How do you measure a year?

I feel like I can never come up with enough ways to measure Mark's year long deployment. Have you heard that song from Rent? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee...in inches, in miles, in laughter and strife...

Here is how I measure a year...

In car payments (12)

In paychecks (24)

In weeks (52)

In pedicures (approx. 10)

In hair cuts (4)

Anyway...the time just keeps on ticking. Sometimes faster than other times. Last week was super busy...I taught dance, baked 3 cakes, baked and decorated 81 cookies, subbed at Ditto and completed all the other craft fair tasks that my Mom asked me to do. The craft fair was a huge success!!!! I am a proud owner of some new jewelry, a shirt and a beautiful cross for my wall.

This week has been more low key, but it is still going quickly. I don't have any cakes or sub jobs lined up yet, but somehow, I am sure I will fill my days. Mark has R&R coming up in less than 2 weeks now! How exciting is that!!!!!!! Before I say this...please know that I am more than thrilled to get 14 days with Mark. It is better than 0, but it is somewhat bittersweet. I'm in my little routine...dance, sleep, eat, dance, eat, sleep, sub, bake, shop...and then I get to have Mark in person for 14 days and then somehow I have to go back to the day to day stuff. 2 weeks just isn't long enough!!!!!! I wish that his leave could be later in the year to split up the time more evenly, but I will take what I can get....happily!

We now have our DC trip planned and booked!!!!!! Can't wait!!!! Who knows...maybe this year our Christmas card pic will be in front of the White House? Also, Mark will be home for our 2nd Anniversary! We are going to stay at the Worthington, which is where we stayed on our wedding night...pretty cool!!!! And lastly, he is going to join in on the 1/2 Marathon fun! I'm sure that the 2 weeks will go way to fast, but they will be packed with fun and love and awesome memories.

1 day...2 cakes

21st Birthday cake

Baby Shower Cake

50th Birthday CAke

The truth about food

Last night, I had the opportunity to go on a grocery store tour with my bootcamp trainer's wife. (She is also a trainer.) I want to share just a few of the many things I learned. I thought that I knew a lot about eating healthy, but I learned so much. This wasn't a tour of the actual store...I do know where milk is and where bread is...but I didn't know that chickens and cow are fed contaminated chickens and cows that were not suitable for human consumption. Let me break it down...the cow/chicken has cancer or whatever else...it isn't suitable to eat...so they chop it up and feed it to cows(that are vegetarians) and chickens (that eat grain)...then eventually we eat them! Ok...I have a problem with this! That is just down right gross! So...if you shop at Super Target buy Laura's lean beef. These cows were fed grass! If you don't shop at Super Target...look for beef that is grass fed.

Here are a few other random tips:

1. Don't eat things your Great Grandmother wouldn't recognize (chemicals in processed food)

2. Don't eat things with more than 5g of sugar/serving

3. Eat lots of fruits/veggies (organic if it has a thin skin)

4. Eat ALL organic dairy products

5. Look for deli meats that are nitrate/nitrite free

6. Buy products made with whole wheat (100%) Red flag: Enriched/Bleached Flour! It is not whole wheat!

7. Shop the perimeter of the store...avoid processed foods

8. No coke! EVER! EVEN DIET!!!!! (This is a tough one)

This was definitely an eye opening experience! Lots more to learn...so she recommended I read the Eat Clean Diet book. I am a rule follower, so I am going to give this a try.