me what I like to eat before this cleanse, eggs and meat would not have made it very far up that list. I'm pretty sure cheese might've been number one. This diet has obviously been a drastic change for me.

But I'm actually enjoying my food! You should see me at the grocery store, my cart completely loaded with baggies full of fresh produce, stacks of meat, and dozens of local farm eggs. I feel like a champ!

Don't get me wrong, the first couple of days I would've done just about anything for a brownie, a chunk of Italian bread, or some yogurt. But the cravings ended pretty quickly. Now when I want to indulge in something sweet, I eat a banana. I'm perfectly content eating my own homemade (unsweetened) almond butter by the spoonful. And I take pride in whats inside my refrigerator.

The only thing I haven't gotten used to is how many dirty dishes I go through after cooking all of my meals!

Photo from freedigitalphotos.net by Naito8