This weekend we had our annual (and by annual you realize I mean quarterly) shopping trip, my Mom, Sister and me. We power shop and it is not for the faint of heart. We meet around 10:30am to start the day of shopping. We don't leave the mall till the doors are literally closing.
In case you don't know, the department stores start shutting the large glass doors right before 9pm. We slide in just in the nick of time. Then we go eat dinner and don't get home till 11pm.
12 1/2 hours of shopping. That's how we roll. When every muscle in our body hurts and our dogs are barkin' we know it's been a successful day. Oh, and when there's a trunk full of bags, how could I forget that part?
I used to think it was unspiritual of me to like shopping. Now I just own it. I've been counting gifts I am thankful for and I'm almost to 1000. Here's #873 and #874...
#873-downsizing closet-ahhhh!
#874-refilling it again-ahhhh!!!
That just made me laugh when I wrote it down a couple of weeks ago. So this weekend I was in a jewelry store and the salesman Kevin went a little cray cray. He straight up asked me where I went to college. I was like, OK. Now I know you are trying to sell me this pearl right now but seriously! I've been out of college for almost 15 years. I wear velour sweatsuits, drive a bus and have 18 kids.
Which brings me to my next point. I'm 36 now. I don't know how the heck that happened but it's true. This morning I was having the best dream ever. My friend Shelia was selling me her burlap welcome banner and a set of Pottery Barn placemats that were burlap and cranberry, and she was selling em' for $5. Just as I was about to buy them I was awakened by singing and breakfast in bed! My 8 year olds famous breakfast toast and coffee. It was sweet. Even though I woke up mid transaction it was a great way to start the day.
Should I mention I had a horrible crick in my neck when I woke up? Comes with the territory I suppose.
It's been a sweet birthday. Last night we got the house spruced up so this morning it was freshly mopped and the vacuum lines were in the carpet. I lit my new Aromatique Cinnamon Cider candle while I ready my Bible. Friday I went antiquing with one of my best friends, today one of my best friends came over to visit (and I spilled her smoothie all over her van on accident). The boys and I went to Taco Bueno with my Mom and Mamaw. Tonight we're going to eat BBQ and today was my last day of Weight Watchers. I didn't go to the mtg. because I've celebrated a leeeeetttttllleee too much this week-ha!
Tomorrow I'll tell you about my new Weight Watchers plan.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Come On In
Welcome to Candy Fest 2012. We kicked off the festivities with a Jack O' Lantern Pizza. It's the closet we got to a Pumpkin Patch this year.
Orange Crush was the perfect Spooky sidekick.
This little guy wanted to be an Indian. He went in the back yard, found some sticks, and whittled himself his very own bow and arrow. He was mighty proud of that. We've been reading an Indian book so it's all the rage at our house right now. His cape was one yard of felt that I cut a whole in for his neck. Total price: $2.97.
Our friend Kari came over for dinner and some trick-or-treating with us. She got to see the chaotic fun right up close.
Dad had to work but ran home to pick up something so we took advantage of the photo op.
Batman had a costume malfunction at the last minute-his neck area was too tight which led to a break down and tears. Frantically I'm searching our closets for a new creative costume, praying for some creative last minute ideas. Finally I told the little superhero it was Batman or bust. You see what he chose, but it was a close call!
The famous fireplace picture.
Our friends went the extra mile this year and brought a trailer for a hay ride. It was muy fun riding down the streets on a hay ride. Boy did that hay ever smell good and it was so soft to sit on.
Upon arrival home we enjoyed Rotel Cheese Dip with Sausage (so good), Hot Apple Cider and Gingerbread with Cool Whip. We turned the kids loose with their buckets of candy and sat around visiting.
All in all I'd say Candy Fest 2012 was a huge success. Let's see...friends, candy, hay ride, beautiful fall evening, good food, dress up clothes, candy for breakfast this morning...I'd say that's all the high points.
Orange Crush was the perfect Spooky sidekick.
This little guy wanted to be an Indian. He went in the back yard, found some sticks, and whittled himself his very own bow and arrow. He was mighty proud of that. We've been reading an Indian book so it's all the rage at our house right now. His cape was one yard of felt that I cut a whole in for his neck. Total price: $2.97.
Our friend Kari came over for dinner and some trick-or-treating with us. She got to see the chaotic fun right up close.
Dad had to work but ran home to pick up something so we took advantage of the photo op.
Batman had a costume malfunction at the last minute-his neck area was too tight which led to a break down and tears. Frantically I'm searching our closets for a new creative costume, praying for some creative last minute ideas. Finally I told the little superhero it was Batman or bust. You see what he chose, but it was a close call!
The famous fireplace picture.
Our friends went the extra mile this year and brought a trailer for a hay ride. It was muy fun riding down the streets on a hay ride. Boy did that hay ever smell good and it was so soft to sit on.
Upon arrival home we enjoyed Rotel Cheese Dip with Sausage (so good), Hot Apple Cider and Gingerbread with Cool Whip. We turned the kids loose with their buckets of candy and sat around visiting.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
burlap and white christmas
it was midnight as i lay in bed looking at the black ceiling last night. visions of burlap and white christmas tree mantles danced in my head. shane will kill me if i re-do our christmas theme but i just can't help but think this is the year for change.
i blame pinterest. and maybe the revival of burlap. and the happy burlap french script garland at the shop down the street. you may not know this but i like to decorate for christmas on november1st. like, as in, manana.
and i almost hate to come out and say it but i'll tell ya. i like halloween. not the devilish stuff but the fun we have at our house every october 31st. our friends gather and we take our little superheros and mermaids door to doorto get snicker bars for mama to fill their little buckets. then we all gather back at the house for hot apple cider, gingerbread and other treats. we'll have the fireplace on and it is all warm and cozy like. all that paired with the yellow mums is about more happiness than i can take.
for me, october 31st is officially the start of "the all things wonderful season". this week will be filled with fun size candy and cooler weather. in the next week or two we'll go ahead and deck the halls. i'm tellin' ya, we love us some christmas around these parts. love it. love the lights. all 5 of us. so we enjoy it for a near two full months. and let's face it, the day after thanksgiving we're ready to have the halls decked. i'm all about decking early so i can enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
while we're on the subject, as you might of guessed, we're black friday shoppers too. girl, we'll go out crazy hair and all, just to find the deal.
well, i'd better go hop off and give the kids "the talk." ya know, be kind to the neighbors and when given the choice, always, and i mean always, go for the snicker's or reese's.
i blame pinterest. and maybe the revival of burlap. and the happy burlap french script garland at the shop down the street. you may not know this but i like to decorate for christmas on november1st. like, as in, manana.
and i almost hate to come out and say it but i'll tell ya. i like halloween. not the devilish stuff but the fun we have at our house every october 31st. our friends gather and we take our little superheros and mermaids door to door
for me, october 31st is officially the start of "the all things wonderful season". this week will be filled with fun size candy and cooler weather. in the next week or two we'll go ahead and deck the halls. i'm tellin' ya, we love us some christmas around these parts. love it. love the lights. all 5 of us. so we enjoy it for a near two full months. and let's face it, the day after thanksgiving we're ready to have the halls decked. i'm all about decking early so i can enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
while we're on the subject, as you might of guessed, we're black friday shoppers too. girl, we'll go out crazy hair and all, just to find the deal.
well, i'd better go hop off and give the kids "the talk." ya know, be kind to the neighbors and when given the choice, always, and i mean always, go for the snicker's or reese's.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Weigh In-Rate your Plate
I've got to start by telling you about my dinner Friday evening. Mamaw came home from rehab and we spent the day getting her settled back at home. We went to Outback for dinner and days later I'm still thinking about that dinner we had. It was a fun celebration, her first day in over a month to be out in the real world.
It started with a Bloomin' Onion followed by bread and honey butter. I had steak and a sweet potato topped with honey butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Then. Then. Wait for it, wait for it, we got a Chocolate Thunder From Down Under.
It was the best dang dinner I've ever had. This weight loss journey has made me change some things. Years ago I read the Weigh Down Workshop and loved the concept. Eat what you want, when you want it, stop when you are full. That concept, combined with Weight Watchers has helped me drop...
Back to point number 1, thinking about what I really, really want. I already LOVED food and eating, but this makes it even better. Food, especially really good food, is an experience.
Two weeks ago I was in Memphis. We had BBQ for lunch, of course. Everything about the lunch experience made me happy. The way the sun was shining and the bright blue sky did not have one cloud in it that day. The way 14 of us women gathered around a table and chatted happily over what we were learning.
The way the smell walking in should be bottled and made into perfume. The cheese biscuits. Oh those cheese biscuits. The 2 real Dr. Peppers I drank. The brisket and french fries. It was gooooooood. I ate what I wanted and when I was full there was half a plate of fries and bread from my sandwich left over. I enjoyed it all, rated my food, decided the meat and fries tasted best, so most of my bun got left behind. Normally it would have found it's new home on my rear end. Ha ha ha get it. Buns, Buns?
Later that same afternoon we went to Chick-fil-A for shakes and the craziest and I mean craziest thing happened. It was weird. Like, I've heard of this happening to people but never experienced it first hand. As I stood there looking at the menu for a shake (still full from my BBQ lunch that was so satisfying because I ate exactly what I wanted) I decided the fruit cup looked best. So that's what I got. A fruit cup. Mediano. $2.46. About an hour into our trip when I got hungry I whipped that puppy out and it hit the spot.
A fruit cup. Is that not crazy? I'm tellin' ya though, that lunch earlier was so fantastic, I didn't even need the shake.
My other tip besides halving your food at restaurants is halving your portion size at home. I'm a seconds kind of girl, probably always will be. When we had chili this weekend man, I know I'm going for 2 bowls. So I trick myself and just have smaller size bowls.
Before weigh in this morning I wanted to quit. But man, it's working and I've still got 11 pounds to go. Last week I lost 2 pounds and ate out a couple times. I just used my eat what I really want trick and it worked.
It started with a Bloomin' Onion followed by bread and honey butter. I had steak and a sweet potato topped with honey butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Then. Then. Wait for it, wait for it, we got a Chocolate Thunder From Down Under.
It was the best dang dinner I've ever had. This weight loss journey has made me change some things. Years ago I read the Weigh Down Workshop and loved the concept. Eat what you want, when you want it, stop when you are full. That concept, combined with Weight Watchers has helped me drop...
19 pounds
- I think about what I really, really want before I eat it.
- I've realized I can have fun and enjoy a fun dinner. Just not every day :). No more big Mexican celebrations just 'cause it's Monday and I can.
- When we go out to eat, I share with someone. If I don't share I end up overeating and feeling miserable. In my mind, sharing never seems like enough food, so I make myself feel better by telling myself I can always get a dessert if I'm still hungry. Crazy thing is, half a meal out fills me up. 5 of us shared this dessert and it was perfect. A few bites of heaven was all we needed!
Back to point number 1, thinking about what I really, really want. I already LOVED food and eating, but this makes it even better. Food, especially really good food, is an experience.
Two weeks ago I was in Memphis. We had BBQ for lunch, of course. Everything about the lunch experience made me happy. The way the sun was shining and the bright blue sky did not have one cloud in it that day. The way 14 of us women gathered around a table and chatted happily over what we were learning.
The way the smell walking in should be bottled and made into perfume. The cheese biscuits. Oh those cheese biscuits. The 2 real Dr. Peppers I drank. The brisket and french fries. It was gooooooood. I ate what I wanted and when I was full there was half a plate of fries and bread from my sandwich left over. I enjoyed it all, rated my food, decided the meat and fries tasted best, so most of my bun got left behind. Normally it would have found it's new home on my rear end. Ha ha ha get it. Buns, Buns?
Later that same afternoon we went to Chick-fil-A for shakes and the craziest and I mean craziest thing happened. It was weird. Like, I've heard of this happening to people but never experienced it first hand. As I stood there looking at the menu for a shake (still full from my BBQ lunch that was so satisfying because I ate exactly what I wanted) I decided the fruit cup looked best. So that's what I got. A fruit cup. Mediano. $2.46. About an hour into our trip when I got hungry I whipped that puppy out and it hit the spot.
A fruit cup. Is that not crazy? I'm tellin' ya though, that lunch earlier was so fantastic, I didn't even need the shake.
My other tip besides halving your food at restaurants is halving your portion size at home. I'm a seconds kind of girl, probably always will be. When we had chili this weekend man, I know I'm going for 2 bowls. So I trick myself and just have smaller size bowls.
Before weigh in this morning I wanted to quit. But man, it's working and I've still got 11 pounds to go. Last week I lost 2 pounds and ate out a couple times. I just used my eat what I really want trick and it worked.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Mommy Time Out
I have just put myself in a Mommy time out. Is it really wise to be posting about it in the heat? Probably not. So, it can just be so frustrating, teaching the kids. Today started out good. Sun shining, laundry going, Wal-Mart list planned, learning our first catechism, etc etc etc...it was going good. Till the wheels starting falling off the bus.
Till the phonics lesson started getting frustrating. Till I lost my temper because I want to see a little effort and not such an easy bent toward giving up. I set the timer for a 5 minute break then I went and turned it off because maybe I just need more than 5 minutes to simmer down.
Then I log into the computer to get the math lesson geared up. My computer asks me a ridiculous question.
What would happen if you lost your Google account tomorrow?
Really? Nothing. Nothing would happen if I lost my Google account tomorrow and no I'm not giving you internet people on the pop up screen my phone number. I might even gain a little more freedom because something was just erased from my "have to" list.
And then there's the issue I am dealing with of processing through what God wants from me. This weekend me, along with 13 other women from church, college age to the mini-van drivers with hips, attended an amazing conference together. It was good, the older and younger teaming up.
Not just good, but challenging. I heard some passionate women speak about their love for God and people.
I got some great ideas. Like having an extended quiet time. 2 hours or more. I was filled and challenged and on the ride home I was overwhelmed. Why? Because as my friend Sandra pinned it, Satan tried to swoop in to steal, kill and destroy the truth I had taken in. Tried to make me feel guilt and failure. Tried to link bad words like bondage and legalism to the truth God had spoken. But we saw it for what it was. And I will not allow the Enemy to take away from me truth God freshly planted inside me.
I know the freedom of living a life of Joy in the Lord. I know Grace. My life knows Faith. And right now, in my Mommy Time Out, I know new beginnings. Fresh starts. I know that a spirit of judgement and criticism is my red flag that I am in sin. It's not who I am, nor who I am called to be.
This morning my Scripture reading from Ex 3 reminded me that God came to a vision in Moses while he was tending his everyday work. While he was out tending sheep in the pasture, living the everyday, God came to speak life and truth into his life.
My Mommy Time Out is about to be over. I'm going to start Math lessons, read about George Washington, take a trip to Wal-Mart to get Cascade, have another conversation with the boys about why we are not spending money on Halloween costumes, we'll re-heat left-overs for lunch, and I'll finish up the laundry, and my day will not be ruined. It won't be ruined because we had a bad 5 minutes. It won't be ruined because my Google account might not be here tomorrow and it won't be ruined because your life and mine look different.
Today is the everyday and it is good.
Till the phonics lesson started getting frustrating. Till I lost my temper because I want to see a little effort and not such an easy bent toward giving up. I set the timer for a 5 minute break then I went and turned it off because maybe I just need more than 5 minutes to simmer down.
Then I log into the computer to get the math lesson geared up. My computer asks me a ridiculous question.
What would happen if you lost your Google account tomorrow?
Really? Nothing. Nothing would happen if I lost my Google account tomorrow and no I'm not giving you internet people on the pop up screen my phone number. I might even gain a little more freedom because something was just erased from my "have to" list.
And then there's the issue I am dealing with of processing through what God wants from me. This weekend me, along with 13 other women from church, college age to the mini-van drivers with hips, attended an amazing conference together. It was good, the older and younger teaming up.
Not just good, but challenging. I heard some passionate women speak about their love for God and people.
I got some great ideas. Like having an extended quiet time. 2 hours or more. I was filled and challenged and on the ride home I was overwhelmed. Why? Because as my friend Sandra pinned it, Satan tried to swoop in to steal, kill and destroy the truth I had taken in. Tried to make me feel guilt and failure. Tried to link bad words like bondage and legalism to the truth God had spoken. But we saw it for what it was. And I will not allow the Enemy to take away from me truth God freshly planted inside me.
I know the freedom of living a life of Joy in the Lord. I know Grace. My life knows Faith. And right now, in my Mommy Time Out, I know new beginnings. Fresh starts. I know that a spirit of judgement and criticism is my red flag that I am in sin. It's not who I am, nor who I am called to be.
This morning my Scripture reading from Ex 3 reminded me that God came to a vision in Moses while he was tending his everyday work. While he was out tending sheep in the pasture, living the everyday, God came to speak life and truth into his life.
My Mommy Time Out is about to be over. I'm going to start Math lessons, read about George Washington, take a trip to Wal-Mart to get Cascade, have another conversation with the boys about why we are not spending money on Halloween costumes, we'll re-heat left-overs for lunch, and I'll finish up the laundry, and my day will not be ruined. It won't be ruined because we had a bad 5 minutes. It won't be ruined because my Google account might not be here tomorrow and it won't be ruined because your life and mine look different.
Today is the everyday and it is good.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Snow Covered Trophy
Trophies of His Grace.
It's how my Pastor worded who we are on Sunday. The ironic thing is most days I remain completely unaware of how valuable the trophy is. Most days life is lived in the here and now.
I ingest the Word. Say the prayer. Do the dishes. Take the phone call. Stir the sauce. Tuck them in bed. Read the story.
The morning begins each new days cycle. I move mindlessly through the routine we call life with no thought to my inner workings.
Only this week was different. Last week a new prayer found its way into the old. "Show me my sin." Not just the obvious ones. Show me the hidden ones. The ones who are so much a fabric of my days that I do not even recognize them for who they are anymore. I can't be that good and there's got to be more.
And one by one they begin to show their faces. In the midst of beautiful Fall days, filled with vibrance of color from purplish red to fiery orange, eyes are opened to the tainted. The sin stained soul.
The Pumpkin Cupcake candle flickers and fills the room with comforting smells and sights and the sin stained one carries about her duties.
She seeks control when it is not hers to be had. The judgemental, critical thoughts dance across her mind. Pride of the ugliest kind follows closely on its heels. One by one they begin showing up, those hidden sins, and she begins to understand something of her sin nature.
Most of it is hidden. It is underneath the surface. In the hidden places of the heart and mind. It makes her prayer sweeter when she prays,
"Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness, according to the greatness of your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that you are justified with you speak and blameless when you judge.
You desire truth in my innermost being and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me so I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins. Blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your Presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Deliver me from my guilt so my mouth can joyfully sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips so that my mouth can declare your praise. You do not care about sacrifice or I would bring it. The sacrifices of you Lord are a broken spirit and an apologetic, regretful heart, those you will not despise."
Psalm 51
It's how my Pastor worded who we are on Sunday. The ironic thing is most days I remain completely unaware of how valuable the trophy is. Most days life is lived in the here and now.
I ingest the Word. Say the prayer. Do the dishes. Take the phone call. Stir the sauce. Tuck them in bed. Read the story.
The morning begins each new days cycle. I move mindlessly through the routine we call life with no thought to my inner workings.
Only this week was different. Last week a new prayer found its way into the old. "Show me my sin." Not just the obvious ones. Show me the hidden ones. The ones who are so much a fabric of my days that I do not even recognize them for who they are anymore. I can't be that good and there's got to be more.
And one by one they begin to show their faces. In the midst of beautiful Fall days, filled with vibrance of color from purplish red to fiery orange, eyes are opened to the tainted. The sin stained soul.
The Pumpkin Cupcake candle flickers and fills the room with comforting smells and sights and the sin stained one carries about her duties.
She seeks control when it is not hers to be had. The judgemental, critical thoughts dance across her mind. Pride of the ugliest kind follows closely on its heels. One by one they begin showing up, those hidden sins, and she begins to understand something of her sin nature.
Most of it is hidden. It is underneath the surface. In the hidden places of the heart and mind. It makes her prayer sweeter when she prays,
"Be gracious to me, O God, according to your lovingkindness, according to the greatness of your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that you are justified with you speak and blameless when you judge.
You desire truth in my innermost being and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me so I will be clean. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins. Blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your Presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.
Deliver me from my guilt so my mouth can joyfully sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips so that my mouth can declare your praise. You do not care about sacrifice or I would bring it. The sacrifices of you Lord are a broken spirit and an apologetic, regretful heart, those you will not despise."
Psalm 51
Friday, October 12, 2012
Cold Snap & Knickers
It's always special, that first cold snap that catches me by surprise.
The boys don their one pair of knickers and tube tops I kept down, just in case it gets cold on us, and out the door we go to brave the floods.
Today I've been wading through bins of Fall/Winter clothing from the attic. This coincides perfectly with my hankerin' to declutter. The good news is I've already got a big trash bag full of outgrown clothes to donate.
The other good news is my boys need some pants and maybe a couple long sleeve shirts. That could be viewed as bad news except for the fact that Wednesday I started checking out boys clothes for the Fall. There is some serious cuteness to be had and my boys are pumped that we get to go shopping.
This book is on my list to read. Have you heard of it? Everything about simplifying and downsizing makes me happy. So that's my Friday. Decluttering and changing out closets.
My closet has to wait until Monday. The goal is to downsize by 50%. I have the weekend to pump myself up that it can be done!
The boys don their one pair of knickers and tube tops I kept down, just in case it gets cold on us, and out the door we go to brave the floods.
Today I've been wading through bins of Fall/Winter clothing from the attic. This coincides perfectly with my hankerin' to declutter. The good news is I've already got a big trash bag full of outgrown clothes to donate.
The other good news is my boys need some pants and maybe a couple long sleeve shirts. That could be viewed as bad news except for the fact that Wednesday I started checking out boys clothes for the Fall. There is some serious cuteness to be had and my boys are pumped that we get to go shopping.
This book is on my list to read. Have you heard of it? Everything about simplifying and downsizing makes me happy. So that's my Friday. Decluttering and changing out closets.
My closet has to wait until Monday. The goal is to downsize by 50%. I have the weekend to pump myself up that it can be done!
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