You Asked.....

My computer has been getting repaired which is why there wasn't going to be a blog post until next week! I got it back early though (tap dance). 

I really appreciate all of your emails and questions but, my time is limited to respond to everyone. 

Sooo, I thought it would be fun to post 10 of your questions below (minus your names) and answer everyone in one swoop (0:

It certainly feels odd to answer questions about myself via my own blog but all of you keep asking so, this is for each of your inquiring minds! Thank you for tuning in!

1. I read an article of yours that was controversial on MindBodyGreen about being single & not having kids. Do you want kids? Why did you write that article?

I am so happy to address this question publicly because so many people have asked me questions about that article. The whole intent of the article was for people to embrace where they are in life - to reach for the joy in our present circumstances - especially if we ended up somewhere we didn't think we would be. And my present circumstances is (and was) that I am single & therefore, I do not have children yet. 

The article was received as a feminist stance where I was so proud & empowered to be 'childless' and without a husband. 

The responses from the article (there were hundreds - literally) were so cruel....oh my. 

To answer your question above, yes, I do want children and God will see fit as to how He will bring them into my life.  I even state this in the article. My deepest desire is to get married and have two children via adoption, biological, surrogacy....whatever God wants.  And I trust the Lord knows best as to what I need so I wait on Him.

2. What is your favorite juice place in Chicago - you post about several of them!

My favorite place to get juice in Chicago is JuiceRX in Old Town.  They have raw, cold pressed and fully organic juice. 

I have found that a lot of the juice companies in Chicago are not fully organic.  And these companies do not advertise this.  For example, Whole Foods on Kingsbury St. now has pressed juice when you walk in but they fail to mention it's not organic.  And this was disappointing to find out.

3. I saw you recently at NW and you lost so much weight!!!! How did you do it and why are you not talking about that more on SW?

haha - thank you! Yes, I did lose a lot of weight.  And I am enjoying a thin frame immensely - I worked so hard to get back to this size. 

I think the biggest contributor to me losing weight was eating organic whole fresh foods and ditching sugar the 'majority' of the time. And loving myself!

As for sharing this on SW, I don't know. I have shared about weight loss along the way but I really prefer to keep the focus elsewhere.  It's strange to talk about yourself on your blog to be honest so I don't ever do that too much (I share my thoughts of course but sharing a whole article about my weight loss would be strange) outside of these Q&A's. 

Please explore the articles on SW though because I do share a lot about healthy organic foods and how to get the sugar out of your diet.

4. Do you ever splurge with food or do you eat clean every single day? What do you splurge on?

I absolutely splurge.  My entire perspective of food is so different then it used to be....drastically actually.  While I do not believe in 'all things in moderation', I do believe that if you are going to splurge on a rare occasion, embrace & enjoy it!

I eat daily for 'fuel'.  This means that each meal of each day, I strive to put the best fresh organic healthy foods in my body. It makes me feel good - happy - energized.

I also splurge though (by the way, I like that word) sometimes and when I do, I really embrace it! I think beating ourselves up over food is really psychologically unhealthy. Think about that 'I am going to choose to eat this piece of cake and then after I make that choice, I am going to be mean to myself about it' - it's kind of a messed up mentality so I do not partake anymore.

So, when I eat the cake, I smile with each bite and enjoyyyy - haha!

My favorite meal to splurge with is breakfast! I do this rarely but once in a while, I will have a really warm cup of sweet & spicy tea by Honest Earth (my favorite) with thick pancakes (I prefer my pancakes to be vegan) & gooey organic maple syrup. 

I also love organic chocolate bars (of all varieties - haha - I'm not picky) and I will always smile about a really good slice (or three) of pizza! And that wraps up what I splurge on. 

5. Will you be writing more about Christ on your blog?

Yes!

6. I really loved your quote page on Pinterest. Do you have a favorite quote? 

Thank you! I appreciate that.  Hmmm, I love the following two quotes:

- The times I feel most alive are when I'm caught up in something that makes me forget myself. Art. Work. Other people. Nature. God - Donald Miller
(I love this quote because this is when I truly feel most alive and most happy).

- 'The stakes are high. The water is rough. But this love is ours - Unknown
(This quote always reminds me of being in love).

7. When you do share photography of yourself, why don't you show your face very often? I cannot find many pictures where I get to 'see' you?

hahaha - I have always wondered why not one reader asked me this and here you are! I do not show my face often because I love mystery. And I love camera angles that add a layer of art to a photo.  I will share more of my face though in the future (0:

8. Any fun facts about you that are not on the blog?

Let's see.  I will share several: 1). I took Equestrian for a couple of semesters in college - my love for horses is major and riding/loving them brings me so much joy, 2). I love to sing...la la 3). I dream of being in Kenya serving others & holding their hands on dirt floors - I have a vivid dream of this often, multiple times a year - same dream, 4). I rarely (if ever) watch movies but I appreciate the scenery in the movie 'Wild' with Reese Witherspoon - I've seen that move about 5x, 5). I can tap dance really well & enjoy getting lost in music. 6). I really love homemade apple pie but only eat it - at most - once a year  7), I appear to be a dreamer - to live by whimsy - but those that know my work ethic and how I really approach life - through the years, know I am a meticulously organized planner/a focused strategist in life. I am a total enigma: I'm an introvert trapped in an extroverts body - a dreamer/seeker/explorer trapped in a realist body - I'm a nerd trapped in a non-nerdy persona -and I am super feminine but have a lot of tomboy in me. I can go on but I think ya'll are getting the idea.

I don't know if those were 'fun' but that's what came to my head.

9. Are you going to share more about Food Tank?

YES!

10.  Do you work for Vega because you talk about them all of the time on social media?

No I do not work for Vega but I LOVE  LOVE LOVE Vega (big cheesy grin with jazz hands)!

And that's all she wrote!

Thank you for the questions - I know I only answered 10 but it's time for bed! You are all so kind and inquisitive - it's genuinely flattering so thank you for even caring to ask.

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather!