Category Archives: Life

Beach workout Saturday

Saturday morning, bright and early!! Enjoying a few quiet minutes until I wake up the big boy–he’s getting some volunteer hours in at the Church Thrift Shop before a day filled with skateboarding with his buddies. Hubs is off to his Saturday morning meeting and Adoration and all the kiddos are still snug like a bug in their beds. I will be off to my last workout class for the contest. This morning it’s at the beach!!! Don’t hate!

A little update on the contest and such. First of all, the 6 week contest was actually a 4 1/2 week contest when it comes right down to it….buuuuuuuuut……at last count I was down 6 pounds. I didn’t weigh in last weekend and I’ll hold off today since we have our official last weigh-in on Tuesday. HOWEVER…..on a measurement scale, I am definitely down. Clothes are feeling better and I’m creeping seriously close to the next size down…from a 10/12 to a 10. Not to mention, I’m seeing a little more muscle definition and having more energy. Win-win!

The 3 key things that have brought me the biggest results have also been my biggest struggles this past week:

Planning and prepping meals. I work full-time out of the home pre-cooking on the weekend is huge. I enjoy cooking, however, sometimes I really don’t want to be in the kitchen for a couple of hours on my precious free time on the weekend. The truth is, without that prep and planning, it’s challenging to stay on task and not get tempted throughout the week.
Writing down what I’m eating. I’ve been using the app “My Fitness Pal” and it works great. Only downside? We have a pretty strict no cell phone use at work which they’ve suddenly decided to enforce and so logging has become more of a challenge. I guess I need to just jot it down throughout the day and log in later.
Planning exercise. It’s May. I may have mentioned that the other day…..crazy, crazy, craziest month of the year. All the more important to plan it and DO IT. For me, that will mean getting my rump out of bed in the a.m. because aside from these classes at night, it just doesn’t happen once I get home from work.

And so, with the contest almost over and a good jumpstart for me….I’m ready to keep on keepin’ on because it is bathing suit season, people and there is no hiding from it.

I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished this past month and look forward to seeing my overall results. Our contest’s presentation to the winner is the next weekend so I’ll keep you posted on the final results for everyone!

Have a great weekend!!

Flashback Friday..QuickTakes Style!

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Phew. Friday. Thank you, God!!!

For a wrap up of the week I’m hanging with Jen and the peeps all sharing about our week..go visit, bring coffee…and a donut…or if you are eating clean, maybe some hardboiled eggs.

As for me, I’ve got a few flashback moments of kiddos…I guess all these graduations are making me a little nostalgic!

— 1 —

The dangers of going commando. Our youngest son, in 3rd grade, learned a difficult lesson in the importance of wearing underpants. A classmate decided that “pantsing people” (you know, randomly yanking down pants of unsuspecting or suspecting people and running away) on the playground would be fun. Our son and some friends thought it funny and the 6 of them just chased each other around (our son had a belt on and felt invincible) until the mastermind of the game had the tables turned, our son pantsed him and much to everyone’s surprise….the kid was commando. Game over. All 6 boys were suspended for the day, our son got a 2 day suspension (since he was the ill-fated puller-downer-of-the no undies boy–don’t even get me started). He doesn’t “pants” anymore and I sure hope the kid who was “exposed” learned to put on some underpants. Funny now. Not so funny then.

— 2 —

Our oldest girl has begun the braces. 3rd child. If only thumb-sucking wasn’t so cute in little kids…..she has her spacers in and impressions taken and next week we go for the next step. It brought back memories of our oldest when he had his braces and expander and HEADGEAR at night. Oh the crazy of the hair in the a.m. Good times. Goooood times.

— 3 —

Our youngest sweet pea was a real stinker when she was little. She still gives us a run for our sanity, but when she was about 2 she would stand at the top of the stairs in the middle of the night at the gate and bang on the wall for me yelling at the top of her lungs…”Mama….I talking to you”. A bullhorn would have been less intrusive to sleep….

— 4 —

Another time, I put her on the balcony for a time out and she banged on the side of the house so loud the back neighbors came running because they thought it was a gun shot. True words. Last time I picked that spot for a time out…..epic parenting fail.

— 5 —

When I had my first knee surgery, our oldest daughter was being sweet and figured she’d share a Warhead candy with me. I was in bed, propped up, immobile. And apparently a sucker…..Have you ever had one? No? Well, go to your local convenience store, grab your video, open the wrapper and let the YouTube viral hits begin. My mouth still salivates and tingles just hearing the word “Warhead” and my daughter tries to repeat the episode from time to time….uh uh…ain’t gonna happen. But you go ahead….

— 6 —

The time our youngest son—-hoo wee…this kid’s got a bunch of ’em—-decided at about 6 years old to make a slingshot in the backyard/woods out of 2 young saplings (still attached to the tree). He was successful for about a few turns, until that ONE rock backfired and busted him in the mouth…cracking 2 teeth and bloodying his EVERYWHERE….oh….the….blood…In the end, he didn’t lose any teeth, there was a fracture but the root was spared and there was a slight gap and two front teeth chipped. He’s 13 now and since he’s finished with braces we finally got the teeth bonded. He didn’t want to do it since it was such a part of his history…but it made Mama feel better. And we all know that when Mama’s happy….it’s allllllllll good.

— 7 —

Mother’s day is upon us….Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mamas out there….babies, fur babies and spiritual babies, May God Bless your mothering spirit!!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Everyday in May…sorta.

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My super-de-duperty creative and brilliant friend, Lea who has been blogging for several more years than I….has for several years had a theme of “Blog every day in May”. I’ve participated in the past 3 years and somehow………

it is May 9th!!!!!!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?!?

and she called me today to remind me that NEITHER of us has begun the annual blog-fest and promptly directed me to her blog to see what she did to rectify that situation. Yep. The woman done went and CAUGHT UP!!! So now….my goal-oriented-task-driven-competitiveness has kicked in. I won’t even bother to back track. Serious talk. Too tired. BUT…..I did blog last Friday and for us, weekends are a kind of bonus, so I’ll start now. So go ‘head…”follow”, add me on Bloglovin’, follow on the Twitter…whatever you need to do and git ready! Because I’d really like to celebrate with some blackberry grits and tea with Lea after this!!

And so here’s the deali-O…if you are blogging everyday in May…leave a comment and we can check it out and spread the word. I’ll leave a little list at the bottom of this post of some other bloggers doing the same. OK, OK, just one for now…but let me know if you’re blogging every day!! If I REALLY get ambitious I’ll put a sidebar with May bloggers to make it easy…no promises, just dreams of grandeur.

It’s really just wrong we do this anyway…. I mean…it’s MAY! The busiest month of the year….truly. Even December…baby Jesus’ birthmonth isn’t as stressful as end-of-year wrap up, testing, recitals, First Communion, birthdays, Mother’s day, etc, etc, etc! But hey, if a little writing and reading gets us through….blog on we shall!

Rachel Balducci @ Testosterhome…..got boys? lots of ’em? and a princess? She does, too!!! And stories abound. AND she even wrote a book!!

Could YOU befriend Paul?

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My sweet friend sent me a small booklet to read a little bit ago and for a gagillion reasons I’ve not been able to get into it. Until this morning. You see, I had a wedding to go to last night in St. Augustine for two former co-workers (just seriously the sweetest couple) and this morning I awoke before my friends did and had 2 HOURS OF TOTAL QUIET. Unheard of, people. Unheard. Of. Just me and my coffee and after working on my 1000 Gifts book I dove into the booklet: Uniformity with God’s Will by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori.

I can see why I couldn’t get into it initially. God wanted my full and undivided attention. Focused. Small bits. It is powerful. I’ll share with you my insight this morning…all 2 pages in.

Some back story: in talking about Saul, who persecuted Christians for their faith. Not only persecuted, but hunted down and killed Christians, routinely. Until…….God got his attention with a little episode of blindness. Enlightening Saul and converting him to Paul. (God often likes to change your name when He drafts you to His team).

Paul asks God, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6

The Lord calls him a vessel of election and apostle to the Gentiles: “This man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles.” Acts 9:15

So, Paul, previously Saul, is a huge player in the Bible and on Team God. He’s a huge instrument of God in spreading the Word, instructing Christians in how to live and love according to God’s will. And….Paul has a past. A really bad past. Yet, God USES him. Mightily. Over and over again. Amongst the very people he previously persecuted.

Think about it. We ALL know a modern-day Paul. People who have failed us, who have fallen, who have a past. Shoot, realistically we ALL have our Saul-seasons. With God’s grace we can ALL enjoy our Paul-seasons as well. The best thing is, God can and does use Paul. Mightily. Over and over again. Among the very people they have wronged. However, how many of us fail to see the Paul and only see the Saul? How many of us fail to see the blessings and instructions of the Paul because we can’t move beyond the Saul?

God forgives. God moves on. Beyond the “Sauls”. God uses ALL things. May we be more like God and focused on the “Pauls” in the world, God’s new creations and let us let go of the “Sauls”.

Five Favorites…

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Last week was fun for me, so I say…do it again!!! Joining in the Baby-Mooning Mama, Hallie @ Moxie Wife for 5 Favorites…

This is week 3 for me in my Clean Eating/ Paleo / no processed crap. Basically, I’ve not had bread (unless you count Ezekiel bread–of which I’ve had 4 slices in 3 weeks); no snacks/sweets/candy/soda/chocolate (unless you count chocolate protein powder in a smoothie and 6 chocolate chips in a spoonful of almond butter). I’m here to tell you….holy cow, I’m surviving!!!! I have energy!!!! I’ve lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks!!!! I mentioned a few things last Friday and here’s a few more…..5 to be exact:

Hard boiled eggs. Mix in some baking soda into the water to make for easier peeling. Great snack!!!!
Avocado. Mix it in my eggs. Mix it in my smoothie. Mix it in my salad. One avocado goes a long way!!
MyFitnessPal. I’m actually logging my food and exercise in aaaaaaaand it can be done on the phone or the ‘puter. Snap!! (now you know my user name if you want to follow/join/encourage)
Paleomg.com I’m getting so many great recipes off this site and my family even loves them. FOR THE WIN!!!!
Clean Eating magazine and website. Another great resource for family friendly recipes. If I can’t get them on board this isn’t going to work and I refuse to be a short order cook making separate dinners for them and myself. Nope.

There it is. 5 quick and easy things I am loving these past few weeks, let’s hope I keep loving them!!!! Have some good clean eating tips??? Bring it!!!

Now go check out Hallie and all the favorites!!

making the trek

Trekking through life: Faith, family, friends and a whole lot of coffee!