So what have you been up to these past few weeks?

It’s been weeks.  Whether you noticed or not, I haven’t been around much either here on the blog or just around because life was crazy busy for me.  Here is a quick re-cap of everything going on:

1. I felt like I become a single parent for two weeks because my husband got so busy with work and applying for a new position.  I have a totally have respect for single parents.
2. The school year ends which requires my contributions and time for yearend parties, 3rd grade graduations, and transporting my two kids around to every social event under the sun.  I now understand why parents like it when their kids learn to drive. 
3. Evan got scheduled for his braces off the SAME day my husband had something major at work happen.  Among other things that day so it was just so crazy to try and be in a million places all at the same time.  We managed and now he is on to the next faze in life and got them off in time to show all his friends before school was out.
4. Both kids have had dance recitals.  They had to have the rehersal on Father's day weekend and then the rehersal the weekend after.  Things went really smooth and it was just so nice.  The kids did great at getting them selves ready, dressed, and knowing where their things were.  They both also preformed so well too.  It was great to see how much they have grown.  So proud of them.
5. Summer Growth groups have started.  We are the leaders for 3, co-leaders for 1, participating in 4.  Our schedules are just jammed packed.  We are all over the place trying to fit everything in.  Plus we are serving at our church every Sunday morning and we are getting ready to help launch some new campuses with our church.  We are so excited to be apart of all of this and to be used in so many ways.  We are just trying to keep track of it all. 
6. I am trying to stay on top of my meal schedule for when I am suppose to eat.  Because of our groups I have to stay on top of meal planning, shopping lists, and finding time to go to the market or having it delivered.  I have to stay on top of things because we are on the go so much I need to have something for everyday and for when we are running out the door.
7. I am trying to also plan outings for the kids and family.  As well as vacations to take with everyone.  I have limited time because of my husband's job, our groups, and other things we are involved in.  Plus my boys are in a karate tournament this Aug. too.  So this is like putting a puzzle together and trying to make it so everyone is happy.  It is the hardest job on earth.  I don't even think the happiest place on earth will work for this family lol.
8. It is a week away from the fourth of July.  I have to start getting ready for our big neighborhood party.  I have to start to think of what to make, to get things decorated, and ready for a huge party.  My mind is starting to spin thinking it is so close.
9. I have sleepovers and playdates happening and being planned daily.
10. I feel completely inadequate because most of my friends who are just as busy if not busier than me with vacation bible school or other things manages to find time to write on her blog, update facebook, etc. just about every day.  Whereas I barely have time to respond to emails and blog comments and run a business.
11. I have become an expert of looking up medical issues and other things on the internet. 
12. I have tried to start working out again but I just can't find the time.  I get a day here and there.  Mostly I just get a sweat in when I am racing shopping around costco with that huge cart and trying to get out in less than 40 min. I also workup a sweat cleaning my house.  But I have made it at least once a week to do a workout at home.  I met with a new personal trainer one time but then I had to go to the dr. and now his wife just had a new baby.  So we are on hold which is OK with me.  It will all happen someday.

This blog post has been so therapeutic.  I feel so much better now.  I love being their mom.  I don’t want it to ever end.

So what have you been up to these past few weeks?

Read More

Life Isn't Easy

Read More

Bananappeal Banana Cakes In A Jar

Are you ready for this? Bananappeal Banana Cakes! A newfound dessert obsession, you’d be hard-pressed to find treats sweeter (or chicer) than these.

Baked to perfection in mini Mason jars with decorative lids. Available in five frosted flavors and four cheesecake varieties—plus two gluten-free options, yay!—you could devour the Banana Peanut Butter, Banana Toasted Coconut or Banana Salted Caramel cakes in one sitting. Though, there is no stopping you from ordering a sampler set to test out every last confection. Want to congratulate a friend, celebrate a birthday or express your affections for a loved one? Skip the flowers and say it with bananas!

Availability: Bananappeal Banana Cakes in A Jar ($35). For additional information, visit Bananappeal.com.
-The Rachel Zoe Report

Read More

How To Get This Season’s Hottest Looks With Suave

With no shortage of show-stopping looks, the runway serves as an endless source of inspiration—but when it comes to transforming our locks at home, we’ve learned that it’s all about having the right products. A line we wouldn’t dream of styling our hair without, we’ve fallen hard for Suave Professionals’ new Keratin Infusion Collection. Watch as Suave expert, Theodore Leaf uses Dry Shampoo and Touchable Finish Extra Hold Hairspray to get a perfectly tousled summer look. If a sleek blowout is more your speed, he’ll show you how to tame your tresses with a little Smooth and Shine Serum. To get this season’s hottest hairstyles, go behind the scenes with Suave! Availability: Shop the entire Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Collection now. -The Rachel Zoe Report

Beauty May 4, 2012

Read More

50 Sheets Of Flawless

Mai Couture Fair Glow Foundation Paper

Ranking right up there with dry shampoo, we bow down to the beauty gods for this fast and flawless face fix. The next best thing to liquid foundation—or dare we say, better—Mai Couture’s sheets are pressed with illuminating powder that smooths skin tone and conceals imperfections. Running late or just need to touch-up mid-date? Reach for a paper and pat away for perfection. Availability: Mai Couture Fair Glow Foundation Paper ($24). For additional information, visit Maicouture.com. -The Rachel Zoe Report

Read More

Be Thankful & Live Life

Read More

Fine or Hurt?

I found this today it just really expressed how I feel and am feeling.  I had to share it with you.  I just can't express how many times I have carried myself with integrity even though I have been hurting and broken inside.  

Read More

That Kind Of Girl

Read More

Don't Judge

Read More

Mother's Grieving Heart

There Are No Words
Author Unknown

There are no words...what can I say?
At last her sweet soul winged its way

To peace and freedom in the sky
Where never again will she suffer or cry.

It's all part of God's great plan...
Which remains a mystery to man.

We cannot understand His ways
Nor can we count our earthly days

But who are we to question and doubt?
God knoweth well what He's about;

He knew she longed to "go to sleep"
Where only angels, a vigil keep.

The pain of living grew too great
No longer could she stay and wait.

She did not want to leave you, dear,
But she had finished here work down here.

So she closed her eyes and when she awoke,
These are the words the Master spoke...

"Welcome, dear child, you are home at last,
And now the burden of living is past"

"There's work for you in My Kingdome, dear
And you are needed and wanted here."

So weep not, she has just gone on ahead,
Don't think of her as being dead.

She's out of sight for a little while,
And you'll miss her touch and her little smile,

But you know she is safe in the home above
Where there is nothing but Peace and Love.

And, surely, you would not deny her peace...
And you're glad that she has found release

Think of her there as a soul that is free,
And home at last, where she wanted to be.

***I found this years ago when I had miscarried and I found it again when I just had a friend who miscarried her first baby. 

Read More

Fear

Think about it, we have all faced fear at one time or another, fear of losing a job, fear for a child’s health, fear of change. The Bible is full of stories of men and women like us who had to face many fears. Through these stories the Bible teaches us that 1: we will all have to face fear at one time or another, and 2: God will always be there to pull us through. God tells us and shows in the Bib...le that he loves us and we can trust in him; even when we are facing a Giant. By sharing and praying with someone close when they are going through a difficult situation, or when they are afraid, we can teach and model to them what a trusting God in the middle of our fears looks like; Praying and sharing together about life is a wonderful opportunity to teach our children & others that God is bigger than our fears.

Read More

BFF's

Alicia & Me

Annamaria & My Kids

Jason (my husband), Me, & Alma

Marcella & Me

Amy

My best friends and I have known each other most of my life. Through the years we have had our waves of trials and tribulations as any other relationship would. However, what has remained constant is our loyalty to one another. Our friendship has evolved from childhood playdates to a sisterhood that has us discussing life as mothers and wives.

God puts special people in our path to help shape us into the people He wants us to be. We can pray and encourage our kids to find healthy friendships with others and advise them on how to also be a good friend.

Read More

Day Dream

Oh yes I wish my windows opened up to this in the morning.  A place like this has been on my mind.  I would love to just wake up to sun, the beach, blue skies, and smiles.  I just don't know why Washington has nice mountains and all the things it has but well honestly as I am getting older and have kids we want this more and more every day.  My son would love to skate board and surf.  My daughter is a total beach girl.  I would just love it.  I am just waiting now for this to not be a dream and for just a moment to wake up to something like this one morning.

Read More

Marriage & Love

My husband and I run a small group from our church during the week.  We are now on our 2nd session and have gone through the breaks because people just have connected.  We usually eat, gather, and talk about the message for the week.  We have hit many topics and some we have shared many personal things too.  Some nights we even have tears. 

We are on a new series about LOVE.  We have been talking about love in marriage and relationships.  How love impacts our relationships.  Well for some it has been hard because they are just getting into a relationship, some have been in a relationship or marriage for a while, and others are not in a relationship an more but can have lots of input too. 

I know for me that my marriage for the 17 years of marriage and 20 years I have known him has not been easy.  And well it shouldn't be for that long.  I know that we married young and that opposites attract.  We have also been learning about bringing baggage into a relationship.  Well I think back at how young we were.  We didn't know what baggage our families had, what we were going to be molded into as people, or how things would start to pan out.  This was a journey that we were going to have to go through life together with.  For us we have had things a bit different than some.  Some people that marry later and have had time and age to process some of these things in life yes these things can impact who you are and your relationship.  But when you are so young you don't have that understanding.

For us in our marriage we so far have been able to work through things.  And yes we have talked about and worked out some really hard and tough issues in our years.  As we have told each other there are some friends and people in our lives that would have gotten a divorce over some or half of the stuff we have been through.  It isn't easy and we will be the first ones to admit that but we do know that being alone is hard too.  So if you are going to have a great marriage, it will cost you.  What do you think some of the costs are to having a great marriage? 

In a marriage you also have to realize you come from different families.  What are some of the differences about your family you have learned maybe aren't the same as other people's family's?  Well for us we talk about this from time to time and know that our families are very different.  My husband his family they sheltered him from a lot to protect him from things.  He didn't know a lot about what was going on or what is still going on in the family.  Both of his parents came from parents that drank and had abuse.  Because of that both of his parents didn't believe and raise their kids with physical punishment.  My family 3 out of 4 kids were adopted.  I grew up with one side of the family being Swedish (my mom's) and the other side was southern (my dad).  I grew up with great family traditions, close family, in the kitchen with grandma. 

Sometimes you might think the grass is greener on the other side but that isn't true.  It is greener where you water it.  When you take care of and water your relationship and care for the important relationship you have you won't be tempted by things that can come into your relationship to tear it down.  In our relationship we have had our struggles but thinking about this we know that the grass isn't greener.  It is hard though for some this can mean so many things.  So make sure that you talk it out and know that you are there for each other. 

Encouragement is something that is huge in a relationship.  You need to make sure that you provide an environment of encouragement in your community for other people's relationships.  Make sure that you take a deep breathe when you are handling issues with your spouse and try to talk calmly about things.  It is hard to not yell at them sometimes but then really everyone stops listening.  So try to work on calming tones and talking things through.

Remember that divorce is not a result of the kids leaving it is a result of years of neglect.  What things do you think get neglected when kids come into the picture?  What can you do to avoid neglecting your marriage? 

Read More

Love

“Love is what we are born with.
Fear is what we learn.
The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life.
Meaning does not lie in things.
Meaning lies in us."

~ Marianne Williamson

Read More

Stay at Home Mom's

This is for all you stay at home parents out there! 

A man came home from work and found his 3 children outside, still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn around garden, The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and no sign of the dog, walking in the door, he found ...an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, the throw rug was against one wall, In the front room the TV was on loudly with the cartoon channel, the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. 

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. 

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pyjamas, reading a novel... She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?..."
"Yes," was his incredulous reply..

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

Re share! Photographer unknown - please let me know if you do :)

By: Tiffany Burke Photography

I just had to share this because this is just soooo true!!

Read More

Happy Birthday Tinkerbell

Today is my tiny ones birthday! I just can't believe that she is 4 years old. It is amazing to me that wow how time does just fly by.  I know she will always be my baby girl.  From the moment I found out I was pregnant with her I knew my life was going to change forever.  And it did.  So many things have happened and changed but I am so blessed to have her and everything that has happened because of her.

My pregnancy was going quite well with her until I up and broke my ankle.  Yes I had to be on bed rest for most of the pregnancy after that.  I actually delivered her in a brace.  It was just amazing and the worst was to take my first steps in the hospital without a brace on out of my hospital bed knowing I had just a newborn baby that needed me.  Placing my weight on it and stepping I knew it was all for her.  I did it.  And from then on I knew I was strong enough to take anything for her.

The first year was really tough she was not a good sleeper at all.  I think I spent the first year in a chair sleeping.  She went to a sleep study even at Children's Hospital.  Yes she is a tough cookie too.  She has such a great and fun personality one that is just infectious.  And yet she is a lover too.  She is so smart and learning so much.  With all that she has going for her some people actually think she is older than she is.  Whatever it is I know I just love her so much and she is just my little best friend.

We love to hang out together, she loves to have me do her hair, and we love to put on make-up together.  She loves to go shopping with me.  She actually has great fashion sense and style.  She is my little Fashionista.  I know I will love to watch her as she grows but I also know I will cry along the way.  I just hope that she knows how much her mom loves her.  I love you my little Tinkerbell princess.  Happy Birthday Aaliyah!!!

Read More

"Just a Mom"

Well I have been thinking about this these days.  I have been out with some friends of mine that have jobs or my husband.  And when you are introduced and people ask you "what do you do for a living?" well my heart sinks because I know telling the I am just a mom well they really don't know what I do or who I am.  I know all of us mom's know that being a mom is hard work.  And yes it is.  The house work, meals, taking care of the kids, everyone in the house, doing the shopping, budget, and so much more that the list would go on for ever.  But what some people don't know is that some "mom's" had jobs maybe or skill beyond being a mom too.  And yes I am one of those mom's.  I don't have my resume tattooed on me but well I do have some skills and I can do things beside just clean.

When we go to church I love to try to help out and be apart of the team.  My husband has a tech job and he is a specialist.  Some are finding in church he is quite talented.  But when I go I talk to people and clean things up.  When I go to the bathroom I wipe down the counters.  When I work in the kids area I clean up the kids toys and snacks.  I try to make it in to help do the cleaning of all the rooms during the week.  I have tried to do some work in the computer/data area but I don't know they seem to think because I am home with my kids I can't do anything.  Well that is to bad too. 

When I went down my path in life I thought I wanted to be an interior designer.  I had to take a couple computer classes.  I wasn't excited to do it.  But what I found was my instructor didn't know what they were doing and I ended up teaching them some things and doing really well.  I ended up teaching myself about databases, html programing, Unix, networking, email administration and more.  I was hired and sought after some major companies.  I had a good career.  I still love it and stay in the know of technology.  I love to be in the know and on top of what I can.  I love to be challenged. 

I have also still enjoyed the fashion world and stay on top of all things there as well too.  I just love what is new where to get it when it is coming out.  This includes make up too.  I just love staying up on top of all of this information.  And I also love sharing, helping, and passing along what I can. 

I have been shopping at the mall recently and the past 2 times in the cosmetics counters the ladies have been so impressed by my knowledge of product and excitement for it that they both have told me I should work there.  I know when you have a passion for something it is contagious but wow that was just so honoring to think that "just a mom" could make an impression on someone.  I know that I have skills and I know that I have knowledge I just wish people some days could look past the fact that "mom's" there are more to them.

Read More

Mineral Makeup

I wanted to try the mineral buzz. So I tried the bare minerals.  I liked it but it was missing something.  I didn't get the coverage I was use to and looking for and I just wasn't so happy.  So as others came out on the market I tried them out too.  I tried some from the drug store and others from the department store but I still wasn't happy.  Some were not covering well and others looked like I was putting on stage makeup.  So I was starting to ask myself why are people so excited about this stuff?

Some were so expensive I wasn't even going to try it because well let's face it as a consumable product I am not going to pay that same price over and over.  So finally I tried Mary Kay's mineral foundation and it was just what everyone was talking about.  It covered well, had the right colors, didn't look to sheer or like stage makeup, and it was a good price.  I was really impressed.  So if you want to try something that is easy, blends nice, and is a really good price.  Give this mineral foundation a try.  I know I wish I found it sooner.

Read More

Weekly Menu

So how many of you do a weekly menu?  Well I have never done one.  I guess I have felt that it limits me.  So I don't use one.  I love to pick something and fly by the seat of my pants.  Because I think that it keeps my family on their toes.  The don't have things they get use to this way and it makes things they like special because they aren't eaten all the time.  I love that because when you take the time to make something it is like it is special every time you make it.  This is because it isn't in a system like this it is when I want it, crave it, and remember to make it. 

Food is such a link to for memories so this also is a cool way to attach food to memories and not to habit.  Now this is just my two cents about this and you can do it your way and what works for your family.  But you choose do you want to have foods out of habit or to create memories & traditions?

Read More