Going vegan....

So I began 2010 by going on a 21 day fast, similar to last year's Daniel Fast but without the exclusion of caffeine (hey I'm a mom, I need my Coke Zero and coffee!) Anyway, the fast ended on Thursday, and I must say that I honestly enjoyed everything I ate (lots of veggies, fruits, and whole grains...no bread, meats, dairy, eggs.) However, trying to integrate what was once "normal foods" has proven to be somewhat difficult. The mind is willing, the body is putting up a fight. It started when I tried to have a yogurt with some granola for lunch on Friday. Harmless enough right? Not a Big Mac or a steak, just a low-cal yogurt. But boy, was I queasy. Later that evening I tried to eat some chicken tortilla soup. YUCK. Tasted terrible. Saturday I had cereal, something I had not had in 3 weeks. Here comes the queasy again. Lunch was chicken noodle soup, which was okay...hey maybe I'm turning the corner. Dinner was calabash seafood. Shane is surprised as I hungrily eat my flounder and oysters. The rest of the evening is uneventful, and I think we are finally in the clear. But alas, today's eggs, grits, and latte are sitting in my belly and talking to me in a not-so-nice way.
I never intended this fast to become a lifestyle, and I don't want to be "that girl" at dinner parties and in restaurants who can't eat anything because she's VEGAN, but I really need to listen to my body right now. And it's NOT WORTH IT feeling like I'm going to puke just for the sake of eating "normal food." I am at a crossroads, to be or not to be...Vegan.

Goodbye 2009!!!

As we close in on the last hours of 2009, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on the past year. So many things have happened this year, and for some reason it seems to have been such a long year that it is hard to remember all the way back to January! But I will certainly try!

January- We went to Atlanta for my annual Premier Regional Rally, and we also had our first big snow of the year!
February- Shane and I were treated to a cruise to Mexico without kids. Cold, but a nice vacay.
March- The polish incident: Sydney pours an entire bottle of hot pink nail polish on the sofa and her feet.
April- I cut all of my hair off. Spent a long weekend in DC at the Gaylord, and caught up with an old friend there. Syd was bitten by a camel at the petting zoo at church. We also spent a week at Myrtle Beach with my mom for Easter, and Syd showed off her new-found underwater swimming skills (@ age 3!)
May- Mother's Day Tea with Sydney and her preschool class. Tyler graduated from Kindergarten! Welcome to summer.
June- Both kids played Tball/baseball with the YMCA. Shane became official with a logo for Eden's Gate. Lots of days at the pool. Shane and I celebrate 10 years of marriage. First of many trips to Carowinds on the season pass. VBS for both kids at HTLC.
July- 4th of July kids parade downtown. We decorated bikes and scooters accordingly. Also spent the 4th at the lake with friends and a boat. Great fireworks! Annual trip to Dallas, TX for Premier's National Rally. Returned with (undiagnosed) swine flu. Kids spent a week at Mimi's at the beach.
August- Birthday month. Tyler turned 7 and Sydney turned 4. Partied accordingly! Also, school started again by month's end. Tyler begins 1st grade- and stays for lunch and until 3pm for the 1st time @ school. Syd goes to preschool 3 days a week instead of just 2. Goodbye summer.
September- Shane's birthday and his last one as a "thirty-something." Went to a UNC game, wandered around Chapel Hill, and had dinner with some good friends that we rarely see. Tyler lost some baby teeth Also, found that I could be "crafty" and made my first tutu.
October- My birthday. Annual trip to Grandfather Mountain. One last trip to Carowinds for Howl-o-fest. Trip to the pumpkin patch with Sydney. Various Halloween festivities and house party pre-trick or treating.
November- Visit to Oxford. Fishing with Grandaddy. Thanksgiving with Gigi. Trip to SugarPlum to find a Christmas tree. I discover how much fun painting bisque can be!
December- Lots of baking! Tyler sings in school Christmas program. Syd is an angel in the preschool pageant. Trip to Oxford, and also to mom's new "castle" at Myrtle Beach. Kids have their first White Christmas! Santa spoils the kids as only Santa can do.

Whew! What a year! I'm sure I have missed more than a few details. But it is safe to say that it has been a very full year, and we have been very fortunate and very, very blessed.

So now it is Goodbye 2009, and Happy New Year 2010!
May the Lord bless this year with more than we could ever hope, or dream, or imagine!

Merry Christmas!

So, the tree and decorations are up. And the presents are bought and wrapped. The cards are selected and printed (but not addressed yet, unfortunately.) Yes, we are in the full swing of Christmas here at the Hasty house. One more jewelry show to submit, and then I will begin my week of baking baking baking!!! Sugar cookies, haystacks, pecan snowballs, oreo truffles.....mmmmmm. Yes, the stressful stuff of Christmas is over, and it's time to enjoy this beautiful and wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas to all!!!

Thankful thoughts...

I saw a sign yesterday that made me think. It said, "Practice Thanksgiving every day, not just one." Wow. I must admit, that I can wallow in self-pity with the best of them when life gets me down. In those times, it can be quite challenging to count your blessings instead of your problems. And yet, that is exactly what we should do!
Perhaps if I spent more time with a thankful heart for all that He has blessed me with, I would be less tempted to focus on whatever is this week's/day's/moment's problem. Today, my prayer is that I will have an attitude of gratitude, and that I will share it with all whom I come in contact with. Let us be thankful!

Tutu Cute!!!

So, I have decided to have a hobby. And it's making tutus! Which is to my darling daughter's great advantage, as she gets to wear the fruits of my labors. They really are fun to make, but even more fun is watching her dance and twirl in them as she tranforms over and over from ballerina to fairy to princess to....you get the idea. I also have had the privilege of making a newborn size and a toddler size tutu for a photographer friend. Can't wait to see some of her work with clients in my tutus!
With 10/31 quickly approaching, my mind is aflutter with tutu costume ideas (pumpkin, witch, etc.) I just wish there were more little girls to make them for in our life, as Syd can only wear one for trick or treating, and she wants to wear the one pictured above (with 100 yards of tulle!!!!) So if anyone needs a tutu.....you know where to come now!

Sydney is 4!!!

So, one week after her brother's birthday, our little princess has her own birthday on August 15th. This year Sydney Blair turned the big number 4, and as she will quickly inform you, that means she's BIG now. This year we celebrated many fun milestones; completing potty training, another year of preschool, being in the Christmas play for the first time (she was a bunny in the manger-scene,) moving from a toddler bed to her big girl bunk bed, learning to ride her own scooter, learning to swim underwater, being on her first t-ball team, first time to attend VBS, first trip to Carowinds, and many more that I am sure to be forgetting. She's very tall for her age, which we hear often from friends and family. She is also very much into all things girl, not the least of which is princess dresses, lots of jewelry, and lip gloss. There's no denying it, Sydney is most definitely undoubtably, absolutely ALL-GIRL. We love you Princess!!!!

Happy 7th Birthday to Tyler!!!!!

Another year older and several inches taller, that's our Tyler. This past year has been pretty eventful for our first-born son. He started (and finished) Kindergarten at Hickory Christian Academy. He played 2 sports, soccer and baseball. He lost his first tooth...and his second tooth and third tooth as well! He's learned to read independently, and has also shown some serious brain power when it comes to math (something he did not inherit from his mom, I assure you!)
He also went to his first sleep over at a friend's house this year. And to top it all off, he rode on his first upside-down roller coaster, and many, many more since! Yes, he has definitely done some growing up this year and it shows. This year's birthday was celebrated with a party for 15 at Hickory Dickory Dock, and included putt-putt, bumper cars, bouncey houses and slides, and token games. Fun!!! We are thankful for the blessing of this energetic, spirited, intelligent, and loving child...and we pray for another year of fun, learning, and growing some more!!!! We love you birthday boy!!!