Eat Local, Live Local, Love Local

I saw a post recently about how if everyone in Canada spend just $100 each a year on a local business instead of a big-box store or chain it would boost the local economy, and help create local jobs (?)

Now that I'm typing this out, I can't remember if that was exactly what it boasted but I don't think that matters. My point is, it got me thinking about where we spend out money and if there were ways we could change to make it more "local supportive"?

Probably the biggest, but also the easiest change might be where we eat out. So once we return to living in the city, I'm going to try and support the local "mom & pop" restaurants. No more chain restaurants, or drive throughs, or Double Quarter Pounders with Cheese. Which really shouldn't be that difficult, as that's basically how we've lived this year in the arctic.

And the more I thought about this, the more benefits I saw. On top of supporting a locally owned and operated business, these restaurants in particular are usually less processed and at least a bit healthier. So I'm hoping this would also work with my ambition to live healthier too. 

On top of that, I'm going to try to source locally made gifts for birthdays or christmas. Living in Rankin has shown me that there are talented artists and crafters in every community and it is so important to support them. I already follow quite a few local vendors on Facebook from various farmer's markets or craft sales we've been to, so hopefully it won't be too difficult.

So that's really it. Maybe you could try too? And together we can save a local business? Maybe?

Attaining healthiness

I've decided to start swimming.

To get a membership at the Y, and swim laps. or do AquaZumba. Something. Anything.

I don't like the state of my physical body, in fact I kind of hate it. I know I shouldn't. I read and follow and share so many articles online about "loving your body at any size" or "big is beautiful too" and I empathize with what they're saying so much. But I just can't do it. I don't feel comfortable in my skin, or my clothes. I don't like how I look in the mirror, or the comments like "oh, when are you due?". I don't like huffing and puffing and being out of breath from simple activities. I don't feel healthy.

And that's what really matters to me. Being healthy. It is something I struggle with, especially since junk food taste soooooooo good.

I know what I should eat, and how much. I've read the books and blogs and weight loss websites. But I truly believe I've become addicted to carbohydrates and refined sugars, and I need to cut them out of my diet. Which I know won't be easy. But I hope that if I also change my lifestyle, and spend time and money on changing that I'll be able to adhere to a healthier diet.

Because this is something that I need to do now. I don't want to be overweight or obese when I become pregnant, which can increase risk of complications. I don't want to be the sluggish, overweight mom who's too tired to play or read or laugh. 

I want to have a long, happy, healthy life.

new life

I've spent the last 2 weeks thinking I'm pregnant. And then being sure I'm not. And then sure I am.

But now I'm not.

And I really don't know how I feel. About it. At all.

Like, I know eventually Bob and I will have children. But I like our lives now. And I really enjoy my job. I don't want to give it up, especially since we're just returning to the city.

Bob says he could stay home, and I could work. But I'm pretty sure his body won't make nourishment for the child.

So I don't know. I feel stuck, as a female. I feel like in this world, my role in the family is already decided for me. I have to give up my body, my life, my career to have a family. And it doesn't seem fair.

I believe that in our lifetime, we live a many number of lives. And I like the life I'm living now. In previous lives I was a daughter, a student, a girlfriend, and each previous life lead & grew into the next. But the life I'm currently living, of being a young wife but also independent woman, is where I want to be right now. I'm not ready to move on to my next me.

Proem

I've kept other blogs before. One in high school, when it seemed everyone in our group was doing it. Looking back, it was immature, angsty, and sometimes even poetic. I've tried once or twice to delete it off the internet, but I just can't do it. Its a part of me now, even if I don't want to share it with the world anymore.

And then the second blog was a joint effort with the Husband, to document our time living in the Arctic. It wasn't quite as successful as I intended, but if you'd like to read our handful of posts there head over to www.northernlightsnorthernlife.blogspot.com
I'm attached to it, because it was something we worked on together and I was able to read his writing style.

So now I want one for me, the grown up me. To be able to write about what I want, and whats going on in our lives. I'll write about life in Winnipeg, returning to work, buying our first home, building our family, and my journey to healthiness. I'll share photos and recipes, and funny anecdotes.

I want to be real, and for this to be a real record of mine and Bobby's life together.