What We're Reading

This book was my one of my favorites long before Big Girl decided it was one of hers. Its a rhyming rhythm book and its too too cute!


(from here: Amazon.com)

Wellness Wednesay: What Daddy Does

As I mentioned previously, my husband has lost right at 70 pounds over the last seven months. He had a bit of a jump start when a wellness visit and checkup turned up some potentially concerning results if his weight didn't decrease... but not only that, we had to improve the good things his body needed as well. Here's what we've done diet-wise for him:

1. No to low salt. Almost everything he eats as a sodium percentage of less than 5%. Now, I know that the percentage is probably not the most effective way to measure sodium intake, but that's our basic guideline for purchase consideration.
2. No sugar. No sweets, no desserts, no goodness. We have tried splenda and for him, it wasn't worth it.
3. Whole grains/whole wheats. If it is not brown, we don't buy it.
4. No packaged foods. Every meal is composed of fresh elements. The only packaged elements are whole grain pastas and frozen chicken tenders (unbreaded, unseasoned)
5. Fiber breakfast. Our go-to breakfast cereals are Cheerios and Kashi Go Lean Crunch.
6. Water, Water, Water, Black Coffee, Water. 95% of his liquid intake is of the previous. We do bring in some crystal light mixes and decaffinated tea (no sugar or sweetners) occassionally.
7. Limited amounts of dairy, with consideration to fat content and salt content. We really love the Sargento cheese. He mostly eats pepperjack and mozerrella as those are the heathiest we can find at our local grocery.
8. Chicken, eggs, fish. Those are the bases to most meals. He eats a fair amount of omelets with peppers and onions. Grilled or skillet chicken and fish.
9. Nothing fried. ever.
10. Fresh fruits, in moderation.

Now, we spent the first 3-5 months in STRICT lockdown on these meals. There was no compromising. No eating out. No snacking. Only designated portions at meal times. Over the last 2 months, he has allowed some flexibility for special events, but we are still really careful not to overexpose to previous lifestyle foods. We don't want to undo all his hardwork.

Tuesday's Truths About Motherhood

Today's theme: Things that Change with Your Second Child

1. With child number one, what the pediatrician said was GOLD. Break the bottle today? Ok! Don't sleep on their stomach? Got it! ... The second child, well, its really more of a recommendation. Break the bottle today? What? Are you insane? She goes to sleep soundly with it now, every. time. There is no way we are rushing out of a working system! Not to say that we don't honor our instructions, but you just get a little more liberal in their application!
2. You remember to breath, and it feels nice. With your first child, a fit, accident or major life event regarding said child could render you unable to function and breathe on a normal basis. Wait, they've been asleep for 4 hours straight? Are they breathing.. should we wake them? Second child, NO ONE DISTURB THE SLEEPING BABE. OR. ELSE. All kidding aside, its much easier to take child rearing in stride the second go around, because you've been through it once, and there's a certain calmness in knowing the storm before it comes.
3. They are their own person. Be prepared. I've often heard people say "If I'd had my second one first, there wouldn't be a second one!" and I thought it was an overexageration... after all, how can two children made of the same blood raised in the same household be THAT different? Well, they are. And they can. And they most likely will be. Baby Girl, while having some of the characteristics of Big Girl, is a FORCE to be reckoned with in her own personality. She just is.

Welcome Follower 14!

Here's a way back photo from when this blog first got started... why you ask??


Because follower number 14, my beloved Audge (pictured on right) has come over to join my ramblings!




Greetings from South Georgia to Uganda Audge! Mwah!

Verbage

I learned a new word today:

idiopathic

which means

"without apparent cause"

Did you know that?

Welcome One, Welcome All

OK, my dear neglected blog readers... I had started another blog because I wasn't sure how to revamp this one... then I decided, well, its my blog, I can revamp it any time I want to and it is what it is.... So here is what I had planned on doing on the other, than I am now doing here...


My short list of goals for this year (or as long as it takes me to get them accomplished):

1. My posture is horrible! After spending the last 3 years hunched and curled over toddlers, I'm looking to get my posture back. Straight shoulders and the whole nine yards.

2. I'm 20 lbs. over where I want to be and should be. And its been a year since my last baby! I've got it all backwards in my head, so here's my public accountability to get going on the baby pudge that has taken over my waistline and thighs. How is it backward? If I get on the scale and am still 20 lbs over, then its all good because its not more than 20. The way my brain should work is... yikes! I've STILL got 20 lbs of post baby hanging around. The numbers aren't the most important to me, but I've got to get some muscle tone involved too. I've been lazying away considering "chasing 2 under 3" as exercise and its not cutting it!

3. I lost my passion.... somewhere in the midst of becoming a wife, becoming a mom, changing jobs twice and my husband becoming a bivocational pastor, compiled with a relocation and working full-time, I've lost my ability to do anything other than survive the day.

So here we go, welcome to my journey!

I've got a few things that I'm going to hold myself to so we'll be rocking and rolling fairly consistently fairly quickly. I'd love to hear from you if you stop by so please leave a comment, inspiration and harass me dutifully when I fall behind!

1. Tuesdays Truths About Motherhood: Whether this be humorous or serious or somewhere between the two, this is my once a week minimum about what being a mom is teaching me, has taught me or has kicked me in the rear when I wasn't looking.

2. Wellness Wednesdays: Here I'm looking to compile inspiration on food, excercise, getting healthy and making the right choices.

3. Fighting Back Fridays: I'm going to try to keep a running list of accomplishments to keep me motivated, and maybe as you join me in this journey, for you to put some celebrations in there too!

So along with these new things I'm going to try  hang with me as formatting and settings and all that is subject to change as I get more proficient as making this thing work for me and for you. (I see buttons, tabs, the whole works, but I always have big intentions and we're going to take this a day at a time.)

And thank you, my dear 13 readers!!

ahem

Dearest Neglected Blog & Readers,

I'll be back.

Sometime.

Hopefully sooner, rather than later.

But I also started a new project.

Check it out here:

standingtallstretchingdaily.blogspot.com

BY SCROLLING THROUGH THE NEW ENTRIES THAT ARE POSTED BELOW FOR THE PAST WEEK OR SO

Why?

I'm thinking of making this one private.

Let me know what you think.

Read It: Panera and Pay-What-You-Want

I'm obviously a little behind in my news since this article was posted in May, but still, I think its a very interesting concept.

Pay-what-you-want Panera called a success - USATODAY.com

Meet the Littles

Big Girl ~ Almost 3

Baby Girl ~ Just Turned 1

(photography by an unmentioned but very dear friend)

Quick Fix: Oreo Ice Cream

This is my second Quick Fix, and its important to note that these are NOT original recipes unless so stated. Most came from local cookbooks, but if I find one online, I'll link back to it. Likewise, if you find one online, let me know so I can pass some link love over its way.

That being said, I am the QUEEN of the semi-homemade dessert. Here's the easiest recipe for Oreo Ice Cream that doesn't involve an ice cream maker or raw ingredients. AND can be done or aided with by small hands.

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream (yes, you can buy generic)
1 8 oz. cool whip
2 packages of Oreos (yes, you can buy generic)

Put ice cream and coolwhip into large bowl. Allow to thaw to stirable consistency. Crush 1.5 bags of oreos by whatever means necessary. Give them to your children in ziploc bags. Use a food processor if you've got one. Beat them on the counter. Crush them with a rolling pin. Really, its up to you. Mix in the 1.5 bags of oreos into the ice cream/cool whip mix. Once consistency is to your liking, finely crush remaining oreos that you didn't eat while waiting for the ice cream to thaw. Cover top with crushed oreos. Re-freeze. Serve once fully frozen (I prefer to fix one day and serve the next, but I have prepared in morning and served in evening with no problems)

Get Your Play On

The newest addition to our Outdoor Play:



Purchased from Toys'R'Us

Its kid approved at our house! We didn't put sand it and are using it strickly as a water table, but both Baby Girl & Big Girl did it... it has a drain spout on the water side and a cover for the sand side, so no worries on accumulation from being left outside. Its light-weight enough to easily move, but stands firm. We give it a 5 out of 5.

Week One: FIghting Back Friday

1. I started this blog!
2. I have a just-for-fun photo shoot planned with my daughters in the morning.
3. I have scheduled posts! As in, I have inspiration and am getting it out there!
4. On Wednesday, I only had 1 can of soda all day. My going rate has been 2-3. (and while we're being honest here, I also had 2 cups of soda at lunch...so maybe that isn't an accomplishment at all) BUT I also did NOT have any mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks today. I ate 2.5 meals and that was IT!
5. I got round one of our monthly grocery shopping done. Round One Phase One: Meat, meat and meat. Round One Phase Two: Snacks, Cheeses, Cereals
6. Today, I spent a deliberate 10 minutes with correct posture. No slumping, no propping, no bending, just upright with squared shoulders and straight back.

What's Your Answer?

I'm joing the fun with 5 Questions Friday:

1. What is your current favorite tv show?  The Next Food Network Star. Its my reality program of choice.

2. What's the worst haircut you ever got? Ok, I can't remember a particularly awful haircut, but I did have a particularly awful style once. I decided for my first ever Prom (junior year) that I would have my hair "done" by a local salon. I wore glasses at the time and of course, had to take them off for them to be able to style my hair without complications. I don't remember what I told them or if I just asked them to make it look good. But it was bad, oh so very bad. And since I couldn't see what was going on without my glasses, I had no ability to intervene as it progressed. So after sitting in the chair for who knows how long, they spin me around, put my glasses on... and my hair is in tight curls all over... all over. Like frozen in place hair spray girls that made my hair a solid 3 inches shorter and not at all flattering...it was a very very very bad rendition of Shirley Temples curls. It was so AWFUL that I left without paying (and without realizing I didn't pay), walked into my house crying (because at this point the pre-prom dinner was less than an hour from starting) to which my mother promptly escorted me into the shower to wash it all out, and we styled it ourselves with a curling iron with 10 minutes to spare.

3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing? We drove a car! Actually, it was a Geo Tracker. We lived out in the country and my parents were mail carriers at the time, so they had this little bitty Geo Tracker that they used to run the mail in, and they'd let us drive it through self-made trails around our house. It was always the first thing we did when we have friends over!

4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips? I wish I was more motivated on this end... or at least more organized to get things accomplished. Here's our basics: hand-me-down clothes (accept them all and do it yourself), trade hobbies (we have a boat, you have a pool...), shop smart (I'm no extreme couponer, but watch for sales and stock up!), involve a water hose.

5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly? Who am I going with and do I get to pick the route? I think this would be great with the right set of company, a flexible time schedule and a pre-paid gas card!

What We're Reading

(from Amazon.com)

We don't have the Goldilicious one. But we've read Pinkalicious about 10 times this week and Purplicious once. Obviously, pink it a winner at our house. (Also, Pink is more silly and Purple is a bit more serious)

Surprise!

(in your head, rock some Vanilla Ice tunes as your read on)

 

STOP! Collaborate and listen

Goldfish is back with a brand new edition

Baby, cheddar oh so tiny

Makes snacktime yummy, less whiney

(image from HERE)

 

Can snacktime get much better? I submit it can not!

Quick Fix: Dumplings

I'm definitely not the next big thing happening in a kitchen near you. If anything, my kitchen cooking tendencies are based on ease of preparation, simplicity of ingredients, and ability to manage with 2 rugrats under your feet.

As a Southern grown girl, I learned to essential skill of making homemade dumplings before I learned much of anything other than heating up frozen pizzas in the kitchen. In our family, homemade dumplings are reserved for your three major meal holidays, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And noteably so... while homemade dumplings aren't that difficult in and of itself, the task of rolling them out and letting them sit over night is a little more than a kitchen can take just any day of the week.

So...here's my Quick Fix

1 can of Campell's Cream of Chicken Soup (you can even get the healthy choice version and they still turn out)
1 box of Ms. Lil's dumplings OR 1 bag Muellers Old-Fashioned Dumplings.
Salt & Pepper to taste

Bring water and cream of chicken to boil. Beware that boil over is very very possible with cream of chicken and small members of a household's timelines colliding. Drop in the dumpling of choice. Boil for 8-10 minutes then reduce heat to simmer for up to 30 minutes. The longer they simmer, the more tender and thick they are.

Seriously, that's it. Now some folks like to throw celery or onion or other flavors into their dumplings and that's all good for them. But I'm an easy peasy cook.

As far as homemade dumpling goes, you need flour, milk and a dash of oil. Line a bowl with your flour, pour milk and dash of oil into center indention of flour. Mix until dough-like. Roll onto flour covered kitchen counter to desired thickness. Let sit over night (you can cover with wax paper). Cut into desired size ( I prefer squares and thicker). Boil whole chicken in water. Remove chicken from boiling water once cooked. Then drop in dumplings slowly while stirring to prevent sticking. Tear chicken meat off bone and drop into dumplings while boiling (as much or as little as you prefer). Salt and pepper to taste. Boil, reduce to simmer and eat 'em up!

Simple Solution

Last night, I turned around to find a parade of ants weaving their way down the edge of the carpet and around the bottom of the kitchen counter. Needless to say, its very dry and very hot, so they were looking to relocate. In the process of moving, its more than fair to say that ant spray wasn't in the "first of the must haves," obviously, that was a flaw in our thinking. BUT, I learned a new trick last night courtesy of my Father-In-Law, which doesn't involve spraying in the presence of small children. It is super simple, and it worked... here it is:

Get a spray bottle (if you have one, I did not, so I used a small bowl)
Mix water and dish detergent. (Here's my favorite!) Strong. I filled the bottom of the bowl with dish detergent and then water to the 3/4 mark up. Pour water from kneeling position onto ant trail. Wipe up with papertowels after a few seconds. Dead ants and you get to hand mop your floor at the same time! And there are less chemicals that are dangerous to small children flying around your house!

Walah!

Simply Southern: Get Your Wave On

There are unique aspects to every demographic and location, but those of the Deep South, where I call home, are by far my favorite collection. The South has its own pace, its own style, its own traditions and its own ways of doing day-to-day life... and trust us, we wouldn't do it any other way.

One thing we Southerners always do while driving: wave. Doesn't matter if you know them or not, whether you are coming or going, rushing or taking a "Sunday afternoon drive."  Even so, it is important to note the distinction of each type of wave, as no two are created equal.

The Solo Finger: This is the common greeting thrown over the top of steering wheels while driving. It has no personal connotation, but is used when meeting any and all vehicles in the opposing lane, which by the way, is 95% two-lane.

The One-&-A-Half - A step above the Solo Finger, this involves the full finger raise of the pointer and at least a moderate raise of a secondary finger, normally the ring finger. Also without personal connotation, this is often used when the hand is out the window instead of on the wheel, but can be used as an wheel greeting as well.

The Whole Hand  - Now you are getting somewhere, this means I know you! It can be thrown over the top of the steering wheel or accomanied by an arm raise from the elbow up out the window.

The Over Wave - This, oh this one, this one is for those of us who are not good at spotting people we know in oncoming traffic. This wave is usually reserved for immediate family or close friends whom you encounter in passing often. It says "HEY! You there! That I know and that never recognizes me in my vehicle! I'm HERE!"

The Quick Throw: This one, this one means "whoops, you almost got by me" When caught last minute in a wave situation and then recognizing the person in the other vehicle at or near the time of passing, the Quick Throw involves the entire arm being thrown up or out, because we all know, you either go big, or go home

Quotable: Insecurity

"One reason we struggle with insecurity: we’re comparing our behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel." -Steven Furtick


Well said, even though I don't have a clue who you are. (although, I think its this guy... who's total site I haven't reviewed)

For me this is SOO true, I compare all the goodness that others put out there in public places and appearances and speech, that I go home comparing my closets and shadows to their projected image. Maybe that makes sense to you... I see someone who has it all together, and I completely disregard the fact that my encounter and exposure is not even a tenth of a percent of their entire life, or that there are days when they probably don't have it all together or that their laundry gets behind.

Instead I internalize all the things that are not working in my life and compare them to the image that I have of their life.

That is so broken. Its no wonder that so many women fight insecurity, I think its mostly because of our tendency to do this to ourselves. We assume, and by we I'm obviously speaking about ME, that if someone else does something differently than us that their way is the right way and our way is broken.

Wellness Wednesday

My kids and I are picky eaters. It is something that I am working on, more so in my children than myself. Needless to say, I'm always looking for simple ways to jazz up our menu basics and looking for simple new recipes to add to the mix. Last year my husband began a new weight loss project (70 pounds down in 7 months, maybe he should be the one blogging on Wednesdays!) which has also affected how I shop and what we cook.

I saw this lovely piece of summer inspiration this week and its definitely on the meal plan for Big Girl's birthday coming up.

Fruit Kebobs (and I think she links it back a few places to!)

I think I'm going to add strawberries, bananas and pineapples to ours.

Doesn't that sound like a great treat for an outdoor summer party?

Tuesday's Truths About Motherhood

I have 2 small beings in my home who call me Mama... they say children change everything, I have to completely agree... Today's Truths About Motherhood are all about the ways my children have changed my speech.

1. You begin to call things by improper names without flinching. "what's that? oh your milk is in the fridgerfrater? ok!" or "use a paper napkin" (which is actually a paper towel, don't even get to thinking I'm a cloth napkin girl) or "What do you want for snack? A cheese popsicle? ok!" (that would be string cheese)

2. You do ridiculous songs in public repeatedly without blinking. Fussy baby, line 1? "Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!" complete with handmotions

3. You insert teaching phrases when reading books for the first time. "That was not a nice thing for that little girl to say was it? Oh no, we don't ever tell anyone their favorite color is stupid."

I dig this Quote!

Nice find Lane!

Its your Birthday!!

I'm linking up with

Because this was my first successful "themed" birthday party!

Round Two Coming in August!

Monkey See, Monkey Do,

We're having a party, you come too!

 Birthday Banner from HERE!

 Cupcake Toppers From HERE!

 Digital File from HERE!

Birthday Suit from HERE! 

No need in boring old high chair trays...its a party!
Streamers and monkeys make everything better!

(I love the way Hayley is looking at her in this!)

Another use of our monkey files..
and of those great goblets I got when we got married that may or may not have ever been used.

 Somebody loves their water table!

Happy face!

And their cake by Breezy! 

And their bouncer from Aunt Mischa! 

Every monkey needs some banana!

VBS Time: From Jon Acuff

Oh, it is ....So True, So True

Praise God I'm not in charge!

almost there

Dear Bowen,
This week you will be ONE! I can hardly believe it!

You are a pistol. Just like your Papa! Highly opinionated and highly motivated. You are not easily swayed by your sister trying to corrall you or by us telling you no! If anything, you'll look back at us and say "no!" in the same tone. You are very persistent against the word "no." and you are getting to be aggressive with Hayley when she is in your space.

You wake up and are babbling a hundred miles an hour. You talk and throw your hands around and make faces. You bounce on your knees and just roll and tumble around the bed. You love to sit up, get this little smirk and then fall backwards onto your back...you laugh and smile and get up and do it five more times.

You talk a lot but we don't know what all you are saying, except when you clearly say "no!" You say "bookabookabooka" a lot! I'm not sure what its supposed to translate to, but it makes you happy to say it while you are cruising around the furniture. This week you've started playing the name game... you look at me and say "mama" and I say "bowen" and you say "mama" and we rinse lather and repeat until you crack a big smile. You do imitate sounds and while you don't have the consanants down to form words we can pick up on phrases like "i got it" because the tone and inflection is in your babble.

You still love to crawl off into a different room and when you hear someone coming after you, you tuck your head down cackle and speed up. You love to be chased and you love to see how far you can get before someone finds you missing! I say "where'd Bowen go?" or "do you see Bowen?" at least 3 times a day...you are always escaping!

You really took to walking behind a push toy this weekend but you can't quite get it unstuck when you run into something. You will cruise around and pull up on anything, but you still don't have much interest in trying to tottle off on your own. You know you are much faster on your knees... which is very true! Your knees stay calloused from all your moving, no matter how much lotion I put on them they feel like leather!

You make us laugh every day. You make faces or will start laughing if everyone else is. You crinkle your nose up with a big smile and it is too too funny!

You don't miss a meal and don't let anyone eat anything without sharing. You have tried anything and everything we've given to you and are ten times more likely to eat anything if we let you feed yourself. You are over and done with that squishy food!

This Saturday is your party and Friday you will officially be ONE!

Imperfection

There is a place deep within all of us, if we really speak honestly, that lives in anguish against ourselves. It’s place we perceive of imperfection and where we harness and store the reinforcements and scars of our hearts.

The Bible teaches us that no one is perfect outside of Christ Jesus. And while that is certainly the case, it is not that level of imperfection of which I reference here. I am talking about perceived imperfection...the comparing, contrasting, weighing and watching of ourselves versus others.

We are imperfect if we aren’t as crafty as her. We are untalented if we can’t do this as good as him. We aren’t this, can’t do that, don’t do it this way and this makes us imperfect. And what we weigh in as imperfection, is actually insecurity.

There is no place where we are all created with equal talents, convictions, abilities and gifts. We are all independently created in God’s image. A perfect image of oneness, whether we realize it or not.

A friend shared this quote with me this week, and it spoke directly to my heart:

One reason we struggle with insecurity: we’re comparing our behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.—Steven Furtick

How often do we find ourselves doing this? More often than we probably realize at first, because insecurity is a silent attacker. It speaks deeply and pointedly at the heart before it ever manifests itself externally. Insecurity disguises itself as fixable imperfection… I am worthy if I can this, I am as good as them because I also do this, if I can craft it, bake it, make it, lead it, then I am as good, as worthy, as special.

Friends, step back from this lie. We are not fixable imperfections. We are fearless creations of an Almighty God. Our gifts are our own. Our weakness are created so that in them our God can be made great. We can call insecurity, imperfection, we can allow it to keep us struggling in the darkness. Or we can call it what it is, step up to line and knock it out of the field.


I am not less because I am not you. You are not more because you are you. We are all beautiful, talented, perfectly unique individuals made by a God who intends to fully use whatever we are willing to give him, even if it doesn’t involve straight lines, a clean house, or perfectly baked pound cakes.

Costa Rica

One day last week, you know, when we still had furniture in our home,

 Hayley was playing away in her own world... and did this....

(you may need your volume all the way up to be able to hear her tiny voice)

I don't think we'll be able to go without her next time.

Linking Up With:

Making Progress

Well, Bowen is making progress... on her own terms of course... this is what she spent this morning doing... (not to say that the other facets of her development have changed much from earlier this week)

Although, she hasn't quite figured out what to do when she hits something...