5 Things

  Recently one of my friends who has an almost famous blog, maybe I should say famous, I'm not sure what the criteria is but I know she is close.....anyways, she wrote a blog on 5 random things about herself. Apparently it is a trend in the blog world and I thought, I'll jump on that ship!

So here are 5 somewhat useless things you may or may not know about me...

#1. I love cloth napkins!  In our home we only use cloth napkins, like for every meal, everyday. Depending on the amount of use your napkin gets at breakfast, it may or may not be the same one you get at dinner that night. Its a squirly line as to when to wash and when to reuse. 

I think this started when we moved up north, not because other people do here, because they don't, but it was my first attempt at "being green".  I have collected probably 40-50 napkins through family members, garage sales, thrift stores, and I have one select set from Pottery Barn. I always save those for the end of the week in case we have guests over or a special dinner, see below.

It has grown to be something I love. I used to be crazy about matching them when I set the table but I have such a hodgepodge collection that I have to let it go. The boys are old enough to set the table now and they don't care if the napkins match or not. They do however care if you give them a napkin or a paper towel. If Baker asks for a napkin and I give him a paper towel he will say "no, I want a REAL napkin". I've created a monster!

I also have a set just for Christmas dinner. I LOVE setting the table. Napkins can add so much character to the table. I can't believe I just said that, but is true.  You can't eat a beef tenderloin and use a paper towel. It  just doesn't work!!! You can however eat it in your pajamas!

#2. I have a severe gluten intolerance. This is new, as of 2 weeks ago. My skin (psoriasis) has been behaving very badly and a friend suggested I quit eating gluten to clear it up. I said you are crazy. As my skin worsened I thought maybe she is right so I decided to take the Alcat food sensitivity test. They drew my blood and tested me for 300 foods. Only one came back as a  severe intolerance and it was gluten! Baaaaaahhhhhhh. If you have ever read his blog you know I love to bake! I love all things bread and pizza is like my 2nd favorite food. 

So I have not ingested any gluten (to the best of my knowledge) for over 2 weeks. Guess what? She was right! The Lord is healing me very slowly (at least in places) by cutting out gluten. I am so thankful. Now when I tell people I am gluten free I can see the look in their eyes, they think I'm crazy too and that's okay!

Here is my new flour free pizza-DELISH

And thankfully, bisquick has a gluten free mix made in a gluten free facility. It's processed but it keeps me sane! I need pancakes!

#3. I have a drive thru addiction. I love fast food. I mean, we are eating 50% raw ish.... But that other 50% is highly processed. I don't even know how or when this started. All I know is it is highly recognizable now that I am gluten free. I am surprised McDonalds is still in business. I know the drive thru workers are missing me. I'd so love Big Mac or Carl's jr sauage biscuit. Mmmmmm! 

I do highly recommend "Wheat Belly". It is very interesting and conflicts with everything we are told when it comes to whole grains. Definetley worth the read.

#4. My second step in "being green" is recycling, like hard core, or our version of hard core. Thank you Jen Hatmaker. Our little town only recycles aluminum and cardboard. Somehow I have convinced my sweet husband to allow us to collect all our plastics, newspapers, and cardboard and deliver them 100 miles to Bismarck bi-monthly. It's hard for him because we use a lot of plastics and cardboards so that pile gets big quick. I am suppose to use the trash when the recycling pile is full, but it's hard. I just can't put that milk jug in the trash! It's amazing how much can be recycled and how quickly your brain is trained. The boys are the best at it. They don't even have to ask anymore if something goes in recycling. Brian and I laugh because we certainly have character issues we are still working on with them, but by golly, they recycle! They may throw Cheerios on each other, my backseat, and my living room floor, but that cardboard box won't touch the trash! Lord help us!

#5.  I am pregnant. Yep. Pregnant. Again. Yep. You must have so many questions! I am following this blog up with a pregnancy q&a so stay tuned!