There's more to me than "Mommy"...but not by much!

The Tea Party Needs Allies? Romney the Obvious Choice? I think not.

2012-02-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

I just read this article posted by The American Spectator and am quite disappointed in their analysis. This is my response: First of all, I refuse to believe that the Tea Party is the minority of a minority. More and more of the general population is for limiting the size of government and fed up with the bailouts and wreckless spending, even if they don't claim to be "Tea Partiers". Believe

"Investing in the Journey" Couponing Class: Updated

2012-02-20T16:26:00.000-05:00

****Another update is typed in bold within the original post regarding the shepherd's guidelines. I wish to be in full compliance. Thank you.**** ***Update***: We are also now selling Harp's coupon books for $5 each. They contain over $50 worth of coupons, including one for $5 off your next grocery purchase of $50 or more so they basically pay for themselves! Anyone who purchases a coupon

Exercise Log: Week 2, Day One & Two

2012-02-18T10:04:00.000-05:00

Day One: rested after pulling a muscle in my hip the day before. Day Two: On the advice of my husband, I took it slow and just spent an hour walking on the treadmill. 40 minutes, 10 minute break, 20 minute finish. Challenges: Obviously, my hip. I wasn't in pain while walking, more like uncomfortable. It just felt like it could cramp up at any moment, ya know? Improvements: Doing any

If You Fix Your Kid a Breakfast...

2012-02-17T11:51:00.001-05:00

Ever have one of those days where you are jumping around from one thing to the next? You know, like all those "If You Give A (fill in the blank)" books portray? Yeah, I'm having one today. I fix the kids' breakfast and while they are eating, I think this is the perfect time to email my scouts since the computer is now available. After sending the emails, I realize I haven't eaten yet so I go

Exercise Log: Day Six and Seven

2012-02-15T23:09:00.001-05:00

2/14/2012, Day Six: Rest Day 2/15/2012: Warm-up: 5 min cycle Leg Extension: (50 lbs) 3 x 10 Hip Adduction: (50 lbs) 3 x 10 Hip Abduction: (50 lbs) 3 x 10 Leg Curl: (50 lbs) 3 x 10 Abs: (60 lbs) 100 reps Lunges: (8 lb dumbbells) 1 x 6 Cycle: 25 min, speed approx. 11.0, distance=4.4 Challenges: The hardest part was getting to the fitness room. Isn't it crazy how just one rest day can make it

Exercise Log: Day Five

2012-02-13T22:48:00.001-05:00

Warm-up: 5 min on Elliptical Shoulders (standard): 20 lbs, 3 x 10 Shoulders (neutral): 20 lbs, 3 x 10 Lats: 30 lbs, 3 x 10 (will increase weight next time) Row: 30 lbs, 3 x 10 (will increase weight next time) Fly: 30 lbs, 3 x 10 Rear delt: 20 lbs, 3 x 10 Chest: 30 lbs, 3 x 10 Tricep: 20 lbs, 3 x 10 Bicep: 30 lbs, 3 x 10 Abs: 60 lbs, 100 reps Elliptical: 25 min, speed @10.6 up to 11.8, distance=

Valentine's Day Preparation

2012-02-13T18:13:00.002-05:00

Well, I found these super cute Valentines at Goodwill a couple of months ago for the boys to give their classmates. One was an unopened package of foil Harry Potter cards (for Josiah) and the other was an opened package of clear animal cards (perfect for Jackson!). Even though Jackson's box was opened, all the cards were still there. I was so excited when I found these not only because they

Exercise Log: Day Four

2012-02-12T21:24:00.002-05:00

I know I said today was going to be a rest day, but then I remembered what a bear Tuesday is going to be with Valentine's Day deliveries, lunch with my hubby, the kids' Valentine's Day parties, fixing supper for a friend, and Jackson's cub scout meeting. I'm thinking it will be pretty difficult to squeak in a workout on that day. So, it will be my rest day instead. :) Today: Warm-up: 5 min

Exercise Log: Day Three

2012-02-11T14:01:00.002-05:00

Warm-up: 5 minutes on cycle after light stretching Shoulders, standard: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Shoulders, neutral: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Lats: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Row: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Fly: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Rear Delt: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Chest: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Tricep: (20 lbs) 3 x 10 Bicep: (30 lbs) 3 x 10 Abs: (50 lbs) 100 reps Cycle: 30 minutes, speed approx. 11.4, distance= 5.5 miles Challenges: First time logging

Exercise Log: Day Two

2012-02-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

Warm-up: 5:30 on treadmill, speed @3.4, distance= .29 miles Leg curl: (40 lbs.) 3 x 10 Hip Adduction: (40 lbs.) 3 x 10 (will add more weight next time) Hip Abduction: (40 lbs.) 3 x 10 (will add more weight next time) Leg Extension: (40 lbs.) 3 x 10 (will add more weight next time) Abs: (40 lbs.) 100 reps (will add more weight next time) Lunges: (holding 8 lb dumbbells) 3 x 10 each leg

Exercise- Day One of Charting Progress

2012-02-09T16:05:00.001-05:00

Before reading this, you might want to read my post "What is Healthy?" if you haven't already so you understand my philosophy and why I'm doing this. I've been exercising for several weeks now. Not as consistently as I'd like, but I'm working on changing that. :) I've only lost 2 pounds so far but at least that's a start, and I'm more focused on living healthy than what the scale says. That

What is Healthy?

2012-02-09T16:04:00.000-05:00

I have never been in better shape than my sophomore year of high school. I played basketball then and our coach was hard core! We not only practiced on the court and did our fair share of running and mastering the bleachers, but we also had regular weight training...particularly in the off-season. I mostly played on the JV team, but did get some playing time at the Varsity level too. It's not

Whirlwind Wedding Weekend: Part 2- The Rehearsal Dinner

2012-02-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

You can go here to read Part 1 of this Whirlwind Weekend story if you're just joining us. :) Did you know that Renee not only introduced me to my first "steady" boyfriend but that she was also related to him? (Now you're asking yourself how this is relevant. I'm getting there.) This was no "fly-by-night" romance either. I've always been pretty loyal. ;) But to be fair, apparently he was too

The Journey of Parenthood Revamp Giveaway: Coach and Stella & Dot

2012-02-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine is giving away a Coach purse and a $25 Stella & Dot gift certificate to celebrate reaching 200 followers! Find out how you can enter to win here. Now I've been inspired. Once I reach 100 followers, I'll have a giveaway of my own. So, what are you waiting for? "Follow" me and hurry over to Emily's blog and enter to win!

Sadie's Shadow

2012-02-06T17:43:00.000-05:00

I had another interesting theological conversation with Sadie again today. We went to have lunch with Justin and while walking from the car to the building, here is what happened: Sadie: "Mohhm, God doesn't want me to be in the dark. He wants me to be in the light." Me: "What are you talking about? You are in the light." (It was another gorgeous day today!) Sadie: "Nooo, Mohhm. I'm not all

Homemade Dry Erase Calendar for $5

2012-02-04T13:51:00.001-05:00

If you haven't checked out Pinterest yet, you are missing out! I've already used several ideas I've found there, many of which I've tweeked to fit my own needs and interests. This latest project was inspired by this dry-erase calendar that I found. I wanted to jazz mine up a little more and here was the final result: So, here's a little tutorial on how you can make one of your own...

Moments with MOPS

2012-02-02T18:14:00.001-05:00

For those unfamiliar, MOPS is an international Christian chartered organization which stands for "Mothers of Preschoolers" and includes moms who are expecting their first child up through those whose youngest child is pre-kindergarten. In other words, if you are about to be a mom or have a child who isn't old enough to enter kindergarten yet, you qualify. ;) If you fit that description and

The Theological Threes

2012-02-01T15:41:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting lunch conversation with my darling 3 year old today. It started with the usual torrent of questions, only this time the questions were a bit more difficult to answer and explain. Justin and I try to be very honest in how we answer our children's questions while also trying to maintain age appropriateness. That's a challenging task sometimes but we feel that it's important

Like the new look?

2012-01-30T16:10:00.002-05:00

I'm not a real frilly kind of gal. (Shocking, I know.) Actually, to those who don't know me very well, that might be surprising considering I grew up in the land of big hair, painted fingernails, and sweet tea. In the south, ladies are ladies, after all. Anyway, in preparation of Valentine's Day, I decided to shirk my tomboy tendencies and give the blog a little "girl time". ;) So, how do

Happy 31st, Bro!

2012-01-28T08:44:00.000-05:00

Today is my brother's 31st birthday. It's still hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he is no longer with us. How can that possibly be so?? But I don't want to talk about his death today. We can save that for another time. On this date, January 28th, I want to talk about his life. I choose to remember happy memories shared with him. So today I'll share a story... When Matt and I were

Whirlwind Wedding Weekend: Part 1-The Arrival

2012-01-23T12:44:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was quite a whirlwind. Sadie and I left around 5:30 a.m. on Friday to begin our nine hour trek to Atlanta. We would only be gone for a couple of days, but naturally we packed for more like a month. First of all, traveling with a 3 year old by yourself for over 500 miles sort of necessitates having 1) plenty of snacks and 2) enough entertainment to keep the native from getting

Behind Every Raincloud...

2012-01-11T15:24:00.001-05:00

*Disclaimer: I did it again...I wrote a novel. Sorry. ;) I have always considered myself to be an optimistic person. Unfortunately, I have not had a very good attitude lately. Stress is catching up with me, I guess, but that's really not a very good excuse. A wise man once said, "I find that most of the things I end up complaining about are actually blessings." That's been true for me

Curse you, mini-vaaaaan!

2011-12-06T14:19:00.001-05:00

I'm so upset I could spit. I called this morning to check on the status of our van. It's been a whole week and I was under the impression that it was going to be ready on Friday. Today is Tuesday. I also could have sworn I heard the guy in the background telling the one on the phone with me that it was ready on Friday. No phone call to let us know? Even days after seeing that it's still

Sunday's Spiritual Smackdown

2011-12-04T17:26:00.001-05:00

**Warning- this is an exceptionally long post (and coming from me, that is saying something. ;)) so feel free to break it up into bite-sized pieces if you need to or take a moment to settle in with a nice, hot cup of cocoa and plan to stay for awhile. :) )** I cried nearly the entire time during church Sunday...both during assembly AND during class. This is not an exaggeration. I was really

I'm Blaming the Van

2011-12-03T16:13:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was quite a stressful day. We've all had them. It was the kind of day where you have to intentionally and continually remind yourself that things really aren't as bad as they seem and they could be much, MUCH worse. When days like these come around, I laugh to keep from crying. It's all a matter of perspective and we've all heard the familiar phrase, "When it rains, it pours." The