Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for leaves!!

At least the leaves that aren't at my house! ;)

The Past 168 Days

Wow, 168 days since the last time I blogged. I guess there goes that goal for 2011. LOL. I swear it's not because I haven't wanted to, cause I have! The thing is, life took off like a wildfire and I'm now just getting it under control. I think. Hopefully. Let's all keep our fingers crossed for me. Haha.

These past 168 days have been a fast paced roller coaster ride! From my boys tracking off from school two different months (whoever thought it was a great idea to separate siblings and put them on different tracks should be shot. figuratively speaking.), me working full time at nights, the kids schoolwork, sports, birthday parties, trips to Tahoe, running a half marathon a month, and Adam being laid off from two different jobs. It's been crazy!!

Oh, and for some reason I didn't think I had enough on my plate so I decided to join the PTA. Yep, me, a PTA mom. You can laugh. I do every time I hear it. :)

Anyways, here are a few pictures (since my camera decided to break) of the last 168 days. I would promise to blog more but who am I kidding? How about I promise to try to promise to blog more? Does that make sense? If it doesn't, sorry; it's Friday!! Enjoy!

Bubba was impressive as a defender

Bear's first year playing

1 of many bday parties

Gobble Gobble

Our very own Star Wars Clan

Princess Leia

Baby Girl's 3rd Birthday

Isn't he handsome?

Family Tahoe trip

Ice Skating in Tahoe

Finished the Beach Cities Challenge!

Flashback Friday

{06/2003}

Never in a million years did I think in 2003 I would fall madly in love with this man. But it happened, and has continued happening every day of each week since he told me he loved me. The transformation he has gone through in becoming a husband and father has shocked me in more ways than I ever thought possible. At times, the love I have for him is overwhelming. He is not just my husband and best friend, but the other half of my heart and lungs. I owe him the world for giving me the love I thought I would never find.

Our relationship has never been a cookie cutter storybook fairytale. We've done things backwards, there have been "disagreements", and hard times. But when the day is over and we turn the bed sheets back it's been our fairytale. A fairytale that's celebrating 7 years of marriage this weekend, 3 healthy and beautiful children, and more love and laughter then most marriages experience in a lifetime.

My prince charming might not have ridden up on a white horse or wears a suit every day. But let’s be real, there is only one reason why a man needs to wear a tie and it doesn't involve being worn around his neck. ;)

Happy Friday!

Flashback Friday

~ High school graduation with Grandma and Grandpa Wright ~

Wanna guess the year I graduated high school? Here's a clue...

We Want to Know Wednesday

1. What is the best or worst pick up line you have ever been given?
2. What is your most and least favorite day of the week?
3. How many hours of sleep do you require each night?
4. Is there a song that takes you back in time? What song is it and what memory is it attached to?
5. What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

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1. Pick up line: The worst pick up line ever given to me was after I told the douche bag my name was Bre, "Brie cheese is my favorite, can I eat you?" GAG! 
2. Day of the week: At the moment my favorite day of the week is Sunday. It's the only full day I get to be with my family. My least favorite day is Monday because the Ball and Chain is home from work so I only get half of the day with him before I leave for work.
3. Sleep: I like to point out, require and what I actually get are WAY different. Which is probably like most moms! I require at least 8 hours of sleep. Always have. On a good night I'll get 6 hours of sleep, but normally it's more like 5ish. I work swings so when I get home from work it's the only time I have to myself to get things done without the 3 monsters ruggrats kids getting in my way.
4. Song: I don't even know where to begin! I love, love, LOVE music and there are sooooo many songs that take me back to great memories. "Walk like a Camel" - Southern Culture on the Skids. "Ironic" - Alanis Morissette. "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Free Falling" - Tom Petty. "You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC. "Bless The Broken Road" - Rascal Flatts. "I Gotta Feeling‬‏" - Black Eyed Peas. "Boondocks" - Little Big Town. My list could seriously go on and on!
5. Guilty pleasure: I would say a chilled bottle of tequila, but I really don't feel much guilt about that. So I'll have to go with a spoonful of half peanut butter and half nutella. If I'm feeling really frisky I'll spread both in a tortilla and nuke it for 20 secs. Yum! I'd love to get in contacted with someone to market it like Goober. I, along with many pregnant women and potheads, would be in heaven!

We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A is hosted by: Janette, Seriously Shawn, Impulsive Addict and Mamarazzi. Go and join the fun!

Happy Fathers Day

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
~~Author Unknown.~~

Blogger "Face Off"

Hey Peeps! Go check out SarcasmInAction's blog post for today, and the rest of her blog since she's pretty damn funny. But first, focus on today's post because I was featured in her blogger "face off" {Click Here To Read} . It's ok to sometimes be self absorbed, right? :) I was paired up with another funny lady, Dawn from This Side of Typical.

Heads up... if you have little eyes reading over your shoulder you might want to tell them to kick rocks. And if you lack a sense of humor then I'm going to tell you this isn't for you and to kick rocks. Did you expect anything less from me???

Happy Friday! CHEERS!

Paleo Diet ~ Week 4

Whoop whoop! Week 4 is over! We made it 30 days, for the most part, on a Paleo diet! I am super proud of my Ball and Chain for sticking to the diet plan and doing his damnedest to change his eating style. This diet really opened both of our eyes and gaves us a new perspective on food.

It also helped the Ball and Chain to lose 16 pounds in 30 days! That was with no exercise and not cutting out his rum and diet cokes on the weekends. I have no idea what I lost because I didn't weight myself in the beginning, but I do know for a fact I lost inches. And that's good enough for me!

Even though we are not going to follow the diet to a "T" anymore, I did buy a new Paleo cookbook. It's called "Everyday Paleo" and the recipes look really yummy. Yes, I bought it because each recipe had a picture next to it. :) The biggest thing for us is that we are going to remain eating healthy. High protein, moderate complex carbs, good fats, and portion control. It's not a diet, but a lifestyle!

We Want To Know Wednesday

 

1. You have been asked to give a 10 minute speech to teenage girls. What is it about?
2. Do you have a pet? Tell us about them. No pets? Why?
3. What is the biggest inconvenience about the place you’re currently living?
4. What do you think is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?
5. What are the THREE "nevers" of your life? (things you would never do or have never done)

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1. Speech: Only 10 mins? That's going to be hard! I honestly don't think I would give a speech on all the things that you should and shouldn't do because we all know it'll just drive them to do it. Instead I would hold an open mic type of deal and let them ask me questions. They need to know the honest truth about sex, drugs, and rock & roll; so what other way can they get that information but from the horses mouth? I'm an open book! I am who I am because of the things I went through; no shame there!
2. Pets: We have two cats, Tigger and Pooh; the Easter Bunny brought them 3 years ago. Yes, you read that right, the Easter Bunny. Didn't you know good ol' Mr. Hippity Hoppity likes cats? And cats like rabbits? Get with it people!
3. Inconvenience where I live: Section 8 (low income/g'ment housing). Hold on! Before you tar and feather me let me explain. I'm all for helping people get back on their feet; I've been there, but handing over keys to a 3,000 sqft home (the typical size in my area or close to) is not realistically helping someone get back on their feet. It's giving them false hope. The kicker for the area I live in, is these homes are beautiful and they aren't being taken care of.
4. Best decision: I wouldn't call it a decision, it was more like an OOPS 8 years ago when I got pregnant with my first ruggrat. The two additional ruggrats rank right up there with Mr. Oops.
5. Three nevers: 1. I will NEVER allow my kids to have a pet spider. I thought when I was a teenage if I watched Arachnophobia for the 2nd time it would cure my phobia. Wrong! 2. I've never traveled outside of the US, but once the ruggrats are grown it's the first thing I plan on doing with the Ball and Chain. Ok, maybe the second. ;) 3. I'll never turn down a good margarita or an ice cold beer. Unless I'm preggers. Duh!

We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A is hosted by: Janette, Seriously Shawn, Impulsive Addict and Mamarazzi. Go and join the fun!

Flashback Friday

~ Dennis the Menace Park; Monterey, Ca. June 2008~

Yep, that's MY son! And I wouldn't have it any other way!

We Want To Know Wednesday

1. Everyone seems to have a quirky family situation-- what is something unique about your family dynamic?
2. What is the most stressful aspect to blogging (aside from the network going down)?
3. We all end up on a blog at some point in our day, but name your top 3 favorite websites you flock to daily (non blog)!
4. What’s your sign? Believe in it or not, does any part ring true to you?
5. IceCream!! ICECREAM!! We all scream for icecream! Name your favorite flavor/brand! (Its hot here, can't help it)

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1. Quirky family situation: Lets see… my daughters first name is my maiden name. Which wouldn’t be so quirky if I had actually changed my last name when I got married; 7 years ago. No judging people! I don’t judge individuals that don’t change their last names back when they get divorced. So don’t judge me and my last name changing issues. Anyways, so when she was born we got a lot of questioning looks from the nurses wondering why in the world we would name our child Taylor Taylor. Cause they’ve never seen a weirder name then that? The Ball and Chain was very quick to point out to everyone I have last name changing issues and made sure all the documents got the correct last name before leaving the hospital.
2. Stressful aspect to blogging: Where the hell are my followers?? My button has been missing for DAYS! How are people suppose to join my chaotic world if I don’t have the link? And don’t tell me it’s because I’m not cool enough to be your friend. Cause I am! I swear!
3. Websites you flock to daily: Facebook, Yahoo, and Banking. Hello! Gotta sniper people’s pages, bullshit with my favorite peeps to pass the time at work, and it’s a must to watch the Ball and Chains spending. That way I have more funds to online shop. :)
4. What’s your sign: I’m an Aries. Independent. Generous. Optimistic. Moody. Go-getter. Short tempered. Aggressive. Direct. Loyal. Energetic. Confident. Passionate. Impatient. Quick-witted. Love me or hate me; I’m 100% an Aries!
5. IceCream: This could be the hardest question of all time! Or it could  just be hard cause I’ve been on a stupid diet for almost a month. Alright, first one that comes to mind is Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath. Then there’s Vic’s Peppermint (local ice cream shop). Can’t forget Thrifty’s Mint Chip (chocolate flakes, not chunks). And I really like Ben & Jerry’s Mint Cookie but that one is hard to find. OH and Coldstone’s Coffee! So maybe I have an issue with ice cream too.

We Want to Know Wednesday Q&A is hosted by: Janette, Seriously Shawn, Impulsive Addict and Mamarazzi. Go and join the fun!

Paleo Diet ~ Week 3

Week 3 is done!! Only one more week to go! This past week was a little harder on me then the previous weeks. Even though I craved carbs super bad the first week, this week it was salt. It may have to do with me starting my running schedule back up. I don't know, but I'll track week 4's carvings with my workouts and see what I come up with.

We did have two meals this week that will for sure be in the monthly dinner rotation; Spaghetti w/Steamed Green Beans and Jambalaya. I'll be up front, I was very hesitant with the Jambalaya recipe because... it's Jambalaya! How in the world are you suppose to eat it without rice? Yum, Rice! But surprisingly it did turn out pretty good.

Spaghetti w/Steamed Green Beans

1.5 lbs ground turkey (ground beef of chicken is fine)

2 tbsp dry Italian seasoning

2 jars spaghetti sauce

1 1/2 cups frozen carrots & peas

Fresh Green Beans (you can use frozen or canned)

~ Brown ground turkey with Italian seasoning. While meat is browning, mix spaghetti sauce and frozen veggies into your slow cooker. Once meat is done, drain excess fat grease and mix cooked meat into the spaghetti sauce. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Clean fresh green beans and cut off the ends. Steam green beans 20 minutes before you are ready to eat. Pour sauce over your green beans and enjoy dinner!

Jambalaya

1 lb spicy chicken sausage - sliced

1 1/2 cooked shrimp

1 green pepper - diced

1 red pepper - diced

1 small onion - chopped

1 tomato - chopped

1 head of cauliflower - finely chopped

2 small cans of El Pato tomato sauce

1 cup water
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp creole seasoning

~ In a large pan saute; green peppers, red peppers, and onions. In another pan, brown chicken sausage. Once the sausage is brown add to the saute pan. Also add tomato sauce, water, cauliflower, tomato's, and creole seasoning. On medium heat bring to a boil. Then cover and reduce heat for 20 minutes. Once ready, add shrimp and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or until shrimp has warmed. Great with a side salad!

Manic Music Monday

It’s June and here in Northern California we had a weekend full of crappy weather. Press play, close your eyes, and perhaps this will help cheer ya’ll up for the week ahead. Or make you wish it was already Friday and you had a drink in your hand. :)


 

Flashback Friday

Bubba’s first camping trip to Meadow Lake, Ca. Sept 2005.

I Thought It Was June

I was under the impression it was June. Am I losing it? Is it still April? What ever happened to sunny in the mid 80's? Now that's my kind of weather! Rain rain go away, come again another day. Preferably in a few months! :)



Paleo Diet ~ Week 2



So easy a caveman can do it? I'm really not sure if I would go that far because this diet is a pain in the ass! First off, since there is no processed food (yes, i'm still having withdrawals from my taco bell volcano burritos) that means weekly shopping trips to the grocery store for fresh produce. You try taking a gaggle of kids to the grocery store and see how you feel after. I'll bet you'll be hiding right next to me in the garage sneaking a beer. Which of course is NOT allowed on this diet! Then there is the prep work. Grant it, it does make the rest of the week meal making a lot easier. But it's still an afternoon of washing, chopping, dicing, and packaging. Pretty much what I've learned after week 2 is this... dieting is a pain in the ass!

A few things we ate during week two...

Beef Stir-Fry:
Tip Steak - sliced
Carrots - shredded
Broccoli - flowerets
Asparagus - diced
Bean Sprouts - 1 small bag (may or may not be allowed, i don't know)
Water chestnuts - diced
2 tsp Sesame Seed Oil

~ Saute carrots, broccoli, and asparagus in sesame seed oil. After about 5 mins add tip steak and cook until steak is at the temperature you desire. Add bean sprouts and water chestnuts, toss for a few more minutes over medium heat. Enjoy!

Pork Roast and Veggies (slow cooker):
3lbs Pork Tenderloin
15oz tomato sauce
2tsp basil
1tsp garlic powder
Cauliflower - flowerets
Zucchini - sliced
Asparagus - cut ends off

~ Mix tomato sauce, basil, and garlic powder in your slow cooker. Coat pork roast with seasoned tomato sauce. Add Cauliflower. Cook on low for 6 hours. After about 4 hours add zucchini and asparagus and cook until done. If you aren't able to add the zucchini and asparagus until after the cook time you can always steam them. 

Egg, Turkey, Veggie Scramble:
4 eggs - scrambled
1/4 cup red/green bell peppers - chopped
1/4 cup spinach - chopped
Turkey - diced
A couple dashes of hot sauce

~ Saute spinach and bell peppers for a couple minutes. Pour in scrambled eggs. Once the eggs are almost done to your liking toss in the turkey to warm. I have doubled this recipe and split in half to eat the next day.

Its A Strong Word

I know hate is a strong word but it's been one of those weeks and that's just where I'm at, at the moment.

I HATE...

1. Wasting food - So much goes into it. The money that buys it, the time it takes to purchase and prepare it, and the thought there are starving children all over the world.

2. Slow drivers - I'm not saying you need to go over the speed limit, but the speed doesn't change for the left, middle, or right lane. If you are going to drive 55mph take the back streets! Slow drivers cause accidents! There's actually been a study on it.

3. Laziness - It's whats wrong with America. PERIOD!

4. Empty food bags in my pantry - Yeah I know it's kinda random, but it drives me ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. I don't understand why it's so hard to just throw the damn things away. You are walking into the kitchen so why not throw it in the garbage? Mind boggling!

5. Kiss asses - You aren't good at your job because you have your head so far up the bosses ass. You are good at your job because you have the skills and knowledge to do it. Ugh! So annoying!

6. Our school system - 30 to 1 ratio without teacher aides. No librarian. REALLY?? These children are our future. What is this saying about us? Let me tell you as nicely as I can put it... WE DON'T GIVE A F*CK ABOUT OUR FUTURE. We'll all be dead, or close to it; so it doesn't effect us. Right?

I'll leave you with lucky number 7...

7. Non listeners - We don't have to agree on everything. Hell, we don't have to agree on anything. But I'll bet money (which I don't have much extra these days) if we actually listened, truly listened, to one another we could change things. It's called COMPROMISE. And that's not just for government issues, but relationships too.

I need a long run and a STRONG drink!

We All Bleed Red

Such a true and touching song...



I'm Tired ~ by Robert A. Hall

I got this in an email yesterday, so you may have already seen it, but I felt compiled to share...



I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.

I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.

I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them—with their own money.

I’m tired of being told how bad America is by leftwing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the religious freedom and women’s rights of Saudi Arabia, the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Gay people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won’t multiculturalism be beautiful?

I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor;” of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers;” of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery;” of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.

I believe “a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin.” I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of President Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois. I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less in an all-knowing government.

I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin with two years as governor for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.

I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.

I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.

I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana.

I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military. Those are the citizens we need.

I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people then themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years—and still are? Not even close. So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear.

I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers—bums are bi-partisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bi-partisanship. I live in Illinois, where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot the public for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet are bi-partisan as well.

I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.

I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.

Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to get to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.

~ Robert A Hall - former Massachusetts state senator and US Marine Corps veteran. Written in Feb 2009.

Paleo Diet ~ Week 1

Week 1 of our diet adventure is over and all I can say is.... Thank goodness there is only 3 more weeks to go!  I am not a diet person, I like food!  You know the saying, "eat, drink, and be merry?"  I live by those words.  But my husband wanted to give the Paleo Diet a try, and since I'm such a great wife, I figured I should be supportive and follow the 30-day plan with him.

Friends of ours choose the book, "The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet" and have had great results, so we decided to read the same book.  The Paleo Diet pretty much takes eating back to the hunter and gatherer days; meat, veggies, and fruit.  No processed foods (DUH, that's just common sense), no refined sugar (more common sense), no dairy, no grains, no potatoes, and no legumes.  That's a whole lot of no's and I don't like no's. Just ask my husband! ;)

So far Adam has lost about 6lbs.  Me?  Yeah, the scale and I have major issues so I refuse to stand on it. Ever since I can remember I've had this number stuck in my head of what my weight "should" be.  And even though I know it's unrealistic, not only because it's unhealthy but also muscle weights more then fat,  I can't shake the number.  So instead of beating my self-esteem up over a number, I chose to gage my results on how I feel and look.  And with that... I better see some damn results quickly or this carb loving girl is going to throw in the towel!

Who Am I

Who Am I?

I am a mom who works evenings so she can wake up and spend part of the day with 3 little smiling faces.  I am a wife to an incredible man who whole heartedly loves me for who I am and not for who he would like me to be.  My tombstone engraving will read, "you can sleep when you're dead; that time is now."  If my body didn't require nutrients I would live off of coffee, beer, tequlia, Taco Bell's volcano burrito (w/beans no meat) and reeses pieces. Probably in that order.  I am passionate, random, enthusiastic, and opinionated.  I speak fluent sarcasm!  Yoga pants, flip flops, and running shoes make up most of my wardrobe.  I believe the NFL should play year round.  I am an Aries! The tool box must be organized but my kitchen island is another story.  I run because I can't afford therapy.  I've made many mistakes, but no regrets.  Dancing with my kids ALWAYS brings a smile to my face.  I'm a concert snob!  Toilets are gross, I do NOT clean them.  Did I mention I married an incredible man? :) I like to pretend I'm crafty.  I only use white hangers.  The louder the music, the better.  I should have been a beach bum but instead my life turned out crazy and chaotic. I'm sure glad it did!

Flashback Friday

(10/2005) 

Mason: Mom, why is Tay-Tay wearing a boys shirt?

Me: That’s you Bubba.

Mason: No it’s not.!

Me: Trust me, that’s you.

Mason: Why did you EVER let my hair grow like that?

Me: Cause it was cute.

Mason: No it’s not!! I look like a girl! Don’t ever show anyone!

~ Haha. Blackmail.: It’s a parents form of pay back.. ~

Flashback Friday

(4/2009)

I can’t believe it’s been 3 years since Baby Girls first Easter. Where has the time gone? It feels just like yesterday when I was being rushed in for an emergency c-section. When I was able to easily carry her in my front pack all day. All that has changed. Now I’m running all around trying to keep up with this little spitfire. Crazy how time flies!

Happy Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day this week (April 22nd), our family pledged an act of green to plant a garden at home. And that is exactly what we did yesterday! Even though we no longer have the backyard we once had, we still have managed to find a way to grow a few of our favorite veggies. Now instead of an above ground garden we have beautiful colored pots lining our backyard fence. And when we want zucchini we'll just steal it from Nana's house. Or our new neighbors. ;) How are you going to celebrate Earth Day?

~disclosure: the shirt to small, pants on backwards, and shoes on the wrong feet
are the doing of an independent 2 year old.~

The Countdown

The countdown has begun! Five more days till I get to rejoin the fabulous social networking site, Facebook. Whoop Whoop! I have to admit, this has probably been the hardest thing I've given up for Lent so far. I have felt so disconnected from my social world! Yes, I still have had my phone and email. But Facebook has been my one stop shop. Email, comments, photos, games, etc. This butterfly needs to spread her wings and fly!

Flashback Friday

(Weil Lake : 1988)

I miss the days when you were not sick. I miss who you were before the strokes, heart attacks, loss of eye sight. The times when you would joke around the dinner table with all us grand kids. All the camping trips, dirt bike riding, gun shooting, fish gutting, water skiing childhood memories. I miss the family we once were. You were our core, the backbone that held us together. I miss you Grandpa Taylor.

10 on 10 ~ April 2011

Ten on Ten: 10 snapshots, 10 consecutive hours, on the 10th day of the month!

This month's 10 on 10 will probably go down in history as the BEST 10 on 10. Why? Because my mom made a promise to run a half marathon with me to celebrate my 30th birthday. And she did just that! I choose Santa Cruz Half Marathon for my April run -I'm punishing myself for turning 30 by running a half a month this year- because of the beautiful scenery; completely forgetting the coastal hills. Let me tell you, it was not an easy course for someone running their first half! But my mom rocked it!!! I am so very proud of her and our two girlfriends Amy and Deborah who joined. Thank you ladies for the most memorable 30th! I promise next year we can go to a spa. :)

Woke up to the most beautiful weather!

Moms first and ONLY (that's what she says) half.

My running buddy, Amy.

 Wilder Ranch

 Yes, that would be the view from the course!

 Over half way done!

Never to many ocean shots!

 Can't you tell she's having fun??

 Almost done, 12 miles.

Finished!

P.S. Thanks Amy for taking photos along the way!

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Flashback Friday

(9/20/2007)

When your child has an radiant smile and eyes that speak to your soul, it's so hard to get mad at them. Even though at times our Cody Bear can be Dennis The Menace, his unconditional love and pure heart makes up for all his mischievous ways.

10 on 10 ~ March 2011

Ten on Ten: 10 snapshots, 10 consecutive hours, on the 10th day of the month!

Other then 3 little smiling faces, this is the only way to start a morning.

Don't EVER ask a 2 year old if they need help getting dressed! At least not mine, anyways.

Only 2 tantrums and 30 minutes later...

What was I thinking going down the shoe aisle?

"Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dog. Now we got ears, it's time for cheers."

 

Blessed to have these little boogers in my life!

Lunch time: Mac and cheese, asparagus, and pears. Yum!

6 hours later my family will have a yummy dinner and I'll be at work wishing I could be at home. :(

HYDRATE! 2 days till Shamrock'n Half.



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