wednesday morning thoughts

Okay, so, this morning I attempted to do an Xtreme Barre workout video. Just one I came across on On Demand. PEOPLE! That stuff is no joke. My legs were literally shaking about 9 minutes in. I kept looking down at them while I did wonky plies on my tip toes, thinking- are those really my legs shaking? Is this really happening?? It was bizarre. Suffice it to say I did not complete the entire 36 minutes. Oh no. But I will be trying again later this week!

I'm really excited to try these yummy black bean and sweet potato quesadillas tonight. YUM!

The other morning I found a few wayward ants around my kitchen sink. Every spring those dumb, determined little boogers try to cramp my fling open all the windows and let the spring air in style by coming in our kitchen window. SO annoying.

I discovered Hazel & Olive clothing through a friend on Facebook and I am in love! Have you seen it? They have such fun, girly dresses and at really great prices. I wish I was the type of girl who actually "got ready" each day and looked cute and breezy in a pretty dress while trolling the aisles of Target. I can dream, right? I want this and this and this top. And this!

Evie's new favorite word is "sure!" But it sounds more like "sir" when she says it. :) I swear, she said it no less than 96 times yesterday. Love it.

Oh, what else did she say yesterday, you ask? At dinnertime she looked at me and said "I got a lot of energy". Aaaaannnnnddddd that was my cue to head out to Bible study and leave daddy in charge for the night

I feel like I have attempted to store away my winter boots at least 5 times this month, thinking boot weather was over for good. Only to have to dig them out a day or two later. I'M OVER YOU, WINTER!

It's officially garage sale season! I get so excited every time I drive by a big neighborhood and see their 'Neighborhood Garage Sale This Saturday' signs on display. I'm nerdy like that. And neighborhood garage sales are the best. My friend Sarah and I are planning to do one together in a few weeks, so I really need to start going through all of our closets. Time to purge!

motivated.

Happy Monday!

What a week last week was, right?? I was literally glued to the tv on Friday evening as everything was unfolding and they were closing in on the second Boston Marathon suspect. I am still amazed that we live in this type of world, where we can literally watch these things happen from our living room. Praise Jesus that they caught him ALIVE. I kept thinking how surreal it must have been for the people of Boston and Watertown, on lock down all day.. and then for that family to look back in their backyard and realize things looked different than they had a few hours ago and that there were some bloody clothes out there... !!! I can't even imagine. And of course, for all of the victims and their families- continued prayers.

Last week was a bit of a doozy for me on some personal levels as well, but I am now ready to wipe it all away and start things over with a fresh Monday outlook. After a looong winter of sitting on my hiney and pretending to hibernate, I am more than ready to bust out the shorts and spring dresses and look good while wearing them. Which means I need to jump on the workout train, stat. 

So last night I ate one more taco than was wise and firmly decided that today I would start fresh. I went to bed googling Tracy Anderson videos, wondering if I should order one of her dance cardio videos to get me in gear. I am trying to be realistic and honest with myself and how I stay on track. If it's a group thing or a class- I'm all in. We did Running Moms all last year, which was great. I do like to run. But I can find so many reasons to talk myself out of running on my own. Plus it can get boring to me when I'm alone (or pushing Evie). I would love to take Barre or Pilates or yoga classes, buuuuuttt I don't really want to pay for them at the moment. 

So I think my plan here is to mix things up by doing some different videos, strength training and running. Mainly? JUST GET MOVING. I may even have to give myself some incentive like a new dress or something if I keep with this for the next few weeks. We'll see.

I kicked things off this morning by doing the first half of an On Demand dance cardio video, then cranked up Pandora and pranced and kicked my way around our living room for 20 minutes. It was as sexy as you're imagining. My daughter was extremely entertained. I am also bound and determined to stop eating so much crap.

So what about you? Have you started any pre-swimsuit season workouts?

Evie Time {book worm}

This girl loves, loves to read. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

I've loved to read for as long as I can remember... back to frequent summer trips to the downtown library with my grandma... flying through every Michael Crichton book my dad would let me read after seeing the midnight showing of Jurassic Park... laboring through Wuthering Heights when I was about 8... trying to figure out all the 17th century English language in The Last of the Mohicans in the 5th or 6th grade... begging my mom to buy me a fat new Christian fiction novel every.single.weekend at our local book store. I read fast, furiously and way above my age range and could always be found under my covers at night, deep into a book when I should have been fast asleep.

But this isn't all me- this girl and her books. Her daddy loves to read, too. And the thing is, with our busy days, we tend to do most of our reading in bed at night. Which means Evie doesn't necessarily see us reading. So this love of hers for books- it's all hers. 

We have always made it a habit to read to her, especially at bedtime. I started doing this regularly when she was about 3 months old. And I've made a promise to myself to drop whatever I'm doing and sit down with my girl any time she asks me to read to her. It's not always possible, but it's one of the few things I believe is always worth it. For both of us.

And now? Well now I find her at least 2 or 3 times a day like this. In some quiet spot in the house by herself, pouring over a book. And it makes my heart ache just a bit every single time it happens. 

Don't ever stop reading, baby. Read all you can, about anything and everything. You won't regret one minute of it. 

randomness

On Monday, Evie started calling hubby DAD. That's not good, folks. DAD = a big kid. I kept correcting her, trying to get her to only call him Daddy.  I remember last year when she started calling me Mommy instead of Mama, and I about had a fit about it. I don't want this girl to ever grow up.

I am trying, trying, trying to get all of these home details figured out and decided. It's not easy! Especially when you have a budget. Give me a million dollars and I'll have a home spec sheet filled out in a quick minute. Today I'm trying to really nail down the lighting, as evidenced by my Pinterest boards.

Is anyone else watching Celebrity Apprentice? We got into it a couple of seasons ago, and it's one of the only shows we watch together. (a couple that vegges out on the couch together, stays together. that's my motto). Anyway, I am SO thrilled that Omarosa is finally gone, and how about that Gary Busey?? He is cra-cray!

Also on the tv front- I am loving The Mindy Project. Hi-larious.

Can I just say that I am SO ready for the end of the skinny jeans era? These hips don't lie and what they've been screaming for quite some time now, is that they need a little bootcut/flare action around the ankles to balance them out. I mean, I sport the skinnies, but it's very clear they're not my (or lots of other peoples! ahem!) most flattering fashion moment.

So we were supposed to get amazing storms overnight and all day today. So far, not much. Kuddos to you, weatherman. Regardless, I think Evie and I will be holed up indoors all day today, since it does look cold out there.

At Evie's dance class yesterday, I was informed that there would be recital coming up. And since this class is of the Mommy & Me variety, yours truly will have to perform with her. Translated, that means the moms will be doing all sorts of ballet moves and coordinated choreography while the 2 year olds run around us on the stage like banshees. I'm reeeeaaaaaly looking forward to it.

Since we'll be in all day, I think the girl and I may stay in our jammies and do some baking. And I'll be drinking my weight in coffee. Sounds good to me! What are you up to today?

Easter 2013

I know I'm a week late, but I still wanted to document a little bit of our Easter this year. Evie hit the jackpot with 3 little Easter egg hunts and by the last one, she had it down pat. So much fun!

   

  

  

Happy Easter!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:6

I am hers.

Early last week, my girl came down with a little cold. Nothing serious, just some coughs and sneezes that started in the afternoon that told me instinctively it would be a long night. Nights and naps are always the toughest when your little one isn't feeling great. That night was no exception, and with nearly hourly wake-ups and cries for "mommy can hold you just one minute?", we were all tired in the morning. So when I heard her crying about 20 minutes into her nap the next day, I decided to take one for the team and hold and rock her so she could sleep.

It's not something I do often anymore... my tiny little girl grows longer and heavier by the day. And frankly, I want her to sleep in her own bed. But there are times, like that day, when it's necessary. I just wanted my baby to get some much needed rest.

So we cuddled up in the rocking chair, with all her snuggies (her lovies), a cozy blanket and I'm sure a baby doll or stuffed animal friend. I smoothed her hair back off her forehead and rocked and rocked. And within minutes, I could tell she was fast asleep.

It is still a wonder to me, this girl. This child, who I carried in my own body, who (for now), prefers me to all others when she's hurt or upset or in need of comfort.

In her sleep, she crawled all over me. Her arms flung across my body, her face found it's way into the crook of my neck... she rearranged and refolded herself on top of me mindlessly, unconsciously. I was poked and pushed and bumped and not all that comfortable, really. But I sat there, rocking softly, knowing that my very presence- my body, my scent, my familiar form and touch- was a comfort. That she felt so completely at ease in my arms. As though I was an extension of her. As she is an extension of me.

I don't imagine that when she's 12 and gangly, she'll still want to watch Cinderella with me on the couch every night, crawling all over my chest and face as she sings along to Bibbity Bobbity Boo. She won't cry out for me to hold her and rock her when she's not feeling great. She'll grow into her own limbs, steadily and cautiously moving away from my arms, resisting my hourly requests for a kiss and squeeze. It makes me cry to even think about.

But for now, I am hers. Hers to nestle into, hers to reach for, to cry out for in the middle of a rough night. She carved her way into my heart and body the moment she was conceived. She claimed a part of me that is hers alone.

And I give it to her readily, easily. Without hesitation. Wholeheartedly.

I am hers.

Introducing: coco & moss

The shop is open!

 

 

I've been working feverishly the past few weeks, trying to get everything ready to open my new little Etsy shop, which I've named coco & moss.

 

 

For today's opening, I have the shop stocked with adorable girls ruffled aprons. Each is one-of-a-kind and there are lots of fun patterns and colors to choose from. I was really inspired by spring and new beginnings for these aprons, wanting each one to feel fresh and bright. I had a hard time deciding which one I wanted to keep for Evie Girl!

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy looking through the shop and I would love it if you would share with all your friends, Pin a pic, email, tweet, favorite the shop or whatever to help me get the word out! :) I'll be starting on some additional products to list this week and will be sure to let you all know about them along the way.