Save the Sloth
I highly recommend you check out this site and bookmark it or add it to your bloglines. Just do something so that you can keep up with this site. It will encourage you and give you many things to think on and ponder. It will cause you to maybe see things in a different light than you had before.
I love this site and will be taking the challenge this week. I'll update you on how that goes for me. I encourage you to take the challenge too. Let me know how yours goes as well.
Go now. Now. Close my page and go check out the sloth page. You won't be sorry. Leave them comments too.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Movies
I just added a new side bar with movies I love on my blog. Actually love is a strong word, but it is really just movies I found off my Netlflix list that I remember liking a whole lot! Anyone agree with any of these choices? Disagree? What movies do you like. What do you recommend I watch next!
Just finished watching THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and really enjoyed it. Great choice for the night.
Off to bed now ...
Just finished watching THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND and really enjoyed it. Great choice for the night.
Off to bed now ...
good bye mom and dad ...
My parents have been here since Friday and they are leaving tomorrow .... I'm sad for this. I LOVE when they visit. They love on my kids so much and buy me food, and we have a great time. This time they were here to support my big race and so now their time here is over. Hubby is on his way home and we'll hang tomorrow with Mom and Dad before they leave.
Madison's Room contest
the ladies over at 5 minutes for mom are holding another contest. this one is sponsored by Madison's Room and it is full of some super cute things! if i win i'll be giving them for gifts since i'm not blessed with a little girl yet! go NOW and register though b/c the contest is almost over.
John Mayer and LIGHT GREEN
I subscribe to John Mayer's blog and tonight read an interesting entry on his blog about global awareness. His ideas are not to go out and change your entire life and GO GREEN all of a sudden, but yet to become LIGHT GREEN! To change one thing at a time. Go here and read his blog: John Mayer Blog
I know I've told you, but here are my LIGHT GREEN ideas ....
1. Bio-degradable diapers (I use at least 2 a day)
2. As light bulbs go out we will replace them with the ones that last forever
3. I am buying non-toxic cleaners as I replace the old ones
Baby steps ...
what are you doing?
I know I've told you, but here are my LIGHT GREEN ideas ....
1. Bio-degradable diapers (I use at least 2 a day)
2. As light bulbs go out we will replace them with the ones that last forever
3. I am buying non-toxic cleaners as I replace the old ones
Baby steps ...
what are you doing?
Saturday, April 28, 2007
13.1 miles with an update ...
I DID IT! 13.1 miles today. I have been training since January and today was THE day! It was early this morning and Becca and I got down to Centential Park about 6:45 am for a 7 am race start. We were in the 13th corral and so it took us about 20 minutes to get to the start line.
The race was great and my goal was to finish under 2 hours and 10 minutes. I was set to pace myself for about 9:30 to 10:00 minute miles. The first mile Becca and I ran was 8:30!!! Way too fast for our first mile! :)
We had fun and my parents flew up yesterday to help with the boys and to cheer me on. Here are some pics to prove my acheivement!
I saw the family during the race around mile five and was able to give the BIg Boy a kiss. He was kinda of caught off guard and didn't know what to think when I ran up to him!
It was fun and I can see myself doing this again someday. Right now my WHOLE body hurts and I want to just lay in bed all day! My knees hurt my calves hurt, my toes hurt, my back hurts .... wow I hurt!
I finished at 2:06.46 so I was very proud of myself!
UPDATE!
***I found my "official" time today in the paper - I finished 5,727th with a time of 2:07:06. The last place in the paper was 19,416 so I think I did pretty well! The first place in my age group (25-29) was 1:24:40! WOW that is grooving! BUT get this ... the first place in age group 12-14 was 1:42:26. What the heck? That girl is amazing! Today my body doesn't hurt too bad, just my knee caps. I know it is random but they do hurt!
The race was great and my goal was to finish under 2 hours and 10 minutes. I was set to pace myself for about 9:30 to 10:00 minute miles. The first mile Becca and I ran was 8:30!!! Way too fast for our first mile! :)
We had fun and my parents flew up yesterday to help with the boys and to cheer me on. Here are some pics to prove my acheivement!
I saw the family during the race around mile five and was able to give the BIg Boy a kiss. He was kinda of caught off guard and didn't know what to think when I ran up to him!
It was fun and I can see myself doing this again someday. Right now my WHOLE body hurts and I want to just lay in bed all day! My knees hurt my calves hurt, my toes hurt, my back hurts .... wow I hurt!
I finished at 2:06.46 so I was very proud of myself!
UPDATE!
***I found my "official" time today in the paper - I finished 5,727th with a time of 2:07:06. The last place in the paper was 19,416 so I think I did pretty well! The first place in my age group (25-29) was 1:24:40! WOW that is grooving! BUT get this ... the first place in age group 12-14 was 1:42:26. What the heck? That girl is amazing! Today my body doesn't hurt too bad, just my knee caps. I know it is random but they do hurt!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Going green ...
So many of you read my post earlier in the week on going green and helping out our environment. I have taken a few baby steps myself and feel good while doing them even though one is kinda gross and Aaron is refusing to do it!!!!
I have never even considered doing anything for the environment. I'm not sure why I have never taken the time to sit down and figure out what my family and I can do to help, but we never have. I think growing up I heard many people say things like, "We don't need to worry about the earth because Jesus is coming back soon". I bought into this for years and now I'm not buying it anymore. It is almost like saying that we don't need to eat healthy or exercise because Jesus might come back soon and we'll have a new body in heaven anyways. Doesn't make sense does it?
I am now thinking that I should do something to help. I want to teach my children to take care of our house, our community, our country and our world. What is wrong with that? What is wrong with instilling a sense of service in our kids? I am now vowing to try to do this more.
I will be honest this is not easy. It is a matter of changing your whole outlook on everything. It is about taking time to think about things that matter. Taking time to shop for items that are environmental friendly. It means doing things a little different to make a big difference.
My small steps this week have been to purchase a few cleaning products that are better for our environment. Here is what it says on the back of my new all-purpose cleaner - If every household in the US replaced just one bottle of 32 oz. patroeleum based all-purpose cleaner with our renewable resource based product, we could save 7,100 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 400 U.S. homes for a year! Then on the back of my new dishwashing soap it says if every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 25 oz.petroleum based dishwashiing liquid with our 25 oz. vegetable based product, we could save 81,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 4,600 U.S homes for a year!
Those statistics sound good to me! It makes me feel as though I am making a small difference. I will buy non-toxic and biodegradable products from now on. Yes, they may be a tad bit more expensive, but it is really not much and it is helping the earth.
My next BIG step was different diapers. YES I was moved by the fact that it takes up to 500 years for a disposable diaper to biodegrade in a landfill. Wow that is just one diaper. We use at least 4-6 a day just in our home. Aaron asked if it really made a difference for us to switch some of our diapers. YES that is the point ... we all have to do our part. This is hard for me, but so far in two days I've saved four diapers from going in the landfill. I don't use them at school or church, I wouldn't do that to Little Boy's teachers! So far the poopies have been VERY gross and honestly it made me want to quit them all ready! BUT we'll keep going. If you have kids in diapers please go visit this site. I'm not pushing you to do this, but at least check it out. No I haven't given up disposable diapers, but I will vow to cut back on the amount that I use and put into our landfills! Check out gdiapers
I have never even considered doing anything for the environment. I'm not sure why I have never taken the time to sit down and figure out what my family and I can do to help, but we never have. I think growing up I heard many people say things like, "We don't need to worry about the earth because Jesus is coming back soon". I bought into this for years and now I'm not buying it anymore. It is almost like saying that we don't need to eat healthy or exercise because Jesus might come back soon and we'll have a new body in heaven anyways. Doesn't make sense does it?
I am now thinking that I should do something to help. I want to teach my children to take care of our house, our community, our country and our world. What is wrong with that? What is wrong with instilling a sense of service in our kids? I am now vowing to try to do this more.
I will be honest this is not easy. It is a matter of changing your whole outlook on everything. It is about taking time to think about things that matter. Taking time to shop for items that are environmental friendly. It means doing things a little different to make a big difference.
My small steps this week have been to purchase a few cleaning products that are better for our environment. Here is what it says on the back of my new all-purpose cleaner - If every household in the US replaced just one bottle of 32 oz. patroeleum based all-purpose cleaner with our renewable resource based product, we could save 7,100 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 400 U.S. homes for a year! Then on the back of my new dishwashing soap it says if every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 25 oz.petroleum based dishwashiing liquid with our 25 oz. vegetable based product, we could save 81,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 4,600 U.S homes for a year!
Those statistics sound good to me! It makes me feel as though I am making a small difference. I will buy non-toxic and biodegradable products from now on. Yes, they may be a tad bit more expensive, but it is really not much and it is helping the earth.
My next BIG step was different diapers. YES I was moved by the fact that it takes up to 500 years for a disposable diaper to biodegrade in a landfill. Wow that is just one diaper. We use at least 4-6 a day just in our home. Aaron asked if it really made a difference for us to switch some of our diapers. YES that is the point ... we all have to do our part. This is hard for me, but so far in two days I've saved four diapers from going in the landfill. I don't use them at school or church, I wouldn't do that to Little Boy's teachers! So far the poopies have been VERY gross and honestly it made me want to quit them all ready! BUT we'll keep going. If you have kids in diapers please go visit this site. I'm not pushing you to do this, but at least check it out. No I haven't given up disposable diapers, but I will vow to cut back on the amount that I use and put into our landfills! Check out gdiapers
owning a lawn mower ...
We are the proud ownders of a brand new lawn mower and weed eater! We have lived in our house for about 2.5 years and have always paid someone to do this type of stuff. I think we are becoming great home owners! Aaron has left to go and get gas and I'm getting ready to mow the lawn and he'll do the edging! I have not mowed since high school .... I'll let you know how things go!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Pioneer Days
I took the boys to the Pioneer Days this weekend and we had a blast. We first went in the morning and then I realized that I was a bad mommy with NO money for the pony ride so we had to go home and then return after lunch and naps. I mean we do have our priorities!!
The boys had fun and were each able to ride a pony and then we all did the hay ride. The kids had fun and it was a great day to get out and go back to the pioneer days!! ON a side note there was a lady there selling African Shea Butter and I purchased some to hopefully help with Little Boy's skin. We'll see how it all works out.
It won't let me post pics ... I'll try in a few days!
The boys had fun and were each able to ride a pony and then we all did the hay ride. The kids had fun and it was a great day to get out and go back to the pioneer days!! ON a side note there was a lady there selling African Shea Butter and I purchased some to hopefully help with Little Boy's skin. We'll see how it all works out.
It won't let me post pics ... I'll try in a few days!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Encouraging post
As many of you know I am always thinking the grass is greener on the other side. That is a struggle of mine and it goes into lots of areas of my life. I am dealing with it and dealing with it and dealing with it. I found a great post today from a ministry site that talks about this. It goes out to all mother's with small children who think they need to be doing more. This was just for me and in fact I will read it again today and probably again tomorrow, and in fact I may save it for all those other days when I feel as though God is not using me when in fact he is using me in the best way possible right now.
Have a great Monday. Aaron is home and we are happy! GMA week is this week so we have a super busy daddy, but none the less he is home! We love him!
Have a great Monday. Aaron is home and we are happy! GMA week is this week so we have a super busy daddy, but none the less he is home! We love him!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Earth Day
I am ashamed to admit that I am not very earth friendly. I don't recycle and usually never think about anything that might effect our earth in the years to come. I know some of you are very upset with me, but isn't the first step in correcting your problem acknowledging it? So, here I am watching Oprah and listening to all the tips on "going green". I will list some of what she said:
1. plastic bags can take 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill and paper bags use an estimated 14 million trees in one year - what we should do is bring your own reusable bags. Okay this one will be hard for me ... not sure why, but it will be.
2. Buy organic b/c no pestisides are used in growing - okay I can do this one.
3. Green dimes says they can stop an estimate of 70-90% of junk mail from coming to your house. Aaron will love this one. He HATES junk mail. In fact just a few weeks ago he decided to make a statement to the mail lady and refused to remove the junk mail from our mail box. I tried and tried to explain to him that it wasn't her personally that was responsible. To no avail he said someone had to pay and unfortunately it was her. Don't worry, I slip out there and take it all out when he isn't looking! I know it is not our sweet mail lady who is in charge of the amount of junk mail we receive!
4. Napkins - we use 2200 per year on average per person. If we all gave up one napkin a day it would save a billion paper waste from going to landfills per year. WOW!
5. Cleaning products are putting stuff in the air that can cause asthma and other problems. The "clean" smell that we love is not really clean. It can be toxic. Visit these sites to see NON TOXIC products. Seventh Generation which they said you can find at Target and other health food stores. Meyer's cleaning products can be found online. Method cleaning cloths so you don't have to use spray. These can be found at Target too. Shaklee is also very good too. I think I might go online and get some of their stuff. I just hate to think that I'm hurting my kids with my cleaning. Good thing for them I don't clean that often!!! GO visit now b/c they are having a sale for Earth Day!
6. When stuff is plugged in and not on it is still using energy - about 40%. You should use a smart power strip ($32.99) that will save you money on your electric bill and save energy too.
7. Change your light bulbs - buy a compact florescent light bulb - 75% more effecient and you'll recognize savings on your electric bill! They last 8-10 years. One lady saved over $50 her first month! WOW! Look for CFL light bulbs! They are about $5.99 but last forever!
8. RECYCLE - I am guilty of NOT doing this. How do I get those bins so someone will come pick it up???? Takes 100 years for glass to break down in landfill! Remove the lid and rinse them out first. Find out the rules in your area, go here.
9. Did yo know that Starbuck's offers you a 10 cent discount if you bring your own mug! Wow and then you don't trash anything!
10. Keep thermostat at 78 in summer - UM we won't be doing that. Aaron would DIE! Ours is more like 68!
Okay so this is a lot of information and I can't believe I just sat here and watched this whole show and typed out what I was hearing. I am going to make small steps. We'll start with new light bulbs and a smart strip. I'll start looking for new cleaning supplies and will look to find out about recycling in my area.
1. plastic bags can take 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill and paper bags use an estimated 14 million trees in one year - what we should do is bring your own reusable bags. Okay this one will be hard for me ... not sure why, but it will be.
2. Buy organic b/c no pestisides are used in growing - okay I can do this one.
3. Green dimes says they can stop an estimate of 70-90% of junk mail from coming to your house. Aaron will love this one. He HATES junk mail. In fact just a few weeks ago he decided to make a statement to the mail lady and refused to remove the junk mail from our mail box. I tried and tried to explain to him that it wasn't her personally that was responsible. To no avail he said someone had to pay and unfortunately it was her. Don't worry, I slip out there and take it all out when he isn't looking! I know it is not our sweet mail lady who is in charge of the amount of junk mail we receive!
4. Napkins - we use 2200 per year on average per person. If we all gave up one napkin a day it would save a billion paper waste from going to landfills per year. WOW!
5. Cleaning products are putting stuff in the air that can cause asthma and other problems. The "clean" smell that we love is not really clean. It can be toxic. Visit these sites to see NON TOXIC products. Seventh Generation which they said you can find at Target and other health food stores. Meyer's cleaning products can be found online. Method cleaning cloths so you don't have to use spray. These can be found at Target too. Shaklee is also very good too. I think I might go online and get some of their stuff. I just hate to think that I'm hurting my kids with my cleaning. Good thing for them I don't clean that often!!! GO visit now b/c they are having a sale for Earth Day!
6. When stuff is plugged in and not on it is still using energy - about 40%. You should use a smart power strip ($32.99) that will save you money on your electric bill and save energy too.
7. Change your light bulbs - buy a compact florescent light bulb - 75% more effecient and you'll recognize savings on your electric bill! They last 8-10 years. One lady saved over $50 her first month! WOW! Look for CFL light bulbs! They are about $5.99 but last forever!
8. RECYCLE - I am guilty of NOT doing this. How do I get those bins so someone will come pick it up???? Takes 100 years for glass to break down in landfill! Remove the lid and rinse them out first. Find out the rules in your area, go here.
9. Did yo know that Starbuck's offers you a 10 cent discount if you bring your own mug! Wow and then you don't trash anything!
10. Keep thermostat at 78 in summer - UM we won't be doing that. Aaron would DIE! Ours is more like 68!
Okay so this is a lot of information and I can't believe I just sat here and watched this whole show and typed out what I was hearing. I am going to make small steps. We'll start with new light bulbs and a smart strip. I'll start looking for new cleaning supplies and will look to find out about recycling in my area.
I'm a weirdo!
I'm not quite sure why, but about every other month I get in the mood to search for a job. I start to feel as though there is something bigger for me out there. I start to feel as though I need to do more to contribute financially to our home. I seem to think at the moment that I'm searching that I need to be out there in the real world, doing real world stuff, and dealing with real world people.
Usually what happens is I waste about 2 hours of my life and realize that there is nothing that I want and I need to be happy and content with where God has me now in this season of my life.
Here is one of my main problems in my job searching .... I want the job that takes people about 10 years of work to secure!!! ha ha! You think I'm kidding, but oh no I'm not! I want to jump straight to the lead evening news anchor, to the main events coordinator of a huge hotel, or a publicist for a BIG star. I think I desire FAME! HA HA! I'm a weirdo!
The same thing happened this morning that always happens after I pursue this job search thing .... I woke up and felt guilty for WASTING so much time searching for nothing!
Here was my vulnerable post for the week .... I desire to be famous. Anyone else?
Usually what happens is I waste about 2 hours of my life and realize that there is nothing that I want and I need to be happy and content with where God has me now in this season of my life.
Here is one of my main problems in my job searching .... I want the job that takes people about 10 years of work to secure!!! ha ha! You think I'm kidding, but oh no I'm not! I want to jump straight to the lead evening news anchor, to the main events coordinator of a huge hotel, or a publicist for a BIG star. I think I desire FAME! HA HA! I'm a weirdo!
The same thing happened this morning that always happens after I pursue this job search thing .... I woke up and felt guilty for WASTING so much time searching for nothing!
Here was my vulnerable post for the week .... I desire to be famous. Anyone else?
and yet another ....
Another contest! A new purse - go and check it out and maybe you could be sporting this around town soon!
Go visit this site.
Go visit this site.
another contest
They are at it again over at 5Minutes for Mom! This time it is a contest for a 9″ Philips Digital Photo Frame!!!
Go check them out and maybe you could win!
Go check them out and maybe you could win!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
LOVE
LOVE.
“I wonder how many people never get the one they want, but end up with the one they're supposed to have”. What a fabulous line from Fried Green Tomatoes, a movie that everyone should have on their TOP 100 MOVIE list! I feel like this quote tells the story of my love life up until the man of my dreams swept me off my feet when I wasn’t even looking for love. It seems as though I never had a healthy relationship with the men I was dating. The relationship always turned very physical and then that was it. There was not the emotional and spiritual connection that I longed for. There wasn’t the security of knowing he would love me in sickness and in health. There were never the thoughts of “us” in 30 years. Why did I stay? Why did I always settle for what was not best for me? This, my friend is what often happens with girls. We stay. We settle. We lower our standards. We take what we think is all we can get. Why?
“I wonder how many people never get the one they want, but end up with the one they're supposed to have”. What a fabulous line from Fried Green Tomatoes, a movie that everyone should have on their TOP 100 MOVIE list! I feel like this quote tells the story of my love life up until the man of my dreams swept me off my feet when I wasn’t even looking for love. It seems as though I never had a healthy relationship with the men I was dating. The relationship always turned very physical and then that was it. There was not the emotional and spiritual connection that I longed for. There wasn’t the security of knowing he would love me in sickness and in health. There were never the thoughts of “us” in 30 years. Why did I stay? Why did I always settle for what was not best for me? This, my friend is what often happens with girls. We stay. We settle. We lower our standards. We take what we think is all we can get. Why?
Friday, April 20, 2007
TEN MILES
I must brag on myself for one moment. I just arrived home from a ten mile run! Did you read that TEN MILES of non-stop running! I stopped twice for water and twice to adjust my ipod and finished in one hour and thirty-eight minutes (I know for some of you that is slow, but hey for me I was very proud!). I was very tired and now just want to lay on the couch and sleep but of course there is laundry to be done and a bathroom to be cleaned!
Next Saturday I'll be running 13 miles! WOW I think I might cry at the end! My parents are coming up to cheer me on since Aaron will miss it. :(
Next Saturday I'll be running 13 miles! WOW I think I might cry at the end! My parents are coming up to cheer me on since Aaron will miss it. :(
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Funny story.
Funny story this week! (remember my hubby's name is aaron ...)
Me: We have to go run some errands for daddy and then we'll come home for nap.
Big Boy: Okay
after running errands and on our way home ...
Me: It is time to go home now boys and take a nap.
Big Boy: NO! I want to go see aaron daddy.
Me: what?
Big Boy: You said we were going to see aaron daddy.
Me: Oh baby, not aaron but errand with a "d".
Big Boy: No I want to see aaron daddy!
It was not worth explaining the difference between Aaron and errand!
Me: We have to go run some errands for daddy and then we'll come home for nap.
Big Boy: Okay
after running errands and on our way home ...
Me: It is time to go home now boys and take a nap.
Big Boy: NO! I want to go see aaron daddy.
Me: what?
Big Boy: You said we were going to see aaron daddy.
Me: Oh baby, not aaron but errand with a "d".
Big Boy: No I want to see aaron daddy!
It was not worth explaining the difference between Aaron and errand!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Everything Changes ....
Everything changes when you have kids. When tragedy strikes my mind goes directly to my kids. All of the people that were killed today in Virginia are someone's kids. They have parents that are grieving tonight in a way that I pray I never have to experience.
As I was sitting in the boys room tonight getting them ready for bed we were listening to a SPUR cd and the song "wonderful cross" was going and tears started streaming down my face. I was not understanding while God allows all these BAD things to happen in this world. How can 32 people go about their normal day, not knowing that it was their last day on this earth, and have tragedy come upon their lives in their normal Monday morning. Crazy! Then my mind started thinking about the song that was playing in the room. The wonderful cross - The wonderful cross! Thank you Jesus for the hope that you have given us. The hope that this world is not our end. The confidence that you are still in charge when it seems as though no one is in charge. The strength to go on tomorrow even when we have a day like this.
Jesus, I ask that you comfort these families and loved ones tonight.
As I was sitting in the boys room tonight getting them ready for bed we were listening to a SPUR cd and the song "wonderful cross" was going and tears started streaming down my face. I was not understanding while God allows all these BAD things to happen in this world. How can 32 people go about their normal day, not knowing that it was their last day on this earth, and have tragedy come upon their lives in their normal Monday morning. Crazy! Then my mind started thinking about the song that was playing in the room. The wonderful cross - The wonderful cross! Thank you Jesus for the hope that you have given us. The hope that this world is not our end. The confidence that you are still in charge when it seems as though no one is in charge. The strength to go on tomorrow even when we have a day like this.
Jesus, I ask that you comfort these families and loved ones tonight.
Marthon update!
Remember I am set to run 13.2 miles in about 12 days! Also remember that until today I had not run in many, many days due to sickness and vacation. Today I hit the treadmill again and it was fun and sad all in one. I was so happy to be back at running, but so sad that I didn't get to run too far and I was a little more winded than I would have been a few weeks ago!
Oh well, let's not look at the negative let's look at the positive side - I'M BACK! Tomorrow I will get back outside and run because I HATE the treadmill!
Check out this story .... this is what I call dedication!
Oh well, let's not look at the negative let's look at the positive side - I'M BACK! Tomorrow I will get back outside and run because I HATE the treadmill!
Check out this story .... this is what I call dedication!
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