March To December

Blog It 52 | Week 4 - My Must-Have Apps

2017-01-23T13:56:00.000-05:00

I am not a huge app person. I do have a few that I use everyday though. If I was going to be honest, most of the apps on my phone are used by my son. Things like Goat Simulator (yep...that's a thing), Minecraft, and reading apps. There are two that I use no matter what. Every single day.

Week #4 - Your Must Have Apps

Timehop

I am not lucky enough to have the memory thing on my FaceBook. I have been using Timehop for years though! Before they had it for the Android. When I changed over from my iPhone to an Android, I was so bummed I couldn't use it anymore. That was years ago though.

The photo-taker and scrapbooker in my loves this app! I check this app everyday. Usually before I even get out of bed. Yes...I am one of those that checks my phone before I start my day.

I love being able to look back for years and see what was going on on this exact day. The good, the bad, and the ugly! I especially love looking back and seeing my son and nephews when they were much smaller than they are now.

So, what is Timehop exactly? If it isn't self explanatory or explained well enough from my droning on, here is what they have to say about themselves.

A time capsule of you.
See your photos and updates from this exact day in history. Timehop helps you celebrate the best moments of the past with your friends!

Instagram

I am not going to explain what instagram is. We all know what it is, right? I used to be a sporadic poster on instagram. I am now using it daily though. I use it for my project 365. Posting a photo a day every single day. I really enjoy it! Even though we are not through January yet, I already like looking back at the month. You can follow me at march2december

So there you go. Pretty boring, right? Just a photo loving mom and her photo loving apps!

You guys!! That is only two apps. I know there are more apps out there that I should be using. I also realize I am super boring! So....help a girl out!!

What apps should I download?

What apps do you use everyday?

Make sure you come back and link me up with your blog post. I love to read what you all have to write. I will also showcase a few of your posts on my FB and twitter!
There are no rules for Blog It 52. Only to have fun and blog! If you want, you may grab this button to showcase with your blog post.

Blog It 52 | Week 3 - What is Beautiful?

2017-01-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am not going to lie. I am not sure why this week's Blog It 52 topic is what it is. I came up with these topics at the end of 2012. I changed about half of them when putting out this year's Blog It 52. I guess I overlooked this one. I really didn't want to do this one. I am gong to stick to my goals though and blog all the topics.

Week #3: Your Definition of Beautiful

What is beautiful? If you ask 100 people, you would likely get 100 different answers. According to google beautiful is

beau·ti·ful

ˈbyo͞odəfəl/

adjective

pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.

"beautiful poetry"

synonyms: attractive, pretty, handsome, good-looking, alluring, prepossessing; More
of a very high standard; excellent.

"the house had been left in beautiful order"

What is Beautiful to Me?

Beautiful isn't always (usually always isn't) something physical to me. Someone who is physically aesthetic is more pretty, lovely, sexy, nice, and so on. Beautiful is more of how someone is inside. I guess that I get my definition of beautiful from growing up in church and reading the bible.

1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV

3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

You can be the most physically appealing person to walk planet earth; and be as ugly as can be. Today's post is short and sweet. Like I said at the start, I am not really sure why this post is here. Maybe there is a reason it was left in. Maybe someone else struggled with what they felt is "beautiful" like I was in 2012.

What I learned in the past five years is this:

Beauty isn't physical
Always take the highroad
Forgive
Smile
Love

Those are just some things that I have found to help me understand what beauty is; and to apply it to my everyday life.

BLOG IT 52 - FIND OUT MORE!

I am sorry if this post isn't to your liking either. I hope you still stick with the Blog It 52 though!

Make sure you come back and link me up with your blog post. I love to read what you all have to write. I will also showcase a few of your posts on my FB and twitter!

There are no rules for Blog It 52. Only to have fun and blog! If you want, you may grab this button to showcase with your blog post.

Blog It 52 | Week 2 - 2017 Reading List

2017-01-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

Here we are in week two! How are you doing with your resolutions, goals and projects? So far, so good for me. I am taking photos, blogging, and staying strong on my path to healthy living. It is only two weeks into it though. 😀 I should have mentioned in my week one post about my reading goals for 2017. I guess because I knew this post was next, I just missed that.

Week #2: 2017 Reading List

That's right. I am going to talk about what I am going to be reading this year. I love love love to read! I prefer to read an actual book. Like turn the pages, smell the paper, and see the cover kind of book. However, I usually end up reading via my kindle. Just because it is easier to tote around; and I can read it whenever.

I am super picky when it come to reading. I find that I spend more time finding a book than actually reading it. If the book I am reading doesn't have me hooked by chapter two, I'm out. I detest having to force myself to plow through a book to get to the good parts. I read for enjoyment. If it isn't enjoyable, I don't read it!

I went to my "to-read" list to make a list of what I am going to read this year. I found hit lacking. I think after this blog post I am going to spend some time finding great books to read. I wouldn't mind some suggestions! Seriously...what should I read?

My 2017 Reading Goal

There are 12 months in a year...duh. I think I can manage 12 books this year. I ended up reading 30 last year. That I marked down anyway. I think it was closer to 40. With that in mind, here are 5 books that I want to read this year. (Images and synopsis from Amazon. Affiliated links.)

The Books

The Painted Queen

by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess

There is not a synopsis for this book yet on Amazon. I have been waiting for it for ages though. It comes out this summer. I have read all the Amelia Peabody books written by Elizabeth Peters. I have read them all multiple times. (The only other books I've ever been able to read more than once is Harry Potter.) Elizabeth Peters passed away mid writing of this book. It has been finished up by Joan Hess.

Amelia Peabody books are usually based in Egypt in the Victorian time period. Amelia and her family (husband, son, daughter in-law, grand-kids, and so on) go every winter to Egypt to excavate. They usually end up in some kind of mystery. It starts from when Amelia and her husband meets and goes until she has grandchildren.

The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill

by Julie Klassen

The lifeblood of the Wiltshire village of Ivy Hill is its coaching inn, The Bell. But when the innkeeper dies suddenly, his genteel wife, Jane Bell, becomes the reluctant owner. Jane has no notion of how to run a business. However, with the town's livelihood at stake and a large loan due, she must find a way to bring new life to the inn.
Despite their strained relationship, Jane turns to her resentful mother-in-law, Thora, for help. Formerly mistress of The Bell, Thora is struggling to find her place in the world. As she and Jane work together, they form a measure of trust, and Thora's wounded heart begins to heal. When she encounters two men from her past, she sees them--and her future--in a different light.
With pressure mounting from the bank, Jane employs innovative methods to turn the inn around, and puzzles over the intentions of several men who seem to have a vested interest in the place. Will her efforts be enough to save The Bell? And will Thora embrace the possibility of a second chance at love?

This book reminds me of The Widow of Larkspur Inn. It also popped up on my Facebook feed. It stated if you loved Downton Abby, you would love this book. I love Downton Abbey! So I added this book to my list.

The Lost Hero
by Rick Riordan

Jason has a problem. He doesn't remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she's his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they're all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for "bad kids." What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

This is technically a young adults - middle school read. I have read every Heroes book by Rick Riordan though. I loved them all! The movies for Percy Jackson failed miserably in conveying how fun the books are. My #1 favorite thing about his books? The snark. It leaves me in stitches every time. Plus, I like Greek, Norse, and Egypt mythology.

The Women of the Cousins' War
by Philippa Gregorgy, David Baldwin, & Michael Jones

#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory joins two eminent historians to explore the extraordinary true stories of three women largely forgotten by history: Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford; Elizabeth Woodville, queen of England; and Margaret Beaufort, the founder of the Tudor dynasty.
In her essay on Jacquetta, Philippa Gregory uses original documents, archaeology, and histories of myth and witchcraft to create the first-ever biography of the young duchess who survived two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at two rival courts. David Baldwin, established authority on the Wars of the Roses, tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the first commoner to marry a king of England for love. And Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes of Margaret Beaufort, the almost-unknown matriarch of the House of Tudor.
Beautifully illustrated throughout with rare portraits and source materials, The Women of the Cousins’ War offers fascinating insights into the inspirations behind Philippa Gregory’s fiction and will appeal to all with an interest in this epic period.

If I could only read one thing, it would be historical fiction and history. Hand-down! I especially enjoy reading the time period of the Plantagents and the Tudors. Philippa Gregory is a best selling author for historical fiction. Although, she isn't my favorite. This seems to read more like an essay than fiction. I cannot wait to read it!

Wild and Free
by Jess Connolly & Hayley Morgan

For all the fullness of God available to His daughters, we often feel limited by two defining insecurities: “I am too much,” and “I am not enough.”
Co-authors and best friends Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan have felt the same, until one essential question turned the tables on it all: If God is wild and free and he created women, what does this mean for us today?
Wild and Free is an anthem and an invitation in equal parts to find freedom from the cultural captivity that holds us back, and freedom to step into the wild and holy call of God in our lives. With fresh biblical insight tracing all the way back to Eve and a treasury of practical application, Jess and Hayley reveal how women today can walk in the true liberty we already have in Jesus.
Because you don’t have to be everything to everyone. You don’t have to try so hard to button it up and hold it together. And you certainly don’t have to quiet the voice that God gave you when he created you to sing. Wild and Free will help you shake off the lies of insecurity in your life, and step forward to maximize your God-given influence for his glory and the world’s good.

I really think the description does a wonderful (hopefully) job of describing this book; and explains pretty well why I want to read it myself.

You guys!! That is only five books. I need seven more books to read to reach my goal. I was not joking when I said to suggest books. I am super picky; and I turn away from reading books fairly quickly when I am looking for myself. I usually always attempt to read suggested books though.

What should I read in 2017?

What are you reading in 2017?

Make sure you come back and link me up with your blog post. I love to read what you all have to write. I will also showcase a few of your posts on my FB and twitter!
There are no rules for Blog It 52. Only to have fun and blog! If you want, you may grab this button to showcase with your blog post.

Blog It 52 | Week 1 - New Year Projects & Goals

2017-01-01T01:24:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!! I say it every year and I am sure I will keep saying it...I cannot believe that another year has made it's way around. 2017!! I swear it seems like it should still be early two thousands. I have been out of high school for nearly 20 years. I will have been married for a decade this year. My child will also leave the single digits in age and be 10 years old at the end of 2017. Wow!

2016 wasn't the best of years. Well, it wasn't bad for me personally. As the world as a whole though, 2016 was one of the worst years I can remember. With death, terrible elections, war, fire, drought, sickness, and more. I think, like most people, I am glad to see a new year dawn. Does that mean with a passing of a second that everything will be better? Of course not. I am not delusional. It does give a nice starting point for change though.

With that in mind, the new year also brings new projects, goals and resolutions. It also brings in Blog-It 52!! That is what we are going to talk about today. My week one post of 52 weeks of blogging.

Week #1: New year Resolution, Projects, or Goals

For my 2017 resolutions, projects, or goals I have two things. I am staying away from the resolution side of things. If I was to have one, it would be to be healthy. I am already on that (slow) path. I hope to just keep plodding at it.

My 2017 Projects

For 2017 I have set myself two projects. One from the blogging side of things; and one from the digital scrapbooking side of things. My blogging project for 2017 is...well...Blog-It 52.

What is blog-it 52? Well, it is a lot like a project 52. A photo a week kind of thing. However, it isn't photos. It is blog posts. I know there has to be bloggers out there, like me who struggles with consistent blog posts. So, for at least one post a week, I got you covered!!

Yes. It is as simple as that! Back in 2015, I would only post 2 months at a time. This year, I am giving them all to you right now. Hey...you can even get started on those posts if you so fancy! Every week, whatever day you want, take that prompt and blog about it. I would love if you came back here & linked up with everyone else. You don't have to though. There are NO RULES with this project. I just want to help other people blog.

My digital scrapbooking project for 2017 is Project 52. You will also see it called P52. I have done this before. In 2012 I took a photo a week of my son; and I scrapped it. It was fun to see how much he changed from the start of the year to the end. This year (and because at 9 he isn't as willing as 4. lol) I am going to be taking a photo a week that represents what my week was. Could be anything! I am going to scrap it though. I will show you guys from time-to-time.

My 2017 Goal

So as I write this I am seeing how this could also be a resolution. I really really really don't want to think of it that way though. I would like to see it more as a goal. Something I can write down and envision. Something to work towards. Not just a general theme or idea to hold for 2017.

My goal for 2017 is to get my PCOS under complete control and to be under 200 lbs. I don't care if it is 199 lbs. I just want to meet that goal. That gives me 365 days to lose 31 lbs. Do I hope to lose more? Well, yes. Will I be happy with 31lbs? Absolutely! I think it is a obtainable goal.

With PCOS weight loss is the best way to drop manage the symptoms. There is no cure. You can only manage it. I have already started seeing results with just 12 lbs lost. TMI to follow. I finally had a period. I have not had a real one since 2015. I don't feel sick every single day. I don't ache all over. My hair stopped falling out; and my blood pressure has come down. I cannot wait to see how I will feel by the end of 2017.

There you have it. Week 1 in the books for Blog It 52. What are your resolutions, goals, and projects for 2017?

Make sure you come back and link me up with your blog post. I love to read what you all have to write. I will also showcase a few of your posts on my FB and twitter!

There are no rules for Blog It 52. Only to have fun and blog! If you want, you may grab this button to showcase with your blog post.

Happy New Year!

My Thoughts on Rogue One (Spoilers!)

2016-12-28T11:26:00.000-05:00

So I realize the photo above isn't really from Rogue One; but it is Star Wars. I promise there are Stormtroopers galore in the movie. Just not Captian Phasma. Work with me here. :-) Since I am giving commentary on the post itself; I probably should mention spoilers.

This blog post will have plot and ending spoilers for Rogue One. You have been warned!

Star Wars and Me

I probably should start out by saying that I haven't always enjoyed Star Wars. In fact I hated it. I was lost to Star Wars the moment Luke Skywalker was stuffed into a Tauntaun. Yuck! I also just really didn't care for movies from the 70s and 80s.

Fast forward to adult La'Shawn. I married Mr. Geek; and together we had Baby Geek. lol. Seriously though. My son seems to pick one thing a year and fixate on it. That is kind of the meaning of geek after all. One day my husband sat down with my son (I watched but mostly scrapped) and they watched all the Star War movies to that point. The kid was hooked! He was Darth Vador for Halloween, followed up by a Star Wars birthday party. The following year the The Force Awakens came out. Man-oh-Man that boy loves him some Star Wars.

For me, once I re-watched them as an adult, I found that I also loved them. We looked forward to Rogue One coming out this year. Especially (like the one before this one) they come out around the kiddo's birthday. This year we just didn't have the time to go see it until yesterday. It was kinda sad that it happened to fall on the same day the news came out about Carrie Fisher. 😔 So here are my thoughts on the movie....

I didn't like it. I wanted to so much! For the most part it was a good movie. However the things that I thought were bad were just too much! The bad just outweighed the good and important parts.

The Good

It adds to the overall story-line. I did enjoy how Rogue One added to all 7 movies that are out at the moment. It took the destroying of the Death Star and showed you how. It showed you the sacrifices made and the struggle it took. The destroying of the Death Star was a huge step forward in the Rebel's fight. It was a great point in the story line to expound on.

It gave a more"human" (using that term loosely) face to the Rebel's fight. Luke and Leia were born to the cause. It was their legacy. Han was along for the ride, adventure, and love. The cause wasn't...well his cause. This movie put relatable faces to the the Rebels. It took the people who lost everything, had nothing else to lose, who lived, breathed and died for the cause and put you smack in the middle of it. I think the best thing about this movie is that it gave a face to the Rebels.

Darth Vader!! I could not mention the good without mentioning him in this movie. The Star War legacy is built on him (in my opinion). He is the bad guy of the movies. Everyone loves a good bad guy! Especially one that we have watched grow up from good, to tortured, to bad! Let me tell you...Darth Vader is bad in this movie! You should have seen my son's eyes light up when he saw him on the screen. More like when he heard Darth Vader's music. There is one epic scene where Vader is kicking butt and taking names. It is fantastic!

K-2SO. If you don't know who that is, or remember the name, it is the reprogrammed Imperial droid. He is hilarious! He has zero brain mouth filter. He says what he wants; and it is so funny. To me, he does seem like a nod to C-3PO. Maybe more of a generic version "reprogrammed" to be 2016's version of snarky. Generic version or not, I loved that character in the movie. Much needed comic relief.

The Bad

Freaking everyone dies! Everyone! They took this story line, expounded on it, gave a face to the Rebels...then killed everyone. Right down to K-2SO. I mean everyone!! I kind of agree with my husband and sister-in-law. They likely killed everyone off because they are not important to the rest of the story line. I also get that it drives home the point that sacrifices have to be made for that kind of cause. Seriously though...everyone?! Did freaking everyone have to die? The point could have been made with letting a few characters live. It seemed more of a shock-and-awe kind of thing. It took away from the movie for me.

The CG. Before writing this post, I looked around at other articles about the CG in this movie. I am not the only one that seems to have a problem with it. I would also like to point out (and my husband would tell you also), I am crazy over-analytical. Others (like my son) might not notice the CG. I noticed immediately. It absolutely took away from the movie for me.

As you can see, there are more actually good things about Rogue One than bad. I didn't even list all the good things about it. However once they sucked you in (despite the snaps out when they put in the freaky CG characters in it) they killed everyone off. They got you emotionally attached to these people, then killed them. It was too much for me. They could have left some alive. They didn't even have to leave the two main Rebels in the movie alive. One or two would have been nice.

I don't know. Maybe that wont take away from the movie for you. I know it didn't for a lot of people. It did for me though. I will watch it again. It really does add to the whole story of the Star Wars. I just didn't find it amazing as others.

Tell me what you think of the movie!! Do you agree or disagree with me?
I really would love to hear your opinions on it.

The Flash Inspired Birthday Party

2016-12-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

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I cannot believe that Christmas is less than a week away, that 2017 is less than two weeks away, and that my (not so) little guy turned 9 years old yesterday! Since his birthday is a week away from Christmas, and people are crazy busy around the holidays, we always have his party during the 1st few weeks of December.

It has been a pattern the last 3 years that he picks a theme for his party that isn't popular at the time. Meaning that I cannot find pre-made birthday decorations by just popping into the local Party City. For his 7th birthday he chose Star Wars. You're thinking, "Star Wars?! That is all over the place!" Well...not 3 years ago it wasn't. That was one year before the new ones came out. I had to search high-and-low for decorations. The following year...they were all over the place. For his 8th birthday he chose Doctor Who. Yep...he is unashamedly geeky! There were no Doctor Who decorations to be found in the US. I had to order them all from the UK. This year...I found them all over.

This year (after a few changes) he decided that he was going to go with The Flash for his birthday party. Sigh. Seriously? There were NO decorations that were just the Flash ANYWHERE. Not in the states or otherwise. So, I looked around Pinterest and Etsy to get some ideas to throw a Flash inspired party.

Yellow and Red

When all else failed, I just went with yellow and red. My sister and I went to party city and bought yellow and red table clothes, platters, bags, plates, and balloons. With using the two colors as the main scheme of the party, it ended up being a bit cheaper. Plain yellow and red decorations cost considerably less than decorations that have a theme. This allowed me to spend more money on main pieces of the decorations that were custom made.

Custom Made Decorations

I will link you up with what I bought for the custom pieces. My main goal was for the custom pieces to be not only the main focus of the decorations, but to tie the yellow and Red together. My favorite was the banner. He has kept the end pieces and the whole banner with this name to put up in his room.

I also went with custom shaped cookies and some fun confetti to add to the tables. My uber talented mother made both the cookies and the cake. I bought the cookie cutter on Etsy as well as the confetti.

For the finishing touches I made the flash goody bags, cut up some fruit (red and yellow) and found a cool flash wall art at Hobby Lobby to add to the table. The bags were crazy easy to make...so easy! I bought the red bags at Party City and the yellow paper (doesn't even have to be card stock) at Office Depot. I used the cookie cutter to trace my shape on a piece of cardboard. I traced enough on the yellow paper. Then my MeeMaw and myself cut them out. Slapped them on with a bit of glue; and filled those bad boys up with candy.

The Cake

I know you have been eyeballing that cake in the photos. It is amazing, right?! Like I mentioned earlier, my crazy talented mom made that cake. That is the one the boy wanted, so that is what she made. Outside the fondant flash embalm. I know that I couldn't make this cake on my own. However, a baker (or yourself if you have more talent than me...which isn't much!) could make this easy. Here is a better look at the cake.

The Party

That is a look at all the fun decorations and cake that made my son's 9th birthday party awesome. A lot of us wore flash shirts to go along with the theme. My hubby, my parents, and myself all got into the Flash theme of the party.

It was such a fun party and the kiddo had a blast. Despite being sick. Little did I know he would be down the next day and miss the following two days of school! The best part of the party? Watching him open gifts. He never leaves us disappointed with this looks of excitement.

<< Pin to Save & Read Later

There you have it. How we got our party on Flash style...well..The Flash style anyway. :-) With some fun custom made items, great baked goods, and a color scheme, this party came together super easy and for not a lot of money.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

2016-12-14T15:55:00.000-05:00

It is that time of the year!! Christmas will be here in 10 days! We were a bit late getting our tree up this year. My husband has been one hard working man. We just have not been able to find the time to get it up. I have been able to find some time to get some lovely Christmas digital scrapbooking layouts completed. I cannot wait to get these printed! Here they are:

credits:

Festival of Trees Templates by Miss Fish Templates

and

Home for the Holidays Full Kit by Trixie Scraps Designs

credits:

Life 2016-December Bundle by Melissa Bennett

and

Bling it on #1 by Heartstrings ScrapArt

Deck the Halls and Think Positive Single Template by River~Rose

credits:
Winter Joy - Bundle by Aprilisa Designs.andCandy Cane Lane Tempaltes by Dagi Temptations

Blog It 52 - 2017

2016-11-27T18:40:00.000-05:00

Welcome to this year's Blog it 52!! What is that you ask? If you have been around for a few years (think 2015), you have seen this before....I didn't finish it. I thought it would be a fun thing to do this up coming year. Not only for myself, but for others! I really hope that you all join along with me.

Okay. Back to what exactly is Blog It 52. Well, it is a lot like a project 52. A photo a week kind of thing. However, it isn't photos. It is blog posts. I know there has to be bloggers out there, like me who struggles with consistent blog posts. So, for at least one post a week, I got you covered!!

Yes. It is as simple as that! Back in 2015, I would only post 2 months at a time. This year, I am giving them all to you right now. Hey...you can even get started on those posts if you so fancy! Every week, whatever day you want, take that prompt and blog about it. I would love if you came back here & linked up with everyone else. You don't have to though. There are NO RULES with this project. I just want to help other people blog. So, without further adieu, here are 2017's Blog-It 52 Prompts.

I am really looking forward to this!! They are all simple prompts. Nothing that you are really going to have to wrack your brain with. Just fun, light, and easy blog posts. If you forget what to blog about, want to see a list instead of an image, or want to go back and look at past posts, you can do so HERE. If this is successful, we will do it again in 2018 and posts picked out by not only me, but you.

There you go. Get your blogging brains ready & brush up those blogs. In just a few short weeks ( can you believe the year is over in less than 2 months?!) we will get our blogging on!! If you happen to want to put this button with your posts, or on your blog, have at it! (This is a no rules project though...so, not required!)

Button for your Blog:

<div align="center"><br /><a href="http://march2december.blogspot.com/p/blog-it-52.html" title="march to december"></a></div><br />

The rules:

THERE ARE NO RULES!

BLOG & HAVE FUN!

Heartbreak & Perspective

2016-11-21T21:35:00.002-05:00

I sit here Monday night at 9:30pm. Before I left work today that I got a text message stating that there was a bus accident in a neighboring county. It is technically another state. I live in Georgia; and the accident happened about 30 minutes up the road in Chattanooga, Tn. A school bus with elementary children crashed. Crashed horribly. Children lost their lives.

I sit here listening to my nearly 9 year old boy laughing hysterically in the other room with his Daddy. I have tears streaming down my face. Myself nor my family were personally affected by this horrible accident. I still cannot help but feel heartbroken. To my core heartbroken.

I have felt like this before. When a little boy in the same county as we are, but a different school, got ran over by a bus and died. He was the same age as my son. When the little children lost their lives in Sandy Hook. My human brain cannot wrap itself around something like this happening!

I believe in God. I believe in Jesus and what he did for us. I have such a hard time not being angry when something senseless like this happens. I fight agianst the urge to cry out to God. "Why?! They are children!! What possible plan or good comes from children dying?!" I can't understand it. I don't think I ever will; and maybe it isn't my place to understand it. Maybe there is something to learn (and I hate phrasing it that way) from it.

My almost 9 year old little boy is still laughing in the other room. My heart is filled to the brim with happiness to hear that noise. Really, there is no better sound to a mother. Your child laughing. There are parents out there that wont hear that again, that would give anything to hear it. I love hearing it so much; but it hurts at the same time.

He wasn't supposed to be home right now though. He heard about what happened while he was out with his grandparents. The news can be garish sometimes. My mother-in-law said that she saw a physical change in him when he heard what happened. He is the perfect mixture of his Daddy and me. He is a lot like me when it comes to empathy. (Not saying his father isn't empathetic.) He feels others pain more sharply than he feels his own. He was scared it was his friends. His 8 year old brain didn't process that there was no school for his friends, just like him. Then when he was reassured that it wasn't his friends, he wanted to come home. He needed his parents. I needed him home!

We all know that we are not promised the next second. We know it! It takes moments like this to make most of us really know it though. We are not promised the next second. Live each moment in life like it is the last. You might not have, "in a moment" or "maybe tomorrow." We are all guilty of it. Be it work, a tv program, or even cleaning of the house.

It shouldn't take moments like this to make us remember this. It shouldn't take a tradgey. It shouldn't take children dying to really make us realize that our little ones won't be little forever; or that we might send them to school and they might not come home.

There really isn't a point to this blog post. It is more of a way for me to process the sadness I feel. I am not reminding really anyone to live in the moment. We all know it. Tradgey such as this, we of course all know it.

Hug your little ones, or big kids. Think about is what you are doing worth "maybe tomorrow." Look inward. Ask God questions. Listen for answers. Live in the moment.

I am off to find out what is so dang funny in the other room. :-)
.
.
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It was Mythbusters.
I love my nerds!

My Latest Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

2016-11-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be fun to showcase some new digital scrapbooking layouts. What is digital scrapbooking? Make sure you check out my introduction to digital scrapbooking post. In the mean time. Digital scrapbooking is a form of scrapbooking that has you using your computer to create your scrapbooking layouts. That is done using a personal computer, digital or scanned photos and computer graphics and advanced photo editing software.

Here are some of the latest digital scrapbooking layouts that I have made.

credits:

All Year {November} - Bundle and Picture Perfect 34 by Aprilisa Designs

credits:

Christmas - Templates by Christaly Designs

and

Christmas Countdown : Collection by Amanda Yi, Studio Basic Designs & Two Tiny Turtles

credits:

A Dozen Memories by Dagi's Temp-tations

and

Thanksgiving Day Kit by Keley Designs

credits:

Bearly Awake Bundle by Bella Gypsy Designs

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my latest digital scrapbooking layouts. If you want to know more about what I used on these, check out this post here.

Living the Everyday

2016-11-14T11:10:00.001-05:00

I think I say at the end of every season that it is usually the busiest of the year. I truly think that Fall and into Winter is actually the busiest. From the end of September to January 1st. I am pretty sure we are doing something nearly every weekend. We love all things Autumn in our house. Pumpkins, Halloween, changing of the leaves, and so on. Then you move into Thanksgiving and December. December brings us Christmas, of course, as well as the kiddo's birthday. Just busy-busy-busy!

With the exception of having to wake up early, and my house not as clean as I like, I really do enjoy keeping busy and spending time with the family. Here is what has been going on lately in my life. The life of a Mom, Wife, Sister, Aunt, Daughter, and Granddaughter. You know...nothing too exciting. Nothing that many people will care to stop and read about. However, probably what you all are doing as well. :-)

Saturday started out with hanging out with MeeMaw. She has Alzheimer's and cannot be alone. It is not an easy task. It is well worth it though! She has always done so much for me and mine. It is like I tell her over-and-over. It is our turn to take care of her! If that means giving up a Saturday and answering the same questions multiple times; I am happy to do it!

The kiddo is as well. She tells him every 5-10 minutes how tall he is getting. (He is. He doesn't do it gradually either. He shoots up an inch at a time and usually over the span of a week). He smiles at her and agrees. He also likes to sit with her and snuggle up. The kiddo was teaching MeeMaw about Pokemon. ha ha ha. I couldn't help but smile. 8 and 80 years old. Bonding over something she will do or use. She was interested because her Great Grandson was interested. Then they pulled out Weather books. She would tell him about growing up in Alabama and the weather she experienced. He was all ears and soaked it all in. Those are moments I live for!

My sister is the best sister ever! She loaded up her 3 boys and spent ALL DAY with us Saturday. Her boys are the closest things my kiddo has to brothers. The love each other and fight with each other like they are! We loaded up her van and had some lunch and got 2 of the boy's hair cut. That ended with one of them having red spray painted hair that turned pink by the end of the day; and had everyone with red hands. The other one...screamed like his hair was being pulled out one-by-one.

Speaking of that little guy. I don't know what I did, but he was my sidekick all day long. Usually he I have to fight to get hugs. I only had to fight to get kisses this time. He stuck to me like glue all day.

We ended up having to wait for an hour for dinner. (Much too late according to MeeMaw). So we took the boys to Barns & Noble. They wanted everything they touched. I love that they love to read though. The two oldest were drawn to Minecraft books, the middle Pokemon and Bible related books, and the youngest (who reminds me so much of my kiddo at that age), wanted to read all things "Halloweens"

A late night for us all. The kiddo and I ended up sleeping in Sunday. I got to spend the whole day with my silly boy. Another "Me & You" day. Daddy was working overtime this weekend. We slept in, snuggled, watched some TV, played some games, had lunch together, did a lot of cleaning, and just had a general good time.

Was this weekend super exciting and over the top? Well, no. Was it wonderful and ordinary? Absolutely. Weekends I live for!

Oh...I almost forgot. I also have lost just enough weight to wear my engagement ring again!! That's right! Remember 100 Days and only 5 Pounds? Well, less days than that and more weight loss. I will talk about that more later. :-D

What did you do this weekend?

Halloween 2016 - Trick or Treating

2016-11-02T12:02:00.000-04:00

Shh!! We are just going to overlook the fact that it has been months since we last spoke. I delt with being diagnosed officially with PCOS, school starting back, spending more time with the family, and the busiest month of the year for our little family.

We love love love all things Autumn and Halloween. By we, I mean my son and I. My husband is along for the ride. This year my sister and her kids were along with us. We were doing something every single weekend this past month. So much fun!

It all lead up to Halloween this past Monday. Let me just say, Halloween on Monday suuuucks! I feel like this week has been two weeks long already and Wednesday isn't even half over. That being said, we still had a blast on Halloween.

My son picks out (and usually sticks with) what he is going to be for Halloween November 1st the previous year. He really only changed once. This year he wanted to be some sort of scary skeleton. He went the Grim Reaper way. For years now, we usually pick a theme (around what the kiddo is wearing) and all dress up. This year it was six adults following one kid around trick-or-treating. I loved it though!!

The pics are not the best quality. I was using my phone. I also hate how I look in that middle photo. It is all about memory keeping and not looking selfie\internet worthy. As you can see, the kiddo is crazy scary looking! This is the 1st year he has gone scary though. He kept turning his head to the side when I would take his photo. For some reason it was even more scary that way!

I was going to be a sugar skull until I realized that some people could get offended at me dressing like that. So, I went for a colorful skeleton. I struggled to find something for my size 20 body. (Probably the chubbiest skeleton you'll ever meet! ha!) I ended up finding this great poncho-esk thing on Amazon. It was perfect!

Let us talk about that make up! I got SOOOO many compliments when we were out trick-or-treating. I did not do a single bit of this make up. Well...I added my glittery eyelashes. My mom is crazy talented in...well...pretty much anything. I knew when I found what I wanted, she could do it. She practiced on me twice and the third time got it done so perfectly in about an hour. I could not have done this had I tried 50 times! Plus it was a lot of fun sitting there for hours laughing (or trying not to laugh while she was painting my face) and talking with my family. She also painted my Pop's face (double skull), her makeup for the purple Vampire, and my sister's scarecrow. All in a few hours!

We then spent a few good hours walking around this huge neighboorhood getting the kid candy. Like I said, it was 6 adults to 1 child. lol. He had a posse of scary people, Plain Clothed Iron Man, MeeMaw, and a lovely scarecrow. I totally forgot to mention Iron Man. My Husband will dress up from time-to-time. He was Mario at work just hours before these photos. This year though he went for comfort. We bought this LED light up shirt. It was pretty cool!

We had a great Halloween! It was so much fun. The whole month leading up to it. Not to mention it was beautiful out that night. Two years ago we had snow and blistering wind. This year we were breaking heat temperature records. It was near summer temps, minus the humidity. Seriously, we have been breaking previous heat temps Monday, Tuesday, Today, and are supposed to the rest of the week. The sky was lovely though!

Grim Reaper wasn't the only costume we bought this year either. Just as Halloween wasn't the only day we trick-or-treated. He was also Batman at the Trunk-or-Treat with his cousins, and a fireman for career day at school. (They don't allowe Halloween dressing up or parties).

Well, that is all for me right now. What did you dress up as for Halloween?

The Importance of a Good Doctor

2016-08-26T12:56:00.001-04:00

I should start out by saying that I am not in the medical field, whatsoever! A "good doctor" is only my onion of what that is. You should always do your own research into getting a doctor, and listen to your doctor! With that said, here is what I think is the importance of having a good doctor.

My Story

What made me think about this being a good topic to share with you all, was my experience with bad doctors. Maybe not so much "bad" doctors, but doctors who do not listen to their patient. I understand that they are doctors. What I might think is going on, might not be what is nescerally what is going on.

I have been going to the doctor without a parent to advocate for me since I was 23 years old. I went years between going with a parent to going alone. The thought of that scared me for some reason. That being said, I got pregnant when I was 23. Being pregnant gets rid of a lot of fears one might have when it comes to the doctor. You go so much, get undress so much, and get so many...oh so many...needles stuck in you.

After I had my son, I started getting migraines. I went to a new doctor for help. I was immediately put on daily medication, that I kept taking for about 5 years. Not once was there talk about what could be causing the migraines. Not once was there a follow up to see how I was. The only follow up was when I need more medicine. I would have to make an appointment, pay my co-pay just to have the doctor write more medicine for me.

5 years after taking said medicine I started itching all over. I went to the doctor, they took blood, and sent me on my way. I called back nearly a week later to ask the results of the blood tests; and they told me all was clear. Not one mention of trying to find out what is causing my itching. I am talking about itching so bad it kept me awake at night.

Silly me; I kept going back. I would complain every time and then keep going back. Fast forward 3 years. I had gone back to the doctor nearly 15 times for different problems. Always blood tests, always that they came back okay, and never a solution to the problem.

I kept going back because something was wrong. At this point I didn't even care if there was a solution to the issues that plagued me. I only wanted answers. I only wanted someone to tell me I was not crazy. I knew something was wrong. I knew my body. The doctor would not listen to me. She kept coming back to I was overweight. That all my problems could be pegged down to that I needed to loose weight.

What about the weight itself? I kept telling here that I was trying. Truly trying! It won't come off. Could that not also be a symptom of something else? She would send me for blood tests (I am sure looking for something she could give me medicine for). Then when it would come back all clean, I didn't hear anything.

A Different Doctor...the Same Story

I went to my gynecologist with problems and went through the same thing. I gave them the list of problems that I had, their solution was to put me on birth control. That birth control made me crazy. Raging crazy! I went back to the doctor and told them that wasn't going to work for me. Their solution # 2? More birth control. It had the same outcome. I went back. Gave the list of problems to the nurse before seeing the doctor. She mentioned in passing that I might have something; and she gave me the name.

Okay, that makes sense. I talked to the doctor. "What about _____?", I asked. His reply? " Let us try a new birth control."....You've got to be kidding me?! Does any doctor anymore try to find what actually is wrong instead of just prescribing medicine and hoping for the best? Does doctors listen anymore?! I let him prescribe the medicine and went on my merry way. I never even filled it. That was 2014.

Getting Answers

Two years later, and here I am back to trying to find out what is wrong with me. Call me stubborn, but I called the same gynecologist to make an appointment. My thought was just give me my yearly and make sure I don't have cancer. I clearly am not going to find out what is wrong with me. It just so happened my regular doctor was booked up. They offered to let me been seen by the midwife.

Sure! I didn't care who did the pap smear. As soon as she walked in, I knew it was going to be different this time. She listened to me! She asked questions. She would go one route; and when I would tell her about this test or that test ran she went another route. She ordered scans, she advised the lady doing the scans to give me answers before I left, and she called me herself and confirmed what she and I both thought in the exam room. By the way, it was what the nurse mentioned two years ago in passing.

Finally!! FINALLY! I had answers. All these things that were wrong with me added up to this problem. 4 days later I had a new regular physician and was sitting in his office. I knew there was better doctors out there for me. Guess what?! He asked questions, took the time, ordered tests and called me back! He confirmed what the gynecologist said. I was sad about what was wrong with me but so relieved that I finally had answers.

My Suggestion to You

I wrote all this to say to you that there are doctors out there that will listen. That you know your body better than anyone! If your doctor wont listen to you, maybe it is time to find a new one. It took me a total of 3 years of paying out money and asking for help with no help. It took me 2 years, after a nurse mentioned in passing what she thought was wrong with me, to get answers and get help. THREE to TWO years of misery. I could have everything under control now for over a year. Possibly YEARS.

However, since I had a team of doctors that would not listen to me, I suffered. I stayed unhealthy. I stayed sick with no answers, no help, and no solution. I should have listened to the people around me, I should have found new doctors, and I should not have stopped until I had the answers I needed. My hope is that if someone out there needs answers and is reading this gets the push you need. Find someone who will help you! Find someone who will listen to you!

Like I said, I am not in the medical profession. I am only advising that there are doctors out there that will listen. That will help. To me, it is vastly important to have good doctors, for you!

I will be back later next week to talk about my diagnosis.

<<< PIN TO READ LATER >>

1. Do you have a story about a doctor who

wouldn't listen?

2. Are you looking for answers?

3. Got anything else to add?

Link me up!

Comment below!

Truly I like to hear from you all

Inexpensive Chalkboard Signs with Color4Fun Markers

2016-08-23T13:19:00.001-04:00

I realize that last Wednesday's post I said that I would be back with more information on how to download, unzip, and save your digital scrapbooking supplies. I have not gotten the video ready for that yet. I think I bit more off than I could chew, saying I would have it done in a week's time. Look for that in the near future. I am working on it!

Today though we are going to take a step away from digital scrapbooking and actually pull out some paper and markers! That's right. We are going to get our hands dirty. I got these chalk markers at a discounted price in order to review them. When they came in I thought, "What am I going to do with these?" I am a digital scrapbooker after all.

I ended up taking them to my son's bathroom and playing on the mirror with them to start out. He has past holiday window clings all around the side. I've written him little encouraging notes with dry erase markers. These were fun! They erase pretty well too.

Then the idea popped into my brain. I could use these to make a fun project; and that the kiddo and I can do together! We could make fun signs with these. We could also do them on the cheap.

Inexpensive DIY Chalkboard Signs

You can use chalkboards with this. You could actually erase them if you do. I was looking for a much cheaper alternative to buying multiple chalkboards. Here is how we made our own cheap and homemade Chalkboard Signs.

Supplies

Chalkboard Markers
Black Cardstock

That's it. Really. Of course I used Colors4Fun High Quality Liquid Chalk Marker Pens on mine. Like I said before, I got these at a discounted price to offer my review on them. You don't have to use these to make your inexpensive DIY Chalkboard signs. I loved the colors of these though and they were so easy to use. Just shake them up, press the tip in until the paint comes down, and paint away! The only negative thing I would have to say about these markers is about the initial pressing in to get the ink out. I wasn't aware, so I am letting others know, that once the paint starts coming down the tip, it goes fast! I found that small presses over and over again kept me from pressing out a big glob of ink all at once. I went with card stock because I got more for my money. I tried to find online what I bought in the store, but they just do not seem to have it. Any black cardstock will work. I went to the crafting section of walmart and found a pack of just black 8.5x11 scrapbooking cardstock. It was $5. Why did I choose cardstock? Like I said before, I got more for my money. Would I have liked a bulk purchase of chalkboards for $5? Of course! That isn't going to happen though. I got 50 8.5x11 pages for $5. The chalkboards I found were $4 for a 5x7 size. I was going to be making fun signs and cards with an 8 year old. We needed quantity!

Directions

This is so simple guys it isn't even funny. You open your markers, pick out a page, and get to drawing! That's it. The bright chalk paints really pop against the black cardboard. If you make a mistake, just take out another page! You can make signs, cards, and more with these supplies. I do suggest that you start at the top and work your way down with your drawing/writing. It doesn't really smear, but a bit can rub off on your hands. My son's hands were covered in chalk. You cannot tell looking at the actual finished product though. Nothing smeared.

Finished Product

Yep...He is a little nerd! Tardis, Minecraf, & Pokemon

Here is my finished product. Once I looked at it on the door yesterday, I realized that for some reason I didn't finish the black line on the Pokeball. I fixed it today. Of course you don't really need a tutorial for how to make these fun and inexpensive chalkboard signs. That being said, I never thought of it until I came across these pens and thought it would be a fun craft to share with my readers.

<<< PIN TO READ LATER>>

- Have you ever done this?

- What ideas do you have for fun and

inexpensive crafts?

- Comment below or link me up to your post.

Seriously! I like reading your blogs

as much as I like posting on mine.

This Mom's Thoughts about Homework

2016-08-22T10:52:00.000-04:00

I have long standing thoughts when it comes to homework. I am talking back to when I was my son's age. I am nearly 33 years old and they really have not changed. I saw this picture a few times on my Facebook feed. I also heard people talking about it this morning on the radio. A teacher's No-Homework Policy.

My Story with Homework

I was a good kid growing up! Perfect? Well, no. I didn't cause trouble though, I didn't party or do drugs. I was an all-around good kid....except...when it came to homework. I hated homework. I hated it so much I didn't do it!

When I was in middle school I was failing. All because I didn't want to do my homework. I was also too immature to know that I probably should just do it because the only thing my protest was doing was hurting myself. Not only my grades, but my butt from all the whippings I got for zeroes.

It got so bad that my parents had to come to the school and talk to them about holding me back. I believe that was the 6th grade. They set a plan in motion instead. I had to take this paper and go class-to-class and have my teacher notate and sign if I had any homework. I think they thought that if they made me do extra work and try to embarrass me I would do it.

Well, they were correct. That paper was something my parents could look at and force me to do my homework. They couldn't force me to turn it in though! That's right. I would spend all that time doing the homework, and I wouldn't turn it in. Talk about stubborn!

I should also say that most my life (outside my parents) I had a real problem with authority. I was not the kind of person that would do something just because you told me to. You better have a dern good reason why you are having me do this! "Because you said so!" is not a good reason and likely would have made me not want to do it all the more.

What are my thoughts on homework now? Sometimes what we think and feel as a child changes. Well, most of the time actually. We are thinking with a child's mind; and we might not always understand the bigger picture. Sometimes we are just stupid and stubborn children!

What I Think about Homework

I think it is completely pointless, and here is why. I have said this most my life. What is the point of homework? Why should children spend all day in school to come home and do, some times hours worth of homework? When I was in middle school and fighting daily against homework I was given the reasons from a few people.

It prepares you for adulthood
You do what you're told
It helps you learn and retain teaching

Being told it prepares me for adulthood really annoys me now that I am an adult. Grant it, there are jobs out there that you work from home on. I made it a purpose in life not to have one of those jobs. I work to have a life to live! I absolutely do not live to work. Telling me that sitting inside all day as a child to go home and do hours of more sitting and working prepares me for adulthood and the "job force" is a big pile of you-know-what.

Let kids be kids! My goodness children grow up so fast these days. Cellphones, make up, and worrying about the opposite sex in freaking elementary school. Let them come home and run around outside!

I was raised that you do what you are told. No questions. You just do it! I agree with that. I hold my son to that standard (most of the time) as well. However, just doing homework because we are told to is not a reason to do it! Why are we making our children come home and work?! "Just because" is not a reason.

I can only speak for myself and my son. That being said, homework does not help him (or me when I was a child) learn or retain anything I learned. That is outside just writing over and over helps him with his penmanship. The whole "practice makes perfect" line just does not apply. Homework isn't doing the same thing day in and day out. It is different tasks everyday. Coming home and doing an hours worth of work with a parent who isn't a teacher isn't going to be practice. Only a practice in futility.

Don't even get me started on the way kids do freaking math these days. I promise you I do more confusing than helping my son when it comes to that. Maybe that it he problem and how I get my stance on homework. I am just not smart enough to actually help. lol.

In summation, I believe that doing homework really has no point. The only outcome I see personally is putting too much pressure on our kids and not letting them be the kids they actually are. If your child needs help and extra learning, that should be something between you and your child's teacher. I don't feel like an entire school of kids needs extra learning and tutoring. They don't need this homework. They don't need to go to school all day, sit in class all day, and them come home and battle through homework with parents that likely don't understand and only make things more confusing for the child!!

There you go. My rant about homework. I would also like to say that I make my son do his homework; and I don't do it for him either! Even though I don't believe there is a real value to homework, I do believe that children should be taught to follow the rules, even if they don't like them. We are going to have people our whole lives telling us what to do. We are going to have things in life we hate having to do, but do them anyway. Also...extra writing doesn't hurt my child who has terrible penmanship!

Am I right in my thoughts? Who knows. I have read (yes, actually read) articles where some studies suggest it doesn't help, some say it does, and others say depends on the child and age. These are only my thoughts. They likely stem from my very adamant stance on homework from a child. Somethings are just part of who you are no matter the age. I do hold my frustration with homework in when helping my son do his homework. I don't want to imprint my negative thoughts on him.

<<< PIN TO READ LATER! >>

- What are your thoughts on homework?

- Do you think my negative thoughts are just

a product of who I was as a child?

Does your kid have homework?

Seriously...

I want to know!

Comment below; or link me up

to your blog post about homework.

Before I leave, let me show you my new toy!! A fashion and make up blogger, I am not! This is a really fun hair straightener! I received this item at a discounted rate for my review on it.

I have been wanting to try out a hair brush straightener since I first laid eyes on one. My hair is not curly; it is wavy though. Usually when I am going out with my hubby or a family get-together, I will straighten it. Even with my non-curly hair, it takes a while to straighten it. Here is my review of this product:

Pros:
Quick straightening
Easy to use
Nice extras
Fast heat up
Good for wavy hair
Easy for curling ends under

Cons:
Would not turn off w/o unplugging

I am not sure it will work well with very curly hair. I cannot attest to that as my hair is just wavy. It is think though and this made quick work of straightening it out. It isn't slick straight as if it would be with straightener. It gets the job done though!

Digital Scrapbooking - The Supplies

2016-08-10T12:46:00.001-04:00

Last week we talked about getting started with digital scrapbooking. Basically talking about what is digital scrapbooking, what you need to get started, and a point in the direction of a great class on getting started. Today though, we are going to talk a bit more about what you actually need to scrap digitally. The digital scrapbooking supplies. I will also link you up on where to get them.

WHAT YOU NEED TO SCRAP DIGITALLY

There are different answers to this; and it all depends on who you ask. Here is what I suggest that you need to get started in digital scrapbooking

A program to scrap with
Photos
Digitally made papers and elements (a kit)

Programs to Use for Digital Scrapbooking

The main programs used for digital scrapbooking are as follows: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements (what I use), paint.net, Corel Paintshop Pro, and Gimp. There are other things out there you can use. These are the main ones though.

I use Photoshop Elements and that is what I recommend to others when they ask me what to use. It usually can be bought for under $100. I know that not everyone can afford that. You can try it out for free to see if that is something you would like to do.

Photoshop Elements is a wonderful photo-editing program. You can do most of what you can in the full CS program in Elements. For most people, and especially people starting out, Elements will have everything you need to scrap digitally.

Learning how to use Elements does take a bit of time, some trial and error, and some learning. You can find online classes to help with that. Once again, I suggest the FREE class that I did in the "Getting Started" blog post.

Photos

Photos, of course. (I have been known to scrap photo-less layouts though!). I usually take photos with my camera or phone and save them to my computer. From there I can upload them to my layout. I also have photos from the good old pre-digital days. What do I do with those? Scanner baby! Scan them right in and use them on my layouts. I am not going to lie to you though, and I do suggest this if you are going to print in 8x8 or smaller. I have been known to take really nice and clear photos of my photos to use on my layouts. True story!

Digital Papers and Elements

otherwise known as "kits", are the next thing you need. Technically you can scrap without them. You can upload photos and journal without them. I personally love all the pretty papers and elements that go with them.

WHAT ARE DIGITAL PAPERS AND ELEMENTS?

Digital papers and elements are the supplies you need to scrap your digital scrapbooking layouts. They are downloaded off the internet. You can buy them and find some for free! You will need to know how to download things, how to find them and unzip them once you have them on your computer. where to store them, and how to store them. I personally suggest that you store them in two different places. Some of the places you can store your digital scrapbooking supplies are on your computer, an external hard-drive, DVDs, or internet back up. I personally store mine on my computer and have an internet back up.

There are a huge range of items that will be your digital scrapbooking supplies. Those include:

Full kits - Which are most everything you need bought at once. All the papers and elements you need. Usually in some sort of theme. Color or activity.
alphas - these are just like they sound. Beautiful letters used to title your page
papers
elements - all the things that are not papers. Think flowers, stars, and so on.
templates - which I love and will have a whole other post about just them
quick pages
and more!

There are tons and tons of stores around online to buy these digital scrapbooking supplies. I am not going to pretend to know them all. I am going to list a few of them here. They are in alphabetical order. I did all the hard work for you. They are all linked to the actual store.

These are not all of them that are out there. There are designers that sell in their own stores and other stores that I just do not know about. My favorites are GingerScraps and SweetShoppe Designs. You can also google "digital scrapbooking freebies" and start getting some items from free.

More than a Store!

All of these shops are more than just a store; and to me this is one of the best things about digital scrapbooking. These places are communities. I am being serious when I tell you this. Most all of the stores linked above have forum communities. In these forums you can ask questions, play games, complete challenges, meet new friends, learn from tutorials, enter to win free items, and actually get to know the faces behind the designs. I have met and am friends with people from all over the world, just from digital scrapbooking. That, to me, is so cool!

I suggest that you click around on the links above. Look around the store and see if any of the designs are to your liking. I would start by looking on the right hand side. Most of the stores have categories. I would also suggest looking under "kits, digital scrapbooking kit, scrap kits" or any variation thereof. Remember, kits are papers and elements all rolled into one purchase.

I hope that you enjoyed and learned something from today's post. Next week I will be back with information on what to do with your digital scrapbooking supplies once you buy them. Hopefully, with a video tutorial. I have never done one of these before. Wish me luck!

<<< PIN ME TO READ LATER!

Do you scrap digitally? Link me up to your gallery or blog. I am always looking for inspriation!

Do you shop somewhere that isn't listed above? Tell me where. I will add it to the list.

Any further suggestions? I wanna know! Comment below.

Summer Bucket List - Ice Cream Sundaes with SnoSpice

2016-08-08T10:32:00.000-04:00

This post contains sponsored links from SnoSpice Company. I received these products to test out and review. That being said, my opinions are honest. I love my little corner of the internet and wouldn't steer any of my readers the wrong way. I treat you all like friends. Let's get to the fun stuff now!

We love ice cream! Even though we are trying to live a healthier lifestyle, we sneak in ice cream often. Not a whole lot and not too crazy. We have never made ice cream sundaes though. (I also just realize that in making my Summer Bucket List I spelled that wrong. oops)

With that in mind, I added making ice cream sundaes to my summer bucket list. Even though the kiddo started back to school last week. You read that right...LAST WEEK! It is still technically summer and we are still knocking off our Summer Bucket List. We actually did this the evening after his first day of school. Kind of a celebration.

Our favorite ice cream is vanilla bean. I love love love it! The kiddo likes it too. Why? Well, because he can add all kinds of things to it. Individually they are yummy. Together they make me want to gag. He likes it though. We got all our fun toppings together. WE like chocolate, whip-cream, marshmallow cream and cherries on our ice cream. The kiddo likes to add gummy bears and sprinkles to his. gag.

We busted out the SnoSpice add-ins to try out. We didn't put them in our actual sundaes just yet. We wanted to try them all out. The flavors we had were Lemon & Basil, Turmeric, Chocolate and Sea Salt, Cocoa and Cayenne, Cinnamon, and Pumpkin. I am just going to straight out tell you we didn't even open the Lemon and Turmeric options. I don't like the taste of Basil or Turmeric. If that is your cup-of-tea, or cone of ice cream, I really suggest you try them out! We tried all the rest. They were SO good! They take the already wonderful vanilla ice cream and turn them into whatever flavor you want! It is like having 7 flavors of ice cream for a lot less than 7 tubs would cost you!

Besides those two mentioned, we both tried all 4 of the rest. Our favorite was the pumpkin. Even the kiddo thinks that was the best and added the pumpkin, cinnamon, and chocolate sea salt to his actual sundae. You sprinkle it on and mix it in. The Cocoa Cayenne was good...but hot! We liked it, then had to reach for something to drink.

Reaching for the water after trying Cocoa Cayenne

His reaction to the YUMMY pumpkin SnoSpice

So, we mixed and topped and ate yummy yummy ice cream. It was a fun treat for back-to-school and a great addition to our summer. It was so great that we actually made some more last night.

This is the finished product. I had no idea until we started making our sundaes that the kiddo didn't like waffle cones...who doesn't like waffle cones?! They are one of the best things about ice cream! As you can see, the kiddo's sundae is more toppings that ice cream and looks gross. If you look closely you can see chocolate covered gummy bears. You can also tell that he really likes it.

I ended up going with pumpkin ice cream. Sooo good guys! I did add a cherry and a bit of whip-cream to it. It is kinda cool to have these mix-ins from SnoSpice to make whatever ice cream flavor I want. yummy!

<<< -- PIN TO READ LATER

There you have it. Another item marked off our Summer Bucket List. Do you have a list you are doing this summer? I would like to see yours too! You can link me up in the comments.

Do you have a favorite ice cream or topping? Drop by the comments below and let me know! I am now looking for fun and yummy things to add to our future ice cream sundaes.

Digital Scrapbooking - Getting Started

2016-08-02T16:36:00.004-04:00

I have thought about this long and hard. I am not sure everyone knows this or not, but this isn't my only blog. Have a blog called Shawn Bear Scraps. This is where I talk about all things digital scrapbooking and showcase my digital scrapbooking creations. I have found myself too busy and unable to keep up with two blogs. So for now I am combining the two. Instead of Wordless Wednesday posts that just show off photos and do not really entertain or teach, I am going to be talking about Digital Scrapbooking on Wednesdays.

Today we are going to talk about getting started in this wonderful and addictive hobby.

Getting Started in Digital Scrapbooking

I know that one of the reasons no one gets started in it is because they don't know where to start. I am here to point you in the right direction. I taught myself everything that I know and use on a near daily bases in my digital scrapbooking. It is that easy. If you know how to use a computer, you can dcrap digitaly as well.

What is Digital Scrapbooking?

It is wonderful! Seriously though, digital scrapbooking is exactly like it sounds. Digital scrapbooking is a form of scrapbooking that has you using your computer to create your scrapbooking layouts. That is done using a personal computer, digital or scanned photos and computer graphics and advanced photo editing software.

Fairly simple, right? What does all that mean though? Computer graphics and photo editing software? That is what you actually need to scrap lovely layouts. Instead of glue, paper and scissors as your tools, you are using these items instead.

What You Need to Scrap Digitally

There are different answers to this; and it all depends on who you ask. Here is what I suggest that you need to get started in digital scrapbooking

A program to scrap with
Photos
Digitally made papers and elements (a kit)

Digital papers and elements, otherwise known as "kits", are the next thing you need. Technically you can scrap without them. You can upload photos and journal without them. I personally love all the pretty papers and elements that go with them.

What are digital papers and elements?

There are a huge range of items that will be your digital scrapbooking supplies. Those include:

Full kits - Which are most everything you need bought at once. All the papers and elements you need. Usually in some sort of theme. Color or activity.
alphas - these are just like they sound. Beautiful letters used to title your page
papers
elements - all the things that are not papers. Think flowers, stars, and so on.
templates - which I love and will have a whole other post about just them
quick pages
and more!

There are tons and tons of stores around online to buy these digital scrapbooking supplies. Just google "digital scrapbooking store" and go from there. My favorites are GingerScraps and SweetShoppe Designs. You can also google "digital scrapbooking freebies" and start getting some items from free.

Now, all this sounds good, but how do you really go about doing this?

Where to Start Digital Scrapbooking

I suggest you start with a tutorial. Google those bad-boys! My favorite tutorial is HERE.

This tutorial has everything you need to get started. Takes everything I have just said and actually teaches you how to do it. I am not a very good teacher. I really suggest you taking a look over here to get started. (It also tells you how and gives you all you need to start digital scrapbooking for FREE!)

What I have given you is the basic knowledge on what digital scrapbooking is. I have plans on sitting down and going in more detail on what all this is and showing you how to do it. This is just to get your toes wet and to point you in the right direction. To let you know what digital scrapbooking is.

It is a fantastic and fun hobby. I suggest to anyone. I love it! I hope you will love it too!

<<< PIN ME TO READ LATER

I hope that you find this tutorial interesting. Like I said, I have a passion for digital scrapbooking; and I love to drag others along with me.

Do you scrapbook (paper or digital)?

Would you like to learn how?

Comment below or link me up to your gallery or blog. You can also email me any questions you have by the contact box to the right.

Harry Potter and the Curse Child - Book Review

2016-08-01T10:09:00.002-04:00

This post contains affiliate links. The book synopsis came from Amazon.

This review is also SPOILER FREE

I interrupt our regularly scheduled Monday's My Healthy Life post to bring you a book review. I am sure you can guess by the title and photo what book review it is. Why I am reviewing it now? Well because it is fresh in my mind. I waited up Saturday night and started reading around 12:15 yesterday morning. I finished the book, almost to the minute, 24 hours later.

"Nominated for the Holden-Crowther Book Award 2016." "The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

My Harry Potter History

I thought I would start this review by giving a bit of my history when it comes to Harry Potter.

The 1st Harry Potter book came out the summer before my freshman year in high school. To 13 year old La'Shawn these were books for little kids. Not for a mature teenager like myself. My sister, who is two years younger than me, read the first book. She loved it! She kept telling my Mom and I that we had to read it. Again, I was much too mature for that!

Then my Mom read the book and loved it. She told me that I had to read it as well. Doing a little bit of math, when I was 13, my mom was a bit younger than I am now...wow...Anyway. So, I read it; and I was hooked! From then on out I was at every midnight release. Ready to get my hands on the next book. The 1st movie came out the same year I graduated high school.

Basically, I grew up with it. I have read and re-read these books throughout the years. My mom named her dog Padfoot. We thought about naming any daughter we ever had Ariana (Dumbledore's sister). I started reading them to my son. I watch the movies anytime they are on TV; and I have all the movies myself. I own memorabilia; and I gladly let my nerd flag fly when it comes to HP.

All that is to say that these stories and characters are a huge part of my childhood. I get emotionally attached to fictinal people when I read stories. I feel like I know them. I know the Harry Potter universe.

What I Knew Going In

Like most Harry Potter nerds, I keep up with the going ons in that world. Pottermore, Mugglenet, and so on. When I heard about The Cursed Child I was through the moon excited. I knew it was a play. I knew the "book" would be in script form. I tried to #keepthesecrets.

I read all the reviews that didn't have spoilers. (Although one didn't mention spoilers but had a HUGE one!). I started seeing that people were not really happy with this "eighth story" in the HP world. Some of the things the characters did just didn't match what we know and love about them. It just didn't add up to the JK Harry Potter world we know and love.

I was going to read the book no matter what. For one it was so exciting to be waiting on another HP book at midnight. Reading all the things people had to say about it. Thinking about what the story was going to bring to this world that I know and love. Seeing other people's posts about what they thought and what they were looking forward to. Even though I knew one of, if the THE, plot points going in, I was going to read it.

The Review

So here is my review on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
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I didn't like it. I cannot say there was actually one part that I enjoyed. I cannot say there was any part of this book that sent me back to the HP world that I know and love. I knew this was a script and not going to be in book form. That wasn't it. I was okay with that part. My imagination is good enough to fill in those blanks. I knew it wasn't written by JK herself. That someone else wrote it and she approved it. My thoughts where that SHE KNOWS HER CHARACTERS and if she approved it that it would be spot on.

I am not here (like others) to say that I know the Harry Potter characters better than JK. That is ridiculous in my opinion. They are her creation after all. Some say that this book/play isn't in "canon". That anything outside the 7 books don't fit in this world. That is also far-fetched to me. This world and this canon are JK's. If she wants Harry to grow up, dress in drag, and date Peeves (non of that happened btw), she can! It is in canon and part of that world. This world is JK's after all. W are only lucky to be part of it.

I am here to say that I have my own thoughts on what characters would and would not say. That there were some things that the main people said and did that just blew me away. Not in a good way. There is one main thing that Harry Potter says that, in my opinion and I feel most everyone else's, he would never ever ever ever say. Never! By the time I got to that part of the story, I was already put off.

The characters apparently grow up and become completely different people. Say and do things they would never do in real life. They all but forget Harry and Ginny's other two kids. There are two stand out points in the book. They are interesting but lacking. The idea of this story line is great. Which I feel like is JK's part to this story. The writing itself and the character development is awful.

The story itself bounces around all over the place. They drag one beloved character from the past through the mud. Harry smacks close to the Harry we loved to hate in Order of the Phoenix. The moody and annoyingly "why me" Harry. Ginny reminds me a lot of Molly in the book. There is no mention of George. Ron is the closest to the Ron that I imagined. Hermione grows up and reverts back to the pre-troll version of herself. Albus Potter needs a good smack and I actually like Draco's boy, Scorpious. I cannot say that it was this way for everyone else. I kept expecting something to happen between Albus and Scorpious.

In Summary

Don't go in expecting this to be a wonderful addition, THE 8th book in the Harry Potter world. They could have given us this information in a post on Pottermore and I wouldn't have been as disappointed. You will be able to tell pretty early in that this was NOT WRITTEN BY JK. It feels more like a fan-fiction. With that in mind, I've actually read fan-fiction that was so much better than The Curse Child is. It strays from the story we all know and love too much. The main characters in this book apparently grow up to become other people. There is weird things added in like dragging people through the mud, time turners that don't make sense, and hand grenade pumpkin pasties...yeah. You read that right. Think "Anything of the trolley" and then the sweet old lady growing spike and throwing exploding pumpkin sweets....weird. Just plain weird.

I wanted to much for this to be amazing. I think that is why I went to bed this morning wholly disappointed. I feel that the only positive thing this story had was taking me back to my childhood. Reminding me of midnight releases and the wonderful anticipation of a new story. It failed miserably in everything else.

The Play Itself

I only read the script. (Wasn't expecting a book btw. That isn't where the disappointment comes in). I have not seen the play itself. I have not read a negative review about the play. Most people say that it is magical and wonderful. So, maybe it is. Maybe the negativity comes from the fact that this wasn't actually a book. That this was a script. That you cannot get everything from it without watching the play.

I hope that the play comes to America one day and that I will be able to see it. Not enjoying the book from of the script will not keep me from watching the play. It will also not keep me from loving the world that is Harry Potter either. I just don't think that The Cursed Child will be part of that world for me.

<<<< PIN ME TO READ LATER

So, there you have it. My little review on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Did you read it yet? What did you think?

Are you going to read it? I highly suggest you do. Even though

I did not enjoy it and it is getting bad reviews, I think everyone who loves Harry Potter should give it a go.

Tell me what you think. Comment below.
Link me up to your review!

Summer Bucket List | Playing in the Rain

2016-07-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

We have a saying here in the south. "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. It will change." I cannot tell you how true those words are! Like this past weekend. It was sunny one moment and the next moment it was overcast and thundering. It never actually rained though. Another weekend, it was sunny and hot. We noticed clouds rolling in; and thought it might pass over. Nope!

On my bucket list for this summer I chose for us to Play in the Rain. I love the rain! As long as it isn't lighting or really thundering, playing in the rain can be a blast!

Back to the day we thought it was going to pass over us. It was a beautiful Saturday morning in North West Georgia. We got up pretty early and headed to the swimming pool. We like to get there around 8am. We swim until lunchtime, and when all the other people start showing up. We had the swimming pool to ourselves. Just like we like it!

We noticed some clouds off in the distance. My sweet grandmother noticed them first. Ever since her Alzheimer's got worse, she notices the sky a lot. We thought it would just pass us by. It is the south. It does that.

Then I kept hearing some thundering in the distance. Eh...it still might pass us by. Then it got dark. Real dark! Like the bottom is about to fall out of it dark. Run and take cover kinda dark. That is exactly what we did.

I just love this photo of my husband!

Then the Rain Started to Pour

I am not talking like a nice summer rain. I am talking about it raining so hard you cannot see in front of you kinda of rain. The hubby realized that he left his car window's down. He ran out there to roll them up. The kiddo and I sat under the pavilion with MeeMaw. It was really starting to storm. The thundering was shaking the pavilion we were sitting on. There was a party inside though and we didn't want to intrude. So we sat outside. We were not getting wet...yet.

Poor kiddo was getting scared. MeeMaw was
there to comfort him though. I love this pic!

Then it Started Raining Sideways

I had a pillow up trying to block the sideways rain from MeeMaw and the boy

I am not joking! The wind whipped right up and right into where we were sitting. At this time the drains by the pool couldn't keep up. It started flooding. Then one of the umbrellas flew up in the air and took off. It was only stopped by the fence. At that time we decided we would join the birthday party inside. It was getting a bit too nasty to sit under that pavilion.

The rain pouring down in sheets

The swimming pool was getting a bit too full

The umbrella and the flooding

Just like that, it stopped!

Welcome to the south folks! It rains so hard one moment the place is flooding and umbrellas are flying through the air; then the next it is sunny and you see the rain evaporating on the roads. Hello humidity!

We didn't really play in the rain. However it was a memory to last a lifetime and after it was all said and done, a pretty fun adventure. I say this knocks it off our Summer Bucket List.

If that doesn't do it for you; and you just don't think we actually played in the rain, here is a few days later with the whole family. We all had our suits on at the pool. A much friendlier rain came in and we were playing in the rain and rain puddles.

Have you ever played in the rain? Would you ever? I would love to hear your story about playing in the rain, or your summer bucket list! Comment or link me up. I love to hear what you have to say.

Wordless Wednesday | Summer Memories

2016-07-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

My Healthy Life | How I Deal with the Failures

2016-07-25T11:09:00.003-04:00

You might have noticed (or might not have) that I didn't blog last week. I was around. I just wasn't blogging. I decided to take a week off. I worked on the look of the blog, re-imaging some posts, and a few other things. I didn't get to update how my week of turning my life into a healthy one went....well...it didn't.

Like so many times before, I started and then failed. I hate when I do that. That being said, it is a process. Would I like to flip a switch and never look back at the unhealthy person I was? Of course. There are little, to no one, that can do that. I am absolutely cannot. Clearly; as I have been working on this for years!

That is what I am going to talk about today. On top of updating my goals for the week and the rest of the month, I am going to talk about how I personally deal with the failures that arise in my healthy life.

How I Deal with the Failures

There are many things that cross my mind when I hit a snag in getting healthy or just plain ol' flush it down the toilet.

I should just give up.
I am never going to accomplish this.
I am a failure.
This isn't working.
I suck!
I am so done with feeling like this!
Here we go again.
Time to start over again!

That is pretty much how my entire though process goes. Usually it just ends up with me feeling sorry for myself, hating on myself, and ripping myself apart. That is a terrible cycle to be in! When I say cycle, I mean it! A constant round-and-round battle with myself. This is usually how I handle these things. Terrible, right?

[tweet-quote via="march2december"]When I say cycle, I mean it! A constant round-and-round battle with myself.[/tweet-quote]

This past week, I let myself get behind in the steps-challenge with my husband and dad. By Tuesday I had given up. There was no way (in my mind) that I was going to come back and win. So stupidly, I gave up. Not only did I give up on the step-challenge, I gave up on everything else too. No working out. No eating healthy. Drinking all the Dr. Peppers. Seriously! With one thought, I failed an entire week. I sabotaged everything that I had done the week before. If not more.

What Did I Do Differently This Time?

Well starting out, nothing. I knew in the back of my mind what I was doing. Yesterday it shoved its way to the front of my mind. The never ending beating myself up cycle started. I was apologizing to my husband for being fat. (which he put a stop to immediately). I was feeling sorry for myself. I was calling myself names. I hated everything that I was wearing.

Then something clicked. This wasn't healthy! Yes, I messed up. I am human. We all have those little failures in reaching a goal. Does that mean I failed at the entire goal? No! I can start right back up from where I am at. Not tomorrow. Not the following Monday. Right that moment.

I was lying in bed (because I threw my back out.) thinking. How healthy am I if I am calling myself names? Will I ever accomplish my goal if with every set back, I stop and then beat myself up? No! That isn't healthy and I will never accomplish anything.

The Life Lesson

The thought popped in my head about my son. He was learning how to dive this past week. He kept trying and he kept failing. He would get so mad at himself, beat himself up and then say he wasn't going to do it anymore. When I asked him why, he said that it was because he kept failing at it. Well...mister...that isn't going to fly! I talked to him about trying and never giving up. I told him that anything worth having is worth working for. I told him that I knew he could do it. He isn't a failure and he shouldn't talk about himself like that. I wouldn't let anyone else say those things about him. I am not going to allow him to either....
::: crickets :::

Yep. I know. I know! As I was telling him these things, I wasn't giving myself that pep talk. I was in the mind set that my son was worth it, but I was not. That just simply isn't true and it sure as heck isn't healthy!

All this was said to say this. It is all a mind over matter thing. It is a day-to-day...no!...a moment-to-moment battle. We are faced with those choices all day. Do I drink the soda or should I just go get a glass of water? It is too hot to go for a walk. I will just sit here in the cool A/C. Each moment is a potential winning moment or a failure. Are we always going to win? No. (If you are...go you!!)

[tweet-quote via="march2december"]It is a day-to-day...no!...a moment-to-moment battle. [/tweet-quote] I am taking each moment as just that. Another opportunity to win. Another small victory. I cannot...will not...let one failed moment sabotage weeks of work. I will talk to myself the way I would talk to my son.

How I deal with failures? Usually very badly! Now, they are only a small moment in a bigger picture. I will not let them define who I am or my goals.

I hope that helps at least one person get back on track and stop with the unhealthy way of thinking. Now on to

This Week's Goals

I am not even going to talk about my last goals. See the previous writings above. I am sure you can figure out what happened. I am going to use those goals for this week, as well as a few others.

Give it to God
Be Active
No Soda
Positive Thinking

I found that not only did I give up on being healthy, I didn't read my bible once! I wasn't active. I drank all the soda. I tore myself apart. This week is going to be different!

If You have any tips, tricks, or suggestions I would love to hear them. That isn't just me saying it for the sake of the blog. I mean it. I cannot do this alone and I am not above getting ideas or even criticism from others. If you have a story on how you got started, link me up! I will not only love reading it, I will post it to my social media accounts. Very few people can live the healthy life without motivation and ideas from others.

One more thing before I go. Here is something I use on the daily for my working out. To help my achy knee work out this 200+lb frame.

I am so happy to have this knee brace. Like my mom and her mom before her, I reached over 30 and one of my knees started giving me problems. It was difficult to walk up stairs; and it was more difficult to do any kind of working out. This knee brace helps that! Just the right amount of support and pressure to help. It is made of sturdy material and even with spinning, it does not roll down or slip. It isn't heavy and doesn't cause too much sweating. Just about as much as any layer of cloth might cause. The only negative thing I would have to say is that it doesn't seem enough supportive enough for anything more than everyday or moderate exercise.

I received this product on a promotional discount for my review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.

My Healthy Life - Getting Started

2016-07-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday everyone. I wanted to start something new here on my blog. Well it isn't new really. I have tried this before and failed miserably. I have a new handle on it now though. This new series is all about My Healthy Life. Living my life physically, mentally, and emotionally as healthy as I can. This is not about losing weight. Don't get me wrong. I want to lose weight. I am not making this my focus though.

What is this about?

My Focus, and how I picked the name for this series, is living a healthy life. My last venture into getting healthy I called it a journey. Although this is a journey, I wanted to make it more of a permanent thing. I am not getting to the destination of healthy. I am healthy now! Each and every choice I make that is healthy is making my life now a healthy one. The destination of this journey is to be more healthy. To be the best version of La'Shawn that I can possibly be.

Like I have said, I have tried to change my lifestyle before. I made it more about the food and more about the losing weight than I did an over-all look at things. If you have been around with me for a year or more, you have been here for my start & fail at this, my un-healthy obsession with food, and my bad self-image problems.

I was doing this for all the wrong reasons. Not only to replace one unhealthy option with another, but to get readers on this blog. This time, this is for me. Only for me. I want to be healthy not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. I want to be able to get out of bed in the morning without having to move around like I am 80. (In fact, I am pretty sure my 80 year old grandmother probably gets around better than I do!). I want to be able to go to bed at night without feeling guilt for what I have or have not done during the day. I want to go to sleep and wake up thanking God and living for him. I want to be able to look in the mirror without not only picking myself image apart but ripping it to shreds!

Getting Started

This is a lot! I know. So, how did I get started? I have started and failed so many times. What made this time different? I have read many blog posts, news articles, and books about people who successfully have started and kept to a healthy lifestyle. Most every single one stated that you have to find something that works for you! What works for one person, might not work for you. You, like me, might have to try so many things to get healthy that you lose track. I have lost track on the number of things I have tried.

What started mine and the thing that I found that worked for me was reading my bible every day. Seriously. I started reading it with my husband and son. We started in Matthew. We use an app/website that breaks down the bible chapter-by-chapter. (I will have another blog post just about that website/app probably next week). God works in amazing ways! I was struggling with food and self image. We hit on a part of the bible that really delves into that.

The 2nd thing that helped me and is more of a physical manifestation of getting started is getting a FitBit. (I will also have a review later this month on the one that I got. check back!) Just getting the FitBit didn't get me moving though. It was only part of the equation. No matter what, I am a lazy person by nature. Just because I have something on my wrist telling me to move, doesn't mean I am going to!

Post-Work Out photos (notice the FitBit!)

I am competitive by nature though! My hubby got a FitBit as well. The same day I did. We have competed every week since then on who gets the most steps. I am not going to lie...I've lost every week so far. What I have lost in the challenge though, I have gained in a healthier lifestyle. There has only been a few waking hours the past few weeks that I have not been up and moving. Before this, I would sit all day and not give a care to getting moving until it was time to work out. I will get up and run in place for 300 steps if I haven't done much that hour.

Not only that, it is making me actually work out and look forward to working out. You know what? Working out gives me about 1K steps in 25 minutes. I make sure I get my work out in so that I get those steps. The faster and harder I move the more steps I get.

Finding something that works for me is what got me actually living a more healthy lifestyle. Giving it to God and being competitive was the winning combination for me. When I don't feel like doing it, I pray to God to give me strength and then think of the hubby being ahead of me in steps. Up I get and moving I go!

[tweet-quote via="march2december"]Finding something that works for me is what got me actually living a more healthy lifestyle.[/tweet-quote]

Goals

The last post I wrote, 100 Days - 5 Pounds, I laid out some pretty simple goals for me. They were

Give it to God
Be Active
Eat Clean

I have accomplished one and two. I am working on goal three. That being said, I will hopefully be posting every week on how I am doing and what is going on in my Healthy Life. I will post 3 monthly goals though every month. Check back on Monday's for the weekly posts and the 1st Monday of the month for the monthly goals.

July's Goals

No more soft drinks!
10,000 steps (or work out) 5 days a week
Lose 5lbs

I know that I said that I wasn't going to focus on weight loss. That it wasn't about that. I do need to lose some weight in order to be healthier. In order to get these 10,000 steps in a day without feeling like I am going to die or unable to walk (seriously) by the end of the day.

I would be lost without my charger for my FitBit. All that moving means that I have to sit down and charge it at work...This girl doesn't walk for free! lol

A video posted by LaShawn (@march2december) on Sep 6, 2016 at 7:23am PDT

This Onite Replacement USB Charging Cable for FitBit Alta is near to perfect as the one that came with my Alta. If I had to say anything negative about it, it would be that when I first started using it, it was a bit difficult to get the USB part plugged in. It seemed to be a tight fit. After a while though I didn't have any problems with it. It charged as well as my cable that came with it. It is nice to have an extra stashed away at my desk to charge when I forget to do so on the weekend!

Disclaimer: The manufacturer provided a sample for an honest review. I have no personal or financial interest in the company or in anyone employed there

Wordless Wednesday - Summer Fun

2016-07-13T08:34:00.001-04:00

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare Book Review

2016-07-10T18:18:00.000-04:00

City of Bones

by Cassandra Clare

(photo below and synopsis from goodreads)

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Do not read any further if you do not want any spoilers!

Okay, so the reason I chose to read this book is because I that this was a bit out of my norm. I saw the movie previews and also thought it was something that I would find interesting. I am a big believer that one should read a book before watching the movie. So, that is what I did.

Really, I wanted to title this blog post "If Voldemort had children." I might get people who are big fans of these books hating on me. Seriously though. I am not going to say that Cassandra took from the Harry Potter world. But let me just throw down the

things that stuck out to me through out the book

There is a ordinary girl who finds out she has this amazing ability... think.... "You're a wizard Harry!"

Said girl finds out she is part of this secret world. This world calls us average people...Mundanes. (Who mind you go around oblivious to this special world around them) Muggles...Mundanes...Same thing. Different name.

They are searching for a secreted away cup that has special properties. Which I am guessing by the name of the series (The mortal instruments) there are more of these things to be found...Anyone remember the terrible loooong chapters in HP where they are searching for secreted away ordinary items with special properties...At lease Clary found her's pretty quickly.

[tweet-quote via="march2december"]There is a ordinary girl who finds out she has this amazing ability... think.... "You're a wizard Harry![/tweet-quote] The villains of the stories

Let's just look past the fact that his name starts with the letter V. He is a man with special powers who is obsessed to the point of madness with the believe that one race (humans) were superior than the rest. That the lesser beings should be wiped out. He surrounded himself by fellow believers, most of which were too scared of him to be anything else, called the Circle. He then went into hiding and most thought were dead. Only to come "back to life"

DUN DUN DUN....

Voldemort

He is a wizard who was obsessed to the point of madness with the believe that pure bloods (though he was not) were superior than everyone else. Including Muggles. That the lesser beings should be wiped out. He surrounded himself by fellow believers, most of which were too scared of him to be anything else, called the Death Eaters. He had to go into hiding because he was nearly dead.Only to come "back to life."

Valentine had children though. Voldemort. I am not sure he could look past his own self love for all that business. So, that was one big difference! But if Voldemort had kids, I could totally see him using them the same way Valentine did! Seriously folks...I am not making this up!

A few other things that stuck out

Also the werewolf and vampire action made me think I was reading Twilight again. Clearly this writer is a fan!

I am not a writer. However, I can sit and watch a TV show or a movie and guess who the bad guy is or the plot twist. Books, a good book, not so much. I love that about reading. This one was obvious at nearly every turn. I am pretty sure I can guess some next book plot twists already. That being said, I am going to go with the fact that it was written for teenagers. That is why it wasn't terribly complex. They want vampires. They want werewolves. They want love. Tormented love. This book has it all.

I wont even get going on the movie. It was terrible. It was as if the screenwriters thought, "This is a good idea. Now let's change...this...this...this...this..annnnd...this." Nearly every scene has a smidgen of the book in it and clearly the screenwriters take on everything else. It was a joke. (Well except for Johnathan Rhys Meyers. Yum! Who, to me looks nothing like the description in the book. But, he should be used to that...Henry VIII)
[tweet-quote via="march2december"]I wont even get going on the movie. It was terrible.[/tweet-quote]
So, if anyone cares. I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. Just because I felt it took so much from other books already written and it was a bit predictable. Also, I don't plan on reading any further in the series.