Oh, the places we want to go...

White Villages in Santori, Greece

and here...

Italy

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” 

Henry Miller

Vegan? What is that? and why?!

When I was in middle school/high school, I was very conscious about what I put in my mouth. Some people might think, "that's too much to think about" or "that takes the fun out of eating." I'll be the first to attest that "no it's not" and "no it's not." Even if it was, isn't that a good thing...I mean, HELLO?! You're putting that stuff in your body! That's what keeps you alive...or what's going to kill you, I'll let you decide. I have never felt more active/energetic and more content with my body than I did during those years. Those are the years that are most awkward for us but I took pride in how I looked, felt and most importantly, my eating habits.

Well, here I am, give or take 10 years later and feeling so unsatisfied with myself. Not necessarily my looks (because that's not necessarily what this is about) but more in my energy level, the realization that aging is going to start kicking in any day now, and especially because I'm going to bear children in the not too distant future. I feel the need for change. I need to step it up and off the laziness scale and get with it again.

Don't get me wrong, I have loved a good burger or a good sandwich...but in almost every instance, I get the nagging feeling that "I shouldn't have eaten that" or "I'm going to have to work out 5x's as hard for that 5 minutes of pleasure." It's to the point that those thoughts aren't worth what initiated it to begin with.

With that said, I have decided to alter my eating habits. Starting this morning for breakfast, I became a vegan. Something I've wanted to do for years but since marrying a carnivore who loves to cook, almost made it impossible. Well I'm doing it anyway. I need to do it for me. Don't worry babe, Ill still cook you meat...I just don't want any part of it. I won't miss it. I haven't been the biggest fan of meat for a long time so I don't feel like I'm going without at all. The only thing I won't have is meat, dairy and eggs or anything that contains animal products. Totally fine by me! It's almost like a detox really, because most of the fat American's eat is from those things I'll be cutting out.

I've had a few people bring up the point, "isn't that against the commandments" or "that's why God gave us animals." Well murder, especially the way today's factory farmhouses "prepare animal products" is against the commandments. I'll spare you the details but really, the production of today's animal products is, what I'm sure, the way God didn't intend.

I'm not looking for disputes, or reasons why I shouldn't do this; I simply wanted to share why I CHOSE to do this. :)

A little about me at this moment...

Candy: DOVE Milk Chocolate or Chewy Sweet Tarts. The Sweet Tarts are long time favorite; my daddy always buys me one...)

Soda: strictly Coca-Cola! Although, I don’t have one everyday. Absolutely none of that diet stuff...

Show: anything on HGTV, I get so many good design ideas! I love the Kardashians too…

Favorite I-Pod Playlist: “Current Fav’s”

            Sia- Breathe Me

            Mumford and Sons- entire “Sigh No More” album

            The Asteroid Galaxy Tour- The Golden Age

            Better Than Ezra- Breathless

            Katy Perry- ET & Fireworks

            Ke$ha- Crazy Beautiful Life & Blah Blah Blah

            Matt and Kim- Daylight

            Natasha Bedingfield- Strip Me

            Adele- Rolling In the Deep

            Flickerstick- Beautiful (long time favorite- Dallas local band)

Lady Antebellum- I Run To You & Need You Now

Time of the Day: evening. LOVE my baths and chilling out

Snack: Swiss Miss Chocolate Swirl Pudding, fruit or chips and salsa

Cosmetic: Neutrogena Naturals Lip Balm and Mascara

Websites: online magazines- Real Simple, Women’s Health, House Beautiful

Dream Job: Interior designer/organizational expert or apart of the creative team for Nordstrom’s or Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas.

Pet Peeve: clutter and things on the floor

Restaurant: Whataburger (Texas) or Toscano’s Italian Bistro

Things that are important to me: accept & befriend those who are different than me and to forgive.

I’m proud: to be Mormon, to be an American, to be Native American and to be a domestic abuse survivor so that I can experience and appreciate my amazingly loving and devoted husband.

Book: The Travelers Gift by Andy Andrews

Thing to do: 4-wheeling with Josh in the mountains when the suns going down or lying in bed at night talking.

Makes me laugh: Josh’s little voices he makes, Leo getting as close to me as he can whenever I sit down or when he yells at me for his treat.

Hobbies: Cleaning/organizing, decorating and finding as many cute clothes as I can for my money (i.e. bargain shopping) Why the hell would you spend $200 on jeans?! Waste.

Something I wish I was better at:  not being so OCD about little irrelevant things.

Vacation: I LOVED Hawaii and do plan to visit again soon! Turks and Caicos/ Nassau were pretty fabulous too…

Quote: “Life is not waiting for the storms to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”- Vivian Greene

P.S. I do this for journaling purposes only...and so my kids can look back years from now and realize how normal I used to be. ;)

The Latest...

It's been a few weeks since I last posted anything but not a whole lot has really happened! This past week I have been SO SICK! I think I caught Bronchitis from my sister and it seemed to hit me HARD! I ran fever for 3 days, body aches like you wouldn't believe and lungs that burned with every breath. It was NOT FUN. Yesterday was the first day that I felt decent and managed to make it to the doctor. He said it should be clearing up because my lungs didn't sound too bad anymore, thankfully! Today I feel great except that I get winded pretty easily and I can't shake this cough for the life of me!

Also, news to post is that we're headed back to Texas this summer! I'm sure everyone already knows but it's still blog worthy because afterall, I'm headed back home! We will be in Lewisville which is about 45 minutes north of my family and I could not be happier. Last year, we we're in Houston which is a 4 hour drive; I did not complain about that one bit because I was at least in the great state of Texas. I'm just happy that I'll be in the metroplex! HALLELUJAH! I love the sight of this skyline...Home Sweet Home.

This last news update is a sad one. On Friday, March 11th; Japan suffered one of the most devastating natural disasters in it's history. A 8.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Sendai, Japan and was soon followed by a massive tsunami that just about wiped Japan off the map. As of today, 2 days later, an estimated 10,000 people have been killed. Not to mention that the death toll will still continue to climb through the coming months as rubble and debris get cleaned up. To add to the devastation, they are expecting a few more severe aftershocks as well as several unstable nuclear power plants. It is so sad and my heart goes out to those affected by this tragedy.

Japan, you are in my prayers!

I LOVEEEEEE YOGA!!!

As most of us know, I'm not very athletic or coordinated when it comes to anything athletic but I have become quite the believer in Yoga! I have been taking a Hatha Yoga class on campus this semester, we meet for an hour twice a week and just in the time that school has started, about 7 weeks ago; I have so much more flexibility, I don't get stressed out as easily, I physically feel better, I have toned up a lot and have better posture and I even sleep better at night.
It's a lot easier than some people might think. I thought we had to be super flexible going into that class to be successful but I've learned that these poses are made to improve flexibility even if you don't have any at all. I seriously suggest taking a yoga class whether it's from a gym, school or a yoga studio...I'm not kidding when I say it's probably the best thing since Nutella! (we all know how much I love Nutella.)

Here are a few of my favorite poses:

Downward Facing Dog:

 

Benefits: Strengthens arms, shoulders, quads; stretches shoulders, chest, hamstrings, calves; keeps spine flexible  

Helps: Fatigue, mental alertness

Any of the Warrior poses- I, II, III or Reversed Warrior

Benefits: Strengthens core, legs, ankles; lengthens spine  

Helps: Poor posture, weak knees, endurance

 Side Plank:

Benefits: Strengthens wrist, abs, legs  
Helps: A scattered mind

Half Moon:

Benefits: Strengthens back, glutes, legs; keeps spine flexible  

Helps: Insecurity

 

Crow  

 

Benefits: Strengthens arms, shoulders, chest, abs, upper back  

Helps: Poor balance, a scattered mind

I found on WomensHealth.com a whole section dedicated to Yoga with all the benefits, poses, ailments it cures...EVERYTHING! Look it up and give it try!

Namaste!

"All Things Connect..."

 I've been more curious than ever lately about my heritage in being a government registered, one-quarter, Choctaw Indian. This entry is for me, for journaling; so I can look back and remember where I came from. Also, to see the sacrifices of so many for me to be here and have the wonderful life that I do.

My ancestors were primarily from Oklahoma with many current relatives still there to this day. I have found that Choctaw chief Allen Wright (1826-1885) suggested Oklahoma (okla "man" and humma "red"- land of the red man) as the name of the new territory. I spent many days there growing up and when I'm back home, still go as often as I can. Our family has many acres of land, 88 of them being Indian Treaty land. My great-grandmother, Mattie, was awarded 8.8 acres per child, which is for 10 kids. This is a picture of my great-grandmother Mattie and her husband, Sylvester Ladner. Mattie died in 1924 in her mid-twenties, when my grandfather, Andrew, was about six weeks old. Sylvester later married, Audry, who raised Mattie's 3 children and had 7 additional of her own. These pictures of both Mattie and Audry are the first and only pictures I have ever seen of them. All of which are buried together in the Jimtown Cemetary of Love Co. Oklahoma.

Mattie (1895-1924)

Audry (1897-1981)

Sylvester Ladner (1893-1972)

My grandfather, Andrew (1924-2000)

A little history on Choctaw Indians: the word Choctaw is derived from the Choctaw phrase, "Hacha Hatak," meaning river people. They were known as one of the "Five Civilized Tribes" because they adopted and integrated numerous cultural and technological practices of their European American colonial neighbors.

In 1831, U.S. President Andrew Jackson, who was given the name of "Sharp Knife" by the Choctaw people, made the Choctaw's the first Native Americans to travel on the Trail of Tears. The Choctaw were exiled (to the area now called Oklahoma) because the U.S. wanted to expand territory for settlement to European Americans, wanted to save them from extinction, and wanted to acquire their natural resources. 

This is a sculpture by James Earle Frazer called "The End of the Trail" which was inspired by poetry from Marion Manville Pope, "The trail is lost, the path is hid, and winds that blow from out the ages sweep me on to that chill borderland where Time’s spent sands engulf lost peoples and lost trails.”

In World War I, they served in the U.S. military as the first Native American code talkers against the Germans, using the Choctaw language as a natural code.

George Washington (first U.S. President) and Henry Knox (first U.S. Secretary of War) proposed the cultural transformation of Native Americans. Washington believed that Native Americans were equals but that their society was inferior to that of the European Americans. He formulated a policy to encourage the "civilizing" process, and Thomas Jefferson continued it. Washington's six-point plan included impartial justice toward Indians; regulated buying of Indian lands; promotion of commerce; promotion of experiments to civilize or improve Indian society; presidential authority to give presents; and punishing those who violated Indian rights. The government appointed agent, Benjamin Hawkins, to live among the Indians and to teach them through example and instruction, how to live like whites. The Choctaws accepted Washington's policy as they established schools, adopted modern farming practices, converted to Christianity, and built houses like their colonial neighbors.

"We have long heard of your nation as a numerous, peaceable, and friendly people; but this is the first visit we have had from its great men at the seat of our government. I welcome you here; am glad to take you by the hand, and to assure you, for your nation, that we are their friends. Born in the same land, we ought to live as brothers, doing to each other all the good we can, and not listening to wicked men, who may endeavor to make us enemies..." —President Thomas Jefferson, Brothers of the Choctaw Nation, December 17, 1803

The US government set up the Dawes Commission to manage the land allotment policy. Beginning in 1894, the Dawes Commission was established to register Choctaw and other families of the Indian Territory, so that the former tribal lands could be properly distributed among them. The final list included 18,981 citizens of the Choctaw Nation, 1,639 Mississippi Choctaw, and 5,994 former slaves, most held by Choctaws in the Indian/Oklahoma Territory.

Chata Anumpa (Choctaw): Hattak yuka keyu hokυtto yakohmit itibachυfat hieli kυt, nan isht imaiυlhpiesa atokmυt itilawashke; yohmi ha hattak nana hohkia, keyukmυt kanohmi hohkia okla moma nana isht aim aiυlhpiesa, micha isht aimaiυlhtoba he aima ka kanohmi bano hosh isht ik imaiυlhpieso kashke. Amba moma kυt nana isht imachukma chi ho tuksυli hokmakashke.
English Language: That all free men, when they form a special compact, are equal in rights, and that no man or set of men are entitled to exclusive, separate public emolument or privileges from the community, but in consideration of public services.

The Choctaws believed in a good spirit and an evil spirit. They may have been sun, or Hushtahli, worshipers. The historian Swanton wrote, "The Choctaws anciently regarded the sun as a deity ... the sun was ascribed the power of life and death. He was represented as looking down upon the earth, and as long as he kept his flaming eye fixed on any one, the person was safe ... fire, as the most striking representation of the sun, was considered as possessing intelligence, and as acting in concert with the sun ... having constant intercourse with the sun ..." The word nanpisa (the one who sees) expressed the reverence the Choctaw had for the sun.

I hold a high regard to my ancestors for their struggles, their battles, but yet their respect for each other as well as those of "other lands."  I can only aspire to be the least bit as strong of a person as they were. From their perseverance and determination for a future, we now have a Choctaw Nation going strong today with at least 160,000 registered Choctaw Indians. 

"Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect."

Chief Seattle, 1854

Just a lil' update!

Well we are already in the 3rd week of January and a lot has happened! That could mean one of two things; this is going to be an eventful year or I'm just being lazy and my pretty chill schedule is proving to be a little much...which I don't think it's the second.

Josh and I have started our semester at Weber State and I have to say that it was not what I expected! I expected a little tougher classes, longer days, and professors with sticks up their bums. Little did I know that I would have easier classes- one that does not give tests/finals or quizzes (Anthropology) and another class that we perform meditation and "power naps" (stress management) and then a Hatha yoga class (all with awesome professors!) I also am taking a math and a biology class. Biology might be a challenge only because my professor is from France so she "zounds zike zis!" Its tough when she's talking a thousand miles an hour about homeostasis, epithelial tissues and all aspects of cells. Anyway, I'm not complaining because I'm done with school everyday by 12:30 and 9:30am on Fridays. I'm really enjoying it!

Another thing that I have been working really hard at is exercising, with an emphasis on running. I've always loved to work out but living in Ephraim made me pretty lazy because there was nothing there. We joined an awesome gym here in Ogden that offered unlimited tanning, massage chairs and workouts for $20 a month. I go just about every day for about an hour, and for the first time, have been so consistent. I have seen major results, more so in my endurance. I actually really enjoy running and those words have never escaped these lips before.

We enjoy living here in Ogden with Josh's grandparents. We tried getting our own apartment this semester but because we leave the state for Josh's job every summer, it was hard finding an apartment that offered short-term leases. It has all worked out perfectly though!

Well that's all that has changed here with the exception of a new haircut tomorrow- I'm gonna get back to painting my toes and watching the Golden Globes...why am I such a sucker for fashion and celebs.