Sunday Morning Sauce

New Blog!

2011-03-04T19:43:00.002-06:00

The Austin Marathon had a HUGE impact on me! Helped me see ALOT of stuff more clearly and I can't wait to share it all! I have entered a new season of my life so I think it's only appropriate to start up a new blog and say goodbye to Sunday Morning Sauce! It's been great, but I'm ready to move on!!

Check me out over here, but be patient as it's a work in progress!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-27T07:32:00.004-06:00

I am SO THANKFUL I have a hubby that is okay with cutting meat out and/or trying new things as long as our meals are not "out of the box" (that he's not so keen on, LOL!). I'm trying to focus the kids (Chris and I too) on our daily food pyramid. I love to cook and try new things each week so it's "sunshine meatloaf" for this week! :o)

I think it's SUPER DUPER important to train the kids to have a good palate, to ENJOY eating and trying different foods. Thankfully they do for the most part.

So here we go....this is what's for dinner this week!

Monday: Breakfast for Dinner
Tuesday: Sunshine Meatloaf, edamame, wild rice
Wednesday: Chicken Mango Kabobs, quinoa
Thursday: Black Beans, rice, plantains, fresh fruit
Friday: Pasta Fagioli, homemade bread
Saturday: Veggie Spread with Hummus, pita bread, fresh fruit
Sunday: Stuffed Shells, salad

Official Race Report

2011-02-24T21:57:00.007-06:00

LOL! Well, here it goes, my very first MARATHON RACE REPORT!! I've been reflecting SO MUCH this past week about the beast I was up against, and surprise it wasn't the "marathon", it was ME! :o)

This race was a HUGE milestone in my life, one I will never forget for sure. I was able to create a very very very special memory with my best friend and realize just what I am made of!

I was unusually calm Sunday morning. I felt cool, confident and unafraid. Pulled out of the driveway at 4:45, dark, breezy and cool outside, Chris drove Erika and I to the race following friends of ours, one ultra runner and two other first time Marathoners. We were all able to meet up with our running buddies that were doing the half and I just can't express how awesome it has been having the support and sense of community that this group of runners provides. Exceptional Women, for sure.
So we all gathered by the Porta Potties excited that they were NOT full, had a few laughs, took some pics, checked, and double checked to make sure we had everything before Gear Check. I stepped aside for a moment, put my jacket back on (it was chilly) , ate my banana and just took in my surroundings. Here I was checking out the beautiful Capital Building ready to actually run a MARATHON! Chris wrapped his arms around me and told me he knew he didn't have to tell me to not give up since he knew that wouldn't happen, but to enjoy it and how proud he was of me. I adore that man!

Erika and I committed to run the race together. I needed her previous race experience and her ability to pull me back to assure that I wouldn't burn out, and she needed my strong will, optimism and BIG mouth. :o) It was VERY exciting for me.

The weather was not optimal, in fact it was reported to be the hottest Austin Marathon in race history (you know I got that fact from Erika, LOL), my rib flared up on Friday so badly I could not breathe but thankfully the steroid shot my doctor gave to me Saturday morning helped A TON!! No pain. I felt good. No knee pain, no issues. This was going to be a great race!

Aaaaannnnndddd we were off! Water stops about every mile, we skipped the first two and settled in around mile three to what our strategy would be. Walk through the water stops, enjoy the break and then back at it again. Took our first gel at 40 minutes and that's when I decided I would pray for a friend of our family who is going through some health issues at each 5 mile marker since that would be easy for me to remember to do.

Right after I hit the 5 mile point I realized, YEP I DID IT AGAIN!!! I was FREAKING PEEING MY PANTS AGAIN!!!! WTH is my problem?!?!?!!? I kept feeling a drip drip and asking Erika to look behind to see if she saw anything and she said no, but as the miles went on and when we took our first pee break around 7 or 8ish mile over in the bushes (yeah the bushes...no porta potties we were straight up bold and did what needed to be done, LOL) I realized my shorts were soaked, just lovely....whatever I *DID* take 3 actual pee breaks but still managed to be soaked and smell like urine, it was great. (insert a sarcastic tone and sigh please)

I settled into my run, relaxed and just chatted away trying not to be too embarassed when Erika was screaming to people that it was my first marathon, LOL! To be honest one of my highlights was BART YASSO from Runner's World hearing her say that and giving me two guns and a "YEAH"....TOTALLY COMPLETELY AWESOME! I was PUMPED!!! We were screaming OMG and laughing out loud...it was GREATNESS!

I found myself zoning out at times, looking at what the other people were wearing, smiling at the crowd cheering us on, and then we got into the double digits....this was awesome! THIS is when I usually feel good. I don't remember too much about the hills, yes they were there, but I LOVE the hills so I didn't really focus on them, did what I had to do to get up one and used the downhill to recover and settle back in again. I felt strong. Really strong.
As we climbed up in the mileage, our bodies started to ache and our conversations got a little shorter with more time in between them. It was Erika's IT band and my knees. We stretched at water stations best we could and kept moving forward. Knee pain was nothing new to me so I tried not to focus on it, but trust me IT HURT. The humidity was starting to get to us and I for the first time got to experience that "sloshing" in the stomach I've heard everyone talk about. Thankfully Erika gave me some salt pills and they worked!!!! It was getting rough around 17.5 and we started to count down the mileage until we saw Kimmers!!! The chicky who I started my running journey with committed to come on out and join in to keep us going at the 20 mile mark. Having her do that AND seeing different friends along the race made a HUGE difference to me. It was great!!!!! She came in between the 19 and 20 mile mark and I just wanted to cry I was so happy.She was fresh and ready to go. :o) It renewed my spirit and mind. This was good. I suddenly realized that it was already 21 miles and I hadn't hit a "wall" that I've heard so much talk about but it was TOUGH. I felt myself wince at times when my foot landed on the asphalt. Kim asked at mile 22 why my knees were wobbling and I realized just how bad they were hurting but tuned it right out. Tears were streaming down my face without me realizing I was crying. Then as strange as it sounds, when it occured to me I was crying I began to sob a little. I kept fighting my mind telling myself to knock it off. "Pain is weakness leaving the body. Keep going." I kept looking down at my LiveSTRONG bracelet and am so thankful that the word STRONG was in bold as I repeated to myself over and over...."You ARE strong. You ARE strong." .... "You are NOT a Quitter, you are a Finisher". I was just too close to focus on that pain. I continued saying those same things over and over, shaking my head back and forth trying to get rid of those tears and NOT allow myself to breakdown. I was successful. No breakdown.

Sammi snapped this pic between 23 and 24 miles!

Those last few miles were tough. My body hurt. I was hot. I couldn't drink any more of the Gatorade at those last few stops, it was nauseating. But then as we approached that final hill I was recharged, I was READY TO BE A FINISHER!!!!

We turned the corner to see our girls in their purple shirts running out to meet us and run us in. It was absolutely PERFECT!! This was not only a huge moment for me but a moment that will hopefully have an impact on Adrianna as she grows. I told Erika this was it, let's finish this baby strong and go! (after all the girls were running faster than us and were getting too far ahead, LOL!) Passing by all our friends that either stayed after their half marathon or came all the way out just to cheer us on, we were there....we were at the finish line with our girls and heard the announcer say "Here comes Gina and Erika, Marathon Moms" . . . it was pure joy!!! We grabbed each others hands and crossed together getting the exact same time! That sweaty stinky hug was one of the happiest moments of my life!

The race was an absolute SUCCESS!
Total Time: 5 hours, 33 minutes and 9 seconds I will cherish FOREVER!

I am a FINISHER!
I am SO BLESSED with so much LOVE and SUPPORT!!

How I was transformed by this race is an entire separate blog post! :o)
Stay tuned.....

Tomorrow is the BIG day!!!

2011-02-19T13:19:00.002-06:00

Getting ready for one of my biggest achievements yet! I never thought I would EVER be "athletic" and it's been quite a journey I will say! I am REALLY going to run 26.2 miles tomorrow.....REALLY!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!! I've TRAINED for this and am doing it!!!!

I'm so excited and VERY GLAD I went with the yellow shorts to go with the whole Livestrong Theme....this is going to be AWESOME!!!

The training has been tough. My husband is more than patient and is truly my biggest fan (couldn't do it without him!) My babies refer to me as a "runner" all the time and say they want to run when they get bigger. My friends are so supportive and help with accountability a ton. My sister teases me but loves and supports me too of course!

This new season of my life is just simply AMAZING!!!

My marriage (10 years going strong!)
My 3 beautiful babies
My family
My spiritual growth
My community of "healthy and goal minded friends"

A new word to add to the many that describe me: ATHLETIC

All of this and so much more....I feel on track and everything just FEELS good, as it all should be.

I am SO READY to take on the Austin Marathon with a big old smile and heart full of determination and joy!

CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-19T13:03:00.003-06:00

Monday: Empanadas, spanish rice, plantains
Tuesday: Roasted Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers, potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday: Pasta Ceci
Thursday: Pita Pockets...stuff your own!
Friday: Date Night!
Saturday: Artichoke Spinach Lasagna
Sunday: Taco Soup

Super Hero? Me? What?

2011-02-15T12:14:00.006-06:00

"Running reminds me that there is more to me than what is readily apparent much of the time. I don't always need to see it, but oh how I need to know it's there. Like having an alter ego,

or a super-cool super-hero identity."

~Kristin Armstrong, Author and runner

I opened my Gmail this morning to this quote from Runner's World and it just HIT ME! This is the reason I run! Deep down, I've never felt like I was worth much of anything. Not growing up. Not during my teens. Not during my young adulthood. And even as a 35 year old mother of 3, living a WONDERFUL life with healthy children and a loving, supportive husband, I still have my moments of self doubt, self worth. It's my weakness, my thorn.

As I am sitting here thinking about weakness, I remember reading somewhere in the Bible about Paul and his thorn but really couldn't remember it. Thankfully Google saved me, as always! LOL I found this and all sorts of things are just clicking in my head right now so this post will probably be ALL OVER THE PLACE! After all, I am a verbal processor. :o)

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So now back to the original quote that got me thinking this morning.... running is hard. Training is harder. Having the confidence that I will complete a race and do it well is the HARDEST. Getting out there and completing a run, even if it is only a 3 miler is challenging for me. Scheduling it in, making it part of my lifestyle, the actual "running", achy knees and all, is hard. It's MUCH easier to do nothing at all. It's MUCH easier to talk about the things you want to do, results you want to see, things you *wish* you were doing. Taking action on the other hand really is THE CHALLENGE.

I've never felt like I was "good enough", "strong enough", but running (well post run, LOL) makes me feel those things. It's hard. Not many people can do it. Not many people want to do it. Only 1% of people run marathons and there is a reason for that! I sure as hell never thought I would RUN A 5K, never mind a MARATHON! But I am!!! I really really am!!!! And why? Well, I want to SHUT THOSE voices up in my head that have told me my entire life that I couldn't really do that. I'm not like that other person doing it. Sure, they can , but me? I can't. I will have such a deep satisfaction proving those voices wrong on Sunday. Each time I get out there and succeed, it makes those voices just a little bit fainter.

I can certainly give into my weakness, and stay in a place "believing" that this thorn, my heartache, my past, my insecurities, will keep me from being "special", unique, one of a kind, strong, worthy. Or I can challenge myself. Get out there and PROVE not to everyone else, but to MYSELF that I CAN do it. I AM strong. I AM more than I believe I am.

Call it an alter ego.
Call it my super hero identity.

Whatever it is, it comes out in my running and especially during a race and I LOVE THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL!!! :o)

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-12T21:52:00.002-06:00

Monday: VDay Breakfast for Dinner! Heart Pancakes, Heart shaped sausage, home fries, fruit
Tuesday: Turkey Meatloaf, Cauliflower Mashers, veg
Wednesday: Grilled Cheese, Homemade fries, broccoli
Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry over Rice
Friday: Pasta Pesto Bake Spinach Salad
Saturday: Carb Load PreRace Dinner!
Sunday: Order Pizza! (AUSTIN MARATHON!!!)

8 Beautiful Years....

2011-02-09T22:33:00.007-06:00

My BEAUTIFUL 8 year old baby girl!!!

Where does the time go??!!
It seemed like she was JUST born!

I've been trying to get blogging but just have NOT had the time to this week and that's okay. What I did have time for was an amazing birthday party on Saturday that Adrianna simply LOVED along with her special birthday breakfast (thanks Erika for the plate we will cherish forever and for all our birthdays!), mommy, daddy and Sofia eating lunch at school with her, cupcakes at school, her special birthday dinner and an Ice Cream Sundae bar for her birthday dessert! It was all just perfect! (pics to come!)

This birthday was a very important one for me. My whole world seemed to come tumbling down when I was her age since that's when my parents split up and although I don't remember much from my childhood I "do" remember how deeply I felt during her age. It's so important, not only on birthdays of course, but it's so important to make our babies feel like they are SO SPECIAL, SO IMPORTANT, SO LOVED. I live for my family. I will do everything and anything I can for them to love, support, encourage and CELEBRATE them!

Sure, I sometimes go overboard with the parties but until one of them tells me "Enough is enough Mom, I don't like this stuff" I will continue on. Adrianna for one LOVES parties, planning them, fascilitating them, EVERYTHING....ahhh she's my little mini me in so many ways!!! :o)

This entire past week we've celbrated our sweet little Adrianna!
My first born child.

The gentle, patient and EASY baby that helped me figure out how to be a "Mommy". My precious little angel that ALWAYS slept with me, between Chris and I, holding on to my ear lobe and later on searching in her sleep with her tiny little hand for a "cold spot" on our body to touch (and STILL DOES!).

She is smart.
She is sensitive.
She is loving.
She is caring.
She is a natural "Mommy".
She is considerate.
She is responsible.
She is imaginative.
She is always concerned for others.

She has loved dressing up since she was first able to.

She LOVES sweets.

She is a pasta and bread girl for sure.

She loves to laugh.
I love to hear her laugh.
It's contagious.
It's unique.

I treasure our quiet conversations, just her and I.

I love to dream with her.

I adore her.

I will fight for her.
I will protect her.
I will nurture her.
I will ALWAYS make her feel like she is THE BEST!

Thank you God for giving me my sweet Adrianna. She is the first of 3 very special gifts I absolutely treasure!!

I truly am blessed.

Menu Plan Monday

2011-02-06T09:02:00.002-06:00

Trying 3 new recipes this week! Very excited! Have a great week!!

Monday: Beef Tips over Rice, Yellow Squash
Tuesday: Popcorn Chicken & Curly Fries (Bday Girl's Request!LOL)
Wednesday: Easy Chicken Parm over spaghetti
Thursday: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Friday: Turkey Picadillo with Fried Plantains
Saturday: Light Chicken Divan (I LOVE the Paula Dean version, thanks to my friend Carrie, but am trying this one to lower the calories! LOL)
Sunday: Turkey Chili, cornbread

Menu Plan Monday

2011-01-30T19:59:00.003-06:00

This is going to be a BUSY week...Daddy Daughter Dance AND Adrianna's Birthday Party, not to mention a surprise trip to Dallas to take her to the American Girl Store!

Monday: Turkey Chili
Tuesday: Chicken Quesadillas
Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Thursday: Tacos
Friday: Daddy Daughter Dinner
Saturday: Birthday Girl's Choice (will prob. be pizza knowing her!LOL)
Sunday: Baked Cod Fish, Wild Rice, veggies

Truth Tellers . . .

2011-01-25T06:16:00.002-06:00

I was expressing to a friend yesterday why I made my running blog private and my fears about sharing too much on facebook and her email I read this morning was JUST WHAT I NEEDED to see before starting this day!!!! I LOVE this lady and NEED my true "FRIENDS" just like her to be the ones I take advice from. She truly loves me, is not jealous, does not say things because of her own "agenda", she is one of my truth tellers in life and I am SO THANKFUL for her!!!!

Here are some parts of it:

Hmmmm this doesn't sound like you at all!
I get the feeling that you are hiding yourself lately so other people don't get upset. That is not how it's supposed to be! If anyone gets upset about your accomplishments then that is a reflection on them, not you. Those people feel insecure about what they are NOT doing. Or are fearful that you will do it better or make it look easier. Screw them Gina. You do not brag you express. You are not boastful you are open and inspiring and God does not want you to hide your light under a bushel!!

Please do not be altered by those people who want to bring you down. Those who love you Bask in the joy of your achievements. Anyone who says you are being boastful needs to go examine the intent & truth behind that.

Again...I LOVE YOU MY FRIEND!!!

Menu Planning

2011-01-22T08:58:00.003-06:00

Oh boy do I need to "Revamp" my menu!!! Going to try a few new things next week!

Monday: Chicken and White Bean Enchiladas: great way to add some extra protein into a classic dish!

Tuesday: Spinach Lasagna Rolls: made these a LONG TIME ago and they were a hit!!! Bringing them back!

Wednesday: Asian Turkey Meatballs with Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce: this should be a fun little change from my italian or swedish meatballs! Will serve with rice and snow peas!

Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner!

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Chili Lime Mango Chicken Skewers, Baked Zucchini Fries (similiar to this recipe but I add kosher salt to the mix)

Sunday: Good Ol Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

Firework.

2011-01-13T15:43:00.006-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlLgvQErn6o

FIREWORK
FIRECRACKER
SPITFIRE

determined
strong
tough

These are a few of the words that have been used to describe me by my family and friends. And today is one of those days that I TRULY BELIEVE it!!

I FREAKING RAN 18 MILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did I "run" 18 miles, but I did it in THE COLD AND RAIN!!!! It wasn't a downpour but a constant gentle mist. And you know what? I FELT AWESOME! I did wake up with a lower back ache, nothing unusual, I ALWAYS have backpain. I popped a couple of ibuprofen, ate a blueberry crisp Cliff bar, a banana and a cup of coffee and it was ON! When I walked out the door this morning at 5:45 it was raining and I thought "Oh boy, this is going to be tough!". I was freezing (44 degrees this morning, not THAT bad now that I've run in 33 degree weather!LOL) but felt like I had layered appropriately so I told myself I would NOT focus on the weather today but would take it mile by mile. Hey I only had to go 9 and then turn around and come home, right? :o)

I kept thinking about this song when I was pushing uphill, when my back ached or my left hip hurt at mile 16. I kept telling myself I owned this day, I was a firework! Time to shine! No negative talk, and believe me I could have focused on the fatigue I felt from starting maybe a little too fast, or the weather or the stupid semi truck that got all of us wet with a giant puddle at the start of the run, my sopping wet feet that I knew would be all white and wrinkly when I took my shoes off, but instead I just focused on how STRONG I felt today! These lyrics in particular kept going over and over in my mind:

Do you know that there's still a chance for you

Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July

I NEEDED this today. It was a rough week having Chris and the two little ones sick and me not being able to do the plan exactly the way it said, but I didn't skip a run, yay! I couldn't help but to laugh a little during my last mile. I was by myself, remembering a conversation I had with Erika the other day. It kind of went like this:

"OF COURSE I would pick my first marathon to be in FEBRUARY! The fall would have just made too much sense, right? :o) I had to choose to train during the coldest time in Texas, surrounded by TONS of challenges....holidays, cold and allergy season, etc. But then again, that's me! As with MOST things in my life, I take the toughest road and just have to remind myself that I always get there, somehow, someway."

And to be honest, it has been T-O-U-G-H!!!! If it's not one thing, it's another. I've had to change my expectations for my first marathon since I'm not willing to put into the training plan exactly what it asks of me. I am a runner, an athlete. BUT I am wife and mother FIRST. I put God and my family before the running and it can be VERY EASY to switch that up and get all out of balance. Thankfully I have people close to me that care so much about me that they help me see these things before I allow that to happen. :o)

Today was a test for me. I wanted to see if I could "do it" today, keep a pace that I was "content" with and feel encouraged at the end. Well everyone, Gina gets and A+ for today! I passed my own test with flying colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited to see what those extra 8.2 miles brings me.

I'm ready Austin Marathon, bring it!

FREEDOM!

2011-01-04T12:40:00.002-06:00

Ever have someone say something to you that had NOTHING TO DO with Spirituality but you just KNEW it was a "God Moment"?? Ahhhh, those are the BEST and I was so fortunate to have that today!

After ~~Torture~~, ahem, I mean Spin Class, I was sitting with a friend having a cup of coffee and she just poured into me as she always does, overflowing my cup! No, she wasn't telling me how awesome I am, LOL, she spoke TRUTH to me. Truth about just WHO I am, the person others see me as. Her very simple and to the point statements broke some of the chains I feel have been weighing me down lately. THESE are the people you need in your life. THESE are the people I surround myself with. People who LOVE me, not ones that are jealous of me, passive aggressive towards me, or who truly don't have a pure heart when it comes to their feelings/thoughts about me.

Sitting and chatting with her for a bit and then having another friend join us just MADE MY DAY!!! My other girlfriend came over and started to chat, touched my arm while she was talking (I'M HUGE ON the touchy feely stuff....always have been!) to me and in that moment I felt joy. I felt freedom. I felt focused.

I picked Sofia up and jumped in the car to head over and do some coupon deals at Randalls and I had this feeling inside that I just wanted to RUN after God, JUMP into a Bible Study, DIVE into the sea of HIS love. I know it's dramatic but I SERIOUSLY felt that way. I know beginning the new daily prayer here, and getting back into a routine again completely contributed to my sense of balance, hence FREEDOM. But God always, and I do mean ALWAYS communicates to me through other people, always!

Something from this morning's prayer that just struck me, I had to go back and read it as soon as I got home was this:

Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
When I walk in darkness, Lord, carry me through.

I'm emotional, I FEEL . . . I'm passionate . . . so yes, sometimes I just have to go over the top to break free. It is quite silly to me though how a very simple conversation can just do that for me.

It's a New Year, a time to focus in on your values, your goals, your relationships and how you are going to live them out, achieve them and nurture them. So as I said before, no I'm not going to put a list of "Resolutions" out there but I will focus on those three elements of my life and try my very best to keep them all in balance.

Values:
My Family
My Church
My Body

Goals for each of the 3 things I value the most:
Invest more individually on each of my babies' needs making adjustments to some of our current routines to do so.
No more slacking on our monthly date night....make it MANDATORY and setup 2 months at a time. :o)
Help others, "feel" God the way I do. Not necessarily "teach" but show if that makes sense.
Complete the Marathon and then just stay on a maintenance running plan. No huge races, just maintaining.

Relationships:
Focus more on having friends and family members over for dinner.
Working on ways to help strengthen my relationships, not really meant for this blog post. No, I don't BLOG everything. :o)

Now is that all I'm resolving to do in the New Year? Of course not! I will get this house organized, closet by closet, room by room, etc. etc. I will craft more, I will finish up my recipe binder, get back into couponing, and so on but if I go into that MY head will spin. LOL

FOCUS.

That's all I need to help maintain BALANCE.

Ahhhhh and that's when I feel FREEDOM.

MMXI

2011-01-01T16:14:00.003-06:00

WOW!!!! REALLY???? IS IT "REALLY" 2011?!?!?!

Well, 2010 was a GREAT year full of accomplishments, family milestones and relationship building. Am working on a "recap" but just wanted to share something I'm going to try this year. Yes, I did say "try" since I know I'm not the 100% kinda gal.

I read here about coming up with your "THEME WORD" of the year. I just love this blog and get TONS of useful information from her! Simplify was the word she chose and I would say that was my word last year, I EVEN bought the word and it sits on my mantle to remind me everyday! LOL While I've grown in that area A TON over the past year, it is something I have to focus on every single week while I plan out the menu, my home and family responsiblities, my social schedule as well as my ministry. It can get out of balance QUICKLY, especially if I (which is very easy for me to do) OVERCOMPLICATE stuff. Simplify....that's a great one! But this year, I am ALL ABOUT...

"PURITY"

Why the word purity? Yeah, I know, it's kind of weird. I didn't put a TON of thought into what my "word" would be but this one came to me when I was running. I was thinking of one of the things I wanted to do this year, recycle, and for some reason this symbol made me think purity. Like I said, random.When I think about all the areas in my life that I've grown in, I've realized that I usually have to empty out to fill back up. The arrows make me think of that I guess. I can go pretty deep or maybe just very complicated, so I'll keep this light and simple. :o)

How is this word Purity going to be demonstrated in my life to match up with my values and my goals?

Recycling (PURIFYING the earth)
I want to make sure my motivation behind EVERYTHING I do and say comes from a PURE place.
I want to PURIFY my thoughts, not just about others, but about myself too.
I want to get back into my daily Bible study....you know there is nothing more PURE than the Lord!
I want the foods and beverages I put into my body and my family's bodies to be healthy, more PURE.
I will focus more on the individual needs of each of my babies and what their PURE little hearts need from me.

So there you have it! PURIFY. LOVE IT!! I can put some of my cheesy little New Years Resolutions out there but to be realistic, I know I won't do most of them, who really does anyway? LOL

I am about LIFECHANGE. I am about GROWTH. I am about JOY. I don't always have it together, but try my absolute hardest most of the time which is all ANY of us can do. :o)

So HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!
HELLO 2011!!

Christmas JOY

2010-12-22T13:12:00.003-06:00

Holidays bring SUCH JOY and HEALING to my life as we, my family of 5, form new traditions that I pray my babies will look back on with TONS of warm fuzzies and GREAT memories!!

We will be doing our traditional Christmas Eve Feast again this year! A house filled with laughter, noise, crying (of course, there are LOTS of babies!), game playing, seafood and sweets! Our home is opened up to all our family and friends as we celebrate and rejoice together!! We chat about what has happened in the past year (yes, there will be LOTS of running talk, and teasing from my husband OF COURSE,LOL!), jokes about what New Years resolutions we will once again attempt, kids singing Christmas favorites, toasting glasses of yummy wine . . . all of this is JOY to me!!

This is why I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Christmas season. Yes, it's to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but along with that it shows me just HOW MUCH God loves ME. Despite my insecurities, my brokenness, He has surrounded me by all these amazing friends that support me and LOVE ME and "this" is what has been in store for me all along. All the years of darkness and fear have led me to this. I've listened to His voice, followed my heart, have been obedient and now I'm able to experience His ABUNDANCE and I couldn't be any more thankful.

Matthew 16:25 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

Thank you Lord for filling my home for the holidays, filling it up for birthdays and other special occasions that we celebrate LIFE! The more I identify myself in Christ and my obedience and perseverance has paid off in ways I can't use the word Thank You enough to express.

Breaking bread with people we hold close to our hearts and "do life" with, and sharing our joy over some wine is SO WHAT I'm looking forward to on Friday! So now it's time to get things started in The Auditore Home!!! :o)

Menu for this Year!

Baked Cod
Fried Shrimp
Fried Calamari
Seafood Ceviche
Linguine and Clam Sauce
Broccoli rabe
Bread

Appetizers
Assorted Sides

Big Ol Fancy Christmas Cake ordered by my sis!
Italian Wedding Cookies
Fudge
and some of these yummies:
Rainbow Cookies
Oreo Truffles
Grasshopper Brownies
Chocolate Coconut Candies

And I'm sure I'll add on to the list when I finalize it tonight! :o)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boldness

2010-12-07T21:57:00.003-06:00

I know I'm not a "good blogger" or very consistent with it and that's really okay. Sometimes I have the extra time to sit and write down my thoughts and sometimes I JUST DON'T. This is a very busy season for me and for my family as it is for most of us. I just had to share some AWESOMENESS as I sit here and reflect on just how GOOD God is!

So, my husband works for a company that had a big Convention a few weeks ago and I will try to get right to the point here....LOL....So they were handing out awards and everyone went up and thanked graciously as anyone would, but there was one man who went up there and not only thanked eveyone but thanked the Lord for everything He had done in this man's life to bring him to the place that he is at, started to point to a particular scripture in Malachi that described a part of his life. Anyway, at the end everyone not only clapped but stood up to clap...WOW....imagine having that kind of BOLDNESS for God? Whew! Then afterwards, the owner of the company's brother was chatting with the guy and mentioned starting a daily morning prayer group over the phone. So how does this affect me? Well, they heard it through the grapevine what Chris and I are doing and the path we are on to eventually plant a church and they asked him to join them. Yes, to some this may sound weird but to be honest I really don't care anymore. God has shown me SO MUCH, especially this past year and a half that I just CAN'T ignore, discount or NOT talk about it!

So, this morning he had his little prayer phone call with the other 3 guys and it was GREAT! He loved it and I JUST LOVE HIM! There is NOTHING like having a husband who leads your home spiritually. I didn't think marriage to this man could be more perfect, truly, but this brings a level of deepness, love and respect that nothing else could touch.

Now, the really cool thing is shortly afterwards when I dropped Christopher off at school, totally stressed out about what was ahead of me today, the director at his school called me into her office to give me candy canes to use for our Orange Santa Distribution Day event and then asked if she could pray for me. She very lovingly held my arms and the words that came out of her mouth were EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I instantly felt warmth and love and was just so very thankful to her! Now, don't get me wrong, it's taken quite some time for me to come to a place to receive that without feeling a little bit (or alot) weird. But I am so thankful I am at that place because let me tell you....there is just no feeling that I can express that compares to that kind of peace.

So as I sit here in the midst of a HUGE to-do list, 90% of it is doing for others, serving people I don't know, God stepped in and lovingly reminded both Chris and me just how much HE loves us and to keep on the path that he guided us to.

This day has been a blessing to us. I am so thankful for those of you BOLD in your faith and your love of God to not hesitate to share it with others. These two people, both of whom Chris and I don't even know very well, listened to God, acted with their heart boldly and had a HUGE impact on us both!

This is why I just *LOVE* this spiritual journey!!! :o)

Hopefully I'll be able to share more of what's going on soon! Thank goodness for Facebook though! LOL

Tis the Season to be Jolly!! :o)

2010-11-21T23:04:00.005-06:00

Ahhhhhhh....the holidays are HERE at last!!! Christmas Tree lighting at The Domain, store fronts decorated in red, green, silver and gold, Christmas music jingling in my ear, Egg Nog and Gingerbread creamers, oh this is MY SEASON!!! I feel most alive this time of year. I am truly full of joy when I reflect on holidays and what they bring to me. Christmas time brings such warmth and such a sense of healing to a part of my soul that's untouchable. The random acts of kindness, the baking, the cooking, the holiday cards from family members and friends that I don't get to see or speak with on a regular basis, Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Story, all the laughter and joy around me, hanging ornaments on the tree and remembering the special meaning of almost all of them . . . these things just FILL ME UP!

Planning menus, reviewing sale adds, writing letters to Santa, working on Christmas crafts --- oh how I just love this!! It's exciting and invigorating, how can it NOT bring life to me?!?! Watching the kids hang candy canes on the tree, begging to just have "one more", laughing as they check their stockings to see if there was anything left from last year, asking 100 times for the baby to STOP touching the tree (LOL). . . THIS is what I "live" for!

Sure I let my "Holiday Gina" come out the day of Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve when I'm preparing the meal and well, she's not so nice BUT quickly changes once everything is set and ready to go! I LOVE serving my family and my friends, it truly brings me the most joy. From here on out, it gets a little more hectic, some days are more stressful than others, but there's just something about catching a glimpse of the sparkly decorations around making everything just a little bit prettier that makes that stress not seem like such a big deal!

So here's to The Holidays 2010!!

Thanks Heather for photographing my family once again!
You capture these moments of joy for me and I'll always be thankful!

San Antonio Rock n Roll

2010-11-15T21:47:00.003-06:00

Finished my last Half Marathon, full report here! Intimidated a bit by DOUBLE THE DISTANCE but am thinking I'm pretty sure I may be finished with half marathons once I complete the Austin FULL Marathon.

But then again, who knows! LOL

Menu Plan Monday 11/15

2010-11-15T08:36:00.002-06:00

I'm trying to incorporate fish into the menu weekly whether it's for lunch or dinner. Found a really cool season packet by McCormick at HEB for Salmon and it ROCKED!!!! Had it for lunch last week and am doing it for the family this week for dinner!

Happy Monday!!!

Mon: Sausage and Peppers (doing it with Chicken and Feta sausage, should be good!)
Tue: Pasta Fagioli, salad
Wed: Honey Mustard Pork Chops (a good WWatchers recipe!), jasmine rice, broccoli
Thur: Baked Ranch Chicken Breasts, roasted veggies, Red Lobster cheddar biscuits
Fri: Pot Roast
Sat: Salmon, rice and green beans
Sun: Baked Ziti

Menu Plan Monday 11/7

2010-11-07T21:09:00.002-06:00

Okay, trying to find my groove again and get better at blogging!! :o)

I ALWAYS have my menu on my Google calendar and will try to be better at putting it out here too! I *heart* menu planning!!!

Monday: Sofrito Pork, Beans and Tomato Salad
Tuesday: 40 Clove Garlic Chicken in Crockpot, green salad & bread
Wednesday: Quesadillas, Fruit Salad
Thursday: Baked Cod, corn on the cob, cranberry salad
Friday: Beef Stew in Crockpot
Saturday: MNO
Sunday: Chili, Cornbread

My Irish Sweetie!

2010-11-07T17:40:00.003-06:00

Today was a WONDERFUL day! Chris and I were able to take part in a very special family's Baby Dedication, not only as guests but Chris actually performed the ceremony and I was blessed to be named one of the two Godmothers. This family holds a VERY special place in my heart.

They are two of the most giving and loving people I know. I adore them both! Honest, nurturing, giving, humble, loyal, organic (yes I admire those organic types!), the list really can go on and on. There is something about this Irish Beauty, aka Sabrina that just boosts me up every single time I talk to her! She is one of my biggest fans. And I don't mean "fan" in the way of idolizing or worshiping another person, I mean that type of "fan" like a mother or family member can be to someone. She's encouraging, motivating, loving and seriously just breathes life into me when we get to visit with each other! She speaks my language. She knows what I need to hear and doesn't hold back. I truly need a friend like her!

I hate that I forgot my camera but am just hoping that she emails me a pic from today!! It truly was an AWESOME day and I just LOVED sharing it with so many of her newer friends that I just KNOW she's had some great impact on! Every person she touches, she leaves her mark...I just love her!!!

Chosen, Me? Really?

2010-11-01T15:03:00.002-05:00

I've been chosen! Me? Really? Is this a joke????

So I've been really pensive lately, analyzing a ton of different things in my life! I think it's been spurred on by the running, seriously. I usually keep my mind WAY TOO BUSY to focus on anything for too long, but my long runs FORCE me to do just that...think!

I wanted to share some things that I think are just plain AWESOME! They may not seem super special to everyone but I'm just BLOWN AWAY by it all! This may go all over the place since I don't reread my posts a hundred times, don't always spellcheck and/or edit...I just process out loud and hit publish...LOL...so here I go!

As many of you know I have a heart for Hutto's Orange Santa program, gathering and distributing toys for families in need. Well, a few weeks ago I was put in touch with a gentleman that is the President of an amazing group called Celebration of Love. His vision started with just him and a handful of families reaching out to do what we do in Hutto, for our soldiers in Fort Hood after being inspired by his experience with this program in California. He had the heart and passion to help others and let God lead the way. Never giving up, overcoming some obstacles I'm sure, he has now, 7 years later grown to support not just the soldiers, but now almost 10 school districts, has a food pantry and resource center and just gives his life away to show God's love to others! I'm BLOWN AWAY at how excited he was to meet me and help us reach even more families than we have in the past.

I walked into a meeting today at his office, looking at an executive meeting table full of people older than me, more educated than me, with more life experience than me too I'm sure and I felt like I was going to have a minor panic attack! LOL I put a smile of my face, wiped my clammy hands on my blue jeans and made eye contact with a sweet lady that I later found out is a member of a church in Georgetown trying to do more of what we do at my church! We got to chatting a bit, I finally was able to relax, chew on my gum and jump right into the conversation asking tons of questions like I usually do! I made everyone laugh a couple times as I settled into feeling like "Gina". I was asked for my business card by a few people, and as funny as it sounds, I gave them my "family contact card" explaining that I'm just a stay at home mom that values community outreach so it's nothing fancy, has all my kiddos names on it as well as my contact info! :o) I approached the President and VP of COL asking some more questions, then moved onto the Marine Corps SSgt Hargrave who is the Toys for Tots Coordinator, then onto some of the other school district heads and left the office beaming, FULL OF EXCITEMENT!

After a very great meeting, I sat in the car and realized my hands were sweaty and shaking, heart was racing and I had a permanent smile plastered to my face!!!!

DID THIS REALLY JUST HAPPEN???

DID I REALLY JUST LEAVE A "BOARD MEETING"???

ME?

STAY AT HOME MOM?

NON COLLEGE GRADUATE?

Broken, insecure Gina?

Seriously?!?!?!?!?!

It just hit me full force and I started to pray right there at the light on Vision Drive asking God if this is what he has been preparing me for the past 4 years!

HE CHOSE ME!

All my flaws, my crazy past, my insecurities, my crazy mind that can never focus . . . Gina . . . the girl that has never been "good enough" is actually GOOD ENOUGH!

And you know what they say about God, he gives in abundance. The wealth and riches are NOT financial, we make it, but JUST make it and that's okay. The riches that he gives me grab my heart, take hold of me and won't ever go away!! How amazing is that?!?!?!!?!!

Not only is he showing me that sure, I can help people, but he has put others in my path to help bless people in abundance!!!

Orange Santa has provided families with toys and it's been a great program!! I'm just so passionate about it and blown away at how everyone comes together to pull it off! But now this year, not only are we able to give gifts to these children but with the help of Toys for Tots and COL, we are going to be able to use our fundraising money to FEED THEM ALL!!!!

Yep, you read that correctly, FEED THEM ALL....300 FAMILIES here in Hutto!!!!! We typically collect toys, raise money and use that money to buy the rest of the gifts to fill the wish lists but now with the help of Toys4Tots and COL all of the money we collect will go to give these families a Turkey dinner, complete with sides, rolls, pie and a half gallon of milk!!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!?!?!?!

$26 feeds a family of 10....that's all it takes!! If any of you have the heart to give, it's so easy to make such a HUGE impact with such a small sacrifice.

I truly am blown away today.

I've been working through so many things on so many levels and my eyes were opened this afternoon. I got a small glimpse of the HUGE picture of God's plan for me and my family. My friend Kyle said it really well so I'm copying him . . .

"I'm writing my story as I go."

I am choosing to follow my heart, and I know that God will lead me in the direction I need to be going.

WOW, what a way to kick off a new week and a new month!!! :o)

The Chosen Half Marathon

2010-10-25T04:52:00.005-05:00

JOY! That is exactly what I felt right there!

My beautiful girls!

blowing kisses to my babies!

2 of my sweet little angels! So proud!!

I have really needed some time to decompress emotionally to get my thoughts together for my "official" Post-Race post! :o) All of my Facebook family already knows by my 100 posts how it went but I wanted a detailed post to look back on.

Just came in from my first Marathon training run, 3 miles and it *hurt*. My legs were stiff, all sorts of pain in different areas but I feel good now....so strange. But it proved to me today that I am made for this running thing!

The training for this race was tough but I did it thanks to an outstanding partner, I was able to push through the physical part of it. There is a flip side to the training that I had not anticipated, the emotional side. I have worked through ALOT of stuff during this training. Realized some things that I felt really convicted of but also focused in on many of my strengths. I tend to beat myself up ALOT but there is just something about all this physical exertion that did something for me mentally...brought to the forefront of my mind just how strong I really am. How all the qualities many of my friends love me for (that I usually think of as my flaws), are truly gifts and I am thankful for all the aspects of my personality and what makes me "ME".

I search for acceptance. I try to please everyone. I want to be a good person. I like to try things new. I hope to be the person people can relate to and feel comfortable around. I want to be the best at everything I do. I live for relationship and love. These are just a few things I focused in on. I looked at what running meant to a few other ladies I've had and/or have a relationship with and tried to identify with it but realized I can't completely and that's okay. I mean even my running buddy and I have different reasons we run...we love different things about it, her-the training, me-race day! :o)

I've questioned over and over, especially when I have been in pain or when I'm waking up at 4:15 to get ready to run, why I'm doing this. Is it okay to have this as a priority or am I being selfish? This training stuff has been very hard on my heart regarding the selfish stuff. I grew up with a father always telling me I was selfish. Hey, even my mom told me once that I was selfish when I decided to move in with my dad after the divorce. Even though I know she didn't mean it in a hurtful way, she was young, scared and hurting too, but it did hurt me. I carry some major baggage from my childhood. My father was violent, my home life was chaos and discontent. I was always just trying to find my place and never did. I was hopeful that I would in college but then got kicked out of the house after graduation and that dream was crushed.

Now without pouring my entire life story on this one post and going completely off track...this is the stuff that was brought out during my race on Saturday. A friend of mine told me to leave it all out on the road so I let it come out and settle out there on those freaking hills! :o) This race was a tough one, hill after grueling hill but I didn't walk once. I took every one of them and claimed them as my own. Each hill was my "mountain" to climb over and joyously run down (and I ran down them FAST, hence the sore toes yesterday, hey I had to make up for how slow I had to go up those suckers!). As I would look at each one of them and watch people walking, I pulled something out of my heart that I wanted to leave there and I did just that. I found some healing out there on that course just like a friend of mine told me I would. I struggled with only doing the half marathon since there were some people on the team that took on the full. I deep down wanted to do the full but knew I'd never be trained enough to do it in time. I received this email regarding getting a 13.1 sticker for my car...LOL, which I did NOT get by the way:

Save it! Save it! Save it! You are about to be a marathon runner. When I ran the half I was already discontent. I stood in the half line looking at the full line to pick up packet and I knew right then that I was not a half runner but a full. You are the same! I know because I know your drive and the healing that will come in that full! Soak it all in! The half is harder than the full. Serious. You are gonna rock it!!

I celebrate all of my friends that ran the half and the full marathon on Saturday but their run has nothing to do with me. This was my race and I was successful. I had NOTHING more to give when I crossed that finish line. I set a goal of 2:30 but was really hopeful I'd finish in 2-2:15 , but those horrible hills...ugh! At least I KNOW I'll beat my PR in San Antonio which was originally going to be my first half marathon so I'm taking this one as a really, really tough training run...LOL! :o) There seemed to be so many challenges for me once I decided to do this race, right down to finding out the day before the race that I was the only one without my name on my bib, my name was assigned to a different number but someone else on our team had that number...it was just a mess! I cried my eyes out that night and was SO DOWN on myself casting the blame on me and almost didn't do the race. Kyle fixed my bib and wrote my name on it, and did a really good job I must say, and I just pushed along. My time is wrong on the race results page next to my name but is more accurate to the bib I wore which supposedly belonged to a 90 year old man that didn't really exist....so weird! :o)

So in a nutshell, course sucked but was scenic. Humidity was icky but the rain cooled me off and the wind was actually refreshing. I learned just how strong this little mind of mine is and when it tells my body to do something, I just do it! My body isn't in the best shape yet, but I know I'm on my way and progressing every time I get out there and hit that pavement. I run for me. Not because anyone else is doing it. I do it for me.

Looking forward to where this journey takes me....who knows!? More marathons, ultra races, Ironman Triathlons...the possiblities are endless! :o)

Here's to one more race under my belt!!!!!

Tomorrow I run MY race!

2010-10-22T09:17:00.001-05:00

http://myracemypace.blogspot.com/2010/10/tomorrow-i-run.html

Connectedness

2010-10-20T07:21:00.004-05:00

I started reading a new Devotional Book, Praying for Purpose by Katie Brazelton this week and it has me thinking SO MUCH which is why I knew I needed to get this started! This book is great because it basically has a topic, a question for you regarding this topic and story about a regular person and a biblical story tying into it as well. Best Part? It's only 2-3 short pages a day....that's my kind of reading! LOL

First 3 Topics?

Fear
Consequence
Perseverance

All things I TOTALLY connect with....I just can't wait to see where this book takes me...very excited!

It also got me thinking about my connection with other people. At different seasons in my life, I am closer to some people than others and vice versa, which I've come to feel okay with. There are those relationships that even if you don't speak for weeks or months, or even years, once you talk it's like you never stopped. The relationships that I have like that I've realized are the ones that THE OTHER PERSON shared their pain, their "junk" with ME. Everyone knows I pretty much tell you my whole life when I first meet you, bad thing to do? I don't believe it is. I truly believe it's a gift. It's one of my gifts and I will no longer feel bad about having the personality I have.

When you share a part of yourself with another person, and I'm not talking about just your favorite things or hobbies, I'm talking about the deep stuff . . . the stuff that makes you feel a little vulnerable to that other person, that is when you establish a connection to them, one that can't be broken. I have these connections with quite a few different friends and even when we have gone through different seasons, the connection is still there and always will be. It's not something I feel I have any control over.

I have a friend that I connected with on a deep level a few years ago, Amanda, and even though we have had a roller coaster of a relationship, there is just a connection there. Some will wonder why or how, but that doesn't really matter. We connected with each other through our pain. Childhoods were very simliar, personalities are identical, but the way we live our lives looks a little different which is why we don't see each other often or spend alot of time together, but that connection we have won't go away...no matter how hard either one of us tried to make it go away.

Then there is my Kimmers, we connect on many levels, childhood, culture, personality, and have grown closer through our running together. I read an article about running partners and the relationship that develops during training is a connection that will never be broken. We both have questioned ourselves over the past year about whether we can do it and are running our first 1/2 marathon this weekend and training for our first full marathon in February. We push each other, motivate each other and do a whole lot of laughing and sharing on our long runs together. I adore her and dont' think I would be where I'm at on this journey if it weren't for her.

Then there is my friend Danielle, another amazing lady that I became friends with when I was 22 and why are we still friends even though we live in different states? Our connection. Our deep connection through our pain. She is totally opposite of me and even though she doesn't share all of her stuff with everyone, she did with me and through that we connected on a deep level...I feel safe with her and she feels the same way with me.

There are more friends I can write about of course and I'm thankful for every single one of you! My point here is that all it takes is letting that guard of yours down, open up and share that junk deep down inside of you....what comes from that is a connection like no other . . . a life long relationship! Regardless of your "personality" , I know there is someone out there you would like to be closer too and instead of waiting for them, go to them! We were created to be in relationship and there is NOTHING like a girlfriend!! Your husband can only be so much to you and spare him, he does NOT want to be your girlfriend...LOL! :o)

Happy Hump Day!

Pumpkin Heaven....or Pumpkin Overload...you decide!

2010-10-19T20:05:00.005-05:00

I've been busy over here and playing catch up since our getaway! I blog in spurts and know I don't have a huge following but am thankful for Facebook since that's my main source of communication and is EASY for a busy Mom like me. :o)

Despite the weather (feels like summer NOT Fall!ugh!), we are in full FALL spirit! Pumpkin this, pumpkin that, pulling out fall clothes to see what fits and what can be passed down to friends, cleaning out toys and bedrooms ready for Christmas and Birthday Season to come, Baking, Crafting, Baking, looking up soup and stew recipes, planning menus for the holidays . . . OH HOW I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR! It's when I feel ALIVE!!

Fall decor is up but I already can't wait to replace it with Christmas which I do Thanksgiving weekend. We went out Sunday night and Boo'ed our friends with some yummy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins and other goodies and officially got "Boo'ed" tonight! I love to see our community of friends and families growing and getting out there to spread the cheer and spirit of this season with others....IT'S WONDERFUL!!!!

Our Boo Bag left on our porch....have NO IDEA who left it but they scored BIG TIME in Chris's book....

all of his FAVORITES!!!

Now if we can get a cold front and/or some rain and these HORRID allergies would disappear, it would be wonderful! :o) I don't need to freeze my butt off, I know that will happen soon enough, but would like to stop with the shorts and tees already! LOL

So in the Fall Spirit, here are some AWESOME recipes I've been trying and LOVING over the past month....enjoy!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
4 eggs
2 C sugar
1 can pumpkin
1 1/4 C vegetable oil
3 C flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
12 ounches of mini choc chips

*beat eggs, sugar pumpkin, vanilla and oil until smooth
*mix dry ingred. and mix into pumpkin mixture.
*fold in choc chips
*bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes

Pumpkin Butter
Very yummy to add to your morning toast or english muffin! I added it to my Fage Greek Yogurt today and it was DELISH!!!
Pumpkin Pancakes
(served these with Sugar Free Butter Pecan Syrup...mmmm!)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice ( I made my own)
21/2 C pancake mix
2T brown sugar
1 3/4C milk
2T veg oil
2T vinegar (don't understand why?)
1 can pumpkin

Pumpkin Spiced Latte
Who needs Starbucks? LOL
Had this tonight and it was GOOD!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese
had this over a friend's house this morning and it was GOOD!

Pumpkin Pudding
going to try this sometime this week!

Let's not forget the ever so DELISH pumpkin seeds we'll be roasting this weekend....oh yeah!

HAPPY FALL!

2010-10-15T07:28:00.001-05:00

I had an AMAZING weekend celebrating my BIGGEST BLESSING, my marriage! How lucky am I to have a husband who makes me feel like this?!?!?!? Seriously....
Pics coming soon! :o)

Celebrating a Decade!!!

2010-10-08T05:52:00.002-05:00

I have had a wonderful week thinking back on the past 10 years of my life with the most amazing man I know! We have true love and I never want to take that for granted. My childhood wasn't the greatest, and I spent my teen years full of lots of resentment and my early adulthood angry, hurt and confused. BUT, looking back over the past I am able to see what God was doing in my life. All of that "junk" I carry with me created some of my strong personality traits, my perserverance, my forgiving heart....it made me the person that drew the LOVE OF MY LIFE to me!

He loves ME!

What a lucky girl I am!!!!

HAPPY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BABY!!!

Tomorrow, we are VEGAS BOUND!!!! YESSSS!!!!!

Where it all started...

2010-10-06T22:55:00.004-05:00

Oh the place where it all began!!! LMAO!!! He was the quiet, good boy, sweet boss, not the boss that went out drinking with employees like me after work! :o) I was the party girl that busted my butt at work and then went out and played just as hard. We were both in relationships that were not good for us. My boyfriend was cheating on me, Chris was very unhappy in his relationship and we were just friends. Seriously. Just Friends.

The story is a long one but I'll keep it short. Chris was that boss that just listened to you. He didn't try to fix your problems or judge you, just listen. I always found it easy to talk to him once I finally had a conversation with him. He was the "good boy" and I was the "bad girl". Not really a bad girl, but just all screwed up! I had daddy issues, all my boyfriends treated me badly, blah blah blah so in my early 20's I just rebelled, BIG TIME! I moved to Florida from Massachusetts when I turned 21, and wouldn't you know it Chris moved to Florida from New York 3 months before me. We both worked at Ruby Tuesday, but we didn't really "know" each other. Like I said, I did my thing and he wasn't into the kind of fun I was into AT ALL. LOL Plus he was 9 years older than me so we were definitely at different places in our lives.

My relationship at the time was falling apart (boy cheats on girl) and I was training to climb up the little old restaurant ladder and guess who my Trainer was...yep, Chris. We got to talk alot and eventually started talking on AOL (man that seems so old!), more on the computer than in person...he was shy. :o) Through those conversations we realized how much we had in common! Our lifestyles at the time were not the same, but our values were 100% on the mark! We were both the oldest of our siblings, both of our parents' marriages fell apart when we were 8, and we found out we were both New York Natives and Italian American (Half Sicilian too!LOL). I still remember feeling like fate was just banging down my door!

I remember just knowing he was the ONE. I thought about him 24/7 and then some. I no longer wanted to be in a drug or alcohol induced haze to numb anything...I wanted to feel the way I did...I felt alive! I truly was for the first time deeply, madly, crazy in love! He was everything I wanted, all I needed, the most perfect gift I had ever been given! Things moved so fast for us!! We went on a date to an adorable little Italian restuarant and he danced with me outside . . . just him and I . . . it was like a movie....FOR REAL! I never wanted to be away from him...our goodbyes lasted FOREVER!!! We were like teenagers....couldn't stop giggling and kissing and as soon as we would get back home we'd stay on the phone forever...even to the point of falling asleep on the phone. Oh he was the one. The one I dreamt about as a little girl...that knight in shining armour...yep...that was him!!

I was living with my sister at the time and remember going apartment hunting. Chris was helping me find a place of my own since I NEVER lived alone. Got kicked out of the house right after graduation and was forced to live with my boyfriend until I moved to Florida and then started dating serious boyfriend number two and moved in with him very quickly, then moved in with my sister when that relationship failed. I really did want to live on my own and see what it was like, but Chris made a good point... "Why live in separate places when you know we are never going to want to be apart." . . . so needless to say I moved in with him right away! :o)

That was March 1999. We were engaged in July 1999. Married in October 2000. Had our First beautiful baby girl in February 2003. What can I say? It was just RIGHT. We both knew it despite what other people said about us moving too fast, we wouldn't listen to them, we listened to our hearts.

Ahhh, so to keep with the "10" thing, I am thinking back on my 10 FAVORITE dishes at Ruby Tuesday! God knows I ate me LOTS of Rubys! :o)

The RIBS!!! OHHHH YEAH BABY!!! YUMMY!
Sonora Chicken Pasta...mmmm!
Spinach Dip was delish!
Super Nachos were oh so good!
Let's not forget the burgers...oh the burgers!
Portabella Mushroom Sandwich
LOVED the salad bar! YUM!
The Turkey Burger, those onion strings! Oh My!
White Chicken Chili, Broccoli Cheese Soup aka BCS! Whew!!!
And we can't forget the Oreo Tallcake and The Blondie.....oh boy!

I'm hungry! LOL

10 Things I LOVE About My Man!

2010-10-05T22:51:00.009-05:00

This will be hard, because as corny as this will sound I love EVERYTHING about this man of mine!! He is perfect in my eyes, even in his "imperfectness" . . . there is no one else I could ever imagine myself "doing life" with!

10 THINGS I *LOVE* ABOUT MY CHRIS!

His lips....hands down the BEST kisser I ever kissed! Whether it was our first kiss or the kiss he gave me while I was washing dishes the other day, my pulse quickens and I don't want to pull away. It has always been that way when we kiss!
He LOVES his family. He never puts anything before his babies or me. He is the foundation of this family, our rock for sure!
His work ethic. I fell in love with him "on the job"! LOL Everyone adores Chris, admires him, works well with him, learns and grows because of him. He is a compassionate leader, hard worker and a GREAT motivator!
His sensitivity and compassion. He always considers other people's feelings and is led by his heart first. I've learned ALOT from him in this area of my life.
His calm spirit. He is calm under pressure and always knows what to do and/or say to calm me down when I'm wigging out! :o)
His chivalry for sure! The man STILL opens the car door for me!! He is a gentleman in EVERY way!
His honesty. He is the Truth Teller in my life, whether I like it or not.
He's a dreamer and he loves to share those dreams with me, big or small.
He doesn't yell and he doesn't hit.
He's steadfast . . . slow and steady . . . complete opposite of me! :o)

I could truly go on and on, I am his biggest fan you know! This would embarrass him quite enough but I meant every word.

One thing I learned over the past decade is that *shit* happens. Problems come up. Children exhaust you. Tragedies occur. Finances are STRESSFUL. Sometimes the world outside seems like its spinning around like crazy. BUT, having a true "soul mate" gives a stability like no other. Sure, we have had our share of ups and downs, that's what life is but we don't go to bed mad, it's a rule and we always forgive each other.

My heart still skips a beat when he comes home from being out of town for the night. I still get butterflies in my stomach when he gives me that tender smile of his when we see each other in a crowd.

He is faithful.
He protects me.
He loves me.

Here's to MANY more years of bliss!!

Our Wedding Song!

2010-10-05T07:23:00.003-05:00

Today I start trying to put together outfits for Vegas, making the kids' itinerary for everyone volunteering to help out while we're gone, doing some church work, house work, getting kids off to school, etc., and started my morning off listening to a VERY special song!!! Life gets so complicated sometimes, it's nice to just sit still and reminisce.

I still remember when we were trying to decide on wedding songs for the DJ!! I initially wanted Always and Forever by Heatwave, I'll Be by Edwin McCain, and there were quite a few others as most of you know I have a WIDE WIDE range of music genres that I LOVE!!! Well, Chris put this CD in for me and sang it to me...at that moment I KNEW this was the song!

Love you baby!!!

Milestones over our First Decade of Marriage!

2010-10-02T13:21:00.013-05:00

In honor of celebrating 10 years with my Handsome Groom, I'm going to try to pick just 10 milestones over the past 10 years....

#1)Took a chance and made a HUGE move to Austin, Texas!

July 2002

#2)

Adrianna Carmela 2.8.03

#3)

Christopher Anthony Alfio Jr. 4.28.06

#4)

Sofia Flora 7.6.09

#5) Bought our 1st House!

2.14.04

#6) Celebrated my 30th Birthday.

**don't have a pic!**
01.06.06

#7) Celebrated Chris's 40th Birthday with family and friends.

1.20.07

#8) Became connected to and enjoy serving our Community here in little ol' Hutto!

#9) Took our first big family vacation to Disney World!

October 2007

#10)Experienced a new level to our relationship, our "Spiritual" Connection. Focus on living our lives the way God intended us to...in community, serving one another.

New Blog!

2010-09-28T12:42:00.003-05:00

Well, new season stirs up the desire to start something new!

Soooooo here it is! Going to start blogging about my running! I've looked back over this blog and it has made me feel so good in so many ways reminding me of some very wonderful memories. With that said, I've also felt convicted of my motivation with some of my posts over the years but I know I've grown a TON and seeing that on the computer screen in front of my face is a great reminder! :o)

So along with all the fun stuff I'm involved with and some of my personal growth/challenges I'm faced with DAILY, which I will blog about here, I also want to share this new season of fitness and new level I'm at in a separate blog. Now, can I maintain both and facebook? Hmmmmm...not too sure yet, we'll see how it goes!

Anywhooooo...here it is!

Running My Race

HAPPY RUNNING FRIENDS!

*hugs*

She Will Be Loved...

2010-09-22T20:25:00.002-05:00

One of the greatest things about music is that it sparks up so much emotion in me! I was listening to Pandora today while getting dinner ready and this song came on and just broke me into tears. It was just the song I needed to hear today to go along with the verbal affirmation I got today from one of my very best friends.

If you know me, you KNOW I'm pretty passionate about just about everything...If I love, I LOVE...if I hate, I HATE...it's all or nothing with me, I change my emotions like the wind and don't look back too much. I'm EXTREMELY forgiving, sometimes to a fault. And although I love with every piece of me, I've never truly believed that anyone really "loved" me. This of course started back in my adolescence and I carried those feelings with me into young adulthood. Had a couple of relationships that were so very wrong for me on so many levels. I loved them, or at least thought it was love, but they didn't love me back, not in the way that real, true love is supposed to be. I've done just about anything and everything you can imagine to seek approval and/or love from people. I've made lots OF MISTAKES along the way, for sure! Then just went I was pretty close to what rock bottom looked like...alcohol, drugs, partying like nobody's business, completely wild, there he was....MY SOULMATE!

Listening to this song, I feel so connected to Chris...even though he isn't a Maroon 5 fan like I am, the words make me feel connected to him. They describe his love for me. Chris is the first man in my LIFE to make me undoubtably know he loves me. There has never been a moment in over 11 years now that I questioned his love for me and that is one of the greatest gifts I've ever been given.

Now fast forward to about 4 years ago and I met another Chris, but in the female form! :o) My sweet Erika! Although very different from me, we just connected. I met her during a lonely time in my life. I was living here in Texas, starting a family, becoming a stay at home mom no longer working, and I just felt all out of sorts. I wasn't really happy here, no matter how hard I tried to be. And while I love my family that I have here, we were all doing the same thing sorting through our own stuff and trying to figure it all out too! That's what happens when all of us got married in the same year! :o) I NEEDED a friend, and I didn't just get a "friend", I got another sister.

This girl knows what makes me tick. She knows what I do and why I do it. She knows when I'm speaking in truth and when to let my words slide because they are coming from emotion and not logic. She knows when I need a push and when I need a hug. She's LOVES me. She accepts me, doesn't want to change me and wants nothing but to see me grow. She is the best encourager I know. She is here living life with me everyday and even when I was a total bitch, she has NEVER turned her back on me. I'll say it again, she LOVES me. It is rare to find those friends that truly love you and will go above and beyond to help you be a better you. I only had one other friend before meeting Erika that loved me like that, and that was my friend Danielle who crazy enough is JUST LIKE ERIKA! :o) It's really crazy!

I'm always growing.
I'm always changing.
I'm always trying to be the best I can be.
I can be moody.
I can be alot to handle.
But I'm loyal.
I'm fun.
I'm faithful.
I'm loving.
I'm dedicated.
I'm giving.
I will serve and serve and serve.

All I ever wanted was to be loved.

Thank you God for delivering Chris to me and through him I am surrounded with the family I've always wanted, and thank you for Erika, through her I've learned just how special I really am, and am surrounded by so many wonderful ladies now.

My heart is just bursting with love!!

Is it REALLY almost over??!!

2010-09-21T22:31:00.008-05:00

Where did September go???? I feel like I have so much to write about but my head is just spinning and I can't focus! I got to thinking about why I want to blog, what is the reason for it? Everyone knows I facebook enough and don't really need a long winded post on "What's going on in our world". So I think I'll keep it simple and make it a picture post of what I've been up to!

Experienced my first Beth Moore Simulcast and CAN'T WAIT for the day I can see her in person...this was AN EXPERIENCE to say the least! Total different blog post in itself! :o)

Booked our 10 Year Anniversary....GOING TO VEGAS BABY!!! So excited, I've never been!!!!

Baby Girl just EATS AND EATS AND EATS! LOL Wants to use a spoon and be just like the big kids in EVERY WAY! LOL

Christopher started PreK a couple of weeks after Adrianna started school!
He LOVES it!!!

He helped me pick out what his special First Day of School treat was going to be!

Adrianna's First Day of School Cake!

THANK YOU GOD for the change in seasons...this is when I feel my BEST! We are working on the holiday calendar stuff. I'm checking out all the fun little crafts that I would love to do but will commit to only a few this year and that's OK. I'm excited about all the community stuff we have comming up and all the AWESOME WAYS to serve! I'm looking SO FORWARD to continuing OUR family traditions that Chris and I have made for our precious babies. I'm excited at all the FUN stuff coming up with our family and friends!!! AND I can't wait to do The Chosen Half Marathon next month, my first Half Marathon!!!! WOO HOO!

Now I better get to bed...it's WAYYYYYYYYYYYY past my bedtime! LOL

September Menu Plan

2010-09-05T08:13:00.004-05:00

Sorry, I'm a little late on this. With my husband's works schedule and being away one-two nights a week, I was waiting on his travel schedule to tweek my menu for the month. And well, here it is! Now this is something totally new for me to try. I have been toying with this idea for over a year now and am thinking that now is the time. :o)

Now I know there are some of you ladies out there that are like me and will jump on the idea of trying something new BUT if you've never menu planned you may want to stick to a week by week plan and build up to a monthly. Or hey, if you just want to dive on in then join me! LOL I will be posting this week about different reasons to Menu Plan, why do a monthly, different templates, tips, etc. But for now here is the plan, I have to get my Sunday started!

September Menu Plan

Spaghetti
Breakfast for Dinner
Meatloaf, mashers, baby carrots
BBQ Brisket, scalloped potatoes, corn
Chicken Tortilla Soup
BBQ with Friends
Ropa Vieja in Crockpot over rice
Chicken,Spinach & Cheese Quesadillas
Leftovers
Chili Rubbed Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potato Fries, Brussel Sprouts
Dinner with Friends
Dinner with Friends
Tacos
Pizza Night at the School
Pasta Fagioli, bread
Tuna Cheesies and veggie dippers
Date Night
Dinner with Friends
Chicken Bruschetta, rice and fresh veggies
Burgers on the Grill, baked potato wedges, salad
Leftovers
Breakfast for Dinner
Pizza Night at the School
3 Packet Pot Roast, parsley potatoes, corn
Baked Fish, rice and fresh veggies
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Honey Mustard Chicken , couscous, and salad
McTeacher Night at McDonalds
Leftovers
Breakfast for Dinner
Burritos, spanish rice and beans

Out with the old, In with the new!

2010-09-02T17:59:00.004-05:00

bye-bye New Balance, Hellooooo Nike!

Sad to see you go but THRILLED to have these pretty thangs! :o) I was SO EXCITED at Rogue today when after trying on 7 pairs of shoes at Runtex and leaving with nothing, finding THE shoes!!! Not only are they PERFECT, BUT THEY'RE PINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you feel my excitement?

Back at the beginning of the year when I decided to go forward and take on this running thing I got fitted at Runtex for my blue beauties, aka New Balance 1011. At the time (having a 6 month old and still in that postpartum body transition thing!) these were the shoes I needed. I pronated alot and needed the support and stability. My poor joints and body were still recovering from the 60lb weight gain, of course I needed the stability! :o) But now being 30+ lbs lighter and running more seriously I guess I was ready for a different shoe. I tried on the good ol Asics, New Balance, Mizunos and Brooks over at Runtex but they just didn't feel right. I've been having some issues with 2 toes on my right foot and come to find out, my foot GREW, OH JOY! Ha! So after I left Runtex with Erika (my saving grace, couldn't imagine going with my two little ones by myself!!!) we decided since we were down there to just run into Rogue.

Now this guys seemed like he knew what he was talking about! Not anything like the Latin Lover Boy salesman at Runtex!!! LMAO! I put on the Asics, felt good, then a pair of Brooks, felt better (liked the bean bag feeling at the arches), then.....came.....the .....Nikes!! I slipped them on and OMG, I just KNEW they were the ones! I knew that I couldn't leave without those shoes! Light, yet supportive, Roomy, but felt secure, Pretty, oh and yeah Pretty because I don't care what anyone says the shoes have GOTTA look good!!! :o)

The funny thing is as I tucked my New Balance into the Nike box to keep them, I felt a little sad. My poor shoes have been replaced. Those strong blue babies went through my first 5k, 10k, and Triathlon with me! I put my first "long run" on those shoes so they will be kept forever! :o)

So tonight I celebrate on a treadmill (hubby is out of town, so I dont' have a choice) my new Nikes and my reaching a new level with this FREAKING AWESOME sport!

Confessions...

2010-08-30T07:20:00.003-05:00

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!

2010-08-28T10:18:00.005-05:00

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!

2010-08-26T19:57:00.012-05:00

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

2010-08-26T18:01:00.002-05:00

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!

2010-08-26T13:56:00.002-05:00

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!!!

2010-08-23T17:07:00.004-05:00

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!

2010-08-23T07:51:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-21T17:49:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-20T15:15:00.002-05:00

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

2010-08-18T13:38:00.002-05:00

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

A Cherished Friend!

2010-08-18T11:24:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-17T14:34:00.002-05:00

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?

2010-08-16T07:43:00.009-05:00

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

2010-08-16T05:48:00.005-05:00

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

2010-08-15T14:09:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-15T13:13:00.003-05:00

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

2010-08-13T07:42:00.003-05:00

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!!

2010-08-12T21:35:00.000-05:00

Under Construction!
LOL

Summer Lovin' ...

2010-08-11T10:59:00.004-05:00

....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?!

2010-08-09T22:46:00.002-05:00

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

2010-08-02T06:09:00.002-05:00

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!

Menu Plan Monday 7/26

2010-07-26T09:15:00.002-05:00

With my husband out of town this week too, we are keeping it VERY SIMPLE! My two little ones are sick which makes it a little tougher on me this week. Haven't been to the grocery store for the week so I'm going to make due here with what we have. :o)

Monday: Chicken Noodle Soup, Kashi Crackers (from Pantry stockpile!)
Tuesday: Dinner at a Friend's House!
Wednesday: Pancakes, bacon and fruit salad
Thursday: Deceptively Delicious Mac & Cheese
Friday: Baked Potato Bar
Saturday: Order Pizza
Sunday: Veggie Beef Soup

Menu Plan Monday 7/19

2010-07-19T08:38:00.004-05:00

I had a great conversation with my running buddy Kim this morning (don't know what I'd do without her!!) about balance and routine. We are both kindred spirits in some very specific areas and I'm hoping together we can conquer this "balance" thing! I got to thinking about accountability and figured I'd put myself, ideas, menus, etc out there again that way I can't NOT do what I'm supposed to do if people are looking for it each week! LOL

So here it goes, Menu Plan Monday back again! My husband leaves for a store opening in Vegas tomorrow and is gone for 2 weeks so I'm going to try to save on the grocery budget for sure!! We have VBS all week this week so I figured the easiest thing I can do would be a "Sandwich Themed Week"!

HAPPY MONDAY FRIENDS!

Monday- BLTs and fruit salad
Tuesday- Tuna Melts and veggies with dip
Wednesday - Dinner with Friends, bringing dessert
Thursday - Portobello Mushroom and Veggie Quesadillas and Sweet Potato Fries
Friday - VBS Family Pizza Night , bringing (2) 2L drinks
Saturday - MNO....bday party and sleepover
Sunday- Egg Sandwiches and Fruit

BLOG - - - RELAUNCH!

2010-07-04T08:19:00.005-05:00

This has been a long time coming! LOL

Since the last post was about the BIRTH of my "almost 1year old" BABY GIRL, I just don't know where to start!! All I know is that I have been feeling the urge to jump back in and write again. :o) The past 2 years have been full of change and transformation for me! Let's see, in a nutshell:

we moved
got pregnant
became a family of 5!
rediscovered the JOY of breastfeeding and snuggling a newborn all through the night!
changed LOTS of diapers
husband changed jobs
jumped into extreme couponing, started a blog about it and helped other women get into it too
made the decision to pursue ministry and will be "church planters" in 2 years
developed some amazing new friendships
joined the Facebook Community
got into and quit Twitter
led my first Bible Study
have a 2nd grader and a Pre Kinder!
joined the PTC at Adrianna's school
became a runner
joined the YMCA
jumped on a bike for the first time in my adult life, "clipped in"
took my first swim lesson
did a 5K
did a 10K
completed my first Triathlon!
got back into my smaller clothes before baby's 1st Birthday! (That's a first!)
this list can go on and on, but I'll save you from that! LOL

With that said, it's been hard for me to prioritize blogging. :o) Life has just been happening over here and I can't believe just how fast a baby's first year really does go! I have made such a conscious effort to enjoy every bit of it since it may be our last but it doesn't matter, it still seemed like it went too fast....so bittersweet.

My family is my joy, my friends lift me up, and my faith gives me hope in the future! I'm not sure what direction this blog will go but hey, here's to new beginnings!

HAPPY 4TH FRIENDS!

What have we been up to???

2009-08-23T08:06:00.007-05:00

Well, this explains it all...

SOFIA FLORA
7/6/09
7lbs 8oz
19inches

This blog has taken the backseat to Facebook which is JUST SO EASY to update in small quick notes so it's just been my first choice over the past almost 7 WEEKS! I can't believe it will be 7 weeks tomorrow - - - WOW!!! We are officially a family of 5 now and I couldn't be happier.

Let's see, pregnancy was tough to say the least, the csection was amazingly easy this time, recovery was GREAT, and this beautiful baby girl is JUST PERFECT!!!! Her big sister and big brother adore her of course, daddy now has 2 girls to stress out over and Adrianna and I have another shopping partner!! Life is GRANDE!!!

Tomorrow Sofia will be seven weeks old and I honestly don't know where the time has gone!
This sweet baby girl has brought some major change into our lives but with that change has come such peace in our lives, such joy, such happiness! This is what I am here for, these babies and my husband. They are my world, my heart, my everything! Sitting together, all five of us snuggled up makes my heart just want to burst!! Chris and I have been so very blessed, 3 beautiful babies all healthy, all sweet, everything we dreamed of.

New life
New beginnings
New memories
Pure Bliss!

Today is the BIG DAY!

2009-07-06T03:44:00.003-05:00

I can't believe in just a few hours, I will FINALLY get to meet the beautiful baby girl that has spent the past 39 weeks growing inside of me!!! I can't possibly sleep. :o) I have been going over and over the births of my other two miracles, thinking about how much my life has changed since given the opportunity to become a mommy.

A New Day, A New Life, not just for Sofia, but for us all. This morning I was laying in bed at 3am just praying and thanking God for all he has given to me, no matter how unworthy I feel I am to have all the blessings I do, he has blessed me in abundance. My heart is overflowing with joy. My thoughts have been purely wonderful looking back at my life that I've always felt was "not so great", a childhood that was more "forgettable" than "memorable", and seeing it all in a new light. Realizing and being able to pinpoint all of the different times God was there and how he rescued me and comforted me even though I didn't realize He was there. I didn't live a life of faithfullness, in fact I lived a life more in envy of other children, other families, friends, everyone who seemed to have it better than I did, better "luck" than me. Oh how wrong I was.

All the tough times, all the memories I spent my life trying to block out and was successful at doing so for much of it, really made me the woman I am, the wife I've been able to become and the mother of amazing children that God has given me to teach them His ways and to Love and Praise Him, nobody else. I've learned that I cannot "idolize" anyone or "worship" anyone but Him and through God, He will give me the strength to love and be loved like never before by the people he has placed in my life, most importantly my adoring husband and amazing children. I love them in a way I never felt loved and didn't know I was even capable of loving, but realized through His love, I am.

I have spent the early hours today praying to my God for the strength today not just for me, but for my husband and the ones we love. I've prayed for friends who lost a loved one this past week and to help still one of my closest friends' anxious heart and comfort her. I prayed for my children and for my friends that show me so much love and kindness. And then I sat up and prayed, asking the Lord to fill me with the Holy Spirit, to open my heart and mind to accept his Son as my Savior and vowed to live the life that God intended for me to have, walk in His light and live a life showing others how much richer it can be when living it for Him and not just yourself.

Tears of joy spill down my cheeks as I type this, my life is full, my cup is overflowing and I feel blessed, so blessed beyond measure and I get ready to accept one of the greatest gifts God has to offer me, New Life, both spiritually and physically.

Thank You Lord!!!

We are ON TRACK!

2009-07-04T18:39:00.004-05:00

I can't believe how ready I feel, it's almost like I should be nervous and not too confident because I'm probably forgetting something MAJOR, LOL! Besides sweating to death, weighing 199 lbs and ALL DAY heartburn, I am feeling pretty GREAT!!! I'm full of joy and excitement, so much that I can't rest! (like that's a surprise,ha!)

We added a couple projects in the past couple days to stay in and stay cool which I'm quite pleased with. . .

Adrianna's 2009 Graduation Photo Album
Adrianna's Kindergarten Scrapbook (FULL of pics/memories of her first year in school!)
Our Family Recipe Binder
Cool Decorative Hand Sanitizers and containers for Sofia's room and downstairs
My 2ND Online Offer completed!! Will get my "2nd" $500 Visa Card in 5 weeks!! YAY!!!
Organized all closets and scrubbed out pantry.
Completed my CVS & WAGS posts for tomorrow over at my other blog.

House is clean and in order, arrangements all made for next week and Christopher got out today for a LONG and FUN 4th of July playdate with friends and no sister! :o) I'm halfway through another one of my Francine Rivers books about "Bathsheba" and have a line of other books to start next.

I'm feeling settled, and it feels good. I feel LOVED by all my friends and my mother in law and it feels GREAT! I think this upcoming season in our lives is going to be a GREAT ONE! I'm so looking forward to it. I've memorized Jeremiah 29:11 to comfort me during the actual CSection and feel such peace about it. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".

We are about to sit down and pig out on steaks, parsley potatoes, corn on the cob AND eggplant parmigiana all prepared by my hubby and mother in law. Chris and I are going out afterwards for some coffee, dessert, and "us" time. Tomorrow we will be spending it in fellowship with our friends that are actually "in town" followed by dinner with our Pastor and his family. His wife is one of my best friends and I thank God for that family everyday!!! I am still in awe the way God has blessed us with them, our wonderful neighbors who have become like family to us and all our GREAT friends that have come through these relationships over the past two and a half years . . . HE IS GREAT and blesses in ABUNDANCE, I see that now and am so full!!

Well, dinner is ready, time to chow down!

HAPPY 4TH EVERYONE!!

Here are pics from my latest project....

4 more days and counting...

2009-07-02T08:04:00.006-05:00

4 Days from now and I'll be holding and smelling a SWEET baby girl!! I can't wait!!!!! I'm surprised to say that I truly feel ready. Baking day was a success, fridge, freezer and pantry are all very well stocked thanks to all my couponing and CVSing, laundry is caught up, house is clean and I'm starting on another book by Francine Rivers. I finally organized all of my printed recipes into a cute little binder for the kitchen . . .
My friends have organized a CareCalendar for us so I've copied and pasted all the meals to my weekly menu for the ENTIRE MONTH OF JULY!!! What a blessing!!! It's posted on my fridge and I'm happy to say I don't have to worry about dinner for the rest of the month!! WOW! This is a first for us for sure.

We were talking last night about decorating the house and yard for Sofia's arrival, it's all Adrianna can think about, she's so excited. She was asking questions about what we did for Christopher when we came home, she remembered bits and pieces. My sister came for his birth which was wonderful and my mother in law was at the house there with us too so it was great! We didn't have many friends so there wasn't all this attention like we have now but it was still a great experience for Chris, Adrianna and myself. Then came Adrianna asking me who decorated when we came home with her from the hospital and all my memories came sweeping in. I wish my experience with her was as "glamorous" as she was hoping and I had to stop myself from saying we came home to an empty, dark home, very depressing and very stressful. We were new to Texas and didn't have any friends, it was very tough on me. I didn't have any family here with me and I was scared to death! She asked if we had a stork in the yard or a sign on the door with balloons and I told her no, BUT that's because she wasn't old enough to do that yet, LOL! I explained how very special and important she is in our family and how she makes every experience fun and beautiful. We couldn't do it without her! I did tell her how AWESOME it was that it snowed the day she was born and I have pics of the snow on the car, that was simple enough to excite her, my sweet 6 year old angel! I can't believe it's been 6 years. I still remember her sweet "kitten like" cry. All the nurses had to come in to see the "Hair" , they couldn't believe it, she came out with a shag...LOL! I am so thankful for having Adrianna as my first born. She slept through the night, made me so nervous since I thought she was going to starve sleeping so much. She was an easy baby, always smiled and had the biggest most beautiful eyes that people EVERYWHERE had to stop me to tell me and admire her. She was an absolute angel from the start and once I got past the nervousness of being a first time mom, I was in heaven. She is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen and has the personality to go with it. Sweet, loving, kind and sensitive, just like her daddy, I completely adore her. I'm so thankful that I am going to be able to give her a little sister to adore, teach and protect. I know what it's like to be an older sister and am so thankful she is going to be given the opportunity to experience that too.

Adrianna Carmela
2/8/03

Christopher Anthony Alfio Jr.
4/28/06

Next . . .

Sofia Flora
7/6/09

All of the "Important" To-Dos are complete so today and tomorrow will be spent working on Adrianna's Kindergarten Scrapbook,and just having fun!!! I am so blessed to have the husband and children I have, what a miracle to be given another sweet little angel from God!!

I am so grateful!!

Transformation

2009-06-30T08:08:00.004-05:00

So I was watching a Baby Story yesterday and it's been a while since I've seen one of the episodes, but I of course cried my eyes out!! :o) The mom was trying to deliver her 2nd baby vaginally but had to have a Csection due to the same reasons I had to have one with Adrianna. Her husband was talking about how she was scared, but crying more because she was afraid of disappointing him.

It made me reminisce about each of my two csects I've had and how emotionally tough they were on me. At the time I had my first one, nobody I knew had one and it was SO hard on me, I felt like a total failure. I had my birth plan typed out, had a binder all organized and ready to go, even pre delivered my plan to the dr. and the hospital to post on the door...LOL. But it just didn't work for me and I had to accept that. Hopeful that I could do a VBAC for my second to be able to experience the "euphoria" of vaginal birth, I was shot down my doctors and decided to just go ahead and schedule a 2nd CS. That experience was much better than my first one. It was scheduled, I was mentally prepared, and I knew what to expect. Since the epidural didn't work the first time, my dr. gave me a spinal the 2nd birth and I was able to be awake which definitely made a HUGE difference! My first CS was an emergency, no pain meds were working and I had to go under General Anesth.

I'm prepared for my third CS delivery but still feel the anxiety of it inside. Watching the mom crying the entire time they are cutting and delivering made me cry too! The fear laying there of something going wrong doesn't go away when they take your baby out, at least not for me. I couldn't stop crying until they rolled me out of that O/R!! The fear of death overwhelms me during the surgery so I'm trying to figure out a way to not have that happen this time.

Thank God Chris is able to be right by my side. He is my ROCK, my "safe place". The man has the warmest brown eyes you could ever look into. His touch makes me feel safe and secure. He may be filled with as much fear and anxiety as I am but doesn't show it to me. I feed off of his patience and resilience as much as he feeds off my energy and excitement. We are a perfect balance for each other in that way.

Each birth is a different experience regardless of how you deliver the baby, I know that. I was laying in bed talking to Chris last night about how it NEVER gets old, each birth is NEW LIFE, a NEW BEGINNING, and I feel so blessed to have a husband that wants to experience that just as much as I do, and that God has provided us with the opportunity once again! This pregnancy has been TOUGH, this has been a rough season in our lives between moving, financial struggles, and lots of other "changes" in our lives all at once. BUT, the best, most valuable part of the past nine months has been my spiritual growth. I've felt close to God and far from God over the past 21/2 years that I began my journey, but not until NOW do I genuinely feel like I am God's Child and am filled with the Holy Spirit! My life has been transformed! I've been broken down in ways that pain me to even think about, but I do believe that was the only way for me to hear God's voice and His only way to get my attention, my FULL ATTENTION. My biggest fear since "calling myself Christian" has been whether or not I would still genuinely be me. And wow, yes, I am still ME, just a better ME. :o) Character qualities that I always said I didn't have, I now possess and call mine. I pray now, and not just for me, but I spend more time praying for other people.

This is a new Chapter in our Lives, our Book . . . and I'm so excited and FULL of Faith, Hope and Love . . .

2009-06-29T10:31:00.004-05:00

It's Baking Day!!!

Whole Wheat Bread (in machine)

1 cup + 2T Water
1 T + 1.5tsp Butter softened
1/4 C Firmly packed brown sugar
3.5 C Whole Wheat Flour
2 1/4 tsp Bread Machine Yeast (1packet)

Place Ingredients into machine in this order:
water
butter
sugar
salt
flour

Make a small indentation with your finger in the flour and add the yeast making sure it doesn't come into contact with the water.

Put breadpan in machine.
Makes a 1.5lb loaf

Pizza Dough

1 C water
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 C Flour (you can use all purpose or whole wheat)
1 Packet Yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 T Italian Seasoning

Load into bread machine and set to dough cycle. My machine takes 1.5 hours and then you remove it, roll it out, stick it on a stone and top it!

Bake at 450 until done!

Zucchini Bread

Rice Crispie Treats

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

38 Week Update!

2009-06-28T20:21:00.002-05:00

Well, my Master To Do list is almost done!! We will finish it up this week. I've had a busy weekend and feel like I'm right on track, thank God because I'm TIRED!!!!

* FULLY stocked up on about 8 boxes of Eggos, 5 tubs of Breyers, lots of strawberries (will slice and freeze 2 pints for smoothies, kids LOVE them!), chicken and some other goodies from SuperTarget.

* Spent my $46 in ExtraCare Bucks on lots of TP, Paper Towels, some meds, toiletries, 4 12 packs of Diet Coke, 2 Gallons of Milk, Bread, Cereal, Tuna, Chicken Soup, laundry and dish soap too along with a few goodies for me and the kids!

* Made a HUGE trip to Walmart and have an extremely well stocked pantry which will get us through the next month! Stocked up on Rices, pastas, breakfast items, baking needs, canned goods, beverages, snacks, chips, etc. I am good on all my pantry staples as well. :o) Had a great trip of almost $140 before qps and $73 oop! Very Nice!!!!

* Just looked at my CareCalendar that my friends put together for me and it looks like we will have dinners prepared for us for the ENTIRE MONTH OF JULY almost!!! HUGE BLESSING!! I love my friends!!

Chris cleaned out my car and I'm bringing it for an oil change tomorrow which will be the only road trip I make besides my dr. appt on Wednesday. I have some last minute "nesting" to dos for the week with my mother in law around the house and need to get as much rest as possible which involves starting another book...LOL!

I thank God for her, she is the type of mother in law everyone wishes they had - - - a TOTAL blessing!!! She will be here helping me this week wrap stuff up and a couple of weeks postpartum too. She is the typical Italian Mama, always cooking something, cleaning something, kissing and hugging the cuties and I hope to be just like her when I'm a Grandma for sure. She and I have a very special bond that I am overjoyed for. I love our conversations, I love the love she has for me and our family, and I especially love her gracious and giving heart. Right from the start, I felt accepted especially by her...hey I'm Italian after all..LOL! I am so excited to be able to give her another granddaughter to love and adore and chose her name for Sofia's Middle name...."Flora"...."Sofia Flora"....it's PERFECT!

So now it's off to relax with Chris, write out my weekly to do list and fill out my monthly calendar to stick on the fridge for the family... I feel overjoyed right now!!!

LIFE IS GREAT!!!

Preparing for Baby! Master To Do List

2009-06-17T16:00:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Crystal over at MomofLittles, I've decided to prepare a few lists of things that I need to have done before Sofia's arrival. She is also a mommy now to 3 and has inspired me with some of her tips and ideas.

The Master To Do List

~~Have all baby clothes, burp clothes, blankets & other linens on hand and washed.~~

~~Purchase Nursing Bras and other personal items for postpartum.~~

~~Finish Nursery.~~

~~Pack hospital bag and "Daddy Bag".~~

~~Pack "Busy Bags" for both kids for the hospital.~~

~~Buy an extra battery for the camera & laptop.~~

Put carseat in car.

~~Arrange Childcare for hospital stay.~~

~~Work on June Schedule for kids' activities.~~

~~June's Menu Plan.~~

~~3 Month supply of diapers.~~

~~Work on stockpile for paper goods & Pantry.~~

~~Make & freeze 4 pizza doughs.~~

Make cookie dough and freeze in a tube to easily cut.

Steam clean rugs.

Wax entire downstairs floors.

~~Organize Master closet with postpartum clothes and pack away clothes I won't be wearing for a while.~~

~~Organize Laundry Room, Coat Closet, and kids' craft closet.~~

~~Have July's bill schedule setup and ready to hand over to hubby.~~

~~Oil Change in my car.~~

Brakes done in hubby's car.

3 week Menu Plan!

2009-06-16T09:42:00.003-05:00

This is a first for me, I'm going to give it a try! I've been doing weekly menus for a long time now so why not try this? I have all the meat for these dishes in the freezer and get veggies weekly at the Farmer's Market so looks like the only things I need are some pantry staples, which are on my "StockPile List" and some salmon. :o)

Week of 6/15
Monday: Rice & Beans with fried tortillas
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Breast, yellow squash & salad
Wednesday: BBQ Ribs in Crockpot, fried zucchini & baked potatoes
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Chicken Burgers & homemade french fries
Saturday: Father's Day! Daddy's choice of takeout!
Sunday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, salad

Week of 6/22
Monday: BLT Salad with Basil Mayo Dressing
Tuesday: King Ranch Chicken Casserole (from freezer)
Wednesday: Grilled Country Style Pork Ribs, rice & veggies
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Pizza Night!
Saturday: Grilled Hot Dogs, Potato Salad & Veggies
Sunday: Waldorf Salad with Chicken Breast with rolls

Week of 6/29 Grilling week since I'm cleaning my oven on Sunday! LOL
Monday: John McCain Ribs in Crockpot, Cucumber Salad, rolls
Tuesday: Grilled Salmon, veggies & Rice Pilaf
Wednesday: Pizza on the Grill
Thursday: Burgers on the grill, grilled corn on cob
Friday: Final Date Night as parents of Two!
Saturday: Dinner with Friends
Sunday: Baked Ziti and Salad, my favorite! No food after 10 so I'm going to fill up! :o)

I'll be in the hospital from Monday-Wednesday and have a WONDERFUL support group of friends that will be providing meals every other night for our family so we should be taken care of for a few weeks postpartum. I'm working on freezing about 6 meals, some pizza doughs and stocking up on some Boca Burgers and a few easy meals for the kids too!

I'M GETTING SO EXCITED!!!

36 Week Update

2009-06-13T19:20:00.002-05:00

I know it's been quite some time since I've blogged over here, but I've been focused on my ThrifteeMomee blog and getting as many deals to build my stockpile as I can in preperation of baby #3!

We had a crazy month and a half dealing with some problems at our house we are renting out, but thankfully it has all been worked out. So now, it's full speed ahead with our focus on our family and preparing for our new addition to arrive. :o) I've had all sorts of mixed feelings during this pregnancy. Between feeling very sick, super duper emotional, stressed and overwhelmed it's been tough. With moving and getting pregnant right away, life has been hectic to say the least, LOL. But I feel like now we have finally reached the peak and are coasting down now ready to get to that calm, flat land. Motherhood is tough and mothering a newborn can be a challenge, but it's my true comfort zone and a place I can't wait to be again. Pregnancy is NOT my thing, ha, but being a mommy is pure bliss for me and I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to go through it again from the beginning! Oh how I dream about holding a newborn baby again, and that smell....ooh!

So, I've worked on a few different schedules. A Master To Do list, June's Menu Plan, June's schedule of activities and playdates for the kids are what I've been focusing on. I'll be posting those in seperate posts so I can easily find them.

I'm now 36 weeks and will be delivering baby Sofia at 39 weeks, c-section, on Monday July 6th! I'm actually feeling pretty good most days besides the regular physical stuff at this stage, being tired, weighing over 60 lbs heavier than pre-pregnancy, and moving slower, LOL! My mind is doing well, so I can handle the physical stuff for sure. I'm looking forward to these next few weeks with Chris and the kids enjoying our Summer break!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-04-27T07:08:00.002-05:00

Monday: Oven Ranch Chicken, Green Beans, Baked Sweet Potatoes

Tuesday: Tamale Pie in Crockpot

Wednesday: Beef Stew

Thursday: Applesauce Chicken in Crockpot (skipped last week, dinner was made for us!)

Friday: Tacos

Saturday: Grilled NY Strip

Sunday: Sauce

Nothing better on a rainy day . . .

2009-04-17T14:24:00.004-05:00

than one of my FAVES...

BATH & BODYWORKS STRESS RELIEF "EUCALYPTUS SPEARMINT" LINE.
I just took a nice warm bath downstairs in my sister's bathroom and attacked her "goods"!
And OMG do I LOVE LOVE LOVE the "Sudsing Scrub-Stress Relief". WOW, my skin feels GREAT! I am so cheap to buy B&B products but LOVE to have them. I used the bubble bath, scrub, and foot cream too! She has the foot soak as well that she left out for me to use at night in my foot bath to help with my aching feet. :o)

I topped it off with Avon's "Mark Lemon Sugar Body Butter" and feel so good! Just what I needed. Now going to do a brown sugar face mask before Adrianna gets home and before Christopher wakes up.

Nice end to a not so great week and beginning to a wonderful weekend!
HAPPY FRIDAY MY FRIENDS!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-04-13T08:55:00.001-05:00

Monday: Leftovers from Easter weekend

Tuesday: Crockpot Chicken Marsala

Wednesday: Broiled Tilapia, Rice & Veggie

Thursday: Beef Burgandy from last week (didn't make it)

Friday: Make your own pizza night! (Dough from freezer)

Feeling "stretched". . .

2009-04-09T08:13:00.002-05:00

I'm feeling SO sleepy today and to be honest, not quite well. I fell asleep on the couch while Chris was putting Christopher to sleep which seems to happen to me all the time lately! I just get SO tired by the end of the day. I'm naturally QUITE energetic to say the least and realize that a tired state of being is SO not a good place to be. But do I have a choice? I'm 26 weeks pregnant and don't know what to do to NOT feel tired at the end of the day. :o)

When we went up to bed last night, Chris and I had one of our LONNNNNGGGG talks which was refreshing since we've had a week where we haven't had much one on one time chatting which I SO NEED! He has had some stuff on his mind and it's CRAZY just how much I KNOW this man. The things he's been thinking through are things that have been burdening my heart as well so I feel much better knowing that I"m not just a "crazy pregnant-hormonal woman", things are just a little off right now. Not in our marriage, thank God for that, but just relationally in general. I was praying about it this morning asking God what in the world is he doing in our lives right now!

We talked a TON about Facebook last night. Is it good? Is it bad? Are people genuine and real? They post things that would never come out of their mouths in person. Conversations are had between people that should probably be more one on one, not for 100 friends to see. Friends are added to friend lists, not because they want to be friends but really just to be nosy or don't want to look bad turning down an invite. For some of us, it's like having a blog, a cyber diary for everyone to read. But is it really "right" to be reading the stuff if you don't have a relationship or a heart for the person who is sharing? I'm not singling out anyone I know and am including myself while I put these questions out there. Just something to think about when you evaluate your friend list. If you aren't "really friends", delete them out of respect for them.

One of the things that I've been thinking through lately is family and church. The idea/way of "church" that was shown to us a couple years ago was/is VERY appealing to us. Not the typical go to mass on Sunday, in and out, nothing else until the next Sunday or for us until the next baptism/holiday. Our way of doing "church" is just doing what is natural for us. Hanging out with friends, giving our time to our community and those around us, it's not hard to do. What is hard is when others around you, whether they are family or close friends you had before church or friends we met as we got more involved in church, isn't traveling that same road as us. There are only so many hours in a day, so much time to give, that something has to give in some areas resulting in some relationships being stretched a little. This "stretching" isn't a bad thing, just not a "comfortable" thing.

I have felt very guilty for not being able to be everything to everyone, watching some relationships grow a little distant and reading Luke 14:26 has helped me.

²⁶"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple."

Now that verse is a little, hmmm I don't know, "harsh" maybe, not sure if that's the best word. But I totally don't interpret it "literally" but think I understand what it means. I know that ALL different relationships go through seasons and just needs to be accepted, that's just not very easy to do sometimes. :o( The saying "keep your eye on the prize" sort of motivates me to keep pushing along and as long as my heart is in the right place, my head just might not be able to grasp what happens as a result of that but that has to be okay.

Good Read this Morning...

2009-04-09T06:32:00.003-05:00

Read this on Our Daily Bread today and wanted to share.

The question at the end is a good one to think about today . . .

"Are we showing others that we have been loved by Jesus as He is loved by His Father?"

LOVE THIS SONG!!! Miss Elliot!

2009-04-07T15:07:00.001-05:00

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-29T17:08:00.003-05:00

Monday: BBQ Mini Meatloves, Garlic Mashers, Broccoli
Tuesday: Chili
Wednesday: Balsamic Chicken with Polenta
Thursday: Grilled Steaks, Roasted Potatoes, Cauliflower
Friday: Pizza!

Taking the training wheels off. . . .

2009-03-23T17:07:00.005-05:00

Well yesterday I was amazed that my little girl started riding her bike without the training wheels. Bittersweet to say the least and my heart breaks at the idea of her growing up so fast. She is the sweetest, most gentle soul I've ever known in my life, reminds me of my husband in many ways. Who knows, maybe we all start off that way as little girls, I just don't remember that innocence and free spirit without burden.

It's quite a funny little story. Yesterday, Adrianna wanted so badly to play with friends outside but nobody was home. She saw an older girl riding a motorized scooter thing, this to be exact:
...and she asked me to ask the girl if she could ride it. I of course told her no, she doesn't even know the girl and it's for older kids. I explained that she needs to learn how to ride her own bike without training wheels to learn how to balance before being able to get one of those. I left to run an errand and within the hour I was gone, I can back and daddy taught her to ride without the training wheels...she was SO PROUD! Of course, the first thing she said, after "mommy did you see me?!" was,"now can we go buy one of the electric ones". Uh Oh! One day, was all I said simply and am so grateful she accepted that answer, for now at least. :o)

Anyway, I was watching her ride today after school and felt full of questions. I brought my Bible outside since the weather was so nice I thought maybe that'll get me to sit down and read, but it didn't. Instead I sat and reflected. I thought about the last 2+ years of my faith and how it has grown. I thought about all the people that have come into my life and each gift they had to offer to me. My friend Sabrina, her and her husband have shown us what Hope looks like and how God can use people like them to show to us. My friend Amanda shows me what faith looks like and the strong need there is for women like us to grab onto it and not let go. And Erika, well she has shown me Love, genuine and true love something I'll cherish forever! And never mind all of my other friends that I've grown closer and closer to and all the love, support and guidance they've all given me. Through the women I've mentioned, more and more relationships have blossomed and I can't imagine life without them. There is nothing like having a neighbor right across the street that you KNOW is there for you anytime, anyday. Given the opportunity to live in this house has opened that door and nurtured that relationship for sure. God has surrounded me by women, strong, supportive, sweet, understanding, driven, all different types with all unique qualities and gifts.

Now that's all the great stuff, the relationships, the people....I love them all! What's tough for me is the expectations I set on myself with where my faith should be. What my relationship with God is supposed to look like.

Here's some honesty...

I don't like referring to Jesus as "Christ", it just doesn't sound personal or respectful if that makes any sense, which I'm sure if you are a "seasoned Christian" it doesn't. But I grew up hearing his name used when you are pissed off or stub your toe or something, seriously.

I have a very hard time listening to people talk about how much they love God when I don't see them love people. Isn't that what God is? Relationship, people, love? How can I take them serious? Why am I more afraid of them than anyone else?

I haven't even been baptized yet (well not since I was 1mth old in a Catholic Church) so what does that mean for me? Do I do it because I want to be taken seriously? I believe that Jesus died for our sins and wonder what does being dunk under water in front of a bunch of people mean? Probably a dumb question I know.

I feel awkard around Christians when they refer to "when they were saved" and so on. It's almost like I want to ask, so when you were baptized and accepted Jesus, your whole life changed? Are you really transformed? Do we ever get so see what being transformed looks like or is it a process that takes our entire lives? I usually feel like I don't belong in those conversations and am probably the reject in the group for sure!

I can't even completely be myself around many of the people I know without the fear that me stubbing a toe (just happened a few minutes ago, hence the toe reference again) and saying F*^#! wouldn't SHOCK THE HELL out of them or make them uncomfortable around me, judge me, etc.. etc...

I've experienced culture shock since I've been in Texas. People are sugary sweet, yes. People are polite, yes. But truly I'd rather be around an up front, tell it like it is, light a cigarette and not even care kind of person, because at least I know they are real. I'm not afraid of those types of people. I kind of got off on a tangent a bit here so let me get back on track....

I want a closer relationship with God. I want to rely COMPLETELY on him. I do know that the fear and anxiety would be lifted if I did rely on Him more. I just don't know how to do that. I am definitely that type of person that when I get excited about something, just like I did with Christianity, I will jump right on board, here I am a sponge ready to absorb it all. I get caught up with the excitement of it all. YES I'll be involved in community stuff. YES I'll do whatever it takes to meet people and grow our church so we can do even bigger and better things. YES I'll read my Bible, host a Bible Study, make meals, have meals with people, do anything that is pretty much directly asked of me. But then there is the down time, the moments when I'm alone when I ask myself, "Where are you in your faith?" And that is such an important question for me to ponder and work through.

I have had my own set of Training Wheels on now for over 2 years and I think it's about time I take mine off too. As I watch Adrianna's fearless and determined look on her face while she's riding without them and then the glow of Glory while she pushes back on her breaks to get off the bike, I yearn for that. I feel like a child in my faith and am amazed at how much I learn from my own sweet little ones!

I don't know how else to end this post accept just by asking for prayers. I want to move on, I want to grow but want to do it "genuinely". I don't ever want to be a phony Christian. I don't ever want people to think I am something I'm not. I want it but also want to be true to myself...

I wonder what that looks like...

Nesting, Organizing, Crafting, Couponing, OHMY!

2009-03-15T08:41:00.004-05:00

I guess that's what this stage of pregnancy is all about! LOL April is all about Easter, spring crafts, Christopher's Birthday party along with baby planning!!

I have decided since I have 3 full months before our little girl arrives, I will work on each of their bedrooms month by month. Adrianna's is easy, just have to paint. Christopher's, well that's another story since we are doing a superhero room and that's SO out of my league! Thank God for a superhero geek that's such a great friend of ours....looking to him for designing - LOL! Then there is our sweet baby girl's room, I'm saving her's for last after my baby shower to see what is left to do in there. That also gives me time to make a canvas or two, a bowmaker and figure out how her room will be put together.

So this is my plan:

March:
Just finish up painting the downstairs and get curtains for the kitchen. The rest of decor will be on hold and we aren't working on painting the upstairs for now either. I do have a cool idea for the kids' bathroom, but that will have to wait,not in budget. :o)
* Have a garage Sale

April:
* Adrianna's Room: Paint
* Christopher's birthday party: Baseball theme, decide on decor, cake and location
* Easter Baskets: I'm thinking of doing beach like themes this year. They both need new swimsuits so I'm going to do something like this and stuff it with swimming stuff:
May:
* Christopher's room: Paint, work on wall decor, buy some shelving (thank God it's garage sale season!)
* Start planning my freezer dinner stockpile for when baby arrives.
* Baby Shower!!

June:
* Baby's room: Paint, decorate and buy anything else needed that I didn't borrow or get from my shower.
* Cook and Bake away to freeze for when baby arrives.

That's a rough draft for now. :o)

Half way through + 33 lbs!

2009-03-04T06:10:00.002-06:00

Well, here I am, not the most flattering picture but at least my makeup and hair were actually done! This was on our date night during our marriage weekend.

20 WEEKS - - - - HALFWAY THERE!
33 POUNDS HEAVIER SO FAR...LOL

Adrianna's FIRST sleepover with her BFF!!!

2009-03-03T14:15:00.003-06:00

Finally, Kylie had her first sleep over here and it was a BLAST! They always refer to themselves as "SISTER" --- I LOVE IT!

MY LITTLE CHEF

2009-03-03T14:00:00.001-06:00

JUST LIKE DADDY...

I was making cupcakes and he wanted to make his "own", too cute!

MY LITTLE DAISY SCOUT!

2009-03-03T13:56:00.002-06:00

SELLING COOKIES WITH HER FRIEND SAMANTHA
AT OUR LOCAL WALGREENS.

A Tea Party with Hulk

2009-03-03T13:52:00.003-06:00

Who would've thought? A superhero fan with a big sister, that's WHO!!

Adrianna's School Stuff

2009-03-03T13:39:00.008-06:00

TEACHER GIFT HANDSANITIZER & CHOCOLATES (we made it with scrapbooking stuff, blocked the teacher's name hence the pink bubbles! LOL)
MADE CUPCAKES TO BRING TO HER CLASS PARTY . . .

THE FRIDAY BEFORE HER BIRTHDAY PARTY

RECYCLE PROJECT

100 DAY PROJECT
(USED 100 BEANS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE PLATES SHE WAS GIVEN)

Finally Uploading Pics from this year so far...

2009-03-03T13:31:00.001-06:00

ADRIANNA'S 6TH BIRTHDAY

Menu Plan Monday

2009-03-02T07:24:00.005-06:00

I found some good clearance meat this week along with lots of fresh veggies CHEAP! YAY!

Happy Monday!

Mon: Crockpot BBQ Pork Loin (Homemade Gourmet spices, yum!), sauteed zucchini, brown rice
Tue: Pulled Pork Sandwiches with a fresh broccoli salad
Wed: Pasta CiCi (pasta and chick peas) with salad (adding beans, veggies and feta)
Thu: Crockpot Maple Dijon Chicken with Carmalized Carrots
Fri: Leftovers
Sat: Dinner with friends
Sun: Community Meal for Church

Always trying something new . . .

2009-02-25T18:31:00.003-06:00

Yes, that's me . . . always trying something new! I'm always trying to figure out the "easier" way to do things, or I should say "more efficient" way to do things. I don't mind hard work and in fact LOVE a challenge. My only problem is that I don't usually "stick" with anything too long. Once a new idea comes along, I usually jump on that bandwagon to give it a try. But lately, being at my half way mark in my pregnancy, I've been really thinking more and more about establishing better routines for the family, scheduling all of the important stuff better (date nights, social activities for the kids, ME time, etc.) and it's had me reevaluating the different things I've tried in the past to see if it'll work again for us.

Here are things for ME that work and I'm keeping: (Things I'm actually consistent on,LOL)

~Weekly Menu Planning (posted on fridge along with the week's to-do's)
~Waking up 30 minutes before the kids for some "ME TIME"
~Monthly Date Nights (going to weekly and getting creative)
~Biweekly Playdates with Mom's Group for Christopher
~ Social Activity for Adrianna (Taekwondo right now)
~ Laundry Schedule (Monday mornings and Fridays)
~ Monthly lunch date at Gattiland w/ Christopher
~ Baking day once a week ( freeze bread, pancakes, etc)

Here are some things I've done in the past:

The Grocery Game
FlyLady
CVSing
Menus 4 Moms
~ Weekly Playdates
~ Running
~ Ridiculously strict cleaning schedules, broken down to the day and hour by hour (didn't last long at all! I hate rules!)
~Breaking the kids' schedules down every day to morning/noon/night . . . too much for me!
~ Followed a TON of blogs from crafts to gossip to money saving to health and on and on!
~ Making extra money selling stuff on CList, Ebay and Surveys
~ Spending hours on the phone everyday!
~ Watching tv during the daytime - no more! Thank God for DVR!
~ Going out and about every day to just kill time. (waste gas, more like it!)

And here are some things I'm going to take and try again or add to what I'm doing now:

~ Set Bedtime Routine for BOTH kids, not just Adrianna
~ CVSing (saved a TON on the grocery budget and I started back up again last week!)
~ Biweekly Library Trip with Christopher (rotating off weeks from playdates)
~ Crockpotting twice a week to save time.
~ Cut my blog reading down to close friends' blogs, money saving, cooking blogs, maybe 1-3 craft ones too. :o)
~ Taking a nice walk 3-4 times a week
~ Having a weekly date night (Wednesdays) and getting more creative with it!
~ Do the Grocery Game each Sat. night and match up coupons for Sunday shopping. (I used to shop on my own during the week but carrying all the groceries is getting too much so I'll shop solo on Sundays and have the help at home to carry it in!)
~ Try blogging back over at my ThrifteeMomee blog.
~ Making extra money by listing my magnets weekly again and stick with doing my daily surveys in the morning along with online offers from MSM. (working towards my $500 gas card right now!)
~Starting up a Bible Reading small group with a friend of mine. (Thursday nights)

I'll see how it goes and if it works over the next couple of weeks. One thing I've learned about myself is I can't overschedule. I need social time on a weekly basis, with friends, with my husband, with and for the kids, and when I don't have that I swear I am MISERABLE! I also really need to get back into reading my Bible, it usually helps keep me better focused and have a positive attitude. Now how I go about saving time, money, and headaches will hopefully come from some of the ideas/resources I've listed above. One of the great things about my personality (I usually find more negative about it than positive,LOL) is that I'm always up for trying something new and usually don't come down too hard on myself if it doesn't work. I figure it probably just sucked anyway so it's better to move onto something different. :o)

I hope some of the sites I've listed can help some of my readers.

Here's to giving it all a try, once again! Ha!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-23T14:56:00.002-06:00

Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs
Tuesday: Crock Pot PotRoast
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Chicken and Rice Casserole with Broccoli
Friday: Crock Pot Chicken Adobo

We are painting this weekend so we'll be doing leftovers and/or hot sandwiches with salads!

Marriage Weekend

2009-02-21T08:41:00.003-06:00

We have a marriage conference this weekend sponsored by our church and I'm so excited to be going! We've been through this already but it's always fun to invest a weekend talking about one of the most important things in our life, our marriage. Chris and I are quite opposite in some ways but also share an important personality trait that should make us bump heads a little but with the other part of his personality, he just doesn't have the "heart" to do it. :o)

Our weekend is pretty much going to be spent, 3-6 at the conference today followed by a mandatory date night tonight asking each other questions and then tomorrow from 10-3. It's really cool because our pastor uses the disc profiling to give us worksheets telling us about our personality types and it's really neat to think about our relationship on a "logical, statistical" level rather than just emotional, which is how I usually thing about it as and react to it in as well. It brings a whole new level of respect to the relationship when you understand why you each do the things you do and react in the ways that you do.

I was thinking this morning about when we first started this personality stuff and had our friends Amanda and Jeremy in our group. It was fun because she and Jeremy have VERY similiar personality types so it was so easy to look over at her and nod my head, knowing where we're coming from. Her husband is an "S" personality just like Chris and she and I both have "D" and "I" types, hers is a little stronger on the I and mine is a little stronger on the D. Then there are our very good friends both with C personalities and she is more "S" so she ALWAYS gets where Chris comes from and usually agrees with him, it's quite hilarious and I think that's why she is one of my very best friends....I love the "S"! :o)

There are quite a few new families in our church now, so I'm really looking forward to getting to know some of them more and see how we match up with them. This weekend is going to be lots of fun!! I can't wait!!!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-16T16:51:00.005-06:00

Monday: Leftovers from yesterday's post church lunch with baked chicken!
Tuesday: Pizza Night with Bible Study group
Wednesday: Broiled Parmesan Tilapia, spinach and orzo
Thursday: Fajitas
Friday: Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Saturday: Marriage Weekend! DateNight tonight!
Sunday: Marriage Weekend! Breakfast for dinner!

I'm still here....

2009-02-16T16:18:00.003-06:00

It's ridiculous how much I have to blog about and I truly don't know where to start!!! I am feeling great, had a terrific weekend and finally feel like things are starting to come together. I even started CVSing again, focusing on coupons, started a little Bible Reading group with a new friend, AND BOUGHT PAINT for the downstairs today!!!!! Those who know me well, know how HUGE this stuff is for me. :o)

I guess I can start by saying this Valentine's Day was the BEST I ever had and we didn't even do the restaurant thing like we always have done. Saturday was all about me, we did some shopping at Kirklands (YES!) and a few other places, lunch at Souper Salad (which Chris HATES!) and then came home and hung out. We put the kids upstairs to watch a movie after baths while Chris cooked the two of us dinner. We weren't sure how it was going to work eating "uninterrupted" but it DID! He made a delicious steak dinner (NY Strip, my FAVE!) and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert (was just missing the bottle of wine,LOL). Before he was done cooking, I went up to check on the kids and they were OUT! (Thanks to a late dinner date the night before with good friends of ours, they were beat on Saturday from playing over there so late!). So I went ahead and put a nice tablecloth on the table, put candles on the table, with nice napkins and a pretty table setting too. We had a date WAY BETTER than a restaurant. We sat in peace, enjoying our dinner and talking about US, our almost 10 year adventure together, our previous VDays and other romantic weekend getaways we've done and our honeymoon of course! It was an evening COMPLETELY about him and I, absolutely PERFECT! I could not ask for more than what I had.

The thing about the two of us is we have an awesome and very intimate connection. I was joking with him telling him how I don't want people to think we are perfect, because marriage is far from that! But together we are perfect, much better off than we were single before we met each other. The secret to our marriage is communication. We talk through everything. He shares the burdens of his heart and mind just as much as I do. He is able to do that because he knows I accept him flaws and all, just like he does me, which I still don't know how on earth he is able to do that! LOL We talk through it all, the good and bad, the embarassing and worrysome stuff, and what I think is the most awesome is we communicate about sex. I know talking about sex can be SO TABOO and I've even learned through relationships with friends that there is a line that you draw with saying too much so I'm not going to go there, especially in a blog post, but will say that opening up and talking about "likes" , "dislikes" (that's not always the comfortable stuff to talk about, for sure, but a must!), "desires" , "fantasies" , ALL OF IT! I mean seriously, you KNOW sex is a HUGE part of your marriage and is totally an area you NEED to nurture, concentrate on and find ways to make it the best it can be. Okay, I already probably went too far. :o)

But, I will say when we kiss, I STILL feel like I did when we shared out first kiss. I still smell the sweetness of his breath and skin and get a chill down my spine. When he pulls me close to hug him, I feel like I melt and have NEVER felt as safe as I do when his arms are around me. When he smiles at me in his cute way I get butterflies no matter what the situation or kind of day I'm having. I focus on him as MY MAN and always think back to how I felt when he asked me to be his wife. This weekend made me realize how easy it can be to have a romantic night right at home. I'm not talking about plopping on the couch and watching a movie, although that's fun. What I'm talking about is making an appetizer, lighting a candle and investing in each other, focusing on one another 1 day a week just like we do for exercise, church, friends, bible studies, playdates, kids' activities, etc. Your marriage needs to be at the top of your "To Do" list for the week, always!

Every Sunday I write out the menu for the week and stick it on the fridge along with school stuff, Bible Study stuff, playdates and other important things that must get done and felt bad that I don't make the time on that weekly calendar for "US TIME", we do a monthly date night but that just simply isn't enough and is nerve racking half the time just between getting a sitter, getting kids fed, getting ready, etc. I know I'm usually frazzled by the time I get into the car to leave the house, LOL!

So I dont' know how I just got wayyyyy sidetracked, sorry for that. I'm just on a Lover's High I guess from the weekend and had to share it. The past two weeks have been busy as heck and I have pics from Adrianna's birthday which was awesome, my little man's haircut, valentine breakfast pics (SO CUTE) and lots of other stuff, but I need to get my butt in the kitchen and get dinner started! LOL

Happy Monday Everyone!

Doing Life While Pregnant

2009-02-05T07:40:00.002-06:00

First I want to thank ALL my friends for their comments, emails, phone calls and wonderful chats yesterday. You have all helped me in ways I can't put into words. And not that my husband reads my blog, but I thank him to for just knowing what to do last night without me having to open my mouth once. I mean, the man didn't even call me into the other room while my 21/2 year old was throwing up, I had no idea what was going on and he took care of it ALL. I came out when I heard the crying in the bathroom and it was all under control, no need for mommy in that situation, wow! He's a great daddy!

I wanted to share this blog I read here. I found it through another blogpost and it was just what I needed to read. This is the first pregnancy I've gone through without my sister in law just a few steps ahead of me (our girls are 10mths apart and our boys are 7 mths apart) and it has been tough for me. Reading about another expecting mommy helps a ton. It makes me feel less alone. :o)

digging my way out...

2009-02-04T08:29:00.003-06:00

that's what it feels like I've spent the last three days doing, I swear! We had a great service on Sunday but it left me SERIOUSLY struggling. I have been feeling overwhelmed the past week and a half and swear I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. So, I've sort of pulled in a little, not really blogging or messing around on facebook, just trying to prioritize stuff and pull it together a little. How easily I get off track and I just don't understand how! Am I that unbalanced? Why can't everything just seem to flow for me like it does for other women? I sometimes feel like I'm in a circus act juggling to keep everything in balance.

I want to scrapbook again.
I want to get the kids pictures printed and in albums, or at least printed off the computer before #3 comes along!
I want to paint the downstairs to pull it together some.
I want to have organization in the kids' rooms.
I want to organize my laundry room.
I want to have a weekly schedule for my home and for Christopher.
I want my kids to SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BEDS!!!!!
I want to stop feeling like I'm ALWAYS behind on stuff.

These are just a few thoughts floating around in my head DAILY and it drives me nuts!

Add all that into planning a bday party for Adrianna's 6th birthday. That has been a MESS! I've finally decided to keep it WAY SIMPLE! I'm even ORDERING a cake! I just need to give myself some slack. I know that, but it's SO hard to do for me.

I am a ball of tension.
I am anxious.
I'm in need of a release, just don't know what that looks like...

Menu Plan Monday

2009-02-01T19:36:00.002-06:00

I swear, I plan my menus but sometimes, things come up! Saturday night we decided to take the family out to dinner and had the leftovers on Sunday so I'm bumping the beef stew to Monday night! :o) Here is what I've set up for this week:

Monday: Beef Stew
Tuesday: Meatballs Florentine over wild rice
Wednesday: Santa Fe Chicken Soup, homemade herb bread
Thursday: Chicken and Broccoli Stuffed Calzones
Friday: Leftover Soup and salad
Saturday: Chili
Sunday: Adrianna's 6th Bday party, so we are winging it that day! Whatever she wants.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-01-26T14:18:00.003-06:00

Last week I was surprised by an unexpected dinner which turned into leftovers the next night so there are a couple repeats this week.

Monday: Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff over wheat egg noodles & Garlic Bread
Tuesday: BBQ Beef Casserole served with Salad
Wednesday: Greek Chicken Pasta with Homemade bread.
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Enchiladas
Saturday: Beef Stew
Sunday: Minnestrone, salad and homemade focaccia

2009-01-26T07:32:00.003-06:00

I was talking to a friend last week about, well about everything really. That's what tends to happen when we talk. We sort of overtalk each other, talk all over the place about a WIDE range of topics, cover lots of bases, laugh and get each other, feeling good when we hang up the phone with each other. One part of our conversation that has stayed with me was when we were talking about being a woman in our thirties. I wouldn't go back to my twenties, they were wild, crazy and fun but I don't think I could survive them twice. (lol) I look forward to my forties ( aren't we girls always looking forward to the next stage of development? Jeez, I know I have been since I was 13, looking forward to 16,then 18, then 21 and so on) since I hear women older and wiser than me tell me that is the best decade, I'm looking forward to it.

Although, right now, 33 years old I am feeling very good about being in my thirties! I know other women out there struggling to figure out who they are, trying to find some more meaning in their everyday, searching for something to fill them up and don't get me wrong, I don't have it all figured out and I don't think I'm fully "evolved" yet, BUT I do feel successful and I do feel like I am right where I'm supposed to be. There can be so many distractions in life that try to throw you off course, try to do exactly that - "distract", and I'm guilty of falling prey to it at times too. But thank God for Chris, he always makes me see the reality and the blessings that surround me!

Sure, I thought I'd be a doctor or something in the medical field - that was my hope for success, to get me out of my house and succeed to something that my mom wasn't able to achieve and something that would make my dad actually be proud of me, but that wasn't what God had planned for me, those were MY ideas, MY plans, totally not HIS. As I reflect upon how in the world I crossed paths with Chris and how I was ever able to capture his heart, it just amazes me and again, I know that wasn't just MY doing for sure. It happened at the right time in both of our lives. Once we connected , a family came immediately to both of our hearts and minds. And sure, I still wanted to hold onto MY plans, just switched from Pre Med to nursing - still fighting to keep control of my destiny, but I didn't win. :o)

God had different plans for me. I've given up alot of control, which believe me is HARD. I'm still very determined, very strong willed, and very independent to a degree, a healthy one I think, but over the past 4-6 months, I've had to let go ALOT! And beliieeeeeeve me, it hasn't been easy but I'm starting to see why it has all happened the way it has and my faith is growing ever so strongly, I don't really have a choice. :o) I guess God already knows that though and may even get a little chuckle here and there, at least that's what I envision when I think of him as my Father watching over every thing I do. I'm married, I'm pregnant with my 3rd child, I'm just FINALLY starting to figure out this "parenting" stuff, I have alot of friends around me and I have a dog. Okay, I know the "dog" seems silly and I've wanted to ditch him at times, even VERY recently but I know I won't.

So I know I'm ALL OVER THE PLACE here, but try to follow me. My dream as a child, teen, young adult was to have a family, feel safe, be truly loved and have real friends. And lately with my crazy hormones and life's regular "stresses" all I've been consumed with is our major debt, our bills, money, being "renters" and not "owners" in the home we our currently calling "ours" that I started to not focus on those 4 key elements that have always been my heart's desire. Sure more money would be great, I'm not a total idiot, but I do KNOW that what I have is enough. I don't need to work on a new career, I don't need to trade my car in for a minivan (even though it would be nice), I don't need to "own" the home I'm living in to consider it "home", I don't need all of those things, my ideas of success, to make my life successful. What I need and always have needed were those four things I already listed and I have them.

I didn't make any New Years resolutions,because honestly I think it's a little dumb and I knew I wouldn't follow through with them anyway. :o) But what I did promise myself is that I will focus more on what I was put here to do. I am wife, mother, friend, and most importantly a special woman that God created and I want to live my life making HIM proud. By doing that, everything else will seem even richer.

I just finished reading "The Shack" and let me tell you, it was amazing! It has been what I needed to read. I am finally able to think of God in a COMPLETELY different way, more personal, more as MY father, my dad, my "papa" . . . the man in my life I never had and no other person could be to me. I read this book in one day and I'm NOT a reader at all. I have 3 books I've started and never finished, but this one, I didn't clean or anything on a Saturday, just read! It was a GREAT day!

I'm not really sure if what I've written makes any sense at all. Yes I'm thirty something and feel good about stuff, NO I don't have being a woman, wife, mom and friend all figured out but feel like I am on track as long as I don't allow all of those distractions in. I have bad days as all of us do, but when that day is over, it's over, no need to go back to it. The more "good" stuff that happens and that I participate in, I want more. I am not a pessimist by heart but do allow myself to go there sometimes, I just don't stay there, I can't. And yes, being a stay at home mom can have days that seem boring, but when I feel that way, I just find something to do which for me usually means "fun" to get my mind back where it needs to be. Being home with my kids, everyday, pretty much all day, is what I'm supposed to be doing, it's what I need to be doing. This family of mine is what brings the most joy to my heart and to my soul, and when I think about those feelings, that is what I think is God's love, His way of showing me affection, his love for me, especially me.

Menu Plan Monday

2009-01-20T17:38:00.002-06:00

Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Meatloaf
Wednesday: Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
Thursday: BBQ Beef Casserole
Friday: Leftovers and fresh veggie buffet
Saturday: Date Night
Sunday: Kansas City Steak, Roasted Parsley Potatoes, Broccoli in Cream Sauce

Sunday Morning Sauce

New Blog!

Menu Plan Monday

*Official* Race Report

Tomorrow is the BIG day!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Super Hero? Me? What?

Menu Plan Monday

8 Beautiful Years....

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday

Truth Tellers . . .

Menu Planning

Firework.

FREEDOM!

MMXI

Christmas JOY

Boldness

Tis the Season to be Jolly!! :o)

San Antonio Rock n Roll

Menu Plan Monday 11/15

Menu Plan Monday 11/7

My Irish Sweetie!

Chosen, Me? Really?

The Chosen Half Marathon

Tomorrow I run MY race!

Connectedness

Pumpkin Heaven....or Pumpkin Overload...you decide!

Celebrating a Decade!!!

Where it all started...

10 Things I LOVE About My Man!

Our Wedding Song!

Milestones over our First Decade of Marriage!

New Blog!

She Will Be Loved...

Is it REALLY almost over??!!

September Menu Plan

Out with the old, In with the new!

Confessions...

9.77 Miles!

Some of my Favorite Things!

Homemade Protein Bars

My Newest Accessory!

Garmin, Fuel Belt, MILEAGE!!!

First Day of 2nd Grade!

The Hodge Family

Danskin 2010

BFFs

A Cherished Friend!

Identity

Me? A Runner?

Menu Plan Monday

Cheap and Easy End of Summer Recipes

Tomato, Cucumber, Purslane Salad Recipe

Cooking on a Budget

North Padre Island

Summer Lovin' ...

It's Monday....SO?!

Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan Monday 7/26

Menu Plan Monday 7/19

BLOG - - - RELAUNCH!

What have we been up to???

Today is the BIG DAY!

We are ON TRACK!

4 more days and counting...

Transformation

38 Week Update!

Preparing for Baby! Master To Do List

3 week Menu Plan!

36 Week Update

Menu Plan Monday

Nothing better on a rainy day . . .

Menu Plan Monday

Feeling "stretched". . .

Good Read this Morning...

LOVE THIS SONG!!! Miss Elliot!

Menu Plan Monday

Taking the training wheels off. . . .

Nesting, Organizing, Crafting, Couponing, OHMY!

Official Race Report