Crossroads

I haven't been blogging much lately because I honestly don't know what to talk about. I have so many thoughts, feelings and conflicts that I could share but I'm not going to. Lots of time reflecting and trying to figure out which dreams to chase and which to let go of. None of them are easy choices and yet I'm faced with all of them at once.

It's trying. It's exhausting. I sat down the other night and wrote out a five year goal plan. In doing so I realized that I can't have it all. There are things on that list that conflict with each other and I have to choose. But I don't want to.

I'm hoping I start to sort some of it out soon. Everything is really ok. These are mostly my conflicts. The things that go through my head on a daily basis. I just need to find some balance.

And on a completely non related note I just have to share the cute little solar dancing ladybug I got at the dollar store. In sunlight the leaves and stem sway. It makes me happy every time I walk past my kitchen window.

3 random happy things

This is just a quick post about 3 things I'm loving or that are making me happy lately.

* I LOVE Skinny cow snacks and ice cream. They just came out with new candy and 130 calories definitely beats 300+ calories for a normal bar.

* We've had beautiful weather the last few days and yesterday the kids were playing outside while I was cooking dinner. Macie brought me these flowers she picked. They died almost instantly but she was SO proud to pick them for me. <3

* I am really loving the Bath and Body Works pocketbac hand sanitizers. They all smell so good and don't have the alcohol smell most sanitizers do when you use them. My kids love them too so it's a good way to kill germs when we are out and about.

That's all I've got today. What is making you happy right now?

Happy Mail

Before I decided to commit to the weight loss/ fitness mission I'm on one of my best friends tried to get me to drink more water. I hate water. Loathe it. It doesn't matter if it's bottled or not. I hate it. One day I was texting her and I said that I'm like a kid. I need motivation.

This is the same friend who got my kids (and me) completely hooked on Legos. We came up with the solution of after a month of me drinking water she would mail me a Lego mini figure from the new series 8. It was a deal.

I forced myself to drink water every day and today I had an awesome envelope arrive in my mailbox. When you buy the Lego series figurines you can't tell what is in it. I really wanted the skier. She found it for me!!

There was also an awesome Halloween card she made with the sweetest little note in it. I am so very thankful to have a friend as wonderful as her to share everything in. Including my weight loss journey. (Which wouldn't have even started if it wasn't for her.)

I just love happy mail and friendships that have lasted since Kindergarten.

Smile:)

Life is crazy busy and happy right now. :)

So many good things going on...

* Birthday cake ordered and ready to be picked up by tomorrow afternoon

* Moon bounce confirmed

* 20 party favor bags completed

* a Tangled birthday party for 2 little girls who happen to be turning 7 and 8!!

* Hubs and I EXACTLY on the same page for our future in so many ways. Exciting stuff happening soon. :)

* The fact that all my closest friends are going to be at the kids party. Even a friend who is driving from four hours away with her four kiddos just to be here with us.

* a Brother-in-law who is out of the hospital and doing good.

I will be back on Monday with way too many photos of the kids party! Have a happy weekend.:)

Finally

There is a day that I look forward to each year...... Yep! That's right! The day the new Ikea catalog arrives at my door. I am so excited to crack this thing but I won't until the house is clean, the kids are asleep and I am crawling into my nice comfy bed.

Counting down the minutes.

RAWR!!!

Every now and then my semi frugal self succumbs to temptation. Normally it happens while surfing Etsy. Today was no different.

Some of you might remember a post from my old blog about the boy and I playing dinosaur. It has quickly become our thing when we are alone together. The boy runs and jumps on my bed and quickly throws the covers over both of us screaming that there is a dinosaur coming and then he yells RAWR!! We both hide until we feel it's safe and then it starts all over again.

So before I knew it this print was in my cart and Paypal was being logged into. After all, every time one of us yells "RAWR!" we are really saying "I love you!"

The print can be purchased here.

Happy Mail

Today has been a rough day. Turns out Makayla has strep and I am well on my way to having it. The kids have been bored and fighting all day long. I was beginning to want to hide in the closet and then there was a knock on my door. A package was delivered addressed to my children from my dad and stepmom! The kids immediately came running and inside was a bunch of goodies.

Each kid got 2 new swimsuits! One of the boys is a little small so I will have to exchange it but the other fit great and he is refusing to take it off. The girls suits fit perfectly and they are so cute.
Then each of them got a coloring/activity book, new crayons, stickers, and a cute little toy.

All three of them are mesmerized and deep in activity. I know that my stepmom reads my blog so THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN!!!!!!! We love everything and it was so sweet of you to send them a package. :)

Can't wait till we are all better and they can wear their new swimsuits.

Happy Stuff

Today I am simply posting a happy list. Random little things that make me smile.

Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies using this recipe. I halved it and also added a few craisins we had in the pantry. They turned out perfect.


Macie told me yesterday that her baby needed play time so she brought all the pillow pets out for her.

And then she joined them for a movie.

Happy stack of blankets. The one I made last year combined with the one I just finished.

Two newly purchased movies that are currently on my favorites list.

Reason # 359 why I love my husband

He always knows what I will LOVE. Yesterday he went to a huge outdoor flea market with one of his co-workers. When he came home I asked him if he bought anything and he tossed a bag at me. In the bag was a box with this in it......

A dolphin salt and pepper holder. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! When I was in high school my entire room felt like being underwater. Dolphins and fish EVERYWHERE. I have since gotten rid of my dolphin stuff but I still love them and he knows it. Now every single time I walk into my kitchen I smile because of this little guy.

Happy

Since last week was so long and tiring I decided to make a list of things that are making me happy right now. There is quite a bit of good stuff going on around here and sometimes I need to remind myself of that.

* Lots of time being spent with my honey after the kids are put to bed. Late night movies, talking and just being together. Good times for sure.

* Started Christmas shopping already!!

* The fact that I am becoming much more aware of what I want my kids to play with and how I want our home to be. Simple and healthy with less junk.

* Having a garage sale next week to help aid in my quest to simplify.

* Kids having a clean and happy room and actually keeping it that way. They are picking up their toys every day now and making their beds.


* Calls from hubs while he is at work just to tell me he loves me and is thinking about me. :)

* The new candle holder I picked up from Michaels last night. LOVE IT!!


I am going to be so busy this week getting ready for the garage sale but I am really excited to make a dent in our stuff. I am going to do a post about simplifying in a few days. I am feeling really good about it. Makayla is doing so much better and will be finishing up her antibiotics tomorrow. Hopefully she will be back in school by Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!

Happiness

The other day I was having a rough day so I text hubby to vent a little. He responded with a text telling me to relax and that my day would get better. It got very very good when there was a random knock on the door. I answered it and there was a woman from a florist handing me a beautiful arrangement of my all time favorite flowers. My mouth dropped.

I immediately called my hubby and told him I could not believe what he had done to cheer me up. And I must also say that it never fails to amaze me that he always remembers my favorite flower (Stargazer Lillies). Needless to say my day turned around after that.

They are all starting to open up today. So beautiful.