an Irish Quote for Sunday...

May you have love that never ends,
lots of money, and lots of friends.
Health be yours, whatever you do,
and may God send many blessings to you!

Decorating Idea - Simply Impossible?

I have no clue where I first saw this "idea", but the more I think about it the more I love it.

Then I got this e-mail from Restoration Hardware and it nudged me just a bit more to make this idea happen for real.

I would like to cover the upper portion of my little guy's walls with vintage maps.  In a wallpaper, decopage kind of way.  The bottom portion of the walls will be wood of sorts.

Hubby loves the idea, but isn't sure how to make it happen.

I'm not either.

Anyone?  Any ideas how to put old vintage maps onto the walls so that they will look like a funky wallpaper?  Or am I just dreaming...

I'm THAT Girl

What girl?

Well, when your husband rents a 26 foot truck, 

with a lift, 

what's a girl gonna do?

She's going to make ask him to go to IKEA.

For that slip-covered sofa that's MUCH better on the budget 

than the one at Pottery Barn.

Yup.  I'm THAT girl!

Tales From The Treadmill (Day 53)

Ladies, repeat after me...

Spandex is a privilege, not a right.

This is my new motto.  I'm thinking of having it put on t-shirts and billboards and bumper stickers...

Now, I am not a small girl these days.  I used to be, but not so much today (but I'm working on it).  But, whatever your size, you have to be real.  You have to know what does and does NOT flatter your body.
I've told this to my daughter for her entire life.  Just because they sell it in your size doesn't mean you should wear it.  Dress to flatter YOUR body.

Which leads me to the scenes from "The Treadmill".

Tiny girl, budda belly - do not wear midriff shirts.  Big girl running on the treadmill - do not wear midriff shirts.  Girl with the jiggly junk in the trunk - do not wear spandex.  PLEASE.

There are polar opposites at the gym.  Some people just grab the spandex and go and think all is well with the world.  Spandex is strictly reserved for people with bodies like Jillian Michaels.  LOL  - The rest of us should be wearing something tasteful like yoga pants.  But there is this one gal who I think won the award for feeling worse than me at the gym.  I wanted to hug her.  Why?  Because she was wearing men's sweatpants and a t-shirt with holes in it, and they weren't flattering at all.  How do I know they were men's?  I owned a pair and threw them out.  Yes, she was a bigger girl, but it doesn't mean she isn't a girl.  But, many of us have gone down the road where we just lose our spirit and don't care anymore.  Sad, but true.

Okay, enough gloom.

Remember me telling you about the 80's gal?  Well, the other night she was there - in full spandex and gold glory and she did my worst fear.  She was seriously rocking it out to the iPod.  We're talking Night at the Roxbury head slamming full-force.  Do you know what it takes not to laugh out loud to something like that?

Bad hair dye girl was back with her "let's get physical" headband and pinkish-orangish blonde hair.

Biff the rower was back in his country club sweater.  And so was perfect bod guy with the butt that makes you want to reach out and touch it.

But, I saw someone new...
Shar-Pei guy.  Holy smokes his body was rocking.  He was bald (I have this thing lately - don't ask) but the back of his head looked like a Shar-Pei.  I kept watching it to see if it would go away, perhaps his head was at an odd angle, but it wasn't.  It never ever went away.  Ruined the whole thing for me.  (I'm sure he's crushed - NOT).

Have I mentioned Biggest Loser Guy before?  He's there when I go on Tuesday and Thursday nights when my son has his fitness class.  He's a big big guy.  I am so encouraged to see him there - trying.  But lately he makes me want to go all Jillian on him.  He is on the treadmill, walking (only varying between a 1.8 and a 2.1) but he stops constantly.  To wipe off the sweat.  I walk and wipe.  Others walk and wipe.  He does not.  More than anything I want to see this guy succeed.  But, this frustrates me to no end.  I honestly see Jillian going all psycho on him screaming while perched on the treadmill next to him.  UGH.  I wish I could encourage him.

Oh and one other funny (or not so funny) image that I have taken notice of lately.  Many (like LOTS) of men have a serious bald spot on the top of their heads.  Were men always this way and I never noticed or is this something new?

On an up-side?  I am starting to feel like a regular at the gym.  Like maybe I do belong.  I've even looked a few people in the eye.  (something I haven't done in years).  Maybe I'm going to be okay after all.

Taxi Driver...

Do you ever feel like a taxi driver?

Lately, I've been feeling like one more often than not.

This is tough for me, but I keep going.

Let's take one day for me this week.

7:30 Drop off Big at chess club before school

8:15 Drop off teen girl at school

8:35  Get to work

12:45 leave work and go to gym

1:00 - 2:15 Workout

2:30 pick up Mr. Big

2:45 pick up Teen Daughter at school

3:15 pick up #1 son from school

3:45 drop off #1 son at his place

4:10 drop off teen girl at driving school for make-up class

(not how to apply while driving, but re-do a class she missed)

5:00 Mr. Big has swimming lesson till 5:30

6:30 pick up teen girl from her class

and bring her to her tumbling lesson 20 minutes away...

Do you have days like this?  

Lately more often than not my days resemble this schedule.

I guess it keeps me out of trouble, right?

Shave and a Haircut..

Okay, no shave, he's only 9 - but some serious hair-cuttin' went on at my house!

I am not a fan of little boys with messy hair.  I have always been a fan of the buzz cut on boys.

But, being a mom who chooses her battles, I let my little man, Mr. Big, grow his hair out for a while.

But, he has been going to the gym and swimming quite a bit lately and that brings on, what I like to call,

stinky boy head.  And let's face it - he's a boy who really doesn't care about taking the time to wash his hair

with serious scrubbing.  So we agreed - take it off.  Take it ALL off.

Now, bring on the gym !!

Make A Difference Monday - Week 4

I have decided that I want to do little things to Make A Difference in life of another.  

This could be anyone, anywhere, at anytime during the day.

Maybe it's leaving my husband a note for when he gets up in the morning.

Maybe it's giving my child an extra hug or kiss in the morning and a treat in their lunch.

Maybe it's paying for the coffee of the person behind me in line at Starbuck's.

Maybe it's a simple as telling someone that I value them.

But I think Monday is the perfect day to Make a Difference.

Will you join me?

I hope you will.  Do share what you choose to do and how it was received and how it made YOU feel.

Let's make Monday - Make a Difference Day!!!

Last week I told an acquaintance/friend just how special she was to me and how thankful I am to have her in my life.  She's been going through a lot lately and I made her day.  Made her feel special and happy.  It made ME feel good.

Did you join in?  What did you do?  

Will you join in this week?  Come back and tell me what you did.

Last week I prayed for friends while on the phone who were having a difficult time.  Not what I had set out to do, but it is what presented itself.

Saturday Sayings...

May you always have walls for the winds,

a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,

laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,

and all your heart might desire.

While I've Been Sick...

Life has gone on around here and 

busy doesn't even begin to cover it.

My daughter (the blurr upside down) is learning her back tuck now that she has mastered her standing and running flip-flops.  I'm so proud of how she sets her mind on something and never ever gives up.

My kiddo, a.k.a. Mr. Big, played the Grandmaster of Chess through his chess club.

I'm proud to say that he lasted longer than 60% of his fellow chess club members.

Shelby-Lou never leaves my side when I'm sick, but the poor thing is starting to look like the grinch with those crazy paws and desperately needs a trip to the groomer.

My girl Grace Kelly has been my 

loyal and dependable protector.

And Stella (the puppy) makes me laugh 

at her ridiculous silly puppy behaviors.

Heaven help me when she's full grown.

So, that's been life around here.

Now that I'm feeling better, it's back to the gym and I'd better get those household chores tackled before I lose all control over the house.

Wish me luck.

Tales From The Treadmill (Day 46)

Lesson learned.


Be very careful of the songs you listen to on your i-pod while on the treadmill or elliptical or bike.  


There are some songs that I automatically sing along with for some reason.  It's impulse.  The problem is that, I cannot sing.  Nope, I cannot.  My children don't sing well either.  I'm honest about it.  I don't lie to myself or to my children.  We are not singers.  So, I advise you to be very careful about the choices you make while in public - I almost (not quite, but almost) started singing along the other day.  Fortunately for my-self and for the public I caught myself and did not.  But, I immediately removed that song from the workout playlist selection.


Also, be very careful NOT to attempt to dance along with your favorite song.  Treadmill dancing is best left to the professionals.  Caught myself a couple of times recently and truly almost face-planted.  Which although would have provided many people with interesting material, I would have been scarred physically and emotionally.


Train Wreck Girl...
So we all know what it's like.  You don't want to look, it's a train wreck, but you cannot pull yourself away.  It's tragic.
Elliptical "Train Wreck" Girl fits this description completely.
First, she needs a haircut.  Her hair is down to her buttocks, but at least 12-inches of it is pure fuzz.  I'm a bit obsessive over hair and it being healthy so this makes me insane.  So, she's on the elliptical, in front of my treadmill.  She's been there many many times and I'm used to seeing her there.  She goes on and on and on for forever running on this bad boy.  Normally I just become distracted by her unhealthy yet long hair, but the other day was different.  She had on very very light colored shorts and a thong.  UGH.  I knew that something horrible was about to happen, but I couldn't for the life of me look away.  Then it happened.  She had a line of sweat growing from her butt.  It looked like the girl pee'd herself.  It was horrifying.  Yet, she kept going and the sweat kept growing.  Just sitting here typing about it makes me shake my head.  I only wish her hair would have covered her sweat - even if it is unhealthy.




Oh and then there was Morticia.  This was the most insane outfit I've ever seen.
She was all in black (no biggie) but she had on this shirt that was kinda wrapped around her and was a gauzy material.  But the sleeves were long and ripped and flowed just like Morticia from the Adams Family.  So ya know what happened in my head...The theme song!  And yes, she had black hair.  Kinda funny, in an eerie sort of way.


So, I'm still going to the gym.  Still working out.  Still making healthier choices in my eating and it's day 46.  Not too shabby.  


I will be honest.  I have not been to the gym in the last few days due to what has been determined "must be" a sinus infection (since the doctor couldn't decide what else it could be).  With dreaded fear that my head could explode at any moment, I refrained from any physical movement that was not essential to my life.  Thankfully I have been medicated for the last 24 hours and my bootaay will be back at the gym today.  Official loss to date?  17 pounds.  


I think I see a yoga class in my future...
Imagine the people in THERE.  bwahaha

Tales From The Treadmill

Oh the people that you meet when you're...

Okay, not actually meet, but I did lose my mind and opened my mouth and words came out to a very hot guy on the treadmill next to me the other night.  I'm still floored that I did that.  But, while walking on the treadmill, rockin' out to Eric Hutchinson (my new fave song to "walk" to) in walks Kimbo Slice.  Once in the building he yells (to where I heard him OVER my music)  "Welcome to Lifetime!!  Let's Work-Out".  I'm starting to think this guy is unstable.  So, I kinda jumped, yanked an ear-bud out of my ear and looked over my right shoulder.  And there Kimbo was downstairs at the front desk checking in.  (the gym is completely open from the entry to the glass roof on the second floor and you can see up or down) And I looked at the guy next to me, also wearing a big grin, and I blurted out "That guy does something crazy every day I swear".  UGH.  Put me under a rock please.  LOL

Let's move on to something less embarrassing. (for me)

No neck treadmill jumper dude.  This guy is a hoot and a half.  He's built like a wrestler.  No neck.  And he always wears a hoodie.  I want to play Rocky theme music for him.  But, apparently he's not satisfied with one treadmill.  He's on one, gets off, gets on another one, gets off, finds another one...You get the picture.

You can take the girl out of the 80's, but you can't take the 80's out of the girl.  Oh this girl is a trip!  She wears waaaaaay too much make-up and jewelry galore.  I mean, who wears jewelry to the gym?  We're talking full on too.  Bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, etc.  All gold and several of each.  And her hair.  Oh her hair.  Can you say fried and perm?  If it's not a perm then forgive me, but ewwwwwwwww fried.  And the fingernails on this girl!  I bet if we went to her house we'd find mauve and grays and so fabulous 80's garb.  I want to see them grab her for a make-over.  Please, someone???

White dress shirt and sweater vest asian dude.  Oh my.  I swear he was wearing a WHITE dress shirt.  Collar, buttons, a true dress shirt.  I'm all about rocking what ya got, but I would hate to be his cleaner!  That shirt has got to be nasty after a workout.

Got dressed in the closet girl.  Grass green pants and a funky colored bluish shirt.  Okay, again, let me stress that I'm all about rocking what ya got, but can we at least coordinate?  I'm not asking for much here - just make sure your bottoms go with your tops.  I don't want to go all Garanimals on ya, but I can. Some things just don't go together.  Her outfit was really quite shocking and I was, well, embarassed for her.

There are so many many more stories.  Every day I see a few more interesting people.  I'm never at a loss for entertainment.

Make A Difference Monday (Week 3)

I have decided that I want to do little things to Make A Difference in life of another.  

This could be anyone, anywhere, at anytime during the day.

Maybe it's leaving my husband a note for when he gets up in the morning.

Maybe it's giving my child an extra hug or kiss in the morning and a treat in their lunch.

Maybe it's paying for the coffee of the person behind me in line at Starbuck's.

Maybe it's a simple as telling someone that I value them.

But I think Monday is the perfect day to Make a Difference.

Will you join me?

I hope you will.  Do share what you choose to do and how it was received and how it made YOU feel.

Let's make Monday - Make a Difference Day!!!

Last week I told an acquaintance/friend just how special she was to me and how thankful I am to have her in my life.  She's been going through a lot lately and I made her day.  Made her feel special and happy.  It made ME feel good.

Did you join in?  What did you do?  

Will you join in this week?  Come back and tell me what you did.

(last week I offered to babysit a friend's little boy after school as her babysitter will be out of town...today?  who knows what opportunity will present itself)

Happy Valentine's Day

My husband sent me flowers at the shop yesterday. A surprise that made me cry.


The card enclosed simply said, "I Love You".


So to all of you readers and lurkers, take time today to count your blessings.  


However small or hidden, we all have blessings.  


Happy Valentine's Day!

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.  ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning


True love stories never have endings.  ~Richard Bach

Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.  ~Robert Frost


We loved with a love that was more than love.  ~Edgar Allan Poe


 "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:12)

"We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)


"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Saturday Quotes...

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.  ~Corrie Ten Boom

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny compared to what lies within us. ~William Morrow

Facing Fears

Fears are paralyzing.

They can prevent us from living a normal life.

As a young adult, I was bold and outgoing.  

I had fears, but I took life by the horns and met it head on.

In more recent years, my fears and anxiety have gotten the better of me.

I have been unable to do many things in life.

Lately, I'm forcing myself to face those fears.

I went to the gym and didn't care that I don't "fit in".

I spoke to the trainer and did weights among all those "hard-bodies".

I met a dear friend from my past and didn't obsess that I didn't look "perfect".

And you know what - she didn't care!!!

I drove 130 miles to someplace I had never gone before, without my husband, to spend the weekend with other "moms" that I don't necessarily fit in with and I did it during a snowstorm (which I hate to drive in).  We stayed in a hotel, we found our way around town, and I endured the entire time without one anxiety attack!

I'm feeling pretty good about these little victories.

I'm not "cured" but I'm walking in faith.

"Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable." Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Fear makes strangers of people who would be friends." Shirley Maclaine
"Empty fears we all have, most worryings are needless, but still we fail to understand and go on fretting heedless." John McLeod, from a On Crossing Non-Existent Bridges
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." Yoda
"You are limited only by your fears." Fran Watson, from Risk

An All-American Girl

So we had our big road trip to Bloomington (Illinois State University).

On the way there we stopped for lunch at a hot dog joint.

The owner was super friendly and we got to talking about how he used to be a teacher and was always really good about getting kids from a first impression.

For my eldest son, he instantly said, he's a smart one but a rebel.  (dead on!)

He looked at my daughter's friend and said, you're a typical cheerleader and are interested in modeling.  (he was pretty close, but not so much)

Then he looked at my daughter and said, you are an all-american girl.  You are a good kid, a good student, and you don't give your parents any trouble.  (I was beaming)

I guess I never really thought about it,  but ya know, she is truly

an All American Girl.

I'm a lucky mom.

Wails From The Weight Room

So the other night I had my 2nd meeting with the personal trainer at the gym.

This time she was giving me some instruction on weights and muscle building.

I haven't lifted weights in about 9 years.

The weight section of the gym is intimidating for someone like me.

The word "fear" barely justifies my feelings about this meeting.

We did a few exercises with free weights.

A few exercises with a weight machine.

Some insane exercises with ball.

The trainer said she was amazed at how precise my form was.

She was proud.

I was proud.

I overcame my fear, I tried and I kicked butt.

The day after?  My muscles were a bit sore.

What a great feeling.

Balance (Part Two) - The "D" Factor

Several words are speaking to me.

Calling out to me.

Discipline.

Decision.

Daily.

Devotion.

Determination.

Each one important.

Each one necessary.

Each one must be part of "the change".

Discipline.  I have to discipline myself to make things happen without fail.  It needs to become second nature.  Train myself to think differently.  Act differently.  Respond differently.  Approach each day differently.

Decision.  I need to make the decision to do what I know is necessary.

Daily.  I need to decide to do these things daily.  Every day.  Not once in a while.

Devotion.  I need and want to spend time each day with The Lord in prayer.

Determination.  I need not lose sight of this one.  Be determined to be all that God intends for me to be!

Make A Difference Monday (Week 2)

I have decided that I want to do little things to Make A Difference in life of another.  

This could be anyone, anywhere, at anytime during the day.

Maybe it's leaving my husband a note for when he gets up in the morning.

Maybe it's giving my child an extra hug or kiss in the morning and a treat in their lunch.

Maybe it's paying for the coffee of the person behind me in line at Starbuck's.

Maybe it's a simple as telling someone that I value them.

But I think Monday is the perfect day to Make a Difference.

Will you join me?

I hope you will.  Do share what you choose to do and how it was received and how it made YOU feel.

Let's make Monday - Make a Difference Day!!!

Last week I told an acquaintance/friend just how special she was to me and how thankful I am to have her in my life.  She's been going through a lot lately and I made her day.  Made her feel special and happy.  It made ME feel good.

Did you join in?  What did you do?  

Will you join in this week?  Come back and tell me what you did.