Birthday Blessings

Last week I celebrated 28 years on this crazy earth, and man, it was a WHOLE lot of celebrating.  Five days in a row to be exact.  Thanks friends and family for killing my liver and expanding my waistline!  Although I am fully aware of the blessings around me, it's times like these that really make me realize how lucky I am.  Every year around this time I reflect back on the blessings that have been given to me over the past 12 months and the things that I am grateful for.  Here's just a few: 

1. I have been able to travel.  I caught a concert in West Virginia, saw my family in Charlotte, was in my best friend's wedding in Charleston, painted the town red in Nashville, and stuffed my face with cannoli's in Boston...to name a few. 
2. I have reconnected with old friends who have been life savers over the last year.  Never turn someone down when they say, "let's catch up!".  
3. I have a man who not only bought me a gun for my birthday (ummm...keeper!) but patched and rotated my tires with his own hands for me because I'm lazy and didn't get it done myself.  Lucky me.  
4. My sister and I started this little blog which has brought us closer than we've ever been!
5. I'm livin'...and that's all you can really ask for.

Lisa and I at the Rascal Flatts concert on Wednesday, compliments of J. 



My best friend Lori's collage for me.  Oh lordy! Blast from the past!



Cheers friends!

I promise, we're back on the organo train this week!

  

Getting Hit With The Happy Stick

Do you ever have moments, weeks, months where you feel like everything is going your way?  I woke up with that feeling this morning and I'm kind of cracked out on happiness right now.  Oddly enough, I worked 12 hours yesterday and 18 the day before and face-planted into my pillow last night the second I got home.  What gives?    

First, I'm still on a high from my weekend in Charlotte.  It was just such a phenomenal three days, filled with love and family, and deep, really deep conversations.  Oh, and booze.  Dylan's first birthday party was on Saturday and I spent the rest of the weekend hanging with the ones I love.  Lauren and I got all dolled up and hit the town for a little Sunday Funday, and despite our many crazy nights in the past, this one was just...different.  The bars were empty and the food was so-so and it was still one of the best times I've had in a long time.  There is something special about the relationship between siblings, and it has been years in the making for Lauren and I.  We have developed a deep friendship filled with crazy times, tears, respect, and brutal honestly, and I am grateful.  I boarded the plane with a heavy heart, wishing I could stay just a day or so longer.



You two look alike...are you sisters?

 
Truthfully though, I was hit with the happy stick about a year ago, and I remember the exact moment.  I was driving to work in the early morning.  Do you ever have those mornings where you just need silence, where even the radio is too abrasive for your ears?  So, I drove alongside the river in silence and my mind started wondering.  I had just booked three trips (Charlotte, NYC, and Texas), Lauren just had a baby, and I had gotten a second job and now had some extra pocket change.  I'd also reconnected with a few old friends.  Life was really effing good at that moment.  More and more things kept entering my mind.  I'd recently lost a little weight, work was going good, and I'd moved into a sweet new apartment.  The happy stick whacked me upside the head and I literally started crying.  Is that creepy?  I started crying because I was SO happy.  Shit got real after that day, and I've experienced some amazing things in the last year.  So today, I'm going to give you a little insight on what got me here, and how you too can drink the happy juice.

1. Stop thinking so much - I come from a family of strong, independent, type-A women.  This has been a blessing and a curse.  I have tendencies to worry, over analyze and second-guess myself.  Let me tell you right now, ain't nobody got time for that!  I cannot think of a time where this has gotten me anywhere.  So red light that shit right now!  I am not saying to not think before you speak, or not think about making the best decision possible, just simply to stop worrying about what you can't change.  "Worrying is like a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do but it won't get you anywhere".
2. Give - This is by far the easiest thing to do, and there are so many ways to do it.  Pay someone a compliment.  Front the $2 toll fee for the person behind you.  Donate to a charity.  Volunteer.  Commit a random act of kindness.  Do not say to your neighbor, "come back tomorrow and I'll give it to you" when you have it with you now. - proverb.
3. Do what you love - Sounds simple, right?  But in the chaos of our daily lives, we forget to take those moments and enjoy what makes our hearts full.  I LOVE to travel, so I got a second job to pay for my habit.  I'm obsessed with the country, so I take long drives on the weekends.  I enjoy a good steak, a glass of wine, meaty bacon, cowboy boots, a good country song, and a strong cup of coffee.  So, I indulge in those things as often as possible.  What makes you tick?  "Do what you love, and don't look at the clock".
4. Put energy into the friendships that matter - I am lucky to have really, really great friends.  Most of my friends have spread to the four winds, but we stay close regardless.  Call your friends just to talk, not solely when you need advice.  Listen more than you speak.  Be the friend that you would want to have.  Have you ever met someone who is just ridiculously awesome at being a friend?  Although I have a few, my friend Lisa comes to mind, because we have recently reconnected.  She texts me to tell me to have a great weekend when I go out of town, she is ALWAYS available when I need to vent, and she absolutely always puts others first.  I am in awe of her good heart and caring spirit and am really grateful I get to spent my time with a person like her.  "As we grow up, we realize that it is less important to have lots of friends, and more important to have real ones".
5. Learn from your mistakes - Oh, so much easier said than done.  This has been a work in progress for me.  It was not until I applied this that things changed for me.  Doing the same thing over and over again will not result in a different outcome, it just makes you crazy.  Mistakes are great.  I eff up all the time!  Just allow the experience to help you grow and move forward.  "Only a fool trips over things that are behind him".      
6. Drop the baggage - Get out of a relationship that is not working for you, quit the dead end job.  Stop hanging out with that friend who brings you down.  "Don't bring the baggage of an ex-relationship into your next relationship unless you want it to be a short trip".
7. Stop taking things so seriously - You got a flat tire and were late to work.  You didn't get the job you interviewed for.  That guy never called you back after your first date.  If these are the worst things to happen to you, you've got it made.  The less you focus on these things the less of a nuisance they become in your life.  "Don't take life too seriously.  No one gets out alive anyway".  
8. Understand that people will hurt you - In your life you may be lied to, cheated on, talked down to, and let down by someone you trust or love.  You cannot control the actions of others, just how you react to them.  Do not allow yourself to think the actions of others is a reflection of your self worth.  "He who angers you, enslaves you".    
9. Quit judging others - This is actually really hard.  Humans tend to be opinionated and self-centered, thinking it's their way or the highway.  How you live is not how everyone needs to live.  What works for you doesn't work for everyone else.  Stop the negative, judgy talk.  It's useless.  "Judging a person does not define who they are, it defines who you are".   And a second one for kicks..."Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".
10. Love without ego - I saved the best for last.  Give love, do favors, pay compliments, and put others first without expectation of repayment.  Love because it feels good.  Do not try to manipulate, gain control, or play games.  This will not make you feel good.  And who has time not to feel good?  "You never lose by loving.  You always lose by holding back".   

That's it for today my friends.  Have a wonderful weekend.  And as always...


Cheers.

Should You Drink Milk?

After a bit of a hiatus from the blog (during which Leigh heroically carried the team with her awesome posts), I decided to make my comeback with a topic that's uber-relevant to me right now: Milk. Specifically if we should be feeding it to our bebes.

Dylan is just days away from turning one, and conventional wisdom tells me I should start giving her sippy cups with cow's milk...but I'm not convinced I can go there. I've learned things about milk and the dairy industry that I just can't unlearn, and I'm astounded by it all.

Oh hey Mom. I'm ready for my sippy cup.

This is a brief overview of the myriad issues with milk. Each of these topics could be a full article in itself (and certainly is out on the interwebs), but I'm attempting to show you the high points. Or low points, as it seems.

Growth Hormones
You may or may not have heard that dairy cows are treated with hormones that help them produce more milk. You may have even seen it labeled on milk cartons: rBGH or rBST. Have you stopped to wonder what these are? I figured they were whack and totally avoided them, but once I took the time to research I realized it was even worse than I thought. These hormones cause cows to produce 10-15% more milk, but also causes horrifying health problems like cystic ovaries, uterus disorders, and mastitis (a painful udder infection). This last one is particularly disgusting because infected cows secrete pus and blood into the milk, a certain amount of which is allowed to be sold by FDA standards. Yum!! 

Friday Organo Roundup

Happy Labor Day Weekend organopeeps!!  I'm checking out for the next three days. How about you?  Here's our weekly organo(ish) roundup!! 

Let's talk eggs for a hot second.  I've eaten eggs for breakfast almost every morning for the last decade.  They happen to be my other creepy obsession, second to bacon.  But the incredible edible egg is NOT created equal.  Jon raises chickens so I've been feasting on freshly laid, free-range eggs lately, and I must say they are amazeballs.  So, are they really THAT much better, and better for you?  Here's a few little facts:

• Studies show that eggs from pasture-fed-free-range hens contain one-third the cholesterol and one-fourth the saturated fat of "conventional" (AKA caged) eggs.
• They have more vitamin A, E, and omega-3 fatty acids.
• They have access to a more natural diet rather than simply chomping on chicken feed.  This benefit translates to healthier chickens, and more nutritious eggs.

I'm sold.  I recommend buying from a local farmers market but if you don't have access to one, my favorite brand is Organic Valley Cage-Free Eggs.

Lauren posted last week that she lost three pounds from cutting out a few hidden calorie bombs (frapps, a whole avocado everyday...etc).  I was inspired!!  I have my own vices too.  Lady likes her happy hours!  Also, I have a bad habit of eating late at night at work.  This is never good, as we only have pre-packaged snack foods.  So, for the last week or so I've cut out the booze, ate a larger but healthier dinner so I wouldn't be hungry at work, and fit in a little unintentional exercise (taking the stairs, walking on breaks).  The scale tells me I've lost two pounds.  I'll take it!  I can't make any promises this weekend.  I see a vodka and red bull in my near future.


We had the opportunity to guest post this week for the lovely ladies at I Don't Go To The Gym!  Check out our ridic summer smoothie recipe on their site here.  Ummm...this smoothie is seriously cray cray!  Hop on over and creep on their blog for a minute.  Seriously, these girls are hot and know how to work it in the kitchen. 

This is totally not organo but how cute is this cake?  I called the wonderful peeps at Piece of Cake in the Short North (downtown Columbus for all my locals) and asked them to make me a fishing-themed cake.  This is what I got.  Say whatttt?!?!?!  I was so impressed!  The bottom layer was vanilla bean with strawberry filling and the top was chocolate.  So. Effing. Good. 

           

That's it for now!  I'm headed up to the lake for the weekend.  What are your holiday weekend plans???


Cheers!

Banana Ice Cream and Cookies

So, I know a girl who needs to start a blog. 

 

The fact I don't get to read stuff like this every day is just not right. 

 

My friend Jennifer a) offered to write a guest post and b) freakin brought it. This post is hilarious, legit informative, and appeals to moms and banana lovers alike. Let's meet the woman behind the post:

Jennifer is my friend from OU. We were proud members of Phi Gamma Nu business fraternity, and were meathead corporate mavens in the making. Check her out now...holy hot family alert!

Without further adieu, I give you Jennifer's blogging debut, brilliantly entitled "The Top Two Most Fun Things I’ve Done With A Banana—And That’s Saying Something."

Getting to Know the OB Chicks: Leigh

Hey ya'll!  We've been seeing these little lists pop up in the blogsphere and thought it was a cute idea for you guys to get to know us better!  So, here's 25 little facts about myself!


1. I'm OBSESSED with country music.  Like, to creepy levels.  I saw my favorite guy, Brantley Gilbert, in Texas, West Virginia, Charlotte, and Ohio (three times) in the last year. 
2. I've worked in a bar for the better part of the last decade.  I really should get paid more for being a therapist, relationship counselor, life coach, and shoulder to cry on.  It is amazing what strangers will tell you!  But hey, it makes my job interesting.
3. I get all my meat, vegetables, and eggs delivered to me from a farm out in Johnstown, Ohio.  They are seriously amazeballs.  I've toured the farm, seen how they treat the animals, and met the farmers.  I will never buy from the grocery store again.
4. I was visiting Boston on the day of the bombings.  Events like that put your whole life in perspective.
5. I am a proud Ohio State University alumni.  Go Bucks!
6. I've had the same two best friends forever.  One I met in 1st grade and the other in 7th.  
7. I'm also obsessed with cowboy boots.  I have 5 pairs.  I would have more, but do you know how much they cost?!  A whole freakin' paycheck!  Geesh.
8. I've jumped out of a plane. 
9. My parents bought me a car when I was 15.  I still drive it....12 years later.   Man, if that car could talk. 
10. Someday I will live in the country and have animals.
11. I wholeheartedly believe in the teachings of The Secret.  Saying that it changed my relationships, my outlook, and my life really is an understatement.
12. I once cut my hair off after too much tequila.  Oops.
13. I moved to Los Angeles after college and lived off of Hollywood Blvd.
14. In the last year(ish) I have traveled to Texas, California, New York, North Carolina (a million times), South Carolina, Tennessee, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and West Virginia.  Traveling feeds the soul.  Do it as much and as often as you can.
15. There's this really sweet guy who takes me on drives in the country, feeds me all sorts of bad food, and beats me at corn hole and pool every time.  Someday J, I'll kick your butt!
16. I am a die hard skincare advocate.  I have a huge phobia of tanning beds and sunburns.  I did some major damage in my teens and have spent my twenties trying to make up for it.
17. I am a Taco Bell addict.  So much so that I staged my own intervention, and have not had it since December 31st, 2012.  I now make my own organo version at home.
18. I am trying to learn to play the guitar.
19. My Norman Rockwell life consists of an old farmhouse, a hot rugged hubby, five boys, and an F-150.  Funny, coming from a girl who grew up in the 'burbs.
20. I LOVE shooting guns.  I prefer handguns, but I'm getting more comfortable with shotguns and rifles.
21. I love love.  I have parents who have been married for 36 years and I've seen what a successful and loving marriage looks like.  If my marriage is half as good as theirs, I will come out with the W.
22. I dyed my hair blonde and got fake nails at 13 and never turned back.
23. Someday I will not work for "the man", but rather for myself.
24. Before I go to bed at night, I think of 10 things that I am grateful for.
25. I believe that what we eat affects our entire life.  I think chemicals are whackballs I avoid them like the plague.

Don't mess with a girl and her gun.






EEEEEKKK!!!!



Cheering on my Buckeyes in New Orleans!






Trying to act like I know what I'm doing...






Rockin the cowboy boots





There you have it, friends.  A few little quirky things about me.  Stay tuned for some facts about Lauren which are sure to entertain!


Cheers.



 

Friday Organo Roundup

Happy Friday friends! Time for 5(ish) random Organothings you might be interested in!

Food Babe's post on Trader Joe's rocked my world. I mean...Shawn and I have been saying for ages that TJ's is not an Organoshop. A lot of people have misconceptions that everything from Trader Joe's is organic, when only a small fraction of it is. Apurrently they are a bit shadester about their claim that their branded products are GMO-free.

I might even have to retract my suggestion about Trader Joes's Joe's O's. Sigh.



Dang.

Exciting news alert...my flabby arse lost a few lbs! That's right, I've lost a whopping three pounds, but Mommy is excited about it. I did it by making just a couple simple switches. First, I ditched lattes. Yes, I drank a latte on the daily. It's my "me" moment. But it's also approx. 150 cals, and just not great for you (even if I did switch from cow juice to organic soymilk). You are crazypants if you think I'm giving up caffeine though...so I broke up with Starbucks, bought a $19.99 Mr. Coffee and started drinking strong black coffee in the mornings. Bonus: I'm saving $20+ a week at the 'Bucks. 


I'm just not that into you.

Tactic #2: Cut back on avocados. I KNOW. They are mad healthy. Organopeeps, do not give these up. However, I ate at least 1/2 avocado every morning. I usually macked on another half at some point during the day. I adore them, but it was too much of a good thing. I think 1/2 avocado 1/2 days of the week is a good place to land.




Holy...what the balls is THIS?!
via

I am trying out a new foundation. I didn't pull the trigger on my Vine.com cosmetic order, but I did find myself at Target, clutching a paraben-free foundation: Botanics Colour Adjusting Foundation. It's not bad. It's a little thick and not as "glide-y" as some other foundations, but the end result is the same. My wrackne is suitably concealed, and I am happy knowing that my mug is sans parabens all day.

Preview alert: Leigh made a dankalicious summer smoothie that we'll be telling you all about next week. Seriously...I want to take this to the face!!

Do you know about amber teething necklaces? This could be a whole post in itself, but I got one for Dylan this week at The Baby Grocery Store, where an incredibly helpful employee gave me the full rundown. Basically, they don't chew on these, but rather wear them right around the base of their necks. The skin absorbs succinic acid in the amber, which is natural pain reliever. The lighter the amber, the stronger the effect...so you know I got my babe this lemonade color. Girlfriend's gums were raw and sharp...and creepily bright red. And guess what. On Wednesday, she cut her first tooth!

Lastly, a rando cute picture of Dylan, playing fetch with our dog, Bacon. One of her last pictures ever as a true gummy bear.

Victory is mine!

What's in the plans for the weekend, my darlings? Shawn and I are busy planning her first birthday party and doing house projects. How about you?