Confessions...

Okay so after talking with a friend at church yesterday, I realized I MUST do some confessing here! I love Mondays for the simple fact that I can try to get it right this week. It's a fresh start and there is nothing I like better than putting the negative behind and moving forward. It's VERY easy for me to drop something that doesn't work and move on, not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing since that can be sort of inconsistent, but whatever, it's me!

Most of my friends know I LOVE Facebook! I can update through my phone and the people who care about me, know that I have a busy life so it's a very simple way of keeping them updated. One of the drawbacks about FBK though is that it may seem like I always have it together and her is a little confession....I DON'T!!! LOL

I can go on and on about all the great things that I've been up to and routines I've instilled but I can also go on and on about all the sucky things I do and can or cannot maintain. But instead I think I will bullet-point some simple confessions to show you that I'm not perfect, I don't have it together all the time, I have lots of insecurities, but I just push forward which is all I can do!! LOL!

• I've fed my kids more fast food and junk this summer than I wanted to and I MUST stop this insanity!!!!!
• My upstairs game room and 2 out of the 3 kids' rooms are TRASHED and I dread going up there to get it together...looks like a BOMB EXPLODED in the game room!
• My laundry was completely done and put away and guess what, it's loaded back up again which is how I will spend my Monday!
• My couponing has gone to crap and I'm completely unorganized with it! Coupon box is all screwed up and I don't feel like I have it together there at all.
• My budget system went out the window this summer and although I know we need to get back on the ball (we're starting The Money Makeover program next week) I am dreading the "confinement" of a budget.
• I feel fat most of the time no matter how much weight I lose, and this is a battle I've had since I was a teenager.
• I'm not always comfortable in my own skin and question "Who I am" sometimes.
• I don't always want to "Do the right thing" and have to force myself into that behavior at times.
• I have "Daddy Issues" and "Abandonment Issues" that I thought would go away but they love to creep up during times of stress.
• I don't know how to relax AT ALL but deep down wish I could!
• My car is a hellhole most of the time, I have no value for a clean car and really don't care. :o)
• My bills are stacked up on my desk and I know I need to get to them TODAY but really don't want to and probably will put it off as long as I can since I HATE DOING BILLS!
• I get excited by my running and feel great afterwards but still think I suck at the running thing!
• Don't always feel good enough.

Okay so there you have it! These are just a few things I wanted to confess. It's okay to have our moments of insanity, moments of self doubt, moments of poor me, but you just can't stay there. You've gotta focus on the bigger picture of this thing called life and just move forward. I know that I have to stay positive and if I'm feeling negative or down then that's usually a sign that I'm under some stress and I need to do some reprioritizing of some sort. I will admit, I've gotten really good at re-evaluating, taking an inventory of what is what and what needs to go. So that could be considered inconsistent but it's important for me to do that since I'm one that likes to constantly try something new.

So why I like Mondays, is simply for that reason! It's a fresh week, I can put together the schedule for the week (which I don't always stick to) and get some focus. BUT I do have 3 children so schedules MUST have some flexibility and I'm okay with that. :o)

9.77 Miles!

obviously this is NOT me, but I just LOVE this pic!

Well, I can't believe it...I DID IT!!!! 9.77miles plus a half mile warm up so "technically" I did a little over 10 miles in 2 hours 2 minutes and FELT AWESOME!!!! Had a couple of good laughs with the girls of course and LOVED LOVED LOVED my new fuel belt...worked GREAT for me!

I felt like a real runner today and it was well to put it in one word FREAKING AWESOME, okay two words, whatever. ;o)

Took the electrolyte pills, had exactly enough water (32oz) since the weather was PERFECT, started off with a Myoplex Lite Shake at 4:15am, sipped on a cup of coffee on the way and popped some Extreme Jellybeans in my mouth at 5:15 and then took my Cliff ShotBlocks at mile 5. Everything just worked like a charm today! Stretched and had some Dunkin afterwards, then came home a took an ice bath...what a way to kick off a Saturday, I feel really really good!

I was talking to Kim today when we hit mile 7 and said, "Can you believe how good we feel?". We really can do a half marathon, not just that but FOR SURE can do a full one! I felt like I could have easily done 3 more miles today...and THAT amazes me!! Now I am by NO means like the more elite runners I know BUT I know I have the potential to be that, and that right there my friends will drive me for sure! One day I won't be doing intervals but for now, I am okay with the walk breaks. My pace was still great (12.29) for the distance little old me did and I couldn't be happier right now...gotta LOVE the whole "runner's high" thing...LOL!

Sometimes I am still in disbelief that I am doing this. Different seasons in life bring different things and boy am I glad that this is the season in my life for running.....I love you pavement! And I'm thankful for my friends that get up at ungodly hours to run together, encourage each other, laugh together and are always willing to try something new!

Love you girls!
Happy Saturday!!!

Some of my Favorite Things!

So yes, I know you probably don't care what some of my favorite things are lately, LMAO, but this is my blog so I'm going to share anyway! HAHA! :o)

I've been really enjoying drinking hot tea at night, the green and white Liptons are my newest but my old time favorite is pretty much any Tazo tea, but I'm partial to the Chai! I was ADDICTED to Chai Lattes when I was pregnant with Sofia! YUMMMM!

My Garmin! This is hands down the BEST running tool you can have!!!

My and my hubbie's FAVORITE moisturizer! Doesn't matter the season, it's good stuff!

DryMax socks from RunningWarehouse...these are the BEST!!!! Thankful to my "seasoned" running friends for the tip on these!! :o)

Thanks to my AWESOME sister for this bottle of perfume over a year ago...I'm hooked! LOVE IT!Homemade Bath Salts!!! I've made quite a few and have recieved various sugar and/or salt scrubs in the past few months for my nightly baths and LOVE THEM!!! You can put any essence oil in them, but I prefer mint and/or eucalyptus! Ahhhhhhh!!!! Oil and Salt or Sugar...skin is OH SO SOFT!!!! Screw you Bath & Bodyworks....I'm too frugal for you! LOL
Mixing two of my favorites lately...FIBER ONE CEREAL and CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT...

oh yeah! (Favorite Greek yogurt is Fage really!)Groupon is one of my new FAVORITES! I recently purchased a $50 Gap gc for $25 and a $20 Maria Maria Restaurant gc for $10 (Carlos Santana's restuarant in Austin). This site ROCKS! Sign up and have your area deals (groupons) emailed to you daily!
So these are just a few things that were on my mind tonight! I could go ON AND ON...makeup, snacks, clothes , etc...but I am going to go enjoy one of my FAVORITE things...cuddling with my hubby! :o)

Homemade Protein Bars

Okay, so I just told all my Facebook friends about this recipe I had for homemade protein bars and they came out SO GOOD I have to share! :o)

Ingredients

• 1 cup liquid egg whites or egg substitute
• 1/2 cup pure pumpkin
• 3/4 cup lowfat cottage cheese or 6oz of vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup of protein powder (you can use flavored if you have it)
• 1 cup of wheat bran
  
• 1/2 tsp pure stevia
• 1 tsp each cinnamon and ginger

Directions

• preheat oven to 350. Spray 8x8 cake pan and set aside.
• mix egg whites, pumpkin, and cottage cheese until well combined.
  
• stir in rest of ingredients, pour into cake pan.
• bake for about 30 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Changes I made:

• used oat bran instead of wheat bran
• used 16 packets of Purevia instead of Stevia
• did 2 tsp of cinnamon
• substituted nutmeg for ginger (didn't have ginger on hand)
• added 2 tsp of vanilla

Smear some Dark Chocolate Dream or Nutella on top and you're looking at around 150 calories or so per bar...YUMMMO!!!

Will be adding maybe some dried fruit, nuts and/or chocolate chips next time. Even my 1 year old LOVED them!!

8 servings

My Newest Accessory!

I couldn't pass this one up today at Ross! Oh I love Ross!! And what better way to begin the new season than with a new apron?! LOL

I've put together my September MONTHLY menu plan and just have to print it up to look over it and create a shopping list then I'll post it up! :o) Now this will be a dinner menu plan based on what meats I have now in the freezer and a couple things that looked really good to me that I wanted to try as well. Having it set up for a month will enable me to have a loose grocery list planned each week way in advance. I should only be shopping for my weekly store deals and produce really so this, I'm hoping, will make a huge difference in the budget. We are starting Dave Ramsey's Money Makeover in September and I'm REALLY looking forward to all these different schedules, routines and discipline to start over here. I NEED IT!

Garmin, Fuel Belt, MILEAGE!!!

I am VERY excited today!!!! I got my very FIRST fuel belt!!! Yes, it's these little things that simply THRILL me! LOL My buddy Kim loves to run with a water bottle in one hand and her iPhone in the other hand (LOL) but me, I don't like to have ANYTHING in my hands really. I have one of those handheld water bottles and it's okay,but I prefer to do without it. This heat does make me feel the need for water, even on a short 30min run, I need it! I have my longest run yet coming up on Saturday...9.5miles!!

I never thought I'd be running 9.5 miles, shit I never thought I'd run 3 or hop on a bike to race...and you KNOW I never saw myself swimming in a race! So when I am feeling doubtful, I keep going over in my mind the things I've succeeded in so far and it helps give me that extra little boost I need. I'm looking so forward to Triathlon season next year but for now I'm focusing on my running! I have three races in my plan for this season and now just have to budget them in and pay for them one each month, these things are EXPENSIVE!!!! I was sitting around last week wondering if I'd be able to fit a Marathon in this year but wasn't sure if I'd have time to train since I knew the White Rock 26.2 in Dallas was too close to the Chosen Half Marathon I'm doing in October...BUT I came across the Austin Marathon, looked at the Galloway training plan and it just so happens that I can easily transition from one race into the training for another!!! I KNEW it was just meant to be!! So looks like this is where I'm at from here until 2/20/2011!!

9.5 mi 8/28
4.0 mi 9/4
11 mi 9/11
4.0 mi 9/18
12.5 mi 9/25
4.0 mi 10/2
14 mi 10/9
5.0 mi 10/16
13.1 mi 10/23 The Chosen Half Marathon Race
4.0 mi 10/31 (I jump right into week 13 in Galloway's 30wk Marathon Plan!)
14 mi 11/7 Rock n Roll Half Marathon (benefits breast cancer so I thought this would be great!)
5 mi 11/14
17 mi 11/21
5 mi 11/28
6 mi 12/5
20 mi 12/12
6 mi 12/19
6 mi 12/26
23 mi 1/2
6 mi 1/9
7 mi 1/16
26 mi 1/23
7 mi 1/30
6 mi 2/6
7 mi 2/13
26.2 mi 2/20 RACE DAY! Austin Marathon

So talk about a little nerve racking...OMG!!! I look at this and think, "Me? Really? Running this many miles??" I can honestly say I saw a woman who reminded me of myself in so many ways not just accomplish this but do multiple marathons and she is who I think of alot when I'm out there pounding the pavement. Very inspiring. I KNOW I can do this!!! I just can't give in to that self doubt I'm so famous for having. If it weren't for my Kimmers I don't think I would even be able to any of this! LOL :o)

First Day of 2nd Grade!

Well there she is! My beautiful baby girl, well not such a baby anymore!! I cannot believe she is a 2nd grader already, wow does time fly! :o) We are once again entering a new season of life and I'm so very grateful that I am wired to just go with the flow for the most part. I know lots of people who are so resistant to change, but I embrace it! I am excited and fueled by it.

Summer was great, but I am so thankful that it is OVER! Pools are cleaned up and ready to be packed up. Backpacks, Lunchboxes, take home folders, "school food" are all back in the home. We are back into our Dinner, bath, bed routine...tv watching will be less and less, reading more and more! I am looking forward to the heat dying down so we can get back to spending our afternoons after school outside eating snacks and riding bikes after homework. Ready to fine tune my workout schedule, playdate schedule, breakfast and lunch menu planning this year too (excited to see how this will go!), setup our date nights for the next two months, and CRAFTING!!!!

OH FALL, BRING IT ON!!!

Here's to another GREAT year!! Mommy is so proud of my SWEET, SMART AND BEAUTIFUL little girl! She is a GEM!

The Hodge Family

Since I've been on such a collage kick lately, I figure I'd end this week with a bunch of pictures of a family Chris and I hold dear to our hearts, The Hodges. They moved here to Hutto with Kyle and Erika to plant Resonate Community Church 4 years ago and have spent their time, energy and money "investing" in people. The impact they've had on our family just can't be put into words. They are beginning a new Season in their lives back in the Dallas area and I just know that they will be blessed so much in so many ways! After all, God does bless in abundance, doesn't he? I know I've experienced it being lucky enough to live right across the street from them for almost 2 years now.

GOOD LUCK YOU GUYS!
I'm so glad that you're close enough for us to see often!
LOVE YOU!

Danskin 2010

Thinking of my Tri Buddies today as they're getting ready for the Sweet n Twisted Triathlon on Sunday! You girls KNOW you can do this....remember?!?!?!
Love you!!!
These memories will last a lifetime!!!

BFFs

Anna and Ky-Ky....best friends since they
were 21/2 and 31/2
This makes my heart happy!

A Cherished Friend!

I am so thankful to our very talented and dear friend Heather
over at vanityphotography.net for capturing these
memories for us!! We will treasure them FOREVER!!
(I know it's going to drive her nuts that the foot shot placement isn't centered!LOL, sorry girl!
It's my first time playing with this!!)

First shoot was when Adrianna was 5 and Christopher was 2.
It's AMAZING how fast time flies!!!

Love you Heather!!

Identity

I have heard recently by different friends with completely different personalities bring up the topic of their identity.

Simple question, "Who am I?"

Shouldn't be hard to answer, and you'd think a woman in her 30's would be able to spurt out an answer simply, but I have yet to hear someone confidently define in a sentence who they are. Sure, maybe they'll say "I'm a stay at home mom, confident, fun, loving, giving and care about others" or maybe "I'm an athlete, a wife, a career woman, an over acheiver, respectful, kind, honest, etc. etc..".

I myself have a desire to sum "Gina" up in a sentence but I'm coming to realize I can't do that. Sure I can use a bunch of adjectives to describe different facets of my personality. I can use words to describe the things I value in life. I can blend in or stand out with a particular group of people. But it's not as simple as that. I think one of the goals to living, truly living is to be constantly changing, to be constantly growing.
It's easier for some to identify themselves as
*that shy person that is not naturally an initiator
*that fun girl that doesn't like responsibility
*the logical one that has low tolerance
*the family girl that doesn't want to be incovenienced by the world outside
*the hurt girl that can't trust anyone or
*the calm sort of nothing bothers me sort of person.
You get what I'm saying?

If we live in this "This is who I am" place, then how are we ever going to realize what our potential really is? Growing, changing, constantly re-evaluating things, trying something new...that is what we need to be doing. This is what promotes change, taking action is what brings even more valuable things into our lives and fills us up.

The funny thing is that I've started to realize lately that this is a huge part of what being a Christian is, at least in my opinion from what I've seen from the people around me, teaching me. If you are studying who Jesus was, what he did, what his values were I think what you'd understand is simply this, GET OUT THERE, get out of your comfort zone, do for others, love others, take care of one another.

By doing that, getting out there and taking a chance with people that weren't even exactly what I "identified" myself as, I've learned over the last 4 years a ton about myself. I've picked up new hobbies, I've become more responsible and aware of my actions, I've become more tolerant, I've grown into a better mother, a better wife, a better friend. Did I do this by sitting home reading all sorts of self help books and watching Oprah? NO.

Are those things wrong? Of course not, but there is NOTHING like getting out there and living it, experiencing things first hand.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't worry so much about coming up with a definition of what or who you are. Just get out there, live life and do it to the fullest.

The funny thing is your identity can usually be expressed by the people you have in your life. Those friends, family members, bosses, coworkers, spouses, your children, they are the witnesses in your life that watch your actions which express your values and mold your identity.

Just my thought for today. :o)

Me? A Runner?

Yeah, I think I'm going to have to get more comfortable calling myself a "Runner". I may do it differently than others. I may follow a different plan than another runner. I am doing the Galloway Interval Training Plan and I am actually okay with that, for now. One of my biggest struggles is always wanting to do what everyone else is doing. If it seems AWESOME, I'm jumping in and giving it a try. I may not stick to it, but I will usually give it a whirl. :o)

My beach run 8.8.10 Amazing 7mi by myself during vacation...UNFORGETTABLE!

I have been intrigued with running since I was in Junior High. I was NOT a runner, never participated in anything in Junior or High School. I did take to running for about a year on my own to just get away from the house and loved it. But for some reason, never took it anywhere. Then I met a friend, Amanda, and saw her train with another friend from 5K to a few Marathons! I tried to do it on my own and just couldn't be consistent, then entered a season of change in my life, BIG CHANGE....deciding to have a 3rd baby, rent out our house and move into a bigger house to rent, oh yes and lets not forget big job change for my husband. So needless to say, running/working out was NOT a priority for me. I was in that season of change, pregnancy and back into the world of babies! LOVED it, VERY fulfilled!!

I needed to be motivated and needed someone to help push me. I needed a running buddy!

Then I met the Kimster! :o) This girl is very similiar to me in many ways and I just love her. We began our running journey together and there really is nothing better than having a partner when you are starting out. We did our first 5K together, then a 10K with a group of friends, moved on to a Triathlon with more friends and now we are training for our first Half Marathon! There is something about running with someone, suffering with someone (LOL), that just brings you close together. Our conversations are some that I will never forget. She's a great listener and encourager. We laugh ALOT during our runs together and I think it's those runs that help keep it "fun" for me.
Our First Race! Trail Setter 5K 3/10

Cap 10K 4/10

Danskin Triathlon 6.10

Then there are the runs when it's just ME. No music. No talking. Nothing. I get to think. I get to pray. I get to plan/brainstorm. I get to take in some of the simple, beautiful things all around me that sometimes I'm just too busy to see!

I love this running thing.

I may not be the best runner, but I'm doing the best I can right now.

That's all that matters.

Menu Plan Monday

I did plan out the menu for the rest of the month and am hoping to go to doing a month at a time beginning Sept, maybe Oct....very excited!!

Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (Quiche, Sausage & Pancakes)
Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken Marsala
Thursday: Roasted Chicken, Couscous & Broccoli
Friday: Shrimp Scampi
Saturday: Dinner With Friends
Sunday: Veggie Beef Soup

HAPPY MONDAY!

Cheap and Easy End of Summer Recipes

Here are a couple recipes I'm going to be trying in the next week or two. GREAT for those quiet lunches with girlfriends! :o)

Tomato, Onion, Avocado Salad (sort of a spin off of the good ol traditional Italian Salad!)

Ingredients

* 3-4 fresh large tomatoes, sliced
* 1/2 red onion, sliced
* 2 avocados, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 2 teaspoons dried oregano
* Red wine vinegar (a good, strong red wine vinegar)
* Extra virgin olive oil (the best quality)
* Salt
* Freshly ground black pepper

Place a layer of sliced tomatoes on a large serving platter. Arrange the slivers of red onions and the chunks of avocado over the tomatoes. Sprinkle with parsley, garlic, and oregano. Drizzle red wine vinegar and olive oil over the platter. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve immediately. Do not refrigerate.

Celery Salad (a favorite of mine, thanks to my mother in law!)

*4-5 Stalks of Celery, sliced
*2 ripened roma tomatoes
*1 can chick peas
*1/2 red onion, sliced
* Extra virgin olive oil (the best quality)
* lemon juice ( a staple in our fridge!)
* Salt
* Freshly ground black pepper

Throw the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle the EVOO, lemon juice and s&p to taste.
Stir all together and you're done! A crunchy, fresh and very easy salad! Fills you right up! I've also thrown in a can of tuna or chicken salad to mix as well. Get creative, that's what real cooks do! :o)

Tomato, Cucumber, Purslane Salad Recipe

* 1 large cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, seeds removed and discarded, then chopped
* 1 medium tomato, chopped
* 1 bunch purslane, thick stems removed, leaves chopped, resulting in about 1/2 cup chopped purslane
* 1 minced seeded jalapeno chile pepper
* 2-3 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
* Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a serving bowl. Salt to taste.


Mexican Green Bean Salad Recipe

Make sure to use the freshest green beans you can find. Good green beans should feel firm and should snap in half, not bend, when you try to bend them.

* 1 lb fresh green beans, strings removed, ends snapped off, cut in half into about 1 1/2 inch length pieces
* 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
* 2 Tbsp lime juice or white vinegar
* 1 Tbsp olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican oregano if you can get it)
* 3/4 cup packed, chopped cilantro
* 1/3 cup canned, pickled jalapeño chili peppers, sliced
* 1/3 cup chopped red onion
* 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (salty Mexican cheese that resembles feta)
* 1/2 avocado, sliced or cut into inch long pieces
* 1 medium tomato, cut into 8 wedges, or a cup of halved cherry tomatoes

1 Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the beans and simmer until just crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the beans and run cold water over them to cool them quickly. Drain completely.

2 Place beans in a large bowl. Gently mix in the the lime juice or vinegar, olive oil, 1/4 cup onion, sliced pickled jalapeños, sea salt, oregano and cilantro. Let sit for half an hour.

3 When ready to serve, gently mix in the chopped red onion and cotija cheese. Serve the avocado slices and tomato wedges on the side or mixed into the salad.

So I, obviously LOVE cucumbers, tomatoes, feta and avocado...tee hee! Hope these recipes inspire you to induldge in some healthy lunches and/or dinners! Thanks Simply Recipes for some great ideas!

Cooking on a Budget

On my venture of not just budget cooking (I feel like I've got that down pretty well) but healthy cooking too, I came across this and wanted to share it with you. Some pretty good tips on cooking on a budget.

1 Chicken: buy it bone-in, skin on. It's cheaper.It may be more work for someone like me who has to trim trim trim and deskin, deskin, deskin, LOL! Buy thighs. More flavor and meat for the money. Save the bones, either before cooking or after a meal. Freeze and use later for making chicken stock. Not only is the marrow from bones incredibly good for you, but if you already have the bones, the stock you can make from it is practically free. Keep an eye out for the sales at your local store, HEB and Randalls has killer sales to get chicken for as low as $1/lb...this is the time to stock up on 30-40lbs for sure! Start investing in freezer bags now! :o)

2 Mexican food. Corn tortillas (many times Mission torts are on sale for $.99 and you can match up a good $.75/1 qp to get them for super cheap which is when I usually get 5-10 packs and freeze them) and beans are cheap, and combined make a complete protein. Buy the beans in bulk (always on sale here at Sprouts), soak and cook them then freeze em up! Add some rice (doctor up brown rice) and salsa and you have a filling, nutritious, delicious meal.

3 Eggs. Great source of inexpensive protein. Make hard boiled eggs for sandwiches, salads, a healthy snack, or scrambled eggs for breakfast.

4 Make stews with cheaper, tougher cuts of meat, like beef chuck roasts or pork shoulders. (again, another thing you keep a look out for in the weekly grocery adds and STOCK UP on when they are around $1 or so a pound) Low and slow braising completely tenderizes the meat, and the flavor is amazing. You can also brown a rump roast on high heat and then lower the heat for low slow cooking for roast beef.

5 Turkey legs and thighs. Best deal out there. You can braise them or make turkey stew. Never mind all the other awesome dishes, piccata, tetrazzini, etc.!

6 Make your meal go farther with potatoes, rice, pasta, or tortillas. It's always fun to do a stuff your own potato for the kids, multi color pasta salads, etc. One fave in this house is a sweet potato bar with lots of different choices to stuff with...diced chicken, cheese, broccoli, chili, etc...kids love it!

7 Veggies, Veggies, Veggies....this is an area I'm trying to do some research and come up with TASTY and creative recipes. :o)

North Padre Island

We had an amazing time at the beach this year! Not only did we enjoy some much needed family time, but we were also able to enjoy it with some great friends!!

Under Construction!
LOL

Summer Lovin' ...

....had me a blast....summer lovin happened so fast.... yes I am SO A GREASE FAN!!! :o) Anyway, can't believe Summer is almost over! We had a great summer, made some wonderful memories with the family, hit some milestones and now I'm ready to say goodbye until next year!

I welcome the Fall, always have. Fall is that stepping stone to get me to my favorite season!!! Christmas!!! Oooops, I mean, Winter...LOL! I am pretty free spirited naturally and don't like to have too rigid a routine or schedule but am looking forward to getting out of this "lazy season" of life and get back on the ball!

My head is SWARMING with so many ideas, things to do, etc...

• Meet the Teacher Gift, found some cute ideas here.
• Our traditional 1st day of School Cake! Ideas here, here, and here so far! :o)
• School clothes shopping (almost DONE!)
• Paint Adrianna's room and finish putting it all together
• 10 year Anniversary Trip!!!!!!
  
• 1/2 Marathon coming up!
• Sewing, sewing, sewing
• Crafting, crafting, crafting
• Baking, baking, baking
• Re-do my Recipe Binder

Oh and this list just goes on and on and on....ha!

I am coming into "My Season" and getting very excited about it! Every upcoming month holds something fun and exciting for our family and when these little sweeties are sick and I feel tired and worn out, I just try to keep on focusing on that stuff! Looking forward most to starting our Money Makeover with our church to help get one of my BIGGEST burdens worked on and under better control, our finances! I'm jumping back full force into my couponing and organizing...time to get serious guys! :o)

It's Monday....SO?!

Just like my title says...so?!?!?! Guess what, sometimes I really don't care that it's Monday...I don't want to have it all together...I don't want to have a plan for the week....I don't want to always do "the right thing" and you know what? That's okay! Or at least I'm saying that's okay for today! Sometimes I just want to say screw it!!! Seriously, I don't want to be the "good girl" the one making the "right choices", doing the "right thing" all the time.

I had a MUCH NEEDED conversation with the ONE PERSON in my life that I TRUST, and VALUE the MOST...my husband. That man is the FIRST MAN IN MY LIFE that I have ever trusted to love ME, just ME, no expectation of what I should be or what he wanted me to be, but just little ol me...Gina...insecure, scarred beyond belief, afraid, wanting to be loved, raw Gina...simple as that. Those conversations are just amazing, beyond words, PRICELESS...seriously.

I am a mess.

Seriously a mess sometimes.

I want to be the best mom I can be.

I want to the best wife I can be.

I want to be a good friend, a good neighbor, a good community member.

I want all the things I looked at in my tween/young adult years at all these facebook friends of mine during that time and their families, wishing I had.

I wake up every day, seriously, focusing on the positive...thankful for EVERYTHING I've been blessed with. I use those emotions, those thoughts and feelings to propel me forward. I use EVERY bit of energy not to bitch and moan about the spilled milk all over the floor for the 4th time today, or the spilled juice that I DO NOT ALLOW upstairs (mind you this is a RENT HOUSE!!), or the constant fighting among the two older ones, the 3rd poopie diaper of the day that leaked through onto my clothes, the destroyed upstairs that I just cleaned or the dirty floor that I swept 4 times before 6pm!!!! Because, guess what? That's life...suck it up, roll with it and be thankful for the gift of family...it's what you make it, right?

We talked about a TON of stuff tonight....started off with finances (which I've BLOWN this past month)...moved onto friendships, working out , family and on and on...Those of you who *really* know me understand how that goes, LOL! I cried, I confessed, I beat myself up, I really just "unloaded" on him and I feel so free right now. This man is my soul mate, the one I've waited for my ENTIRE LIFE. The only human being that I truly trust and KNOW that will never turn his back on me. He did "what he does" and listened to me, REALLY listened to me and did what he usually does (he's amazingly WISE), he asked me questions that only HE can get away with asking me, helped me see things that most people can't help me see and set my mind and my heart in a direction that I need to be in. I've felt very off track lately. Call it husband traveling, call it adjusting to baby #3, call it "self absorption" with the working out, going 2 years without a period making hormones go CRAZY, or call it simply summer...out of a routine....whatever it is I know things have just seemed "off" for me lately.

I try to get on track...I try to stay on track....I try to be "good"...help others, live my life "outside" of just myself and my four walls....but I don't feel successful at it all the time. This post probably seems all over the place and really is, because that's admittedly where I've been lately, all over the place and I'm giving myself the permission to say, It's okay right now.

I'm just human. I'm a regular girl, with similiar struggles that many women have. I don't try to "act" perfect and have it all together. I try to keep things balanced and sometimes, just can't get it there and that is OK, tomorrow is another day, right?

Here's to Tuesdays...hoping to be better on track tomorrow.... call this the post vacation blues I guess...LMAO! :o)

Screw the menu plan this week, I'm wingin' it!

Menu Plan Monday

No menu plan this week! I'm spending the next 3 days preparing for our annual beach trip!!! Can't wait!!!!! We will be "eating from the pantry" this week...a great thing about stockpiling is eating from that stockpile during a busy week or a week where money is a little tighter than other weeks! LOL :o)

Looking for a good guide to get you started on Menu Planning/Shopping? I used Menus4Moms for a LONG time when I first got started! She has links for A busy Mom's Menu and A Frugal Mom's Menu too! Check her out!