E is for Everything

Comparing

2011-12-12T10:32:00.002-06:00

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel." ~Steven Furtick~ (Pastor of Elevation Church)

Something that has really been on my heart lately...I know I haven't written on this blog in FOREVER...I mainly post on my seejanecleanblog.com blog. But that is for cleaning and tips, not deep stuff.

A friend of mine recently underwent plastic surgery, a mommy makeover actually. This is not the first friend that I have had do this, nor do I think there is anything wrong with at all. Actually...I have considered having a couple of things improved myself. Then I saw this quote and how true it is.

Women are especially bad at it, and this worst part, is we don't really understand what we are comparing ourselves to. For example, women and body image...an age old issue. These days, if you are comparing yourself to another woman, especially one that you don't know very well, I would tap the brakes! You really shouldn't do it all, but you could more than likely be comparing yourself to something manufactured, not even a "better" gene pool! Don't beat yourself up comparing yourself to other people. Dwell on this quote, something I totally agree with and have said before in a much less eloquent way. The funny thing is, those people you are comparing yourself with, have issues too. I have actually had friends make comments that indicated such as they prepared to go under the knife, comments like "I have to have surgery to be like..."

Be proud of who God made you and what He has done for you. Don't insult your creator by critiquing his creation. As my wise daughter said, "Mommy, you don't have to do those decorations just because other people have them" A different situation, but same principle. I am not saying don't have plastic surgery at all...it is your body and like I said, I have contemplated it myself. But don't do it to look like someone else or to compare yourself to someone else. It is all about your mindset!

Amazing Daddy

2011-02-20T09:15:00.000-06:00

My husband is an amazing father and husband. The first week of February we got a major ice/snow storm and I HAD to be at my office. He was home all week with the kids by himself and then I went away on my annual scrapbook retreat for the entire weekend. When I got back, the kids were not only on their best behavior, but I came home to a clean house, and projects done, Not only had he cleaned the house, done all of the laundry, changed the sheets, he had also installed my scrapbook room tv, installed a light in the study and was excited to see me! I have such an amazing husband! Thank you God for that gift!

The Anatomy of a Fit

2011-02-18T09:11:00.000-06:00

Linus has been getting up a LOT at night and it is about to drive me batty. The other night he woke up so many times that we had to finally lock him in his room to keep him safe. He was not really appreciative of that and let us know! He threw a fit for 45 minutes at 2 am, it was amazing! It went a little something like this:

Jiggle door handle and cry
Start pounding on door
Scream louder
Cry for Mommy
Lie and say "I need to go Potty"
Kick door
Jiggle door handle and scream louder
Get quiet to see if that will work
Didn't work...scream louder
Throw train set on floor
Scream some more
Finally go to sleep

I can't believe it, but SD never once woke up during his entire tirade!

Preschool Love

2011-02-16T09:08:00.004-06:00

So SD has had a crush on this little boy in her class since the beginning. He is Puerto Rican I think and he is adorable. She made him a heart for Valentine's Day (without prompting I might add) and it made it in her school bag today. When I dropped her off at school, she remembered she had it for him. So she went and got it to give to him. When she did you should have seen his face, his eyes were as big as saucers. Her teacher and I were cracking up! His friend was sitting next to him just looking at him and his little cheeks started turning red. It was so cute! SD thought it was totally normal and was not the least bit embarrassed by it! She is such a sweet and caring girl.

I told his mom about it and she was laughing, she can't wait to ask him about it after school!

All dolled up...

2011-01-18T15:14:00.001-06:00

I like to look cute most of the time, granted there are plenty of times I am slummin' it. But there are two times that I like to look cute which for most people is an afterthought. When do you think that is? Sleeping and at the Gym. I had a friend say about a shirt she didn't really like..."Oh, I can wear that to the gym or sleep in it." Oh no...not this girl. I love buying cute gym clothes and lately I am completely obsessed with cute PJs. So, what are your fashion rules for these places?

Affirmative Action

2011-01-16T17:34:00.001-06:00

I was listening to the radio the other day and they were talking about searching for a coach for a local sports team and the Rooney Rule. Evidently each team must interview a minority coach before making a selection. It got me thinking about Affirmative Action and this rule. I think that the thinking behind both of these were to help minorities get the recognition that they need. The problem is that I don't think that is how they are used. It seems that this is just to satisfy a requirement so that they can make the hire, or let the student in that they want. Being a white female, I have never been on the other end of this rule or decision. I would think though, that I wouldn't want to be there just to satisfy a requirement. I would want them to put on colorless classes and look at my skills and merit and hire me or admit me to the school because of that. I wouldn't want to be a "have to" I want to be a "want to!"

Boys like Bad Stuff

2011-01-14T15:12:00.003-06:00

SD's little "boyfriend" had a birthday party last weekend. We take this little boy to school once a week and they have known each other since they were one! His mom was telling me that his birthday party was hot wheels and she just couldn't bring herself to invite SD to such a boy party, but he had requested to go to Chuck E Cheese for a celebratory lunch and had chosen to take SD as his one guest...so it was a date :)

We went to Wal-Mart to get him a present and I let SD pick it out. She said that he loved dinosaurs and we needed to get him a dinosaur with a volcano, because that is what dinosaurs like. So we found him a little puzzle of a dinosaur with a volcano in the background...the perfect gift. As we were driving home, we were talking about the present and here is the conversation:

SD - He also likes bad stuff.

Me - Bad Stuff? What do you mean by bad stuff?

SD - Well, he likes Star Wars and Batman

Me - Baby...boys just like things that are different, it doesn't mean that they are bad!

Ahhh....my little girly girl! Her future husband better be ready to put up with some serious Ms. Priss!

Cute Little Old People

2011-01-12T18:01:00.003-06:00

At church this past Sunday as we were singing, a couple of rows in front of us, we saw the cutest thing, or at least I think it is cute! The older gentlemen were already in the row when their wives walked in. They were settling into the row and immediately he helped her get her coat off, without any prompting. I just thought it was so cute! Not to mention that they held hands the rest of the service.

To me it was a true representation of servant hood. He served her without needing anything back and without being asked. What I assume was one of their grown children and their spouse slid in the row a little while later as well. They were also very cuddly during the service. I can only assume that they say these outward displays of love and tenderness in their home and it influenced their relationship as well.

I hope that SD and Linus witness us serving each other and outward displays of love and affection and it affects their relationships in a positive way!

I know it

2011-01-07T06:57:00.003-06:00

Chores are often not liked by kids, or adults for that matter. Our kids love breakfast, so BG thought it best to get them to do their chores before breakfast. I decided to give it a try. Sure enough, they made their beds in a hurry so that they could have their beloved cereal, but in the process, a funny conversation occurred. I asked SD if I could go check on her bed to which she replied no...which means she didn't make her bed all the way. I asked her to go do it again to which she stomped off mumbling and pouting. Then the following occurred:

Me: I know, I am mean, this is not a new concept, you should know this by now.
BG: I know it!
Linus: I know it!

BG and I were cracking up!

When SD was finally finished and back eating her cereal, she was all upset because I had put the Valentine's towels, that she had put as napkins, in their proper places...to which she said..."You have ruined Valentine's"

Kids say the funniest things!

From Silver Spoons to Silver Plated

2010-12-09T09:39:00.002-06:00

In the past I have been very cautious telling people where I grew up, especially if they were familiar with the area. The main reason behind it was because there is a certain stigma associated with how I grew up. You see, I grew up in a very priveliged area and lacked nothing as a child. I was spoiled to a point as far as most people think, because I never wanted for basic needs and even wants. My parents did a good job of not letting us get out of control. One example of this is with clothing. I remember in junior high wanting guess jeans, because everyone at my school had guess jeans. My mom simply wouldn't buy them for me, instead, I had Palomino Jeans. At the time I thought it was the worst thing ever, but I am so grateful because while she probably could have gotten them for me, I would have never learned the lesson that name brands are just that...Names! It doesn't mean they are better than the less famous brands. I think I owe my mom for teaching me to be a thrifty shopper. I am not obsessed with name brands, I think I actually err on the opposite side, I don't want a name brand just because it is a name brand, when sometimes the quality is superior. I don't have a coach purse or Miss Me Jeans, but I do have a pair of jeans from Ross that look just like them and I only paid $15! At the same time, my mom is very generous and still treats me on a fairly regular basis. I am thankful for both sides, the practical mom and the generous mom!

For the Love of Reading

2010-12-07T14:14:00.000-06:00

After I had SD, I read a lot when I was nursing her...after Linus, not so much, afterall, I had a 2 year old running around, it wasn't exactly peaceful. This summer I bought some books from a friend and started reading them again. The first one was a little slow, but once I got about halfway through, I stayed up the rest of the night (until 11:30) finishing it. Now I am on to number 2 in the series. Currently, my side table in our bedroom is overflowing with books, on top and in the drawer. Our office also has a built in bookcase that has loads of books that I haven't read yet, but want to. So, here is my list of books that I have slotted to read...until then, I just can't indulge in anything Twilight :)

~~Confessions of a Shopaholic~~ just finished by staying up way too late :)
Shopaholic takes Manhattan (almost finished) and the rest of the series, 7 books in all I think
Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover
Growing Kids Gods Way for toddlers and preschoolers

Not to mention that my entire top drawer is full of books, from books about Angel to Nelson DeMille's charm school. Now to get back to reading!

90 day Challenge

2010-12-05T09:01:00.002-06:00

I have signed up to do a 90 day Challenge with a group of 6 other ladies! We are now halfway through it and it has been really interesting. I thought it would help me get the remaining couple of pounds off and firm up my mid section, but it has been so much more! I have only lost about 3 pounds in 45 days, but I can tell I am definitely firming up! Not only that, but it has been about more than just fitness, it has been mental, spiritual and emotional. I have gotten better about making and sticking to my to-do list. I have started thinking in terms of goals, both short term and long term. I have started focusing on my top 5 priorities and seeing how my agenda stacks up against those priorities. It has also opened up new opportunities and new friendships for me! Once it is all said and done, I will let you know the final results! I am looking for a negative split (better the second half than the first), so here is to staying focused!

Weird Food Issues

2010-12-03T09:01:00.000-06:00

So BG has so kindly pointed out that I have some really weird food issues. He will eat practically anything, but I have some very weird rules. Here are the ones that I have come up with for now, I am sure there are more:

1. I refuse to eat food from a gas station unless it is prepackaged such as Cheetos. I do not eat anything in the little rolling roasters, I will not eat their sandwiches, etc. I will not even eat in a restaurant in a gas station. My rule is that if you can get to the connected restaurant only by going out of the gas station and entering into another door, then it is safe, if not...no go! This drives BG nuts, then again he likes Allsup's Burritos. BG has even gone so far as to take me to the stand alone restaurant of a chain that is normally connected to gas stations, because it is so good, but he knows that I won't try it if it is connected.

2. I don't really like meat in the morning. I am not a huge bacon fan, the thought of chicken in the morning pretty much grosses me out. I have heard that the Chick-fil-a breakfast sandwich is really good, but I just can't bring myself to try it. The only meat that I am sort of okay with is breakfast sausage. This is of course a carnal sin to my husband who has a love affair with pork, especially bacon!

3. I have a new theory about fried food....if you have to fry a food to make it edible, it is not food. The first food added to this theory group is catfish. Catfish is not edible unless it is fried, therefore it is not a food and I refuse to eat catfish, it totally grosses me out!

talk about gas station food, meat in the am

Wedding Weekend

2010-12-01T09:02:00.000-06:00

My youngest sister got married on the 2nd of October. We were once again all 4 in the wedding, and the kids did really well since they had done it before. It also helped that BG wasn't a groomsmen and instead an usher. He was able to keep them distracted as I walked down the aisle so that they would walk down on their own. The best thing about the wedding and being involved, is meeting new people and making new friends. There were a handful of Lauren's friends who I really connected with, which is not shocking since Lauren and I are a lot alike. One in particular is actually my friend now as well. It was fun to be the older sister to a couple of new girls who didn't have older sisters. Now if they would just tell my sisters that having an older sister is cool...Here are some funny stories from the wedding...

The night before the wedding two of Lauren's friends, myself and my mom were practicing bustling the dress. When Lauren put it on, there was still a pin in the back of the dress pointed right at her backside. She pulled up the dress and the pin went straight into her butt cheek, to which she responded "Oh S***" Thankfully SD was in the room and heard every word, which she then proceeded. Lauren apologized profusely and told SD that I was going to wash Lauren's mouth out with soap! SD hasn't said the word since, so hopefully she forgot about it! Thanks Lauren!

At the rehearsal dinner, SD met a new friend, a relative of the groom. The little girl was about her age and they had a blast running around together. She came up to me and told me that she had a new friend named Sophapia, funny thing is that we were at a Mexican Restuarant. I finally figured out that the little girls name was actually Sophie...too funny!

At Least He Won't Laugh at me When I Cry

2010-11-29T07:45:00.000-06:00

BG is once again hunting this past weekend. Actually, the weekend after Thanksgiving is an extended hunt. I realized on Saturday that I had a Blockbuster gift card that I have had for about a year! I decided that the kids would love to go pick a couple new movies to watch, so off we went. While we were there, we had a little issue with SD taking something that we didn't pay for...but that is another story. Since my gift card was for $10, we were able to get 5 movies! The kids got 2 that were only 99 cents, a Hello Kitty Movie and a Curious George movie. We also got a Christmas movie, to kick off the season. I decided since BG was gone, I would rent some chic flicks, so I got Love Happens and Letters to Juliet.

After the kids had gone to bed, I curled up in my bed with my glass of wine and popped in Love Happens. I really like romantic comedies and it was the perfect scenario, wine, sappy movie and my electric blanket. Of course, it was sappy and it made me cry (this is something that has become more prevalent since having kids). I sat there thinking...the best thing about watching a movie like this without BG is that he can't make fun of me crying. I actually started boo-hooing, not just a couple of tears filling up in my eyes. I am glad that I could cry in peace without having to hide it from him :) Of course, it could have been the wine making it worse, either way, it is a cute movie!

Project Pandemonium

2010-09-20T13:58:00.000-05:00

I love projects, especially craft projects. The problem is, I almost always buy a new project before I finish the last one...or the last 8. Right now, I have a TON of projects, and I mean a ton! Some I have had on hand for more than a year, some are newer and some are ongoing. I think I am addicted. I see great ideas in magazines or on TV and think...I can do that, so I buy the stuff to do it. Well, effective today, I am officially on restriction from said purchasing activities until I finish ALL of the projects that I currently have in my house. I do realize that it may mean I have to buy a couple of things to finish off the projects, but that is the only wiggle room I have. So, in an effort to keep me accountable...here is the list of projects that I currently have waiting to be finished.

Sewing
1. Christmas Countdown Tree (I saw this in a Pottery barn catalog and bought the stuff before last Christmas to make in time for last Christmas...still in the bag)
2. Fleece Robes for the kids (bought before last winter, intended to be part of their Christmas gifts)
3. SD's Halloween Costume - Aurora (I just bought this fabric)
4. Summer dress for SD (was intended to be her outfit for her 4th birthday this past summer)
5. Summer shorts for SD and Linus (again, intended for this past summer)
6. Car Seat Organizers (I just bought this and want to try and get them made before we go to SA this Fall/Winter)

Needlework
1. Nativity Figures (this will be an ongoing project, I got it this past year for my birthday and I intend to create a set each Christmas so that we can add to the collection, there are about 10 sets)
2. Christmas Quilt (this is a baby afghan that I have been cross-stitching since BG and I got married, each square represents a year and has something to do with what happened that year, I am a couple of years behind and Christmas isn't stopping anytime soon)
3. Needlepoint Purse for SD, we got this on clearance the other day, super cute and all PINK, for her to store stuff in

Scrapbooking
1. I have an addiction to paper and 24 page workshops. I host these as often as I can and do them at other times by myself. It makes it really easy to get scrapbooking done, which is good since I am almost 3 full years behind now. I recently purchased a bunch of paper packs when CTMH was having their big paper sale, and then again when the new papers came out, so I have 13 workshops that I need to do!
2. 3 years of scrapbooking behind!!!!!
3. I want to do a book of our town and the places that we go
4. I also have a scrapbook about me I need to do (from a Bible Study years ago, I did the Bible Study part, just not the scrapbook)
5. Finish the scrapbook of my childhood pictures for my mom (part of a gift that started 5 years ago, hey...I got the other 3 siblings done, just not mine!)

As for prioritizing...I am trying to do 1-2 scrapbook workshops per week so that I can have them all done before my retreat in February. I also need to have SD's costume done before Halloween and I would like to have the first round of needlepoint figurines done before my sister's wedding so that I can leave them in SA to be made into figurines before Christmas.

Cookie Cutters

2010-09-17T15:05:00.000-05:00

Over Christmas, we were at my Parent's house and I was passed down something that I have very fond memories of as a kid. My my mom gave me a bunch of the cookie cutters that she had. As a kid I used to love the sight of this can being pulled out, it is green and white and was a gift from a doctor friend of my dad's, filled with popcorn. We knew that it meant we were going to get to bake cookies.

We have already used a bunch of the cookie cutters for making cookies, but we have also used them in art projects, for making pancakes and just to trace for fun.

Passing down these cookie cutters has been really cool and I hope that SD and Linus have fond memories of them as well!

Looking Back

2010-09-16T09:07:00.000-05:00

We ask for deliverance from something, we are thankful for the deliverance, but then as we walk through the hard parts of actually being delivered, the flesh begins to cry out in opposition. We start drifting backwards in our spirits to that place that was familiar, instead of walking obediently towards where God wants to take us.

I know this has been true with our family’s finances. We prayed for deliverance from debt and God began to show us a way out. Yet as we have walked through what it has taken to be debt-free, I have often caught myself looking back at when I used to charge things freely, with no thought as to how we would pay for it. Oh, how nice that was to just be able to go buy something without having to scrounge and save, I find myself thinking. I don't want to look backwards or give into the comforts my flesh craves. I want to push forward, straining for the prize God has for me. I want to seek Him with all my heart – no matter where that takes me. I want to live in that sometimes uncomfortable place of walking in total obedience. When the rain comes pouring down, I want to choose to dance in the puddles instead of longing for the shelter of past sunny days.

“But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.”
Acts 7:39 (NIV)

Counting Cars

2010-09-15T10:34:00.000-05:00

Before we purchased our new mini-van, we looked into a lot of different makes and models. BG is very into researching all that stuff, but we also did an informal pole on our trip to San Antonio and this is what we found:

Mini-vans rule the road

Chevy - 15

Chrysler - 25 (BG's pick)

Dodge - 47

Honda - 41 (My pick)

Toyota - 18

Kia - 6

Hyundai - 1

Ford - 8

Broken Down - Mazda

We ended up getting a Chrysler and really like it!

People Say the Darndest Things

2010-09-14T10:36:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago at church, I was picking up Linus from his Sunday School class. I had on a loose fitting dress and the lady in his class asked me if I was pregnant. I tried to not be too offended, but do I really look pregnant? Of course it made me a lot more focused on my eating habits and workout routine for the rest of the week! The funny thing is that I have had the opposite happen as well. I was super pregnant with Linus, like T-1 month or so, I was at a neighborhood get together and the lady I was talking to was asking if I had kids and kind of looking at my stomach. I was like "Hello, there is no doubting that there is something extra in my body right now" but she was of the age that you didn't ask people about that unless they told you! Funny how different things are now.

That same day at church, I was walking back to the sanctuary when I overheard two ladies at our coffee bar. One of them I believe was pregnant and the other was asking her how it was going because she looked really tired. Why do people think that is an okay thing to say to someone, kind of like telling someone that they look as if they don't feel well. If they are tired or don't feel well, they really don't need to be reminded of the fact that they are not doing a good job hiding it!

Laundry Detergent

2010-09-13T10:14:00.000-05:00

About a year or so ago, I started contemplating the idea of making my own laundry detergent. Laundry detergent is expensive to say the least and evidently it is very bad for the environment, probably the manufacturing of it and disposal of the containers. A friend of mine shared with me her recipe and I have been making it ever since. It is very easy and very cheap. Not only that, it is good if you have sensitive skin as it does not irritate your skin with perfumes and can be used for baby laundry as well. Here is the recipe:

1 bar Castile Soap, grated (my current favorite is the almond scent)
1 c Borax powder (according to the Queen of Clean, this has all sorts of cleaning powers)
1 c Washing Soda (by Arm & Hammer, it is in the laundry aisle)
1/4 c Oxy Clean (not necessary, but I add it)

Mix it all together into a bumpy, granular mix. Don't worry about it getting correctly dispersed. Use 1T for alight/normal load and 2T for heavy/dirty loads.

I usually triple the recipe because I do a LOT of laundry and I don't want to be making it all of the time. This last time I multiplied it by 6, but it wouldn't all fit in my container, so I don't think that I will do that again. It is all very easy, the only thing that is annoying is grating the soap, but it the best way I have found to do it is in our food processor.

I also have a recipe for laundry rinse, I don't make it, I just use straight vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser to make sure that all of the germs are washed away. Don't worry, your clothes won't smell like vinegar, I promise!

Laundry Rinse
1 gal white vinegar
25-30 drops essential oil.

Turning 32

2010-09-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

I originally intended on posting this a long time ago...but it has been sitting in my drafts folder until now...better late than never.

So far 32 has been a great year! It is crazy to think that I am healthier now than I was in my 20s. Actually, BG and I got life insurance recently and we had a nurse come out to the house to do all of our vitals and tests. I asked our insurance agent if I could get the test results for my personal use. He kind of laughed because he had never had anyone ask for their results before, leave it to me :) Turns out, I am so healthy that I got the best rate possible! The cool thing is that it is locked in for 30 years :) He said that he has only had a handful of people get that rate, so that made me really happy.

Even though my weight is not where it was 10 years ago (I know...two kids!) I am in much better shape. I am so much stronger and more fit than I was back then, even when I was training for my marathon. I think I like getting older...okay, I know...tap the brakes!

Closet Organization

2010-09-02T15:36:00.000-05:00

The "Yaffa" blocks now filled with BG's Hunting Clothes

The "dress-up" station

All SD's summer clothes (her winter clothes had to be stored in the attic)

The bottom half of her closet

Roller skates, suitcase and shoes!!!

SD was sleeping in her tent and it was the perfect opportunity to get some organizing done. Her closet has needed some organization for a long time now! I removed the "yafa" blocks and baskets that were in them and re-arranged the entire floor of the closet. It seems so much roomier now and less cluttered. We have been given so many clothes that I had to pack up all of her winter clothes and clothes for next summer and put them in the attic. Thankfully, I was able to use the "Yafa" blocks in BG's hunting closet. We have a utility closet that has the hot water heater and a utility sink. There are shelves in there and we added a closet rod and hung all BG's clothes in there. The problem is that when SD got her bunk beds, we had to move the "Wreath O Fun" into there and it really didn't work to have BG's clothes hang in front of it because the wreath is massive. This gets all of his clothes away from the wreath and they are actually more accessible for him...just in time for hunting season!

Cheerleading

2010-09-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

SD took cheer leading this summer at our rec center. At first she didn't like it too much, and kept asking to do somersaults, but then she got into it. These are pics of the last day where they did a pep rally for all the parents.

Funky Chicken

High V

SD with her teacher

Jewelry Organization

2010-08-31T16:55:00.000-05:00

A while back...like 6 months ago...I was reading one of my favorite blogs and saw this awesome jewelry organizer. I thought...that looks easy and really pretty. Before I was using a handed down jewelry doll I guess you would call it. It is one of those figures of a woman that has arms of metal to hold your jewelry. Anyway, I finally got around to it this weekend and I love the way it looks. I made one for a friend too, I hope she likes it. Org Junkie mentioned to wear gloves because twisting all of those hooks in there really hurts your hand. I took that advice and after doing two boards, my fingers really hurt. About half way through the second one, I realized, why not use a pair of pliers. Turned out that is an even better idea. SD had a blast helping me to hang all of my necklaces and she really liked it when I gave her the doll for her jewelry.

The Materials

The finished product

Dumpster Decorating

2010-08-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

Evidently our neighborhood has some great trash! I typically run outside a couple of days a week and it just so happens that I run on trash day. I have found some great stuff, and am not above lugging it home on the jog stroller and fixing it up. I have found a barbie jeep for SD, BG found a Harley "Motorcycle" for Linus, a mirror for SD's room, a mirror for our living room and a booster seat. It is so much fun to find this great stuff all for free. Usually it just needs to be cleaned up and maybe redone a little, thankfully I have a very handy husband and a creative eye!

The mirror in SD's room...all it needed was some paint and a replacement mirror

Upclose detail of the top...so girly! I love it!

Mirror in our living room, all it needed was some stain and the hanger to be fixed.

BG also found these sconces at Lowe's on major clearance, they were only $10 a piece I think and he hung and wired them to a switch. They have really dressed up our formal living room.

So...are you inspired to check out your neighbors trash? Just don't let it become your trash or junk up your house, have a plan when you pick it up or resolve to just leave it there!

Healthy Lunch

2010-08-27T15:02:00.000-05:00

I have been talking with my friend and personal trainer and she suggested that I add more protein to my diet. My friend at work has also said the same thing. Right now I am at a pretty stagnant place in my weight/body and it is frustrating to say the least. This lunch was the idea of my friend at work...but I spiced it up a little! Orange bell pepper, spicy hummus, turkey and pepper jack cheese, with a side of pear. It was so delicious and looked amazing, so I took a pic! Making you hungry?

Breakfast

2010-08-26T16:17:00.000-05:00

I have really been focusing on breakfast lately with my kids. I am a morning person and they are too, so it is a perfect time to really pour into their lives. Not only that, I really think that it sets the tone for the day. I am trying to also set a healthy example and habit for them. One of our favorite meals right now is homeade oatmeal. I found the recipe at Kroger when I was shopping in the produce department. We have modified a little bit because SD is pretty picky. I have also added protein powder with lots of vitamins to increase that in my kids diet. Here is a picture and the recipe! Enjoy!

2 cups of milk

1 cup of water

1 tsp of vanilla (it is supposed to be 2, but we use a much stronger mexican vanilla...really the only way to go)

2 Tbsp of brown sugar

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

1/4 tsp of nutmeg

2 Tbsp of Protein Powder

1 1/2 C of plain oats

I mix all of the ingredients (in a pot) before adding the oats, because it makes it a little easier. Then add the oats. Put on med-high heat for 13-15 minutes. Let cool and enjoy. I make it right when I get home from the gym and the kids love to help me out! Then we add raisins and "sprinkles" (Pampered Chef Vanilla Sugar I think). SD has actually started asking for this in the morning with is nothing short of amazing, considering she would barely touch it when I first served it. Linus can eat up to two bowls, he is going to be a linebacker! This recipe makes 4 servings, but we usually finish it off in a morning :)

Bugs

2010-08-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

We have started our garden...finally! I "adopted" a garden from a local church at the very beginning of the summer. The only problem is that it was at the end of the spring growing season and really too late to plant anything for summer, so we had to wait! In the meantime, I ordered the book on Square Foot gardening and waited until the last minute to skim it in order to plan my fall garden. What we did take time to do is make these really cute markers out of milk jug tops, milk jugs, white duct tape and gooly eyes. I think they are so cute and really set our garden apart from the others. The kids had a blast making them and so far they are standing up to the watering really well. We had one googly eye fall off and SD named that one the monster since it has only one eye. So far we have planted broccoli and carrots, but we will be planting stuff almost every weekend for the next couple of weeks :) Here is to hoping that it actually produces and I stick with it :)

Bug Markers

Carrot Marker

Glasses

2010-08-24T21:53:00.000-05:00


		Boo!

Duck boy


Frog Girl

Ice Cream Sunday

2010-08-13T06:30:00.001-05:00

We have started a little Sunday evening tradition around here. On Sunday evening, we grill out and eat dinner "Alfresco" as SD would tell us. The kids typically swim in our fancy large blow up pool while we get dinner ready. After a yummy grilled dinner, the whole family gets in the pool (yes, it is big enough) and we play a LOT! BG is really good at playing with the kids in the pool, afterall, he is just a big kid! Then out we go and have ice cream on the deck. The nice thing is that it doesn't matter if the kids get it all over them, because they are in their swim suits, outside and about to have a shower! It really tires them out, so they sleep well on Sunday night and really does set the tone for the week. Only problem, our pool has malfunctioned now, so I don't know if this routine has stopped or just paused :) At least it made it through the hot summer for the most part!

Family time in the pool with Gigi!

Twisted Tuesday/Weird Wednesday

2010-08-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

I have been working from home one day a week since Linus was born. It started out as part of coming back from maternity leave and I asked for it to continue. I think at first I was at home T/TH and then maybe switched to Wednesday. For the last year and a half though, I have been working from home on Tuesdays. This year SD is going to school MWF, so I have switched to Wednesday so that I am able to take her to school one day a week. I have only been doing it for two weeks now and it is totally jacking up my schedule. My cleaning schedule worked really nicely with being at home on Tuesdays. I had purposefully put laundry, changing sheets and cleaning the floors on the day I worked from home. I can change the laundry loads while working and then since I don't have to commute, I am able to clean the floors and not be up late. So when I switched to Wednesday at home, I thought...well I will just move everything forward a day. Problem is, it doesn't work, it throws off the whole week. The biggest problem is that I like ironing on Wednesday when my shows are on, gives me something to do. I have been playing around with my schedule and so far I think the following works the best:

M - kitchen and windex
T - laundry and floors
W - ironing, dusting and changing sheets
TH - bathrooms
F - laundry and floors
S - ironing if I feel like it, if not, it hangs out until W :)

So, isn't that an exciting post!

One thing Leads to Another

2010-08-10T13:49:00.000-05:00

Plain brown cabinets.

And since we painted the entire house...why not redo the cabinets. I have never really liked our bathroom counter. I don't like the marble (too old looking) and the cabinets are really basic. So we painted them a creamy white to match all of the trim.

Painted Cabinets

And since we were painting, we might as well move the toilet to paint behind it. Well, that turned into replacing the toilet! Of course, Now I want new countertops, new towels (we have had ours since our wedding 8 years ago!) and new drapery...maybe. Thankfully our shower already got redone, although I would love to redo the floors to match...it NEVER ends!

I ball...do you?

2010-08-08T08:57:00.000-05:00

One thing I love about summer is the amount of fresh fruit that is around. One of our favorite summer fruits is watermelon. Linus could probably eat an entire watermelon by himself and still want more! I hadn't ever thought much of it until someone commented on it one time, but I guess I prepare my watermelon a little different than everyone else. You see, I ball my watermelon. Not just for parties or to make it fancy, but that is what I do every time we have one. I guess that most people just cut it up into chunks or triangles, but not me. I love having it in little bite sizes and easy to pick up and eat. My kids love it too, it makes it so much easier for them to eat. And really, it doesn't take much time at all. I don't even know how to cut up a watermelon, so I am sure that would take me more time to do. I have even started teaching SD how to do it, and she LOVES to help! I am not sure if that is what my mom always did or not, but I think that a melon baller is a necessity in my kitchen!

Run Forest, Run

2010-08-06T08:51:00.000-05:00

BG went on a run over the 4th of July weekend. He always goes when it is so hot outside, I don't see how he does it. Anyway, this particular run happened actually on the 4th fairly early in the day and when he got back, he had a whopper of a story for me.

Turns out, his route goes by the park in our neighborhood. As he was entering the park to go on the trails, there was a man sitting on the curb that looked a little out of sorts. BG started asking the man if he needed help. About that time a lady who was standing by her car told him "No, he is just drunk!" I guess that she was his wife or something and he had partied a little too much the night before and was about 15 sheets by this time! The guy went on to mention that he had only had 3! Not 3 beers, but 3 cases!!! That is a LOT of beer! The lady got so aggitated by this point that she just drove off because he wouldn't get in the car.

BG continued on his run, but decided he would run back by there just in case the man was still there and needed help. When he ran back by he was gone, so I guess he decided to get in his old lady's car and go home to sober up!

Answered Prayer - Friends

2010-08-04T08:45:00.000-05:00

I have really been praying about my friends lately. Since we moved over 3 years ago now, I just haven't found the friends that I had at our old house. I was talking with BG about it and he has a theory it is because we are not far enough away to be forced to make as many new friends as we would if we had moved to Colorado or something. The other thing that makes it more complicated is that these people were our friends before we had kids, so we had less distracting us. I have friends at work, which is great and some friends at church, but nothing like what we had before. The cool thing is, like BG said, we didn't move that far away, so I still get to see them on a somewhat regular basis.

I have also been really praying about my friendships, that God will take people out of my life that I don't need to be friends with. I am now realizing that He has been doing that, slowly, which has eased the pain. I think it has been happening over a couple of years now little by little. At first I was a little hurt by some of these actions, then I realized it was God taking people out of my life that didn't really need to be part of it daily. The nice thing is, these people are still my friends, but our relationships have just changed, and that is okay! Sometimes friends are there for a lifetime, sometimes only a season, but each has its purpose and deposits something in your life, and you in theirs!

Menonite Mama

2010-08-02T08:33:00.000-05:00

We went to the zoo over July 4th weekend, because we had a free Monday and we have passes. It was so fun to just decide that morning to go and then make it happen. While we were there I saw a cute family that I can only assume was a Menonite Family or something of that sort. The girls were all dressed in long skirts and hair was long, but neatly tied back in braids or a bun. The mom was carrying the baby, who was probably about 4 months old and wearing a bonnet. The two older girls were sweet looking as all get out and held hands as they walked through the zoo with their Dad. One thing that really struck me about this woman was the look of peace on this woman's face. Not only that, but her children were very well behaved and it looked like the knew how they should act and were acting this way. It reminded me of my neighbor, I just recently took her food because she had just had her 7th, yes 7th baby. They are a totally normal family and go to the local baptist church down the street. When I was over there, all 6 of her older children were helping each other out, not fighting and she didn't look stressed or overwhelmed at all.

I wonder what it is about these women that make them that kind of mom, because that is the kind of mom that I want to be. I want my kids to be well behaved, but me not be at my whit's end trying to make them that way. I want my kids to be best friends, and not competing against each other for my attention. I would like to believe that what helps them be that way is their morning quiet time with God and a sense of peace that He gives them to start their day. Don't get me wrong, I am sure these women lose their cool at some point, and their kids aren't always perfect and well behaved. But you can just tell that there is something different.

I am trying to spend my quiet time in a very purposeful manner and not just do it to check it off my list for the day like a Pharisee. I am trying to not get worked up when my kids make a mess, or don't take a nap. I am trying to go with the flow more and not be so uptight and worried about everything being perfect! But that is a big mountain to climb!

Scraplifting

2010-07-30T08:52:00.000-05:00

I have been subscribing to 2 different scrapbook magazines for a couple of years now. I have always wanted to make use out of my magazine subscriptions (of all kinds) so I typically tear out pages that I want to use in the future...good ideas, recipes, websites to go look at. Unfortunately, I have a problem with follow through for the most part. I have a HUGE stack of recipes that need to be entered into our recipe software, that just seems to keep growing. From my scrapbook magazines, I have torn out ideas about layouts, organization tips, new products, etc. I have organized all of these (you are shocked aren't you?) into binders, complete with dividers and labeled on the outside. The first time I took my idea binder to my scrapbook retreat, I was made fun of incessantly! Funny how almost everyone there has used them by the end of the retreat...everyone but me!

I have so many ideas now, that I actually have two binders...and they keep getting added to, but nothing taken away! So, I decided I needed to actually start using these ideas or really what good were they? In scrapbooking lingo, this is called scraplifting. Here are my binders (notice how big they are), the idea and my rendition of it.

My two binders...on my scrapbook table. I love my Dynmo label maker...

The top one is my copy, which still needs a white flower added to it.

I really liked this one and was able to use up some supplies I have had for a long time.

Cute little lady!

The other thing that I am starting to do is get picture ideas from my idea book. So, I know we are doing an activity that I saw a cute layout for...take similar pictures so that it lends itself to copy the idea. One example of this was a splash park, there was a cute idea and we were going to a birthday party at a splash park...so I studied up and got some similar pics!

Mr. Sandman

2010-07-29T05:58:00.000-05:00

As a small child, I had a recurring nightmare. It happened so often or I guess was so vivid, that I still remember it in detail to this day, and it has probably been 20 years since I dreamed it. My nightmare was about being kidnapped, I was terrified of it. In my dream, the kidnappers had painted the inside of a moving van to look like my bedroom and one of them had dressed up like my mom and brought me breakfast. I am not sure where I even came up with any of these details, but they were very vivid in my dream. I think that some people dream more than others and some are more vivid and more easily remembered.

I think that SD has inherited my dreaming abilities. She woke up this morning, EARLY (around 5) and said that she had a dream about a lizard. I tucked her back into bed and we talked about it a little bit. She said, "I don't like to dream." I can totally understand her fears, it is awful waking up from a dream that seems so real and the thought of falling back asleep only to jump right back into that dream is awful. But then there are those awesome dreams, that leave a smile on your face, or make you laugh. I tried to explain to her that sometimes dreams are fun and exciting, and to think about things that you want to dream about (for her this would include Fancy Nancy, dress up and princess stuff!)

So...what is your dream life like?

Frog

2010-07-20T07:42:00.000-05:00

Do you see that...yep, a FROG!

As is my custom (I am a creature of habit), I went to turn on the soaker hoses to water my flower beds as I went for a run. One of the faucets is on the side of the porch and pretty much in the flower bed. As I went to turn it on, I heard something russle in the leaves. I crouched down and I saw Mr. Frog here hiding under by ferns. I went for my run and when I got back he was still sitting there, so I ran inside and got my camera, more for proof than anything. When Linus woke up, we went out there to look for him, but he had hopped away I guess. Hope to meet you again Mr. Frog, the kids would love to see you!

Ironing Sheets

2010-07-14T14:01:00.000-05:00

As a child, I remember my grandmother having her sheets ironed. I thought it was so weird, because you sleep on sheets. Then I inherited a set of those sheets in college, I was too young to care about if they were ironed or not. Now...I iron Linus' sheets! I know, I have lost my mind! I only iron the pillow cases and the border of his top sheet. His sheets are 100% cotton and the border looks awful if you don't iron it. I know...I am crazy...but look!

ironed pillow case

wrinkly pillow case, not pretty!

Paint

2010-07-13T13:30:00.005-05:00

So...another reason (excuse) why I haven't blogged is our weekend activities and home improvement. Easter weekend we repainted pretty much our entire house! The funny thing is it was all because of one little patch in the hall. When we moved in there was a digital thermostat that BG didn't like I guess...so he changed it. Being the Type A guy that he is, he patched and painted the area, and it never looked right. He tried EVERYTHING! We tried the paint cans in the garage, we went and got a can of the actual paint, we used texture to make sure that wasn't the issue. After living with it for a couple of years, he decided we should just go ahead and repaint the hall....and if we were going to repaint the hall, we might as well paint the entire rest of the house. So since we are at it...why not change the color. We ended up going from a greenish tan to a sunny yellow in most of the house. It has dramatically helped lighten the house up since our ceilings are low. And while we are at it...why not just paint the hall bath and our master bath? So we went from having only painted the kids rooms, to having repainted all but one bathroom, the playroom and the kitchen/laundry room! So....here are some before and after pics...
My wall of crosses in the hall before.

The dining room before.

The den after. Much brighter!

Cookoff

2010-07-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

For 5 or 6 years now BG has been participating in a local cook-off. It has become an annual tradition and even prompted him to purchase his very own smoker on a trailer. I have strict instructions that nothing is to be planned on that weekend! I almost messed that up one year, the year SD was born. It was so hot out there and I stayed out there pretty much the whole time. The cookoff just happened to be 3 days before SD was due, so we were chancing it to begin with. As they were giving out the awards, I started having contractions and was miserable. I downed a bunch of water and we raced to my inlaws house where I could take a cool shower and try to relax. We decided it was time to head home, but weren't sure if we should go home or to the hospital. By the time we got close, the contractions had calmed down and all I wanted to do was go home! Turns out SD didn't come for a couple more days and she only came then because they forced her out!

All that to say that this cookout is integrated into our family life. The kids go up there now and we really look forward to it. It is kind of the beginning of our summer, it means that summer is really here. Well, this year was the last year for that. They are moving the cookoff to April, which will be nice for the weather, but it will be different! If you are in the area, you should come check it out, it is some good people watchin'!

Art Gallery

2010-07-01T17:07:00.000-05:00

I came home from work a while back to find that SD had taped her drawings on various walls in our house.

These are above her bed.

This is on a wall in the living room, totally random!

So, to prevent this, I created an "Art Gallery" for her. All I did was take some ribbon that I had and string it across her bunk beds. Then we used laundry clips to hang all of her artwork from. She really likes being able to hang up all of her drawings and school projects for everyone to see.

Summer Activities

2010-06-25T10:08:00.001-05:00

SD has gotten to do some fun summer activities through her school. Last week she went to space camp and learned all about space, planets, stars, etc. This week she has been going to VBS at her school. I always had such fond memories of VBS at my church growing up that I was really excited to send her. The cool thing about it is that it also has a space theme, so back to back, she is learning about space and who created it! During VBS, they have a theme color each day that all of the kids and volunteers wear. We kind of messed up the first day, but since then have been doing a pretty good job. Today was finally a "girly" color...Purple! The other days we have had to be somewhat creative because SD does not have a ton of primary color shirts. But today...today was a different story! I laid out 5 purple shirts that she could pick from. Is that a problem? I hate to even think of the number of PINK shirts that we have!

Pillows Galore

2010-06-18T09:06:00.000-05:00

Another reason...another project! For Christmas my MIL gave me fabric to make pillows for my bed. I have had the fabric since BEFORE Christmas, actually, I think I bought it around Halloween. I wanted a really regal bed with tons of pillows and I wanted them to be different, which means making them myself.

When I was buying all of the different fabric, the ladies at Jo-Anns were oohing and aahhing over the combination of fabrics and were intrigued as to what I was making. They even wanted me to bring them a picture when it was completed (which I haven't done yet). Anywho....here is my bed before

And after...

Big Boy Room

2010-06-17T09:01:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons I haven't been blogging is due to the high number of home improvement projects that we did this spring. One of which was moving Linus from his crib and transforming his big boy room. We did a firetruck theme and got him bunk beds at a local store for a steal! I am really loving his room and he does really well in his big boy bed.

Aunt Mamie also just painted an adorable 3 section fire truck to go over his bed that I found in the Pottery Barn Catalog!

LOVE IT!

Clothes Horse

2010-06-13T20:52:00.006-05:00

I was looking at my closet the other morning trying to decide what to wear, when I realized that I have a TON of clothes. I did a clothing audit, as any good accountant would do and found that I had the following:

27 Sleeveless Shirts

42 Short Sleeve Shirts

4 Cropped Sweaters

26 3/4 sleeve shirts

4 3/4 sleeve sweaters

27 long sleeve shirts

5 jackets

18 sweaters

26 dresses

13 pairs of jeans

19 pairs of dress pants/slacks

6 pairs of capri pants

6 pairs of winter pants

21 skirts

3 pair of bermuda shorts

Mind you...this is ONLY what is hanging in my closet. This does not count my drawers of t-shirts, workout clothes or

Here are pics of my overstuffed closet

My goal is to wear every piece of clothing in my closet (season appropriate of course) before wearing it again. It is going to be hard, but if I don't wear it, I shouldn't have it!

I have cleaned out my closet since I performed this audit and gave it to a friend who has lost a bunch of weight, but couldn't go out and buy a new wardrobe, so that made me feel great! And I have been reading the Science of Sexy and getting rid of clothes that don't work with my shape/body type.

Thankful Thursdays

2010-06-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Lauri has started a series of posts entitled Thankful Thursdays. I thought I would copy her...for a little while anyway!

1. Thankful for all of these little clothes that I get to fold. So many people are not able to have children, something has happened to their children or their life circumstances have not allowed them to. So often people who do have children take them for granted especially with all of the work that comes with little people.
2. Thankful that I have three beds to change sheets on each week and that I love the people that sleep in them every night!

Marathon Momma

2010-06-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

This year I decided I wanted to try for 4 Half Marathons! An ambitious goal and double what I did last year. Well...I am halfway there. The first one was really special because I did it with the cousins on my husband's side of the family in honor of my sister in law who passed away this past Christmas. So here are my thoughts from the first two:

Dallas Rock 'n Roll - March 2010

Awesome to run with family

Not that well prepared

Time 2:29

Interesting course, but kind of hilly

Heels & Hills - Irving - May 2010

Ran all by myself, I didn't even have any fans to cheer me on :(

I was in a very odd place mentally, really struggling with some issues, so it gave me some great time to think and process what was happening

Time 2:19:58, took 10 minutes off my time!

Calories burned - 2552

Very flat course, the name of the race is a misnomer :)

I have two more scheduled for the year, one of which I am already signed up for, one I haven't signed up for yet. I will be doing the Heels, Hills & Him in September and then The San Antonio Rock 'n Roll in November with my best friend from HS.

Back to Blogging

2010-06-08T16:28:00.003-05:00

I really need to get back to blogging! Blogging is like therapy for me, it gets all of the stuff that is swimming around in my head out on "paper" so to speak. I have so many ideas and things to blog about, that I really just need to sit down and do it. I like Facebook and all, but it just isn't the same. Plus, there are people on my Facebook that I really don't want to know everything about me. Not only that, but a status update just isn't the same. Plus, I kind of think of my blog as my online scrapbook of sorts. I often refer back to it when I am doing my scrapbook to get the words that go along with the pictures. So...your job in all this, hold me accountable. If I stop blogging, ask me about it! I hate to disappoint and after all, my life is SOOOO interesting :)

Follow Through

2010-06-04T11:12:00.002-05:00

I have realized lately that I don't follow through on a lot of things. I start a project and then it sits there. The thing is, if I would keep going it would take less time than the time it takes me to constantly write it on my to-do list! Then what do you know....I get this devotional! God's timing is perfect as always!

Luck be a Lady

2010-04-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

In the past I would not have considered myself lucky! I never win drawings or prizes, etc. I have a friend Melissa who is always the lucky winner so to speak. She is one of my scrapbooking budies and anytime she goes to a crop or there is any sort of drawing she wins. Last year at our retreat they did a drawing and my friend Becca said, just give it to Melissa, she will win anyway...sure enough, they drew Melissa's name!

Well, look out Melissa, I think I might be taking your place! Melissa isn't going to our retreat this year, so it is lookin good for me!

You see, I have never really won until this past month. I attend a local Mom's group and they have a drawing each meeting. In March, it was a book about praying scripture for your children, and my name was called for the first prize! Then, just this past weekend, I attended a local open house for a scrapbook store and got a kit valued at over $40!!! I guess I can't say that I don't win things anymore!

Guess I should go play the lottery!

Tuesdays with Mommy!

2010-04-21T16:19:00.003-05:00

Tuesdays are by far my favorite day! Right now I think that a lot of it has to do with the fact that Tuesday is the day that I am privileged to work from home (have I mentioned that I love my job!) I love being able to work and be a mom, gives me the best of both worlds I think, even if it is hard to juggle! But that isn't the only reason that I love them.

I was talking to my MIL once and she told me that Tuesday was her favorite day as well and when I asked why, she told me "Because Monday was over!" There is a lot of truth in that, Mondays are just crazy for me. People are trying to get things crossed off their to-do list, which usually means lots of interruptions for me. Not only that, but you are adjusting from weekend mode back into weekday mode, which can be really hard, waking up to the alarm again, rushing in the morning to get dressed and get out the door.

The other big reason that I love Tuesdays is because that is when I change my sheets. I know this may make me sound crazy, but I love the way clean sheets feel. I love slipping into bed and they are all nice and cool and crisp! I also clean my floors on Tuesdays and once again, I LOVE clean floors. I love not worrying about if the bottom of my kids feet look like Walmart-feet or HEB feet! Or if it is safe to eat what just fell on the floor :0 (don't say you don't do it, I know you do!)

So, what is your favorite day?

Easter Sunday

2010-04-06T06:16:00.003-05:00

Easter was pretty hard this year and very emotional. This was the first major holiday since my sister in law passed away. Not only that, but her birthday was yesterday. I think it was hard on all of us. I know for me, I was overcome with emotion and had to fight back the tears, and I am not typically a crier! At church, after the sermon, they dimmed the lights and a bag pipe player came out (dressed in a kilt I might add) and played Amazing Grace. For some reason, this just struck a chord in me and opened the flood gate of tears. After that was played we went on to sing music, all of which continued to flood me with emotions. Today, I can't remember the names of the songs that we sung, but I remember how I felt. The thing I was thinking about the most was what a celebration they were having in Heaven and how my sister in law was able to participate. I thought, man, they must have these kind of celebrations every day, basking in the glory of the Risen Savior!

BG and I talked about it later and come to find out, he was having trouble keeping in the tears as well. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a sister, she was like a sister to me and I have had a tough time with it, even though I have only known her for 10 years, compared to his 35. At lunch I could tell her husband was also having a rough time. The awesome thing is that I know that I will see her again and be able to celebrate with her! I sure miss her!

Perceived Privacy

2010-03-11T09:28:00.003-06:00

One place that pretty much everyone thinks they have privacy is in their car. Which is funny because you are driving on a road with millions of other cars and unless your windows are tinted mob style, then people can see what you are doing! There are two things that people do in their car under the guise that they are alone...pick their nose and toot!

I am not going to lie, I have been guilty of both, who hasn't...but really, you are not alone. Have you ever been picking your nose and realized, duh, I am leaving my work, someone I know is going to see me.

On the tooting side, of course no one is going to see you do that, unless you have some green haze forming around you, but I do have a funny story about that. It is not my own, but it is funny none the less.

I think I have this story right...

A friend of mine was going on a date and her date came to pick her up. Evidently he had tooted before going to the door and it was still hanging around when he put her in the car. She didn't say anything, but when he got in the car, he had to claim it, there was just no getting around it! Thankfully, it didn't deter their relationship and they have been happily married for years now with two beautiful kids!

Funny story!

Sweet Moments

2010-03-09T16:09:00.002-06:00

I know, I said I would blog and I didn't! I really want to get back on it, but just haven't found the time. One of the reasons that I started this blog is because I wanted to document things that my family was doing and going through. I post periodically on Facebook, and that has kind of taken place of my blog, but you can't take your status updates and make them into a book like you can your blog entries. Not only that, but I use these entries when I scrapbook and my memory is definitely fading with age, which by the way, I will be a year older this week! Yikes! How did that happen?

So, here are some sweet moments lately in my life.

SD is hilarious really! As I was explaining this story to a friend, she commented that SD had such awe and amazement with everything, which I think perfectly describes her. If you have ever heard her talk, she has a very sing-songy voice that is quite cute! Last night I was putting her to bed, she is sick by the way, and I lifted her up into bed. I don't remember (see what age does) exactly our conversation, but in the context of it, I told her that God had fearfully and wonderfully made her and that He thought she was pretty special. She looked at me with big doe eyes and said with such enthusiasm, "He did! Wow!" It was such a sweet moment and a total God-stop moment for me. It was awesome to put Him in the midst of our everyday conversation, just like instructed in Deuteronomy 6:6-8

Linus has also come into his personality, just like his Daddy, only a little more stubborn, hopefully it is just the age. If you ask him to do something that he doesn't want to do, he just goes and puts his forehead against a wall or piece of furniture and pretends not to see you or hear you. Lucky for him, his mama is more stubborn than a mule! No comments on that please! But, he is a momma's boy and cute as all get out! He has now learned about giving kisses and when you ask for one, he sticks his lips out like a duck and waddles to you! It makes us all laugh, and makes it really hard to stay mad at him.

Well, that is all for now! Hope you are enjoying your day!

Seasonal Kids Flatware

2010-01-26T17:16:00.002-06:00

So, I had a blog idea for everyday last week ready to go, but my follow-thru really needs some attention. Hopefully I will get to those blogs, because I think they are worthy of writing about. Anyway, today's topic is totally on a whim!

I had to go to Target today, I know don't feel too sorry for me, to pick up a birthday present. Of course, I came home with way more than a birthday present (side note, they have the cutest little girl dresses for $8 and seeing that is pretty much all SD will wear, I got a couple). The thing that sucks me in every time is the dollar aisle. They have the cutest stuff and you think, it is only a dollar, why not? My problem is that it is never just one item. Take today for example...in the dollar aisle we got, heart ice cube trays, valentines slippers for SD, and a set of silverware for each kid. They also had matching plates and bowls, but our storage for those items is limited right now, so until some of the ones we have no longer are functional, we are stuck!

The thing that I love the most is their dinnerware! They always have seasonal fork/spoon sets, divided plates (an obsession I don't have time to go into now) and bowls. The silverware is actually pretty well made, but really at a dollar who cares. The plates, although they say not to put in dishwasher, survive very well in the dishwasher and microwave for quite a long time. They do start to warp after a while, but again, they were a dollar! And the little bowls are the perfect size for the kids breakfast.

National Delurking Week

2010-01-15T15:26:00.003-06:00

I know I haven't been posting much lately, but I just want to see if anyone still reads this. Maybe I will get back on the bandwagon...

Did you know that it's National Delurking week?

Please leave a comment if you read this blog, no use keeping up with posts if I don't have any readers :)

His House

2010-01-05T10:41:00.002-06:00

This is from a devotional that I get each day! Awesome and a new way to think about cleaning!

My Home Is His, Too!

O Lord, You have searched me and known me, . . . You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

Psalm 139:2-3, NKJV

Recently as I prepared my house for a visit by my father, I began to clean and straighten my house. I even bought fresh flowers and plants to place around the rooms to make them seem more lovely. I wanted my home to look as inviting, comfortable, and pleasing to his eyes as I could make it. Then it struck me - if I felt this way about my earthly father's brief visit, how much more care I should give my home every day since my heavenly Father lives here.

I am not a good housekeeper. But motivated by the thought that my house is His home also, I try hard to keep my house clean and neat. It is not professionally decorated with all the latest gadgets, but it is as pleasing to the eyes as my time, energy, and budget will allow. I want those who walk through my door to know that the Lord God lives here. And I hope the reality of His Presence is evident to all by the beauty of the outward appearance and the quality of the inner atmosphere of warmth and love they find here.

Blessings,

Ann Graham Lotz

Look Mom, I Found Sand

2009-11-27T10:35:00.001-06:00

This summer we went on a mini-vacation to Port Aransas. This was our first trip as a family and pretty much the first real trip we have taken since having kids. Thankfully, my parents live in between the metroplex and the coast, so we got to make a pit stop there. They were also able to come with us along with my sister. It was great having all of the extra helps and it brought back tons of great memories for me, since that is where we vacationed every summer of my childhood.

The kids LOVED the beach. Linus had no problems crawling around on the sand or in the water. SD was in heaven. BG took her out in the waves and she giggled the entire time.

One afternoon, as we were sitting on the beach, she was playing with our family friend in the shallow water. She came running back to me with a handful of sand and said, "Look mom, I found Sand." It was so funny because she said it with such enthusiasm and like she had discovered something new, never mind that she was walking on that very discovery!

Kids are funny!

Battle of Flowers

2009-11-23T17:53:00.002-06:00

In April I was in SA for Fiesta week. We took the whole family and got to participate in lots of the festivities. One of these festivities that struck me as odd is the Battle of Flowers Parade. You see, this parade is celebrating the battle of San Jacinto I believe and when Texas got their independence from Mexico. Yet, there are a LOT of people that look like they are descendants of people from Mexico at the parade. It just seems weird to me that they would be so eager to celebrate the defeat of their ancestors.

Pilot Personalities

2009-11-15T09:59:00.003-06:00

Thankfully my commute to work is pretty much a non-event. I am blessed to live on one side of the airport and work on the other. The best part is that I don't have to get on a highway or even really deal with traffic when I go to work, because I am able to flip through the airport. In doing this every day now for 2+ years, I have made some observations. I get to see lots of planes take off and land, and it never loses its amazement. One thing that I have noticed is that there are two groups of pilots. One that halls it into the airport almost screeching to a dead stop when they land on the runway. The other slows down before they even start their descent and is more like the tortoise. I have a theory that the slower pilots are those that are older and more cautious. The younger, still have something to prove pilots are the ones that try and beat their previous time. But this is just a theory since I can't actually see the pilot from the road. It would be interesting to study though!

Marriage Talk

2009-11-14T11:14:00.001-06:00

I read an article today that talked about sex in your marriage. I think this is something that is so true. While I don't agree with everything that they wrote in there, as I was telling my sister the other day, I think sex is very important in a marriage. I think when it changes, one way or the other, it is usually a sign of something else. But, those are just my personal thoughts, that I am posting for all to see on the internet! Nice!

Being a Mom

2009-11-12T16:15:00.000-06:00

I was reading the blogs that I subscribe to and came across this, kind of hit me in the gut! I have an important job as a mom, I know that, but this totally changes my perspective!

Here's a great quote:"I know that some jobs don't really count, don't make much of a difference, don't actually matter that much, don't have much lasting significance. Not so with mothering. I know that in some jobs the worker is only handling cleaning equipment, or car parts, or computer keyboards, or insurance policies, or court cases, or political legislation, or stockholders' funds. Not so with mothering. A mother is handling things of a far greater magnitude. She's handling never-dying souls. She's daily conducting heart surgery on eternal spirits whose forever destinies are influenced most profoundly by the hands that rock their cradles, wipe their noses, spank their fannies, open their Bibles, prepare their after-school snacks, and turn off their bedroom lights. Those motherly hands are molding characters which will become men and women who will turn the world upside down either for good or for evil. Now that's a job that counts. " Womanly Dominion, page 108-109

What do you think? If you are a mother, do you feel like it counts this much?

Facebook Friends

2009-11-11T09:07:00.002-06:00

I like Facebook, other than the fact that it is a total time waste and somewhat voyeuristic. But what are the rules regarding friends? I have a couple hundred friends I think, most of which I personally know or knew for an extended period of time. Others are more like acquaintances. Two such incidents are former significant others of my siblings. So, what do I do about that? Leave them as friends? I didn't break up with them after all, and I actually really liked both of them and would have no problems carrying on a conversation now with either one of them. Part of me just thinks it is weird! Any thoughts?

Ben-Gay

2009-11-10T14:35:00.001-06:00

BG does a lot of work around the house on the weekends. It typically involves getting on the roof or in the attic for some reason. Last weekend, he ran some extra telephone lines (a new skill he can add to his home improvement resume) which meant a lot of crawling around in tight attic spaces. These tasks always seem to make him sore, he is getting old you know. So at the end of the day, he has quite the ritual....shower, advil, and using ben-gay or icy-hot.

The smell of this stuff brings back such memories for me. The only time I used that stuff was in High School when I was on the dance team. Every summer we would go to dance camp, where we would dance and stretch and perform 10 hours a day, it seemed like, for a week straight. After the first day, we were always so sore, because we had been able to relax for a good part of the summer and our muscles were just not used to that much work! The smell of Ben-Gay would fill the halls as we all tried to help our fatigued muscles recover.

Isn't' it funny how smells bring back memories? What are some smells that evoke memories for you?

Great Room Deep Clean

2009-11-09T14:19:00.003-06:00

This weekend I worked on deep cleaning our great room. This is where we spend most of our time and I let my kids eat in there when they have snack, so you can only imagine. The focus of this weekend was mainly surface level.

I cleaned the fan and then used my fan cleaner to dust down the walls. I also used it to clean some of my metal wall hangings. I have lots of iron stuff on my walls and it is very scrolly, pretty, but a haven for dust!

Then, I worked on my baseboards. I moved all of the furniture away from the walls and onto my hands and knees I went. I use pledge wipes to do my baseboards. I like them because they are not too wet where they would drip on my wood floors, but they are moist enough to really get the dust off. Once the baseboards were done, I figured I might as well clean the floors where they never get cleaned since they have furniture over them. I try to do this more than just twice a year and it never fails, I always find toys that we have been missing for quite some time.

The last things on the to-do list were the mantle and TV cabinet. I usually dust these every week, but rarely do I move all of the decorations on the mantle or dust behind the TV, moving all of the Wii games and controllers. I also dusted my recessed lights, it just amazes me how those things collect dust and cobwebs!

The only problem with all this cleaning and dust removal...my already agitated allergies were not happy! Oh well, I am glad that I have gotten it out of my house so the air is a little cleaner!

November Cleaning

2009-11-07T14:12:00.002-06:00

The focus this month are the main areas. This mainly consists of our great room and study. We spend a lot of time in these rooms, so the get dirty pretty quickly. Here is the schedule for November:

1st Weekend - Great Room focus: dust down walls, baseboards, TV Cabinet and mantle
2nd Weekend - Study: dust down walls, baseboards, pocket doors, organize closet
3rd Weekend - Great Room: vacuum furniture (sofa, etc) and wipe down furniture (tables, lamps, etc.)
4th Weekend - Study: English Oil and Reorganize Shelves, organize files

I will try to give hints as I do each deep clean and hopefully you can do it along with me!

Just tackle one room at a time and before you know it, the whole house will be clean!

Get Out of that Funk

2009-11-05T09:27:00.002-06:00

I have been in a little bit of a funk lately, and I am not alone. I have now had 3 friends reveal to me their funk, actually I told one of them that they gave it to me :) I have not really wanted to do anything. I haven't been cleaning like I used to, not really scrapbooking, not enjoying my family as much as I should and not working out or eating right. I have just kind of been stumbling along, doing what has to be done and that is it. It is such a downward spiral, because the day I don't work out, then I don't feel like eating healthy and don't feel like picking up or making the house look nice, so then I just lay around and do nothing.

A friend of mine was talking about working out and her body and she said something that totally stuck with me. She said that she does it because we are called to keep our bodies as the temples that they are. Which means sometimes we have to obey even when we don't feel like it. I took her advice the other day and went running because I knew that I needed it, but I tried to find every excuse in the book so I wouldn't have to. Once out there, I took off my iPod and just listened to the amazing sound of a brisk fall morning. I could hear the the creek flowing from all the rain, the cool air invigorated my lungs and the sun rising pleased my eyes. All of my senses were awake and rejuvenated.

I realized that Satan had totally been trying to keep me from this. You see, my runs are a time of reflection and when I do a lot of my figuring out. God and I talk and He guides me during this time. This is the time of my day that I feel the most clear and ready to tackle it all. Satan wants to steal that from me, because that takes me out of the game, makes me ineffective. But he will not steal that time from me, God has helped me reclaim that time with Him and that makes everything better!

Pharisee's

2009-11-05T09:25:00.002-06:00

I got this a couple of days ago and it hit me like a ton of bricks! Enjoy!

I Would Have Made a Great Pharisee
3 Nov 2009

Glynnis Whitwer

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." Matthew 23:25 (NIV)

Give me a list of rules to follow and I'm happy. I can follow rules like nobody's business. My left-brain dominated thinking likes order and routine, blanketed with no surprises. There's some comfort, I guess, in being able to assess my performance according to a set standard. If I'm obeying the rules, I must be doing ok. Right?

There's one big problem with that line of thinking. It tends to redirect my focus from what really matters: the condition of my heart. Jesus identified this problem with a group of religious people back in the day called the Pharisees, and it didn't make Him happy. In fact, He reserved His harshest comments for those people whose insides didn't look anything like their outsides.

I wonder if the Pharisees were well-intentioned. Did they really want to serve God and thought they were by following the rules? Or was it more of a power play to gain respect? Either way, Jesus split open their pretty packaging and revealed the ugliness of their hearts. Just like He does with me.

It seems God continually brings me to the end of my endurance, both emotionally and physically, to reveal the truth about my heart. What's revealed in those moments of pressure is usually something that needs addressing, like selfishness, insecurity, jealousy or bitterness.

Getting split apart isn't pleasant. In fact, it's often painful and embarrassing. Yet, it's required if I want to become a true follower of Christ.

The reality is I would have made a great Pharisee. But the truth is I'd rather be a great disciple. I'd rather be sitting at the feet of Jes us than teaching in the temple. I'd rather share a simple meal of bread with Jesus than a fancy feast elsewhere. And if that requires the ugliness in my heart gets spilled out, then so be it.

Cause at the end of the day, I'd much rather hang out with Jesus who loves me in spite of all that junk. The other option is pretending it isn't there, but that's not fooling anyone. So, I'll welcome God's holy intrusion in my life, submit my need to rank my performance, and spend more time attending to my heart. That's what really matters.

Dear Lord, You are holy and righteous, and yet You love me just as I am. Thank You for calling me to a higher level of obedience, one that requires I submit my heart and my life. I long to follow You more than anything. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Ghost Toast

2009-10-28T22:12:00.002-05:00

I have been trying to get the kids (mainly SD) to eat more veggies and stuff that will help her tummy. So I busted out the Deceptively Delicious Cookbook that my sister gave me for Christmas. One of the recipes is for french toast, that is made with eggs, squash and flax seed. I decided to give it a try. When I was getting ready to make it, I remembered that SD and I had found some Halloween cookie cutters a couple of weeks back. I got them out and cut the bread before dipping it in the mixture and cooking the toast. BG saw it and said, what is that, Ghost Toast? I thought it was very dad of him to issue that line, but cute at the same time. So, that is what we started calling it. The kids LOVED it and scarfed it down. Hopefully it will help SD's tummy and it won't hurt either one of them to get that squash or the protein from the eggs. Here is a pic of our Halloween treat.

Next on the menu, banana bread that has cauliflower in it, in the shapes of bats and ghosts of course :)

Refuse

2009-10-27T10:56:00.003-05:00

It has been a while since I have blogged and it is most definitely not due to lack of content! I have been planning this blog for a long time, and I am just now sitting down to write it. The ironic part, I disobeyed my own rule, today of all days!

On Tuesdays I work from home so that I can take SD to preschool and be a more involved mom (have I told you how much I love my job, company, etc). The thing is that I refuse to be "that mom" that doesn't get dressed because she doesn't have anywhere to go. I never wanted to be the mom dropping my kids off for school with yesterday's make-up on, hair in a ponytail and wearing my husband's sweat pants. I just didn't want to do it. In the past, there would be days that I worked from home, and I never changed out of my workout clothes until late in the afternoon. I found that I just work so much better when I follow my same schedule as any normal work day. So, when SD started school, I actually changed my schedule. She has to be at school by 8:30, which means we have to be out the door around 8:15. I thought this would make a good time to start getting to work earlier, so I adjusted my sick little detailed schedule to accommodate this welcomed change. I have done pretty well for the most part, until today!!!

You see, I was out late last night (bad/good choice on my part) and was tired this morning. I didn't have time to go run (bad choice) and cooked my kids breakfast (rare but good choice), so instead of being totally rushed to take SD to school, I just threw on my cute "Stay at home Mom" velour sweatsuit and took her to school. Sad thing is, I doubt I will get "dressed" before this afternoon! I guess I have a good reason (read: excuse), I have a date with BG tonight (great choice on his part!) and so I will look nice, just for him!

So, what rules that you make do you also break?

My Husband Rocks Friday

2009-10-09T09:10:00.001-05:00

My husband rocks, because he is such a good sport. He totally does not understand my love of running. He runs to stay fit and pretty much hates it, but it works for him. The thing is, this does not stop him from supporting me in my crazy adventures. This past half-marathon that I did, in true BG fashion, was out there cheering me on! He even brought SD, who LOVES watching races and kept her entertained for 2 plus hours!

He has done this from the beginning! My first marathon, he even ordered the plaque and the picture and had it put in a huge shadow box that now hangs in our hallway!

Race Reflections

2009-10-08T08:49:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, I ran my first half marathon for this year. It was a make-up from one that I was registered for in May. And I did so much better than I would have had it actually happened in May! I had a couple of reflections from the race, so here goes it!

1. Some people who run think they need all sorts of CRAP! I saw people with belts of all this gunk. Special water bottles. Knee bands. Head gear. I guess I am just a minimalist runner, when I go out to run, it is me, my attire, good running shoes and my iPod. That is one of the things that I love most about running, you don't need any equipment. Especially at a race, it is all out for you!

2. At the beginning I was quite annoyed, because there were tons of people walking the half-marathon. I don't have a problem with people walking, but they need to understand race etiquette. This is the reason that I refuse to do Race for the Cure, it is a cluster, albeit for a good cause, but a cluster none the less!

3. There was one lady running barefoot. I don't really know what else to say about that.

4. At one point, I was near a lady who I thought sneezed. But it wasn't a sneeze, it was some weird breathing that she was doing. It was so annoying that I had to speed up to put some distance between us. At one point, I walked a little and then could hear her again, that motivated me to pick up the pace!

Back on Track

2009-10-07T20:42:00.003-05:00

After my half marathon last weekend, my daily schedule went to pot! Follow up a half-marathon with a late night on Monday, and it doesn't turn out well for the rest of the week. Then, for the icing on the cake, my mom was in town. All of those distractions were wonderful and enjoyable, but being the Type A girl that I am, I was glad to get back on schedule.

Last week, I barely worked out. I didn't stay on top of my cleaning. I ate way too much junk. I stayed up too late. I slept in too much.

So, this week is all about getting back on track.

Monday started out a little rough, but I had the best plans. I packed my gym bag for yoga and got up only a little late. Unfortunately I had taken Friday off from work and decided that working through lunch was the best choice, so yoga didn't happen. I even cleaned the kitchen and windexed (my Monday chores) so that started the week off on a good foot. I was exhausted from the week so I went to bed early, which set Tuesday up nicely!

Tuesday, I was on! I got up early, before my alarm went off. I got my run in and it felt great! Then I did all of my Tuesday chores and went to bed at a decent hour. Mind you, the sweets consumption was at an all time high, stupid candy corn, they get me every time!

Wednesday, I actually dragged my butt out of bed to get to the gym by 5:45 and I so didn't want too! Unfortunately, I worked late, so it looks like tonight's chores will just have to wait until tomorrow, because I am one tired girl!

My Husband Rocks Friday

2009-09-18T09:44:00.000-05:00

My husband rocks because when I got in my car on Monday morning to go to work, I realized that it was all clean! He had taken it to work on Sunday and had evidently vacuumed it and cleaned the interior. It desperately needed that because we have moved the carseats to the minivan and I still hadn't cleaned the debri that had been left behind! I am not really a car person, so I don't take that great care of the way it looks. But I love having a clean car! If I could afford a monthly pass to a carwash, I would do it in a heartbeat!!

Finding God in the Laundry Room

2009-09-16T10:03:00.002-05:00

Finding God in the Laundry Room

Go check out the awesome devotional linked above. Blogger does not want me to be able to paste it here!

It really hit me, to find God in the every day!

9_15

2009-09-15T13:51:00.002-05:00

To most people today's date is just another day. For me, today has kind of crept on me, because it no longer carries a lot of weight. Back in the day, when I was "in the biz", also know as public accounting. This day was the beginning of the end. You see, most people think that April 15th is tax day, but really that day doesn't carry a whole lot of weight when you do business taxes. Business returns for the most part are due on March 15th, but are hardly ever filed then. Granted, you still have tons of work to get done then, because you have to estimate what people should be paying. But then you extend them until September. You think, oh, this is great, we will have a lot more time to get the returns done, but that rarely happens. The summer slips away and once again it is crunch time, late hours, little sleep and eating food that is bad for you at 2 am.

I say it is the beginning of the end, because there are still more deadlines to be met. Partnerships and Individuals are extended until October 15th, and then there is the good old Texas return which is due on November 15th.

I am so thankful that this no longer causes strife in my life. It made me very thankful for my current position when I saw some of my friends status updates over labor day weekend. Poor things still stuck in public accounting had to work the entire weekend.

Just another thing that I am thankful for!

Pre-school jitters

2009-09-14T09:47:00.004-05:00

SD has started pre-school and is loving every minute of it. I on the other hand nearly had an anxiety attack about it. It wasn't because she was going to be out of my care or anything like that, it was more the work that it was going to take. You see, when I signed her up, I did so thinking it was no big deal. I thought it was a drop your kid off, the play and color and then you pick them up. Boy was I wrong. BG & I went to the orientation and walked away with homework! We had to color their name tag for them and then we had to bring in pictures for something that they were doing. Then they gave us homework to do with our preschooler, we had to add bling to their bags. Of course, being the rule follower and perfectionist that I am, it all had to be done before her first day of school, two days later! Talk about stressed!

Not only that, but she has homework weekly, so far it has just been a color sheet that she has to glue pictures of the color on, but that involves scissors, glue and me helping! We are settling in to the routine of all of this, but I can't imagine what kind of mess I am going to be when she and Linus are in actual school! And now, we have the big project to do, the "All about me" booklet that they sent home. Something else that they told us about at orientation and then we didn't get until last week, which had me asking BG to ask her teacher about it on his turn to drop her off.

On top of all that, we have to send a snack once a month and wear spirit colors once a week. I almost failed at this on the first week. SD was all ready to go to school when I remembered that she was supposed to wear her school shirt. We had to do a quick change because I realized this about 2 minutes before BG was taking her to school. I know that it really isn't that big of a deal if she doesn't wear the right color, I mean she is only 3, but anything I can do to keep her out of therapy, I am all for!

I Hate Extensions

2009-09-08T14:32:00.002-05:00

Okay, here is my soapbox for today. I think extensions are stupid! I think everyone should have a direct dial number. I am not sure how all of that technology works, but my company (and last couple as well) seemed to figure it out. Why should I have to call one number, listen to a recording or get an actual person and then have to go through a dog and pony show to talk to the person I need? I mean really, is it necessary. We have direct dial numbers, but we also can call each other internally without dialing the entire number. The worst is when you call the given number and it tells you to enter the extension or # to get to the directory and then it doesn't work. How am I supposed to call you back then?

Okay, I feel much better now! Thanks :)

Not as Ridiculous

2009-08-31T18:09:00.003-05:00

I went to the running group again this Sunday. Allison and I had a good run, not as quick as last time, but she helped me to realize that I was doing just about the same as last time, although we think our pace was a little slower. The great part was that I was not nearly as tired when we were done or the rest of the afternoon. And today I am not in utter pain like last week! I am sore, but nothing like last week. The best part is that when I went for a run this morning, I didn't look nearly as ridiculous as last week!

It really feels good to be running so much again. I am getting back into it with gusto! I love the way it makes me feel and the energy it provides. I have also signed up with a group that is all about half marathons. It sends out info about them and tips, etc. They also have a challenge to do 4 or 5 in the next year and I am going to try! I am already signed up for two and was planning on signing up for a third (that this group puts on). Then, Amy told me that she was doing the R&R in Dallas, so I said I would do it with her, so that makes 4. Now I just have to find one more. How cool would it be to do 5 in a year's time! I had told a friend that I would love to be able to run a half marathon at any time and it not be THAT big of a deal. If I stick with this, hopefully that will become a reality!

It's A Miracle

2009-08-26T13:22:00.003-05:00

I went running with my friend Allison last Sunday. We joined up with a running group that is between us physically, so it was a great place to meet. It was really nice to be able to run with someone else too, instead of always by myself. The best part is that Allison pushed me, she always have and that is one of the things that I love about her! We ran an 8 mile loop and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it. I had told her on the phone the night before that I wasn't sure if I could do 8, but I could probably do 6. Even then she pushed me, she told me, don't give yourself that out now, wait until we are out there, the mind quits a long time before the body does!

So as we were running, she stayed with me, which was awesome, because her pace is faster than mine. She also pushed me to a pace that I don't normally run at, but could and should. I am so looking forward to doing this with her every week, or at least most!

At the end of the run, I was pretty proud of myself, I ran almost all 8 miles and actually didn't feel like I was going to die, until later that is...I was fine on Sunday afternoon, just tired. But then came Monday, I thought I was dead, it hurt to get out of bed. The biggest problem was my right ankle, my Achilles tendinitis I guess had flared up and it hurt bad, but I made myself go for a short run that morning. I knew that I needed to warm everything up and loosen it up. I was so glad that there were not that many people around, because I probably looked ridiculous running since I hurt so badly! And the rest of the day wasn't much better. So Tuesday came around, which meant boot camp and I wanted to stay in bed, but I made myself get up and go, after all, I was paying for it! All day yesterday, I kind of limped around and even put ice on my ankle. I went to bed early last night and decided I would give myself today as a break, I didn't want to over-do it and then not be able to run on Sunday with Allison. I don't know if my body finally recovered, or if just allowing myself to take that break did it, but today, no pain, not even soreness!!! It is so crazy, I feel like I have been miraculously healed! So, tomorrow, it is back to business and I am really looking forward to Sunday! If I keep it up, a half-marathon will be no big deal, which is just what I want!!!

Car Trips

2009-08-24T10:35:00.000-05:00

We just recently went on vacation to the beach in Port Aransas. The car trip was broken up by a night stay at my parent's house in San Antonio. The great thing about car trips is that it gives me a chance to catch up on my magazines. I don't "take" (as my MIL says) too many magazines, but I also don't have that much free time that I dedicate to reading them, so they tend to stack up quickly. I have two scrapbooking magazines and a parenting magazine that I get each month. I usually devour the scrapbook magazines if I can, but the parenting one usually gets put in a pile. I can fortunately read in the car and it doesn't make me sick, so the car is a great place to catch up on my reading, since it doesn't require a whole lot of equipment or stuff, and it is safe to do in the car.

The thing with my magazines, is that I don't just read them. I pull stuff out with intent to file and use it at some later time. The problem is my lack of follow-thru. I don't often refer to them for the great ideas. It is not intentional, I just forget about it. I have notebooks full of ideas, for crafts to make, gardening ideas and I won't even tell you the amount of recipes that I need to put into our recipe software. The only magazines that I have actually used after the fact is my scrapbook ideas, but even then, I have only used a couple.

Maybe my goal over the Christmas Holidays should be to clean out all that stuff! Or, I guess I could make it a resolution next year to actually take advantage of some of that stuff!

Mini-Me?

2009-08-21T13:54:00.000-05:00

SD is just like me, I mean, EXACTLY like me. It really scares me and poor BG is just sunk. One day I looked at him and said, "It is really hard living with someone like that!" to which he responded, "Really? Try living with two of them!"

This being a mini-me has gone to a new level now! We use choices for SD to do things. One that we use daily is "Do you want to pick up your toys, or is Mommy going to do it?' The consequence for having me pick them up is that they get taken away. This usually works really well and gets her moving! The problem, is that now, she wants to take away her own toys! Too funny!!

No More Excuses

2009-08-20T13:48:00.002-05:00

Two weeks ago I was really tired on Friday. I had started bootcamp and had run on Monday and Wednesday, so I figured I had earned a break on Friday. SD had other plans though. As I was doing my Bible Study, she came to me and asked if we could go running. I told her we could, but Mommy needed to finish her Bible Study, she sat there so quietly and patiently waiting for me to finish. As soon as I closed my Bible, she hopped up and asked if it was time to go. I had already gotten her dressed and she had picked out her Nike's to wear. So as I went to change my clothes and put on my running shoes, she went to get "ready" as well. As I came out of our room, there I saw my little running buddy, complete with a baby in her baby stroller. I guess that I wasn't actually going to get a run in that morning, because SD wanted to "run" with her baby! So, I plopped Linus in the Flinstone Car and out we went. It was so cute to see her actually running while pushing her baby. I don't know what I loved more about that morning, the time we got to spend together, the fact that she wanted to go running, or her encouragement to get me out the door! Truly a cherished morning. I don't have pics of the actual event, but here is a picture of her pushing her baby on a run!

Night Cap

2009-07-29T14:49:00.003-05:00

Last weekend, BG and I had to meet up to switch cars, well, actually to transfer the kids, it was just easier to switch cars than move the kids. Anyway, the best place to meet was at a gas station, one that happened to have a liqour store attached to it. So, while he was waiting for me, BG perused the aisles, he used to work at one in college and I think he really enjoyed it! He came out with a handle of Jim Beam Black, mainly because he had seen a bunch of recipes recently that called for whiskey.

***DISCLAIMER: I am a Christian, and I drink. I don't think drinking is bad or a sin, I think taking it to excess is the problem. I think taking anything to excess is a problem and I think it is bad if you are causing another person to stumble.***

Now, I am not a big drinker, but when I do drink, it is usually red wine. BG is a beer drinker for the most part, but he also likes red wine. Usually the time line on drinking (for girls anyway) is wine coolers, beer, wine, hard liquor. I started the other way, with hard liquor, beer was the last thing I got to! If we have a bottle of wine, we might have a glass with dinner, but really don't keep much on hand. We do have a TON of liquor from BG's bachelor party that we have NOT touched in the almost 8 years that we have been married!

So fast forward to now, we have a handle of whiskey of which maybe 1 cup might be used in recipes over the next month or so. So, we decided to make a night cap with some diet coke. Usually, caffeine of any type keeps me wired for hours! But I guess the combination of diet coke and whiskey cancel each other out. I slept like a rock that night and so did BG! So, we had another last night, it might be a new tradition!

Feelin' Good

2009-07-23T17:52:00.001-05:00

I am actually starting to feel good in a bathing suit! Don't get me wrong, I still have 10-15 pounds that I want to lose and a flabby tummy that needs some toning. But I actually don't look that bad, especially after having two kids and gaining over 100 pounds between the two pregnancies. I was super excited when we went to my Brother-in-law's house for May/June birthdays and BG told me that I looked better than my SIL, who I think has a really good body! Points for him!!!

It is weird, it pretty much takes my body an entire year to get over having a baby. About this time two years ago, I was feeling this way, I guess I was feeling hot enough to get pregnant again! :) So, here is to swim suit season and feeling confident!

Level Three

2009-07-21T05:52:00.001-05:00

After reading all about Jillian's 30 day shred, I bought it. It is a pretty good workout, especially if you haven't worked out much in the past. It wasn't super hard, but I stayed at level one for two weeks, then moved up to level two. I am now on level three, and it is definitely harder than the other two. The one beef I have with it is that you do too much shoulder work. I for one am not a big fan of shoulder work, probably because it is hard for me. But I also think, because of wise advice from my friend Allison, that you work your shoulders a lot when you are doing other arm exercises. But, I advise giving it a try and it is on sale at Target right now for $13!!

Grocery Store Outfit

2009-07-20T05:55:00.000-05:00

We went to the grocery store a while back and SD loves to go with me. It was early in the morning so she still had on her PJs. I asked her if she wanted to go and she went to grab her shoes to go with me. Her outfit consisted of the following: Pajamas, plastic dress up high heels and her sunglasses.

She looked a little eccentric, something you can do when you are young and old!

I was so Not ready!

2009-07-17T05:54:00.000-05:00

A while back I signed up to do a half-marathon in the Spring (May ish). This was my way of motivating myself to lose the rest of my baby weight! The only problem, is that I didn't really stick to my training schedule, so not only did I not lose the weight, but I was so unprepared for the half! Thankfully, it rained here in the metroplex, and rained and rained and rained! It completely flooded the route and the race was cancelled, which is very rare. I just happened to wake up at like 3 or 4 am and check my email, I guess I was hoping that it would be cancelled. Sure enough, it was!

The bad news is that they don't refund your money. The good news is that they have another race in September and I got a comp entrance! So, here is to training for this one!

So far I have done pretty well. Last Sunday, I ran 5 miles and am hoping to run 6 some time this weekend! I have also been doing well at my running during the week! Can you say hello swimsuit season!!

Evidence...

2009-07-16T09:27:00.005-05:00

That I am not OCD...

And my Daughter does not have nearly enough bows!!

I got a wild hair this weekend and decided to organize all of her hair stuff! I got the bows arranged by color on her bow holders and her hair stuff, in a basket, with smaller baskets holding her rubberbands and clips! This is normal, right?

Zip Code

2009-07-15T05:53:00.000-05:00

When we moved two years ago, I had the duty of changing all of our information to our new address. Among those things, was our credit card that we use for gas. I had everything changed before we moved. The funny thing is that BG went to get gas one day. He ended up at a gas station that required you to put in your zip code before you can get gas. So, he put in our then current zip code and it didn't work. He remembered that I had already changed our address, but he didn't remember our new zip code, so he had to get back in his truck and go to another gas station!

I don't know why, but everytime I am at a gas station and have to put in my zip code, it makes me laugh because I think of this story!

Clean Floors

2009-07-09T14:06:00.002-05:00

So Linus is crawling all over the place these days, the only problem is that his knees and feet are always dirty, like caked on nasty black dirty that takes more than one wipee to get off dirty! I don't understand! You see, I clean my floors twice a week, (Tuesday & Saturday if you care) so I can't imagine that there is that much dirt on my floors. I was talking to my mother in law over the weekend (more on why we were at their house later) and she asked if my mop water was dirty when I finished mopping. I guess you are supposed to mop until the water isn't dirty anymore. But, I can't base it on that, because I dry mop, or I guess damp mop. I have hard wood floors, and I use a spray bottle with Murphy's Oil diluted in water and a dust mop. So then she asked me if my mop was dirty when I was done. Well, of course it is, I just mopped the floors. So we started talking about how their must be a film on there or something. See, I used to mop with vineagar and water, because that is how I thougth you took care of wood floors. I got really unhappy with the ways my floors were looking, it seemed like they had a hazy film on them. So I tured to my good friend, the internet, and did some searching. I read that cleaning with vinegar and water did just that, leave a film on your floors. They said the best way to clean your wood floors was Murphy's soap diluted with water. I have been doing that for a while now, but have decided that my floors must have layers of something on them that keeps Linus' feet dirty. So this week, I have resolved to clean my floors every night to see if I can get to the bottom of it! So last night, was night two, we will see if they are any better next week and poor little Linus can hopefully have clean feet!

PKs aka Pastor's Kids

2009-06-25T21:10:00.003-05:00

For a long time, there has been a joke about pastor's kids, that they are always the "bad" kids and I think I have figured it out!!!

Last night I volunteered at our church for VBS and had a staff member's kid in my class. Now, it wasn't the pastor's kid, but you can only imagine how much more magnified it would have been had it been. So, this kid was a little feisty, although she was pretty young, I could see where this would go if it continues. I don't know the parents at all, so I can't comment on their parenting style, discipline or maybe lack there of. But I really don't think that is what it is necessarily. I have come to the conclusion that pastor's kids are like mini-celebrities, BG thinks I am crazy for thinking this, but he didn't see the hard evidence like I did. This is how it went...

We rotated from classroom to classroom for the different activities and everywhere we went, this kid was fawned all over. I mean the sure-fire way to get to the parents is to play nice with their kids, right? This happened from adults, high school kids, regular church workers, pretty much everyone. Add to that the fact that this kid is probably up there quite a bit, so kind of knows the ropes and thinks she can roam all over the place. No one really wanted to be firm with her, but being strict and probably a little over the top, I thought that was ridiculous. So, I got on her level and had her make choices. She barely started talking until the end of the night, instead she would go limp like a wet noodle when she wasn't getting her way. That does not pass muster in my book, so I would pick her up and we would have a little conversation. The funny thing is, that by the end of the night, she didn't hate me, she was actually sitting in my lap. I think she appreciated the structure, or at least that is what I am telling myself!

I know a lot of people probably disagree with this, but I firmly believe that children should obey adults, regardless of if they are their parents or not. Granted, this is all within the limits of the child's safety, etc, so don't freak out on me. I know that not everyone agrees with this because there was a time years ago when we were at a baseball game with a group from church and some kids behind us were hitting our seats with those thunder sticks. When I turned around and asked them to stop, which obviously the parents were not going to do, my friend couldn't believe that I would have the guts to do that. Do you think that is maybe what is a little wrong with our world? We are too worried about offending someone or actually expecting something of children? Maybe that is why children don't respect adults, I don't know, call me crazy!

So, off my soapbox and back to the PK, I really think that these kids start thinking that they are the center of the universe and that they can do no wrong. I am not taking all responsibility away from the parents, but I also don't put all of the blame on them! I think this also goes for Principal's kids that go to the same school, or even are in the same district, maybe even down to the teacher's kids, also for kids of the higher=ups in your company. Just a thought...

High School and Shower Stories

2009-06-24T13:31:00.004-05:00

So this morning as I was finishing my shower, I realized, AFTER I turned off the water, that I had forgotten to wash out my conditioner. Fortunately I realized this before getting out of the shower, so I turned the water back on and washed it out. But it made me remember some funny stories from high school, so I am going to torture you with them.

First, I was on the dance team in high school and we had practice before school. I don't remember exactly what time it was, but it was early! Maybe this is why I am a morning person, who knows! So I would have to get up early and shower, only to go practice on the field and get hot and sweaty, but that was my life. So one morning I got up and did my normal routine, only to realize after I had blown dry my hair, that I had forgotten to wash out my conditioner. I tried to wash it out, but by that time, it had been heat set into my hair. My hair was gross the entire rest of the day.

The other story, was that one morning I woke up and jumped right in the shower thinking that I was late. It wasn't until after my shower and getting dressed routine, that I realized that it was actually 3 am! As any good high schooler would do, I went back to sleep and got to sleep in since I had already gotten ready!

So there you go, random memories! Hope it made you laugh with me not at me :)

Memorial Day

2009-06-16T05:51:00.000-05:00

I live in a house that was built in the late 60's and most of my neighbors are the original owners. It is great because the neighborhood is sleepy, well kept and friendly. The other thing that I noticed, actually BG pointed it out, is their respect for the American Flag. Most of my neighbors have flags flying in their yards. Not the cute little decorator flags like I have, but American flags. And they don't just leave it out there all the time. At night, if they leave their flag out, it has a spotlight on it. I really noticed this Memorial Weekend, there were even more flags than usual and my neighbors really decorated for the holiday. Not just to decorate, but because it really means something to them. I think that my generation takes for granted our patriotic holidays and we just see it as an extra day off work! It was so refreshing to see the care and importance that my neighbors put into Memorial Day, and I am sure it will be the same for the 4th of July and Labor day!

SD's 3rd Birthday

2009-06-14T13:54:00.002-05:00

SD's third birthday was last Monday, so I decided to take the day off work! I really want to try and do this each year for the kids so that they have a special day! We had the most amazing day as a family, and we didn't really do anything spectacular, just spent time together. We started the morning just hanging out, then I worked on making SD's robe that she requested. Then the kids and I went for a quick jog and got ready to go look at a patio table. After getting the table, we picked up some lunch and went to the park. SD had gotten a kite for her birthday (BG does all the toy shopping) and she wanted to fly it. We went to the park in our neighborhood and had a picnic lunch followed by BG running around like a maniac and SD following him giggling out of control. They did the kite up for a while, but either way SD had a blast. Then it was back home for naps, much needed naps, the kids were exhausted!

It was so refreshing and amazing to have such a great day with my family. It is days like this that I cherish and try to burn into my memory!

My Husband Rocks Friday

2009-06-05T09:38:00.002-05:00

My husband rocks because he is such a great dad! Last summer Amy told me about a summer movie deal where you pay $5 per person for a total of 10 movies! The catch is that the movies are during the day. Since BG is self-employed, he has that flexibility. I took the kids while I was on maternity leave last year, but BG picked it up once I went back to work. This year, he decided to do it again. It started this week and he suffered through Space Chimps! The awesome part is that he is even willing to take SD to see Kit Kitridge, eventhough I offered that maybe his mom could take her! A great dad and a very blessed little girl!!

Anxiety

2009-06-05T08:08:00.000-05:00

This wasn't convicting, not at all!!

From my daily devotional:

"Secondly, we need to refocus. Self-centeredness breeds anxiety. In truth, worry and stress are really symptoms of self-sufficiency and a lack of trust in God. When we take the focus off of ourselves and place it on God, it makes all the difference. Our troubles look small in comparison to our great God."