September 2018 – Page 2 – NourishingWhole

What Am I Reading: The Poldark Saga

A couple of years ago, I saw an ad on our Amazon Fire TV for a new show called Poldark. It is a historical fiction in post American revolution England. I really enjoyed it and looked anxiously forward to the next season. About the time Baby Hercules was born season three was out and if you have not seen it, I will just say the ending left me wanting to know what happened.

I didn’t not want to wait, so I did some research and learned that it is based off a 12 book series by, Winston Graham. I was able to get the first book from my local library’s overdrive ebook system.

Having already seen the first three seasons the first 6 books were slow reading as I knew what was going to happen. As with all screen adaptations there were little details missing. Which as added to the story.

Demelza is by far my favorite character. The development of her transformation from miner’s daughter to a squire’s wife is fascinating. The internal battles she has with some of the choices she makes or how she is going to react to a choice Ross has made are relatable, even though the novels take place centuries ago.

One thing about the saga that I don’t enjoy is how about book five the tone changes. The main reason is probably because there is a 20 year gap between when Winston Graham wrote and published the books. New characters are brought in and the focus changes from Ross and Francis Poldark and their quarreling with George Warleggan to the siblings of Demelza and the now feud between everyone not a Warleggan.

I am about half was through book seven and I have about a 8 week weight for book eight. (At one point is was 18 weeks!) I hope that my wait is not that long and I am desperately wanting to know why George hates Ross Poldark so much that he must destroy everything.

Budgeting-Groceries

Have y’all seen the grocery haul videos on YouTube? They are when some budget blogger goes over everything they purchased at the store that week and how much they spent. Usually, the person is single and able to get everything for some crazy low amount. OR they have some crazy large family and bought a ton of processed food for cheap.

Well, I am not single, we are a family of 4. We also, live on a graduate student stipend. Our grocery budget is small and not really flexible. We budget about $70 a week. Some weeks, depending on the sales, we go over stocking up on meat or something non perishable. Some months, there is more month than money.

I don’t think we eat extravagantly. But I wanted to share what a real family actually buys and eats. So I added a menu for the month. You can see it here. I usually meal plan for the week, so I will add to it every week. I have also added links to recipes for some things.

This week’s grocery shopping trip I went to Aldi and HEB, two of my FAVORITE grocery stores.

At Aldi I spent $28.49 and here is what I got:

Mango salsa, pretzels, raw honey, butter (2 lbs), organic whole milk yogurt (I love this yogurt), 2 limes, low sodium bacon, garlic bulbs, brown mushrooms, cilantro, broccoli crowns, romaine hearts, and carrots.

At HEB I spent $51.99 and got:

Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, vegetable broth (2), unbleached all-purpose flour (2), canola oil mayo, roasted red pepper hummus (2, they were out of the big tub we usually get), one grapefruit (per Mr. Z’s request), extra virgin olive oil, oatmeal digestive cookies (these are for Baby Hercules), ranch dressing, apple cider vinegar, Mexican blend shredded cheese (2 lbs bag), granola bars, instant oatmeal packets (one apple cinnamon and two maple and brown sugar).

In total, we spent $80.48. Yes, we are over, but I had to get a few items that are more expensive, olive oil and honey, that we don’t normally need. Without those two items we would have spent $66.03. Sometimes we spend more, sometimes we spend less. I also was able to buy a couple of duplicate items for things that we use regularly, like an extra bag of flour, extra oatmeal, and broth. Let’s see how next week goes! Budget goal is is spend less that $68.

Righteous Fathers

Last week, I attended church in the congregation I went to in high school. After about 15 years, the building has been renovation, families have moved in and out. It was the building my mother’s funeral was held. It is strange to go back.

I only went to see my old young women’s leader. She is always so welcoming and happy. It was great to see her and chat for a bit.

While my belief in god is different from most if not all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, attending church is not something I enjoy. Sunday’s are work, emotionally and physically draining.

I had plans just to attend the first hour of church and honestly, zone out while I wrestled baby Hercules. I got the opportunity to actually listen to the speakers.

The first spoke on the church’s environmental stance. Check out this website, where he got most of his talk.

The third speaker talked on the new ministering program that the church has changed from home teaching and visiting teaching.

The middle speaker is the one I want to really talk about. His talk was on father’s, specifically how to be a righteous father.

This is somewhat of a sore subject for me, especially in that building. I grew up in a “part member family”. My mother was the one who took us to church, who did all the churchy things. My dad wanted nothing to do with the church for as long as I can remember.

Many lessons on the priesthood ended with me walking out because a teacher would single me out. “Oh you don’t know what it’s like to have the priesthood in your home.” “You are a lost soul because your father won’t join the church.” “You can never fully understand the importance of the priesthood without it in your home.”

I would walk out because that teacher was not only being rude, but was completely WRONG.

When this speaker started talking, I expected more of this, but he didn’t. He started his talk saying, “Most of us assume that to be a righteous father, he must have the priesthood, but that is not true. A father can be righteous without ever stepping foot inside our or any other church. The gospel does not automatically make us righteous fathers.”

I wanted to stand up and yell, “One more time for the people in the back!”

I had NEVER heard that from the pulpit at church. This speaker wasn’t someone who didn’t know me, for awhile I think he was one of our home teachers.

How often in the church, do we ASSUME that just because he has the priesthood, this guy is a good upstanding person. It’s not true! Having the ‘priesthood’ doesn’t just magically cover up the fact that this person really is a sleazeball. “Faith” in a higher being does not make us automatically perfect righteous people. It takes hard work to be a genuine decent person. Something we all can work on, present company included.

So remember next time you are a church and someone says something boneheaded, “The Gospel does not automatically make us righteous people.”

Curly Girl

Having a new baby, means a lot has gone to the wayside. Now that life, has kinda reached a normal, I am ready to really dive in to this blogging scene.

NourishingWhole is all about self discovery and becoming the best me. Recently, I decided to accept that I have CURLY HAIR. For women it is huge thing, and I have been working on it for a couple of years now.

Moving to Texas has helped me to see that fighting my natural hair is just. not. worth. it!

2016, Texas, Learning what the Texas humidity does to my hair.

I really like minimal effort things: recipes, hair styles, makeup, everything. So when I decided to try The Curly Girl Method, I wanted something basic and simple.

Oct 2017, before going full curly girl, still fighting the humidity.

When I first tried it, I could not figure out co-washing (washing your hair with conditioner) and just felt like my hair was constantly greasy. So I gave up. But I stuck with natural products not full of sulfates and silicones.

In January, a friend found and added me to a facebook group that was full of thousands of women around the world who are going “full curly girl”. I start reading posts, files, and comments. I watch video after video, and I decide to give it another try.

January 16, 2018 I started the Curly Girl Method and have yet to look back! I am LOVING it. My hair is healthy, my curls are the best I have ever seen them, and I have simple routine that I love.

My routine:

Co-wash: Generic Value Products Conditioning Balm

Conditioner: Generic Value Products Conditioning Balm (leaving in while I finish my shower, about 5 mins) Rinse with cold water.

Squeeze out as much water as possible and then finger comb in Curls Creme Brule whipped curl cream and “plop” while I get dressed. After I am dressed, and usually after having to stop and feed baby Hercules, I then use praying hands and scrunch in Herbal Essence Body Envy Volumizing Mousse until I have nice big clumps. Then I defuse with my head upside down, to help with volume, until dry. (This TAKES FOREVER, so I usually only do it on Sunday or for dates) Once it is dry I, fluff and scrunch out any crunchy parts with the damp cloth I plopped with.

I chopped my hair too! 7 months in and I am loving my hair!

Look at those curls!