On a scale of 1-10, YOU are an 11

Thanks Candra ( http://curiousgeorgi.blogspot.com/ ) for this great idea! Hopefully it will be a good waste of my time while he's away.

The 10 I like...The top 10 things I like to do since Brenden is out of town.

#1. Sleep in the middle of the bed- Which includes taking up ALL the blankets and all 6 pillows. Somehow I find a way to use every single one at the same time.

#2. Take up the whole fridge with chic food. Normally I buy foods that Brenden and the boys eat and very rarely have the foods that I like (which coincidentally are the ones that keep me skinny).

#3. Lose weight- I know I could be using this time to eat an entire package of chips ahoy with chocolate milk every night and have no one judge me but for some reason I am compelled to look AMAZING the next time I see my man. BTW- I'm down 8 lbs since he left. Yes! what can I say? I like to impress him.

#4. Leave my clothes laying EVERYWHERE :)

#5. Go 5 days in a row without wearing a stitch of makeup. Not that he cares even when he is home but, ya know... now it's even MORE optional.

#6. Stay up late talking on the phone with him. It makes us feel like we're teenagers again.

#7. Spend hours in the bathroom- trimming, clipping, filing, powdering, exfoliating, brushing, polishing, tweezing- without anyone noticing.

#8. Watch the Kardashians every time it's on (even though i've seen every episode multiple times) without being judged.

#9. Sell his stuff on ebay. Just kidding ,babe. Making sure you're listening ;)

#10. Get twice the love from Ezra & Kingston since they have a quota and I'm the only one around.

The 10 I don't...The top 10 things I hate about Brenden being out of town.

#1. I have to take the trash out myself. Boo!

#2. I really don't mind sharing the bed all that much.

#3. I like having someone to get dressed up for. Or wait... get dressed at all for. The other day I took a shower and put on a little makeup just to skype.

#4. There are so many days that he gets up with the boys and lets me sleep in.

#5. I love watching movies with him late at night when the kids are asleep. It's when I'm watching something funny, I start laughing and am suddenly aware of how alone I am.

#6. He picks up every single toy from the living room floor before he relaxes at the end of the day. "what a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man..."

#7. He rubs my back every night while I fall asleep. Generally without asking for anything in return. He's a saint, I know.

#8. Grocery shopping with no kids. It's just SO much easier when I can leave them home. Can I get an amen?

#9. I have no one to blame but myself for the mess in the bathroom.

#10. Sex. Chocolate just isn't cutting it.


I originally started writing this thinking it would help me not miss Brenden as much BUT I quickly found the things I miss far out weigh the things I "get" to do when he's gone. He's an amazing husband and father. He treats me SO good all the time and I hate being away from him. I don't just miss my husband I miss the greatest friend I've ever had.


I just had a conversation with my mom today about how I get bored easily. I have these great ideas, start them and then before it's barely off the ground I'm bored and looking for the next idea. Makeup artist, papery, getting certified to be a personal trainer, party planer, sarah's bags... the list goes on. The one thing I haven't gotten bored with is him. He's been my best friend for nearly 15 years. We like shopping together, can almost always agree on movies, where to eat, where to live, how to raise our kids. We talk about everything and fight about nothing. Not that we don't have our disagreements but we complete each other. And can always come to an agreement that works for everyone. Maybe one day I'll find "my thing" that's not just a little hobby but I know for sure he will always be my favorite thing that stuck :)

Dear Diary,

I woke up this morning and felt like it was going to be one of those days where I feel good about myself. I've been working out everyday, eating healthy and most importantly NOT beating myself up about the last 10 baby lbs I still have to lose. Today was the day I would "weigh in" and see my awesome progress. I got out of bed and went straight to the scale. Well... actually I went straight to the toilet thinking an ounce of pee would really make a difference. It didn't. My "ready for the day" additude quickly turned to disappointment. I don't know if it's muscle gain, water weight, blah blah blah... I was mad at myself. For what, I don't know. I've been working hard and eating right but still not seeing much of a difference. I'm a girl who likes to see results, not just feel them. SO... while I was bummed out and flipping through pages on fabo while eating my egg whites and fresh baked spelt blueberry muffin (recipe to come. they're amazing!), and trying to cheer myself up I found a few pictures I'd like to share...



Yummy, I know. After seeing this picture I quickly got ready and went to the gym. Suddenly it had nothing to do with my vanity. I was running for my life from the yellow blob that would haunt me if I decided to stay wallowing in the wake of my disappointing weigh in. I was thinking if I have to have one or the other I would rather not have the yellow mush hiding under my skin, flopping over my jeans, bouncing as I play with my kids, clogging my arteries and making it hard for me to just breath let alone live a full life. Which brings me to my next picture...





No one asks for the fat or the clogged arteries. It just all sneaks up on you when you're not look-...


...Oh wait... yes we do ask for it. It's hiding in our everyday choices. But it is, in fact, OUR choices. Even the little ones. Maybe this burger made me feel good for about 10 minutes while I drooled all over it but I have to think about how it made me feel this morning. Maybe I haven't eaten like this for a long time but it's still with me. I'm still trying to stuff it into my favorite pair of jeans. It all starts with a choice.

I pick the red muscle, the normal artery, the healthy life. Maybe I wont end up looking smokin' hot in my bathing suit (I say that still hoping it's a perk) but I'll be able to play with my kids without getting out of breath easily. I'll feel healthier so my husband can quit listening to me whine about not feeling that great, poor guy. I'm making a choice to be healthy even if the scale doesn't tip in my direction. I'll do it for my husband, my kids, and myself. Maybe I wont reach my goal weight by my goal date but I'll give myself the chance. Tomorrow is another day.... to choose.

My favorite thing today...

...is 100% shea butter.

I first discovered this when i bought some from a friend who bought some from a guy who sold it at a flea market. I know, sounds legit. But it really is the best thing since sliced bread. Then I ran out! Ugh. BUT I found a lady who sells it at the market in Atlantic Station and I flipped out, I was so excited! I also found out you can buy it online. Ha!


The reason for my excitement about this stuff is #1 It's completely natural. So natural that you could eat it. Some people have said that when taken orally it has cured a cold. I've never tried that but... be my guest. #2 It ACTUALLY gets rid of stretch marks! I'm not kidding. It's natural makeup is found in human skin so rubbing it on is healing and rejuvenating. After I had Ezra I used it on my post-baby belly and my stretch marks were almost completely invisible. Now that I'm using it again after having Kingston they are disappearing again.


It is extracted from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree which begins to bear fruit after about 15 years and can take up to 30 years to bear a quality crop of nuts with a high content of irremovable fatty acid. It is this irremovable fatty acid that gives shea butter its unique healing properties.


It works for me, hopefully it will work for you!