W is for…

What I know for sure
I know I’m loved, I know I’m here for a reason, I know I’m appreciated by my family and missed by the ones I don’t see everyday. I know I’m overweight, smart, creative & funny. I know I’m a good friend and am lucky to have a few of my own. I know my husband is and will always be my best friend. I know I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to be a stay at home Mom for now and I’m trying not to take it for granted. On that note, I know my kids think I sit around and watch TV all day, and even though I don’t I’m ok with that. I know not being in the traditional workforce has made me a better mother, I have more patience for homework and projects and developing their character and good habits instead of making after school time a to-do list to checkoff.  I love that I know exactly what they do in school each day and can tell you within 2 points what each of their grades are in every subject. I know my daughter’s spelling words by heart and I know what classes my son has each day. I know the school menu and can remember which days my daughter needs to bring a lunch because she doesn’t like what they have. I know which child likes what type of cereal and with which kind of milk, and I know who gets which brand of Mayo on their sandwiches. These little details are what make up the very comfortable routine of my day and I cherish every tidbit of it.


Willpower
Sometimes I have it, sometimes I don’t
See also addictive personality, food, overweight


Watch, haven’t worn one in years

This is one of many installments on the ABCs of Me's. Each week I will feature a different letter of the alphabet and a few corresponding entries on yours truly. This project was inspired by a class I took at Big Picture Classes (Me: The Abridged Version) which was based on a book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

Jingly Butt Wednesday

Now that I’ve become infatuated with Zumba classes, I faithfully go each Wednesday as part of my workout routine. All of the ladies that seemed to be having the most fun were wearing these adorable jingly sarong things, so I of course had to get one. It’s funny because as soon as I started to wear it, classes became more fun and I worked harder. One of these days I’m sure I’ll shake my groove thing just a little too hard and either throw out my back or send those adorable jingly coin things flying. My daughter has appropriately renamed my Zumba class day to Jingly Butt Wednesday.

See it sounds like more fun already, doesn’t it?

My workouts last week

Sorry folks, I’m a little behind the times this week with my weekly report. So here goes:

Monday: AquaEnergy (1 hour water aerobics)
Tuesday: STRIVE (1 hour of cardio/circuit training)
Wednesday: ZUMBA
Thursday: CYCLE30, STRIVE (1 hour of cardio/circuit training)
Friday: Was feeling a bit under the weather with a sore throat and pressure in my ears so I decided to stay snuggled in bed since the kids didn’t have any school. Everyone needs a day like that every once in a while.

I’m also considering doing an Indoor Triathlon on the 16th. I suppose I have nothing to lose. I don’t suppose I’ll be breaking any records, but at least then I can say that I’ve officially done it.

V is for…

Volcano, flaming
On our very first date, Keith took me to a Polynesian restaurant and we shared a very potent cocktail called a flaming volcano. It's hard to find restaurants that serve them, we always ask and when we find one we have to have one and reminisce.
See also: liquid relaxation

Virginia Beach
I absolutely loved living in Virginia Beach. It was nice to be able to escape to the beach after work or on a weekend. I also loved the lights set up at Christmastime on the boardwalk. What's not to love about the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves? Nothing that I can think of, that's for sure.
See also: homes, beach

Volunteer
Since losing my job 1 ½ years ago I've actually had time to volunteer at the school. I enjoy going there each week to help out Summer's teacher. Last year I went every week and I've been doing the same this year. I've also had the opportunity to chaperone a few of Bryce's field trips which was a treat. It feels good to give back, I like getting a little of the inside scoop at the school and it makes me smile. Besides, decorating the classroom bulletin board every month is the closest I'll ever get to designing a window at Barney's!
See also: professional heart attack

This is one of many installments on the ABCs of Me's. Each week I will feature a different letter of the alphabet and a few corresponding entries on yours truly. This project was inspired by a class I took at Big Picture Classes (Me: The Abridged Version) which was based on a book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.

My workouts this week...

Another busy and productive week! Although I haven't lost anything this week I am feeling stronger and can really feel my muscles working. It's all part of my evil master plan to bid the nasty fat and firm adieu.

Monday: My munchkin was still sick so no gym for me :-(
Tuesday: STRIVE (an hour of cardio & interval weight training)
Wednesday: 1 hour of ZUMBA
Thursday: CYCLE30: 30 minutes of cycling uphill & sprints (8.6 miles), 40 minutes on the elliptical (3.9 miles) and STRIVE (an hour of cardio & interval weight training).

I still had energy when I got home so I walked a mile with my dog!



Friday: Aqua Energy - 1 hour water aerobics class

Everyone's Irish on March 17th, even my dog

I'm half Irish and embrace all the fun traditions that we Irish have - that being wearing green and drinking beer :-) Of course, I didn't want our pup to miss out on the fun so I've been parading her around all day wearing her cute little "Pet Me I'm Irish" t-shirt. She is such a cute dog and dressing her up only makes her that much cuter.

Hope the luck of the Irish was with you and yours on this fine, sunny St. Paddy's Day.

U is for…

Unconditional love
Keith, my hubby, my best friend. I feel like he loves me unconditionally. I’m quite sure I am not the easiest person to live with yet he never complains. After all these years he still makes me laugh, says he can’t tell whether I have on make up or not and says I’m just as sexy in lingerie as I am in sweatpants. He epitomizes a moral standard and work ethic that I hope my kids grow to inherit. He has an amazing internal compass and has become quite the weatherman due to all of his flight training. You could throw him the keys to any type of vehicle (land, air or sea) and he would be able to maneuver it with ease. There are so many songs that remind me how good I have it: Donna Lewis’ “Always & Forever”, Salt N Pepper‘s “What A Man”, Colbie Caillat’s “Bubbly” & I could go on. I’m a lucky girl.


Uniform, my
I wear basically the same thing everyday. A pair of jeans and a t-shirt with bling on it. Rain or shine, summer or winter, these are my go to clothes. I am actually more comfortable in a pair of jeans than I am in sweatpants. Jean shorts in the summer, capris in the fall, and boot cuts in the winter. My favorite pair was a pair of Size 5 Bongo Jeans I was able to fit into a few months before our wedding. My two other faves were a pair of maternity jeans with silver studs down the outside seam, and some capris with rhinestones on the cuff (yes, more bling). I would love to have a pair of Lucky Jeans . Now please note, I don’t like darkwash jeans, although I do have a pair of black ones. I only like the lighter wash jeans – my favorite look is lighter wash jeans against a rockin’ tan. but that’s another story.


This is one of many installments on the ABCs of Me's. Each week I will feature a different letter of the alphabet and a few corresponding entries on yours truly. This project was inspired by a class I took atBig Picture Classes (Me: The Abridged Version) which was based on a book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

Surprise on the front porch

How cool is it to have friends that go out of their way to make your day?

I'll tell you - way cooler than you could even imagine :-) I found this on my porch the other day from my friend Julie. Love the card, love the adorable little book, and love having her as a friend. Here's to random acts of kindness - go share the love!

My workouts this week...

Busy and productive week at the gym

Monday: Did 24 laps in the pool and then joined a Masters class for another hour. Ended up swimming over 1 1/2 miles
Tuesday: STRIVE class: circuit/interval training for an hour
Wednesday: An hour of ZUMBA!
Thursday: Cycling class - did 10 miles of all hills and sprints, 45 minutes on the elliptical (3 miles) and then a STRIVE class - I was completely drenched and exhausted after 2 hours and 15 minutes of working my butt off!
Friday: Alas, no gym today because my little munchkin was sick, the only workout I got today was my fingers on the computer, blogging, emailing and doing my taxes - ick!

The Sum of it all...

An excerpt from our Project Life above.

X's and Y's are dancing through his head like the proverbial sugar plums on Christmas Eve. Lately what we do around here is algebra, algebra, algebra. Fortunately it's a subject I like... Bryce, not so much. We are very fortunate to have found a great algebra tutor for him to get him up to speed and translate this crazy language of numbers and letters all mixed together. Thank goodness for Lyn!

T is for…

Tardy, always
I was born two days late and it's all been downhill from there. I try, I really do try – but something always seems to happen right before I walk out the door. I am known for being chronically late, over the last several years I have definitely gotten much better but it still plagues me and probably will until my last day here on Earth – and I bet something will happen, the hearse will break down, the cemetery will be closed – something will happen to even make me late to my own funeral. Keith will tell you that I was late to our wedding. That actually is not true. I was there, sitting in the limo, perfectly on time. The limo driver wouldn't let me get out until all the guests had gone into the church so I could make a proper grand entrance. We even have a picture in our wedding album of my husband and his best man holding out their wrists and looking at their watches.
When I was pregnant with Bryce, we lived 350 miles away from my parents. My Mom was going through some back treatments and had the last of them scheduled for the week after I was due…after all I had never been on time for anything. As luck has it, the only thing I am NOT late for is having my babies, Bryce was born 6 days early and Summer was 2 weeks early. So, back to Bryce's birth… as it was nearly a week before my due date, my Mom thought my phone call at 10am on Sunday, July 6th, 1997 to be like any other day. The conversation went something like this… Me: Hi Mom,! Mom: Hi, how are you? Me: I have some good news! Mom: Oh really, what is it? Me: I had the baby! Mom: No way, it's not funny to joke about that. Me: Really, I had the baby! Mom: Stop pulling my leg. Me: Should I tell you what kind of grandchild you have or would you like me to put the doctor on? Mom: Oh my goodness, I'm sorry, yes, tell me all about it!

This is one of many installments on the ABCs of Me's. Each week I will feature a different letter of the alphabet and a few corresponding entries on yours truly. This project was inspired by a class I took at Big Picture Classes (Me: The Abridged Version) which was based on a book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.

Happy Birthday Julie!

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We celebrated Julie's birthday sans kiddies in DC for the day. We had a great time. We toured U Street (still haven't figured out why), visited Ben's Chili Bowl (apparently the President frequents there) and our final and fun stop was for lunch at Zaytinya. The food was great and the company was even better. What a way to spend the day. Happy Birthday Jules - we love you!

I've become a gym rat

It's funny how I've gone from couch potato to gym rat. I am literally at the gym at least 4 or 5 days a week. And, once I'm there I have to do more than one thing. Just today I went swimming and ended up doing 2/3 mile. Then I met the instructor for the Master's class and ended up staying another hour swimming away in the class. I'm sure I got in at least a good mile and a half. Of course, the rest of the day I will smell like chlorine, but that's ok with me. It's all part of my 'incredible shrinking woman' plan.

S is for…

Summer
Oh, my sweet little girl. You have brought so much joy to my life. You are sweet and kind and just plain adorable. Much like me, you are drawn to creating & are developing a love for music of all kinds. It's funny to sing along to songs on the radio with you and to hang out and have 'girl time'. You are growing up to be quite a little young lady and can hardly believe that you are 8 1/2 years old already. The time is flying by so quickly that I make sure to stop each day and smother you with hugs and kisses to try to remember when you were this little.

Scrapbooking
It is part of who I am. I love being the family memory keeper and documenting the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. For some scrapbooking is a hobby, for me it is a way of life. It keeps me grounded and sane. It helps me to remember to slow down, enjoy the moments, take pictures and make more memories. For me it is like an autobiography of sorts, as well as love letters to my family. I do enjoy the creative process, but what I love more is being able to convey the overhwelming emotions I want to share with those I love though the stories and photos. To me it's not a hobby it is therapy.

Spicy, I like it
Spicy garlic sauce, Cholula, hot sauce, chipotle in adobo, wasabi, cayenne pepper, jalapenos – some like it hot – that's me!
See also: food

Sounds, favorite
My children giggling, a soda can opening and ocean waves


This is one of many installments on the ABCs of Me's. Each week I will feature a different letter of the alphabet and a few corresponding entries on yours truly. This project was inspired by a class I took at Big Picture Classes (Me: The Abridged Version) which was based on a book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.