Happy 6 months!!!!

4 week kick off/June Week Four

Ah. It's already Wednesday and I'm just now getting to my goals this week! oh well, better late than never. Last week I did well on my goals... no real need for an extensive recap on them. I haven't been feeling my usual peppy self as of late, so I'm kicking it into high gear this week to overcome the feeling.

Week Four Goals:

Nutrition: Load up on Fruit and Veggies!

Fitness: Sweat it out everyday. Doesn't matter what it is, just get in a good sweat.

Life: House Organization. We only have two weekends before we leave on our trip and this weekend is quickly filling up but I am determined to squeeze in some time for any small house to-do's I have so next weekend I can focus soley on trip preperations.

Happy Goaling to Everyone and Happy Wednesday!

Changing Plans.

"You can't plan your future, in the future. You just have to get going, now."

So.

I'm a planner.

I like to have a plan.

I like to write down my plan.

I plan for most everything in my life.

In my head, I'm planning all the time.

I love calendars.

I love spreadsheets

I love sticky notes

I love anything that helps me plan.

Planning ahead is a good idea.

Being prepared is better.

I like to plan out my days.

I like even more to plan out my future

But.

Plans change.

Plans change a lot.

I use to hate changed plans.

I use to cry over changed plans.

Changed plans use to rock my world.

Now,

I've learned to expect the change.

I don't mind the change.

Sometimes, I even welcome the change.

Plans and change go hand in hand.

Like. Peanut to Butter or

Flip to Flop.

Life will always keep changing.

I will always keep planning.

But.

I won't let planning stop me from doing today.

I will do today what I see planned ahead.

I will continue to see change as part of the plan.

I know,

The Lord is my plan.

The Lord is my future.



His plan is the only plan.

Brown Bear Sighting

Spotted my first brown bear today. It was crazy. Among many other things, seeing a bear in person is one of the items on my bucket list of things to do/see before leaving Alaska. (not that we have any plans to leave anytime soon) So, 7:15am this morning I pulled out of my subdivision and BAM. BROWN BEAR running across the street. You guys, it was SOO awesome. In describing my experience to Kevin I mentioned how cute the brown bear looked in my head, describing a bear similar to...

 When in reality, it's more like...

In any case, seeing a brown bear in person is amazing!! Well, it's the longest day of the year today and we have nearly 24 hrs of daylight... I know, crazy. Ok. Go enjoy the sunlight!

Happy Summer Solstice to you all!

4 week kick off June Week two recap/Week three

Hello. Hope everyone had a really great day. It's 8pm, my contacts are super dry and I'm exhausted from a busy day so I'm keeping this real short tonight..



Week 2 recap:

No grocery run- check!

Start 1/2 Marathon Training- no.

Register for classes- no.



So maybe not my best week but this week it's on. I don't actually have any new goals this week- just three dynamite goals from previous weeks. Happy Goalin'!



Week Three



Nutrition: No Sugar

Fitness: Start 1/2 Marathon Training!

Life: Keep up on laundry

Happy Father's Day.

Kind. Faithful. Diligent. Patient. Generous. Kind. Strong. Overcomer.

A few words that describe the most amazing Dad, ever. I love you!

Happy Father's Day.

And.. Happy First Father's Day to my hubs.

Hope everyone had a great Sunday.

Saturday Love.

This was my Saturday...

I loved every second.

Pinterest Inspiration

Hi. Hello!

So here's the deal. Kevin and are are trying to save money, pay down some debt and we have a 2 1/2 week vacation coming up next month. All reasons that make Pinterest the worst possible place for me to browse. Hello spending extra money on DIY's and home decor ideas! I am endlessly daydreaming of all the wonderful home improvements and projects I want to do! Although we will most likely not get to any of the big projects this Summer, maybe I can do some little ones? I'm feeling a tad over excited! I figured a little Friday Pinterest Inspiration couldn't hurt us, could it?

I kinda think this is adorable..

 source

and this too...

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What an afordable way to decorate walls. I'm loving this...

source

Um, Yes please...

source

I actually really like this idea of the two panel shower curtain...

source

This is perfect for change!

source

Doing a similiar make-over to my small downstairs closet... love it all.

source

Happy Pinning!!

Blog On.

source

It's no secret. I love to blog. But blogging can sometimes be like having your best looking friend by your side 24/7. You can't help but compare yourself, right?  Last weekend I stumbled across a new to me blog and as I was reading a particular post found myself both laughing and crying. This lovely lady had managed to evoke such emotion in me.  I identified with every single bit of what she was writing about and I loved it. I knew I wanted to follow this lovely mama so I quickly scrolled down to hit the 'follow' button but, stopped. Hesitated. What if she realized she had a new follower and decided to check out my blog- what would she think? Would she think I was superficial? Would she think my pictures were amateur? Would she think my blog, ahh.. life was boring? Why did I care?  All these questions engulfed my mind as I sat, starring at the screen. Finally, I just shook my head and closed the laptop. For days I couldn't figure out why I cared so much about what someone else (someone I didn't even know) might think of my blog. And it bugged me. It bugged me alot.  It bugged me that I cared so much and it really bugged me that I didn't hit the follow button. Instead of hashing out all these questions for the next.. decade,  I decided to tackle the one lingering question they all boiled down to- Why do I blog?

I had lunch with a friend last week and the topic of my blog came up and my entire face lite up. I got SO excited talking about blogging. I mean, in the most nerdy way possible too. I'm half embarrassed by how excited I got. It wasn't that I got excited about just my blog. (Trust me, I don't think my blog is that awesome) I just got excited about blogging in general-The blogs I've found, ladies I've met and inspiration I've gotten. While blabbering on and on about blogging it dawned on me why I love it so much. It isn't because blogging is my favorite hobby, or because I get comments (although, I do love comments, so keep 'em coming) or because I'm trying to brag about my life.  It's because this blog is the one place that has kept up with my life. I have a dozen and one half written-in journals and twice as many unfinished scrapbooks, but this blog is all the little bits and pieces of the last several years rolled into one.  I love that I come here to reminisce and I love that others can do the same.

There are a handful of go-to blogs I turn to when I need support on mommyhood, ideas on a tasty meal, a good hardy laugh or when I just want to take a minute from my life.  Some are those of my dearest friends, some are specific to a topic and some are personal blogs from ladies I've never met but honestly, every single one inspires me in different ways.  What I love most about each one is that every post from these blogs are meaningful to the person writing them. Every post is something they want to remember and capture.   In the same way I want to do with my posts.  I don't pretend to be someone I'm not on this blog. I'm the first to admit my photos are not edited well, my contend isn't always deep or meaningful and I'm clearly not the funnest person out there and while I always hope my readers get something out of my posts more than that I hope to always capture me in every one. 

So, while I imagine I will always struggle with blog comparing I can rest soundly tonight knowing that this blog is a direct reflection of who I am.  And being me is never something to question. 

So, what about you, why do you blog? Until next time... blog on.

Lately...

*pic taken last Summer in Seward, Ak*

Good Morning!

It's quite dreary here today. Rain. Rain. Rain. 


Rain always makes me want to cuddle up on the couch, eat soup and watch a really great movie- like Serendipity (my favorite). Unfortunately I don't get to do any of those things today. Regardless of the weather though there has been a lot going on and lately I've been...


Loving: peppermint tea. enough said.

Looking Forward to: this weekend. I have a big list of organizing and cleaning to do and with Kevin most likely being gone all weekend it is the perfect time to get it all done! I'm already feeling super motivated and it's only Wednesday.

Feeling Bitter/Sweet About: Mom n' Tot's closing. With only a limited number of places to shop in our little town, Mom n' Tots has been one of my favorites to buy lightly used items for Mason. Where will I shop now? Walmart? agh. The sweet part about it, is they are having a big closing sale this weekend- all you can stuff bag of clothes for $6. Anyone need some baby/kids clothes? Seriously. Let me know.

Frustrated About: the hacker that's trying to mess with my work computer!

Bumming Over: my sprained ankle. It's only a lower ankle sprain which are pretty easy to get over but it still hurts and sends shooting pains up my leg. More of a nuisance than anything!

Excited To: spend my Nordstrom gift card. I've been holding on to this bad boy for months trying to decide what exactly to buy with it and I've finally decided on a pair of boots. I cannot wait.

Thankful For: the letter I received in the mail yesterday from my Grandma Muriel. Wow. Talk about an incredible prayer warrior. Her words meant the world to me.

Struggling with: the doughnuts sitting in our office. I really don't want one but my will power is dwindling....

and of course I'm always beyond happy/excited/loving every bit of my sweet Mason.


So, what about you? I'd love to hear about what you've been up to lately. Have a great day!

4 week kick off June Week 1 recap/Week 2

Good Morning! Starting the week off with a quick recap from my goals- I didn't skip work-out, had no extra snacks and thanks to my awesome hubs there was no laundry pile up! Now for a new week..

Nutrition: Fridge Eats (no grocery stops)

Fitness: Start Running Schedule (half marathon in September!)

Life: Register for Fall Semester at College


Happy Monday to you all!

Sunday.

Bits n' pieces of our weekend..

Say Cheese

My Mom has always, always told me to love my appearance at whatever stage it's at right NOW because one day I'll look back and think, "What was I ever complaining about?" I've try really hard to take this approach throughout the years although, I admit, it's not always easy.  Pictures being my biggest enemy. It's like this- It's family or group photo time. You get in your best pose, head tilted just right, arm positioned properly, hair good, check for food in teeth. no, ok smile big (but not too big), snap!...and exhale.  Then, race over, huddle around the little screen to see how everyone you look. How's my smile? Do my legs look big standing like that? Where did that random piece of hair come from?! Oh shoot, look at my arm- it looks gigantic and what's with my left eye. Why does it always close more than the other? Sigh. Can we take another? Just one more? Seriously it won't take but a second... sound familiar?  This is the oh so common theme of my picture taking.  Becoming a mother has dramatically changed my perspective on my appearance but even now I still find myself agonizing over how I look in pictures.  Are they blog worthy? Should I post to Facebook? 99% of the time I kick myself for the photos I didn't post. Do you know, I've never, not once looked at a photo of a friend and thought "gee, why is she standing like that?" Even writing that out makes me laugh, it's so absurd! I'm all about putting our best foot forward in all things, pictures being no exception. But it's true, we are our own worst critic.  As I start my family and document our life through this blog and through photos I constantly remind myself that sometimes the only pictures worth posting ARE  the ones with the crooked smile and messed up hair. Because those are the pictures that are real. That are us. I mean, who wants to look back and see a bunch of perfectly posed people anyway?  I am certian that one day we will all look back at the photos of our lives and the only thing we will see is the memory of the moment and not how distorted our hand, hair, nose, arm looks. So, CHEERS to loving our photo appearance, putting our best foot forward and posting the good, the bad, and the 'ugly'.

quick hello

Now that Mason isn't accompanying me everyday I am back to work. work. work all. day. long. So as I'm bee bopping around today thinking it's got to be about time to take off I check the clock and GASP... only noon!. Do your days ever go by S L O W ??  ah. I thought I'd take a quick breather and say Hello (shh.. don't tell). Kevin periodically sends pictures of he and Mason's day and this is what I got today- holy cuteness, right?

Oh and I bought a new package of coffee to try- bold, chocolate flavored - Ah Ma Zing! Totally love it. Anyways, tonight I have a date with my little guy and our new jogging stroller. Crossing my fingers for no rain. I still have a few hours to go though so I gots to get back to it.  I'll be back this afternoon checking in so if you're taking a breather from your day and reading this- drop me a comment and say Hi and tell me about your day! Hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday!

4 week kick off final week recap/June Week 1

May is over and I'm so happy with the goals I've been able to add to my daily routine. June is my 'crunch time' month before vacation in July so I'm hoping to stay extra motivated with all my weekly goals.  Here's a recap of how I did last week.. the mega week:



Drink 2 Nalgene Bottles of Water
-Don't Drink Calories
-No
Dessert After Dinner-

No Sugar (Only on Friday night!)

-Stretch-

15 min
Swim

-5 More-

Run 2 5k's

-Wash face
-No
Pressure
-Lunches
-One Non Mason Photo Each Day



Not too bad at all! and now for.. June

Nutrition:No extra snacking

Fitness: Don't skip work-out!

Life: Stay Up on Laundry


Happy Goalin' to you this week!

Weekend

What a great weekend we had here! I spent the better part of Friday night cuddling with my Mason Bear. He's teething like crazy and has his first little tooth peeking out so he's been extra fussy lately. Poor baby.  After he feel asleep I headed over to my friend Sarah's for a girls night filled with good company, wine and sweets! So much fun! (no pictures taken- darn) but it was so nice having a few hours with the girls.

On Saturday we took a short drive to Seward to pick up a  jogging stroller I found on craigslist. Great condition- dirt cheap. It was probably the best day we've had up here all Summer so we grabbed lunch at the Safeway deli and headed for the water before heading back home. So perfect. We topped our night off with the most delicious salmon dinner at Paul and Shellea's. yum.

Today we spent the day working on our downstairs closet project (yes!). I don't know about you, but Home Depot is seriously one of my favorite places right now. I found an HGTV magazine I had to buy. So many good home projects to do.  

See you tomorrow for my June Week One Goals! Good night!

I had planned to trim Mason's hair today but couldn't bring myself to make the first snip. His hair is soo cute and out of control. I just can't cut it. At least not today. I mean.. look at his hair in these pics? Love it SO much.!

Summer Go To's

Good Morning! It's warmed up around here, the sun is shining (sporadically) and I'm wearing flip flops to work- It's Summer, and I love it! I have an extra little pep in my step this time of year anyways but every now and again I need a little extra ump to rev up my mood. I've compiled a short list of my Go To's that I turn to anytime I need to feel jazzed up. Enjoy!


1. Nails. I love, love, love a fresh set of painted nails. It makes me feel put together, fun, fresh, lovely.. and bonus- it's cheap. My fav- bright red!

2. Fruit Water. A huge glass of ice cold water is always a Go To to feel livened up but sometimes plain old water is just that plain old b o r i n g. Add cut lemons, lime, strawberries, apples- anything and it's so much more fun to gulp down and the added flavors are delicious!

3. Earrings. Any fashion accessory can make an outfit but for me, earrings are my number one accessory go to. It doesn't matter what I'm wearing- jeans and a T? Grab a pair of earrings and wa la- instantly feel bubbly.

4. A Brisk Walk. Walking is great for so many different reasons but getting outside and breathing in the fresh air tops the list, by far.

5. Summer Play List. My music usually consists of a whole lot of country and Hip Hop. I know. Awesome combo. I currently have Eric Church's new song: Springsteen, stuck in my head 24/7 but I love it so I don't mind. What's your Summer Play list sound like?

6. Ice Cream Cone. So, maybe not the best one to try if you're watching calories but .. eating an ice cream cone just makes me feel like a kid again.


Have a fabulous weekend!