Fitting in Fitness

Here is something new for you on this Wednesday...
and yes,
those are my hobbit shoes.
and yes,
they are weird looking
BUT
my knee pain is almost totally gone
since I started running in them...
so I am a believer!

If you are not currently exercising, take it easy and move at a pace that is comfortable for you, and if you are working out regularly, pick up the pace and make these 3 minutes count. Enjoy, and don't forget your water!
(ditch the diet soda, ok?!)



AND, I started Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 today...
so in a month or so I will let you know if I am ripped (or not).

monday, monday

The 4 of us took off for the weekend.
It's so necessary sometimes.
You can hear more about our adventure
HERE




Hope you had a good weekend too.
Lots more to come this week.

See ya real soon!
xo

she's amazing

If you missed 20/20 on Friday,then you need to watch this.
I have talked about her before on my family blog,
and I think she is such an inspiring woman. I love her spirit and example.

Lots to think about....
xo

oh yeah

enjoy the craziness that is me and the kids.
happy weekend everyone.

keep smiling

I am posting today just because I can.
Silly Blogger!

I pulled out the January 2011 issue of Real Simple magazine last night
and was pleased to see it was all about being happier.
My Mom and I have been talking a lot about that lately
and it is just a topic resonating with me in my current life-situation.

I am in charge of my emotions.
Life is good.
We have our health.
We have each other.

Simple enough.

My Grandpa had a sticker in his little old Mazda truck that said

Keep Smiling.

How true....hard to be anything but happy with a smile on your face.
He was such an example to me about being positive.
Everything was always great with him, and it was the truth.
He NEVER complained.
EVER.
He has been gone now for almost 14 years, and I absolutely miss him more each year.




Have a happy weekend ladies....and a video is coming shortly.
xo

fun fun fun

GUESS WHAT???
I am guest-posting today over at Crafting Happiness!!!

I am so excited to share this with you,
and Jessica has been so fun to work with.
Her blog is FULL of positive, creative, fashionable,
and interesting posts and I am so glad to have her
as a new blogging friend.
Head on over and start following....there is lots of great stuff coming!

one year ago at Manito Park, Spokane.

Red Polish

Today was a red nail polish kind of day.
It just was.
Do you really ever need a reason for red polish???
I think not.
I think painting my nails at 8am was the best decision I made all day.
I was in such a good mood I decided to take the kids to their favorite spot.


We had a great morning full of zoo adventures followed by a super fabulous
ride on the train (which is like going to Disneyland for my kids)
Man, are they ever going to freak out when we do make it to the
Happiest Place on Earth!!!

Riv likes to hang out in shirts and undies now.....now that he is in undies.
Did I tell you he is potty trained now???
Oh, yeah....he is. And he did it all himself.
4 days...no accidents.

And he is a comedian apparently.
You are a tricky one, Little Riv.


Thanks for a mini dance party today James!
(James Taylor that is; know about it!)
You are the best....EVER!!!

Here they are waiting for their music to begin...
like two little firecrackers waiting to blow.

How sweet it is to be loved by you (feel so fine)
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I'd been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby (woah, yeah)

How sweet it is to be loved by you (it's just like sugar sometimes)
How sweet it is to be loved by you

When you are 4, I guess dancing really equals jumping with a little shimmy here and there.
Just give her space and she is all about the shimmy!

So, today was a good day.
I think the red nails are to blame.
Tomorrow will probably be a different story.
Tomorrow there is much to be done,
but today we took the day "off" and enjoyed each other.

Hope your day was good.
xo

Mother's Day

I saw this here this morning, and had to re-post.

Here is my version:

How to Really Love Motherhood

First, try to not marry a military man....
because you can count on doing this Motherhood thing alone,
a good majority of the time.
BUT, if you can't help it.....

Remember to breathe. Closing your eyes helps.
When your children are possessed and on a temper-tantrum rampage,
think of the way they used to smell and feel in your arms.
Everything is a phase, and things do get better, or rather more interesting.
Let the dishes pile up (I do), and go for a walk.
Laugh A LOT.
Go exploring.
Go to the Zoo.
Build forts & paint nails.
Spend rainy days coloring and movie watching;
Sunny days swimming and running through sprinklers, and sidewalk-chalking up a storm.
Sing loudly & off-key. Dance like MANIACS (we do!)!
Band-aids & snuggles cure broken hearts and scraped knees.
Tell them they can be ANYTHING.
Tell yourself you can be the Mom you want so desperately to be.
Now believe it.

Oh, and a glass of wine and a best friend to listen makes a world of difference.

This week I am working on loving Motherhood.

I love my kids with all of my being....always have, always will.
It is the Motherhood thing that can be tough.
Like cleaning up vomit in the middle of the night,
shampooing carpets and soothing a baby simultaneously,
all the while trying to not sweat or make said baby feel bad...
She always feels bad when she pukes.

It is the Motherhood thing that can be tough.

Like disciplining, and disciplining, and disciplining.
Like wanting to give them the world on a shoestring budget.
Like loving my stretch-marked body, and baggy under-eyes.
Like trying to be Me, and Mommy, and Hot-Spouse, and Friend, and, and, and.

It is a journey, and I am so glad to be on it.
But it is my journey, and I do believe that it was hand-picked for me to be on.
I have learned more in the last 5 years of my life than I ever expected to by getting unexpectedly pregnant.

Justin and I planned on being together forever,
but learning that we would be parents before we actually had a chance to say "I DO"
changed the trajectory of our life and our relationship.
No honeymoon.
Cut straight to diapers, leaky boobs, and a military life.

Next month we will celebrate 5 years of being married.
This fall marks 9 years of being together.
This journey is good because I have him by my side.
This journey is good because he is an amazing father.
This journey is good because I have incredible friends.

This journey is great because I have the best family ever.

These 2 miracle children have been entrusted in OUR care.
I can do this Motherhood thing.

With a smile on my face,
dressed in wash-and-wear clothing,
and a little concealer,
all things are possible.

Happy Mothers Day to all my HOT Mommies.
I appreciate each one of you.
xo