All the things I'm obsessed with right this minute

If you know me personally, you probably know that I get on these kicks where I become fascinated with an idea or object and can't get enough. If you don't know me personally then let me put it to you this way: I have OCD. I am both obsessive and compulsive. Luckily it's mostly charming (I hope) and very rarely disruptive.

Here are my obsessions of the moment:

1. Halloween! Well, yeah it's October. That makes sense. But as some people have to get in the Christmas spirit (Mom, this means you), I have to get in the Halloween spirit by watching movies and doing fun activities. I have a few things left on my list to do in the next week including: watching Hocus Pocus and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, going to a corn maze, and completing my costume. This is a preview:


2. Vegetables. I'm trying to eat more veggies because a) I love them and b) they are good for me. I've been doing a personal challenge where I try not to eat potatoes and I limit my bread quite a bit. Since I started I've been enjoying many more salads for lunch (rather than sandwiches) and veggies on the side instead of fries or chips. I had the chicken Caesar salad from Walmart for lunch today, and it was delicious. I highly recommend it!


3. Patios. This time of year makes me want to get outside more than any other time. Recently I took out my swimming pool, and now I have a big backyard just begging for me to do something with it. My idea is a flagstone patio. It's going to be back-breaking work, but I am OBSESSED with the idea. This is pretty much what I want with the exception of the tree in the middle.


4. Studying the Bible. Obviously this list is in no particular order or God would be at the top. Very top. Above the title. In September Jen started a new small group through Faith Promise that I've become a member of. It is for women ages 25-35. I adore all the ladies, and we've been having some good studies so far. I've been going to my family's Bible study too, and currently we are in the book of Revelation, which is deep and heavy but so interesting. And I've also found a home church at Rio Revolution. If you are looking for a church to attend, I invite you to visit it.

All of the studying and fellowship has really made a difference in my relationship with God, and I'm so glad for that. I'm excited and hungry for it for the first time in a long time.

5. Travel. Like always, I crave travel. I need it! I recently got back from Atlanta with Jennifer and Brad, and we had a great time. I got on TripAdvisor to post my reviews of the places we went, and BOOM! The need to travel hit me again. TripAdvisor has this new thing where it shows you how much of the world you've seen. I'm at 4%. Are you joking? Four measly percent?! I've got to remedy that immediately!

This is me with the Coca-Cola bear in Atlanta. He was so cute, I wanted to take him home!

Everything I know about diabetes I learned from The Babysitters Club

I have come to know quite a few people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Of course I knew what diabetes was, but it only happened to people like Wilford Brimley (the actor on the testing supplies commercial) - old and overweight. I also knew there were people with juvenile diabetes like Stacey from the Babysitters Club books I read growing up (and still read sometimes if I am being honest). The people that I know, however, do not fit into either of these categories. They are neither fluffy actors nor teenage babysitters. They are hardworking, normal, and most importantly they are people I love battling a scary and life-threatening disease.

So since finding out that my mom was just diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I decided to learn more. Afterall, people say we are practically the same person. Was it just a matter of time before I became diabetic too? First let's start with what I already know:

1) Your pancreas does not make enough insulin to counterbalance the foods you eat.
2) You must take insulin injections at least once a day.
3) You may not eat sweets.
4) You will have to live with this condition your entire life.

Now, I think author Ann M Martin was probably trying to education young children on juvenile diabetes, and she did a wonderful job, but when it comes to Type 2 diabetes these rules don't apply. My mom will not have this disease her entire life if she can control it with diet and exercise. She does not take pills or injections. And now to the biggest and most devastating myth...it's not just sweets that are bad. Carbs are the enemy? *gasp* A life without bread does not sound like a life I would like to be living. And it ain't just bread. Fruit, vegetable, and dairy all have carbs. Gum has carbs! Cough medicine has carbs! Nooooooooo!

Enough drama. Back to my point. In order to control T2D, one must reduce carbs and exercise. So I am trying it too. I don't want my mom to be in this alone. So this is the beginning of our journey. What to eat, where to shop, how to survive without potatoes and breadsticks. Stay tuned!