Keeping on the sunny side

Wow! What a rough morning. I think the late softball nights have finally caught up with the girlies. Gwen spent the morning throwing tantrums every time a "boy song" came on the radio. And there were spills. And someone put a garbage bag that was supposed to go out to the curb last night on top of my favorite purse. And that garbage bag leaked all kinds on stank right into the pockets of that favorite purse. And I didn't exercise this morning specifically so I could get all the girls to ballet on time. And once the girls were all in the car AND buckled up (which rarely happens without the raising of my voice), I discovered that Steve took MY keys to work this morning. So no ballet. No peaceful trip to the grocery store minus the two ballerinas to get the lunch meat I'm in desperate need of. Oh, and then another temper tantrum when I made Gwen get out of the car because I had no keys. So I'm singing to myself.....

Keep on the sunny side,

Always on the sunny side.

Keep on the sunny side of life.....

By the way, this is the song I envision my 4 girlies singing in perfect 4-part harmony one day. Anyway, Steve did eventually bring me my keys, but not in time for ballet. And after the morning I'd had, I was about to break down and bake cookies. But then I remembered the size smaller jeans I bought last night and decided it would be wiser to break the cardinal gardening rule of the Northland......Under NO circumstances should you EVER buy flowers before Memorial Day. Because of the threat of snowstorms and such. Anyway, it was either cookie dough or a calorie-free trip to the greenhouse.

*Sigh*

Zinnias=Happiness

Mom's Day

This is my mom.

She is the best mom EVER.

I am SOOOO blessed.

Plastic, please.

Just thought I'd share some pictures of my little geniuses 

flying their kites garbage bags:)

Economical.

Good exercise.

No adult assistance required.

Oh, Happy Day!

Alternate Title: Everyone Poops

........except me. And often my 2 year old daughter. It must be genetic because neither does one of my parents. We can load up on all the flaxseed, double fiber bread, prunes, bran, and coconut oil in the world and we still barely poop marbles. TMI, sorry.

So for some reason, (probably the recent and quite sudden 30 degree drop in temperature) I've been waking up with the overwhelming desire to nurse a warm cup-o-joe. Yesterday was the third morning in a row that I indulged in my sweet Tiramisu creamer with coffee treat, and let me tell you........what ensued quite shortly after the consumption of that delicious beverage has left me an incredibly changed and oh so happy woman.

I had to google it just to confirm my suspicions......"coffee and poop" to be exact. 

......bringing my total weight loss 23 pounds!!!!!!

Currently adding coffee and toilet paper to my shopping list:)

My baby is 8!

Addie turned 8 on Monday! I will spare you the emotional details of how I'm feeling about my firstborn......the "prettiest thing I ever saw" (the words I cried when she was finally safe in my arms) and her much too quickly passing childhood. Just know that I am so very proud of my baby girl:)

We decided to spread her "party" over the weekend, mostly because it's fun to celebrate sweet little girls who are very easy to please. Addie requested a Subway picnic and a trip to a park "with a big field where we can run."  We didn't exactly find a big field, but there were plenty of trails for hiking and a high tower overlooking our beautiful city.

Ella insisted on wearing flip flops.

This is what we call dressing in layers,

a "must-do" in our area any time of year.

alive.

yes. yes I am.

and now your little sidebars won't remind me that I haven't blogged in three weeks.

excuse me while I go check this off my to-do list.

sick and sore, but soon to be svelte

So, I've read a few posts by big name bloggers who publish posts solely to inform their readers that they are under the weather and they will be back soon. So this is me, informing you that I am sick. I was on the couch most of the day yesterday, buried under 3 thick blankets, shivering, feverish, aching, watching the house become messier by the minute and yet too sore to even open my mouth to tell the kids to pick up their Candy Land cards and crayons. Thankfully, my kids are all independent enough to survive a few hours without supervision. I remember the horrible days of suffering from the flu with a newborn needing my frequent attention. Ugh. Bad news. I suppose I should also give credit to Addie for stepping up to the mommy plate today. She has made this so much easier.

I'm feeling tons better today not taking into account my burning lungs of FIRE and my throbbing glutes. Steve and I started our intense P90X routine last week and it is KILLER! As Tony Horton says, "I hate it! But I love it!" Down 16 pounds as of today:) I've been eating healthier than ever and haven't had chocolate in weeks. Which I was basically fine with until reading my cousin's post all about chocolate yesterday. This morning I woke up with a killer craving for a caramel Cadbury egg. Mmmmmmmm. (Cadbury eggs may possibly take 97% credit for my 11 pound spring baby.) Thanks for reminding me of what I am missing Kim! Thanks a lot;)

So that's it. I'm sick. And sore. And apparently too busy eating 6 small protein filled meals a day to keep up with my blog. Stay tuned for my smokin hot "after" P90X photos.......which I'm hoping will resemble some of these.

I did it myself!

The braids, that is. 

For those of you who know me or who have seen me frantically trying to comb the snarls from my girlies' hair right as church is about to begin, you realize what a seriously big deal this is.

 Gwenny is so much more angelic without that sassy hair hanging in her face. 

I did it myself! YAY for me!

Lucky #7

Sorry folks. No photos to show all SEVEN of your names on slips of paper and one of my angelic darlings reaching in to pull the lucky winner from a hat. It boiled down to this. Me, "Hey hun, pick a number, 1-7." Steve, "seven." You'll just have to take my word for it.

So Julie (the seventh and final commenter), you are the not so big winner of the not so big prize of my not so big blog with my not so big fan club. Whatever. Good thing I blog for purely personal reasons;) Email Facebook me your address and I'll ship out your valuable loot. Congrats! You probably needed a shot of pink in your life more than the others (minus the 52 baby girl outfits you just bought at Kohls;)

Head Over Feet

Some Valentine's fudge with toffee sprinkles

spread out on a Cath Kidston napkin covered garage sale Corelle plate.

I call it Cath on a budget.

It's kinda dry. Maybe I boiled it too long?

No handmade Valentines this year. Sorry folks. 

The creative bug did bite me pretty hard this week, 

but I've been spending my time sprucing up some dollar store composition books. 

Before I add a few finishing touches and give some away as gifts

I thought I'd "click.......take a pic." 

Or four.

Tell me how I've lived 32 years without knowing the joy

of double sided tape and a glue gun!?!?

Addie had fun "helping" me with the one for her friend Nadia.

Nadia has pet llamas, hence the back cover.

My fave. 

Finally, I found a way to use some fabulous vintage wrapping paper 

I found at a garage sale last year!

You may be surprised to hear that our (Steve and Julie) song is by the angry man-hating Alanis Morisette. The words seemed perfect for our "situation," [very long story] and after forgetting his big work boots at my parent's house after one of his first few visits, I printed the lyrics in the shape of his foot, tucked them in his boots, and shipped them back to MI. It's been our song ever since. So in honor of one of my favorite holidays.....I love you baby. And I'm still head over feet.

"Head Over Feet"

I had no choice but to hear you

You stated your case time and again

I thought about it

You treat me like I'm a princess

I'm not used to liking that

You ask how my day was

You've already won me over in spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet

Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault

Your love is thick and it swallowed me whole

You're so much braver than I gave you credit for

That's not lip service

You've already won me over in spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet

Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault

You are the bearer of unconditional things

You held your breath and the door for me

Thanks for your patience

You're the best listener that I've ever met

You're my best friend

Best friend with benefits

What took me so long

I've never felt this healthy before

I've never wanted something rational

I am aware now

I am aware now

You've already won me over in spite of me

And don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet

Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are

I couldn't help it

It's all your fault