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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The McGuire Family 2013 Review



Thought I'd do a little recap of our 2013! 
Hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating the New Year. 


Mark turned 28 on Jan. 6, 2013


We went out of town for the 1st time since having Ava for Mike&Emily's wedding. 


Ava attended her 1st birthday party 

I set up a beach clean up for the Seminole Club of Broward County

I celebrated my 1st Mother's Day <3

We celebrated Josh & Heather Boden's wedding in Jacksonville!


Had our 1st "girl's trip" to Nashville, TN. This trip was tough for me when my belongings were stolen from me and the news of my grandmother's tragic accident came the night before. I was thankful to be next to my two best friends for support. 

We said goodbye to my grandma Velma. I love you, Grandma. 

Our sweet girl was baptized. 

Had our 1st vacation as a family in Oregon and Washington. Ava did great on the planes! 


Attended our annual Dave Matthews Concert and had a blast!

Mark is promoted to Market Director of All Direct Sales.

I met my first niece, Giselle, when she was born in Jacksonille, FL and drove her to her new home with my half sister, Angelica. 


One of Mark's best friends and former boss, Mark More, gets married!!!! 














FSU games with Mark




Our good friend, MaryAnn, was celebrated on the upcoming arrival of their 2nd son, Joseph Walker Bush. 

My talented friend, Kyle Shea, shows his work at FLIFF in Hollywood, FL 

Ava loved her 1st Halloween

FSU FOOTBALL DOMINATES


Ava visits her 1st pumpkin patch


Mark is promoted and is officially running the show as VP/GM of Cbeyond Miami/WPB !!!!!!


AVA TURNS 1! 



Nov 9, 2013 Mark's Grandpa, Claude Strege, passed away. 
May you rest in eternal peace with our Lord, Grandpa Claude. 


Baby Mora is on the waaaay! Celebrating my friend, Jessica, and her fiance Mike at their baby shower. 

Our beautiful friend Chelsea is celebrated on the upcoming arrival of her 1st born with her husband Steve. 
Forever indebted to her for introducing me to Mark so many years ago 

Celebrating one of our best friend's baby boy, Roman Koval, at her baby shower. 
 Love you, Ashley! 



Ava meets Santa...and LOVES him.  


Celebrated Thanksgiving

Ava LOVED her first Christmas morning of opening gifts.
(She was only about 2 months old for her 1st Christmas)


I celebrated with my friends during our annual Christmas night party. 


I was just telling Mark the other day... I am so grateful for everyone and everything in our life right now that anything else would just be icing on the cake. I am looking forward to achieving new goals in 2014 but also appreciate the blessings I already have. 

My goals for the new year include: 

1. To purchase our 1st home (hopefully in our hometown of Ft.Lauderdale to remain EAST! - fingers crossed)

2. To call my family and friends more on the phone rather than simply texting or emailing them. 

3. Continue learning about healthy living. 

4. Remain clutter free. 

5. Practice more yoga and meditation in the mornings to begin each day better. 

6. Keep negative thoughts and people out of my life. 

7. Be a better wife, mother, daughter, and friend. 

XO
Christina 

Monday, December 30, 2013

Snapshots of Today {12.30.13}

Ava and I drove over to play with Kelsey and Carter today. Kristine, their mom, had a great idea to take their wagon out and let the girls sit in there while Carter rode his new razor scooter. 

Ava loved it! She loves being outside and feeling the breeze in her face. Her and our pup, Cooper, have that in common. Haha. Ava is usually all smiles or letting out excited squeals when that breeze hits her face. Makes me laugh. 


Carter racing around. 

 Ava enjoying Kelsey's baby doll.

Carter hugging (or doing the choke hold) Ava for the picture without me instructing him to do so. He is such a ham. I love him. Poor Ava... Haha. 


As usual, Carter spent more time trying to wrestle Ava and thank goodness Ava is pretty strong and can hold her own during their "matches".
Being outside on the walk was a lot of fun. We walked about 1-1.5mi around their quiet neighborhood and enjoyed the nice weather. 
...and as usual, Ava slept on the car ride home so guess who hasn't had a break yet... 

On an exciting note, Mark purchased tailgate passes with our friends for all you can drink and eat with other FSU Alumni. 


Pasadena, here we come! Mama is going  get wild at the National Championship game! So close, yet so far away... Eee!

So that was our morning. Hope everyone is having a nice Monday! 




XO
Christina 

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Our New Himalayan Salt Lamp


Hello there. 

I just thought I'd share my favorite Christmas gift this year. My mom read my mind (as usual) and bought me a Himalayan Salt Lamp. We had read about these for a long time now and I finally am a proud owner of one. 


 


As you may already know, salt is very necessary for good health. The right kind of salt that is... not your average table salt that probably has more in it than what is intended. We have been told time and time again that it is important to have a "low sodium" diet...blah blah blah. Yes, stay away from bad salt - that is correct. 

Good salts, on the contrary, are important and necessary for our body. 

That is where Himalayan Salt comes in! We switched out our former, unhealthy salt for Himalayan salt a while back. It is nice to know that you are getting just salt and not other chemicals and bleaching agents in your food and environment. Any little change can make a big difference in your health after all! 

For those of you who would like to switch salts, it tastes the same if not better. I've read that chefs around the world use this kind of salt because it is the best tasting in their gourmet dishes. (Let me add that "Celtic Sea Salt" is amazing for you as well!)
 (I am kicking myself right now because I just lost the article I was reading about how just salt labels containing "sea salt" isn't a promise that it isn't highly processed salt. So look at the color/ingredients and read up to make sure your salt is just that, salt!)

But I am talking about Himalayan right now because that is the one I use and the one that comes in forms of the lamps as well.)

They sell them everywhere now and looks like this: This is the one we use

As for the Himalayan salt lamp it has benefits (for allergies, stress, headaches, "ADD", etc) as well when heated. So, you basically use your average night light lightbulb and screw it into your lamp and wa-laa! You now have ions going into the atmosphere to neutralize the EMFs that affect our health. 



Here is a very short video helping to explain the EMFs a little better. 

Just click below

How Salt Lamps Can Protect You From EMFs

or just copy and paste this link below into your browser: 

http://thegic.org/video/how-salt-lamps-can-help-protect-you-from-emfs


I have read countless articles about how the salt helps with so many different issues. It makes sense though. We (and everything else in this world) are all balls of energy - all just a bunch of matter in different "shapes". Why wouldn't something that we are already composed with have an effect when it is in contact with more of it in our atmosphere. I mean, that's just plain science.

It isn't some belief or religious practice, haha, it JUST IS that way it is. Don't you love science? 

Anyways here are some other articles below that I have posted if you are interested in learning more about Himalayan salt rocks/lamps and their benefits. I have also posted some sites as to where you can find them near by. My mom actually bought mine at Home Goods! Don't you love that store?! I do. 


Here is ours lit up in our home now :)  Picture from my Instagram: 








P.S. Let me know how you like yours if you already own one or decide to buy one! :) 



Websites for additional information: 

1. A Video on here as well : Dr. Mercola : Salt Lamp Benefits

2. Natural News: Why Himalayan Pink Crystal Salt is so much better for your health than processed table salt

3. 100 Days of Real Food: Not All Salt Is Created Equal

Websites to purchase a lamp: 

1. You can find them at Whole Foods in their "Whole Body" section that start at $20. Mine was at Home Goods for $40 because it is a larger one. 

2. Amazon: Himalayan Salt Lamps


3. Himalayan Salt Shop

XO 

Christina