Happy FAT Tuesday!

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Well just when I thought my brain and my will had come to an agreement on eating and exercise in unison along came Fat Tuesday.  I had lunch with a business colleague and it was really one of those productive fun lunches!  I think a lot of good things will come out of it and we talked about how we were celebrating Fat Tuesday.  I said that I was going to celebrate by eating a super succulent spinach salad with blue berries, strawberries, goat cheese and chicken.  I know…it could have been more tame without the extras but it was serious amazing.  We talked about how funny it is that Fat Tuesday is tied to “deprivation” of Lent and the “indulgence” of Mardi Gras.  Either way it was a nice conversation to remember that Lent is a time to really focus inward and execute outward.

So last night I was starting my “roll” with a super fun and sweaty Zumba class.  Thankfully my daughter’s dance studio, Heart of America Dance Center, http://www.hadc.biz has added a fitness studio!  Praise the Lord!  I can literally workout every single time I take her to dance which is 4 days a week.  My balance and time issue solved in one fail swoop!  Plus Whitney is so proud of me when I do things like that.  She tells me the whole way home that I was the best one etc etc.  Cracks me up!  It was fun, the music was great and the sweat was welcomed.  Next up a cardio circuit and adult ballet.  I’m hoping all 3 combine to be a really amazing new schedule of movement to go with my healthy eating.

So my spinach salad wasn’t too bad and I was going to have a protein shake for dinner but the *OMG THIS ROCKS* spicey shrimp and garlic bread our friends cooked for us on Saturday was CALLING my name…and my husband’s name.  He’s been talking about it since Sunday morning when we talked about how amazing that dish was.  Well duh,  it is pretty much butter, cayenne, garlic an shrimp.  how do you mess that up?  So, I thought I’d throw caution to the wind and have this yummy dish in honor Fat Tuesday and my commitment to eat well and work out.  Besides we have a dance competition this weekend and lots of other madness so I’ll be eating bits here and there with no real meal for maybe a week…that at least makes me feel better 🙂

Shrimp, butter, cayenne, garlic and bay leaves...yummy!

We will be dipping artisan garlic bread with butter and parmesan in this spicy goodness.  Happy FATTY PANTY TUESDAY!

 

 

 

Inspiration

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Wow am I a slacker or what?  I’ve been DOING too much to download the pics I took while DOING and have been running around too much to blog about what I’ve been DOING.

I hope tonight while I’m watching American Idol (love, love the judge trio this season!  Best yet!) I can download and edit my new pics hiding on my memory sticks.  I’ve celebrated THREE 40th birthdays of THREE amazing friends in the last few weeks.  My sorority sister, **AOT KDs**, Suzanne who I’ve known for 21 years and is always game for a fun girls scrap weekend in a a local hotel or if we are lucky somewhere out of town.  The next was my hair girl Christin, I feel weird calling my *hair girl* because she is sooo much more but has an amazing talent for doing GREAT hair…I’ve known her since my hair was to my waist right after college which was 17 years ago!   And finally, my NEWer friend Julie who is a dance mom, teacher, Arbonne Rock Star and one of those gals who absolutely LIFTS you up every time you see her.  Now that I think of it, these three women have played a huge roll in changing my course the last year.  They’ve supported me through the rough patches and totally made me remember what my insides look like.  So, I’m excited to post pics from our fun times together but have been having so much fun I haven’t had time.

Speaking of lifting up…another woman who I just met in Utah at Spark! on September 10th has had a huge impact on me too.  This tiny little gal is the BIGGEST superstar when it comes to energy, personality, Photoshop/creative talent etc.  She blends inspiration with art which is the new trend…my favorite trend in scrapbooking.  Soooo much better than sticker packets..right scrap sistas out there?  HOLLA!  So I’m loving all things scrap-spirational (does that work as a new word?).  So here’s a super cute printable found here:  http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/day-2-6-week-shape-up.html

She’s got the whole working out/dieting and making it fun with scrap elements down to the letter! Go Rhonna Go!!!

Julie with her darling girls blowing out her candles

 

From Zero to Hero on Valentine’s Day

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I had one of those weekends.  The kind that I feel like a cowgirl in the Wild West riding around town conquering baseball and soccer practice on my own with all 3 kids in tow plus two more basketball games and a few stops in between.  I did it on my own and the kids, especially the littlest were very sweet and helpful.

The next day my sidekick, Daddy, was home and helping but we were all so tired from the running the day before and had limited time before a super terrific friend’s 40th birthday bash…well there just was NO time, ZERO left for Valentine’s Day shopping.  Soooooo, I woke up on Monday, February 14th empty handed…cue the WA WAH.

Thankfully I happened across Vintage Love Coupons, a *FREE* printable from http://www.keylimedigitaldesigns.com!!  BINGO!  I also found some House of 3 printables from last year with a cool peek-a-boo wheel.  I ran out to look for goodies and once I saw the $3 price tag on “store-bought” cards I knew I just had to get it together and put these darling cards together for the kids.  Thankfully it only took me exactly 30 minutes to create the three cards and 4 sets of coupons (hubby got some too.)  I picked up some McD’s gift cards because they always love getting a treat at the “Golden Arches.”  Them spending their own money tends to make it just that much more appreciated.

Whitney's loot and decorated Valentines Box for School

And the trio of darling wheel cards.

Valentines for my Sweetie Peas

The very best…I told them they can gift them to other family members if they want…guess what, Carter cashed in his coupon for a *kiss* from Mommy right on the spot! oxox

And the cutie pie, warm my heart antics of my three monkeys making cupcakes and a valentine cake.  Russell was CRACKING UP at Carter and Whitney!  I can’t express in words how much these photos warm my heart!  I remember when Whitney was first born, I hoped so badly that she and Carter would be close, love each other and be good friends.  The spread between me and my siblings is so vast it took us until we were all grownups to truly appreciate each other.  I adored them as babies…OF COURSE *queen of baby fever*…but when I went off to KU they were 12, 6 and 3.  That is just too young to remember your long lost sister at KU who seemed like light years older at the time…and I think even still *wink*!  So, I just have to say, the dynamics between my children is absolutely cherished.  It is probably the thing I cherish most in the world because it is organic, it is something I made with the help of Brad.  These little beings came from us and now share this awesome light and spirit.  A friend the other day told me I won the “children jackpot.”  What can I say, I can’t argue.  I know other families that probably feel the same way but I am thankful and feel extremely blessed by this gift.  I didn’t dream about the big wedding and all that stuff.  I dreamed about having babies that turned into amazing people.  I’ve got a good head start…

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Say it isn’t SnOw!

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For real?  Snow in the forecast?  No wonder Russell has been talking about the North Pole constantly with this weather!  He said the other day, “Mommy, I always wanted to visit the North Pole” as if we were there.  He is the funniest kid, talks about his three favorite days: his birthday 7/17, Halloween and Christmas all year long.  And Brad thought I was silly celebrating my birth month of June rather than just a measily day.

Speaking of June and July, I have Summer on the brain!  GEE wonder why?!  I just can’t stop thinking about where I want to go in July after the madness of June is over.  “Madness?” you ask…let’s just call it DANCE-PALOOZA on overdrive!  Downtown Days week 1, Nationals week 2-3, Recital week 4.  And if there is time to breathe it will be spent practicing and rehearsing plus going to Carter’s baseball games.  I am mentally preparing for it.  SOOOO, in July my big hope is to go on a trip.  I want to lay on a beach chair, sip something cold, listen to my ipod and R.E.L.A.X!

Russell shooting me with his water gun on his 4th birthday.

My nephew, Robert and his mama, Rachael. Robert is a July baby too

Me and Russell chillin' on a raft at Lakewood Lake. A very favorite thing to do in the Summer is gather our neighbors and coast around the quiet lake.

Whitney and Caitlyn swimming at the waterpark.

Me and Brad on Isla Mujeres last July. I think about this place every single day.

Carter is the king of stealing bases. It is February and we've already started practicing! They'll be really good this year, I know it!

And dance...Our little star, Whitney Jane, is doing a solo for the first time. I will never tire of watching her dance and I get SO nervous for her! She handles it like a PRO!

Ok, now to go brave the freezing temps and suspected snow.  Boo…at least I can think about warmer days to come.  Thank goodness for sunny memories and lots of pictures to look through.  I can almost feel the sun on my face and the cool water on my toes.

OPEN…my little word

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I saw this quote today on the Brave Girls Club forum   www.bravegirlsclub.com

“The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance, but live right in it, under its roof.”
— Barbara Kingsolver

With my word as OPEN in the year-long “One Little Word” project plus going through this Brave Girls Class, “Soul Restoration,” I’ve found that I am REALLY centered and in the moment these days.  Even if I’m super busy during the day I find that I can turn off the “NOISE” of the day and be present at home, getting stuff done and paying attention to my children.  I’ve gotten a lot more hugs and snuggles from each of them so they must notice that I’ve been more OPEN to them.  I try not to beat myself up over not being OPEN always and am just glad I am.  Sometimes I cook too much or read blogs too long but I feel like I’ve been able to have a true connection with each child and my husband at least once a day.  That’s not easy to do when I’m being pulled in so many directions.

This quote has inspired me to get it together and work on my One Little Word project.  It has been a bit neglected although I’ve been thinking about it.  That’s what I do, create it in my head then go for it.  I am thinking that my necklace from Lisa Leonard http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/word-of-the-year-necklace-P213C8.aspx is helping me stay centered.

Mine looks like this but says open.  I need to get a better pic of it but it is always on me so that is a bit hard.

This is my OPEN Scrapbook showcased in my kitchen. With all of this around I think my little family is catching on and being more OPEN too.  Isn’t this such a cool experiment in attracting what you really want by being an example?  **See honey, these classes are really inexpensive since we are all benefiting…right?!**

*wink* to my husband, Brad

And finally, a picture of my sweet Carter snuggling with his mama.  We are the two least photographed people in our family.  Whitney, Russell and Shadow tend to be the most captured and Brad kind of runs from the camera.  I’m so glad to have these two memories documented.  The last one of the three kids snuggling is not all that rare since my bed is like the one on Willy Wonka with the entire family in it.  I usually have to remove one of the “bigs” if I plan to sleep in my king-size bed.  Not that we won’t all fit (Brad has given up, he finds solace elsewhere usually) but if me and the three kids are in there at the same time there are lots of bony little appendages flailing about and usually end up stabbing my head, stomach or wherever.  I endure sometimes, just to treasure them wanting to be close to me.

I always know I can count on my sweet Carter to give me some love.  He totally gets me ❤

And thank goodness for these three, they are never in need for company because they have each other.

I am so blessed.  I hope you feel blessed today!

Do you believe in angels?

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12 years ago this month my first baby boy was due to arrive.  Unfortunately he had a neural tube defect that was fatal, he went to heaven on 9/29/98.  Of course me, my family and my friends were crushed.  This was when I felt my first real loss, one that almost robbed me of any sort of bliss I could ever have again while having my babies.  On the day he was due, February 17th, 1999 we found out we were pregnant with Carter William, my 11 year old.  We prayed really hard throughout my pregnancy with him and when he was born during a very sweet, magical delivery I was beyond thankful for him to be so healthy.  Throughout the early years of being blessed with my “oh-so-sweet” Carter he had an imaginary friend named “Mit Wit.”  He talked about him from when he could barely talk and still talks about him and to him today.  I’ve always thought that was his big brother watching over him and keeping him company.  In fact, if Carter has a day where he has lots of friends around he has to balance it with alone time outside or in the basement to get his time in with Mit Wit.

Over the years we’ve talked about baby Tyler and celebrate on his birthday anniversary.  The kids, even 4 year old Russell, know the story of Tyler and talk about how he’s their big brother.  They talk and wonder what he would look like and what he’d be like.  Someday we’ll find out but until then we cherish our sweet guardian angel.

Ok, so that’s the background.  This morning I was getting Russell into the car, he had walked out of the garage to step in the snow.  He turned around, hands in his pockets to come back to get in the car.  He stepped on a patch of ice and was literally falling onto his face because his hands were stuck in his pockets.  I watched that child held up by his angel brother and steadied on the garage floor.  I immediately said, “Wow Russell, good thing your guardian angel was there to catch you.”  I said, “I bet that was your big brother Tyler helping you out so you didn’t land on your face on the hard garage floor.”  He just smiled big and said, “Yes it was, he takes care of me.”

Yes he does.  Happy Birthday baby Tyler!

WE LOVE YOU!!! oxoxox

Let the SnowNAMI, Snowmaggedon, SnOwMG END!

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I know, we’ve all been talking about it but this is the TENTH, yes TENTH day my children have not had school in 2011 not including the extra days from New Years and Martin Luther King Jrs bday.  We also have a four day weekend over Presidents weekend and Spring Break soon after that.  Thankfully I have very sweet children with very sweet friends but mama needs to get back to work!

My days have consisted of cleaning, waiting tables and more battling cabin fever.  The dishwasher and trash seem to generate dishes and trash on their own and are full constantly.  The herd of kids running through here are making my floors dirty, they have a constant need for drinks and snacks or new shows to be put on the tv.  The dogs are in and out constantly.  Shadow has a girlfriend who lives next door and the two dogs are constantly at each other’s doors whining for them to come play.  Everyone is having a great time so it’s all good.  It is worth the catering.  Yesterday I embraced the situation and drank out of my snowflake goblet all day.  With the help of Arbonne Fizzy Tabs I felt very energized and the special glass gave me a little festive edge.  The girls and I did a little photoshoot.  Whitney loves taking photos and has a pretty good eye.  It comes in handy when I want to get in a shot once in awhile.  We played with the timer and tripod which allowed us to get some good falling snow shots.  The boys are here but are not as excited about photos and can’t be pried away from Xbox or basement basketball games.

THIS IS MY OFFICIAL SNOW DAY OUTFIT, T-SHIRT AND JAMMIES 🙂  COZY!

With tomorrow in question I am getting work and laundry done so we can launch into the weekend all caught up.  Our streets are still snow packed and the temperatures are below freezing so it’s anyone’s guess as to what the school district will do about tomorrow.  I hope they go since we have a threat of more snow on Monday and Wednesday.  The kids are anxiously waiting for the “phone call.”

I have to say I am happy for the kids because this has been really fun for them.  My productivity relies on people doing every day business so there isn’t much to miss and I can do projects for work from home, thankfully.  I think this time has given us all a little bit of catch up time and a break from the hustle of a normal schedule.  I will also be very thankful in the Spring when our grass, trees and flowers are absolutely gorgeous from getting so much water through the Winter from the melted snow.  I’ll dream about those days while huddled under a blanket, tapping away at work presentations and emails.

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What I did to my Chicken Spinach Sausage

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Carbs do not like my body…I feel gross, gain weight instantly and am just full for days.  SO I try to make low carb meals for me and my husband as often as I can.  I like to be creative with meals that would probably contain pasta or rice but use beans, veggies etc instead.  Here’s a recipe I made using a few different recipes found on www.allrecipes.com This is a great way to keep your favorite recipes organized and I love the ingredients feature.  Many times my dinner is determined by what needs to be cooked TODAY.  enjoy! 

http://allrecipes.com/CustomRecipe/62627970/Hearty-Low-Carb-Chicken-Sausage-Veggie-Quiche/Detail.aspx

 

OMGolly this baby is sooo sweet!

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Ok a quick preview of sweet little punkin Gage.  I can’t open my laptop without smiling at the screen while editing these pictures.  Oh and his big brother and sister are pretty cute too.  The best was when I put him in Russell’s snuggly chenille blanket I made him when he was born.  I tucked Gage in a little basket and he LOVED being in there!  His daddy was cracking up and thinking they needed to take that basket home to keep him happily sleeping.  He’s pretty loved on and prefers to be held so getting him to chill in a nest was awesome.  How could you not indulge that little man?  He’s just too sweet to not snuggle with him constantly.  My Aunt T always says you can’t spoil children with LOVE and I’ve always reminded myself of that when I questioned if I was holding the baby too much.  And still remember that when they let me love on them…and when I can’t bare to kick them out of my bed.  It is those stolen moments I cherish and keeps my heart warm.

Congratulations Jacobs family and thank you for allowing me to photograph your gorgeous children!  I can’t wait to get the whole family in there!!!  Until the next time…give that Gage a squeeze for me!

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Is it 3:00 yet???

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I’m worn out.  I had a week and a half and am sleepy and exhausted.  However, the fact that my little friend Gage will be coming by for a photoshoot gets my tired brain hoppin’ with ideas.  Gage is a dance mommy’s two week old punkin.  She lets me hold him the entire hour we wait for our daughters on Mondays.  I could just eat him up!  Those little baby sounds, faces and wiggles just get my baby fever running high.  Whitney and I talked about Gage for days.  She kept saying “he was so cute all squished up and snuggled with you.”  I’ve passed my baby fever on to her.  It is nice to have another person in my family shares my true love of babies.

Once my photos are edited I’m passing them off to my friend Erin who will drop them into her digital masterpieces.  She is making announcements for the Jacobs family to show off little Gage.  Heather and Jay appreciate it and we are giddy at the thought of an opportunity to work on a project featuring a newborn.

Pics to come…