let's talk music...

i have no musical talent.

zip,zero,zilch.

i had wanted piano lessons once upon a time.

now it would seem like just another thing on the 'to-do' list that never gets all done.

but i love me some good music.

and, surprise, surprise, my choices are random.

most of the time in the car, i'm tuned into the contemporary christian.

my favorites there include third day (because mac powell is awesome), casting crowns, mercy me, jeremy camp, todd agnew, and matt maher.

  but then i also love the edgier ones.

skillet, thousand foot krutch.

but then i'll turn to country.

where i think that gary allen has the sexiest voice in the entire world.

but i also love zac brown band,

dierks and billy currington, lady a, and little big town.

and then the classics, like good ol mr.strait and john michael.

throw in some brooks and dunn,

and we're calling it good.

fly me to the moon please.

the rat pack,

any of em.

and ella.

and the beach boys.

that fit into none of my categories.

and there will always, ALWAYS  people, be a place in my heart for  bryan adams.

why is he still not popular??!!!

as far as current 'cool' music,

i love 3 doors down, lifehouse, coldplay, daughtry, creed.

and then there is my

ihatetoadmitthisside.

which includes nirvana,

greenday,

and all those naughty bands that sing of totaly yuckiness and yet they sound so cool.

speaking of which, can we please pray for a conversion to the faith for nickelback?

whom i adore but loathe all at once.

i mean really.

God gave you the talent, use it properly.

bon jovi.

and i love the bag pipes

but my favorite group ever?

(are you drumrolling?

you should totally be drum rolling)

NEEDTOBREATHE.

if you haven't heard these guys.

they are musically amazingly, lyrically intelligent,

and just all out studs.

for the first time in my life i want a band t shirt.

i've listened to

this album

about 200 times in a row.

not sick of it yet.

what don't i like?

ANY AND ALL hip hop.

and rap.

(unless it's the french prince of bel aire of course.)

and if you didn't notice?

i'm not into female singers.

i have NO idea why this is.

it dawned on me about 2 years ago that none of my go to music is done by females.

(lady a has a man ya'll)

i'm bizarre, i know.

so all this to say.

i'm totally random.

where would you classify me in the music genre?

what about yourself?

blessings,

mandy



eating well...my conclusions.

so i've been on a mission.

the mission to come up with a healthier lifestyle.

between my husband's Crohn's disease, some random health issues with myself

(not to mention being about 50 lbs over my 'normal' weight),

i am on a mission to find healthier alternatives.

i should mention,

that i tend to get carried away by new ideas and hit them full fledged...

only to slack by 3 weeks in.

so as i have bookmarked a billion sites/blogs/books to buy, etc, on this get healthy mission,

i have also prayed about it.

i believe God truly does want us to keep our bodies His temple.

this means limiting foods that are not good for us and being wise with our choices.

i would say we are a somewhat 'in the middle' family.

we aren't super healthy,

we indulge in fast food here and there, and eat desserts.

i drink sodas (regular-diet makes me sick) on occasion but not everyday.

on the other hand, i always avoided prepackaged foods, overly processed stuff, and hydrogenated oils.

(even back in the beginning of our marriage before it was 'cool' ;))

i buy boxed cereal, but only cheerios or cinnamon life.

the only 'boxes' i buy are the occasional kraft mac n cheese (for my once a month bunco night, the kids love it with hamburger), and crackers.

so as i jumped into learning more, i have found so many articles and things i want to try.

we tried to drink Kumbocha-(YUCK!)

i got the recipe to make my own fish crackers.

i looked into buying my own wheat grinder (spendy!).

and then it hit me.

this is all good for us.

it is wise.

but at the same time, it should NOT be allowed to dominate our lives.

i would still love to grind my own wheat one day.

i still plan on even healthier meals.

and i may still make my own crackers.

but,

i will give myself a break.

i have made the decision to continue to buy fish crackers until pepperidge farms dissolves.
otherwise they would meet certain immediate bankruptcy, we can't be responsible for that now can we?

i will still allow my kids their boxed mac'n cheese night once a month.

i may even crack open a coke still on occasion.

but i will do it all in moderation.

and i will honor God with our health.

without going extreme while i'm juggling so many other balls.
( i just reread this post.  um, let's just leave that alone shall we?  ;))

what are your thoughts on healthy eating?

blessings,

mandy

p.s.  nourishing traditions is still in my amazon cart ;)

(the kids enjoying their smores while camping Labor day weekend.)