2010 was a good year to us hunts.  i felt, for the first year ever, like i seriously owned my role as mother and wife.  it took me three years to get to that point.  too long, you say?  maybe, but i am so glad to be comfortable in my position for the first year ever.  it's a really good feeling.  so, looking back, here are some memories of 2010 (inspired by naomi, and you don't even need a link cause ya'll know exactly who i'm talking about): i decided to redo the computer room, which i haven't yet shown a picture of on my blog (it's still waiting for pictures on the wall!), gracie got a uti which i was certain would kill her (she's alive and healthy), i started an etsy shop which i have done almost nothing with, and my parents came to town, one of many times, and we had an impromptu dance party in my sister's kitchen.

in february, i wrote chapter three of our story--including a video!--and it felt good.  lindsey turned eight and got a taylor swift cd and freaked out, and i wrote chapter four, the final chapter of our story.  phew!

in april, gracie turned one (despite how many times i diagnosed her with something that would kill her), william turned ten, and i took some spring pictures of beautiful boston.  then nathaniel turned seventeen (between the end of march and the middle of april, there are three hunt children birthdays.  all that this demonstrates is that steve is professor, with summers off, at peak-libido in the summer months).

in may, nathaniel went to prom, husband edited a book, and i saw lots of good friends at graduation.  we also had a summer feast because it reached 90 degrees in MAY in massachusetts (massachusetts got major points in my book with this weather).

in june, and not without your help, i started planning our trip to italy, went camping with the family and my mom and dad in ricketts glen, and took some pictures of my sister with her growing baby-in-the-belly.  

in july we went to italy.  i could go on and on about this but i won't.  just suffice it to say that it was a trip from heaven for both of us.  perfection in every single way.  we loved it.  we went to orvieto, florence, cinque terre, rome, and positano and had a blast stuffing our faces, drinking wine, taking pictures, talking, and loving.  we can't wait to go back.

we were extra spoiled that summer because we came home and went straight to lake winnipesaukee with my family.  in august, we had dear friends from minnesota stay, we went sailing, and the blog turned one year old!  we saw the blue angels and ate ice cream on possibly the hottest day ever.

our summer was certainly grand.  and onto the school year!  we went to my friend's fabulous wedding, my nephew quinn was born!!!, we decorated for halloween, and husband worked and worked and worked all while on sabbatical.  in october, fall started to creep in too and we went and picked pumpkins and ate apple cider donuts.  i did my first fashion post--a sad attempt, really--and we celebrated halloween.

in november, lindsey got glasses, i celebrated my birthday, jordan's birthday, and i started thankful lists.  i professed that i am a bad mom (but so did you guys!), and i posted some family pictures on the blog. 

in december, i rolled out favorite things, and wrote a post about faith (i think it won't be the last because it opened up some awesome conversation).  we celebrated an anniversary and christmas.  and finally, are currently celebrating a second christmas with steve's parents who've ventured out from colorado.  complete with a trip to our favorite family restaurant.

i don't know about you, but i'm looking forward to 2011.  here's to a 2010 that was full of laughter, good health, god's grace, and a lot of love.  and a 2011 that brings more of the same... but with some new adventures.  cheers to that!

I mean, I ask because my name isn't followed by anything except Hunt so it's not like I have any degree to make you trust me.  I am, however, 26 years deep with my mother who, if they could give a degree based on knowledge, would have a ton of homeopathic & nutrition degrees under her belt. I mean seriously.  I can toot her horn because it's not the same as tooting your own.  Right?  It's never wrong to toot your mother's horn.  So I will.

She has been saying things since the 70s that people are just now starting to say--like know where your meat comes from, heal the body through the body (instead of masking symptoms with things like Tylenol), sugar is bad bad bad, and good fats are good good good!  My primary care doctor wasn't a physician at all but was a chiropractor (I'm talking one week old, I was getting adjusted), and enemas and foot reflexology are her drugs of choice when hit with something really nasty.

So, I'll share some of her tips here and you can use em or lose em.

Hot water with lemon or ginger:

Ginger reduces inflammation so is great when you have a cold,

sinus infection, etc.  It's also great for digestion!
 Lemon is a natural cleanser so it's just good 

to ward off any potential bacteria.  Peel a bit of the ginger root with a knife,

drop a few small pieces into the bottom of your mug, and pour hot

water over it.  Drink up!  My sister likes to add a tea bag which is fine too.
Don't save this for only the times you're sick--do it to avoid getting sick!

Water water water.  Drink lots of it.  I think too often you hear people

saying drink orange juice when you're sick (or, even worse, ginger ale!), 

but I think you're better off with water.  Juice is not a good way to get nutrients.  

It's got too much sugar.  Yes, natural sugar, but sugar nevertheless. 

So instead, eat the orange (a better way to get those nutrients), 

and drink the water.  Done!

I can't put this one on without laughing but I don't embarass 

easily so I'm doing it anyway.  Enema bag!  Also known as a douc...

wait, I won't go any further.  Anyway, I just called my mom to 

get her details on this and she made sure to defend herself by saying, 

"None of you ever needed antibiotics because I was brave enough to 

do this!"  Bravery... sure, Mom.  We'll call it that.

But really, I have yet to have the flu and I have had two fevers in my life

and I am quite sure I owe a lot of that to my Mom.  

The time for an enema is when you are very feverish or have the flu--

it can bring down a fever (naturally) or help

a flu move along its way (since often, when you're sick, things aren't 

moving as they should... you know what I'm saying).  Warm water and a

lemon squeezed into it -- get in your bathtub on your left side (best way

for the water to move through the intestines) and rub your belly as the water goes in.

It's super uncomfortable and you won't be able to stand it for long.  Try to stand

it for a few minutes (less is okay!), and then get on the toilet.  

You'll know what to do then.

Wow.  I feel like now that I've discussed an enema on the blog, nothing is off the table.

Congaplex.  This is the greatest vitamin to get rid of a cold.

Colds won't last more than 2 days, I promise.  

If you take this, three with each meal.  

Available at natural grocery stores, online, and at some chiropractor offices.

Apple cider vinegar.  I can't even do justice to all the health

benefits from this - so I'll just link to this site where you can read 

all about it.  My Mom adds it to water and sips it throughout the day.

I have diluted salad dressing with this and fresh lemon too and it's delicious.

Water.  I mentioned this before but I'll go into more detail here.

We never had water out with dinner.  To guests, it was crazy.  

To us, it was normal.  Water washes away your digestive enzymes,

says my Mom and thus, we skip it at meal times.

Also, when you drink it, drink room temperature water.

It's less of a shock for your body since it's closer to the temperature of your body.  

And finally, let veggies rule your dinner plate, not the meat or the starch.

Do meditation and deep-breathing.

And love a lot.

She wanted me to add those.

Oh yeah and sugar and white flour are the devils in her opinion.

And always be kind to your colon.

What tips do you have for me???

Just so you know, her tips come after lots and lots of reading, lots of conversations with natural doctors, and other natural-minded people, and a couple years working in a well-respected chiropractor's office. 

Doesn't mean it's all right, but like I said, use em or lose em!

Here's the lady where all this is coming from.

She's 62 and can run laps around me so she's gotta be doing something right.

i cherish these pictures.

and i'm already planning the next family pictures.

is that weird?

giving credit where credit is due:

my dress

the photographer

aren't you?

(read the book too - it's a good one.)

and, steve and i watched salt last night in bed on the laptop

it was super sexy

(not really.  maybe just a little bit.)

anyway... the power didn't go out - score! - 

and we got to watch the whole thing

and we both say, it was good.

see it.

(i'm hearing some naysayers hate on the ending...

and it wasn't the GREATEST ending ever

but it certainly was still a good movie.

i'm a sucker for angelina-action movies.

so is my husband.

what?)

christmas eve + christmas + lots of lounging...

This Christmas we lounged, and lounged, and lounged.  I put my pajamas on Christmas Eve after church and didn't take them off until the day after Christmas.  We watched Beauty and the Beast (my favorite Disney movie), It's a Wonderful Life (Steve's absolute favorite), the kids played some new Wii games,  Connect-Four, and more.  We pretty much were the laziest pieces in all of New England.  But it was really nice.  Some good presents were given and recieved and now we are covered in snow and it's still coming down.  I'm sure you've seen the headlines.  I think that, despite the news' fear tactics, we will make it out alive!  

How was your Christmas?

except that's not our home. 

i wish.

(2010 christmas card from tinyprints - and don't worry, there was a picture of gracie on the back)

Bridget's favorite things, no. 17.

Converse, chucks... whatever you call em, they're a great shoe.  When a pop of color is necessary (like today-- I'm in blah gray pants and a blah black sweater, and VOILA, my red converse!) these do the trick.  They are not warm and they have no arch support, but if those things aren't a problem, get yourself a pair of these.  They're fun.  And they're $45.

Need I say more?  To all those last minute men who still aren't sure what to get their ladies... A MASSAGE (not by you.  That's sweet and all but you suck compared to the pros.)!!  Massages are all that and more and while you don't get to take them with you and reuse them like you do a sweater or skirt, the relaxation they bring is total bliss.  So, get to your nearest spa and pick up a gift card for your loved one today.  At $60 to $80 depending on the place, they're worth every penny (in my opinion).  Don't get anything less than an hour (it's just stress: "This is heaven.  Wait, 15 minutes are already up?  No.  It can't be.  Tell me that's not true.  Ohhh, heaven.  That's the spot.  What?  5 minutes left?  How did that happen?  I just got here.")  

Seriously.  One hour, nothing less.

(image)

To that man in my life...

This one is so boring I can hardly stand myself.  It's a salad spinner.  It's kind of like when Wayne and Garth (Wayne's World reference here guys, I'm going way back!) are playing that game where they're travelling to different states and then they get to Delaware.  "We're in Delaware...  woo... Delaware."  So, yeah... a salad spinner.  I couldn't really think of one today.  I scoured the files of my brain.  "Think Bridget, think!"  I do use this a lot and it saves me from watery salads and loads of papertowels.  So I guess it is a favorite thing.  But no doubt about it, it's the most boring favorite thing ever.  Sorry guys.  I'll do better next time.

But to save you from this being the only post of mine today, a terribly boring one, I posted below.  About how not boring my life is.

Life's been really busy......

...I mean really.  What with all these holiday parties we're being invited to, Christmas cards to open (my fingers are just full of paper cuts.  Where's the letter opener?), and cookie swaps (ten, just this week!), I can't keep up.  Gosh.  It's hard to be me.  I mean really.  What's next?  Paparrazi knocking down my door??  In reality, we were invited to two Christmas parties (were you invited to way more?  Don't tell me.).  On Friday and Saturday night and I wore this dress to both of them (which by the way, I picked out in Boston and Ahnika was all like "Oh, it's your birthday.  Allow me," and she whipped out her credit card.  You should all befriend her.  Friends that whip out their credit cards on your birthday are the best kind... thanks, Ahn!).  Where was I?  Wearing this dress to both parties.  Whatevs.  It was a different group of people at each party.  Totally acceptable.  Only Steve knew.  And now all of you.

And what?  The second picture?  My necklace?  YES.  It arrived in the mail making me pretty much the happiest girl ever and Lisa the coolest twitter-turned-real-life-friend in the whole, wide world (we exchanged notes through snail mail, thus, real life.  That's all it takes.  My expectations aren't high.  Anyone else looking for a penpal?  J/K Lisa.  What we have is special.).  Finally, the cookies look kinda fancy but are soooooo easy.  Score!  When the ladies at the cookie swap were exclaiming how easy their cookies were to make I was all like, "Mine were sooo hard.  I stayed up all night.  I plucked the cacao bean from the tree myself to make the cookie."  (Is it a cacao bean?  Did that even make sense?).  So make them.  You can even use my cacao-bean-plucking story.

What's Christmas without a little giving?  I cannot (cannot, cannot, cannot) say enough good things about this next favorite thing.  Kiva is the coolest organization of all time, people.  I'm serious.  I think a lot of organizations have administrative costs, delays, and other things that keep the money you're donating from actually getting to where you think it's getting (that sentence is for you, Amanda!) but not so with Kiva.  Kiva is a micro-lending organization where you log-in, check out various profiles of men and women all over the globe, see what their business plan/purpose is, and decide whether you want to lend to them.  You can also see how close they are to their goal.  Then, they eventually begin to make money as their business gets off the ground, and pay you back.  At that point, you can withdraw the money or, better still, relend it!  By using Kiva, I've been a small part of a bunch of businesses getting their start from Tanzania to Guatemala.  Is that not the coolest?  Finally, when you check out, you can choose to donate a small amount to the actual people making Kiva work behind the scenes.  But, if you don't, it's ALL going to the people (though, the people who make the whole thing work deserve something, right?).

It's the best. 

Here's a little video in case anything I was saying didn't make sense.