tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29706529793476251792024-03-12T19:29:02.279-07:00standing in the sunshinea happy blogJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-4034093826764047852013-10-24T06:16:00.000-07:002013-10-24T06:16:08.676-07:00back in 1995yesterday, mary at <a href="http://www.givinguponperfect.com/" target="_blank">giving up on perfect</a> asked us about our <a href="http://www.givinguponperfect.com/2013/10/teenage-dreams/" target="_blank">teenage dreams</a>. those dreams, hopes and wishes we had when we graduated from high school. what did we think adulthood would be like? what were our plans for our future?<br />
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well, i had two totally different dreams for my future...<br />
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the first one involved coach purses; designer clothes; a sleek, black, mercedes benz; a giant, beautiful home; perfectly manicured hands; and a high profile successful career as a lawyer or executive at a large, well known corporation.<br />
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on the complete other end of the spectrum, i dreamt of "saving the world"and being adventurous. i'd do a few outward bound trips. i'd join the peace corps. go on missions trips. work for a non-profit that was helping the poor. i'd be super involved at my church. i'd be "making a difference." this dream didn't even include material possessions. i have no idea where i'd live, how i'd dress or what i'd drive because those things wouldn't be important to me.<br />
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with two totally conflicting dreams, i really had trouble finding my way in college and ended up graduating with, what seems to me, to be a totally random major. i have a degree in political science, which i decided on after dabbling in psychiatry and education. the classes were interesting but i don't use them now.<br />
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i worked in human resources for a while after college and did really well on the LSAT. i thought i'd become an attorney focusing on employment law. but then i realized that i didn't want to put in the crazy hours that went along with a high profile successful career. instead, i got married, had two kids and got my MBA (even though i have no interest in business whatsoever?!?!). today i work for a large public university in i guess what would be called middle management. it's not what i dreamed of, but it pays the bills and provides me the flexibility to be there for our kids when they need me (most of the time).<br />
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as for "saving the world"and being "adventurous", that dream still tugs at my heart each and every day. i'm not sure what i'm supposed to be doing or where i'm supposed to be helping, but i feel a huge void in my life because i have not pursued these dreams from my younger years. i'm reading books and blogs that i hope will motivate me and give me some direction. i'm praying. i'm seeking. <br />
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while i'm glad the first set of plans for my future didn't work out, i hope that eventually i can begin to follow the second set of plans so that my younger self will be pleased with how things worked out.<br />
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thanks mary for inspiring me to think about these things today!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-69854800615559973212013-10-21T08:34:00.002-07:002013-10-21T08:34:16.223-07:00if i didn't...<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">it's been about nine years since I've become a wohm (work out of the home mom). other mom's have always said it would get easier. but I disagree. nine years later i still struggle.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">now I know i should be thankful that i have a job and i am. while i cannot fully understand the math, i know that while we could never make ends meet with only hubby's income, we are very comfortable with both of our incomes. i always feel guilty complaining, yet i struggle with these thoughts every day. the thoughts that if i didn't work at home...</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">i'd wear a size 4 and have a six pack because i could work out for more than 30 minutes a day.</span></li>
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<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">our home would be clean and organized all of the time.</span></li>
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<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">i'd never get inpatient with the kids because i wouldn't feel so stressed trying to get more done in less time.</span></li>
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<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">i'd have time to plan wonderful date nights for dh and i and my parents would be willing to babysit since they wouldn't have to help us while we are at work.</span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<li><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 15px/21px Calibri, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">i'd have time to volunteer at school. i'd know my daughters' teachers and friends well because i'd be present in their classrooms. i'd know the other parents well because i'd be more involved.</span></li>
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i would spend more time in the Word because i'd be able to participate in bible studies at church. (most women's bible studies are held during business hours. the evening ones usually don't provide childcare and hubby works late a lot.)</div>
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we'd have healthy home cooked meals every day.</div>
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we'd spend less at the grocery store because i'd be an extreme couponer.</div>
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i'd get outside more with the kids instead of allowing them to zone out on their i-devices or the tv because i'm playing catch up with chores and errands...yet again.</div>
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basically, i'd be perfect. yes, everyone please laugh at me now. i know this isn't true. i know life would still be crazy busy and there'd be other problems to deal with. i'm sure if i was a sahm (stay at home mom) right at this very minute i'd be writing a post on how i wished i had a job. at least that is what my hubby tells me. i'm one of those who thinks the grass is greener on the other side, even though i remind myself all of the time that it really isn't.</div>
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so i'm going to begin exploring my feelings regarding working and motherhood here. if i didn't work i probably would have realized a month ago that this would be a great topic for the "31 days of" blog posts that are going on this month, but i'm about 21 days late for that. so i guess i'll just write when i can and see where this goes. i kind of think it might actually help me come to peace with my circumstances. and hopefully someone else may stumble upon this who is struggling with these same things and at the very least, she will know she's not alone!</div>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-17803811746553864652013-10-21T03:07:00.000-07:002013-10-21T03:07:15.423-07:00twitterature - 10-21-13 - better late than never!i've been trying to stay offline more and that means i'm behind on posting my latest reads with <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">the modern mrs. darcy</a>. here's some of what i've read over the past month or so:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hector-happiness-Hectors-journeys-ebook/dp/B003XQEVM6/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1382310106&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=howard%27s+search+for+happiness" target="_blank">Hector and the Search for Happiness</a> - this was recommended somewhere online. i didn't finish it. #didntquitegetit #dontrecommend</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz2fd9CmAHWSKTjLy9dRgGd2-8QewvcLAourCOa6n1I1XYqz9WWXxWvRXL1J5d09DsaHOXLxSELc6dxu2Yl_ipR_Kf1gztV4cIUPRgLb5NQOh6D4X8ODJqUZEnaCRL6ofbfhphETiVydX/s1600/photo+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz2fd9CmAHWSKTjLy9dRgGd2-8QewvcLAourCOa6n1I1XYqz9WWXxWvRXL1J5d09DsaHOXLxSELc6dxu2Yl_ipR_Kf1gztV4cIUPRgLb5NQOh6D4X8ODJqUZEnaCRL6ofbfhphETiVydX/s1600/photo+1.PNG" height="320" width="243" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Blue-Giver-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B003JFJHRK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382315404&sr=8-2&keywords=gathering+blue" target="_blank">Gathering Blue</a> - i was really excited to read this. it was a little slow for me. not my favorite but i did enjoy the story. #youngadultfiction #thegiverwasbetter</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh054DCADrsFT6pirkVYvhlgzUq8y__zYBSSdnbnvh4NosHMUEcRDOjlLqAR6OlYpkyyJTrblKR46OgmA89qF7QnPHCKaJ6wExXVQT0SPR9M6A8U6wxjCHvSvQeaiwArA3mG9iEcm86sZiu/s1600/photo+2+copy.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh054DCADrsFT6pirkVYvhlgzUq8y__zYBSSdnbnvh4NosHMUEcRDOjlLqAR6OlYpkyyJTrblKR46OgmA89qF7QnPHCKaJ6wExXVQT0SPR9M6A8U6wxjCHvSvQeaiwArA3mG9iEcm86sZiu/s1600/photo+2+copy.PNG" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Husbands-Secret-ebook/dp/B00D7Z4GQY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382315373&sr=8-1&keywords=the+husbands+secret" target="_blank">The Husband's Secret</a> - i think Liane Moriarty has become one of my favorite authors. it's like she can read my mind. #wassurprisedbythesecret #hadtofinishinessthan24hours</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQv-XDEsv01A4JbFWu-PPiiZL8QudFGHBjrnDAiHIchNuoAYzRc4mS-jvdrPUc1xF7ntLABXGjMygdCiEcs73cNXBG19ndrRbrKZ_RuQ7mPsPrBU2F4lfiGR9H2mui9AbkyeEeBj7pRpB/s1600/photo+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQv-XDEsv01A4JbFWu-PPiiZL8QudFGHBjrnDAiHIchNuoAYzRc4mS-jvdrPUc1xF7ntLABXGjMygdCiEcs73cNXBG19ndrRbrKZ_RuQ7mPsPrBU2F4lfiGR9H2mui9AbkyeEeBj7pRpB/s1600/photo+2.PNG" height="320" width="279" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Park-ebook/dp/B008SAZHLQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382315454&sr=8-1&keywords=eleanor+and+park" target="_blank">elanor & park</a> - while i didn't love this as much as i thought i would considering all of the hype i've seen online, i did enjoy this book. i was really fascinated with the details of elanor's home life and how it affected her. a good lesson for teens. #sweetlovestorywithsomethingmore</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2q0_ZDDDxqa9xhefThX678_kFyqk0YpiKCEXRt14afCl0-G5V1BObKOwnimn8zsgxWqSEESXF_xPGPd4XnjuhIZZ-TCGGCSRcC7AZbVdxdWKrHnGnTUoDR51JhzLMOJ2huxH2VNdBDrz/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2q0_ZDDDxqa9xhefThX678_kFyqk0YpiKCEXRt14afCl0-G5V1BObKOwnimn8zsgxWqSEESXF_xPGPd4XnjuhIZZ-TCGGCSRcC7AZbVdxdWKrHnGnTUoDR51JhzLMOJ2huxH2VNdBDrz/s1600/photo+3.PNG" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wife-22-ebook/dp/B005OCYRLC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382315420&sr=8-1&keywords=wife+22" target="_blank">Wife 22</a> - this was great. it took me a few chapters to get used to the format, but once i did i was addicted. was surprised and in love with the ending. #funreadonmarriage</div>
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well, that's all for now. off to the library to get a few new books to read for next month's <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/tag/twitterature/" target="_blank">twitterature</a>! check in on <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">the modern mrs. darcy's</a> page for more quick book reviews.</div>
<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-7237607346188987872013-10-11T05:10:00.003-07:002013-10-11T05:11:19.915-07:00seven quick takes friday - 10-11-13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*1*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">last saturday i thought it would be fun to take the girls to a pumpkin patch. the weather was beautiful and i knew it would be a great time to get out my real camera and take some pretty fall photos. well, the minute we got to the pumpkin patch it started POURING! we still tried to enjoy as much as we could, venturing into a scary funhouse, visiting the petting zoo and eating cotton candy. but there was no hayride, no corn maze and of course no pumpkins to bring home. instead we stopped at home depot on the way home from church on sunday and picked up two pumpkins for $4.00 each. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have more festive fall activities planned for this weekend. I sure hope the weather cooperates this time around!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*2*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I'm starting to run regularly again. I really love how I feel after I run, but it is so hard getting started in the mornings. to help motivate me, I'm working towards #48milesinoctober with Marta - you can find her on instagram @hausofgirls_fitfamily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still Facebook free. I'm loving all of the time I have now that I don't spend so much time mindlessly reading people's status updates online. and after two weeks I'm starting to miss it less.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*4*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Blue-Lois-Lowry/dp/0547904142/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380891003&sr=8-2&keywords=gathering+blue" target="_blank">Gathering Blue</a> this week and started <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Attachments-ebook/dp/B004BDOZZI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381493077&sr=8-1&keywords=the+attachments" target="_blank">attachments: a novel</a>. both are ok, but not great. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">i</span>’ll write more about these books when i join <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">modern mrs. darcy</a> for twitterature later this month. oh, and these links are not affiliate links because i cannot figure out how to do that :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">this past week I made yummy <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Strudel-Muffins/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=apple%20streudel%20muffins&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe" target="_blank">apple streudel muffins</a> and <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-and-Dumplings/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=slow%20cooker%20chicken%20and%20dumplings&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page" target="_blank">crockpot chicken and dumplings </a>thanks to allrecipies. I always forget how much I love to bake and cook until I try out new recipes. to keep the ball rolling I just picked up two Pioneer Woman cookbooks from the library. I cannot wait to try some of those recipes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hubby's coaching for our high school's football team this year. high school instead of college so now the games are on Friday nights instead of Saturdays. big sis dances on Friday nights, so we get to the games late, but we are trying to make it to as many home games as possible. we were there this past Friday and saw them win 38-0. woo-hoo!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*7*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">we had our first family pet death this past Saturday. back in march we won two goldfish at a carnival (named Goldie and Locks). the girls were so excited as I've always told them they could have fish but never followed through. finally, I had no choice but to go out and buy an aquarium. unfortunately Saturday morning we woke up to discover Locks laying still at the bottom of the aquarium. it was a sad day for us. at first Goldie was pretty sad, but she seems to be doing ok now. I think she actually enjoys having the whole place to herself :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>and that's all for today. happy friday! and for more quick takes, please go over to <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2013/10/7-quick-takes-about-carpet-beetles-minecraft-pong-and-pirates.html" target="_blank">conversion diary</a>!</o:p></span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-54175834122061717952013-10-09T09:51:00.003-07:002013-10-09T09:51:50.800-07:00my dream home<span style="background: white; border: 1pt windowtext; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.givinguponperfect.com/2013/10/dream-home-link-up-2/" target="_blank">giving</a></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.givinguponperfect.com/2013/10/dream-home-link-up-2/" target="_blank"> up on perfect</a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> is doing a great series this month </span></span><span style="background: white;">about working through fairy tale dreams in comparison to
adult life.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>today she’s asked us
to compare our dream home from our childhood to our present home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">my brother always wanted to be an architect, so the two of us spent a
great deal of time perusing those “floor-plan magazines”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>homes were sorted by size and you could see
how each floor was laid out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i always
thought I’d simply buy the blueprints to one of those plans one day and build
my dream house. and these magazines helped me set some high expectations for my
future home.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6YGIaotwjX7koDv6sx0bALKawc1i9WXFtH-dlXIlPIrq5mgRmpztVa0-B4idM3mGdgNpKkNh9cvPIDr0hJAH-DMuJ_7IDDhlhRRiTLXt7JsHc0HgIdzTEQSoN_T0oLNs5LTqJxgoGusT/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6YGIaotwjX7koDv6sx0bALKawc1i9WXFtH-dlXIlPIrq5mgRmpztVa0-B4idM3mGdgNpKkNh9cvPIDr0hJAH-DMuJ_7IDDhlhRRiTLXt7JsHc0HgIdzTEQSoN_T0oLNs5LTqJxgoGusT/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i always thought i'd live in this house. (<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/craftsman_farm_house_wrap_around/thing?id=27927235" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">said dream house would be large.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>3000 square feet or more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(we
lived in a house that was around 1400 square feet and to me that was just way
too small.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i wanted a gigantic master
suite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a chef’s kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a wrap around porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a library, office, family room AND living
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a fully finished walk out
basement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and of course this house had
to be on a piece of land that was gigantic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>with an olympic size swimming pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and basketball/tennis court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of
course there would have to be people to take care of the house and
property.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>basically I wanted to be a
gazillionare so that i could have these things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>who knows where all of that money was going to come from, but that’s what
i wanted.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4uw-JGtWv_PoSpkz6OzHfG-dl_6P2etGA8NREtB99rCl6kKlVNUcw3V9Jeu2usqTjjeRiNyMkTwMXsDeDdwXmpTjgvBNCi8CQMVdUPw3lsz8hCvx-KhAziDTXKw4PnMFW94P8JZad6Ty/s1600/Capture+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4uw-JGtWv_PoSpkz6OzHfG-dl_6P2etGA8NREtB99rCl6kKlVNUcw3V9Jeu2usqTjjeRiNyMkTwMXsDeDdwXmpTjgvBNCi8CQMVdUPw3lsz8hCvx-KhAziDTXKw4PnMFW94P8JZad6Ty/s1600/Capture+2.PNG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this would fit in my backyard, right? (<a href="http://www.tollbrothers.com/CA/Toll_Brothers_at_Arrowood_-_Greens#gallery" target="_blank">source</a>)</td></tr>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">fast forward to today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i actually
have a home that is pretty close to my present-day dream house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>believe it or not, i actually think it’s too
big (2600 square feet plus a finished basement which brings us pretty close to
a total of 3600 square feet of living space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WAY too much to clean.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but i do
like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">we have a sunroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s nothing
fancy, but it’s three walls of nothing but windows that let the sun in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the sunroom has a table and 6 chairs in it
and that’s all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no electronics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>just a room that we can eat in, do homework in and play games in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>during the fall and spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>otherwise it’s too cold or too hot in there,
but that’s ok with me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">we also have a fireplace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>something i always wanted growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>we spend a lot of time in front of it during the winter, all cuddled up
on the floor watching movies or playing board games.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">a kitchen island is yet another thing i always longed for growing up and
i really enjoy ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s big enough
that i can prep meals on one side while the kids eat snacks or do homework on
the other (provided it’s not covered with junk mail, toys, and other
miscellaneous items that need put away).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">there’s a lot my current home doesn’t have when compared to my dream
home of my childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we have a
postage-stamp yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we don’t have a
library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we have an office but only
because we decided we didn’t want a dining room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our home isn’t decorated well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i am not good at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s often messy (didn’t get the full time
housekeeping staff that I was hoping for).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>but it is our home. it meets all of our needs. and hubby and i expect
that we’ll be here for a long time and i love that!</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-39809069651708417742013-10-07T09:13:00.003-07:002013-10-07T09:13:38.560-07:00working towards less
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i have a lot of stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(don’t we all?) and so do my kids. it drives me crazy. yet for the longest time I really haven't done anything about it but complain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">from 2008 to 2011 i was in grad school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> was also working full time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd my kids were itty bitty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>t was a time of acquiring much and getting
rid of little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> t</span>he entire time i was in
school i kept thinking that as soon as i graduated, i would do a major
decluttering of our household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> w</span>ell, i finished
school in april of 2011 and that still hasn’t happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
m<span style="font-family: Calibri;">aybe the timing just wasn’t right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut now, the girls are older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> feel less rushed even though we are often
technically busier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>o I think it’s
time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMRexqrkKyunLTyW-tXWKoJNqHJ_ZrA78MgWjQAuELMGyFnLj8kKq_41f68H6a4DpT3Z9KFcBZdF_6s0bz0P05rllJ_fI9oeROLFJ57KIhyphenhyphenGfuoWhLINFKUwFlcz1SrthNwFLP9qRiv4f/s1600/less.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMRexqrkKyunLTyW-tXWKoJNqHJ_ZrA78MgWjQAuELMGyFnLj8kKq_41f68H6a4DpT3Z9KFcBZdF_6s0bz0P05rllJ_fI9oeROLFJ57KIhyphenhyphenGfuoWhLINFKUwFlcz1SrthNwFLP9qRiv4f/s1600/less.PNG" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thenester.com/2012/10/less.html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">this is a difficult process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
n</span>ot just the getting rid of part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
b</span>ut the saying no to other things so that i have time to go through our
stuff. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i’ve been saying no to a lot lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> but for now i think this needs to be my priority. (besides my family.) s</span>o i’m not going to be
that mom with the most volunteer pta hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
i</span>’m not going to lead any girl scout troops this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m not going to sign up for every dance team booster
club fundraiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd that’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> m</span>y hubby says so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(actually all he says is that i’m not allowed
to volunteer for anything this year because he knows how stressed i get. and that the house turns into a disaster because of the stress.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
t<span style="font-family: Calibri;">he result of all of this saying no is time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m finding wide open spaces of time (also
thanks to staying off of facebook) that i am using to enjoy my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd when they’re busy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span> declutter!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i’ve noticed that i easily get overwhelmed when there’s a
lot of stuff around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m starting to
notice that my girls seem to be the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
i expect that us</span>ing this year to declutter will bring a feeling of calm to our household. and it will make my hubby really happy. i hope that our home loses hundreds of pounds of stuff by the end of the
school year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd gains much in terms of
expected and unexpected benefits!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-49516925268351576642013-10-04T05:59:00.001-07:002013-10-04T05:59:24.234-07:00seven quick takes friday - 10-4-13
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcRd0FYvMqxWIBifhOl5k4XwSsRqpUPY8KJChdbuVFWCZPs-EdLvIjpexu96jA7Vl5ISJoJXXttibBHxoXhL0k0sAgeBfB329CBBC7l_jR5e9UPIRhogWmI5XJQLY5XxLxeQzYlQvoR3s/s1600/7+qt.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcRd0FYvMqxWIBifhOl5k4XwSsRqpUPY8KJChdbuVFWCZPs-EdLvIjpexu96jA7Vl5ISJoJXXttibBHxoXhL0k0sAgeBfB329CBBC7l_jR5e9UPIRhogWmI5XJQLY5XxLxeQzYlQvoR3s/s1600/7+qt.PNG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*1*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i’ve been <a href="http://standinginthesunshineblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/three-days-and-counting.html" target="_blank">facebook free</a> for a week now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m feeling a little out of it, but i think i
like not knowing every little detail of what’s happening in other people’s
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> actually have to talk to people
now to find out what’s going on with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>*gasp!*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*2*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">one down, nine to go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
i</span>s it too early to start feeling like the <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2013/05/30/worst-end-of-school-year-mom-ever" target="_blank">worst end of school year mom ever</a> in october?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> d</span>on’t get me
wrong, school has been going great for the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> can already tell they’re learning a lot and
i love hearing about the new friends they are making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut i’m already struggling with reading logs
and for the next 55 days we need to check off if they’ve done at least 20
minutes of physical activity a day (hopefully that should be a given, but
still).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>dd to that packing lunches, figuring
out how to gracefully bow out of three million different fundraisers, reviewing
homework (that i don’t even always understand) and keeping track of
extracurriculars and it’s no wonder i’m already counting down to Christmas
break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>80 days folks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*3*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i hate saying “no”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>
just realized that’s why i dread my job on most days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> have to say “no” quite a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>t makes me sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> want to say “yes”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> want my students to get what they
want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut unfortunately they always want
to go against rules and policy, so i have to say no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s my job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
a</span>nd it’s no fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thankfully
yesterday i was able to do more positive things at work and it made me feel a
lot better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>alances out all of the “no”
days.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Jzlwg8agyqlxZ5SudfdMbzp_wV3hn7MPtXEIPf1rugLlLWuffil0V9mjSd7sqcA2dcYGU_1RDUZfEQSlHp8l5VfMvmheB7-UEAY2XGGxkZ9kI8qlxmPxgYz80l920-GFovw4dgBhhGR8/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Jzlwg8agyqlxZ5SudfdMbzp_wV3hn7MPtXEIPf1rugLlLWuffil0V9mjSd7sqcA2dcYGU_1RDUZfEQSlHp8l5VfMvmheB7-UEAY2XGGxkZ9kI8qlxmPxgYz80l920-GFovw4dgBhhGR8/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i can't even say no to these!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*4*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i’ve read two and a half books this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Park-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250012570/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380890949&sr=8-1&keywords=eleanor+and+park" target="_blank">Eleanor and Park</a> (loved it!). <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wife-22-Random-Readers-Circle/dp/0345527968/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380890973&sr=8-1&keywords=wife+22" target="_blank">Wife 22</a> (loved
it!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd i’m halfway through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Blue-Lois-Lowry/dp/0547904142/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1380891003&sr=8-2&keywords=gathering+blue" target="_blank">Gathering Blue</a> (so far it’s so-so).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’ll write
more about these books when i join <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">modern mrs. darcy</a> for twitterature later
this month. oh, and these links are not affiliate links because i cannot figure out how to do that :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">lil’ sis turns 6 this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
i</span>’m not going to lie, this makes me sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
b</span>ut she’s so excited it’s her birthday month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> hope we make it a super fun one for her.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Nj_VFT4ggBpE6GIzJnBbukvqJlS2BEIeNB-5a6RQNsBWOBzW5buVgoQkdntPHAoYn0GaR8oLXFsqnk3YyOIOnx9ENZnpt2uxs73SFrw15ipJRiNwX5FNneJawjixog1c0_CXi0gn2GHK/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Nj_VFT4ggBpE6GIzJnBbukvqJlS2BEIeNB-5a6RQNsBWOBzW5buVgoQkdntPHAoYn0GaR8oLXFsqnk3YyOIOnx9ENZnpt2uxs73SFrw15ipJRiNwX5FNneJawjixog1c0_CXi0gn2GHK/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">birthday girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*6*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i’m so sick of being sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> m</span>y sinuses freaked out the minute ragweed season began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd a few weeks later i came down with a
sinus infection that two 2 courses of antibiotics, a course of some sort of
steroid, and now ongoing allergy medicine and flonase to fight it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>ort of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
i</span>’m still coughing and occasionally congested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> hope this doesn’t last much longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*7*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">because i always feel crummy in the fall (see above), it’s
become an annual tradition for me to start considering drastic changes to my
eating habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m sure they contribute
somewhat to how i feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> do know diet
coke isn’t good for me, and think that could be a good starting point, but i just can’t live without it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>o right now i would like to challenge myself
to drinking more water this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>’m
not ready to give up diet coke (i didn’t drink it for 9 months last year and
missed it the entire time) but i think by drinking more water i’ll be more
hydrated and will thus feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd i’ve
heard lots of water is good for people with sinus problems. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> w</span>e’ll see about that…!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudV05dq8FJTBWkVzH5YyzSfNBBMAGLHHTEgmF-X13zo9R9M5v9FJOYFQ8cqpQDGiO6m9_JlrACZ0wJ5LRv6QfKLK_PVticwhNudyEPyDumEDK7GmbJe6h_cxv6d87FBTbeK1wbGgJ1EMx/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudV05dq8FJTBWkVzH5YyzSfNBBMAGLHHTEgmF-X13zo9R9M5v9FJOYFQ8cqpQDGiO6m9_JlrACZ0wJ5LRv6QfKLK_PVticwhNudyEPyDumEDK7GmbJe6h_cxv6d87FBTbeK1wbGgJ1EMx/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">why can't diet coke be good for you?!?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>and that's all for today. happy friday! and for more quick takes, please go over to <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2013/10/7-quick-takes-about-our-anniversary-halloween-and-posts-you-should-be-thankful-i-never-wrote.html" target="_blank">conversion diary</a>!</o:p></span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-49195768522923679092013-09-30T11:52:00.000-07:002013-09-30T11:52:18.030-07:00three days and counting
l<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ast week it seemed that everywhere I looked online,
people were talking about why facebook is bad for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>t’s like everyone was reading my mind because
i’ve been struggling with this for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
s</span>o I read quite a few blogs and articles, including these:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <a href="http://momastery.com/blog/2013/09/26/6-reasons-social-media-dangerous/?utm_source=feedly" target="_blank">6 reasons social media is dangerous for me - from momastery</a></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.lifewithgreyson.blogspot.com/2013/09/inspiration-diet.html" target="_blank">inspiration diet - from life with greyson + parker</a></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://lovesaveslives.org/justchecking/" target="_blank">just checking - from love saves lives</a></span></o:p><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">and decided to spend a few days away from facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> m</span>y intent was only to spend three days
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> j</span>ust enough to clear my head and
focus on more important things over the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut the longer i was away from it, the more i
realized I don’t need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m not even
sure that i want it anymore.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1wjuLoAhdIrXOB_fAhXCbEFwhB1TxESGr6dMf59EYSRpJ8KWb0M2fHrTry72wTvtegd7dyyy28mgJYP6AOUUp8FxXbVO0OJw8LBxeD-ODU3Q7xc8AOY_8rib6-ENpw0jNvvd0USlMZqB/s1600/fb1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1wjuLoAhdIrXOB_fAhXCbEFwhB1TxESGr6dMf59EYSRpJ8KWb0M2fHrTry72wTvtegd7dyyy28mgJYP6AOUUp8FxXbVO0OJw8LBxeD-ODU3Q7xc8AOY_8rib6-ENpw0jNvvd0USlMZqB/s1600/fb1.PNG" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
n<span style="font-family: Calibri;">ow I know many (most?) people can handle facebook just
fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut i’m not one of those people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> get lonely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
j</span>ealous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>nsecure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> c</span>ompetitive. judgemental. and more when i spend too much time on facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>t’s
a distraction and major time suck for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
i</span> took facebook off of my phone a few weeks ago and that’s one of the
best decisions i’ve ever made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> l</span>ogging off
completely would be an even better decision, although i’m not sure i can take
that big of a leap right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCxvJgPJKWN9YMTI-yJnYENiAnQCPxmJ2WmAftuS76rtOhWl6d4nCOnUoTXUCpSbr-md4DBcIzn4lr_rvM8CdNUeFS0tWK7mZX2aSJQmSM12P1ReXgjSyKT6nqfgSL1Ibxzml1vdNrK8L/s1600/fb2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCxvJgPJKWN9YMTI-yJnYENiAnQCPxmJ2WmAftuS76rtOhWl6d4nCOnUoTXUCpSbr-md4DBcIzn4lr_rvM8CdNUeFS0tWK7mZX2aSJQmSM12P1ReXgjSyKT6nqfgSL1Ibxzml1vdNrK8L/s1600/fb2.PNG" height="237" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">before stepping away, i set up facebook to notify me of
friend requests, tagged photos of me, private messages and any activity in the
private groups i belong to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> t</span>his way i can
take care of any business that applies to me, hopefully without facing the
temptation of browsing facebook for hours seeing all that is going on with all
of my “friends”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m hoping this
arrangement works out for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this weekend
i realized these things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul>
<li>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> i am ten million times more productive without facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> actually had wide open blocks of time this weekend with nothing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> m</span>y kids were playing quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> was caught up on my planned chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> finished a reading novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd there were still a few hours before bedtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> h</span>ow could this be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> n</span>ormally i feel like i am just. so. busy. but now I think that was a lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> have a feeling i was just spending way too much time online.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">my mind is more relaxed when it’s not filled with “junk”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>tatus updates are often like clutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>r i guess it’s like reading a people or us magazine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>t’s not information that is relevant to my life so why do i spend so much time sucking it in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by not scrolling through status updates multiple times throughout the day, i had more room in my brain to focus on the important things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> was even able to practice yoga yesterday evening and calmly rest in savasana for five minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(that’s normally impossible for me.) <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">one of the reasons I have been considering leaving facebook is because i’ve realized i can be really critical and judgmental (just being totally honest here).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> hate this about myself and know it has got to stop. but facebook can be a breeding ground for criticizing and judging others. if I’m not reading status updates 24/7, the opportunity to constantly judge and criticize other people’s actions isn’t there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtD30bO5O8445XldtYdqoj3G4NQeOdcDCc6ia41sb0OiIW33_Yz38QrQyVrAN4Q3CgDV27hOW8gGCFHHcQb6bjYjJtD2FP2aZicTU0ndb4Ui8JRksXljHLyDZiL7qQMxf_0URsUr741mr/s1600/fb3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtD30bO5O8445XldtYdqoj3G4NQeOdcDCc6ia41sb0OiIW33_Yz38QrQyVrAN4Q3CgDV27hOW8gGCFHHcQb6bjYjJtD2FP2aZicTU0ndb4Ui8JRksXljHLyDZiL7qQMxf_0URsUr741mr/s1600/fb3.PNG" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">so I’m still a little worried that I’m missing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd I’m still craving the distraction
facebook provides when i don’t want to deal with real life (something else i need
to work on…!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but overall, i think
being apart from facebook may be life changing for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>ure that sounds dramatic, but i’m pretty
sure it’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’ll have to provide an
update in a month or two to see how things are going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> really think i’m going to try to stay as
far away from facebook as possible going forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>t least until my kids are old enough to
join, although i’m hoping by then facebook will no longer exist!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-54903852344056332762013-09-26T07:55:00.000-07:002013-09-26T07:56:10.605-07:00who i am<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">this has been a year of self-discovery for me,
and i feel i’ve only just cracked the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>i am 36, almost 37, and i think i am <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">beginning</i>
to come to peace with who i am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(but
only just beginning, i have a long way to go!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i’ve always struggled with insecurity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i’m an introvert in a world that accepts
extroverts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on top of that i’m terribly
shy (those are two different things, i guess, but they are both hard things to
be, at times.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in elementary school i
had glasses and bad hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my parents
wouldn’t (and couldn’t) buy me the “cool” clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in middle school and high school, i worked so
hard on fitting in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i studied teen, ym, sassy,
and seventeen magazines religiously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i
played sports, joined clubs, took public speaking classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i begged my parents for the latest and
greatest styles and often got what i asked for. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i spent hours getting ready to leave the
house. i pretended to be outgoing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i
dated the hot guy from a neighboring school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>on the outside, i fit in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and i
survived those crazy tween and teen years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i thought being an adult would be easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no more cliques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no more comparisons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>no more contests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but I was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and now if these things get you down, it’s
multiplied by the number of kids you have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>because it’s not just me that’s trying to find my place, it’s also my
daughters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grown up cliques and kid
cliques.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grown up styles and kid styles.
helping my daughters face their own challenges while not being able to handle
my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it’s tough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">but i think i’m learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i know deep down inside that “comparison is
the thief of joy”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i know that fitting
in is not what matters most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i know that
there’s a lot more to life than appearances and trophies and having the most
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but that doesn’t stop me from
getting down when i feel left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>feeling
self-conscious about a bad hair day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>comparing
my facebook feed to everyone else’s. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ47nKnPeWSa703yEtlRrs_xm6qmFwwmOhB2JwpbjtZWwTB7Q4LhfRyGwuI9WwG4xDmsQX6239J7IxwdnzvoBDJE2Vurs7JrbFJQfDC5RbrIZOmG48Fn5xTiIwm45mjXmPB1uoIY4T_hw/s1600/i+think+i+like.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZ47nKnPeWSa703yEtlRrs_xm6qmFwwmOhB2JwpbjtZWwTB7Q4LhfRyGwuI9WwG4xDmsQX6239J7IxwdnzvoBDJE2Vurs7JrbFJQfDC5RbrIZOmG48Fn5xTiIwm45mjXmPB1uoIY4T_hw/s1600/i+think+i+like.PNG" height="320" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tahitian-vanilla.tumblr.com/post/24013116519" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">just this awareness that i struggle with these
things is a step in the right direction. i know i need to limit my time on social
media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it makes me feel “less
than”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i need to learn more about myself
and put my energy into being me, not someone i think will impress others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i need to get out of my own head and into
making the world a better place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I
need to teach my girls these things in hopes that their tween and teen years
will be even a little less painful than mine were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i love the lyrics to Who You Are by Jessie
J.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when I hear it in reminds me to be
true to myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to be ok with not being
perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to just be real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i hope i can do that more and more each day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who You Are<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jessie J<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">i stare at my reflection in the mirror<br />
why am i doing this to myself?<br />
losing my mind on a tiny error<br />
i nearly left the real me on the shelf<br />
No, no, no, no, no, no<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars<br />
seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing<br />
it's okay not to be okay<br />
sometimes it's hard to follow your heart<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">tears don't mean you're losing<br />
everybody's bruising<br />
just be true to who you are<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">who you are, who you are, who you are<br />
who you are, who you are, who you are<br />
who you are, who you are, who you are<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">brushing my hair, do i look perfect?<br />
i forgot what to do to fit the mold, yeah<br />
the more i try the less it's working, yeah, yeah, yeah<br />
'cause everything inside me screams<br />
no, no, no, no, no<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">don't lose it all in the blur of the stars<br />
seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing<br />
it's okay not to be okay<br />
sometimes it's hard to follow your heart<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">but tears don't mean you're losing<br />
everybody's bruising<br />
there's nothing wrong with who you are<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">yes, no's, egos, fake shows like whoa<br />
just go and leave me alone<br />
real talk, real life, good luck, good night<br />
with a smile, that's my home, that's my home, no<br />
no, no, no, no, no<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">don't lose who you are all in the blur of the stars<br />
seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing<br />
it's okay not to be okay<br />
sometimes it's hard to follow your heart<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">tears don't mean you're losing<br />
everybody's bruising<br />
just be true to who you are<br />
yeah, yeah, yeah<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-45868938803590221122013-09-24T10:39:00.001-07:002013-09-26T07:56:01.768-07:00back and forth<span style="font-family: Calibri;">my commitment level to this blog is sporadic. i want to
write, i really do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut then i feel so
out of place when i do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>’m not sure
where i fit in in the blogosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>ome days
I love fitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>ther days it’s reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>ther days it’s just life in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">i’m a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> s</span>hould
my blog lean that way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> o</span>r do I run a
mommy blog since I’m a mom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>. just. don’t.
know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">but i do know that i <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i></b> to write. i’ve dreamed of
writing since i was a little girl. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span>t’s
really been the only consistent “dream” in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> y</span>et I’m 36 now and still am not consistently
pursuing this dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">this is the third blog i’ve started in just as many
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd it’s been 40 days since my
last post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>i’ve been reading some other
blogs lately that discuss pursuing your dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
and they've inspired me. s</span>o here i am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> really have no
idea what I’m going to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> guess for
now just write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>bout whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> w</span>ith no direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> don’t think that sounds like much of a
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> b</span>ut it’s a start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i</span> kind of hope it leads me to some
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> a</span>nd if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but at least I’ll be writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">and since my blog shows up on the internet, where people may
just happen upon it and read it, does that mean i can call myself a writer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-61159702577165159162013-08-15T08:30:00.002-07:002013-08-15T08:30:19.717-07:00twitterature - 8-15-13linking up with the <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> today to talk about summer reading...i thought i did more of it, but these are the only books i can recall from the past two months. i'm guessing the others weren't memorable. but i wish i could recall them if only to tell you not to read them!<br />
<br />
so what do i remember reading?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Life-Book-Club-Vintage/dp/0307739783/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376580157&sr=8-1&keywords=the+end+of+your+life+book+club" target="_blank">The End of Your Life Book Club</a>, Will Schwalbe<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K2xWvqv2T-XTas3X8gM0UlhlfY9JguD57wpwP7DfY2QD7E_CwJ5Zexug6pVNh7kn8lWPfYKFZLffHxVplHzBuQGwwuCVDdTs5JLMwSztLQ9dh24JNrKKXjNqUTz24gHjnJJjUNKTfaDI/s1600/end+of+life.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K2xWvqv2T-XTas3X8gM0UlhlfY9JguD57wpwP7DfY2QD7E_CwJ5Zexug6pVNh7kn8lWPfYKFZLffHxVplHzBuQGwwuCVDdTs5JLMwSztLQ9dh24JNrKKXjNqUTz24gHjnJJjUNKTfaDI/s1600/end+of+life.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
the only one i didn't finish. it wasn't too bad, but just not my thing. #bookaboutbooks #notintoit<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Alice-Forgot-Liane-Moriarty/dp/0425247449/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376580205&sr=8-1&keywords=what+alice+forgot" target="_blank">What Alice Forgot</a>, Liane Moriarty<br />
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i really loved this one. it completely spoke to me. #funnyandquickread<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Chance-Novel-Karen-Kingsbury/dp/1451647034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376580258&sr=8-1&keywords=karen+kingsbury" target="_blank">The Chance</a>, Karen Kingsbury<br />
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finished this one in a day. made me cry...a few times! #lovestory<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Lost-Husband-A-Novel/dp/0345507940/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376580293&sr=8-1&keywords=the+lost+husband" target="_blank">The Lost Husband</a>, Katherine Center<br />
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what a beautiful story. and so much wisdom about parenting woven throughout. #quickbutmeaningfulread<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leotas-Garden-Francine-Rivers/dp/084233498X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376580325&sr=8-1&keywords=leota%27s+garden" target="_blank">Leota's Garden</a>, Francine Rivers<br />
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another beautiful story. moving and makes you think about what's important. #inspiring<br />
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check out the Modern Mrs. Darcy's <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/2013/08/twitterature-august-2013-edition/" target="_blank">Twitterature</a> for more quick book reviews.<br />
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-2197069213977581472013-08-13T03:06:00.000-07:002013-08-13T03:06:15.412-07:00i love it!i started focus t25 beta phase yesterday. so far i've done the core cardio and speed 2.0 workouts. i love them. and the best part is that they aren't as hard as i thought they'd be. they are fun and go by fast. and i feel great at the end. like a million bucks!<br />
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now i am a little sore in the arms and shoulders from the core cardio workout that i did yesterday. there are some plank moves and burpees which challenged me. my upper body's not the strongest. i really hope to see a big difference in my strength by the end of these 5 weeks considering all of the planks and burpees. <br />
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i'm so glad i bought focus t25. i think i'll be ordering the gamma add on next. i guess it's more of a strength based workout. that will be a nice switch. overall, i'm just loving getting a good workout in every morning without it taking up too much time. 25 minutes is just right for me right now. it's a reasonable amount of time that doesn't scare me away from getting up and exercising every morning. and for now, that's most important to me.<br />
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i think i have to see some noticeable changes in my body and fitness level if i stick to this along with not going over my calories in myfitnesspal. it has to work, right? i sure hope so! it may take a while, even a long while, but i'm sure results are on their way!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-59819331824601248372013-08-10T06:05:00.000-07:002013-08-10T06:05:08.860-07:00halfwaytoday i finished week 5 of focus t25 which means i'm done with alpha phase and halfway through the program. i've really enjoyed the workouts, especially because you do something different every day and the schedule is different every week. knowing i would be doing a different workout each morning really made it easier to get up and go. monotony is a sure way to squash my desire to get in shape!<br />
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so, results? not so great. but i blame my vacation during what was supposed to be week 2 of t25 on that. a week full of wine, frozen daiquiris, and delicious food isn't really part of the t25 plan. that week really set me back. i bet i'd have seen some real results if i hadn't gone on vacation but it is what it is.</div>
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here's how i did weight-wise:<br />
start - 132.5<br />
return from vacation -135 (yikes!)<br />
today - 132<br />
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even if it's only a half a pound, at least i did lose something.<br />
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inches-wise i've lost 2 inches. half an inch in my waist and the rest in my arms. my arms?!?!?! i really wasn't concerned about my arms. i don't care if they get smaller. next thing you know i'll be losing inches in my fingers or my feet. while my belly stays nice and fluffy.<br />
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but i really don't think that's true. i have a feeling these next 5 weeks will be amazing. no vacation to derail me. the knowledge that i've already seen some results. and the strength i've already built. i cannot wait to post in another 5 weeks. i may even share my before and after pictures then. maybe.<br />
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but in the meantime the pictures you see here are some iphone faves from our vacation. i still haven't uploaded the ones from my camera. perhaps i'll get around to that someday...!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-90822826565234378322013-08-09T08:36:00.000-07:002013-08-09T08:36:06.493-07:00faves on fridayi'm so glad it's friday! this week has been a long one and we have a lot of fun planned for this weekend. i can't wait to get home and get the party started!<br />
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i'm trying to spend less time online, but i still have some faves this week.<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>blog posts:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://lindsayslist.co/2013/08/id-rather-be-a-little-fluffy-thanks/" target="_blank">i'd rather be a little fluffy, thanks</a> - this post explains how i feel about fitness so well. i want to be fit. i want to take care of myself. but i don't want to be obsessed. or miserable. or no fun because i am so focused on counting calories and working out. a must read!<br />
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<a href="http://simplemom.net/breathe/" target="_blank">breathe</a> - this post came at the perfect time, thanks <a href="http://simplemom.net/" target="_blank">simple mom</a>! this was a busy week at work and boy did i need the reminder to just calm down and breathe.<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>website:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/" target="_blank">free range kids</a> - what a great mission! reminding us that our kids need freedom to be kids. i plan to come back to this site again and again.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">books:</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345507940/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p14_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0B1CS8B2YCGJ4SRB9K7X&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846" target="_blank">The Lost Husband</a> - a great read that i could really relate to. while it is a love story, it really approaches the topic of being a mom in a great way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeX3s9gARqoEFK7dS4458FMhhhnwBtdmFcx_-9pZkDN4LjUx9ItsXb-SwG2KPDgP7ceUf3pr8fP5dNxFiNsQnSuVX5GhyAkSt3ZvdP6yqTyFramOSA19oQs1gkZ6yE5XH-44CBPacC91j/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeX3s9gARqoEFK7dS4458FMhhhnwBtdmFcx_-9pZkDN4LjUx9ItsXb-SwG2KPDgP7ceUf3pr8fP5dNxFiNsQnSuVX5GhyAkSt3ZvdP6yqTyFramOSA19oQs1gkZ6yE5XH-44CBPacC91j/s1600/Capture.PNG" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fat-Land-Americans-Became-Fattest/dp/0618380604/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376062132&sr=1-1&keywords=fat+land" target="_blank">Fat Land</a> - i'm still not done with this one. slow read, but an important one. reminding me of the little bad habits that can have a horrible affect on our health.</div>
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as i work my way through focus t25, i have to remind myself of this every. single. day. and i definitely can say that i am making progress. but deep down, i'm still wishing for perfection. hopefully the more i say this, the more at peace i will be with where i am now, knowing that i am making progress every day.</div>
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happy friday all! i'll be back tomorrow, i hope, with an update on my focus t25 progress!</div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-33087604218953868042013-08-08T08:25:00.000-07:002013-08-08T08:25:18.469-07:00a thursday with thoughtsit's my second full week of work since june. it's tough. but it's a sign of things to come.<br />
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school starts in less than two weeks. dance in three. high school football is underway. yes folks, fall is almost here.<br />
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for some reason, last year, i had a hard time with fall (and the winter and spring that followed). i'm working really hard on getting a good start this year and not letting the end of summer get me down. we have a lot to look forward at our home this year. <br />
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hubby has returned to high school football and it looks like it is going to be an amazing season. <br />
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big sis is in her last year of elementary school. it sounds like she's getting to compete in 4 dances this year in her dance company (last year she did 3), which is what she was hoping for. she's getting taller and smarter and more grown up every day. it's hard to believe.<br />
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and lil' sis is starting kindergarten. yes, i now have two kids in school full time. life is really going to get busy now! she's also starting a dance program where she'll get to do a lot more. she's really excited about that and asks every day when her classes will start. this year will be full of firsts for her. riding the bus, buying lunches at school, learning to read. i cannot wait!<br />
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as for me, nothing has changed personally, but i will get to enjoy the changes my family members are experiencing. i'm working out faithfully, reading a lot and dreaming. mostly, this year, i just want to enjoy each day as it comes. <br />
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so my promise to myself is not to stress. everything will turn out the way it was meant to. i need to breathe every day. take time to enjoy the girls. support my husband and his new football team. find as much time as possible for fun. <br />
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i have a feeling it's going to be a great school year!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-797910785758068622013-08-02T08:24:00.001-07:002013-08-02T08:24:12.985-07:00double daywe have a busy weekend ahead of us so i went ahead and did a focus t25 double day. normally i just add a sixth day to get in all six workouts, but i figured i'd see what it was like to do two workouts back to back.<br />
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it was tough.<br />
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but i loved it. maybe, just maybe, i'll try insanity soon. i woke up ten minutes earlier but had no problem getting in the 50 minute workout. i had to be more focused this morning and had less time to dilly dally, but it got it done!<br />
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today's double was speed 1.0 and abs. i love the speed 1.0 workout because it isn't as intense as some of the other workouts. you get to stretch between a lot of the cardio exercises. i am terrible at stretching and have noticed some tightness in my hip flexors and hamstrings, so this workout felt really good today.<br />
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the ab workout kills me. i cannot do v-sits very well. i don't know if it because my legs are tight or just because my abs are weak. needless to say, there were many modifications during the ab workout. i honestly don't know if i'm getting stronger...<br />
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week four of focus t25 is now done. one more week of the alpha phase and then its off to beta! i'm really excited because there's at least one workout in beta that includes weights. i miss my weights! so much so that i'm dying to get gamma as i think all of those workouts are strength based and require free weights. but that time will come soon.<br />
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for now, i still have to finish the alpha phase!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-655201083864019842013-08-01T03:11:00.001-07:002013-08-01T03:11:55.241-07:00the thief<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">for some reason the following scripture has been playing over and over in my head for the past 24 hours:</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,</span><sup class="crossreference" style="background-color: white; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26492A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup><span style="background-color: white;"> and have it to the full. - John 10:10 (NIV)</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">not sure how this got stuck in my head, but God must be trying to tell me something. i have been thinking about how some things steal my joy...mainly comparisons, perfectionism, too high expectations and jealousy. i have also been thinking about bad habits that steal my joy...for example, too much time on social media, procrastinating, and junk food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">i guess lately i have been falling for the thief's (satan's) tricks instead of seeking Jesus. i've been easily distracted by the things that steal my joy. i'm not sure why i'd let anything get me down, but i have. this past school year, in particular, was a real tough one for me. i was down more than i was up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">now that the new school year is upon us, i have to admit that i'm a little nervous. will i fall back into that slump i was in last year? or will this year be better. i guess the answer is in God's word. i know where my focus needs to be. here's to keeping it there!</span></div>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-87728274672801278212013-07-31T03:09:00.001-07:002013-07-31T03:09:49.727-07:00disconnectyesterday i ran to panera for lunch to grab my favorite strawberry poppyseed chicken salad. as soon as i got on the road i realized i had left my phone on my desk. gasp! but then...<br />
<br />
freedom!<br />
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sad, isn't it. i felt a little lost and nervous at first without my phone. even if it was only for a quick 20 minute jaunt away from the office. but what if there was an emergency? what would i do while i waited for my order? could i live without my phone for 20 minutes.<br />
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crazy! thankfully those wacky thoughts only lasted a few minutes. and then i felt relieved. and excited. no temptation to check my email or facebook feed. no way to take a quick picture of my panera bag to instagram to everyone. i could only enjoy the moment that i was in. and focus on what was around me. or think my own thoughts. i even had to listen to the radio, ads and all.<br />
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i loved it.<br />
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and i realized i need to do that more often.<br />
<br />
so last night i took the girls for a walk to a local ice cream place. it's a half hour each way. i had my phone with me for safety reasons, but it was at the bottom of my purse. i didn't check it at all during the entire hour and a half we were out. and i resisted the temptation to get on facebook to thank someone who had stopped to let us cross a busy road. <br />
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being in the moment with my daughters who are growing up oh so fast was so much better than taking pictures of us to share with the whole world right away. being able to talk to them without worrying about things happening at work was refreshing. showing them that mommy could step away from the phone was priceless.<br />
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and it will happen more often. <br />
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i realize i have done what i said i'd never do. i've become addicted to a phone. that stops now. no checking it at every stoplight on my way to and from work. no using it when i'm with the kids. no checking email while i'm making dinner. <br />
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i think getting stepping away from the phone is going to be life changing!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-59689732760646137952013-07-10T08:34:00.001-07:002013-07-10T08:34:30.574-07:00halfwayit's hard to believe, but our summer is halfway over. i've already received backpack catalogs from pottery barn kids and noticed that the school supply section is ready to go at target. how did this happen?!?!?<br />
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i'm officially on a mission to make the most of the next 6 weeks before school starts. it sure helps that we'll start off with a trip to the ocean. following that we plan to see the lion king musical, visit the american girl store, and spend lots of time in the pool. unfortunately big sis came down with swimmer's ear so the past week and a half has been "pool-free" except for lil' sis's swim lessons.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEI9fkhS0Til10yTzlANHT-hNVHQRuRBhdA8T0Sy6l_NKG5jJviKs0KfYwhuKpUn_uOfwp9w2R5oGxlMe-RznBe5MVm3JeVlXyHQSFc1vCIgE05pKt7jL8y7BeZ_tUvPHbsV-huh_VCCH/s1600/kiddos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEI9fkhS0Til10yTzlANHT-hNVHQRuRBhdA8T0Sy6l_NKG5jJviKs0KfYwhuKpUn_uOfwp9w2R5oGxlMe-RznBe5MVm3JeVlXyHQSFc1vCIgE05pKt7jL8y7BeZ_tUvPHbsV-huh_VCCH/s1600/kiddos.JPG" height="320" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before swimmer's ear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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my goal for the kids is to do a minimum of one "special" thing a week. to get the most out of our swim passes, i'd like to see us go to the pool at least 7 more times before school starts. and the rest of the time? we'll just chill at home, summer style with no worries about homework or crazy busy schedules.<br />
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personally, i'd like to read a lot more. and relax a lot more. but i should also try to get some projects done around the house before the school year madness begins.<br />
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6 weeks. 42 days. i am going to make the most of each and everyone. beginning with pedicures tonight!<br />
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<strong><em>how about you? how are you making the most out of the second half of summer?</em></strong>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-12012863531661971212013-07-06T06:30:00.001-07:002013-07-06T06:30:35.452-07:00double daytoday was double day for me. thankfully it's a saturday so i had time to do the workouts back to back. <br />
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the plan says to do lower focus and cardio. i did lower focus and core speed (the bonus workout i received). i already did cardio once this week and i like to mix it up to not get bored. again, i had to modify parts of both workouts. but even during the modified parts i felt i was getting a great workout. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxl8ifv5dqK9-j-mWMQWk5gSYJ3w4g27h4AsFThjHwd8pKsoVIGsIK-PfOoTXViEQgOrE9qxpfseZxl6MvJBL_a3EKzZTio1KtIVIgB-8lNW2eauDkUy8uLjSDS16B0txOk5JDP2JitQo/s1600/watch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxl8ifv5dqK9-j-mWMQWk5gSYJ3w4g27h4AsFThjHwd8pKsoVIGsIK-PfOoTXViEQgOrE9qxpfseZxl6MvJBL_a3EKzZTio1KtIVIgB-8lNW2eauDkUy8uLjSDS16B0txOk5JDP2JitQo/s320/watch2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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after the first week, i'd say my favorite workout would be either the cardio or the core speed. the ab intervals will be my biggest challenge and i'll be thrilled when i feel i've mastered it. i'm already anxious to see how the beta workouts will be. <br />
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today is also stat saturday. i took my initial measurements on monday and measured again today. the good news: i lost half a pound, an inch in my chest and a quarter inch in my thighs. the bad news: i gained an inch in my waist. which is my trouble area. what's up with that?!?!?! i'm guessing i'm retaining water. i have not been drinking much water so i will be sure to up my water intake this week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeABpt5Yk4E1KYX1p6wo1Kc7ETpKfJR1FixbBoY9INmkc3MabGCP20pInEKoDEuid8lVm2WrCdN2RzbTrJFFEVz8xPcjxwrR8sIGe2w4TBfDf_-l1bYr0vRnuUU9SkocXpz_BKyP4wstB/s1600/success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeABpt5Yk4E1KYX1p6wo1Kc7ETpKfJR1FixbBoY9INmkc3MabGCP20pInEKoDEuid8lVm2WrCdN2RzbTrJFFEVz8xPcjxwrR8sIGe2w4TBfDf_-l1bYr0vRnuUU9SkocXpz_BKyP4wstB/s320/success.jpg" width="317" /></a></div>
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i'm not gonna lie. when i saw my waist got bigger i wanted to give up. it's so frustrating to see that. but it has only been a week. this is a ten week program. i'll be taking a week off for vacation. while i'll be running that week, i'm not sure i'll be eating very well. i will try my best to balance enjoying myself and not overindulging. but when i get back, i'll have 8 more weeks of the program. i'm going to stick to the plan and not give up so that in mid-september i can see some sort of results. even if it's only a tiny change. that's better than nothing.<br />
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in the meantime, i'm going to enjoy my weekend!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-64877916848155663702013-07-05T09:16:00.002-07:002013-07-05T09:54:47.951-07:00faves on fridaytoday's a tired day. three late nights in a row. three early mornings. busy, filled days. a few more hours until the weekend, thank goodness. and a cut and color, which is about two months overdue. i have been mostly happy this week, but have had some down moments. so glad vacation is coming up soon. i need to get away from it all and come back to a fresh start.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvQ0LHQlUinDtcQsBalzcrDU6VLBj76K2ejD1hgyiYxQcLlynNUpFbO4npl_TDo-DmSi3YI3d4TgBIUTS4s3TJV3CoaJiiHjR6MjrwOhWelhL2HzLJontZlGujGo8yHzZ419nMeJp_-d4/s1600/sea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvQ0LHQlUinDtcQsBalzcrDU6VLBj76K2ejD1hgyiYxQcLlynNUpFbO4npl_TDo-DmSi3YI3d4TgBIUTS4s3TJV3CoaJiiHjR6MjrwOhWelhL2HzLJontZlGujGo8yHzZ419nMeJp_-d4/s1600/sea.JPG" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/93822032/just-get-me-near-the-sea-8x10-doodle" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
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what i've found this week online that i love:<br />
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<a href="http://lifewithgreyson.blogspot.com/2013/07/july-4th.html" target="_blank">july 4th</a> - i recently discovered the <a href="http://lifewithgreyson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">life with greyson + parker</a> blog. i think i need to read all of chrissy's posts. although we have different struggles, i find her to be very inspiring and motivating. today she talks about facing reality, in a good way.<br />
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<a href="http://www.darwinianfail.com/2013/06/july-bodylove-summer-challenge.html" target="_blank">july #bodyLOVE summer challenge</a> - another new blog for me and another positive message. this time about body image. something i struggle with greatly. <br />
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<a href="http://simplemom.net/be-like-the-sun-move-slowly-radiate-warmth-shine/" target="_blank">be like the sun</a> - <a href="http://simplemom.net/" target="_blank">simple mom's </a>monday inspirational pieces are the best!<br />
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that's all for now. it was a busy week with little time surfing the net. that's a good thing since it meant more time for family and fun. happy friday everyone!<br />
<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-14982058157811592432013-07-04T06:03:00.002-07:002013-07-05T09:55:21.041-07:00killer abstoday i did the focus t25 ab interval workout. it was really tough. again, i think i like that because i couldn't do all of the exercises perfectly so i have something to work for. at the same time, though, i was a little frustrated because i didn't feel i was getting as good of a workout as i could if i did everything right. but whenever i felt frustrated i tried to picture myself 10 weeks from now having mastered the workout. what fun would it be if i did it perfectly the first time around, right?<br />
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i often feel so frustrated because results don't come quick, especially now that I am getting closer to 40. i like this picture above because it reminds me to not give up. as long as i'm taking care of myself and staying consistent i will get there. it will take longer than i like, but that's ok because i'm making positive choices every day. and even if i don't look perfect, my health gets better every day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUZWBOt7SlxAvQZWG8JxPNWmBpbz62Ot4GbBLj-x6tU4LWFKTE4eo2Wk4NZqGB_yYwH0l2JoVXt3E3XJJ0qqVCpd9mlWSWQ-waPpiQ63mDz3mRKmATU7OYKIG85EqOgW3ye7bneCNlSxC/s1600/watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUZWBOt7SlxAvQZWG8JxPNWmBpbz62Ot4GbBLj-x6tU4LWFKTE4eo2Wk4NZqGB_yYwH0l2JoVXt3E3XJJ0qqVCpd9mlWSWQ-waPpiQ63mDz3mRKmATU7OYKIG85EqOgW3ye7bneCNlSxC/s320/watch.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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since today's workout had a low calorie burn, the holiday is going to be a challenge. i'm determined to not overindulge. i will focus on eating fruits and veggies and will avoid the chips and dip. i will stick to one, maybe two, glasses of wine, and i will drink lots of water. i will not allow the holiday to distract me from my goals.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-28136417770192361242013-07-03T03:18:00.002-07:002013-07-05T09:55:35.664-07:00total body circuiti stayed out late last night and was then woken up by big sis at 3 am and still did my focus t25 workout this morning. it was a little tough, probably because i was exhausted before i even started, but i still did it!<br />
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one thing i like about focus t25 so far is that i cannot do all of the moves perfectly. so i know i have something to work up to. today there was a lot of plank work and push ups. that's hard for me. i know i will be super sore tomorrow. <br />
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food wise last night i went out and had two glasses of wine and some wings. why i do that, i don't know. i ate well all day so i don't feel completely horrible about it, but i still know that was really unhealthy. this is where i struggle. i was meeting up with friends. and i wanted to enjoy myself. i love wine and i love wings. so how can i resist? i guess the reality is that i need to work on the 80/20 rule where you eat healthy 80% of the time. there has to be room in there for indulgences. i hope last night fits into that 20%!<br />
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tomorrow will be another challenge with 4th of july celebrations. thankfully the menu has lots of healthy options on it. and i am pretty sure i'm going to do the double workout of the week tomorrow to help burn extra calories on the day i'll probably be eating more. wish me luck!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-89739893243197313392013-07-02T03:08:00.001-07:002013-07-05T09:55:45.128-07:00my second day of focus t25today i did the speed 1.0 workout. i have to admit i was a little disappointed in it at first. the first 15 minutes you alternate stretching with speed work and it's a little slow going, you heart rate doesn't stay up for long and it seemed pretty easy.<br />
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but then i got my butt kicked in the last 10 minutes!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMu_WtW1X9S4n981DqWcJapki3Nad9RBpCDbTZF-v9xZoyr1dGzCi5ItP6f2LNmZo3SDmBqSSfzhx7yji_3ElzGmsVdFJPcmoPTYUjVsD2W6a9-pn5KMGj8tcL3SuwcwZYSG4aWKGMCaI/s1600/sweat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMu_WtW1X9S4n981DqWcJapki3Nad9RBpCDbTZF-v9xZoyr1dGzCi5ItP6f2LNmZo3SDmBqSSfzhx7yji_3ElzGmsVdFJPcmoPTYUjVsD2W6a9-pn5KMGj8tcL3SuwcwZYSG4aWKGMCaI/s320/sweat.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is super sweaty me after speed 1.0!</td></tr>
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so, although i didn't burn as many calories as yesterday, i did enjoy the challenge at the end. and i can see what the workout is getting at. you really do work your core in these exercises. and i can tell my legs will be getting stronger. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu3P-DNfSqQlmCIrABQ-tk21erll0Avrx7d8owH4TXJONQ08rucjuIgssAW5Klk3Am6rgT9bYVbiUA9r1GUQf2fIhGAw9KrWtYb4lO96_tHe6EMICUr0gbEuFESbSlKpUM42GnWNRnHgT/s1600/2watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu3P-DNfSqQlmCIrABQ-tk21erll0Avrx7d8owH4TXJONQ08rucjuIgssAW5Klk3Am6rgT9bYVbiUA9r1GUQf2fIhGAw9KrWtYb4lO96_tHe6EMICUr0gbEuFESbSlKpUM42GnWNRnHgT/s320/2watch.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a little less calories burned than yesterday, but that's ok!</td></tr>
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i'm really excited to see what tomorrow's workout brings!<br />
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as for food, i did really good yesterday. i was able to eat more than i expected. i'm still nervous about keeping up with eating well. but i know that's where success will be found. my flabby tummy was created by a lousy diet. i need to step it up and stop eating so much junk and i need to start keeping my calorie intake in line. i'm not 18 anymore! Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970652979347625179.post-28907381136516061612013-07-01T03:16:00.001-07:002013-07-05T09:55:55.862-07:00alphatoday i officially began focus t25 with the alpha cardio workout. i'll admit i had to modify a few times because i wasn't ready for the intensity. i think if i had been running regularly it would have been easier, but i've been focusing more on strength lately thus the high impact cardio was a little rough for me in parts. but i did burn a decent amount of calories in 25 minutes.<br />
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before i did the workout, i took my measurements and some before pictures. i'm not ready to share those yet, but hopefully i will feel comfortable posting them in a few weeks when i show my progress from the alpha phase.<br />
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now, for me, the exercise is the easy part. i really enjoy working out and have no trouble motivating myself to do so. the hard part is the eating. i love to eat. and i don't really understand why i have to suffer to lose weight and look great. but, as this past year has shown me, what you eat really does affect your results. i've been drinking too much wine. enjoying too many sweets. not watching portion sizes. and as someone approaching 40, i'm learning i cannot do this anymore. so i've set my goal on myfitnesspal to lose one pound a week. and boy oh boy is that a teeny bit of calories. but i know i can do this. it's going to take some adjustments, but i hope to see some major changes over the next 10 weeks!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01949408933370771494noreply@blogger.com0