Category Archives: Family

Focus on the prize

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Thanksgiving week here in the U.S.  Thursday we will give thanks for our many blessings and watch football, spend time with family and friends, and nap after a ridiculously huge and delicious meal.  The next day many will head out and shop ’til they drop, thus signifying the start of a month-long season of eating, drinking and generally living in gluttonous excess in celebration of the birth of Our Saviour.  Weird, huh?

The average weight gain during “the holidays” is reported to be about 7 pounds per American, other studies show its more realistically about a pound…..for my, it’s about 4. Average spending per American is about $700 during the holidays.  No wonder we are all stressed.  I was thinking about all of this the other day and decided THIS year I am approaching the holidays differently.  Much differently.

I enlisted my girlfriend who I work with and another girlfriend who I know does EVERYTHING for EVERYONE all year-long and can use some de-stressing as well.

It’s simple, really.

One day at a time.

  • Focus on regular exercise throughout the remainder of the year.  Shooting for a minimum of 20 minutes a day.  That is NOTHING!!!!!  Just plan it.  A quick 20 minute walk before your day gets going.  20 minutes while dinner is in the over.  20 minutes after dinner.  Whatever.  The time is there.  Just do it.
  • Healthy eating choices.  Log food or plan it out.  Be AWARE of what is going in.  So much temptation.  Ask yourself, “is it worth it”?

This season is about Jesus.  Let us focus on Him.  Let us treat our bodies as the Temples they are.  If we don’t take care of ourselves, how in the WORLD can we love and take care of those around us???  The airlines don’t tell us to put our own oxygen on first and then the kids for nothing…

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Or do you not know that your body is a [a]temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from [b]God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

I plan on blogging throughout the month-ish and re-blogging encouraging and inspirational blogs as well to cheer us on.  Be blessed.  Don’t stress.

To encourage you….this morning I did 20 minutes of P90X Cardio X.  20 minutes.  It’s what I had time for.  Bring it!

Friday, Advent and style…it’s a theme.

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It’s Friday, so that means it must be:  7 Quick Takes with Jennifer Fulwiler et al.  Join on in, it’s a super crowd!!

1) I don’t want to get anyone all crazy or anything but Advent is just around the corner, December 2, 2012…the first day.  You ready??  Huh??  Huh??  Huh??  Me??  Uhhhhhh.  Sorta.  Our family does a little thing each Advent, for every day, this will be our 3rd year.  I have procured the items we will need over the past many months.  It’s something a good friend of mine started us on our first year in where we randomly and anonymously “gift” someone throughout Advent.  It’s not anything big, just something small to hopefully brighten their day and spread some CHRISTmas joy.  Yes, the cards even say “Merry Christmas”…..scandalous in this P.C. day and age, right??

2) Now I’ve just spent 2 hours trying to decide which site to use for our Christmas card with the right pictures and coupon code and the site freaked out and I had to start over.   Grrrr..  Bedtime!!

3) We’ve had soccer and cheer all week, staggered so it’s been very DRAWN OUT!  At least I’m getting my walks in!!  However, joy of joys….it is the LAST week of both girl’s sports.  Our last  soccer game is tomorrow and it’s at HOME, and cheer finishes up with competition on Black Friday (can you believe the nerve?!?!?)

4) This week gave me a little reminder of how busy the holiday season is going to be and my girlfriend and I are going to start a little holiday health challenge/focus to get us through the New Year.  It’s such an insane time of year with parties, plays, gift giving, meals, time off from school, juggling family visits etc, that, as a woman (and I’m sure a few men, too) we tend to get so caught up in taking care of others and focusing on activities that we OFTEN forget to take care of ourselves.  Therefore, we are planning on being accountable for regular exercise (nothing crazy…just staying active) and watching what we put in our mouths.  We need to remind ourselves our body is The Temple of Christ and I think we all forget that from time to time.  Isn’t Advent a “good” time to focus on that?  Anyone can join in…if there’s a big interest I’ll make up something “official-like”, for now it’s just email and texting and friends at work accountability, too!

5) Speaking of Advent…(apparently there’s a little bit of a theme this week since I continue to return to Advent), My blog is almost at 100 followers!  So, I’ve decided that  I’m going to do a giveaway of Dan Lord’s new book, “Choosing Joy:  The secret to living a fully Christian life”.    If you didn’t know, Dan is married to Hallie Lord, author of “Style, sex and substance” and blogger on marriage and style over at Moxie Wife.   I’ll post a blog on the official giveaway and all that jazz once I hit 100 followers!

6) On style….for the past two Sundays I’ve participated in “What I wore Sunday” over at Fine Linen and Purple.  It’s been super fun (awesome for visitors to my blog!!!!) and inspirational on paying a little more attention to dressing for Mass and other times when I’m out of my scrubs and workout clothes (95% of my time!).  As timing would have it,  Dwija at House Unseen posted about taking care of appearance in general and the subtle messages it sends to our families and loved ones when we do or don’t pay attention to how we look.  It definitely made me think about taking a few extra minutes on regular days, too.

7) Last one, also in reference to style….last night I bought some boots.  Target.  My boot envy got the best of me, especially since I currently don’t have any boots and will need them on our surprise trip in January to Pennsylvania!  So exciting.  The only thing about boots is that my calves are muscular and sometimes it’s really difficult to find a pair of boots to zip up past my calves.  Frustrating I tell you!!

Alrighty then….I’m out.  Time to wake the kiddies and get this day rockin’ on into the weekend!  Blessings and don’t forget to check out Conversion Diary for other great peeps!!

Tick tock…get ready!

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The holidays are upon us.  I’m getting a little panicky……Excited and overwhelmed.  However, I just bought tickets for the Nutcracker, we have much of our Thanksgiving food procured (sans the bird, yet!) and tonight…TONIGHT I will order Christmas cards!!!  For me, I just can’t start shopping until the cards are DONE!  It signifies the start of the shopping season for me.  WOW!!  How about you???  Do you wing it or are you structured?  Blessings!!

What I wore Sunday…Take 2

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Fashion Sunday with Fine Linen and Purple.  It was so much fun last week, I thought I’d do it again!!  I don’t know how many I’ll do because my Sunday outfits are generally same-same, maybe mix it up; then repeat cycle again, it’s all new here, right?  I also managed to get my 9 year old to take my full photo….1/6, not too bad-ish.

I am a Poser. Shirt Apt. 9 @ Kohl’s.  Years ago…my “basic” white shirt, but I LOVE the criss cross, gather.  No fun to iron…but love the look!

Lined skirt (still needs a slip). Chaps by Ralph Lauren…on super clearance @ Koh’s YEARS ago…..I think like $7….

Shoes. Unisa. @ Parisian??  So old I can’t remember…emphasis on the (blurry) heel which Hubby just took to the cobbler and had a new one put on…JOY!!!

Earrings. Gift from Hubby. Local jeweler. My everyday faves.

Necklace. A gift from the kids years ago. Super fun. Lost one of the earrings 😦

Another Lia Sophia…love this ring, wear it every chance I get!!

Cross bracelet a gift from a girlfriend years ago…..So fun. I feel all jingly when I wear this. And trendy.

boy driving home from church. Great job, BTW….Volcom shirt…score @ church thrift store $1 and Old Navy khaki shorts off Ebay…$10….

New Driver…Y’all pray for us!!

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Last week I missed the Quick Takes with Jen and the ALMOST 200 HUNDRED people who link up with her @ Conversion Diary…so if you got some time honey….get on over and check ’em out!  Without further adieu….here’s MY wrap up:

  • Sunday I joined in at Fine Linen and Purple for a fashion show of Church-lady (and men) clothes on REAL PEOPLE!  It was so fun, I’ve really enjoyed seeing what people where, how they accessorize, and most of all….WHERE they get their digs.  It’s so girly and holy canoli….my biggest traffic EVAHH from it.  Cray, cray….almost bringing me to 100 followers.  Cool.
  • Our oldest son got his learner’s permit two weeks ago and the kid is ALL about it. Dad is the more patient driving instructor meanwhile mom feels new grey hairs sprouting ever time he gets behind the wheel and I’ve learned a few new things.
  • Apparently no…there is NOT a brake on the passenger side floorboard in our vehicle.  I can’t seem to remember this when I ride with him.  Every time.  We probably WILL have a hole there shortly, so maybe we can put a brake in then.
  • Screaming “STOP” is counter productive.  I realized this the first time, now I just crescendo up…”you want to let up on the gas and start slowing down now….yes, start slowing down….slow down.  slow.  down.  …brake….Brake..BRake…yes.  NOW.  Good job, next time let’s not climb up in their trunk business, K?  K.”
  • The door handle seconds as a security blanket and with repeated kneading is beginning to bear my clawmarks handprints nicely.
  • The St. Michael prayer has become a new addition in our repetoire:                        Saint Michael the Archangel,
    defend us in battle.
    Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
    May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
    and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host –
    by the Divine Power of God –
    cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits,
    who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.

    Amen.
  • Having a kid who drives makes me THAT much older.  THAT’s the hard pill to swallow.  Indeed.

Off to curl in a ball and suck my thumb.  Have a great weekend and be sure to visit Jen!!

sniff, sniff…my baby is growing up!