We didn't start the fire!

So today we went on an afternoon walk with Pete and Kristin in their neighborhood. Their neighborhood has a yearly day when the trash company will take any amount of trash for free (or just the normal price paid per pick-up). So we perused the unwanted items for anything fun.

We came across a fire in the front of someones house where there "trash" would be and asked Pete and Kristin if it was legal to have fires like that to which they replied, "I dunno." We thought it was strange especially since no one was by the fire. So as I ran up to the person's house, a lady driving by was like "Should I call 911?" To which I said, "Ya, that'd probably be good." I got to the door and rang the doorbell twice until they answered, saw the fire, and ran around like mad people. As I came away from their house, their neighbors were just watching the fire grow. One man told me not to run by it as he didn't want it to explode and hurt me. Gee, thanks buddy. The guy's friend asked him if he had a hose and so they got their hose ready as finally the owner of the fire finally got outside and had his hose out too. There was smoke everywhere!! It was crazy man. My question is what was in the trash that made it catch fire and gave no worries to those who threw it out??

Our Fave Pizza Recipe

I feel like our blog is turning into a recipe book, but I have nothing else to talk about :) Food is a part of our everyday life. So here is our new favorite pizza recipe!

Dough:

-3/4 C Warm water

-1 tbsp Yeast

-1/2 tsp sugar (or honey)

Put these 3 items into a bowl together and let sit for 5 minutes or until bubbly.

Meanwhile,

-2 - 3 C Wheat Flour (I almost always use 2 - 2 1/4 C)

-1/2 tsp Salt

-2 tbsp Chia Seed

-1/4 C Olive Oil

Put these into a mixer. Then pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture when ready and knead for 8 minutes.

Put into a 15" pizza pan or a cookie sheet.

Then add toppings. These are our favorites:

-pour a little olive oil on the top of the crust

-put on some shredded parmesan cheese

-add chopped (about 3) roma tomatoes

-add 1/2 of a chopped red onion

-add some chopped pineapple

-then add some spinach

-top with mozzerrella

Bake in the oven at 425 for about 20 minutes and enjoy!

A Little Something to do with Wheat Storage

It seemed like everyone in Vegas had wheat and used it. Here in Illinois, people don't even know where the cannery is. So here's a recipe for pancakes that are so delicious I could eat them for lunch and dinner (and sometimes I do):

Wheat Pancakes:

1 C Wheat Flour

1 C Milk (I use almond milk)

1 Egg

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tbsp Honey

2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

2 tbsp Chia Seeds (You don't have to put this in but with these 2 tbsp of seeds you get 10g of carbs, 10g of fiber, 6g of protein, and 120 calories)

*If you want fruit, put in 1/2 of chopped fruit

Whisk all ingredients together and cook on the stovetop. Add peanut butter, jam, or maple syrup and ENJOY!

Recipes

Michael and I are back on track and eating our normal healthy foods. I have not eaten sugar for 28 days and I don't really crave it anymore. However, I have been staring at a recipe lately and have been dying to try it so today I did and it was de-li-cious!! So here it is:

For an individual size (apx. 3/4 C) of CHOCOLATE BANANA SMOOTHIE:

*1 frozen banana (you might want to chop this up 1st)

*1 oz dark chocolate (you might want to crush this up 1st)

*1 pinch of cinnamon (it equals to be about 1/16 tsp)

*1/2 C almond milk

*If you like sweeter drinks, you can add one drop of honey

Put all of these ingredients in your blender (in the Vitamix it blends right up but regular blenders might be trickier) and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Here is our recipe for Almond Milk (or you can buy it from the store):

*1 C almonds, soaked in water overnight. This will become 2 C almonds. Rinse and drain.

*4 C water

*1 tsp vanilla

*2 tbsp honey (or agave)

Blend all ingredients in blender. Pour liquid into a nut milk bag and gently squeeze liquid through into a container. This will last in the fridge for a few days.

The joys of fertility

I have decided to post about the process of invitro. And I am saying the very beginnings as we haven't even started the actual invitro process yet!

WOMEN:

Step 1: Typically they will start by taking your hormone levels on a random day.

Step 2: If hormones are fine, they will do an HSG test which tests to see if your fallopian tubes are open or if there's a blockage.

Step 3: If nothing is wrong there, it's time to start ultrasounds! You will call the doctor on the 1st day of your period. On day 3 you'll go to the office, get blood drawn, and get a uteran ultrasound to check the process of your eggs.

You will go back on day 12, 14, 21, and 27 (or whatever days the doctor says) and get blood drawn and do the ultrasound each time.

Step 4: You go to the doctor and get your cervix filled with fluid to see if there's a hole in it (I guess).

*For me, my estrogen level is low in the beginning, my LSH is low in the middle and my progesterone is low in the latter stage of my process. Apparently this is easily fixed with pills. Good news right? Typically...

MEN:

Step 1: You will go to the doctor and get blood drawn. For some reason these tests take a couple weeks to get results. So you'll wait...

Step 2: You'll go to the doctor and give them a semen sample in a very awkward room...

Step 3: If your levels are normal, you'll move on to step 4. If all looks well, the woman will take her drugs and you will go from there.

Step 4: So your levels are normal but your semen analysis wasn't. Now you are going to go to a Urologist and talk about getting a testicular biopsy done. The biopsy will help them know if you have any active sperm in your testes. Apparently 50% of men who have low sperm counts can have a great sperm level hiding in their testes.

Step 5: If you have sperm hiding, you will get the sperm taken out somehow and frozen for future times.

Step 6: If you don't have sperm hiding, you can use a sperm donor or adopt or not have kids. *Most of these steps for us are done. It has taken 4 months so far with waiting for appointments and everything. I feel like it's taking FOR-E-VER but 4 months really isn't that long granted it's been about 4 years since we started trying to have kids. So here's to waiting....

An ode to Tippy

Tippy is my baby girl. She is so funny and smart! She tells me when she's hungry, thirsty, when she wants a treat and when she needs to go potty. One thing that's funny is that she HATES the snow.When she lands in a spot of snow that goes past the middle of her leg she just stops and picks up her front paw.We've been a little nicer to her since it's been so cold outside. We let her sleep on her blanket on the couch. She takes advantage of us. We're such softies.

I forgot to post about Tippy's birthday but she is 2 now! Ever since we got her she just loves plastic! Anytime she hears plastic she comes running up to me and wants to eat it. Gatorade bottles are one of her obsessions.

Tippy also has been really cold since the move to Chicago. I think it's because she has short hair. But she is getting more used to it. Nevertheless she lays in front of our space heater and takes up all the heat! Then she has to have her own heavy fleece blanket to sleep with at night. I love you Tippy! You are such a good girl!!

Stores

I'm trying to learn about the the different stores here in Chicago. Here's what I've found out so far:

1. Dominicks = Vons

2. Jewel-Osco = Albertsons

3. Meijer = A way more fun Walmart

4. Woodman's = The best grocery store EVER!

5. Costco = About the same distance away as it was in Vegas (apx. 16 miles)

6. Menards = The Mega Home Depot/Lowes

7. Portillo's = The best fast food hot dogs in the world!

I have to admit I am liking Chicago, despite the fact that I can't do anything outside without putting on 5 layers of clothing. The people are pretty awesome and they love to play games with us! Our ward is cool too. It's rather small compared to Vegas, but still a good little ward. Michael and I teach CTR 4 together and are having fun with the 6 kids we have! They're a handful most of the time but it's fun playing mostly games in class :) The snow is starting to melt (which Tippy appreciates) so it seems we'll be able to start working out again!