The Small Wins

Does Parenthood Decrease your Risk Tolerance?

2014-08-29T08:07:00.002-07:00

I love this movement to totally disrupt corporate America, to pursue a passion, and to Live in the Grey. As a parent, I feel such pride that our generation is fundamentally changing the way our kids will work. That being said, I’ve reflected a lot lately on whether being a parent impacts your ability to take big risks, like quitting a job.
As a parent, naturally the stakes get higher. Not only do you have to worry about money, but also the well-being of your family.
A few months ago, my husband and I hit a point where we are so ready for something different. I was miserable in my job. I couldn't suppress this nagging feeling that I needed to spend more time with our kids, and that I really could start my own company.
So, we started talking about our options:

I could quit and stay home with our kids.

I could quit and pursue consulting full time.

I could find another job and pursue consulting on the side.

But the conversation always came back to money and how our decisions would impact our kids. Chances are one of us would get defensive and we just never made decision.
We put our heads together and came up with our own plan that would satisfy our need for change, my need to take more risks, and our shared interest in the well-being of our family. Check it out and see if you can apply it to your situation.
1. Outline your options.We needed to be able to compare the level of financial risk that each of our options presented. I created a spreadsheet with adjustable fields for income, bills, savings, and spending money. This way we were able to look at each of our scenarios side by side to see what the financial impact would be if I quit versus started a business with reduced income.
This allowed us with concrete facts and removed the assumptions and some of the emotion (mostly my emotion) out of our decision.
2. Pros and cons.Once we had a good financial comparison, we used that to list the pros and cons of each option. Pros tended to focus on me getting this precious time with our kids, the flexibility, etc. Cons tended to be centered around money, reduced contributions to retirement and savings, and the amazing education they were receiving at their preschool, which we wouldn’t be able to afford if I were to quit.
We also talked about our financial safety net, the sacrifices we’d have to make, how long we could realistically live on one salary, and what I could bring in should I start my own business.
3. Set a goal.We sat down and weighed all of our options and set a goal to have 3-6 months worth of income saved. All of our options were possible, and they certainly provided unique challenges. However, because of our situation, we decided we needed more of a savings cushion. One of the biggest drivers was the kids.
4. Iterate.Don't stop there. We re-evaluate our situation every payday and then at the end of each month because we know how quickly things change.
Currently, we are 2 months away from our original savings goal. The summer brought a couple surprise expenses (hello new tires!), which detoured our goal date by another month, but we pivoted as needed and re-established our goal. I feel motivated by the fact that we’ve become more flexible but also have a goal date. We are working together more than we ever have, and it helps us to be more in tune with how the other one is feeling.
At the end of the day, remember this is your path. Think about your situation and your unique challenges, set a goal and constantly re-evaluate your situation. You'll feel progress and may cut down on some stress along the way.

End Table Makeover

2014-07-13T19:44:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to share the first of the two end tables I'm making over as part of my living room/entire house (because I am so OVER my red, brown and gold house) makeover. As I posted on Instagram, I have to say that I am utterly and totally in love with Annie Sloan and her amazing Chalk Paint.

I'm a bit behind the curve, and checking out this paint has literally been on my never ending list of home improvement projects for over a year now. The paint and the materials are definitely an investment (I spent close to $100 just on paint and supplies), but the results are incredible. In fact, now that the sticker shock has subsided, I'd be willing to say that the time savings (and not having to buy new furniture) is worth the expense.

We bought these tables after we got married, and they have definitely held up through the years....now, just over 10 years. Two kids, more than their fair share of spills and some serious wear and tear, these puppies were either ready for Goodwill or some good ole' fashion TLC.

The thing I love is that you don't have to sand or prime with this paint. You just throw it on, it dries super fast, and whammo - time for the next coat. This is a good thing for me, 1) as a mom with zero extra time; 2) as a person who totally and utterly stinks at painting (like seriously); and 3) as someone who is not so great at refinishing furniture (probably due to reasons 1 and 2).

At the end of the day I figured, well, if I screw this up, they definitely won't look any worse than they do now! Either that, or Mama maybe getting some new tables.

To begin, I used a mixture (about 50/50) of Old White and Pure White. It's a good combination because it's not too bright. I also bought the clear wax and the wax brush (yowza $$!!). I also went ahead and bought a high quality paintbrush since I didn't invest in the Annie Sloan one.

There are some really good videos out there. I would love to take a class at one of the boutiquey places that sell the paint, but I think you can get a really good understanding from watching some of the talented bloggers on YouTube. (Blue Egg Brown Nest, Pretty Distressed)

After a couple videos, I felt confident and got to work.

Start by turning the tables upside down - it really helps you see some of those tough to reach spots. I did a really light first coat in about an hour. The next day, I did my second coat - a bit thicker. Then, today, I sanded the edges and applied the clear wax.

Overall, a few hours and I was done with the first table. The side-by-side is really amazing!

I can't wait to work on the next one! Room pics to come....

Live in the Grey: 10 Day Risk Challenge, Day 3

2014-06-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Day 3 of the Live in the Grey Risk Challenge. Done and Done.

Funny enough, I decided I was going to try another way to work prior to reading the LITG challenge email this morning. I had been wondering about a shortcut through our neighborhood for awhile now, and took the time this morning to explore sans GPS.

I do this a lot. I find some joy in getting lost and finding my way out. I've explored many a farm-to-market road this way - sometimes they lead to something, like a great short-cut, other times, you end up at a dead end. That comes from my dad. He could tell you 10 different ways to get somewhere and how long it will take. Seriously. A human GPS.

What new things did you discover?

I discovered that the path I took through the neighborhood was not a shortcut. In fact, I ended up in about 3 cul-de-sacs. I did finally get to where I was hoping to end up, though. Next time, I'll seek out the more direct route and use it when it's needed - lol!.

Did you enjoy the scenery?

I always love looking at houses in different neighborhoods, so yes, I suppose I enjoyed the scenery.

On one particular cul-de-sac turnaround, these people had 2 tube TVs and a stack of receivers and electronics with a sign that said, "ALL ITEMS IN WORKING CONDITION." Thinking back on it now, I should have stopped the car and thrown the stuff in the trunk. At the time, I laughed. One that the stuff was still there and two that they felt like the outdated electronics were more marketable to people if they knew they were working. Smart thinking!

Until tomorrow...

My Hero's Journey

2014-06-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

Over the last 1-2 years, I've been on a journey. A journey to find my passion. A journey to find my purpose in this life. A journey to take risks, make mistakes, and see progress.

This might sound crazy...until you've been through it. Maybe it's a sign of the times, and this is a larger movement that has yet to fully emerge. For me, though, the universe is sending me a signal. Do what you're good at. Do what you love. Stop putting up with the bullshit. Slay your dragons. Jump.

As I contemplate my journey, I can't think of any one thing that ignited this fire. Collectively the events of the last two years have been so impactful, that I couldn't put this thing out if I tried. It's all I think about, it's all I want to do, it's who I want to be.

First, the company I work for (like so many others) is going through hard times as technology has fundamentally shifted the way we work and shortened the lifecycle of most organizations who choose to ignore the obvious. This type of environment brings out peoples' true colors. Often true colors result in wasted energy, high emotions, finger pointing and a lot of chaotic and poorly communicated change in a short amount of time. Coupled with fewer resources doing the same amount of work and a three year salary freeze, this doesn't create a very motivating or rewarding boost for anyone. Though, this experience and hitting rock bottom has been an important part of the journey. In the end, I'm thankful because I'm not sure that I would be where I am today.

Howard Schultz, the CEO of Starbucks, said it best, "In times of adversity and change, we really discover who we are and what we're made of."

Second, our department added a personal development piece to our quarterly performance reviews. I've always loved learning, but never made the time for it. When it came down to making the cut or not, I no longer had a reason or an excuse not to learn. I think this, honestly, was the biggest catalyst that set me on my journey.

My first goal was to listen to 3 podcasts. Seriously, only 3?!? I started with the Harvard Business Review, and I discovered an insatiable thirst for more. I downloaded everything I could get my hands on. NPR's Planet Money, This American Life, All Things Considered, The Moth....These stories of real, raw emotion were so impactful. Then, I discovered Audible.com, and again, couldn't get enough. The lessons from the Agile Samurai, Drive, Lean In, Outliers, Onward and The Lean Start-Up were so meaningful that I have no doubt, now, looking back, that these were instrumental in my journey. Then, I watched an amazing film called Finding Joe. This was the moment that I realized I did have it in me. I wasn't going to let my life pass me by anymore.

Third, while all this reading was going on, I also decided to start thesmallwins.com, trained and successfully ran a half marathon, and became a certified ScrumMaster. Maybe it was Daniel Pink and his passion for purpose , mastery and autonomy, maybe it was 'just me,' but training and successfully completing my first half marathon taught me so many new life lessons that seemed to align perfectly with #1 and #2 above.

Collectively, when I look at all of these experiences, there is a common theme that has probably always driven me but was often difficult to put my finger on in the moment. I am so ready to start a new journey. I get goosebumps and a feeling of total and utter excitement at the thought of doing something new and not totally knowing what's next. It's exhilarating.

So, with that, join me on the next leg of my journey.

3 - 2 - 1. Onward!

Daily Small Win: Free Flowers

2014-06-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

On our way home from the park, the kids and I walked past the neighborhood landscaping crew as they were clearing the flowerbeds. I've always questioned why the beds are cleaned out {i mean totally gutted} so frequently because all of the plants are seemingly still very healthy and blooming. Seriously, there aren't any brown spots, yellowing, or dead to be found.

So, when I see a trailer FULL of perfectly good plants, I seriously feel bad for the plants. I also feel a tinge of irritation because as homeowners we pay gobs of money to keep up the landscaping every year and maybe, just maybe, we don't need to re-plant the beds every other week {Cha-ching}.

I thought, "What the hell. Couldn't hurt to ask. We could totally use some more flowers in our back bed and for free?!?....I'll find a place." I stopped and asked, and before we knew it we were walking off with a wagon full of mature salvia plants. Whether or not they'll live through the hot summer, we'll see, but a few weeks of beautiful purple flowers is worth it.

While this made me feel as though I had saved something and gotten the bargain of the day, there is a bigger point to think about. Why in the heck are we wasting so much? Seems like the perfect opportunity to set up a neighborhood plant exchange. Give people a date, a place and a time, and it's first come, first serve. Line people up, handout 10-15 plants and move on. I seriously don't see this being a huge hassle. If nobody shows up, toss 'em (although I still feel like there's a better alternative). Sending an email.....

Live In The Grey: Risk Challenge

2014-06-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of Live in the Grey, stop what you're doing. Right. Now. and head over to www.liveinthegrey.com. This website and their community is amazing. I feel like I've found a new best friend!

I signed up for everything that I could find on their site including the 10 Day Risk Challenge. Here's a little nippet from the site describing the challenge:

"For 10 days we will prompt you to take a small risk. Our goal is to help you experience the benefits of taking a leap when you do something a little outside of your comfort zone."

I'm so stoked to get my first email! Day 1 begins tomorrow!!

Online Personal Branding: Lesson Learned #1

2014-05-28T07:20:00.002-07:00

In my first post on building an online brand, I mentioned that I deleted TheSmallwins.com Gmail account once I had successfully transferred the blog to my default account.

Bad move!

Here's what I discovered when I went to the blog yesterday:

Had I finished reading the help article, I would have seen the bullet indicating that any images loaded in the first account would be lost if the account were deleted. Doh!

Fortunately, Google doesn't really mean it when they say your account will be gone once you delete it, and I was able to successfully recover my original account, along with the images.

I'm going to save the images, and transfer everything into the default account and maybe, just maybe leave the other account open as a back-up.

An Experiment in Building A Personal Brand Online

2014-05-26T14:27:00.003-07:00

As a marketer, I totally get the importance of building a strong personal brand. Though, sadly, I've slacked a bit in that area. As an experiment to build my own personal brand {read: prove that I am a 'real' marketer}, I'm going to test a few things and share what I learn along the way. The good. The bad. The ugly.

Goal 1: Improve Organic Search

Improving the organic search results for my name was the primary motivator for this experiment. Later, I'll focus on improving other key terms (like the small wins).

When I search for my name on Google, the second and fourth organic listings are for another Courtney Velek. While I'm convinced she is a distant relative, it's not in my nature to accept anything less than owning the first page for my name.

Test: Will simplifying and consolidating social accounts impact results?

Over the years as social media has taken over the world, I, like many people, have slowly accumulated accounts and passwords. Without a strong vision for how I could manage all of these accounts to establish my personal brand, I was feeling really scattered and unproductive.

So.....I started mapping. I popped my name in the middle and added a bubble for every profile or social site I am using.

No wonder I was feeling a little scattered. I have a lot going on. I started thinking, and boiled it down to a few questions to base my decisions on.

Who do I want to be?
How do I want other people to know me?
Who are my audiences? Do they need to remain separate?
Did I need to be a separate Courtney Velek in all of these spaces?
Would consolidating or deleting accounts save time?
Would merging accounts and beefing up Courtney Velek improve organic search results?

I decided that I am the same person, and that Courtney Velek and thesmallwins.com could become one. There was no longer a need to keep separate accounts for my social profiles and email accounts. Thinking about audiences, I did decide to keep my professional presence slightly separate (i.e. LinkedIn, Wix portfolio).

Once I decided how I would proceed, I started changing, deleting, merging, consolidating....

Changed all of my social profiles to reflect The Small Wins as my website, added my personal motto and used Courtney Velek as my username.
Chose a default email account.
Moved TheSmallWins.com to my default email account (Moving a blog between accounts).
Deleted Google+ profile for The Small Wins and kept the Courtney Velek profile.
Deleted TheSmallwins.com gmail account.
Pointed third inbox to default email.

We'll see how this works. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you.

What have you tried to improve your personal brand?
How do you manage all of your accounts?

The Daily Win: Happiness

2014-04-17T09:06:00.003-07:00

I was reminded this morning how amazing it feels to make someone else genuinely happy.

We recently welcomed a new member to our team, and we decorated her office for her birthday. She walked down the hall, beaming, to thank us for the special surprise. You couldn't have wiped the smile off of her face if you tried. Mental snapshot.

(Free printables courtesy of Nest of Posies)

Our team has a tradition of decorating the offices of our co-workers (we have a relatively small team) for birthdays and other rare occasions, like when one of returns from a long vacation or maternity leave. However, we've moved away from our tradition in the last couple of years. That, in and of itself, is interesting to me. Whether it's because we've all worked together forever, or that it's just become 'one of those things' that's expected, it seems that the excuses or the reasons not to do something have replaced the memory of genuine happiness that the act actually creates.

Just seeing how genuinely happy that very small act made my co-worker is my small win for the day. Sometimes it's not about the surprise, but the act itself. Remember the act, as small as it may seem. You might surprise yourself.

Life Lessons: Looking Through a New Lens

2014-04-04T07:16:00.000-07:00

Thursday is trash day.

Yesterday, on trash day, I was getting the kiddos in the car, and you could already hear the trash truck making its rounds in the neighborhood. What is a seemingly normal and recognized sound to me, was completely unfamiliar to my little girl. It's funny how that happens.

I recently read a book on how the neurons in the brain map, and how very familiar noises and routines become habit because you've mapped the neurons to fire that way. {way cool stuff!}

Anyway, Lil' Miss Sunshine hears the squealing of the breaks combined with the start/stop motion of the trash truck several streets away, and says, "mama, what was that noise?"

I said, "I think it's a bus or a trash truck, honey. What did you think it sounded like?"

She replies, "It sounds like a whale."

I said, "It does sound like a whale. Where do you think the whale is?"

Very frankly, "In the ocean, mama."

I reply, "Is there an ocean nearby?"

LMS says, "Yes, mama, by Popo's house."

Me, "Oh, so that noise came all the way from the ocean?"

LMS, "Yep. Whales are very loud."

It's funny how when you look at the world through a different lens, just how cool things could be. Life lesson of the day. Remap those neurons, and look at life through a totally unique and different perspective. You might be surprised just how much you discover.

The 'Plan' vs. Reality

2013-12-17T09:03:00.002-08:00

I am a planner, so much that I've had to adapt over the years and retrain myself that most things rarely go according to plan, and most of the time that's fine.

There is such a delicate balance between being totally unfocused and embracing chaos so that you can move forward and get some small wins along the way. Forward progress isn't always easy, but it's still progress.

Having kids was the single biggest eye-opener for me that you've got to live life for the moment to live life in the moment and be flexible. Embrace spontaneity.

Planning a big night out? Kids get sick.

Envisioning a perfect evening out as a family all engaged in active conversation over a nice meal? Two year old throws forks, climbs around booth, screams that he wants to go home, spills milk....

The second biggest eye-opener for me has definitely been more gradual. I say gradual because 'things' have progressively gotten faster and with the speed of change there is a constant struggle to keep up. In my professional life, I have (as most people have) had to evolve to become more agile and efficient in the way I work. While a plan is still an important piece to getting things done, equally important is having the wherewith all and the sense to know when to pivot. I've been literally obsessed with agile processes, agile web development, lean processes, and technology. This has been a big factor in changing my mindset - keep your eye on the prize, calculate risk, and just move.

Just do something. Use a plan to guide your end goal, but be flexible, be smart, and be agile along the way.

Half Marathon - Check!

2013-11-27T08:10:00.000-08:00

I can now say that I have a half marathon under my belt!

It was such a cool experience. Something that you just can't describe until you've done it yourself. Everyone (mostly my husband, after me begging him to train with me) says, "no way!" and I get it, distance running may not be for everyone, but the thrill of pushing yourself past your limits really opens your eyes to all the possibilities that may have seemed unobtainable before.

And.....with a half marathon under my belt (can't. stop. saying it), here were some of the highlights from the weekend:

Don't underestimate the weather in Texas. {You can say that again!} On race weekend, November 17th {yes, that's right, November 17th} the high for the day was a muggy 82 degrees. While I trained all summer in 200% humidity, I definitely had gotten used to the mid-70 degree weather we have had the last month or so.

Build hills into your training regime and prepare yourself mentally! While I knew the course would have "a" hill, I wasn't expecting multiple hills. Luckily, one of my hard core rap songs came on at the bottom and pushed me up to the top.

Run with someone, anyone. While I usually don't have issues running alone, 13.1 miles is a long time to run alone. I've realized that running can be a team sport as much as an individual one. My running group has literally been my saving grace, and having someone to run with has made all the difference in my training. I hadn't thought much about running the race alone, until after it was over. My sister surprised me the night before the race and told me she was going to run with me. My whole family, including my hubs, knew about it and kept it a secret. Running with her made a big difference in my performance, I know it did. We pushed each other, and kept each other going.

Just finish. We completed 13.1 in 2 hours and 20 minutes - not too shabby! My only goals in running the race were to 1) run the entire race without walking and 2) finish the race. At the end, I kid you not, I hit the proverbial 'wall' you often hear about from distance runners. I literally thought my legs wouldn't move any further. The last mile was tough, but we pushed through, and crossed the finish lines holding hands. It was amazing!

Buy the sticker. How do you know if someone has run a marathon? Don't worry they'll tell you about it. I totally get why you see the 13.1 and 26.2 stickers now. We earned it. We deserve to brag. The whole afternoon after the race, everything I said to my husband involved "I just ran a marathon, babe." The hubs, "Do you want to head to the grocery store? Do you want to cook dinner tonight? Do you.....?" Me, "Babe, not possible, I JUST RAN a marathon." It was fun.

I know I'm going to run another one soon, but in the meantime, I'm going to give myself a little break. I'm still training and running because I don't want to 'lose' what I've worked so hard for. We'll see what's ahead.

All I can say right now is, "Wow. I ran a half marathon and I'm pretty damn proud."

5 days and counting....

2013-11-12T09:54:00.001-08:00

For the last 6 months, I have been training to run a half marathon (which is one reason why I could probably wrap the list of belated posts on thesmallwins.com around the world about 5 times). I'm less than 5 days away, and am both anxious and excited at the same time.

Training to run 13.1 miles has been eye-opening and has taught me a lot about myself and frankly, about life.

1. You truly can do anything you set your mind to. I've always been a very ~~competitive~~ driven person, but firmly believe that pushing yourself past your limits is important. It boosts your self confidence. It gives you something to strive for. It gives you purpose. It's about committing to something, living it, and not letting yourself give up.

2. Hello, 5:00 a.m., where have you been all my life? Okay, I don't happen to love getting up at 5:00, but I love how quiet and calming 5:00 a.m. is when you are up. I also love the feeling of satisfaction when a 5:00 a.m. workout is over - knowing that you've put in a lot of work before the world has even gotten up for the day.

3. I'm no longer scared of the dark. One of the things about distance running is that you've got to get up (see #2) at the butt crack of dawn in order to get your runs in. Otherwise you're running all day. For my entire life, I have never liked the dark. My parents must have filled my head with all kinds of things that happen when it's dark, and on top of my cautious personality, just made me a real scaredy cat. So, I put my big girl panties on, grabbed a flashy arm band, and set out on my 5:15 runs. Granted you still need to be safe because bad things do, in fact, happen when it's dark, there is something totally gratifying and awesome when you start a run in the dark and watch the sun rise. The world is still asleep and you can just think. In silence. Without kids, TV, cars, phones, distractions. It's just you and the pavement.....well, and maybe a little Beyonce to keep you company.

4. Everyone...focus. When you get a group of people together who have a shared passion and a shared goal, it's amazing what you can accomplish. Our group is made up people with different backgrounds, skill sets, ages, etc, and when we get together, we just run. While each one is running for a different reason or a different goal, we all know what we've got to do, and we do it. This intense sense of focus could have a very meaningful impact if it were applied to other areas of our lives. Make a decision. Show up. Be passionate. Have a vision. Do it.

5. My husband is amazing. When we talked about me doing this, he just said do it. He has been so supportive and has never once questioned my decision. Training consists of work outs 4 days a week, and now 5. It's a lot. He says he feels like he's been running with me.

And in keeping with the tradition of appreciating the Small Wins, I couldn't resist sharing this quote.

A Breath of Fresh Air

2013-09-04T09:30:00.003-07:00

I'm a real sucker for any kind of motivational or inspirational message or quote. Something about an amazing font paired with an amazing quote that really gets me motivated, makes me cry, makes me want to stop what I'm doing and pursue a passion. It's hard to describe that feeling. To feel uncertain, then read something, and feel like it's an answer that offers direction. That's probably saying so many things about who I am and how I think - but enough psychology for one day.

Sure, not everyday is perfect, but in the midst of the craziness and chaos and speed of our everyday lives, it's nice to get some perspective. A reminder. I like the message here - Live for the Moment. Put the cell phones down, and play with your kids. Be present - stop worrying about what everyone else on Facebook is doing, and focus on who you're with now. Those other people can wait.

This is my reminder for today.

The Daily Win: Venti Carmel Mach

2013-08-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

Nothing like a giant cup of coffee to start a telework Friday!

The hubs has been out if town since Sunday and this is my special treat for surviving the longest week ever.

Work is crazy and weird. Best way to describe it at the moment. Luckily, I have the option to work from home a couple days a week, which ROCKS!!

'The Boy' is at a 'special age' where talking has been replaced with whining and fit throwing and a mild....okay, crazy obsession with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. (That's a post for a different day!!)

Lil Ms. Sunshine has taken to trash collecting and comes home everyday with her pockets filled with paper towels and 'recyclable' items that "someone threw in the trash!!" Yes, she goes through the trash...(another story for another day).

So here's to you, Friday. God bless you!!

Have a good weekend y'all!

The Daily Win: Target Shopping Cart

2013-08-08T07:19:00.001-07:00

Day 1 of the daily wins: The New Shopping Carts at Target.

Omg! I was almost giddy after seeing new shopping carts at Target this weekend! As I write this, I'm thinking, "okay, Court, really?!? shopping carts?!? That's kinda weird."

I hadn't ever really thought about it until I pushed this beauty around. Every time I pushed a Target buggy around I ended up nailing at least 1 if my shins (likely both on a good day) against the metal bar on the bottom of the cart. And apparently not all carts are made the same because I seriously do not have this problem anywhere else.

In addition, getting a cart with a bum wheel only to realize it when you're halfway across the store with a 5 year old and a 2 year old screaming about a cookie, is a close equivalent to getting punched in the face. I hope this new design may fix that.

I am a happy camper!

(I am in no way affiliated with Target. I am just a happy mommy on a mission)

If We Didn't Love Them So Darn Much...

2013-08-06T10:43:00.001-07:00

Chicken Pho, It's What's for Dinner

2013-08-04T20:53:00.002-07:00

Sunday night meals are always a challenge for me. The thought of cooking a big meal and cleaning on top of prepping for the week ahead {kids fed, bathed, in bed, wrapping up laundry, packing lunches and bags} is not on the top of my list. And, I LOVE to cook!

For that reason, I typically either pass cooking duties onto the hubster {who consequently loves cooking on Sundays} or go with something low maintenance. Tonight's dinner was Chicken Pho. I always forget 1) how easy Pho is to make; 2) how absolutely yummy it is; 3) how much you can personalize the dish.

I started with my usual source for my weekly meals, Pinterest, and used several recipes as a guide, but ultimately made my own version using a blend of ingredients. {Source: MamaMiss and LisaIsBossy}.

Chicken Pho

3-4 Servings

Ingredients:

6-8 cups Chicken Broth (boxed, baby!)

2 large Chicken Breasts (I used boneless, skinless)

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground ginger

Salt, Pepper to taste

2-3 shakes of fish sauce (likely 1 tablespoon, but tends to be strong for me)

1/2 cup shredded carrots (I bought these in a bag)

1 bunch of green onions, chopped

1 can of bean sprouts (could use fresh as well, but I couldn't find them)

1 box Thin Rice Noodles (1 used half of a 8.8 oz box)

On Top:

1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

1 fresh jalapeno, sliced

1/2 Red Onion, sliced thinly

Srichacha for an extra kick (I LOVE THIS STUFF!!)

Fresh Basil leaves

Fresh lime, quartered

Directions:

1. Place chicken broth, chicken breasts, coriander, ginger, salt, pepper, and fish sauce in a large pot or dutch oven. Bring to a boil and reduce heat.

2. Cover and cook on medium to medium-high heat until chicken is done.

3. Remove chicken into bite size pieces or shred, whichever you prefer, and place back in the pot.

4. Add carrots, green onions, and bean sprouts. Cover and cook on low for 15-20 minutes.

5. While broth cooks, cook the noodles separately according to the instructions on the package. If you're using rice noodles, these usually take 5-10 minutes.

6. Chop cilantro, jalapeno and red onion (and any other garnishes).

7. Layer bowls with noodles, broth mixture, and garnishes.

Enjoy!!

The Serenity Prayer

2013-08-02T06:42:00.003-07:00

While I'm sure I've probably seen The Serenity Prayer before, seeing it last night calmed me {at least enough for me to sleep without having work dreams.lol!}.

To get right down to it, I've got this constant feeling that I've got to help....everyone. For example, every lost dog I see, I feel the need to pull over and try to see if it has a collar on so I can get in touch with the owner.

And, then, when I can't I get this guilty feeling, like I'm letting someone down. So, back to the dog scenario...yes, I think about that dog when I can't help and think about how it's owners must be feeling. Maybe it's a mom thing, maybe it's a me thing, maybe it's a little CRA-CRA but at some point, we can only do so much before it's just too much, right?

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Love Notes

2013-05-17T05:14:00.001-07:00

The Signs

2013-04-05T13:33:00.001-07:00

So, maybe they've always been there but the signs pointing me towards the small wins are really big.

This was the fortune from the last fortune cookie at lunch today:

Okay, so maybe you think I've lost it....{a fortune cookie, really?!?}

I do believe everyone has a destiny and its up to us to make it happen.

Marinated Cheese

2013-04-01T14:36:00.002-07:00

We had crawfish boil this weekend, and I had the hardest time trying to think of appetizer ideas. I wanted something that 'went' with crawfish but something that wouldn't be too filling before everyone chowed down on the mudbugs. {After all we had 65, yes, 65 pounds of crawfish to eat!}

After a good hour of browsing Pinterest for ideas {and getting sidetracked with crawfish décor}, I went back to an oldie but goodie after reading something about a smoked cheeseball during my search.

A friend of mine makes some amazing marinated cheese, and it's super easy. The cool thing is you could really mix it up with your favorite cheeses. For our party, I bought pre-chopped cheddar cubes and cream cheese. If you use cream cheese, you'll have to cut it into cubes and it's a whole heck of a lot easier if it's cold. Cutting room temperature cream cheese is a goopy mess.

It was definitely a hit with our friends and family!

{Marinated Cheese}

1/2 c. Olive oil

1/2 c. Balsamic vinegar

1/4 c. Roasted red bell peppers, chopped (I buy mine in the jar and chop 'em up)

2 tbsp. Fresh flat leaf parsley (you could probably use dried and adjust the measurement)

3 tbsp. Chopped green onions

5 Cloves of minced garlic (I use the stuff in the jar, but fresh would be delish)

1 tsp. Sugar

1/2 tsp. salt and pepper (or to taste)

3/4 tsp. Dried basil

Cut cheese (if necessary) into bite size cubes and stack in a separate dish or even a freezer bag if you're using harder cheeses (i.e. cheddar or feta). Mix all other ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour over the top of your cheese stacks. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Prepare and serve with crackers.

ENJOY!!

The Origins of the Small Wins

2013-03-14T12:27:00.004-07:00

I was asked today how I came up with the name "The Small Wins." The story goes a little something like this:

"In west Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground was where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
And all shootin some b-ball outside of the school..."

{I Digress}

It was one of those mornings. You know, the kind that you should have probably just rolled over and gone back to sleep? Well, I didn't do that, but I'm sure everything that could have gone wrong that morning did. On top of it all, it was raining. So, I took a deep breath, pulled on my big girl panties and got the two little monsters into the car.

At the time, they attended separate schools, so my morning drop-off routine took me about 30 extra minutes.

{That's a story for another day}.

After I dropped of Ms. Sunshine, it was #2's turn. By the time I got to his school, it was pouring. I finally just said, "it's go time," unstrapped him and pulled him into the front seat, put his bag over my shoulder, prepped my umbrella and counted myself down. Hop out, umbrella up, kid delivered....success. On the way back out, I pulled off some kind of amazingness that I'll probably never ever pull off again. I opened the door while managing to close the wet umbrella and then shut the door without getting myself or the inside of the car soaked. And...as an added bonus...my hair looked amazing. I was pretty damn proud of myself that morning.

Round 1 - check.

Round 2 - get to work.

I thought to myself, "Man, sometimes it's the small wins that can really make you feel good." I posted that very thought on Facebook that morning:

Mommy win of the day: getting two kids into daycare in the pouring rain without getting drenched! An added bonus? My hair still looks cute! Lol! #smallwins

I bought the domain when I got to the office.