Sea Monsters, Tsunamis and Really Big Bats

I have decided to change the name of my blog from French Toast to Sea Monster, Tsunamis and Really Big Bats. To me, blogs should reflect where you are in your life, a year ago I was in year one of motherhood in sleepy Fort Myers, Florida. My life had suddenly been given new breath due to my little guy. I had no idea what God had in mind for our family! 9 weeks ago we found out we would be moving to the edge of the map! Literally! Google Maps occasionally has trouble figuring out just how to focus in on Tutuila. 

Sea Monsters

If you look at a map of the South Pacific circa 1600's you might see illustrations of dragons, sirens and sea monsters! I must say that in the week I have spent on Tutuila and in its waters I have yet to catch a glimpse of one of these creatures, however our little Monster has taken to the seas of the Pacific quite well. Hobie has always been our little "monster", but given our surroundings "Sea Monster" may be a more appropriate name.

Tsunamis

When someone tells you you're moving to American Samoa it is natural to first figure out where it is and second do some research. A Google Search of Pago Pago will link you to pages like the Am. Sam. government, "tourism" department and National Park Service. A little more research and you will learn about the devastating and fatal tsunami in 2009. We are in the process of locating a "safe spot" somewhere high up on this island.

Really Big Bats

We have now been on Tutuila for 1 week. Honestly I can't tell you much about it. The bus system is entertaining, the beaches are beautiful and way off the beaten path and the island is devoid of wildlife save some sizable insects, a large number of stray dogs and the biggest bats I have ever seen in my entire life! I call them Albatross bats they are so big. They do not fly and flap like normal bats, their wingspan is such that they are able to simply glide through the air. They are a mighty impressive creature, and I plan on eating one when offered.

Photo from American Samoa Humane Society

 

Les Essentials

{The Essential}

Last week while on this crazy make every ourselves kick, Jorge and I started the process of making our own fabric softener. A very simple mixture of distilled white vinegar and essential oil...we had the vinegar, but not enough oil (you see where I'm going with this).  *Lightbulb* Of course we thought, "We'll just make our own, how hard can it be?" A week later that simple 6 hour process is still in progress. It got me thinking, not only was that ingredient essential because of its name, it was so because of its importance to our recipe! All this week I have thought about the things in my life recipe that are essential:

Fun at the Beach

The Look Hobie Gives Me

The Belief in the Deserving Innocence of Children

The Beauty of Love

Scripture

Faites Votre Propre

{Make Your Own}


I read Patagonia's blog "The Cleanest Line". For their Black Friday issue they posted an ad in the New York Times saying "Don't Buy This Jacket", in hopes of bringing attention to the issues of mass consumerism in our country and its social & environmental impacts. While a responsible idea, it does seem a bit oxymoronic that a retail clothing and gear company is trying to bring about awareness to this issue...clever marketing scheme? Perhaps, but it does draw my attention to the things in life that have been made out to be more complicated than they actually are just so manufactures can earn a pretty penny!

Lately, in an effort to save money as well as learn to appreciate our many blessings,  we have been trying to "de-stuff" our lives and really only purchase the necessities. I thought we were doing a pretty decent job, but then I got to thinking about all of the "stuff"(as well as their costs) necessary just to run daily life; clothes, laundry detergent, groceries, blah blah blah! I sort of got a little depressed thinking about how dependent I am on manufacturers of the products I use...when I thought, "Why should I be?" So I decided to do something about it!

Here are some ideas:

{Make your own Juice}

{Hunt, Clean and Cook your own Thanksgiving Turkey or Holiday meal}

{Craft Usefully & Recycle: I made my own Jewelry Tree out of an old lamp base}

{Make your own Laundry Detergent}

Juteux

{Juicy}

{photo from http://juicerrecipesnow.com/}

In a few days I am having a few local madres over for a "Juicing Party". I am pretty excited as I LOVE juicing! If you are not a juicing fanatic (yet) it is hard to step away from the ever tasty, but safe (and therefore boring) apple + carrot + ginger juice. Below are 5 of our favorite juicing recipes @ Casa de Guevara! Each recipe makes enough for 2 servings.

Alkaline (Basic) Juicer

• 2 compact handfuls of spinach
• 1 cucumber
• 4 stalks celery
• 6 carrots
• 1 apple (the color matters not)

Simple Green

• 2 compact handfuls spinach
• 4 compact handfuls kale
• 4 "cups" parsley
• 2 cucumbers
• 6 stalks celery

Beach Body

• 6 carrots
• 4 stalks celery
• 1 cucumber
• 1 "cup" parsley
• 1 beet
• 2 apples

Sweet Green (my favorite)

• 2 cucumbers
• 2 carrots
• 2 apples
• 1/2 "cup" parsley
• 1/2 "cup" mint
• 2 stalks celery
• 1" ginger
• 1 lemon (peeled)

Power Up

• 8 stalks celery
• 1 cucumber
• 1 compact handfuls spinach
• 2 apples
• 1 green bell pepper

Ideally everyone will bring ingredients for a different juice, so we can sample a little of each. Can't wait to post pictures!!!

Comme la Page, L'amour de la Cause, Donner.

{Like the Page, Love the Cause, Give. -Carly Gunby}

November 2011 marks the anniversary of my career switch. A lot has happened over the course of the passed year...I have learned a lot over the course of the passed year.

Some of it has been tangible: the mastering of new recipes, the discovery of a new skill, and creative ways to keep an infant (now toddler) engaged.

{Peanut-Crusted Chicken}

Other lessons have been more subtle and have had a far more reaching impact on my life: living and appreciating a simple life, and honestly showing people love.

{My husband, his mom & Hobie May 2011}

These have not been easy lessons, and I have nowhere near obtained the character of human being I hope one day to reach. The temptation of "stuff" is all too present in our world. I long for a simple life, but I sit here writing about it from my iMac computer...now what sense does that make?

{An all too reoccurring theme throughout our Nation}

So We give. We give as much as we can, and I don't know if my motivation for giving is out of guilt for having lead a fortunate life when so many others around the world and in my community go without, or out of appreciation for having lead such a fortunate life...I don't know.  What I do know is I love giving!  I wish we could do more...I want to do more...honestly, we probably could/should do more (not in just a monetary sense), but more is still a scary thought.

Below are 2 projects we give to...check them out. I hope you have causes near to your heart you contribute to...While "Liking" a Facebook page is a great start, finding causes you love is better, but it is essential we as human beings GIVE to one another.



Sore Feet Saviors

GO Walk America- The Global Orphan Fund- GO Threads

Jack de tous les métiers, maître d'aucun

{Jack of all trades, master of none}

I am the kind of person who will try anything once. I consider myself a:

cook

art lover

 triathlete/runner

Yogi (I do actually practice)

Waterman

photographer

equestrian

teacher (well the teacher formerly known as Mrs. G)

...and whatever else holds my attention for any significant amount of time. For many years I have struggled with this concept of being mediocre at a lot of things and exceptional at none. While I have enjoyed learning new skills and hobbies, and meeting all sorts of wonderful people I still search for that 1 thing I cannot live without doing. Honestly I envy the people who, with all certainty can say, "I am a _______". That to me is a huge accomplishment! I would love to know what your passions are...what can you not live without?

Dernièrement

{Lately}

     Lately being on the computer has yielded more cons than pros. There is a trend that speaks to the amount of time I spend on the computer indicating the more time I spend on the computer the more irritable I become. You have probably seen the Toyota Venza commercial where the daughter is touting her amazing life through Facebook while her poor parents only have 19 friends. My age group is clearly not the target audience for that particular advertisement, but I had this looming fear of, "Oh God, am I one of those people? Someone who has nothing better to do with their lives, but get on Facebook & other social networking sites 13 times a day?" Turns out, no I am not.

 Lately, I have done my best to steer clear of the keyboard, especially social networking! I have started: Christmas shopping (already!), teaching dance at a studio in Naples, working on my photography skills, crafting, baking and really focusing on spending quality time with my Little (getting bigger) Man! Take a look.

{Hobie strolling through Downtown Alachua}

{Hobie & Jorge outside the Ivy House}

{Fall in North Central Florida}

{One my favorite things to bake--> Alfajores, while these are not the traditional ones, I find the dough easier to work with. I also make my own dulce de leche}