Don't Forget to Pack My Wine

I am All the Excited we have our own place!

    Usually major life changes freak me the fuck out for about 5 minutes and then I put on my big girl panties and deal. For the last year my husband and I have been living in my father in law's house with my brother in law. The oil boom in Odessa, Texas has made housing almost impossible to find or afford for that matter. My father in law was gracious enough to allow us to board at his home while we worked and finished up our degrees. However, life has majorly sucked due to my brother in law who likes to drink and do drugs. Finally, things got so bad at home that paying an exorbitant amount of rent for a shoebox was a better option than living with the brother in law.

    We found an apartment and were able to move in last Monday and already life is better. Our rent is ridiculous, our apartment is tiny, I have to work full time while going to school full time, and we will be broke all the time. However, I could not be happier to live in a home where there is no fear or bad tension. The next semester will be stressful and I hope that I will be able to graduate on time. My education is very important to me and it is one sacrifice that I am not willing to make.

   Being happy is important y'all so is knowing when to cut ties and move on. For the past year I basically ate my feelings and was sad a lot because my home life was chaotic and out of control. No wonder I felt like crap all the time. Having a peaceful environment makes me want to work out and cook again. It is ok to say "I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore". Your life is what you make of it and I just want to be happy. Cheers to getting the hell out of dodge!!

Why am I Paleo? The Civilized Caveman

Happy 4th of July

     We spent the fourth of July in Phoenix AZ with family and had such a relaxing weekend. Driving into town last Thursday we were met with a massive thunderstorm. Looking out of the driver side window I saw this curtain of sand blowing across the desert. The scene reminded me of the movie The Mummy,when the sandstorm erupts and the bad guy's face appears in the sand. Throw in lightening and rain and that was what greeted us as our car sped into town.

This was similar to the epic sandstorm I saw.

    The storm did not let up until we got into the outskirts of Phoenix and I am surprised our car did not float away. Steven got us into town safely with his badass driving skills while I sat in the passenger seat and worriedly prayed. After surviving the storm we celebrated the only way you can in Phoenix. We ate dinner at In & Out. 

   The best thing about last weekend was that we hardly did anything but hang out with family and relax. I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

Bodee Fit Workouts

    Bodeefit's website rocks my socks off and continually challenges me with their crossfit style workouts that you can do at home. Leaving the regimen of physical therapy can be a scary proposition if you do not have the right tools. It is easier to succeed when you are supposed to be at the gym three times a week, where at least two physical therapists yell at you about proper form. However, out in the real world you start missing a workout here and there and suddenly it becomes habitual. Then you find yourself weakened from no gym time and once again you are injured and in need of PT. Let's stop the madness!

     You need a plan and goals that will help keep you on track. Before being released from PT find an affordable gym in your area or inquire if you can continue working out at your PT gym, set a few realistic goals, and stick to a workout schedule. Adding more weight, going to the gym 2-3 times a week, or improving balance are examples of realistic goals. It is important to keep pushing forward even when you are tired, grumpy, or it happens to be raining outside. Go to the gym and keep yourself healthy. We only have one body and we should do everything we can to take care of it.

   Research workout apps or websites for workout ideas that can be accomplished at home with little equipment. I understand that most gyms can be expensive and require a contract to be signed in blood but you do have options. Even walking every day is at least making your body move which will help keep you strong. Keeping yourself injury free will take hard work and dedication every single day. Focus on your goals and chase them every day and don't ever give up.

Workout Websites that I have found:

• https://www.bodeefit.com/
• http://www.yogajournal.com/
• http://www.runnersworld.com/
• http://toneitup.com/
• http://www.oxygenmag.com/ 

Bikini Yoga ☀ BIKINI SERIES

Kimchi and Kombucha Make the World Go Round

You had me at kimchi.

   The next time I go to San Antonio I will bring an extra large cooler just to transport all the amazing food that can be found at the farmer's market. One of the magical food stalls had kimchi for sale which I could not pass up. My dad has a special place in his heart for kimchi which is a fermented vegetable Korean side dish. I bought the original Napa cabbage to try with breakfast this week. If you like spicy vegetables then you should try kimchi.

  I also found kombucha which is fermented tea that tastes delicious and is very good for gut health. Buddha's Brew is out of Austin and they have some of the best kombucha I have ever tasted. I bought a pint of the cranberry was pleasantly surprised at the smooth taste. The best part was that they had rigged a cooler with spigots for the different flavors. Hopefully, pinterest has a pin that will teach me how to make this.

Is this not cool?! I need to learn how to put spigots on my cooler for kombucha.

The best cranberry kombucha I have tasted so far.

Fun at the Farmer's Market

   On our last day in San Antonio the happy couple took us to their favorite farmer's market. I had such a wonderful time perusing the food stalls and listening to the live music. I wanted to recreate the breakfast I had @Tommy's restaurant so I began my hunt for chorizo. My eye caught a sign that read "Praise the Lard" meat company and I knew I was in the right place. A blonde chick sold me 2 lbs. of local chorizo that I am going to scramble with eggs. The hippy in me found her zen at the market full of local produce and meat, fresh juice, and kind people. Y'all need to check this place out!

These colors are so vibrant.

This chick made my pork dreams come true.

And I found fresh baked bread.