Sunday Songs

I have liked Pink Floyd from my teen years.  More than half my life at this point and I don't see that feeling changing ever!

Weekends Links

via

It is UEA weekend this week!  It has been so great.  We have just been lounging around hanging out.  That is my favorite thing to do with my little family.  We were "spooked" this week.  That is when someone leaves a treat on your porch with a little poem.  Then you have to do the same for two more homes in your neighborhood.  We have been total slackers and haven't done it yet.  HA!  We will get on it this weekend (maybe the beginning of next week really).  Our spook friends left us a huge pumpkin!  It is the perfect addition to the porch.  I took the kids to see Brave at the dollar theater this week by myself.  It went extremely well.  I am shocked and very pleased.  I am one of those moms that has always been afraid to go anywhere alone with my kids.  I am a big baby but it is hard to do entertainment type stuff with the two of them!  They always want to go in opposite directions.  But I think we finally can venture out more just the three of us.  That is liberating!  Especially considering that Nicholas works nights.  Were you aware that everything happens at night?  Well it does.  Awesome.  Shall we link?


I need to figure out how to make this pattern for a reversible baby vest big enough for Nicco and Lola.  They would both like wicked cute in it!

I love Totoro!  So so much.

This fox print is pretty much amazing.  Really this whole Etsy shop is amazing!

I love this bloody drip nail tutorial!  Perfect for Halloween.  And it is simple enough that a nail polish novice like myself could probably actually do it.

This huge jenga is pretty amazeballs and I want to make one!

I need some black flats and I want these ones.  The price is a bit out of my range so I am going to be on the look out for something a little less expensive.  *sigh*

6 old-school habits to teach your kids.  I love this!

Thankful Thursday

This is Nicco.  And that picture pretty much sums up exactly what he is like.  He is so rad!!  He has more energy than any one I know.  He is in constant motion.  Nicco is so kind and friendly to everyone he comes in contact with.  Plus he is freaking hilarious!  I love seeing his sense of humor develop.  He is not little kid funny either- he is like real people funny!  He is a hard worker.  He started school this year and he has rocked it!  I am proud to be his mom.  I love my boy!  I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to be his momma.  I don't know what I did to deserve to be the mother of such an amazing human being but I say thanks everyday that he chose me!   

Weight Loss Week #11

So last week my goal was to lose 1.6 pounds making it an even 18 pounds lost.  Well I blew that goal right on out of the water!  I lost 3.2 pounds.  YAY!!  I am now up to 19.6 pounds lost.  I am so proud of myself.  Only .4 pounds left to hit the even 20.  Awesome!  So guess what my goal is this week?  Yeah .4 pounds.  Just kidding guys!  I want to lose 1.4 pounds.  

I am going to continue to count my calories this week.  I need help figuring out this whole water thing.  I got to get it my body but I am having a hard time with the desire.  Maybe I should just look at it like it is non-negotiable.  It might not be my favorite thing but it is absolutely necessary.  

On to my really revealing pictures!  I think I am going to be taking my pictures in stretchy pants from now on.  They leave nothing to the imagination!

I am pleased to say that my back rolls are shrinking!  That is the place I can see the weight loss the most.  

I like this list of 9 healthy snacks.  I am hoping it will help.  Snack time is my hardest time!

Weekend Links

This week has been pretty sweet!  We went to our first SEP conference with Nicco's teacher.  It was great!  We have been worried that he was a bit too young to start this year.  He started out at the beginning of the year being behind the rest of his class.  But he is right up with them now and we couldn't be more proud of him!  He has worked so hard and it is paying off.  We got the kids new LEGO sets this week and they love them!  Lola picked a little girl beach set and she loves it!  I am so glad that there are finally LEGO sets that are geared towards girls.  I feel like I am a crazy mom with the LEGO's.  Those bad boys are expensive so every piece that gets lost makes me stress out.  I need to sit back and just enjoy.  They are playing nice with each other with them- I need to remind myself of that silver lining every time they misplace a piece.  Another bright spot is that Nick has officially been at UPS for a year.  Which means that his health insurance started.  WAHOO!!!!  The kids and I still have another six months to wait before we are on it but we are on the down hill slope!  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Check out this Frankenweenie cake!  AHHH!  It is green inside.  Do I need to say more?

This DIY bunting is super neat.  You could customize it any way!  I think I will be making one this month.  I needs it!

I am not positive but I am pretty sure that these gradient blocks will make your kid smarter.  

We have a running joke that my family are the black sheep of our extended family.  I think this print is necessary!  And it is true- we are actually the black sheep.  

So far I haven't had a single hater here because all 28 of you followers of this little blog are super kick butt!  But that is not to say I don't have haters in my real time life.  If you have had any haters in your life then This post is a must read! 

OH my gosh this chick!  She bikes a seven passenger bike.  Seven!!  She loads up her bike SUV with her kids and goes.  I can't even make it around the block carrying me alone 4 times without needing to stop.  Yeah I should exercise more.

I want an exact replica of a human skull in my home.  Not because it is Halloween time- I want it up year round.  Weird or rad?  Depending on how you answer that we could become fast friends forever! 

Weight Loss week #10

I am two days late with this update but at least I am here right?!  So I gained .6 pounds.  I know I shouldn't be bummed out about that just over half pound but I am having a big time plateau over here.  Is it really a plateau when I am being a major slacker?  Probably not. :)  Lets raise a glass of metabolism boosting water to re-re-recommitting! 

I am using the Lose it! app again.  And so far this week I am doing great at not going over my calories. I am also still working on getting my water intake up.  But I hates it!  It makes me feel great to drink water but I am not a fan of the lack of taste.  Except the water Nick brings home from work.  I am telling you that UPS water is the best water.  I haven't been able to convince him to fill me up a gallon of it every night.  It might look a little tacky I guess.

To the stats- I am still down 16.4 pounds.  My goal is to be 18 pounds down by the end of this week.  I can manage 1.6 pounds right?!

I need to get out of the shade but it was bright!

Loverly side view

And from behind.  

I am feeling comfort food lately.  But that can be bad for the diet so I am going to try this lightened up meatloaf.

Thankful Thursday

That is Lola.  I am grateful for that little girl.  Lola kicks ass!  For real that girl is a firecracker.  She is stubborn and a little crazy.  And hilarious and tender hearted.  She has had to over-come some very difficult things in her short life.  Well really just one.  Lola was born without fingers or a full thumb on her left hand.  She does have little stubby fingers and most of her thumb luckily!  She has amniotic band syndrome.  Which essentially means that a piece of the amnion wrapped around her fingers and they just never developed in the womb.  It is also what causes cleft palates.  Unfortunately she has already had to deal with kids being mean.  She is three!  It breaks my heart.  Fortunately all that happened was some missing fingers.  Other people have not been so lucky.  

I think that is why she was blessed with a her crazy personality!  This experience has made her more compassionate and kind.  She accepts people with no question.  She doesn't take no for an answer!  Lola is completely fearless.  She is smart and can figure out a way to make things work.  She uses her left hand to her advantage as opposed to a disadvantage- which is what most people see it as.  I am so glad I get to call her daughter!    

Is it week 8? OR maybe 9?

So this is week what?  Like 8 or 9 for my weight loss journey.  I am losing track.  I can't even say how much I have gained or lost this week.  I stepped on my scale this morning and it said I lost 3 pounds.  I was crazy excited!  I got off of it and stepped back on just to make sure and it said I had gained four.....  So what I am trying to say is that I think my scale is on the fritz.  I am hoping it is just a dying battery.  Or maybe I will go with the 3 pounds lost.  I need a win this week!  No I am kidding (mostly).  I will be replacing the battery and maybe getting a whole new one this weekend.  So I will be back with a real weight loss post next week.  

These are the only pictures I have this week.  I had to work and run people to doctor appointments today so I decided that pictures were a low priority.  I hate when life gets in the way of me living my life!  

Nice shot eh?  It was the only full frontal. Yes people I said full frontal.  And you guessed it- I am naked under those clothes.  Full on!

And now onto the sassy side view.  Eat your heart out!

 I think I am going to try this oven fried chicken recipe this weekend.  It is supposed to be healthy.  I need all the healthy recipes I can get.  I haven't got the faintest clue how to cook to lose weight.  I guess I will figure it out one recipe at a time.  I will let you know what it is like.  Any and all help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Cranky Owls

I love owls- doesn't everyone lately?  I am getting over cutesy owl stuff though.  I want sinister and mischevious looking owls.  It seems like how they are in real life.  Like these:

Check out those eyes!  He is none too pleased.  I love this print on the dictionary page- um rad!

How about this guy?  This photo is awesome!

I love how he looks like a scraggly, cranky, wise, old man owl.   

Okay seriously?!  I saved him for last because well I am sure you can guess.  This photo is so beautiful and unique.  Love it!

You can buy any of these on Etsy- just  click the link under each picture.  I love Etsy!  Best part is that they are all under 30 dollars.  Inexpensive and amazeballs.  Win win!

Orange sweaters and skinny jeans!

I think this will be my fall wardrobe.  Short sleeved sweaters and orange.  Those are my only two criteria.  From there on out I don't really care.