To Sum it All Up..

This past weekend was yet another busy one at the Massey household! It started Friday afternoon and didnt quite stop until Sunday evening! Friday Jordan and I went to visit Aldon and Ashley's (Jordan's cousins on his mom's side) new house in Cedar Hill. It was kind of a drive, but Jordan and I rode to work Friday morning together since he had his clinical at Children's Labor and Delivery (that is another story to note later!) We arrived at Aldon and Ashley's to find everyone there.. Bree, Roy, Jenna, Adam (Jenna's Boyfriend), Aldon's parents and Granny and Woggie. Oh, and Breann, Aldon's sister was there, too! Full house if you ask me! Anyway, we ate dinner and hung out, being entertained by Baby Rayn, Aldon's little girl. She is a doll. Anyway, it was nice to see everyone, it had been awhile since we were all together.

Saturday Jordan and I celebrated Jenna's 26th birthday with the family and some friends at Pappasito's. That place is amazing! Loves it. They sang to Jenna, and made her stand up in her chair in the mean time! She, of course, took the opportunity to dance and make a good laugh out of an uncomfortable situation. Leave it to Jenna!

Sunday Jordan yet again worked to Cowboy game, and so I stayed home and cleaned house and decided it was time to make some kind of order out of our office. The office had been in disaster state since we moved in, with boxes still unpacked and sitting in the middle of the floor. It finally got the best of me and I broke down and totally cleaned it up and filed all the old mail, ect..ect. I was completely relieved to have it done. All evening I kept going out of my way to walk by the newly cleaned room. That feeling of accomplishment is so nice :) Whew. Overall another good and jam-packed weekend with my hubby!!

I LOVE this picture. Baby Rayn and Jordan. She had an obsession with her school bus and she was playing a game with J that eveytime she would push the button to make it play music he would push her around on the car. It was sooo cute watching them, and I caught this shot right at the perfect moment. As soon as I flashed the picture, everyone made an "awwww" and she started laughing! It was adorable. Jordan looking good in his scrubs. I mentioned before he was at L&D @ Children's. He delivered a baby girl that day. So cool if you ask me. He was pretty pumped about the whole experience.

Me and J. We are both soooo tired from the week, and the busy weekend had just begun!

At Pappasito's

Jenna and her "Oh I'm so shocked you are making me do this"face

She is over it..gettin' jiggy wit it.

The Birthday Girl and Myself

Me and Roy (Jordan's Dad) I am cheesin' so hard!!!

Stay tuned..next weekend is another busy one with the Massey's!!

Bicycles, Ice Skates, & a Hospital All-Nighter = One Busy Weekend!!

Whew-this weekend was full to the brim!! Lemme see if I can break it down. Friday we went to Mel and Brian's house for dinner with their sweet little ones. Brian has an interview with Irving Fire Dept. on Wednesday and Jordan and I went so that he and Brian could talk about the expectations of the interview. We ordered pizza and Mel and I talked about anything and everything and Jordan and Brian talked about fire stuff. It was a nice and low key evening. Saturday morning I woke up at 5:30am so that I could be in Fort Worth by 7:00am. I am a member for the American Diabetes Association and every year they put on an event sponsoring the awareness and study of diabetes. The past two years the ADA has put on an event called TourdeCure, a 65 mile bike ride, at the Texas Motor Speedway. Anyway, I was a volunteer (but was wishing the whole time I was a rider!!) and me and two other girls were set up at the first rest stop, The Triangle Stop. The stop was about 10 miles into the race, so we had a lot of people stop and grub on our trail mix, oranges, bananas, pretzels, animal crackers and granola bars. It was amazing to me how thankful they all were for us being there. It made it an even more gratifying experience than it already was in the first place. I also loved the fact that almost all of them were diabetics and they all looked so healthy and compliant with their lifelong committment to living with diabetes. We were offering Gatorade and water, and so many questioned what we had in the coolers, just to make sure it had some form of sugar in it to prevent their blood glucose from dropping later down the road. Overall it was such a fun experience, even if it was a chilly morning!!! Next year..I think I'll be a rider ;)

After I got home from the TourdeCure, Jordan and I left to go to the Dallas Starz! game. It was pretty much like, I walked in the door and we walked out. The game was at 1pm, and so I was rushing from Ft. Worth so we could get to the other side of the metroplex. I have been to plenty of games and it is always so fun. Hockey is one sport, besides football, that I love. It is kinda boring on tv, but at the actual arena, it is not boring at all! Anyway, we went with some friends from the fire department and had a good time. After the game we came home long enough to doctor Brittany up, and then we were off again to eat dinner. We ate at Johnny Carino's..I cannot get enough of that place! We hadn't been in awhile, so it was nice to go. They know us far too well. We always order the Italian Cream Sodas and before we could say anything, we had two at our table :) Yummy!! We ate and then I dropped J off at the house so he could go to bed. He had an allnight hospital rotation at Baylor ER. So, he went home to take a power nap before going to the hospital at 10:30pm. While he napped, I did my weekly grocery shopping. Normally I go bright and early in the morning, but, since I was in Fort Worth..I decided to do it in the evening. Needless to say it was a busy weekend, but I enjoyed it!

Abbie, Amber and Melanie-The Triangle Stop Team

Our riders getting their refreshments
James West, a Chairman of the event..He was a cutie!! He was the captain of his team The Rusty Needles. He said 'I'm an old diabetic, no pun intended.'
More Riders
American Airlines Center
Star Spangled Banner
Me and My sweetie

Brittany getting wrapped up. She pulled out two of her stitches..so, we had to re-bandage her. She seems annoyed at this! You can see one of her incisions. :(

She is sitting so funny!! Such a cutie (with crazy eyes!) We LOVE her!

Poor Britt Britt!!

Spaniel's have a hereditary tendency to develop lipomas (fatty tumors) that are not harmful in any way and usually do not require removal. Anyway, Brittany had several small ones but one HUGE one under her belly against her ribs. Our vet said that it wasn't harming her or that it wasn't threatening at all, but it was very big and it just looked so uncomfortable for her when she would try and sit or lay. So, we scheduled a surgery for this morning and all went well. The tumor was about the size of a large grapefruit!! Lots of fat!! Poor girl, I just feel so bad for her.

Our vet gave her some pain killers and I could help but giggle when she tried to get up and move around when Jordan and I had turned our back. IShe was wagging her little tail as best she could! At least that is a sign she is okay. I'm looking at her right now, she is out like a light!! I am hoping tonight goes well and she isn't in too much pain...too bad she can't talk!! Our Poor Britt Britt!Britt sportin' her pink bandage ;)

Happy Birthday to ME!! :)

This past Saturday, September 27th, was my 24th birthday. It was such a fabulous day, from beginning to end! My day started with the smell of pancakes and coffee, my sweet husband was making me breakfast! I got a very sweet card and a new Irving Fire Dept T-shirt (I have been requesting a new one for some time now!) It is an aqua blue, and I love it! So, Jordan and I ate pancakes and watched Season 4 of Grey's Anatomy (We rent the series from Blockbuster so that we can watch episode after episode! It is addicting..trust.) After breakfast I decided to do my normal Saturday morning grocery trip while Jordan got a little bit of studying in. I wore my new T-shirt! ;)

After I got home, Jordan informed me that we were leaving to go have lunch at Northpark and do some shopping at all my favorite stores!! The best birthday present..because, if you know me, you know L-O-V-E shopping! So we went to Northpark and had a nice lunch and shopped around. It was nice just being with him :) After I was about worn out on shopping, J and I finally decided to head home. Once we got home, I came in to find some sweet gifts and a big chocolate cake from Jordan's mom, Bree. That was a wonderful surprise! We were home for just a short time because we had made reservations with friends at a place called Ferarri's Villa Italian Cafe and Pete's Dueling Piano Bar in Addison. The food at Ferrari's was yummy! I was treated with a Tiramisu and a very loud Italian Birthday song. After that we all headed to Pete's where we met more friends and we had a B-L-A-S-T!!!!

At Ferrari's Villa This was the cutest resaurant!! I will for sure be going back!

Shelley, Me, and Elise

Pete's Piano Bar :)

Me on stage for the first time of the night. I was called up there several times!! But, it was so fun!!

Me, Shelley and Elise (again) @ Pete's

Me and Jordan & Mel and Brian

Jenny and I (Her hubby's B-day was this weekend, too!)

Erin and Chris

Victor and Joanna

Hailey and I

On stage (again!) I'm in the very middle..I believe they were singing "Baby Got Back".. Everyone got a good laugh out of this one!

Such a fabulous way to turn 24. I loved every moment of my birthday, and I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family that love me so much!

Top 10 Nutrition and Food Trends of 2008

It is very interesting to me to look back at this year and think about how quickly it has flown, for me anyway! Here it is, September 25th and we are on the downhill for 2008. It is so neat to look back at the 'trends' that were predicted for this year, particlualy in nutrition. I personally have an intense desire for learning anything and everything regarding food, nutrition, culinary, ect, ect. I was on a blog of a fellow RD, Robin Plotkin, and she took this from a newspaper, and I just had to share. Let's take a look at the Top 10 Nutrition and Food Trends of 2008 and see how we are doing :

Top 10 Nutrition and Food Trends of 2008

In the New Year, expect to see a flood of new food products boasting their ailment-specific benefits -- everything from fighting colds to cancer, from easing arthritis to wrinkles. But the predicted growth of "value-added" foods is just part of the picture. Besides touting what they have, foods will be bragging about what they don't have."Artificial" is out and "authentic" is in. Here's a look at the top 10 nutrition trends that we predict will shape how we eat in the coming year.

JUNK-FREE FOODS

The Mintel Global New Products Database predicts companies will be more aggressive in removing additives, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors and "otherwise unknown ingredients" from products to have "clean labels" and to make junk-free claims. Expect to see more products with ingredient labels that read like a "home recipe rather than a chemist's shopping list".

NATURALLY NUTRIENT-RICH

Even though sales of pumped-up foods and beverages have been soaring, a backlash against heavy fortification may be brewing. Lynn Dornblaser, a new products analyst for Mintel, predicts that people will be seeking more natural sources of nutrients. This desire for authentic nutrition is what drove the popularity of pomegranates and made the acai berry the king of all "superfruits" this year.

ETHICAL EATING

Growing concerns about the environment, animal welfare and fair trade are fueling companies to declare their commitment to these issues on food labels. Foods and beverages with an ethical positioning doubled this year, according to Mintel. With "eating green" predicted to be even bigger in the coming year, stay tuned for a wide range of eco-labels, ranging from carbon footprint and food miles to wild-caught and dolphin-safe. Consumer Reports is keeping track of and evaluating these earth-friendly food labels, which now total 147 (http://www.greenerchoices.org/).

PHYTONUTRIENTS

Move over antioxidants, the next frontier in nutrition is phytonutrients, according to Elizabeth Sloan, a food trends analyst and owner of Sloan Trends, Inc. These natural plant compounds with names that don't exactly roll off your tongue -- polyphenols, flavonoids, quercetin, lycopene, lutein and anthocyanins -- are about to go mainstream, Sloan predicts. Studies suggest phytonutrients have disease-fighting properties that are even mightier than vitamins and minerals.

BETTER-FOR-YOU KIDS' FOOD

Worries over childhood obesity and the influence of marketing to kids have forced a new generation of children's foods. A positive nutritional profile will be the "cost of entry" for getting into the kids' market, said Dornblaser. She predicts more fruit snacks that actually contain fruit, juice drinks with less sugar and more organic foods for kids.

INNER BEAUTY

A big trend in Europe, beauty foods may soon be alluring U.S. consumers. Beauty-from-within products (dubbed nutricosmetics or cosmeceuticals) are claiming to erase wrinkles, give you shinier hair and even make your lips look fuller. A collagen-injected marshmallow in Japan promises the plump with the pain. Borba Skin Balance waters at Sephora stores started it all in the U.S. Look for a new beauty drink next year from Coca-Cola and L'Oreal called Lumae'.BRAIN FOOD

Certain food compounds -- from omega-3's in fish oils to flavonoids in cocoa -- may have the ability to improve memory, sharpen concentration and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. This year, brain claims nearly tripled, according to Datamonitor's Productscan Online. many of these new products are fortified with DHA omega-3, including Breyers Smart! Yogurt ("boost your brain," it heralds) and Minute Maid Enhanced Pomegranate Blueberry juice that claims to "help nourish your brain".

BEING GOOD TO YOUR GUT

It seems we've never been more interested in our intestines. Nearly 200 new products touting digestive health benefits were introduced this year, according to Datamonitor, an online research firm. Some are fortified with fiber and others contain probiotics, those gut-friendly bacteria that are popping up everywhere. Once limited to yogurt, thse beneficial bugs are now in cheese, milk, smoothies, juice, snack bars, cereals and soon chocolate. Prebiotics also are predicted to grow -- these foods contain a type of fiber that benefits our good intestinal bacteria.

FOODS WITH FULLNESS

With our collective girth getting worse, Americans will remain hungry for foods that can help them lose weight. Some companies are banking on satiety as the new diet buzzword. Some products are already touting the ability to keep you full --Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal, Kellogg's Protein Water and LightFull Satiety Smoothie. Look for more foods to promote hunger control and showcase their rankings on the satiety index to help dieters stay on track.

EATING TO EASE INFLAMMATION

Aging Baby Boomers are driving the demand for "joint health" foods and beverages. Stores will likely be stocked with more products promising pain relief, either from arthritis or exercise. The popular arthritis supplement glucosomine is already showing up in beverages, including Minute Maid Active orange juice.

BUZZWORDS FOR 2008:

Fresh..Natural..Local..Organic..No preservatives..Sugar-free..DHA.. Omega-3..Live and active cultures..Vitamin D..Gluten-free, ect, ect!

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune, December 26, 2007

Author - Janet Helm a Chicago registered dietitian and nutrition consultant.

Who Knew?

For the past couple of weeks I have been contemplating the idea of cutting back my intake of caffeine. If you know me, even somewhat well, you would know that I have a weird obsession with beverages. NOT alcoholic containing beverages, but any kind, really. Whether I'm thirsty or not, I almost always have a glass of something..whether it be Kool*Aid (Grape, please!), water, Diet Coke, Fresca..Diet Coke..Diet Coke..Diet Coke. I drink a lot of Diet Coke. I mean..A LOT. Here, let me paint you a picture. I go to the grocery ever week..and every week I purchase Diet Coke. A 12-pack (sometimes 24-pack, if they are on sale), and two 2-Liter bottles of Diet Coke. If I'm lucky I'll make it to my next trip without running out. Most of the time, I don't. This is just for when I'm at home. I get free fountain drinks at work. Hence more access to the DC. Sonic is a regular stop for happy hour half price drinks.

So..you get the picture? Oh, and I drink coffee every morning. SOO, I decided, for numerous reasons, that I was going to cut back on the Diet Coke (and coffee) :)

Great idea, right? Save the kidneys!! LOL. WRONG> I have been in the worst mood and sufferring from headaches that are almost as bad as a migraine! My goodness, you never know what you have until after it is gone!! I cannot even sit at the computer long enough to finish this blog. This single blog has taken me 2 days to finish. I am determined to finish it today. Crazy..I know. But, my eyes and head start pounding and it is just unbearable and not worth it AT ALL.

Anyway, so after I practically cried and then demolished my food processor (because it would not blend the marinara sauce I was attempting to make) due to shear intense frustration, I decided to read into this sort of 'withdrawl' I was going through. Withdrawl of Diet Coke? Yep. There is such a thing. But it isn't Diet Coke, it is caffeine.

This is a very real issue and has even been recognized by the World Health Organization. I found a website discussing this caffeine withdrawl syndrome.

Here is a bit about what I read:

The caffeine withdrawal syndrome has been well-characterized in numerous rigorous double-blind studies. The potential for caffeine withdrawal to cause clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning is reflected by the inclusion of caffeine withdrawal as an official diagnosis in ICD-10 (World Health Organization) and as a proposed diagnosis in DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association).

Signs and symptoms. The most commonly reported withdrawal symptoms are listed below:

Headache – (often described as being gradual in development and diffuse, and sometimes throbbing and severe) Yes, I have this.
Fatigue -- (e.g., fatigue, tiredness, lethargy, sluggishness) Check
Sleepiness/drowsiness -- (e.g., sleepy, drowsy, yawning) Check
Difficulty concentrating -- (e.g., muzzy) Check
Work difficulty -- (e.g., decreased motivation for tasks/work) Check
Irritability -- (e.g., irritable, cross, miserable, decreased well-being/contentedness) Double Check
Depression -- (e.g., depressed mood) Not so much
Anxiety -- (e.g., anxious, nervous) Hmmm..
Flu-like symptoms -- (e.g., nausea/vomiting, muscle aches/stiffness, hot and cold spells, heavy feelings in arms or legs) Oh GOSH..not yet, knock on wood!
Impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances

The caffeine withdrawal syndrome follows an orderly time course. Onset usually occurs 12 to 24 hours after terminating caffeine intake, although onset as late as 36 hours has been documented. Peak withdrawal intensity has generally been described as occurring 20 to 48 hours after abstinence. The duration of withdrawal has most often been described as ranging between 2 days and 1 week, although longer durations have been occasionally noted.

So, 2 days to one week I have to deal with this mess. Whew. I have cut my DC habit to 2 cans/day. Maybe that was too much of a cutback to start with, Oh well, too late now. Still drinking my normal coffee in the morning, though, for now.

Wish me luck :)

Finally..The Wait is Over!!

Our long time friends, Shay and Andrew, have finally welcomed the long awaited arrival of their sweet baby GIRL! The lucky parents waited for 9 long months to find out if they were having a boy or a girl, kudos to them, because I will not be able to do it! Not only did they not find out the sex of the baby, they would not even hint at any names they had picked out, so...it was a surprise from the beginning for everyone! Kensington Kate Shull is the most beautiful baby EVER! Jordan and I went to visit the new little family last night and from the second I saw her I was so impressed and taken back by her complete sense of perfection. But, her parents are gorgeous, so it was no shocker that Shay and Andrew had one heck of a pretty baby!!

I guess I keep going on and on about how beautiful she is because, well, I have a confession to make. I don't think newborn babies are very, well, cute. EEk...okay, so don't throw anything at me just yet, (lol) let me explain!! I LOVE babies, but newborns are just not that cute to me. Now, give them a few weeks (some, a few months!) and they will be the most precious gift from God anyone will ever witness.

SO...there has been an exception to my personal opinion on newborn babies: Kensington! She has this personality and face, already, that is just so..hmmm, what are the words I'm looking for without sounding repetitive. Oh, what the heck, she is just perfect, plain and simple. Period.

Congrats to Shay and Andrew and the rest of the Lowe and Shull Families!

Kensington Kate and her Mommy-Look at her! You know you are in a agreement when I say she is just a doll!!

Me and the precious one
Jordan and Kensington Me and Shay..Doesn't she look good?!