Day Fifty-One: Spoon Brownies

Tonight, I decided to try out a new recipe, No-Bake Applesauce Brownies, which was proclaimed to be vegan, Paleo, and gluten-free. The taste was pretty good and definitely calmed the yammering of my sweet tooth. However, something must have gone wrong, because mine never set up like the recipe claimed they would. So, we had to eat them with a spoon, which was fine but was definitely a different way of eating brownies.

Spoon Brownies

Day Fifty: Overnight in McKinney

Ruth was planning to get together with her friends tonight not far from where her cross country meet will be held tomorrow. So, rather than make the trip today and tomorrow, we decided to just stay overnight in McKinney, which is a place we have never spent the night.

While Ruth was out with her friends, the rest of us had dinner at a new-to-us, local BBQ place (Hutchins), which was full of atmosphere and delicious food. It has turned into a fun mini vacation and a good way to work in a couple of firsts!

Hutchins BBQ in McKinney

Hangin' with my boys

Tray full of goodness

Day Forty-Nine: Uber to and from practice

Our weekly schedule is pretty crazy, just like almost everyone we know, especially families with kids. But, since I injured my knee, and especially since I had the surgery, we have had the added challenge of having just one driver. (Ruth can drive with a licensed driver, but for Tuesdays and Thursdays, even that doesn't help us.) Jeff has been amazing at juggling everything, and my mom helped out tremendously when she was here over the weekend. But when the time of Max's Thursday gymnastic class got switched up on us, there was just not going to be any way for Jeff to get three people to three far flung locations at the same time, super hero though he is. We talked through our options and finally came up with Uber as a solution. I recently experienced the first of walking one of my kids to practice, but I can honestly say I have never Ubered anyone to practice before! Admittedly it felt a little odd to hire a driver to take the two younger boys and myself less than two miles, but it worked out beautifully, and I'm so very thankful we live in a place where this is an option!

The Uber App, showing several cars in my area

Day Forty-Eight: Learning how to create a monarch garden

Tonight, our local library invited a master gardener to give a talk about how to create a monarch butterfly garden. This was the first adult education class I have attended at the library, and it was so interesting to learn about the kind of plants that attract monarch butterflies. It really made me want to put on some gardening gloves and spend some time cultivating my space.

Learning at the library

Day Forty-Seven: Tapping

Listening in to the Best Self World Summit again today introduced me to Jessica Ortner and the concept of tapping or EFT, which I had never heard of. I found the talk and the tapping exercise she led the audience through really fascinating, and as soon as the podcast was over, I did a search on Amazon to see if I could discover resources that would allow me to learn more about this noninvasive wellness practice, which essentially allows you to stop your "fight or flight" response and, in many cases, even reprogram it. I purchased two Kindle books (one by Jessica's brother, Nick) and spent some time this afternoon trying to learn more about the practice of tapping. One of the cool things about my Year of Firsts, so far, is that by saying "yes" to certain new activities, doors have been opened for me to be introduced to others.

Learning about tapping from Jessica Ortner
during the Best Self World Summit

This is a poorly written book,
but it did offer a some insights into EFT,
and it was a very quick read.

I'm only on chapter two of this book,
but I think it's very interesting and written
much better than the previous book.

Day Forty-Six: Best Self World Summit

You might think it would be difficult to come up with a first when you're stuck in bed with your leg propped up and can't really move around much, but I planned ahead and I live in the wonderful age of the Internet, so I was not thwarted. I signed up for the first annual Best Self World Summit and have spent most of the day listening to inspiring, positive, empowering podcasts. I have never listened to any podcasts before, but today I got in four! It was a great first and the timing couldn't have been better for it.

Day Forty-Five: Waterless Bath

I have had baby wipe "baths" before when we've been camping or in a place where a shower wasn't an option. But until today, I had never had a waterless bath using products intended specifically for that purpose. Knowing that I wanted to freshen up but that my prospects at a regular bath or shower were almost impossible, my mom headed to the pharmacy to look for a solution. She came back with pre-moistened wash gloves and no-rinse shampoo, products I had never seen before but that I was so thankful to be introduced to!

Waterless bath products

Day Forty-Four: PJs All Day

I spent the entire day in my pjs. Ironically, I actually had "spend a whole day in my pjs" on my original list, because it was something so out of character for me. I just didn't expect to have that first thrust on me due to immobility. I'm generally the kind of person who gets dressed in regular clothes, even when I'm sick (which is very rare), just because it makes me feel more human. I wasn't feeling too human today, though, so I guess it was fitting that today was pj day.

Keeping it real in my pjs and with no makeup

Day Forty-Three: Knee Surgery

I finally got to the first I set myself up for back on day five, when I tore my ACL and meniscus trying to learn how to Ripstick. I can honestly say I didn't ever think about putting these things on my original list when I started planning for my Year of Firsts. But sometimes you've just got to go with the firsts you have, not the firsts you wish you had.

Sexy new accessories

Post-Op necessities: a hanger for scratching my foot, water bottle, ice packs, barf bag, pile of pillows, comfy clothes

Day Forty-Two: Tsunami Sushi

Jeff and the kids offered to take me out for lunch today as sort of a last hoorah before I have my knee surgery tomorrow. I picked the new sushi place close to our house that we have been eying but haven't tried yet. And, I made a point of trying some things that were new to me, like mango jalepeno Hamachi ceviche and the Golden Dragon Roll, stuffed with lobster and covered in eel, and the Scary Spider roll, which contained tempura soft shell crab, cream cheese and other goodies. I also had my stand-by favorite: spicy tuna tower, but I think this one had more colors and kinds of fish roe than I've ever seen on one plate! It was a fun outing with lots of neat firsts, and I'm so glad we took some time out of our day to just hang together and enjoy some delicious food!

It's always fun to find a gem close to home!

This kid is up for anything!

Scary Spider doesn't look too scary!

The delicious ceviche appetizer

Spicy Tuna Tower

Checking off firsts with my people!

Day Forty-One: Aromatherapy Education

I found a webinar entitled "How to Become a Certified Aromatherapist" from Aromahead Institute and decided to see if that might be a path I wanted to explore. I thought the information was fascinating, and I would love to learn more about the topic. But the certification program being offered was very expensive, so I decided to think it through a bit more before making a decision. I love my essential oils and am always interested in learning more about how to use them safely and effectively, and I'm so glad I had an opportunity to do just that today!

The beautiful welcome slide for the webinar

It was so interesting to learn about the differences between two types of lavender

Day Forty: Doorknob Repair

I thought it would be really cool if the First for today was something spectacular, since it's the Fortieth First to celebrate turning 40. But life doesn't always play along with our grand plans. So, instead of something spectacular, I repaired a doorknob. It's not that I've never repaired anything before--I am actually quite handy with a screwdriver, if I do say so myself--but I think this was the first time I've had to put a doorknob back together. And, it was definitely the first time I had to do something like that with a bum knee, which seems irrelevant until you realize that without the ability to kneel, you are either standing and are therefore too tall to see all the inner workings of the knob, bending at the waist, which can get uncomfortable pretty quickly, or sitting flat on your rear on the floor and are too short. I really can't even take full credit for this first, because Clay insisted on helping, so I let him screw in one of the screws. We make a great team, and we got the job done. I did do it in my nice clothes, though, so I guess that could be my little bit of spectacular. 😀

 

Busted doorknob

Putting it all back together

Finishing touches
(He does not have a black eye. This is the tail end of pirate face paint.)

Day Thirty-Nine: Rock En Español

I decided to pick a Spotify station to listen to during my pre-bed knee exercise session that I would never normally pick. That's how I ended up listening to Rock En Español for 30 minutes tonight. I didn't understand all the lyrics, but most of the music was actually pretty good.

Day Thirty-Eight: A Fount of Firsts

This morning, we headed into Dallas to have brunch at La Duni, a Latin cafe we had never been to. Everything was delicious, and we enjoyed the experience very much! Afterwards, we made our way over to the Perot Museum. We have been to the museum once before, but a place like that is sure to provide a first almost every time you go. The last time we went, we completely missed the Hall of Birds, so that section was totally new to us. I tried out the "soar like an eagle" exhibit, which allowed me to see the world from a bird's eye view. The Engineering and Innovation Hall is our family's favorite, and this time I tried my hand at programming a robot using a coding program. It was cool to see it "come to life" and follow my commands. The entire day was so fun, and I loved how many firsts were built into it.

La Duni

What a way to start the day!

Learning to soar

My computer program on the left, and my robot, The Rockin Crustacean, on the right

Day Thirty-Seven: Flower Arranging

When I was in college, I desperately wanted to take Flower Arranging as an elective. But with a major that had only a limited number of free electives and with scheduling conflicts and whatnot, I just never got it done. And, after college, it completely got pushed to the back burner of my brain. But, when I saw a listing for a floral arranging class on a local Facebook group I follow, I knew for sure it would become one of my firsts. It was so much fun to have a mom's night out with a great group of ladies, at an awesome local restaurant, and get to create something so beautiful, while fulfilling a 20-year old dream!

A dream come true!

Day Thirty-Six: Alternative Medicine

From the inception of the Year of Firsts idea, I have had "try alternative medicines" on my list. Part of the reason for this was pure curiosity and part of it was a growing disenchantment with modern Western medicine I've developed over the last few years, which has prompted me to want to learn about a variety of alternatives. My big chance to look into a couple of different alternative medicines came today during an open house at the North Texas Whole Health Wellness Center, where a few practitioners were offering samples of their services for free. I opted to try the BEMER electromagnetic therapy offered by the chiropractor and the NADA five-point acupuncture protocol offered by the acupuncturist. Both were completely new to me, and I was glad to learn about them. The BEMER therapy wasn't painful or even really noticeable, but it was kind of relaxing to lie on the table picturing my blood vessels opening themselves up to maximum capacity. The acupuncture consisted of having five needles stuck in each of my ears and was slightly uncomfortable, even after the needles were removed. I'm not really sure if I would want to go back for more of that particular treatment, but I'm so glad I had a chance to learn about a try new things and especially that I got to try them for free.

A brochure about BEMER

Reading material about NADA acupuncture

Looking a bit like a voodoo doll

Day Thirty-Five: Chocolate Avocado Mousse

I love avocado, and I love chocolate, but I have never really thought of blending the two flavors. However, when you've put your family on a dietary regime which prevents almost any "fun" foods from entering the house, and you have a dessert craving, you start to get creative! I came across a recipe for chocolate avocado mousse and decided to give it a go. It is actually very good and quite simple, so it may become a new staple around the house to satisfy that nagging sweet tooth.

Day Thirty-Four: Quilling

I went to Hobby Lobby today specifically to look for inspiration for Firsts. That's one of those deceptive stores that makes the average person feel as if she can do anything just by choosing to shop there, and it was tempting to pick out projects that were not currently realistic for me. (Though maybe someday I'll have all the crafter skills and make a fortune on Etsy.) Ultimately, I discovered the quilling kits (on clearance!) and my mind was made up for my afternoon project. Thankfully, it was not too difficult, and Clay and I found it to be very enjoyable. (As soon as Clay found out I had returned from the store with art supplies, he was 100% on board!) Maybe with a little more practice, I'll be able to open that Etsy shop sooner than expected!

Tools of the trade and first fruits

I love spending time with my people as I work on my Firsts

The front of a card I made

Day Thirty-Three: Self-Portrait

I have never considered myself to be very artistic, particularly in the field of drawing, but everyday Clay insists that I do the drawing with him in art class. And, though the artistic ideas may not be original, I find that I am quite capable of following simple step-by-step instructions, especially when they are accompanied by pictures. (Not to brag or anything!) Several of the projects have been the same ones I did with Ruth, back when she was in first grade. But today we did an entirely new project, which allowed me to create my first self-portrait.

Day Thirty-Two: Soccer Mom

For years I drove a minivan, and for even more years I've been hauling kids around to various sports' practices. But tonight, for the first time, I truly owned the moniker "soccer mom." What's more, Clay's soccer practice was held in our neighborhood park, and so I think it's also the first time I've walked one of my kids to practice instead of driven them, which makes the stereotypical minivan perception of a soccer mom ridiculously ironic. Clay is one cute little soccer player, and I'm sorry I didn't capture a picture of him practicing.

Day Thirty-One: Grilling

I have prepared countless meals for my family and have employed a variety of methods and techniques to do so. However, I have always left grilling in the capable hands of my guys. "Cook something on the grill" was one of the first items I put on my Year of Firsts list, and I'm proud to say I got to check it off tonight. As a bonus, I got a thumbs-up from the family on the steaks, and I couldn't ask for more than that.

Showing off my new skill

Dinner is served

Day Thirty: Basket Weaving

This summer, when we visited Mesa Verde, I picked up a little basket weaving kit because I thought it would make a good souvenir as well as a good first when the time came. I finally had some time to work on it this afternoon, and while I tried to follow the instructions closely, I didn't exactly nail it. Still, it was a fun first, and I think it turned out pretty cute. Plus, it's just the perfect size to place some of my other summer treasures in, so I'm happy.

Studying the instructions, which weren't too clear at first

My teeny handmade basket

Perfect for my treasures

Day Twenty-Nine: Scouting

We have a couple of boys in our household who are fired up about scouting at the moment. Weston has joined the Boy Scouts, and Clay just became a Cub Scout. Jeff has signed up to help with the Boy Scout group, and I checked a box on a form that says I am Clay's "Tiger Adult Partner," which I suppose makes me an honorary Cub Scout. I was a Girl Scout when I was a kid, but I can honestly say, I've never been a Boy Scout (or a Cub Scout), so that's a good first. The BSA requires that parent helpers attend online training in youth protection, so I completed my training tonight, which counts as another first. I also helped my Tiger partner with painting his boat for the Raingutter Regatta, which will take place on Sunday. Because I'm a pretty awesome Cub Scout, and I'm also killing the firsts!

My Tiger partner working on his boat

Wonder if I'll get a merit badge for this?!

Day Twenty-Eight: Enneagram

I am not one to get sucked into those Facebook quizzes aimed at assigning personality traits. You know the ones: "Which literary character are you?" "Which state should you really live in?" But tonight, while scrolling through a group I follow, I saw that someone was talking about enneagram personality tests and how accurate they seemed to be. In need of a first for today, I decided to investigate for myself and to take the quiz to see what came up. I took the test on the Eclectic Energies website and found out I am most likely a 5 with a strong 6 wing, which, I admit, did seem pretty accurate.

An enneagram with brief explainations

Day Twenty-Seven: Health Webinar

I have attended a few webinars in the past but always because I had to. Tonight, I participated in one simply because I wanted to. Aviva Romm, M.D. is an herbalist/midwife/doctor that I follow online whose specialty and passion is women's health. I have been burned by many medical professionals in the past and have become very skeptical in my dealings with them. But, Dr. Romm seems to take a very natural, holistic approach to treatments and is an outspoken advocate who encourages and empowers her patients and followers to take their health into their own hands whenever possible. I wish there were more doctors like her. I would almost certainly seek out her practice if I lived in New York, but since I don't, I'm thankful that she has made herself and her many resources available online. Tonight's webinar was entitled "Women's Root Cause Medicine," and she talked about the five root causes of almost all illness, most of which we have the power to control to at least some degree. But, even those things which we don't have absolute control over, like genetics, don't point to the end of the world for our health. It was a wonderful webinar and gave me greater cause to appreciate Dr. Romm.

Day Twenty-Six: A Whole New CC Experience

Classical Conversations is certainly nothing new to our family. We've been participating in the homeschool support group for years. But this year, we're proving that new experiences can lurk even within those things which seem to be old hat. First of all, this year, we are not participating in the morning (Foundations) classes but are only showing up for the afternoon class (Essentials), which I am tutoring. Tutoring Essentials is not new for me either, but it has been a number of years since I've done it. This is, however, my first time to tutor the class and have any of my boys in class as students. Both Weston and Max are in the class this year, which is very neat. It is also my first time to tutor on such a large campus, which actually has two Essentials classes. Consequently, there is an element of needing to coordinate with the other tutor on certain things, which is definitely not a problem, just different from how I've done this in the past. Finally, since I was out of town last week, I had to start today, on the second week of class, which was definitely a different experience for me. I'm thankful to have found this CC campus, and I'm glad that I can find some firsts even among a tried and true activity.

Celebrating my first day of CC on a brand new campus

Day Twenty-Five: Physical Therapy

Today, I became a patient of physical therapy for the first time. This will be my new home away from home for the next few months, leading up to and following my knee surgery. The equipment looks fun and exciting to the casual observer but is actually used to torture patients back into shape. In seriousness, though, I'm glad to have the chance to strengthen my muscles before and after surgery, so that I can have the best chance at getting back to the active lifestyle I love.

photo from Orthopedic Associates website

Torture Chamber 
Physical Therapy Room