Hanging By a Thread

The Cheapskate’s Guide to Iceland

In October, we traveled to Iceland, and it was amazing. We were there 10 days, and we LOVED every bit of it! Every view, every experience, every waterfall, every pool, every meal, every rainbow, every craggy cliff, every sheep, every horse, every everything was utterly fantastic to us. We met some lovely people. We ate wonderful food. We stayed in interesting places. We learned so many fascinating things. We had one experience with bad/loud neighbors our first night in Reykjavik, bad enough to make us book a new place for the following 2 nights, but that actually all worked out well. And I dropped and broke my phone...thereby losing my camera and emails, reservations, etc., but we had my husband's phone and we made sure our son brought his phone (an older hand-me-down) for emergencies and we had brought one laptop for emergency access to information. I ended up using my son's old, hand-me-down phone for photos, and I think it was better than the one that broke. So, that too, all worked out fine.

It can be an expensive trip, but if you know how to plan and what to eat and where to go, you can save money and have enough for a few amazing splurges!

We did rent a vehicle because half of our trip was spent outside of Reykjavik exploring the countryside. Renting a vehicle is expensive, plus it's necessary (or at least a good idea) to get the insurance, and gas is extremely expensive (more on that below). So, the car took up a chunk of budget.

And yet, food was really not much more expensive, if at all, than what we see here in the Twin Cities. Which is to say, it is expensive, but we are used to that. If you come from a place that eating out is not exorbitant, then it may come as a shock to you when reading through a menu in Iceland, if you can quickly convert the Icelandic Krona to US dollars, that is. We found it best to be conservative in our ordering, but not convert the price and not worry too much about the cost. You have to eat, after all. We shared a lot of meals, and we did not eat every meal out. We do pack food, and we buy groceries when we travel. And we book apartments or homes or cabins that have full kitchens for preparing meals. Hostels often have a space for preparing your own meals, as well.

So, here are our tips for keeping your Iceland trip within your budget:

1. Fly IcelandAir. From MSP and other locations, you can get a direct flight. Our flight was 6 hours long, overnight. The plane was plenty spacious and the crew very friendly. Kids younger than 12 actually fly for less and receive a box of food and a small backpack type bag with fun activities and ear buds upon boarding. We chose the option for 1 bag included with each person's ticket, but in the end had one extra bag. They weighed that one last and then called it a "carry-on" and checked it for no extra cost, each way. Note: They are VERY STRICT on the size of carry-on bags. They can't be more than the size of a backpack or large purse. Fortunately, we don't fly with large suitcase type carry-on bags. So, we were fine regarding the carry-on bags.
2. Kids under 12 are free at most pools, spas, museums, tours, etc. I think the only places we had to pay for the kids were the Saga Museum, the Perlan and the performance at Harpa (see below).
3. Eat Icelandic hot dogs at Baejarins Beztu Pylsur. It's just a trailer. You'll see the line first. It's worth the wait. We went here two or three times. They are soooo good. Be sure to order them with everything! They are made with lamb…I think that is why they are so tasty.
4. Eat Soup. Anywhere and everywhere. We had some good lobster soups. Generally, places have a meat soup and veggie soup.
5. Braud & Co. is an AMAZING bakery! We got pastries here each day we were in Reykjavik and then stocked up on bread and pastries before we left Reykjavik to explore the country. While not dirt cheap, the pastries are so good and are not going to break the bank either. Get a variety and share them.
6. Reykjavik Roasters is just a block away from Braud & Co. and has delicious coffee and hot chocolate to go with your pastries. This should be your first or second stop of the morning…or any other time you need some coffee.
7. National Parks, waterfalls, geysirs, volcanoes, beaches, cliffs, glaciers, otherworldly landscapes and all natural wonders are free to explore to your heart's content. Our tip: if you see cars pulled over/stopped in a parking lot, pull over and check it out. One exception is Kerid Crater. This is on private land and it cost us a small amount, but it was worth it.
8. When renting a car, choose a couple of companies and message on Facebook or email and ask for a discount. Then, go back and forth until you get what you want. I got a 10% off discount by doing this. And get the insurance – some companies include most of the insurance types in their prices. Be sure to let them know what season you will be visiting and where you will be traveling. That way, you can be sure you get the right vehicle for your travels; some areas require a 4x4.
9. Buy groceries at Bonus or Kronan, the discount groceries stores. Buy local favorites and explore candy, bread, meat, cheese, skyr options. We LOVED the Isey brand skyr (Icelandic yogurt) and got some blueberry jam to mix into the plain skyr. We found that most of the Continental breakfasts we ate had skyr and jam, plus ham and butter and breads and a fish paste (similar to a tuna salad). So, we bought some of the things we had seen on the continental breakfasts when we bought groceries. We usually make sandwiches, eggs and toast, cereal, overnight fridge oatmeal and spaghetti for our cook at home meals with touches of fruits/veggies or cheeses or spreads or sauces or proteins that are local foods/tastes.
10. Pack your own food to bring. Word of caution: Check with customs to see if there are foods you can't bring in or take out. For instance, Iceland does not allow any meat to come in, dry or otherwise. So, no beef jerky/meat sticks – something we usually travel with. We always bring things like trail mix, dried fruit, coffee, tea, crackers, dry pasta, granola/protein bars and chocolate.
11. Eat pizza – it's easy to share and cheaper this way. We ate a lot of pizza. We love pizza! And it was delicious! Our favorite was Black Box in Reykjavik. It was mostly locals and the service and pizza were fantastic! Our next favorite was in Arnarstapi on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at Arnarbaer. Flatey Pizza in Reykjavik was disappointing though and the service was equally disappointing even though the reviews and ratings were good. We would not go there again.
12. Shop at Kolaportid – the indoor flea market in Reykjavik. I got an Icelandic wool sweater and an original watercolor for a great price there. It's the one place you need cash. There were so many cool things here. It's open only on the weekends.
13. Walk as much as possible and conserve gas. It is EXPENSIVE! I think walking is the best way to explore and not miss anything anyway, but sometimes you must drive, of course, if you are exploring outside of Reykjavik. So, when you plan your trip be aware that gas is quite costly. We paid about $300 total and it was the equivalent to a full tank of diesel.
14. Stay in a hostel, when possible. Some have family suites with private bathrooms. We stayed in a variety of types of lodging during our 10-day trip. One of them was the Base Hotel, a hostel that used to be the NATO Base barracks for families. We booked a family suite with private bathroom. It had two rooms with a total of 4 twin beds and one queen with a private bathroom for about $140 for the night. There was a game room, arcade games, a huge magnetic chessboard, a pool table and a library, a small café and a bar all with a cool, funky style and variety of travelers.
15. Book a Free Walking Tour. You pay what you can/what it was worth to you at the end of tour. It's an awesome way to get to know the city and its culture, government, food, the must dos and don'ts, etc. We do this kind of tour in any city we travel to that offers it.
16. Consider a Reykjavik city card for discounts. For us, and what we were doing and the age of our kids, it did not add up to a discount, but it's worth checking out.
17. There is no tipping at all in Iceland! (other than the free walking tours)
18. Talk to people, whether visitors or locals. They will give you tips and information that is invaluable.
19. Research and read everything you can find on Iceland. I found local blogs, TripAdvisor comments, maps and local Icelandic guide websites very helpful.
20. The Geothermal Bakery Bread Tour in Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn. We enjoyed the geothermal pools at the spa the night before we went on the Geothermal Bakery Bread Tour, and really enjoyed everything about the Fontana Spa. The bread tour was absolutely fascinating – at least to me – and quite affordable. We lucked out with our guide as it was her grandmother's bread recipe that they use and has been passed down for generations. The dark, dense, slightly sweet bread is baked inside a pot that is buried out in the hot sands where the hot springs are. After seeing how it is baked, we were served warm bread that was just dug up from the hot sand with thick slabs of butter. Our tour was just our family since no one else signed up for it, and we ate as much of the bread as we wanted.

    A few splurges that were totally worth it:

    1. The Blue Lagoon. The kids were free here, but for two adults with the basic package (towels, lockers and adults get 1 free drink) the total was still $200. This was our second stop after getting off the plane (first stop was a continental breakfast at Viking World). We were exhausted, and the blue lagoon was relaxing and rejuvenating! We spent 4 hours here. It's not to be missed. Word to the wise: Make reservations before you arrive! It does sell out. This is one of my favorite things I have EVER done. The locals tend to poo poo it, but it was an amazing experience and beautiful and unique and such a wonderful memory!
    2. Omnom Chocolate Factory Tour. The kids were free, but it was still about $80 total. We loved it! It was quite interesting, the chocolate was amazing, and the people were lovely. You get to taste all of their chocolate! IT IS FANTASTIC CHOCOLATE!
    3. How to Become Icelandic in 60 minutes at Harpa. Harpa is the performance center in Reykjavik and the architecture alone warrants a visit. It is beautiful and the outside tiles continuously change colors. We went to this performance on our first night. We were exhausted by the time difference and no sleep, but we laughed our heads off and loved it. While it is silly and fun and delightful, it is also quite an education and provides a fascinating look at the Icelandic culture and history and people. Make reservations before you go. It was a full house when we were there. (Be warned if you have young and/or sheltered children: There is some "language" as Captain America says and some topics are a bit savory, but our kids loved it, and we did not feel that it was inappropriate or regret taking them – our kids are not sheltered from "language" or information though)
    4. Lunch at Fridheimar Tomato Farm. Everything about this place made us happy! Of course, we all love tomatoes. The food is delicious. The warm, golden light of the green house feeds the plants and your soul and gives you a happy buzz. Service is friendly and impeccable. If you get just the soup buffet, it won't break the bank either. It's all you can eat tomato soup with butter, sour cream, julienned cucumbers in vinegar and basil for topping said soup and mounds and mounds of various delicious, rustic, made on site bread and coffee or tea to end the meal. Of course, you can order a few other tomato-based dishes too…and we did. So, this ended up being our most expensive meal, but it was my birthday and a splurge was in order. Oh, and it's best to make a reservation.
    5. The Saga Museum. It is a wax figure museum that tells the tales of the most famous Icelandic Sagas or stories. We each had an auditory guide and went through the fairly small museum at our own pace. It was beneficial for understanding many stories, locations, tours, etc. throughout our trip.
    6. The Perlan…or the Pearl. This is a wonderful museum for understanding the geologic formations and phenomena on the island. We found it quite educational. Additionally, there is a manmade ice tunnel/cave/glacier that is kept below freezing and made from ice. We took a guided tour through and it was really interesting. There is a deck around the top of Perlan that offers a wonderful view of the surrounding area.

If you have the chance to travel to Iceland, do it! It is such a wonderful trip, no matter what season you choose to go. I have other tidbits about places to stay and where to eat, and maybe one day I'll get around to writing those posts.

Where are you headed?

Anna

Hygge: Embracing the Season & Chicken Tortilla Soup {Recipe}

I love the winter! I know…people don't often say that, but it's true, I do! And I live in Minnesota where we get the full brunt of winter weather. So, I understand what minus 30 feels like on the bare skin of your face. I know how beautiful and peaceful it is to stand outside and in the middle of a good snow listening to the quiet snowflakes fall. I know the thrill of waking to a fresh, bright winter wonderland and going out to play or ski or skate or snowshoe or sled in it and then come inside with numb fingers and toes and noses to mugs of hot chocolate and bowls of warm buttery popcorn and thick, cozy socks!

I love to make big pots of hot, soothing soups and bake comforting cakes and breads and muffins and cookies. We certainly enjoy game nights under the warm glow of our dining room light, huddling around our table as the cold swirls and howls outside. Sometimes we declare a whole day dedicated to watching movies, covered in blankets and squeezed onto one big bed.

In a nutshell, we embrace this season and all that it offers outside in nature and we love to get cozy inside too. It turns out there's a name for that. The Danish call this, "Hygge." Now, the pronunciation is a bit of conundrum. I have seen the pronunciation written out and spoken several different ways. In fact, how to say it has become an inside joke in our home, but regardless of how you say it, it's a great thing to learn and put into practice in your own life!

Hygge is the Danish term for coziness, but really it's much more than that. Here's how VisitDenmark.com explains what "hygge" means:

"In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Friends and family – that's hygge too. There's nothing more hygge than sitting round a table, discussing the big and small things in life. Perhaps hygge explains why the Danes are the happiest people in the world?"

While winter is the high season of hygge, you can actually hygge any time really. And the more I learn about hygge, the more I realize that the Twin Citians do a really good job of hygge(ing) all year round.

We get out and do things in every season: picnics and outdoor movies and concerts and sports and walks and playing at parks and boating in the warmer months and skiing, snowshoeing and sledding and dinners with friends, and cozy coffee chats and marathon game nights and snuggly movie nights and boot hockey and relaxed brunches, winter hikes and hot chocolate and warm croissants and coffee shops on every corner, laughing, soaking up the beauty of the season, spending time with friends and family in the colder months.

So, embrace each season in your life, both the beauty of nature and the people surrounding you and the warmth of your own home, no matter how big or small it is.

Now, since the high season of hygge is upon us, I have a super tasty and ultra-easy soup recipe for you:

Anna's Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 tsp minced garlic

1 13 ounce can of chicken breast or 1.5 cup of shredded cooked chicken

½ cup of frozen corn or fresh from the cob

1 15 ounce can of black beans

2 cups chicken broth

¾ cup cream of tomato soup (I have made this with tomato sauce too for a dairy free version, but I like the cream of tomato much better)

¾ cup salsa

Salt & pepper to taste

Get pot hot, add olive oil, then garlic, chopped onion and pepper and corn. Sauté on medium for about 5 minutes until onion is translucent.

Add chicken, breaking up any big chunks. Then, add chicken broth, black beans, tomato soup and salsa. Stir all together.

Taste and add salt and pepper or a dash of hot sauce to taste. Simmer for about 20 minutes on medium high to thicken soup and meld flavors.

This soup is not very thick though. And I like this because that means my pickier son will eat it.

We top our soup with shredded cheese, a dash of hot sauce, sliced avocado and a dollop of sour cream and serve with corn tortilla strips that I bake with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper or corn chips from the bag.

For the tortilla strips. Use pizza cutter to cut a stack of corn tortillas into wedges or strips. Toss them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and back on 375 for about 20 minutes, use spatula to move them around and separate strips. Then, cook another 10 to 20 minutes or until crispy. YUM!

Here's to a merry and bright hygge high season! Over and out…

Anna

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In the Eye of the Hurricane {Peace}

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

    ~Philippians 4:7, King James Version

It's funny how unrelated and seemingly unimportant instances link together.

A month or so ago, I accidentally left the lights on in my car one evening and the battery was dead the next morning. The dead battery in turn erased my pre-programmed radio stations. I kept forgetting to re-set them until I was driving and unable to go through the process.

One day, weeks later, I had to make an unexpected run to drop something off before picking up my son from school. I ended up getting to the school a bit early after this errand. Sitting in the car and waiting for the kids to come out, I remembered the radio buttons and started going through the stations to set the buttons.

I hit upon a man talking. He had a southern accent and spoke with a tone and cadence that I knew well. He was a southern preacher. Southern pastors draw you in, their voices are fine instruments, slowing down, speeding up, soothing, then riled up, then soft, then serious. They tell stories, they repeat the important phrases, they make you want to really hear their messages.

I've heard a lot of southern preachers expound the Word of God in my time. The good ones are genuine and know what they speak of and mean what they say and say what they mean. The poor ones are transparent and flimsy and their words are meaningless.

This preacher man was genuine and clear and his words drew me in. I sat and listened. He was talking about peace. Not just any peace, of course, but the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" from Philippians 4:7.

Now, I have to admit, I have read that passage and heard that passage many, many times, but I have never stopped to think about what exactly is meant by a peace that passes all understanding.

We offer a handshake and a word of peace to each other at mass each week (one of my favorite parts). We send well-wishes of peace to those suffering an illness or pain or a loss or a challenge. We toss it out in farewell, in a style hearkening back to the age of the hippie. We hear of peace talks and summits around the world, but what exactly is meant by God's peace that passes all understanding?

A little history: The Latin word Pax, from the earliest Roman times, meant to live in a state of agreement, where discord and war were absent. Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius who ruled from 276 to 282, expressed peace as a state of unperturbed tranquility.

Now, this preacher man asserted that when we are living life in agreement with God….or how and where we are supposed to be living our lives that we will feel this peace of God.

Being at peace when all is well within our narrow worlds and nothing ruffles our feathers or causes waves, not even a ripple, on the placid surfaces of our souls is one thing.

It is quite another thing to be at peace when a hurricane swirls and howls, releasing torrents of tragedy and despair and the earth shakes with uncertainty and quakes of fear and loathing. To be at peace during such times certainly smacks of a peace that is beyond understanding. How can one possibly be at peace in such a storm, rocking the body and soul?

And yet, that is what is promised to those who have given up the burden of sin and worry and struggling to get through the hours and days and weeks and years ahead. It is not just a psychological state of mind, but an inner tranquility. How amazing is that?

Now, I can certainly attest to feeling a fretful unrest at many times of my life; struggling to get by, find the answers, move on, do the right thing, questioning our lot, coveting someone else's lot.

But I have also felt that peace that passes all understanding too; being at peace when there is no ordinary rhyme or reason to feel peace. This peace sure beats the stress and worry and concern and exhaustion of always walking against the tide.

If I had not been fighting so hard to be right, find my own way, carry my ever-growing burdens, worry about tomorrow, I could have realized that all I had to do was step from the outer edges of the dark swirling, howling hurricane into the peaceful, quiet center, the eye of the hurricane.

It is within the eye of the hurricane that the skies are clear, the air warmer, the winds light as the vast storm swirls around this focus point. This is the peace that passes all understanding, keeping yourself within the center of the storm, untouchable from the harmful winds, hurtling objects and piercing rains.

You may think this type of peace is not achievable, but it is, all you have to do is let go and trust in the unperturbed tranquility, the peace that surpasses understanding. Over and out…

Anna

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Muddled {Note to Self}

I start to write, but then I come to an abrupt halt. The words don't string together right. I doubt my point. I wonder at the direction the words take. Everything feels jumbled.

This time of year is hard for me. The change from summer to fall and into winter. It always takes me by surprise. Shorter days and changes in weather. I struggle to accomplish tasks. I feel sleepy and groggy and out of focus. I wake up tired and panicky, warily starting the day.

I push myself to check off the tasks…do laundry, send an email, make a phone call, walk at Lake Harriet, pick tomatoes, paint the dresser, pick up boy #1, pick up boy #2, run to activities and to the store, make dinner, work towards deadline, make lunches for next day….slogging through the to-dos and then realizing how little I actually accomplished each day and feeling the guilt of sluggishness.

I must remember to be gentle with myself. I must remember to take my Vitamin D and get outside as much as I can to soak up the sunny daylight and push myself to walk fast in the cool, crisp air around Lake Harriet, willing by brain to clear away the fog. I must remember it doesn't last forever.

One day the words will come more easily again…my eyelids won't feel so heavy and my head so unfocused. I will return to my normal more alert and driven self…one day…

But right now it's time to get out the sun lamp and let the stories swirl around inside my head. They'll keep.

Do you feel this way this time of year? What do you do to get through the fog? Last year, the higher dose of Vitamin D made a huge difference for me….working on that now. Over and out…

Anna

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5 Things {To Save World}

OK….So, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit when it comes to saving the world, but still, hear me out.

Plastic is a big problem for our Earth. As in, it takes years and years and years and years to break down. Some sources say it may takes plastic containers, bottles and bags 100s or even 1000s of years to break down. The truth is, we don't actually know how long it will take. Plastic bags have been around only 50 years….and they're all still piling up in landfills, etc.

So, our family has been trying our darndest to greatly reduce the amount of plastic we use. I know what you're thinking, "Your one little family not using so much plastic isn't going to save the world or make any great impact." And you're right. That's why each of us should be doing our part in "saving the world" whether it's reducing plastic usage, using fewer or no harmful chemicals in our homes, reducing our overall all carbon footprints, etc.

And did you know if you used just 3 reusable produce bags a week, you'd reduce your plastic bag usage by 150 in just one year? And did you further know that the average family goes through about 500 plastic baggies a year just for school and work lunches?

The way I see it is that if we choose to do things that reduce the waste and the harmful chemicals released into our air and leave our world a purer place for our kids and their kids or at the very least slow the damage to our planet and our people, then it's worth it.

And really these 5 things are EASY…there's just one I have trouble with….

1. Norwex Snack Bags/Sandwich Wraps. We NEVER send plastic baggies in school lunches. We also opt for reusable spoons and forks and travel sized enviro cloths for lunch napkins for waste free lunches. These bags are also great for small toys, crayons, pacifiers, etc. even makeup or nail files and polishes, etc., etc.
2. Reusable Bags for Shopping. Here's the one I have trouble with. I have them in my car, and I usually remember to take them in at Trader Joe's and my co-op, but often forget them when running into Target or a clothing store or shoe store, etc. I'm working on this one. And when I forget I do take my plastic bags to Target to recycle….I hope they actually recycle them!
3. Norwex Mesh Produce Bags. I use these at the grocery stores for fruits and veggies and for picking tomatoes and peppers in our garden – we have had a huge tomato crop and these bags are great for this job. My son even took one to school to store his headphones in. I use one in the freezer for the bananas that go mushy before they are eaten and get used in muffins, breads and pancakes. They are also great for washing grapes so that you don't lose them down the drain or for washing and/or storing Legos bath toys or Barbies and so many other things!
4. Compostable Trash Bags. I feel good about using these. I found 2 different brands at Lakewinds Co-op. They aren't too pricey and there are several sizes, depending on your needs. We have found them to be pretty strong and to work well.
5. Norwex Stainless Steel Straws. Think about how many millions of straws are tossed out each day….staggering isn't it? Well, if you use them in your own home or often stop for a carbonated beverage or shake or smoothie, then these stainless steel straws will serve you well. There's even a handy brush to clean them well! Again, I am working out a system to keep them in my car and remember to grab these and not the plastic version when we stop for a refreshing drink. My boys love to use them with milk.

OK, OK….I actually have 7 points for you, not 5….

1. Silicone Lids. I have been using these for about a year or so now. Norwex just launched a version too – work just the same and they are fantastic! The lids are safe for stovetops, ovens, microwaves and the fridge. There are so many reasons to love them. I don't even use metal lids for my pots now. The silicone lids make perfect rice, make the pasta water boil faster, keep food warm and still good for hours, steams veggies to perfection, keep baked good fresh and moist AND no more plastic wrap! Plus fewer dishes to wash since you can go from stove to fridge in the same container. Oh, and they don't stain or retain odor.
2. Beeswax & Cloth Wrap. I found this at my Lakewinds Co-op too, and they are great! They come in several sizes and even a variety pack. I use them to wrap cheese, bread, fruits, veggies, whatever and, again, NO PLASTIC WRAP or BAGGIES! You simply rinse it with cool water and dry it off and then wrap up the food. The warmth of your hand will mold and seal the beeswax and cloth wrap.

And this is what we're doing, along with removing all harmful chemicals from our home and recycling tons of plastic, paper and glass. Of course, there are always more things we can do…and we will. What are you focusing on changing in your home? Over and out….

Anna

**Full Disclosure: one of the many hats I wear is that of Norwex Independent Sales Consultant. However, none of these products were given to me and no company sponsored this post. This is simply my opinion based on experience using these products in my home.

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5 Things {Beach Rules}

When I first began coming to Surfside Beach, Texas, with my soon-to-be husband's maternal family, there were a lot of rules. These rules had been in place for several generations at this point. The rules were really more of an enforced schedule.

We all got up to eat breakfast, regardless of whether you wanted to eat breakfast; we all went down to the beach in the morning after breakfast, set up the tent and brought down the beach gear; we all came up for lunch, an assembly line of sandwich makings; we all rested a bit and then went down again to the beach, then a bit before dinner, took down the tent, carried up the beach gear and got showered and ready for dinner. Oh, and we were each supposed to make our bed every morning.

The first year I came, in 1997, I didn't completely understand these rules…I got up for breakfast (after being instructed to do so by my (then) boyfriend/ (now) husband, but I just sat there while others ate, then I went back to bed. I also volunteered to make a meal, up to this point only the moms (my soon-to-be mother-in-law and her sister) had cooked meals and before them, their mother and aunts. And I insisted on going on a search for fresh shrimp to fry up, using my mom's recipe…this was not a meal they had traditionally prepared in the 25 or so years they had been coming to Surfside.

I didn't mean to buck the system; it just came naturally to me.

Well, over the years, all the cousins got married and had kids. Our systems and schedules and rules began to change. Each family took a night to cook; some years not everyone could make it; then it was every other year and then not at all.

I hated this. I love the tradition, and I have always loved the Texas Gulf Coast (as ugly as it may be to some). Many of my favorite childhood memories reside along these shores.

So, last year we re-started the Surfside tradition with some of the family, and this year, more of the family is coming…only these days, there are not so many rules… I'm hoping my mother-in-law can dig it.

Here are our basic rules:

1. Clean up your own messes: dishes/towels/clothes, etc.;
2. Put on sunscreen and more than likely bug spray over that (several times a day);
3. Hose off before going upstairs to the house and leave your flip flops by the door;
4. Sleep until you want to get up; and
5. Have fun!

Our dining room table may or may not be a Lego/NASA staging area…I'm just sayin'… Breakfast is optional and up to each person and making our beds....yeah, that doesn't happen!

The point is, we are relaxed about things and are enjoying sitting on the deck with a drink or watching a movie late into the night with the kiddos still up, all huddled onto the couch. It's our vacation, after all. Over and out…

Anna

 

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Rhythms {Oceans & Life}

It comes in and goes out and comes in and goes out and comes in and goes out, over and over and over forever repeating this dance of indecision, all the while roaring with its fierce, yet calming and mesmerizing voice.

The mortal dangers held within this beast are many and its sheer strength is one of the most powerful forces of the universe. And yet, we are drawn to it and into it, rocked and lulled by it, transported and renewed by it, except when we are destroyed by it.

What is this being I speak of?

The ocean, of course.

We are drawn here as if caught up in the gravitational pull ourselves. We stand and look out at it. We walk up and down the sands before it. We play and swim and float in it. We sit before it, relaxing and rejuvenating, soaking up the intensity, the rhythms, the power.

Within these white capped waves are creatures who bite and sting and burn and kill. Within these white capped waves are currents and undertows and depths beyond measure.

But we continue to make pilgrimages down to the beach. It calls to us, drawing us near, pleasing our senses, rebuffing us with its salty, bitter taste and gritty sand and red hot rays of sun and then calling us back again, inviting us to frolic and play, much like its rhythmic indecisive motion of coming and going and coming and going.

Perhaps it's the thrill of riding the waves as they crash around us and push us up and under and over in their grasp; perhaps it's that monotonous roar that lulls us into a peaceful rest; perhaps it's the magnificence of the whole, the sound and beauty and endless motion.

The ocean can be whipped up into a frenzy, destroying everything in its path, surging past its incessant boundaries, asserting its great power. The ocean can tug and pull and hold down, never releasing its hold. The ocean can serve as co-conspirator, serving us up to sting rays, jellyfish or sharks and more.

It matters not, we will return, running to greet her, relishing old memories and plunging in.

Life is like this. We know not what lurks below the surface, which is all we can see at any given moment, but we keep plunging in, coming back for more, regardless of how many times Life has pounded us and flipped upside down, leaving us sputtering, gasping for air, and trying to figure out which way is up. There is a constant motion and sound to life, as well, often taking one step forward and one step back over and over again.

And yet, in spite of all these dangers and unknown elements, generally, we enjoy life, looking forward to our rhythms of Life's rituals and the incessant coming and going, the roar of chaos and peace all scrambled together.

Over and out…

Anna

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House {Summer} Rules

Put on Sunscreen ~ Don't set an Alarm ~ Don't Run Near the Pool ~ Stay out Playing until it's Dark ~ Wear a Bike Helmet while Riding ~ Get Wet ~ Laugh Often ~ Eat Meals Outside ~ No School Work ~ Wear Flip Flops ~ Read for Pleasure ~ Don't Leave Kids in Hot Cars….EVER ~ Splurge on Really Good Lemonade ~ Invite the Neighbors Over for  Marshmallow Roasting Around the Fire ~ Get Outside ~ Use Bug Spray {made from essential oils} ~ Eat tomatoes Right Off the Vine by the Handful ~ Play in the Sand ~ Collect Shells, Rocks, Sticks, Pinecones and other Treasures ~ Avoid Ticks ~ Find Adventure Wherever You Are ~ Sit Outside and Listen to Summer Sounds and Feel the Sun on Your Skin ~ Eat lots of melt-y treats that come on sticks ~ Go to Bed When you Are Tired~ Clean up after yourself ~ Do laundry when we run out of swimsuits and beach towels

Over and out…

Anna

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Chasing the Sun {Summer 2014 Bucket List}

This is the time of year I start to get antsy.

Every June I have a deadline for a big work project. I sit hour after hour at my computer during the winter as the snow falls and then through the spring as the snow melts away and teases us with a warmer day here or there and then the sun begins to stay up a bit longer and warm, shiny afternoons beckon to me from the window, and still, I sit working at my computer. Eventually, school comes to an end and my kids are excited for summer break to begin, and still, I sit working at my computer.

I began to get restless and fidgety. I try to make deals with myself about working for so long and then taking a break for a fun little adventure. I work deep into the night so that I can be out in the warm shiny days and lovely lingering evenings with birds calling and bunnies scampering and kids laughing.

And then, finally, when I think I can't stand it for a minute more, I finish my work and my summer break begins.

I love Minnesota for all of its beautiful seasons, but summer is so long awaited and free from schedules that it has become my favorite. And I think it is because of our long, cold winters that there are so many wonderful things scheduled from June 1^st to August 31^st each year.

It's hard to fit everything in, but we pack in a ton. Some things we do every summer, sometimes on a weekly basis; others things on our list are firsts. And the greatest thing of all is that so many summer activities are free! 

We make memories and create traditions all summer long that carry us through those seemingly endless cold, snowy days and nights in the winter. Here's what on our bucket list this summer…

1. Picnics at Lake Harriet Bandshell; a favorite tradition and favorite place; music (every single day through the summer), picnic dinners, awesome playground, beautiful views and walking/biking paths.
2. Swim at Bryant Lake Beach; one of our favorite swimming beaches.
3. Week on the TX Gulf Coast with family at our favorite beach; one of my favorite things ever.
4. Swim at the pool at least once a week, meeting up with lots of friends.
5. Visit Johnson Space Center in Houston, a trip we always look forward to; each time our experience is different since the boys' ages are too.
6. MN Zoo Giant Bugs exhibit and playing at the splash pad and playground and seeing all the familiar animals.
7. How to Train Your Dragon 2. I really loved Hiccup and Toothless in the first movie and seriously am so excited about this movie…it better live up to my expectations.
8. Outdoor Movies at Centennial Lakes; another beautiful, free, outdoor venue for music, movies, picnics, strolls, mini golf and lawn bowling.
9. Shakespeare in the Park; I love Shakespeare and there happens to be one in a park very near to me this year. It's Comedy of Errors; always a good one. And it's the one I saw outdoors in London one summer long ago.
   
10. MN Sculpture Garden Mini Golf; very tricky, artistic challenging golf, that is. Or mini golf at Centennial Lakes or putt putt at a park nearby, or maybe all three.
11. Open Field at Walker Art Center; Sunday afternoons are the perfect time for us to hang out in this space. I love to take a picnic, go to church and then walk over to the Walker and hang out all afternoon in the Open Field space. There are all kinds of activities from sports to games to arts and crafts to musical instruments and more there for the using.
12. Conduct a "Best Ice Cream in Twin Cities" Tasting Tour. We are pretty pumped up about this one. The Twin Cities has some REALLY good ice creams and custards! This one will be an all summer activity. We have already begun planning it out.
13. Attend at least one parade, even if it's the State Fair parade.
14. Visit Family in Texas; we love this road trip tradition.
15. Watch at least one fireworks exhibit; so many to choose from around here.
16. Golf; with my husband; with friends; and maybe with my boys (after their lessons this summer). I'm really not good, but I really enjoy playing.
17. Ride the new Green Line from Union Depot Station in St. Paul to Minneapolis stopping at the MN State Capitol, the Weisman Art Museum, Ax-man Surplus and exploring several cultures along the way. (Green Line opens June 14^th)
18. Pick berries at least once; blueberries, raspberries and strawberries available around here. So good!
19. Dine al fresco as often as possible; the possibilities are endless around here, but my favorite is W. A. Frost.
20. Go to at least one Minnesota History Center's Nine Nights of Music; this has been on the list for several years and we still haven't made it there yet. I think this is the year for it. Plus we want to explore their Toy Exhibit inside too.
21. Pizza on the Farm; two favorites: A to Z in Stockholm, WI off the Great River Road (amazing drive – even if I can't eat the pizza, it's worth it) and Red Barn Farm in Northfield (run by a friendly family from the barn/kitchen behind their home and they have a gluten free crust option that's really tasty!) Both options are relaxing, beautiful, full of animals and gardens and flowers and magnificent views of farm land. We love this tradition. Oh, and if you go to A to Z, go early so they don't sell out and so that you have time to stop at the pie shop in tiny, picturesque Stockholm to pick up dessert or stop on the way home for really great ice cream at Flat Pennies on the Great River Road). Remember you bring the plates, napkins, blanket or table and chairs, pizza cutter, candlesticks, flower arrangements, salad, apps, desserts, vino, lemonade, whatever you decide is necessary for your meal. And you take everything, even the pizza box, back out with you! Oh, there are bathrooms available in both locations! I don't go that rustic.
    
22. Go to a drive-in movie theater; eyeing the one in Litchfield right now.
23. Of course, we plan to frequent Riverview Theater too; we love this little, old (cheap) theater; some great classics being played this summer too.
24. Visit Little Mekong Night Market in St. Paul (near the Western Ave station on the Green Line).
25. MN State Fair; enough said
26. Throw a Lego Movie themed birthday party; working on figuring this one out…
27. Read, Read, Read
28. Writing, writing, writing
29. Adventure, Adventure, Adventure

Summer is an attitude. It's stopping at the fruit stand on the side of the road and then sitting in your car, eating a peach with warm juice running down your arms to your elbows and dripping down your chin; it's doing nothing but reading a book all afternoon on a quilt on a grassy hill; it's picnicking on any night of week, just because you can; it's swimming until your fingers and toes are all puckered and wrinkly and your shoulders are pink from a bit too much sun; it's finding out about an activity, location or event and piling into the car, heading there on a whim; it's ice cream long after bedtime; it's sitting around a fire pit, looking up into the pitch dark sky searching for stars; it's pulling over to read historical markers, following maps, visiting tourist traps, stepping back into history and soaking up as much sun as possible.

Here's to squeezing every last drop out of summer and making memories that last a lifetime. Over and out….

Anna

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An Awakening {Spring Bucket List}

An Awakening {Spring Bucket List}

Spring comes slowly here in Minnesota. Beginning in March, there may be a few days that tease the winter-dulled senses and low, gray moods, but it's just a trick of nature. April shows promise, but too often the clouds hang low and dark and are filled with chilly rain and wet snowflakes.

And all the while, little by little, the snow melts away, the ground begins to green up, buds suddenly appear, little daffodil shoots push through the muddy soil and then comes May. And in May, Minnesota awakens from that long winter nap.

Our spring is short-lived and generally chilly, then warm and maybe hot, on occasion, but it gives way to long, beautiful, warm, sunny days full of leaves and grass and flowers and late walks and picnics and concerts at the bandshell and baseball games and swimming at our favorite lake and the sounds of kids calling to one another as they run yard to yard all afternoon and late into the evening….summer…the long awaited season.

And while our spring lasts a month to two months tops, I have a list of my spring must dos. Some begin our summer traditions, some are once a year events, but all are done with a renewed sense of life (mostly outdoors) and community.

1. Friends School Plant Sale. This one is coming up soon; May 9, 10 and 11 at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand. It's HUGE (2,300 varieties of plants), and it's a lot of fun picking out all the tomatoes and herbs and interesting and tried and true veggie varieties and flowers, etc. If you go, bring a wagon or cart of any kind; they'll have boxes for you to carry home your little treasures. They have the BEST selection of tomato plants….so many to choose from. I always go on Friday; Saturday can be too late for some selections. Oh, and it's a fundraiser for a school; something you can feel good about.
2. Flint Hills International Children's Festival. This free festival in St. Paul is always a fun time. Art and culture and history and theatrics and dancing and music and ice cream and food and crafts and fancy ladies on stilts and a magnificent setting at Rice Park. The acts strolling through or on the various stages are amazing, daring or beautiful and often all three. Oh, and don't miss the ice cream man dressed as a clown, pedaling through on his bike/cart selling blue bunny bars that come with a side of a balloon animal or pirate sword; always a line and always worth it.
3. Open Field at Walker Art Center. Opens June 14^th (still spring here in MN). Closed last year for Walker construction, it's back this year. I'm SO excited. It is what it sounds like, but so much more. If you haven't spent a lazy Sunday afternoon or a warm, breezy weekday evening here at the Open Field, you really should plan to do so this summer. It's a great big, grassy field with a great hill in the middle and a patio with some tables and chairs and benches with an outdoor café with a grill and a view of downtown and right across the street from the Sculpture Garden. What do you need to bring? Nothing. There are board games and arts and craft supplies and instruments and balls and Legos and kites and yoga mats and so much more. You can choose to do a little bit of everything or nothing at all. Sometimes we bring a picnic and sometimes we buy a meal from the café. Let the kids run and play and bring a book for any quiet moments you get in between running and playing. We love this space.
4. Minnesota Orchestra Bugs Bunny at the Symphony. We can't wait for this event. There are several family friendly events at the orchestra this spring and summer. Check out their upcoming events.
5. Concert and Picnic at Lake Harriet Bandshell. This is something we enjoy doing all summer long. Picnic, music, fabulous playground, lots of families, a view of the sparkling lake; one of my most favorite traditions of all. Concerts are free and scheduled every single night of the summer starting on May 26^th.
6. Mother's Day with my Mom. Last May, my parents moved from Texas to Minnesota just in time for my mom and me to spend Mother's Day together. Last year, we ate brunch and then frittered away the afternoon going through little shops in south Minneapolis; something we rarely have the time to do.
7. Farmers Market. Yes, the big markets run year round, but our local market doesn't open until mid-May. I love the market, but it's really an experience that belongs to my husband and my boys. They like to get up earlier than I do, and then go to the market and grab a muffin for breakfast, pick up for fruits, honey, veggies and more, and then play at the park before coming back home with all their market finds. This leaves me with a quiet house for lovely, peaceful rest.

May is the month almost every night is filled with baseball, soccer, evenings out with friends, social events and school activities. It's always a busy month and the kids have started counting down the days until summer…and so am I. I do love those three months of no school and no homework and very few scheduled commitments. It's a time of fun and playing and adventuring.

And so, we will begin prepping for this time of being footloose and fancy free with our month and half of spring. What's on your list? Over and out…

Anna

Signs of the Season {A Spring Break List}

On Sunday, we went on our first "Search for Signs of Spring" stroll of this year; there will be many to follow in the next few weeks and months. We do this every year, starting sometime in March, usually; that time when you start to think that winter will never end and snow will cover the ground forever. We usually start at our local nature center, Woodlake; a bit of woods smack in the middle of the city.

Admittedly, it's a bit early for finding signs of spring here in Minnesota, especially this year, considering the winter we've had, but we use broad definitions and look for anything that tells us winter is coming to a close. And we found a few of those indicators yesterday.

Will and I walked through the packed-snow covered trails while the boys went off-trail and plodded along in the deep snow, looking for animal prints and scat and any signs of spring. They joyfully called to us as they found a deer print or presumed coyote scat or saw a bird high up in the trees, singing its heart out.

There were lots of families out skiing, strolling and snowshoeing through the woods. It was a beautiful day, actually reaching the 40s and yet snow is still quite available for winter sport.

We noted drips of water coming off downed trees that they shimmied up and leapt off of. We saw the happy chickadees singing and flitting from branch to branch high above our heads. We delighted in seeing the sap bags attached to the Maples; this week should be perfect for getting the sap running. We stomped in puddles and slush. And we talked about the mulberries we like to pick and eat in the summer as we walked past those now leafless trees. 

It gave us hope to see these changes in the landscape, and it got me to thinking about Spring Break.

I love Spring Break because it was always such a magical time for me as a kid; a kid who always hated school. And as a kid, the week seemed to last forever!

We never went on any big trips or did anything extravagant, but it was a time to work on projects or play games or read or watch movies and just be. For a person who does not do well with schedules, this week of no scheduled events or times to be somewhere was delightful in and of itself.

Since becoming a mom with kids in school, I still look forward to Spring Break. We love to do things around the house, but the mini adventures out and about are also something to look forward to. So, here is my list of 30 things to do on Spring Break, just in case you are stuck in planning yours. Of course, I don't anticipate doing all of them; after all, that would take scheduling and I simply do not schedule this week.

1. Make Oobleck; my son did this at school and wanted to do it at home too and even drew out the recipe and process for us; seems like a Spring Break kind of thing to do;
2. Make a Peep diorama; anyone can enter the St. Paul Pioneer Press contest;
3. Go to the cheap movies; for us that is Riverview Theater in Minneapolis. We love the feel of this old one screen theater…and you can't beat the price of $2 a ticket.
4. Go to the zoo;
5. Go bowling;
6. Go ice skating; probably indoors for better ice. It's off-season for hockey, but we still have to keep up with skating.
7. Go roller skating; just for a change of pace;
8. Go to the arboretum; and for us that means the Maple Syrup Tours and Pancake Brunch;
9. Paint pictures; not my favorite thing to do with my boys….it can get very messy;
10. Declare a Lego Day and simply build and design with Legos all day;
11. Go to a museum or art center;
12. Have a dance party in your living room; any attire is acceptable;
13. Bake cupcakes for no reason other than it's SPRING BREAK!
14. Declare a book day; take turns reading out loud to each other and then everyone can read his or her book quietly…this way mama can read the book of her choosing too;
15. Go to a Nature Center; look for signs of spring…or maybe summer, depending on where you live;
16. Write a book together and illustrate it; Creative Kidstuff has some great bound blank books and comic books for this activity;
17. Spend the whole day in your jammies watching movies on Netflix or from your own dvd stash…maybe watch all of the Star Wars movies or all the Harry Potter movies; order Jimmy John's for lunch. This one is especially good if the weather is foul.
18. Have a tea party; yes, even if you have boys. I love tea parties and the best part is making the food for it; boys like food, especially if they have a hand in making it;
19. Play ball….soccer, baseball, basketball, football, tennis, golf, whatever….assuming you don't have snow on the ground or have a place to play inside;
20. Have a Family Movie Night and make or order pizza and stay up late watching movies together…no school in the morning…;
21. Play in the remaining snow…assuming there is any left (wishful thinking, folks) and then make a big pot of hot cocoa…not instant…with marshmallows…for the last time this season.
22. Declare it Game Day and play card games and board games all day;
23. Walk to a park and play on the playground; again, assuming there aren't mounds and mounds of snow on the ground…it has to melt sometime, right?
24. Explore a part of town you haven't before; shops, restaurants, activities, etc.;
25. Sign your kid(s) up for a day program offered through the city or school or museum in your area; by this point, the kids {& mom} have probably reached their limits of "family time." Give everyone a break;
26. If close to Easter; dye eggs and stuff plastic ones and do egg hunts inside and/or outside;
27. Go to the dollar store and find some cheap activities/games/toys. Each person gets $4 to spend;
28. Hang out at a coffee shop for a few hours, each person with his or her own electronic device. It gets you out of the house, around other people and you can each have a bit of space while being together; this week is lasting forever;
29. Plan absolutely nothing and see where the week takes you; and
30. If you have done all of these things, start over again with #1…the week won't last forever and the kids grow and will have plans of their own before we know it. So, I will be trying to remember this and soaking up every minute that I can!

Happy Spring Break….whenever yours is! Over and out…

Anna

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On a Winter’s Day {A Series of Asides}

Do not mistake my silence for inattentiveness. I have been mulling over a story. I can't quite tell it yet because not all of the elements are played out. But my head and heart and fingers want to tap out the words. For now, patience and silence prevails.

But in the meantime, I have a few short points to make on some topics that have been swimming around in my head, asides, really. Want a few mores asides from May of 2013? Click here.

Dear Diary

I have often wondered why people keep diaries. Incriminating business I think. I went with codes and tiny notes in calendars, myself.

I remember one friend back in high school who kept a diary. She must have really shared all of her heart and mind in that little journal. One day her mom found and read it…ALL of it. There were some things she had really not wanted her mom to know; things that I would have thought her mom would have rather not known, as well.

Regardless, her mom not only read every word, she confronted her daughter about it too. Oh, the drama; the tears, as you can imagine.

And from that moment on, any time I thought of keeping a diary, I thought about my friend and went with my own little code instead.

I recall, selfishly, wondering whether and hoping she had not mentioned me on any of those pages.

But I also always wondered whether her mother had ever regretted her decision to unlock those pages of her daughter's heart and soul. I wondered whether she had realized how it would feel to intrude into another's thoughts and experiences. I wondered if they completely forgave each other over these "betrayals."

Being a mom is hard. And being a teenager, trying to make those leaps from childhood to adulthood, is hard too.

Privacy is sacred. Trust is of upmost importance. And I apply both of these rules to the parent and the child.

"Lloyd, Lloyd, all null and void, looking for the truth, but trying to avoid…"

Lloyd Dobler. Say this name to just about any woman who was coming of age in the late 80s and early 90s and she will know exactly who you are talking about.

I first saw Say Anything when I was 16; in 1990; on VHS cassette tape; when we still went to the video store to rent movies.

I fell in love… with Lloyd, with the idea of falling in love and with John Cusack, who plays Lloyd.

I don't know how many times I have seen that movie now, but it does not disappoint even still. What is it about this movie that captured a whole generation of women?

Lloyd Dobler is a legend. Lloyd is so vulnerable; so open; exposed and real. This was unlike the testosterone-filled, puffed-up, overly confident boys we saw at school and out on the weekends and in the movies.

Lloyd just wants to be with Diane Court; that's it. How amazing is that?

{um, if you are too young to have seen this movie from the late 80s, you are missing out! So, go find it on Netflix and watch it. Right Now! You can thank me later.}

 

Resilience

I can't help feeling blessed even on the days that aren't great! I have my family, we're healthy, we have a roof over our heads, food in the pantry, two cars that run, jobs, opportunities and an abiding faith in our God.

It's this faith that gives me the joy and resilience to keep marching forward despite disappointments, let downs, losses and dark moments.

We all struggle. We all have moments of doubt. We all suffer.

So, why can some people make it through even the worst and toughest tragedies and come out even stronger on the other side, but others crumble into a million little pieces and can never emerge from the dark tunnel they've been sucked into?

This is a question that haunts me.

I have known some who couldn't take life; who couldn't see that the sun would rise again; couldn't take another step forward. I have known others who wouldn't dream of letting go no matter what hand life has dealt.

Is it something written in our DNA; are we predestined to be strong or weak? Can we change this? Am I resilient enough to weather any storm? Are you?

 

Winter

Winter has been strong and dominant and frigid and unrelenting here in Minnesota. We are not near the end of this season yet. We have had snow piled up everywhere for months now. And yet, the ridiculously cold temperatures have often kept us inside. But this week, we got to the 20s, 30s, even the 40s for a very brief moment.

It was beautiful weather for playing in the snow. Yes, it snowed more with these temps and yes, the boys got stuck in the two feet to four feet of snow in our yard, but they could sled and dig and roll and climb and be outside for longer than 10 minutes and not suffer from frostbite.

Then, this afternoon, a new vigorous snow storm came to town. Tonight, the wind blew hard and the heavy, wet snow clung to all surfaces and we went out to play in it at 8 pm; a time when we are usually getting the boys ready for bed.

But the thick and beautiful snow and barely below freezing temps beckoned to us from inside. The boys jumped off of and slid down from matching five foot hills of snow at the end of the driveway, our giant snow-loving dogs jigged and jagged through the deep snow, and I stood and soaked it all in.

This is the kind of snow that brings to mind Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, one of my favorite poems.

The winter will slowly slip away, fading into spring. And we will welcome the new season with open arms, just as we do each of the four seasons. But for now, winter remains.

Over and out…

Anna

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News Flash: Cancer is Killing Us {but we can Fight back}

The question we continually ask is "Why? How could this have happened?" When I have begun to ask, "Why not? How have some escaped this catastrophic disease?"

I am talking about cancer.

Today is World Cancer Day.

The World Health Organization has issued a jaw-dropping report on cancer. This report predicts new cancer cases will increase from an estimated 14 million in 2012 to 22 million annually within the next twenty years.

Christopher Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, is quoted as saying,

"We cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem. More commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally."

At this point, most of the resources are spent on reacting to the staggering number of diagnoses and treating cancer, often to no avail.

However, the report indicates that half of the cancers are preventable if we take action to change our lifestyles, such as addressing smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and exercise, if we promote cancer screenings better, use vaccines more aggressively in order to prevent infectious types of cancer and consider the environmental impacts.

How often do you hear from a friend or family member that cancer is now affecting someone close to you? How often do you hear from a friend or family member that someone near to him or her is being affected by cancer?

For me, the answers to both of those questions is this: FAR TOO OFTEN.

It's not difficult for me to name at least 10 people who have recently been affected by cancer. I could easily go higher than 10. That is FAR TOO MANY.

It has not always been this way. It does not have to continue in this ever-upward moving line.

WE CAN CHANGE these numbers. WE CAN ALTER these predictions.

How?

Start making changes today.

1. Get regular exams, including any relevant cancer screenings. I also think there is a limit as to how much trust we should put in our medical system. I often find that doctors just try to throw medications at the problem, rather than treat the body as a whole and find the real issues that are often treated by a change of diet and/or lifestyle rather than with medications. So, think holistic approach when getting exams, etc. Check out the American Cancer Society's Cancer Screening Guidelines.

    

2. Take a good hard look at your diet. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Cut out meats and fats and processed foods and sugary drinks. In the last 60 years our diets have been increasingly bombarded with processed and refined "foods." This is not a good thing. Eat more fresh and real food. You will feel a huge difference, just by making a few changes. You or your kids don't like vegetables; try again. Change the way you prepare it and try more kinds of veggies; there are lots of veggies out there. I am willing to bet you haven't tried them all. Try growing a garden. Participate in a crop share program. Visit a Farmers' Market. Do these things as a family and try new food together. And, No, French Fries don't count as a veggie. Here are some helpful tips for healthy eating and food pyramids to help you on your way.

    

3. STOP smoking or if you are not the one smoking in your home, help that person find the support and best method for quitting. Stopping smoking can be done. I have never smoked and therefore never had to quit, but if you really want to change your health and that of your family, STOP. Need somewhere to start? Check out SmokeFree.gov.

    

4. Limit alcohol or completely eliminate it. We, as a society, drink a lot these days. It's what we do we when gather together at home or at a restaurant in celebration of a birthday, anniversary, a Friday, a rough week, a date out without the kiddos, etc. There are reports that tell us that wine can be a health benefit, but overall, there are a lot of reason to limit or eliminate alcohol from your life. Click to see what the American Cancer Society has to say about alcohol and risk of cancer.

    

5. Stop being a couch potato. If you sit in your car on the way to work, sit at your desk all day, sit on your way home again, sit in front of the TV and then get into bed to sleep it's time to make a change. You don't have to train to run a marathon {although you could}, but it's important to be active for you and for the example of your kids. Stand to work; clean your house; do laundry; go for a walk; play in the backyard with your kids or pets or both; scoop the snow from your drive rather than use your snow blower; sign up for a class or a team sport; or play Just Dance on the Wii with your kids; whatever it is, Just Move. Here are some really great tips on getting moving; you don't have to go to the gym to get some exercise into your daily routine!

    

6. Change what you are using to clean your home. You don't have to use cleansers filled with chemicals. It's making you sick and exposing you to really awful (MANY CANCER-CAUSING) chemicals. You could use just water and microfiber! Two years ago, we completely changed how our home is cleaned, how our laundry is cleaned and what we put on our skin. It has made a world of difference for us and our allergies, headaches, etc. I am a Norwex Independent Sales Consultant, just one of the hats I wear, and you can find out more about this easy change here: annaberend.norwex.biz or contact me directly.

    

We need to start responding to the cancer epidemic, instead of reacting. There is a difference. If we respond to these reports, we can take a firm stand and start making changes before it's too late. When it's too late, meaning there is already a cancer diagnosis or these predictions have come true, we are merely reacting by then treating the ill and often untreatable.

So, read the WHO cancer report, make a list of changes you and your family need to make, talk to friends and family about making these changes too. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We don't have to live based on these predictions, ensuring that these prophecies will be true.

Do it for yourself. Do it for your family. Do it for all of those people who you know and love that have been affected by cancer already. And if you are looking to get educated on cancer prevention or looking for support for you or a loved one fighting cancer now this site is really great with lots of information: F*@% Cancer.

The report indicates that in the next two decades, cancer deaths are predicted to go from 8.2 million a year to 13 million annually. These numbers are not acceptable. Over and out…

Anna

5 Things {Minnesotans Do}

At midday today it was 15 degrees above zero. That's a big change; the above zero part. And the wind chill was a mere 5 below zero.

The sun was shining. The air was crisp and fresh and didn't hurt my lungs when I took a deep breath. I stood outside with no hat, no coat, no gloves with my face upturned, soaking in that precious sunlight. I could feel the warmth and sense the bright, dizzying rays of light dancing on my closed eyelids, rejuvenating my pasty, winter shell.

I could hear the kids at the school a block over from our house happily playing outside during recess; a first in recent days. Their happy shouts and joyful voices were easy to discern in the crisp air.

The birds were singing gleeful melodies in the tree branches.

It is a beautiful day here in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.

Before we moved to the Midwest almost 14 years ago, I would have laughed at such a statement on day such as this. But when you have just come through days of dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills and piercing winds, you come to see the beauty in a clear, bright, still, above zero day.

It made me chuckle to myself when I thought about some of the things that Minnesotans do that those living in the southern states would not understand. Here are a few:

1. We take our shoes off at the door; at our homes and at those that we are guests. Even wee toddlers know this custom. (Of course, we do this year round; it's just polite.)
2. We go outside ON PURPOSE when the sun is shining and temperatures are not life threatening. At school, the official rule is that there will be outside recess unless the temps are -10 or below.
3. We have breezeways or mud rooms or whole areas of a room dedicated to skates, boots, hats, gloves, snow pants, coats, mittens, etc., along with a stash of sleds, snow toys, snow shoes, skis, etc. for 5 months or more of the year. And you know to add a good 20 or 30 minutes to getting you and your kids out the door, if full winter gear is required.
4. We "scoop" our driveways and sidewalks. Before we moved to the Midwest, we "shoveled" any snow that fell, but here we scoop. Of course, most don't scoop, but own behemoth snow blowers or have plows attached to the front of their trucks.
5. We go about our lives, barring a polar vortex of -3589 degree wind chills (perhaps I am exaggerating a bit on the number), a blizzard or rare ice storm.

Of course, Minnesotans don't go along doing these things with a smile on their lips and a song in their hearts. No, they wouldn't be Minnesotans if they did that (think Grumpy, Old Men). But when we have a beautiful day like today after days of frigid cold, Minnesotans open the blinds and stand in the sun and feel a bit of happiness. After all, we are one day closer to the glorious Minnesota summer. Over and out…

Anna

Crisp, Cool, Colorful {Fall Bucket List}

Ah, I LOVE the fall. I always have. There is a crispness in the air; a heightened frenzy of excitement to get out and do things before the winter arrives; much as a squirrel feels, searching and storing up his hoard of nuts, I suppose. October is the gateway month leading to Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The start of good things to come.

And in Minnesota there is certainly no shortage of fun excursions, adventures and outings to take part in. It has been a deeply overcast, rainy fall, but that isn't stopping us.

Here's our bucket list:

1. Visit an apple orchard {Minnetonka Orchard is our favorite with lots of activities for all, great food to make an impromptu picnic, live music, and a family feeling}
2. Take a walk on a cool, windy day while the leaves swirl about and we crunch through piles of dry leaves on the path;
3. Pick out pumpkins to carve and roast the seeds;
4. Go out to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and soak up all the amazing colors.
5. Find our way through a corn maze. We recently got free tickets to go out to the Twin Cities Harvest Festival and Maze. The weather barely cooperated, but that didn't ruin our fun. The boys had a wonderful time in the huge corn pit, made friends with other kids at the hay bale maze and loved the pumpkin slinger. We all enjoyed navigating our way through the corn maze and taking a hayride out to the pumpkin patch. We even got a {rare} family photo for $10 that was really good! It was definitely worth our drive up to Brooklyn Park;
6. Make caramel apples from apples picked from an orchard;
7. Taking a drive out into the country just about any direction out of the Twin Cities to see the glory of all the golds and reds and browns and oranges and greens is always a good adventure; two of our favorite routes are up to Duluth or down to Lake Pepin area;
8. For a few more weeks, there are still a few chances to enjoy a pizza on a farm. I thought I'd have to give up that tradition, but Red Barn Farm in Northfield has a gluten free crust option. So, we will be heading there before their last pizza pie for the season.
9. Woodlake Nature Center has a fun and friendly and not too frightful Halloween celebration this Saturday. It's always a good time, especially last year when they had the dance party in a meadow at the end of the trick-or-treating trail. I think the parents had as much fun as the kids, maybe more fun; and
10. This year we are going to make an appearance at one or two of the Halloween Capital of the World's events in Anoka. There activities of all types and fright levels throughout the month of October. So, check the calendar of events and choose one.

In Minnesota, we know that we have to get out and enjoy these shorter, but beautiful days, just as the squirrels do. These days are slipping through our fingers, getting darker and cooler every day. So, what's on your Fall Bucket List? Over and out….

Anna

Conclusion: The Trouble with the World is Complacency

The difference between complacency and living on purpose is a matter of ignorance.

If you don't know (or care about) the dangers or the concerns or the repercussions of what you are eating, where you are living, activities you are engaged in, people you are hanging out with, habits you are forming, products you are buying or using or leaders and causes you are supporting, then you're complacent; satisfied with the ways things are regardless of whether it's a positive or negative effect.

Not so bad, you say? Well, that all depends. Do you want to live in the shadows or do you want to be out in the light? Do you want to be fully informed or just another drone going through the motions? Do you want to be living life to the fullest and teaching your kids to do this as well or do you shrug your shoulders and think, whatever happens, happens; I have no control over things.

Complacency: the reluctance to take charge of your life and the outcome of situations concerning you and your family.

Have you ever noticed that some people are continually surrounded and caught up in the swirling vortex of drama; things just happen to them and the people around them....constantly. And yet, I have noticed that generally these people never formulate a plan or stand up to the architect of the drama or announce a call to action. No, instead they merely shrug and say, "Why do these things keep happening to me/my family/my friends?" But instead of a stand down or a decision or a plan, they simply say, "Oh well."

I say take the bull by the horns. Do not live with complacency. Live with purpose.

Educate yourself; stay informed; surround yourself with positive, supportive, well-informed people.

Do not simply accept that something must be your fate...do something.

Life is an action word. Life is about using our senses (including common sense) and putting our little gray cells in our heads to work and standing upright and going headfirst. Life is about purposely doing and not doing.

So, are you complacent? Are you just going to sit there and take it? Are you watching from the sidelines and taking the knocks that come your way? Or are you actively participating in this thing we call Life...leaving a positive legacy, doing your part, taking part and stepping up? It's your choice....really. Over and out...

Anna

A Force of Nature {Tornado Alley}

Deja Vu

So many tears. So many memories, So much devastation.

Tornadoes ravage large cities, tiny towns and mid-sized suburbs across our country quite frequently and with evergrowing force and destructive powers, especially during this season between cold and hot. All those who suffer this fate receive my sympathies and my prayers; and yet, not all of them hit home, both literally and figuratively.

Yesterday, Moore, OK, a suburb between Oklahoma City and Norman was slammed by an extremely large and menacing monster of a twister. By evening, scores were counted as injured, at least 24 killed, but maybe more, hundreds of houses blown to smithereens and at least two schools demolished with kids and teachers inside. Heartbreaking.

But this is not the first time a terrible, twisting force of nature has traveled this path. Fourteen years ago, on May 3, 1999, a huge and powerful tornado tore up a swath of land in this exact location, killing 36 and destroying a community and wreaking havoc across the small state.

Fourteen years ago on May 3^rd 1999, I was living in Norman, OK. I was just finishing up my second year of law school at OU. I was hunkered down under a couch with my best friend, Jennifer, with my 2 cats in their carrier in between us, listening to KFOR on the radio, after losing the cable signal. I heard the reports of destruction; I heard the fear and excitement in the reporters' voices; and I heard the devastation of loss and confusion in the wandering, dirty and bloodied, newly homeless residents of Moore, OK, just a few miles up the road.

Later, I bought blankets and pillows and drove as far as we could North on I-35 to drop off the provisions at a makeshift shelter. I waited for the TV to come back on and cried at the reports coming in. I sat frozen in my own untouched apartment listening and waiting and scared as tornadoes popped up in the dark all night long.

Tears

Yesterday, the tears streamed down my face when I got a text from my husband saying there was a bad tornado going through Moore and a school had been hit. I cried because I remembered the devastation. I cried because I knew what monster tornadoes in OK can do. I cried because I'm a parent.

I immediately tuned in to KFOR and began reliving that awful day fourteen years ago. The same anchors were there. The same images popped up on the screen. The same scared, confused, shocked voices were heard, report after report. But, the devastation even worse; this time, the tornado was over 2 miles wide, rather than a 1 mile wide tornado of 1999.

The focus was on one of the two elementary schools decimated in the monster's path. I couldn't tear away, just as I couldn't fourteen years ago. I watched, I listened, I prayed, I cried and I missed my friend Jennifer who passed away last summer.

The similarities were eerie, but the difference for me was that this time I am a mom. I could not stop putting myself in the shoes of those kids' parents; frantically waiting or feverishly trying to get down the road to the school or desperately working to reach anyone by phone.

The tears continued to flow through the reports of the third graders unaccounted for and the later reports that the search had turned from rescue to recovery of at least two dozen students. My heart is absolutely broken as I think about and pray for those kids' families.

Perspective

You must understand that OK has some of the best weather coverage in the country. These meteorologists and reporters take the weather seriously. They go live and stay live and warn and pass along information and mourn and report and share and save lives.

The sheer force and power of these storms certainly shows us how very little we control and how very quickly life can take a very sharp turn. We are but a tiny piece of God's creation. We are not so powerful as to prevent such storms that are whipped up by nature.

The Scoop

Many people lost everything they had; family members, homes, pets, possessions, vehicles; their confidence was shaken; their faith rattled; their resolve tested.

Fourteen years ago, people lost these things too, but they rebuilt; they added safe rooms and storm shelters this time; they moved on, but they did not forget. They will do the same again, but right now life is shattered. These people are Oklahomans; Sooners; Settlers. Over and out...

Anna

Photo Op {A Standout Among the Crowd}

I took this photo just a few weeks ago in early May around 1 pm. It looks more like mid-afternoon in late November or early December by the color of the sky and the lack of leaves or buds.

Something about this tree really speaks to me. It wasn't until after I had taken the photo and looked back at it that I felt drawn in by it.

The tree itself is so imposing and commanding of respect with its giant stature and sprawling branches reaching out above the other trees surrounding it. The starkness of it gives it beauty and gives me pause.

What types of photos speak to you? Over and out...

Anna

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A few weeks ago, spring looked like this. All the snow and ice had finally melted. There were bits of green grass emerging in the lawns. And the boys were playing catch at the neighbor's house.

Today spring looks like this. It's blustery and wet and messy. This morning we woke to a beautiful white Spring wonderland. And try as I may, I can't hate it. It's simply too magnificent. Early this morning Darling 2 and Violet the Saint were out bounding through the yard enjoying the scene.

One day soon, the white will be gone for good, or at least for a good 6 months or so, and it will be filled with shades of green and pink and white and purple as our lawns and trees and flowers finally bud and bloom and grow.

Enjoy the weekend! Over and out....

Anna

5 Things {How to Pretend Spring is Here or Trick Yourself into Believing it’s Actually a Mild January}

{Note: This post is from April of 2013, but I thought it would apply well to today after getting dumped on last night/today. Happy Spring!}

Here in Minnesota my calendar reads mid-April, but when I look out the window I see a cold, wet, blustery, often snowy landscape more reminiscent of early March or late November. It's been a long winter and while snow frequently makes its appearance here in April, it's also not uncommon to have a few sunny days that hit 65 degrees sprinkled through late March and April.

Not this year. No, this year the tail end of winter lingers, the sun hides behind a thick, bland curtain of clouds that often opens only to reveal more snow and sleet. And now, we have yet another winter storm taking aim at us.

Well, it's getting to me the same way that early winter gets to me. It drags me down and makes me sleepy and irritable and sluggish, but I have decided to fight back.

Here are 5 things you should know about how to pretend Spring is here or trick yourself into believing it's actually a mild January:

1. Dress for the season you want it to be, regardless of what the thermometer reads. I tried this on Tuesday, and I was a bit chilly, but I flatly refused to wear my coat or gloves. And later in the afternoon the sun came out and felt so nice!
2. On the worst of the faux spring days {perhaps today would be a good day for this one} claim a mental health day; stay in your jammies all day; drink hot chocolate and watch movies; and just get all your dreary moping done in that day. The next day move on and be cheerful knowing that spring has to be very near, if not summer.
3. Find a photo of the sun or a beach or plants budding out and tape it to the window you most frequently look out during the day. Focus on that photo instead. Maybe you can trick your mind into thinking it's real.
4. Roll your calendar back to January. When you do look outside, you will be pleasantly surprised by how little snow there is for "January."
5. Put shorts and a t-shirt on, layer on sweats and boots and a coat; stick sandals in a bag and high tail it over to Como Conservatory. Strip down to your shorts and tee, slip on the sandals and find a warm, humid spot to sit, whether among the palms or gazing at the beautiful blooms or near an exotic plant and stay there until you've convinced yourself that you're sitting outside.

Oh, and one more thing, avoid all Facebook friends who live in warm places or have traveled to warm destinations and feel the need to share photos of their sunny escapades! You are only risking severe depression if you indulge in such unhealthy temptations, especially for the next several days! Over and out....

Anna

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