Hi!  My name is Raechel. Yup, that's RaEchel with a nice little original "E" thrown in there just so that I have to triple check the spelling of my name on every single document that passes under my nose.  Would you believe me if I told you my parents were both elementary school teachers and still decided on that spelling of my name?  Welp...believe me, cause it's true! 

Although I'm not too sure where this will lead, this is my new blog: "Smiles and Health."  Yeah yeah yeah...I know it's a silly name...but have you tried to create a web address with Blogger?  All of the good names are taken!  So..."Smiles and Health" will do for now...since after all that is what I'm after - more on that in a little while.

  I have tried other blogs before and haven't stuck to them...mostly because I didn't know what I was doing...

...and guess what?

I still don't really know what I'm doing.  Can you tell by the lack of photos and originality in the design of the blog?  Thank goodness for the ease of starting a blog on Blogger!

So before you get frightened and leave this page (I know, I know...you're probably thinking: "Seriously?  She wants me to keep reading?"), just give me a few more mini-paragraphs to hook you. 

Why "Smiles and Health?" (Besides the fact that it was available for the address, of course).  Today, June 5, 2012, is the start to a change in lifestyles for my husband of five years, Joel and me.  We have been living it up since getting married and enjoying the freedom to buy all of the junk food that we wanted.  Sound familiar?  Bad idea on our part.  Two dogs, five cats, three ferrets, and two beautiful daughters later, and we are exhausted by the time it's time to make lunch.  While our responsibilities have multiplied, our energy has dwindled - something that I think happens to a lot of newlyweds and new parents.

Since these blessed childhood years with our daughters will pass by quickly, we want to be present and energetic enough to experience every ounce of fun and learning that they will be enjoying.  We also want to set a good example for them as they will soon be picking up on our habits (they are one and two-years-old).  In order to do that we need to get back to being healthy.  I can't imagine anyone NOT wanting to be healthier and to just feel better all together.

I'd like to share our journey in print as a way to document for myself what's happening, to share some tips that we pick up along the way (and hopefully hear some of yours too!), and as a way to commit to this lifestyle change.  During this journey towards, "Smiles and Health" I also hope to learn a bit more about blogging design, upkeep, and writing. 

So, I hope if you've stumbled upon this page that you'll subscribe to this feed or visit again soon.  I will be sharing more each day, and I hope that you will find the direction of the blog helpful to you in some way, too.

Tomorrow I'll share our plan to attain the smiles and health that we seek and some of the nutrition books and websites that I've been reading to help me understand my own health.  I'll also explain why we decided against a "quick fix" diet and weight-loss plan. 

...now...to get that big glass of ice water, a handful of fresh grapes, and a book...thank goodness my girls are good nap-takers!

Have a great day everyone!  Thanks for stopping in for a visit!