Catching Up

Well, no posts lately.  That means I've missed Thanksgiving all the way to Brianna's Birthday!

Going through my pictures, I realized I also have a couple of yummy recipes to post as well!

Thanksgiving (11/24/11) went well.  Usual crowd, usual food...good times! 

We will let this shot be the memory:

Friday (11/25/11) leftovers and online shopping...how great is that?!  Then the kids had a sleepover!

Saturday (11/26/11) evening we took the kids to Lights of the South with the Coopers.  This happened, you can't make this stuff up:

Later that night we had a bonfire and stayed up too late!  Fun times!

We also managed to get this accomplished:

So, fast forward to the next weekend...

Saturday (12/03/11):

And:

So, now this past weekend was Brianna's 11th (can you believe that) birthday.

Cupcakes at school on Friday:

Birthday party and cake on Saturday:

Then on Sunday (her actual birthday) we went to lunch and a movie.

Okay, I'm all caught up now!





Monday

I saw a quote/statement today that I loved!

Everyday is a gift...Mondays are a gag gift!  So appropriate.

Especially today.

I'm supposed to be off for 9 consecutive days, but guess what?!  I'm at work...vacation interrupted by a Monday of all days.

Ugh!

It is currently 8:10 and my class should have started at 8am, and guess what?!  No instructor to be found...great!

It's definitely Monday!

Catching Up

It's already Thursday.  It's amazing that the week can be almost over, but drag by all at the same time.  Don't ask me to explain that one!

I miss my previous weekend!

I took some time for me :)  Now, granted, nothing went according to plan...but that did not surprise me!

Saturday morning I left for Atlanta.  I had plans to go here:



...which I did, and finally bought some of this:

And

I also bought a copy of this book:

Which I had actually forgotten about until this moment.  So, needless to say I haven't started reading it yet!

For lunch, I made a trip here:

And had the summer rolls, sushi rolls, and crispy dumplings pictured below:

My intent was to attend a RAW foods cooking class being offered at this same location, but that didn't happen.  The class was canceled.

So, I did a little shopping and got a pedicure :)

I stayed the night close to the airport.  One to get out of the city center, and two I just like the planes in the night sky.  I stayed at the Renaissance Hotel:

The view was fabulous, picture doesn't do it justice.  I was on the 10th floor and left the full window open the whole time I was there:

Sunday, I relaxed (since nothing opened until after lunch) and then went to the mall for more shopping.  Left empty handed and drove home!

So, not much accomplished, but only had to look out for me :)

Ever had something on your mind...

...that you don't understand or know how to express...

I had one of those moments, and it was exactly about what is in this post!

No coincidence, simply amazing!

New Powers Await You

This post is fabulous!

You must read this!

Crap In, Crap Out

Must share for Johnny Depp Fans!

For all you Johnny Depp fans...Cely at Running off the Reese's has him on todays edition of:

Magnificent Men of Monday

Your welcome!

Happy Halloween!!

It's hard to believe that today is actually Halloween!  I'm Halloween'd out!  (although I'm sure that's not a word?!)

The kids dressed up on Friday to go to school as that is when they did all of their Halloween activities.  Guess they wanted a 'normal' week this week?!  Who knows?

Friday night both the kids went to a Halloween party at a friends house.  Apparently parents were invited too, but I did not read the invitation like that...oops!  So, David and I ran errands and went out to eat :)

Saturday morning Brianna had a fall festival at the girl scout camp...I dropped off a 'dark angel' and came back with Cindy Lou Who dressed as a dark angel...lol!

While she was at the fall festival, I rode out to watch the Region AAA Drama Competition at Cross Creek High and cheer on Harlem!  The show was great, and I had a nice time.

The boys went 'hunting'.  They didn't see anything, and this is the only photo proof...so, you decide!

Brianna has had this 'pumpkin project' since Wednesday that is just about to drive me insane!  She took a basket to school on Wednesday so that she could get her 'baby pumpkin' to take care of.  I'm thinking no big deal...well, we had to deal with this until today!  Not only did she get a baby pumpkin, but she actually got twins, thanks teachers!  So, Jack and Jill have been going everywhere with us...like I said, driving me insane!
Here they are Saturday night:

It's Friday...

...thank goodness!  It's just been one of those weeks...

Not that my weekend will be relaxing.  The kids have a Halloween party tonight (must make blood/bones for them to take) and Brianna has a Fall Festival tomorrow (must make cookies). 

I think David and Bryson are going hunting in the morning, and I'm going to go watch Harlem Drama compete in their Region AAA competition.  Hmmm...I don't even know what play they are doing this year?!  Oops!

On a random note, I thought everyone knew what Angry Birds was?!  Come on, even my grandpa plays!  Well, a kid at karate had this shirt on last night:

The karate teacher asked if it was Woody Woodpecker?!  What?!  He had to ask me what Angry Birds was!  He's only 23!  I told him he needed a new phone...lol!  Then later he was asking the kids to stretch their 'Go Go Gadget' arms...really Mr. Hobbs?!  These kids don't know who Inspector Gadget is!  Hilarious!

On a positive note, I have kept up with my eating.  Something raw at every meal.  It's been an EFFORT, let me tell ya!  I feel good though :)

Yesterday was a success...

I'm not bragging, doing this one day at a time!

I did have something fresh/raw with every meal!

Success!

Here's to today...

Questions:

Do you set mini-goals?

Do you wait til you've 'mastered' one before moving on?

No motivation

I'm in a funk...I have no motivation!

My eating has been crappy, and I still haven't started exercising regularly as I intended to.

Work is still crazy...

No one else is gonna worry about ME, so why am I not worried about ME?!

It's crazy, I know!

I watched Forks over Knives yesterday, and that was a fantastic reminder of why a plant-based diet is the way to go.

I started watching it while the kids were outside playing with Papa, but it was still playing when they came home so this sparked a lot of questions from Brianna.  She is really struggling with decision-making.  I'm trying to play the neutral card and/or devil's advocate because I want whatever decision that she makes to be hers, and I will support that decision.

To get back on the path to better eating (remember Vegan isn't always healthy) I'm going to eat 'something raw' at every meal.  I don't care whether this is fruit and/or vegetables...just something raw/natural.

I'll get back on track...

Questions:

1.  What do you do when you are lacking motivation? 

2.  Do you have some motivational quotes that you like?

iPhone Panic

So, I've been meaning to put all of my music on one computer for a while so that I could dump everything into the laptop.  I managed to start this process the other night by burning a DVD of all the music off my desktop computer.  Last night, I decided I would load all of that on my laptop then sync my iTunes to my phone.  No problem!

For those of y'all that don't have an iPhone, the sync has to be done prior to any phone updates.  I got all my music and was so excited.

All of my iPhone updates have been no big deal, so I decided (at 11pm) last night to go ahead and download and install the updates.  The countdown began, and it was gonna take an hour...so I left it going and went to bed.

I 'thought' I had set an alarm to wake me up about an hour later to check on it, but I either slept through it or just didn't do it?!

At 3am I woke up on my own and went to check on it.

PANIC!!

My entire phone was re-set and NOTHING was on it?!  I think I stopped breathing!

So, as calmly as I could in my groggy state, I decided that a re-store should work, and I had just synced everything so all should be well.

Well, I went back to sleep and when I got up this morning, I had to work this dang thing like a brand new phone.  Set-up and everything!  This was more than just an update, I think it loaded a whole new operating system on the dang thing!

Panic aside, all of MY info and pictures are still there, so I guess I'm good.

I need a new manual though because this phone is now crazy different!

All this for my music...sanity must occur!

Fabulous Weekend!

To sum it up, this weekend was fabulous!  Fun-filled and stress free :)

Got up Saturday morning so that I could get my hair done.  It was time to get rid of the blonde highlights.

The kids got to play with the neighbors granddaughter, Emma.  She was happy because I let her drive the golf cart by herself.

She crashed into a tree after this, so the driving lesson was officially over!  LOL!

Then we met Joy and Julia at Steed's for some fun at the Corn Maze.

Then the rest of the crew showed up...David met us there and brought Lizzie and Emma then Brooke, Mike, and Carole showed up.



Julia, Bryson, and Lizzie waiting on zip line.

Lizzie

Bryson

Julia

Kids on jumping pillow.

Finally got them to stay still!
Bryson, Lizzie, Julia, Brianna, and Emma

Carole and I chatting...we look so innocent ;)

After this we went and ate Mexican food.   Mike and Carole backed out of this adventure, but the rest of us had a good time.

Sunday the kids convinced me to take them back.  They wanted to go so bad they paid their own way in, so who was I to tell them no...

Lizzie, Brianna, Emma, and Bryson

Lizzie and Brianna buried Bryson in the corn!

Hated to see the weekend end!







A Duck on the Run: Banjees Wrist Wallet Review and Giveaway!

A Duck on the Run: Banjees Wrist Wallet Review and Giveaway!: Yup, time for another giveaway! The awesome people over at Sprigs sent me some Banjee wrist wallets to test out. Banjees are a nifty alte...

Fall Fun

October starts such a busy time of year.  Fall activities and Halloween are on the way!

Last night I took the kids to pick out their costumes:

Here's what Bryson picked (I think this makes some type of Ninja 3 years in a row):

Here's what Brianna picked:

At least they get to where them more than once.  They have a Halloween party and then actual Halloween.

Saturday we are going to Steed's Dairy to play and go through the Corn Maze. 

My niece's birthday party is next weekend at Gymnastic's Gold, then the next weekend is a Halloween Party for the kids, Fall Carnival for Girl Scouts, and of course Monday is Halloween!

Then it's on to the Holidays!

Accountability = FAIL!!

So, posting my goals did nothing in the accountability department!

I have gotten a lot of compliments lately about weight loss, and have continually tracked...so, to make it simple I thought I would post it here.  Look for new tab at the top of blog!

Thanks~~

Still working toward my goals....

2011 Article 6--Sunrays

Sunrays

2011 Article 5--End of Summer Time

End of Summer Time

Whiny Wednesday

Today has been aggravating...

No particular reason, just whiny!  Everyone whining about FB changes especially...

It's just been a blah Wednesday for me, and I have to look forward to W1D2 when I get home.  Yay! [sarcasm]

I need to write a few articles before the end of the month, and today is already the 21st?!  Yikes!

I've been a pro with the procrastination again, and have really enjoyed playing with various photo apps on my phone.  Yeah, I know...I'm not writing an article about that!

I think it may be hard to tell, but the pictures on the right are mosaic style made up of other pictures of mine.  So neat!

Then there's this one where I put my favorite sun ray pictures together...beautiful...

Just thought I'd share!  This way you're procrastinating with me...LOL!!



I survived day one!

So yesterday, I put my goals 'out there'.  I don't normally do this, and it's totally out of my comfort zone, so we will see if this whole accountability thing really works!

I weighed in yesterday, and that number had gone up a tad...ugh!  Not being in an active competition tends to do that, but a new one starts Friday, and I have some Thanksgiving goals anyway!  Coffee is going to be my biggest enemy...it's so delish this time of year!

I had to make a run to Wal-Mart, and I so wanted to use that as an excuse and skip the exercise...I was so tired.  Here was my inspiring sunset picture:

So, here are my results from yesterday:




I used a cool app on my phone named 'Get Running' that has the Couch to 5k program built in and it works with my music!  Awesome!

28:33 minutes of exercise

1.687 miles done

I wanted to NOT do it, but ya gotta start somewhere!

So, good job for me on a Monday!

Happy Tuesday y'all!

Accountability

Accountability:  the quality or state of being accountable; especially : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.

I say it to others and encourage it in my business, but personally...I don't like it!  Why?  Because then I have a responsibility, and if I'm only accountable to myself, then there's no guilt because I can rationalize anything!

So, time for change!  I have goals that I want to reach by Thanksgiving, and that is only 9 weeks away, so I really need to focus!

To share those goals, I want to lose 16lbs and complete the Couch to 5k training plan (again).  Very attainable and reasonable in the time that I have [left], so why have I procrastinated so long?!  These were not my original goals, but I'm kinda in a time crunch, and I like to make the goals so I'm not gonna be greedy!  If I do better, that will be fantastic :)

Plan:
Weigh in today, Oct 1st, Oct 15th, Nov 1st, Nov 15th, and Nov 23rd (day before Thanksgiving).
Calendar filled with exercise plan and will record this on DailyMile.
Motivational quotes (lol)

I'm sure that there will be updates here as well, especially if they're good!

Here are the quotes that I liked:

1. Man imposes his own limitations, don't set any.
2. Vision without action is a daydream.  Action without vision is a nightmare.
3. Real athletes run, others just play games.
4. My greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do.
5. Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can do what others can't.
6. Ability is what you are capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how well you do it.
7. Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
8. Shoot for the moon!  Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.
9. The task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you.
10. A run begins the moment you forget you are running.
11. Running is one of the best solutions to a clear mind.
12. Don't take anyone's definition of success as your own.
13. Anything worthwhile will not come easy.
14. It is the mind that rules the body.
15. Run hard when it's hard to run.
16. My sport is your sports punishment.

Early Release Day

Yesterday was early release day at school for the kids.  This equates to conference day for parents and teachers.  I had one for Bryson, and of course it was a fantastic report!

The plan was for Brianna to go with a friend to Jump City and David and Bryson were going fishing.  That left me by myself, and I'm really starting to like that time to myself!

Brianna got home about 4 and we rode to Riverside Park so that she could see where they went fishing and play for a bit. 

This was on the way:

The weather did not cooperate, and the boys were pulling out of the water when we got there, so we hung out with them.




Bryson, Brianna, Mr. Cooper, and David

 My handsome man:

See the cooler behind him in the picture?  There were two female black labs there and someone had set the cooler out with water for them.  Brianna was so worried about these dogs!

It's a small world though, came to work today and got to talking to someone and he saw the dogs yesterday and took them home.  Called Brianna to tell her this morning and she was so happy!

Happy Friday Y'all!

Tuesday Plans

Just another day

Glad Monday is over.  Not because it was horrible, but just because it was Monday!

I do enjoy the fact that we do not have anything in the afternoons/evenings on Monday, so the kids and I did nothing.  They got to play and I got to read...wonderful evening!

Tuesday starts chaos with trying to get all of the homework done before we have to be at karate for Bryson.  Most of the time it ends up that Brianna has to do her homework at karate, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Bryson previewed the Master's Training Program Saturday:

Bryson working the Kamas



He really liked it, but I'm just not feeling signing another 3 year contract.  He's only 8 and still has 1 1/2 years left on his current contract.  I think he's a little disappointed, but he hasn't told me that.  I would have to commit to another contract, more money, and more hours at the karate center.  He keeps wanting to play baseball, so I think his interest is changing a bit and I'm not taking that chance!

The kids tried to convince me to let them take another bath in my tub last night.  They were regulars all weekend...Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!  This is what that fun looks like:

There is water under there...



Tonight David is going fishing and won't be home til like 3am, so I'm thinking after karate we're getting our toes done again.  The pedicures we got 3 weeks ago don't look as good anymore...plus it's so relaxing!

Brianna's feet on top



So, bring it on Tuesday...we've got plans!

Nothing to say...

It's Monday after all. So, here's to photo editing being very deceptive!

Remembering

Today. 10 years post 09/11/01.

Yes, I remember where I was. Work.

So many emotions/questions that day.

Most of all, I remember being at home that night. Just me and my 9 month old baby girl. Feeding her a bottle in a living room dimly lit by the news on the television in Waynesboro, Ga.

Questioning my selfish decision to try to raise a child in such a cruel and horrible world. Wondering what it's gonna be like for her?!

10 years later...it's sad to know that many children don't know what 9/11 means or why the calendar says Patriot Day. A blessing in some ways, but I will remember.

Why are short weeks the longest...

I promise, I thought yesterday was Thursday.  I kept mentally planning things like it was Thursday, even though I 'knew' it was Wednesday.  Today seems like deja vu...ugh!

I did want to share a response to yesterdays post that came via Facebook.  This is a friend of mine, and the mother of one of the girls wanting to do the animal rescue center with my daughter.

I was so hoping that you would have that funding for the animal shelter! I have explained to all three of the girls that they need a real job to support this animal shelter. Your's is going to be a vet, mine and Hannah are going to be marine biologists. I am so glad they have already decided what they want to do in life. I am 38 and still not sure what I want to be when I grow up! But at last, we know how they are going to get the funding. With all of the money that Bryson will be making modeling underwear, he would love to give some to his sister.

So much for everyone feeling sorry for me when my son starts showing off in his underwear...they are trying to cash in!  LOL!

Nothing exciting going on here.  The weather has been nice, which now means I have no excuse to not start jogging again...ugh!  The countdown is on...it's only 11 weeks to Thanksgiving.  Crazy how time flies!

Today is a crazy day again.  Karate and girl scouts.  I think the boys are fending for themselves, so I should only have to worry about Brianna though.  Nice!

Happy Thursday!

Never joke about future careers

My daughter is pretty consistent in believing that she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.  She and two of her friends have elaborate plans for an animal shelter and rescue center.  Hope one of those sets of parents can afford to help them get that off the ground...lol!

My son has not decided on his career path yet (not that he needs to, but it comes up in conversation).  A few months ago he told us that he wanted to be a Navy Seal?!  Dang LL Cool J and NCIS...lol!  When he found out that you had to have a college education, that turned into 'I just want to be a fireman'.  Wow!  2nd grade (at the time) and already has no college plans...great!

So, the other day we are sitting at the table talking about what they want to be when they grow up [yes, again].  Brianna, in the most sarcastic tone, informs me that I know she wants to be a vet (so why the heck did I ask...geez).  Bryson tells me he doesn't know.  Then the fun starts...

I tell Brianna that I think Bryson is going to be an underwear model because he is so cute and loves to run around in his underwear.  He looks at me and asks, "What is that?"  I told him you know, like the pictures in the magazines and catalogs where they wear bathing suits and underwear in them...like Victoria's Secret.  Now, if you could've seen his face, he is really thinking about this.  Brianna was in on the action by then and tells me, "Oh my gosh Mom, my friends are gonna be looking at magazines and be like...Oh my gosh Brianna it's your brother...and I'm gonna be like UGH!"   LOL!  I told her I knew how she felt because all my friends would be patting me on the back saying "I'm so sorry honey".  Bryson is laughing so hard that he's crying at this point.  THEN...he asked me if they had directors.  What?  Does who have directors?  He says the girls in the catalog.  What?  I asked him if he was telling me he wanted to direct girls around in their underwear and bathing suits, and he just shrugged his shoulders...GREAT!!

Slacker

Well, here it is almost a week since my last post.  Not that I've been doing nothing, but you know...life happens!

Let's see if I can re-cap the last few days:

Thursday:  Work--nothing exciting here
Karate--Bryson got nominated for Master's Training.  I'm not sure that I totally know what this means beside the fact that he now thinks he's awesome and can learn new weapons?!  We find out Saturday.
Dinner at Mellow Mushroom--went to listen to Bryan play an acoustic set there, and it was fun.  My brother Nick came with us too.

Friday:  Work--again nothing exciting here
Dropped Brianna off for a sleepover
David, Bryson and Moody went night fishing
Mom had a night to herself...woo hoo!  I should have been productive, but I did NOTHING!  It was fabulous.  I even called my sister in Korea to catch up.

Saturday:  Time to myself again and went and had my hair colored/cut.
Picked Brianna up from her friends house
Went to an afternoon pool party...had a nice time

Sunday:  Lazy, that's it.  I didn't even go to church with my family.
Sunday night the kids went with Nana/Papa to church and I ran some errands (David worked).

Monday:  We went to the movies with Nana (since Papa was golfing) and saw Kung Fu Panda 2 at the cheap theater.  Sears for some shopping and ended up purchasing a new grill at Home Depot.  Dinner with Nana/Papa and Usry's at Sticky Fingers.  Only to have to come home and study for a test that Brianna 'forgot' about.  Oh well, just another day.

So, here we are on Tuesday and I'm back at work.  That's okay...it's not Monday :)