Friday, May 29, 2015

Friday Favorites


Today I'm linking up again to talk about a few of my favorite things this week! You can link up too right here.

ONE


This morning Evie told me this was her last Friday to go to elementary school EVER!! (tears, hysterical crying- me, not her) WHAT?!?!? Who is this big girl?

TWO


Is it just me or does Target have the best coffee?? I love everything I have tried from there. I always get light roast and flavored. I know, for most of you this isn't even REAL coffee. But, it's what I like and it makes me really happy. This Chai Spice flavor is my current favorite. Please let me know if I'm missing out on some other store's brand or flavor (in the flavored light roast category)!

THREE


Yesterday my mom and sister came to my side of town so Kacie, who is staying with them while she recuperates, could switch out some clothes and pick up some supplies. She also tried to visit with her two kitties but they were giving her the cold shoulder to punish her for being away. (and THIS is why I am a dog person!!). We ended up going to Cheesecake Factory. I used to be a die hard lettuce wrap girl but this time I got the lunch portion Portofino Pizza. DELISH! New favorite!! I took a picture of my leftovers which I had to fight Eric for. I always let him take my leftovers but not today, no sir! Have you had this? What else am I missing on their menu? 

FOUR


Evie has been becoming more busy all of a sudden. That leaves little guy at home with Eric or I a lot. Left on his own, he would play Minecraft or watch someone ELSE play a game on YouTube. (What is the deal with THAT??) So, I try to make him take breaks and he usually chooses the trampoline. Yesterday he asked me to take some pics and videos. Here is one of the videos (there were MANY!! I will spare you from the rest hahahahaha). The trampoline is one of our favorite purchases!




Have a great Friday!!






Wednesday, May 27, 2015

What's Up Wednesday




I have two favorite bloggers. Shay & Sheaffer. They are so fun!
Today, I'm linking up to their What's Up Wednesday.


Let's get to it!

What we're eating this week...


My mother-in-law's zucchini muffins. Ok, she doesn't make them into muffins. She also does not add mini chocolate chips. But, I do. And we love them. We fight over them. People are counting how many other people have had and setting some aside and saying 'These are MINE!'

What I'm reminiscing about...


This time last year I was on my first cruise. It was heaven! (And my sister didn't have two broken wrists).

What I'm loving...


Sheaffer's Bachelorette recaps...hilarious!!

What we've been up to...



Taking care of and worrying about poor Kacie. She is on the mend from her wrist surgery but will be out of commission for several more weeks with her bilateral broken wrists!

What I'm dreading...


Cleaning up all the school stuff that I just dumped on the floor in the living room when I brought it home!

What I'm working on...


Watching more shows with Eric. Eric likes PBS. I like PBS too but after awhile I need like...some Bachelorette. Eric never needs any Bachelorette, Nashville or Blacklist to lighten things up. We watched this NOVA episode last night and I remembered why I love NOVA (and Eric).

What I'm excited about...


Evie is going to play Flounder in Kids Backporch Productions' summer musical. She loves doing plays. This is her first musical and I'm just so excited for her!!

What I'm reading... 


I like to read YA fantasy romance. But, every once and awhile an actual grown up book sneaks onto my Goodreads list. Hmph. This one reminds me of Still Alice which I read several years ago. I'm only just starting it. I'll keep you posted.

What I'm listening to...


I just listen to songs on repeat. Then I go find a new song. This Maroon5 song 'Love Somebody' is the one I am playing now.

What I'm wearing...



Yipee! Summer uniform time. This is mine. I love these shorts. I have some from Old Navy too but these from Target are my favorites.

What I'm doing this weekend...


Everett has ONE MORE soccer game. We have been SO lucky on the weather being nice so far. Come on....hold out for one more game!

What I'm looking forward to next month...



More of this! We always talk at the end of the summer about all the activities we did & all the camps we attended and reassess what we want for the next year. Last year, the kids said they wanted to do fewer camps and more unstructured time (Except that Evie is doing a month long musical camp. But, for her, that's as unstructured as she gets!!). 

What else is new...


We have never had bird nests so close to our house. One in our front porch hanging plant and another in our back patio's rangoon creeper. Both have eggs so we are waiting for baby birds now!

That's all for now. I need to get working on that school stuff pile. There will be no peace mentally until it's done!!












Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Goals

Before I get to my goals, I thought I'd fill you in on some of what's been happening. Saturday started off like it was going to be a great summer. The kids were excited to get to the neighborhood pool when it opened at 10am.




This does lead right into one of my main goals for the summer which is READING!! 


I had gotten in the pool but it was pretty chilly so I got out to read a little while they were still having a grand time. 

Then, I got the call. This had happened- 

My sister's boyfriend called to say she had flipped over the handlebars of her new bike while riding down a hill (ok, incline. We don't really have hills in Houston). She broke BOTH her wrists. One warranted surgery, the other just needs a splint for 6 weeks. This is her in the ER. One of their friends came by and delivered this little gift. It's a person upside down with a bike. She can laugh about it because she has morphine on board! So, I spent the night with her and stayed with her until after the surgery. Then I was on cat duty and swung by her apartment while her boyfriend took her out to my parent's house to recuperate. On the bright side, I did get to watch alot of HGTV! Hahahaha. 

So, ANYWAY, onto the goals. 

ONE: clear off the DVR and get ready to record summer shows. By this I mean to really assess what I'm recording. Is it just me or does having the stuff  recorded and not watched weigh on you? 
Sadly, I think I am about over Scandal. I finished up the current season today. *Spoilers if you are not caught up at least to last season*


I'm only watching it now for Jake (who I still consider to be Noel from Felicity!!). Since I'm Team Jake, you will understand that I think it should have ended LAST season when they rode off into the sunset together. If it wasn't for Jake and Mellie I would give up completely. 

TWO: Read the Bible all the way through. I think I've read most of it but what I've never done is formally record what I've read. I looked at several plans but since I HATE the little red badges on my iPhone, I thought an app was the way to go. So, I downloaded this one. It was free. 

THREE: Rehab the Ankle. 


I have sprained it several times since I stopped teaching yoga and I now have the research to back up that yoga is precisely why I wasn't spraining it. Unfortunately, DOING yoga is irritating it so I'm wrapping and pushing through with the yoga therapy (which is what the current recommendation is to do). I can do 20 minutes now which leaves it sore and a bit unstable. So right now, it stays wrapped 75% of the day everyday. My favorite yoga is Yoga Today. They have ALL levels: new to yoga, beginner, pre-natal on up to Guru. My favorite instructor is Neesha but they are all really great. It's not free but it's cheaper per month than any gym membership or especially any yoga studio class. I always come back to Yoga Today.  



FOUR: Keep Reading! 

I love love love Goodreads because if someone recommends a book I add it to my list. If I see one of my goodreads friends is reading something they loved I add it to my list. If I'm at the bookstore and find a book i want I scan it in and add it to my list. If someone says 'have you read anything good recently' I look it up on my list and say 'why yes i HAVE! Try....'. You should check out Goodreads! 

That's all for now. I have a few other things on my mind but we will see if I can even get all my teaching stuff put away so I can work on those. These are the must do list. These are the things that keep me sane and happy and THAT is where the peace is. 




Friday, May 22, 2015

Mission Statement

It's the first day of summer (for me). HOORAY!

Thankfully, the dreaded graduation song the 4 year olds practiced and performed is finally starting to fade from the constant and endless repeat it has been playing in my head. It WAS cute....the first 100 times. Now, not so much.


But, I have alot on my mind. I guess that's why I still woke up at 4 am. I decided that embracing this big block of free time was going to require a mission statement. Apparently, for the last few summers my mission statement has been:

This hasn't been making Eric very happy. And, to be honest, in the end wasn't really doing that much for me either. So, I took the pup for a walk and thought about what I wanted to focus on. I had a long list of random things and started looking for a common theme. It came down to this: Luke 10:27 The man answered, " You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind." And, "Love your neighbor as yourself". (NLT).  



Now, I'm a practical person. So, that means I still need to deal with this


and this

and this

So, this blog will be about all of that too. Keeping my mission statement in mind. I'm gonna try to apply this verse UP (toward God) and OUT (toward others) and IN (toward myself). 

The name of this blog came from this photo

 which really summed up the destination I am trying to reach. I am creating that peaceful 'home' not only literally for my family, but also in my headspace. I want to be a peaceful person and when I'm feeling like I'm really NOT, I want to know how to get back there. 

Welcome to the Journey!