Busy hands are happy (but exhausted) hands

enjoying the flowers on the viburnum that FINALLY came this year

It has been a crazy few weeks in our world.  We have had two out of town soccer tournaments, Mothers Day, recital prep and rehearsals, garden beginnings, house/cat sitting and our usual day to day.  I love when the weather gets nice, but it seems like everything explodes all at once when that happens and we need time to re-adjust our time tables and loads.

Where to begin in the wide world of updates.  As you can see from the pic above, we have been enjoying spring.  As a kid my parents had (well the still have) a viburnum tree that I just loved, so when my hubby and I bought our house (8 years ago) my parents bought us one.  This is the first year that we have actually gotten flowers on it which makes he have high hopes for our gardening aspirations this year! 

Along with our beautiful flowers, I think I mentioned before that my hubby was building me a few raised garden beds so we could try our hand at growing our own veggies, and as of this mornings report we have sprouts!  We planted a few starters that were already going, but added some squash, zucchini and peas that we are starting from seeds and the hubs and the mini me texted this morning to report sprout sightings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 So here are my fabulous garden beds, along with mini me and the neighbor in the play area and Violet the neighbors dog.  This is pre-planting.  So far we have planted lots of herbs, zucchini, 2 types of squash, peas, spinach, brussel sprouts, 2 types of lettuce, kale, broccoli and a few strawberries.  We have tomatoes and peppers started in pots.  I am hoping the soil is warm enough this weekend to get the tomatoes and peppers in the ground.  The pepper plants look great like they are ready to go!

With veggies on our minds, but not yet in our grasp, we took our first trip to the farmers market as well.  LOVE the farmers market!  We opted for the smaller one closer to our house and got some great finds...spearmint honey amongst them.  What fun would the market be without cute stuff for the kids, seeing this makes me love broccoli just that much more.

 

 To round out the past few weeks we have had soccer tournaments

 

found a nest of baby birds in our honeysuckle

 

had our first ever dance pictures with the mini

had our last day of pre-school (tears), and thanks to pinterest I have a new tradition started to surprise my girl with when she graduates from high school

and we are getting ready for our first recital...more fun pics of that to come next week after the big event.  dress rehearsal was last night and was SO much fun!

So those are the past few weeks in my world and why I have been absent from the page.  I do want to discuss my thoughts on this whole Abercrombie and Fitch craziness and why I will never shop their stores again...but that upsets me and I want this to be a happy post!

What have you been up to the past few weeks?

Garden Fairies

I love when the weather finally breaks!  This week has been absolutely gorgeous!  Mid 70's, sunny, slight breeze...you can't ask for much better then that, and in Northeast Ohio this kind of perfection doesn't last long, so we have been taking advantage of it.

I know I was all stoked last week about the free week at the fancy gym, but I have not gone once!  Instead I am rushing home to "work out" in our yard.  WE have been busy mowing, weeding, turning soil, cleaning out beds, and building raised boxes.  Not quite the cardio I had planned, but even better since I am home in the sunshine ands fresh air working with the fam!

Mini me has been a HUGE help in this endeavor.  She has been finding worms, raking, reporting our errors :).  Every open flower is exciting, every worm a new discovery...I love seeing it all through her eyes.

Now, my hubby and I have never been very green in the thumb department but wanted to try our hands at a few veggies.  This has now expanded to veggies, herbs and possibly even some fruit.  We are building 4 raised beds, plus we did some rearranging in the play area to allow for more bed space there, plus we have a bed on the side of the garage that needs some more cleaning up...this could be quite a crop we end up with.  We have some starter tomato plants from a friend, the neighbor has promised to bring starters of kale and bell peppers...I'm excited!  We have been very busy little Garden Fairies as my wee one has been saying!

Last summer we started going to the open market much more regularly...I am hoping that we can go less and enjoy the fruits of our labors more this year (pardon the pun).  I have been doing lots of research online about how to enrich the soil and stop bug-a-boos, I'm hoping it all works. I am taking it as a good sign that my viburnum, that we've had for a few years now and has never bloomed flowers, finally has nice little bundles of fragrant blossoms...fingers crossed.  Keep them crossed for EVERYTHING!

 

Do you do your own gardens?  What tips do you have for us beginners?!?!

 



Story time

My three year old and I have a pretty set bedtime routine.  Every once and a while she mixes it up and has Dadoo take her to bed, but for the most part it is her and I.  It's my favorite time of the day.  We get all snuggled under her covers and hug, she giggles as I tell her to move her tiny tush over so there is room for me, and then we read.  "Going to bed time" ranges from 830-9pm.  It used to be if we went up at 830, she got 3 stories, 840 meant 2, 850 meant 1, and 900 meant straight to sleep.  Now that she is getting older she is starting to enjoy slightly longer books, so we have had to adjust this time frame a bit.  Now 830 gets us 2 stores and 845 is 1.  She has become a HUGE fan of the Berenstain Bears, and has inherited the collection that my brother and I so lovingly put together as kids.  She has about 30 of them to chose from I would guess. We have even gotten ones from the library that we don already have, as well as Mimi and Papa finding new ones for her Easter basket. 

I always loved the Berenstain Bears books when I was a kid, and like all top quality children's book, I never realized the lessons I was learning from them because they were just plain old good stories.  Little Bear of course has a favorite that we read each night and then she chooses some other one to read as her 2nd.  How fitting that she would want to read The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food as I try and impart to her the importance of healthy eating and exercise. 

I LOVE THIS BOOK!  Thanks to this fun story, we have had a complete turn around in snacking and grocery shopping!  At the store last week, I ask mini me what snacks she wants for the weekend (we were out of town all weekend for a soccer tournament)...her response, carrot sticks and apples!  As we passed by the candy aisle, I hear a little voice saying Mama Bear would NOT like those snacks!  Love it!

It made my heart so happy to see how she has latched onto THAT particular story.  I'm sure part of it is Mommy and Dadoo's insistence on our workout time, but whatever the impetus I'll take it.  She is even asking for water with her meals instead of juice.  Sometimes she'll ask for milk, but she has been asking for the agua, so I am a happy Mommy.

And now for a little Friend Making Monday!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: http://www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: ABC’s of Me

 Here’s how it works…you’ll choose topics about yourself, your likes, dislikes, etc.  according to each letter in the alphabet, and share a little with us. Oh shhh…you know you love it. 

A) Arden, Latin for Fireball.  When I was preggers my hubby found this name in the baby name book, and the little miss in my belly was a fierce kicker and mover so it was a no brainer, Arden Marie…and let me say she lives up to the name! J

B) Blessed.  I don’t always see it, but I am truly blessed.

C) Coffee.  Truly my last great vice, and honestly its coffee!  It’s not going anywhere.

D) Dylan.  My amazing husband.  We have been through our fair share of ups and downs, but we always manage to come out on the other side together and stronger for it. 

E) Exercise.  I am getting better about making that “me” time.  It has taken on a new role in our house too since my youngest heard the Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food.  Those cubs are told to eat healthy and exercise…LOVE hearing those words come out of my 3 year olds mouth!

F) Family.  My family is everything to me.

G) Guy Fieri.  Yep, Guy Fieri from the Food Network.  Pretty sure he is my 3 year olds first crush.  She LOVES him, so much so that her fav Easter present is the autographed head shot of him she found in her basket. 

H) Hibiscus Hula.  It’s one of our fav Minnie Mouse tunes right now, and apparently the mini me was teaching it at pre-school.  How fun would that have been to see?

I) Ice.  I take a lot of my drinks without ice (soda, water) when at home even out sometimes.  My husband likes to tease me about it.  Since my dad does the same thing, it’s got to be something in our Canadian jeans, since my Dad was born in Quebec!  AT least that is the reason mu hubby gives. 

J) Jamie.  My bestie.  She has been with me for 25+ years.  Don’t know where I’d be with out her!

K) Kiddos.  Mine are the lights of my life.  I talk about them all the time, I know…but they just make my heart sing.

L) Little Brother.  I have given him so much grief over the years, but I love my little brother with my whole heart!  He has grown into such an amazing, caring, compassionate man and I hope he finds someone who sees that and realizes how lucky she is!

M) Maddy.  My oldest.  She is my tenderhearted baby, she tries to be strong and brave for the world all the time, but I know her heart!

N) Negative people.  I have been slowly eliminating negative and toxic people from my life.  It’s a difficult and sad process, but when all they do is upset you and bring you down…it’s not good to keep them around.

O) OCD.  There are certain things in my life I am very OCD about, and at a time that is good…at times it is not so good.  I think I am finding a balance though.

P) Parents.  My parents are my example in life.  I hope my marriage is as strong as theirs after 40 years, and that my children love and respect me as much as I do my parents.  I know that even when I doubt myself as a parent that I am doing a good job when my parents see what I am doing and smile.  The support me no matter what, and I can feel their unconditional love!

Q) Quit.  I am not a quitter…except for smoking and I am proud to have achieved that (been almost 7 years).

R) Religion.  This is a constant conversation with my Dad.  I was brought up Presbyterian and my husband is Jewish, neither of us agree with any one religious practice though.  Where my Dad was brought up in a generation of “go to church” mentality I have decided that faith is what is important, not religion.  I have faith, and I am teaching my kiddos to have faith.  It is an any day of the week, any place you want to stop and think/pray/contemplate/question kind of thing. 

S) Slaughter.  I am addicted to Karin Slaughter books right now!  LOVE THEM!!!!

T) Time.  I wish I could make it stop sometimes, or at least slow down. 

U) Useless.  I never want to be useless.  It’s a fear of mine.

V) Viral.  I’m hoping both my blog and my little family business eventually go viral!

W) Wrinkles.  I think I am getting them and I must admit I don’t like it.  If you know where to send them back to, please let me know as the little stinkers did NOT have a return address when they arrived around my eyes.

X) X –ray.  As a kid who was WAT active in sports, I think my poor mom has an x-ray collection of all my knee and ankle injuries 

Y) Yarn.  I have started buying lots of yarn over the past6-9 months with the hopes of teaching myself how to properly crochet and/or knit.  It’s a slow process, but I am enjoying my successes (when I actually get them).

Z) Zoo.  My hubby and I LOVE taking our kids to zoos.  We have made them a part of our vacations, we have memberships.  LOVE THE ZOO! 

Now it’s your turn! Don’t forget to come back and link up in the comments!! Happy Monday friends!!!!!!!!

GET ACTIVE!!

I am so excited!  Next week is one of my favorite weeks at work...and its only partially because of work.  Next week is Get Active America Week!  Some of you may remember how excited I was for this last year, get Active America week means FREE CLASSES AT THE FANCY GYM!!  Hooray for classes!  This is the 10th anniversary for IHRSA's Get Active America campaign, and it coincides with May's celebration of National Physical Activity month. 

I have been good about doing my home workouts, but it is always nice to do a class and feel the energy of the other participants and the instructor...its even NICER when your lace of employment embraces the idea of health and fitness and offers you access to those classes FREE!!!!!

Now the dilemma...what classes to take this year!  I now I have said it before that I should know better then to plan this out and get set on certain classes, but it gives me something to look forward to!  I mean, look at the options here.  I KNOW I want to do Zumba on Wednesday....Alice rocks!  What else though...I am able to take anything that falls between 6am-3pm most days. 

 

Take a look at the calendar...what do YOU recommend I take this year?!?!

Put my face on the milk carton!

Where have I been?  I know, I have been asking myself that same question.  Everyday I sit down to write and something comes up.  There is a soccer practice that I need to run to, or a meeting at work, or a "very important" Polly Pocket date with my wee one, and then the blog gets pushed to the side.  I am sorry!  That's not fair to you right?  Heck, its not fair to me.  This is something I do for me, and I haven't allowed enough time to do it.  Of course, I have been taking time to get my workout on...so I haven't been completely neglecting myself...just you guys.  Wow, writing it makes me realize I super suck!  SORRY!!

I have to admit, I am feeling good now that I am getting back into a regular workout schedule.  I have incorporated some weight routines into the mix and they are challenging in a great way, I just think that maybe I need to follow the advice on the instructions of only using 2-4 pound weights...problem is I only have 5 and 8 pound weights currently.  Not sure.

I am still trying to slice out enough time to start running again.  I am hoping that once summer gets here I can do more.  I have also been trying to find some 5Ks in my area that have fun runs for kids.  I think my little mini me would LOVE it!  My oldest has asked about running again too...so she and I are already set to start hitting the trails again once its warm enough on a weekend.  80 yesterday, 72 today, 35 tomorrow.  YUCK!  Every weekend of course!!!!!

 

How are you springing into the new season with your workouts?

Thankful

I feel like I have a lot to say this Monday, but I am actually going to scale it back a bit and let Melanie from The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog say most of it today.  I had a nice message from Melanie a few weeks ago about the importance of exercise and cancer.  This hits close to home for me as I have been affected by cancer on both sides of my family.  I lost an aunt to lung cancer, a grandmother to colon cancer, and uncle to Hodgkin's Lymphoma and have had an aunt and cousin both beat non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  When reading through what Melanie had to say, I must admit I thought about my cousin Eric a lot.  When he found a lump under his arm, he knew what the diagnosis was going to be...his mom had been through it.  So when it was time to see the oncologist his sister (another cousin-Deanna who happens to be a nurse), met him and his wife at the appointment.  She came with a bright yellow binder full of research she had done, treatments, etc. and it was organized already for him.  He called it his happy cancer file.  It was a joke, but it worked.  Eric remained positive ands active throughout his treatment, and today is cancer free. 

Here is what Melanie has to share:

Limitations That May Affect Your Cancer Exercise Regimen

Exercise is an important part of any cancer recovery program. There are some precautions that people with certain conditions must take while exercising. Common groups that deserve special attention include patients with anemia and patients who were sedentary prior to cancer. Here are a few exercise tips for people who are in special groups:

Exercise Tips for People Who Were Previously Sedentary
People who were sedentary before their diagnosis may have complications when they begin an exercise program. These people should begin their exercise program slowly and gradually increase the time they exercise. Walking is a great way to begin treatment. Start out light and increase the amount weekly, as you feel more energetic. When exercising, cancer patients should pay attention to signs of overexertion.

Exercise Tips for People With Anemia
Exercise can be helpful for cancer patients with anemia but only in moderation. More than likely, cancer patients who exercise every day with anemia will have syncope or fainting episodes. Red blood cells are not produced at optimal levels in anemic patients. This can decrease the amount of oxygen circulating in the body, which may result in the syncope or fainting episodes. People with anemia should be aware of how their bodies feel and should cease exercise if they show signs of over-exertion.

Anemia can inhibit the exercise program of people with cancer. Cancer patients who follow a strict vegetarian diet with vegetables, fruits, and vegetable-based proteins, such as beans, may help to keep their cancer from spreading, but some people do not feel energetic if they are not getting enough iron.

Remember to have enough iron in your system from a source that is easily absorbed into the blood stream. Some fruits and vegetables have high levels of iron but do not allow iron to absorb into the system. This can also affect exercise. People with irritable bowel syndrome who eat foods that they should not eat may prevent absorption of iron into their systems. Speak with your physician about potential problems that may affect your fitness programs.

People With Limitations Can Still Exercise
People with physical limitations such as those with mesothelioma, can still exercise and reap the benefits of exercise. Studies have shown that people who exercise before and after surgery will improve their prognosis and recovery. Many patients feel better and more energized after exercising. Fatigue in cancer patients may cause sleep disturbances and emotional distress. When cancer patients exercise, they often can reduce the medications prescribed and the fatigue experienced. Talk to your doctor and start exercising today!


If you have any questions, comments, etc on this post...you can reach Melanie through her blog.

And since no Monday would be the same without it...here's my Friend Making Monday!

taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: http://www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

TV, Movies and Me

1. If you could be a recurring star on a show that is currently on TV, which show would you choose?  Maybe Bones or Criminal Minds.  I haven’t’ watched a new episode of CM in a while because it got a little too scary for a bit there, but I love that they make you think.  Or Pretty Little Liars just because it is my guilty pleasure.

2. Name the movie that you are most embarrassed to admit that you love.  Not really embarrassed by any.  Steel Magnolias is one that I reflexively recite…and I always watch An Affair to Remember when I can. 

3. Name one show that you've never seen and would love to watch.  Going with Kenlie;’s response I will chose an actually Broadway show and say I would LOVE to see Wicked. 

4. Do you ever go to movies alone?  I have only done it once, and that was to see The Sweetest Thing.  I was just bored and there was no one around to go with me.  I would do it again though.

5. If you could only watch one TV show for the next year, which show would you choose and why?  Friends.  I love it.  It has a special place in my heart from high school, and let’s be honest.  I watch it every night on Nick at Nite.  J

6. If you could star in one reality show, which one would it be and why?  Other than cooking shows, I’m not really a reality TV fan, so I think I’d pass.

7. If someone rented a billboard for you, what would it say?  Supermom!

8. Who is the most famous person with whom you have been in the same room?  This is tricky as I have worked with some cool/famous people in my former career in theatre/concert management.  Brian Wilson was SUPER cool, and I walked to lunch with Rue McClanahan once. 

9. If you were chosen to be a contestant on a TV game show, which show would you want to be on?  Jeopardy, I love it.

10. If there was a movie being made about you, which actor would you choose to play you? Hmmm, maybe Sandra Bullock.  I love her.

Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions!  Don't forget to come back and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday, lovely humans!

 

Motivated Momma

My husband is the best!  Have I mentioned that?  Only 50 million zillion times, well it is worth saying at least 1 more time.  He is the absolute bestest hubby in the world.  He has been working his butt off bouncing back and forth between P90X and Insanity, 2 uber hard work out programs.  He gets up early, gets out girls dressed, fed and off to school, works all day, has had rehearsals at night, does chores around the house and still has energy to workout for and hour+ each night!  He has been both an inspiration and a source of jealousy for me. :) 

Going into this weekend and Easter I was worried.  I have been such a slug lately and haven't worked out, have been snacking like its my job, just off my game completely.  So Friday night we got the little one to sleep early, the big one was locked in her room with her iPod and TV, so he was ready to workout.  He asked if I was going to workout too?  I looked at him and he was so genuine.  I had a few excuses, but he just kept saying..."You know you'll feel better afterwards"  and "Just start out slow."  After a few minutes it hit me...he was right!  I knew I would feel good after, and so I went up got dressed in my workout gear and set to it. 

Now, if you have been with me from the start you know I have a love for the Crunch Gym videos, 2 in particular Crunch Fat Burning Pilates with Ellen Barrett and Belly, Butt and Thighs Bootcamp with Teri Ann Krefting.  I own these two and they have been my "go to" workouts for a while now.  I love that I can feel them right away, they giver me cardio and strength and they focus on toning muscles, not "building" them per se.  So this weekend, I did the Fat Burning Pilates twice and Boot camp once.  I felt GREAT!  I think his gentle encouragement was just what I needed, and am SO thankful!  Can't wait to workout again tonight!!!!!

And now, better late then never...Friend Making Monday.

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: http://www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 

Childhood Flashbacks

1. Did you have a set bedtime as a child?  If so, what was it? I had to be in bed by 9:00 except on Monday nights when I was allowed to stay up and watch Kate and Allie with my mom (at leat while it was still on).

2. Were you taught to be a member of the "Clean Plate Club?" Did it have affect your eating habits as an adult?  Not so much clean plate club, my dad did sometimes tell stories about when he was in Vietnam and the starving children there, but we were basically allowed to have “leftovers” though its seems we rarely did.

3. Share one thing that you were not allowed to do as a child. I was not allowed to ride my bike to the Dairy Queen until I was older and even then it was not really something my parents wanted me doing.  In order to get there we had to ride down the busiest street in town.

4. What is the cheapest gas price you can remember?   The summer I got my license I only paid 88 cents/gallon.  Oh to go back to a simpler time.

5. What was your favorite thing on the playground?  Swings for sure.  I get to enjoy them all over again with my kids too.  There is something magical and soothing about the swings.

6. Share one thing that your parents always made you do that you didn't like doing.  Church was always the hard one by high school.  It was the weekend and it was SO early HA (10am).  It must have been foreshadowing as I never attend church now.  Not for lack of religion, but rather I find it hard to conform to one set of religious doctrines.  I am teaching my children about faith rather than religion.

7. Do you remember your first kiss?  If so, share the details!  I do, but I don’t kiss and tell. J

8. Did you prefer to play inside or outside?  Outside!  Bicycles, flashlight tag, swimming, running…anything to be outdoors.

9. What was your favorite TV show growing up?  Hmmmm hard one.  I too loved Saved by the Bell Kenlie (and that was one of the best episodes….Jessie Spano), I also watched Who’s the Boss, Growing Pains, 90210, but I would say Friends or ER became my absolute MUST SEES!

10. Share one awesome childhood memory.  I feel like I had a really blessed childhood and its hard to pick out one thing.  I am very close with my mom and she and I have traveled together a lot (we would take girl trips as my dad and brother went fishing with their buddies every year in Canada)…which is probably why a spring break youth group trip to Virginia stands out as an awesome memory because it was a trip I took with my dad.  Granted, a bunch of my friends were there too…but it was awesome getting to spend that time with my dad.  We even left the group on Easter and went out to dinner just the 2 of us at the Black Angus Steakhouse.  It was awesome!

Bonus: Share a picture of yourself as a child.   I don't have any on my PC. :(
Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions!  Don't forget to come back and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday, my friends!

Which weight?!?!?

So I don't know why exactly this has started to bother so much recently, but I hate my scale!  Wait, that's not true.  I hate scales in general?  Well, maybe I just hate my floor.  I have noticed over the past SEVERAL months that no matter which scale I use (we have 2), my weight fluctuates partially depending on where on the floor I place my scale.  Does this happen to anyone else?  Some mornings (like yesterday) I am quite happy with what I read (down 1.5), some mornings like today I am NOT (up 1).  I know that I have been a ball of suck lately with neglecting my workouts, my eating has been okay though.  I declared it veggie week at work and have had great green lunches all wee (salad, beans, peas).  It's just hard and frustrating trying to get a grip on where I am when I can't even depend on my scale.  Maybe it is mocking me because it can't depend on me to be honest about my work outs.  It's a vicious cycle I say.

It doesn't help that I am fighting the scale when I know I am being lazy and am just not motivated at all right now.  My "ick" is back in my chest so I am coughing out more yuck...seeing the doc on Monday.  My hubby has been working out at lunch so I can't even live vicariously through him. :)

HELP!  What gets you motivated.  I am open to any and ALL suggestions!

Snowy Monday

I know its hard to see, but this is a pic I took this morning before leaving for work of all the snow.  I have a beautiful wooded lot at the end of my driveway and it looked like a magical wonderland this morning...until the iPhone got a hold of it. :)  Note the falling snow looks like slashes in front of my lens. 

I wish I could be snarky about the snow since it is now officially spring, but I don't really hope for snow free days until April.  It's part of living by the lake in NE Ohio.  I think its foolish to get your hopes up too early. 

My hubby has been on task with the workouts.  He is a P90X fool again, and I am so proud of him.  Me on the other hand, I am a late night snack fool.  WTH!  I take the little bear to bed, read a story, snuggle and fall asleep while he workouts.  I generally wake up to him getting in the shower and I go downstairs and feel the need to eat something.  Usually a bowl of cereal.  When In was a kid I had cereal every night.  It was my "night-night snack" and I am not sure what has brought it back up.   I need to get myself moving.  Anyone feel like motivating me?!??!  Seriously, not sure what's going on with me but I just keep catching myself thinking "I can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can start running."  WHAT!!!  Who is this strange voice in my head and why has she forgotten about treadmills?  Is anyone else feeling like this?

How are you getting out of a rut?  What is keeping you going as these last few days of winter stretch out before you?

Maybe a little Friend Making Monday will help?!?!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

 Ten Questions

1. Describe the kind of home you would live in if money were no object.  I would keep the house we have now, but add new windows, new insulation, and more land.  When we made our list of things we wanted in a house, this one had literally EVERYTHING we wanted and I love our home.  It would be nice to have more land especially though for the kids and dog.

2. Are you more conservative in your actions or more rebellious? I was much more rebellious when I was younger, but I find that I think things through more now that I am a parent.  Although hell hath no fury like a mother with a score to settle for her kiddos.

3. Would you go to Mars even if it meant you could never return to Earth?  No, I love being close to my family and friends.

4. Name one song that makes you want to dance every time you hear it. Wipeout.  My family is known for 100% dedication to this song.  It was actually upsetting to a friend of mine that I rolled around on the floor of my wedding reception in my dress for this song.  It’s tradition though and where else am I going to wear that dress? 

 

5. Share one thing that you wish you could go back and do differently in your life.  I wish I would have been more active in college with things.  I joined a sorority and then let my major (and friends) pull me away from what could have been a great experience.

6. Share at least one accomplishment that people wouldn't expect you to be proud of.  I was homecoming queen.  It’s so silly 20 years later, but it still means a lot that people I grew up with thought that highly of me.

7. Describe one delicious thing that you've eaten lately.  I made killer French bread pizza last night.  Its only 920am right now, and I am already excited about my leftover I brought for lunch.

8. If you had a theme song that would play every time you entered a room, which song would you choose?  Ooooh, good one, I’ll have to think about it.

9. Had technology enhanced your life, or has it over complicated your life?  It has enhanced my life.  It has enabled me to reconnect with family and friends, and my readers.  It has helped me get a start on my little family business. 

10. If you could get paid to do any job, which job would you choose?  I want to be an audiobook reader!  I think that would be the perfect job!  If you know how to get started in this….MESSAGE ME!

 

Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions!  Don't forget to come back and link up in the comments.  Happy Monday, friends!!!!

 

I am the worst!

Well I suck.  I have not been on to blog in what feels like forever.  This little family business we have started, is really starting to take off.  I didn't think I'd be this busy this quick.  It's a blessing, and I am TOTALLY excited, I just wasn't ready for it.  I even was asked enough about business cards that I ordered some, and used a digital copy to make a match for my facebook page (since there isn't a website...yet another questions).

what do you think?  This is the facebook page cover photo


The cards I ordered have this design with the company name, my name, address, phone number and facebook page address.  I liked the three little owls because this really started with my girls and me (of course the hubby too) and I thought these little birdies are just like us. :)

Needless to say, with all the work we have been doing in the shop, there have been NO workouts happening on my end.  My hubby has been a P90X fool, but I have been a lazy, painting and mod podging fool.   I am starting to get that doughy feeling again.  YUCK!  I'm hoping that once I get a few more stock items made, that I will have time to get a workout squeezed in every few days or more.  The orders I have been getting so far have all been custom pieces so its been a little more time consuming...but I KNOW that I need to make time for me too! 

How have you all been?  What have I been missing?